Tri-Town News news briefs, June 15

Jackson residents who want to run for public office in the 2022 election have until 4 p.m. Sept. 6 to file a nominating petition, according to a legal notice published by Township Clerk Diane Festino.

Jackson’s non-partisan municipal election will take place on Nov. 8. The mayor’s term currently held by Michael Reina and the council terms currently held by Andrew Kern and Alex Sauickie will be on the ballot. All of the terms are for four years, running from Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2026.

The other current members of the Township Council – Nino Borrelli, Steve Chisholm Jr. and Martin Flemming – are serving terms that will end on Dec. 31, 2024.

All of Jackson’s municipal officials are elected at large in a plurality vote. Candidates do not run under the banner of a political party.

Nominating petitions will be available beginning June 15 at the municipal clerk’s office, 95 West Veterans Highway, for individuals wishing to participate in 2022 election. Petitions may be picked up Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The deadline to file a petition is 4 p.m. Sept. 6, according to the legal notice.

 

At its meeting on June 15, the Jackson Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled to consider an application made by Swanborne, LLC, seeking preliminary and final major subdivision approval and preliminary and final major site plan approval, and conditional use approval and conditional use variance relief regarding property bounded by East Veterans Highway (Route 528) to the north, South Hope Chapel Road (Route 547) to the east and Whitesville Road (Route 527) to the south and west, according to a legal notice published by attorney John Giunco, who represents the applicant.

The application proposes to subdivide the property to permit the construction of an inclusionary residential development with 253 units, including 205 single-family detached residential lots (of which two are existing residences to remain); a lot for the construction of six multi-family residential buildings containing a total of 48 units affordable to very low, low and moderate income families and individuals; a lot for the construction of a two-story house of worship; the construction of a proposed recreation area; a lot for a sanitary sewer pump station; and four storm water management/open space lots.

The property is 158 acres in area and is in Jackson’s Regional Growth 2 zone and the proposed uses are conditionally permitted in the RG-2 Zone.

The applicant will seek conditional use variance relief to permit the affordable housing units in attached dwellings with eight units per building, where a local ordinance permits attached dwellings with a maximum of four dwelling units per building; and to permit parking and drive aisles in the front yard setback and buffer area for the proposed house of worship.

The zoning board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 15 at the municipal building.

 

Green Leaf Pet Resort, Millstone Township, is partnering with big names in the pet care industry to raise money for the CentraState Healthcare Foundation.

On June 25 from noon to 6 p.m., Green Leaf Pet Resort will host thousands of animal-loving attendees at its Canine Carnival – Paws for a Cause event. Organizers said 100% of the proceeds earned will be donated to the CentraState Healthcare Foundation to support its mission to the community, according to a press release.

Admission is free and all furry, fuzzy and feathered friends are encouraged to attend. There will be carnival games, doggie dock-diving, lure courses, a New Jersey State Police K-9 demonstration, food trucks, vendor tables, face painting and live musical performances.

A highlight of the day will be raffles, one of which is for a 2022 Crosstrek lease donated by All American Subaru of Old Bridge. Canine enthusiasts will be supported by VCA’s mobile triage unit and “Ask-A-Vet” station, along with Fi’s Microchip Station, according to the press release.

“We are happy we can give back,” said Shelly Leibowitz, Green Leaf Pet Resort’s co-founder and owner. “We believe in what CentraState does for our community, our spouses, our relatives and our children. We are both foundations built on love.”

For more information, visit www.greenleafcaninecarnival.com

 

New Jersey American Water has announced the recipients of its 2022 Volunteer Fire and EMS Grant Program.

This year, 23 volunteer fire and EMS departments in the company’s service areas have been chosen to receive grants, totaling more than $41,000, which will be used to support initiatives, training and/or upgraded equipment to help the responders better protect themselves and the communities they serve, according to a press release.

Howell Township First Aid and Rescue Squad No. 1 has received a grant from the company.

The grants will be used in various ways by each department, including purchasing automatic external defibrillators, fire hoses, ice rescue suits and other rescue equipment, as well as for training courses and tools, according to the press release.

 

Atlantic City Electric, Exelon, the Drumthwacket Foundation and Sustainable Jersey honored six student teams for their NJ Student Climate Challenge action projects, which offer innovative approaches to help address the ongoing issue of climate change.

Student teams from high schools and middle schools were tasked with developing and executing a school-based or community-based climate action project and creating a digital story or video to capture the approach and impacts of their climate project, according to a press release.

In the middle school category, first place went to the Compost United team from Howell Middle School South and third place went to the Fantastic Plastics team from Howell Middle School South.

The student team winners and their teacher mentors were recognized on June 8 at an awards ceremony hosted by the Drumthwacket Foundation with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges that included educators and representatives from local nonprofit organizations, state agencies and the partner organizations. Winning schools received a grant to support their climate education initiatives, according to the press release.