Graduating Class Goes Through The Looking Glass

House Of Worship Ordinance Questioned

By Bob Vosseller

─Photos by Bob Vosseller This must be what Alice saw when she stepped through the looking glass and ended up at Regional Day School’s specially created Wonderland during the school’s recent prom.

(Inset): A Regional Day School student enjoys a dance with an Ocean County Sheriff’s Officer during the recent prom held at the school.

By Bob

JACKSON – It started out with the 10th Annual Penguin Plunge months ago and culminated recently with a romp around Wonderland at the Regional Day School.

The school - located at 890 Toms River Road in Jackson - is actually part of the Manchester School district and services students with special needs and intellectual challenges. Funds were raised for this year’s prom and graduation through the annual Penguin Plunge held at Harry Wright Lake. School Principal Lisa Michallis noted that “$6,500 was raised through the Penguin Plunge.”

“This year’s prom theme was Alice in Wonderland. Part of the donations have been used for this year’s event which includes a DJ and catered lunch in our school’s multi-purpose room,” she added. The students’

(Class - See Page 4)

Environmental Committee To Monitor Lake

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“Congratulations to the Plumsted Township Environmental Committee for being selected for a traveling HAB citizens science program run by Montclair State University partnering with the New Egypt High School and Americorps. This project will monitor the health of Oakford Lake and Crosswicks Creek this summer and fall,” Township Mayor Robert Bowen announced during a recent Township Committee meeting.

Environmental Committee member Kate Tallon said that when

(Lake - See Page 8)

JACKSON –

While an ordinance concerning Houses of Worship is off the table by the governing body, it is set to return in a different format by a township land use board and some residents are taking issue with that plan.

During a recent Township Council meeting residents questioned the Council on its plans regarding an ordinance that had been introduced, then pulled, then put on indefinite pause that related to regulating houses of worship and permitting them within certain specified street corners in neighborhoods.

Over the last several years, residents have come before the Council complaining that Code Enforcement officials were not taking enough action toward perceived violations of “prayer houses” within residential neighborhoods that impacted parking, traffic and noise ordinances of the township.

The township faced some serious backlash in the form of litigation and fines by federal agencies concerning some of its building codes that restricted placement of religious private schools and housing. The ordinance

(Worship - See Page 5)

Cops Recognized For Saving

Resident’s Life

By Bob Vosseller

JACKSON – Two township police officers were honored during a recent Township Council meeting for their fast action in response to a medical emergency Township Councilwoman Jennifer Kuhn presented a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Michael Reina and the entire Jackson Council to Officers Zachary Rosina and William Kozna, along with Jackson resident Tyler Kalmowitz, “for their heroic and lifesaving actions which led to the resuscitation and survival of Tyler’s father.”

“We are here to honor two of our own local heroes. On May 7, Officers Rosina and Kozna responded to a First Aid call where immediate attention was required for a man who was not breathing. Upon arrival at the residence the officers observed Tyler Kalmowitz performing CPR on his father Robert,” the councilwoman explained.

She added, “the (Cops - See Page 6)

Class: Continued From Page 1

graduation was scheduled for June 9 and included a post-graduation party and celebration for the graduates and their families.

Michallis told The Manchester Times that a lot of work was involved in transforming the school’s gymnasium into Wonderland. “We have a prom committee of three but some of our staff also helped us make some of the decorations. Our prom committee comes up with the theme and in the last few nights they put the last special touches on this.”

“We have a catered lunch today. We are doing a tea party theme so we’ll have some finger desserts, a DJ, photo booth and we had prom shirts that were made up,” the principal added.

The Prom Committee consisted of Kelly Sales, Jessica Nolan and Jeanette Mojica. They were sporting the Prom T-shirts. Sales said it took around a “week and a half but we started planning in September. It is a different theme every year. Last year the theme was a circus.”

Michallis said there would be a prom king and queen. “We have 73 students and at least 50 are here today for the prom. It is for those 14 and older. At the end of the day we will invite the rest of the school down for dessert and dancing.”

“Our DJ is One-of-a-Kind Events; they have been our DJ for prom and graduation for about 15 years now. They are great to work with,” Michallis said.

Also in attendance was a member of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office who visited from the nearby Ocean County Vocational School in Jackson, who maintains safety, she said.

The school recently observed its 40th anniversary. “It opened up in the 1982-83 school year,” she said. Prior staff members and students came out for that event and keynote speaker Nicholas Meroney in celebration of the school and students.

“We are a hidden gem here in Ocean County,” Michallis said. The anniversary celebration included an assembly and an open house tour with a theme of “Through the Decades” with classrooms having a theme of different decades that included cake and refreshments.

Michallis said the school has a staff of 72 teachers, principals, para professionals. Regional Day School was actually built by the state of New Jersey. “They built a lot of regional day schools in the early 80s. Now most are run by a service commission or a private board of directors.”

“We are run by the Manchester Board of Education and we are recertified by the state every five years. Manchester (BOE) oversees us, our employees and our programs.”

The anniversary was also held in the gymnasium requiring Alice in Wonderland to be removed following the prom. “It was said to take it down,” Sales remarked.

Worship: Continued From Page 1 that was put on pause was a result of a litigation settlement, according to officials.

Resident Joe Krakowski asked the Council if the committees had met yet who were looking at open space or rewriting the master plan.

Council President Martin Flemming said no. “Neither of those fall under the council. The one for open space falls under the mayor and the master plan is under the planning board.”

Krakowski then asked about the house of worship ordinance and if it was going to be written into the master plan and not “being brought to the attention of the public as an ordinance.”

Township Attorney Gregory McGuckin replied “they (the Planning Board) can recommend in the master plan and make recommendations but the ordinances would have to be approved by the governing body.”

Krakowski said he observed construction converting a four-bedroom house for the purpose of using it as a house of worship.

Flemming said if a house’s use is changed “that has to go before a land use board and should be handled at that point. The laws are different if it is not being used as a house anymore. Any approvals needed would come after the change of use was approved.”

“I was concerned with over use of septic and wells,” the resident added.

“Who came out with the idea that houses of worship should only be on the corner property?” resident Ian Bannon asked.

Flemming explained that in the smaller zones, “we tried to make it so the properties were big enough and not affect the surrounding properties. We didn’t want them in the middle of a block because that would be too much disturbance. It seemed easier to protect the housing behind it.”

He noted there “should be no on street parking” within such a ruling and that parking would be within a lot of such a facility.

Resident Randy Bergmann asked, “what is the intent of the council at this point? You introduced the ordinance and there has been no second reading? Why?”

Flemming said that “because of the type of ordinance it is, there was a requirement to make notifications and that would constitute somewhere between $200,000-$500,000 for mailings. We felt that was inappropriate and a better way to do it was through the planning board. It still has public hearings and still has a public notice but wouldn’t cost the township a half a million dollars.”

“It was virtually every house in town,” Flemming said responding to Bergmann’s follow up question on the notification requirements.

The Council President added, “every zone is affected so every house within that zone would have to be noticed.

The Planning Board Chair has been notified. A committee will be put together of planning board members, other members and our professionals to create the ordinances that will keep everybody happy, the township, the litigants, the DOJ (Department of Justice) and everybody else we are dealing with.”

“Did this ordinance (14-23) come out of the settlement with the federal government (DOJ). Did you feel you needed to do this?” Bergmann asked Flemming.

Flemming asked McGuckin if he could answer that question. McGuckin answered “it probably wouldn’t be appropriate to answer that. The Council moved to table the ordinance to amend it. The Planning Board will review that process and make a determination.”

The status on the master plan review is that it has not started yet and a committee is not yet in place according to Flemming. “That is the chairman of the planning board’s responsibility.”

Bermann asked if there had been a preliminary audit done on the number of homes that would be taken off the tax rolls as their conversion would mean a tax-exempt status. “Those calculations are part of what the Planning Board will be looking at and I’m not sure if we can take that into consideration as to how much tax revenue that we would lose.”

Resident Nicole Koopman asked if there would be a limit set on how many houses of worship would be within each zone.

“We can’t legally do that,” Flemming responded. “It would be an economic decision for those who would use them. It is not something we can limit.” He noted that the number of Catholic churches could not be limited any more than a Jewish temple or Muslim mosque.

Flemming told resident Michele Whary Ordinance 14-23 can be found in full detail at the township website. “All this information is on the township website and these are all public meetings.”

Residents opposing this plan were promoting awareness and passing out literature of their social media sites Jackson Strong and Citizens Uniting along the parade route of the Memorial Day Parade.

Their fliers are calling Ordinance 14-23 unconstitutional, and are claiming it presents ethics issues within the township government, parsonage being established, increased traffic with no improvements to infrastructure, and favoritism in land use, zoning and building decisions.

Cops:

Continued From Page 1 officers took charge of the scene and helped direct Tyler Kalmowitz as they prepared the defibrillator. “After using the defibrillator, Officer Rosina resumed CPR while Officer Kozna delivered oxygen which resulted in Robert Kalmowitz regaining consciousness.”

The quick actions of Tyler (who is certified in CPR), Officer Rosina and Officer Kozna led to the man’s survival, she said. Had his son not started CPR prior to the officers arrival, his father would not have had the blood flow needed for recover.

Robert Kalmowitz was still recovering at home having been released from the hospital at the time of the Council meeting. His daughter spoke on behalf of the family, thanking the officers and the governing body for recognizing her brother and the officers for their response.

Kalmowitz said.

She noted that her father experienced another cardiac arrest while in the hospital. “Now it is a day-by-day recovery and my dad is out of the hospital today. It was best for him to rest at home so sadly he couldn’t be with us tonight. He is a fighter and so strong.”

Juliana

“My father experienced cardiac arrest. He was unconscious and was in a fetal position. My brother applied CPR to him until the officers and EMS arrived. Seeing the light in my father’s eyes again and hearing him say my name brought me peace and hope,”

“I cannot thank my brother in his being so strong and applying CPR to my dad and the officers who helped get him breathing and talking again. You guys are all superheroes in my eyes,” she added.

She also stressed the need for people to become trained in CPR. “We hope everyone here becomes CPR certified.”

Council President Martin Flemming noted regarding CPR training, “you can also reach out to any of our fire departments and first aid squads who are always giving classes throughout the year. They are available and if you make yourself available, they will teach you.”

CPR Training Class

By Bob Vosseller

JACKSON – After the mayor and council honored the lifesaving efforts of police officers Zachary Rodina and William Kozna, Councilwoman Jennifer Kuhn said she is coordinating a CPR class on June 4.

During the May 23 Council meeting, Kuhn read the mayor’s proclamation and later stated, “in light of tonight’s proclamation we heard about the life saving benefits of CPR, we can never over stress the importance of obtaining the basic training to save a life.”

She added, “with that being said as a private citizen I will be hosting a CPR training class with a certified instructor on June 4, at 10 a.m. at JLK HQ located in Romeo’s Plaza. You can e-mail my office at Info@JLKSalesGroup.com for more information or to register.”

Fun & Games

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