County Creating Homelessness Trust Fund

By Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY –

After many years of criticism over the way Ocean County handles homelessness, the leaders are creating a trust fund that will pay for temporary housing and other services. (Fund - See Page 12)

The county will charge a $5 fee on certain documents filed or recorded with the County Clerk’s Office. In 2022, there were more than 130,000 documents, officials said. The fee is expected to go into surge in New Jersey’s fi lm industry as Netfl ix and Lionsgate establish their presence in the state.

Inspired by actual events, “Retrograde Victory” takes a departure from the conventional narratives surrounding the Vietnam War and offers a fresh perspective. Walker emphasized that the film is not a documentary.

“The story is based on my grandfather’s (Barry Crease) experience during that era,” he said. “It tells the tale of a lot of people who didn’t go but had friends that did. Maybe they couldn’t be drafted because they were an only child, or maybe their other brothers had already gone, and they were last one.”

(Film - See Page 4)

By Stephanie Faughnan

BARNEGAT – As drivers enjoy the newfound smoothness of the road surface in front of the municipal complex, an unexpected challenge has officials worried about safety.

Local officials and residents both expressed immense satisfaction when the county repaved West Bay Avenue, stretching from Sandpiper Road to Route 9. However, the completion of the project on May 12 came with what appears to be an unwelcome change to the original design.

Instead of the familiar left-turn lane that previously guided eastbound drivers into Town Hall, double yellow lines now occupy that space. This alteration has presented a significant concern for government authorities, who recognize its potential implications on traffic flow and driver behavior.

(Restriped- See Page 5)

Police Reel In Kids With Fishing Event

By Stephanie Faughnan

LITTLE EGG HARBOR – Embracing the power of nature, the local police department hosted its annual “Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs” initiative, encouraging children to discover the joy of angling and fi nd positive outlets for their free time.

“The event was sponsored by PAL (Police Athletic League),” shared Sgt. Sean Crotty. “Matthew Benn and his sister own Sea Pirate Campground and invited us to have it there.”

Numerous youngsters, ranging from grades 1 to 6, eagerly cast their lines into the water, brimming with anticipation. The well-stocked lake teeming with an abundance of bass ensured that a multitude of children (Fishing- See Page 5)

Film:

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“Or, they could have been like my grandfather, who was faced with an injury,” he shared.

During the script’s development, Walker received invaluable insights from his grandfather, which unraveled intriguing details about the Vietnam War. One particular conversation profoundly impacted Walker when his grandfather mentioned the loss of his friend, Paul, on Hamburger Hill.

Intrigued by the revelation, Walker embarked on a research journey to uncover more about Hamburger Hill. He discovered that the battle involved a relatively small number of soldiers over a ten-day period. Walker’s perseverance led him to an online memorial that included the name of his grandfather’s friend.

“As I was writing the script, I thought how morbid it would be if the character in the movie died a day before the battle ended,” said Walker. “Lo and behold, when I went to visit Paul’s grave, the gravestone said he died the same day I wrote in the script.”

The uncanniness was not lost on Walker and propelled him to learn more about the lives of numerous young individuals who were drafted and deployed to Vietnam. Walker’s summary of the “goal of his first film is not simply to show another side of the Vietnam War, or even just another tale of comedy and tragedy, but to show the worth of humans.”

In the meantime, Walker’s roles in “Retrograde Victory” go beyond those of a camera operator, screenwriter, and research expert. He is also the location scout, casting director, producer, and executive director.

With meticulous dedication as the props master, Walker demonstrates a keen eye for detail. Going above and beyond, he has personally invested his own funds to buy significant items like a vintage phone booth to ensure an authentic portrayal. Additionally, for an upcoming scene, Walker hopes to secure a leased bus that perfectly captures the essence of the era. His commitment to historical accuracy shines through Walker’s endeavors as he strives to create a truly immersive experience for the audience.

“In 1967, just about everybody smoked Newports,” said Walker. “Until 1967, the Newport carton was a very basic font for a sealed carton. I found this because I would read catalogs about cigarettes.”

“I went out of my way and spent so much money for a whole package of old cigarettes,” Walker continued. “The only one I wanted in that pack was just the Newports from 1967. The guy wouldn’t let me buy just that one pack.” When selecting set locations, Walker searched out places that could be adapted to reflect the Vietnam era. Locals will recognize the Forked River Diner in the film, sans the modern-day cars regularly parked out front. Other scenes have been shot in Asbury Park, Brick, Jersey City, and Shark River Hills.

In his search for actors to bring his movie to life, Walker turned to trade journals, utilizing them as a valuable resource. Among the talented individuals he discovered, one actor, in particular, fills him with immense pride - Zane Claudio. Cast in the pivotal role of Barry, named in honor of Walker’s own grandfather, Claudio’s performance holds special significance within the film.

A remarkable aspect of the entire project stems directly from Walker’s journey as a selftaught aspiring creative. From a young age, he displayed a natural talent for intricate hand drawings, eventually leading to his exploring video game mapping during his teenage years. Through self-guided learning, Walker ventured into the realm of digital photo and video editing software, progressing further to master 3D software.

The evolution of cell phone cameras served as an additional invaluable learning tool, propelling Walker’s artistic growth to its current stage. From humble beginnings, Walker’s innate abilities and relentless pursuit of knowledge have brought him to where he stands today, poised to make a significant impact in the world of filmmaking.

A year after graduating from Lacey High School, Walker decided he needed to head out to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams. He didn’t know anyone there, and he didn’t have a portfolio.

“I was working at a supplements store,” said Walker. “And I was filming music videos for friends I made. One was an aspiring actor and the other a rapper.”

Walker didn’t charge for the videos as he was trying to build up his portfolio. While he had some interesting experiences out in LA, he returned to New Jersey after a couple of years.

“I love film,” Walker shared. “I think that the ‘movie look’ is something that people born before the 2000s can tell subconsciously is a movie based on the look.”

Walker said he prefers to shoot in 16mm film rather than digital as many modern filmmakers use. While digital cameras are very good with the dark parts of an image, the backgrounds are very white and blown out.

“So, film has a beautiful look with the skies and clouds and the sun,” shared Walker. “You could shoot the sun, and the sun’s bright. In most cases, you can see the color of it.”

According to the “Retrograde Victory” website, one of the things Walker wanted to capture was a raw and gritty aesthetic reminiscent of movies filmed between 1967 and 1969. Before, major film companies were using slow speed 35 mm Eastman Kodak film. Walker said that Kodak’s 16mm film stock now emulates the vibrant color films of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s while offering increased dynamic range and lifelike colors. The cost of producing the movie is no minor expense. Walker estimated that every 11 minutes of film, including paying actors – runs him about $400.

Walker plans to have “Retrograde Victory” ready for distribution next year. The first objective is to make sure at least a handful of people give him some feedback. Walker has set a goal to have the film reach a broader audience, with film festivals serving as a platform for that purpose.

Discussions with an industry veteran have opened Walker to a new perspective, including the significant opportunities that exist in foreign distribution alongside streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Add one more job to Walker’s role in the “Retrograde Victory” movie. A self-reliant man, Walker’s ready to set up meetings himself to approach potential distributors or streaming platforms. With Netflix and Lionsgate establishing a presence in New Jersey, Walker won’t have to travel far to make his pitch.

More information about the film, visit retrogradevictory.com.

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The entrance to the municipal complex driveway lies in close proximity to two left turn lanes at the traffic signal ahead at the intersection between West Bay Avenue and Barnegat Boulevard. Motorists stopping to turn into Town Hall risk confusing other drivers, who may not understand the reason behind the sudden halt at a significant distance from the light ahead.

“An accident is going to happen,” predicted Martin Lisella, Township Administrator.

“One of our employees almost got hit today.”

According to Lisella, the intention was to maintain consistency with the original design and not make any changes to the lines on the roadway. He said a county traffic engineer reviewed the plans and made modifications without prior notification. Local officials had no knowledge of the changes until they were completed.

Township officials and the police department have reached out to the county engineer’s office, emphasizing the need for a prompt resolution to either revert to the original design or identify a practical alternative.

Ocean County Engineer John N. Ernst, P.E., P.P. responded to Lisella by letter on May 22, stating that the “purpose of a double yellow striped line is to separate opposing lanes of travel and prohibit passing.” Ernst supplied references to three separate documents to support his assertions that there are no restrictions on entering/existing driveways to enter/exit a driveway.

Research shows that New Jersey law does not appear to specifically cover whether it’s legal to cross double lines to make a left turn.

Notwithstanding, the New Jersey Driver’s Manual states that “solid lines show when not to pass.” It goes on to say these lines may be crossed with care when entering or leaving driveways in business or residential areas.

“Typically, the only time you put breaks in a double line would be for a street intersection, not for a driveway,” Ernst explained. “If we did it for every driveway, we wouldn’t have a double yellow line. We were trying to be consistent with the way we treat all the driveways along the roadway.”

Ernst mentioned that the county is contemplating the addition of a dash within the double line near the driveway. He acknowledges that local officials would prefer a painted-out island area in the median, resembling the previous configuration. County and township officials will continue to negotiate.

“We’re open for discussion,” Ernst said. “If we’re comfortable with what they’re asking us to do, we can try to accommodate their requests.”

Barnegat Police Captain Jason Carroll said that local police are extremely concerned that the current configuration could result in an accident. In the event of a vehicle stopping to make a left into the driveway, a driver behind them might have trouble braking on time, potentially leading to a rear-end collision.

Carroll emphasized that the police department eagerly anticipates the forthcoming meeting with county engineers to prevent such incidents, noting that no such occurrences have been reported thus far.

Fishing:

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Little Egg Police Department members weren’t the only ones to engage with the children on their two hour fi shing adventure. Citizens on Patrol (COP) helped with the registration process. Troopers from the New Jersey State Police Department, Conservation Police Officer Nicole Carman, and the Municipal Alliance Committee also helped reel in some fun.

Local junior police recruits offered a more youthful interaction with the elementary school anglers. They patiently untangled lines, deftly baited hooks, and struck up conversations with the younger children waiting for a nibble.

Crotty said the event demonstrated further evidence that the community works together. The bait was provided by Scott’s Bait and Tackle. Boys and girls fished alongside one another, all vying to hook the largest fish. The grand prize winner received a hat, shirt, and gift card donated by Shooters, another local business.

A youngster named Marshall captured the first place prize with a 13.5 inch bass, followed by Xavier in second place with a 11 inch bass. A third place tie went to Caden and Aaron, who both reeled in 9.5 inch bass. Overall, the competition resulted in four bass and six perch caught. Everyone walked away a winner of with PAL donating prizes of tackle boxes and fishing poles.

“We make the kids aware of why we do this program without pushing anything,” Crotty said. “We’re trying to promote positive activities to keep them away from making bad choices.”