Color Run Br igh t ens Up Serious Subject WOBM Pit Preserved As Open Space

By Chris Lundy and Bob Vosseller

BERKELEY - More than 46 acres of land off Route 9, in the area commonly known as the WOBM pit, will be preserved using Ocean County Natural Lands Trust funds.

The fund is fueled by an open space tax on all properties in the county. The purchases are on Route 9 and Grant Concourse, and owned by two different owners. They were bought for $1.9 million and $1,050,000 respectively.

in order to preserve this property,” Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines said. She is the liaison to the County’s open space program.

Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato and Council President John A. Bacchione extended their appreciation on behalf of the township to the Board of Commissioners noting this was an important purchase for both the Township and the County.

By Chris Lundy BERKELEY

– It’s a subject most people don’t want to talk about: mental health. It can be a sad and scary place, made worse by how our society treats “crazy” people and tells them they are weak if they ask for help. The only way to deal with a dark subject is to shine light on it. Educate. Take away the stigma.

That’s why Veterans Park in Bayville was alive with a Color Run on a brilliant Saturday morning. Participants trekked a one-mile course around the park, (Color - See Page 4)

25 Homeless Permanently Housed This Winter

By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – Just

Believe Inc. shared their statistics for the 2022-2023 season when they care for the homeless during the winter months, including helping 25 of them find permanent housing.

Just Believe is a nonprofit that runs the Code Blue shelter in Riverwood Park, which opens its doors on nights when temperatures approach freezing. They were open 81 nights, according to CEO Paul Hulse. Although the park is in Toms River, the unhoused population comes from all over Ocean County.

They had 147 different people stay for a total of 1,620 nights. But it’s not just about shelter for one night, it’s about finding out what issues they are having so that they can be referred to organizations that help.

For example, there were 75 referrals for various services. There were 35 people who applied for Section 8 vouchers.

Eleven people found temporary housing. A rental car was secured for one guest.

Ten people entered a facility for substance abuse or mental health. Three went to a sober living home. Five people relocated out of state. Six found gainful employment. Nine people were denied access due to behavior or needing a higher level of care; they were instead provided emer- gency housing elsewhere.

Hulse thanked Fulfill, A Need We Feed, and a number of local restaurants for providing meals. In addition to the big stuff like food and housing, there were also smaller things that helped people feel good, like

(Homeless - See Page 6)

“This is a key acquisition for the natural lands trust program. We worked closely with Berkeley Township

“We appreciate the County’s ongoing efforts to preserve land as open space. Working together, this land will now forever be

(WOBM - See Page 5)

Millions In Taxes Might Come To Towns

By Chris Lundy

BERKELEY - Legislation is underway that would return millions of dollars in taxes to towns that are owed money from the state.

The taxes in question are the Energy Tax Receipts. Years ago, utility companies paid the towns taxes for these poles. After all, a pole is property in town and therefore subject to property tax.

Then, at some point, the state started collecting the money to distribute to the towns. Except the state spent that money instead.

“You’re talking millions of dollars that should have gone to municipalities,” Mayor Carmen Amato said. The state is “flush with billions of extra dollars” so he hoped that this bill could pass so some of that money can go back to where it belonged.

He noted that it didn’t matter whether the Republicans or Democrats

(Taxes - See Page 6)

Direct Cremation

$1995

Includes: arrangement conference, removal from place of death, alternative container Batesville ccbmdfc, transfer to crematory, crematory fee

“We are dedicated to exceeding expectations and delivering a standard of service that is 100% guaranteed.”

Color: Continued From Page 1 mostly walking. As they passed stations, they were blasted with color. This served as a fundraiser for a variety of mental health programs, said Michelle Price, director of the Ocean County office for the Mental Health Association in New Jersey.

There are a number of services available, to treat such things as substance addiction, hoarding, and more, she said. They also hold a Golden Peer Outreach Support Team for 65 and older clients. There were more than 80 pre-registrants for the event, but since people could sign up the day of the run, there were likely many more, she said.

The statewide nonprofit hosts peerbased mentoring where clients meet with individuals who have lived experience with mental health challenges. They can offer a knowing ear to listen and help people set goals. There are also support groups that take place in person and virtually. The virtual ones started during the pandemic but has proved popular enough to continue. It helps people who are dealing with anxiety or physical limitations who might not find it easy to go someplace for the session.

Linda K. gave an example of what one of the programs is like from both sides. She was a client, and believed in it so much that she now offers peer counseling. It wasn’t easy. She went through 500 hours volunteering to be certified by the state. She spends time with a few different groups in relaxed environments, and everything comes out of socialization. Sometimes, there’s a subject, like “What do you do when people ask if you’re OK and you’re not OK?” Sometimes, you let the group lead the discussion and see where it goes. You find out what their concerns are.

“The people are great,” she said. “They really are great.”

It was this positivity that came through during the event. There was upbeat music, lots of color and laughter. Tables were set up offering support services. Kids could make slime or do crafts. Doing this work was truly heroic, and some were dressed in capes and masks to prove it.

Racheal O’Dea, the deputy chief operating officer for the Mental Health Association of NJ, said that people have a variety of needs. You can’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why they first determine what needs someone has and then craft an approach that caters to that person.

“We understand that everybody’s journey and recovery is individual. Only the individual can define what that means,” she said.

Need Help?

If you are looking for help, you are encouraged to visit MHANJ.org, or contact them at 732-244-0940.

WOBM: Continued From Page 1 preserved,” Amato said.

There were two different applications submitted for what was called the Berkeley Nine Estates, according to authorities. The Board of Adjustment application consisted of 115 age restricted units. The Planning Board application consisted of 91 single family units and 1 mixed use lot which had four office/ retail units on the ground floor with five residential apartments on the second floor. There was also a proposal for 190 units of garden apartments.

“This preservation is a positive step for all of us,” Amato said. The land is located in an area overlay zone which provides for high density residential and or mixed residential and retail development.

Berkeley has pledged to police the 46.51acre property with the hopes of curtailing some of the damage and public safety hazards being created by off-road vehicles which are prohibited.

The location will be eventually be home to a park which could include soccer fields, Amato said. The town will apply for Green Acres funding in the 2025 grant cycle.

“This will be a big help in restricting improper use of these lands. We appreciate the Township’s efforts to reduce the damage we have been experiencing,” County Committeewoman Virginia Haines said.

Berkeley Township has provided $241,000 toward the sale and will also donate about 18 acres adjacent to the county rail trail to be preserved.

Bacchione explained, “this donation will help to buffer Ocean County’s Barnegat Branch Trail which is adjacent to the site.”

It was noted that there is evidence on the site of threatened and endangered species habitat, namely with sightings of the barred owl. Minimal ponding and depressions on the site also provide habitat for various amphibian species.

Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari said, “working in partnership with our municipalities like Berkeley Township and our environmental agencies brings many benefits to our open space program. The partnerships help preserve more land and in turn protects more of our environment.”

Nearby residents had urged the government to stop development in that area. Route 9 is already overcrowded during peak times, and the roads accessing the property were not made for high traffic. An online petition stated “Our roads are already overburdened with horrendous traffic…our water aquifer cannot withstand even more impervious surface being laid, without proper replenishment due to those roads. This developer is asking the Planning Board to accept their application for many variances. Variances that seek to change the current specifications the town already has in place. Zoning that was put in place to meet state regulations should not be overlooked and overturned simply because enough money was thrown at the issue!”

Next to this acquisition was a previous acquisition of nearly 12 acres, in 2022, called

Victorian Pines, Amato said. Victorian Pines had a plan for 35 single family homes and is opposite of the Eastern Boulevard Soccer Complex on one side and the Ocean County Rail Trail on the other. This was acquired with the county as well.

“With these three recent open space purchases, along with our land donation, we have successfully stopped a minimum of 150 homes or 190 garden apartments from being built and preserving 74 acres forever,” he said. In related news, there will be a hearing about open space at the next Planning Board meeting which starts at 6 p.m. on May 18 at Town Hall, 627 Pinewald Keswick Road, Bayville.

The purpose of the hearing is to amend the Recreation and Open Space Inventory Element Of The Master Plan Report to include newly acquired open space.

Documents and maps will be posted to the town’s website at twp.berkeley.nj.us/ eight days before the hearing. They can also be looked at in the clerk’s office in town hall during normal business hours or by reaching the Planning Board secretary at GNapolitano@BerkeleyTownship.org. Questions or comments can be sent to that email at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. They must include your name and address, which will be read into the record.

Taxes: Continued From Page 1 were in charge, Trenton kept the money.

The Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act would “restore, over a five-year period, approximately $331 million” to towns across the state.

The Senate version of the bill, S-330, has two sponsors and 20 co-sponsors, including James Holzapfel and Christopher Connors, the senators that represent Ocean County. This means it was a popular bill. Out of 40 state senators in New Jersey, 22 had their name on it.

Homeless: Continued From Page 1 getting haircuts or going bowling. Showers were provided by the YMCA.

About 2,500 hours were spent by volunteers, he said.

This marks “six years of Code Blue success in Ocean County,” Hulse said. These figures represent only five months of the year. “Imagine what we could do if we were open all year long?”

Nonprofit organizations and faithbased groups house the homeless be - cause Ocean County leaders don’t want to run a shelter.

The bill passed 39-0.

The Assembly version of the bill, A-3804, has three sponsors and 34 co-sponsors. It has not been voted upon yet, but almost half of the 80 members of the state assembly are already in favor.

The Berkeley Township Council passed a resolution in support of the bill.

The New Jersey League of Municipalities said that it was in 1997 when utility regulations changed. The League has been pushing for the money to come back to towns for a number of years.

Fundraiser For Housing

Just Believe’s first annual 5K and 1K fun run will be held at Winding River Park, 147 Oak Ridge Parkway, Toms River, on May 13 at 8 a.m.

Proceeds will go to raise funds for a transitional housing project called Larry’s’ Home which will help veterans transition back into society.

Call Linda for registration and sponsorship information at 732-569-0643.

For more information, visit JustBelieveInc.org.

Paws In The Park

BERKELEY – Commissioner Virginia E. Haines announces that the Ocean County Department of Parks & Recreation will be hosting their Paws in the Park at the Ocean County Fairgrounds, located at Robert J. Miller Airpark at 901 Route 530, Berkeley Township, on June 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ocean County Parks and Recreation, as well as various dog related vendors, shelters/rescues, trainers, veterinarians, etc. will be tabling and providing demonstrations and information for event-goers. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department will also be present to assist in the Child Registry Program.

Dog related vendors, shelters, etc. are welcome to contact Marc Steuer at 732506-9090, ext. 5950 for more details. There is no vendor fee or admittance fee to the public.