State Accused Of Failing To Protect Boy Allegedly Killed By Dad

By Stephanie Faughnan

rectly affected.

OCEAN

COUNTY – Nashville, TN. Denver, CO. East

Lansing,

MI. Chicago,

IL. St. Louis, MI. Uvalde, Texas. What do all of those places have in common? There has been a school shooting in each.

From the start of the year, 19 school shooting-related incidents have occurred . The tragic reality is not just that school shootings happen, but it also impacts the mental health of every student, teacher, and staff member – even if they are indi-

While thankfully none of the schools here in Ocean County have yet found themselves on that list , students attending our schools also can feel as if they were directly in the crossfi re

“We are seeing that our students in New Jersey are having reactions as if they are experiencing the shootings,” said Maureen Brogan, Traumatic Loss Coalition Program Manager at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

(Health - See Page 5)

By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY –Property mortgage

fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country and officials are urging residents to sign up for the Property Alert Service offered by the Ocean

TOMS RIVER –

A civil lawsuit has been fi led against the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) by the mother of Corey Micciolo, a sixyear-old boy whose father faces charges of murdering him in 2021.

Attorney Chris Conrad, who represents Breanna Micciolo individually and as the representative of the Estate of Corey Micciolo, said that DCPP is the mechanism by which children are supposed to be protected from harm. He added that they completely failed in their responsibility to do so.

“DCPP is supposed to be the last line of defense for children who are being abused or neglected,” Conrad said. “But in this case, they completely failed Breanna and Corey. They let them down, and they paid the ultimate price.”

The lawsuit, fi led in Superior Court in Ocean County, alleges that DCPP failed to protect Corey from his father, despite multiple reports of abuse and neglect. Additionally, the legal complaint names individuals who are presumed to be DCPP employees involved in Corey’s case. As discovery in the civil matter progresses, other members of the agency may also be individually sued.

Christopher Gregor, Corey’s father, is

(State - See Page 12)

Officials: Mortgage Fraud On The Rise

County Clerk’s Office.

The free program, first introduced in 2016, offers an added layer of security when it comes to property protection, according to Ocean County Clerk Scott M. Colabella. It provides property owners with email alerts anytime a document affecting a specific property is recorded by the Ocean County Clerk’s Office.

Colabella told the Ocean County Board (Fraud - See Page 6)

Journey:

Continued From Page 1 my head,” shared Natalia. “East or west, home is best.”

A trained and talented artist, Natalia created a poignant photo essay that captured the essence of her father’s message, focusing on his features and using imagery to convey the emotion and meaning behind his words. Through her art, Natalia offered a powerful commentary on the universal experience of seeking a place to belong.

“There is no home,” Natalia wrote. “The home is in your head and my head.”

The Shtubel’s hometown of Uzhhorod was fortunate enough to be spared the catastrophic destruction caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Nonetheless, Natalia was deeply moved by the plight of her fellow Ukrainians and felt a strong sense of empathy and solidarity towards them. She found herself determined to contribute to the war effort in any way she could – despite the relatively safe conditions in her own community.

Day in and day out, hundreds of people streamed into Uzhhorod, seeking refuge after being forced to flee their homes in cities like Kiev. The local train stations were inundated with a flood of people looking to escape the dangers of a war that had even civilians living in constant fear for their lives.

Natalia teamed up with other volunteers to prepare sandwiches for the refugees stranded at the train station, ensuring that they would have at least one bite to eat. She and the others also did their best to help the refugees navigate a path to the next stop on their journey.

“We’d ask them where they needed to go,” said Natalia. “So many were lost and traveling across the country from one place to the next to get away.”

Local families in Uzhhorod opened their homes to the refugees, providing them with temporary relief from the struggles of displacement. Natalia’s parents were among those who offered their hospitality, welcoming different groups of refugees into their three-story house and providing them with food and shelter.

Meanwhile, Natalia also found herself determined to aid in the battle for her homeland. Natalia’s volunteer work expanded to the assembly of Molotov cocktails – a stark contrast for the young woman who studied art and worked during the day as a preschool teacher.

Exorbitant rises in fuel costs made it bitter cold in the winter months. And even though electricity could only be used six hours a day, children in Natalia’s hometown continued to attend school. Nonetheless, despite being spared from the bombings that plagued other regions, Natalia’s students were not shielded from the harsh realities of the ongoing war.

For one, many of the children’s fathers joined the army of Ukrainians seeking to keep their country’s sovereignty. As she shared a treasured picture drawn by one of her students, Natalia explained that it was more than a display of affection.

“I asked the child to tell me about the picture,” Natalia shared, as she pointed out different aspects of the drawing, “I was told that this was me, and that this was a gun pulling hearts to me.”

“This is how children are influenced by war right now in Ukraine,” nodded Natalia.

After fi nding refuge with her family in the United States, Natalia has resumed her passion for teaching preschoolers in Manahawkin. Devoting much of her free time to her art, Natalia fi nds she most enjoys painting abstracts that leave room for personal interpretation.

As she’s adjusting to her new life in a foreign land, Natalia has found some of the differences between the two countries remarkable. For example, in Ukraine, it’s uncommon for people to even nod as they pass each other on the street. Natalia was initially taken aback by the fact that strangers would greet her with a smile and a hello. She has since come to appreciate the friendly gestures. The lack of sidewalks where Natalia now lives has posed an interesting challenge. In her hometown, Natalia was accustomed to walking everywhere. She didn’t have to rely on anyone for transportation, as she could easily get to work, the local shops, and her friends’ houses on foot.

But in Stafford, sidewalks are not only few and far between – virtually nothing is within walking distance. The only way to get around is by car, which has prompted Natalia to work on getting her driver’s license to give her some independence.

Natalia also admitted she was a bit confused by how the two countries handle taxation.

“Taxes are also different here than in Ukraine,” said Natalia. “There, if you pay for something, the tax is already in the price. Here, tax is added to some of the (Journey - See Page 12)

Health:

Continued From Page 1

Brogan used the tragically life-changing event of the attacks on September 11, 2001 as an example of how a person does not have to be immediately involved in order to have a mental reaction.

But what negative effects are directly derived from those mental reactions?

Terri Dawe, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Assistant Clinical Director at Calm and Sense Therapy, considers the most disturbing effects of school shootings are feelings of ongoing danger that spread through schools. She states that the climate and sense of community in schools have been profoundly damaged.

“Where children once found schools to be a safe haven, they are now ‘unsafe’ often leading to hypervigilance, anxiety, depression, and vicarious trauma responses,” she said.

The power of media also plays an important role here as well. The constant exposure to media and detailed coverage of the shootings can be a trigger to the mental health-harming symptoms mentioned by Dawe.

For students like Brianna, a senior from Toms River High School South, while unsurprising to her, the news of another school shooting leave her angry and overwhelmed.

That media exposure, according to Brogan, is also adding a sense of hopelessness to the anxiety of students that further contributes to them losing their sense of control.

In order to combat that, Dawe shares the idea of parents and teachers encouraging “news breaks” to their kids and students.

“It is important to limit the time spent watching TV or staying connected online because constant exposure may heighten their anxiety and fears,” she said.

In addition to the constant media exposure, here in Ocean County, multiple schools have been subject to a number of fake active shooter treats. High School South was one of them. Those threats have led to lockdowns, evacuations, and missing school days, all negatively impacting Brianna and her fellow classmates.

“I always feel an overwhelming sense of dread and anxiety,” said Brianna, commenting on the recent active shooter threats on social media.

Brianna, who had grown angry and exhausted over the topic of school shootings, found that educating others on the severity of the topic of active shooters has helped her cope, even though she fi nds it hard to stay strong when there is not much done about the number of school shootings.

When it is too late, and the exposure has done damage to the mental health of the student, it is time to start asking the question: What should that person do in order to receive help?

According to Brogan, once a student reaches that point they should start asking themselves who are the people that they can go to and ask for some support? For her, asking for help when a person is in need is a sign of bravery.

“Asking for help is actually a strength and not a weakness,” said Brogan. “By sending the message that even the strongest people, the smartest people also need help at some point of their lives… we want to send this message of help-seeking behavior.”

She also states that adults should also be reaching out and willing to offer support to children and adolescents that need help.

Often their parents are the closest adults in their lives, but unfortunately , some parents don’t fi nd the value in mental health.

In that case, Dawe suggests that students should turn to their school counselors to ask for help, or even a trusted coach or mentor for support.

Parents should be mindful when addressing concerns about their children’s safety, she said. Parents should not downplay the fears of their kids because that might lead to a shutdown of communication.

“It is not appropriate to tell the child that they will never experience a school shooting because we do not know that,” she said. “At the same time, we want to help them to feel safe enough so that they do not become fearful of going to school.”

Schools can and should be able to offer support for students, she said.

“Schools need to provide psychoeducation on the vicarious impact school shootings have on the mental health of its student body,” said Dawe. “De-stigmatize mental health by validating (that) having fear/anxiety are natural responses to traumatic events even if (they are) not directly involved.”

For Brianna, ready access to mental health resources in schools for students and their families and the fi nancial support needed to obtain those resources would be the best course of action that schools can take.

Constant exposure to school shootings can potentially lead to dangerous tendencies. According to Brogan, instead of developing depression and anxiety, some students will just become numb.

She said that with some of the school shooters, the theme of disconnectedness is present. Whenever people might not have a sense of belonging and they feel like they have been marginalized, that’s when they might have a desire for revenge or notoriety.

They might think: “If no one is paying attention to me then I will make sure that everyone is paying attention to me,” Brogan said.

Fraud:

Continued

From Page 1 of Commissioners, “this helps our property owners to guard against fraud. This type of fraud is a nationwide problem.”

“Scammers record fraudulent documents like fake deeds or record fake liens against property owners. In some instances, fraud on real property is not discovered for years. To address these concerns and protect one of the most important assets a person has, my office has been offering this free service that immediately notifies you by email whenever a document with your name is recorded in the County Clerk’s Office,” the Clerk added.

Berkeley Township Councilman John A. Bacchione recently told the County Commissioners there was growing concern in his township over this type of fraud being committed in particular because of the large number of seniors living there.

Bacchione said he was providing seniors in the township with information on the Property Alert Service. “Our seniors are probably the most targeted.”

Colabella noted that last year, his office recorded more than 131,000 documents including 24,000 deeds and 26,000 mortgages. “We have a dedicated staff that makes certain the paper work is in order.”

“However, we are not investigators or detectives and based on the volume of deeds and mortgages recorded monthly, it’s not impossible for some items to be potentially fraudulent. By signing up for the property alert service, you will be notified by email whenever a document is recorded affecting your property,” Colabella added.

“You can review the record to determine if it’s correct or if it’s fraudulent,” he said. “It adds some peace of mind for our property owners.”

“It’s as simple as registering your name or business name and your email address and you will be automatically notifi ed electronically if a document is recorded with your name,” Colabella added, noting that about 4,000 property owners have signed up for the service.

Colabella stressed that identity theft is a growing consumer complaint and property fraud which is a form of identity theft is on the rise. “While this service can’t prevent fraud, it’s important to be notified early that someone may be trying to steal your property without your knowledge.”

He added that the only time recordings can be refused is when statutory guidelines are not met. “As long as a document meets statutory recording guidelines, New Jersey law requires the Clerk’s Office to record the document. I am pleased we offer this program to help our constituents detect information that may be fraudulent.”

To sign up for the program visit countyclerkpas.co.ocean.nj.us/PropertyAlert/ and follow the steps outlined on the page.