The JACKSON Times Vol. 22 - No. 29
In This Week’s Edition
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Whitesville Fire Company Disbands After Nearly A Century Of Service
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Pages 4-5
Community News Pages 7
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 11
Classifieds Page 13
Photos courtesy Whitesville Fire Company (Above) Members of the Whitesville Fire Company gather for a group photo within their fire station. (Top, right) The Whitesville Firehouse as it looked in the days when fire company members responded to the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. (Bottom, right) The Whitesville Fire Company served for almost 100 years. By Bob Vosseller Jackson Times about JACKSON – A long the unfortunate demise t i me f i re compa ny of the Whitesville Volceased to exist after Jan- unteer Fire Company uary 1 but its legacy will that had quite a bit of live on. It was the victim history in the townof a nationwide trend of ship. The Whitesville declining volunteers. Firehouse is located at Fire District No. 2 Fire 81 South Hope Chapel Official/Fire District Road and will continue Administrator Scott to be staffed by District Rauch spoke with The 2 career firefighters.
(Council - See Page 5)
Rauch said “I hate using the word disbanding. It is an ugly word. They have been around since 1931. They went
to the Hindenburg fire. We have a copy of a letter from the base (Fire Company See Page 8)
Major Turnover Reshapes County Leadership
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
OVER 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS
HIGHEST RATED CASH FOR GOLD STORE IN OCEAN COUNTY
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. In just two years, the five-member Board of Commissioners has turned over completely with previous members deciding not to seek reelection. This year, Virginia Haines and Jack
Council Hints At Changes In New Year
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – This marked the 182nd reorganization meeting for the township and its 20th in its current form of government. It proved a bit different from reorganization sessions of recent years. A reorganization meeting is the first meeting of the year, when leadership positions are assigned and professionals are chosen. Council President Mordechai Burnstein and Vice Council President Giuseppe Palmeri will retain those roles in the new year. They were appointed to them only a few months ago. They were installed by 12th District Assemblyman/ former Jackson Township Councilman Alex Sauickie. Sauickie was the lone dignitary present this year. Burnstein said “we have a meeting planned with our engineering firm to discuss work being done at our parks. One of my goals in 2026 is running these meetings professionally - giving
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Government
January 17, 2026
(Leadership - See Page 12)
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.
GOLD Exceeds $4,500 an Ounce!
SILVER Nears $70 an Ounce!
90% SILVER • MEDALLIONS FLATWARE • SCRAP • JEWELRY TEA SETS • TRAYS • PITCHERS CANDELABRAS
Rent Increase Capped For Oak Tree Residents
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Township officials and members of the municipality’s Rent Leveling Board met recently with the new owners of a development in an effort to bring equity to residents of that community. Rent Leveling Board Chairman Joseph Sullivan told The Jackson Times that a special meeting was set up to hear a real estate passthrough application from UMH Oak Tree. UMH is a large corporate manufactured home
community owner. UMH recently purchased Oak Tree, a 55-plus com mu nit y with many elderly residents on fixed incomes, which is now called UMH Oak Tree. The community is located near West Fish Road. The Board became aware of issues ranging from the original manager assaulting a resident, to loss of amenities, and a lack of communication with the residents and the town. Sullivan explained that (Rent - See Page 9)
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