The BERKELEY Times Vol. 31 - No. 30
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Furniture From Closed Motel Donated
January 17, 2026
Officials Against Development Near Senior Village
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 6
Community News Pages 7-9
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 15
Inside The Law Page 14
Photo by Chris Lundy This land has been open space for decades but will soon be homes and businesses.
Photos courtesy Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity Cabinets, furniture and other items were collected from the Island Beach Motor Lodge. By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – Those who grieved over the closure of the Island Beach Motor Lodge can find some solace that furniture and other amenities from there will find new life in homes being built. Local developer Arya Properties purchased the motor lodge recently. They also purchased all the land from Route 35 to the ocean in the South Seaside Park section of Berkeley, just north of Island Beach State Park. The lodge and the restaurant will be
Volunteers and staff picked up furnishings that were donated. demolished and replaced with the Island Beach Estates – 16 single-family houses. The dune walkover to the beach will continue to exist. The beach itself was donated to the township. Speaking of donations, furniture and other household items that were still in good shape inside the lodge (Furniture Donated - See Page 4)
Major Turnover Reshapes County Leadership
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan The Ocean County Board of Commissioners following the county’s 2026 reorganization meeting. From left: Robert Arace, Deputy Director Jennifier Bacchione, Director Frank Sadeghi, Sam Ellenbogen, and Ray Gormley.
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - Ocean County government entered 2026 amid one of its most significant leadership transitions in decades, with a Board of Commissioners that looks markedly different from just a few years ago. At the county’s January 7 reorganization meeting, commissioners set the direction for the year ahead while acknowledging recent changes in leadership. While the meeting included ceremonial swearings-in, several officials had already taken the oath, including Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, County Clerk Jack Kelly, and Deputy Clerk Ashley Lamb. John Catalano will continue serving as one of two deputy clerks under Kelly. Commissioners Sam Ellenbogen and Ray Gormley were sworn into office on January 2.
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By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – More than 100 homes and a variety of businesses are going to be built at the corners of Route 37 and Bimini Drive, an already busy intersection. The land is currently two open fields, sandwiched between shopping centers, storage units and office buildings. The 24.414 acres include both the east and west sides of Bimini, and all of it is south of 37. It’s in the Rural Highway Business Affordable Housing Zoning District, according to paperwork from the Toms River Planning Board. This area has sat dormant for decades but it’s always been a concern of residents in the nearby Holiday City at Berkeley development. A lot of residents have been waiting for the other shoe to drop, expecting the land to be filled. One issue is that Berkeley doesn’t have any control over this property. The senior community homes are all on Berkeley land, but the property where the commercial development is proposed is in Toms River. Therefore, the developer went before the Toms River Planning Board, which approved the proposal. It cut back on some variances that the developer wanted, such as signage and fencing. Berkeley Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich spoke out against the development at a Township Council meeting two days before the planning board. “We have petitions and made numerous calls” in protest, she said. “The traffic would be horrendous. Bimini has always been crash prone.” Recently, residents have come to Township Council (Development - See Page 6)
(County Leadership - See Page 4)
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