BERKELEY – Given how many miles of coastline Berkeley has – and how residents feel encroachment of development from neighboring areas – it’s no surprise that much of the most important issues of 2024 involved the environment and development.
Change In Leadership
Longtime Mayor Carmen Amato graduated to his new role as Senator representing the 9th District, tackling such things as taxes and veterans issues.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve my hometown,” Amato said. “We have a good foundation here. Berkeley Township is moving in the right direction.”
Longtime Councilman John Bacchione was sworn in as mayor, and vowed to steer the ship in the same direction. He said it was a humbling moment that he didn’t take for granted.
“I have been blessed to work with so many wonderful people,” he said, through the bad times, like Superstorm Sandy, to the good times, where the town has been able to grow fiscally strong.
Meanwhile, Bacchione’s wife, Berkeley Township Board of Education president Jennifer Bacchione and Manchester Mayor Robert Arace were chosen by county Republican leadership to become County Commissioners instead of incumbents Gary Quinn and Director Bobbi Jo Crea.
Veterans Village
A “Veterans Village” made up of 124 homes was approved to be built on Route 9.
The development will be at the intersection of Atlantic City Boulevard (Route 9) and Sloop Creek Road. It will contain 99 apartments and 25 one-story houses and will be deed restricted so that only veterans and their families could live there. There would also be 24/7 onsite support services.
The developer is Tunnel To Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that supports veterans and their families.
For more information, including how to donate or how to get help as a veteran, visit T2T.org.
Flooding
Flooding in low-lying areas is common, but it’s become more so in recent years.
Sometimes, it accompanies a storm, like the one that made its way across the state on January 9 and left thousands of people without power. Certain areas of Ocean County reached nearly five feet of water levels.
But other times, the sky is dry but the roads are wet. Tidal flooding has become more and more of a problem in the last few years, indicating that something is happening with the climate. People are worried that if there’s an emergency, a police car or ambulance won’t be able to get to their house.
Many spots east of Route 9 are low-lying or border the Barnegat Bay. Bayview Avenue is a major road that floods far too frequently. Balsam Drive and Island Drive are other trouble spots. Properties in Good Luck Point have been bought using county open space funds to prevent flood damage to homes because they were defined as repeat losses since Superstorm Sandy.
This goes beyond a small fix. Raising a road will just make the water find a lower spot – like someone’s house. It could mean an intensive plan to address this throughout the area.
Township officials have been working with county, state and federal representatives to come up with a solution – and the funding to fix the problem.
Solar-Capped Landfill
A partnership between the township and a private energy company solved several problems by capping an old landfill and installing a solar field over it.
The solar fields, dubbed Eagle 1 and 2, were built over the municipal landfill behind the Public Works Department off Pinewald-Keswick Road. The town hasn’t used the landfill in decades. Although it was covered, it wasn’t capped. Capping a landfill keeps rain from running through it, taking harmful materials on its way to the groundwater.
Capping a landfill costs millions. That’s why Berkeley officials pushed it off for decades. A business did it for free in exchange for leasing the land to build the solar array. Then, going forward, residents would get reduced costs on electricity. Over the course of the last few years, township officials worked with CS Energy, state departments, and more to make this happen.
At the public unveiling of the solar fields, officials said this Berkeley project could create a plan for other towns to follow.
Environmental Test
Important research was continued through the work of local divers and scientists.
The Berkeley Township Underwater Search and Rescue squad has been scraping docks and other manmade items in the lagoons and waterways. The goal is to disrupt the life cycle of the bay nettle while the polyps are vulnerable and clinging to these items.
Paul Bologna, a biology professor and the Director of the Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences Program at Montclair State University, gave a presentation at a meeting of Save Barnegat Bay. It was the culmination of a multi-year experiment called Stop the Sting, and they learned that there were fewer polyps found in areas where the dive team had cleaned. However, they didn’t see a decrease in the number of adults, which they attributed to the jellies coasting in from areas where the residents didn’t give permission for the dive team to work.
Historic Anniversaries
Double Trouble State Park marked 60 years as a state park. It was once a busy farming community, and now it’s a critical environmental resource and home to one of the state’s most accessible ghost towns.
From the lumber industry to the cranberry bogs, the site supported the local economy. Then, one of Ocean County’s largest businesses – real estate – started circling the property.
In 1964, the land was preserved as a state park. Cranberry production continued until 2010, even if it was just a fraction of what it had once been.
Totaling about 8,666 acres, this protected land has over 8 miles of trails. People can take their kayaks or canoes to the stream at a few locations. Birders flock here to spot migrating species and even swans and eagles.
There’s another big anniversary on the way. In 2025, Berkeley Township will celebrate 150 years.
Hickory Lane Traffic Light
Township officials have wanted a traffic signal to be built at the corner of Hickory Lane and Route 9, and it was finally approved in 2024 to be built in 2025.
The road has handled increasing traffic recently. For a long time, Hickory led to a group of warehouse-sized commercial buildings and the Ocean County Utilities Authority. Now, though, there are scores of homes and the residents use Hickory as the easiest way to get to Route 9.
Community Garden
The Sadie Vickers CommUnity Garden took root to nourish the residents of Manitou Park.
Volunteers from the neighborhood and from CMC and Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health installed 100 planters that will grow fruits and vegetables. The garden is on First Avenue, across from the Holy Temple Church Of God In Christ.
Reverend David Graham, who also serves as the chief executive officer of the Sadie Vickers Community Resource Center, said that this will be an “oasis in the midst of a supermarket desert.”
Drones
Hopefully, by the end of 2025, we’ll have learned what those drones were. But as of this writing, people are fascinated, frustrated, and even scared.
Speculation by the public has ranged from the drones being a new military technology being tested by the government for surveillance purposes to others feeling the devices are being operated by a foreign power for more sinister purposes.
Mayors from throughout the state were called to the New Jersey Regional Operations & Intelligence Center. They were told by state authorities that there was nothing to worry about. However, they didn’t know what they were. The official White House statement dismissed the concerns. This didn’t answer any questions or put anyone’s minds at ease.
In Memoriam
This is also a time to look back on those who were lost, either in 2024 or earlier.
The township lost John Camera, who ran the day-to-day operations as the business administrator. He was also the sitting School Board President of Colts Neck, and former councilman and administrator of Seaside Heights.
The 68-year-old passed away from complications related to pancreatic cancer. He left behind his wife Phyllis and their four children as well as two children from a previous marriage.
Renowned fishing legend and owner of the Shady Rest, Bob Popovics, passed away from injuries sustained from a hit-and-run. He was 75.
The Marine was known throughout the community for his big heart, and he was celebrated for teaching his fishing techniques to others. In fact, he was “the most inspirational and innovative saltwater fly tier of all time,” said Ross Purnell, editor and publisher of Fly Fisherman magazine.
In South Seaside Park, a street was dedicated in memory of a lifeguard who lost his life when a sudden storm rolled in.
Keith Pinto, 19, was killed by lightning on August 30, 2021 when he was working at White Sands Beach. He was trying to get other beachgoers to safety. Seven others – three of them lifeguards – were wounded that day.
22nd Avenue in South Seaside Park was named “Keith Pinto Way” in his honor. A proclamation was presented to the family during a Council meeting.
Loved ones recalled his sense of humor and warmth. They said he was a hard worker who also took time to play softball every Sunday with a league. The Toms River High School North graduate was attending Ocean County College. He was studying criminal justice psychology and had plans to join the U.S. Marines.
The 5th Annual Survivor Day 5K Run/Walk was held in Island Heights as a fundraiser to promote mental health awareness. The walk is held on the third Saturday in November, recognized as International Survivors Of Suicide Loss Day.
In 2024, the race was dedicated to Berkeley Police Lt. Anthony “Butchie” Kurnel III. He was born and raised in Bayville. He was married with three children and a grandchild.
“He was the cornerstone to his family and held such a bright presence in the community,” organizers said. “He was 55 years old when he lost his life to the silent killer of mental health and suicide. His legacy will live on as we remember the countless lives he has touched, all the laughs we’ve had and all of the people he’s lent his hand out to help. We remember Butchie, not only for the challenges he faced, but for the joy he brought to everyone, his dedication to his family, and the care that he brought to every aspect of life.”
Kirsten Schenk first organized this event in honor of her son, Christian Schenk, who passed away on April 12, 2020. He would have turned 33 last year. The Toms River High School South graduate had just become a Sheriff’s Officer. Christian left behind a wife and three young children.
At the front of the walk were members of NJ Cop To Cop, which provides 24/7 peer support to law enforcement and their families. Their goal is to help a fellow officer who is going through a tough time by letting them talk to another cop who understands what they may be feeling. They have ways to get a hold of them on their website at njcop2cop.com/ which includes phone, email, chat and webinars.
As new roads were built in Manitou Park, they were named after cornerstones of the community.
The Parker family was thanked, and Third Avenue will be named after the late Charles “Pops” Parker Sr.
Robert Taylor of Unity Pride talked about the many years that “Pops” worked security and how he always stepped up to help those in need. When he was 97, he was still helping people.
The late Sadie Vickers was another legend of the community. Reverend David Graham said this church member was always welcoming people in. First Avenue will be named for her. Vickers’ name also adorns the community center across from her church.
Rita Kearney was a long-time board member of Homes For All. Patricia Brogan, chair of homes For All, said that Rita is 91 and up until recently, was still active. An educator for many years, she was part of the creation of Homes For All. Therefore, 13th Street will also be known as Kearney Street.
Reverend Graham only thought that he was going to be at this ceremony to commend other community members. He was surprised to learn that Second Avenue was going to be named Graham Avenue for his family.
