Firefighter Writes Motivational Children’s Book

documents submitted in the matter. The basis for the allegations focuses on social media posts purportedly made in violation of New Jersey’s Code of Ethics for School Board Members. Richmond identified Parisi and Thor as “two of the five founders” of a political activist group

(Members - See Page 3)

26 Acres Of Farmland Preserved

Toms

“Sprinkles the Fire Dog.” produce and print the motivational children’s book. It was printed using Canon’s varioPRINT iX-series.

The plot of the book centers around a puppy who dreams of one day becoming a fire dog and must overcome physical limitations and his own self-doubt to turn those dreams into a reality.

Viscuso spoke with The Toms River Times about his passion for author, raising awareness. “I actually started writing when I became the training officer for the Kearny Fire Department. I did some public relations articles and I also worked on policies and procedures but it wasn’t creative writing.

“That is kind of where it started. I write about stuff that I am passionate about. In regards to bullying, when I think about being bullied as a kid, I don’t think I was bullied any more or any less than the average person,” Viscuso said. “Bullying is unwanted aggressive behavior, mostly among school children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. I naturally had an inferiority complex and because I had that, the perceived power imbalance was always there. So, if someone talked down to me, or was rude, it wasn’t a physical type of bullying - it was a feeling like I just didn’t belong,” he added. The writer said, “that plus being an over thinker just led to some stress and anxiety. I often tell people I was a prisoner in my own mind when I was younger. Basically, I was the character in the book, Sprinkles the Fire Dog. I had a lot of that going on in my life that I felt I was undersized, didn’t belong and (Book - See Page 2)

By Alyssa Riccardi

HOWELL – With a mission to stop further development, Monmouth County along with the Township of Howell has announced the preservation of the Linney farm. Located on Five Points Road in Howell, the 25.9-acre parcel sits north of Route 33 near the border of Freehold.

On February 23, Howell Township partnered with the County and State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) and contributed just under $100,000 for the preservation. The purchase restricts any further development and ensures that the land will be permanently devoted to agricultural use.

“We are happy to be part of these transactions and to preserve farmland within the Township. The Farmers Advisory Committee (FAC) and Preservation Task Force are always working with the County and State to find and help preserve farmland,” said Matthew Howard, Director of

(Farmland - See Page 2)

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Continued From Page 1 didn’t fit in.”

“I wrote Sprinkles more than 20 years ago. I was just home one day and it was one of the fi rst stories I had ever written. Since then, I’ve had 10 books published. This is my fi rst children’s book. It was just the story that popped into my head and I wrote it. The fi rst draft was not very good and I guess I sensed that so I didn’t really try to do anything with it,” Viscuso said.

“I ended up becoming an author in the fi re service. I’ve done promotional books and several leadership and team development books and with that you meet people along your journey. I met an artist who is also a fi refighter called Paul Combs. He is a tremendous artist.”

“After getting to know him and working with him on another project I said ‘would you ever be interested in illustrating a children’s book’ because he is incredibly talented. Then I shared the story with him,” he added. The story of Sprinkles concerns “this little puppy from a big city wants to become a fire dog but his biggest challenge isn’t just his self-doubt but the corner mutts who bully him and what attracted Paul is that he said, ‘I have corner mutts in my life too. The ones that sit on the corner and bark and make you feel like you can’t ever accomplish anything,’” Viscuso said.

“He said ‘some of my corner mutts are in my own head. It is my own self doubt and limiting beliefs.’ He actually illustrated the character who was this little dog and he brought it to life. We went to our publisher who we both had gone to before and partnering with Canon and the right team can help you accomplish your dream.”

Viscuso said the partnership had worked “and will continue to work as we have more projects coming out. It worked for Paul who was very particular. When he illustrates his cartoons the quality and color pop off the page just as they do off his computer. It is an absolutely stunning book.

“For years I’ve gone to schools to speak, the schools my boys go to and given classes on fi re safety especially during fi re prevention week. I would always read a story to them as well. One year I went in and read them Sprinkles, six years before it was actually a book, it was just a manuscript and I said to my wife recently that I need to go back and show them the actual book and how they can work to take something creative and make it real,” he added.

One of Viscuso’s three boys came to his school during a “Dress As Your Favorite Book Character Day” event, “and my youngest surprised me by dressing as Sprinkles the Fire Dog.”

Farmland:

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Community Development and Land Use Officer of Howell Township.

Over the past 10 years, Howell has lost over 150 farms. With the constant development of warehouses and complexes, the open space and farmland in Howell continue to decrease. With residents voicing their concerns, the town and county are taking action with their own Farmland Preservation Plan. The acquisition of Linney farm is part of a major plan to maintain and protect farmland not only in Howell but throughout the County. “Monmouth County is committed to its agricultural roots and this is an example of that commitment,” said Thomas A. Arnone, Director of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners. “The farm is an important connector to other conservation lands in Howell and Freehold townships. The Linney family also owns the preserved Lynwick Gardens property down the street. There are now over 15,730 acres of preserved farmland in the county.”

To learn more about the County’s farmland preservation efforts and its agricultural economy, you can view the latest Monmouth County Farmland Preservation Plan at visitmonmouth.com.

In Howell Township, members of the FAC and the Preservation Task Force will be holding an Open Public Meeting to present the Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan Element to Howell Township’s Master Plan. The meeting will be held on March 23 at 6:30 p.m. and will discuss preserving natural resources, open space and agricultural foundation.

For more information, visit twp.howell. nj.us/286/Farmers-Advisory-Committee or email howellfac@twp.howell.nj.us.

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Continued From Page 1 called “Howell NJ First.” The group’s Facebook page has over 3,400 followers and states that it is a community organization of “residents putting Howell First and ahead of personal and political agendas.”

In October 2022, Richmond said she visited the Howell NJ First page and noted “they have publically (sic) endorsed political candidates.” She viewed the endorsements as a violation of the law that prohibits school board members from surrendering their “independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups…or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends.”

The complaint further alleged Parisi and Thor disregarded the section of the school ethics code regarding making decisions related to students regardless of their “ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing.” Richmond claimed both individuals breached their obligation to “make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise” their respective boards.

Both Parisi and Thor acknowledged their participation in the Howell NJ First group, which they emphasized was separate and apart from their roles as school board members. Notably, the political candidate endorsement posts bore the group’s name rather than the identity of either individual charged with violating the ethics code. “There is absolutely no evidence that either Respondent Parisi and/or Respondent

Thor personally or individually endorsed certain candidates running for Howell Council,” wrote the Commission in its decision. “Instead, the evidence submitted by Complainant uncontrovertibly affi rms that ‘Howell NJ First’ endorsed certain candidates.”

The Commission further stated that the perception that the endorsements came from either school board member in their official capacities was therefore negated.

“Ms. Richmond has been on a malicious crusade against me since 2021,” said Parisi. “She has wasted taxpayer money sending (Open Public Records Act) requests for information about me as a Board Member.”

“Most troubling, she tried to get me fi red from my job as a state worker by fi ling a complaint with the NJ Dept of Labor that I unlawfully obtained personal information about her on state and federal databases, then shared this information on social media,” Parisi continued. “A thorough investigation revealed I had never accessed her information, and the complaint was closed as unsubstantiated.”

Parisi pointed out that the school ethics complaint also cost taxpayers more money even though it was ultimately dismissed. He said he did not forfeit his personal freedoms of speech or association when he became a Board member.

“It should concern every American when an elected official tries to silence private citizens in the manner Ms. Richmond has gone after me and others,” added Parisi. Richmond additionally accused Thor separately of charges “he repeatedly bullied, insulted, disrespected and disparaged her on multiple social media posts.”

To support her allegations, Richmond said Thor posted that she was “a vile, disgusting, despicable piece of human fi lth and said that if [she] was on fi re on the side of the road, he would not even pee on [her] to put out the fl ames.”

Thor said his comments had nothing to do with his position on the Howell Township School Board. He cited his First Amendment rights to publicly speak out against Richmond, saying the two disagree on both a personal and political basis.

“Even if Respondent Thor’s comments on social media about Complainant were patently offensive, insolent and unabashedly crude, and contrary to proper civility and decorum,” wrote the Commission, “there is no evidence from which a reasonable member of the public could perceive his comments as being in his official capacity or on behalf of the Board.”

Thor emphasized that he is a lifelong Republican and, therefore, a member of the same political party as Richmond. He said he had never even had a conversation with Richmond until he supported another council candidate in last year’s Republican primary.

According to Thor, he became especially alarmed when his and another board member’s home addresses suddenly appeared on a public forum that he believed to be run by Richmond and others.

“It is my First Amendment right to speak out against bullies,” said Thor. “I will always defend myself or others against people, especially those who are in influential positions, who mistreat others, and use social media as a means to infl ict harm. This type of behavior needs to stop.”

Parisi and Thor were represented by separate legal counsel to respond to the allegation, who asked for a dismissal of the complaints against them. Both individuals requested Richmond be imposed with sanctions, saying her complaint was a “frivolous fi ling” made in bad faith.

The School Ethics Commission found Richmond had not provided sufficient credible evidence to support her ethical code charges against either Parisi or Thor. No sanctions were imposed upon Richmond as the Commission found her complaint was not frivolous.

Attorneys’ fees for both Parisi and Thor were afforded by their respective districts.

“People need to realize that when they make a complaint because of a personal or political vendetta, they are selfi shly hurting the people of their own community by wasting taxpayer dollars,” said Thor. “In a time where the state is taking funds from our district due to the S-2 legislation, actions like this hurt our children and families.”

S-2 is a law that changed how schools are funded, and it pulled millions of dollars in state aid away from some local districts. Richmond responded to a request for comment, but unfortunately, no connection was made prior to this story going to press.