2022-10-29 - The Southern Ocean Times

OCEAN

Some Still Rebuilding A Decade After Sandy

YEARS LATER

By Stephanie Faughnan

WARETOWN – The burden of rebuilding

Superstorm

do

a well-respected

Caira

Bon Jovi Guest Stars At Chili Cook-O Fundraiser

By Stephanie Faughnan

TOMS RIVER – A fiery competition between almost a dozen first responder teams

crowds of people

their lips as taste-testers in JBJ Soul Kitchen’s 7th Annual Chili Cook-Off.

began lining

up outside the fence of the Hooper Avenue location as early as 9 a.m. and traveled from as far away as Brazil.

Though preliminary reports gave no hint rocker Jon Bon Jovi planned to be on site, the promise of raising funds for a good cause made the trip worthwhile.

Most know Bon Jovi as a Jersey boy with Sayreville roots. While

music and looks cause many

swoon, the mission he’s created deserves more than its share of attention.

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation began back in 2006 to help combat

Bon

Lacey Candidates Vie For Commi ee

By Bob Vosseller

LACEY – Six candidates are competing for three seats for township Committee. They are two incumbent Republicans, two Democrats, an independent and a Green Party challenger.

There are two, three-year seats and a single, one-year term on the ballot. For the three-year seats, Republican incumbents

Steven Kennis and Peter Curatolo are being challenged by Democrats Edward Kownacki and Erik Mazur, independent candidate and former Board of Education member Regina C. Discenza and Green Party member Barry Bendar.

Seeking a one-year unexpired term are Republican Peggy Sue Juliano who was appointed earlier this year to fill the seat of her late husband, Nicholas Juliano. She is being challenged by Democrat Shawn Judson.

GOP incumbent Steven Kennis has lived in the township for 50 years and is a builder/developer.

He is running for reelection this year because “as a longtime resident and a local businessman, I will continue to make Lacey a desirable place to live and to maintain the quality of life our residents have come to expect.”

As to what he feels is the township’s most pressing issue at the current time he responded, “affordability is the most pressing issue. With nine years of experience on the township budget, I will continue to maintain a budget that is fair to its taxpayers, employees and other stakeholders.”

As to his thoughts on future development in the township he said, “I will continue to promote the reconstruction of our commercial corridors in order to attract businesses. It has a positive economic impact on our budget, our tax base and makes the township more desirable.”

Kennis noted the need for the township’s master plan to be reviewed and updated during a committee meeting in June. “It’s overdue. Due to changes in people’s lifestyle, building and environmental mandates from

(Lacey - See Page 4)

–Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Tony Caira stands on the porch of his house that’s just about finished ten years post-Sandy.

–Photo by Stephanie Faughnan

from

of the

and

–Photo courtesy Tony Caira

The neighborhood had several feet of water in it after Sandy.

(Rebuild - See Page 5)

Lacey:

Continued From Page 1

both the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) and the state, and changes in our own ordinances shows a need to update our master plan.”

Related to this was a concern regarding traffic congestion within Lacey and methods to address this issue. “Both Route 9 and Lacey Road are not owned by the township. Any property owners along those roads cannot be denied access to them. We have contacted the state multiple times in order to address multiple issues along Route 9 to no avail. The county has made a number of improvements to roads in Lacey including the Railroad Avenue light and the Adams Street light in addition to installing multiple pedestrian walks. A new light will be installed at the Lake Barnegat Drive and Haines Street intersection sometime over the next year. I would encourage residents to use alternate routes when possible and vary their work schedule, if able,” Kennis said.

The candidate added, “I had a great time growing up in Lacey and still enjoy it. The town has changed a lot since I’ve been here but it still has a small town, family-oriented spirit that still persists and I will do my best to maintain it.”

Independent candidate Regina Discenza isn’t a new face at Committee meetings. She often brings up questions and concerns at those sessions during the public comment period and has lived in Lacey

Township for nearly 24 years.

Discenza is running for a committee seat after “I saw an article that said the incumbents were running unopposed. I do not believe any slate anywhere should run unopposed in a Democratic societypeople need choices.”

She feels the township’s most pressing issue is overdevelopment and the safe decommissioning of the power plant.

As to what experience she would bring to the table she said, “I have building experience, a degree in Criminal Justice and I have travelled to 45 states so I have seen many other communities and how they function.”

Regarding her thoughts on the township’s master plan she said, “it needs some revisions by like-minded people- not bobble heads that say yes to everything. This is usually done every 10 years or so and its 10 years are up.”

Discenza added, “revisions to the Master Plan should improve our quality of life, not take away from it like the multifamily housing is doing - meet the legal COAH State requirements for affordable housing and be done with it.”

Concerning traffic congestion in Lacey “I have been attempting to address traffic issues in this town for over 20 years. One of the cries of the powers that be is that Route 9 is a state highway - so scream louder in Trenton - which I am not afraid to do,” Discenza said.

Discenza has served two terms on the Lacey Township Board of Education (2015-2017) and (2019-2021) and attended

school board association meetings outside the Township of Lacey during both terms to attain New Jersey School Board Association Boards Member Academy complete certification.

She was the Lacey Delegate to the Ocean County School Boards Association and the New Jersey School Board Association State Delegate or Alternate for Lacey Township School District for several years as well. Discenza has also been attending recent meetings of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.

“My campaign is not accepting any contributions whatsoever thus the slogan, ‘No Strings Attached.’ I am using my own funds 100%,” Discenza said.

Republican PeggySue Juliano was appointed to the Committee earlier this year. She is fi lling the vacancy of her late husband Nicholas Juliano who was serving as mayor this year before he died of cancer. She’s lived in Lacey for 31 years and was a summer visitor to the community in the 1970s.

She is employed by the Lacey Township School District. “I have been there for 12 years and before that I owned and operated our Auto Parts Store with my husband for 30 years.”

She added that she is running for a full term on the Township committee to “fi nish some of the work that Nick started but now I realize it is my job to keep this town with my fellow committee members moving forward. Our job is to secure this town for the next generation.”

Juliano said she was brought up in a political family “so the decision to run is to let people know I am here for them. Growth has to happen in this town, I know we all would like to go back to an easier time but that’s not really possible.

“The Master Plan is a priority but it will not be done in one session. I know traffic is a problem but like everyone else, I learn when to be out on the road, and also, we all need to stop rushing around,” she added.

The candidate said she has “a few concerns most importantly our Police Department needs our undivided support and attention. Second, we are a very extremely lucky town to have so many volunteers and respect to them is very much on my mind.”

Juliano has another concern. “If we ever had to pay a Fire Department, we would be in a serious need of raising our taxes.”

Fellow GOP incumbent Peter Curatolo has lived in Lacey Township for 22 years and is the Coordinator of Community Health Services at the Ocean County Health Department.

“I’m an advocate for the people. I know how to navigate bureaucracies to get the best possible outcome for our residents and I have done this successfully for nine years on Committee and 25 years in government.,” the candidate said.

Regarding his thoughts on the township’s most pressing issue he answered, “Safety! Support the police. The law is the (Lacey - See Page 12)

Ten years after the unprecedented storm brought surging waters into their house, Tony now expects to finally be back home in the next couple of weeks. Yet, there’s something very empty about his return.

On November 30, 2020, Nancy Caira died from complications associated with a congenital heart problem. Months before her death, Nancy and Tony found the financial means to tear down and replace their damaged house. It was a momentous occasion that became social media worthy.

“It’s been 2,642 days since we lost our home to Sandy,” Nancy wrote on January 23, 2020.

“Seven years, two months, three weeks, and two days. It’s been a long time. A long time living in suspended animation with more struggles, challenges, frustrations, and tears than I can ever count.”

Nancy insisted she was a Sandy survivor rather than a victim. Her fight for other survivors brought help to those who’d lost just about everything. She boldly interacted with state and federal legislators, who were taken in by her passion and emotional response.

Congressman Andy Kim (D-3rd ) was among those who attended Nancy’s memorial service after her death and spoke of her dedication. He said she was a person who always fought for something that was bigger than her, rather than from just a place of self-interest.

“Ironically, the mortgage forbearance extension would not have happened if it wasn’t

for Nancy Caira,” said Jody Stewart, who worked with Nancy as a member of the New Jersey Organizing Project. “Nancy gave Sandy families an extension of two years. She and I were running through the house halls trying to get legislators to vote yes on the bill up until the day before it expired.”

When Tony and Nancy bought their ranch style house, they picked something affordable that was exactly 125 steps from the edge of the Barnegat Bay. The couple certainly never dreamt that Sandy’s colossal force would give them a waterfront home – in the worst of ways.

“I was listening to the radio as the storm approached,” said Tony. “The commentators were making a joke and saying a ‘Frankenstorm’ was coming in.”

Tony said he was concerned that his wife’s condition would limit her mobility. He worried that he’d have issues helping her out if things got bad, especially because their pup, Gloria, would need assistance. He remembered how horrible it was when Katrina claimed the lives of people’s pets.

Friends who lived further inland agreed to take the family of three into their home. Little did anyone know that what was initially intended as a short stay, turned into months.

“It looked like a lake when I came back a couple of days later to check on everything,”

Tony shared. “I was in up to my waist in the water with nine feet surges from the bay.”

Other than the images caught in photographs, one grim reminder stands as a record of the water outside the Caira residence. Tony pointed to a green mark in the fence that divides his new house from the one next door.

“The water came up to here at about two and a half feet,” said Tony. “I marked it with green spray paint.”

Nancy, who loved concerts and great music, tried to downplay the devastation. She even joked about an odd discovery that washed upon the couple’s lawn.

“Craziest thing of all,” Nancy shared, “A lone copy of ‘Greetings From Asbury Park’ found sitting on a pile of lumber and pallets that had washed up on our yard. Just sitting there, right on top of all the debris.”

While Nancy downplayed the amount of material things lost in the storm, she went to work making a claim with her insurance company. She could not believe she and her husband would only have $30,000 to completely gut their home and clean it out. It turned into a bad nightmare with no hope of recovery. With little money, the next part made things even worse. The couple moved back into their damaged home and tried to make do. They then learned that their home address was now considered wetlands.

Not only did the Caira residence suffer significant structural damage, but its proximity to the water also required it to be raised on stilts. The biggest problem seemed insurmountable – where to come up with the funds.

In between advocating for other Sandy survivors, Nancy’s health continued to decline. She spent months in the hospital. The couple, who were just in their early 50s, were shocked when Tony suffered a heart attack. It was as if they just couldn’t win.

The string of bad news finally broke with a discovery by the New Jersey Organizing

Project.

“NJOP found out that there was funding leftover from the Sandy recovery,” explained Stewart. “We went to the governor’s office and asked about the extra Sandy money. The state created supplemental funding programs of $50 million to fill in the cracks.”

A lightbulb seemingly went off in Nancy’s head as she decided she and her husband might be eligible for the money to get them out of a bad spot. It turned out her intuition was right – all that time helping others came with an unexpected reward.

The new funding resulted in the husband and wife signing the contract for the home that Tony and Gloria will move into very soon. High up on stilts, a view of Old Barney can be seen from the porch, the house bears no resemblance to the one Sandy ripped apart.

An elevator from the storage beneath the house leads upstairs. It’s a grim reminder that Nancy’s condition meant she’d have a hard time getting up steps she’d never get to climb.

Tony’s had to chip in money of his own for different things he’s changed from the original floor plan, including a second bathroom and a granite countertop instead of a Formica one. All of his retirement benefits found their way into the project as material costs rose in the last two years.

As part of the agreement attached to supplemental funding, Tony must stay in the newly constructed house for five years before he sells it.

“Nancy was the numbers person,” Tony said as he nodded his head. “I still hear her voice.”

OPINIONS

COMMENTARY

Letters To The Editor

Superstorm Sandy Anniversary Brings

Back Painful Memories

I love autumn, especially the month of October as it brings out a lot of fun activities and the Halloween season is in full swing. After 2012 however, it was never quite the same. This year marks a decade since the devasting impact of Superstorm Sandy which was one of the worst times in my life and probably many others as well.

It was a time when I and all of Ocean County truly witnessed the wrath of Mother Nature. Before that we thought of hurricanes and the destruction as happening someplace else.

While I had heard stories of the great storm of the early 1960s that created a flood around areas of the northern barrier island, I wasn’t prepared for what we got. I was also in the midst of covering this devastation first hand while working for another Jersey Shore based publication.

I will never forget the conversation I had the day after the storm speaking to then-Seaside Heights Mayor Bill Ackers who said, “Bob, the rollercoaster is in the ocean.” He had stayed that evening and described to me what he was seeing and heard.

This was worse than any horror film I could ever watch during Halloween; this was real. I will also never forget the ride I took with then-Toms River Police Chief (and current Ocean County Sheriff) Michael Mastronardy and a CNN reporter a day or so after the storm as we toured the war zone that was the barrier island. We witnessed an SUV submerged in a sink hole in Lavallette and the smell of smoke from a fire still being put out in the Brick Township section of the barrier island. The chief was kind enough to stop by my home in Or-

tley Beach and allow to check its status. While I was relieved to see it was still standing, I had no idea what I would later find inside my small bungalow home. The damage and mold that would develop would eventually lead to its being demolished entirely.

A week later I was back in the same police vehicle with the chief as we inspected 3rd Avenue in Ortley Beach. Saint Elisabeth’s Chapel, where I was married, was wiped away as if it were never there. The same went for the house across the street from it where my wife to be and her bridal group briefly parked as they finished singing “Going to the Chapel” which popped up on the radio moments before they were to enter the church.

The family who occupied that home had asked the chief to check for a hidden safe that might be found in the rubble. With the snow that was covering the debris, it was hard to find but the chief found a silver Menorah. The chief lost his footing and fell and as a fellow reporter and I went to exit the car to assist him, the chief yelled out ‘no, stay there, you’ll just fall too.’ He returned to the car and called the family. The woman on the phone was crying and while I could be wrong, I think I spotted a tear from the chief as well and I know I was probably joining him.

I tossed a lot of personal belongings that had been ruined from the wave of water that entered my house. I needed an ax to break into a bureau that had warped and held photo albums including a wedding album. Other prized items were also discarded.

Singleton Lied About Senior Residency Bill

Senator Singleton’s Bill, Senate Bill S2537, will invalidate the decades old governing documents of many age-restricted communities which require owners to be fifty-five years of age or older. It provides that, regardless of age, anyone can be “the owner of a dwelling unit in an age-restricted community.”

If passed this bill will convert, over a very short period of time, owner-occupied, age-restricted communities presently governed by owners who want to enjoy a senior lifestyle, into low-income rental communities, governed by absentee landlords, focused upon maximizing profits and minimizing, if not eliminating, any accommodations for a senior lifestyle.

In defending his bill against concerns over non-senior and/or absentee owners governing senior communities, Senator Singleton misrepresented the truth and stated that: “Under existing laws, a [community association], can regulate who may serve on their Board. Nothing in S-2537 would change that.”

He obviously knows that, in fact, his statement is false since the current law, N.J.S.A. 45:22A-45.2 c. (4), expressly prohibits community associations from excluding any owner in good standing from serving on

their Board and expressly provides that: “An association . . . shall not prohibit an association member in good standing from nominating himself or herself . . . as a candidate for any membership position on the executive board.”

S-2537 is a Trojan Horse about to be foisted upon New Jersey age-restricted communities who are being lied to about its effects. Shame on Senator Singleton!

Judith Noonan Manchester

GOP Majority Will Increase Age For Medicare, Social Security

Interviews with Republican policy leaders should have all seniors, and people close to being seniors (like me) worried.

The Republican Study Committee released a budget plan over the summer that called on lawmakers to gradually raise the Medicare age of eligibility to 67 and the Social Security eligibility to start at 70 before indexing both to life expectancy. It backed withholding payments to those who retired early and had earnings over a certain limit.

So, in other words, we’ll have to work longer into our late 60s before we enjoy the funds that we paid into all

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The Jackson Times welcomes all points of view for publication and provides this page as an open forum for residents to express themselves regarding politics, government, current events and local concerns.

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edit or reject letters. The weekly deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday. Mail typed letters to: PO Box 521, Lakehurst, NJ 08733, fax 732-657-7388 or e-mail news@jerseyshoreonline.com. Letters may be limited to one per month per writer at the editor’s discretion.

The opinions expressed in the Letters To The Editor section do not necessarily re�lect those of the staff, management or sponsors of Micromedia Publications/ Jersey Shore Online. Letters to the Editor are the OPINION of the writer and the content is not checked for accuracy.

our working lives.

Also, the plan will allow businesses to pay less into Social Security with the assumption that people will pay into their own private retirement accounts. Good in theory, but when have people ever made the best decisions about their retirement? Besides isn’t this just trickle-down retirement?

House Republicans’ Commitment to America midterm policy and messaging plan, spearheaded by their leader, Kevin McCarthy, includes a single line saying that Republicans would “save and strengthen Social Security and Medicare.”

It’s clear that they want to strengthen it by letting fewer people get it.

The only way to stop this is to prevent the GOP from getting a majority on the House. Do not vote for Chris Smith or Jeff Van Drew – they will vote to take away the money that we’ve worked so hard to accumulate.

Don’t let them take away our retirement!

Joshua Kettlesmith Jackson

Barnegat’s Freedom Of Speech Is Under Attack

Barnegat Residents - After a long absence, I once again find myself putting “pen to paper.”

I just received my Barnegat Vote by Mail ballot and I’m seething with rage. Once again, the Barnegat Township Committee is continuing with their shenanigans by trying to limit our First Amendment Rights – our right to “FREEDOM OF SPEECH.” It’s time for change! We need Charlie Cunliffe on the Barnegat Township Committee.

At the urging of Al Bille, the ONE PARTY Township Committee has seen fit to pass a resolution to put a question on the ballot to eliminate ALL signs on public property, including the

public right-of-way in front of your house. To make it worse, they have used biased and inflammatory language in their Interpretive Statement on the ballot to sway voters to vote yes on this ballot question. This isn’t their first attempt at keeping us “in line and muted.” Several years ago, Al Bille’s ONE-PARTY Township Committee prohibited signs not larger than 2 feet by 4 feet, not only on public property, but on private property as well.

We all think that Barnegat’s decades-old ONE-PARTY governing body’s target is to eliminate political signs and Al Bille is the culprit behind this effort. What is he afraid of? Of course, you must realize that this ballot question means that ALL signs will be prohibited – signs for our kids’ athletic team registrations, notices of Open Houses by realtors, yard sale signs, signs for various events, such as the Firehouse Station 11 Fish Fry and the Santa Toy run.

We can’t sit by and watch our RIGHTS erode. Besides this infringement to our freedom of speech…we are slowly losing our voting rights, our children’s right to a clean planet, our right to affordable health care, and our right to have control and choice over our own bodies. We all know that politics is local and these rights start eroding in our towns’ governments and school boards and they go all the way up to the State and Federal government

WE THE PEOPLE demand that our rights be protected and preserved. These rights are core to SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY.

So…what does all this mean? We desperately need a change here in Barnegat – we desperately need to govern under a TWO-PARTY system. For all of these reasons, you need to VOTE FOR Charlie Cunliffe for Barnegat Township Committee and...VOTE NO on this ballot question.

Marianne P. Clemente President, Barnegat Democratic Club

$1.8M To Support Mental Health Services Across State

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) announced $1,835,885 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support mental health services provided by the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

Finance Committee that sets national health policy. “Whether it is a rise in anxiety disorders, depression, or in the worst and most tragic cases - the loss of young people from suicide - we know that this growing crisis started long before the pandemic. This funding will help residents across the state receive the help and treatment they need.”

Comments

“The mental health challenges facing our country, especially our young people, must be addressed,” said Sen. Menendez, a senior member of the Senate

“The pandemic has spotlighted the importance of accessible and affordable mental health services,” said Sen. Booker. “This federal funding will help New Jerseyans access the care they need.”

In recent months, the Senate Finance Committee has held hearings on youth mental health and is developing a package of policies to address mental health in America.

During a recent hearing, Sen. Menendez noted the mental health disparity that exists in communities of color and sought answers on how the government can better target resources for minority youth and ensure health care and child care providers are equipped to handle these unique challenges. At another hearing, Sen. Menendez highlighted his bill, The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, which would address growing issues of suicide and mental health facing young people, particularly in socially and economically disadvantaged communities that have disproportionately faced disparities in access to mental health treatment and outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continued From Page 6

I know I wasn’t alone in that situation. Ortley Beach and Mantoloking were considered to be “Ground Zero” for Superstorm Sandy in all of New Jersey.

The place I had considered as my safe place, my sanctuary since I summered there as a child and that became my permanent place of residence in 1986 was now unlivable and would soon be gone.

Others on my block put their ruined items out to the curb. The Ocean County Utilities Authority land across the street became a tower of debris. The A&P store became a command post for emergency workers and police who maintained security for months as the barrier island was closed off to the general public.

It was truly a nightmare. My elderly mother, who was ill at the time and who, with my equally ill father (who was in the hospital after the storm) lived in a senior community in Berkeley Township. My mother couldn’t grasp the kind of devastation that had occurred to our beloved Ortley Beach.

Months and years went by and gradually, homes were demolished, replaced or put on poles to meet new FEMA elevation standards. I was fortunate to receive grants to assist me in building a new home on my plot of land. I was covering the nightmare of Superstorm Sandy for about a year. Each assignment, each article, each video, each photograph was a reminder of what had happened and it was surreal.

A decade has passed and the memories

Impeach Biden who helped us over the span of our long involvement, along with our aircraft, military equipment and supplies.

President Joe Biden should be impeached! A newly elected President takes an oath of office to protect and serve our country and to keep us safe. By deliberately avoiding border security, he has attracted migrants from over 150 countries to enter the USA without criminal background checks, proof of vaccination, passports, etc., while at the same time providing them with free food, money and cell phones, which the rest of us have to pay for.

They come here with the apparent blessing of our country (thank you Joe Biden) and the enriched cartels thank you as well!

Our President is proving himself to be weal on foreign policy, and he underscored his lack of judgment by the sloppy way we pulled out of Afghanistan, leaving behind many Americans and thousands of locals

I am a proud pro-life and conservative Roman Catholic. I am pro law & order, and I support legal immigration. I do not want any critical race, transgender, and other “woke” matters taught in our public schools. I want our children to love our country and to stick to learning the basic subjects of a sound education, including social studies, English, math, history, and world geography.

God and religious matters should be taught in the home, and subjects related to sex and reproduction should be clearly limited to older students, with full disclosure of course content to the parents.

Ruth M. Lynch Ocean Gate

linger. My wife and my neighbor Joe and many others will never forget what we all thought and hoped would be just a really bad wind storm.

For me that meant some damage to a worn canvas canopy and an outside metal overhang that was cut in half after the blizzard of 2003. Ironically, it wasn’t the wind, it was the water. That canopy and metal overhang were still there when my house was demolished in the late winter of 2014. It’s funny the things you remember.

I don’t like remembering the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy but like many others, I survived it and I will remember the kindness of a church group that came from out of state to clear out material under the house before it could be demolished. I’ll also remember the local volunteers that helped gut the place after

that and the Red Cross workers who froze along with us and handed out hot coffee and hot chocolate on the vacant streets of Ortley Beach.

There were also the people who provided free clean up buckets and various materials and those who opened a store for us to pick up free items. I did a story on that and one of the volunteers told me to pick up some things too, pointing out I was also a victim in need and not just an observer.

It was called the storm of the century that hopefully won’t be back for another 50 to 70 years. I won’t be around to confi rm that prediction, but I hope that the storm we experienced will never come back.

Bob Vosseller Assistant Editor

Senator Robert Menendez

Senator Cory Booker

Holiday Boat Tours

TUCKERTON – Come get in the Holiday spirit! Enjoy this special, winder holiday themed, narrated tour down the Tuckerton Creek. Listen to guides talk about holiday traditions from both the past and present and maybe even see some Christmas lights out on the bay. Bring your hot cocoa and blankets since it

might get chilly out on the water! Price: $15; $10 for Seaport Members. Note: The price of this boat tour also includes lighthouse admission!

For tickets and to view schedule, visit: fareharbor.com/embeds/book/tuckertonseaport/ items/410971/calendar/2022/11. For more information, visit tuckertonseaport.org.

Barnegat Light Camp re

BARNEGAT LIGHT – Barnegat Light Campfire, featuring Storyteller Robin Moore, will be on October 29 at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, Barnegat Light, from 7 to 9 p.m.

alcohol allowed. Bring a beach blanket and/or a beach chair. Remember to bring marshmallows and a stick so you can roast

them over the fi re!

In cooperation with Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, the Friends of Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, and the Borough of Barnegat Light.

For more information call 1-877-OCPARKS or 732-281-2750 or visit oceancountyparks. org.

Pre-K Gym

TUCKERTON – Time to get outside and get a little exercise. Play a variety of fun games that will help improve your child’s coordination and physical development while interacting with other children.

They will fi nish the class with a giant parachute which is always a fan favorite. Children will also practice sportsman-

ship, sharing, and taking turns. Please wear sneakers and bring a drink.

Long Beach Township’s 6th Haret Hayride And More

LONG BEACH ISLAND – Long Beach Township’s 6th Haret Hayride and more will be on October 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bayview Park.

Enjoy pumpkin picking hayride, baby

St. Francis

LONG BEACH – St.

Class will be held on November 29 at Play Field, Stanley “Tip” Seaman County Park, Tuckerton, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cost is $5 per child. Open to ages 3 to 5. Registration information: oceancouty parks.org. pumpkin picking patch, pumpkin painting, fall crafting with Just Bead It, KyKy’s face painting and sand art, magic with Ken the Magician, snacks and refreshments, music by WBNJ, police displays and more!

Center

a.m. to 2 p.m.

Central And Southern Regional Athletes Honored

–

Congratulations to Central Regional’s Deven Sisler and Southern Regional’s Mike Zecena on being named the 2022 Emmert Boyd Classic Football Game MVP’s.

Both schools have been longtime Ocean County Rivals and play this game in honor of their school’s legendary Coaches Ron Emmert (Southern) and Joseph J. Boyd (Central).

Larry Dunfee was a Southern Regional Football Alum and a Stafford Police Officer killed in the line of duty.

To honor his memory, Stafford PBA and the Dunfee family present this award annually to a player at the Homecoming Game. Thank you to both to the Stafford PBA and Dunfee family on presenting the award

–Photo courtesy Southern Regional Central Regional Athletic Director, John Scran, Mike Zecena, Deven Sisler, and Southern Athletic Director, Chuck Donohue Jr.

and keeping this tradition for Southern Football.

Best of luck to both teams the remainder of the season.

Fall Break Tennis

STAFFORD – After school fall tennis has been so popular, they are excited to announce they will be offering fall break tennis for children the week of November 7 to 10, when schools are closed, at the Mill Creek Park tennis courts!

Tennis sessions led by Sharon Kavanaugh, PTR Certified, Eyes on the Ball Tennis. Kidsized racquets provided, age/skill-appropriate red, orange, green balls will be used.

Learn and practice tennis strokes, movement and ball judgment in activities and games. Ages 5 to 13. They will use age/skill appropriate slower, lower bouncing balls and smaller court which help achieve good contact points, longer rallies and improved court coverage.

Visit staffordnj.gov/660/Fall-Break-Tennis for more information and how to register today, spots will fill up quickly!

Vendors Wanted For Holiday Festival

LACEY – Lacey Recreation Department is looking for vendors for their new Holiday Festival taking place on December 3.

They would like to welcome local shop owners, craft makers, food vendors, etc., to sell their products at the Holiday

Festival. The fee to have a booth is $50. They provide to you a 10’ by 10’ space but it is up to the business to provide the table, chairs and/or tent if desired.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, contact the Lacey Recreation Department at mjones@laceytownship.org.

Holiday Wonderland And Christmas Market

STAFFORD – The Stafford Township Recreation Department presents the inaugural Holiday Wonderland and Christmas Market on December 10 from 12 to 6 p.m., when farmers, makers and food vendors

will fi ll Heritage Park. Dress warmly and bring the whole family “downtown” for a full day of shopping, food trucks, fi re pits, Santa and Mrs. Claus, live entertainment and more!

Food Trucks & Fire Pits

FORKED RIVER – The Forked River Fire Department is hosting Food Trucks & Fire Pits on October 29, 6 to 10 p.m. with Harry’s

BBQ. Cost is $25 per ticket and includes beer and wine (must be 21 years old to consume)

Admission free for those under 21 years old.

N

Albert Hall Upcoming Shows

WARETOWN – Albert Music Hall, located at 131 Wells Mill Road (Rt. 532) in Waretown, has announced the following upcoming shows:

Legend of the Jersey Devil ShowNovember 5: Come and hear the famous legend of New Jersey’s “Jersey Devil” & be entertained Pineland style. Doors open 5:30 p.m., show 6:30 p.m. During the 6:30 p.m. musical set, the Jersey Devil will make a live visit to our Hall. (Cameras are welcome.) The program features a live stage concert of country, bluegrass, old timey and traditional music by bands from the tri-state area.

Veterans Day Show - November 12: Albert Hall will pay tribute to all our veterans with a special ceremony and award presentation. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., Color Guard, National Anthem Jersey Sound

Chorus, award presentation, taps, music at 6:30 p.m.

The program features a live stage concert of country, bluegrass, old timey and traditional music by bands from the tri-state area.

PCS Day - November 19: Help us celebrate Pinelands Cultural Society Day. Doors open 5:30 p.m. The program features a live stage concert of country, bluegrass, old timey and traditional music by bands from the tri-state area.

Holiday Show - December 17: Come celebrate the holiday season Pineland style. Our famous singin’ Santa will lead a Christmas sing along with all the children invited on stage to be part of the band during the 6:30 p.m. set. Children 11 and under are free and Santa will have a small gift for them. Doors open 5:30 p.m.

The program features a live stage concert of country, bluegrass, old timey and traditional music by bands from the tri-state area.

For all shows admission: adults $5; children $1. The snack booth will be open with hot dogs, cake, pies, assorted goodies, coffee tea, soda, and water available for purchase. The gift booth will be open for all your souvenir needs. Cameras are welcome. No smoking or alcohol allowed. No outside food or drinks.

Jack O’Lantern Jubilee

STAFFORD – October is here and so is the Jack O’Lantern Jubilee! They are back for a third year of carving craziness, painted pumpkin parties and gourd-tastic good times brought to you by the Recreation Department and Home Alliance Realty, LLC.

This contest is open to all Stafford Township residents and businesses. To be eligible for judging and prizes all entries must be received by 12 p.m. on November 1 by emailing your photo to: recreation@ staffordnj.gov.

Be sure to tell a story about your pumpkin carving or painting fun and include which category your gruesome gourd falls under. This year they added painted pumpkins to the party! For more information, visit staffordnj.gov/629/Jack-OLantern-Jubilee.

Harvest Fest

LACEY – Harvest Fest hosted by the Lacey United Methodist Church (LUMC) will be on November 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Harvest Fest features crafts, vendors, baked goods, homemade soups and chili and more. Bring your own camera for pictures with Santa!

Indoor vendor tables are $35 each. Please visit laceyumc.org for a vendor application.

Not only does the JBJ Soul Foundation provide warm nutritious meals at its Toms River location, but it’s also involved in setting up affordable housing. The local restaurant accepts donations for its healthy meals and provides in-need customers a reprieve from food insecurity.

Bon Jovi showed up at the outdoor chili event and savored samples as he spoke to each of the competitors. The teams who competed and the names of their entries included: Toms River Fire Co. #1: Smolder on the Hill

Lanoka Harbor EMS: Blaze of Glory Ocean County Sheriff ’s PBA Local 379: Macho Five Start Chili

Six Flags EMS: Nitro Chili Sayreville Police Department: Slippery When Wet

NJ State Police-Holmdel: Joey Keys Smoked Chili

Melrose Hose Company/Sayreville Fire Department: Melrose Chili Union Beach Police Department: Momma’s Blue Line Chili

President Park Fire Co/Sayreville Fire Dept: House 5 Chili

Sayreville Engine Co #1/Sayreville Fire Department: Last Minute Experiment Toms River Police Department: Battle River Stout

“Aww, the hometown’s here,” said Bon Jovi, as he stopped by the first of four Sayreville competitors.

After the famous rocker spoke with each of the fi rst responders about their recipes, he took photographs and autographed everything from shirts to programs. He also changed his hat a few times to don the logos

of competitor’s departments.

A man on a mission of caring for others, Bon Jovi then headed to his waiting fans who came to support his efforts. He took phones from the hands of those who couldn’t get the angle right and posed for selfies. Gates opened and people turned over donations to do their part to help the less fortunate.

The Chili Cook-Off was more than a test of who made the best of the heartwarming meal. Applaud Our Kids Foundation provided great entertainment from some talented young people. Children’s activities were also offered by Home Run Entertainment.

The community event featured a food drive, which brought in over 500 pounds of food for JBJ’s partners at People’s Pantry.

Donations raised from the cook-off go towards making life better for the needy –the fi rst set of winners in the end. And – as far as the chili champions?

“Union Beach Police Department’s ‘Momma Blue Line Chili’ took fi rst place in the contest,” said Casey Pioli of JBJ Soul Foundation. “Six Flags EMS took second place, and NJ State Police-Holmdel took home third. We granted the rest of our participants with Honorable Mention certificates.”

JBJ Soul Kitchen Toms River, employs four full-time paid employees: Executive Chef, Head Chef, Community Coordinator and Steward. The rest of the team are volunteers.

“We could not do what we do without our volunteers,” Pioli stressed. “As our website states, ‘Volunteers are essential to the JBJ Soul Kitchen mission and are the life blood of what we do.’”

Those interested in volunteering should visit jbjsoulkitchen.org/volunteer. There is a mandatory orientation process. All volunteers must be 15 years or older, and live within a 15-mile radius of a JBJ Soul Kitchen location.

LACEY – Lacey Township High School Theater Company presents: “A Christmas Carol.” Performances will be on November 17, 18 & 19 at 7 p.m.; November 20 at 2 p.m.

tickets

at lthsdrama.booktix.com.

Lacey:

Continued From Page 4

guiderail of society. Without it, we have anarchy and plummeting home values. I know this to be true and that is why I support our police and fi rst responders without reservation.”

He urged residents to “support businesses. Streamline the application process. Help an applicant through the process rather than push an application under two-inch thick glass and say, ‘here, fi ll this out.’ We steward our business through the process and that is how we will continue and grow.”

“Negotiate well. Lacey Township deserves a long-term tax benefit from entities doing business within our boarders. I have every confidence in my ability to continue to build inroads that are fair with both businesses and taxpayers,” he added. Curatolo said he has experience in making and implementing policy. “I take a paternal approach to management. Instead of simply regulating businesses in oversight capacities that I have held in the past, I worked on educating them, outreaching them and helping them improve.”

“If a person is tasked with an enforcement action on a licensee, then there should be equal time given to partnership and education. In addition, I’ve built considerable inroads with our school system and Board of Education. I’ve spoken at our high school about the dangers of underage drinking and driving and I look at our schools as real partners in our community,” he added.

Regarding development in Lacey Curatolo said, “the town should move forward and create new business ratables and opportunities for employment. As to residential development, I am very cognizant of our quality of life. We do have a large portion of land that is protected Pinelands and that has kept sprawl and traffic in check compared to other municipalities all around New Jersey.”

“I don’t see anyone wanting to change that. People move here for our quality of life, our parks and our recreational opportunities. As long as I am on Committee, I will not vote to pave over all of it.”

Concerning the subject of updating the Township’s Master Plan, Curatolo said, “every Master Plan should be completed with our residents in mind and must include smart growth, traffic safety and open space.”

“When you look at our Route 9 corridor and see how it has developed over the past several years, there is a lot to be proud of and it is the envy of surrounding communities. Compared to other municipalities, our corridor is functional, aesthetically pleasing and inclusive of convenient access to stores that we all use every day. That will continue to be the case as we grow and I will ask for our resident’s input as well because I work for them.”

Regarding traffic congestion in the township and methods to address it the candidate responded, “the State Department of Transportation must eventually widen Route 9 as Ocean County continues to grow. With people comes congestion

and that is why I am continuing to support open spaces in our town. Our Board of Commissioners continues to support this as well and our governing body has a great relationship with our commissioners.”

Bendar has lived in Lacey Township for 34 years and works as a database administrator.

“I feel that the voice of all the people of Lacey Township need to be heard. I don’t feel that is happening now, and I plan on being the voice for all the people, not just the “connected,” the candidate said.

As to what he feels the township’s most pressing issue is he said, “overdevelopment, and the traffic congestion that comes with it. Also, looking out for the residents who live near Barnegat Bay and the issues they have with the rising tides.

“Having lived in Lacey Township for 34 years and seen the changes that have taken place, I believe that the town is headed in the wrong direction, and there needs to be someone on the Committee who doesn’t just go along with the crowd.

Also, I’ve been attending every Township Committee meeting possible for me since 2001, and have a good understanding of the history of how we’ve gotten to where we are.

“The political party that has been in power here since I initially moved in has had one thing on their mind the entire time. Development. Living on two lane Route 9, which will never be expanded, I believe we’ve reached a point where the infrastructure cannot handle any more

development,” Bendar said.

“Updating the Master Plan is fi ne, but I believe the horse is already out of the barn. Uncontrolled and unplanned development via previous Master Plans and Zoning action has put us in the situation we are in today. Too many businesses, too many developments, and too many cars clogging Route 9,” the candidate said. Bendar added, “the brakes must be put on before we have gridlock. The search for taxes and rateables has created this situation, and has done little to nothing in controlling property taxes. I am hoping that there is something that can be done in the Master Plan to salvage the own from overdevelopment.”

Regarding traffic concerns, the candidate said, “We do not have big highways like Route 37 in Toms River and Route 72 in Stafford. We do not have the infrastructure those two towns have, so to try to compete with them in drawing in retail businesses is patently crazy.”

“One of my opponents commented that we want to bring people from other towns to shop here. I don’t know why Lacey Township needs to be a shopping destination for other towns, when our roads won’t handle it,” he added.

As of press time for this article and following numerous e-mails and other efforts to reach them, the Democratic candidates for Lacey Committee have not responded to the candidate profi le surveys that were sent multiple times by The Southern Ocean Times.

H

S T O Y OUR H EALTH

Dr. Izzy’s

Sound News

What Are Over- e-Counter Hearing Aids?

Also called “OTCs” or “OTC hearing aids,” these devices are a new class of hearing instruments that are specific to the U.S., regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and approved only for those 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

How Do OTCs Differ from Traditional Hearing Technology?

Unlike today’s prescriptive and customizable hearing aids fit by a licensed hearing care professional, OTCs are designed only for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. They might not align with one’s actual hearing loss, which could be greater than perceived.

What Will These Over-the-Counter Devices Cost?

Prices may range from the hundreds to the low thousands. As with many products, the price will likely vary across manufacturers and other sellers.

What’s the Best Way to Know Whether OTCs Are Right for Me?

Self-diagnosis can lead to under- or overtreatment of hearing loss, both of which can affect your health and quality of life. The best way to learn what’s happening with your hearing and which solution most effectively addresses your needs is to connect with a licensed hearing care provider.

Will I Get Help Choosing an OTC?

It may depend on where you buy it. With the product expected to be available for self-selection at local drugstores, big-box retailers such as Best Buy, online, and elsewhere, a sales clerk will likely not have expertise in hearing health to guide you in your purchase.

What If I Go Forward with OTC Hearing Aids?

It’s possible the OTCs you select may suffice in the present. Future needs, however, may require other solutions. Regular professional checkups can help you keep an eye on your hearing wellness plan and make any needed updates. Before purchasing an OTC, carefully read the reviews and know exactly what their return policy is.

Hearing problems can stem from excess noise, genetic history, earwax buildup, infection, or some other source that self-treating with OTCs may cause you to miss. A hearing care professional can help you determine whether the OTC hearing aid is actually meeting your better-hearing goals.

Dr. Izzy & his Staff are always available to answer most of your hearing health care questions. We can be reached at 732-818-3610 (Toms River/Whiting) or 609-978-8946 (Manahawkin) or visit us at www.gardenstatehearing.com.

His offices are in Toms River, Whiting, and Manahawkin. He can be reached at 732-276-1011 or via Web site at gardenstatehearing.com. Dr. Izzy & Staff gives Retirement Community Talks!

Dr. Isidore Kirsh Ph.D., F.A.A.A.

Presented By: Isidore Kirsh, Ph.D., F.A.A.A. (N.J. Lic. #678)

Catalase Protects DNA And Mitochondrial Function

By Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

Catalase is an enzyme that was first noticed in 1818, and almost a century later in 1900, a scientist named Oscar Loew gave us its name. He found catalase in both animal tissue and plant matter.

This enzyme is equally important to human beings as its sister called “glutathione.” You probably heard of that because it’s promoted in many natural health circles as our master antioxidant. But catalase is equally important and today’s information is devoted to the benefits of catalase.

You secrete catalase from the liver. Hydrogen peroxide is produced by every single cell in your body as part of natural metabolism, but like other cytokines, it can become excessive. If you don’t neutralize it and break it down right away, the free radical tilts your body in the direction of pain and rusting (more grey hair, gloomy feelings and other signs of aging and disease).

Most research on catalase is centered around cancer. That’s because levels of H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and free radicals are very high in patients with cancer. It may be one of the contributing factors of how DNA strands get damaged. There isn’t a ton of research on catalase, like there is on glutathione, but what is out there is quite compelling.

We know that antibodies can be formed against the CAT gene and therefore, in certain autoimmune conditions (possibly Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), catalase secretion is low. If that’s low, peroxide is high, and remember, peroxide = pain.

There are catalase supplements, I even make one! But that’s not what I am referring to here. When I say “catalase,” I don’t mean a pill, I mean the enzyme you produce in your body… the enzyme that is secreted naturally from your own liver.

I am NOT saying that taking a supplement helps any disease because 1) we simply don’t know that and 2) we can’t say it if we know it.

Catalase supplements which are sold nationwide, have the following impact:

1. Catalase helps reduce oxidation processes in the body*

2. Catalase turns hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen*

3. Catalase protects DNA and mitochondrial function*

Before I end this, this whole business of looking more attractive. We as a population will spend a lot of money on cosmetics, fillers, facials and other beauty treatments deemed special. It’s just so we can look in the mirror, and like what we see. We forget that the fastest way to look old and crinkly is to go out into the sun without sunscreen or a hat.

Catalase works from within to prevent rusting. It does so by breaking down H2O2. Catalase will not act as a “filler” so don’t expect that, but it could perhaps ease the signs of aging if your skin cells have been damaged from prior treatments or radiation. Time may steal our youth, but it does it faster in people who are short on catalase. For a more detailed version of my article visit suzycohen.com.”

OUTPATIENT REHAB:

ability to live at

live in a sober

with the ability to

INPATIENT REHAB:

full access to doctors, nurses, and medical staff

•

the

need without

sacrifice your career,

out of school, or miss out

a

full-time inside the facility, with medication

& monitoring

Have a more structured daily life, with the entire day planned out for you

R. Ph.

Inside The Law

Enjoy The Holidays But Be Mindful Of Scams!

By: Michael J, Deem, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates

Have you thought about giving a fancy new gadget as a holiday gift? Or maybe there’s something on your wish list that Santa forgot to bring? If so, you might be tempted by an Ad to purchase high-tech gadgets for a low price. But if a merchant, other than Amazon.com, asks you to pay using an Amazon gift card then it’s probably a scam. In fact, Amazon’s gift card terms don’t allow you to use Amazon gift cards to make payments anywhere besides amazon.com and a few specific sites.

Here’s how the scam happens: You discover a website that sells new HDTVs, GPS devices, and other tech-gadgets for deeply discounted prices. You haven’t heard of the site, but you’re diligent and you do some research. You fi nd a few reviews from satisfied customers, you think the site is legitimate, and you go for it.

During checkout, you’re instructed to purchase an Amazon gift card and then hand over the gift card information as payment. Unfortunately, if you do, you’ll be out the money, and you won’t get anything in return. These scammers know that bad reviews scare people away, so they may post a few positive reviews about the site. They shut down the

site before people post complaints — usually in less than a month — and open under a new name somewhere else.

Buying an Amazon gift card to make a payment is NOT the same as using Amazon Payments, which provides some protections for buyers. Amazon Payments is a feature that allows Amazon members to pay for merchandise on other websites by logging in and using a payment method they’ve stored on their Amazon account. For example, if you use a credit card stored in your Amazon Payments account, you’re still using your credit card to make the purchase, and you get certain protections when you use a credit card. You don’t have the same protections when you pay with a gift card — virtually or physically. It could be tough to trace the money or get it back if something goes wrong. Of course, that’s not a problem if you’re sending the gift card to a friend or family member as a gift.

When shopping online, consider using a payment method that offers protections if you don’t get what you paid for.

From everyone here at R.C. Shea & Associates, have a safe, happy and healthy Holiday season.

Real Estate

Jackson - House For Sale By Own er. Private Road Sits On 1.5 Acres. 2 Bedroom, 1.5 Baths, unfinished full basement, 1 car attached ga rage, baseboard heat. For sale as is $489,000. 732-691-9845.

Moving Sale

Moving Everything Must Go - Din ing room, end, coffee, sofa, tables, yarn, etc. 42 Keene St., Whiting, Vil lage 7. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat/Sun. (46)

Estate Sale - Bedrooms, dining room, kitchen, office corner, com puter desk & cabinets, assorted hanging pictures, plants and trees, large buffet and mirror-marble top, garage refrigerator and wine cooler. Sale days Nov, 5th & 6th. Preview Nov 4th - By appointment only. 732-995-0509, Dom Fusco. (46)

Personals

Senior Single Males 70+

friendship,

Misc.

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732-678-

Gift Auction and Pancake Break

Items For Sale

ATTN Hunter's - Carry your deer easy on this carry on hitch. Packer steel grate. New. Used only once. Asking $55. 732-276-8389.

Items Wanted

RY Looking to buy costume/estate jewelry, old rosaries and religious medals, all watches and any type of sterling silver, bowls, flatware candlesticks or jewelry. Same day house calls and cash on the spot. 5 percent more with this AD. Call Peggy at 732-581-5225. (t/n)

Used Guns Wanted - All types: collectibles, military, etc. Call 917-681-6809. (t/n)

Cash

Entire Estates Bought - Bedroom/ dining sets, dressers, cedar chests, ward robes, secretaries, pre-1950 wooden furniture, older glassware, oriental rugs, paintings, bronzes, silver, bric-a-brac. Call Jason at 609-970-4806. (t/n)

Buying Selmer Saxophones

War II

CLASSIFIEDS

Services

Services Services Services

Jewelry and watches, costume jewelry, sterling silver, silverplate, medals, military items, antiques, musical instruments, pottery, fine art, photographs, paintings, statues, old coins, vintage toys and dolls, rugs, old pens and postcards, clocks, furniture, brica-brac, select china and crys tal patterns. Cash paid. Over 35 years experience. Call Gary Struncius. 732-364-7580. (t/n)

Vinyl Records Wanted - Paying cash for LP albums. Rock, Blues, Reggae, Soul. Very good condition only. Call Rick 908-616-7104. (48)

CASH PAID!! LP records - stereos, turntables, musical instru-ments, guitar, saxophone, CD’s, reel tapes, music related items. Come to you. 732-804-8115. (30)

CASH, CASH, CASH! - Instant cash paid for junk cars, trucks, vans. Free removal of any metal items. Discount towing. Call Dano 732-239-3949. (t/n)

Cash - Top dollar, paid for junk, cars running and nonrunning, late model salvage, cars and trucks, etc. 732-928-3713. (t/n)

Help Wanted

through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Carmenshairstyles.com (43)

HIRING NOW!! The Goddard School of Toms River Route 70 is urgently hiring Assistant Teachers and Teacher Aides to float

Experienced Home Health Aid(s) Available hourly or 24/7 and ready to assist you with personal care, medication monitoring, driving, grocery shopping, cooking, light housekeeping, companionship, etc. (including patients suffering from Dementia/Althheimer's or any other disabilities). References available. Call 732-910-8869. (42)

Absolute best home improvements!"Building the shore since 1984" Additions, carpentry, windows & doors, roofing & siding, painting & staining, flooring, kitchens & baths, finished basements, masonry, fencing, custom decks, fully insured, license #13VH11804800. $ave. Call Brien 732-850-5060. (28)

Certified Home Health AidesNeeded for Ocean County area. Hourly and live-in positions avail. P/T and F/T. Call CCC at 732-206-1047. (t/n )

MY HANDY CREW - Home re pairs, carpentry, painting roofing and siding, decks, powerwashing, yardwor,k all your home main tenance needs. $ave. Call Clark 732-850-5060. Insured and NJ License #13VH11804800. (46)

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Handyman Service - Carpentry, masonry, painting repairs large and small. 40 years experience. Call Jim 732-674-3346. (39)

Music Lessons In Your HomeBy state certified instrumen tal music teacher. Please call 732-350-4427 for more informa tion. All are welcome. (3)

Cleaning Home or Office -Week ly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly. Available Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach. Decades of Experience, Free Esti mate, Call Nancy 732-674-6640 (43)

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Laundromat Attendant - For FT/ PT Good communication skills, math and min computer knowledge. Trans portation needed. Long term com mitment only. 732-286-1863. (t/n)

CHEAP PAINTING Done RITEFree est. Senior discounts interi or exterior. Call 732-506-7787, cell 646-643-7678. (28)

Computer Tutoring for Seniors –Retired, “Microsoft Certified” in structor. Very Reasonable rates. Very patient with slow learners. I’ll teach you in the comfort of your home on your computer. I can trouble shoot your slow computer! I also teach iPhone and iPad. I set up new com puters at less than half the price the retailers charge. Windows 10 special ist. I can also build a beautiful small business website at a fraction of the going rates. Special Projects always welcome! Tony 732-997-8192. (t/n)

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mulch, stone. Spring/Fall cleanups. pruning, concrete repairs. Call Ken 732-814-7743. (42)

Car Service - 24/7. Doctors, shop ping, airports, hospitals, cruise, shops, Atlantic City, family func tions, NYC accomodations for large groups. Call for reasonable rates. Kerry 732-606-2725. (42)

Santucci Painting LLC - We paint it all, interior and exterior, drywall re pair, pressure washing, decks, stained. Email santwag@aol.com. 908-3275471. 13VH05784200. (41)

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Garden State Medical Centercurrently looking for qualified candi dates to fill their medical assistant, re ceptionist, and surgical technician posi tions. If you would like to apply or have any questions, call 732-202-3000. (45)

Services

Roofing Repairs Etc. - Roofing, sid ing, windows. Repairs on small jobs. Utility shed roofs replaced. Prompt service. Insured. Gutters cleaned. Call Joe Wingate 551-804-7391. (19)

Prepare for power outages today - with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-833-901-0309. (t/n)

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Carmen's Hair Styles- Help wanted hair stylist with experience. 1900 Rt. 70, Ste 210, Lakewood NJ. 732597-3447. Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Driver Hits Police Car, Flees From Scene

By Alyssa Riccardi

BERKELEY – A Lacey Township man has been arrested and charged after hitting a police car and fleeing the scene Sunday afternoon, police said.

Around noon, police received a call from a concerned citizen regarding a man possibly under the influence at the QuickChek gas pumps located on Atlantic City Boulevard (Route 9). The caller described the man to police as

“nodding off” in his car.

When authorities arrived, the driver, identified as 21-year-old Kyle Comerford of Lacey, refused to speak to police.

According to the police report, Officer Hester witnessed Comerford conceal an unknown object into the area between the front seat and center console. Comerford was then ordered out of the car, to which he refused. Instead, he put his truck in reverse and drove into an

unoccupied patrol car, causing damage.

According to police, Comerford then drove off over the curb and grass and made his way onto Route 9 and headed south. Lacey Township Police located Comerford shortly after on Renee Court.

Comerford then fled on foot, however he was quickly located and placed under arrest. Officers found a bookbag in Comerford’s possession with various

Popcorn Park Zoo Closes Due To Bird Flu

By Alyssa Riccardi

LACEY – The Popcorn Park Animal Refuge in Lacey is temporarily closed for this week after a duck and goose were found dead from bird flu, park officials said.

On October 24, the Animal Refuge made an announcement on the Facebook page that

Popcorn Park was closed and will remain closed until Friday. The zoo said the closure will allow them to “fully sanitize and manage the situation for future exposure.”

After the two animals were sent for testing, they came back positive for Avian Flu. The Park is currently working closely with

the USDA and the NJ State Department of Agriculture to make sure it’s other 200 plus animals do not become sick.

On Saturday, the Department of Agriculture announced that a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was found in a backyard flock in Ocean County. Their

amounts of narcotics inside, police said.

He was charged with Eluding, Obstructing the administration of law, possession of CDS, Possession of CDS with the intent to distribute. This included seven separate charges for possession of scheduled prescription drugs and possession of Cocaine. Comerford is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

Ch arges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.

press release did not provide details as to the exact location these birds were found.

Although bird flu viruses usually do not sicken people, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control states that humans can be infected by the virus through direct contact with infected birds for an extended period of time.

“The Heat”

to use,

as a

to Fernando

a room!” evoker,

who lost to

a

SHORE

Brick Township ProviderRecognized For Quality Care And Services

Willow Springs

Center in Brick Township has been named one of the nation’s top skilled nursing facilities in Newsweek’s “America’s Best Nursing Homes 2023.”

The 163-bed center, located at 1049 Burnt Tavern Road, provides post-hospital care, short-term rehab and long-term residential care.

“This honor reflects the efforts of the entire team at Willow Springs to provide the highest level of care and services,” said Pam Montemurno, regional director of market development at Marquis Health Consulting Services, which supports the facility. “We congratulate Willow Springs on this well-deserved recognition.”

Newsweek, in partnership with global data research firm Statista Inc., announced its America’s Best Nursing Homes 2023 in October, identifying the nation’s top 475 facilities across 25 states. This year’s criteria include a

performance data score, reputation score and a COVID-19 score, in relation to instate competition.

Willow Springs maintains a fivestar rating for quality measures from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In addition to its clinical programming, Willow Springs is committed to serving as a healthcare resource for the community. To that end, the facility has established a library of physician-curated content, addressing many topics of interest; it can be found at willowspringsrehab.com.

Brick, NJ-based Marquis Health Consulting Services provides administrative and consulting services to skilled nursing facilities and senior housing communities along the Eastern Seaboard. The organization’s operational guidance enables its client facilities to overachieve their quality and customer service goals by embracing a progressive, multi-specialty approach to healthcare.

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Greenbriar Woodlands

Omarr’s

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The early bird has the best shot at getting the worm. Get important jobs taken care of as soon as possible as free time may become scarce as the week wears on. Gather proof that a source is reliable before you act on their info.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): There’s no time like the present. Get a head start on the work week by laying the groundwork for upcoming projects early in the day. Schedules may be thrown off in the week ahead and disturb important plans.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Full speed ahead. Push the pedal to the metal so you can clear off your to-do list while the sun shines today. Plans may change unexpectedly in the upcoming week so remain flexible and prepared.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Remember to respect boundaries and observe social cues. Unintentionally crowding a recent acquaintance may create an unnecessary issue. Avoid starting important tasks without discussing things through with others.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Cross that bridge when you come to it. Concentrate on making adequate preparations for an upcoming task. Taking definitive action too soon could create problems. Decline volunteering for extra responsibilities.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) : Take your time. Work at your own pace because giving in to peer pressure and rushing through a job may only lead to a disappointing result. Steer clear of confrontations with other people that could cause a rift.

By Jeraldine Saunders

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22.): Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. If someone is cranky with you this week, it may simply be because they are under pressure, don’t take it personally. Reserve judgment until you know the facts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t get too grandiose. Avoid letting recent successes cause you to take on a big project that could turn out to be too much. Stay in your personal comfort zone this week and stick to doing what you do best.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep it discreet if your opinions differ from the consensus of those around you. Avoid tensions by steering clear of volatile issues in the upcoming week. Remember that positive ends can never justify negative means.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) : An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Try to anticipate problems before they arise and work around them to ensure that they don’t become a larger issue. Trust your gut feelings in the week ahead.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) : You can’t please all the people all the time. Don’t let it upset you if you find yourself at odds with someone. Remember you are entitled to your opinion just as they are. Use tact in the week ahead.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) : Stick with what you know. Avoid discussing topics you are unfamiliar with as it may be difficult to separate fact from fiction. Take care not to let popular sentiment influence your judgments this week.

By America’s Test Kitchen

BEAN CHILI

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