Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 3

PLUS Town Briefs 1 CKlLUuG it. Obits 5,6 CUT REGION Freeholders hear citizen's idea about property tax Market Recap 9 The 15 th annual Law Enforce- i i.n.l.n woes, Plunge will dive Of HIS STRBIOTH Former X-ray technician finds success running tattoo parlor in Beachwood. BUSINESS7 GOT A NEWS TIP? Conu Metro Editor John Schoonejongen (732)64M295 jschooneapp.com rVl into Seaside TOMS RIVER Busy road due for makeover. 2 I at a OURT TOWNS2 tMIIllTlH, ASBURY PARK PRESS I FRIDAY, FEB. 2 2, 2008 1 A KX .11 1 Seaside Parft can't sue state over district BUT taxpayers CAN: Judge lets their lawsuit continue AT ISSUE: To withdraw from or dissolve Central Regional By BONNIE DELANEY TOMS RIVER BUREAU sion into the record, several of the 10 lawyers representing the plaintiffs and the defendants said they were pleased with the judge's ruling.

"The individuals are seeking the same relief as the borough and school district," said Vito A. Gagliardi, the Morristown lawyer representing the Seaside Park council and school board. "They are asking the judge to dissolve the regional school district, allow Seaside Park to withdraw, or change the funding formula to make it more equitable to Seaside Park." Gagliardi said he was happy the judge will hear the "precedent-setting constitutional claims" raised in the lawsuit. Though the judge ruled that the council and school board could no longer be part of the suit, Buczynski said he "will not preclude the municipality from participating." It is expected that the municipality will continue to pay Gagliardi to represent the individuals who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They are Susan Bros- nan, Patricia DeGutis, Councilman James Jablonski, Louis Macchiaverna, former Mayor Robert Matthies, former Councilman and school board President David Meyer, Richard McMillian, Andrew Sbordone and Marty Willk.

Seaside Park contends it pays a disproportionate share of the school taxes, about $48,000 per pupil in 2007-2008, as compared with an average of $10,000 per pupil paid by the other towns. See Central, Page B3 education commissioner to dissolve the Central Regional school district, allow Seaside Park to withdraw from it or change the school funding formula to make it more equitable to Seaside Park taxpayers. However, the judge said he will not dismiss all of the complaints of the 13 individual Sea side Park taxpayers who are also named as plaintiffs in the Seaside Park lawsuit which in effect means that the Seaside Park taxpayers can continue the lawsuit against Central Regional and the state, even though the borough and school board cannot. After the judge read his deci TOMS RIVER State Superior Court Judge Frank A. Buc-zynski on Thursday dismissed a seven-count complaint filed by the Seaside Park Borough Council and Board of Education that asks the judge to order the state AT SEMINAR THURSDAY IN TOMS RIVER: 100 local educators learn the price of bullying, legal measures to address age-old problem BIACK HISTORY MOHTH from sdwe ta IK pg EDITOR 'S NOTE: February Is Black History Month.

Throughout the month, we will run a daily profile of an individual in Monmouth or Ocean counties who has made a significant contribution to the community. Black entrepreneurs give important lessons, journalist says By DAVID P. WIUJS BUSINESS WRITER Long Branch native Alfred A. Edmond Jr. has a pet peeve.

During Black History Month, attention turns to recognizing African- Isolated i VAN American artists and athletes, and civil rights and religious leaders. "But we don't tend to focus or even recognize our legacy as business leaders," said Edmond, editor in chief at Black Enterprise magazine and senior vice president at Earl G. Graves Publishing Co. the publication's parent. "We have a legacy of entrepreneurship and business that goes back to the founding of the i WW i By FRA1DY REISS TOMS RIVER BUREAU TOMS RrVER Every time her son left for another day at Jackson Memorial High School, Rena Jacobson worried.

Would he endure more taunts from fellow students about his sexual orientation? Would he again be cursed at, threatened, followed home or physically assaulted? "It's a horror when your son is being exposed to bullying and harassment," Jacobson, 60, said. "You just have this sense of pow-erlessness." The Jacobsons are awaiting a hearing date on the complaint filed with the state Division on Civil Rights against the Jackson school district, which charged that the district violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination when it did not stop students from repeatedly harassing Daniel Jacobson because he is gay and because he was born in Honduras. The Jacobsons contend the harassment continued until Daniel graduated in 2006. Allison Erwin, a district spokeswoman, declined to comment on the case. Meanwhile, Rena Jacob-son said her desire to help other families prompted her to help organize a seminar to prevent bias and bullying in schools, held Thursday in the Toms See Bullying, Page B3 ALFRED A.

JH Above: Frank Vespa-Papaleo, director of tho stato Division of Civil Rights, explains how stato law requires schools do something about bullying during a forum Thursday. Below: Daniel Jacobson (right) talks with his attorney, Luanne Peterpaul, during a break at the seminar. Jacobson is suing the Jackson school district over the bullying he endured while a student, (staff photos: mm franki country. Edmond, 47, who wants to remind people across the country about that heritage, discussed the importance of black leaders during a talk at Branches in West Long Branch. There's Kenneth I.

Chenault, chairman and chief executive officer at American See Lessons, Page B3 AGE: 47 TOWN: West Orange OCCUPATION: Editor in chief at Black Enterprise magazine; senior vice president at Earl G. Graves Publishing Co. the publication's parent EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in 1983, having majored in studio art and minored in economics. FAMILY: Wife, Topaza Edmond; four children. BEHIND THE HEWS A look at bias incidents reported in New Jersey in 2006 shows: The most frequent place of occurrence was a school building (25 percent).

The largest age group of victims was 11 to 17 (30 percent). The largest age group of offenders also was 11 to 17 (46 percent). Soura: Jersey Shore PFLAO, Ocean County Library, Ocean County Human Relations Commission 'rfo Uffl fih.jr i II ION THE WEB: Visit our Web site, www.app.com, and look under Black History Month on the home page for interactive features highlighting prominent black Americans and key moments in civil rights history. Five people injured in Laliewood crash Several companies respond to Jackson home Fire extinguished quickly By MARGARET F. BONAFIDE TOMS RIVER BUREAU By MATT PAIS STAFF WRITER truck hit the passenger side of the minivan, and the van spun and fell over onto its side, according to police.

The crash occurred a few hundred yards from the Kimball Medical Center. The intersection is controlled by stop sign. Officer Richard Stannick is the investigating officer. "I wish to commend the initial attack team and the on-scene division commanders on an outstanding job. Due to a quick and decisive knockdown of the fire, the damage was confined to the basement," Alchevsky said.

"This situation could have really gotten a lot worse, given the age of the home and the stage of the fire upon the entry." No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, and the cause of the blaze remains under investigation by the Fire District 2 bureau of fire pre-ventioa Members of the Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station's Rapid Intervention Support Team, as well as the Jackson Township Volunteer First Aid Squad, assisted firefighters at the scene. LAKEWOOD Five people, including two children, were injured in a crash between a mini-van and a pickup truck at the intersection of Prospect and Williams streets Thursday morning, authorities said. Police and the Lakewood fire and first aid responded, as did Hatzolah First Aid, to assist the victims shortly after 10 a.m., police said. The children were wearing seat belts, authorities at the scene said. The pickup truck was carrying appliances on its bed.

The JACKSON A rapid response by firefighters from multiple area companies Wednesday night prevented severe damage to a ranch home in the Cassville section of town. Authorities received a report of a structure fire at 454 W. Veterans Highway about 6:15 p.m., said Cassville Fire Chief John Alchevsky. Upon their arrival, firefighters observed heavy smoke and fire in the home's basement The blaze was quickly contained and extinguished, Alchevsky said. Firefighters then used thermal imaging to ensure the flames had not spread to other portions of the house.

ON THE WEB: Visit our Web site, www.app.com, for a video of the collision scene and join in the online conversation on this, topic by clicking on Story Chat A minivan and a pickup truck were involved In a crash at the intersection of Prospect and Wil i liams streets Thursday morning in Lakewood. (STAFF PHOTO: THOMAS P. COSTEUOI.