The HOWELL Times
Vol. 23 - No. 11
In This Week’s Edition
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Government Page 4
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Inside The Law Page 10
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Police Cadet CamP Gives YoUtH InSigHt InTo Law EnForCemenT By Joe Murray HOWELL – More than 40 middle school students recently gained hands-on experience in law enforcement during the Howell Police Department’s annual Cadet Training Camp. The week-long program, held for students in grades six through eight, began on a Monday and concluded with a graduation ceremony at Soldier Memorial Park. “It included time at our Photos courtesy Howell Police police department and the Cadets got a close look at SWAT, K9, and other departments. fire academy, along with a community service day and a fun day before graduation,” said Sgt. Ryan Lowe of the Howell Police Department. Cadets participated in a range of activities with local and state agencies, including visits to the State Police Academy, the Seaside Heights Marine Unit, and the Monmouth County Police Academy. “We had the State Police helicopter come, the polygraph unit, our SWAT team, Traffic Safety, K9, and fi re Youth cadets stand in formation outside the Howell Township Criminal Justice Building during the 2025 Howell Police demonstrations,” Lowe said. The camp placed a strong empha- Youth Week. sis on discipline and teamwork. “You see a lot cadets. “They enjoy the camaraderie of being together of growth by the end of the week,” Lowe noted. and pushing through the week as a group,” Lowe said. “They understand accountability and working Designed for motivated students with an interest in together to achieve certain goals.” public service, the program challenged participants to Participants also engaged in physical training and develop new skills, contribute to the community, and drill exercises, fostering a sense of unity among the gain a deeper understanding of first responder duties.
What Happens When Dottie’s House Closes? By Stephanie Faughnan BRICK – When “Patty” first walked into Dottie’s House more than a decade ago, she broke down in tears. The modest three-bedroom apartment was more than just a place to live. It was, as she described it, “a beautiful little home” - a safe space where she and her children could begin again. Patty is not her real name, but a pseudonym to protect her family’s privacy. A stay-at-home mom, she had made the
painful choice to leave an emotionally abusive marriage, bringing her many children with her. Like so many survivors, Patty didn’t realize what she had endured was domestic violence until a friend gently gave it a name. Her fi rst stop had been her mother’s house, but it was far too crowded to be a long-term solution. In desperation, she called Homes Now, a nonprofit offering affordable rentals. Though nothing was available, she soon received a call from
the now late Bill Jungerman, a longtime fixture at Dottie’s House. “He was probably one of the most important people I ever met,” Patty said. “He told me, ‘Watch the actions, not the words.’ That single phrase has guided me ever since. And he was the one who called to say, ‘I think we have a place for you.’” That place was Dottie’s House, a program that, for 25 years, provided (Dottie’s House - See Page 2)
August 23, 2025
New Councilman, Deputy Mayor Appointed By Andrew Rice HOWELL – The Township Council hosted a public meeting on August 12, after previously scheduling the meeting for August 19. One of the main reasons for holding this meeting earlier was to appoint a temporary deputy mayor after Fred Gasior announced his decision to step down. Councilwoman Susan Fischer was nominated for the role, approved, and took the oath to be Howell’s temporary deputy mayor. To fill her spot on the council, Howell Township nominated Michael Wrubel, who took his oath during the meeting as well. According to the Howell Township Clerk’s Office, Fischer will have to run in the general election in November to be in office for the rest of the term, which ends on December 31, 2026. All submissions to run for the remainder of the term must be submitted by August 26. Fischer is a member of Howell Township’s Republican party. Before she was named to the temporary deputy mayor role, Fischer had served on Howell’s Town Council since 2022. Her role as councilwoman was her first holding public office. Before that, she was a public school teacher for 32 years in Monmouth County. She was nominated by Councilwoman Evelyn O’Donnell for the position. Wrubel has served on the Howell Master Plan Subcommittee and the Zoning Board, with his most recent position in town government being on the planning board. He first started on the zoning board in July of 2022. He served in that role until January 2024, when he left to join the planning board. He became the chairman of the Master Plan Committee around that time as well. The Master Plan committee was a government action committee that was set up to create, provide, and revise a framework for Howell’s physical development, influencing decisions made by the Planning Commission, Township Council, and investments in infrastructure and zoning. The purpose of the Master Plan Committee during Wrubel’s time was to update and revise the current guide for the physical development of the township while aiming to enhance the well-being of residents and promote a sustainable future. (Appointed - See Page 3)
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