Vol. 13 - No. 41
In This Week’s Edition
THE HOWELL
TIMES
MICROMEDIAPUBS.COM
Your FREE Weekly Hometown Newspaper For Howell, Farmingdale, Ramtown and Freehold
Community News! Don’t miss what’s happening in your town. Pages 8-11.
Dear Joel Riding Along In My Automobile Page 17.
Fun Page Page 14.
Wolfgang Puck Transition From Winter To Spring With An Easy Recipe Featuring Fava Beans Page 19.
Dear Pharmacist 11 Essential Oils For Your Thyroid Page 12.
Inside The Law Why Do I Need A Power Of Attorney? Page 13.
Letters To The Editor Page 6.
From Your Government Officials Page 7.
Classified Ads Page 15.
Police Chief Promotes Lieutenant Fowler, Welcomes Patrolman Jackson
By Sara Grillo HOW ELL – T he township has a police chaplain program now, and also promoted and appoi nted of f icers, during a ceremony at town hall recently. Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick called it a great honor to welcome the officers into their roles at the March 7 town council meeting, promoting and appointing t wo officers, and also announcing the township’s fi rst ever police chaplaincy program. The chief promoted Bernard “Bernie” Fowler to lieutenant, saying he is his righthand man and an officer whom he shares a strong history with. Chief Kudrick and Lt. Fowler both began their careers as police explorers in Howell and Rahway, compet-
–Photo by Sara Grillo Patrolman Ryan Jackson getting ready to be sworn in accompanied by his police-oriented family. Also pictured is Councilwoman Evelyn O’Donnell and Police Chief Kudrick. ing against each other within the state. When Fowler came to the Howell Police Department in 2000, Kudrick was assigned as his field training officer, and the two drove around for three months in a Chevy Blazer with fellow K-9 Officer Blitz. According to the police
Longtime Resident Pens Book On Jackson Mills Region
By Jennifer Peacock JACKSON – There exists a vernacular, or maybe better described as a shorthand, that only locals can know, and likely only locals who grew up in that place. Locations are
known by who lives in that house, or who used to live there, or what building used to be there. In Jackson Mills, so much of the past – both people and buildings – exists only (Book - See Page 16)
chief, the training went the other way around. Lt. Fowler quickly rose through the police r a n k s a nd excelled in the depar tment’s Tr a i n i n g B u r e a u , where he is responsible for new officers in the field training program, county inst r uctor for the ac-
tive shooter program, conducting firearms certifications for over 100 officers, handling equipment procurement and coordinating in-house officer training. He is also the tactical team leader for the Monmouth Cou nt y Emergency (Police - See Page 4)
| March 18, 2017
State Bail Reform Leaves Municipal Court Shorthanded
By Sara Grillo HOWELL – Implications brought on by recent state bail reform legislation can be seen with a closer look at Howell Township’s municipal court. At the township’s March 6 budget meeting, Court Administrator Rosemary O’Donnell revealed challenges brought on by the recent legislation, which eliminates bail for many defendants and forces a speedier trial for warrants. The intention was to keep the system fair for poor defendants who struggle to post bail and face losing jobs and critical medical care while incarcerated. “Before, we would only handle disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons cases.
Now, we are getting remanded f rom the prosecutor’s office and the criminal division fourth degree and, believe it or not, a lot of third degree cases,” said O’Donnell. As a result, the court is now seeing double the amount of cases they handled in the same timeframe last year, and currently has 2,100 active pending cases. Prior to 2014, court staff was comprised of a court administrator and six full-time employees. Now, they get by with just four fulltime staff. O’Donnell asked for an additional violations clerk to be added to the budget, citing that the court’s annual budget is typically well below the roughly $750,000 it (Reform - See Page 4)
A FROSTY BUT FUN ST. PATRICK’S DAY PAR ADE
By Sara Grillo SEASIDE HEIGHTS – The annual Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade marched through Seaside’s Boulevard for the 33rd time on March 11. People came from every corner of Ocean County—wrapped up in scarves, gloves and hats in every shade of green—proving that not even 25 degrees and 30 mile per (Parade - See Page 5)
–Photo by Sara Grillo