The Bayville’s Kenny Returns Home As A World Wrestling Champion

School Board Candidates Named

By Chris Lundy BERKELEY

– The deadline to be on the ballot for the Board of Education election has passed, and it seems as though the school board races are going to be quiet this year.

School board elections are nonpartisan. That means that candidates can’t say that they are the Republican choice or the Democrat choice. Instead, they are allowed a short slogan.

challenged by Russell Lines. None of them have slogans. The Ocean Gate spot on the Central Regional Board of Education is currently held by John Serpica. He is running unopposed for a three-year term. His slogan is “Students, Taxpayers, District.”

Seaside

By Chris Christopher BERKELEY - Paul Ken-

ny has it going on - even at the age of 15.

There’s a clothing line. There was a stellar wrestling career at the Central Regional Middle School. A career at Christian Brothers Academy in the Lincroft section of Middletown Township awaits. His name is on the lips of

Rutgers University and Penn State University.

And he has become a leading internationalist.

All he did was win the 48 kilograms title at the 2023 U17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

If Kenny opted to compete in the U15 Division, he would have had to settle for a title in the Pan American Games. The 5-foot-2

Kenny has put opponents to the mat in numerous states, including Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Using athletic ability, smarts and determination as his passports, Kenny emerged successful in his maiden voyage overseas.

“It feels great,” Kenny said. “It’s a dream come true. I was real excited when I won. My family was going crazy. I was relieved, happy. I was so excited. My whole country was behind me. I had a lot of support. I got it done. Being a world champion is special. I am the best in the world right now. It’s crazy.”

Kenny said he expected

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For the Berkeley School District, which oversees the elementary schools, incumbents Jennifier Bacchione, Thomas Guarascio, and Dave Ytreboe are running for re-election under the slogan “Students, Family, Community.” They are running for three, three-year terms. They are not being challenged.

Ocean Gate

There are two, three-year terms on the ballot for the elementary school Board of Education. Incumbent Board President Richard J. Casey and incumbent Kerrie McDonnell are being

The local Seaside Heights board of education will see Erik Hershey and Matthew Wright running unopposed for two, three-year seats. For the Seaside Heights representative of the Central Regional Board of Education, Michael Graichen is again running for re-election for a three-year term. He is running unopposed. The local Seaside Park Board of Education has incumbent James Hanrahan running unopposed for a three-year term.

For the Seaside Park representative on the Central board, former mayor Robert Matthies is not running for re-election. There is no petition fielded for candidates for the three-year term.

Jersey Shore Shell Art Travels Worldwide

By Alyssa Riccardi JERSEY SHORE

– What started out as a part-time hobby collecting shells at the beach has grown into a worldwide phenomenon of colorful, decorated shells.

“I’ve always liked to do beach walks and pick up anything interesting on the beach.

At one point I had so many shells my husband asked me what I was going to do with all of them,” Carrissa Caramico Chapkowski said. “I decided to paint them and give them away. It definitely gave me an excuse to do more beach walks.”

Carrissa started painting shells four years ago and decided to share her ideas by creating a Facebook page called “Jersey Shore Shells.” Carrissa said she first had the idea after coming across a similar group in Florida.

“I vacation in Florida once a year and I thought it would be nice to paint shells not just one week out of the year, but for the entire year. I thought ‘I can do that too,’” she said. “I had talked to the people who had created a similar Facebook page from Florida and I asked if I could copy some of their ideas they were doing and they were totally ok with it. After speaking with them, I decided to go forward and make the Facebook page.”

Carrissa has lived in the Ocean County area for most of her life, however when she recently moved to South Carolina, she knew she wanted to

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Wrestler:

Continued From Page 1 tough competition in the championship match. “My mental approach was to stay calm as I knew it would be a dog fight,” he said. “I knew he would come forward for the whole time and he did. The match was really boring. There was a lot of action, but there was a low score. My friend wrestled him in the semifinals and told me he was strong.” “My whole country was watching me on FloWrestling and via streaming services. I did not get nervous. I knew I had to go in with my ‘A’ game and wrestle my best in the biggest tournament of my career.”

Kenny wrestled five matches over two days. He competed in four matches on the first day of the tournament.

“I had a lot of time to recover and make my body better,” he said. “I was a little sore when I woke up on the second day. My shoulders and legs for the most part were sore. Making weight was not extremely hard. I dug deep and found ways to win. There were a lot of tough matches. The kids from the foreign nations are different to wrestle. They don’t feel like Americans at all. Their hips are far back in their stances so it is harder to get to their legs.

Kenny and his traveling party of his uncle, Ray Kenny, and teammate Zack Ryder, third at 80 kilograms, were in Turkey for six days. A GoFundMe page raised nearly $10,000 for the trip. Kenny’s family members who attended the tournament were his dad, Paul Kenny; brother, Sean Kenny, and grandmother, Kathleen Kenny.

Welcome Home Paul Kenny Night filled the streets of Berkeley. There was a parade of first responders, organized by an aunt, Jenny Kenny-Figueroa. Despite heavy rain, spectators turned out, lining streets while waiting to catch a glimpse of their idol from their motor vehicles. Some stood outside in the rain.

“I was surprised at the parade,” Kenny said. “I had no idea it was happening. I was happy to see that the whole town was behind me.”

A reception in Kenny’s honor took place at the home of Kathleen Kenny. Admirers dined on light refreshments. Several hours before his arrival, fans and relatives ages 2-12 waving American flags chanted, “P.K. P.K,” as they stood on the front lawn. An uncle, Dennis Kenny, arrived on the scene, hoisting a sign containing a picture of Kenny and drawing cheers in front of the home, decorated in support of Kenny and the United States of America.

“I was excited and shocked, too, to see my family at the house,” Kenny said. “There was a tornado warning and still there were a lot of people at the house. They care about me.”

“I am very proud of him,” said his sister, Kailyn Kenny, one of the flag wavers. “He used to tackle me in the front room when he wrestled me. He is so exhausted from practicing wrestling. I am very, very proud of him. He worked really hardfrom six in the morning until 10 at night. He went to Colorado (to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs) three times to train. He’s been wrestling since he was five years old.”

Another admirer is a cousin, Eddie Figueroa, 12. He’s a member of the Elite Wrestling Club in Jackson.

“Paul put a lot of time, dedication and effort in from early in the morning until early in the night,” he said. “Paul is very athletic. He does splits that I could never do. He is never out of energy. That is why he kept on going on in that scramble. He took a lot of private lessons and practiced. I am not real surprised he did so well as he puts in so much time and dedication to all he does. He loves the sport so much - more than a lot of kids.

Bridget Moore, a cousin of the champ, praised his work ethic.

“He’s the reason I went out there and tried my best,” Kenny said. “I wanted to win this for him. I know he is really proud of me right now.”

“He was Paul’s biggest fan,” said Kenny-Figueroa, choking back tears. “This would have been crazy for him. He was Paul’s biggest cheerleader. Paul was his grandfather’s first grandchild and his grandfather saw so much. He would have been so happy. He was a sports fan in general. Even though my dad is not here, he is still absolutely around everybody.”

“He’s the hardest working kid I have ever seen,” she said. “So dedicated. Since he was a little boy, he was doing wrestling moves on the kitchen floor. His family’s garage was converted into a wrestling room. The Kenny kids are destined to be wrestlers. They just wrestle. It is just what they do.”

Kenny’s grandfather, Paul Kenny, died at the age of 72 last September. Kenny-Figueroa purchased a dog tag containing the face of Kenny’s grandfather. Kenny kept the tag in his bag throughout the tournament.

V.F.W. Post 10185 News

Mom Petrina Kenny said she streamed the championship match online.

“When he won, it was an overwhelming, emotional experience,” she said. “When he won it, I cried. To me, he is just my kid. I don’t think of him in any other way ... just Paulie. All of his hard work paid off. For him to get there, he had to beat the best of the best. When he really wants something, he gets determined. He works out. He cuts weight. Even on holiday breaks, he works out. He competes all year round. He deserves it. He earned it.”

By

Past Post Commander

James Egan BERKELEY -

The next meeting of Silver/Holiday V.F.W. Post 10185 will be held on Thursday, August 3 at 1 p.m. at the Silver Ridge Park West Clubhouse, 145 Westbrook Drive. We hold our meetings on the first Thursday of every month. We meet in the daytime, so you do not have to drive at night.

To join our post, just bring a copy of your Discharge (DD-214) to our meeting and you will be signed up right away. You’ll receive a hardy welcome and refreshments before the meeting. You will also have a chance to talk with fellow veterans and make new friends.

Anyone needing transportation to our meetings can call Past Commander James Egan at 732-

341-4905 or one of the other Officers, and we will gladly pick you up and take you back home after the meeting.

Remember if you hear of any Post member passing away or being in the hospital, call any officer and let him know.

Friday, August 4, The Vietnam Conflict began in 1964.

Monday, August 14, Japan surrendered in 1945. The VFW would like you to drop your old and faded flags off at either H. C. S. Clubhouse (Main Building), S. R. P. W., S. R. P. N., S. R. P. E., S. R. P. Westerly, and Holiday City Berkeley Clubhouses.

God bless America and God bless our troops. Fly the flag every day, weather permitting.

Shells:

Continued From Page 1 continue the page.

Since its creation, the Facebook page has garnered 35,650 followers and counting. Jersey Shore Shells encourages those to decorate shells and write a message on the underside with the label “Keep or Re-hide.”

Those who have found shells often share their findings to the page, or those painting shells do the same. Carrissa has listed tips and tricks on the page to help those who are interested. She emphasizes to never hide shells in the ocean. If you are going to hide shells in a store, get permission first. And remember, anyone can paint and hide shells.

“It’s really about random acts of kindness. You don’t expect anything, you don’t really want anything in return. It’s just trying to make people happy, because if you give someone a little smile maybe they’ll do something nice for somebody else and those acts of kindness will snowball bigger and bigger. I want to spread that positivity,” she explained. Her local initiative has now transformed to a worldwide affair. The idea of paint- ing and hiding shells has gone beyond shore towns in New Jersey; it’s expanded throughout the entire state, country, and even internationally.

Pam Gregory, a New Jersey local, said she started painting shells after her and her daughter Sarah found one in Smithville.

“We collect our shells at the Barnegat inlet. We have painted and hidden 11 shells, four have been found. My first was an ‘adopt don’t shop’ paw print and has changed hands three times now in New Jersey,” Pam said.

One of their shells, which was decorat-

Fulfill Welcomes Two New Board Members

NEW JERSEY – Fulfill, a leader in alleviating hunger and building food security in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, is pleased to announce Gene Waddy and the Reverend Rosemarie Broderick as new members of the Board of Trustees.

“We are excited to welcome Gene and Deacon Rose to our Board,” said Lauren Holman, Board Chair of Fulfill. “Fulfill will benefit greatly from their unique skill sets and wealth of business and community-based experience.”

Waddy, a Neptune native, is the owner of ALPHA Business Solutions, an EOR/payroll and workforce solutions company he created to combine professional solutions and diversity in a natural and authentic way. Recognized as a trailblazer for both ALPHA Busi - ness Solutions and Diversant, LLC, the IT staffing firm he co-founded, Waddy was named to the 2022 Staffing 100 North America list by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) and was also awarded the 2021 DE&I Influencer recognition. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of PACE Monmouth and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the country’s first African American fraternity.

Deacon Rose serves as the Clergyin-Charge of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Keansburg and acts as Executive Director of the Center for Community Renewal (CCR) for the last six years. She has led many transformative initiatives to help the community during Superstorm Sandy and the

COVID-19 Pandemic and is recognized as an advocate for social justice for individuals in need. Prior to her role with the CCR, Deacon Rose held a 30+ year career in clinical development leadership in the pharmaceutical and medical technologies industries.

Deacon Rose also chairs Fulfill’s Agency Partner Advisory Committee, a cohort of leaders from Fulfill’s network of partner charitable food distribution agencies across Monmouth & Ocean Counties. The Agency Partner Committee brings the voice of Fulfill’s feeding partners into the Board room to provide valuable input and insight to help form decisions that impact the entire network.

“We are thrilled to have Gene and ed to represent the Pine Barrens, made its way to White Water State Park in Minnesota. The shell was then shared to the Facebook group and gained over 7,000 likes.

“I left it at Arney’s Mount in Pemberton, NJ. It was found by a lovely woman named Laurie and taken to Minnesota where she re-hid it. Another lovely girl named Hannah found it and her post took off! It is being shared by many sites as well as people,” Pam said. “This group is great to communicate with other people. It’s a great hobby, and makes people smile.”

Deacon Rose join our board of remarkable individuals who are dedicated to combating hunger in our communities,” said Triada Stampas, President and CEO of Fulfill. “Our Board is truly committed to our mission, and I value their leadership as we chart Fulfill’s future.”

“I would also like express our sincere gratitude to Dean Lin and Sammy Steinlight for their long-time dedication to Fulfill as they step down from their roles as a Board Members,” added Holman. “We appreciate their service and commitment to help families and children in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Luckily, they both promise to stay involved with Fulfill, so they will still be helping us meet our mission.”