The BERKELEY Times Vol. 30 - No. 43
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
Community News Pages 8-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Inside The Law Page 17
April 19, 2025
Development, Traffic Upset Residents
The Old Man On The Bay’s Miraculous Rescue
In This Week’s Edition
Page 16
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Photo courtesy Walter Bohn Capt. Walter Bohn and Capt. Dan Siegel of Sea Tow collect John Mazzi’s boat as the Coast Guard helicopter sweeps over the waves.
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Lost At Sea, Found By Faith John Mazzi stands in front of his boat while holding the Mazzi had launched around 2 p.m. from clamming rake that helped save his life after 12 hours on Baker’s Basin, hoping for a productive day the Barnegat Bay. of clamming near Oyster Creek Channel. By Stephanie Faughnan The bay was flat – “like glass,” he recalled. WARETOWN - For 70-year-old John Mazzi of “There wasn’t a ripple when I started working.” Ocean Gate, fishing has never been just a job - it’s But within hours, the wind kicked up, the tide been his whole life. shifted, and danger crept in. The wind started “I’ve been fishing since I was six,” he said. “The coming in at 20 miles per hour and the wind and only time I ever stopped was when I served in the tide were going in the same direction. Initially, Air Force. Fishing is my livelihood, my recreation it wasn’t too choppy until the wind crisscrossed - my life.” the tide. By then, Mazzi knew he was in trouble. Self-proclaimed as the “Old Man on the Bay,” “I was five minutes from leaving,” Mazzi said. Mazzi knows Barnegat Bay like the lines on his “I turned around, and the boat was gone.” weathered hands. But on Wednesday, April 9, the Mazzi had anchored his boat somewhat close to water turned against him. the edge of the sandbar so it would be easy for him What began as a routine clamming trip turned to leave. He said in the future he plans to anchor into a multi-hour fight for survival, as Mazzi stood more towards the middle as a result of the incident stranded on a sandbar, soaked, freezing, and sur- that could have cost him his life. rounded by 10 feet of churning water. (Rescue - See Page 4)
Photo by Chris Lundy The only things that control the merging of these two busy roads is a pair of yield signs By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – Although much of Berkeley appears built out, there are still pockets that are under development, and these cause growing pains for those who have lived here a long time. A few residents brought up traffic and construction issues during the most recent Township Council meeting. One resident noted that there was nearly a head-on collision on Mule Road. Mule Road becomes a thoroughfare for people trying to get to Route 37, they said. Not only are there many streets emptying into it from the senior communities, but some people can access it from Davenport Road if they want to get there from South Toms River and Route 530. (Traffic - See Page 15)
Volunteers Team Up To Clean Local Beaches By Alyssa Riccardi JERSEY SHORE – Despite the cold and rainy weather, hundreds of volunteers hit the beach to pick up litter or harmful debris found at the Jersey shore. The bi-annual initiative is a part of Clean Ocean Action’s (COA) Beach Sweeps, which celebrated their 40th Beach Sweeps on April 12. Clean Ocean Action is a leading national and regional voice working to protect waterways using science, law, research, education and citizen action. Their Beach Sweeps are held every April and October and are the state’s largest volunteer driven,
citizen science and environmental event. The goal of the Beach Sweeps is to make beaches safer for marine life and more enjoyable for people. Volunteers strive for difference in the community while joining in on the beachyclean fun. Unlike other cleanups, volunteers keep record of each piece of debris on COA’s data card. Collected data is monitored for trends and analyzed so COA can work on advocating for new laws and policies for a positive change. In Brick Township, they had a great turn out across Brick (Beach Clean Up - See Page 15)
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Photo courtesy Clean Ocean Action Council and Recreation members of Seaside Park participated in the 40 th COA Beach Sweep.
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