The BERKELEY Times Vol. 31 - No. 12
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Crowd Comes Out For Food Trucks And Music
Bills Would Impact When Parts Of Town Leave
BREAKING NEWS @
Photos by Chris Lundy jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 9-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 19
Classifieds Pages 22
(Left) Visitors enjoyed a variety of food trucks. (Right) Residents listened to live music while enjoying meals. By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – As hot summer weather gave way to one of those perfect summer evenings, a crowd flocked to Bayville for unusual eats and special treats. Billed as the Berkeley Township Food Truck and Music FEASTival, it took over Veterans Park on a recent Saturday. Mike Kestin, president of MES Event Services, the company which put it on, said that they do shows like this all over the state. That day they had 12 trucks, three bands, 15 vendors and a beer garden. The event had been rescheduled from June 7 due to weather. Food truck festivals offer the chance for everyone in a group to try something different. One person might want a diner staple like bacon cheese fries while another person in that same group might want paneer biryani with tofu. These two people
could each satisfy their cravings at different trucks and then sit down together and eat in the park, picnic-style. When you think food trucks, you usually think something akin to fair food, and there were options like that – stuff like hamburgers and hot dogs. But there were also variations that kicked it up a notch. How about lobster tacos or lobster grilled cheese? A lamb gyro might be common at an event like this, but the same truck also had kebabs and halal food. For drinks, you could warm up with coffee or chill out with ices. The coffee truck had “fall flavors” like s’mores roll and pumpkin maple bacon roll. They also served baked goods like caramel apple pie. Lemonade or limeade were summer favorites, but if you were feeling more adventurous at the (Food & Music - See Page 4)
Trump Signs Law Naming Clinic After Local Vet By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – President Donald Trump signed a bill naming the Toms River Veterans Administration clinic after Lt. Leonard G. “Bud” Lomell. “One of the most decorated Army Rangers of World War II, Bud Lomell served our nation and its veterans with enduring courage and selflessness, and is exceedingly deserving of this posthumous honor,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th), who wrote the legislation designating the naming of the clinic
after Bud. “I am grateful that President Trump has recognized Bud’s heroism by signing this bill into law, and I am thrilled that Charlotte (who turned 104 on September 8) gets to see Bud’s many achievements memorialized in this special way.” Lomell’s citation for his Distinguished Service Cross medal states, in part, “First Sergeant Lomell led a patrol of men through the heaviest kind of (Trump - See Page 4)
September 13, 2025
By Chris Lundy BERKELEY - The Township Council supported two bills that would impact de-annexation, when a section of a town leaves. In the wake of the courts deciding that South Seaside Park can leave Berkeley, local officials are seeing how this rare circumstance can affect people in unforeseen ways. South Seaside Park is literally south of Seaside Park, but is still part of Berkeley, at least for now. Seaside Park has to decide whether to take them in. If they don’t, then South Seaside Park will remain with Berkeley. Residents are already concerned about taxes increasing. SSP makes up about 10.43% of the tax revenue for the township. Both of the bills the council backed were sponsored by Senator Carmen Amato (R-9th), the former mayor of Berkeley. One of them requires the public to vote on de-annexation if over 10 percent of property tax ratables is to be subject to annexation by other municipality. The other bill states that if a liquor license is used by a business that joins a different town, then the original town can get another liquor license. Plainly speaking, if a bar in South Seaside Park then becomes Seaside Park, Berkeley can get another liquor license. (Bill Impact - See Page 4)
Bill Would Charge Fossil Fuel Companies By Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY - A press conference was held to build support for a bill that would charge certain fossil fuel companies money that would then be used on grants for climate resiliency. Curtis Fisher said he lives off Drum Point Road in Brick. Sometimes the flooding is so bad that he can’t leave his neighborhood. Furthermore, the infrastructure is being devoured by saltwater intrusion. “Ocean County is one of the most threatened areas in the state,” he said. The cost to respond to these climate issues is in the hundreds of billions of dollars, he said, quoting figures from the State Department of Environmental Protection as well as the Army Corps of Engineers. So, who is going to (Fossil Fuel - See Page 5)
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