2022-12-10 - The Southern Ocean Times

SOUTHERN OCEAN

Barnegat JROTC Students Earn Top Recognition

By Stephanie Faughnan

BARNEGAT Six years into the Barnegat JROTC program and its leader continues to bring his troops to special honors – with national recognition.

“I really want to commend all the cadets and CWO (James) Mackey,” said Mary Cammarata, Barnegat Township School District Supervisor of English Language Arts/Social Studies/Visual & Performing Arts.

“The students have amazing opportunities that they didn’t have before CWO Mackey came in. I am really proud of the students and everything that you do for them.”

At Barnegat’s most recent Board of Education meeting, two sets of JROTC cadets received special acknowledgement. In the first group, three of the cadets earned scholarships that will help fund their continuing education.

(JROTC - See Page 4)

Author Pulls Back The Tapestry On

Living A Religious Life With Illness

By Chris Lundy MANCHESTER

– Chronic illness is something most people don’t want to talk about, so M. Rose Peluso wrote a book about it.

Her book, “Behind The Tapestry,” is subtitled “My Discovery Of God’s Grace Amidst Chronic Pain And Loss.” It’s available in most

online book markets. It chronicles a life dealing with serious issues while also working to become a nun. It’s a personal story but it appeals to a wider audience.

She suffers widespread, chronic pain from pudendal neuropathy, named after the nerve that runs through the pelvic floor. “If you’re

having a horrible day, sitting is almost unbearable,” she said.

A chronic condition will take up a huge amount of your life.

If you don’t have one, you just don’t understand how much it impacts everything. Lots of people don’t want to hear about illness, but Peluso won’t

(Author - See Page 5)

Shelters Caring For Animals Rescued From Brick Home

By Bob Vosseller

OCEAN COUNTY The 175 malnourished dogs and cats evacuated from a home at 111 Arrowhead Park Drive in Brick Township are receiving care from the Ocean County Health Department.

Ocean County Health Coordinator Dan Regenye said the department was taking care of 175 of the 180 animals brought in by multiple agencies when the Brick Township Police uncovered the illegal operation and made two arrests.

Early in the process, 30 dogs and 17 cats were brought to the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility in Jackson while 17 dogs and eight cats were taken to the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter in Manahawkin, while 81 dogs and 12 cats were transported to the county’s Barnegat facility (formerly Barnegat Kennels) which is generally used to shelter animals in emergency situations, he said.

The animals were fi rst found in a ranch style residence in Brick Township being kept in stacked crates. Regenye told Jersey Shore Online.com that he witnessed improvement in the animals who are being well taken care of at county facilities.

Regenye said that law enforcement agencies wanted to keep the animals as centralized as possible due to the continuing criminal investigation. The breed and size of the dogs range from chihuahuas to German shepherds, all of whom are now in need of adoption.

Brick Police, in their initial release, referred to the situation as a puppy mill. Later media reports referred to it as an animal rescue operation that went wrong.

Aimee J. Lonczak, 49, the owner of Crazy Rescue Ladies Inc. and Michele Nycz, 58, lived at the Arrowhead Park Drive residence with a 16-year-old child. The two women were arrested by Brick Patrolman Scott Smith who serves as the department’s humane law enforcement officer on animal cruelty charges and endangerment of a child.

Regenye wanted to dispel some commentary he read on social media about the OCHD not

(Animals - See Page 14)

Cadets Sophia Nieto, Devon Fauds and Joseph Krenkel stand with Board of Education President Sean O’Brien, CWO James Mackey and Superintendent Dr. Brian Latwis.

–Photos by Stephanie Faughnan Cadet Sara Riccardelli places the black and silver cord on Cadet Ryan Dugan’s shoulder.

–Photo by Chris Lundy M. Rose Peluso hopes her book will help others.

JROTC:

Continued From Page 1

Approximately a year and a half ago, a family member of one of the cadets shared information about a scholarship program dear to his heart. However, it was by pure happenstance that Barnegat Schools had the opportunity to compete for the Wounded Warriors Family Support Group’s scholarship initiative offered in conjunction with Microsoft team employees.

“The cadet’s family member knew their daughter was involved in our program,” Mackey shared. “However, we were only able to participate in the Wounded Warriors contest because another school never responded to them.”

Mackey personally thanked the Riccardelli family and relatives for referring the Barnegat JROTC program to the Wounded Warriors project.

Only nine schools of the thousands that offer JROTC programs nationally have the distinction of being part of the program offered by the Wounded Warriors and Microsoft. Branches of service represented include the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

“Three of our cadets were awarded $4,000 a piece in scholarship money,” said Mackey.

“We were one of nine schools from California to New Jersey – and the only Navy school.”

The competition required the cadets to send in a video of an autobiographical nature, essentially detailing the story of their lives.

Mackey said that Sophia Nieto, Devon Fauds and Joseph Krenkel certainly earned their

scholarship awards.

“Perseverance is the word of the evening for all three of them,” Mackey said.

As far as their future aspirations, Sophia plans to go to nursing school and then enlist in the military. Joseph hasn’t decided what career he will ultimately pursue but is headed to college when he graduates from Barnegat High School.

According to Mackey, Devon will be taking steps to become a master electrician. And, while all three of the cadets possessed special skills, Mackey said Devon’s other involvement made him extra impressive.

“He’s really amazing,” Mackey shared. “Devon was a sea cadet, boy scout, and participated in Civil Air Patrol as ROTC. I don’t know where he finds all the time to do everything.”

After presenting each of the scholarship winners with a plaque, the cadets stood with Mackey, Board of Education President Sean O’Brien, and Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Brian Latwis. Mackey then singled out additional JROTC cadets for their leadership skills.

Approximately 70 schools normally participate in a leadership academy at the Naval Station in Newport, Rhode Island. Last year, the program was cancelled because of COVID and went virtual.

The success of the virtual training warranted its continuation with regular leadership training also put back in place this year.

“The mission of the leadership school is to basically provide topics specific to the developing leadership and management skills to operate a cadet led company or battalion,”

said Mackey.

Cadets Ryan Dugan and Sara Riccardelli participated in the program this year which included training in organizational leadership, communications, and the eleven principles of leadership.

During the weeklong program, the cadets also received information on the culture of fitness and sexual harassment, especially in the classroom among the cadets. They learned about hazing, bullying, as well as the thorns and roses of social media.

“They had great speakers, including the

Medal of Honor recipient, the former Master Chief of the Coast Guard Vince Patton, who served in the 1980s and 90s,” Mackay shared.

Cadet Selena May also participated in the leadership training but was unable to attend the Board of Education meeting.

“Friday, Selena received an $80,000 scholarship from Seton Hall,” said Mackey. “She had to work at band camp this year.”

Barnegat’s JROTC program comes with numerous success stories. Cadets have moved on to become members of all five services, including the New Jersey National Guard.

–Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Recognized for going through the Senior Leadership School, Cadets Ryan Dugan and Sara Riccardelli stand with Board of Education President Sean O’Brien, CWO James Mackey and Superintendent Dr. Brian Latwis.

Continued From Page 1

suffer in silence any longer.

She left her great job as a graphic designer and entered the convent in 1999. It’s a long process to become a nun, as you move up through the stations. She became a sister in 2002. The disease struck in 2001, and she recalled that it was soon after the attacks on September 11. She was praying for the victims when the burning sensation began.

“I remember being in the chapel and seeing the Lord and the Blessed Sacrament and said ‘OK, Lord, what changed?’”

That question would take a long time to answer.

“It’s typical for people to go years without a diagnosis,” she explained. It’s often a process of elimination. One test after another would rule something out as the months drag on. “You look very healthy but you feel pain.”

She changed names and some details in the book to protect the sisters. That might be for the best. Some of them weren’t very supportive. She was told “You’re not praying enough.” They didn’t think she deserved special considerations, such as a menthol seat to ease the pain.

Some, of course, were very supportive – but those weren’t the ones in roles of authority. The message was something that people with chronic conditions often face: “We don’t want to hear about it anymore.” She was encouraged to smile through it, even though her body made her want to cry.

“I had to suffer silently with my pain. It was more important to me to become a sister,” she said.

Peluso was born and raised Catholic, but

religion wasn’t a huge part of her upbringing. “You went to church and you prayed when you wanted something like God was Santa Claus.”

It wasn’t until a prayer meeting in the early 90s that unlocked the mission in her.

“I never felt like I fit in until I was called to religious life,” she said. Healing, in this sense, was spiritual as well as medical.

There was also a concept that you can offer up your suffering to God – you make that sacrifice to share the burden of someone else who is suffering. In this case, pain doesn’t have to be a stop sign on the road of life. It’s a redemptive power. You are easing the pain of someone else in the world.

There were a number of treatments over the years, including diet, prescriptions, injections, and back surgery. “It was a constant roller coaster of getting my expectations up,” she said. These plans didn’t even cure her; they just eased the pain for a bit.

Eventually, it was time to leave the convent. “It was almost audible, like I could feel a hand on my shoulder, saying ‘You don’t need to stay here to love me.’ All of a sudden, I felt that heaviness go away.” However, she was in a difficult position. She gave up her belongings when she joined the sisterhood. The only clothing she had was her habit. She had no car and no money. She was 40 years old, with no health insurance and a chronic illness.

The church sent her off with $1,000 and she went home to live with her parents. She earned her Master’s and has worked in parishes, running CCD classes.

Unfortunately, the neuropathy started getting worse around 2013. She couldn’t work full time any more. She could still work part time to

supplement Social Security (she didn’t pay into it when she was in the convent). She worked part time in a law office before getting laid off. She became a caregiver/companion for seniors. She moved to the area, first in Whiting in 2016, then to Holiday City at Berkeley.

“This baby came to be in late 2015,” she said of her book. The impetus came from telling her story to people and them saying “You should really write a book.”

The purpose is not for money, or to be famous, but to help other people understand what life is like with a chronic disease. And if the reader has a chronic disease, to let them see the light at the end of the tunnel.

When it took years trying to get a diagnosis, it is absolutely important for someone in the same situation to know that they are not alone.

Hopefully, this book will shine a light on pudendal neuropathy. People who have it – but don’t know it yet – might read this and have an “a-ha moment” when they recognize the symptoms.

People don’t like to talk about problems in the pelvic area so sufferers lack a support system. Sometimes, even doctors don’t listen. There is also less funding for research. The rate of suicide is far higher for those who have chronic pain.

“I’ll never say in a million years that it’s easy, but some of the best years in my life have been during the years where I’ve been suffering,” she said.

She wants to tell people “I’ve been there. I know that despair. They’re making breakthroughs. You have to hold on.”

For more information, visit authormrose peluso.com/

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OPINIONS & COMMENTARY

e DitoriAl

Time Is Never On Our Side

Big life moments always mark the passage of time. They make us stop us in the middle of our obligations and habits and say “oh, things are changing and they’re never gonna be the same.”

I had a few of them happen in quick succession recently. The fi rst was a good one. My daughter went to her friend’s quinceañera. There were a group of girls who had been friends since kindergarten through Girl Scouts and now they were all in high school.

Next was my uncle’s death. Richie was a tall, strong, vigorous man who was always active and never slowed down. We used to call him Richie the whale (not a size thing) because he would swim back and forth beyond the breakers at the beach for long periods of time. This year, he descended quickly into dementia before a stroke put him in the hospital. My theory is that in the beginning of the year, when his mind started to decline, he also had a stroke that no one noticed. It makes sense but there’s nothing to be done about it either way.

Two people my age died within weeks of each other. One was a former co-worker whose obituary asked for donations to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. The other was a high school friend who had a skinny build but didn’t eat right or exercise. Heart attack in his 40s.

Unfortunately, it’s the bad life moments that make us reflect more. Maybe I’m just past the age of going to weddings and baby showers, and

death is the only life moment left. Is retirement a life moment? For those lucky enough to do so, I guess it is.

Life moments are usually followed by motivation. I’m going to eat better. Exercise. Take up that hobby I’ve always meant to. No one comes home from a funeral and thinks “I’m going to spend more time on my phone.”

Obviously, we don’t know when our time is going to come. I don’t want to write this with the idea that you have to be maximally operational 110% of the time.

I struggle with anxiety so I always have to tamp down any motivation or else I’m going to be buzzing around like a fly stuck in a car for the rest of the day.

The problem with motivation is that it comes with guilt if you don’t accomplish your goals.

If you haven’t stuck to your New Year’s Resolution by the time February rolls around, you beat yourself up over it. After a few missed goals, you stop making any at all.

I have a friend who always tells me I need to waste more time. Play a video game for an hour. Watch a stupid movie. He’s right, of course.

Is it possible to push yourself to relax? It seems an impossible goal, but one to strive for. Those life moments are going to hit you, whether you want them to or not. Might as well enjoy the ride.

Time isn’t on our side and it’s never going to let us win. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t play.

Chris Lundy News Editor

Rebuttal To “It’s Time To Stop

Celebrating Columbus”

The following is a rebuttal to “It’s Time To Stop Celebrating Columbus” letter to the editor. The writer claimed Columbus doesn’t deserve a holiday or a parade, making a number of inaccurate statements to support his assertion. Like Columbus “didn’t ‘discover America.’ He was nowhere near America.” But that contradicts his acknowledgement of Columbus’ landing in Central AMERICA, South AMERICA and the Caribbean, which is part of America.

True: Columbus “never set foot on United States soil.” Neither did Amerigo Vespucci, whom America’s name is derived from. Perhaps America’s name should be changed since he never reached the USA that bears his name. Not to mention Vespucci reached the continent a year after Columbus discovered it. And Vespucci reached it using Columbus’ own map. However, North America was reached because of Columbus. The reason is that Columbus sent his brother Bartholomew to the King of England, while he lobbied for his discovery project in Spain, to see who would give him the “green light” first, since other countries had rejected his proposal. Once the news

Letters To The Editor

of Columbus’ discovery reached England, the King sent John Cabot to explore North America. Later on, Juan Ponce de Leon, who was one of Columbus’ sailors during his second voyage, discovered Florida, which is in the USA.

ALL the explorers and settlers that followed, were not independent from Columbus, but fully dependent on his initial discovery. That’s the reason why settlers came to what later became the United States. All thanks to Columbus’ 1492 enterprise!

Next, the writer claimed Columbus “enslaved natives, murdered and raped them. When they revolted, “he had them killed, dismembered and paraded their body parts through their villages.”

I think the writer is confusing Columbus with the Caribs. The Caribs were a tribe of cannibals who constantly raided the Taino tribes in the Caribbean. They raped the woman, castrated the young men, enslaved people, and sometimes cannibalized entire islands. Those were the ones Columbus sent to Spain as prisoners of war as he had made a treaty with a Taino chief to protect him from them and other enemies.

The writer added, “How can you say you care about history when you don’t even know the history?”

I agree!

If those are the reasons

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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.

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to not celebrate Columbus, then that’s more reason to celebrate him, since what was written originally to the editor against Columbus is false. The fact is, without 1492 there is no 1776. Happy Columbus Day forever!

Rafael Ortiz

Note: The writer is of indigenous heritage who has authored books advocating for Columbus, such as “Christopher Columbus

The Hero: Defending Columbus From Modern Day Revisionism” and three others.

Thank You For Your Support

Wow, thank you, thank you to the greatest town in the world and the people in it from giving me a downtown birthday party from all the merchants and the love and kisses blown to me at the Toms River Halloween Parade along with the doctors, council, lawyers etc. who came over to my parade car to lift me on top (my other parade car became disabled so we hurriedly had a change and decorate the other car completely causing me to be late. But i made the parade and enjoyed the blowing kisses in the cameras for TV 21, Youtube, etc.

Thank you for the great TV shots and photographer shots too! They enjoyed my “Wowie” signs. Thank you TV announcers, Matt Knight (my knight in shining armor) and Jimmy Steal (Super Steal Built) for your nice comments about me on the air. Thanks to the students and local designers, Linda and Karen, for decorating my gown with feathers, 24 carat crystals, fringes, garters etc. to help celebrate my little can-can dance for the traditional Toms River Halloween Parade which brings all of our wonderful community together.

Thank you TV 21 Phillys director for the great shots of me blowing kisses into

your cameras. Every year you do a great job, along with our great media (Micro Media Publications, Asbury Park Press and USA Today).

Thanks also to the police department (Cops Are Tops), firemen and more. Our local schools are great. I enjoy being a VIP guest at all the high school graduations with VIP parking and seating, etc. and being read about to the students by the New Jersey Book which is stored in all the New Jersey schools. I also enjoyed appearing at all the proms and being a mascot for sports like football, wrestling and basketball - both female and male teams.

I salute all of you wonderful people. You make our community the best in the world - not the second best, the very First best.

Happy holidays with love and respect.

Sondra Fortunato Miss Liberty USA, etc, etc. Toms River

Biden’s Border Policy Is Working

Some of my Republican friends were posting on Facebook about how Biden’s border patrol wasn’t working, and the numbers they posted actually proved the opposite.

They listed a bunch of numbers of people on the FBI terror watch list that were arrested by the Border Patrol each year. In 2017, it was just 2. In 2018, it was 6. In 2019, it was a whopping 0. And in 2020 it was 3. These were all Trump years. Then, in 2021, it was 15. This year, I’m proud to say, that 98 people so far have been caught by Biden’s border security policies – and that’s just those who are on watch lists; it doesn’t count the total number of people detained.

So tell me, who was really tougher on terrorists?

Beverly Smith Penn Toms River

S potlight o n g overnment

EPA Awards Nearly $169M For Water Infrastructure Projects

Capitol Comments

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for this critical work to New Jersey in the years ahead.”

Capitol Comments

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) announced that the U.S. Envi ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded nearly $169 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to New Jersey for water infrastructure improvements that will help communities access clean, safe and reliable drinking water, increase resilience, collect and treat wastewater to protect public health, clean up pollution, and safeguard vital waterways.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law pres ents a unique opportunity to provide his torical amounts of funding over five years for critical water infrastructure projects, especially in underserved communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This is just the beginning, and we look forward to providing additional

The Bipartisan Infrastruc ture Law 2022 funding allocation awards are dis tributed through the Clean Water and Drinking Wa ter State Revolving Funds (SRF) - over $73 million through the Clean Water SRF and over $95 million through the Drinking Water SRF for a total of $169 mil lion. The Clean Water SRF primarily funds wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. These funds supple ment nearly $48 million in regular funding to New Jersey’s Clean Water SRF program in fiscal year (FY) 2022.

The EPA has awarded New Jersey a total of over $95 million in FY 2022 grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the Drinking Water SRF, which includes $31 million for supplemental drinking water projects, $48 million to identify and replace lead service lines, and nearly $17 million to address emerging contaminants like PFAS. The funding supplements approximately $12 million in regular funding to New Jersey’s Drinking Water SRF program in FY 2022.

New Jersey has submitted and obtained EPA’s approval of its plans for the use of the FY 2022 funding. These grants will

continue to be awarded, on a rolling, state-by-state basis, as more states receive approval throughout FY 2023; states will also receive awards over the course of the next four years. Once grants are awarded, state programs will begin to deliver the funds as grants and loans to communities across their state.

“I was proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the bi partisan infrastructure bill last year. This additional funding will move our state closer to ensuring every New Jerseyan has safe and clean drinking water in their homes, schools, and businesses,” said Sen. Menendez. “Our state and municipalities need federal support to upgrade our water infrastructure and I’ll continue fighting for the resources we need to improve water quality and ensure the health and well-being of New Jersey’s families.”

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure, and it will do much more than just fix our crumbling roads and bridges,” said Sen. Booker. “Communities all across New Jersey need resources to replace their aging water infra structure, which is why I proudly worked to deliver these resources. We know that disadvantaged communities disproportion ately bear the impact of contaminants in water, from PFAS to lead exposure. Over the next five years, this historic infusion of federal funds will allow New Jersey to provide an unprecedented amount of

funding to projects that will replace lead pipes, improve drinking water, and update wastewater infrastructure across the state.”

“Bipartisan Infrastructure Law fund ing from EPA is helping to power New Jersey’s Water Infrastructure Investment Plan, enabling the Murphy Administration to reach even more communities with needed improvements to drinking water and wastewater systems,” said New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “Together, we can ensure that generations of New Jerseyans receive reliably clean drinking water and enjoy fishable and swimmable waterways free of pollution – creating thousands of good-paying, family-sustaining jobs in the process.”

U.S. Representative Andy Kim said: “When I voted for the bipartisan infra structure bill, I knew that projects like these would change people’s lives and give them faith that the water coming into their house to drink, shower, brush their teeth, and wash their dishes would be clean and safe. This also brings investments in good paying New Jersey jobs, pollution cleanup, more resources for desperately needed flood mitigation in both Burlington and Ocean counties, and ecosystem restoration to help create healthy animal and marine habitats from the Delaware River to the Jersey Shore. I’m glad to see this important work getting underway and look forward to more infrastructure projects coming to New Jersey soon.”

State Budget Dedicates $85M To New Jersey’s Six Largest Food Banks

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy joined members of his Administration, government officials, and advocates to highlight ongoing efforts to address food insecurity on behalf of families through out New Jersey as part of the Governor’s commitment to making life more affordable for residents. Efforts to strengthen food se curity include the enactment of legislation, inclusion of funding in the State budget, and the creation of a first-in-the-nation Office of the Food Security Advocate. From its outset, the Murphy Administration has se cured historic increases in funding for New Jersey food banks, including an additional $65 million in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023). A total of $85 million was dedicated in the FY2023 budget to support the critical work of New Jersey’s six largest food banks.

“The holiday season is a poignant reminder of the many New Jersey families struggling to put food on the table every day,” said Governor Murphy. “As my Administration continues to pursue ways in which we can make life more af fordable on behalf of New Jersey families, combating food insecurity will remain a critical part of those efforts. Alongside ded icated community and legislative partners, including food security champion Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, my Administration re mains committed to working to strengthen food security to ensure that no one in our state goes hungry.”

The New Jersey Department of Agricul ture oversees the distribution of funding and provides support to food banks, in addition to administering various food and nutrition programs on behalf of residents.

When COVID-19 exacerbated food in security throughout the state, additional assistance was provided to struggling fami lies and the organizations supporting them. Since the start of the pandemic, the New

Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued nearly $1.3 billion through the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program, which helps families purchase food for their children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals at school but missed meal(s) due to a COVID-19-related absence. These benefits are also available to families with children under the age of 6 who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Pro gram (SNAP) and attend child care but miss in-person care due to COVID-19. DHS has also distributed nearly $2 billion in additional monthly SNAP payments to help low-income families afford food and other essentials. New Jersey is the first state to set a SNAP minimum benefit of $50, which required an $18 million investment in State funds.

This year, DHS also forgave debt for certain families previously enrolled in public benefit programs, like SNAP, as consistent with federal rules. The intent of the initiative was to help ease the financial burden this debt posed for thousands of families and allow them to achieve greater economic stability.

Additional pandemic-related assistance includes the New Jersey Economic Devel opment Authority’s (NJEDA) Sustain and Serve NJ program – which gives non-profits funding to purchase meals from restaurants recovering from the impacts of the pan demic in order to distribute those meals to people in their communities for free –thereby supporting both local businesses and residents in need of food assistance. So far, over 3.7 million meals have been pur chased from over 440 different restaurants throughout the state.

The NJEDA has also created a Food Se curity Planning Grant Program to provide up to $125,000 to local governments to create plans to transform abandoned/vacant properties in one of New Jersey’s 50 food deserts into a way to improve food security, such as through a new grocery store, urban agriculture, or some other project. Applica tions for this program have been extended to December 20, 2022.

In partnership with the Legislature, the Governor has signed a number of bills to help combat food insecurity. Two bills signed in September 2022 will require

Senator Robert Menendez

Senator Cory Booker

Correspondence & Commentary From Your Local, County, State & Federal Officials

n eWS

Barnegat Schools, Community Partners Help Local Families

BARNEGAT – Members of the Barnegat Township School District community joined forces to help meet the growing need of local families. Thanks to the generosity of staff members, community partners, and students and their families, dozens of Thanksgiving meals have been provided –and even prepared – to help spread joy and kindness this week.

Every year, BTSD identifies families in need and rallies to help them during the holidays. Donations from families in the district, along with the Board of Education and staff members, complemented the contributions from community partners like The Friendly Sons of Shillelagh, Patriot Financial, and Bayside Chapel.

Bayside’s generous members raised funds to assemble 53 Thanksgiving baskets that were distributed to families in need who were identified by the district. The district’s Transportation Department put together additional baskets with everything needed for a traditional turkey dinner and delivered them to nine families who needed a little extra help this year. They also provided enough food to cover breakfast, lunch and dinner for the extended holiday weekend.

Full thanksgiving meals were also provided to two families by Starve Poverty International, a nonprofit that opened a food pantry in the township earlier this year, and Mirage Men’s Club, a charitable group out of the Four Seasons at Mirage, a 55+ community. Three families from Barnegat also contributed meals for families in need, along with multiple families donating turkeys and gift cards.

“Every year we work to identify families who need a little help around the holidays and this year we are seeing a greater need,” said Michele Cucinotta, District DFC Coordinator, who organizes many of the donations. “But as we see the need rise, we also see the outreach and support rise to meet it. The Barnegat community is so supportive of one another and it’s really so heartwarming to see.”

“When I say ‘Barnegat Inspires,’ this is exactly what I mean,” said Superintendent Dr. Brian Latwis. “We try to lead by example, and to see our students and their families rally around those who need a little extra support is truly inspiring. I’m so thankful for them and our community partners who are always willing to lend a helping hand.”

But not all of the outreach came in the form of a basket. Members of the Barnegat High School NJROTC program were able to resume their tradition of “Thanksgiving with Barnegat Cadets Thanking Vets” by cooking and serving the members of VFW Post 232. Cadets and their instructor, Chief Warrant Officer James Mackey, prepared a pot luck consisting of five 25-pound turkeys, mashed potatoes, candied yams, homemade stuffing, mac and cheese, along with other yummy dishes and hosted the veterans at the high school.

“Servant leadership was defi nitely on display,” said Mackey. “It’s so important for our cadets to understand what it means to truly serve and sometimes that means preparing a meal and sharing it with those who walked the path before them. It’s a tradition we are so excited to continue after having to pause during the pandemic.”

Holiday Gift Fair

WARETOWN – The Waretown Volunteer Fire Company is hosting a Holiday Gift Fair on December 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Enjoy homemade chocolate, candles, jewelry, and home décor. Something for everyone. Find the perfect gift!

Retirement Community in Florida

Sumter

–Photo courtesy Barnegat Schools

SRMS English Classes Creative Fall Projects

MANAHAWKIN – Students in Alice Brown’s and Elizabeth Giovine’s English classes have been very busy! October started with an Edgar Allan Poe biography research project, reading “The Raven” and “The Cask of Amontillado,” creating epitaphs for Lenore, Montressor, or Fortunato, and then presenting all the projects to the classes.

November was spent designing and building Thanksgiving Day parade floats individually or in groups. Students had to create a theme and decide what float details would support that theme. Then, they had to publish and present the parade route map, float, and newspaper pages with three types of writing: persuasive, narrative, and informative. While presenting their floats to the classes, the students were recorded commentating as if really at the parade.

Future Educators Host Parents Day Out

MANAHAWKIN – The Southern Regional Future Educators will hold Parents Day Out on December 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the 11/12 Cafeteria. The cost is $15 per child/$30 per family and will include

games, crafts, cooking and much more! Parents, get your holiday shopping and wrapping done! Let us watch the children! For more information and to register visit srsd.net.

Photo courtesy Southern Regional

Southern Regional Baseball Players Announce Commitments

MANAHAWKIN – Congratulations Southern Regional Baseball players on their commitments to continue their education and baseball careers:

Mike Nasti pictured with his family and Head Coach Truitt will attend Hood College.

Photo courtesy Southern Regional

Steve Miller pictured with his family and Head Coach Truitt will attend Rutgers-Newark University.

Brandon Brown pictured with his family, Mr. Tom Bucci, Head Coach Ed Truitt and Ms. Barbara Martin.

Southern Regional Model Congress

MANAHAWKIN – Southern Regional Model Congress attended Princeton Model Congress in Washington D.C. from November 10 through November 12, finally getting back to extended in-person events for the first time since the spring of 2020. Princeton Model Congress this year was made up of twenty-nine different schools from across the nation with anywhere between five and fifty members of each school or delegation participating. Southern Regional Model Congress has been participating in the event run by Princeton University students and the American Whig-Cliosophic Society since the 1980’s when possible due to funding and scheduling. This year there were only six students who were able to participate since it occurred over the schools November break. This year’s participants were seniors Nicholas Mancini, Allison Go, Talia Yousufi, and John Rendzia. The underclassmen which were able to attend were sophomores Zoey Wong and Gabriel Chiarello.

The students prepare by writing bills that are appropriate to their assigned committees within either the House or Senate. They go through the same bureaucratic process as do actual representatives and senators to get their proposed legislation passed. It is a rigorous three-day event that runs into the evenings

at a steady pace with only breaks for meals. The obvious goal is to, through negotiation and compromise withing the committees, get one’s legislation passed. This year, being that this marked the first in-person Model Congress event that five out of the six members attended, the Southern Regional delegation was classified in the Novice Division of the conference. The bills presented by the students were diverse with titles such as “The Home and Abroad Defense Bill,” “Pharmaceutical Patent Reduction Act,” “Choice of Data Privacy Act,” “Mental Health in the Workplace,” “Support of Hurricane Relief,” and “An Act to Prevent Executive Order from Altering the U.S. Refugee Ceiling.”

The Southern Regional delegation had great success winning the Princeton Model Congress Best Rising Delegation in the Novice Division Award, four out of the six bills presented by the delegates passed, and Nicholas Mancini won Best Delegate Honorable Mention Award from the House Judiciary Committee (Advanced) and Gabriel Chiarello won the Best Delegate Award from the House Armed Services Committee (Novice). As always, the students upheld the standards of Southern Regional High School in a proud and exemplary fashion and should be congratulated for their accomplishment.

–Photo courtesy Southern Regional MANAHAWKIN – Congratulations to the Southern Regional Cheerleading Team on receiving their bid for the Nationals competition at the Northeast Regionals in Trenton, NJ on November 19. Congratulations cheerleaders and coaches.

Township Administrator Receives Award

STAFFORD – Mayor Myhre and Township Council would like to congratulate Stafford Township Administrator, Matthew von der Hayden on receiving the Outstanding Manager Award during this year’s New Jersey Municipal Management Association luncheon.

The New Jersey Municipal Management Association (NJMMA) is an organization of professional local government administrators and assistants whose goal is to improve the quality of local government in New Jersey through professional management.

Mr. von der Hayden received this award as a result of all of the hard work and countless hours he has dedicated to improving the Township and we would like to thank him for all he has accomplished and will continue to accomplish to better our community in the future.

Energy Assistance Programs And Supporting Those in Need

MAYS LANDING –This holiday season, Atlantic City Electric is encouraging customers to give back locally through its Good Neighbor Energy Fund and Gift of Energy programs. The winter season can be difficult for some as colder temperatures drive energy usage and bills higher, and at the same time we face the real negative impacts of inflation with increasing costs of goods and services. These Atlantic City Electric programs provide meaningful support for South Jersey families and individuals who need support paying their energy bill.

Good Neighbor Energy Fund

Through the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, Atlantic City Electric works with New Jersey SHARES to provide payment assistance to customers who may be facing hardships. Donated funds are then disbursed to qualified recipients. Atlantic City Electric matches customer donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000 annually. Since 2014, Atlantic City Electric customers have donated more than $230,000 through the fund to help those in need across southern New Jersey. Customers can contribute to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund directly through their Atlantic City Electric bill by paying exactly $1.00 over their bill amount. The amount a customer contributes must be exactly $1.00 over their billed amount; amounts over $1.00 will not be recognized as a contribution and will result in a credit to the customer’s account. Customers can make a $1.00 contribution each time they pay their Atlantic City Electric bill. For more information, or to make a contribution, visit atlanticcityelectric.com/GNEF Gift of Energy

Through the Gift of Energy program, anyone can make a payment toward an Atlantic City Electric customer’s energy bill. The Gift of Energy is an easy way to support someone you care for this year—all from the safety and comfort of your home. All that is needed to successfully make a payment on behalf of someone else is the customer’s name and address or phone number associated with the account. The gift will appear on the recipient’s future energy bill as a credit. Those interested in giving the Gift of Energy can do so online at atlanticcityelectric.com/Gift or by calling 800-642-3780.

Energy Efficient Products

Atlantic City Electric encourages its customers to explore energy efficient gift ideas through the company’s Marketplace. Here, customers can purchase devices that can help use less energy in the home or business as a gift that keeps on giving! Many energy efficient devices, including LED bulbs, programmable thermostats, power strips, even commercial lighting, are available at discounted prices.

Bill-payment assistance to help customers

As a reminder, customers who are past due on their Atlantic City Electric bill should contact the company as soon as possible.

Customers should never wait until they are in crisis to contact Atlantic City Electric—the time is now. Atlantic City Electric will work with every customer to help identify the support necessary to continue energy service. To learn more about assistance options customers can call 800-642-3780 or visit atlanticcityelectric.com/EnergyAssistance for additional information.

–Photo courtesy Stafford Twp.

Animals:

Continued From Page 1

having the ability and facilities to handle this number of animals coming in. “We instituted our emergency response plan for animals related to this so not only do we have our Northern and Southern facilities in Jackson and in Stafford but we have the Barnegat Kennels which we operate in an emergency functioning capacity.

“We housed about 225 animals there during Superstorm Sandy,” he said. Some staff were moved from other locations as they were needed. Some came in from vacation or days off to help care for the animals.

He said, “that is where the bulk of these animals are. We have 100 of the 180 at that one facility alone which is strictly the animals from this situation. The balance was split between the Northern and Southern facilities and there is no concern of our being full. That is one of the challenges with it but I can assure that the animals we had prior to this situation and those that were brought in on Saturday are all in an adequate facility and getting care and treatment.

“Some of the animals had matted fur. Two were found onsite deceased. There was a couple that had to be transported immediately for urgent vet care. The vast majority were stable enough to be transported to one of our three facilities,” Regenye said.

“We had one situation on Saturday when I was down there that one had to be sent over to an on-call veterinary service to get some treatment. There are different stages. There are animals that are ready to go tomorrow (for adoption) if we had the green light in terms of temperament. We were vaccinating. A lot of these animals were flea infested, worms in the stool so we are deworming. We’re not going to put these animals back out on the street. We are

going to fi nd them homes and rescues and we want to put them out in proper shape,” he said. The county facilities have volunteers walking the dogs at outdoor pens.

“I was down at each of the three sites on Saturday, Sunday and yesterday (December 5) and there is a difference between each of those three days. They are really coming around. They are getting their personality back. Obviously they are a little skittish and scared but I really think they are on a good path and track to make a full recovery. It is good news going forward,” Regenye added.

He added, that it was a good thing that the situation was identified at the time it was by the township and law enforcement.

“They did what they had to do and they are in good hands now and we are looking forward to getting these dogs and cats into homes and rescues.

“Most of these (animal) hording situations are well intentioned at the beginning but it quickly escalates. We promote responsible pet ownership with spaying and neutering. We recommend microchipping. The animals who come out of our shelters are spayed or neutered and microchipped and get vaccinations,” he added.

Regenye said the OCHD appreciates the great response of donations of towels, blankets and other items. “We had to put a trailer at each two of our facilities to handle the amount of items coming in. We are pulling what we need from each of those facilities and pulling the trailer over to Barnegat to meet the need of the animals there,” he said.

Regenye said that those wishing to make fi nancial donations toward the treatment of these animals, there is an animal health trust fund. Send a check payable to the Ocean County Health Department, 175 Sunset Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08755. In the subject line, write Animal Health Trust Fund or Brick hoarding situation.

Government:

Continued From Page 8

schools to provide free breakfasts and lunches to students from working-class, middle-income families and require school food authorities to help make parents aware of existing and expanded school meal programs through public education campaigns.

The Governor also signed a comprehensive legislative package into law in September 2021 to expand access to the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), raise awareness about SNAP benefits, bolster school meal programs, and establish the Office of the Food Insecurity Advocate. The ongoing mission of this office is to coordinate the administration

of New Jersey’s food insecurity programs, advocate for individuals facing food insecurity, and develop new policy initiatives to help the State combat hunger and facilitate greater access to food relief programs.

“New Jersey’s food banks are so essential in providing meals and critical support to food insecure residents in their time of need,” said New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher.

“This funding will play a significant role to ensure emergency feeding organizations have the resources they need. In addition, in the agreements signed with our food banks, they will be providing thousands of additional pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables secured from our local New Jersey farmers.”

Waretown First Aid Squad Seeking New Members

WARETOWN – Help keep free EMS in Waretown. The Waretown First Aid Squad (WFAS) is in need of new members. Ages 16 and up, no experience needed. Eligible for free training, college tuition credit.

Potential real estate tax credit, LOSAP funding and so much more.

For more information call, email or visit website: 609-693-3699, info@waretownfirstaid.com, waretownfirstaid.com.

AroUnD the JerSeY Shore

Dog Day Afternoon At Barktoberfest

A pet owner dressed as a lion tamer, left, joins her three dogs who are costumed as lions. It was part of the fun at this year’s

By Bob Vosseller

BERKELEY – It was a dog day afternoon in the park at this year’s Barktoberfest in Island Beach State Park which featured a variety of canines and hundreds of attendees. The event hosted by The Friends of Island Beach State Park took place at the IBSP Swimming Area 1.

Among the activities was a K-9 demonstration by the New Jersey Park Police. It also featured a pet expo with vendors and rescue groups, a food concession and more. The highlight was a pet costume parade with dogs costumed in all manner of attire ranging from superheroes, Disney characters, pirates, pumpkins, Oktoberfest performers, and more. One pooch dressed as Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street while his owner wore a Big Bird costume and wheeled him around. A trio of dogs got some special manes - their owner dressed as a lion tamer and they were the lions.

Attendee Annette Smith of Toms River

had a special campaign going on for her dog Audrey in the form of a hand-written flier she circulated noting that Audrey had been entered in America’s Favorite Pet contest.

The contest allowed for one free vote every 24 hours and her mom set up a Facebook page with a link that would bring voters of her Afghan dog directly to her picture.

Smith added, “the winner wins a two-page spread in “In Touch” magazine and some cash. The page is Jin Jin Jenny Smith.”

Her mom described Audrey as an “amazing dog. She is a certified therapy dog and a Canine Good Citizen rescue. Audrey ended up placing third place in the quarter fi nals. “She made it really far in this tough competition. She was in the 1% of all animals entered.”

Friends of Island Beach State Park member Stevie Thorsen told The Berkeley Times that “this is our second year running the festival and we had about 40 vendors.

“I organize Barktoberfest as well as the May Day Festival and the Beach Plum Festival. Aside from my position, the Friends of IBSP is volunteer run. The May Day Festival is also pet themed and we have been running that for a few years now,” Thorsen added.

Thorsen said, “all of our events are dog friendly, and it’s fun bringing pet lovers together to celebrate. I was really impressed with how well behaved all of the dogs were.”

–Photos by Bob Vosseller

Barktoberfest held in Island Beach State Park.

Big Bird and Oscar add some fun to the Halloween costume parade which was a highlight event at the recent Barktoberfest held in Island Beach State Park.

H ERE ’ S T O Y OUR H EALTH

• Dr. Izzy’s

Sound News

Hearing Loss Can Impact Cognition

Research shows that hearing loss may lead to the rapid progression of cognitive decline. The evidence in the literature suggests that:

• The slow onset of hearing loss can have a significant impact on several key brain functions, including the memory, hearing, speech and language portions of cognition.

• Hearing impairment is a greater risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia than other individual midlife risks.

• The proactive management of hearing loss can delay or slow the onset or progression of cognitive decline.

• Studies show the use of hearing aids can slow down the rapid progression of cognitive decline.

Garden State Hearing & Balance Center is on the front line of pro-

moting cognitive health. We now offer a computerized test of cognitive function called Cognivue Thrive. This screening tool objectively and reliably identifies changes in cognitive function that could be indicative of an impairment that requires physician referral.

In our opinion, driving brain health awareness and improving access to cognitive screenings are among the most important challenges of the 21st century. Although cognitive decline is a normal part of aging, early identification of underlying conditions such as untreated hearing loss will lead to appropriate management, thus improving cognitive health.

If you would like to schedule a Cognivue Thrive screening, please feel free to contact our Toms River office at 732-818-3610.

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)

S T O Y OUR H EALTH Dear Pharmacist

Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

5 Helpful Solutions For Seasonal Affective Disorder

By Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

In certain parts of the world, the cold winter season causes a mood disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD and it happens at the same time of year.

The winter blues impact over 10 million people just in the USA alone and 80 percent of those with SAD are women leading researchers to believe there is a hormonal component to the condition.

Symptoms include feeling depression in the wintertime along with low energy as compared to the summer.

Other signs and symptoms of SAD include:

• The uptick in headaches or other aches and pains

• Difficulty sleeping

• Feelings of anxiety or annoyance

• Sensations of feeling worthless or guilty

• Hopelessness

• Thoughts about self-harm or suicide

• Loss of interest in going places or meeting people

We know that certain risk factors increase the incidence of seasonal affective disorder. For example, there is a strong correlation between reduced sunlight hours and circadian rhythm alterations. There is also a change in levels of melatonin (it increases while cortisol decreases), and finally, where you live matters. People who live closer to the equator (for example Florida) seem to do better than those who live further away like in Alaska.

5 Helpful Solutions and Considerations for SAD

1. St. John’s wort has been tried for people with SAD, however, the results are inconsistent.

2. Vitamin B12, again it may help, but results are inconsistent.

3. Vitamin D appears to help some folks, but not all.

4. Prescribed antidepressants such as Bupropion.

5. Hormone replacement, specifically progesterone or cortisol.

Let me offer one quick comment about number 5 above (the progesterone and cortisol). Restoring those hormones must be done very carefully, by a hormone specialist. This may require you to have some baseline hormone testing, either blood, saliva, or urine. If your doctor recommends hormone testing, you can purchase a DUTCH test kit and do it at home. I have this available on my website as well because I am a Provider. But do not replenish hormones ‘in the dark’ get yourself tested first because you can’t self-treat yourself hormones.

There are light therapy devices sold online as well, however, I do not think they will have much impact. They’d be fun to try and can’t hurt anything.

Most of us do not have the means to travel to Hawaii or New Zealand just to get to a sunny warm part of the world when it’s cold here in America. So if you have SAD, please try some of the potential solutions I’ve listed above, and make sure you are being seen by a licensed, qualified professional, whether that is a physician or therapist or other. Don’t go it alone! Share your feelings with your family members or friends so they can support you. And keep in mind one very important thing. SAD goes away. It is a seasonal condition. No matter how you feel right now, it will lift.

If this topic interests you, please read the longer, more detailed version of my article. It is available at suzycohen.com ”

photo oF the WeeK

Commercial fishing boats in Point Pleasant. This pic was taken by Jim Fisher. Wanna see your snaps featured in this space? Email them to photos@jerseyshoreonline.com and you may win a prize!

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.

THE QUANTUM PROCESS

OUTPATIENT REHAB:

• Have the ability to live at home or live in a sober home with the ability to see your friends and family

• Get the help you need without having to sacrifice your career, drop out of school, or miss out on important obligations

• Have more affordable addiction treatment & care options

INPATIENT REHAB:

• Have full access to doctors, nurses, and medical staff 24 hours a day

• Live full-time inside the facility, with medication management & monitoring

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

AroUnD the JerSeY Shore

Should You Feed Wildlife?

If You Do, What You Should Know

A. Thomaier

Retired New Jersey Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator

Having access to wildlife can be very rewarding. We can watch them and learn from their behaviors and perhaps better understand them. So naturally, when hard times hit during the colder months our fi rst instinct is to help them along as many of their natural foods have become dormant, died off, or simply left the area as is possible for migrant species.

Before you get started, here are some potential consequences to feeding. Animals may start depending on you for their food sources and will likely return. You will notice more and more animals appearing in your yard. Too many animals at the feeding station may cause aggressive behaviors, and a lack of fear when being around humans. That can be a dangerous situation. Some neighbors may not welcome wildlife in the same way. Never ever feed foods consumed by humans, as their nutritional requirements are different from ours. Never be outdoors with the animals during feeding.

Feeding wildlife is only good if you do so properly. By that I mean you need to keep yourself and the animal(s) safe and healthy. Before you start feeding, make sure you

research the animal(s) you specifi cally want to feed and plan accordingly. Every town has ordinances addressing wildlife feeding – research that beforehand so you know what restrictions you have. Some general rules are placing the animal-specific centralized feeding station away from your house to avoid animals wandering through your yard. Feed once and vary your feeding times. This will help keep predatory animals away as the routine is changing. Where animals feed there will be predators on ground and in the air waiting to prey upon their next meal. Feed where there is overhead protection. Clean the area at the end of the day to avoid contamination. Only small amounts of appropriate food to fit the animal’s diet should be offered. If you notice the number of animals increasing or competition among them, you are overfeeding – cut back. The more animals feeding, the risk for transmitting disease to each other increases.

The information for this article from was gathered through multiple sources so statistics may vary slightly. To reach me please call 732-244-2768.

It is illegal to possess or relocate wildlife for any reason without the proper New Jersey State and/or Federal permits.

Moderate Training Noise At Joint Base For December

By Alyssa Riccardi

LAKEHURST – Expect to hear moderate noise from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) throughout the month of December.

Every month, JBMDL releases their “Noise Level Calendar” so residents know when to expect mild or severe noise. This is to deter calls to local 911 dispatchers. The calendar is labeled with three different levels of noise: slight

noise, moderate noise and abundant noise.

For almost the entire month of December, days are scheduled for “moderate noise.” Some key days to look out for are December 3 and 13, which are scheduled for “high noise.” Additionally, December 24 and 25 are scheduled for “low noise.” Noise levels are subject to change without notice due to training requirements and weather, JBMDL said.

Christmas Train Show At The Lakewood Museum

LAKEWOOD – The Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders, 500 Country Club Road, off County Line Road, Kuser Hall, Pine Park, Lakewood, is inviting the public to a Christmas Train Show at Sheldon Wolpin Historical Museum on December 10 and December 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy seeing both modern and traditional

trains, both passenger and freight, dual gauge, HO, S, O gauge trains. Thomas the Tank Engine will also be making an appearance. Admission is free but donations are always gladly accepted.

For more information, contact Ted Bertiger, president, at captnkraft@aol.com or visit ocsmr.com.

Beacon Of Life Toy/Food Drive

LAKEHURST – Beacon of Life will be holding a Toy/Food Drive to Benefit Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Drop off new toys or non-perishable food items to Beacon of Life, 800 Route 70 Lakehurst, by December 12.

Renee

CLASSIFIEDS

Real Estate

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. (1)

For Rent

Don't Miss The Opportunity Of Rent ing - A single-family home in Howell. For more details call Rut from Lifestyle International Realty (908)344-7230. (50)

Single Male Senior - To share apart ment with other senior male. Crest wood Village, Whiting. $600 p/m. Private bedroom with kitchen-B/R privileges. Tel: 845-391-6430. (1)

Items For Sale

CHRISTMAS PASTELES - Puerto Rican Tradition. Pork or Chicken $40/ dozen, $75/2 dozen, $110/3 dozen. Call/text Cary 908-770-8537. (2)

Three piece queen bedroom set like new, $394. was origionally $1,200. Cat carrier $18. Walker with wheels and seat $39. Beige carpet runner 25 ft. 732-503-3263. (51)

Pellet Stove - Englander Model 55-SHP10L. Heats 1,500 sq. ft. Very good condition. Used. $400, price negotiable. Call 732-350-1314 (3)

Dolls

Items Wanted

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. (52)

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 And Other Vintage Models - Also buying World War II Military items. Cash Paid! 609-581-8290. Email: mymilitarytoys@optonline.net. (31)

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)

Cash Paid LP Records - 33/45's, reel to reel's. Fast response, we answer the phone 732-829-5908, 24/7, Eddie. (41)

Items Wanted

COSTUME/ESTATE JEWEL

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)

Help Wanted

HIRING NOW!! The Goddard School of Toms River Route 70 is urgently hiring Assistant Teachers and Teacher Aides to float between the In fant through School Age classrooms. No teaching experience necessary. On-the-job training provided. Mul tiple PT and FT positions available. Call 732-363-5530 or email dtoms river2nj3@goddardschools.com to schedule an interview today! (t/n)

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)

Dental Assistant - We’re currently looking to hire a qualified DENTAL ASSISTANT. Will train the right per son. Call 732-938-2800 for details. (2)

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 Services

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

APlus Home Improvements - Over 30 years experience. Everything from small handyman tasks to large renovations, decks, finished basements and much more. Lic #13VH11453600. No job too small give us a call. 908-278-1322. (52)

Custom House Painter - Pays at tention to detail, interior, cracks, nail pops,wall repair. Benjamin Moore paints. Wayne 908-327-5471. (52)

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)

ALL American Home Health AidesExperienced experts in the field of trauma and recovery. Holistic approach to healing-nutrition, physical therapy, and quality of life improvements. Hourly or live in. Honest, hardwork ing, etc. Includes housekeeping, rides to doctors/pleasure. Skip the rest, come to the best. 732-664-3605 (t/n)

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)

House Cleaning, Painting, Shop ping, - Window cleaning, laundry, carpet cleaning, office cleaning. Very good prices. Call 732-7735078 or 848-287-3944. (43)

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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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Man Sentenced To State Prison In Toms River Hotel Stabbing Drug Dealer Sentenced To Prison For Drug Overdose Death

By Alyssa Riccardi

TOMS RIVER – A man has been sentenced to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison after stabbing a woman multiple times, police said.

Carles Bryant, 34, of Millville, previously pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder, in connection with an incident that occurred at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Toms River on March 3, 2021.

The attack took place took place around 10:30 p.m. in the hotel lobby. After the fight, the woman was left with multiple stab wounds and was subsequently brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment.

Bryant was on the run but was ultimately apprehended in Atlantic City on March 19 by the United States Marshals Service. Bryant will be required to serve at least 85

percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Veni who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Township Police Department, United States Marshals Service, New Jersey State Police, and Ocean County Sheriff ’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation, ultimately resulting in Bryant’s apprehension, guilty plea, and lengthy state prison sentence.

By Alyssa Riccardi

TOMS RIVER – A dealer has been sentenced to seven years in New Jersey State Prison after selling drugs to a man which resulted in his death, officials said.

Shemar Jackson, 22, of Galloway Township, previously pleaded guilty to Strict Liability Drug Induced Death in connection to a drug overdose that occurred on December 5, 2019, police said.

Jackson will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility.

The victim was a 24-year-old man who died in a home in Toms River. Police said that the heroin and fentanyl found in his system led officers to Jackson who supplied the drugs the day before. Jackson was arrested at his residence in Galloway Township on January 23, 2020, by officers of the Galloway Township

Police Department and Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Pressman and Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlyn Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Toms River Township Police Department, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, Galloway Township Police Department, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff ’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collective efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Jackson’s apprehension, guilty plea, and now his state prison sentence.

BUSINESS PROFILE

Give Care Temp Heating And Air Conditioning A Call Now And They’ll Get Back To You Before You Even

Finish Reading This Article

Care Temp (Mas ter HVACR Lic #: 19HC00852400

By Michael Vandenberg

It’s the middle of February and it’s 15 degrees outside. A blizzard is forecast for later in the week. You’re at home, watching TV on the couch late at night, thinking about heading to bed. All of a sudden, you hear a weird noise coming from the fur nace room. You get up and go investigate, but everything looks okay from the outside at least. Before you know it, you can see your breath and it’s starting to get chilly, even though your thermostat is set at a cozy room temperature. Your heat’s broken. But it’s 11:00 at night, what are you going to do? Easy! Call Care Temp: they’ll get back to you in seven minutes or less and try and do whatever it takes to keep you warm.

“They tell us that as soon as they turn around to walk into another room, the phone is already ringing,” Jennifer Paprocky, manager at Care Temp, LLC, told me. Indeed the HVAC contractor based in Toms River prides itself on being able to help with all of your home gas heating and central air conditioning repair quickly, generously, and ef fectively. It’s no wonder they maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

and NJ HIC #: 13VH02253000) has been based right here in Ocean County since its founding 28 years ago this winter. In 2006, Jen was hired for the summer to help transition the company to elec tronic record keep ing and establish their website. After a couple months, she was hired into her current managerial position. From the office, she has the tough job of coordi nating Care Temp’s 15 certified and technically crosstrained employees on service calls, installations, and routine maintenance ap pointments all over the county and beyond.

Even when you factor in Care Temp’s 24/7 emergen cy service, technicians are scheduled flawlessly fast. While waiting for your instal lation during the wintertime, Care Temp will install strip heaters to keep you warm in the meantime. Jen doesn’t want you, “sitting there in the cold, especially in the winter time when your pipes could freeze. And that way you don’t have to go to a hotel or

a neighbor’s house; you can still be in the comfort of your own home.”

Likewise, if your central air breaks down during a July heat wave, Care Temp will happily hook up a window unit to keep you cool. “That way at least the customer goes into their bedroom or living room and has temporary relief while we’re installing it.” Or, if need be, you can make it through the night to the next day. Treating people well like this results in customer loyalty. One person (whom we’ll call Sally) was originally referred

to Care Temp for an estimate on an air conditioning instal lation. One day, in the midst of the project, Jen needed to drop off a part. When she got to the house, Sally invited her inside for an iced tea. Jen remembers Sally telling her that, “we were the company she was looking for because we’re very personal and truly cared”. Sally went on to thank her that they were there right away and was very happy that she offered her a temporary window unit while the instal lation was going on.

Sally ended up getting a

maintenance contract with Care Temp that she renewed every year, even after she stopped living in the house fulltime. “Whenever she’d call she would tell stories, and she would tell her friends to call and ask for me. She was just a wonderful lady that constantly recommended us and trusted us.” Even further, Sally greatly appreciated that the technicians really took the time to explain everything to her and answer any questions with a smile.

For the people at Care Temp, being kind is just the right thing to do. “I can honestly say that I love what I do,” Jen said. “I like dealing with the customers, scheduling, and finances.” It’s a positive attitude that is shared by the whole team there.

It’s time to put your heating and air conditioning needs in the hands of the friendly pro fessionals at Care Temp, LLC. Feel free to call 732-349-1448 or their local Manchester number 732-657-1000 today. You can also visit them online at caretemp.com or in person at 891 Route 37 West in Toms River.

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Wavy patterns in some op art

Piece of rebar, essentially

Suppress, in a way

Part of NAACP: Abbr.

Jaguar, e.g.

Genetic molecule

Actor’s rep.

Data storage medium

Country club employee

Stretches on a couch?

Some can be used forever--but only once

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Overblown critique

Elaborate entryways

Physician wear-

a pink ribbon, perhaps

Like potato chips, often

Showed up

Farm measures

Curly slapper

Crime boss

“That’s well within my abilities”

How to receive a freebie, perhaps

Yo-Yo strings?

Official doc.

Belief system

In the previously mentioned work, briefly

Initialism for Tom Brady, according to most

Finger Lakes locale: Abbr.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

“Let’s Talk” With Dr. Jani

By Michael Vandenberg

“The era of paternalistic medicine where I’m the doctor, you’re the patient, and you’re going to do this because I say so is long gone,” Dr. Samir Jani said to me recently. “That’s just not the way I was trained.” When it comes to your health, shouldn’t you be in the driver’s seat? That’s certainly the guiding philosophy passed down by Garden State Medical Center’s founder, Dr. Dharam Mann, and it’s what makes Dr. Jani the perfect fit here. He wants to use his expertise and impart his knowledge to help you make an informed decision about your pain management.

And there’s no question that Dr. Jani has plenty of information to share because he checks all the boxes when it comes to education. At age 17 he was already accepted into a higher education program that included a guaranteed spot in medical school. He kept a high GPA while taking his courses at an accelerated rate that allowed him to finish a year early. Then he jumped right into residencies and a fellowship focusing on pain, anesthesiology, and internal medicine, culminating in his current specialty of Interventional Pain Management. He finished his fellowship and began practicing in 2016, making his way to GSMC the following year.

Dr. Jani pointed to a variety of reasons as to why he decided to make the switch to GSMC. For one thing, it fosters a seamless team environment. “The support and infrastructure of the practice is huge,” like the large network of staff on hand, to the electronic record keeping. With those tasks already being taken care of, Dr. Jani is able to put his entire focus on alleviating your pain.

After all, it’s crucial to maintain a sense of urgency when it comes to pain management because people are running out of options by the time they come to him.

Most of Dr. Jani’s patients are those who have seen countless doctors and had lots of tests but have never been able to find a diagnosis and fix the underlying cause. “My ankle hurts,” Dr. Jani said as a general example. “I’ve seen ten podiatrists, I’ve had six ankle surgeries, and no one’s fixed it.” But even though it may never be fixed, “there are things we can do to at least help you get rid of the pain”.

Thankfully, Dr. Jani is not the type of doctor who just throws pills at the problem; he has a very strict interpretation of the related safety regulations. Not that he doesn’t use medications at all, but it’s only a tiny part of what he can do. “We’re highly interventional,” said Dr. Jani. He can target the pain with various injections, or hide the pain using electricity to target different stimulators in the nervous system. By implanting pain pumps, the medication is delivered directly to your spine, creating a much stronger effect. It all depends on the severity and longevity of the pain.

These steps may seem elaborate, but rest assured Dr. Jani is conservative in his relief suggestions. “I always tell patients that if I don’t have to do something, I don’t want to do it. So if I can make it go away with a two minute injection, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said. If that doesn’t work, then Dr. Jani will happily go over additional minimally invasive options with you. He might even just recommend physical therapy if that’s what the patient prefers.

After all, he has the tools and knowledge, but you also

know your body and how you feel. When the two of you collaborate, you’ll see inspiring results. Dr. Jani had no problem giving me a cou-

ple examples of his “home runs”. For instance, one woman came in complaining of chronic pelvic pain. She’d had ten surgeries and was on a ton of medicine at this point, and yet her pain was making her life miserable. With just a few injections, her pain is effectively gone and she no longer has to take any pills. Now her kids see her and say, “You’re back to being yourself. You’re Mom again.”

As an interventional pain management doctor, “I don’t know what was causing her

pain, but I knew what she was feeling and that’s what I targeted,” said Dr. Jani.

Another patient came to him one time with fibromyalgia, with pain primarily in the back and neck. He first put her on non-opioid medication, which solved some of her problems but not all of them. Injections did the trick for her neck. For her lower back, he used a spinal cord stimulator, which is like a pacemaker for the spine. With that combination, she’s feeling fantastic and rarely even has to come in for a visit. “Previously she was going in to see another pain

management doctor, having to go in every month to get Percocet that she didn’t even want to take and wasn’t even that helpful.” With her newfound happiness and relief, she was able to go on her first vacation in years!

You deserve to be pain-free too. Give Garden State Medical Center a call today at 1-888-376-2661 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jani or any of their other superb pain management specialists. Feel free to visit gsmedicalcenter.org for a full listing of their convenient locations and to get more information on treatment.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Slow and steady might not win the race, but at least you won’t end up in an unwinnable argument. Losing your temper or rushing ahead after making hasty decisions can land you in trouble during the week ahead.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the upcoming week, you may go looking for love in all the wrong places. Perhaps it is a better idea to look closer to home, where you’re unlikely to be fooled by surface appearances. Extra bills could pile up.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Use your energy and enthusiasm wisely. Stifle any tendency to be overly competitive. You might find an illuminating insight and realize how your own actions may factor into tensions or disputes.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) : Your intuitions might not be reliable in the week ahead, especially if you are making a purchase or saddled with financial decisions. Thankfully, you can count on a partner or loved one to be more down to earth.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) : Your ambition may make you yearn for more success in the week ahead, but an impractical streak could rear its ugly head. Be sure to understand where your loyalties lie and get business agreements in writing.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) : Be sure there is a soft place to land. Let good intentions prevail, and always stay fully in your integrity. Spending your money on things of lasting value makes more sense than indulging in passing whims.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): It might be a good idea to keep your opinions to yourself as the week unfolds. Someone may be too wrapped up in achieving their business objectives to indulge in romantic fantasies or other personal activities now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The simplest explanation is usually the best one. Be direct and to the point when presenting your ideas. Avoid making major purchases in the week to come because you might be too trusting and believe a sales pitch.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In the upcoming week, you may dream you can conquer the world while safely hanging out in your own little zone. Out in the world, however, you should concentrate on making every effort work on your behalf.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Bring your practical side and your creative one to the table now. This combo can be one of your greatest strengths and can bring out wonderful solutions. Wallow in a romantic dream or two, then go back to minding the store.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Loved ones might have unrealistic ideas or romanticize the importance of their spare time activities. Watch your money carefully in the week ahead since you might be paying attention to the spin rather than the substance.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You may feel your allure and attractiveness is slipping as the week unfolds. Even if you are in “ugly” stars, they will pass. Watch for some imaginative ideas that can be put on the back burner until the timing is better.

(For 25 years, confident cooks in the know have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. See more online at www.americastestkitchen. com/TCA.) (c) 2022 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

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By Jeraldine Saunders

By America’s Test Kitchen