The BERKELEY Times Vol. 30 - No. 41
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
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Government Page 7
Community News Pages 8-11, 14
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
Inside The Law Page 16
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Sign Language Students Learn New Ways Of Expressing Themselves Kevin Buscio said. A classroom grows out of the back of the middle school library. The desks are situated in a U shape, so that everyone can see each other’s faces and hands. Seeing the gestures is done for obvious reasons, but the facial features add to the meaning. Jennifer Lozada taught the class. She would sometimes slip into full sentences where the students knew most of the signs and they Photo by Chris Lundy would have to pick up A Central Regional Middle School student makes the rounds, asking in the rest from context American Sign Language how his fellow students are doing. The other clues. students signed back their answer. Part of taking attendance was that the class By Chris Lundy had to spell the absent student’s name with signs. BERKELEY – When you pass through the CenThey did a basic math puzzle and signed the tral Regional Middle School library, there’s a sign numbers involved. telling you to be quiet. But there are ways to comOne student went around to each classmate and municate without making a sound. Students at both the middle and high schools have signed “How are you?” The other students signed been learning American Sign Language to better back such things as “happy,” “sad,” “nervous” interact with those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. and even “invisible.” The idea started as a club during the height of They broke into small groups to communicate the pandemic and now it has grown to a 10-week with each other. “Sign language is more fun for program. For one marking period, kids can choose me,” one student said. (ASL Students - See Page 4)
this from other 10-week options, Assistant Principal
Tina’s House Is A Gift To Families In Crisis By Stephanie Faughnan OCEAN COUNTY - The modest brick ranch at 7 Hadley Avenue may look like any other house, but inside, it holds the whispered fears and quiet bravery of children who have endured the unthinkable. An integral part of the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor, Tina’s House is a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center (CAC). It’s designed to be a place where young survivors feel safe enough to speak, where their pain is met with warmth instead of cold interrogation rooms. Capt. Colleen M. Lynch, who leads the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, said Tina’s House was named in
2014 in loving memory of Detective Tina Rambo. Rambo, a devoted member of the unit, tragically lost her life in a car accident in 2011 while on her way to work. Tina’s House offers children a safe place to speak openly and receive the support of those dedicated to seeking justice for them. Corey Micciolo, a six-year-old boy who died four years ago, never had the chance to share his story within its walls. His voice, silenced by unspeakable abuse, was carried instead by the prosecutors and detectives who fought on his behalf. (Tina’s House - See Page 4)
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April 5, 2025
Veterans Village Groundbreaking Announced
(Screenshot by Chris Lundy) This screenshot is from a digital rendering of what the veterans village will look like. By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – A veterans village of 124 new homes as well as veteran services will break ground in a ceremony at the corner of Route 9 and Sloop Creek Road. The village is being built by Tunnel To Towers, a nonprofit with the goal to make sure no veterans go homeless. The development will be 99 apartments and 25 single-family homes. There will also be services provided on site for the veterans, such as case management, behavioral health and financial literacy. Anything the residents might need that Tunnel To Towers doesn’t provide would be brought in by other nonprofits in the area. The nonprofit is inspired by Stephen Siller, a firefighter stationed in Brooklyn who had just finished his shift and was on his way to meet family when he learned the first plane strike the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel was closed for security reasons following the attack, so he took his 60 lbs of gear and ran through the tunnel to help others. He was one of the many first responders claimed by the attacks. He left behind a wife and five children. This will be the first such veterans village in New Jersey, although the group has built similar neighborhoods in other states. According to T2T. org, they have helped with mortgage-free homes for veterans. They also have a program where they provide a mortgage-free smart home for catastrophically injured vets. They also respond to disasters to help people on the ground. In keeping with their name and inspiration, they also educate about 9/11. Locally, officials have said they chose this spot (Veterans Village - See Page 4)
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