2023-03-25 - The Toms River Times

Government Pages 7

Why Was There So Little Snow At The Shore?

Locals Won’t Settle For Ciba Settlement

By Stephanie Faughnan

Pages 9-15

Dr. Izzy’s Sound News

Page 16

By Andrey Nalbantov

JERSEY SHORE - Do

There wasn’t much snow this season, but there was a random hailstorm at one point. question is being raised again. Why was there so little snow at the shore?

any of you remember the massive snowman contest more than two weeks ago at the beach? No, of course you don’t. It’s because we’ve barely had any snow this winter –not enough to even build a single snowman. And with the winter months now passed, an important

Luckily enough, there is an answer to that question, and it doesn’t exactly involve climate change, a term many believe taboo.

While our neighbors from Northern Jersey got more than five inches of snow on a couple of occasions this winter,

here by the Shore we got the occasional flurries, around an inch of snow, and a whole lot of rain that used to be snow.

According to the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers University, Dr. Dave Robinson, the reason for the lack of snowfall by the Shore can be attributed to the atmospheric pattern that has been prevalent for the

past two to three months. This pattern has favored a storm track that follows the demarcation between polar air to the north and west, and subtropical (warmer) air to the south and the east. That demarcation line is also referred to as the jet stream. Storms tend to follow the path of the jet stream.

(Snow - See Page 5)

County Leaders Denounce Cuts In State Aid

By Bob Vosseller

aid funding sustained by many school districts in the county.

While districts throughout the state have taken some deep cuts since the S-2 State Aid

Funding formula started in 2018, districts such as Toms River, Jackson, Brick, Lakewood and Manchester have seen millions of dollars cut over the last five years. This year, Toms River and Jackson saw deeper cuts that were unexpected when Murphy put forward the state’s budget. During a recent meeting of the Board of Commissioners, (Leaders - See Page 5)

TOMS RIVER – Locals once again publicly voiced strong objections to a proposed settlement agreement that would allow development of property once owned by Ciba-Geigy and deemed a superfund site forty years ago.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) conducted the five hour hearings after community members banded together in a public outcry against the proposal last month

in a public forum hosted by Save Barnegat Bay.

According to DEP officials, BASF initiated the settlement process for the land it now owns as a result of corporate acquisitions. Ciba-Geigy’s operations on the site resulted in both land and groundwater contamination.

“The goal of natural resource restoration is to ultimately provide equivalent compensation for injuries to natural resources like groundwater, surface water and habitat,” DEP

(Ciba - See Page 4)

Bill Might Award

More School Funds

By Chris Lundy

TOMS RIVER – The

State Senate passed a bill that would add a one-time funding boost to districts hurt by the latest state aid reductions, but it remains to be seen how or when the funds will be delivered.

The Senate passed

S-3732 on March 20. Out of the 40 state senators, 36 voted for the measure and 4 didn’t vote.

If a school district suffered from a reduction in aid under S-2 for the 2023-2024 school year, they would receive 66% of the cut aid

(School - See Page 6)

Photo by Alyssa Riccardi

─Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Officials had to fight for the DEP to hold a public hearing.

─Photo By Bob Vosseller Brick School Superintendent Dr. Thomas Farrell, standing at left, speaks during a recent meeting of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners against school aid cuts.

OCEAN COUNTY – Members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners took aim at Governor Phil Murphy and his administration for the increased deep cuts in state

Deputy Commissioner Sean Moriarty said. “It considers the need, the extent, and duration of injury.”

Moriarty expressed how what happened on the site literally hit home for him. His family lived in a small rented house on the border of Route 37 near Ciba-Geigy from 1988-1994. Moriarty recalled hopping Ciba’s eight foot chain linked fence to play football on the property and wasn’t quite sure why it upset his parents so much.

“My father, an entrepreneur and small business owner, worked out of a downtown office next to the River Lady,” said the Deputy Commissioner. “Until he passed from kidney cancer fifteen years ago.”

Moriarty said that he could not advocate for the proposed settlement if he did not personally believe in it. The current plan calls for the permanent preservation of 1,000 acres of developable land at the site of a groundwater injury with nine integrated restoration projects.

BASF would also be permitted to develop 250 acres of the property, a fact that proved alarming to families with loved ones who had suffered illnesses and death that they attributed to the pollution.

A team of DEP officials stressed that the focus was on the restorative value of the property. Authorities believe that

the development value of the property is in excess of $200 million and the cost of implementing the restoration projects is approximately $30 million.

Despite Moriarty’s connection to the community and the fact that he ranked second in the DEP, Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill noted DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette’s absence from the hearings.

“He wouldn’t just send his troops,” said Hill. “He’d be here with you.”

Hill expressed his disappointment that the municipality was never involved in the natural resource damage assessment, particularly as it applied to the money damages. BASF took the township to tax court regarding its “worthless value” and will now rake in $20 million over the license lease of a solar farm on a portion of the property.

“BASF, just like Ciba-Geigy, is playing us with this settlement,” Hill said. “At the very least, the ‘great deal’ should be amended to deed 250 acres to Toms River as open space for compensation for the environmental and economic damages.”

Community members subsequently backed up Hill’s request, and the Deputy Commissioner agreed to determine if BASF would comply with donating the land as part of the settlement agreement.

Hill and others also suggested that an environmental center proposed for the property should be a learning center to ensure the public understood what led it to become a superfund site.

The Executive Director of Barnegat Bay, Britta Forsberg, pointed out that the settlement agreement calls for three separate plans as far as restoration projects. She also shared her concerns that the public has no calculation or estimation of the natural resource damages. Forsberg called the energy restoration projects as unrealistic from a legal or scientific perspective. By way of example, she pointed out that calling a preexisting 200 acre solar field a protected conversation zone did not comply with administrative law.

“There is no evidence to support the claim that these solar panels will promote local species,” said Forsberg. “Claiming the northern pine snake will benefit from grass around solar panels, does not work because these snakes live in a forest.”

A number of local residents have used their knowledge and expertise to evaluate the damages caused by the contamination since the issues first began. They expressed their outrage that community members were not invited to participate earlier. Most remained unconvinced that the property should be accessible for any use.

Quite a number of people appeared surprised that BASF itself submitted soil samplings, albeit taken by licensed experts. No one seemed to believe assertions that the results were accurate.

“We’re relying on BASF as the fox in the henhouse,” said William Skowronski of Ocean County Citizens for Clean

Water. “To do the sampling, report the test results, and based upon that analysis, determine that the area around the EPA site is clean enough to remedy or become an equivalent for the injured life.”

Several individuals pointed out their personal losses, remembering black sludge, and family members who suffered through cancer. A childhood cancer cluster shook the community.

DEP authorities said the settlement agreement will not impact personal injury claims, including wrongful death claims related to the site’s contamination.

Litigation does not bring back life – nor does the monetary damages claimed in the past. Many fear development on the property could result in more illness and even death.

The DEP looks upon the proposed settlement with BASF as less costly than going to court as far as the ultimate outcome of the property. While participants in the hearing pressed for more information regarding the settlement, officials said some details are retained in case the matter proceeds to litigation.

Materials presented at the DEP’s presentation, as well as the proposed settlement agreement can be found here: nj.gov/dep/nrr/settlements/index.html

The DEP has extended its comments deadline until April 5, 2022 by emailing them to onrr@dep.nj.gov and referencing the Ciba-Geigy settlement agreement.

Leaders:

Continued From Page 1

members unanimously passed a resolution criticizing the cuts to districts in Ocean County and the state as a whole by the New Jersey Department of Education for the 2023-24 school year.

The resolution raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the state formula that determines how much aid each district receives.

It also noted that 16 districts will see state aid cuts, including drastic cuts to Toms River and Jackson, which will lose $14.4 million and $6.3 million respectively.

It was noted in the resolution that the cuts would negatively impact both the education of students and the amount of money local taxpayers will be asked to pay to fund education in the coming year and that the school districts may be forced to cut important educational and extracurricular programs due to lack of funds.

The state is enjoying a $10 billion budget surplus at the current time and most schools in urban counties and the state’s largest cities are benefitting from increased state aid. 10th District

Snow:

Continued From Page 1

“When those storms track along the jet stream, the wind blows counter-clockwise around them,” said Robinson. “And if it’s to the west it brings warm air as the storm comes through.”

According to him, our area often fell on the warm side of the storms making it not cold

Senator James Holzapfel and Assemblymen Gregory McGuckin and John Catalano are asking Governor Murphy to fund all the state’s public school districts fairly and equitably.

Copies of the of the resolution were sent to Governor Murphy’s office as well as the 9th, 10th , 12th and 30th Legislative District offices and the 16 impacted school districts.

Director of the Board of Commissioners Joseph Vicari spoke to Jersey Shore Online.com prior to the start of the meeting noting his prior years as a teacher, principal and superintendent. He served in Brick and Toms River for many years and later Berkeley Township.

Vicari said, “we did so many good things in Berkeley, full day kindergarten programs and in Brick where I started in 1969, we did a lot,” Vicari said. He had been a middle school teacher teaching history and English and later a supervisor and a principal of an elementary school. He served as superintendent of the Berkeley School District Vicari feared that such progress in programs might now be reversed. He noted that while other school superintendents were unable to make the meeting, “they all speak with the same voice about this subject.”

enough to snow, thus creating a pattern.

In order for the shore to be blessed by a snowstorm, the storm has to travel to the east to cause the counter-clockwise rotation to bring northern cold winds into the area. Those northern winds meet with the moisture of the nearby storm and create a snowstorm.

“That’s what you need along the coast in particular,” he said. “Because it keeps the wind’s direction from blowing off the water. Once that

Brick School Superintendent Dr. Thomas Farrell provided that voice during the meeting having compiled a white paper report that he said shows the current state aid formula is inadequate and flawed. It is called “The Paradox of the Current State of School Funding in New Jersey.”

“I want to thank the Board of Commissioners for this resolution and your support in urging the governor and the state to relook at the state funding formula. Each year around this time we wait for the state budget and legislators determine what our funding priorities should be. Inevitably there are winners and losers unfortunately especially in education and many of the losers are right here in Ocean County,” Dr. Farrell said.

He added, “There are five districts right here in Ocean County, Toms River, Jackson, Brick, Lacey and Stafford K-8 that look to now cut over 400 positions in our schools due to the continuation of the perfect storm fiscally. The state aid has affected us absorbing an exorbitant rate to what we can replenish annually and put back.”

“These are dire times and Ocean County School districts are bleeding budgetarily. They are simply running out of funds. I hope that is time for all of us in Ocean County to come together and advocate for

wind turns off to the water, coastal New Jersey tends to almost always go over to rain.” While the atmospheric pattern can be pinned as the main reason for the lack of snowfall this winter, the pattern of climate change also has an effect.

According to Robinson, the overall global warming pattern is amplified in the shore and coastal areas. This pattern is likely tied to the ocean’s warming in the mid-Atlantic and the northeast.

many efficient and effective school districts right here,” Farrell said.

He said he presented his white paper report to local legislators and local media and “details how the state should pay for the local fair share for each community.” Farrell called the current funding formula a complicated and unfair process and inequitable for many school districts “down this way.”

Vicari said Farrell’s information was shared with each commissioner. “These cuts will not only be devastating to Brick but all the districts included. The test grades for these districts are high, they aren’t failing. The students are graduating. They are doing a good job in not only providing a quality education. People move to Ocean County because of educational programs of our schools. We have excellent school systems. I worked in Brick for many years. I have faith in the system. The state has a $10 billion surplus and with the stroke of a pen, the governor of New Jersey could make a difference and make a change.”

The director said, “we want fairness. Why should someone who lives in north Jersey gets two or three times as much. It’s just not fair and it’s not reasonable. We want equity stated by the New Jersey State Constitution.”

“We can be so influenced by conditions offshore,” he said. “We think that some of it is just a shift of wide-spread long-term patterns of circulation in the atmosphere but amplified of the fact the ocean waters at our coast are getting warmer.”

As for the possibility of snow becoming extinct in New Jersey, and especially by the shore, Robinson urges people to not give up on snow. “We are a long way from seeing snow disappear in New Jersey,” he said.

School: Continued From Page 1

back, according to the bill. It appropriates $102,784,455 toward that goal. The money is coming from the Property Tax Relief Fund.

The Assembly version, A-5328, has only just been introduced. An official said that this version will go to a vote on March 30 and that the governor has said he will sign it if it goes to his desk.

This additional money would be Supplemental Stabilization Aid, and it would only be a one-time award. A district will have to write to the Commissioner of Education with a plan on how they will use the fund, and how they will manage in future years if they don’t get the same kind of stabilization again.

Many districts lost aid consistently since 2018 due to a funding formula referred to as S-2.

The Toms River district had been anticipating a loss of aid in the amount of $2,688,937. Instead, it was cut by $14,421,851. The aid for the upcoming school year will be $30,978,802. This is about a 33% reduction from last year.

Toms River Mayor Mo Hill testified before the NJ Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee the morning of the vote to support this additional aid.

“We in Toms River are very appreciative of the funding you will hopefully provide today. With the $9.5 million being restored to Toms River Regional Schools, we now have a $4 million problem instead of the insurmountable $14.5 million problem,” he said.

“Toms River Regional has suffered over $60 million in cuts via S-2 over the last five years. Spending has already been cut to the bone. Our class sizes are already too high at 30 students per class. Our surplus and emergency funds are gone. This year we are paying some teachers’ salaries with federal COVID funds, which as you know, will not be recurring. Along with several other school districts we have requested the release of the S-2 formula and data however that information has not been provided. It is increasingly difficult to explain these severe cuts to our students, parents, teachers, staff and residents without that data,” he said.

The concept behind S-2 was that overfunded and relatively rich districts saw cuts in aid. Hill explained that these numbers don’t add up. The median household income is a little over $85,000. This makes Toms River middle class.

“I understand that the S-2 formula punishes districts that were overfunded in the past. Punishing children and teachers today, in 2023, for mistakes made by administrators, on both the State and local level 10-15 years ago makes no sense. It is cruel and ridiculous. It cannot be what the legislature intended when S-2 was passed,” he said.

“I’ve been told that property values are a component of the wealth test. Like much of the Jersey Shore, our real estate values soared during the COVID-19 pandemic as people fled New York. But these increased real estate values do not translate into

(School - See Page 14)

0% Municipal Tax Increase For Third Consecutive Year

From The Desk Of The Mayor Mo Hill

I am pleased to announce that for the third consecutive year, my administration has introduced a budget that does not raise the municipal portion of your property tax bill in Toms River.

In the face of soaring inflation and fuel prices, rising healthcare and pension costs, and double digit increases to our insurance and garbage dumping fees, my team has successfully managed to control the cost of

your township government, while improving the quality of services, by making smart reforms and improvements in our management guided in large measure by the government efficiency study that the Council majority authorized during my first year as your mayor.

We have reduced our full time staff from 505 when I was sworn in to 477 today which accounts for a saving of over $2 million per year.

We negotiated smart and sustainable contracts with our 8 labor unions.

We avoided the “trap” of cheap healthcare premiums on the State insurance fund by shopping in the private insurance market. While other towns are facing 24% increases

in their healthcare costs this year, our healthcare increase is only 5%...lower than the rate of inflation.

Through smart management, two of our recreational gems, the Bey Lea Municipal Golf Course and the Winding River Skating Rink, are both operating at a surplus, thereby contributing to our bottom line rather than being subsidized by the taxpayers.

We have also created new revenue sources to offset your tax bill. Notably, the hotel room tax contributes $500,000 to this year’s budget. It is good to have our tourism industry and the thousands of visitors who enjoy our community contributing to pay for the services they enjoy here.

While rising interest rates have put a damper on overall economic activity, we have taken advantage of the opportunity and generated

$1.4 million in interest income to offset taxes. The robust real estate market has generated $3 million in permit fees and $72 million in increased ratables to share the tax burden.

In this time of economic stress and rising costs, I am very pleased that my administration is holding the line on taxes and that your local government is improving services while remaining financially sound. Our team of leaders, especially Administrator Louis Amoruso and CFO Judy Tutela are to be commended for their outstanding work on this budget.

Thank you to The Toms River Times and Micromedia Publications for the opportunity to communicate regularly with Toms River residents. If I can be of any assistance, please reach out to me at MHill@tomsrivertownship. com or at 732-341-1000 ext. 8255.

Bill Would Let People Sue Chinese Communist Party For Its COVID-19 Misrepresentation

From The Desk Of Congressman Chris Smith

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th), Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, reintroduced legislation with Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX) to allow US citizens the right to sue the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and hold the regime accountable for its largescale misrepresentation campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Knowing that Xi Jinping and his Communist regime systematically failed to be truthful and transparent, our legislation seeks to not only gain access to more information but

also provide much-needed relief to the loved ones of those who died and others who have suffered severe economic loss during the pandemic,” said Smith, who has chaired over 80 congressional hearings on the CCP’s egregious human rights abuses.

“The Chinese Communist Party refusal to provide real time information killed Americans,” said Burgess. “The American people lost loved ones and suffered a multitude of losses during the Coronavirus pandemic. They deserve the ability to get answers from the CCP.”

“We must finally get to the truth about what happened and who was involved in this deception in order to bring justice to those who suffered profoundly from COVID-19,” Smith said.

The Smith-Burgess bill would waive the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and allow United States citizens the right to sue the Chinese government for monetary damages, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property occurring in the U.S. as a result of the CCP’s willful or grossly negligent misrepresentation of information to the World Health Organization (WHO). It would also apply to other countries that provide misinformation to the WHO about the nature, seriousness or communicability of an infectious disease.

“Besides damages paid to those individuals who have endured so much pain and loss, our bill can bring discovery and the opportunity in court to ask probing questions that will hopefully lead to answers and help prevent this type of behavior in the future,” Smith said.

Last Congress, similar legislation authored by Smith - which he first introduced in April 2020 - was blocked on a party-line vote by

the Democrat-controlled Foreign Affairs Committee, marking the historic first recorded vote in the House of Representatives on the right to sue China for its lack of transparency over the COVID pandemic.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said Smith, who noted some of the deleterious consequences resulting from the CCP’s failure to be transparent about the COVID-19 crisis, including the enormous loss of life with close to 36,000 deaths in his home state of New Jersey; over 1.1 million across the country; and at least 6.8 million throughout the entire world.

The Smith-Burgess bill shares a parallel track with the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorist Act (JASTA) - legislation enacted by Congress in 2016 over the veto of President Obama allowing the families of 9/11 victims to seek justice against Saudi Arabia for aiding and abetting the terrorists involved in the horrific attacks.

Bill Would Bring Back Regulations To Prevent Banks From Failing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-N.J.) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), U.S. Representative Katie Porter (D-CA-47), and dozens of colleagues in both the Senate and House of Representatives to introduce the Secure Viable Banking Act, legislation that would repeal Title IV of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank. Senators Booker and Menendez, both longtime consumer protection advocates, were outspoken about the dangers of passing the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act

five years ago, which reduced critical oversight and capital requirements for large banks.

“Congress should have never rolled back regulations put into place to prevent exactly the kind of bank failures we saw play out in recent days. We must now act to restore these protections to strengthen our banking system, safeguard our economy, and ensure that the hard-earned money of families and small businesses is better protected,” said Senator Booker.

“Five years ago, I stood on the Senate floor to warn my colleagues that only in Washington would anyone think it’s a good idea to mark the ten-year anniversary of the 2008-2009 financial crisis by passing S.2155, a bill that

dared big banks to get bigger and increased risk to taxpayers,” said Senator Menendez.

The Trump banking law rolled back ‘too big to fail’ rules and created conditions for collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. “After this weekend’s collapse of SVB and Signature, the world saw why it was misguided to pass S.2155, which rolled back critical Dodd-Frank regulations for banks like Silicon Valley Bank, including enhanced prudential standards and stress tests.

We must immediately repeal Title IV of S.2155 to ensure that we restore needed oversight of these systemically important institutions that have the potential to wreck our economy and the livelihoods of American families. We cannot

afford to get this wrong and must act with the urgency this moment requires.”

Title IV of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act raised the asset threshold at which a bank is considered and regulated as a “systemically important financial institution” to $250 billion, exempting SVB and other mid-sized banks from regular stress testing and enhanced liquidity, risk management, and resolution plan, or “living will,” requirements. The lawmakers’ new bill would repeal these dangerous regulatory rollbacks, which invited banks to load up on risk and increase profits, and would restore critical Dodd-Frank protections.

OPINIONS & COMMENTARY

One Day, You’ll Be Sick

The one thing that unites us all is that eventually our bodies are going to stop working the way they should. For some, it’s quick, like my friend who died in her sleep last week at 44 of unknown causes (as of this writing). For some lucky enough to make it to old age, you’re going to get sick at some point.

I have a friend who is in an extended care situation for a psychological issue. I have two acquaintances who went legally blind before they turned 40. I’m hearing more and more about people with long COVID. People are getting disabled by all these things.

My father, who just turned 80, has managed through some medical things - some big, some small. He’s the only person I know who has had three hip replacements. My mother, who is 77, hasn’t slowed down.

Ciba Geigy Should Never Have Happened

I have lived in Toms River my entire life. My family has lived here for generations, and several family members including my grandfather and 3 uncles worked at the Ciba Geigy Chemical plant and felt its impacts years

They are lucky, and I’m lucky. But eventually, there’s going to be something.

Something always comes for us. Which is why I don’t understand America’s attitude about illness. If a child gets cancer, everyone says “that’s sad” and maybe donates a few bucks toward a charity for the family.

But we refuse to change our health care system to make it any better for families who are already going through hell.

A significant illness will deplete a family’s finances.

They spend tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to get by. Children in the family have no money waiting for them when they become adults. This means that the impact of a single disease is generational. It might be decades before a family is able to come back from the poverty that a single disease causes.

Some are born with special

needs. They will always rely on someone to take care of them. They will always need more doctors, medicine, therapy, etc.

So if the one thing we have in common is eventual illness, how come we created a society that penalizes you for being sick?

People are looked down on for being poor. All it takes is one twist of fate, one chromosome out of alignment, or one cell to mutate wrong and your entire savings is gone.

We are told to toughen up, don’t give in, don’t ask for help. Everyone is going to need help one day. Everyone.

My good friend who committed suicide 15 years ago certainly suffered from depression. If he had gotten help for it, maybe he’d be here today. It’s more common than anyone thinks. I have it, too, but I’m treating it. Psychological illnesses are so easy to hide. It’s because we blame people for

being “crazy.”

There are people who don’t call for ambulances because they are afraid of the cost. Some towns have free first aid and they try to make it known to the public, but all it takes is one horror story about a thousand-dollar ride to a hospital and it makes someone think twice about calling 911. In the meantime, their delay might have cost them their life.

A few years back, I had a medical issue. I had to pay for the tests out of pocket, minus 20% copay. I think I wound up paying about $1,600 for results that didn’t find anything. It made me stop getting tests. I can’t afford to find out what’s wrong with me. To this day, when the issue comes back, I have to just shrug and get through my day because I never learned what was malfunctioning and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Trying to get better and keeping up with bills and

Letters To The Editor

later through severe health impacts such as brain cancer. One of my uncles would commonly say when asked, it was because he worked in what was referred to as “the bad building.” This should never have happened.

I grew up attending Manchester Township Schools, where my Environmental Science class went out to the Superfund Site

We Welcome Letters To The Editor!

The Toms River 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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right to 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 reflect 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.

to monitor the deer population. When students asked any questions relating to the history and current status of the site, our questions were avoided. In fact, we were told not to ask. This never should have happened either.

The proposed settlement has several elements, such as the park and nature center, that seem promising; however, we cannot greenwash the history of an environmental and public health disaster of national and historical significance.

The NJDEP should ensure that the narrative at such a nature center does not misrepresent the history of the site and community impacted, and the science of the superfund site’s remediation should be explained as a lesson in environmental health for future generations to come. The story told at the nature center should reflect the full truth in order to best honor the affected families.

Also, there should be an opportunity for community input along every step of the way

paperwork is sometimes its own full-time job. They don’t make it easy for us.

Health insurance companies take care of themselves first, and do the bare minimum to help. They pay their employees to tell us “no” when we ask for help. Think about it: A health care employee is paid (throwing numbers around) $50,000 a year in order to tell us we have to pay more because we didn’t reach our $15,000 deductible. It costs the insurance company less to hire a gatekeeper than to actually do its job and pay for our health care.

I know universal health care is a tough sell, and I’m not sold on it either, but I think we can all agree that something needs to be done in order to protect us when the inevitable happens.

That’s why I urge compassion for those who have health problems. They are just going through things that you haven’t hit you yet. Before you think someone

is weak for needing help, just realize that in less time than you think, you might require help from a nurse to use the bathroom.

Unless your death is sudden, you are going to get sick. You are going to be disabled. You are not going to be able to do what you used to do.

There should be plans in place for when the inevitable happens. This shouldn’t be a surprise. This is going to happen to each and every one of us.

If you got into a car crash tomorrow, and you became disabled, what would happen to your family? Would you still be able to do your job? Would you even be able to enter your home or your business if you were in a wheelchair?

What’s going to happen when you get sick?

Chris Lundy News Editor

involving the superfund site. The NJDEP and BASF must provide transparency as to the current status of the site; is it truly safe enough for our children to play on? Since remediation efforts began, the size of the toxic plume of contaminated groundwater has decreased but has not been fully resolved, despite claims otherwise. A risk assessment for the site should be updated, looking at realistic exposure scenarios if it is going to be used as recreational, and there should be opportunity for public input. This information should be made easily accessible to ensure all voices are included. There was a total lack of transparency and inclusion of the public when it came to this settlement, and although we have the opportunity to speak (at a special hearing), it only came after demanding it. However, the latest five-year EPA review on the site is set to come out this May, but the new settlement deadline for comments is in April - the residents of Toms

River should have ample time to review the most recent science and status of the report before the comment period closes, and the NJDEP should further extend the deadline to July at minimum to ensure time to fully review the report.

Additionally, BASF is only on the hook at this site for 10 years yet the scars upon our landscape and community have spanned generations. BASF should be accountable for at least 100 years in order for regeneration to occur and to ensure due process is taken throughout restoration efforts. Climate resilience should also be factored into the long-term planning for the site to make sure that this landscape and natural resource not only recovers from past scars but is able to withstand future ecological changes as well.

Jackie Greger Communications Outreach Coordinator for the Sierra Club Toms River

Another Look At Rent Increases

After reading of the “greed” and “unconscionable” increases by landlords of manufactured communities “looking to cash in” and necessitating rent control, I figured I’d run the numbers provided. According to the quoted resident, Pine Ridge South rent went from $697 a month in Jan 2017 to $826 in Jan 2023. That’s an 18.5% increase over 7 years.

Looking at the numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, general consumer inflation during this time period has run at 23%. So, the rental increases have been below inflation and, from what I understand, are inclusive of property tax increases! Not what I would expect after hearing words like “unconscionable” thrown around.

James McCabe Whiting

Silver Bay Peer Leaders Continue Outreach At Brandywine

TOMS RIVER – March 10 was National

Mario Day and Brandywine Assisted Living in Toms River invited Silver Bay’s Peer Leadership Ambassadors to help them celebrate with a variety of Mario activities. Silver Bay Peer Leadership Ambassadors wore mustaches and Mario hats to be in the spirit of the day. They raced and helped save the princesses from Bowser. It was a fun, interactive experience for everyone.

The Peer Leadership Ambassadors from Silver Bay Elementary have been going

monthly to Brandywine Assisted Living in Toms River to enjoy each other’s company and a variety of fun games and activities. A community partnership with Brandywine Assisted Living was formed about 5 years ago. When it isn’t possible to get together, students make cards and crafts to let the residents know that they are thinking of them. During Covid, they played virtual Bingo together.

The student ambassadors always look forward to spending time with their Brandywine buddies!

Crime Scene Investigation Camp

TOMS RIVER – This week-long camp is offered to students who have an interest in law enforcement or forensic science. Students will learn how to identify and lift fingerprints, cast their own footprint at a crime scene, and learn about how police use DNA and other disciplines to solve crimes. All students will work as a team to process a mock crime scene by collecting evidence

and other techniques. This week-long camp is designed to challenge all students while having fun solving the crime.

Camp will be held at the Cooper Environmental Center, Cattus Island County Park, Toms River, from April 10 through April 14 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cost is $160 per person. Open to ages 12 to 17 years. Register at oceancountyparks.org.

─Photo courtesy Toms River Schools

Future Business Leaders Bring Home Gold From State Conference

TOMS RIVER – Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students representing each district high school competed at the state leadership conference. Here are their results, which include a first-place finish, several top 10s, and some truly innovative business plans.

High School East

• Mason Kaleda and Jack Hesslein (right): 1st place, Business Plan; qualified for Nationals in Atlanta, GA (business plan was for an e-waste refurbishment and recycling business)

• Sofia Manzo: Top 10, Job Interview (interview was in two parts for an HR internship)

• Michael Bruno, Joseph Scala, and Joseph Rome: Competed in Financial Plan

• Maxwell Bell: Competed in Public Service Announcement

High School South

• Joshua Rhine: Competed in Coding and Programming (developed an app called Rhino Roll Call that would track student participation in sport and club activities)

• Emma Italiano: Competed in Digital Animation (created an animated advertisement for the iPhone 14)

• Logan Redgrave and Declan Sennick: Competed in E-Business (created Bed and Breakfast in Gore Mountain, targeted at local skiers and adventure enthusiasts)

High School North

• Natalie Rapciewicz and Alexa Sousa: 2nd

─Photo courtesy Toms River Schools place, Sales Presentation

• Andreas Psillos: Top 10, Supply Chain Management

• Gabriella Kostova and Kaitlyn Rizzo: Competed in Social Media Strategies

• Lana Hayes, Angela Pontipiedra, and Shahaan Gurm: Competed in Broadcast Journalism

• School awarded the Gold Seal Chapter of Merit

• School awarded “Higher with Attire” Community Service Project Award (students collected 427 donations of business clothing from staff and community, providing to Catholic Charities Providence House and Just Believe Boutique for the homeless and disenfranchised in Ocean County)

• School awarded 5th place: Passport of Progress (recognition for middle school outreach, charity fundraiser benefiting Ocean’s Harbor House, volunteering with Hope Sheds Light, etc.)

• School awarded 3rd place: Community Service Challenge (conducting more than 50 hours of community service)

• School awarded National Recognition as a “Champion Charter” (exceptional membership engagement on focused challenges, as HSN participated in more than half of the proposed comprehensive team activities, with only 14 NJ chapters recognized in this category among 500 nationwide)

Human Knot Challenge At HSE Is Fun With A Purpose

TOMS RIVER – Throughout the 20222023 school year, High School East has been exploring the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Step 4 is “Think Win Win,” and since implementing these habits has been a school-wide initiative, something fun was in store for all students.

During each activity period last week, every class had the opportunity to participate in a human knot, which is exactly what it sounds like and which involves

collaboration and coordination. The top teams from last week competed today to show off their ability to work together in order to create a win-win experience for all.

This showdown was knot to be missed, with lots of laughs and tangled limbs. And the winning team truly earned it, somehow coordinating their efforts to complete their knot in less than two seconds. That’s certainly a win-win.

PCTR’s Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt 2023

TOMS RIVER – Raise a hand if you love a good egg hunt! Join the Presbyterian Church of Toms River on April 7 (that’s Good Friday!) to hunt for candy-filled eggs throughout downtown Toms River. (Want to join us? Great! Register here: pctr.org/egghunt)

Get started any time between 12 and 3 p.m. at 27 Irons St (Toms River). They’ll

give you clues and bits of the Easter story as you make your way from egg-tastic stop to stop. Oh, and did they mention the prizes? Make your way through all the stops and enter to win an egg-cellent prize package with items from some of Ocean County’s coolest and most fun local businesses. Pre-register so they know you’re coming!

─Photo courtesy Toms River Schools

Tables Turned At West Dover As Staff Take PE

TOMS RIVER – Sarah Stazzella is a district BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) who’s been described as “always has something fun planned for students at West Dover Elementary.” Sarah’s latest idea: physical education... but for teachers.

Thus, a staff challenge was born, which took place at WDE. Students played the sidelines, cheering on staff members as

they competed in physical activities while practicing what they preach – displaying teamwork and good sportsmanship. Fitness crews including “the ‘A’ Team,” “Mr. Schneider Apple Cider,” “Team M&Ms,” and “Team Ninja” faced off, much to the delight of students, who held signs, waved flags, and screamed words of encouragement to their teachers. Good idea, Sarah!

TR East Dodgeball Tournament

TOMS RIVER – Toms River High School East and the Toms River Police Department are hosting a Dodgeball Tournament on April 28. Doors open at 5 p.m.!

Registration opening soon! Teams of six; $75 per team; Double elimination. All proceeds go towards building the TR Rope Course at Toms River High School East.

EDUCATORS! Have a special event planned for your class? Let everyone know by placing a news release in this paper! Call 732-657-7344 to find out how!

─Photo courtesy Toms River Schools

Perfect Attendance Pays Off For Intermediate East Students

TOMS RIVER – Intermediate East’s 613 students with perfect attendance for the month of February were rewarded for their hard work and commitment to school at a special assembly this morning.

Ten of those Rocket-Ready students at each grade level were chosen at random to win a prize during this incentive’s second month. That prize? A free bagel

courtesy of Silver Bay Bagels. A delicious incentive indeed. And apropos considering the breakfast treat’s “zero” shape represents the number of February school days missed for each winning student.

This fun initiative is further proof that Intermediate East students are embracing the “Be cool...come to school!” mantra.

─Photo courtesy Toms River Schools

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School: Continued From Page 6

increased tax dollars for education,” he said.

“Our superintendent and Board of Education are now faced with cutting extracurricular programs and staff, like our excellent athletic programs. The 2022 Toms River North Mariners were the first football team in the history of New Jersey to go 14-0 while winning the State Class 5 Championship, setting the all-time scoring record and finishing No. 3 in the state - the highest ranking of any New Jersey public high school. The majority of the players are returning for the 2023 season and the cuts could affect the coaching staff. Neither Superintendent Mike Citta or I want to see that happen as it penalizes these student athletes,” he said.

“I don’t believe that this is what you intended when you passed S-2. But S-2 doesn’t work and it is driving good school districts to the brink of bankruptcy,” he said. “This problem cannot be solved by increasing property taxes. The district is constitutionally prohibited from raising property taxes by more than 2% to meet the thorough and efficient threshold, even if the taxpayers consented via referendum because thorough and efficient is prohibited from being put to referendum.”

Another factor in the funding formula is enrollment. Schools that were losing students were losing aid.

According to district figures, there were 15,622 students in the 2017-2018 school year, just before S-2 went into effect. The projected enrollment for 2023-2024 is 14,764. This represents a 5.5% decrease in enrollment lined up with a 55% decrease in state aid.

The aid in 2017-2018 was $68.3 million and next year, if nothing changes, it will

What is a “Mom & Pop” Business?

A small, independent, family owned, controlled and operated business. It has a small amount of business volume. It is not franchised.

“ Open for business in a single location.”

So if your “Mom or Pop” need the services of rehabilitation and nursing services, it just makes sense to go to a “Mom & Pop.”

be $31 million.

One thing that the enrollment doesn’t take into account is that not all students need the same amount of help. There were 170 students in 2017-2018 who had English as a second language, compared to 652 today and 573 projected for 2023-2024.

In 2017-2018, there were 4,511 students who qualified for free and reduced lunch programs. That is expected to grow to 4,760 for 2023-2024.

In 2017-2018, there were 2,310 special education students. That is expected to grow to 2,625 in 2023-2024.

“Enrollment is a key factor of the S-2 formula, as it should be,” Hill said. “Toms River’s enrollment declined, especially after Superstorm Sandy. We were ground zero of Sandy. Here we are 11 years later and we are still recovering, but we are almost fully recovered and we are more resilient. Our enrollment is starting to grow and we have an influx of ELL and SE students enrolling in the district.”

“Toms River Regional is one of the most efficient of the thorough and efficient districts in the state. We spend less than $14,000 per student. Our graduation rate is 93% and our test scores are high. We receive a little over $2,200 per student (in aid) while districts smaller than ours receive between $35-40,000 per student,” Hill said.

“I encourage you to reform the education formula which has left our district with a structural deficit. We have no way to legally close the gap,” he said. “New Jersey needs a school funding formula that is transparent, easy to understand, and that is fair to all children and communities in the state.”

He also thanked Senator Vin Gopal, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, for the work he has done with Superintendent Michael Citta as well as township staff. Gopal, a Democrat, was thanked for working across the aisle and sponsoring this bill.

A Starry Night Art Auction & Reception

TOMS RIVER – A Starry Night Art

Auction & Reception on June 8 to benefit Ocean’s Harbor House. They are a non-profit organization celebrating 35 years of service in providing shelter, support and services for homeless and vulnerable youth throughout the region.

This festive and celebratory event will be held outdoors at the John F. Peto Studio in Island Heights with art displayed throughout the beautiful grounds.

and Stephan Leone. Judi served on the Ocean’s Harbor House Board of Directors and has been an ardent supporter of our mission. Stephan is a founding partner of Carluccio, Leone, Dimon, Doyle & Sacks, LLC and has served in various capacities of civic and professional organizations.

Executive Chef Mike Jurusz of AGB in Seaside Park is graciously providing a palette of savory delights and libations. Plus, guests will be treated to musical performances provided by the Zzak G. AOK Performance Group.

Here is a picture of a true “Mom & Pop” business: 1579 Old Freehold Rd. Toms River, NJ 08753 732-505-4477

This annual event features art created by our kids as part of the art therapy program. Guests can bid on the kid’s art plus art donated by local artists.

Honorees for the evening are Judi

For information on sponsorships and tickets, go to oceansharborhouse.org.

nursing and rehabilitation center

www.rosegardennj.com

JBJ Soul Kitchen Golf Outing

TOMS RIVER – Join JBJ Soul Kitchen for their 6th Annual Mulligans for Meals Golf Outing on June 12 at Hominy Hill Golf Course in Colts Neck for a day of golf & fun to support JBJ Soul Kitchen’s mission to help alleviate hunger. Become

a sponsor, register for a foursome, or register for a single player – various opportunities to participate and give back to the community!

To learn more or to register, visit: jbjsoulkitchen.org/golf-outing-2023.

The Great Blue Heron –Astonishing Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

Renee A. Thomaier

Retired New Jersey State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator

Birds are incredible creatures. In this article I will cover some amazing things about the great blue heron that may astonish you. Did you know that in North America the great blue heron is the largest heron, and is one of the heaviest-flying birds, cruising at 20 to 30 miles per hour? They can also be found in Northern Mexico, Galapagos, and Central America.

Their wingspan is nearly 7 feet. Weighing in at about 4 pounds, still they can consume up to 2 pounds of fish a day. Standing at about 3 feet tall, you can find them hanging around rivers, marshes, streams, and lakes. Their plumage on top is grayish blue, with their breasts and bellies being white in color. Long skinny necks that have reddish hue, with a black plume on the top of their head, their bill is orange or bright yellow. They nest near water on large trees or sometimes in low shrubs. Initially when their eggs are laid, they are very blue in color. The females produce 2 to 7 eggs. Both parents will incubate the eggs. They will start to mate between 3 and 4 years old

and can live to approximately 15 years.

A strict carnivore, food sources for this heron consists of fish and frogs, but they will also enjoy birds, insects, snakes, turtles, small mammals, toads, shrimp, clams, snails, and oysters. With their long, thin legs, they stand still in the water looking for prey. Using their neck that can stretch up to about 3 times its length, they locate their prey, spearing them with their long, sharp beak before swallowing them whole.

Primary predators of the great blue heron are coyotes, foxes, wolves, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and alligators. Due to the fact that their natural habitat is being destroyed, while they are not yet endangered, it is expected that their numbers may dwindle in the coming years. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.

Information for this article 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 state and/or federal permits. Violating New Jersey laws protecting wildlife, which includes harm inflicted upon any animal, are punishable by law.

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

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

Over-The-Counter (OTCS) Hearing Aids Revisited

Last fall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published final rules establishing a new class of hearing devices — those available over the counter (OTC). Though specific to the United States, the new category may understandably spark questions for anybody seeking hearing care.

What does it mean for you? More than ever, it’s important to seek hearing help from a trained hearing care professional. Hearing loss is complex, and self-treating could worsen an existing problem. Working with a highly trained provider can help you make safe, effective decisions for your ear health.

Here’s What Else You Should Know…

OTC Hearing Aids Are for Adults Only

The new class of FDA-regulated hearing instruments are approved only for those 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. They are not available for children and might not align with one’s actual hearing loss, which could be greater than perceived.

The Right Fit Plays a Big Role To maximize comfort and functionality, hearing aids must be custom fitted to each individual and programmed to support their listening lifestyle. Hearing professionals are espe-

cially skilled in helping ensure the right fit now and in the future as your hearing needs change.

You May Need Other Support Hearing loss can go hand in hand with tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or balance issues and is also associated with serious conditions such as dementia. A comprehensive hearing evaluation may help uncover additional care needs that self-treating would likely not detect.

Self-Treatment Bypasses Critical Diagnostics It takes a trained professional to get to the bottom of hearing loss, which can have causes ranging from earwax buildup to head trauma, noise exposure, infection, disease, or even some medications. Self treating without the benefit of a diagnostic evaluation can mean missing key answers.

In a world of choices, deciding the right approach for your hearing wellness can feel overwhelming. Remember, price is only an issue in the absence of value! We’re here to help with the personalized advice and care you deserve. So, don’t wait. Call to schedule your appointment today!

Dr. Izzy & his Staff can be reached at 732-818=3610 (Toms River/Whiting) or 609-978-8946 (Manahawkin) or visit us at www.gardenstatehearing.com.

Dear Pharmacist

Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

Breathe Easy: Understanding Prescription Medications For Asthma

By Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

As a pharmacist, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of proper treatment in managing asthma. In today’s article, I will provide a comprehensive overview of the various types of prescription medications used to treat asthma.

Inhaled corticosteroids are one of the most commonly prescribed asthma medications. They work to reduce inflammation in the airways, but they don’t work in seconds, so they are not considered a “rescue” inhaler. Two popular examples of these drugs are Flonase and Qvar.

Next, a common category of medications are bronchodilators, which help to relax the muscles in the airways, improving airflow and reducing asthmatic symptoms. There are short-acting and long-acting beta-agonists, and there’s a big difference between those two. The short-acting drugs often contain albuterol, and these are rescue inhalers because they can improve breathing very quickly! An example of a long-acting beta-agonist is Serevent® and your doctor can prescribe these medications for you.

Leukotriene modifiers are available now too. These drugs block the effects of inflammatory substances in the airways (leukotrienes) to reduce inflammation and improve breathing. I would say the most popular medication in this category is montelukast (Singulair). It’s usually not used by itself because it works better in combination with other asthma medications. Most people with asthma take the medications above. For a few resistant cases, doctors will add in a drug from the class of “Biologics” and these are newer. Reserved for more seri-

ous cases, we have medications like Xolair, Nucala, and Fasenra.

If you’re dealing with asthma, and you’ve read something here that can help you please research it and call your physician. I want to emphasize the importance of working closely with a healthcare provider because, with asthma, you need a personalized treatment plan for yourself. Keep in mind these medications just manage symptoms and give you quality of life, but they are not curative. To effectively treat (and possibly cure) a condition like this, you would need to consider lifestyle changes (ie stop smoking/drinking), weight management, and most importantly, avoid the triggers.

Some triggers are virtually impossible to avoid, while others are highly modifiable. The most common triggers for asthma include pet dander, dust, household chemicals, pollution, smoking, food coloring, bacteria and viruses, and weather changes. Your genes and prior medical history play a role in how well you can manage your symptoms, but I have to say no matter how long you’ve had asthma, there is always hope for a partial or even full recovery! I truly believe that.

With proper treatment, trigger avoidance, and medication management, individuals with asthma can effectively manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. I have a much longer version of this article on my website in case it interests you or a loved one.

I am also offering a free ebook on the immune system. To receive this, visit my website, suzycohen.com. Please be sure to NOT make any changes to your medication protocol without consulting your physician first.

(This information is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Suzy Cohen is the author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist” and “Real Solutions.” For more information, visit www.SuzyCohen.com) ©2022 SUZY COHEN, RPH. DISTRIBUTED BY DEAR PHARMACIST, INC.

AS THE LEADING RESOURCE FOR SENIOR VETERANS WE WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS

R.C. Shea & Assoc. Inside The Law

Understanding Automobile Insurance In The Garden State

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

New Jersey offers two types of automobile insurance policies that may be purchased: a Standard Policy and a Basic Policy. A Standard Policy provides liability, uninsured motorist, and personal injury protection (medical) coverage. A Basic Policy only provides personal injury protection (medical) coverage limited. Protect yourself and choose the standard policy.

Liability Insurance insures you against claims made by others for the property damage or personal injury you caused while operating your vehicle. Liability Insurance protects you from paying money to someone from your own pocket. Your insurance coverage will pay any monetary damage that you are required to pay to someone else but only up to your insurance policy limits. Choose your liability policy limits wisely. Most people choose liability coverage of $100,000.00, but I recommend choosing at least $250,000.00 of liability insurance. The additional cost is usually nominal.

Personal Injury Protection coverage is also known as “PIP” or “No Fault” Insurance. The “No Fault” concept means that your automobile insurance will provide you with personal injury protection insurance (PIP) coverage regardless of fault. In other words, it does not matter who caused the car crash. As long as you were operating, using, or getting in /out of an

Michael J. Deem, Esq.

automobile at the time of the injury then you are covered. The “No-Fault” concept does not mean that the other driver is responsible for your medical bills. Protect yourself and choose the standard $250,000.00 in PIP Medical Expense Benefits.

Uninsured /Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM / UIM) protects you against financially irresponsible drivers. Sometimes people operate their vehicles without insurance coverage or with only very little insurance coverage, like those who operate their vehicle with a Basic Policy which was discussed earlier. If you sustain property damage or bodily injury and the person responsible does not have enough insurance to cover your loss, then you can file a claim with your insurance company under your Uninsured /Underinsured Motorist Coverage. This coverage protects you and your family by providing additional insurance coverage for your loss, but only up to the policy limits that you choose. UM/UIM insurance coverage should never be less than your liability coverage. Most people choose liability coverage of $100,000.00, so your UM/UIM coverage should equal your liability coverage.

At R.C. Shea & Associates, our automobile insurance attorney, Michael J. Deem. Esq. is here to help you with your automobile insurance questions. Please give him a call.

Our clients’ success is our greatest reward. 732-505-1212 • RCSHEA.COM

Encore, Encore! “When Radio Entertained People” Returns

TOMS RIVER – Return to the era when families gathered around the wireless set for “theater of the imagination.” The Ocean County Library Toms River Branch will host a live presentation by When Radio Entertained People (WREP), 7 p.m. April 12.

WREP consists of 10 talented actors who re-create characters and scripts from radio’s “Golden Age” of the 1940s and 1950s. Michael Glenn Miller leads the cast, many of whom have performed in motion pictures, television, and professional theatre.

The troupe has performed at the Ocean County Library since forming in 2008. The

entertainers’ hilarious December 7, 2022 holiday show before an enthusiastic audience heralded the return engagement.

Attendees will be treated to a music and a trivia contest prior to the performance, which will feature episodes of The Great Gildersleeve, Ozzie and Harriet, and Flywheel, complete with sound effects.

This program is sponsored by Friends of the Ocean County Library – Toms River. Register at theoceancountylibrary.org/ events to attend this free program. For more information, visit the OCL Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, or call 732-349-6200.

NOTICE OF MEETING FOR THE BOARD OF SCHOOL ESTIMATE OF THE OCEAN COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the meeting of the Board of School Estimate of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School District is scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at 3:15 p.m., in the Ocean County Administration Building, 101 Hooper Avenue, Room 304, Toms River, New Jersey, for the purpose of reviewing and approving the proposed budget for the Ocean County Vocational Technical School District for the 2023-2024 school year.

Formal action will be taken at this meeting.

Frank J. Frazee, CPA Secretary, Board of School Estimate

opinion and Commentary

Collaboration, Commitment, And Expertise Meet Heart And Vascular Health Needs

By Frank J. Citara, MBA

It’s a privilege and an honor for me to lead Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center. While I am laser-focused day-to-day on making sure the hospital offers the most advanced services and technologies, runs smoothly, and delivers the highest quality of care possible, I must also have a vision of health care for the future of our community.

One of my top priorities is heart and vascular health, and for good reason: heart disease remains the leading cause of death in New Jersey and the United States (1). Despite the many life-saving technologies and innovations in cardiology and cardiac and vascular surgery over recent years, cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of too many Americans. In fact, more people died from cardiovascular-related causes in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, than in any year since 2003.(2)

Toward our goal to provide the most comprehensive heart and vascular services, the New Jersey Department of Health recently licensed Ocean University Medical Center to provide elective angioplasty and stenting, a procedure used by cardiologists to open clogged coronary arteries. Elective procedures have been provided the past several months, with patients receiving great care and getting home quickly to recuperate. This minimally invasive treatment restores blood supply to the heart muscle and helps prevent heart attack, heart failure, and other forms of heart disease.

Advanced vascular procedures are also provided at our medical center to manage veins and arteries in every part of the body, except the brain and heart. For example, vascular specialists clear obstructed arteries in the neck to prevent stroke, and utilize procedures such as TCAR, EVAR and other endovascular repair techniques.

As part of our response to providing outstanding heart and vascular health care services for the long-term, we invested in, planned, and constructed a new, comprehensive center:

The Dr. Robert H. and Mary Ellen Harris Heart & Vascular Center at Ocean University Medical Center, which will open its doors in spring 2023.

This state-of-the-art facility enables our teams of experts to provide diagnosis of cardiac and vascular conditions and offer immediate and advanced minimally invasive or complex surgical procedures. It has been in the works for more than five years and has benefitted from the involvement of philanthropists, patients, physicians, health care planners, technology experts, architects, designers, and many members of the health care team, such as nurses, technicians, and patient transporters.

The project’s nearly $20 million cost was made possible, in part, by generous donors, including the center’s namesake: Mary Ellen Harris, president of the Golden Dome Founda-

tion, which she founded with her late husband, Dr. Robert H. Harris, to support charitable causes.

I also offer deep thanks to our Director of Cardiac Catheterization Ali Moosvi, M.D., and Frank Sharp, M.D., vascular surgeon from Jersey Coast Vascular Institute, for their clinical and technical expertise and vision of the health care of tomorrow as we planned this new facility.

The new heart and vascular center ushers in the next level of care for our community. It provides both cardiac and vascular modalities on one convenient floor - more than twice the size of current space - to address the growing number of cardiac and vascular procedures performed at the medical center. With over 17,000 square feet of space, the center features three multi-purpose rooms that allow for diagnosis and treatment of cardiac and vascular conditions in an environment that fosters collaborative treatment planning and options for optimal patient outcomes.

With the ability to have both diagnostic and minimally invasive surgical functions in one space, clinicians can diagnose heart and vascular conditions and offer immediate surgical treatment without delay, providing higher efficiency and safety for certain highrisk procedures, including elective angioplasty and stenting.

As testament to our commitment to high quality care, the medical center received the HeartCARE Center national distinction of excellence by the American College of Cardiology. This award recognizes commitment to world-class heart and vascular care through comprehensive process improvement, disease and procedure-specific accreditation, professional excellence, and community engagement. Ocean University Medical Center is the only hospital in Ocean County to earn this prestigious recognition.

It took great collaboration to achieve this national distinction, as well as complete the Dr. Robert H. and Mary Ellen Harris Heart & Vascular Center, and I am grateful to everyone who contributed to its realization. Our goal was to create a patient-friendly facility that could meet the growing health needs of the community, and I believe we have succeeded.

For more information about the new Dr. Robert H. and Mary Ellen Harris Heart & Vascular Center, visit hackensackmeridianhealth.org/ OUMC

References

1 cdc.gov>nchs>states Stats of the State of New Jersey – U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

2 American Heart Association 2023 Statistical Data Update

Mr. Citara serves as president and chief hospital executive of Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center in Brick.

Real Estate

Lakewood 55+ Covington VillageNewer construction gorgeous 2BR/ 2BA Condo 1165 sqft, hdwd floors; CAC; Washer/Dryer; balcony, pool, gym/amenities; billiard/card/theater rooms; parking; $2,700/Taxes; $416/ HOA; ONLY $239,000; pet friendly, close to beaches, shopping and all major highways; 201 390-7377/Julianne_matskin@yahoo.com (15)

Estate Sale

Contents of House Sale - Saturday, March 25 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 13 Sheffield Dr. Forked River, 08731. Everything can go. (15)

Personals

Partner Wanted - To open thrift store. Also need garage rental for storage. Leave message and number for call back 732-678-6786. (17)

For Sale

For Sale - $3000 or Best Offer: Two Grave Plots At Ocean County Memorial Park Toms River. Location: Garden Of Remembrance Grave 277 and 278 (Singles). Number Of Spaces: 2. We hold the deed, and this sale will be conducted at the Memorial Park's office in Toms River. All paperwork will be signed over to new owner's name immediately. If interested, please call 201-400-9433 leave message, all calls will be answered within an hour. (16)

House For Sale By Owner - Pheasant Run section of Forked River. Prime lot. Asking $350,000. For more info, 609-290-9702. (15)

Items For Sale

Top of Line - Pellet gun with scop 22cal. New. 732-350-0190. 10-shot magazine. (14)

Items - Washing machine; sofa and matching rocker/recliner; 3-piece oak sofa table set; kitchen table set; outdoor table, umbrella and chairs; gas grill; white bakers rack. All excellent condition. 732-998-1702 (15)

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)

$$$ WANTED TO BUY $$$

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 crystal 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. (17)

Wanted Storage Space - Long term non-commercial use. Jackson, Manchester or surrounding area. Electric a plus, 732-278-5098. (16)

CLASSIFIEDS

Items Wanted

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)

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

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

Jersey Child Care is hiring! We care for children from six weeks through 12 years old. Full and Parttime shifts available. Please call us for details! 732-262-3600 (18)

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

Services

Bobs Waterproofing - Basement and crawlspace waterproofing. Mold testing, removal and prevention. Family owned. Fully licensed and insured. Call Bob 732-616-5007. (t/n)

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)

ESTATE CLEANOUTS -

Properties, Houses, Attics, Garages, Sheds, Storage Units, ect. Handyman Disposal provided 901a Dumpster Service LLC. Licensed, Insured, call or text Jim 609-335-0330. (27)

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

Computer Tutoring for Seniors –Retired, “Microsoft Certified” instructor. 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 computers at less than half the price the retailers charge. Windows 10 specialist. 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)

Learn To Play The - Flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or drums from a NJ State Certified Teacher of instrumental music, in your home! Call 732-350-4427 for more information. (15)

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

A1 HANDYMAN SERVICESOver 30 years experience in all phases of home improvements. Free estimates and referrals. Call John 267-475-7962. (10)

Services Services Services

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

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)

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)

Property/Management - Brick repair, brick restoration, mulch, stone, Spring/Fall cleanups, pruning, concrete repairs. Call Ken 732-814-7743. (14)

Get DIRECTV for $64.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-877-557-1213. (t/n)

PQ Painting & Home Improvement Services - Over 5 decades of service in NJ. Visit us online at pqpaintingservice.com . Winner of Angie’s List Super Service Award. Free estimates, reasonable rates, fully licensed and insured NJ Lic #13VH06752800. Call 732500-3063 or 609-356-2444. (t/n)

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920. Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution. Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-877-791-2033 or visit dorranceinfo.com/micro. (t/n)

CLASSIFIEDS CANNOT BE PLACED OVER THE PHONE.

1. Below, circle the heading you would like your ad to appear under:

2. Print clearly your ad as you want it to read. Include Phone # within ad below (counts as 1 word). Use separate sheet if necessary.

Heating & AC at 732-349-1448 Or Fax Resume To 732-349-6448. (t/n)

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

You are responsible for checking your ad the first time it runs and notifying us of any errors. If we make an error, we will correct it and rerun the ad. We will not be responsible for multiple insertions if you do not call us after the first ad run. No refunds for classified ads. Newspapers are available at our office. Please feel free to stop in and check your ad.

Calculate Price As Follows:

- 1 p.m. $14.13 p/hour. Send resume to: mgritschke@mail.ocvts.org. (t/n)

Services

8

Since 1979, Kitchen Magic, A family-owned business offering cabinet refacing, new cabinetry, and luxury countertop throughout the Northeast. We transform kitchens in less time, with less stress, at an amazing value. Call today for a free estimate 1-844-367-2477. (t/n)

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

LANDSCAPING - Restorations, Repairs, Stones, Mulch, Sod Installs, Hedges, Shrubs, Bushes, Downed Branches Trimmed & Removed, Demolition, Cleanouts, ect., Dumpster service provided by A901 Licensed Hauler ect. MAN WITH VAN LLC. Jim 609-335-0330 HIC# 13vh10806000. NO JOB TOO SMALL! (20)

Male Companion/Caregiver - To assist you with all your needs except hygiene. All daily routines. Also, companion and helper for those on hospice care. $22/hour. 732-664-2833. (14)

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

Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-855-634-0529. (t/n)

AAA Handyman - Carpentry, Painting, Flooring, Doors, Windows, Trim, Plumbing, Electrical, Masonry, Tile. Affordable, Reliable. New And Repairs. Licensed Insured. 609-384-9030. (16)

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, hardworking, etc. Includes housekeeping, rides to doctors/pleasure. Skip the rest, come to the best. 732-664-3605. (t/n)

Nor’easter Painting and Staining, LLC - Interior and exterior. Decks, powerwashing. Affordable. Senior discounts. References. No job too small. Fully insured. 732-6910123. Lic #13VH09460600. (19)

3. 1 week* at $29.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $

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5. MAIL TO : PO Box 521, Lakehurst, NJ 08733.

Credit Card Orders Only can be faxed to: 732-657-7388. Or visit jerseyshoreonline.com to place your classified.

Deadline For Classified Ads: 12pm Monday (Ads will run the Saturday of that week)

If you have any questions, please call Ali at 732-657-7344 ext. 203.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC: Treating Everything Below The Knee

By Michael Vandenberg

Dr. Scott Amoss,

DPM, CWS

is a lot more than a “foot doctor,” as people often mistake podiatrists for. In reality, “we provide comprehensive lower extremity care,” he said. So yes, if your foot hurts, Dr. Amoss will be happy to help. However, that barely scratches the surface of all the conditions he sees and the treatments he provides.

Dr. Amoss (pronounced like “famous Amoss”) grew up in nearby Ocean Township and has been connected to the Jersey Shore community and greater New Jersey area his entire life. Originally, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Rutgers and spent a few years in the chemical industry. However, that feeling of wanting to make a difference in people’s lives that drives all physicians caught hold of Dr. Amoss. He liked podiatry in particular because of its ability to help people really quickly. “You can immediately have a positive impact on someone’s life. They come in pain, and can leave virtually pain free.” Scott Amoss became Doctor Scott Amoss when he graduated fourth in his class with numerous honors from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in 2000. He then completed a two year residency focusing on orthopedic, vascular, plastic, and reconstructive surgery, in addition to training in internal and emergency medicine, dermatology, and radiology.

After that, Dr. Amoss knew it was time to go out on his own, so he opened Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists in Whiting.

17 years later, the practice is going strong and recently opened a new location in Toms River to be closer to Community Medical Center, where he’s a surgeon on staff. Critically, this new foothold also allows him, as a specialist in diabetic foot care, to help the growing diabetic community in the area.

While expanding served a logistically necessary purpose, Advanced Foot & Ankle has never lost its personal touch. You’ll never just be passed off to whichever doctor is on the clock that day, because Dr. Amoss is proud to be a solo practitioner. “The patients see me and only me,” he said.

“It’s good continuity of care.” His tight-knit support staff of seven ensures that you get the streamlined care you deserve.

That’s crucial in the field of Podiatry because, after all, things can get serious when it comes to Diabetes and foot complications. Luckily, Dr. Amoss is an Amputation Prevention Specialist as well as a Certified Wound Specialist. Less serious conditions like hammertoes, ingrown nails, bunions, and athlete’s foot can be treated in the office, often during your initial visit! “We’re very conservative,” Dr. Amoss assures future patients. “I’m surgically trained but I only like to perform surgery when all other conservative means

have been exhausted. It’s going to be painless.” He makes that possible by developing treatment plans for each specific patient.

Rest assured, Advanced Foot & Ankle is fully equipped to do so as soon as you come in. Both offices have digital X-rays so they can almost instantly see what’s going on and review it with the patient. They also have a diagnostic ultrasound to diagnose soft tissue conditions, as well as a laser for treatment of pain and neuropathy, a painful nerve condition caused by diabetes and other issues. They even offer MicroVas therapy, which gives much needed relief to patients with high levels of diabetic neuropathy, as well as vascular or PAD testing.

In addition to the most cutting edge podiatric technology, Advanced Foot & Ankle has professional-grade consumer products you need for immediate relief. They offer a great selection of diabetic shoes, for example, as well as custom-made orthotics which provide arch support and help correct the

imbalance in patients’ feet. Advanced Foot & Ankle accepts most insurance plans. (Medicare covers one pair of diabetic shoes per year!)

By having strategically-located offices, an experienced and focused staff, and tons of treatment methods and equipment at his disposal, Dr. Amoss is able to easily achieve his goal of getting you fast comfort and relief. When it comes to diseases like melanoma, for example, speed is absolutely critical. The most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma has an especially poor prognosis on the foot because it often goes unnoticed for a long time. Dr. Amoss diagnosed several of these cases last year, which probably saved those patients’ lives.

But sometimes conditions aren’t as complicated as much as some of the larger podiatrist offices try to let on. Dr. Amoss remembers one recent patient who came in after being with one such practice. “These eight doctors had exhausted all treatment options for this individual in pain,” he said. After years of getting the runaround, they told him there was noth -

ing they could do. The patient came limping into Advanced Foot & Ankle with what Dr. Amoss diagnosed in a matter of minutes as a simple corn on the tip of his toe. “We gave him a customized foot pad which helped him tremendously, and by the next day he came in to thank us and tell us how much better he was doing,” Dr. Amoss said. “He couldn’t believe he waited and wasted several years with this other group of doctors.”

At Advanced Foot & Ankle, you’ll get fast and customized treatment from a doctor you can trust. Give them a call today at 732-350-0100 and their very accommodating staff will be able to make an appointment for you with Dr. Amoss right away. And as the “urgent care of the lower extremity,” emergency appointments are also available. Advanced Foot & Ankle is located at 400 Lacey Road in Whiting (in the Stop and Shop Shopping Center) and 601 Route 37 West, Suite 300 in Toms River (in front of the Ocean Eye Institute). Or check out their website AdvFootandAnkle. com for more information.

One of Advanced Foot & Ankle locations is 601 Route 37 West, Suite 300 in Toms River (in front of the Ocean Eye Institute)

One of Advanced Foot & Ankle locations is 601 Route 37 West, 400 Lacey Road in Whiting (in the Stop and Shop Shopping Center)

NEED

WE’RE

HANDS

A

photo of the week

Did you know there are only 10 weeks left until Memorial Day? Yes, we are counting the days too! Local photographer Wendi Bennett captured this amazing shot of the waves at the beach in Seaside

Heights. Want to see your photos in this space? Sunrise, sunset, nature or any Jersey Shore related pic you want to show off! Email them to photos@jerseyshoreonline.com and you may win a prize!

Berkeley Over 55 Slow Pitch League Draft

BERKELEY – The Berkeley over 55 senior summer premier league plays on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from May to August. Game time is 10 a.m. All new players must show proof of age (e.g. drivers license) at the tryouts.

Registration for new and existing players is now open (existing players who want to change teams must register for the draft). New players must be at least 55 in the 2023 calendar year.

New players: legal bats: if you are 55 to 69 years of age, your bat must be ASA or USA certified. Players 70 and over can use a ASA, USA or a senior bat.

All registered players must attend the tryout to be eligible for the draft. The tryout is scheduled for April 11, 10 a.m. at Whispering Pine Park fields, located at the corner of Orlando Boulevard and Selkirk Avenue, Holiday City. Tryouts start at 10 a.m. Rain date is Thursday, April 13, same venue and time.

Registration link is found here: leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=berkeleyssl

Questions regarding the league contact John Dowling at johnbeav@hotmail.com.

Issues registering for the draft contact Mike Singer at 732-580-0633 or email at singemi43@gmail.com.

F un & G ames S udoku

C rossword P uzzle

39

gone by

Hathaway

70 Arterial implant

71 Seeks answers

72 Doe or stag

Down

1 “Porgy and __”

2 Half a McDonald’s logo

3 Old Italian money

4 Definition

5 Manually

6 “__ you comfy?”

7 Venetian blind piece

8 Promote big-time 9 Italian lawn bowling 10 Book of maps 11 Small order of pancakes 12 FedExed, say

Unrefined minerals 18 ATM code 22 __-hair pasta 24 Extremely harsh 26 Fit for a monarch 27 Nuclear reactor 29 Get-well program,

(c)2023 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.

SolutionS

briefly

30 Banished from one’s country

32 Greek i’s

33 Golfer’s pegs

34 Doily trim

35 Needing no Rx

37 Like a fox, it’s said

41 Lena who sang

“Stormy Weather”

46 Took a drive

49 Wood-shaping machines

52 Place of refuge

53 Chemically nonreactive

55 Fish eggs

56 Traffic tie-ups

57 Touched down

58 Ginger ale or root beer

59 “The Catch” actress Mireille __

61 Liver secretion

62 Shipwreck site

63 Stick shift choice

66 “Shame on you!”

Omarr’s Astrological Forecast

For the week of mar 25 - mar 31

By Jeraldine Saunders

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Paying someone a compliment might help you widen your network of friends. You may need to be more mindful of your words this week, but you will find things can go smoother if you try to be polite and gracious.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) : Try not to give in to predictable, knee-jerk reactions that may not be appropriate to your current situation. Trust in yourself and take the time to make a more thought-out move.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Tempers could be running high, and you might find yourself taking the brunt of it. Looking at things with a cooler head and a more strategic mindset can help you to avoid the risk of losing your temper.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You might be attuned to the thoughts and feelings of a loved one. You could be picking up subtle signals that may not be perceived by others. Pay attention to your intuition and trust in your feelings.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Things may be challenging when you try to fit them into a space they do not belong. Someone may expect you to do something you are unable to do. Try not to overreact to difficulties or become defensive when you are out of your element.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): There can be fewer arguments and misunderstandings if there’s no real basis for problems. You might want to delay contract signings and avoid making promises if you feel the agreements could easily turn into disagreements.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When someone

rubs you the wrong way, the result can be unpleasant. Some people may go to great lengths to prove they can exercise authority and initiative. However, this can feel annoying and might lead to unreasonable demands that can put you in a tight spot.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You may need to be more selective when sharing your secrets. You can keep a secret, but other people in your immediate circle may be less discreet. Consider delaying major purchases or making key financial choices for now.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You can be successful because you are honest and forthright. Competitive people could take unethical paths to take the lead away from others. Use your warmth and friendliness to bring people together for mutual enjoyment.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) : You might find some challenges at work that require you to move quickly. Use your organizational skills to accomplish as much as possible in a short amount of time. Savvy shoppers wait until there is a sale to buy something they want.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Having a practical attitude can promote realistic solutions. When people get aggravated, you can come up with calming techniques based on wisdom you have gained from experience. Keep a close eye on valuable possessions.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You might be tempted to handle everyday problems impulsively. Although you might want to avoid family arguments and disagreements at this time, tension and hostility can still linger beneath the surface.

FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE IS AN IDEAL FAMILY BREAKFAST

By America’s Test Kitchen

MAKE-AHEAD FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Serves 6 to 8

Note: We developed this recipe using Martin’s Potato Bread, which has 16 slices per loaf, so you’ll need to buy two loaves. With other brands, it may also be necessary to trim the slices to fit six in a single layer.

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened, plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 3/4 cup packed (5 1/4 ounces) brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

18 slices potato sandwich bread

2 1/2 cups whole milk

6 large eggs

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted Powdered sugar

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with softened butter. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon,

nutmeg, and salt together in bowl.

2. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the brown sugar mixture evenly over the bottom of the prepared dish. Place 6 bread slices (use bread heels here) in an even layer at the bottom of the dish. Brush bread with 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of the sugar mixture.

3. Place 6 bread slices in a single layer over the first layer, brush with 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, then sprinkle with 3 tablespoons sugar mixture. Place remaining 6 bread slices over the previous layer and brush with 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk milk and eggs together until well combined. Pour milk mixture over bread and press lightly to submerge. Sprinkle with almonds and the remaining heaping 3 tablespoons of the sugar mixture.

5. Bake until the casserole is slightly puffed and golden brown and bubbling around the edges, about 30 minutes. Transfer casserole to a wire rack, brush with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, and let cool for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

MAKE AHEAD: The assembled casserole, minus the almonds and remaining heaping 3 tablespoons sugar mixture, can be covered and refrigerated for up to 12 hours. When ready to cook, sprinkle with almonds and sugar mixture. Bake as directed in Step 5.

(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) 2023

AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

(c) 2023 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.