The BERKELEY Times Vol. 31 - No. 45
In This Week’s Edition
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
May 2, 2026
Basketball Tournament Raises Money For March Of Dimes
Retiring Middle School Principal Looks Back
BREAKING NEWS @
Photo courtesy Chris Melvin The tournament raised $600 for March of Dimes.
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
Community News Pages 8-9
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
Inside The Law Page 15
Central Regional Middle School Principal Joseph Firetto is retiring. By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – Sitting down with Central Regional Middle School Principal Joseph Firetto, he spoke about how much education has changed in almost 40 years. The Middle School will certainly change, as he is retiring. He began his career in 1987 teaching special education and sixth grade in Tuckerton. In 1997, he became assistant principal at an alternate school in Monmouth County. He’s been Central’s Middle School principal since the 2008-9 school year. That means that anyone who came through that school in the last two de-
cades or so has been influenced by him. “It really has changed, but kids haven’t changed,” he said. The most significant thing that’s changed in those years is social media, not surprising as it has changed every aspect of our lives. With young kids, it’s created an entirely new venue for bullying. “So much takes place outside of school but it impacts kids in school,” he said. The state is cracking down on cell phone use. Come September, kids won’t be allowed to have (Retiring Principal - See Page 4)
Meals On Wheels Keeps Care And Connection On Track
By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – Nourishing meals are only a part of what Meals on Wheels Ocean County serves up to seniors around the county. They also provide a social connection to those who don’t get out much. Jersey Shore Online.com recently took part in a ride-along on one of several daily food distribution routes. We set off from Saint Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Toms River at
Photo by Chris Lundy
8:05 a.m. with Mike Haliscak of Toms River, whose route took us through Plumsted and Jackson townships. The church opens up its parking lot and facilities to the drivers. The agency’s motto is “More Than Meals Community, Care, Connection.” Every Meals on Wheels program is operated differently and this one uses paid staff to deliver daily meals. According to the agency’s annual (Meals On Wheels - See Page 6)
Quinn Hopping Funeral Home BURIALS | ENTOMBMENTS | CREMATIONS PRE-PLANNING without OBLIGATION Clifford B. Tantum, Manager • N.J. Lic. No. 4078
26 Mule Road, Toms River | 732-240-3800 | Quinn-HoppingFH.com
By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – An inaugural 3 on 3 basketball tournament provided competition as well as camaraderie while raising $600 for the March of Dimes. About 60 boys and girls ages 7-16 came out to the Robert L. Taylor Community Basketball Court in the Manitou Park section of town. The tourney was hosted by the Iota Chi Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated (Jersey Shore Sigmas - Ocean/Monmouth County). The international fraternity focuses on social action and other ways to uplift people, and one of its members is Taylor, the event’s organizer. “The event went well … better than what we expected,” Taylor stated. “We had a good turnout, some very good players, and all the participants seemed to have experienced a good time … which was our goal.” (March Of Dimes - See Page 4)
$1M Donation Will Help Homeless
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS R I V ER - A major investment aimed at tackling homelessness in Ocean County took shape this month as RWJBarnabas Health Photo by Stephanie Faughnan presented a $1 million RWJBarnabas Health officials stand with donation to the Ocean Ocean County Commissioners as a ceremonial $1 million check is presented to support the (Help Homeless See Page 5) Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund.
DIRECT CREMATION $2,495 Includes: arrangement conference, removal from place of death, alternative container Starmark Transporter, transfer to crematory, crematory fee
“We are dedicated to exceeding expectations and delivering a standard of service that is 100% guaranteed.”