Officials Celebrate Health Centers For Serving The Vulnerable

By Bob Vosseller TOMS RIVER – National Health Center Week

awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Federally Qualified (Centers - See Page 4)

Education:

Continued From Page 1 counterfeit pills from friends

• Finding fake “look-alike” prescription pills on youth social media sites such as Snapchat, where cartels posing as youth push illicit pills laced with deadly doses of fentanyl.

The informative presentation talks about fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stron- ger than heroin and a common source of fatal overdoses; 1 in 4 fake pills containing fentanyl have a lethal dose.

“Sadly, these days, fi rst-time opioid and substance misuse is trending to include younger-aged children due to social media and increased availability. With the flood of fentanyl-laced pills in U.S. communities, this can be deadly for our youth,” Howell Alliance Coordinator Christa Riddle said. “Parents, as our front line of defense against youth substance use, need to be educated and aware early in their children’s lives, well ahead of the adolescent years.”

The presentation also provides opioid misuse prevention strategies as well as support resources for youth-interacting adults, caregivers, and parents.

Dr. Steven Friedeman of Therapeutic Impact, L.L.C., delivers the PowerPoint presentation which is concluded by a Q&A session. Dr. Friedeman, who is a physical therapist in Howell, is also a township resident and active volunteer, as well as a parent who has participated in many community youth sports leagues with his two sons.

Additionally, the National Opioid Settlement Agreement is funding the program to support and prevent opioid misuse in the community.

If you are interested in hosting a “Tackling Opioid Misuse Through Prevention” presentation for your youth sports league or organization, contact the Howell Alliance at 732-938-4500 ext. 4500 or email criddle@ twp.howell.nj.us.

For more information on the Howell Alliance’s substance use prevention and mental well-being initiatives and support resources, visit their website at twp.howell. nj.us/169/Alliance.

Night Out:

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Sgt. Chris Hill, who oversaw the event on behalf of the Howell P.A.L., said he was proud of the students.

“A lot of them came in and didn’t think they could do it. So, they were able to survive and make it through. But, we kind of make it so that when they leave here, everybody knows they’re a winner,” said Hill, who runs the P.A.L. and also serves as the Chairman for the National Police Athletic Activities Leagues, Inc.

At its outset, the junior cadet program would formerly run in June, with a graduation at the conclusion of the week-long drill instruction. But Hill saw the opportunity to tie it in with the nationwide event in August, and the change was made.

“[This] was an event we did to open up their eyes to law enforcement,” said Hill. “Then with the relationship to National Night Out, when we had our graduation it just made sense to culminate here. To come out and fight against crime, and show that we support one another. The community supports the law enforcement, and law enforcement supports the community.”

During the one-week training, the adolescents learn the skills utilized by local police, including an introduction to fi rearms, and motor vehicle enforcement. The young cadets are also shown the use of new technologies in fighting crime, such as robotics and

(Night Out - See Page 3)

Night Out

: Continued From Page 2 drone use, emergency response procedures, and evaluating crime scenes.

Following the graduation ceremony, the assembled crowd enjoyed visiting more than 20 area vendors that participated in the event. In addition, there were displays, learning opportunities, and demonstrations that drew crowds of people interested in seeing emergency response procedures in action.

The Howell police put their k-9 unit on display, running the dogs through their paces with live action demonstrations of how the animals are used to take down perpetrators and locate narcotics out in the field.

In another area of the park, the Southward Fire Department put on a demonstration of their motor vehicle accident response capabilities, educating the public about how they can systematically take vehicles apart to free the occupants who may be trapped inside.

“For Howell, it gives the public an opportunity to be one-on-one with the police department, the rescue squad and the fi re department,” said Deputy Mayor Evelyn O’Donnell. “Kids get an opportunity to see the people that will help you when you’re in trouble, and I think it’s important now to build those relationships. So, this is a good way for people to see how our departments really work. We’re very fortunate... we have an excellent [police] department, so in conjunction with the National Night Out, the cadet graduation [fosters] a better relationship, especially with the youth of the community.”

O’Donnell’s spouse and two sons are all members of the law enforcement community.

National Night Out is celebrated across America on the fi rst Tuesday in August. From its humble beginnings decades earlier, the event has now grown from simple neighborhood watch patrols to celebratory events where police and fi rst responders seek to foster tighter bonds with the communities they serve.

Numerous civic organizations now participate in the observance of National Night Out, where Howell is one of nearly 300 communities in New Jersey that host similar outings. But just as they have done with other events in the town, Howell is always looking to improve the experience for its citizens.

Last year’s event was held at the parking lot at the now-defunct Xscape movie theater, and with the excessive heat during that week, it made for a less-than-pleasurable outing. This year, however, with the event moved to Soldier Memorial Park the crowd appeared to be even bigger, with near-perfect weather and a much more serene setting.

Several new activities were added this year, including a dunk tank and a water balloon toss, where youngsters could take aim at a willing volunteer protected by a motorcycle helmet. But, while there is a fair amount of good-natured fun and levity at the event, the importance of the night, and the message it carries, is not lost on township officials.

“I think that this is an opportunity for kids to make better friends with those that are in authority positions,” concluded O’Donnell. “I think that this is a real plus. We’re able to do something like this, in an environment under a beautiful night, and we’ve got a great crowd. I think it might be a catalyst for some young people to see and fi nd an interest in law enforcement and associated fields.”