The JACKSON Times Vol. 22 - No. 51
In This Week’s Edition
Father’s Day
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Student Provides Food For Thought With Award Winning Video
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Pages 5
Community News Pages 9-11
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 13
Classifieds Page 15
Photo courtesy Daniel Dipierro Jackson Township High School student Daniel Dipierro won third place in this year’s Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center’s “Speak Truth to Power” video contest at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Township high school junior Daniel Dipierro earned third place in this year’s Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center’s “Speak Truth to Power” video contest at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. His film “Food for All” explores the importance of food pantries and food banks in the midst of deep federal funding cuts. It advocated for full funding
of food banks, and showed viewers how they could help eliminate food insecurity by contacting their Congressional representatives and supporting food pantries. Dipierro explained that in producing his video, “I partnered with Freehold Area Open Door, a nonprofit food pantry and social services organization dedicated to serving those in need. Their (Award Winning - See Page 4)
June 20, 2026
Council Reluctantly Adopts Budget By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – At times it seemed like a long arduous road for this year’s municipal spending plan to reach a vote. The $62.9 million municipal budget has an increase of 5.15%. Even though the tax rate remains the same as last year, residents will see an increase of just $1.53 annually for an average home assessed at $654,000. Even with a flat rate, the spending plan had been a contentious subject during the last several Township Council meetings where residents pointed out that Mayor Jennifer Kuhn had promised the budget had been prepared and questioned why it had not been released earlier. The mayor was not present for its initial introduction and absent during the latest council meeting when the vote was taken to pass it. She did provide a letter to Business Administrator Charles Terefenko to read on her behalf that noted that it was “the council’s budget now” and that if the council wanted to make any adjustments or recommendations “now was the time to do it.” During its introduction, residents and some officials questioned why few details were provided to explain how increased services would be covered within it. There was also concern that too much was being taken from the township’s surplus fund to support this year’s budget and that this might lead to a budget shortfall in years to come. Before the budget could be adopted, an amendment had to be passed that allowed the municipal (Budget - See Page 7)
Scholarship Winners Honored
Oyster Creek Could Have By Bob Vosseller Four New Nuclear Reactors JACKSON – Mayor Jennifer Kuhn and the Township
Photo courtesy Jackson Township Recognized during the latest Township Council meeting by Mayor Jennifer Kuhn (left) and the Township Council (back) were three scholarship recipients from Jackson Township High School. (from left) Payton Brown and Colin Williams both received the Superintendent’s Roundtable Award while Madison Rathyen received the Ocean County Mayor’s Association award.
Council recognized several outstanding students for their exceptional academic achievements and dedication to their education during a recent Township Council meeting. Recognized during the meeting were three scholarship recipients of the Jackson Township High School Class of 2026. Payton Brown and Colin Williams received the Superintendent’s Roundtable Award while Madison Rathyen received the Ocean County Mayors’ Association Scholarship. “We are proud of your accomplishments and grateful (Scholarship - See Page 7)
By Stephanie Faughnan LACEY – The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station could once again produce nuclear power under a concept being explored by Holtec International that would place four small modular reactors at the Lacey Township site after decommissioning is complete. The concept was discussed during a recent nuclear energy conference hosted by Rowan University’s Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy, where state officials, lawmakers and industry representatives examined how nuclear energy could help meet New Jersey’s growing demand for electricity. The discussion comes as New Jersey officials examine ways to meet growing electricity demand while maintaining carbon-free generation. (Oyster Creek - See Page 16)
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