Warehouses Taking Over Our Towns

foxes, barred owls, geese, deer and the occasional coyote. Our approximately 24-foot wide road isn’t a straight run - there’s a sharp S curve that greatly reduces traffic speed, and several more slight curves, especially near the RR tracks, which currently host an active train run. In the winter, it’s easy to see the NJNG liquified natural gas tank that’s on Rt. 547, and in the summer, overhanging trees form a canopy along the S curve. Water pools and gathers at the eastern end of our road, where it’s not unusual to see ducks and Canadian geese swimming in a field that floods after heavy rains. Bear Creek runs behind the houses to the NE. It is a water aquifer which runs into the Manasquan Reservoir water system. There are several streams and culverts that run under the road due to the high water table. Essentially, it’s remained rural and minimally inhabited for decades.

Now that you have an idea of what Victory Road is like, this letter is to inform each and every resident of Howell and other towns of the newest warehouse proposal. Maybe you’re not aware, maybe you feel it won’t affect you, maybe you even feel that progress and developments have a right to move forward. There are people who believe “Why bother trying to stop it? They’ll do what they want anyway.” But we can’t live with that defeatist attitude. As much as we may love our little back road, we understand our feelings have little to do with an approval or denial, so let’s forget the sentimentality and present some facts: Our road was built with minimal traffic flow in mind. We are concerned about surface wear when it was paved and graded only for minimal traffic, not trucks weighing thousands of pounds whose routes will inevitably cause damage and necessary repair work (the cost of which will be passed on to all

Howell taxpayers). We are concerned that the heavy machinery, destruction of land and construction of a mega warehouse will have an effect on the NJNG liquified natural gas tank. We are concerned about our property values. We are concerned about the effect that the constant flow of tractor trailers will have on our air quality, noise quality and our overall quality of life. We are concerned about the safety of our children when the school buses stop to pick up students or leave them at their homes. Cars traveling on Rt. 547 will be greatly impacted by trucks attempting to turn from Victory. We all have ground wells as our water supply, so we’re concerned about runoff or debris that will leach into our water. If this proposal is passed, it will force residents to hook up to the municipal water supply, which will incur water and sewer financial hardships. And we are more concerned that our planning board may approve these plans without due consideration to the residents, whose concerns, besides being valid and actual, should be tantamount and come before any developer.

The lawyers and professionals hired by the warehouse developers seem to believe this project will be minimally invasive…at least, that’s the impression we get. Lawyers costing upwards of $10,000 are simply out of our financial reach. But there are several Victory Road residents with prior and personal experience to address some of our concerns: among them is a former tractor trailer driver whose lifelong experience says that no tractor trailer can safely and easily maneuver turning into and off of Victory Road from the proposed site. We also have an engineer who has pointed out the obvious paving issues, which could potentially cost Howell thousands upon thousands of dollars in repairs once the summer heat softens the blacktop and creates damage by the heavy vehicles. We all hear a train that intersects Victory and travels several times a week, which will create traffic issues when trucks have to stop. But mostly, we have residents who love the area, love the country atmosphere and are willing to fight to stop this warehouse from moving forward.

The weather’s turning nice….take a ride down into Burlington County or Rt. 537 near Great Adventure, and see how the Garden State is turning into Warehouse Central. We are so sorry to know of the other approved warehouses such as the ones on Fairfield Road or Randolph Road. Not one resident wanted them! It’s time for the powers that be in Howell take notice and help the residents retain our rurality and quality of life.

Diane Lindstrom Howell

for proposing that the State of New Jersey fund private school transportation.

I believe that with the rise in private schools and the number of students attending them the expense of transpor-

We Welcome Letters To The Editor!

The Berkeley Time s welcomes all points of view for publication and provides this page as an open forum for residents to express themselves regarding politics, government, current events and local concerns.

All letters are printed as space allows unless deemed offensive by the editorial staff, and provided they are signed and include address & phone number for verification. Letters may not be printed if we cannot verify them. Names will not be withheld from publication. While most letters are printed as submitted, we reserve the right to tation will be very costly to not only the Jackson public school district, but will also be a burden on the taxpayers. This archaic state mandate (NJSA18A:39-1) which mandates public school districts must provide transportation for students attending private schools does not take into consideration the number of students attending these schools. A prime example is the consistent failure of the Lakewood public school district budget. The money taken from the public school budget for private school transportation impacts the education of the students attending the public schools and our taxes.

The opinions expressed in the Letters To The Editor section do not necessarily reflect those of the staff, management or sponsors of Micromedia Publications/ Jersey Shore Online. Letters to the Editor are the OPINION of the writer and the content is not checked for accuracy.

I suggest that the residents of Jackson Township support Assemblyman Alex Sauicke’s Bill (A4461) that would allow Jackson, Howell, Toms River, Brick and Manchester school districts to form a three-year, nonpublic student transportation pilot program to tackle escalating busing costs with state funds.

I also suggest Jackson Township Town Council and the surrounding town councils (Toms River, Howell, Brick and Manchester) petition the state of N.J. to fully fund transportation and special needs services for private schools. This State funding will not only ease the burden on taxpayers, but may also lower the number of private schools approved and built in each town. The state takes in millions from sports betting and now from taxes on the sale of legal recreational cannabis. This cost of private school transportation should not be the burden of the public school districts and the taxpayers.

Frank Resola

Jackson

Why Build Up Downtown Toms River?

At a recent Township Council meeting, a gentleman said that the public was never given the chance to talk about what they want to see in the downtown area. He is right, because if the public was asked, they definitely would not have said “two big apartment towers.”

The mayor and council made this decision for us.

They think that this will bring new business to the downtown area. But why would that matter to the rest of us? There’s maybe 10 very rich property owners in downtown Toms River that will be made richer by this. That’s the reason the mayor and council is doing this. They want to help their rich friends. It won’t affect the rest of us one bit.

If these huge apartment towers get built, the town’s school district will swell with kids. It will raise our school taxes during a time when the school is losing state aid because of bad decisions in Trenton.

Tell the mayor and council that the millionaires who own downtown Toms River are not more important than the rest of us.

Carly Smith Toms River

Ocean Gate Police Now Hiring

OCEAN GATE – The Ocean Gate Police Department is accepting resumes/applications for the position of Special Law Enforcement Officer (SLEO) II. SLEOs may eventually be considered for full-time employment when there is a vacancy. Applicants MUST be New Jersey

PTC Certified and possess a current, waiverable SLEO II certification from an approved police academy. Minimum qualifications include:

• Must be a citizen of the United States;

• Must be a resident of the State of New Jersey;

• Must be at least 18 years of age;

• Must be able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently;

• Must be sound in body and of good health and be able to perform the physical functions of the duties assigned;

• Must be of good moral character and shall not have been convicted of any crime or offense involving moral turpitude or dishonesty that would make him/her unfit to perform the duties of a police officer;

• A minimum of a high school diploma or a GED equivalent;

• Must possess a valid New Jersey driver’s license in good standing.

Potential applicants will be required to submit to the following selection process:

• Application;

• Verification of qualifying credentials;

• Verification of a non-disqualifying criminal history;

• Verification of at least three personal references;

• A review of the applicant’s driving history;

• A review of the applicant’s prior law enforcement experience;

• A review of the applicant’s prior work history;

• A review of the applicant’s current and past credit history;

• Oral interview.

Following a conditional offer of employment, applicants are required to submit to: Physical examination; Drug screening; Psychological/psychiatric examination.

Successful applicants if hired will then undergo a 6-week Field Training Program. The Borough of Ocean Gate is an equal-opportunity employer.

Qualified applicants can drop off a resume and cover letter in person at Police Headquarters to our Administrative Assistant, Susan Russo during the hours of 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday or resumes can be emailed to Oceangatepdrecruiter@gmail.com.

Victorian Tea Raises Funds For The Restoration Of The BTHS Museum

BERKELEY – Ladies and gentlemen ... the 2nd Annual, “Weekend Before Mother’s Day Tea” is almost here. Please join for a wonderful afternoon of friendship, food, and fun!

Whether you are 5 or 55, the “Weekend Before Mother’s Day Victorian Tea,” is the perfect opportunity to escort your wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, or favorite person to a funfilled, food-filled afternoon. If you attended last year, then you know, no one goes away hungry or without having made great memories.

Join for delicious finger sandwiches, petite desserts and of course scones, while sipping your favorite tea from fine porcelain teacups!

Beautiful hats and costume dress are encour- aged, but not necessary! The most precious gift we can give to anyone is our time. Spend this day with friends and family.

The Berkeley Township Historical Society’s 2nd Annual Weekend Before Mother’s Day Victorian Tea will be on May 6 at 1 p.m. at the Bayville Volunteer Fire House, 645 Atlantic City Boulevard, Bayville.

Cost: $25 per person, $10 for children 12 & under. Checks made payable to BTHS: c/o Karen Ricotta 543 Eastern Boulevard, Bayville, NJ 08721.

All proceeds go toward the restoration of the Berkeley Township Historical Society Museum. Let’s put a new coat of paint on the “Old Girl.”

Easter Catering Packages

Easter Dinner Package #1 (Feeds 8-10) $269.00

12” Antipasta Tray

1/2 Tray Penne Vodka, Baked Ziti or Lasagna

1/2 Tray Mixed Vegetables

1/2 Tray Roasted or Mashed Potatoes

1/2 Tray Spiral Ham, Chicken Parm, Francaise or Marsala

Easter Dinner Package #2 (Feeds 16-20)