JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders is expected to purchase 16.81 acres of land along South Hope Chapel Road between Whitesville Road and Route 571 to protect it from development, according to county documents. The board will vote to move on the acquisition on Wednesday. The purchase price has not been disclosed. The land, currently owned by Elizabeth Anne Runge of Oyster Bay New York is assessed at approximately $210,000. The land was recommended for purchase by the Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee which now has two Jackson Township residents presiding. The county said the parcel is to extend the Toms River Corridor Conservation Area.
Ocean County to Purchase 16 Acres of Land on Jackson’s East Side to Save from Development
Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.
As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.
With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.
Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.
Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.
Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.
- Jackson McDonald’s Listed for Lease as Future of Longtime Jackson Crossing Location Remains Unclear
- Lawsuit Filed Against Owner After Brick Cop Bit By Dog
- Beach Haven First Responder, Insurance Fund Sue Lanoka Harbor Couple Over Ambulance Crash
- Lakewood Cop Sues Woman Who Bit Him During Arrest