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.

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

TRENTON–Governor Chris Christie has nominated NJ Air National Guard Colonel, Kevin Keehn, to be the NJ Air National Guard’s newest Brigadier General.
Colonel Keehn assumed command of the 108th Air Refueling Wing based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in 2012. The 108th is an Air National Guard unit and a reserve component of the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command with over 1,300 personnel assigned to it. Keehn is responsible for two flying units, the 141st Air Refueling Squadron and the 150th Special Operations Squadron. He also commands more than 25 support units which include the Air National Guard’s first Contingency Response Group.
Keehn is a 1975 graduate of Jackson Memorial High School. He enlisted in the Air Force after his graduation and served four years on active duty as an in-flight refueler. After his honorable discharge from active duty, Keehn enlisted in the NJ Air National Guard. He was commissioned as an officer in 1984 and earned his pilots wings that same year.
According to a spokesperson at the 108th Air Refueling Wing, they will not have any further information about the nomination for promotion until the process is complete. Additional information will be available when Colonel Keehn has been officially promoted to Brigadier General.

LAKEWOOD–The Lakewood Piners defeated Manasquan 62-49 to win the Central Jersey Group II title.

Photo by www.thelakewoodscoop.com

(From left) Sara Brilliant and Amanda Kacperowski teamed up and raised over $10,000 for the New Jersey Amusement Association First Responders Relief Fund and the Toms River Regional Schools Hurricane Relief Fund with a Sandy benefit concert called Pier Pressure. Erik Weber / Ocean Signal Media Group

By Christa Riddle,
the Ocean Signal

TOMS RIVER–Known as “Generation M²” due to their heavy exposure to and use of media and technology, today’s kids ages 8 to 18 live a good portion of their young lives connected to iPods, computers, video games, tablets, and televisions. Many of these tweens and teens rely upon social media to keep them connected, informed, and entertained, while many adults shake their heads in opposition, wondering aloud if this is a healthy and constructive way for young minds to pass the hours. After all, what good can come out of all of this time spent idly socializing online?

For 14-year-old Sara Brilliant and 16-year-old Amanda Kacperowski, two Ocean County teens, social media and technology proved to be major driving forces behind their brain child “Pier Pressure,” a hurricane relief concert the teen girls successfully planned, coordinated, and promoted in less than three weeks. Pier Pressure realized sales of 200 tickets and raised over $10,000 for the New Jersey Amusement Association First Responders Relief Fund and the Toms River Regional Schools Hurricane Relief Fund. Again, many adults were left to wonder how two teens could accomplish so much in such a short time that helped so many people throughout the community. Of course, the girls’ parents felt nothing short of utter pride and amazement at their daughters’ motivation and achievement.

Prior to Hurricane Sandy, Sara and Amanda forged a friendship online, using tumblr, a micro-blogging and social media platform, to share their love of music and local bands. The girls never met in-person prior to planning for Pier Pressure, even though they live only five miles apart. Immediately after the hurricane left its indelible markings of damage along the Jersey Shore, the teens both witnessed personal stories of the storm’s devastation shared on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and tumblr. Discussing what they saw and how many from the community were hurting, they paired their creative minds to find a way to help those in need, and so began the speedy evolution of Pier Pressure.

Sara and Amanda turned to technology to make their benefit concert a viable reality, using social media and email to contact and book local bands willing to help, as well as to spread the word and sell tickets for the December 1^st event at Toms River Intermediate East. The old-fashioned way, Sara and Amanda also pounded the pavement, hanging fliers in restaurants, stores, and entertainment spots all over the Brick and Toms River areas. Their event even received promotion on local radio stations.

The excitement and enthusiasm expressed by the fundraiser’s young founders spread with the same magnitude as the hurricane’s crashing waves as people from the area bought tickets to help their community while getting to see local bands perform. Some of the bands who donated their talents included Honor Society, the main act, as well as Kicking Daisies, Reverse Order, The Dedication, and Over the Edge. “In addition to bringing us closer together as friends, the storm brought our community closer. It showed how you can help others and make a difference in their lives,” shared Sara, a student in Toms River North High School’s class of 2016 who wants to be an archaeologist, FBI agent, or film director after high school.

Amanda, who plans to pursue a career in graphic design after she graduates from Monsignor Donovan High School in 2014, also commented, “The community and others around us were hurting, and we felt like we needed to put our time in to help. You should consider yourself lucky if the storm didn’t affect you.” Surprised by the success of their first fundraiser, the dynamic duo of Generation M² plans more benefits in the future. Sara and Amanda’s efforts and dedication show how the upcoming generation’s ingenuity and creative power can positively impact our world, as well as how technology and social media can bring people together during a time of need.

written by Christa Riddle, All About Writing, www.allaboutwritingconsulting.com for the Ocean Signal.

NEWARK – Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs have filed suit against the operators of a purported Superstorm Sandy charity, alleging the defendants unlawfully misled the public by diverting donated funds into their personal accounts, misleading donors with false claims about the ways donations would be used, falsely claiming that donations are tax-deductible, and otherwise deceiving the public in violation of New Jersey’s charity registration and consumer protection laws.

“New Jersey’s law keeps charities honest, by requiring them to register with the State and provide clear, truthful information when soliciting donations from the public,” Attorney General Chiesa said.  “This organization told the State it does not pay its executives, but our investigators found a paper trail reflecting thousands of dollars being transferred into the individual defendants’ personal bank accounts.  Meanwhile, less than one percent of the money they raised, has allegedly been paid out to help victims of Sandy. New Jersey and the Attorney General’s Office have fought hard against alleged scammers in the wake of Sandy, and we will not permit profiteers to deceive the public with deceptive appeals for charitable donations.”

Since Superstorm Sandy devastated parts of New Jersey, the Hurricane Sandy Relief Foundation (HSRF) and its operators, John Sandberg and Christina Terraccino, have solicited donations through a website in which HSRF falsely claims to be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and represents that “(a)ll of our donations go towards food, clothing, supplies, aid in rescue and cleanup efforts, and the future rebuilding of communities and lives destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.”  As of last month, the organization had raised more than $631,000 in monetary donations from at least 1,999 persons – but has disbursed less than one percent of that amount to Sandy-related causes, according to records obtained by the State.

The State’s lawsuit, filed in Bergen County Superior Court by the Division of Law, accuses the defendants of multiple violations of New Jersey’s Charitable Registration and Investigation (CRI) Act, Charities Regulations, Consumer Fraud Act, and Nonprofit Corporation Act.  The State asks the Court to order the defendants to stop soliciting donations, shut down their website, disgorge and repay all funds and property acquired by violating the law, and pay full civil penalties for every violation, among other relief.  Under the CRI Act and Consumer Fraud Act, a first violation is subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000, and subsequent violations are subject to penalties of up to $20,000.  Every solicitation of donations made while HSRF is not registered, and/or made through false or misleading statements, is considered a separate violation.

“The Division of Consumer Affairs identified certain red flags about this purported charity in late December, and immediately commenced an investigative inquiry.  Shortly thereafter, we reached out to this group, told them to provide extensive documentation about their fundraising and activities, and met with HSRF’s operators at our headquarters in Newark to address the myriad concerns we had about their activities,” Acting Director Kanefsky said.  “After a thorough investigation revealed multiple and ongoing violations of state law, we are now taking action to ensure that all of the money donated is used properly, in a manner consistent with the representations made to the public.”

The State’s lawsuit alleges:

Questionable Money Transfers
 
Financial records indicate the defendants have transferred more than $13,000 in public donations, from HSRF’s bank and PayPal accounts, into Sandberg’s and Terracino’s own personal accounts.  Records show that the transfer of HSRF funds into Terracino’s personal bank account made it possible to pay for personal expenses including nearly $8,000 in payments to a credit card company.

Records also revealed that, between November and January, the defendants paid a total of more than $4,500 from HSRF’s bank account to merchants such as the Apple Online Store, the Vivo Tapas Lounge in Newark and other restaurants, two supermarkets, Christmas Tree Shops, and a home heating oil delivery service in the Sparta area where Sandberg and Terraccino reside.  The defendants also transferred more than $3,000 from HSRF’s PayPal account to “Jezel Yepez,” an alias for Anthony Yepez, despite the defendants’ representations to the Division that he was a “volunteer” for the organization.

Despite these payments, the defendants in February applied for State registration as a charity – and claimed in their application that HSRF does not provide any compensation to its officers, directors, trustees, or executive staff.  Their application also allegedly under-reported the amount HSRF had raised, by approximately $39,000.

Deceptive Claims to Donors

The State’s Verified Complaint also notes that, though HSRF claims all donations provide “immediate” relief to Sandy victims, the group has only given out $1,650 in gift cards during the three and a half months of its existence – an amount representing less than one percent of the $631,000 HSRF has raised in donations.

Furthermore, the State notes that HSRF has not obtained 501(c)(3) status from the IRS, despite indicating on HSRF’s website, Facebook, and/or Twitter pages that the organization has 501(c)(3) status, thus misleading the public by stating donations to HSRF are tax-deductible.

Using Another Charity’s Name to Solicit Funds

The “Donations” portion of the HSRF website includes a page titled “Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund,” which states that “Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund donations go towards cleanup efforts, and the future rebuilding of communities and lives destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.”

In reality, however, the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, Inc. is the name of a separate charitable organization that is entirely unaffiliated with HSRF.  Unlike HSRF, the actual Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund is duly registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs to solicit charitable donations in New Jersey, and is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

The portion of the HSRF website that references the “Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund” includes a link to a January 14 Star-Ledger article about an event in which that organization donated winter clothing to hundreds of Sandy victims.  The State’s lawsuit notes that HSRF was not involved in that event, and the article’s inclusion on HSRF’s website creates the mistaken impression that the two groups are related.

That same “Donations” page on the HSRF website includes a PayPal link that encourages donors to make monetary contributions online.  However, all contributions made via the PayPal link go to HSRF, not the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

Deceptive Reference to Corporate “Sponsors”

The HSRF website identifies “sponsors” including Hanes Brands and CSX Corporation.  The Division of Consumer Affairs contacted both businesses, and learned that neither Hanes nor CSX has an actual relationship with HSRF or had authorized HSRF to use the corporation’s names and logos.

A Hanes representative stated the company attempted to contact HSRF and ask why the organization’s website uses the Hanes logo.  A CSX representative noted that CSX had explicitly instructed HSRF to remove the corporation’s logo from its website, and that its continued use of the CSX logo would constitute willful trademark infringement.

Failure to Register as a Charity

Under New Jersey’s CRI Act, all organizations that solicit charitable donations in the State must register with the Division of the Consumer Affairs, and re-register annually.  Registered charities must provide detailed information about their operations and fundraising activities. They must detail the charity’s annual income and expenses, including the amount spent each year on actual charitable programs, as opposed to the amount spent on fundraising or management costs.

Certain religious and educational organizations, and charities that raise less than $10,000 in public donations during a fiscal year, are exempt from the registration requirement.  The State’s complaint notes that HSRF is not an exempt organization, although by January 15, 2013 it had collected at least $631,000 in donations.

The Division of Consumer Affairs encouraged the defendants to register as a charity with the Division’s Charities Registration Section.  After operating for more than two months without even attempting to register, the defendants submitted an incorrect and incomplete registration form on January 4. A Division representative then contacted the defendants again, and directed them to the Division’s website for the correct form as well as instructions and additional information on how to apply for registration.  The defendants on February 8 submitted a registration statement that was incomplete and contained inaccurate information, including the alleged under-reporting of the charity’s income by nearly $39,000.

The Division notified HSRF of the deficiencies in its latest application form, but the organization to date has failed to respond.

The State’s lawsuit notes that HSRF’s solicitation of funds, while it is not registered, constitutes an ongoing violation of the CRI Act and Charities Regulations, and prevents potential donors from being able to obtain clear and accurate information about the organization’s activities.

Chief Investigator Laurie Goodman, of the Division of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Consumer Protection, conducted this investigation.  Deputy Attorney General Lorraine Rak, Chief of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section, and Deputy Attorney General Kourtney J. A. Knop represent the State in this action.

Consumers: “Investigate Before You Donate”

The Division of Consumer Affairs, through its “Investigate Before You Donate” campaign, encourages New Jersey consumers to learn as much as possible about any charity before deciding to make a donation. Consumers should:

• Find out whether the charity is registered in New Jersey, or is exempt from having to register. (Certain religious and educational organizations, and charities whose annual income includes less than $10,000 in public contributions and fundraising, are exempt from having to register with the State.)

• Find out how much the charity spent during recent fiscal years on program costs, management costs, and fundraising.

• Learn about the charity’s stated mission.

Consumers may obtain information about a charity in several ways. They can ask the charity itself (reputable charities encourage you to do so), or visit the charity’s website.

Consumers can also obtain this information from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Visit the Division’s Charities Registration page; call the Division’s Charities Hotline at 973-504-6215 during regular business hours; or use the Division’s free “New Jersey Charity Search” smartphone app.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file a complaint with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.

Follow the Division of Consumer Affairs on Facebook, and check our online calendar of upcoming Consumer Outreach events.

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.

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST– Residents in and around the joint base can expect an increase of range activity due to units conducting training at the Dix ranges Feb. 22-24.

The 87th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal will conduct demolitions training Feb. 22.  Members of Golf Battery and India Battery of the 3rd Battalion 14th Marine Regiment here are scheduled to conduct day and night firing training Feb. 22-24.

Marines from Golf Battery, 3rd Bn rest during MCCAGX exercise at Twentynine Palms, California in June, 1992. L-R: Cpl. Barrick, Gy Sgt. Richardson, Sgt. Klum, Sgt. Vladimir Zivkovic, Cpl. Dempsky, Lcpl Adrian Boyd (Now GySgt) and Lcpl. Phil Stilton. Mr. Stilton, the Digital Media Editor of the Ocean Signal was a member of Golf Battery, 3rd Bn, 14th Marines between 1991 and 1995. File Photo / Ocean Signal Media Group.

The training is scheduled to end by 11 p.m. each training day.

This training is essential and helps to ensure the readiness of America’s fighting force. As a result of both batteries performing their important training, residents may hear more noise than usual coming from the ranges and may experience possible ground shaking. It is important to note that noise from the ranges may travel farther during overcast weather conditions.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst works hard to minimize the impact training has on its surrounding communities and is committed to remaining good neighbors.

Contact the JB MDL Public Affairs Office at (609) 754-2104 with any questions or concerns.

With this latest round of grants, Robin Hood has allocated 75% of the $67.5 million it has raised-to-date for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts; this equates to approximately $460,000 in grant-making per day since Hurricane Sandy hit the tri-state area.

“ Robin Hood continues to work with all deliberate speed to make sure the money entrusted to us by generous donors gets into the communities that are working to rebuild,” said David Saltzman , executive director of Robin Hood .  “We initially raised and granted approximately $16 million in the 40 days between the date Sandy hit and 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief; and we expect to grant nearly all the money raised from that historic concert – over $51.5 million – within 100 days of 12-12-12.”

Below are the summaries of the grants approved by the Robin Hood Relief Committee on February 15, 2013.  For a complete list of all grants made thus far, please visit www.robinhood.org/rhsandy

Hometown Heroes
Ocean Gate, NJ
$300,000
Ocean Gate, NJ sustained severe, widespread damage from Hurricane Sandy.  A recent assessment identified 350 homes that have immediate rebuilding needs such as gutting, mold remediation, flooring, and replacement of damaged furnaces and hot water heaters.  Funding will be used to pay homeowner bills directly, and purchase building supplies and gift cards.

Long Beach Township Sandy Relief Fund
Ocean County, NJ
$300,000
The Long Beach Township Sandy Relief Fund was established to help moderate- to low-income year-round residents, with special consideration to seniors, medically fragile individuals and families with children in the consolidated school district.  This grant will help 240 additional residents with grants of approximately $750 – $2,500.

Jersey Rising
Monmouth & Ocean Counties
$250,000
Jersey Rising will use this grant to provide 50 families in need with up to $5,000 to expedite their ability to make home repairs so they can move back into their houses.  Payment will be made directly to vendors, and will cover items such as sheetrock, new furnaces, hot water heaters and mold/mildew remediation.

Funtown Peers
Ocean County
$100,000
Sixty percent of the homes in Seaside Park, NJ suffered significant damage from the storm.  As residents gradually regain access to their homes, Seaside Park is beginning to move towards recovery.  Formed by community leaders, Funtown Peers is accepting applications from residents for rebuilding and housing assistance, and expects to provide support ranging from $750 – $2,500.  This grant from Robin Hood will serve as seed money for Funtown Peers, enabling them to fund approximately 60 applications right away.

Shores United Relief Foundation (SURF)
Monmouth & Ocean Counties
$100,000
SURF has provided cash assistance grants to low income residents whose homes were severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy.  This grant will enable SURF to help another 50 families with up to $2,000 in support, allowing them to rebuild their homes and replace damaged/destroyed appliances.

Lighthouse Alliance Community Church
Ocean County, NJ
$85,000
The Lighthouse Alliance has been a major hub for Sandy-related work in the area, and since November, has sheltered and fed nearly 3,000 volunteers who have helped residents repair their homes.  This grant will support continued rebuilding efforts by providing transportation to take volunteers to/from work sites, add temporary bathroom and shower facilities at Lighthouse Alliance for use by volunteers, and support the hiring of staff to match volunteers with projects.

Col. Richard Williamson, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, awards Staff Sgt. Mark Kosisky, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation journeyman, the Bronze Star Medal Jan. 31, 2013, at the Passenger Terminal on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Kosisky earned the award for his exceptional meritorious service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and his outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations in Afghanistan he was also awarded the Defense Intelligence Emblem of Honor from the Romanian Ministry of National Defense and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, Bronze award during the ceremoney. Kosisky hails from Jenkins township, Pa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wayne Russell/Released)

by Pascual Flores
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – Col. Richard Williamson, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, presented the Bronze Star Medal and two foreign awards to a “Port Dawg” during a recent commander’s call.

The Bronze Star Medal recipient, Staff Sgt. Mark Kosisky, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, also earned the bronze level German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and the Romanian Defense Intelligence Emblem of Honor Medal, for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan from April 25 to Nov. 4, 2012.

“It felt great to receive the award in front of my peers and the wing commander,” said Kosisky. “I was truly humbled and honored. Kosisky deployed for seven months as the Movement and Air Liaison NCO in-charge of Combined Special Operations Task Force-Ten during combat operations supporting International Security Assistance Force.

Williamson praised the support from the squadron and Kosisky for his achievements.

“I’d like to thank all of you for supporting Mark,” said Williamson. “It’s an incredible honor to be awarded these medals. Not just the Bronze Star from our own services, but also from our colleagues and brothers-in-arms, the German and Romanian Armed Forces.”

Kosisky led the Kabul International Airport Movement Team processing 55,000 short tons of inbound cargo and 133,000 short tons of outbound cargo in support of the Assistance Force during his deployment. He was responsible for ground and air operations which maintained supply lines to 10 locations, six detachments and five partner nation units.

Whether it was ammunition and cargo, or personnel conducting battlefield circulations throughout 10 provinces in Afghanistan, Kosisky used knowledge gained as an aerial porter to help coordinate all ground and air movements for the task force.

“Most of the stuff I took out there, I learned here,” said Kosisky.

“It was a great experience to be working not only jointly with the U.S. Army and Navy, but also combined with our NATO partners,” said Kosisky.

The Bronze Star Medal is a decoration authorized by Executive Order No. 9419 Feb. 4, 1944, and is awarded to a person in any branch of the military service who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, has distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. The medal is the fourth-highest combat decoration and the ninth-highest U.S. military award in order of precedence (combat and non-combat).

“The 305th APS is very proud of Staff Sgt. Kosisky’s accomplishments while deployed,” said Maj. Edward Hogan, 305th APS commander. “He represents not only the ‘Port Dawg’ community of professionals well, but his recognized work ethic is typical of our ‘Can Do’ creed here in the 305th AMW.”