Women’s Club Celebrates History During March Howell Schools Lose $1.7M In State Aid

By Alyssa Riccardi

HOWELL – The Howell Township K-8 School District is one of several schools in Monmouth County to receive a reduction in state aid for the 2023-24 school year.

According to the NJ Department of Education, the total state aid for Howell School District is $20,601,309, down $1,740,923 or a 7.79 percent decrease. In 2022-2023, Howell received $22,342,232 in total state aid, which was a $2.8 million reduction from the previous year.

Compared to other school districts in the County, the decrease was not the worst. Freehold Regional, which is home to Howell High School, received $23,786,497 in state aid. That is a $6,763,723 cut from the previous school year; a 22.14 percent decrease.

By Mark Bator

HOWELL – With March being Women’s History Month, this time is being celebrated by one group in town that has a vested interest in the topic.

Marking the social significance of the month, the Howell Women’s Club held their monthly meeting recently with guest speaker Kathleen Doty, who holds the esteemed position of Vice President of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs

The early incarnation of the Women’s Club found its genesis in 1963 as the Candlewood Garden Club, and operated independently for 10 years before joining the Federation in 1973. As such, 2023 marks its fi ftieth year as a member, although it has only been known as the Howell Women’s Club since 1983. As part of (Women’s Club - See Page 3)

Why Was ere So Li le Snow At e Shore?

By Andrey Nalbantov

JERSEY SHORE – Do any of you remember the massive snowman contest more than two weeks ago at the beach?

No, of course you don’t. It’s because we’ve barely had any snow this winter – not enough to even build a single snowman. And with the winter months now passed, an important question is being raised again. Why was there so little snow at the shore?

Luckily enough, there is an answer to that question, and it doesn’t exactly involve climate change, a term many believe taboo.

While our neighbors from Northern Jersey got more than five inches of snow on a couple of occasions this winter, here by the Shore we got the occasional flurries, around an inch of snow, and a whole lot of rain that used to be snow.

According to the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers University, Dr. Dave Robinson, the reason for the lack of snowfall by the Shore can be attributed to the atmospheric pattern that has been prevalent for the past two to three months.

This pattern has favored a storm track that follows the demarcation between polar air to the north and west, and subtropical (warmer) air to the south and the east. That demarcation line is also referred to as the jet stream. Storms tend to follow the path of the jet stream.

(Snow - See Page 2)

Other school districts in Monmouth County saw a significant increase in state aid, such as Holmdel Township with a 15.15 percent increase and Matawan-Aberdeen Region School District with a 10.14 percent increase. Despite its negative impact on many schools, Governor Phil Murphy and Acting Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan praised the funding figures, unveiling the $20.5 billion budget for education.

According to the Governor’s Office, the proposed budget will provide “historic levels of school aid, with an increase in $1 billion over the prior year for a total of $20.5 billion in school funding.”

This budgeted amount includes pre-K funding, pension and benefits funding for school staff, and an increase in $832 million in total K-12 formula aid, the Governor’s Office stated.

The state determines its distribution of education aid through a funding formula passed in 2018 called S-2. Although the goal of S-2 is to restore funding to districts that are underfunded, the bill has become quite controversial for doing the opposite for local districts.

For the 2023-24 school year, state figures show more than 400 New Jersey school districts will receive increased state funding. However, 157 will see a decrease.

(State Aid - See Page 2)

Snow:

Continued From Page 1

“When those storms track along the jet stream, the wind blows counter-clockwise around them,” said Robinson. “And if it’s to the west it brings warm air as the storm comes through.”

According to him, our area often fell on the warm side of the storms making it not cold enough to snow, thus creating a pattern.

In order for the shore to be blessed by a snowstorm, the storm has to travel to the east to cause the counter-clockwise rotation to bring northern cold winds into the area. Those northern winds meet with the moisture of the nearby storm and create a snowstorm.

“That’s what you need along the coast in particular,” he said. “Because it keeps the wind’s direction from blowing off the water. Once that wind turns off to the water, coastal New Jersey tends to almost always go over to rain.”

While the atmospheric pattern can be pinned as the main reason for the lack of snowfall this winter, the pattern of climate change also has an effect.

According to Robinson, the overall global warming pattern is amplified in the shore and coastal areas. This pattern is likely tied to the ocean’s warming in the mid-Atlantic and the northeast.

“We can be so influenced by conditions offshore,” he said. “We think that some of it is just a shift of wide-spread long-term patterns of circulation in the atmosphere but amplified of the fact the ocean waters at our coast are getting warmer.”

As for the possibility of snow becoming extinct in New Jersey, and especially by the shore, Robinson urges people to not give up on snow.

“We are a long way from seeing snow disappear in New Jersey,” he said.

State Aid:

Continued From Page 1

At the time of publication, the Howell Township K-8 School District made no comments on the state aid cuts. Freehold Regional Superintendent Dr. Charles Sampson put out a video message stating that the district was caught off guard with the $6.7 million reduction.

“We are the lowest per pupil spending in Monmouth County… we spend less than every other district per pupil in the County,” Sampson said. “We have now, at this time, been slashed $28 million if something doesn’t change in terms of our state aid… We believe it’s irresponsible post pandemic to cut this aid from the district.”

Casual Birder

HOWELL – Join a Park System Naturalist for these laid-back morning bird walks on May 23 at 9 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir.

We’ll meander through the parks for about an hour and a half to see what birds we can find. No need to be an expert at identifying birds to enjoy these walks. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow if needed. Participants should expect to be walking a few miles (2 to 4) on sometimes uneven or muddy terrain. We will go even with light rain or snow so please come dressed for the weather with appropriate footwear. Meet in the Visitor Center parking area.

Women’s Club:

Continued

From Page 1 the evening’s proceedings, Doty presented the club with a letter from NJSFWC President Shirley Holly and International President Deborah Strahanoski, along with a Fiftieth Anniversary Certificate.

“We do so much,” said Doty regarding the need to honor the milestones of local women’s clubs. “You have your mothers, you have your workers, you have those that belong to organizations to help those in need. You need to have some type of recognition, at least, to keep going and know that you’re appreciated.”

The group currently has 23 members, and while many of the projects they work on are centered around Howell, recruitment is open to individuals who are not necessarily residents of the Township. The current club president is Kelly Cunningham with Margaret Vallaire serving as vice president. The group assembles for their meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at the Tauton School in Howell.

The month of March, along with the recent International Women’s Day on March 8, marks the contribution of women throughout history, as well as highlighting current individuals who are making a difference in the world.

“That women can be recognized as a person,” said Doty about the importance of Women’s History Month, “and [how they’re] giving back to the community. But as a woman, whether you’re in the military or civilian, you just want to have some recognition, and just having [Women’s History Month], it is an honor to all of us.”

The NJSFWC is currently the largest volunteer women’s service organization in the state, and is an associated member of the larger General Federation of Women’s Clubs. While one of their main interests is to provide women with assistance in education, the group has strong in-roads with the township, and is well-known for being advocates and participants in a large variety of community services and activities.

The Federation has a series of member districts around the state but all are involved with the greater cause of working together to improve the lives of others. Among the most significant contributions of the women’s clubs was their key involvement in the founding of the New Jersey College for Women in 1918. Five years of hard work and dedication by the New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs led by Mabel Smith Douglass, fi nally saw the vision come to light. Today, as Douglass College, the institution bears the name of this bold New Jersey women’s advocate.

The talk given by Doty focused on the history of Women’s Clubs and the achievements and progress that they have fostered.

Among other civic concerns, the state’s Women’s Clubs encourage education. The Howell Women’s Club offers the Maryann Gambino Memorial Scholarship to one deserving young woman each year from the Freehold Regional High School District. In addition, the Girl’s Career Institute (GCI) gives students a chance to experience a small slice of college life on the Douglass Campus of Rutgers.

Through various programs, Women’s Clubs can help get professional counseling to those who are in need, as well as collect and distribute groceries, toys, household items, clothing and even gifts for families who are in economic distress. They participate with Meals on Wheels for senior citizens, and even assist with emergency fi nancial aid, by paying rent or utility bills.

Doty also pointed out this year’s special state project, namely, their partnership with the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation (ECF) which assists families in New Jersey with youngsters that are facing difficulty from the disease. The ECF can provide professional in-home counseling, and to date, has assisted over 2,000 families. Projects change every few years, but in the past, Women’s Clubs in the Garden State have raised money for the Valerie Fund, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Canine Companions for Independence as well as domestic violence shelters in the state.

Upcoming events for the Howell Women’s Club includes District Arts Performing Day on March 27, Civic Engagement and Outreach Day on March 28, Achievement Day on April 17 and their Spring Conference Luncheon at the Lobster Shanty in Point Pleasant on April 18. The group is always welcoming new members, and interested individuals may call the club at 732-773-3692, or visit their Facebook page.

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