O cials Celebrate Health Centers For Serving e Vulnerable

By Bob Vosseller

TOMS RIVER – National Health Center Week was kicked off in Toms River to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Federally Qualified Health Centers which provide free health care to all. The event was held at

Ocean Health Initiatives’ Toms River facility at 10 Stockton Drive and while the skies threatened rain, the sun came out just as the event was set to start.

This year’s NHCW theme is “Community Health Centers: The Roadmap to a Stronger America” because com- munity health centers strengthen the economic, physical, and emotional health of the communities they serve.

Following the kickoff press conference, OHI’s community event featured live music, free ice cream, balloon artists, photo booths, inflatable hoop games and many free giveaways from OHI and all the event sponsors: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, United Health Care, Amerigroup, Fidelis Care (Wellcare) and Aetna. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the OHI facility. The event’s keynote speaker was entrepre- neur and philanthropist Eric LeGrande, a former defensive tackle who played college football at Rutgers. He became paralyzed while making a tackle on October 16, 2010.

LeGrand suffered a severe spinal cord injury during that game

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These are some of the questions that were brought up during recent Township Council meetings. Applicants have complained that they haven’t received ac- knowledgement of having submitted an application while some have wondered why they didn’t get the non-paying job they volunteered for. Still others wanted to know the status of their application which begins with a leadership form that is available on the township’s website. As to who decides who will serve, that all depends on the board/commission in question. If it is a (Zoning - See Page 7)