Elvis Impersonators to Benefit STR Rec Program |
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South Toms River - Slip on your blue suede shoes and shake those hips for the upcoming Friends of Elvis 2010 Convention, arriving this July 10th to the South Toms River Recreation Center, located at One Drake Lane, here.
The event will benefit the South Toms River Recreation program and will feature Elvis tributes by local impersonators, Elvis collectibles, refreshments, & more.
A $15 donation is requested at the door, with all proceeds benefiting the borough recreation program. Doors open at 10:30am, and show times will be held from 11am until 4pm. |
Friends of Elvis is a sanctioned Elvis fan club, with the 2010 convention run by borough residents Lori & Andrew Howard.
For more information, please call (732) 818-3330.
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South Toms River Announces 2010 Summer Camp |
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South Toms River - The borough will be kicking off their 9th consecutive summer camp on July 5th for children ages 5-12 years of age.
On opening day, children will receive t-shirts and be placed into groups by age. The four-week long activity camp will conclude on July 30th with a family barbecue. |
Past trips include Blue Claws games, Funtasia festival in Lakewood, Insectropolis, an insect and bug museum, Discovery Learning Zone in Toms River, Berkeley Island swimming, bowling, movies and more.
When not
out on field trips, campers will will be visited by local police for ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco, or Other Drugs) awareness and members of the Manitou Park Volunteer Fire Company, who will discuss fire prevention.
Bus transportation for field trips will be provided by Toms River Schools.
Staff includes Camp Director Gloria Dix, six paid school system employees and five to six volunteer junior counselors who will earn college credit for their service. First aid training and background checks are conducted on all staff members.
"We are truly blessed with the people we have help us each year," said Recreation Board Member Donald Williams.
Residents interested in registering their children can go to the South Toms River Recreation Center:
9am - 11am - April 17th, May 15th, & June 12th
7pm - 9pm - May 6th & June 3rd
Registration fee is $75.00 (does NOT include field trips).
Trip fee is $100.00 if paid upon registration or $125.00 if paid post registration. |
Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez |
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South Toms River - This is the real estate report for single-family homes in South Toms River for March 2010.
There are 10.6 months of inventory (months to sell present inventory at present sales rate), 36 active listings with an average list of $186,293 spending an average 106 days on the market.
Throughout the month, there were 14 new listings carrying an average list price of $189,396. While higher than the number of new listings for March of last year – three – the list price from last March - $187,966 – is comparable to this year’s.
Two homes are presently pending with an average list price of $$140,925 after 69 days on the market. March of last year had zero homes pending. |
There were three sales this March, carrying an average list price of $149,116 and a final average sale price of $143,000 after spending 38 days on the market. Last March, there were also three sales, though with a slightly higher an average list of $170,266 and a final average sales price of $162,166 after spending 28 days on the market.
Three homes listed expired after an average of 184 days on the market and holding an average list price of $139,850. Two homes listed expired last March, after an average of 105 days on the market and holding an average list price of $300,950.
Judging the numbers, my opinion is that the market in South Toms River is not helped by the influx of 14 new listings. We will have to wait and see how the borough fares after the end of the government tax credit offer.
Robert Suarez is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty and an independent real estate correspondent for the Riverside Signal. For more information, he can be reached at Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty’s Toms River office, located at 1541 Route 37 East, 732-270-6100 or through e-mail at robert.suarez@coldwellbanker.com and online at www.robertsuarez.net. |
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Scenes Along the River
March 28, 2010 |
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Shared Service Agreements with County Approved
Prosecutor’s Program passed pending questions |
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South Toms River - Three shared service agreements between the borough and Ocean County and a state grant program were approved during last week’s meeting of the borough council, here, in what will amount to greater aid and assistance for borough police for traffic enforcement, fatal accident prosecution and in the event of emergencies.
All three agreements and the grant program were renewals of previously existing programs between the borough and county, though the traffic safety agreement with the county prosecutor’s office was previously known as the fatal accident support team, or F.A.S.T. |
Under this program, now called the Prosecutor’s Program, special details of traffic enforcement activities will be held using South Toms River Borough police officers and officers of other departments in Ocean County for purposes of fatal accident prosecution, investigation and education.
Councilman Joseph Champagne questioned the funding source of that agreement.
“I’d like more clarification,” he stated, inquiring whether it was entirely the responsibility of the county.
“The county shall pay officers a rate of $60 per hour for when they’re in performance of duties under this agreement,” replied Councilman George J. Greitz, Jr, reading from the resolution. “I know we’ve done this in the past under the old name; it’s not something new.”
A motion to table the resolution was made by Councilman Kevin McCormack until further information could be provided by the borough police chief, Andrew Izatt.
Mr. Greitz disagreed and instead made a motion to pass the resolution pending questions to Chief Izatt, which was approved by the borough council. |
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Also approved by the borough council was a 9-1-1 Emergency Telecommunications Services agreement.
No comments made regarding this resolution.
This shared service permits borough police officers to assist or be assisted by other police departments in the event of an emergency phone call to either the borough police department or any other Ocean County police department.
The borough’s involvement with the State of New Jersey’s Safe and Secure Communities grant program was next approved without comment.
According to the state’s grant program website, this grant program was “enacted into law in 1993 [and] is designed to provide municipalities with funding to add law enforcement personnel vital to effective police operations and other crime related strategies as warranted by the needs of the community. The program allows for the funding of additional officers or funding of law enforcement support personnel which would free-up officers for direct law enforcement activities.”
The last of the approved shared service agreements was for a Driving While Intoxicated [DWI] Enforcement Program.
“What that does is qualify the borough to receive funding for D.W.I. checkpoints and special patrols,” stated Borough Mayor Michael Keene.
The next meeting of the borough council will be held on Monday, April 12th at 7pm in borough hall.
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Scenes Along the River
March 18, 2010 |
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Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez |
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South Toms River - This is the real estate report for single-family homes in South Toms River for February 2010.
There are 9.2 months of inventory (months to sell present inventory at present sales rate), 27 active listings with an average list of $180,278 spending an average 128 days on the market.
Last month, there were four new listings carrying an average list price of $203,500. The number of new listings for February of last year was the same, with an average list price of $168,500.
Three homes are presently pending with a list value of $223,233 after 49 days on the market. This is in contrast to last February’s six pending sales with an average list price of $161,459 after spending an average 107 days on the market. |
Zero homes were sold this February. Two homes were sold last February for an average price of $159,500 after being listed for an average price of $179,478 and spending an average of 162 days on the market.
One home is under contract with a list price of $245,000, after spending 271 days on the market. Likewise, one home was under contract for February of last year, but with an average list price of $255,000 after 56 days on the market.
One home listed expired after spending 204 days on the market and at the list price of $139,850. One home listed also expired last February, after spending 184 days on the market and holding a list price of $219,900.
Judging the numbers, my opinion is that the market in South Toms River is one of the strongest in the markets I reviewed for the Riverside Signal, with its nine months of inventory showing activity. The average days on the market – 128 - however, reflects slow movement.
Robert Suarez is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty and an independent real estate correspondent for the Riverside Signal. For more information, he can be reached at Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty’s Toms River office, located at 1541 Route 37 East, 732-270-6100 or through e-mail at robert.suarez@coldwellbanker.com and online at www.robertsuarez.net. |
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Scenes Along the River
Recent Storm Causes Damage to Abandoned Station Site |
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Scenes Along the River
Week of February 22- 26, 2010 |
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STR Caucus Highlights |
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South Toms River - The borough council met last Monday, here, in caucus session. The highlights of this short meeting are:
- O. Nicholas Monaco, Esq., of the Forked River law firm Dasti, Murphy, McGuckin, Ulaky, Cherkos & Connors, was appointed the borough’s alternate prosecutor
- Louis A. Pintaro, Esq., of Barnegat, was appointed the borough’s alternate public defender
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- Due to shortage, the county shut down salt distribution, though refills are expected by Wednesday, February 12th. A contingency plan proposed was to work with surrounding municipalities and other agencies to procure the road material.
- Regional Occupation Program classes are to be held at the Manitou Park Volunteer Fire Company’s station at 3rd Avenue and 4th Street in Manitou Park, Berkeley Township. The first class is to be on February, 19 at 7pm with further dates to be announced.
- The borough council approved a request by the U.S. Census Bureau to utilize borough hall from April 27th through May 1st.
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South Toms River Man Challenges Blizzard with Winter Swim
Says “Mediocrity is the Enemy” |
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Editor’s Note: This story, produced by the Signal, was originally going to be a regular news article, but the answers given to questions asked, as you’ll see, were far better left entirely intact than reduced into a standard article format, and so a feature was born. Enjoy.
South Toms River - With the temperatures and the snow falling, what better winter activity can you imagine than going deep into the woods of South Toms River, walking the quiet, snowy paths and... going for a swim? |
That's exactly what South Toms River resident Frank Cipriani did this Saturday morning while a fierce blizzard dumped approximately two feet of snow on the area.
"It's my ritual every time it snows," he reported. "It's funny, because I hardly ever get a chance to go in during the summer months."
Mr. Cipriani, who teaches Primitive Survival to area children, says he has been enjoying winter swimming since the early 1990s.
"It all started when I took a survival course with Beachwood native and author Tom Brown, Jr,” he said. “He talked about jumping into the river with the snow falling on his shoulders, and I just had to try it. It's such a rush, I've been doing it ever since."
But isn't it cold and dangerous?
"Well, yes," Mr. Cipriani admits. "There are rules you have to follow, besides knowing the area and observing general water safety.”
He continued:
”First and foremost, know the area and the depth of the swimming hole, since you can't see the bottom. Know that the cold will actually take your breath away; cause you to gasp. I don't put my head underwater summer or winter, because I have scars on my tympanic membrane, and once water gets into my ears, it stays there. So I'll put my fingers in my ears and go under for a few seconds, but if you swim with your head completely underwater, be prepared for your scalp to go numb. Don't panic. It's normal.
Secondly, bring dry clothes and two towels. Once you swim, before you change into your dry clothes, make sure you dry yourself completely. Use your second towel to stand on. Make sure your body is dry. It seems we dry much faster in the winter than in the summer, but take the time to get good and dry.
”Lastly, protect your toes. If you're skinny, your body is going to draw heat into your torso and head very quickly, robbing your toes of warmth, and making them extremely cold. I'd double up on socks, and make absolutely sure your toes get warm quickly after swimming. You don't want to risk frostbite. It's also a good idea to use the buddy system if you're going in. Play it safe."
So why swim in the middle of a winter storm?
"I'll tell you the answer in one word: freedom.
“Around here, we say "Mediocrity is the enemy". Well, this puts a cold foot right in mediocrity's rear end. This is a way to celebrate the resilience of the human body, pushing you to the limit. It's about making that connection between the rugged individualist and the environment that is so uniquely American. The swim is something quiet and private, but it's also a political statement. As long as there are woods, we are free, we take risks, we suffer consequences, we are truly, uniquely American. Every hunter, dirtbiker, paintballer and Piney know what I'm talking about. This is real politics, beyond the Liberal vs. Conservative hooey. Americans are intrinsically free because of our wild places. Take away those wild places and people are forced to search for other outlets to that wild spirit, or simply suppress that side of them. |
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Protecting our forests isn't about global warming or the environment. Protecting our forests is about protecting the spirit of who we are as Americans. There is no greater risk to our spirit of freedom than the deforestation of this country. None.
A question many would ask, is, are you crazy?
We're both crazy, Erik. Is it any crazier to jump into a freezing cold river than it is to try to make a living by creating a news service website in this ice-cold economy? The question of sanity boils down to a cost-benefit analysis. You must ask yourself, "Is the payoff worth the cost?"
And is the payoff worth the cost?
"Every follicle in my body feels alive. My friends think I'm hardcore. I am alone in the beauty of God's creation. It's a high without a hangover or withdrawals. What do you think?
For more information on Tom Brown, Jr. and Mr. Cipriani, go to www.trackerschool.com and www.gatherer.org |
Mayor Keene Commemorates Opening of ‘The Learning Experience’
Calls it a “big boost for the community” |
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South Toms River - The Learning Experience, the newest edition to the business community, here, was given an official endorsement by South Toms River Borough Mayor Michael Keene with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house last Saturday.
The Learning Experience is an infant through pre-kindergarten daycare and education center originally founded in Florida in 1979 that today has franchise locations primarily in the northeastern United States.
“It’s good to have something where kids of all ages could go and start preschool development,” said Mayor Keene. |
“It’s going to be a big boost for this community and the children’s learning.”
He also noted the close proximity of the Garden State Parkway and the business areas of Toms River to the new facility.
“It’s conveniently located – parents can drop the kid off here go right down the parkway,” the mayor stated. “It’s a good spot - we’re a small town but we have a big heart.”
The new South Toms River location is owned and operated by Geri Capiraso and her daughters, Antonette Vito and Felicia Capiraso.
Prior to the ribbon cutting, Ms. Vito escorted the mayor on a tour of the new facility, which included age specific classrooms that begin teaching children how to use computers as early as two years of age, engaging in enrichment programs at three years of age and starting the reading phonics program by four years of age.
Donna Miller, center director for the South Toms River location, spoke about the company and its phonics curriculum.
“We’re known for our phonics and reading program, that’s huge,” she stated. “It is very detailed and there are a lot of components to it so they’re very ready for kindergarten than if they weren’t in a program.” |
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She noted that sign language, enrichment programs, and an overall adherence to The Learning Center Academic Program by children ages three and four.
For more information on The Learning Experience’s South Toms River location, academic programs and contact information, please visit http://www.thelearningexperience.com/at/SouthTomsRiver |
STR Boro Land Use Board Attorney Appointment Stalled
Questions over bids cited |
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South Toms River - A dispute over the date a bid was received caused the borough land use board, here, to table the appointment of its attorney during last week’s reorganization meeting until further information could be received from the borough clerk.
The issue centered on the late submittal of a bid by attorney James J. Gluck, which was refused by Borough Clerk Bette Silvestri. |
Mr. Gluck challenged the refusal, contending that the deadline fell on November 11th of last year, which was Veteran’s Day, a holiday. Mr. Gluck’s office stated in its response that a prior ruling on a similar issue allowed one day’s grace period to get the bid in.
“It wasn’t accepted and was not [time]-stamped in,” said Joseph Jubert, chairman of the borough land use board, who added that the package was never opened and due to the lack of a time-stamp, it was unknown when exactly as it had been received.
Board member Rich Hall requested the board consider putting the appointment out to bid a second time, in the hope that more bids would be received and all would arrive on time. William Gleason, secretary of the borough land use board, stated that besides Mr. Gluck’s challenged bid, the only other bid received was by Montenegro, Thompson and Montenegro of Brick.
The board voted to table the appointment, with Mr. Jubert requesting a letter to be sent to the borough clerk requesting clarification as to when exactly the bid was received.
Board member Carla Kearney added that the borough should look to timestamp all items received, regardless whether they meet specific deadlines.
And in other news of the South Toms River Borough Land Use Board:
- Mr. Jubert, resident of Lakeview Drive, was reappointed chairman of the board, with Board Member Dan DeCross, resident of Hummel Drive, appointed vice-chairman.
- William E. Gleason, resident of Long Drive, will remain as board secretary.
- The Toms River firm of O’Donnell Stanton was reappointed the official borough engineering firm. Mr. Jubert stated that the firm came in far less than the other three bids received and they were very responsive to the borough in past years.
- Besides Mr. Jubert and Mr. DeCross, full members of the borough land use board for 2010 include: Rich Hull, resident of Attison Avenue; Ernie Hemmann, resident of Dartmouth Drive; Carla Kearney, resident of Belmont Drive; Teresa Ross, resident of Hummel Drive; David Whalen, resident of Lakeview Drive and Borough Councilman Kevin McCormick, of Colby Street.
- Alternate members of the borough land use board include Marvin Sykes, resident of Mill Street, and Tony Tafaro, resident of Attison Avenue.
- A formal letter from the borough’s chief financial officer, Stephen Gallagher, was requested by the board to certify that the funds allowing the borough engineer to begin work on the borough’s master plan and zoning map were in place. A deadline for the letter was set for the first week in February.
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Councilman Opposes Borough Recycling Dropoff
Cites issues with trash being thrown outside designated area |
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South Toms River - The idea of offering recycling dropoff at the borough’s Drew Lane public works site brought a decades-old contentious issue to the fore at Monday night’s meeting of the borough council, here.
Mayor Michael Keene, offering that a recent county grant utilized for mini-recycling at the public works site could allow the borough to open up the site as a regular recycling drop-off location, was met with swift and intense opposition by Councilman George J. Greitz, Jr. |
“I would oppose that in every way humanly possible for every reason as I have for the last 20 years,” he stated. “No one in this town is going to guarantee that the filth is not thrown along the streets as it has been for the last 30 years.”
Mr. Greitz’s home is located on Attison Avenue, within about a block of the Drew Lane facility.
“I object to the fact that, and no disrespect to our residents, but some of our residents have no concern for anybody else except themselves,” he continued, adding that trash has been and would be regularly just thrown arbitrarily along the facility border. “Being a resident in that area I’ll object to that in every way possible.”
Mayor Keene offered that security cameras, placed at the facility and immediate perimeter, would be able to catch any illegal dumping and could become an added revenue source if it becomes an issue.
And in other South Toms River Borough Council news:
- - The mayor and council honored the memory of borough resident Judie McCormick, the wife of Councilman Kevin McCormick, who died the previous week, and Karine G. Champagne, sister of Councilman Joseph M. Champagne, Jr., who died from fatal injuries received during the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti, by observing a moment of silence.
- - Two Manitou Park Volunteer Fire Department coin toss fundraisers, set to take place at the intersection of Dover and Double Trouble roads in the borough, were approved by mayor and council. The scheduled dates are Saturday, May 1st, from 8am to 4pm (with rain date of May 8th), and Saturday, September 25th, from 8am to 4pm.
- Mr. Ross reported that due to a scheduling conflict of two commissioners prevented a January meeting, but that the commission would meet on Thursday, February 7th at 7pm in the Recreation building, as they will the first Thursday of every month following.
- The mayor and council will hold open door public budget workshop meetings on Thursday evenings, beginning mid-February. The meeting dates are February 18th, 25th, March 4th and 11th at 7pm in borough hall. Councilman Sanford Ross reported that this schedule would allow mayor and council to introduce the budget at the borough council’s March caucus meeting, but that if it were not ready by then a special meeting would need to convene prior to the March 31st deadline.
- Councilman Oscar Cradle reported he was informed by the printing company that the borough calendars had been delayed but should be within residents’ mailboxes by the end of this week.
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Councilman’s Sister is Quake Victim
“Devastated” by the loss but “very thankful” for swift and continued aid effort |
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South Toms River - While millions around the world watched with rapt attention the reports flowing out of Haiti that the country, and its capital of Port-au-Prince, were destroyed by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake last Tuesday evening, South Toms River Borough Councilman and Applegate Avenue resident, Joseph M. Champagne, Jr., held a more personal connection than most. A Haitian-American himself, he still has many family members living within that country.
Late last week, it was confirmed that his sister, Karine G. Champagne, was among the victims. |
“It actually is more personal than ever,” he stated at Monday night’s council meeting, here, noting that she was the only fatality of all his family members living there.
Ms. Champagne, he said, was 19 years old and a driven student completing her last year of high school with high goals for the future. She lived near the Haitian president’s house in Canape Vert, a district of the capital city.
“She was very studious, industrious - one of the reasons why I suspected maybe what happened to her [was] because she’s always home studying after school, and it happened after school a little before 5 [o’clock],” the councilman stated. “She had a hunger for education; that was her passion because for her that was the only way that she would be able to extricate herself from the poverty in this country.”
Mr. Champagne added that his younger sister had planned to attend the University of Lumiere, also located within the ruined capital city, and study to become a doctor.
“I’ve been lamenting or crying off and on, and sometimes I’m over it and then it comes back, “I’m not going to be able to talk to her anymore”,” he said. “It’s just devastating and it gives me a better appreciation for human beings whether we are related or not.”
“It’s clear proof that we are finite; we all know that in theory but when you [lose] close family it becomes practical knowledge, not just theoretical knowledge,” he added.
Since the disaster, Mr. Champagne has used his membership with various Haitian-American organizations, including New Jersey for Haiti and the Haitian American Elected Officials Network, to help bring more aid to his native country.
“We continue to need more contributions in different forms,” he said, listing medical supplies, non-perishable foods and monetary aid. “Anything than can pretty much help those people.”
The councilman added his thanks to the relief and rescue effort thus far.
“The country and the world have mobilized around this issue and I personally want to extend my thanks to President Obama for the swift response to this catastrophic event,” he stated. “The rescue effort has been unprecedented [but] the magnitude of the event was such that even with those rescuers or rescue entities down there, it’s not even enough to begin to address the problem that is besetting the country right now.”
Mr. Champagne further thanked those who have already made donations, and hoped a more concerted effort could be made within the Borough of South Toms River.
Councilman Sanford Ross, Jr. stated he was aware that the Open Door Pregnancy Center, located on Lakehurst Road in Toms River, was “collecting canned goods, products, over the counter medicines and first aid [products].”
Both councilmen stated they would contact the borough first aid squad about potentially coordinating a more local aid effort.
For more information about contributing toward the ongoing Haitian disaster relief effort, check online at RedCross.org and NJ4Haiti.org, among many others.
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Borough Council Caucus Highlights |
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South Toms River - The borough council met last Monday, here, in caucus session. The highlights of this short meeting are:
- Borough clerk Betty Silvestri reported that the veterinarian originally scheduled to handle the borough's upcoming rabies clinic would be unable to attend. Council approved a motion to appoint Dr. Robert G. Cimer of the Toms River-based Calling All Creatures veterinary hospital for this clinic, to be held Wednesday, March 31st from 1 to 3pm in the borough public works building.
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- Councilman Joseph Champagne returned a $60 increase of his salary to the borough treasury, which Ms. Silvestri reported he would not accept.
- Councilman Oscar L. Cradle, Sr. reported that the borough will be changing its recycling pickup to single stream by March or April, in accordance with the county. A recycling commission will meet in the coming weeks to determine what the borough and its residents will need to do for this coming shift, he added.
- Councilman Kevin McCormack stated that members of the borough's office of emergency management are attending CDL training in order to be certified for driving the Manitou Fire Company apparatus, in the event of an emergency.
- A final day of Christmas tree pick-up is scheduled for January 26th.
- 2010 borough calendars have been sent out to residents.
- A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is scheduled to take place January 28th at 6pm in the borough.
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