Courtesy Busing Kept, But Deep Cuts Made To School Budget
New state funds were appropriated to Jackson School District in the amount of $2.5 million that will be used to keep courtesy busing for the 2024-2025 school year.
By Bob Vosseller
JACKSON – “This is not the budget we wanted. In fact, it is heartbreaking,” Superintendent Nicole Pormilli said, describing the current status of the school district’s spending plan.
The school district’s
war with the state to get more aid is pending but the Board had to move forward with its budget despite voting it down.
Pormilli said, “there have been no changes to the budget that was presented, which means that the 2024-2025 bud-
Fire Inspection Process Changes
By Bob Vosseller
JACKSON – Three representatives of Fire Districts in the township explained a change of policy concerning inspections during a recent Township Council meeting.
Council President Jennifer Kuhn invited Scott Rauch (Fire District 2), Michael Grossman (Fire District 3), and Stanley O’Brien (Fire District 4) to the meeting to go over changes.
She noted that an ordinance was being presented and that the governing body was seeking to repeal the current certificate of occupancy regulation “and move the fire and state laws to the fire department where the building department and myself feel is the best place for it. We wanted a Q and A with the fire officials.”
Kuhn noted to the public that it
get will move forward as presented.”
“No matter how much our circumstances, costs and student needs have changed over the past seven years and no matter how responsibly we have acted to keep this district afloat during the
overwhelming loss of state aid, we were required to present a balanced budget and we did that,” she added.
“To accomplish this ‘Mission Impossible,’ we worked hard to
(Courtesy BusingSee Page 4)
578-Home
Development Approved
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – The
Township Planning Board recently approved a 578-unit development between Grawtown and Bowman roads.
In the last two decades, plans to develop the 303-acre parcel were stalled but residents and Planning Board members recently listened to the plan that was unveiled and ultimately, unanimously approved.
The developer’s planner, Ian Borden, stated the development involves the building of 96 affordable housing units, which were required under a COAH settlement, and 482 five-bedroom single-family homes, with basements.
The Council On
Affordable Housing requires a certain number of homes to be set aside for people with low to moderate income.
Borden commented, “This property is zoned for residential housing for relatively high-density housing and it has been that way for over 40 years.”
“We are a conforming use. We will not be asking for any variances,” Borden told the Planning Board.
The plan had been 189 single-family homes when it was first proposed in 2011 but the board rejected that plan under the township’s “conditional use” ordinance. The ordinance had a
(DevelopmentSee Page 4)
Local Holocaust Survivors Share Their Stories
By Stephanie Faughnan
TOMS
RIVER
– The haunting echoes of World War II reverberated through the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library as Holocaust survivors Gela Buchbinder and Mona Ginsburg shared their harrowing experiences with over 100 stunned attendees.
upon millions during one of history’s darkest chapters.
Both women, now residents of the same Toms River senior village, were mere children when the world erupted into chaos. Their stories, while different in detail, share a common thread of unimaginable suffering and resilience.
feistiness that likely helped her survive as a teenager. Her life, as part of a family of six, took a dramatic turn in 1939 when the Nazis invaded their hometown of Sosnowiec, Poland. Gela was only fourteen at the time.
The event, the fourth in the “Combatting Hate” series, offered a stark reminder of the horrors inflicted
Gela Buchbinder
At 99 years old, Gela Buchbinder is a tiny woman with a spark of
“The first thing they did was round up all the Jewish men, whoever they could find,” Gela recounted. “Unfortunately, they
(Fire Inspection - See Page 5) (Holocaust - See Page 5)
Photo courtesy Jackson Schools
Courtesy Busing:
Continued From Page 1
preserve our programs and activities for our students. But in order to do that, we needed to make big sacrifices. The most significant of these sacrifices are the closing of the Rosenauer Elementary School and the loss of 70 positions we could not afford to lose without significantly impacting the operation of a district this large and the supports we need to provide for our students,” she noted.
The state had cut aid to the district year over year since 2018. As a result, many local districts had to cut staff. Coming into the 2024-25 school year, Jackson was facing an $18 million hole.
A budget was crafted that made cuts and raised taxes 9.9 percent to fill that hole. However, the Board of Education voted it down.
State Monitor Carole Knopp-Morris overrode the Board of Education’s unanimous decision at the Board’s July 17 meeting to reject the budget. This means the cuts, reductions and changes went through
On July 24, a brief special meeting was held in order to vote on the personnel items from
Development:
the agenda and addendum that were administratively removed from the July 17 agenda until the board received her decision.
Morris ultimately overrode the board’s decision and the board had to act on the personnel items it had removed. Board of Education
President Giuseppe Palmeri said the board authorized the district attorney to take appropriate legal action to compel the Department of Education to assist the district to ensure it can provide a thorough and efficient education.
Toms River Schools are also suing the state over the losses. The state has fired back.
The NJDOE stated the two budgets “include additional state support provided through the Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program and tax flexibility. This action is necessary because the Toms River Regional School District Board of Education and the Jackson Township School District Board of Education both failed to adopt their respective final budgets by the extended deadline of July 22.”
“While the Department does not underestimate the difficulty of these decisions – budget development and adoption is a complex, multi-faceted, even emotional process, given the importance of school programs to our
students and communities – we also fully expect New Jersey’s world class district leaders to rise to that challenge. The difficulty of these decisions does not excuse any failure by district leaders or local boards of education to comply with one of their most critical statutory obligations to successfully oversee a public school system,” the NJDOE statement added.
“It saddens me that the district will have to endure these cuts, but it is necessary that we begin moving forward. Together we need to plan and prepare for our students returning in September. We also need to move forward by strategically planning for the future, so we can continue to provide the best possible education to our students,” Pormilli said.
The Board’s tentative budget presented on June 26 included the elimination of courtesy busing throughout the district. New funds were appropriated to Jackson School District in the state budget in the amount of $2.5 million.
“We are the only school in Ocean County to receive this appropriation, made just prior to the state budget being approved,” Pormilli said. “We intend to use these funds to keep courtesy busing in in place for 2024-2025
school year.”
Mayor Michael Reina also expressed his view about the situation. He said to The Jackson Times, “I had a brief and frustrating conversation with the State Education Commissioner. I had asked him to explain how the statement that the S-2 formula after seven years of draconian cuts has ‘fully funded’ the Jackson school district.”
“His answer was scripted and full of holes when he said, ‘you are now where you need to be.’ In short, Jackson has been targeted politically by the Murphy Administration. There is no question in my mind how anyone in Trenton can look any Jackson child in the eye and say ‘you are now whole’ when they stripped away academia, athletic and after school programs the way we now have to from our children,” the mayor added.
Reina added, “on top of all this they send a monitor who has no connection and obviously no compassion towards our district by following Trenton’s orders to overturn the Jackson BOE in every possible way. Being told to raise taxes 9.9% on all of Jackson residents while other districts are fully funded is a travesty and a disgrace.”
provision that required developers to make sure traffic wouldn’t be “burdensome.” The courts rejected the board’s denial. Borden said that due to a legal settle-
ment that the township experienced in 2018, the Township Council “blended two issues into one master plan and land use ordinance and that is the requirement to provide affordable housing. There was an affordable housing shortage that had to be satisfied.”
was involved with the original proposal. He testified before the board that traffic or parking wouldn’t be an issue and that a traffic light would be installed at the corner of Grawtown Road and East Veterans Highway once 100 homes have been occupied.
Continued From Page 1 (Development - See Page 16)
John Rea, the developer’s traffic expert,
Rea was involved with several traffic
generation estimates that he said were done through actual traffic counts. He said the projections of those traffic reports extended to the design year of 2034 noting a requirement of a 10-year estimate.
“We have done quite a few traffic studies in the area,” Rea said. The county had
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Sea Girt, Lavallette, Brick, Seaside Park, Ortley Beach, and Asbury Park get network upgrades
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The upgrade is going to support more customers simultaneously using their phones with improved reliability and speeds.
Continued From Page 1
can be a complex process “especially when we are changing something so we wanted to make sure that we provide as much information as possible.”
Grossman noted that the ordinance would be on the township website, the fire district website as to how to obtain a smoke (alert) certificate when you are purchasing a house. The property owner will have this paperwork and an appointment will need to be made with your local fi re bureau. It will concern verification and inspection of a fi re alarm. An appointment will be made. An inspection will be performed and if successful, it will “provide a six-month certificate and when the house is sold the certificate will go into closing with the seller and landlord,” Grossman added.
Holocaust:
Continued From Page 1
found my father.”
Gela vividly described how the Nazis marched the men a distance and ordered them to lie face down before opening fire with machine guns. Finally, the firing stopped, and everyone assumed all the men were dead. Three had survived the gunfire.
“The soldiers walked over to the men who they thought were alive and hit them over
He added that there is a $1,500 fi ne if the home is sold without this inspection and the “inspection is very important.” Pets need to be away from the inspection area during the course of the inspection. If this doesn’t occur, “we’ll have to come back and that will be a reinspection.”
“Currently there are three fi re bureaus in Jackson. The applicant will need to know which district they are in before they can apply, Grossman explained. “You type into the address (in the website) that you wish to sell and you will take that number of what fi re district you are in and it will give you the application that you will fill out and will be provided to the proper fi re bureau for your smoke detection carbon monoxide application.”
There are three dates that can be filled out for the inspection that run Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and noon. An occupant 18 years old or
the head with big heavy boards,” continued Gela. “The German soldiers were laughing, and they appeared to celebrate.”
“Mama and the other women were scared. I was praying and crying,” she said, recalling the terrifying scene.
Gela witnessed another act of savagery when an SS soldier seized a tall, bearded man and yanked off his beard. These were the young teenager’s first encounter with the Nazis – to be followed by personal torture.
The morning after their arrival in Sos-
older will be present when the inspector is in the house. “We aren’t going to go in your house without you being there. You will be accompanying us,” he added. Grossman further explained, “we will check all your smoke detectors and fi re extinguishers, your carbon monoxide detectors. Our certificate will be based on that. We aren’t checking the screens or your carpets. To check 15 days in advance it is a $100 fee. If it is 10 to 14 business days, it is $200 if the schedule permits. We might not be able to get you between 10 and 14 days. If we schedule you five to nine days it will be $300 if schedule permits, four to one business days is $400 if schedule permits.
“If you fail your inspection there will be a $50 fee and a duplicate copy of the certificate is $25,” Grossman said.
He also noted that information was available as to where detection devices should be located and some frequently asked
nowiec, the German soldiers took ominous pleasure in setting the synagogue on fire. They cheered, stamped, and jumped with glee as they watched the sacred building engulfed in flames.
Ultimately, the soldiers came for Gela at her home in the early hours of the morning, guns drawn. They shouted at her to get out of bed and dress immediately, threatening to shoot her if she didn’t comply.
Gela was taken to the high school, where she encountered other terrified and crying
questions. Certain fi re bureaus would take cash and some may not so the homeowner or future homeowner arranging the inspection would need to ask their bureau “how do I pay for this? Do you take credit card? Do you take check do you take a money order? It has to be paid before an inspection can be made.”
Kuhn noted that landlord inspections “are staying with code enforcement as of right now. It is not new construction.” A name change scenario from a person’s name to an LLC as a change of title would require an inspection.
It was clarified that fi re extinguishers would be universal despite the size of the home and in the future a means to apply online will become available.
There wouldn’t be cancellation cut-off dates, because the person would cancel before the date of the inspection and the applicant would be put into another spot.
children from her school. They were all shoved, pushed, and beaten by the Germans. Overwhelmed and in tears, Gela found a corner on the floor to curl up in for the night.
“In the morning, a doctor checked us over,” said Gela. “And, in the night, we were pushed in cargo trains like animals and sent to Czechoslovakia.”
Life In The Camp
Gela said that some of those from her hometown were taken to Auschwitz, which (Holocaust - See Page 15)
S potlight o n g overnment
Correspondence & Commentary From Your Local, County, State & Federal Officials
Lawmaker: State Department Of Education Misinformed About Jackson School Budget
Capitol Comments
Assemblyman Alex Sauickie
TRENTON - Assemblyman Alex Sauickie is defending the Jackson Township Board of Education and school district leaders against misinformation released by the Department of Education (on July 24). It was DOE’s own appointed monitor who failed to perform as required to adopt a budget by the statutory deadline, not the school district, he says.
“The idea that your Department would now suggest a ‘failure by the board of education’ is unconscionable. I would hope before any more inaccurate information is conveyed, that your Department takes ownership of the delay in submitting a budget,” Sauickie (R-Ocean) wrote to the Department of Edu-
cation Acting Commissioner Kevin Dehmer.
Under state law, Jackson schools had until Monday, July 22 to submit a final budget.
At the district’s board meeting on Wednesday, July 17, the members voted down a proposed $165.7 million spending plan that eliminated 70 staff and teachers, late busing for students, and after-school enrichment programs and closed Rosenauer Elementary School, while increasing property taxes by 9.9%.
The district’s state-appointed fiscal monitor, whom the district must pay as a result of needing a loan from the state due to state aid cuts, has the power to overrule the board’s action and adopt the budget. However, at the meeting, she declined to do so and said she would report back in 48 hours. Instead, it was a week before the board heard from the monitor, delaying final action on the budget
past the deadline.
Sauickie said the DOE’s statement “not only looks to be grossly inaccurate, but shifts the blame of missing a deadline caused by your own representative.”
The DOE on (July 24) officially adopted Jackson Township School District’s budget presented at the meeting, but criticized local officials in a statement.
“It was the state that put this district in a position of needing a loan, a state monitor, proposed selling of an elementary school, the loss of programs, several hundred teachers, as well as 35:1 student teacher ratios while operating with only $3,500 in state aid per student. Other districts are getting $30,000+ per student and can apparently afford to have $43,000 staff parties,” Sauickie wrote.
In 2018, the state enacted S-2, promising a fairer distribution of public school aid, but Jackson has lost more than $22 million – half of its state funding – as a result. The district has cut more than 250 positions, curriculum,
athletics, and increased class sizes. To find a revenue source, the district is being forced to sell an elementary school even as students there are still learning from nearly 30 “temporary” trailers that have been in place for decades.
“There have been multiple meetings between myself and Assemblyman Clifton with your department, my testimony before the Assembly Budget Committee, numerous pleas on the Assembly floor…The Jackson superintendent, board president, members of the board, as well as hundreds of Jackson teachers and parents have written to this administration begging for help,” Sauickie wrote to Dehmer. “Rather than place blame, it would be great to see your department actually help this district as they, and Legislative District 12, have repeatedly asked.”
“The department owes it to the Jackson school district, its volunteer board and overworked staff to retract and correct the lies against them that the department issued,” Sauickie said.
OCC’s Study Abroad In London Offers World-Class Learning
TOMS RIVER – Ocean County College students and local residents have the opportunity to spend 10 nights immersed in the world of theatre in London, England, as participants in the “Study Abroad in London” program, scheduled for January 8 to 19, 2025. The program, one of several Global Education Experiences available at OCC, enables participants to earn college credit while exploring one of the world’s most historic and culturally rich cities. Under the guidance of experienced faculty members, the travelers will attend up to 10 plays and musicals at the Royal National, the West End, and the Fringe, participate in talk-back sessions with actors, directors, playwrights, and tour the Tower of London and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. There will
also be plenty of free time for sightseeing, shopping, museum visits and more. Those who complete the program will receive three course credits for OCC’s Travel Seminar: Theatre/ London (THTR-296-TVL1).
OCC Professor Gary Shaffer says the benefits of OCC’s global travel program go far beyond classroom credits. “Studying abroad offers a great many benefits to college students. It allows them to interact with different cultures and helps to build self-confidence and self-awareness. More and more, schools and potential employers value the skills one learns through study abroad,” Professor Shaffer explains. “London is the most culturally diverse city in the world. Spending nearly two weeks surrounded by its history, arts and cultural
opportunities enhances a student’s understanding of the world more than any book or lecture ever could.”
Ocean County College’s Global Education Experiences, spanning both national and international destinations, offer students and community members invaluable opportunities for experiential learning. These seminars aim to foster cross-cultural understanding and equip participants with a global perspective. Recent destinations have included Italy, Ireland, and Switzerland in addition to the London experience, which has been running for nearly 50 years.
Interested students may be eligible for scholarships through the Ocean County College Foundation. The cost for the program is $3,346
based on the scholarship.
“The Ocean County College Foundation remains committed to supporting the Global Education program through exploration and hands-on learning through domestic and international travel opportunities,” said Kenneth J. Malagiere, executive director of the OCC Foundation. “When students are able to share in the joy of an immersive travel and learning experience, it can be a life-affirming experience, one we are delighted to play a small role in. Together, with the College, our Foundation is eager to see the program continue to flourish and expand.”
For more information about the Study in London experience, contact Professor Shaffer at gshaffer@ocean.edu.
Commissioners: JCP&L Needs To Do Better
OCEAN COUNTY – As heat indexes pushed temperatures over 100 degrees recently, Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi also noticed the increase in complaints the County was receiving from residents about power outages.
“People were calling my office concerned about black outs and brown outs,” Sadeghi said. “Jersey Central Power & Light Company assured us all would be well.” However, Sadeghi said the utility company
which provides electric power to a large portion of the County is not living up to its assurances.
“I have a much smaller business than JCP&L,” Sadeghi said. “But in the summer months when it gets busier we plan ahead to have the proper resources in place. “We need JCP&L to do the same,” he said. In addition to Ocean County’s year-round population of about 650,000 people more than doubling in the summer months due to
an influx of tourists, the County also has the largest number of seniors with a population of more than 200,000 living here.
“Our seniors need electricity that does not fail them,” Sadeghi said. “Many are on oxygen and others are on life supporting equipment like dialysis. I don’t know how they do it with power outages.”
Sadeghi suggested meeting with the new president of JCP&L to discuss the ongoing concerns.
“Summer comes around every year,” he said. “Our power companies, especially, should be prepared.”
Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines recommended meeting with JCP&L’s parent company First Energy to discuss long lasting remedies to the power problems.
“These discussions are not new,” Sadeghi said. “We will not rest until the service gets better from JCP&L.”
C ommUnitY n eWS
C LUB N EWS , A CTIVITIES , E VENTS & A NNOUNCEMENTS
Mother & Son Admit To Selling Cheap Parts To Military
By Alyssa Riccardi
JACKSON – A Jackson woman and her son have admitted to a long-term scheme of defrauding the U.S. Department of Defense by providing military equipment parts that were not authorized, officials said.
Linda Mika, 73, pleaded guilty to count one of an indictment charging her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Kenneth Mika, 53, of Ewing, pleaded guilty on June 25, 2024, to the same count of the indictment.
They face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, as a result of their plea agreements with the federal government.
The Mikas were employees of Monmouth Marine Engines, Inc. (Monmouth Marine), a maritime equipment and servicing facility, which, as an approved federal contractor, according to officials.
From March 2016 through April 2020, the Mikas devised a scheme and “conspired with each other and others to defraud the Department of Defense and one of its combat logistic support arms, the Defense Logistics Agency,
by engaging in a pattern of unlawful product substitution,”
The Mikas, on behalf of Monmouth Marine, falsely claimed that the military parts they were contracted to provide would be from authorized manufacturers or suppliers. However, once awarded the contracts, the Mikas sourced non-conforming substitute parts at a significantly reduced cost, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The duo did this to maximize their profit margin, while also suppressing fair competition in the bidding process of federal contracts, officials said.
The non-conforming parts were then shipped to the Defense Logistics Agency or to various military purchasers in packaging disguised to hide what they had done, officials said.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, D.C.I.S. Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Solecki; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
Ocean County Carousel Of Music
OCEAN COUNTY – The Line-Up for the Annual Ocean County’s Carousel of Music 2024 has been set. Bring a blanket or beach chair. For more information, visit oceancountyparks.org. Enjoy!
Ocean County Parks & Recreation Administration Offices, 1198 Bandon Road Toms River. Start time 6:30 p.m.
• August 9 – Sensational Soul Cruisers
• August 16 – The Kootz Band
• August 23 – Wilbur Wittemann Orchestra
• August 30 – Mushmouth Tuckerton Seaport, 120 West Main Street Tuckerton. Start time 6:30 p.m.
• August 10 – Jersey Gold
• August 17 – Blondage Rocks
Deerhead Lake, 1740B Deerhead Lake Drive Forked River. Start time 6:30 p.m.
• August 28 – High in the Mid 80s Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street Toms River. Start time 6:30 p.m.
• July 4 – Toms River Municipal Band
• July 11 – Garden State Philharmonic
• July 18, 25, August 1, 15, & September
5
– Toms River Municipal Band
• August 8 – Brass Tacks
• August 22 – Wilbur Wittemann Big Band
• August 29 – Sentimental Journey Big Band
Heritage Gazebo, Bay Avenue Lavallette. Start time 7 p.m.
• August 25 – Wilbur Wittemann Big Band
Gille Park, 102 Manchester Avenue Forked River. Start time 6:30 p.m.
• July 31 – Billy Joel Tribute &Here’s Elton
Tribute
Veterans Park, 489 Forest Hills Parkway
Berkeley Township. Start time 6:30 p.m.
• July 10 – Sketchy Medicine
• July 24 – Jukebox Legends
• August7 – Dominique & Julian
23rd Avenue Seaside Park. Start time 5 p.m.
• August 24 – Alotta Colada
Waterfront Park, 10th Street & Shore Avenue Ship Bottom. Start time 6:30 p.m.
• July 3 – Simmerr
• July 11 – Pure Petty
• July 18 – Studio 2
• July 25 – Tequila Rose Band
• August 1 – The Verdict
• August 8 – Dread Pilots
• August 15 – The Chris Fritz Band
• August 22 – Danny’s 52nd Street Band
• August 29 – Jimmy and the Parrots
The Jackson Times welcomes your special announcements! Engagements, Weddings, Births, Birthday Wishes, etc. Please call 732-657-7344 for more details!
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Development Council Elects Leadership
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JERSEY SHORE – Christine Hanlon, the Monmouth County Clerk, recently inducted a new president and board members for The MODC (Monmouth-Ocean Development Council), Wall Township, at the Lobster Shanty, Point Pleasant. Thomas Gilmour, founding trustee of the Asbury Park Music Foundation, was named the president of MODC for a twoyear term, replacing Matt Appel, Beacon Wealth Partners, who completed his twoyear term. Other new executive committee members for 2024 are Charlene Archer, Treasurer; Karen Campi, Secretary; John Casagrande; John LeMay; Steve Reinman; and Linda Savino. Brian Waldron was re-elected to the Executive Committee. The newest board members for 2024 are Ian Singer, Director of Marketing for Davison Eastman Munoz Paone, P.A.; Maria Caputo, Monmouth Medical Center; Dr. Jared Morris, Monmouth County Vocational School District; Dr. Michael Maschi, Ocean County Vocational Technical School; Chris Curcia, OceanFirst Bank; Charlene Archer, Manasquan Bank; Bart Henderson, Henderson Promos; and Andrew Oeftering, UPTECH360 Corporation.
Continuing MODC Board Members for
2024 include John Gagliano, Counsel; Nancy Barone, MODC Past President; Lynn Maurer; Joseph Imbriale; Frank Preston; Kim Sambade; Louisa Vroman; Denise Gaffney; Chris Emigholz; Anthony Agliata; Bob McLane; John Kalli; Eileen Higgins; Marilee Pettit; Gary Pollack; Brian Foster; Commissioner Tom Arnone; Doug Lyons; Fran Kirschner; Kayci Clayton; Craig Trautweiler; Chris Church; Ron Reisner; Anthony Faugno; Karen Guarasi; and Toby Stark.
Jodi Grinwald, CEO of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council, thanked former president Matt Appel for his leadership and service to MODC. She also thanked and recognized the board members whose term ended due to term limits for their dedication: Heather Barberi from the Grunin Foundation; Jennifer Edmonds of Georgian Court University; Charles Ford of Monmouth County Vocational School; Karen Homiek of Ocean County Vocational Technical School; and Kristine Novakowski, of Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity.
Contact Jodi Grinwald, MODC’s chief executive officer, at jodi@modc.com for any questions. Visit modc.com. to learn more about MODC.
Jackson Elks Talent Extravaganza
– The Jackson Elks Lodge 2744 proudly presents their Talent Extravaganza, honoring our veteran and fi rst responders, on August 17, Performances from 2 to 7 p.m. with other
entertainment to follow. Admission is $20; children 12 and under are free. Veterans and fi rst responders free with ID.
For more information and tickets, contact 732-363-4101.
Call 732-657-7344 to find out how!
Photo courtesy MODC
Police Explorer Post Attend Explorers Youth Academy
JACKSON – From July 13 to July 18, members of the Jackson Police Explorer Post attended the NJ Law Enforcement Explorers Youth Academy at Drew University.
Police Explorers from all over the state lived on the campus and participated in PT, drill, classroom learning and police related scenarios.
The goal of the academy is to provide young men and women, who have an interest in law enforcement, an insight into what we do as police officers. The blocks of instruction helps them build their confidence, improve their physical fitness, teaches them how to work as a team, how to properly build a resume and job interview preparation.
Despite waking up every day at 5 a.m., Jackson Police Explorers Kemprowski, Perez, Petyo and Sutter worked hard, showed dedication and perseverance and shined amongst the others. As a result, explorers even earned some awards.
Explorer Petyo took 3rd place for the “Leadership Award”
Explorer Kemprowski took 2nd place in “Report Writing”
Explorer Perez took 2nd place in both the “Burglary in progress scenario” and in the “Domestic violence scenario”
Sgt. Basso, Sgt. Cocchiara, P.O. DeBlasi and P.O. Mucia attended the academy with our explorers and could not be more proud of them.
Jackson Police Explorers Present: Murder Myster Dinner Show
JACKSON – Jackson Police Explorers present: Murder Myster Dinner Show on October 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Jackson Mills Firehouse, 465 N. County Line Road, Jackson.
Join for a thrilling night of mystery and
intrigue as you work with the Jackson Police Explorers to solve a murder case!
Cost is $60 per ticket. Includes buffet style Italian dinner. For tickets visit eventbrite. com/e/jackson-police-explorers-murder-mystery-night-tickets-914822628107.
National Night Out
JACKSON – Jackson Township Police Department National Night Out will be on August 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Johnson Park, Kierych Memorial Drive. Enjoy rides, food,
games, DJ.
For more information, contact Captain Mary Nelson at 732-833-3015 or mnelson@ jackosntwpnj.net.
Basketball Foul/Th ree-Point Shootout Competition
JACKSON – Jackson Day Basketball Foul/Three-Point Shootout Competition will be on September 15 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Johnson Park, 192 Kierych Memorial Drive. Open to all ages.
Photo courtesy Jackson Police
ASK THE REALTORS
Dear Readers,
We would like to explore the topic of “back on market.” Buyers often express interest in seeing a specific house, only to find out that it’s gone in the blink of an eye, before they even had a chance to see it. Then anywhere from a week to many weeks later, the house is back on the market. What does this mean - and should the buyer grab the chance to pursue the house?
There are a number of reasons a house goes back on the market. In some situations there are serious issues that come up during inspections which make the buyer pull back. However this is not always the case at all. There are several other factors that can cause deals to fall apart. Often a buyer comes in with a strong offer, backed up by a seemingly good pre approval, but due to a variety of things, the mortgage does not go through. Other times buyers’ life circumstances change; sudden illness, a death in the family, a job transfer. There are also times when an inspector reports minor issues, but the seller and buyer are unable to come to a reasonable agreement. So back to the question- should a potential buyer who had his eye on the house go after it once it’s back on the market? The answer is yes, as long as the listing agent confirms that the issue is on the buyer’s side, not the seller’s.
Now that we have discussed “back on market” as it relates to potential buyers, let’s turn the conversation to sellers and what they can do to protect themselves from this predicament. The best strategy for sellers is to always get backup offers. Legally you are allowed to continue showing the house after accepting an offer as long as there is proper communication between all parties. Remember that as much as the buyers seem to love the home, and appear to be qualified to purchase it, things can change.
Haveyoubeeninasituationlikethis?Pleasewriteinandshareyourexperiences.
Until next time, Miriam and Avigail
Miriam Cymet and Avigail Silberman are licensed realtors in NJ. They are both on the Shapiro team at Home Smart First Advantage Realty. They welcome your comments and questions. Miriam can be reached at 908-6923605 or at Miriamcymet1@icloud.com. Avigail can be reached at (718) 954-0413 or at Avigail@shapirorealtors.com.
C ommUnitY n eWS
Safari Glamping Resort Now Open
JACKSON – Six Flags Great Adventure Resort, which is celebrating 50 years of family fun this year, has begun welcoming overnight guests. The world-renowned theme park, water park and safari park located just outside NYC and Philadelphia has opened the new Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa which features one- and two-bedroom luxury BUSHTEC glamping suites as well as a private restaurant and safari-inspired spa, exclusive to resort guests.
Nestled in the heart of the 350-acre Six Flags Wild Safari, home to over 1,200 animals, Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa promises a one-of-a-kind, first-class experience for those seeking an indulgent retreat. Each of the resort’s luxe suites will feature customized furnishings, sumptuous bedding, Gilchrist & Soames amenities, and décor highlighting organic and natural materials. Several accommodations offer an expansive private veranda delivering panoramic views of the safari and stunning sunsets.
From the moment guests arrive, they will be greeted with warm hospitality and personalized care with no detail overlooked.
Key Features of the Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa:
Attentive staff will be at the ready offering both privacy and personalized service. Resort guests can book exclusive VIP encounters including the Meet the Giants tour and the Lions, Tigers and Bears – Oh My tour for an additional fee.
“Spending the night in the comfort of a luxurious glamping suite, surrounded by more than 1,200 animals, right in the middle of a safari, in New Jersey, is unreal,” said Staci Wheeler, marketing and PR manager. “Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa is both exciting and serene. Surrounded by 350 acres, guests can imagine themselves on African safari when, in fact, they are less than an hour from New York City.”
“Our full Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa team is dedicated to making every guest experience personalized and unique,” added Elizabeth Bransky-Cannata, Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa manager. “Some guests have traveled from as far as Europe, others live close by in Philadelphia or New Jersey. What they all seem to have in common is a love for animals and a desire to experience something that is one-of-a-kind and totally unique.”
1. Unique glamping accommodations: The resort offers 20 glamping suites that vary in size, sleeping two to six guests. Each suite is thoughtfully designed to provide the utmost comfort, style and ambience. Several accommodations include an expansive private veranda with unmatched views and styled furniture for dining or relaxing.
2. Exclusive dining: Guests will embark on an indulgent culinary journey with featured menu items curated to enhance the glamping experience. The included, made-to-order breakfast features a wide variety of traditional fare plus specialty items including Bagel with Smoked Lox and Brioche French Toast which can be enjoyed in-room or at Mahaba Grille, where lunch and dinner are also served. The on-site bar serves specialty coffee beverages, beer, wine and custom cocktails.
3. Unmatched views and VIP experiences: During their stay, guests can choose their own adventure. Whether relaxing with sweeping views from their suite, participating in closeup animal encounters or exploring Six Flags Great Adventure theme park or Hurricane Harbor water park, guests will have opportunities to create memories to last a lifetime.
4. Event spaces: Ideal for small gatherings from weddings to corporate retreats, Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa offers a versatile event space with stunning views and top-notch service to make every event unforgettable.
5. Included benefits: With a two-night minimum stay, guests will enjoy: exclusive resort experiences including small animal encounters and a giraffe feeding, made-to-order breakfast daily, tickets to the theme and water park, chauffeured access throughout the resort and more.
Included with their stay, guests can experience the first Safari Off Road Adventure tour of the day. This takes guests on an immersive, wildlife expert-led tour through the Wild Safari. Passengers are secure and comfortable in rugged open-air off-road safari vehicles delivering an incredible, up-close opportunity to see animals graze, tend to their young and cool off in the many watering holes. Just a few of the animals guests might see and learn about include African elephants, Siberian tigers, lions, red kangaroos, white rhino and bears. Over the last five years, Six Flags Wild Safari has donated over $100,000 to the Wildlife Conservation Network through their “Save an Icon” collectors pin program. As part of a resort stay, each overnight guest receives a limited-edition pin to commemorate their visit, helping to raise funds to support endangered wildlife in their natural habitats.
The Savannah Sunset Spa, which is exclusive to overnight guests, offers multiple holistic treatments with expert therapists such as the African Rungu Wood Massage. This massage utilizes the African Rungu Tool to relieve aches and pains and improve blood circulation. Special African inspired add-ons, including a Traditional African Foot Scrub, add to guests’ one-of-a-kind experience.
Resort guests will also discover a more “macabre” experience this fall at Six Flags Great Adventure’s new Fright Fest Extreme Halloween event. Guests who book at the resort from September 7 through November 3 will receive complimentary tickets to both daytime and evening events including Fright Fest Extreme Oktoberfest and Kids Boo Fest. Reservations can be made at sixflags.com/ savannahsunset for select stays through December 1, 2024, and Summer 2025.
C ommUnitY n eWS
Volunteers Have Cats Available For Adoption
JACKSON – Calling All Cats is a cat rescue group made up of volunteers, some of whom work at a spay and neuter clinic. People would drop off unwanted cats. As a group, they save the babies that are left alone, the countless mothers that have had numerous litters and those that are losing or have lost their home.
This is Ruby. She is a beautiful, sweet & extremely friendly little girl. She will follow you around and curl up on your lap and purr. She loves people and other cats. She, as well as her litter mate Pearl, is spayed and
vaccinated and ready for her new “furever” home, with or without her sister.
To help humanely lower the feline population, they spay and neuter feral cats and then fi nd homes for the friendly adults and the offspring that have been born. The rescue works extremely hard to fi nd the best homes for cats of all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. While these cats wait, they are cared for in safe, loving, and nurturing foster homes
To start the application process, visit Calling All Cats on Facebook and Petfinder.com.
Jackson Police Now Hiring
JACKSON – Interested in becoming a Jackson Township Class II Police Officer? Know someone who may be interested? They are currently taking applications and resumes for this amazing position. Get hands on experience on your path
to becoming a full-time police offi cer and work hand in hand with officers to better prepare you for the next step in your journey.
Any questions, you can direct them to Lt. Richard Bosley at rbosley@jacksontwpnj.net.
Photo courtesy Calling All Cats
H ERE ’ S T O Y OUR H EALTH
Dr. Izzy’s
Sound News
Presented By: Isidore Kirsh, Ph.D., F.A.A.A. (N.J. Lic. #678)
6 Tips For Longer Battery
Find the Right Match Make sure your batteries are the right size, type, and performance level for your devices.
Prepare Before You Pull Pulling the tab activates your batteries, so be sure you’re ready to use them — they can’t be deactivated. It’s advisable to wait at least 2-3 minutes before closing the battery door to maximize battery life.
Power Down Turning off your hearing aids and opening the battery door when they’re not in use helps your batteries last longer.
Keep Water Out Moisture damages batteries, so protect your devices from water and store them overnight in a dehumidifier. If moisture corrodes the
Life
battery door, the aid will eventually stop working.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures Extremes are no good for batteries, so store them at room temperature whenever possible. Choose Rechargeables Rechargeables eliminate waste and the need to constantly mess with tiny batteries. Long time hearing aid users still prefer to replace their batteries as opposed to having to drag the charger with you on vacation trips.
Dr. Izzy & his Staff are always available to answer your questions about important hearing care issues. Please feel free to contact Dr. Izzy at 732-451-3962 or ikirsh@gardenstatehearing.com.
His offices are in Toms River, Whiting, and Manahawkin. He can be reached at 732-451-3962 or via Web site at gardenstatehearing.com. Dr. Izzy & Staff gives Retirement Community Talks!
O+ And O- Donors Urgently Needed
NEW JERSEY – New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS) has issued an urgent call for type O+ and O- blood donations. This dangerous shortage is impacting local hospitals and part of a disturbing national trend, with Type O shortages reported across the U.S. The current inventory of type O blood is the lowest it’s been since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further complicating this shortage is a recent surge in blood usage. In the past several days, seven massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) have occurred across the region. MTPs involve administering 10 or more units of blood to a patient within 24 hours but can often require 50 or more lifesaving blood products per patient, placing tremendous strain on the blood supply.
Type O+ is the most common blood type, representing nearly 40% of the U.S. population. Type O- is the universal blood type and is commonly used in emergency settings. A shortage of both types, both locally and nationally, poses serious concerns for our healthcare system, and the need for donors is critical.
In addition, the region continues to struggle with the challenges that often accompany the summer months. Seasonal travel, school breaks, and a rise in traumatic accidents during the summer months often strain the blood supply and
lead to shortages. NJBS is calling on all individuals with Type O blood to make an immediate donation.
“We are appealing to our community to step up and donate blood, especially those who are type O. The summer months are always a challenging time for the blood supply, but we are currently experiencing an even lower level of this crucial blood type than at the start of the pandemic,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New Jersey Blood Services. “Following the recent surge in blood usage, our local inventory is critically low, and we need immediate support to ensure that every patient receives the lifesaving care they need.”
NJBS hosts daily blood drives and operates 19 area donor centers to reach donors and meet local hospital needs. Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800-688-0900.
To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org. Can’t donate blood? You can still support NYBC’s mission by texting ‘NYBC’ to ‘20222’ to give $25.
Dr. Isidore Kirsh Ph.D., F.A.A.A.
Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.
Do You Touch Your Face And Mouth A Lot? Many People Do!
By Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.
We express our emotions by touching our faces. When we’re surprised or scared, we might instinctively cover our mouths with our hands. During moments of deep concentration or attentive listening, a hand often finds its way under our chin. This habit isn’t just random; it’s a hands-on coping mechanism that helps soothe us by engaging our senses.
Our phones play a role in this too. With the rise of smartphones and computers, face-touching behaviors have significantly. Most people don’t clean their phones that often, and the face touching habit can transfer pathogens from screens to your face. Do you touch your face or mouth a lot? What about your hair, or nose.
5 Types of Face Touching
Mouth: Touching the mouth and nose 3-5 times per hour increases the risk of pathogen transmission.
Nose: Touching the outside of your nose or scratching it is pretty common. Surprisingly, nose picking is also common, with 91 percent of people admitting to it on a questionnaire.
Eyes: Touched 1-2 times per hour, which could be due to irritation or contact lenses.
Ears: Touched 2-3 times per hour, typically during stress or when adjusting accessories.
Hair: Frequent in individuals with long hair, occurring 4-6 times per hour.
You are going to start noticing yourself doing this more often, lol! And other people too. Frequent face touching can lead to the transfer of pathogens, causing infections and illnesses especially during high cold/flu season.
Why do we do it so much? When face
touching becomes really excessive (and “really” can be defined differently by all of us), it may be attributed to various psychological and physiological conditions. Psychogenic pruritus, for instance, involves itching without a physical cause and can lead to frequent scratching. People with small fiber neuropathy sometimes have what’s called neuropathic itch. Tactile hallucinations, often associated with psychiatric disorders or substance use, create false sensations of touch, prompting individuals to rub or scratch their faces. Then there’s dermatillomania, a condition characterized by compulsive skin picking, can result in persistent face touching. Formication, the awful sensation of feeling ants or other bugs crawling on (or under) your skin! The word “formica” means ants. This tactile hallucination is sometimes related to illicit drug use and can cause frequent touching and scratching. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may involve compulsions that include repetitive face touching for some sufferers. I don’t want to medicalize it too much because for some people it’s just a matter of feeling nervous or anxious.
Understanding these behaviors is fun, and crucial for those with immune systems that are compromised. Keep good hygiene practices to reduce the risk of infections, like washing hands frequently, or applying hand sanitizers. Try becoming more mindful of the frequency of face touching to help mitigate health risks if you have immune problems.
For more detailed insights into face touching and its causes, please read my longer version of this article posted on suzycohen.com.
(This information is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Suzy Cohen is the author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist” and “Real Solutions.” For more information, visit www.SuzyCohen.com) ©2024 SUZY COHEN, RPH. DISTRIBUTED BY DEAR PHARMACIST, INC.
Educating Our Community On Nursing Home Abuse
By: Michael J. Deem, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates
People put their elderly parent or grandparent in a nursing home so that they can be safely taken care of, so that someone can properly look after them in their old age. No one expects that these nursing home residents should get anything less than the proper care and respect that they deserve, but with the horrifying rise in nursing care abuse, this is not always the case. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse in the United States, more than 30 percent of all nursing homes in America indulge in some form of resident abuse.
million by the year 2030.
Statistics show that nearly 50 percent of all nursing homes are short staffed. The staff people who do work in these facilities are underpaid, overworked, and all too often overburdened, which in turn leads to elder neglect and abuse. Even more alarming is the prediction that the problem will only worsen in the near future. More than 91% of nursing homes lack adequate staff to properly care for patients. A Health and Human Services Department report found patients in understaffed nursing homes were more likely to suffer from a variety of problems, such as bed sores, malnutrition, weight loss, dehydration, pneumonia, and serious blood born infections. It’s a serious concern that will only increase with time, given that the population of people aged 85 or older is expected to double to 8.9
Signs of abuse and neglect may be (but are not limited to) evidence such as patterns of bruising, unexplained injuries, frequent infections, bedsores, questionable hygiene, appearance of malnutrition, emotional distress, and unsanitary living conditions. Document any such evidence you observe, and bring it to the attention of your attorney. Neglect can be just as harmful in the long run as abuse, leading to additional health problems and possibly death. Nursing home abuse isn’t limited to physical abuse; there can also be emotional, verbal, and psychological abuse, where an elder is demeaned or humiliated in other ways.
Many elders needlessly suffer from nursing home abuse in which they are manipulated, humiliated, or physically harmed by the very people entrusted with providing them with loving and tender care. Instances of physical, sexual and verbal abuse have taken place at the very nursing homes where elders are actually supposed to be well taken care of; unfortunately, cases of nursing home abuse in America and also in New Jersey are rising rather than falling.
If you think a loved one is the victim of Nursing Home Abuse call the trial attorneys at R.C. Shea & Associates for a free consultation to discuss their rights.
Government 0fficials... Have news that you would like the community to be involved with? Let everyone know by placing a news release in this paper! Send it to news@jerseyshoreonline.com.
Continued From Page 5
she described as a “killing camp.” Gela and the other young women were assigned to a “working camp,” and subjected to forced labor in a linen factory for 16-hour days.
There were 40 girls crammed into one room. Every morning at five o’clock, they had to stand at attention and listen to a speech. The girls were told that the plan was to kill all the Jews, but if they worked hard, they might be allowed to leave, along with their parents. The girls believed this promise, clinging to the hope that it might be true.
“We thought the Germans would not lie,” said Gela. “But unfortunately, they lied.”
Gela recounted the daily horrors she endured, including beatings, starvation, and cruel name-calling. She remembered one instance when her machine broke down and a towering, high-ranking SS officer threatened her.
Overwhelmed with fear, she listened as he snarled in German, “Small devil, I will hang you and then shoot you.”
Despite her terror, the young teenager defied him, telling him he could shoot her and then hang her if he wanted. It made no difference to Gela.
She told him – “If you want to shoot me, then hang me.” She didn’t care about whether she was alive or not.
At one point, someone who maintained the machines took pity on Gela and left her a tiny piece of bread. By the time she was 18, Gela weighed only 56 pounds, her body reduced to skin and bones. She had no food, wooden shoes, and sparse clothing.
One of the worst acts of humiliation came was when the soldiers came through the camp with Dr. Josef Mengele. The girls were told to make a circle and stand in it naked. They were crying, scared, and ashamed. During her presentation, Gela held up a tiny picture that was her only remaining treasure from the horrific days before she was freed by the Russians. Gela had managed to hide a small photograph of her parents and family under the heavy machinery she was forced to operate.
Mona Ginsburg
Born in Vienna, Austria to Polish parents in 1933, Mona Ginsberg was just five years old when her childhood erupted into a state of uncertainty. Now 90, Mona’s story is one that speaks of the goodness in people, even when confronted by evil. Her kind eyes and warm voice radiated with gratitude during the presentation,
“Life was still possible for the Jews at that time in Vienna, although it was not good,” shared Mona. “My parents had left Poland because life was already very bad for the Jews.”
The decision to leave Vienna came in 1938 when a brick was thrown through the family’s apartment window and landed on the bed.
“I remember the look of horror on my parents’ face,” Mona said. “They decided to flee - my parents, my uncle and grandmother starting to walk with us through a snowstorm. My father carried my 18-month-old brother in a knapsack.”
Children were not permitted to cross the
border. Consequently, Mona’s grandmother, her brother, and she were placed on a train to Belgium. They stayed with relatives in Antwerp until Mona’s parents joined them. Once reunited, the family established a new home in Antwerp.
The history books identify Antwerp as one of the hardest-hit cities in Belgium during World War II. Mona’s family was forced to leave as refugees because they were no longer welcome.
“We moved to Liège, another city in Belgium,” shared Mona. “We also had relatives there and set up home again.”
“I was registered in school as a six-year-old and made to wear the yellow star,” Mona continued. “I felt embarrassed in front of the other children.”
Hiding
In Plain Sight
In 1942, Mona’s parents learned from the bishop of Liège that Catholic convents were offering refuge to Jewish children. Mona was placed in a home for poor Catholic girls, while her five-year-old brother was sent to live at a home in Banneux that had taken in Jewish boys.
“The whole village knew I was Jewish because I wasn’t baptized,” said Mona. “When I went to church, I couldn’t take communion. I went to confession with the priest, but it was all make believe.”
“My mother had said to me to never forget that I was Jewish,” Mona added. “It’s stuck to me to this day.”
When the Nazis began arresting Jews, Mona’s father was sent to Auschwitz, where he was ultimately worked to death. Mona’s mother was not home at the time. Realizing the danger, she went straight to join her son at the home in Banneux.
“The home was run by German nuns who took my brother and her in,” said Mona. “They were very courageous people.”
Mona emphasized that the threat of death was not only to her family. Those who rescued them also risked their lives for hiding Jewish people. Both children were even enrolled in school, which was another act of bravery.
Both Mona and her brother easily became attached to the families who took such good care of them. Mona remains close to the generations that followed in the household that took her in.
After the American Army liberated the country in 1945, Mona’s mother set up a new home and took back her brother. When her mother found a bigger place, Mona joined them.
“At fi rst I didn’t want to go back to my mother,” admitted Mona. “I felt embarrassed to leave the family that sheltered me.”
A Shared Hope
Despite the trauma they endured, both women fi nd solace in sharing their stories, hoping to educate and create empathy among future generations.
“I was debating with myself about how to describe all the hardship I went through,” said Gela. “But as painful as it was, I feel we need to talk about it so that hopefully it will never happen again.”
Mona added, “There is hope for the world because there were good people who risked their lives to save Jews like me, and my mother and brother.” Holocaust:
St. Francis Counseling Service Seeking Advocates for
Are you an Ocean County resident who is interested in supporting survivors of sexual violence? Our FREE 40-hour training will certify you to advocate for people after they have experienced sexual violence. Once trained, you will be on-call to provide crisis intervention, educational information, and resources to survivors. All potential advocates are encouraged to apply. To apply and schedule an interview, please contact Cheryl Fuller, MSW at cfuller@stfrancislbi.org or call (609) 494-1554
Development
: Continued From Page 4
already planned a traffic light at Bowman and East Veterans, which is 600 feet from the Grawtown intersection
should notify county officials about the darkness issue.
“There are eight other projects in the area (that) we are familiar with and we included information from those other eight projects,” Rea added.
No recreational facilities will be featured as part of this development. Board members were told that such facilities were not permitted by the Pinelands Commission on the undeveloped portion of the property. Critics of the development questioned why they were not added to the developable portion of the site.
A small audience came out to this session and only five residents spoke during the public comment period.
Bowman Road resident Evon Clemente asked about a “little curve on the road where there has been a good number of accidents. I think it is important you look at that area. There is a lot of speeding at night in that area and it is very dark there. Was that considered that there are houses of worship there on Bowman” Rea said yes, “Bowman Road is under the jurisdiction of the county. You probably should ask the county if they are aware of the problem.”
A Board member noted that the resident
She also asked about schooling of the students who would living in the housing provided in the project and was directed to ask that question to the Jackson Board of Education as to where the students would go to school within their district areas.
Jeff Riker, the environmental chairman for the township responded to Clemente’s question about whether the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department had been consulted about the project. “Typically, we do not contact them. We look at overlay maps and data bases and the DEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) has people who listen to bird calls and other things. This is one of the most restricted sites (by the Pinelands Commission) in Jackson Township.”
Board Attorney Robert Shea II responded to a question about tree removal stating that trees couldn’t be removed until the developer received approval from the township zoning offi cer, the Pinelands Commission and the State Department of Environmental Protection.
Resident Ed Bannon asked if one of the homes planned for in the project could be eliminated in order to create additional parking and was told that was a possible option.
Jim Silecchia wanted to know how “deep are the driveways?” His answer was 30 feet from the right of way.
Four Types Of Eagles Can Be Found In
North America
By Renee A. Thomaier Retired New Jersey State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
While there are over 60 species of eagles in the world, four of them can be found in North America. Eagles are very large, predatory birds having massive beaks and powerful talons. Both are used in catching and devouring their prey. Their eyesight is about three times more powerful than a human.
Mostly we are familiar with the bald eagle as it is the national emblem of the United States. That symbol was designated in 1782. This eagle is easily identifiable as their heads are covered in striking white plumage and dark chocolate-coated bodies. Bald eagles occupy the coastlines, with fish being a major food source. They prefer scavenging over hunting.
This eagle lives year round in the western part of the United States, where the golden eagle is very common. This raptor hunts and scavenges in open areas near cliffs, hills, and mountains. Evolution has caused them to utilize a wide variety of environments to include deserts, wooded areas, with a particular attraction to those near to the water. They seek smaller animals such as prairie dogs, and ground squirrels. Opportunistic feeders, they will also consume reptiles, fish, and other birds.
The white-tailed eagle possesses a snowwhite wedge shaped tail, with dark brown plumage. Unlike the bald eagle and golden eagle, this eagle only visits North America sporadically. They prefer the coastal areas and are sometimes referred to as ‘sea eagles’ as much of their diet is fish. However, they are not picky eaters and will hunt and scavenge small animals like rats, hares, carrion, and birds.
Not native to North America, the Steller’s sea eagle is only sometimes spotted here. Fish being their primary prey, they hunt in stretches of open water. Nesting is frequently located near salmon spawning grounds. Like the other eagles, they also steal food. Highly adored by the Japanese, they spend their winters there.
Although not found in North America, the harpy eagle is the world’s largest and most powerful raptor.
I gathered the information for this article from multiple sources so statistics may vary slightly. To reach me please call 732244-2768.
It’s illegal to possess, relocate, or cause harm to wildlife for any reason. Managing wildlife without the proper state/federal permits is illegal. Violating laws protecting wildlife is punishable by law.
Multicultural Committee Seeks Members
JACKSON – Jackson Township is seeking individuals interested in serving on the Jackson Township Multicultural Committee, which is dedicated to fostering unity, celebrating diversity and insuring an inclusive community for all.
This Committee will consist of approximately 34 members, one from each voting
district, that will meet regularly to create and organize community events in building bridges and bringing together residents from different religious, non-religious and cultural backgrounds, as well as create and implement a public education campaign that will focus on highlighting diversity within the Township and promoting cultural and religious sensi-
tivity and acceptance of all members of the Township. At this time, there are districts that still need representation.
If you are interested in shaping a more inclusive and harmonious future for our community, please send an email to officeofadministration@jacksontwpnj.net. Be sure to include name, address, email and best contact number.
For Sale
General dental practice for sale -
Established office over 50 years in South Jersery, Ocean County/ Jersey shore area. 2023 annual gross $275,000, 2 1/2 days a week. 3 ops, fully equipped in a professional rented office building with parking. Digital xray, sterilization and lab area. Reception area and waiting room. TMJ, Invisalign, cosmetic dentistry. Pay $2500 rent. Asking $325,000. Any interest, send questions to dentalofficeinquiry@gmail.com. (37)
Items For Sale
“Up Bed” - Never used.Electronically assists you up. Removable short guard rails. Remote control. Set of sheets included. Call/text for information and pricing. 646-872-6317. (37)
Princeton Memorial Park - Double depth companion plot for 2. Garden of Time, section 1. Price $1,500. Call 609-903-0395. (35)
Items Wanted
COSTUME/ESTATE JEWEL-
RY Looking to buy costume/estate jewelry, old rosaries and religious medals, all watches and any type of sterling silver, bowls, flatware candlesticks or jewelry. Same day house calls and cash on the spot. 5 percent more with this AD. Call Peggy at 732-581-5225. (t/n)
$$$ WANTED TO BUY $$$
Jewelry and watches, costume jewelry, sterling silver, silverplate, medals, military items, antiques, musical instruments, pottery, fine art, photographs, paintings, statues, old coins, vintage toys and dolls, rugs, old pens and postcards, clocks, furniture, bric-a-brac, select china and crystal patterns. Cash paid. Over 35 years experience. Call Gary Struncius. 732-849-6068 (new number). (t/n)
Entire Estates Bought - Bedroom/dining sets, dressers, cedar chests, wardrobes, secretaries, pre-1950 wooden furniture, older glassware, oriental rugs, paintings, bronzes, silver, bric-a-brac. Call Jason at 609-970-4806. (t/n)
CASH PAID!! LP records - stereos, musical instruments, guitar, saxophone, CD’s, reel tapes, music related items. Come to you. 732-804-8115. (44)
Cash - Top dollar, paid for junk, cars running and nonrunning, late model salvage, cars and trucks, etc. 732-928-3713. (t/n)
Ca$h Paid For Old 45 RPM Records. - R&B, doo wop, soul, early rock & roll, and rockabilly preferred. Call between 8AM and 8PM 909-938-4623. (10)
Used Guns Wanted - All types: collectibles, military, etc. Call 917-681-6809. (t/n)
WE BUY CARS - Any year. Any model. Any condition. Running or Not. CASH PAYMENT AND FREE PICK UP OF VEHICLE. 609-3841610. Www.Webuycars2day.com. (32)
Vinyl Records Wanted - Paying cash for LP albums. Rock, Reggae, Blues, Jazz. Also buying Comic Books . Call Rick 908-616-7104 (t/n)
CASH, CASH, CASH! - Instant cash paid for junk cars, trucks, vans. Free removal of any metal items. Discount towing. Call Dano 732-239-3949. (t/n)
CLASSIFIEDS
Services Help Wanted
Certified Home Health Aides - Needed for Ocean County area. Hourly and live-in positions avail. P/T and F/T. Call CCC at 732-206-1047. (t/n)
Bus Driver NEEDED! - Flexible Scheduling. Perfect for Retiree in Retirement Community. CDL w/ Passenger endorsement required. Call SilverWoods Clubhouse for more information at 732-341-4825. (t/n)
Laundromat Attendant - For FT/ PT Good communication skills, math and min computer knowledge. Transportation needed. Long term commitment only. 732-286-1863. (t/n)
R.C. Shea and Associates is seeking to hire a paralegal with civil/commercial litigation experience as well as an administrative assistant. Pay and benefits commensurate with experience. Please call Pam Williams, office manager at (732) 505-1212 or email at pwilliams@rcshea.com (t/n)
Services
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-833-901-0309 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. (t/n)
Do You Want Your Car To Look Nice And Shine - Call Lenny Lenny's Mobile Auto Detailing 908-868-4609. (37)
When You Need A Caregiver Call Lucy - European Registered Nurse, 25 years. US Eldercare experience, 19 years. Live in/out, hourly, negotiable. 732-657-1409 (H), 732-833-3273 (C). (47)
PQ Painting & Home Improvement Services - Over 5 decades of service in NJ. Visit us online at pqpaintingservice.com . Winner of Angie’s List Super Service Award. Free estimates, reasonable rates, fully licensed and insured NJ Lic #13VH06752800. Call 732500-3063 or 609-356-2444. (t/n)
ALL American Home Health AidesExperienced experts in the field of trauma and recovery. Holistic approach to healing-nutrition, physical therapy, and quality of life improvements. Hourly or live in. Honest, hardworking, etc. Includes housekeeping, rides to doctors/pleasure. Skip the rest, come to the best. 848-224-0516. email woolnoughkris@gmail.com. (t/n)
DECKS • DECKS • DECKSWOOD • TREX • COMPOSITE • VINYL RAILINGS • BOARD REPLACEMENT • STAIRS • EXPERTS INSTALLATION • LICENSED • INSURED • ADVANCED BUILDING. 609-394-9030 (36)
Learn To Play The - Flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or drums, from a NJ State Certified Teacher of Instrumental Music, in your home! Call 732-3504427 for more information. (33)
THE RIDE GUY - Takes you anywhere! No limits. Comfy mini-van. Call Charlie 732-2163176 or Email: cr@exit109.com. References. Let's Go! (t/n)
Garden State Property Maintenance - All yard work. Tree-trimming and removal, stump grinding, pavers, decks, flower beds, weeding. 609-661-5470. (t/n)
MY HANDY CREW - Home repairs, carpentry, painting roofing and siding, decks, powerwashing, yardwork all your home maintenance needs. $ave. Call Clark 732-850-5060. Insured and NJ License #13VH11804800. (10)
LANDSCAPING - Restorations, Repairs, Stones, Mulch, Sod Installs, Hedges, Shrubs, Bushes, Downed Branches Trimmed & Removed, Demolition, Cleanouts, ect., Dumpster service provided by A901 Licensed Hauler ect. MAN WITH VAN LLC. Jim 609335-0330 HIC# 13VH10806000. NO JOB TOO SMALL! Servicing Toms River, Lakehurst, Manchester, Whiting, Jackson, New Egypt, Plumstead Beachwood, Bayville, Berkeley. (47)
Handyman Service - Carpentry, masonry, painting repairs large and small. 40 years experience. Call Jim 732-674-3346. (39)
Painting - Special Spring Pricing. Interior/Exterior. Meticulous work. All materials and jobs guaranteed. Fully licensed and insured. $ave. Call 732-850-5060. (47)
CHEAP PAINTING Done RITEFree est. Senior discounts interior exterior. Call 732-506-7787, cell 646-643-7678. (t/n)
APlus Home Improvements - Over 30 years experience. Everything from small handyman tasks to large renovations, decks, finished basements and much more. Lic #13VH11453600. No job too small give us a call. 908-278-1322. (52)
Housecleaning - We offer services: House cleaning, laundy, window cleaning, painting, office cleaning, carpet cleaning, shopping, take clothes dry cleaning, typing, office work, demonstration, merchandise in store. Very good prices. Call 732330-4189 or 848-287-3944. (t/n)
Car Service - 24/7. Doctors, shopping, airports, hospitals, cruise, shops, Atlantic City, family functions, NYC accomodations for large groups. Call for reasonable rates. Kerry 732-606-2725. (42)
Roofing - Covering the Jersey Shore since 1984. Removal of old shingles, all woodwork inspected and repaired. GAF lifetime roofing shingles. meticulous cleanup. Fully insured and free estimates. $ave. Call Clark 732-8505060. NJ Lic # 13VH11804800. (17)
Restaurant & Small Business Loans Available - Alternative loans & LOC for Restaurants and small businesses. No Upfront fees. For more information go to: www.cg-consultant.com and fill out submission form. Or call 570 592-6258 and leave message. (35)
Nor’easter Painting and Staining, LLC - Interior and exterior. Decks, powerwashing. Affordable. Senior discounts. References. No job too small. Fully insured. 732-6910123. Lic #13VH09460600. (t/n)
DIRECTV - All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Direct and get your first free months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/ mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-877-557-1213. (t/n)
Since 1979, Kitchen Magic, a family-owned business offering cabinet refacing, new cabinetry, and luxury countertop throughout the Northeast. We transform kitchens in less time, with less stress, at an amazing value. Call today for a free estimate 1-844-367-2477. (t/n)
TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED:
• Mail this form to: PO Box 521, Lakehurst, NJ 08733. OR
• Go to jerseyshoreonline.com, click classifieds, fill out the form and pay by credit card. OR
1. Below, circle the heading you would like your ad to appear under:
Auto For Sale
Items For Sale
Items Wanted
Help Wanted
Other
2. Print clearly your ad as you want it to read. Include Phone # within ad below (counts as 1 word). Use separate sheet if necessary.
You are responsible for checking your ad the first time it runs and notifying us of any errors. If we make an error, we will correct it and rerun the ad. We will not be responsible for multiple insertions if you do not call us after the first ad run. No refunds for classified ads. Newspapers are available at our office. Please feel free to stop in and check your ad.
Calculate Price As Follows:
3. 1 week* at $29.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $ 2 weeks* at $44.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $ 3 weeks* at $60.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $ 4 weeks* at $74.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $ Total = $
*In order to qualify for discounts, the same ad must run over the requested weeks. • Estate/Garage/Yard Sales
4. Make check payable in advance to Micromedia Publications, or fill in Mastercard/Visa/American Express SORRY NO DISCOVER info below:
Credit Card#
Cardholder Signature:
Print Name:
Billing Address:
• Fax this form to 732-657-7388 ATTN: ALI. 5. PHONE NUMBER (THIS IS REQUIRED)
If you have any questions, leave a message for Ali 732-657-7344, ext. 203. Deadline For Classified Ads: 12pm Monday (For that Saturday’s publication)
TOMS RIVER – Ocean County College is proud to share that we have been selected as one of the grantees of Lumina Foundation’s mini-grant opportunity and first-ever Instagram challenge. A total of seven community colleges have been awarded $50,000 each to enhance their digital outreach and marketing efforts. Our
OCC Wins Instagram Challenge
engaging Instagram Reel showcased the exceptional value and vibrant experiences that Ocean County College offers, helping us stand out among over 100 entries from public, accredited two-year institutions nationwide.
The Winners: 1. Ocean County College, NJ
2. Ohlone College, CA Community College of Beaver County, PA
3. State University of New York (SUNY) Niagara, NY
4. Owens Community College, OH
5. Chaffey College, CA
6. Jefferson State Community College, AL
The Instagram challenge invited com-
munity colleges to create a 90-second Reel, highlighting why their college is the best choice for practicality, convenience, and excellence. By participating, we aimed to highlight #WhatsExcellent about Ocean County College and demonstrate the extraordinary opportunities available to our students.
“The grant will assist OCC in developing an exciting new digital outreach program that will provide our students with opportunities to develop their creative skills, gain valuable experience, and build a strong portfolio for their future, while showcasing the vibrant campus life, diverse student body, and exceptional programs offered here at OCC,” said Dr. Pamela Monaco, president of Ocean County College. “I am thrilled by the collaboration from our enrollment services team with college relations, and the amazing talent of the students and team who created our winning Reel.”
“For the past two years, Lumina has engaged in a national conversation about understanding and strengthening community college brands,” said Mary Laphen Pope, Lumina’s strategy officer for participation. “While discussions often focus on challenges such as enrollment declines, success stories about community colleges and their students are rarely highlighted. We aim to change that.” Community colleges like OCC embody the dreams and aspirations of our communities, offering excellent student services, beautiful campus facilities, heartfelt community engagement, and dynamic classroom experiences. We are excited to continue sharing our stories and highlighting the diverse and profound impact of a community college education.
“We were excited to offer this minigrant opportunity and so impressed by all the outstanding video reels we received. We hope this initiative will help shift the narrative around community colleges and all that they offer,” added Laphen Pope.
Lumina invites community colleges to continue sharing their stories and highlighting their excellent work. For more information about the mini-grant challenge and to apply for future opportunities, visit Lumina’s Challenge Page.
Email your best
and you may get lucky!
Charitable Knitters Seek Yarn Donations
JACKSON – Your new, unused yarn can become something special for someone in need. The Ocean County Library Jackson Branch, in partnership with the Jackson Community Crafters, seek contributions of yarn now through September 1.
The volunteers use donated yarn to make items which go to organizations serving disadvantaged people in Ocean
County and nearby communities. The Jackson Community Crafters welcome new members. They meet on Mondays at alternating times of 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Donations of new four-ply worsted yarn in all colors can be brought to the library at 2 Jackson Drive. To find out more, visit the Branch or call 732928-4400.
Another beautiful sunrise over the Jersey Shore. Local photographer Lisa Kenney likes to call this shot “The Sunrise Surfer.” Stunning! Have a pic you would like to see in this space? Want to win a prize?
Jersey Shore pix to photos@ jerseyshoreonline.com
FUN & GAMES SUDOKU
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Kept” novelist Prescott 3 River to the Caspian 4 Sunblock letters 5 Quick, provocative opinion 6 Unexpected smack?
Laundry brand
Grammy winner Corinne Bailey __
Medical pro who avoids the rear of the ship? 19 Approximate fig.
Actor Mineo
Yarns
Key near Alt
Farmers market
Rum cocktail
Medical pro who holds a pal’s hand in a tattoo parlor?
Zellwe-
Eucalyptus eater
Old T-shirts, maybe
“__ we good?” 10 Simple card game 11 In the not-too-distant future 12 Iraq port city 13 Actor who plays the Emperor in 2020’s “Mulan” 18 “The Persistence of Memory” painter 22 Spain’s El __ 23 “Where creativity clicks” construction toy 24 Slip-on shoe 25 Programming pioneer Lovelace
Sketch 27 Forfeited auto 28 “Please give me
some alone time” 29 Sour 30 Birds of prey that were once endangered 34 Basketball Hall of Famer Donovan 35 Social equal
Bigwig 38 Best Picture winner set in Iran 40 Jiff 41 Pathology study 43 __ Grande
Run-down area 45 Box lunch? 46 The first “A” in
scan
Dreadful
Came to rest
Terse affirmation
Turn down
Painter’s calculation 55 Genetic info carrier 56 Director Reiner
Mani-pedi place
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Managing your money can look different for everyone, but responsibility should take precedence over pleasures. Pay your bills and stay on top of any financial obligations and you could find the stability you may need.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Sometimes changing your mind can cause hurt feelings. Forgiveness could be granted if you take the time to ask for it. Listen, explain and apologize for whatever misunderstandings might have occurred in the past.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be careful how you phrase things if you must discuss a friend or family member’s project. They may trust you and care about what you think. Approval can be more meaningful than you expect so remember to remain kind.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sorry may not always be enough. There might be things that you have done that you need to make amends for. Not just for the other person, but to clear your own heart. Find the best way to restore balance for yourself.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If a metaphoric cake is placed in front of you, the whole thing could feel like a reasonable portion. Others seated at the same table may be longing for a piece so you’ll need to accept a smaller slice and compromise.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Now may be the time to sift through your contacts and strengthen your connections. A time might come soon when you need to make an important call and if you do not have the number, you could be left out in the rain.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): This may not be
FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 20 - JULY 26 BY
OMARR’S ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST
JERALDINE SAUNDERS
the time to stray away from your usual paths. Some plans that you have might need to be put aside for a while until things have settled and you can give your full attention to your current project.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Sometimes opportunity avoids the door completely and comes quietly tapping on your window. It may not always be precise, but it can be ready for whoever finds it. It could be up to you to realize what is waiting for you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Even the fortunate few who seem good at everything may not have the time to do it all themselves. If you can spread the work out across the team, then everyone could complete their specialty and get the job done on time.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Connecting with people outside your regular circle might pay unexpected dividends if you have an emergency later. It could come down to who you know. Being connected to a network could be beneficial if a favor is needed.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You might have been working away on a temporary thing while you wait for something better to come along. It may be up to you to decide whether you want to improve on established tasks or move on to a new endeavor.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You may be tempted to focus on your flaws right now. Most people may think you are great even if you think you still need to prove yourself. If they are telling you that you are wonderful, maybe it is time to listen.
(c) 2024 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
CRADLE SWEET-TART, PEAK-OF-SUMMER FRUIT IN THE BUTTERIEST, FLAKIEST PASTRY
By America’s Test Kitchen
For a dessert to showcase summer’s fi nest blueberries, we wanted a crust that was super flaky, crisp and buttery, with a sweet-tart, juicy filling. A rough puff pastry was the best choice for the crust: It is sturdier than a traditional pie dough and can hold its shape well without the walls of a pie plate to contain it. To make the rough puff, we put butter and flour (and a bit of sugar and salt) in a zipper-lock bag and rolled over the bag with a rolling pin to create long, thin sheets of fat. Once the butter was fully incorporated, we added water to form a dough and then rolled and folded it like a letter. After rolling it once again, we coiled the dough and bent it into an “S” shape that we folded onto itself. This arrangement, which was modeled after the way scallion pancakes are shaped, created a neat, even circle that didn’t require trimming. Once the dough was rolled out, we sprinkled the dough with “crust dust,” a blend of sugar and flour, to soak up excess juices and then filled it with blueberries that had been macerated to release some of their liquid. While the galette baked, we reduced the macerating juices and used them to glaze the tart partway through baking and once it was out of the oven.
Notes: We strongly recommend weighing the flour here. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
1 cup (5 ounces) plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided 7 tablespoons (3 ounces) granulated sugar, divided1/2 teaspoon table salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut lengthwise into thirds and chilled 1/4 cup ice water
1 1/2 pounds (about 5 cups) blueberries
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon Demerara or turbinado sugar
1. Place 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a 1-gallon heavy-duty zipper-lock bag. Seal and shake well to combine. Add butter to bag; seal bag, pressing out as much air as possible; and shake to coat with flour mixture.
2. Set rolling pin across lowest portion of bag and, using rocking motion, flatten butter beneath pin into large flakes. Working in sections, move pin up bag and flatten remaining butter. Shake bag to mix. Roll over bag with pin, shaking bag occasionally to mix, until flour becomes very pale yellow and almost all butter is incorporated.
3. Transfer mixture to a large bowl (use a rubber spatula or bench scraper to scrape any remaining butter and flour mixture from the bag). Add ice water and toss with a rubber spatula until just combined (mixture will be tacky). Transfer dough to a floured counter. With your floured hands, press dough into a
rough 4-inch square.
4. Roll dough into a 10-by-5-inch rectangle with the short side parallel to the edge of the counter, flouring the counter and dough as needed. Starting at the top of the dough, fold into thirds like a business letter, using a bench scraper or metal spatula to release dough from the counter. Turn dough 90 degrees and repeat rolling into a 10-by-5-inch rectangle. Rotate dough 90 degrees so the long side is parallel to the edge of the counter. Beginning with the long edge nearest you, roll dough into a tight cylinder. Pinch seam closed and roll cylinder seam side down. Roll ends of the cylinder toward the center in opposite directions to form an “S” shape. Fold the “S” shape in half. Press dough into a 5-inch circle. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to two days.
5. Meanwhile, place half of the blueberries in a bowl and, using a spatula, press berries against the side of the bowl to break their skins. Add remaining blueberries and 1/4 cup granulated sugar and toss to combine. Transfer mixture to colander set over bowl and let stand for at least 30 minutes.
6. Adjust oven rack to lowest position, set baking stone on rack, and heat oven to 400 degrees. Let chilled dough sit on counter to soften slightly, about 5 minutes, before rolling. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll dough into a 14-inch circle on a well-floured counter, rotating dough frequently and flouring the surface to keep the circle even, without any cracked edges. Roll dough loosely around a rolling pin and unroll it onto the prepared sheet. (It’s OK if the dough hangs over the edges of the sheet.) Cover dough and refrigerate until fi rm, about 10 minutes.
7. Remove sheet from refrigerator. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons flour and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle flour mixture evenly over dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Using a slotted spoon, mound blueberries over the flour mixture, leaving any juices in the bowl. Reserve juices. Carefully grasp 1 edge of dough and fold up 2 inches over the fruit. Repeat around the circumference of the galette, overlapping dough every 2 inches; fi rmly pinch pleated dough to secure, but do not press dough into fruit. Brush dough with egg and sprinkle evenly with demerara sugar.
8. Bake galette for 20 minutes. While galette is baking, transfer reserved berry juices to a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened and reduced to 1/4 cup, 3 to 6 minutes.
9. Remove galette from oven and brush fruit with half of the reduced juices. Return to oven and continue to bake until crust is golden brown and fruit is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes longer. Transfer galette to a wire rack and brush fruit with remaining reduced juices. Let cool for 30 minutes. Serve. Blueberry Galette.
BLUEBERRY GALETTE
