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Class Of 2023 Graduation At Southern Regional High School
MANAHAWKIN – The 66th Commencement Ceremony took place at Southern Regional High School, Manahawkin, on June 13 honoring 462 students. Pomp and Circumstance was played as Assistant Chief Administrator, Megan Vile led the students to the stadium while the audience cheered and applauded the graduates.
Principal Joseph Medica greeted everyone at the commencement, followed by The Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mia Mastrogiovanni, who will attend the United States Coast Guard Academy, Conor Collins and Alexander Skipper, who will both attend the United States Military Academy West Point. The Honors Select Choir sang The Star-Spangled Banner under the direction of Carolyn Placa.
Class Advisors Kathleen Cornelius and Catherine Kubarewicz announced the students who have enlisted in the military, the Top 20 of the class, and the Distinguished Scholars. Principal Medica presented the class to Chief School Administrator, Craig Henry to receive their diplomas.
Class President Cade Beck delivered welcoming remarks and emphasized the uniqueness of the last few years. He reflected on “This is a chapter of our lives that I think most of us wish could be just a little bit longer. We have to fi nd peace in this moment and … look at today not as an end, but as a beginning.” Cade will attend Villanova University, where he will pursue a degree in Engineering.
Valedictorian Nate Bott told the audience, “We all faced challenges along our path. These challenges were different for all of us ranging from the pressures of high school to the loss of a loved one. We did not let these obstacles stop us. We continued to persevere and soon we would make it to calmer waters.” Nate will attend Union College, where he will pursue a degree in Engineering.
Salutatorian Andrew Farnung said, “I want to illustrate the unprecedented challenges we as a class have faced, experiencing things that not many other graduating classes will ever be able to say they have. We became masters of resilience … and we were able to weather this adversity.” Andrew will attend Stevens Institute of Technology and pursue an Engineering degree.
Vice-President Daniel Stafford delivered the closing remarks. He said, “I think I speak for our class when I say, the Southern Experience is one that has shaped us into the remarkable individuals that we are today. Four years have truly flown by, but here we are. Never forget where you came from, because after all, once a Ram, always a Ram.” Daniel will attend the University of Southern California and pursue a degree in Business.
After the ceremony, the graduates tossed their hats into the air, followed by a cannon blast of streamers. The evening was filled with laughter, hugs, tears, and beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.
Focus On Fitness
LACEY – This is a low-impact exercise program designed to address the challenges we face as our bodies age. With a focus on balance, flexibility and maintaining muscle strength, this program is beneficial for individuals of all abilities. Although we may see loss of strength and flexibility as well as weight gain as the natural course of aging, a proactive approach to fitness may slow the aging process. Exercise movements can be modified to accommodate physical limitations. Call or text 609-276-3687 to register and for more information
Sunset Stories & Cra s: PJ Party In e Park
SURF CITY – Enjoy family fun in the summer twilight at the Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch’s next Pajama Party in the Park, Bayview Park in Brant Beach, 7 p.m. July 12.
Gather around our Children’s Librarian for an all-ages story time, and create a crafted item as a keepsake. Actual PJs are not re-
Program held at Lacey Recreation Classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 a.m. Open to adults aged 50 and up. Fee is $50 for 10 classes. Instructor: Jean Sullivan, AAAI-ISMA Certified: Personal Trainer, Group Fitness, and Fitness for Older Populations. quired, but they’re fun!
The Pajama Party in the Park is free and open to the public. No registration is required. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held in the OCL Long Beach Island Branch, 217 South Central Avenue, Surf City.
See details at theoceancountylibrary.org/ events or call 609-494-2480.
Charity Gi Auction
levard, Forked River. Doors open at 2 p.m. Food will be available of purchase. For more information, call 732-703-4650.
Crisis:
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“Your age friendly stores, offices and parks are of little use if our parents and grandparents can no longer afford to live in New Jersey,” wrote Vicari. “Perhaps some funds can be diverted from the Age-Friendly program to a senior housing initiative.”
Ocean County is home to approximately 200,000 seniors, as determined by the Older American’s Act, which sets the age of 60 as the benchmark. Of that total, a significant number served the United States in at least one of its military branches.
“We have 20,075 seniors who are over the age of 85,” shared Maria LaFace, Director of Ocean County Office of Senior Services. “Many are starting to outlive their savings.”
At the most recent Ocean County Commissioners’ meeting, Vicari noted there are 96 adult retirement communities within the county. He added that fi nding affordable housing for local seniors should not be just an Ocean County issue. After all, many who come to the shore area to spend their golden years migrate from other counties throughout the state.
Vicari suggested that the surge of senior citizens moving to Ocean County was initially encouraged by the Ocean County Freeholders in the 1960s. The intention was to create retirement developments akin to those in Florida. However, unlike their Florida counterparts, the Ocean County senior communities are not self-contained and lack convenient access to essential amenities such as businesses and retail stores. This issue compounds the existing housing concerns faced by seniors in the area.
Judy Noonan, the Confidential Aide to Manchester Mayor Robert Arace and Liaison for Senior Communities expressed her support and appreciation for Vicari’s decision to approach the governor. A prior Berkeley councilwoman, Noonan said she has been working on behalf of seniors for more than two decades.
“We have serious issues with seniors being threatened and intimidated with high rents,” Noonan said. “They’re being pushed out.”
During the Commissioners’ meeting, Noonan highlighted what she saw as an alarming trend of landlords advertising in New York to attract tenants, with promises of lower rents. However, Noonan said landlords subsequently exploit the lack of rent control and raise prices at their discretion. Residents have expressed their dismay at the lack of safeguards, fearing they would be priced out of their homes and left with nowhere to go.
Noonan shared the story of a senior resident currently paying $980 for a modest one-bedroom, one-bathroom home. Shockingly, the landlord expressed their intent to increase the rent to $1,400 and delivered an ultimatum to the tenant: either pay the inflated amount or vacate the premises. The increase amounts to a nearly 43 percent raise for someone on a fi xed income.
“These seniors have paid their bills, paid their taxes, and raised their children,” continued Noonan. “Now it’s time for them to die so people can raise their rents to these outrageous rents? If they become homeless, where are they going to go?”
While rent costs go up, seniors who rely on social security benefits can’t expect their annual increases to make up for the accelerated expense. The cost of living adjustment (COLA) was a mere 8.7 percent in 2023.
Meanwhile, the affordability crisis for Ocean County seniors extends beyond rentals. Those relocating from counties such as Bergen, Essex, and Morris are often taken aback by the steep prices of homes in retirement developments, which closely mirror the costs of their residences “up north.”
For instance, smaller developments like the Venue at Lighthouse Station and Seacrest Pines in Barnegat boast price tags ranging from the mid-$400s to as high as the mid-$700s. Similarly, Four Seasons at South Knolls in Jackson offers homes priced from the high $300s to the low $500s. Even some older Holiday City developments in Toms River come with asking prices in the $300s.
The notion that Ocean County was an affordable haven for seniors could soon be a myth.
Vicari and the other Ocean County Commissioners don’t want to see a decline in the number of older adults who call the county home. The hope is the governor will divert funds so that seniors can afford to live in New Jersey and not leave the state.
According to Noonan, private associations and management companies are also making decisions that adversely affect seniors. Local government does not have the right to interfere.
Governor Murphy recently announced a plan to cut property tax for seniors over the age of 65. This program, called StayNJ, will take some time to implement. While it does, the ANCHOR property tax rebate will increase for seniors.
Amidst discussions surrounding the challenges of senior housing costs, a sense of empathy arose for a remarkable young man of 102-years-old. Thomas O’Malley, a resident of the Four Seasons in Lakewood, expressed strong opposition to a proposed cell tower that was slated to be erected at the entrance of his retirement community.
O’Malley’s heartfelt plea resonated deeply as he emphasized the health implications for residents, mentioning the prevalence of cancer cases within the community. O’Malley had also reached out to Senator Robert Singer, both in writing and through personal conversations, seeking assistance in resolving this matter.
“I’m a survivor myself,” said O’Malley. “My wife passed away last month, and we have a great percentage of people who have cancer.”
Vicari said he learned from Senator Singer of O’Malley’s issue and discussed it with county counsel. The unfortunate news was that Ocean County Commissioners had no right to intervene. The Commissioner Director suggested O’Malley attend the public hearing in Lakewood to voice his concerns, as the jurisdiction of the issue fell under the control of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rather than the Board of Public Utilities.
While unrelated to affordable housing, O’Malley’s frustration serves as further proof that the challenges of growing old come in unexpected ways.
Action:
Continued From Page 5 at the cost of the life that makes our oceans and ecosystem so healthy and beautiful. When looking at the 526,066 level A and B marine mammal takes pending to be authorized in the last year, it is clear to me that we have stopped caring about these important creatures,” Griffin added.
The event also included a large whale sand sculpture as a backdrop, the work of the Bikini Boys who worked on it for 10 hours. Later in the day, the public was invited to speak to advocates at two action “stations” and “comment booths.”
Some of the actions available for people to participate in were signing and sharing peti- tions, submitting comments in real-time to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regarding the 2,000 plus page Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for two offshore wind projects, Atlantic Shores 1 and 2, and signing up to be engaged in the campaign for the COZ either as campaign leaders, petition captains, outreach and advocacy volunteers, and more.
“What the ocean needs now more than ever are the voices of all the people who enjoy and/or depend upon the rich vibrant living resources to contact their elected leaders to take a stand to save the sea, and save the planet,” Zipf added. The organization has the many action steps available at CleanOceanAction.org for the public to complete and share.
Government
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ANCHOR program this year is expected to be an additional $140 million. The leaders have also agreed to place $100 million, $200 million, $300 million, respectively, in a lock box over the next three fiscal years to offset the total cost for the fi rst full year of implementing StayNJ spanning calendar year 2026.
“This is a game changer for New Jersey’s seniors who are getting squeezed by escalating expenses,” said Senate President Scutari. “It will provide significant tax relief that will make the state a more affordable place in which to live, work and retire. Reducing the burden of property taxes will give senior citizens the fi nancial security they need to remain in New Jersey, where they built their lives. We want to offer seniors and their families the ability to plan their future here in New Jersey.”
