Times
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC.
THE BRICK
Vol. 14 - No. 42
Your FREE Weekly Hometown Newspaper | Serving Brick and Lakewood Townships
Midstreams Neighborhood Watch Forms
–Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn From left to right, Community Policing Officers John Alexander and Jason Shepherd, Councilman Jim Fozman, Councilwoman Marianna Pontoriero and Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic at the recent meeting for Midstreams’ neighborhood watch group. By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK – The police would have additional “eyes and ears” in the community with Neighborhood Watch groups that are starting to form in the township. When Police Chief James Riccio took office in December, he said one of his goals
is to expand community policing, which studies show is the most effective and least costly answer to preventing crime. “The more volunteers the better; we just started a neighborhood watch program in the Colorado Park area after a big push from Councilman Jim Fozman,” Riccio said after
he was sworn in. After Colorado Park had been rebuilt, Fozman said he walked house-to-house in the area around the park to see if anyone was interested in a Neighborhood Watch program, and about 20 people signed up. (Neighborhood - See Page 4)
Inside This Week’s Edition
Business Directory............................ 16 Classifieds......................................... 15 Community News.......................... 8-11 Dr. Izzy’s Sound News...................... 12 Fun Page .......................................... 17 Government ....................................... 6 Inside The Law ................................. 17 Letters to the Editor ............................ 5 Wolfgang ......................................... 19 WWW.MICROMEDIAPUBS.COM
February 13, 2016
School Board Names New Interim Superintendent
By Judy Smestad-Nunn BR ICK – T homas Gialanella was named new Interim Superintendent of Schools while the Board of Education ter m i nated t he cont r act of I nter i m Superintendent Dr. Richard Caldes, who would return to his position as the district’s Educational Specialist. The four newest school board members – President John Lamela, Victoria Pakala, Stephanie Wohlrab and George White – voted for the personnel changes, while former President Sharon Cantillo, Karyn Cusanelli and John Barton abstained from both personnel changes at the February 4 Board of Education meeting. Cusanelli said she did not have time to do due diligence since the personnel changes were not on the meeting’s agenda. Lamela said that there was a learning curve for the new board members, and they would have to adhere to a deadline schedule in order to submit agenda items in the future. Caldes was appointed Interim Superintendent in May 2015 when Superintendent Walter Uszenski was suspended after his arrest for his role in an alleged scheme to provide his pre-school grandchild with educational services (i.e., full time daycare) and transportation at public expense for which the child was not legally entitled. (Superintendent - See Page 16)
Police Warn Public Of IRS Scam Calls
NEW JERSEY – Several police departments have issued alerts warning of scammers, posing as IRS agents on phone calls and other correspondence. The IRS continues to warn consumers to guard against scam phone calls from thieves intent on stealing their money or their identity. Criminals pose as the IRS to trick victims out of their money or personal information. The police departments of Lacey, Point Pleasant, Ocean Gate, Sea Girt and more have each released public warnings detail-
ing the scams, saying they’ve received calls from residents who have received them. Here are several tips to help you avoid being a victim of these scams: Scammers make unsolicited calls. Thieves call taxpayers claiming to be IRS officials. They demand that the victim pay a bogus tax bill. They con the victim into sending cash, usually through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. They may also leave “urgent” callback requests through phone “robo-calls,” or via phishing email. Callers try to scare their victims. Many
phone scams use threats to intimidate and bully a victim into paying. They may even threaten to arrest, deport or revoke the license of their victim if they don’t get the money. Scams use caller ID spoofing. Scammers often alter caller ID to make it look like the IRS or another agency is calling. The callers use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear legitimate. They may use the victim’s name, address and other personal information to make the call sound official. (Scam - See Page 16)
–Photo courtesy Toms River Regional Schools Thomas Gialanella is serving as interim superintendent for Brick Schools.
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