Home Care In Jackson, NJ

A three-way player, with 1,079 yards of total offense and 13 touchdowns to go along with four interceptions and 53 PATs, about the only time Bennett Jackson wasn't on the field during his senior season at Raritan High School in Hazlet, NJ, was when the marching band performed at halftime.

And after performing pretty well himself during his four years at Notre Dame, where he was a two-year starting cornerback and a team captain, Jackson made his way back home after the Giants chose him in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

He would then bounce off and on of the Giants' and Baltimore Ravens' practice squads and I.R. over the next five years.

"Honestly, it was tough. There are so many struggles in the NFL as it is, going to a new team, going into a new environment," Jackson said. "I knew that I was capable of playing, and I knew that as long as I stayed healthy, I would have my opportunity to play.

"And in my mind, I felt like I was better than people. I just didn't have the opportunity to do that yet. But I stayed at it. I really just took things one day at a time. I didn't stress out about what could have happened if I didn't get injured. I just stayed in reality.

"I enjoyed playing. I enjoyed practicing. I enjoyed the schedule and everything that came with it. So I just took everything day by day, really. I didn't think too far behind. I didn't think too far ahead. I just worked towards my goals and I knew that as long as I put the work in and I prepared the right way, that things would turn out how I wanted them to."

Playing in four games for the Ravens in 2019, Jackson was claimed off waivers by the Jets for the second time that season and made his debut with the Green & White on December 8 against Miami.

"I was happy that I was able to go to the Jets," Jackson said. "One, because it was my hometown state. And if they're claiming me, then you know it shows that they want you. And at that point I just kind of really wanted to be wanted by somebody. I didn't have the sense that the Ravens didn't want me because we had a good relationship. I just knew that situations didn't make it possible.

"But I was excited. I was happy to be able to go to a team and be able to play and actually get out there and put forward all the stuff that I'd been working so hard to get. My first game with the Jets, I'm pretty sure that's when everybody got sick. I think there was a mono thing going on. We had a ton of moves going on with the team.

"I knew that I was going to be on special teams, and I loved Coach (Brant) Boyer right from the beginning. I knew that I was good on special teams. I enjoyed playing special teams. While a lot of guys, they don't want to play special teams, I was like, yeah, cool, throw me out there.

"I wound up bouncing back and forth with the practice squad a little bit there, as well, just playing the numbers game, but it's a process. It's just kind of part of it. I was just glad that I was able to stick it out and get through it. To continue to just stack on games and play for a couple more years."

Contributing on special teams that season and next when he played in four games after spending the first eight weeks on the practice squad and the last four on injured reserve, Jackson's fondest memory as a Jet occurred in his second game.

During a nationally-televised Thursday night game, Jackson was on familiar ground when the Jets traveled to Baltimore. They traveled back to New York with a 42-21 loss.

"Even though we lost pretty good, I had a lot of pride in that game just because it was a team I was coming from," Jackson said. "I wanted to show them what they let go at the time even though I felt like they knew. I just enjoyed that game, playing special teams, being able to make some tackles and getting up and celebrating and having all your guys around you celebrating with you. That's one of the memories that I remember most."

Playing his last game for the Jets in 2020, Jackson is now working out of South Plainfield, NJ, for Momentum Solar.

"We're the No. 1 solar company in the nation in customer satisfaction," Jackson said. "I started working as a salesman and will eventually start the process of becoming a manager. I think the company does awesome things. To work with a team is really what I wanted. That was one of my goals, be able to get around guys that I can encourage and motivate. I always thought I had a good personality and that I was able to relate to people and understand people and come across the right way.

"You know, it's a new chapter for me. It's a new routine, but I'm used to routine. It's new, but I'm learning every day. I'm enjoying it and I'm able to save people some money. It's good to be able to help people find an easier way to live and a more affordable way to live."

Jackson, who makes his home in Matawan Aberdeen area, is also helping people stay in shape.

"As I was trying to figure out (what I'd like to do after football), I was working with kids and helped run camps for the youth," Jackson said. "I spent a lot of time training high school kids and semi-pro DBs, some receivers. And I spent a lot of time training people for track.

"So I train in the area. The gym's called Sentinel Performance & Strength, SPS. It's right up the street from me in Marlboro. It has a ton of people, kids in high school, youth kids that always need a little extra work. It just kind of fit. I take a couple days out of the week where I can work with guys."

JACKSON TOWNSHIP – Lakewood and its large orthodox Jewish population lies just east of this sprawling Ocean County town.

Litigation filed six years ago alleged that Jackson officials tried to make sure orthodox Jewish families stayed where they were – in Lakewood.

The Jackson Township Council approved settling the suit Tuesday night, thereby removing a huge burden on a community of about 60,000. But whether this calms some of the angry feelings in town is an open question.

Some of the signs at a five hour-plus council meeting were not encouraging. One man said this:

“We are witness to the hostile takeover of Jackson Township. Just as we were witness to the hostile takeover of Lakewood Township in 2017.” By now he was screaming.

” And it has got to stop!”

There was yet another moment when a resident said that an orthodox member of the council should not be allowed to vote on this matter because he has a conflict of interest.

Gregory McGuckin, the town attorney, reacted quickly, saying:

“Any resident of Jackson Township has the right to serve on a governing body regardless of their religion.” He added that such comments got Jackson in trouble in the first place.

What did he mean by that?

Here’s the background.

The suit came about after township zoning prevented the construction of a private school in Jackson for orthodox Jewish students. That prompted a discriminatory suit by the developer and state and federal officials.

Broadly speaking, land use suits of this kind are pretty common.

But what made this one different – and what prompted the discriminatory aspect of things – was something very contemporary: online comments.

Negative comments about the possibility of orthodox Jewish schools and families coming to Jackson were posted on various social media outlets, some of which were read at the meeting.

There were messages like “get rid of them like Hitler did” and “bulldoze” their homes.

McGuckin and Brent Pohlman, a special counsel, explained during the lengthy meeting that such comments triggered a suit on discriminatory grounds.

At one point, it was acknowledged that these comments may not have been representative of Jackson residents. In fact, the senders may not have even been local residents. But as far as encouraging legal action, that was irrelevant.

So, as is just about always the case, the council settled as opposed to going to trial and facing an uncertain outcome. The township will pay $2.2 million, but what was more relevant to those in attendance, the council also adopted two zoning ordinances to specifically allow for schools, dormitories and houses of worship throughout the township.

This is not a blanket sanction. Every such project must be individually approved by the relevant planning or zoning board.

Moreover, the ordinances do not – in fact, they cannot – cater to any one group. For example, all religious entities are free to propose a school.

Naturally, the public was skeptical. All faiths may be permitted to build a school, but it’s possible in this case that the orthodox Jewish community would be more apt to do so.

One ordinance was approved in a 3-2 vote with the “no” votes coming from Councilmembers Nino Borrelli and Stephen Chisholm Jr. On the other ordinance, Borrelli also voted no, but Chisholm abstained.

Borrelli said he was concerned the township was being overbuilt and overdeveloped.

There were many comments referring to a “takeover” and the “character” of Jackson being permanently altered.

More than one resident spoke of relocating to Ocean County from urban areas and enjoying a lifestyle that includes observing the moon and stars on dark, peaceful nights. They said more schools, dorms and related activities can make that impossible.

One also heard allegations that some council members were in conflict because of real estate deals and/or political activity.

Politics, of course, is always around and state conflict laws only get involved when an official has a direct financial interest in an issue.

It’s the nature of just about any settlement to leave both sides unhappy, and on this night, there was much unhappiness among residents.

The meeting ended with council members offering a perfunctory “Happy Holidays,” but judging from the mood, that seemed a stretch.

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The AFC’s top seed and the second favorite to win Super Bowl 58, the Baltimore Ravens welcome the defending champs to M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday in what is shaping up to be an epic AFC Championship.

Are you looking for the best online sportsbook? Our best NFL betting sites page provides a detailed breakdown of the industry’s best options.

AFC Championship Chiefs vs. Ravens odds preview

The Chiefs enter the AFC Championship as 3.5-point underdogs, similar to the underdog line they faced traveling to Buffalo for last week’s divisional encounter. By winning his first away playoff game, Patrick Mahomes again proved doubters wrong. The world’s best quarterback is not only the most talented pivot but has the intangibles to win in every situation, no matter the odds he faces.

The Chiefs are 7-2 SU and 8-0-1 ATS as a road underdog since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting pivot in 2018.

The Ravens are a superior football team but must play flawlessly to vanquish the Chiefs, who are playing in their sixth straight AFC Championship, a ludicrous stat showcasing how exceptional this Kansas City dynastic run is.

The Ravens are 7-3 at home, including last week’s victory. Excluding the meaningless Week 18 home loss, they have scored 34.6 points per game and allowed 17. While outstanding, the Chiefs’ road success is even more impressive. After beating the Bills in Buffalo, the Chiefs improved to 7-2 on the road.

Lamar Jackson had two rushing TDs and two passing TDs in the divisional-round victory over the Texans. The most dynamic and athletic quarterback in the NFL, Jackson can make the most elite defenses look average. However, Mahomes, who will enter the GOAT conversation if he continues on this trajectory, can never be counted out.

While the Ravens might squeeze by and punch their ticket to Super Bowl 58, the Chiefs should keep it close and cover.

AFC Championship Chiefs vs. Ravens best prop bets: Isiah Pacheco over 64.5 rushing yards (-115 at DraftKings)

Nobody can beat the Ravens with a single-dimensional, predictable offense, and the Chiefs are no exception. Cue the importance of the Chiefs establishing a ground game through Isiah Pacheco. The powerful, aggressive running back has enjoyed an incredibly fruitful run of late, amassing at least 89 yards in his last three games (130 vs. the Bengals, 89 vs. Miami, 97 at Buffalo) and four of his previous five encounters. Pacheco ran for at least 66 yards in six of the previous eight games.

The 24-year-old running back has also enjoyed success in his brief postseason experience, running for at least 76 yards in four of five playoff games, including in the last two against the Dolphins and Bills.

The Ravens’ defense, as special as it is, can be exploited on the ground. Their 14th-ranked rush defense allows 109.4 yards per game and conceded at least 121 yards in four of the previous five games for an average of 126.6 during that stretch.

AFC Championship Chiefs vs. Ravens best prop bets: Lamar Jackson over 62.5 rushing yards (-120 at DraftKings)

It’s no surprise that Lamar is a machine on the ground. He is the most athletic and elusive quarterback in the league, finding running lanes through a pinhole. He scorched the Texans, running for 100 yards.

He failed to rush for 63 yards against Miami and San Francisco but punched through that threshold in Week 14 at Jacksonville (97 yards) and against the Raiders at home in Week 13 (70 yards).

Like the Ravens, the Chiefs’ run-stop unit is the most vulnerable aspect of their elite defense. They had the 18th-ranked rush defense, allowing 113.2 yards per game. Josh Allen had 72 yards on the ground in last week’s divisional contest, setting a fresh precedent for Lamar to emulate.

AFC Championship Chiefs vs. Ravens best prop bets: Patrick Mahomes over 37.5 pass attempts (+102 at FanDuel)

Backing Mahomes to attempt at least 38 passes comes with heightened risk, indicative of the plus-money odds. The Ravens had the sixth-best pass during the regular season, allowing just 191.9 yards per game.

However, Andy Reid, one of the most experienced and winningest coaches, knows how to prevail in big games. A primary reason for his countless clutch wins is letting Mahomes do what he does best. Reid will want the ball in his all-world pivot’s hands as often as possible.

The Chiefs substantially increased their reliance on screen passes and short routes this season, primarily due to a disproportionate number of dropped passes by Mahomes’ receiving corps. Also, Baltimore’s opponents tossed the ball just over 37 times per game in the regular season and 36.7 at M&T Bank Stadium.

Mahomes attempted 41 passes in the bitterly cold conditions against Miami in the wild-card game, a staggeringly high number considering the Chiefs never trailed. In addition, the Chiefs’ legendary quarterback attempted at least 38 passes in nine of 16 playoff contests.

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JACKSON — Township voters will get to decide whether Jackson Public School District will raise taxes by more than $4 million in order to hire additional teachers, student counselors and specialized staff.

School officials say they need more money to hire 10 elementary teachers, 12 middle and high school teachers, four teachers for English language learners, six guidance counselors for mental health assistance, two student assistance counselors for substance abuse and additional district support staff.

"Losing $18 million in state aid and 214 positions over the past six years has brought us to a point where we cannot sustain the educational experience we want for our students without asking for additional staff," Superintendent Nicole Pormilli said in a statement. "We are asking the Jackson community to help us solve a problem we did not create, but that needs to be solved."

Jackson voters will see a special ballot question when they head to the polls on Nov. 7 asking them to approve the additional spending. If approved, the initiative would raise taxes about $96 annually on a house assessed at the municipal average of $330,688, according to school leaders.

Inflation and increasing needs among Jackson students have led to a financial "perfect storm," Pormilli said.

"Our class sizes have grown to undesirable levels, which is in direct contrast to every bit of research about what is best for student achievement and development," she said. "Additionally, students’ counseling and special education needs are increasing, substance abuse issues are increasing, the volume of ESL (English as a second language) needs has skyrocketed — all while our ability to handle increased student needs has decreased due to our funding losses and increased costs."

In 2016, 94% of Jackson School District students spoke English at home, according to state records. But just five years later, the percentage had dropped to 82% for the 2021-22 school year, according to New Jersey Department of Education records. Of the remainder, 13.7% of students spoke Spanish at home and another 4.6% spoke other languages, according to the state department.

At the same time, Jackson's public schools faced substantial cuts in support from Trenton legislators, equivalent to 42% in state aid losses over the past six years, the superintendent said.

The district cannot make up the loss without special voter approval; a state-mandated cap on tax levy increases prohibits district leadership from raising school taxes more than 2% per year. Few exceptions are made for inflation and other prices that outpace that 2% limit, except where voters approve the spending measure.

On the November ballot, Jackson voters will be asked to increase school taxes for the 2023-24 school year by $4,035,000. Approval of the special ballot question would permanently increase school taxes by that amount. The money would be used exclusively for the jobs described in the ballot question, according to district officials.

School leaders will hold an informational session at the next school board meeting, to be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Jackson Memorial High School, 101 Don Connor Blvd.

An additional online question-and-answer session will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 1.

Additional ballot question information and a tax impact calculator are available on the Jackson School District website. Residents with questions may also call the district Special Question Hotline at 732-833-4618 or email [email protected].

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Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 15 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, [email protected] or 732-557-5701.

A house in Jackson that sold for $940,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Jackson area in the past week.

In total, eight residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $620,063. The average price per square foot was $263.

The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Oct. 9 even if the property may have been sold earlier.

8. $320K, single-family residence at 13 Kim Court

The 1,533 square-foot single-family home at 13 Kim Court, Jackson, has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in September and the total purchase price was $320,000, $209 per square foot. The house was built in 1988. The deal was finalized on Sep. 29.

7. $465K, single-family home at 20 Bay Hill Road

The sale of the single-family house at 20 Bay Hill Road, Jackson, has been finalized. The price was $465,000, and the new owners took over the house in October. The house was built in 2005 and has a living area of 2,031 square feet. The price per square foot was $229. The deal was finalized on Oct. 3.

6. $500K, detached house at 47 W. Connecticut Concourse

The 1,886 square-foot single-family home at 47 W. Connecticut Concourse in Jackson has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in October and the total purchase price was $500,000, $265 per square foot. The house was built in 1962. The deal was finalized on Oct. 2.

5. $510K, single-family house at 59 Oakmont Lane

The sale of the single family residence at 59 Oakmont Lane in Jackson has been finalized. The price was $510,000, and the new owners took over the house in October. The house was built in 2000 and has a living area of 2,070 square feet. The price per square foot was $246. The deal was finalized on Oct. 3.

4. $625K, single-family home at 68 Forest Drive

A sale has been finalized for the single-family home at 68 Forest Drive in Jackson. The price was $625,000 and the new owners took over the house in October. The house was built in 1969 and the living area totals 2,300 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $272. The deal was finalized on Oct. 2.

3. $725K, detached house at 3 Shepherds Way

The property at 3 Shepherds Way in Jackson has new owners. The price was $725,000. The house was built in 1990 and has a living area of 3,086 square feet. The price per square foot is $235. The deal was finalized on Oct. 2.

2. $876K, single-family residence at 2 Opal Court

The property at 2 Opal Court in Jackson has new owners. The price was $875,500. The house was built in 2005 and has a living area of 4,399 square feet. The price per square foot is $199. The deal was finalized on Sep. 29.

1. $940K, single-family house at 436 Harmony Road

The 1,540 square-foot single-family house at 436 Harmony Road in Jackson has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in October and the total purchase price was $940,000, $610 per square foot. The house was built in 1960. The deal was finalized on Oct. 2.

Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data.