The JACKSON Times Vol. 22 - No. 30
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Retiring Officers Recognized During Walkout Ceremony
Residents Question Safety, Spending By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Questions about police investigations and personnel costs were raised by residents at a recent Township Council meeting. Resident Nick Moccio expressed concern that the township had not invested enough resources to locating his missing friend, 22-year-old Mortimer “Mekhai/Morty” Wortman. He remarked that Councilman Pollak was seemingly the only public official speaking out and supporting the search for Wortman, who was reported missing on November 21. The township man was last seen in a wooded section of the Collier Mills Wildlife Management Area. Police reported Wortman was last seen around 10:30 p.m. near the High Bridge Road entrance to the preserve and is considered missing and endangered. Wortman is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 200 pounds, with light skin, dark brown hair and brown eyes. He has a nose piercing and several earrings in each ear. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, a burgundy sweatshirt and blue jeans. Mayor Kuhn responded that she was part of a large law enforcement presence that had returned to Collier Mills on December 6 as the search expanded. Multiple agencies, including the New Jersey State Police, Jackson Police Department and Manchester Police Department, assisted the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, which is leading the investigation.
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Photo courtesy Jackson Township
Government Pages 6
Community News Pages 7-8
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
Classifieds Page 15
Sgt. Michael Grochowski and Lt. Fred Meabe join fellow members of the police department, friends and public officials during their recent walkout ceremonyl. By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – After a long and distinguished career, it can be both rewarding and difficult to walk away but two of Jackson’s finest police officers had plenty of support on their retirement during a walkout ceremony at township hall. Sgt. Michael Grochowski and Lt. Fred Meabe were both honored during this special event which noted their last day of duty with the force. Alongside many of their fellow officers and friends were public officials, Mayor Jennifer Kuhn, Council President Mordechai Burnstein and Councilman Ken Bressi. Grochowski career in law enforcement began in 1992 as a corrections officer at the Hudson County
Jail. In 1998 he joined Jackson’s police department in 1998 and during his time with the department he served in various roles, including field training officer and special response team member for both Jackson Township and the Ocean County Regional Team. The officer also assisted with search and rescue efforts at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Grochowski remarked, “For me the best part of working for the Jackson Police Department is the teamwork during serious events. I could always count on my brother and sister officers. I did not
By Bob Vosseller PLUMSTED – The year 2025 was said to be an eventful one in the township with new faces, new challenges and progress toward longstanding issues. In 2026, new leadership hopes to guide the way to keep the momentum going in the community. During the 2026 reorganization meeting, Committeeman James Hagelstein was sworn in as this year’s mayor while Committeeman Thomas Potter took the oath of office as deputy mayor. Both are serving
their first term on the Township Committee. Hagelstein noted that the township had many accomplishments last year that included the formation of the Economic and Business Commission and Agricultural Advisory Committee “both of which will continue to flourish for years to come.” “We restored the Environmental Committee to a true Commission in the best interest of our township and its residents and most importantly, the selection of a (New Mayor - See Page 5)
GOLD Exceeds $4,500 an Ounce! OVER 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS
HIGHEST RATED CASH FOR GOLD STORE IN OCEAN COUNTY
(Safety, Spending - See Page 4)
(Walkout Ceremony - See Page 4)
New Mayor And Deputy Mayor Picked In Plumsted
January 24, 2026
Task Force: Nowhere To House Homeless By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - Many point to Ocean County’s homelessness crisis and argue that the missing piece is a year-round shelter. While shelters are designed to provide emergent refuge, participants at a recent Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund task force meeting pointed to a broader challenge. The lack of affordable housing makes it incredibly difficult to transition people once temporary options end. That theme shaped a detailed discussion as county officials, nonprofit providers, advocates, and members of the public gathered in person
SILVER Nears $70 an Ounce!
90% SILVER • MEDALLIONS FLATWARE • SCRAP • JEWELRY TEA SETS • TRAYS • PITCHERS CANDELABRAS
and virtually for the meeting, chaired by Brick Township Administrator Joanne Bergin. The task force includes representatives from nonprofit service providers as well as municipalities with the highest numbers of people experiencing homelessness. Bergin and Lakewood Township Administrator Robert Lawson will continue to serve on the panel. Toms River, which has been identified as having the county’s largest unhoused population, will not have a representative after township officials did not submit the required reappointment paperwork. (Homeless - See Page 10)
RATED 5 STARS - OVER 1000 POSITIVE REVIEWS!
156 RT 37 EAST • TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753
609-781-6559