The team, consisting of  Emily Golembiski of Little Egg Harbor, Jillian Hubbard of Toms River, Gillian Schriever of West Creek, Michael Signorelli of Toms River and Megan Tumpey of  Brick, will represent New Jersey in the 2013 North American Envirothon at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana in August.

The Ocean County students competed against 33 other teams on knowledge of natural resources-related topics, including soils, forestry, aquatics, wildlife ecology and a current environmental issue. This year’s theme was “Sustainable Rangeland Management: Achieving a Balance Between Traditional Agricultural Uses with Non-Agricultural Uses on Montana Rangelands.”

“For 20 years, New Jersey high school students have had the opportunity to participate in this valuable competition and learn more about the environment, natural resources and science,” said Secretary Fisher. “We hope they take advantage of the skills they learned and consider careers in agriculture and natural resources-related fields.”

Each of the MATES team members received $1,000 scholarships from the New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts, $2,000 scholarships from Richard Stockton State College and $1,000 scholarships from Applied and Health Sciences at Kean University.

Two 5-member teams of MATES students competed in last year’s Envirothon with all but one of those students graduating. The two MATES teams placed first and second in 2012. An almost entirely new set of 10 students made up this year’s two teams.

“I am very proud of the hard work and dedication put forth by our members,” said MATES Advisor Adam Sprague.  “It was quite an accomplishment considering it was the first year competing for nine out of the 10 team members. We now turn our attention to Montana which offers an exciting variety of challenges in terms of preparation for our students.”

The second-place team in this year’s Envirothon was West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North and third place was taken by High Tech High School, North Bergen.

The Envirothon is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, State Soil Conservation Committee; New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts; the 15 Soil Conservation Districts; United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

The 15 Soil Conservation Districts in New Jersey follow county boundaries and implement the New Jersey Soil and Sediment Control Act, which governs certain aspects of new development.  These semi-autonomous bodies are locally governed and play a strong role in the protection of New Jersey’s natural resources.

LAKEWOOD-A high speed chase that began in Mantoloking ended in Lakewood after Brick police pursued Ronald Defreitas, 36, of South Toms River after Defreitas fled during a traffic stop on Route 35.    Police say Defreitas partially dragged an officer with his vehicle while fleeing.

Officers chased the suspect into Lakewood, where he crashed at the intersection of Airport Road and Cedar Bridge Avenue and partially into the small lake, police say, according to The Lakewood Scoop.

Photo by The Lakewood Scoop.

In particular, the new School Performance Reports seek to:

• Focus attention on metrics that are indicative of college and career readiness.
• Benchmark a school’s performance against other peer schools that are educating similar students, against statewide outcomes, and against state targets to illuminate and build upon a school’s strengths and identify areas for improvement.
• Improve educational outcomes for students by providing both longitudinal and growth data so that progress can be measured as part of an individual school’s efforts to engage in continuous improvement.

TOMS RIVER REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

BEACHWOOD ELEM
CEDAR GROVE ELEM
EAST DOVER ELEM
HOOPER AVE ELEM
JOSEPH A CITTA ELEM
NORTH DOVER ELEM
PINE BEACH ELEM
SILVER BAY ELEMENTARY
SOUTH TOMS RIVER ELEM
TOMS RIVER HIGH EAST
TOMS RIVER HIGH NORTH
TOMS RIVER HIGH SOUTH
TOMS RIVER INTERMEDIATE E
TOMS RIVER INTERMEDIATE N
TOMS RIVER INTERMEDIATE S
WALNUT STREET ELEM
WASHINGTON ST ELEM
WEST DOVER ELEM

JACKSON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

CARL W GOETZ MIDDLE SCH
CHRISTA MCAULIFFE MID SCH
CRAWFORD RODRIGUEZ ELEM
ELMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HOWARD C JOHNSON ELEM
JACKSON LIBERTY HIGH
JACKSON MEMORIAL HIGH
LUCY N HOLMAN ELEM
SWITLIK ELEM
SYLVIA ROSENAUER ELEM

BRICK TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

BRICK COMM PRIM LEARN CTR
BRICK TWP HIGH
BRICK TWP MEMORIAL HIGH
DRUM POINT ROAD ELEM
EMMA HAVENS YOUNG ELEM
HERBERTSVILLE ELEM
LAKE RIVIERA MIDDLE
LANES MILL ELEM
MIDSTREAMS ELEM
OSBORNVILLE ELEM
VETERANS MEM ELEM
VETERANS MEM MIDDLE SCH

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

BAYVILLE ELEM
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP ES
CLARA B WORTH ELEM
H & M POTTER ELEM

CENTRAL REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

CENTRAL REGIONAL HIGH
CENTRAL REGIONAL MIDDLE

BEACHWOOD – When Hurricane Sandy served a direct blow to our area on October 29th and 30th, the barrier island and eastern bay communities were severely impacted, but its effects were also felt farther upriver in this community on the southern bank of the Toms River.
On the morning of October 30th, residents and officials awoke to not only downed trees and powerlines borough-wide, but also a totally submerged beachfront and marina area.
As spectators gathered atop the bluff and lower ridges over the beachfront and at the height of the inclines on Compass Avenue and Brigantine Street looking down at the marina that morning, it was yet unclear the full extent of damage. The Beachwood Community Center appeared as if an island, parts of the marina boardwalk had floated across the street and the northern edge of western T-dock was seen peeking above the waterline at a strange angle. At the beachfront, waves lapped over the entire parking lot and against the block wall below the letters that spelled out BEACHWOOD behind the flagpole, and only the top halves of the two shelters and playground slide were visible.
When the river receded, it was learned that while appearing possibly unharmed, the community center indeed took on damaging water to its lower subfloor area; the marina’s T-dock, lightpoles, electric utilities and boardwalk were damaged or destroyed up to where it met the higher boardwalk that runs alongside the shoreline from the foot of Beachwood Boulevard east to the entrance to Beachwood Beach; the eastern T-dock on the beachfront lifted up and floated all the way across the western marina cove area before coming to rest behind the community center, and sand had eroded down from a small section of the Windy Cove bluff onto the adjacent lower paver walkway.
Also damaged beyond repair was a brand new video security system that a contractor had mostly installed along the marina and waterfront, which would need to be replaced.
In the months that followed, Borough Engineer Jim Oris has repeatedly met with the borough’s insurance company and representatives for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to go over repair costs that the borough expects will be 75 to 90 percent covered by federal aid when not covered outright by insurance.
At the early February council meeting, the engineer stated that while keeping in mind the fast approaching summer season and traditional opening of the beachfront and marina area, he was working very hard to try and get the boat slips back and available to patrons. Earlier this week, Borough Clerk Elizabeth “Bette” Mastropasqua stated the town hoped to have it rebuilt and opened by Memorial Day weekend or June 1st.
Currently the community center remains closed as mold remediation efforts continue and the groups that used it for programs, meetings and events – including the monthly dances of the borough municipal alliance, now taking place at the firehouse far inland – have had to find other locations.
Mr. Oris stated that the hall now stood in the velocity zone of FEMA’s Advisory Base Flood Elevation [ABFE] maps released late last year and approved by the governor. Borough officials at the early February meeting debated the costs associated with either repairing the community center as-is and moving utility services to a higher level, raising the community center to above the base flood elevation, or demolishing the community center and rebuilding at an elevation higher than the ABFE zone. It was not then known whether the damages sustained on the structure were greater than 50% and thus made it necessary to do any more than make repairs and raise the utilities.
All the wood from the marina boardwalk was carted away several months after the hurricane, and today sits closed off to the public by plastic orange netting and poles. The gate at the entrance to the beachfront is also closed, as the electric utilities there were destroyed and need repair along with the T-dock there.
Councilwoman Beverly Clayton thanked Mrs. Mastropasqua, Mr. Oris, Treasurer Elizabeth Sarantinoudis and Lt. Tapp for performing under the strain of multiple meetings and a constant flow of ever-changing information relating to storm recovery since late October.
Earlier this winter, an already-planned and approved project to install a groin to the east of the beach T-dock was carried out, and today extends off the nearby playground area to curtail and stop the beach erosion that has eaten away at the once wide span of beachfront present in earlier decades of the 20th century.

In other recent activities of the mayor and council:

• the council unanimously approved a resolution urging the president and federal government to approve a 90 percent reimbursement rate from the cost of post-Hurricane Sandy repairs through FEMA.
• a resolution was also unanimously passed opposing a state bill promoted by northern legislators demanding free beach access and comfort facilities to the public in exchange for financial aid for storm repairs, as it would place an undue hardship on all shore municipalities without funding beachfront safety, maintenance and operations.
• efforts have begun by Mrs. Clayton to form a proactive committee interested in planning a yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the borough in 2017. Anyone interested in serving on such a committee is invited to call borough hall.
• Councilman Ed Zakar attended the installation dinner of the Beachwood First Aid Squad in late January and was presented a plaque thanking the borough for its support which he then passed on to the mayor and council at their early February meeting.
• a suggestion was made by Mr. Zakar to have the borough start a practice of honoring volunteers when they reach milestones of service, such as 10, 15 and 20 years with the first aid squad and fire company, that can be presented by town officials at their annual installation dinners.
• Councilman Steve Komsa applied for a $500 grant through the Ocean County Tourism Department to produce promotional materials for the annual Beachwood 5K and One Mile Fun Run, this year entering its second year and held in the fall.
• Councilman Gerald W. “Jerry” LaCrosse, who had been involved with water quality testing and stormwater management along the riverfront and specifically beach area, stated that as a result of the hurricane it was questionable as to the local effects in the waters off the beach but that he would seek to continue his work with the Ocean County Health Department through this year where possible.
• Regarding the ABFE maps from FEMA, Mr. Oris stated that possibly as many as 20 homes could be affected by the new base flood elevations, but Mr. LaCrosse pointed out that these appeared to include homes far above the riverfront on the bluff areas of town and farther inland than would ever be impacted. Mrs. Clayton pointed out that these homes were as much as 40 or 50 feet above the river.

113: #9 Chris Crane (Southern) md. #8 Connor Maliff (Brick Mem)  11-0
113: #5 Ben Mrozinski (Lacey) d. #12 Zack Baker (Jackson Mem)  4-0
113: #3 Nick DePierro (Freehold Twp) md. #14 Tommy Flannigan (Long Branch)  12-0
113: #7 Nasiyr Brown (Neptune) d. #10 Costa Poniros (Ocean Twp)  9-2

120: #8 Joseph Santamarco (Manalapan) d. #9 Connor Garrity (Lacey)  8-3
120: #4 Matt Russo (Jackson Liberty) d. Andy Hernandez (Long Branch)  3-1
120: #7 Dylan Seidenberg (Raritan) d. #10 Josh Glantzman (Wall)  2-1 2OT
120: #2 Dan Nobbs (Pt Boro) p. #15 Yospeh Boral (TR East)  2:57

126: #5 Anthony Scarcella (Raritan) md. #12 Khalil Haskins (Matawan)  13-1
126: #4 Marcus Iwama (Rumson) p. #13 Isaiah Haymon (Neptune)  4:21
126: #7 Andrew Tonneson (Southern) p. #10 Pete Powell (Marlboro)  5:50
126: #2 Jared Staub (Brick Mem) d. #15 Thomas Poklikuha (Pinelands)  5-2

132: #9 Dan Saraiva (Marlboro) d. #8 William Rodriguez (Matawan)  7-2
132: #4 Zach Hertling (Ocean Twp) d. #13 Joe Mandara (Barnegat)  6-0
132: #6 Ryan Harter (Pt Boro) d. #11 Nick Menkin (Long Branch)  5-4
132: #2 Kyle Wojtaszek (Brick Twp) d. #15 Ryan Davis (TR North)  9-2

138: #9 Christian Casselli (CBA) d. #8 Tim Leo (Matawan)  7-6
138: #5 Jake Camapana (Southern) p. #12 Carlos Fontanez (Keansburg)  1:29
138: #4 Steve Cimmino (Brick Twp) p. #13 Andrew Garrity (Lacey)  1:25
138: #10 Dan Kinsella (Wall) d. #7 Jack Rada (Howell)

145: #9 Nick Racanelli (Southern) d. #8 Sam Koenig (Shore)  3-0
145: #12 Matt Best (Middletown South) p. #5 Orion Rovegno (Ocean Twp)  5:45
145: #3 Spencer Young (Jackson Mem) p. #14 Steve Knapp (Lacey)  2:22
145: #10 Terrence Davis (St John Vianney) d. #7 Nick Pollara (Brick Twp)  7-5

152: #8 Dylan DaSilva (TR North) d. #9 Garrett Applegate (TR South)  6-4
152: #5 Jake George (Long Branch) tf. #12 Evan Brown (Red Bank)  15-0
152: #7 William Scott (Brick Twp) d. #10 Jake Kaminsky (Manalapan)  5-4
152: #2 Cliff Ruggiero (Brick Mem) p. #15 Jeff Goldrosen (Marlboro)  5:20

160: #8 Joe Beverly (Brick Mem) d. #9 Sean Rembach (Manchester)  8-4
160: #5 Antres Clagon (TR South) tf. #12 Steven Chandler (Manalapan)  16-1
160: #3 Anthony Ferraro (St John Vianney) d. #14 Jason Lawhon (Ocean Twp)  5-2
160: #7 Connor Sheehan (Raritan) d. #10 Jose Caraballo (Neptune)  7-4

170: #1 Tyler Richardson (Brick Mem) p. #16 Chris Cruz (Jackson Liberty)  2:45
170: #9 Ryan Kirk (Barnegat) d. #8 Anthony Benedetti (Manalapan)  7-3
170: #6 Kyle Lynch (Raritan) d. #11 Dan Baillie (Shore)  5-0
170: #7 Tyler Wilton (Middletown North) d. #10 Tyler MacLaine (TR North)

182: #8 Tommy Lyster (Ocean Twp) md. Quentin DeCarlo (TR South)  10-2
182: #6 Drew Donner (Wall) p. #11 Spencer Govel (Manasquan)  3:05
182: #7 Anthony Fabiano (Middletown North) p. #10 Muhab Elgamal (Manalapan)  1:42
182: #2 Glenn Cross (Matawan) tf. #15 Greg Schmalz (Barnegat)  18-3

195: #5 Chad Freshnock (Middletown North) d. #12 Tyler Romanelli (Wall)  2-1
195: #4 Shawn McCord (RBC) md. #13 Nick Dzuna (Pt Boro)  11-3
195: #6 Dan Hwang (Marlboro) p. #11 Josh Foca (Central)  1:49
195: #7 Ben Aquilina (Manalapan) d. #10 Armando Leonor (TR East)  6-3

220: #5 Jesse Bauta (Southern) p. #12 Mike McKenzie (Jackson Liberty)  2:30
220: #3 John Seidle (Neptune) p. #14 Tyler Tomanek (Middletown South)  3:42
220: #6 Matt Frigon (Barnegat) d. #11 Luke Becker (Manalapan)  5-3
220: #7 Joey Guidetti (Long Branch) d. #10 Anthony Dzugan (Brick Twp)  8-4 2OT

Hwt: #8 Ezra Figueroa (Brick Mem) d. #9 Thomas D’Amore (Pt Beach)  3-2
Hwt: #5 Hunter Gellman (Freehold Twp) d. #12 Dan Arias (Ocean Twp)  5-1
Hwt: #3 Anthony Fernicola (Holmdel) d. #14 Zach Andrews (Barnegat)  1-0
Hwt: #15 Atanacio Carrillo (Central) d. #2 Pat Toal (Raritan)  5-2

NEPTUNE – The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties launched a free income tax assistance program aimed at helping low and moderate income workers maximize their tax benefits.

The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) will be offered at six sites, three in Monmouth County and three in Ocean County, throughout the tax season. IRS-certified tax professionals will help filers complete their state and federal returns.

“The FoodBank’s mission is to build food secure communities in Monmouth and Ocean Counties,” says Carlos M. Rodriguez, executive director of the organization. “As The FoodBank works toward more comprehensive solutions to hunger in our communities, connecting  low-income families with tax credits, SNAP and other benefits  will provide an opportunity to save and strengthen their families financial health. Ultimately, The FoodBank wants people to shop in our local stores for the food they need and make the purchasing decisions that are right for their families.”

To qualify for free tax assistance, households with dependents must earn $51,000 or less, and households with no dependents must earn $30,000 or less.

FoodBank representatives and volunteers will ensure that filers who are eligible will receive important tax credits that they are entitled to, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). In addition, The FoodBank team will connect people with other critical benefits such as SNAP (food stamps), legal assistance, Hurricane Sandy-related aid and emergency food, if needed.

“The EITC is one of the largest and most successful anti-poverty programs in history,” says Mr. Rodriguez. “EITC has a proven track record of lifting families out of poverty, putting as much as $5,000 back into the pockets of working families who are living on the edges of poverty. This will not only help families, it will put money back into the local economy at a time when businesses are struggling to recover after Hurricane Sandy.”

The FoodBank’s VITA program is run in partnership with the IRS, Cowan, Gunteski & Co, PA, and the host sites, and is supported by the Robin Hood Foundation and Singlestop USA.

VITA is available at the following sites beginning in late January through April 15:

Ocean County:

• Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River (Monday & Wednesday 4 – 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
• Berkeley Head Start, 264 First St., South Toms River (Tuesday 4 – 8 p.m.)
• Lakewood Library, 301 Lexington Ave., Lakewood (Tuesday & Thursday 4 – 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Monmouth County:

• SCAN Adult Education Center, Monmouth Mall, Eatontown (Monday & Thursday 4 – 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Lunch Break, 103 Drs. James Parker Blvd., Red Bank (Tuesday & Thursday 1- 4 p.m.)
• Hispanic Affairs, 913 Sewall Ave., Asbury Park (Monday & Wednesday 4 – 8 p.m.)

Filers should bring all required documents including a valid photo ID; copies of previous returns; all income statements including W-2, Social Security and unemployment income; 1099 forms, birth dates and Social Security numbers for all dependents and a check showing a Bank Routing Number for direct deposit, if applicable.

For more information, call The FoodBank, 732-918-2600 or visit www.foodbankmoc.org.

About The Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties
The FoodBank’s mission is to alleviate hunger and build food security in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties distributes approximately 7 million pounds annually through a network of 260 feeding programs, such as soup kitchens, food pantries, and shelters. One out of every ten people living in Monmouth and Ocean Counties receives food from the FoodBank. Since Super Storm Sandy struck the Jersey Shore on October 29, 2012 The FoodBank has been actively involved in the work to bring relief and comfort to the communities it serves. Working with relief agencies, government programs and others involved in the recovery effort The FoodBank distributed food for approximately 1 million meals in the first month following the storm. For more information, visit www.foodbankmoc.org.

District 18 Little League baseball game played at Joe Carter Stadium, Manchester in June of 2012. Photo by Phil Stilton / Ocean Signal Media Group.

by Phil Stilton

MANCHESTER - There’s good news for Little League baseball players in Ocean and Monmouth counties today as Manchester Little League has announced the expansion of their popular Mason Invitational Tournament (MIT) in 2013.

Here’s how it works: Ocean County’s Little League teams play baseball within New Jersey’s District 18. Each year, chosen players from each league in the district form all-star teams.  Those teams compete in a summer tournament and the winners of the district then go on to the sectionals, then state and regional tournaments. What starts in towns across the country as local district tournaments culminates in places like Williamsport, Pennsylvania where the 12-year-old division plays the Little League World Series, or Taylor, Michigan where the older Juniors League players vie for a world championship.

For kids who do not make the all-star teams, their Little League season ends in June. Since 2009, the Mason Invitational Tournament has given those kids a chance to experience the thrill of being an all-star when the Manchester Little League began hosting the MIT. Leagues field “B” teams to play in the tournament. Players cannot play on both the District All-Star team and the MIT team for their league.   The MIT has become a popular under card event in recent years for Ocean County, and while it is expected that the best players in the league play for the All-Star teams, sometimes things don’t always work out that way. There are only 14 spots on each league’s all-star team selection, which for the most part is arbitrary and at the discretion of local league officials.

Manchester Mayor Michael Fressola said in a statement this week, “In 2013, Manchester’s MIT tournament will include District 11, lower Monmouth County, and have a Shore championship. In 2014, they are planning to expand the MIT even further, hoping to include areas like upper Monmouth County, Trenton and Clark. Manchester league officials believe that by 2015, they will be able to expand statewide and offer the experience of the MIT tournament to all 307 Little Leagues from Warren County to Cape May.”

Manchester’s Joe Carter Stadium is the focal point of the tournament and while not all games are played at the field, it is the annual host of the MIT finals and the field has been the host of past District 18 championships.

Joe Carter Stadium was built in the 2011-12 off season and opened on March 31, 2012. The stadium is unique in its design with elements of three Major League Baseball Stadiums built into it, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium. The left field wall has a “Green Monster”, inspired by Fenway Park, a synthetic brick brick wall along in right field, inspired by Wrigley Field and a monument park with facade, inspired by Yankee Stadium. The field was built at a cost of $100,000.

The Mason Invitational Tournament is named after Gary Mason, a former Manchester Little League coach  of 23 years who guided his team to the District 18 title in 1992.

For five years, the Ocean Signal, as JTOWN & Toms River Magazine has provided the only daily news coverage of District 18 Little League baseball.  You can our read past District 18 coverage here.

“A 19 year old Manchester Township man came to Toms River Police headquarters at 9:30 on Monday evening to report a male suspect confronted him  while he was sitting in his vehicle at the Toms River apartments and demanded him to drive him somewhere to purchase drugs,” the chief said.  ” The suspect,  armed with a gun ordered the Manchester man and his 16 year old female friend to drive to South Toms River. They drove to a residence in south toms River where the suspect purchased cocaine [and] the victims drove away but not before the suspect removed $40 from the victims.”

An investigation by Detectives Roger Hull and Brian Lomer with the assistance of South Toms River Police resulted in the arrest of Andrew Meli,  27, of Toms River.   Mr. Meli was arrested at his apartment  at 4 a.m. on Tuesday without incident  and held in Ocean County Jail  on $125,000 bail and charged with robbery.

The semi automatic handgun was not recovered at this time and the investigation is continuing..