Timeless Talent Portrayed At Senior Art Exhibit

By Stephanie Faughnan

TOMS RIVER –Ocean County government offices and the Toms River Art Community (TRAC) joined hands last month to curate the 2023 Ocean County Senior Art Exhibit, a remarkable event celebrating the artistic talents of local senior citizens.

The exhibition represented a collaborative effort between TRAC, the Ocean County Offices of Senior Services, and the Ocean County Tourism office. Every inch of space within the TRAC gallery showcased works from Ocean County artists over 60.

As the doors opened, the gallery buzzed with excitement, with both the artists and visitors stepping in to witness the display of breathtaking creations. The stand - to create. ing-room-only event led to some aminated discussion with 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 (Exhibit - See Page 4)

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

Council Candidate Drops Out

By Chris Lundy

TOMS

RIVER

–

A candidate who wanted to run for a spot on the Township Council has dropped out of the race.

Kajal Lal, 29, is listed as a banker for Investors Bank on her LinkedIn. She won the primary in June to represent her party in November. She stepped down to take a job in the federal government and by law she can not run for office, according to a message sent to Democrats by local leader Jeff Horn. This message was then sent anonymously to The Toms River Times

“I would like to thank her for her work with us up until this point and congratulate her on obtaining a new job,” he said, noting that the vacancy will be filled soon. He encouraged people to get involved in local politics and make a difference.

“The other side wants to pit neighbor against neighbor quite literally and we are the vessel in which to prevent them from obtaining victory,” he said. Horn could not be reached by press time.

According to county information, September 14 is the deadline to replace a primary nominee for the general election.

The Democrats’ slate is led by former Township Committeeman John Furey for mayor. There are three seats on the council up for grabs this year. Board of Education member Michelle Williams and Rhetta Jackson-Fair, (Council- See Page 4)

Bee Queen Teaches Her

Subjects About Pollinators

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 res - olution 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 his establishment of various (GOP - See Page 5)

By Chris Lundy

CREAM RIDGE

– The local student known as the Honey Bee Queen is being crowned with other titles and awards for her work in studying parasites that are impacting the bee populations.

(Bee Queen - See Page 4)

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Continued From Page 1 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

Council:

Continued From Page 1 a pastor at True Vine Ministries in Bayville, are also running for council. on Paper. This diverse range of artistic disciplines ensured a rich and varied display of talent throughout the event.

The Republican slate is headed by Councilman Dan Rodrick for mayor. The council candidates are Tom Nivison, owner of Silverton Farms, Lynn O’Toole, president of adult community Holiday City Silverton Phase II, and longtime educator Craig Coleman, former principal of Ocean County Vocational-Technical School.

Because Rodrick’s team unseated other Republicans in the primary election, there are no incumbents this year. This is going to be a big election year for the town. In addition to half of the municipal governing body being on the ballot, there are three board of education seats available. There are nine members on the board of Education, and they serve three-year terms. The terms are structured so that there are three seats on the ballot every year. The deadline to announce a run for a board seat is July 31.

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 find 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 first 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

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Kaitlyn Culbert, a student in Toms River High School North, was presented the President’s Youth Environmental Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It was given to her by the EPA Chief of Staff, Olivia Glenn, at the Honey Harvest in honor of Pollinator Week at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Bee Yard in Cream Ridge.

The Honey Harvest that she organized was a way to show other youth the importance of hive health. There were 18 teenaged 4-H members and their parents from six counties who attended, she said.

The 4-H members accompanied Chelsea Abegg from Rutgers to the bee lab to learn about different species and hives. They ended the day by extracting honey. They also got to look at pollinators under the microscope.

“I was honored to discuss my science research on Varroa mites and thymol-based essential oils with Secretary 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 first place in the Professional Division of that category.

In the Mixed Media category, Jane Brida secured the first 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 first 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 first 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 first 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. of Agriculture, Doug Fisher, Assemblyman Alex Sauickie, and Paul Hlubik from the Department of Agriculture,” she said. “Jeff Burd and Angela Juffey from NJ Beekeepers Association and Dr. Brian Schilling from Rutgers also accompanied me on the day’s events. Our State Apiarist, Meghan McConnell, and Ashley Kerr from the Farm Bureau also stopped by.”

Jo Guscott’s print artwork stood out in the Professional Division as the first 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 Lehman in the Non-Professional Division. Donna Burton was awarded third place in the Non-Professional Division, with Judith 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 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 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.

Culbert and Abegg have another honey harvest for 4-H teens on August 16, which is National Honey Bee Day.

The honey bee population is threatened by climate change and Varroa mites, the leading killer of honey bees. Her ongoing study is to develop a way to predict Colony Collapse Disorder.

The recognition she’s been getting is twofold. Agriculturists appreciate both the scientific method she is using to solve a problem – the decline of hives – and the way she is teaching the public about the problem. She created the 4-H Busy Bees Beekeeping Club.

Recently, she had a 2,500-squarefoot pollinator garden installed at

Jake’s Branch County Park in Beachwood. It’s located on the plant discovery trail. Another is outside the nature center. Visitors can see it from inside.

Natalie Duddridge from CBS 2 NY visited the Jakes Branch hives.

“She suited up and accompanied me on a hive inspection,” Culbert said. “We were fortunate enough to find the queen on my first try. It was such an incredible opportunity to talk about and provide some insight into nature’s most important pollinator!”

She also did a live interview at NJ12 studios with Lauren Due about honey bees, the industry, native plants and more.

She’s also spending six weeks at the Research Science Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She will be one of the 100 students invited to MIT for a summer science and engineering program that combines course work with hands-on research.

She encourages interested people to follow her progress on Instagram at KT.Bees and youtube.com/channel/ UC1VTjvnWwdJQMSHG2H18FpA

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From Page 1 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 police officials to engage in a candid and accelerated discussion about perceived biases in law enforcement interactions. This proactive approach distinguished Bill - himer 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.

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 first 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, 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 fixed 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.