County’s First

Medical Cannabis Dispensary Opens

By Stephanie Faughnan

WARETOWN – Nearly three years ago the Township of Ocean defi ned the approved zone for retail sales of medical cannabis. It’s taken since then for Ocean County’s fi rst-ever medical marijuana dispensary to open for business.

Located at 501 U.S. 9 in Waretown, BLOC’s license only allows them to sell cannabis to those who are registered patients of the New Jersey Medicinal Cannabis Program.

GOP Leaders Endorse Democrat Prosecutor

By Stephanie Faughnan

TOMS RIVER –Breaking the mold of traditional partisan politics, the Ocean County Commissioners have asked Governor Phil Murphy to reappoint Bradley D. Billhimer to a second five-year term as the county’s prosecutor.

All five members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners are prominent Republicans; Billhimer is a Democrat.

During a recent meeting, the Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution requesting Murphy to consider Billhimer’s reappointment. The resolution highlighted Billhimer’s commitment to justice and his efforts to address the evolving needs of Ocean County. It praised

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Continued From Page 1 the artists who shared the inspirations leading to their work.

Among the participants was Mary Prendergast of Toms River, a professional artist who has been honing her craft for many years. Her captivating sculpture of a warrior woman caught the attention of visitors and judges alike. The piece mirrors Prendergast’s journey of resilience and determination, having overcome a life-threatening spider bite years ago.

“She’s a warrior who just needed a little rest,” Prendergast explained. “She’s been traveling and traveling, and now she just needed to take a break with her spear – and is just whittling away and making another feather.”

Prendergast’s dedication to her art was evident in the time she invested in creating the warrior sculpture made of oil-based clay and epoxied to a wooden base. It took Prendergast nearly four years to complete the piece, showcasing her patience and attention to detail.

The event featured several framed art pieces, including Leunish “Leon” Devero’s “Every Day is a New Beginning.” Devero, of Manchester, recently retired as a Linden High School art teacher.

Devero said his painting was intended to convey a powerful message, spotlighting a man gazing out at a serene morning scene.

“The open door shows that He lets you know that it’s a new beginning each day,” said Devero. “I wanted to show that it’s up to all of us to take the incentive and do something great each day.”

TRAC’s president, Lisa Cifaretto, revealed that a total of 78 artists submitted their entries for consideration in the art show. The professional and non-professional participants competed in 11 distinct categories, including Acrylic Painting, Craft, Digital Art, Mixed Media, Oil Painting, Photography, Pastel, Print, Sculpture, Watercolor, and Works on Paper. This diverse range of artistic disciplines ensured a rich and varied display of talent throughout the event.

Before announcing the winners, Maria LaFace, Director of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, spoke about her department’s role in the community.

“At Senior Services, we help people fi nd food every week,” said LaFace. “We help people who are struggling with homelessness and people who can’t pay for their prescriptions. It gets very heavy at times, but this is something to celebrate and to see older adults still being creative and contributing – thank you for bringing all this beauty to the county.”

Challenging the notion that artistic talents wane with age, Toms River resident Mary Petrosino received special recognition as the event’s oldest participant. At 96 years old, her artwork from six years ago was prominently displayed, showcasing that age imposes no limitations when crafting beautiful masterpieces.

“We just wanted you to know we love your art,” Cifaretto said to Petrosino. “We appreciate your love for art and it’s because of people like you that we keep doing this.”

Gladys Rivera was awarded fi rst place in Acrylic Painting in the Professional Division, while Robert Villar secured the top spot in the Non-Professional division for the same category. Second and third place recognition in the Professional Division went to Zenka Sommers and Margaret Greener, with Kami Simpson earning an honorable mention. Arthur Rone took second place in the Non-Professional division, followed by Veronica Pearce in third place, and honorable mention awarded to Susan Farbor.

The judges selected Samuel Sinelnikov as the blue ribbon recipient in the Professional Division’s Craft category, while Denise Fitzgerald emerged as the winner in the Non-Professional Division.

Robert Henne’s Digital artwork earned him fi rst place in the Professional Division of that category.

In the Mixed Media category, Jane Brida secured the fi rst place in the Professional Division, with Christine Sleckman and Carole Gernett awarded second and third places. Leon Devero claimed the top spot in the Non-Professional Division, with second place recognition awarded to Carol Bricnell.

Valerie Morone and Debbie Rooney emerged victorious in the Oil Painting category, securing the fi rst place in their respective divisions. Following Marone in the Professional Division were Mary Jo Austin and Thomas Nulton in second and third places. Alice Van Note earned honorable mention. In the Non-professional Division, second place was awarded to Renate Kupatt, third to Michelle Dilion, and honorable mention to Ruth Bernarducci.

Debbie Gentile and Raymond Crouch showcased their remarkable photography skills, earning them the fi rst place in the Professional and Non-Professional divisions, respectively. Candace Ross received a red ribbon for her work in the Professional Division. In the Non-Professional Division, Haya Gray was awarded second place, Roy Winograd, third, and Tom Quattrocchi, an honorable mention.

Jo Lynn Tritto Jacobino and Charles Sulkowski claimed fi rst place ribbons in the Professional and Non-Professional divisions of the Pastel category. Margarete Noesner was selected as the second place winner for the Professional Division. Liz Quattrocchi and Patricia Mono Autore earned second and third place recognition in the Non-Professional Division.

Jo Guscott’s print artwork stood out in the Professional Division as the fi rst place winner, with no exhibitors noted in the Non-Professional Division.

In the Sculpture category, Mary Prendergast and Ilene Van Duyne’s works earned first place in their respective divisions. Following Prendergast in the Professional Division, Mark Dornan was awarded second place, and Victor Sevceuko, third place.

Clara Sue Beym and Janet Grossart triumphed in the Watercolor category, selected as blue ribbon winners in the Professional and Non-Professional divisions, respectively. Janice Nelson received a red ribbon in the Professional Division, as did Clint (Art - See Page 5)

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Continued From Page 1 his establishment of various community outreach programs, including Ocean County Cares and the Escape the Vape Taskforce, as well as his initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic.

Billhimer’s work in strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the faith-based community was also commended. Additionally, the prosecutor’s focus on bias prevention and his collaboration with numerous organizations for public safety and education in Ocean County were recognized.

The resolution passed by the Ocean County Commissioners includes references to Billhimer’s commitment to school-aged children. He and his team have conducted over 145 presentations in more than 70 schools during the 2022-2023 academic year alone. Through these meetings, they have reached over 20,000 students, educating them about topics such as internet safety, social media, and bullying.

As the county’s top law enforcement officer, Billhimer has taken his role beyond prosecuting crimes. In a remarkable initiative, he organized a symposium for local

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Lehman in the Non-Professional Division. Donna Burton was awarded third place in the Non-Professional Division, with Judith police officials to engage in a candid and accelerated discussion about perceived biases in law enforcement interactions. This proactive approach distinguished Billhimer as the sole county prosecutor to undertake such an endeavor.

“I know Brad has the support of local legislators, and we want to get the Governor to fast-track this,” said Commissioner Gary Quinn. “We don’t want to drag out his life or ours.”

Quinn acknowledged Billhimer’s presence in the rear of the meeting room, while offering further commentary on what he called the “phenomenal job” the prosecutor has done since his appointment in 2018.

Commissioner Jack Kelly said that he’d received a number of calls asking why a Republican board would support a Democrat appointment.

“What I’ve told every one of them, I’ll say here publicly,” Kelly shared. “Because Brad Billhimer has been a nonpartisan –not a bipartisan, but nonpartisan prosecutor who has done an outstanding job for the people of Ocean County. I support anybody who supports the people of Ocean County.”

The other three commissioners echoed similar sentiments regarding Billhimer’s service to the county.

Schimmel acknowledged with an honorable mention for her work.

Charles Wesley and Tracy Sette topped the Works on Paper category in the Professional and Non-Professional divisions, respectively. In the Non-Professional Division, Jamie

Billhimer’s ties to the community run deep as an Ocean County native who graduated from the Toms River school system. His commitment to the local area continued throughout his educational journey, as he pursued his undergraduate studies fi rst at Ocean County College before transferring to Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

In 1994, he was selected to work in Washington, D.C. as an intern for former United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ).

After earning his JD from Widener University, Billhimer returned to his hometown to establish his legal career. He began by serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Barbara Ann Villano, J.S.C., in Ocean County, gaining valuable insights into the judicial system. He then went on to work in the private sector, ultimately establishing his own criminal defense law practice.

In addition to his law career, Billhimer has actively contributed to the bar activities and community organizations. He has served as an adjunct professor, sharing his professional expertise with students.

In 2018, Governor Murphy appointed Billhimer as the Ocean County Prosecutor, a position he assumed after being sworn in by the Honorable Marlene Lynch Ford,

Fox received second place, Grace Mataka, third place, and George Chaphain, honorable mention.

The first place winners from each category will have their artwork showcased at the state level as part of New Jersey’s annual

A.J.S.C.

New Jersey’s State Constitution intentionally designates a five-year term for county prosecutors, who are selected by the governor and approved by the state senate. This deliberate provision ensures that their tenure is not synchronized with the term of the governor who appointed them.

By setting a fi xed term, the Constitution aims to provide continuity and independence to county prosecutors, allowing them to carry out their duties without undue influence from political changes or shifts in gubernatorial administrations.

Only a handful of Ocean County prosecutors have remained in the position for more than five years.

Marlene Lynch Ford, held the position from 2007 to 2013. After her tenure, she received a judicial appointment to the Superior Court and recently retired as the Ocean County Assignment Judge.

Several years prior to Ford, Edward Turnbach served as the Ocean County Prosecutor from 1976 to 1987, making him the second most recent prosecutor to hold the position for more than one term. He was appointed as a Superior Court Judge in 1987, serving until his retirement from the bench in 2006.

Senior Citizen Art Show. Their exceptional creations will be displayed alongside the winning artworks from other counties across the state. In 2022, eighteen of New Jersey’s 21 counties participated in the statewide exhibit.