Relay For Life Coming Around Again

By Chris Lundy

BERKELEY – The annual Relay for Life has handed the baton over to a new leader and it is ready to make the rounds again. The event raises money for the American Cancer Society, which has donated more than $5 billion to cancer research since 1946.

The Berkeley-Lacey Relay for Life will be returning to Veterans

Park in Bayville on August 12 and 13. (The address of the park is 9 Tilton Boulevard but most people just know it as the large park on Veterans Boulevard east of Central Regional’s campus.)

As usual, the relay will start on Saturday with a Survivors Luncheon at noon followed by opening ceremony held around 2 p.m. After that, participants start taking laps, said chair Robyn Griffith.

Entertainment will be on hand throughout the event, in the form of a DJ, bands, games and more.

At 10 p.m. there will be a luminaria ceremony. This is a touching moment when lanterns symbolically light up the darkness. The relay raises money for cancer research and

(Relay for life - See Page 4)

By Chris Lundy

BERKELEY – For decades he kept us safe – in the military and at home. And now he’s going to be forever remembered as part of the town.

Charles Parker Sr. was known as “Pops” when he worked security for the Manitou Park basketball program. Before that, he worked securi- ty for the Toms River School District. Going back even further, he served in World War II.

He was honored recently with a “coming home” ceremony for him.

“He always did whatever he could to give back to the community,” his son Jeff Parker said.

He passed in 2020 at the age of 97. Raised in the area, he attended the Manitou Park school when Black students weren’t allowed in other schools. This segregation needs to be put in the past, as local residents host an annual summer party named, simply, Unity Pride. It’s like an old fashioned neighborhood