Times
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC.
THE BRICK
Vol. 15 - No. 9
Inside This Week’s Edition
Business Directory............................ 22 Classifieds......................................... 21 Community News.......................... 8-12 Dr. Izzy’s Sound News...................... 16 Fun Page .......................................... 23 Government ....................................... 7 Inside The Law ................................. 26 Letters to the Editor ............................ 6 Wolfgang ......................................... 27 WWW.MICROMEDIAPUBS.COM
June 25, 2016
Your FREE Weekly Hometown Newspaper | Serving Brick and Lakewood Townships
Canine Provides Independence For Brick Resident
Brick Celebrates Class Of 2016
–Photo by Susan Fimiani The Class of 2016 for Brick Memorial and Brick High School celebrated its commencement June 17. Above, BTHS graduation. For more photos, see page 4. By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK – Friday night, June 17 was a cause for celebration as nearly 800 students graduated from the two Brick high schools. The exact count was 367 for Brick High School and 429 at Brick Memorial. Brick Memorial At Brick Memorial High School, the dropout rate is 4.3 percent, and 78 students
were honored at awards night. 77 percent of the graduates are college-bound, according to Guidance Coordinator Patricia Cooke. Their graduation ceremony also began with “Pomp and Circumstance,” followed by the 2016 class processional. Members of the BMHS chorus sang “Star Spangled Banner,” followed by Principal Jennifer Joseph’s welcome address. Next was Salutatorian William F. Porter’s address, and then Board of Education
President John Lamela made comments. Then the Class of 2016 Advisors Ilene Glastein and Elena Servedio spoke, followed by Senior Class President Hannah Losa. Interim Superintendent Thomas Gialanella’s remarks were next, followed by the presentation of National Honor Society members and the speech by valedictorian Nicole Raccuglia. (Her speech and GPA were not available). (Graduates - See Page 4)
Local Candlelight Vigil Honors Orlando Shooting Victims
By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – The emotional wounds of the recent mass shooting that left 49 people dead at a gay nightclub in Orlando Florida were still fresh for those who attended a candlelight vigil on June 20. The event was held in Toms River’s downtown area and was organized by Ali Longo of Toms River and Chris Rockwell of Brick. Largo said the message they wanted to express was simple: “love conquers fear.” She tearfully read the names and ages of each victim at the close of the vigil. The vigil began at the MeanBean Cafe and proceeded with a
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walk to the riverfront area. The event was a tribute to the victims of the June 12 shooting, but was also a pledge of courage. “There have been a number of vigils held since the shooting in places like Asbury Park, Philadelphia and New York but I felt Toms River shouldn’t be left out as the community is really feeling this,” Longo said. “It was important that we did something here.” The vigil served to unite members of the LGBTQ community and others. Rockwell, who runs the open mic nights at MeanBean Cafe, said that the township’s downtown area has an active
With the
(Orlando - See Page 5)
–Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn Beth Detata of Brick and her canine companion, Vinny. By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK – It’s not easy for Beth Detata, 30, to communicate with non-family members because she is profoundly deaf and has cerebral palsy from birth, but there’s no question about how she feels about her canine companion, Vinny. “He is really her best friend now that her siblings are out of the house and have their own lives,” said Beth’s mother, Sue, 56, who brought her daughter and Vinny from their home in Laurelton Heights to the new dog park at Angela Hibbard Park last week. “Because of the deafness and cerebral palsy, she’s so isolated.” As one of six children, including an identical twin sister who is a physical therapist, Beth has always had a busy life, attending sporting and school events with her siblings, but now her youngest brother is away at college. She had another canine companion, Campos, for about 13 years before he died from cancer two years ago, and it wasn’t until February of this year the Detata family got the call saying there might be another dog for Beth.
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(Canine - See Page 18)
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