The BRICK Times Vol. 24 - No. 48
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Community Theatre Group Finds Permanent Home
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
Community News Page 8-11, 14
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
Inside The Law
Photo courtesy Kendra Zarrilli The Mantoloking Road Playhouse held its grand opening welcoming guests to the new space. By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – For the first time in 30 years, the Brick Children’s Community Theatre has a place they can forever call home. The Mantoloking Road Playhouse officially opened in March, providing a permanent home for the theatre troupe. The Brick Children’s Community Theatre (BCCT) was founded in 1996 by a mother-daughter team who shared a passion for theatre with the children
of Ocean and Monmouth counties. Brick Township resident Kendra Zarrilli, who is the Business Director for BCCT and owner of the Mantoloking Road Playhouse, became involved in the organization 15 years ago when her daughter joined the theatre group. “After her last show, the mom stood up on the stage and she said, ‘this might be our last show, like we’re out of money.’ I remember thinking, ‘oh my gosh, that’s terrible,’” Zarrilli said. “I went to her after (Theater - See Page 4)
Page 15
Tina’s House Is A Gift To Families In Crisis
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Eliana Micciolo plays at Tina’s House with her aunt Nicole, grandmother Rebecca, and Assistant Prosecutor Jamie L. Schron.
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - 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
April 5, 2025
$122.7M Town Budget Introduced By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - A sure sign that spring has sprung is the annual introduction of the township budget, which Mayor Lisa Crate presented during the most recent Council Meeting. “Tonight I present a budget that keeps the taxes stable and ensures the continued delivery of the essential services our residents rely on and deserve,” she said. The proposed 2025 budget totals $122,711,490, with an increase of 1.9 cents on $100 of assessed value, or a $47 increase for the average Brick household. Last year’s budget totaled about $117 million. This is for the municipal portion of the tax bill only, and does not include the county, school or fire district taxes. The mayor said that the spending plan prioritizes public safety, while funding Senior Services, the Department of Public Works, and community programs such as the Farmer’s Market, Summerfest, Traders Cove Concert Series, and other special events. The budget funds the upkeep of the parks and recreational facilities, including township ocean beaches. Brick has 20 parks, 10 basketball courts, 10 tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, three bocce courts, one skate park, one bike and scooter park, three horseshoe pits, three football fields, 15 soccer fields, two cornhole game areas, six miles of bike trail and 22 softball and baseball fields, including the 40-acre field at the Drum Point Sports Complex. “Simply put, this budget sustains every service that enhances the quality of life for Brick Township residents,” she said. The spending plan includes some $15.9 million for debt service. “On January 1, 2014, the township’s debt exceeded $168 million following a decade where it grew by more than $86 million,” Mayor Crate said. The total debt is now $120 million. “This budget reflects months of dedication from our township’s financial team and builds upon our ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility, an approach that has delivered undeniable results and established Brick Township as one of the most efficiently managed and fiscally conservative municipalities in Ocean County,” she said. (Budget - See Page 4)
(Tina’s House - See Page 5)
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