Jackson, NJ—A grant from Jackson’s Clean Communities program helped a local organization clear hundreds of trash bags of litter from the city’s roadways this weekend.
New Jersey Clean Communities is a statewide program that promotes volunteer cleanup of public lands.
This week, dozens of local groups hit the highways with trash bags and began cleaning the streets.
Each year, the township hosts these public cleanups and reimburses organizations and community groups $500 per mile of road cleaned. That funding comes from the NJ DEP’s New Jersey Clean Communities grant.
This year, approximately 30 groups, directed by Jackson DPW under Shawn Bolinksy hit the roads and cleaned up over 200 bags of trash. That doesn’t include the tires or wood pallets discarded along the roadside, which were also collected.
Jackson Council President Jennifer Kuhn worked alongside the Jackson Thunder Travel Little League to clean up Grawtown Road.
“This is a great way for the community to pitch in and help keep our roadways clean,” Councilwoman Kuhn said. I want to thank all of the organizations that came out to pitch in today.”
The Clean Communities Program was organized under Mayor Michael Reina’s administration. It was previously managed by Patricia Wood, who grew the program over the years before her passing in 2021.
- Barnegat Bay Blitz returns with student-powered cleanup in Jackson
JACKSON, NJ — Volunteers across the Barnegat Bay Watershed will take to streets, parks, and shorelines Thursday for the Barnegat Bay Blitz, an annual large-scale litter cleanup aimed at protecting New Jersey’s land and water from trash pollution.
One cleanup will take place along the Toms River’s Dove Mill Branch in Jackson Township along the Purple Heart Trail.
Set for 2 p.m. at the Bunker Hill Bogs Recreation Area in Jackson, the event will gather residents, students, and community groups at dozens of sites across the watershed to remove debris ranging from cigarette butts and bottles to larger discarded items. The local Jackson cleanup, led by Captain Peyton Curley, will begin at the Purple Heart Trail parking lot just off East Veterans Highway.
Litter has become a visible and persistent issue throughout the Barnegat Bay region, entering the watershed through storm drains, road runoff, and illegal dumping. Organizers say the Blitz plays a crucial role in mobilizing volunteers to address the problem at the ground level.
Blitz participants will be equipped with tools and guidance from site captains, with volunteers bringing their own gear for kayak or canoe-based cleanups where needed. All participants are required to sign a waiver and follow safety tips provided by organizers.
The cleanup initiative has become a tradition in the area, often drawing youth involvement. One example includes Barnegat High School students joining the effort, demonstrating the Blitz’s focus on environmental education as well as direct action.
Students and volunteers lead hands-on conservation
At previous Blitz events, students and volunteers have been seen holding landscaping equipment and wearing shirts bearing the message, “It’s about helping each other,” underscoring the community-driven spirit behind the cleanup.
The Barnegat Bay Blitz is part of a broader statewide campaign to reduce pollution in New Jersey’s watersheds, and organizers expect turnout to remain strong at this year’s coordinated efforts.
Key Points
- Barnegat Bay Blitz cleanup set for April 17 at Bunker Hill Bogs Recreation Area in Jackson, NJ.
- Volunteers target litter throughout the watershed, removing bottles, cigarette butts, and large debris.
- Cleanup efforts include land and water-based activities led by local captains like Peyton Curley.
Organizers say every bag of trash removed during the Blitz helps protect the environment and build stronger community ties.
Hundreds rally to fight litter in NJ as Barnegat Bay Blitz hits streets and shorelines.
- Jackson schools prepare for upcoming mergers and mascots
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Will Jackson Liberty High School retain its name and mascot when it merges with Jackson Memorial High School in September?
Will the new high school merger result in a new name? The Jackson Liberty Jaguars? The Jackson High School Lions? Jackson United? Those are just a few ideas students are residents are talking about, but the district said committees are being formed and meeting to discuss the upcoming merger.
The Jackson School District has launched a district-wide restructuring plan, initiating a series of student-centered events, committee meetings, and staffing actions aimed at unifying schools and supporting staff and students through the transition.
Following the plan’s approval earlier this year, several committees have begun working on merging efforts across the district. The district is emphasizing student and staff collaboration and announced that it will continue to provide updates to the community as efforts progress.
A major milestone took place March 7, when 600 students from both Jackson Memorial and Jackson Liberty high schools attended a joint assembly led by Mike Smith, a Stanford-certified life coach. The session encouraged students to explore their ability to shape the future narrative of their unified school community. The district called the assembly “a successful and empowering first step.”
Students also began participating in the High School Rebranding Committee, which is focused on decisions regarding the school’s future name, colors, and mascot. A survey will soon be sent out to collect student feedback, with the committee expected to reconvene later this month.
Committees form across school levels
Committees for merging Jackson’s middle and upper elementary schools are also underway. The Middle School Merging Committee, which includes staff and Parent-Teacher Network volunteers, held its first meeting on March 6 and discussed strategies to ease the transition for students in grades 7 and 8. Plans include interactive events before year’s end and ideas for building small communities within the new school.
The Upper Elementary Merging Committee will be formed once a principal is appointed. This group will focus on transitional programming for grades 5 and 6.
Jackson Liberty Hs – GM All head coaching and co-curricular advisor positions were posted on February 28.
District and school administrators began interviewing candidates the week of March 10, with coaches to be announced at the April Board of Education meeting.
Co-curricular advisors will be named in May, and some roles may be co-led in the 2025–2026 school year to ensure continuity during the high school merger.