Protesters Ask For Answers To Whale Deaths

By Chris Lundy

OCEAN COUNTY –

“Save the Whales” has been a slogan since at least the 1970s, and now in 2023 it’s still being used by people concerned that offshore wind projects are leading to the deaths of these animals.

There have been several dead whales that have washed up on the shore in recent weeks, which makes animal lovers wonder if the number of whale deaths is actually higher. Could there be other dead whales that didn’t wash up? They also have been asking, if something is killing these large, strong animals, what is happening to the rest of the creatures deep in the ocean?

Leslie Mangold, a retired Central Regional High School teacher, spoke with Trisha DeVoe, a naturalist on the Miss Belmar Whale

Watching boat, to see what they can put together to spark awareness. Word spread through social media and resulted in a huge crowd on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk.

“We know something’s wrong. We don’t know what it is. We need to be asking questions,” DeVoe said.

It wasn’t just these two women who helped bring attention to it. That was Valentine, a whale that got her name because she washed up in Manasquan on February 13, DeVoe said.

(Whale - See Page 21)

BEACH

HAVEN

– A resolution concerning a proposed skateboard park in the municipality could fi nally come up for a vote by the governing body later this month.

It might all depend on whether or not a proposed site plan is in place by then.

Councilwoman Jaime Baumiller said discussions about the project began a year ago when the Council received a petition requesting a skate park. Over 200 signatures were presented by students who attended the Beach Haven School.

The top three concerns under consideration are the location of the skate park, its design, and its funding. Once those items have been determined, the Council will need to decide how to manage the park and whether there will be supervised or unsupervised hours of operation.

The Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) will most likely have certain requirements concerning the establishment of the skate board park. JIF handles the borough’s risk management and claims process with regard to incidents on local government property.

According to Baumiller, funding for the skatepark was initially to be paid for by donations alone. However, residents have objected to the government

(Skate Park - See Page 5)

Berkeley Pushes For “Adriana’s Law” To Protect Kids

By Chris Lundy

BERKELEY – Responding to a cyberbullying attack that contributed to the suicide of a local teen, elected officials are pushing for a law that would make it a crime to share images or videos of an attack on a minor.

The law would be named “Adriana’s Law” for Adriana Kuch who took her life after she was assaulted by four girls at Central Regional High School. One of the attackers took a video of the incident and shared it. Many kids at the school saw the video and, after her death, it was viewed by many more

(Law - See Page 7)

Youth:

Continued From Page 1 caring for livestock fascinated me from a very young age.”

As part of her equestrian journey, Nora said she moved on to join the Cross Street Riders 4-H Club and ultimately became part of the Horse Science team for Ocean County 4-H. She not only competed in events like the Horse Bowl, Hippology, and Horse

Judging; Nora also became immersed in Veterinary Science, Animal Science, and photography projects.

Nora’s exposure to caring for animals undoubtedly helped her map out a plan for the future as she prepares to graduate high school in June. An extremely focused and determined young woman, Nora intends to pursue a career in veterinary medicine – and she’s thinking big.

The future should fi nd a young Dr. Han- sen in either a zoo or wildlife preserve, continuing to make a difference. Nora’s got her heart set on treating exotic species and large animals like lions, tigers, and bears.

Amelia Valente, Senior Program Director of the 4-H Program of the Cooperative Extension of Ocean County, explained why Nora was selected to speak before the state’s agricultural leaders.

“Each county sends a teen ambassador down to the convention,” explained Valente.

“They host a display table and talk to dignitaries about their program.”

Nora and Alex Morgan of Jackson earned the honors of attending the convention. When the New Jersey 4-H chair asked if any of the leaders could think of someone to present, Valente knew she had the perfect candidate.

Not only does Nora have a go-getter attitude, in Valente’s opinion, but she also shines as a product of the 4-H program. She exudes confidence, is radiant, and seems comfortable talking in front of the other kids and the general public.

“When many people think of agriculture, they think of sheep, cows, and goats,” Valente shared. “These are parts of traditional farming and important and needed in our state.”

However, Nora also proved she was invested in the collaborative side of farming practices and how important environmental efforts are to agriculturalists. As a member of the Ecology Club and the founder of Barnegat’s Adopt-a-Street program, Nora demonstrated her commitment to the environment.

“Though it may not be obvious to most, there is a direct correlation between environmentalism and agriculture,” said Nora to the group of agricultural leaders. “Environmentalists and agriculturalists do not always get along, but I am here to share why it is important for all of us to collaborate together - to help our Earth.”

By way of example, Nora said that she recently teamed up with “Save Barnegat Bay” to help keep our waters clean and protect our ecosystems by fighting back against unsafe fishing practices.

Additionally, Nora has developed a passion for soil, composting, and vermiculture, which is the artificial rearing or cultivation of worms. The teen reminded the agriculturists that it was crucial to the environment to ensure compostable items weren’t wasted by being sent to landfills.

Valente said Nora’s presentation made a significant impact on the group that was impressed by how the teenager married the two subjects. The feedback is not surprising to those who know Nora in her hometown.

The summer before she entered Barnegat High School, Nora and her friend Jenna Marcy appeared at a meeting before the governing body. The two girls worked with then-Dunfee School Counselor Michele Cucinotta to present a targeted environmental program.

At just 13 years old, Nora was already on the way to demonstrating her skills as a gifted speaker who could convince adults to do the right thing as far as the environment.

She and Jenna did an audio-visual exhibition on the merits of volunteer clean-up of local streets. The Adopt-A-Street proposal was put into effect in 2019 and continues to thrive.

Like many graduating seniors, the next year of Nora’s life may well be in the hands of college admissions officials. She’s already received acceptance letters from TCNJ, UCONN, Susquehanna, Delaware Valley University, and Rowan Universities. Good things often come to those who wait, as Nora hopes to hear from her fi rst choice of Duke University with positive news soon.

Skate Park:

Continued

From Page 1 agreeing to pay for other recreational activities such as pickleball and tennis and not the proposed skateboard park,

“I’m proposing that Beach Haven pays for Phase I of the skate park,” said Baumiller. “If possible, Phase II would be paid for by donations.”

Officials originally considered three separate locations, including Taylor Avenue, Walsh Field, and behind the old police station. The size requirements made a big difference in coming up with Walsh Field as the proposed site.

“In order for a park to be insured, you have to have a five-foot buffer between the park and the fence,” Baumiller said. “There’s just not enough room back there at Taylor, and there’s also a visibility concern.”

The police chief and the Department of Public Works supervisor nixed using the area by the old police station. Cable and other utilities could create a problem.

Walsh Field is approximately 211,000 square feet and is located at 300 Pearl Street. The skate park would take up 2.7 percent of the space in the park and is marked for placement next to the tennis courts.

Baumiller emphasized that the proposal calls for the construction of what she termed a “tiny” skate park with 5,000 square feet planned for Phase I of the project.

“It’s not a destination skate park where there are competitions,” Baumiller said.

“They are 30,000 to 40,000 square feet.” Plans are for multi-generations of families to utilize the park once Phase II construction is completed. Smaller children will be able to gain their footing on one end, with more challenging areas located on the other side.

Insurance regulations include the need for fencing and signage. Participants would need to wear helmets and pads.

The governing body previously passed an ordinance allotting $325,000 to the project. Hopes are that any balance will come from volunteer donations.

“I think that kids that skate board have a mission, and they’re going to come in here to enjoy doing this,” shared Mayor Nancy Taggart Davis. “It’s going to be fun watching them. We need to support the athletic endeavors of both the children and older people in town.”

Members of the Council raised questions regarding the cost of construction. Some expressed concerns that the skate park could bring problems to the area as allegedly experienced in other areas.

Several people spoke during the public portion of the town council meeting. Most shared their excitement about the proposal, while some thought it was a dangerous idea.

Sharon Ryan, a Pearl Street resident, said she did a Google search and found that many skateparks had shut down in recent years. She said many of the articles she came across related the park closures to illegal drug and alcohol use.

“I don’t believe it would be our (Beach Haven) kids at fault here,” Ryan said.

“Several of the articles said the kids came from of town, and they basically took over the parks.”

Mark Morton, 53, said he and his family are seasonal Beach Haven residents. He offered his support for the project, saying he has two daughters who skateboarded. Morton also enjoys skateboarding and said he sees it as a family event.

“I think it’s great to stay positive about this because we can come up with a million negative things to say,” shared John O’Hara of Pennsylvania Avenue. “But we can solve those things, and I’m so happy the Council has taken the time to hear us and support us.”

The enthusiasm for the proposal came from residents of other towns on Long

Beach Island. Rather than attracting trouble, some saw the skate park as a means of keeping kids away from it.

One speaker pointed out that before the public commentary began, the fi rst three rows of the meeting were filled with Beach Haven elementary school kids who hoped the skate park would become a reality.

“Unfortunately, a lot of them had to leave for sports commitments,” Dan Allen said, “Or, they just got plain tired of budget discussions.”

Surfi ng, skating, and fishing are what this community wants to do,” summed up Ship Bottom resident John Coen. “You’re giving something that reflects the culture that has been here..and making an investment in the community.”