Downtown Toms River's weekly farmer's market will be held rain or shine every Wednesday through October 22 from noon to 6 p.m. in Huddy Park, located at the intersection of Main and Water streets.
Adding variety to the fresh produce, you can bring to your family's table are a wide assortment of homemade products that will be for sale, which includes breads and pastries from Lithuanian Bakery, Elizabeth; cheese, breads and olives from Italian Treasures, Brick; pickle products, including tomatoes, olives, peppers and mushrooms from Pickle Licious, Teaneck; honey products from Herbertsville Honey, Brick; peanuts, nuts and candy from The Peanut Man, Toms River; and fresh mozzarella, ravioli and sauces from High Mountain Foods. Shoppers are invited to take a break, and enjoy a delicious meal from Capone's Restaurant, available in the concession building in the park.
The farmer's market is presented by Downtown Toms River and is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Jersey Fresh and is sponsored by Comcast, FirstEnergy Foundation (JCP&L), Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Toms River, Extra Space Storage, Mr. Alan's The Original Florist, United Water Toms River and radio stations WJRZ and The WR AT.
In an effort to meet its affordable housing requirements without constructing any new apartment buildings or units in town, Toms River officials recently unveiled a potential solution for residents who are feeling threatened by foreclosure.
At a press conference held last week at town hall, Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher announced a proposal to turn homes threatened by foreclosure into affordable housing units
Kelaher called the proposal "a creative approach to provide affordable housing while at the same time helping out our residents that are in jeopardy of losing their homes."
"Children can remain in their own schools, and the family would not have the stigma of foreclosure," said Kelaher. "I think it is something that could catch on throughout the state and the country."
Other town officials attending the press conference included Township Affordable Housing Attorney John F. Russo, Township Planner Jay Lynch, Council President Gregory McGuckin and Councilmen Peter Cassano and John Sevastakis, who also serves as the chairman for the state's Council On Affordable Housing (COAH).
Under the proposal, money from the township's affordable housing trust fund would be used to provide for a reduction in a homeowner's mortgage. The towns' affordable housing trust fund has about $2 million contributed by builders, Russo said.
In exchange for that funding, a deed restriction would be placed against the property, and when the home is eventually sold, the restriction would require it to be sold to another income-qualified family, at a price restricted to levels set by COAH.
"Everyone reads the headlines," said Kelaher. "People just can't pay their mortgages."
As a retired bank official, Cassano called the proposal "a creative workable solution."
"Banks don't want to own houses," said Cassano. "I saw this kind of situation all the time in banking."
The plan was originally presented during a council public forum in August, where homeowners' views were mixed on the idea, with some concerned about their home values if affordable housing units were suddenly in their neighborhoods.
Russo refuted such concerns.
"Over the past 22 years, I have been involved with affordable housing in Toms River, first as a builder back in the '80s and early '90s, then as an elected official and more recently as a municipal attorney practicing in the area of affordable housing compliance," he said. "I have had the opportunity to meet people that live in low and moderate income houses and apartments, and they need affordable housing."
The moderate income limits for a family of four to be eligible for affordable housing is approximately $70,000 per year, said Russo.
"They are certainly no different from us, our parents, our children, our employees and neighbors," he said. "So, while I appreciate some people's concerns, I also see the need. Remember, low and moderate income housing is not welfare housing." "The township has to permit and assist these developments, as well as other forms of providing affordable housing," Russo added, "so Toms River has no choice."
In order for the proposal to move forward, the COAH would have to grant a waiver on rules concerning the marketing of affordable housing units, according to Russo. The council would also have to introduce and adopt an ordinance to implement the program.
Under the Fair Housing Act and applied COAH regulations, Toms River continues to have the largest affordable housing obligations in the state for the past 22 years, said Russo.
In August, Kelaher and town officials broke ground for Toms River Crescent, a 100 percent affordable housing municipally sponsored residential development in Toms River, located just west of the intersection of Whitesville Road and Route 70. It is anticipated that Toms River Crescent will be ready for occupancy by December 2008.
Since January, Mayor Kelaher said that he has also had the opportunity to oversee the ground breaking for a senior affordable housing development along Oak Ave.
The recently-passed Housing and Economic Recovery Act, including the $7,500 tax credit for first-time buyers, presents an excellent opportunity for those looking to make their dreams of homeownership a reality. Nonetheless, many first-time buyers might be unsure just exactly how the tax credit works. We want to help prospective first-time buyers understand the advantages of the $7,500 tax credit and capitalize on this financial incentive before it is no longer availab
This free, no-obligation, special seminar, beginning at 11 a.m., will include a brief presentation followed by a question and answer session. An experienced tax professional will be on hand at each seminar to provide an overview of the $7,500 tax credit and to explain the tax benefits of owning a home.
The Toms River Fire Company Number 1 committee for this year's Halloween parade is in full swing. The Toms River parade is well known as the biggest parade this side of Greenwich Village.
The parade will be held on October 31. If anyone has any questions, comments or concerns, please either write to the committee at PO Box 905, Toms River, NJ 08754, or you can e-mail them at trfd25no1@aol. com.
If anyone has any old photos of the Halloween parade that could be used in our rules and regulations booklet, please forward them to the above email address
Pairs N Squares, a square dancing club, located at 139 Santiago Drive, Holiday City South, is offering square dance lessons. They are beginning on September 9. Enrollment runs through September 30.
The first lesson is free, and after that, the lessons will be $3 per person per night. They dance every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
You do not need to have a partner; hopefully, they can find one for you. They also would like to welcome experienced square dancers. If you are looking for a square dancing club, come on Tuesday nights. For more information, call Bill Seigel at 732-797-1601
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