The BERKELEY Times Vol. 31 - No. 23
In This Week’s Edition
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Construction Students Build House During Hands-On Education
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Government Page 6
Community News Pages 7-9
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
Inside The Law Page 14
Photo by Chris Lundy Students who built the house are joined by their instructor, Harold Peters, and two county commissioners. By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – On a construction site in Bayville, hammers and nails are the pencils and test papers. This is because this donated lot is being used as a classroom by the Ocean County Vocational Technical School. There are 23 students, ages 18 to 35, who are building a house to be auctioned off. The teacher, Harold “Skip” Peters gave an example of how hard they’ve been working. “Some of these students couldn’t read a measuring tape in September,” he said. Now, they’re doing almost everything: fram-
ing, insulation, sheetrock, doors, windows, siding, roofing, tile and cabinets. They don’t do electrical or plumbing work, but just about every aspect of this home will have been done by the students and overseen by a teacher. He expects that this house could sell for more than $500,000. It will be placed on a government auction website and the money earned will fund future builds. Peters gave tours of the framed building, taking people through the one-car garage, up a short run of stairs into a utility room where there will be hook-ups for a washer and dryer.
Photo courtesy Anderson & Campbell
(Jon Larson - See Page 5)
Community Responds After Group Home Damaged By Fire By Jason Allentoff BERKELEY – Eight residents of Anchor House, a long-running Bright Harbor Healthcare group home, were forced from their residence after a structural fire caused heavy damage to the facility. Anchor House is a 24-hour supervised group home for people with serious and persistent mental illness, according to the website. It’s in Pine Beach overlooking the Toms River, near the border of Berkeley. It opened in 1979. Bright Harbor officials said all residents and staff made it out safely on November 15, crediting first responders for quick work that prevented injuries. The program, which has served Ocean County since 1979, now faces the loss of its longtime home and many personal belongings. Bright Harbor CEO Kimberly Veith said the displaced residents and staff are coping with the emotional toll of the incident and expressed gratitude for the outpouring of community support. The organization is seeking specific donations to help the residents rebuild some stability in the aftermath. Needed items include a dining table with seating for 10 to 12 people, kitchen supplies, and bath linens. Those wishing to donate can contact mgriffith@brightharbor.org. “Anchor House will rebuild - not only the physical structure, but the warmth, stability, and belonging that have sustained this home for more (Fire - See Page 4)
(Construction - See Page 4)
Former OCC President Jon Larson Dies By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER - Jon H. Larson is being remembered as the longest-serving president of Ocean County College. He died November 17 following a battle with cancer at the age of 84. Larson was president of OCC from August 2000 through June 2023, and made Toms
November 29, 2025
Local Couple Scores Second Major Lottery Win
Photo courtesy New Jersey Lottery A couple whose identity was not released have won the lottery…twice.
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By Jason Allentoff TOMS RIVER - You know the slogans “Hey, you never know” and “you have to be in it to win it?” A New Jersey couple is defying the odds after winning two major lottery prizes in just six months, a streak so rare that officials estimate the combined chances at roughly one in two trillion. The unidentified Ocean County couple, who have two children and another on the way, recently claimed a $3 million top prize from the Jackpot Millions Scratch-Off ticket. The winning ticket was purchased at the Fischer Bay Exxon on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. Only three top prizes exist in the $30 game, and the odds of winning one are about (Lottery Winner - See Page 5)
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