Toms River Woman: Becoming Firefighter “Best Decision I’ve Ever Made”

By the Toms River Fire Company No. 1

TOMS RIVER - Until recently, firefighting has been considered a man’s job. But that’s been changing. In the past twenty years the ranks of female firefighters have grown in the U.S. from 2% to 11%.

Women firefighters have proven that they are just as capable as men of doing the strenuous and dangerous work of fighting fires. And they have reaped the satisfaction of serving people at their times of greatest need and becoming part of a team that always has each other’s backs.

Toms River Fire District No. 1 celebrates its women firefighters. Chairman of District No. 1’s Board of Commissioners, Richard Tutela says, “we encourage other women to join us in Saving Lives from Wood to Water.”

Five years ago, Dakota Oeskovic, then 25, was perusing a mailing from the Toms River Fire District No. 1, when she noticed one line, “looking for volunteers.” She was intrigued.

Firefighter: Continued From Page 12

She didn’t know anything about firefighting and had never considered it. She went to Toms River’s website, watched videos, and talked to a female firefighter in the department. Then she was hooked.

“I still remember the excitement I felt - it was a chance to give back to the community I grew up in and challenge myself both mentally and physically,” Oeskovic says. Five years ago, she joined Toms River Fire District No. 1’s East Dover Fire Company. “It was the best decision I’ve ever made. I have never done anything more gratifying.”

Oeskovic has found being a female firefighter to be particularly rewarding. She once responded to a house call for a fire in a clothes dryer, located a block from where she lives, although she didn’t know the family. After extinguishing the fire, she went on the roof, and a women came running out of the house screaming ecstatically, “I can’t believe you’re a woman firefighter.” Says Oeskovic, “this woman was so proud to see a female firefighter. We are now friends.”

Since joining the department, “I’ve al- ways been treated with the utmost respect and was quickly integrated into the family.

I have never felt that any of the men have doubted my abilities. We turn to each other for any problems we have. I love it.”

She encourages women to try firefighting. “Have confidence in yourself and even if you don’t have it, the team will have it for you.”

Because of her passion for fire safety, Oeskovic recently completed fire inspector training. And a few weeks ago, she launched a new career as a fire inspector for the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention. She will continue to proudly serve as volunteer firefighter.

If you’re looking to keep your community safe, Fire District No. 1 is always looking for volunteer Firefighters (ages 18 & up); Junior Firefighters (ages 16 & 17), Fire Police, Safety Officers, Administrative Support and Seasonal Roles.

Many volunteers initially join us to make friends, seek fulfillment in their personal lives, or set an example for others. Regardless of your reasons for volunteering, Toms River Fire District No. 1 is here to help you build essential skills to carry with you for life.

Check us out: trfire.org/

Jersey Shore Boca Soccer Tryout Dates

TOMS RIVER – Jersey Shore Boca Soccer Eastern Development Program (EDP) is pleased to announce its Tryout dates for the upcoming 2023/24 season. Register at jerseyshoreboca.com/tryout-information.

Boys:

• Birth Years 2013, 2014 & 2015 – April 17 and 18 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.

• Birth Years 2010, 2011 & 2012 – April 17 and 18 from 7 to 8:15 p.m.

• Birth Years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 – Dates to be announced shortly, contact to request an invitation to team training.

Girls:

• Birth Years 2013, 2014 & 2015 – April 19 and 20 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.

• Birth Years 2010, 2011 & 2012 – April 19 and 20 from 7 to 8:15 p.m.

• Birth Years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 – Dates to be announced shortly, contact to request an invitation to team training.

Location: West Dover – West Dover Elementary School Turf – 50 Blue Jay Drive, Toms River.

Beach: Continued From Page 1 the mission would continue on, at least in Ortley Beach. They were joined by some dedicated volunteers who ignored the rain.

Their unofficial mascot, a pig named Hamlet, came with Beach Captain Crystal DeCaro and her dog Aurora. “Rain or shine we’re going to make it happen,” she said.

“Clean Ocean Action has a spring sweep and a fall one. It is always in April and always in October and they usually shoot for a Saturday. In the last 10 years we’ve had so many windy days and rain before and other things that might deter volunteers but we always have people come out,” DeCaro added.

Laurie and Keith Huryk of Toms River were there despite the rain. DeCaro said, “they are extreme supporters and they always come in and get a selfie with Hamlet. They come prepared with cleanup items and everything.”

“I started coming when I was on council,” former Councilwoman Laurie Huryk said. “I didn’t know it happened before that. We enjoy it so much. It has been six years now. You help clean up the beach and help the environment.”

She and her husband later found a pair of eyeglasses that were left behind near the dunes. Hamlet didn’t mind the rain. “He is our unofficial mascot of Clean Ocean Action. He is six years old. He’s been coming since he was a baby. I’ve been doing it for 10 years. He has been a hit ever since so I felt I couldn’t help but bring him out. He’s my pet indoor pig and he loves the beach so that was also a motivation behind it because he pushes around the sand with his snout,” DeCaro said.

“I try to teach people to make sure you know what you leave behind and notice the trash. It isn’t only all about us it is also about the animals and our ecosystem,” she added.

Ortley Beach was just one of several sweep locations that were to be held that day. Other Beach Sweeps in Ocean County were to include Bay Head, Berkeley, Brick, Island Beach State Park, Lavallette, Long Beach Island, Mantoloking, Ocean Gate, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Normandy Beach and Tuckerton.

Three volunteers at the Berkeley location – Dudley Park – stayed at the picnic tables to let people know it was cancelled. They still picked up a few things while they were there.

Clean Ocean Action started the Beach Sweeps in 1985. It is one of the longest running cleanups of its kind in the world. The program grew from 75 people at one site in 1985, to over 10,000 volunteers in 2018.

Volunteers gather as groups (community, school, business, and organization), families, or individuals and collect and record valuable data about debris, which is presented in annual reports.

“If you want to change the world, people power is the answer,” COA Executive Director Cindy Zipf said. “The Beach Sweeps is proof positive of that fact. We are grateful and inspired by the dedication and true-blue spirit of volunteers.”

Fish, whales, birds, and other animals often mistake litter for food. As a result, animals get entangled in or ingest items, such as plastic bags, cigarette filters, and fishing line, with deadly results. Cigarette filters are made of plastic fibers and trap carcinogenic chemicals that are introduced into animals’ bloodstreams.

Watershed Program Manager Alison Jones said, “last year, over 10,000 volunteers welcomed the opportunity to gather safely, get outside, and give back by participating in the Beach Sweeps. As always, their hard work and diligent data collection provided COA with interesting insights about litter at the Jersey Shore.”

New Jersey Man Admits To Assaulting Girlfriend

By Alyssa Riccardi

TOMS RIVER – A Newark man has pled guilty to Aggravated Assault and more after holding his girlfriend at gunpoint and hitting her, officials said.

Deshaun Porter, 29, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault, two counts of being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, and Possession a Weapon For an Unlawful Purpose.

In the early hours of November 6, 2020, police said Porter had held his girlfriend at gunpoint, refusing her to leave an apartment complex on James Street. When officers arrived around 9 a.m., Porter fled the apartment.

Authorities later discovered that the events at the apartment originated as a result of an earlier incident that occurred on November 3, 2020, at the Howard Johnson’s Hotel in Toms River. According to police, Porter forced his way into a hotel room, threatened the occupants with a handgun, and struck the same victim in the face

On November 6, 2020, a warrant was issued for Porter’s arrest and he was later arrested on December 9, 2020, in Atlantic City by the United States Marshals Service, Atlantic City Metro Task Force, and New Jersey State

Police. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since his apprehension.

At the time of his sentencing on June 2, the State will be recommending a term of seven years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the Aggravated Assault charge - subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, five years NJSP with a five-year period of parole ineligibility as to each of the Certain Person charges, and five years NJSP with a parole ineligibility period of 42 months as to the Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledged the efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron and Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara who are handling the case on behalf of the State, and commended the Toms River Police, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police, Atlantic City Metro Task Force, and United States Marshals Service, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation resulting in Porter’s apprehension, guilty pleas, and soon his state prison sentence.

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