Government:

Continued From Page 7 oxycodone. Ireland-based Allergan formerly made Norco- and Kadian-branded and generic opioids. The company sold its generics portfolio, including opioid products, to Teva in 2016.

“While thousands of New Jerseyans have lost their lives to the opioid epidemic and thousands of others continue to struggle with opioid addiction, these large corporations and drug makers profited from the pain and struggle of our communities. While this settlement does not bring our loved ones back, it will bring resources to the state that will support programs and initiatives that save lives,” said Governor Murphy. “I thank Attorney General Platkin and his office for their work on delivering these settlements to our state. This Ad - ministration will continue to prioritize and support our residents with substance use disorders.”

New Jersey announced its participation in the settlements on January 11, 2023, and eligible counties and municipalities were given until May 2, 2023, to sign on. During that time, state, county, and local officials have been working together to ensure that New Jersey receives the maximum possible benefit from the settlements, with assistance from the Murphy Administration, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, and the New Jersey Association of Counties.

Teva, Allergan, CVS, and Walgreens are expected to announce by June 1, 2023, whether their settlements will go forward, which will depend on whether enough state subdivisions from around the country have signed on. The Walmart settlement becomes effective by its own terms so long as sign-on is achieved by 85% of the aggregate population of litigating subdivisions and 85% of the aggregate population of subdivisions with populations equal to or greater than 30,000 that have not filed suit against Walmart, and populations between 10,000 and 30,000 that have not filed suit against Walmart but have filed opioid litigation against McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and/ or Janssen Pharmaceuticals or any parents, subsidiaries, divisions, predecessor, successors and/or assigns of any of these companies. If all states and eligible subdivisions participate, the agreements will collectively be valued at $20.1 billion nationwide.

“No one is immune from the opioid epidemic that continues to ravage through our communities and claims over 3,000 lives each year in New Jersey,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “The opioid settlement funds will put accountability into practice, supporting prevention efforts and expanding access to care, treatment and recovery programs for individuals and families struggling with substance use disorder.”

These settlements announced are the latest multistate accords resolving nationwide claims against drug makers and pharmacies for their alleged roles in the opioid addiction epidemic.

In February 2022, the Attorney General’s Office announced that New Jersey was to receive a historic $641 million from settlements with opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and the country’s three largest pharmaceutical distributors - McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen. The $641 million in settlement funds will be paid through 2038, and will fund programs focused on treatment, prevention, and other strategies to combat the opioid epidemic in the State.

In June, AG Platkin announced New Jersey would receive approximately $30 million in settlement funds from global pharmaceutical maker Mallinckrodt PLC. In August, he announced a multistate agreement-in-principle with opioid maker Endo International plc and its lenders that would provide up to $450 million to participating states and local governments, ban promotion of Endo’s opioids, and require Endo to turn over millions of documents related to its role in the opioid crisis for publication in a public online archive. Final settlement amounts for individual states have not yet been determined. The state has solicited funding recommendations through an online portal and the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory Council will host a series of public listening sessions starting on May 4. For more information, visit nj.gov/opioidfunds/.

Attorney General Platkin is recused from the Walgreens matter.

Heroes:

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Michael faces life’s challenges head-on.” “With his loving and caring grandparents, he is adjusting to a new state, a new community, a new school, and making new friends,” Denning continued. “He is rising above the struggles of the earlier part of his life, and he is now able to give better attention to his school responsibilities and show himself, his teachers, and his classmates the amazing things he is capable of.”

Prayer:

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Sergeant Chris Hofrichter who prayed for those in the military, Fran Grilletto who prayed for business and Gwen Schwarzwalder who prayed for the media arts.

Township Mayor Robert Bowen prayed for those involved in all levels of government. Bible Baptist Church Pastor Dominick Cuozzo, who also serves as a township committeeman, prayed for family while Pastor Devan Ritchey, of New Life Assembly Church in Wrightstown prayed for the church. Maureen Grove prayed for education. Hofrichter said, “America is great because America is good. If America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. How far we have fallen my brothers and sisters. This nation is in trouble but there is hope in God who keeps his promises.”

Grilletto said, “work came to us after the fall of Adam and Eve and the Lord said because that sin you will toil and that is what we do, we toil. We struggle in our work place day in and day out.”

Grove thanked God, “for having a free education and I pray, Father, turn us around.”

“I am thankful that we live in a town that sets a celebration like this aside. I am privileged to have a family and I don’t take that for granted,” Pastor Cuozzo said. “There are all different flavors of belief. I think we can all pray for unity of the home and softness of heart and marriages and family.”

Mayor Bowen said, “I am pleased to be able to serve our community. We pray for all of those who lead our government, federal, state and local levels. Grant them wisdom and integrity to lead with kindness and guide them through the daily challenges of leadership.”

Pastor Ritchey noted, “we pray for your church in America and your people across this land. We pray that we will wake up. We are living as unbelievers. Will you wake us up? Sanctify your people with your truth.”

“As a free moral agent man has the awesome responsibility to choose between a hapless physiological existence with a dead end or a rich and rewarding eternity as a member of God’s family,” Schwarzwalder said during her prayer.

“We had a great turnout and I was glad everyone was here,” Diblin said.

At the same time the prayer ceremony took place, members of the Satanic Temple of New Jersey were present in Township Hall with their own activity.

Michael Silvestro of Monroe Township said he and his fellow members decided to observe the event in a different way, through a community service project. “We cleaned up the basement and bathroom and we will be involved in an area adopt a highway project in the near future.”

According to his obituary, Michael “Mikey” Ryan Browne tragically left his world on April 2, 2023, just days before his thirteenth birthday. His obituary mentions his achievement as an unsung hero.

The list of 2023 Award Recipients and the school districts they represented are as follows: Matthew Fronzuk, Barnegat Township High School; Joseph Thiel, Bay Head Elementary School; Mariah Walling, Brick Memorial High School; Liam Nielson, Brick Township High School; Nathaniel Davis, Central Regional High School;

Harrison Headley, Eagleswood Elementary School; Michael Browne, Frog Pond Elementary School; Yaneli Emilio-Tlapanco, Hugh J. Boyd School; Teagan McGarry, Island Heights School; Denielle Deriode, Jackson Liberty High School; Christophano Marano, Jackson Memorial High School; Charles Elmer, Lacey Township High School; Anthony Palma, Lakewood High School; Skyler Vivenzio, Lavallette Elementary School; Kirra Fredericks, Manchester Township High School; Luis Huitron, New Egypt High School; Ava Yellovich, Ocean Gate Elementary School;

Eric Czaplinski, OCVTS-Brick Center; Dinah Van Name, OCVTS-Grunin Performing Arts Academy; John Fitzpatrick, OCTVS-Jackson Center; Matthew Caccavano, OCVTS-Toms River Center; Emma Carlysle Kohler; Pinelands Regional School District; Sabina Smith, Point Pleasant Beach School; Kagni Hostinsky, Point Pleasant Borough High School; Quinn Corbett, Stafford Township Intermediate School; Bella Moderno, Toms River East High School; Alexandra Finter-Flood, Toms River North; and Diana Olivos, Toms River South.