2023-08-26 - The Jackson Times

Holbrook Little League All-Stars Honored

By Bob Vosseller JACKSON –

Holbrook Little League’s All-Stars were honored during the most recent Township Council meeting receiving proclamation certificates from Mayor Michael Reina and the Council.

Holbrook Little League President Erik Johnson told The Jackson Times that “the 12-yearold Allstars were playing to be in the Little League World Series (which was played and televised on ESPN and ABC Sports). Little League has All-Star tournaments for ages 8 and on up but it is that 12-year-old season that is that magical season which is the age group that can go to Williamsport if they can win through and make it there.”

Little

The Jackson Holbrook Little League All-Stars join their coach and manager having won the Section 3 tournament. They went on to a sections victory as well for what has been a great season for the team who were recognized at this week’s Jackson Township Council meeting

Fight Brews Over Communication

well. We just didn’t know how well. We ended up winning our district, District 18 which is said to be the most competitive district in New Jersey.”

By Bob Vosseller

convention.”

“That is the big goal. Every 12-year-old want

to be on ESPN and play for that world title and in Little League you start dreaming about it at 6 and 7 years old and you start preparing. These kids play Little League; a lot of them play travel baseball and they all train for that ultimate goal of winning their district, section and state and region and getting to Williamsport,” Johnson

No Knock Law Not Enforced In Plumsted

By Bob Vosseller PLUMSTED – Police

Chief Earl Meroney said his department is not enforcing the town’s No Knock ordinance after his officers were challenged by a seated committeeman and his church.

explained.

“That is exactly what this group of kids did,” he said.

“They have been playing and training together since they were 7 years old and learning the game, hanging out and becoming friends. It was a long road. The All-Star Team was picked through Holbrook Little League and they were expected to do

door-to-door but allows political and religious groups to visit residences.

However, on April 23, police officers stopped canvassers who were going through a neighborhood on behalf of the Bible Baptist Church. While the church members had a permit, they were in violation of the window of time that permitted solicitation.

Committeeman Dominick Cuozzo, who is a pastor there, confronted officers

45 YEARS

“A lot of teams that come out of District 18 end up winning the state title and go to regional and to Williamsport. Back in 2017 Holbrook made it to Williamsport. We went 8-0 winning the district tournament. I think we only gave up four runs in that whole district tournament. We had six shut outs in eight games. We shut out Toms River and Maple Tree in the championship game,” he added.

Johnson said, “that was awesome. That was the big prize for us. It is so competitive. We’ve been playing against these other leagues for years. We’ve gotten to know them pretty

(Holbrook - See Page 4)

about being stopped.

Meroney has said that the law was unconstitutional, but since it was on the books his officers did the right thing in enforcing it. He urged the Township Committee to update the law since it’s been four months.

“This has been an ongoing issue that we have been having multiple debates about,” Meroney said.

“This committee puts into

JACKSON

– A recent Township Council meeting began with a proclamation honoring the nation’s most sacred document which ironically was followed by further debate about the governing body’s own practices of shared documents and transparency.

Mayor Michael Reina presented a proclamation honoring the Constitution of the United States describing it as “the guardian of our liberties.”

The mayor noted “September 17 marks the 236th anniversary of framing of the Constitution of the United States of America through the Constitutional

“It is fitting and proper to accord official recognition of this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate it. September 17 through September 23 is Constitution week,” Mayor Reina added.

Mayor Reina also recognized in the proclamation, “the Captain Joshua Huddy chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution along with the Ocean County Historical Society in celebrating Constitution Week in Ocean County.”

(Council - See Page 4)

“Uncle Wally” Jamison Remembered As Hero

By Bob Vosseller JACKSON

– Township

officials,

event was marked with a special parade and party on February 18 that involved the membership of the local VFW, military representatives, state officials and Mayor Michael Reina. “He founded the VFW 4703 and the Cassville Fire Company,” his wife Marge Jamison said. “He is also a charter member

(Plumsted - See Page 5) (Wally - See Page 4)

residents, family and friends of Stephen “Wally” Jamison are mourning his loss. Jamison, who was born in Jackson and was affectionately known to the community as “Uncle Wally” passed away on August 14 having turned 100 years old this year. That milestone

Photo courtesy Holbrook

League

The ordinance blocks sales people canvassing

Photo By Bob Vosseller

Plumsted Police Chief Earl Meroney, seated at left, speaks to members of the Township Committee and professional staff.

Photo By Bob Vosseller

WWII Army veteran Stephen “Wally” Jamison sits beside his wife of 41 years, Margaret Anne “Marge” Jamison during this year’s Memorial Day ceremony held in Johnson Park.

Holbrook:

Continued From Page 1

well. They are all good. Nice players, nice boys, they’ve gotten to know them over the years but when the game starts it is competitive. The kids were excited and were out on the field celebrating when they won. It was magical.”

After that victory the team advanced to the sectional level. Johnson explained “we won 4-0 in that tournament and we didn’t give up a run and we beat a team that had won the state championship in our age group and they were expecting to win it this year but we ended up beating them twice in sections.”

“The kids kept focused. Our defense and pitching were amazing. They were so fantastic and

Council:

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Application Process

Councilwoman Jennifer Kuhn questioned the process of citizen leadership forms noting two applicants were on the night’s agenda to be appointed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. She called for some clarification of the application process so residents had a clear understanding so that “they know how their application is being processed and so that the application isn’t caught up in red tape.” Kuhn said the applications went to the Clerk’s Office and expressed that there was confusion as to what happens to an applicant’s resume and application form. She asked Township Clerk Mary Moss what the process was.

“The process in the past prior to July 26, the day after the July 25 meeting, when citizen leadership forms are sent through our township platform when they were submitted, they went to administration. Our IT director is here and he can verify that,” Moss said.

The clerk added, that in the past if it pertained to council, it was always forwarded to her office. “Since I’ve been in the position, we’ve made hard

Continued From Page 1

of the Ocean County Purple Hearts and the State Purple Hearts.”

The Cassville Volunteer Fire Company noted his passing stating he would be remembered as a “true hero to this company. Not only starting our fire company, he was also part of many different organizations and groups in the town of Jackson.”

Mayor Reina said, “you can’t sum up Wally Jamison. As many years as I have been here, I can say I’ve never been to an event that he wasn’t there and wasn’t honored. He will be missed.”

“To the Jamison family my sincerest condolences. He was a one-of-a-kind man. What he has done for this town will never ever be matched. God rest his soul,” the mayor added.

“My condolences to the Jamison family. He was quite an institution here for the last 100 years and he contributed quite a bit not just to the fire department but for all the veterans’ organizations and the history committees. It was a great loss,” Council President Steve Chisholm said.

Council Vice President Nino Borrelli said “my prayers and condolences goes out to the family of famous Jackson resident World War II veteran and hero Wally Jamison who went home to the lord...at the tender young age of 100. I am glad I had the honor of meeting him at a couple of township events in the last few years.”

they deserved it. They won the section 3 tournament and then we went on to the states,” he added. The State Tournament was held in Secaucus and the All-Stars won their first two games. “We beat East Hanover in our second game with 10 runs and we beat them 12 to 2. We went to the championship and eventually East Hanover comes back to play the championship,” Johnson said.

Johnson added, “we just had to beat them once and they ended up beating us twice. They ended up going to Bristol Connecticut for the regional tournament. “

“We just didn’t get the timely hits as we had gotten in the past. It was just one of those things. It just didn’t go out in our favor and we were that close to going to Bristol for the regional tournament,” he said.

copies that have been placed in council’s mailboxes once it is received by administration and we e-mail the council president. Since (July) 26 when we were added to the process, I do now receive the citizen leadership forms.”

“Today when I received one it was forwarded over to the council president and the rest of council was cc’ed on it. I also addressed it with the mayor and I think we are going to work on a process to have better transparency and communication for the public and council,” Moss added.

Councilman Scott Sargent said he had received several of those forms within the last two weeks “for various different departments and I think that is because we owe Councilwoman Kuhn gratitude in attempting to get this issue put to bed so we can go forward.”

Land Preservation

Councilwoman Kuhn noted Ordinance 25-23 that was on the agenda and that it would “allow Jackson Township to preserve another 10 acres of land bringing us well over 100 acres. I can’t wait to see what the open space committee does for future parks and recreation for our residents to enjoy.”

Council Vice President Nino Borrelli spoke about

Jackson Police Officer Mike Basso who coordinated the parade as part of “Wally Day” a joint effort between the Jackson PBA 168 and Jackson VFW Post 4703, described him as “a national treasure and true American hero. With such an impressive resume, I’m surprised Hollywood hasn’t made a movie about him yet.”

The Army veteran proudly volunteered as an extra in a documentary film to honor his great grandfather, Ellison Jamison, for his service in the Civil War. The documentary is now being shown at the Monmouth Battlefield. He was also involved with the Jackson AMVETS and served as director of the Jackson Police Department.

His son Steven Jamison Jr. told The Jackson Times that there were many stories to share about his father. “We’ve lived in Jackson all our life. It was very rural when we were kids. Everybody was somebody’s relative. He worked for moonshiners when he was a young kid. He was a look out.”

Jamison’s son Marc recalled special times with his father. “We used to go hunting and we had a property that had a couple of cranberry bogs and we fished over there. We did a lot of outdoor activities.”

Jamison was a proud military man who served as private in the 95th Infantry Division. He was awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, CIB, and many others for his bravery while serving in World War II.

Johnson added, “it slipped away and it was hard. It was something they had dreamed about for years and they were that close. When I look back to the journey and ride we had this summer, we had so much fun.”

“The kids became close and spent almost every day together whether it was practice or pool parties. Winning the games that we had in the district was amazing. The things the boys were able to accomplish on the field and deal with the pressure. To see how they have grown from May to the end of July as young men so much before my eyes. I couldn’t be prouder of them,” said Johnson, who is also the team manager.

Johnson’s 12-year-old son Dillion, played shortstop on the All-Star team. Holbrook Coach Jason Ballard had two sons on the team and fellow

land preservation in the community and that he liked seeing a resolution on the agenda that he had suggested a while back “to consider looking at this over 43-acre property acquisition on East Veterans Highway.”

“There has been a lot of talk at the last several council meetings about transparency, however, I had to read it online last Thursday, that Mayor Reina, Councilwoman Kuhn and Councilman Sargent negotiated the preservation of 10 acres of land on Leesville Road which includes a house on the property. I’m all for open space and so are my other colleagues on the Township Council but when was this purchase even discussed or even shared with the rest of us on the township council?” Borrelli asked.

He added, “why weren’t we privy to the negotiations? Why wasn’t the background and details of this open space agreement shared with the rest of the Township Council? This is a perfect example of not being transparent or working together.”

Jackson’s National Night Out

Councilwoman Kuhn commended the recently held Jackson National Night Out

He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and was inducted at Fort Dix. He did his basic Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and specialized training at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Jamison was shipped overseas and landed in Warminster, England in August, 1944 and was reassigned to the European mainland landing on Omaha Beach, France. He entered combat just prior to crossing the Moselle River in Thionville, France.

He was assigned to Marone’s Marauders and then Task Force Bacon. He was involved in the liberating of the city of Metz, France, which at the time was the most fortified city in the world, protected by 9 interlocked forts. They proceeded to the Saar River and Wally was wounded on November 29, 1944, during the Battle of Metz, and just before the city of Saarlautern, Germany. In the process of moving from the field hospital in Germany to England, the transport plane had to be diverted to Le Bourget Airport in Paris. The plane struck a fuel truck crossing the runway and tore off a wing. Wally was taken to England for a short period of time before returning to the U.S. He was transferred to Ashford General Hospital in White Sulphur Spring, West Virginia to recuperate for five months.

The Army veteran received several medals from the French government, including the French Croix de Guerre, which is comparable to the American Medal of Honor, and the Metz

coach Shaun Wood’s son was one of the team’s top pitchers and a starting catcher. Johnson said the entire team “had a part in this.”

Dillion shared his thoughts saying, “it was really fun getting to play with your friends every day and playing against some good teams and just having that experience. Going as far as we did, we’ll always have those memories.”

Mayor Reina said during the recent council meeting, “Holbrook once again made us proud and put Jackson on the map. Everyone knows Jackson is a force to be dealt with, with our Little Leagues.”

Council President Steve Chisholm added “congratulations to our Holbrook Little League champs. It was a great accomplishment and we look forward to maybe seeing some of these boys in the majors someday.”

that involved the police department and the community’s first responders. “It was great to see so many of members of the community coming out and enjoying a great night.”

She also put out a reminder to the public that Jackson Day would be held on October 15 and that it had a rain date of October 22 from 1- 7 p.m. at Johnson Memorial Park. It will include a parade, beer garden, giveaways all day, and a cornhole tournament that will start at 3 p.m.

“Jackson’s National Night Out was another successful well organized and well attended event in our township’s largest park, Johnson Park. Thank you to Police Captain Mary Nelson, Chief Matthew Kunz, the JPD and all who participated in it,” Borrelli said.

Council President Steve Chisholm echoed the comments about National Night Out. “It was a good event. It was great to see everyone come out. We had perfect weather for it. Jackson Day is well underway and I hope all of you will take part in that.”

Mayor Reina and Councilman Martin Flemming waived their comments noting the night’s full agenda.

Liberation Medal. Many years later in 2006 he received the French Legion of Honor commendation for his contribution to the liberation for France during WWII.

He was employed by the Ocean County Road Department for 45 years, working his way up from truck driver to the general foreman in charge of the northern section of the county. He was also in charge of the Bridge and Transportation departments, and for two years he was the director of Jackson Twp. Police Department and the Road Department. Prior to serving in the Army Wally worked as a civilian for the Colonel in the Maintenance Dept. at Fort Dix, NJ. Wally furthered his education at the Luscombe School of Aeronautics in Lawrenceville.

During his service to the community, Wally witnessed a car accident in 1959 and stopped and saved Ms. Tia Long who had been choking to death. In addition, he came upon a house fire and found a distraught mother outside of the home. Jamison went into the burning house and saved two children and upon exiting the house, came upon an unconscious police officer and dragged him out to safety, earning the Medal of Valor from the Cassville Fire Dept. in 1962.

A year later, he showed his heroic nature once again by saving the life of Larry St. Laurent, as a Good Samaritan, who was helping the Cassville Fire Department combat a major forest fire that

(Wally - See Page 5)

Plumsted:

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place all township ordinances that my department is responsible for upholding in enforcement.”

“Due to this lack of change in the current ordinance, I have advised my officers not to enforce this ordinance as it reads. I apologize but the two officers were put in a bad spot - as everyone knows - for something that could have been handled differently and which spiraled out of control,” the chief added. He criticized Cuozzo for interfering and escalating it to becoming a lengthier response call. Meroney also stated that it would have been better for Cuozzo to have brought up the need to revise the ordinance the next day in a meeting with him and to have gone to the rest of the committee to draft a revised ordinance.

A New Ordinance?

Township Attorney Jean Cipriani noted that a revised version of the ordinance had not passed during July’s meeting and that she had not received any guidance about the preparation of a new one. She noted that Committeeman Cuozzo had brought up some concerns in the definition section of the ordinance.

“We do have definitions in our existing ordinance that we are carrying over but I was not sure if the direction of the committee was to prepare a new ordinance with those definitions or the changes that

Wally:

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encompassed the entire county. Larry and Wally had become entrapped by the fire, and Larry became overcome with panic and hyperven-

had been suggested. I think it is very important we address this issue as not doing so leaves the township in a vulnerable position,” she added.

“I mentioned at the last meeting that we do a whole new ordinance,” Committeeman Leonard Grilletto said. “We should do it from top to bottom so there is no misunderstanding as to what the definitions are or we ask the resident about a noknock sign and that be it. I could go either way.”

Cipriani said she’d draft a full ordinance that would include the existing definitions “and I will show on a red line the suggested changes.”

Committeeman Michael Hammerstone asked if there was language setting certain times that canvassing is allowed.

Cipriani said: “I could prepare it with a time limitation but I cannot tell you that you are not exposing yourself to the possibility of a challenge. That is a decision for the committee to make. I am sure there are many, many towns that have those restrictions. The question is with the towns that have those restrictions, have they been successful when challenged?”

“We have sufficient reason to believe that an ordinance of this kind may be challenged in this place,” Cipriani added. “There is a time limitation for most solicitation but the constitutional exemption is for political and religious groups. You can always ask but not require. Speech is very, very protected. It is only the exempted groups we need to carve out.”

tilated. Jamison witnessed the burning of the Hindenburg landing at Lakehurst Naval Base on May 6, 1937.

His funeral was held on August 20 at the George’s Hassler Funeral Home, Jackson. He was predeceased by his parents, Viola Mac-

No Censure

On police body camera footage, Cuozzo was called to the scene where he then ordered police not to cite his people for violating the ordinance. He said that he was the police officers’ boss. Having seen the body camera footage, Mayor Robert Bowen put forward a resolution to censure Cuozzo, feeling his statements were in conflict with public ethics laws regarding public officials. As not all officials had reviewed the body camera footage nor investigate the matter, the censure vote was postponed during the Committee’s May meeting.

At June’s meeting, Bowen and Deputy Mayor Herb Marinari voted in favor of the censure while Hammerstone and Grilletto voted against it. The Committee is made up of all Republicans. Cuozzo, who was able to vote on the issue himself, broke the tie against his censure. He called the measure “politically motivated” and said he was fighting for people’s constitutional rights.

No Body Cam Leak

The chief spoke about an internal investigation that was conducted as it had been brought to his attention that “some of the committee felt that my department leaked some of the body cam footage from that incident early and it was put on social media prior to being reviewed by myself and our attorney.”

Cann Jamison Brown and Harold Jamison; his brother, Richard Jamison; his sister, Florence Jamison; his great grandson, Stephen Albino; and by his stepfather, Edward Brown. Jamison is survived by his wife Marge; his children, Linda Williscroft, JuneAnn Albino,

“When I got that information - to be blunt and excuse my language - but it pissed me off. The fact that you think my department and myself would release body cam footage prior to being reviewed makes me very angry,” he added.

He noted that a committeeman had requested state police service on a call within the township. “That makes me mad, too, because what kind of support does that show my guys and gals when a committeeman calls 911 and requests an outside agency to come and cover a call and that happened before the body cam leakage (accusation) supposedly came out.”

Chief Meroney said it was reviewed by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the police department’s internal affairs division and it was determined that it was not released early and that “it was released after it was reviewed by myself and the town attorney. I just wanted to put that on the record.”

Residents Want To Be Left Alone

Resident Bernard Bahnam suggested rather than having to put a sign or sticker on a residence there should be an opt in system developed for those who want to allow people to come to their doors.

“I don’t want anybody on my property period. Some of these driveways are 300 feet long. When we say we don’t want anybody on our property, I don’t want them 20 feet on my property. It is just nonsense. A lot of us just want to be left alone.”

Stephen Jamison Jr. and his wife, Denise, Marc Jamison and his wife, Debi, and Dawn Buckley and her husband, Tom; his 11 grandchildren; his 14 great grandchildren; his three great-great grandchildren; and by many nieces and nephews.

OPINIONS & COMMENTARY

ditorial

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who to vote for. We want you to make an informed decision.

All media sources are supposed to be neutral. It’s always been our goal

Letters To The Editor

All spring and now into this summer in Toms River, we have seen a great debate about the future of our downtown. Most recently, we now have seen the controversial plan to scale back those two Water Street 10-story towers down to 6 stories.

Looking at the big picture, here’s why I think that the downtown development ideas, while well intentioned, are just wrong for our town.

In a sentence, they’re a step backwards in Toms River’s history - not a step forward.

The plans are mostly centered along both sides of Water Street where it intersects with Main Street and are designed to capitalize on the river which has defined our historic village.

Before an inlet on the beachfront was closed to a storm in 1812 - shutting off easy access to the seaport - Toms River was a busy colonial-era outpost.

With the closing of the inlet, Toms River continued to grow in the 1800s, but at a more modest pace.

By the late nineteenth century, many commercial buildings had been built along the southern side of Water Street. There was the First National Bank of Toms River, Berry’s Hardware Store, John Hyers’ Liquor Store, “Peanut John’s” Fruit and Vegetable Store, a bicycle shop, and more.

Into the 1900s, as time went by, these structures were still there, but they were owned and operated by different

businesses.

But the history of these various structures along Water Street over two centuries is this: they all first blocked off the view of the river, and later they all blocked off the view of Huddy Park.

That park - once a swampy area - was acquired by the township after a special voter referendum in 1905.

It’s our first municipal park and was filled in to make it the park that we know today. It was later named in honor of our Revolutionary War defender, Captain Joshua Huddy.

In the 1960s, our town’s officials made a very forward-looking decision to “open up” this area of the riverfront through the use of federal urban renewal monies. My friend, L. Manuel Hirshblond, the township clerk at the time, administered the project. I knew Manny since I was in high school. We both grew up in Toms River. As a young assistant township attorney, I worked for him. Years later, when I was the clerk, he worked for me - coming out of retirement to help me out as my deputy.

Manny and I would always trade stories of the Toms River of old, and one thing I heard many times was that the township’s vision back then was to keep the river and park vista open for all to enjoy - and this is where today’s plans get it all wrong.

Two tall apartment towers immediately to the west of the park and a tall parking deck, and a several story restaurant and separate wedding venue structure immediately to the east of the park

(proposed) will surround and simply overwhelm the river and park.

That’s why I say today’s plans are a giant step backwards in Toms River’s history - not a step forward. They will bring us back to those days in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when the river and park were blocked off by commercial buildings. No one wants that.

I’ve been told that I live in the past; that I represent the Toms River of old. I think not; the proponents of today’s misguided plans wear that badge of criticism - their plans, if ever built, will bring us back - way back - to the nineteenth century.

We should keep this little spot in our downtown as open to the river and park as possible. Do we need improvements there? Of course - but it should be something much more modest, something more consistent, with what was decided not too long ago in the 1960s.

Let us see and enjoy the river. Let us save Huddy Park. Let us save our historic downtown.

J. Mark Mutter Toms River

(The writer of this letter served on the Dover Township Committee for three terms and served as mayor in 1993 and 2000. He is the former clerk of Dover and Toms River Township. He chaired the township’s 225-year anniversary committee in 1992, its 250-year anniversary committee in 2017, and its Constitution bi-centennial committee in 1987. He is a former member of the township’s Historic

to report the news fairly and accurately, and without bias. How could we do that if we supported someone’s campaign?

Therefore, the letters

page is a place for YOUR opinions about candidates, not ours.

Chris Lundy News Editor

Preservation Commission and currently is the township Historian. The opinions expressed in this letter are stated by him solely as a private citizen.)

The Longest 3 Hours

187 minutes.

That’s how long Trump knowingly failed to act while his armed supporters stormed our nation’s Capitol. Instead, he watched the violence unfold on cable news, and even sent messages of encouragement by social media, telling the insurrectionists that he “loved” them.

This is one of many disturbing details in the most recent indictment against Trump, where he was charged with four federal criminal counts, including conspiracy to defraud our country in an unprecedented attempt to remain in power.

According to the indictment, Trump deliberately lied about voter fraud, then used those lies to try to pressure local officials to illegally overturn election results and create a fake slate of electors. He then pressured Vice President Mike Pence to toss out the legitimate results and count the fake electoral votes instead.

When all that failed, the January 6th insurrection was Trump’s last desperate attempt to cling to power. Elected officials and law enforcement officers were attacked, simply for doing their jobs - acting on the will of the people and certifying the election results. It was

violent, destructive, and in some cases, fatal. There can be no more serious crime than a conspiracy to overturn the foundation of our democracy itself: the vote of the American people. Fame, fortune, and former office cannot and should not prevent someone from standing trial and being held accountable for their crimes.

Arthur Grisi Toms River

Support Chris Christie For President

Chris Christie is on the rise. He just placed 2nd in the New Hampshire poll –over DeSantis. Of course, Trump is in the lead, but I can’t stomach having him lead the ticket again. He made Republicans all look like racists and sexists and we need a return to real American values. New Hampshire is one of the states that sets the tone

for the rest of the country. Whoever polls well there, polls well in other states. DeSantis laid off a third of his campaign staff. That means he’s floundering. There’s blood in the water and the rest of the Republicans are smelling it. For as loud as he is, no one is listening to him.

That’s why we need to support Christie’s campaign. Trump is a tough challenger. But we need someone with conservative views who is a true Republican – not an angry person who is going to make Americans angry at each other. Christie is more like the Republicans of old, who had character, Christian values, and didn’t want the government interfering in our lives.

Chris Christie might be the only candidate able to reunite Republicans after the damage Trump did to the party. ChrisChristie.com shows how you can help.

David Corcoran Island Heights

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Remember The Sacrifice Of The Abbey Gate 13

Capitol Comments

Assemblyman Alex Sauickie

She posted a photo of herself on social media, cradling a young child in her arms. She captioned it, “I love my job.” She was wearing military fatigues.

Tragically, she is no longer with us. She can’t serve her country in the job she loved or give comfort to children anymore. Some say it’s because her superiors, military and civilian, failed her.

It was Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee who made that post just five days before her death. She was one of several American military personnel seen cradling and comforting Afghan children during their frightening evacuation from the country.

As we approach August 26, the second anniversary of the terrorist bombing attacks on American servicemembers and local civilians in Afghanistan, it’s important that we remember the 13 members of the U.S. military lost that day.

Of course, we must forever be mindful of the many who have lost their lives in

service to our country. As a member of the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, it’s part of my job to work on ways to make sure New Jersey remembers and honors all of them. It’s a job I literally asked for, and one that I’m honored to have.

So it’s not to the exclusion of others that we must take time to think about what happened two years ago, to honor those we lost, and to learn hard lessons on how to never allow such a thing to happen again. It’s just that this mass loss of American military personnel remains particularly strong in our memories because it was so recent and, many say, preventable.

Earlier this month, surviving relatives of these brave servicemembers spoke before a congressional forum held in California. The testimony of these Gold Star family members was wrenching and disturbing. The anguish and anger expressed so directly by the families was hard to hear, but we owe it to them and their lost loved ones to listen.

What most concerned me from the testimony, aside from the pain described by those close to the deceased, were the charges that families were told falsehoods about how their loved ones died, and that

a request to fire upon one of the bombers was not granted by U.S. commanders before detonation.

The latter echoes testimony by a Marine sniper in March before a congressional committee: “I requested engagement authority when my team leader was ready on the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System. The response: leadership did not have the engagement authority for us – do not engage,” Tyler Vargas-Andrews told the committee.

A sharp-eyed servicemember identified and took aim at a threat to military colleagues and civilians in the midst of a chaotic situation, but couldn’t get permission to do what clearly should have been done. As far as I know, not a single military or civilian leader has faced any form of discipline for that or any of the other failures associated with that dark day. I would certainly appreciate any information to the contrary.

In addition to Sgt. Gee, the following personnel – each of whom loved and were loved – died that day in the blasts at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport:

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss

Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario

Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz

Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak

These courageous people all deserve much more than a brief mention here, but the testimonies described above are available for all to see and hear. I recommend that you look them up, and give a listen, to honor their sacrifice for our country and for the thousands of strangers they worked to protect that day.

About 170 Afghan civilians were also killed in the bombings at Abbey Gate. They included an unknown number of children whom Sgt. Nicole Gee, USMC, would have been happy to hold.

Alex Sauickie is a life-long Jackson resident who represents his home town and 13 other towns in the State Assembly. Follow him on Facebook (/ AssemblymanAlex) and on Instagram (@ AssemblymanAlex), or visit his website at AssemblymanAlex.com.

Legislation Establishes $100M Boardwalk Preservation Fund

From

The Desk Of The Governor Phil Murphy

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy signed S3989/A5675, which establishes the Boardwalk Preservation Fund and appropriates $100 million for the renovation and repair of boardwalks in Shore communities across the state. Primary sponsors of the legislation include Senator Paul Sarlo, Senator Michael Testa, Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald, and Assemblyman William Moen; co-sponsors include Senator Vin Gopal and Senator Vince Polistina.

Additionally, Governor Murphy announced the official opening of the Boardwalk Preservation Fund’s application process, which is being managed by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and will remain open until October 31. As a crucial complement to the Boardwalk Preservation Fund in Atlantic City, the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget also includes an investment of tens of millions of American Rescue

Plan dollars toward infrastructure investments that will continue to drive the City’s economic recovery and success.

“From Atlantic City to Asbury Park, for decades our state’s boardwalks have served as iconic fixtures in our Shore communities, contributing not just to their local economies but to their unique histories and cultural fabric as well,” said Governor Murphy. “Maximizing the potential of our boardwalks requires robust, forward-looking investments that will prepare them to endure the test of time and the intensifying impacts of the climate crisis. I’m proud to build upon Lieutenant Governor Oliver’s legacy as a champion of Atlantic City while we stand alongside elected officials on both sides of the aisle in support of these invaluable community assets.”

“The boardwalks are the lifeblood of many of our Shore communities,” said Senate President Nick Scutari. “They are a distinctive part of the Jersey Shore that plays a key role in the state’s tourism economy. The Boardwalk Fund will help ensure that our boardwalks are repaired and maintained so they continue to be hallmarks for New Jersey that can be

enjoyed by local residents and visitors.”

“Our state is well-known for its beautiful shoreline, which is among our greatest natural resources, and vibrant beach towns. They are central to New Jersey’s identity and contribute to our strong economic base,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “These towns fuel our tourism industry and serve as a powerful economic driver. We need to uplift travel and tourism so that local economies are able to thrive.”

“The Boardwalk Fund is an ongoing investment that will help Shore communities reduce the expenses of upgrading and maintaining the boardwalks that are as much a part of the Jersey Shore as the sand and the sea,” said Senator Paul Sarlo, Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. “The boardwalks are a key part of the state’s identity and serve as a lifeblood for local businesses. The Jersey Shore belongs to everyone and this initiative will help keep alive the fond memories so many of us have of our Shore experiences so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

“The boardwalk is, more than any other single feature, the symbol of the Jersey Shore to the world – it is truly iconic,” said Christina M. Renna, President & CEO, Chamber of Commerce South -

ern New Jersey. “Unfortunately, many boardwalks across the state’s shoreline are in a state of disrepair and in need of an infusion of capital for repairs and restoration. The Boardwalk Fund will help do just that, assuring that this tourism destination remains intact for years to come.”

For more information or to apply for funding from the Boardwalk Preservation Fund, please visit DCA’s website. DCA is planning a technical assistance webinar for August 29, 2023.

DeGraFF CremaTIon SerVICeS

DIRECT CREMATION $1875

BlueClaws Release 2024 Home Schedule -

Opening Night Set For April 5

JERSEY SHORE – The BlueClaws have unveiled their 2024 home schedule, with Opening Night at the Jersey Shore set for Friday, April 5 against the Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles).

The 66-game home schedule features 10 six-game series and two three-game series: the season’s first series, April 5 to 7 against Aberdeen, and a three-game set against Wilmington (Nationals) from July 4 through July 6.

“We are looking forward to closing 2023 with some great entertainment, theme nights, and family fun, but we are also working with an eye on 2024 to make sure we make that season the absolute best it can be,” said BlueClaws Team President Joe Ricciutti. “We can’t wait for April 5 and Opening Night, always one of the best days of the year!”

Jersey Shore will be home on Mother’s Day (May 12), Father’s Day (June 16), and July 4. Twenty-four of the 66 BlueClaws home games next year will come against Mets and Yankees affiliates. The Battle of the Boardwalks continues with Jersey Shore and the Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets). Brooklyn will be at ShoreTown Ballpark twice: April 16 to 21 and May 28 to June 2. Hudson Valley (Yankees) will also make two visits: July 9 to 14 and August 27 to September 1.

The final home game of the season is set for September 1. Forty-five of the 66 home games fall between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

“The release of the schedule always marks a new beginning,” said Ricciutti. “Our team is set to plan our biggest and best season yet.

“Of course, we’re still working on an exciting final two homestands. We look forward to seeing everyone at the ballpark.”

2024 Season Ticket Renewal Information

BlueClaws ticket plan holders are eligible to renew their tickets for 2024 immediately by calling 732-901-7000 option 3, by visiting the Ticket Kiosk on the concourse behind home plate during any BlueClaws home game, or visiting the ShoreTown Ballpark offices beginning at 10 am Monday through Friday.

The most popular plans, 5-Game Mini Plans and 10-Game Partial Plans, include not only tickets to the best games of the season, but a hot dog, soda, novelty ice cream, and boardwalk game voucher at each game.

Full Season Ticket Holders that renew before September 3 receive complimentary parking for the 2024 season (one per account), by September 11 complimentary 2023 BlueClaws playoff tickets (if applicable) and entry into a drawing for front-row Phillies tickets for a 2024 home game, by October 31 the same guaranteed seating location as this year, and by December 15 will save $50 per seat.

Half-Season Ticket Holders that renew before September 11th receive complimentary 2023 BlueClaws playoff tickets (if applicable) and entry into a drawing for front-row Phillies tickets for a 2024 home game, and by October 31st guarantee their 2023 seating location.

These BlueClaws ticket plans, including 5-Game Mini and 10-Game Partial Plans also include the BlueClaws Flexible Exchange Policy, through which fans can exchange tickets to games in their package anytime in advance of the ticketed game date.

A full schedule including road games and game times will be announced at a later date. The Jackson Times welcomes your special announcements! Engagements,

Photo courtesy BlueClaws

Weddings, Births, Birthday Wishes, etc. Please call 732-657-7344 for more details!

Sherry T. DeGraff NJ Lic No 3921

Costs: Crematory Fee, Urns, Disposition Of Cremains & Certified Copies Of Death Certificates, Permit, Removal Assist. & Mileage, Viewings Or Memorial Services

Volunteers Have Cats Available For Adoption

JACKSON – Calling All Cats is a cat rescue group made up of volunteers, some of whom work at a spay and neuter clinic. People would drop off unwanted cats. As a group, they save the babies that are left alone, the countless mothers that have had numerous litters and those that are losing or have lost their home.

Introducing Charcoal, a stunning girl that was rescued with her brother Tippy. They were born outside and were quickly becoming feral, but in the past few weeks in foster, they have made amazing progress. Charcoal loves to spend her days playing and snuggling with her brother. She is

Photo courtesy Calling All Cats bonded with him and they must go home together! She is spayed, up to date on all medical and microchipped.

To help humanely lower the feline population, they spay and neuter feral cats and then find homes for the friendly adults and the offspring that have been born. The rescue works extremely hard to find the best homes for cats of all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. While these cats wait, they are cared for in safe, loving, and nurturing foster homes

To start the application process, visit Calling All Cats on Facebook and Petfinder.com.

National Active & Retired Federal Employees Association – Fall/Winter Meetings 2023

OCEAN COUNTY – Chapter 637, Northern Ocean County, and Chapter 1619, Lakehurst, of NARFE would like to invite all Federal Employees, active and retired, or spouses of deceased Federal Employees, to join at their monthly meetings. They discuss benefits, pensions and annuities. Each month there is a guest speaker on relevant topics, fellowship and refreshments. Meetings are the 3rd Monday of the month (excluding January, February, July and August). They meet at 1 p.m. at the Manchester Municipal building, Route 37 and Colonial Drive, Manchester, in the downstairs meeting room (elevator available). They look forward to welcoming new and current members.

2023 Fall/Winter Meeting Schedule is as follows:

September 18, 1 p.m. – Sandra Lazzaro, Division Director of Ocean County Business Development & Tourism, and Maria LaFace, Director of

Senior Services, will discuss what their offices have to offer.

October 16, 1 p.m. – Gail Irby, Account Manager, FEP BCBS, will come in person to discuss the changes to BCBS Coverage and Rates for 2024.

November 20, 1 p.m. – Ocean County Sheriff, Michael Mastronardy, will discuss his office’s function and some safety tips as well.

December 11, 1 p.m. – Discounted Luncheon for Chapter 637 and 1619 Members who attend teo Fall Meetings. All others will pay full price. Place to be determined.

January & February – No meeting in January and February.

Any questions, further information, call Janet Adams at 732-279-3857 or Shirley Veiga at 732-408-7482

Jackson EMS To Raise Funds For Breast Cancer

JACKSON – It’s that time of year again where Jackson EMS shows their support to all those with breast cancer. In October they will be wearing pink and fundraising to show their support.

This year they are hoping to increase the support by opening the Jackson EMS breast cancer shirts to not only to the agency but the public!

Visit: code1creations.tuosystems.com/ stores/jackson-ems-support; It will lead you to the site where short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, and hoodies are available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will go towards a breast cancer foundation

Thank you all for your support always and we hope to see everyone in their pink!

Join Team NJEA For The Komen Walk For Pink

JACKSON – It is the time of year to start planning the involvement in the Susan G. Komen Foundation Walk for Pink on October 7 at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson.

Sign up individually to walk as a part of Team NJEA or form your own team under the Team NJEA banner. This is a great way to engage county and local memberships to further our efforts. NJEA members participating in the walk, should visit the NJEA booth during registration and receive a special Team

NJEA logo item.

Families and friends can also join Team NJEA to support the efforts of the association. Local and county associations should consider using a Pride in Public Schools grant to engage their school community with unity incentives. Donate to Komen under Team NJEA if you cannot make the event. Share the donation link and walk sign-up with colleagues, family and friends.

For more information, visit njea.org/jointeam-njea-for-the-komen-walk-for-pink.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor New Jersey Extends 2023 Season

JACKSON – As summer temperatures soar, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor New Jersey announces the extension of its 2023 season. For the first time ever, the popular water park will be open weekends through September with Hurricane Harbor Lite Splash. Guests will now have more time to keep cool as they enjoy a selection of our

most popular wet and wild attractions. The park is also now offering a new 2 park 2-day ticket. Guests can visit Six Flags Hurricane Harbor or the Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure and then come back for more thrills at Six Flags Great Adventure. Learn more at sixflags.com/greatadventure.

Fall Scarecrow Festival

NEW EGYPT – The New Egypt Historical Society will be hosting their fall Scarecrow Festival and Bake Sale on October 7 (rain date October 8) from 1 to 4 p.m. at 125 Evergreen Road, New Egypt.

There will be a Kids Corner and scarecrows to color. Bring your camera or phone for photos. The baked goods table will be filled with delicious cookies, cakes, breads, etc.

Make a scarecrow to take home for $25. Materials available hats, scarfs, belts, bandanas, aprons, shirts, blouses, pants, jeans. Choice of 5’ to 5’6” stakes. All supplies are provided by the Museum.

Museum will be selling their books and postcards, and is open for tours at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Any questions, contact Marie Miller at 609-723-0499.

9th Annual Beef & Beer

JACKSON – The 9th Annual Beef & Beer will be on September 30 from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co. #1 - Station 55.

Presale Tickets are $50, and include a t-shirt. Tickets the day of the event are $60. Reach out to any Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co. #1 - Station 55 member to get tickets.

Nightingale Catering will be provided unlimited beef and unlimited craft beer will be provided by Icarus Brewing. There will also be unlimited domestic beer a Hot Wing Challenge, a Gift Auction and a Mega 50/50 drawing.

Come to an amazing event you won’t want to miss and support your volunteer firefighters.

368 Lakehurst Road | Suite 305 Toms River, NJ 08755

732-473-1123

1301 Rte 72 | Ste 305 | Manahawkin, NJ 08050 609-597-9195

211 W Millstream Road Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 609-758-9595

www.OceanPediatricDental.com

Dr. Izzy’s

Sound News

Presented By:

Isidore Kirsh, Ph.D., F.A.A.A. (N.J. Lic. #678)

How Are Hearing And Cognition Related To Each Other?

We HEAR with our ears and LISTEN with our brain. Our brain plays a significant role in our ability to hear.

With untreated hearing loss, you have to work harder to make sense of what people are saying. This is called having a higher “cognitive load”.

Having a higher “cognitive load” can affect your memory and how you process information.

Be empowered to make changes!

Lifestyle factors can impact cognitive impairment. Address these risk factors:

• Hearing Loss

• Vision Loss

• Medication Side Effects

• Vitamin B12 Deficiency

• Diabetes

• Cardiovascular Issues

• Sleep Disorders

• Poor Lifestyle Choices

• Brain Fog

• Sports that Impact the Head Stress

Your Hearing Healthcare Professional’s assessment includes a cognitive screening that will help you understand how you are processing information, organizing your thoughts, and remembering things. Cognivue Thrive is a personalized, consistent and reliable way to receive an overall screening of your brain health.

• Self-administered 5-10 minute assessment

• Non-invasive

• Interactive

• Immediate results with a simple report Call today for an appointment! 732-8183610 (Toms River/Whiting) or 609-9788946 (Manahawkin)

The Calendar Girls

JERSEY SHORE – Looking for entertainment for your organization? The Calendar Girls – a Senior Performance Show which includes a Master of Ceremonies/ Comedian 12 tap/jazz dancers, plus two vocalists.

They provide their own music, along with their beautiful costumes in a one-hour

show. They entertain for special events at senior expos, clubhouses, fundraisers and assisted living facilities. They are available for holiday performances. Also, they continually look for tap dancers to join their group.

For information or to book a show, call the booking agent Jean at 732-730-3539.

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS! Expand your patient base by advertising in Micromedia Publications’ 7 weekly newspapers. Call 732-657-7344 to find out how!

His offices are in Toms River, Whiting, and Manahawkin. He can be reached at 732-276-1011 or via Web site at gardenstatehearing.com. Dr. Izzy & Staff gives Retirement Community Talks!

Dr. Isidore Kirsh Ph.D., F.A.A.A.

Pharmacist

Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

The Glymphatic System - Your Brain’s Nighttime Janitorial Staff

By Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

Hello brainiacs. Today my article takes a deep dive into our noggins! If you’ve been curious about the world inside your head (and I’m not just talking about your favorite song stuck on repeat), then strap in.

A few years ago, scientists discovered a way that the brain washes itself. It’s called the glymphatic system. Here’s a simple analogy to describe your glymphatic system and how it functions:

Imagine you’ve hosted a party in your house (the brain). After the party, there’s trash everywhere—empty cups, plates, leftover food, etc. (equivalent to brain waste like amyloid-beta). If left unattended, the trash might attract pests and create a foul smell.

The glymphatic system acts like a cleaning crew that comes in to restore order and cleanliness to the house. When this cleaning system doesn’t work efficiently, debris accumulates and you get brain fog, memory problems, neurological diseases, and neurotransmitter problems.

The balance with dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, melatonin, and others goes awry and mood is affected. Mental health issues can arise. And doctors can’t yet measure levels of neurotransmitters, creating a challenge to restoring balance.

Luckily, we have the glymphatic system. It’s not an organ, it’s a specialized network of cells and pathways that work together to shower off your brain. Life would be so much better if the glymphatic system

worked 24/7 and was more efficient but we’re only human. We can only handle so many toxins, additives, pollutants, and cellular debris before we tilt to an unhealthy state.

To be complete, I should give honorable mention to our microglia cells which are part of our immune system and act as our first responders. They’re always looking out for threats, and when they see any, they signal the cavalry in the form of cytokines. When the microglia are overworked, overused, infected, harmed, or insufficient in numbers, chaos ensues in the form of depression, insomnia, anxiety, bipolar, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), ADHD, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

In conclusion, the glymphatic system is a relatively recent discovery in the realm of neuroscience and it helps clean up the brain. So does your microglia which is part of your immune system. Cleaning up is a good thing because we know toxins do actually get into the brain because today, we know that our blood-brain barrier is permeable. We used to think it could stop the entry of toxins, but that’s so. The things we want the glymphatic system to wash up are too many to name here. But a few include protein fragments like amyloid-beta that are implicated in Alzheimer’s, tau proteins, Lewy bodies, and other toxins associated with mental health disorders. If you’d like more information on the topic of brain “housekeeping,” I have a longer version of this article at suzycohen.com.

(This information is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Suzy Cohen is the author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist” and “Real Solutions.” For more information, visit www.SuzyCohen.com) ©2023 SUZY COHEN, RPH. DISTRIBUTED BY DEAR PHARMACIST, INC.

around thE JErSEy ShorE

Landfills – Where Does Returned Merchandise Go?

Renee A. Thomaier

Retired New Jersey State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator

You purchased an item, but later found something else you liked better and returned the original purchase. Nothing wrong with it, just not quite right. What about those items that you purchase online and are received with a little damage. Not terrible, works fine, looks ok, but not perfect. And with free returns, why not hold out for perfection? Return the item.

What happens to merchandise you return? Some retailers will give returned and unsold items to Goodwill or thrift stores. Some returned items, specifically underwear, will go back on the shelf. Retailers, a bit hesitant to provide a straight answer to the question, say making deals with stores or liquidators that sell salvaged goods is their policy. Then there are those who will sell ‘as is’ items. Depending on the store, you might even receive store credit for taking those items home.

The old days of appliance repair are over. Cheap parts and convenience in getting a new one is just too appealing. According to the National Retail Federation, in 2021 $1.05 trillion of the total U.S. retail sales was online and roughly $218 billion of this was returned. Yikes!

How many of us have seen a landfill in person? If you’re like me, you’ve seen a glimpse of one on TV and the image disappeared leaving you without any further thought. The reality behind landfills is a grim one. Pollution, all kinds of waste, carbon emissions, and wildlife, particularly birds flying overhead, picking through the discarded remains of our everyday living. Images of landfills show massive numbers of birds feeding and congregating upon waste as if waiting for the next drop-off.

How can you help? Buy fresh produce (less packaging); compost; eliminate single-use items such as cups, plates, and napkins; recycle; reuse containers from previous purchases; opt for paperless billing. Alternatives can cost you less money, save you time at the grocery store, and generate less trash. Try keeping some of those ‘ok items’ you purchase. After all, our planet isn’t getting any larger. I gathered the information for this article from multiple sources so statistics may vary slightly. To reach me please call 732-244-2768.

It’s illegal to possess, relocate, or cause harm to wildlife for any reason. Managing wildlife without the proper state/federal permits is illegal. Violating laws protecting wildlife is punishable by law.

Help Children In Need During Sparks B.F.F. Reading Club Toiletries Drive

TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Library seeks your help during the Sparks B.F.F. Reading Club Toiletries Drive, September 1 through September 30. The items will be distributed to children and teens in need throughout Ocean County. Four OCL branches will serve as collection centers:

• Toms River Branch – 101 Washington Street, 732-349-6200

• Brick Branch – 301 Chambers Bridge Road, 732-477-4513

• Jackson Branch – 2 Jackson Drive, 732-928-4400

• Little Egg Harbor Branch – 290 Mathistown Road, 609-294-1197

The most-needed items include toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, soap, liquid and dry shampoo, hair conditioner, hair brushes, hair combs, socks, and feminine hygiene products.

donate new, packaged items only. No donation is too small, and each will make a big difference in a child’s life.

For more information, stop by or call any participating Ocean County Library branch or visit theoceancountylibrary.org.

Ocean County Commissioner Vicari Raises Concerns About Power Grid Reliability

TOMS RIVER – Noting Ocean County’s growing population and the large number of senior citizens that call the County home, the Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari is raising concerns about whether the power grid will be resilient enough to maintain power as the reliance on electric energy grows.

“As the state of New Jersey proposes to rely more and more on the power grid to operate our cars, cook our meals and other day to day activities, Ocean County faces many challenges that relate to the reliability and stability of the power grid,” stated Vicari in a letter to Joseph L. Fiordaliso, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

“Being a leading tourism County, our population grows to 1.3 million people each summer. In addition, the County is home to the largest senior population in the state with more than 200,000 seniors living here, many of whom are 85-years-old and older.

“There is a growing concern with the greater reliance on electricity and also the increase of severe storms that we are experiencing as to whether our sources of electric power will be enough to keep our residents and visitors safe,” he wrote.

Ocean County is serviced by Jersey Central Power & Light Company and Atlantic City Electric for its electric power needs.

Vicari stated it is necessary for JCP&L and Atlantic City Electric to make certain that policies are updated and in place to enhance the power grid’s reliability, and design a sustainable infrastructure with strong resiliency so disruption of service is kept to a minimum for residents and visitors alike.

“We need to do all we can to avoid brownouts and power outages,” Vicari said. “With the large number of senior citizens that live here, it’s imperative the power grid is upgraded in order to meet their needs especially when it comes to powering devices that may affect their health and well-being.”

Vicari noted it was important to act now so that the almost 700,000 year-round residents living in Ocean County can feel secure about the reliability of the power grid in order to keep their lights on, keep businesses running, operating rooms functioning in addition to the many needs affiliated with power.

“There is a growing demand for more long-term reliability and resiliency of the power grid,” Vicari said. “Now is the time to act and assure this for all of our residents.”

Branson Show Extravaganza

WHITING – Branson Show Extravaganza, Branson Missouri: nine days, eight nights December 2 to 10. Cost is $1,170 double; $1,455 single. Price includes motor coach transportation; eight nights lodging including four consecutive nights in Branson Area; 14 meals: eight breakfasts, six dinners; admission to the Titanic - the world’s largest museum;

and admission to six fabulous shows including:

Three morning shows – Dublin’s Irish Ladies, with special guests The Celtic Ladies, Down Home Country, A Neil Diamond tribute

Two evening shows – Baldknobbers, Queen Ester at sight and sound

One afternoon show - Dean Z The Ultimate

Elvis show

Purchase tickets every Tuesday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Village 5 Clubhouse 425 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting. A $75 deposit is non- refundable unless trip is canceled, due upon sign up. Final payment due September 25. For more information, call Debbie at 201-618-8514.

Subdividing Property: A Beginners Guide

By: Robert C. Shea II, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates

If you’re involved in land development, regardless of whether it is residential or commercial, you must always find resourceful ways to add value to the property you own. Sometimes this involves new construction, sometimes its rehabilitating rundown structures, sometimes it’s simply having the patience and fortitude to hold onto the property itself. However, one lesser-known technique is to “subdivide” your land. Subdividing land is just what it sounds like. You simply take what people refer to as the “mother-lot” and divide it into two or more tracts of land.

By subdividing your original piece of property, you are essentially creating “new” land, which will then receive its own lot and block numbers. The reasons for subdividing are numerous. Some people subdivide property to then immediately re-sell for financial gain. Some people may want to subdivide their land for family-related purposes. Some people may want to subdivide their land for residential or commercial development. However, while subdivisions can be extremely profitable, subdividing land is not always easy. Subdivision application

can vary in complexity. Every Municipality has their own subdivision regulations and ordinances which determine whether you are required to appear before a Planning Board or Zoning Board. These local zoning regulations can range from simple setback requirements to flood risk elevations or infrastructure obligations. Further, deed restrictions already imposed on your property may impact your ability to make such subdivisions. All of these factors, and more, must be taken into consideration before attempting to subdivide land.

Nevertheless, is subdividing your property worth it? Absolutely. Subdividing a parcel of land can potentially increase the total value of the land, or help you obtain additional income, and/or help boost the marketability of your land if you already have it placed on the market. Some people even sell the subdivision approvals themselves for a great deal of money. With this in mind, you should contact R. C. Shea & Associates for help navigating the approval process for any type of subdivision that you are interested in pursuing.

Crisis Hotline Volunteers Needed

NEW JERSEY – Crisis Hotline Volunteers needed for CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties’ training beginning September 19 twice a week every Tuesday & Thursday for six weeks from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Training will be held in person at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church, 1674 Old Freehold Road, Toms River. CONTACT is a 24-hour

Family

crisis intervention hotline that also provides information and referral to community resources. All calls are free, confidential and anonymous. Training is free.

Become a voice to those in distress. Make a difference in your community! Call 732240-6104 or email contact@contactoceanmonmouth.org for additional information and registration.

The Jersey Shore is a great place to hang out. Mr. Crab knows this and was recently spotted enjoying the summer at the cove in Brigantine. Just keep the tartar sauce away from this little guy. Photographer Michelle Brooks captured this amazing moment with the Atlantic City skyline in the background. Now the Brooks family will be enjoying a Jersey Shore BlueClaws game, courtesy of Jersey Shore Online. Want to win tickets of your own? Send your pix to photos@jerseyshoreonline.com and you may hear from us!

United For Impact Wine Event

RED BANK – Save the date for the United For Impact Wine Event, October 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Navesink Country Club, 50 Luffburrow Lane, Red Bank.

Enjoy exquisite wines paired with delicious food to benefit the critical work of United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. More information to follow.

Amvets Annual Pig Roast

JACKSON – The Amvets Annual Pig Roast will be on September 23 from 1 to 6 p.m. at 1290 Toms River Road, Jackson.

Music by Kickin’ Nash. Enjoy burgers, hot dogs, clams, corn on the cob and more! Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 after September 15.

Items Wanted

COSTUME/ESTATE JEW -

ELRY Looking to buy costume/ estate jewelry, old rosaries and religious medals, all watches and any type of sterling silver, bowls, flatware candlesticks or jewelry. Same day house calls and cash on the spot. 5 percent more with this AD. Call Peggy at 732-581-5225. (t/n)

$$$ WANTED TO BUY $$$

Jewelry and watches, costume jewelry, sterling silver, silverplate, medals, military items, antiques, musical instruments, pottery, fine art, photographs, paintings, statues, old coins, vintage toys and dolls, rugs, old pens and postcards, clocks, furniture, brica-brac, select china and crystal patterns. Cash paid. Over 35 years experience. Call Gary Struncius. 732-364-7580. (t/n)

Vinyl Records Wanted - Paying cash for LP albums. Rock, Reggae, Blues, Jazz. Very Good condition only. Call Rick 908-616-4104. (t/n)

Entire Estates Bought - Bedroom/dining sets, dressers, cedar chests, wardrobes, secretaries, pre-1950 wooden furniture, older glassware, oriental rugs, paintings, bronzes, silver, bric-a-brac. Call Jason at 609-970-4806. (t/n)

CASH PAID!! LP records - stereos, turntables, musical instru-ments, guitar, saxophone, CD’s, reel tapes, music related items. Come to you. 732-804-8115. (30)

Cash - Top dollar, paid for junk, cars running and nonrunning, late model salvage, cars and trucks, etc. 732-928-3713. (t/n)

Cash On The Spot - For records, 33's, 45's, reel to reels. Call - We pick up the phone! Eddie 732-8295908 will travel. (31)

Used Guns Wanted - All types: collectibles, military, etc. Call 917-681-6809. (t/n)

CASH, CASH, CASH! - Instant cash paid for junk cars, trucks, vans. Free removal of any metal items. Discount towing. Call Dano 732-239-3949. (t/n)

Ca$h Paid For Old 45 RPM

Records. - R&B, doo wop, soul, early rock & roll, and rockabilly preferred. Call between 8AM and 8PM 909-938-4623. (20)

Junk or Wrecked Cars and Trucks

Wanted - Cash paid. 732-6577251, Steve. Thanks. (38)

Bus Driver NEEDED! - Flexible Scheduling. Perfect for Retiree in Retirement Community. CDL w/ Passenger endorsement required. Call SilverWoods Clubhouse for more information at 732-341-4825. (t/n)

Part Time Custodian/Handyman position. Hours 8am to 12pm, 5 days a week. Wages based on Experience. Call for Appointment at 732-2448686, extension 210 or apply within at Holiday Heights HOA, 96 Prince Charles Drive, Toms River, NJ. (37)

Laundromat Attendant - For FT/ PT Good communication skills, math and min computer knowledge. Transportation needed. Long term commitment only. 732-286-1863. (t/n)

CLASSIFIEDS

Help Wanted

Micromedia Publications is looking for a high-energy account rep to sell print and online advertising in Ocean County. Competitive base, bonuses & company benefits. Successful applicant should possess good communication skills & a desire to grow with the company. E-Mail resumes to jallentoff@jersey shoreonline.com. EOE. (t/n)

Certified Home Health Aides - Needed for Ocean County area. Hourly and live-in positions avail. P/T and F/T. Call CCC at 732-206-1047. (t/n)

Call Care Temp Heating &

R.C. Shea and Associates is seeking to hire a paralegal with civil/commercial litigation experience as well as an administrative assistant. Pay and benefits commensurate with experience. Please call Pam Williams, office manager at (732) 505-1212 or email at pwilliams@rcshea.com (t/n)

Garden State Property Maintenance - All yard work. Tree-trimming and removal, stump grinding, pavers, decks, flower beds, weeding. 609-661-5470. (t/n)

PET SITTER my home. Reasonable rates. Must meet pet prior to commitment. You supply all. References available. 201-519-4659. (38)

Painting - Simply the best. "It's all in the name." Interior/Exterior. Unbeatable pricing. Meticulous work. All materials and jobs guaranteed. Fully licensed and insured. $ave. Call 732-850-5060. (39)

THE RIDE GUY - Takes you anywhere! No limits. Comfy mini-van. Call Charlie 732-2163176 or Email: cr@exit109.com. References. Let's Go! (t/n)

Bobs Waterproofing - Basement and crawlspace waterproofing. Mold testing, removal and prevention. Family owned. Fully licensed and insured. Call Bob 732-616-5007. (t/n)

CHEAP PAINTING Done RITEFree est. Senior discounts interior exterior. Call 732-506-7787, cell 646-643-7678. (28)

GARDEN COACH ASSISTS SEN-

IORS & DIY's - Create & maintain beautiful containers, repotting. Planting design, selection, plant care.

Experienced (Master) Gardener/ Instructor. Joseph 732-232-8144. (29)

Services

Absolute best home improvements!"Building the shore since 1984" Additions, carpentry, windows & doors, roofing & siding, painting & staining, flooring, kitchens & baths, finished basements, masonry, fencing, custom decks, fully insured, license #13VH11804800. $ave. Call Brien 732-850-5060. (28)

Roofing Repairs Etc. - Roofing, siding, windows. Repairs on small jobs. Utility shed roofs replaced. Prompt service. Insured. Gutters cleaned. Call Joe Wingate 551-804-7391. (26)

ALL American Home Health AidesExperienced experts in the field of trauma and recovery. Holistic approach to healing-nutrition, physical therapy, and quality of life improvements. Hourly or live in. Honest, hardworking, etc. Includes housekeeping, rides to doctors/pleasure. Skip the rest, come to the best. 732-664-3605. (t/n)

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920. Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution. Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-877-791-2033 or visit dorranceinfo.com/micro. (t/n)

Nor’easter Painting and Staining, LLC - Interior and exterior. Decks, powerwashing. Affordable. Senior discounts. References. No job too small. Fully insured. 732-6910123. Lic #13VH09460600. (19)

Car Service - 24/7. Doctors, shopping, airports, hospitals, cruise, shops, Atlantic City, family functions, NYC accomodations for large groups. Call for reasonable rates. Kerry 732-606-2725. (42)

APlus Home Improvements - Over 30 years experience. Everything from small handyman tasks to large renovations, decks, finished basements and much more. Lic #13VH11453600. No job too small give us a call. 908-278-1322. (52)

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-833-901-0309. (t/n)

PQ Painting & Home Improvement Services - Over 5 decades of service in NJ. Visit us online at pqpaintingservice.com . Winner of Angie’s List Super Service Award. Free estimates, reasonable rates, fully licensed and insured NJ Lic #13VH06752800. Call 732500-3063 or 609-356-2444. (t/n)

Experienced and reliable Home Health Care Group - Is ready to assist you hourly or 24/7 according to your special needs. Personal care, companionship, groccery shopping, driving to dr's appointments, medication monitoring etc. Refferences available. Call for more details 732-910-8869. (34)

Handyman Service - Carpentry, masonry, painting repairs large and small. 40 years experience. Call Jim 732-674-3346. (39)

Since 1979, Kitchen Magic, a family-owned business offering cabinet refacing, new cabinetry, and luxury countertop throughout the Northeast. We transform kitchens in less time, with less stress, at an amazing value. Call today for a free estimate 1-844-367-2477. (t/n)

ESTATE CLEANOUTS -

Properties, Houses, Attics, Garages, Sheds, Storage Units, ect. Handyman Disposal provided 901a Dumpster Service LLC. Licensed, Insured, call or text Jim 609-335-0330. (27)

Learn To Play The - Flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or drums from a NJ State Certified Teacher of instrumental music, in your home! Call 732-3504427 for more information. (37)

Computer Tutoring for Seniors – Retired, “Microsoft Certified” instructor. Very Reasonable rates. Very patient with slow learners. I’ll teach you in the comfort of your home on your computer. I can trouble shoot your slow computer! I also teach iPhone and iPad. I set up new computers at less than half the price the retailers charge. Windows 10 specialist. I can also build a beautiful small business website at a fraction of the going rates. Special Projects always welcome! Tony 732-997-8192. (t/n)

1. Below, circle the heading you would like your ad to appear under:

• Estate/Garage/Yard Sales

• Auto For Sale

• Items For Sale

•

Services Services Services Services

• Items Wanted

•

•

•

2. Print clearly your ad as you want it to read. Include Phone # within ad below (counts as 1 word). Use separate sheet if necessary.

You are responsible for checking your ad the first time it runs and notifying us of any errors. If we make an error, we will correct it and rerun the ad. We will not be responsible for multiple insertions if you do not call us after the first ad run. No refunds for classified ads. Newspapers are available at our office. Please feel free to stop in and check your ad.

Calculate Price As Follows:

3.

1 week* at $29.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $

2 weeks* at $44.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $

3 weeks* at $60.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $

4 weeks* at $74.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $

*In order to qualify for discounts, the same ad must run over the requested weeks.

Total = $

4. Make check payable in advance to Micromedia Publications, or fill in Mastercard/Visa/American Express SORRY NO DISCOVER info below:

Credit Card# Exp.

Cardholder Signature:

Print Name:

DIRECTV Sports Pack - 3 Months on Us! Watch pro and college sports LIVE. Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-877-557-1213. (t/n)

MY HANDY CREW - Home repairs, carpentry, painting roofing and siding, decks, powerwashing, yardwor,k all your home maintenance needs. $ave. Call Clark 732-850-5060. Insured and NJ License #13VH11804800. (46)

Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-855-634-0529. (t/n) LANDSCAPING - Restorations, Repairs, Stones, Mulch, Sod Installs, Hedges, Shrubs, Bushes, Downed Branches Trimmed & Removed, Demolition, Cleanouts, ect., Dumpster service provided by A901 Licensed Hauler ect. MAN WITH VAN LLC. Jim 609-335-0330 HIC# 13vh10806000. NO

(20)

5. MAIL TO : PO Box 521, Lakehurst, NJ 08733. Credit Card Orders Only can be faxed to: 732-657-7388. Or go to jerseyshoreonline.com to place your classified.

6. PHONE NUMBER (THIS IS REQUIRED)

Deadline For Classified Ads: 12pm Monday (For that Saturday’s publication)

If you have any questions, please call Ali at 732-657-7344, ext. 203.

around thE JErSEy ShorE

Teens, De-Stress Anywhere You Are With Online Calm Room

TOMS RIVER – Stress can affect anyone, for any number of reasons. Teens feeling overwhelmed can unplug, unwind, and re-focus in the Ocean County Library’s online Calm Room.

Located in the Teen Zone at theoceancountylibrary.org, it offers tools and resources for understanding how stress develops,

ways to manage it, and tips for physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Teens will find portals to soothing sights and sounds, live nature and animal cams, personal stories, mindfulness and meditation guides, and links to related apps, podcasts and websites including Calm, Headspace, Rainy Mood, A Soft Murmur, and others.

The Calm Room is part of the Teen Health and Wellness Database, which provides articles and videos by professionals and teens on various topics related to teen health and wellbeing.

The database also contains a list of free, safe, confidential hotlines in Ocean County, the state of New Jersey, the U.S. and Canada

for issues such as homelessness, addiction, bullying, depression, grief, HIV/AIDS, and more.

This free service is provided in collaboration with Rosen Publishing. To learn more, stop by any of OCL’s 21 branches or reading centers, visit theoceancountylibrary.org, or call 732-349-6200.

Official: Feds Should Address Prescription Shortage

By Bob Vosseller and Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY – A county official

wants to see the federal government step up and take action on the current prescription drug shortage.

these manufacturing facilities still do not have plans in place.

Joseph

H. Vicari, Director

of

the

Ocean County Board of Commissioners, said the drug shortage continues to impact patients from coast to coast, and the federal government needs to step in and ensure that residents have access to their vital medications. Published reports state the shortages are impacting life-saving medicines including powerful drugs used in cancer treatments.

According to a report by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, Congress recently ordered manufacturers to create risk management plans to be proactive about supply chain problems, rather than reactive. However, more than half of

These plans will allow doctors to prescribe drugs that they expect will be available because the manufacturers are more responsible, rather than prescribing something that later is in short supply because the company failed to prepare for the worst.

The ASHP also recommended that Medicare and Medicaid give add-on payments to critical generic drug manufacturers as long as they have a plan to have plenty of availability.

The government should also spread its purchasing among many manufacturers to keep them all providing drugs actively, according to the ASHP. The federal government should also financially support manufacturers that create a buffer of supplies.

Vicari, who is the liaison to the Ocean County

Office of Senior Services, recently wrote a letter to Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker asking them to “do everything they can” to end the pharmaceutical shortages. Congressmen Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew also received Vicari’s letter.

“How can the strongest economy on Earth be facing a shortage of these vital pharmaceuticals?

It is well past time that the United States becomes self-sufficient and capable of producing all of the drugs needed by our aging population,” Vicari stated in his letter.

The shortages are especially harmful to Ocean County’s large senior citizen population, Vicari said in his letter. “Ocean County is home to one of the largest concentrations of senior citizens in the entire nation. These older adults are facing a crisis

– the continuing and growing shortage of critical prescription medications.”

Vicari added details about issues across the nation, not specifically at local medical facilities: “doctors report that they are reducing dosages of these life-saving drugs in an effort to treat as many patients as possible. Across the country, hospitals are delaying or even cancelling needed surgeries only because the necessary drugs are not available. Our seniors are looking for answers, and so am I.”

“I encourage you to do everything you can to help rectify this ongoing crisis. Access to medical care and needed medicine is a basic human right,” Vicari said. “Please help us ensure that our seniors – and younger families, too – do not have to worry about their health simply because a necessary prescription is not available.”

$2M Provided For Low-Income Senior Housing Services

Capitol Comments

Senator Robert Menendez

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (bothD-N.J.) announced a total of $2,017,856 to provide service coordination and supportive services to low-income seniors at HUD-assisted multifamily housing properties. Under FY 2023 Service Coordinator in Multifamily Housing and Congregate Housing Services programs, these funds promote health and wellness to support residents as they age in place in an independent housing setting.

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how critical supportive services are for our seniors. These federal funds will help New Jersey’s HUD-assisted properties provide health, wellness, transportation, and other supportive services so seniors can age in place and enjoy healthier, more fulfilling lives,” said Sen. Menendez.

“Every American deserves safety and support as they age,” said Sen. Booker. “This federal investment will help provide supportive services to low-income seniors living in public housing

throughout our state to ensure their health and well-being.”

The following grantees/ owners of HUD-assisted multifamily housing properties received funding: Kinder Towers, $45,909; Eleanor Levovitz Senior Citizens, $49,252; Alexian Manor, $56,387; Lindenwold Towers, $61,174; Atlantic City Townhouses, $68,928; Harborview Apartments, $68,561; Pennsville Towers, $35,069; Woodmere, $76,263; Luther Acres, $70,646; NCSC/UAW Senior Citizens, $46,145; New Community Roseville, $23,483; New Community Manor, $54,810; New Community Gardens, $78,435; New Community Douglas Homes, $44,669; Cathedral Square Housing, $58,862; New Community Commons, $78,887; New Community Senior Citizens, NCC Associates, $79,653; South Village II, $100,067; South Village I, $99,832; South Brunswick Community Development Corp., $56,283; Community Haven Senior Citizens, $35,942; Irvington Senior Apartments, $113,039; Trent East Senior Apartments Urban Renewal Limited Partnership, $146,628; Trent West Senior Apartments Urban Renewal Limited Partnership, $153,575; Senior Housing of Hazel Street,

$51,965; Little Egg Harbor Development, $42,979; National Church Residences of South River, $15,777; National Church Residences of East Brunswick, $25,114; National Church Residences of Lopatcong, $4,816; Housing Authority of Plainfield, $35,454; Oceanport Urban Renewal Preservation, $24,620; WTJC, LLC, $27,533; Mulhenberg Gardens Urban Renewal, LLC, $87,099.

Sen. Menendez has long been a leader in the fight to build more affordable housing. In March, the Senator joined a group of 17 Senate Committee Chairs and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in sending a letter to President Biden urging the federal government to utilize a “whole-of-government” approach to address the nation’s housing crisis.

In May, Sens. Menendez and Booker announced a total $12,237,784 for the state of New Jersey from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the nation’s Housing Trust Fund (HTF), an affordable housing production program that complements existing federal, state, and local efforts to increase and preserve the supply of high-quality, safe affordable housing for low-income households, including families experiencing homelessness.

In January 2022, Sen. Menendez

announced $1,429,328 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Housing Counseling Program to seven local agencies throughout New Jersey to provide funds to HUD approved housing counseling agencies to advise people on buying or renting a home, defaults, foreclosure, and other financial challenges. In August 2021, he introduced the Livable Communities Act that encourages local communities to partner strategically to develop bold, innovative solutions that reflect their unique character, while leveraging existing assets, including access to transit to help revitalize neighborhoods, spur economic development, create jobs, and address their affordable housing needs.

That same month, the Senator also introduced the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2021, which supports locally driven strategies to revitalize underserved neighborhoods by making permanent the highly competitive Choice Neighborhoods grant program at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In 2021, the Senator also secured $100 million to expand access to housing counseling and assistance services for millions of renters and homeowners struggling to remain in their homes amid the economic crisis created by the pandemic.

FOR THE WEEK OF AUG 26 - SEPT 1

BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS

OMARR’S ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Try not to let someone put a damper on your enthusiastic mindset. Remain trustworthy and you can receive help from others when you need assistance with your own projects. Doing the right things could add to your prestige.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) : Remain watchful when hoping for opportunities and you have a better chance of finding them. You can implement beneficial changes in financial arrangements or business plans that could alleviate some of the strain.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Try not to shy away from social outings or community events even if something is weighing on your mind right now. Remain courageous if you are feeling regretful over past mistakes and you could avoid an awkward situation.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) : You may be ready to book a bucket-list vacation or take an inspiring visit to a special event. Share your dreams and your connections to others can become stronger. A loved one’s attention could bring a smile to your face.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your time may be coming soon. Make the final plans and prepare for the last steps. The ideal circumstances can make your project take off, but only if you are properly prepared. The pieces are there, the rest is up to you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Try to keep your energy levels up when you can. Being active can clear your head and give you an excuse to spend some quality time with your closest friends and loved ones. Someone close to you may be eager to please.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Trust is the cornerstone of a solid relationship. You may need to compete to emphasize your credibility. Don’t become so enthusiastic to get the job done quickly that you promise more than might be deliverable.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Relationships can run more smoothly if you spend more time focused on someone’s feelings and less time on financial strategies. You may want to put a new business plan into action, but might need to wait for another day.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Do your best to avoid a narrow mindset. A family member may be asking for too much right now and bring down your mood. Pay your bills, take care of responsibilities, and wait for a better time to have a heart-to-heart chat.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Tackle any business or career matters with intensity and focus on using the latest trends to give yourself a boost. You may need to put on your thinking cap when it comes to making important decisions or changes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Knowledge may be power, but you could be looking in the wrong places for reading material about moneymaking ideas right now. Spend some time researching and planning for the financial changes you want to implement.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Failure may be integral to discovering how not to do things. Nothing new can be implemented if it is based on assumptions no matter how prepared you think you might be. Useful lessons could be found outside of a peer’s opinion.

THIS IS THE BEST LEMONADE YOU’LL HAVE THIS SUMMER

By America’s Test Kitchen

Our best lemonade recipe maximizes the bright flavor of freshsqueezed lemon juice and lemon zest, and adds just enough sweetness to temper its tartness. We muddled (or mashed together) one thinly sliced lemon with sugar to sweeten the lemonade. In this process, the sugar crystals absorb the intense flavor of the oils in the lemon peel and bring out the lemon’s flavor, making for a lemonade recipe that can cool down any summer day.

BEST LEMONADE Serves 6 to 8

1 large lemon, sliced thin, ends discarded

1 1/2 cups sugar

7 cups cold water

2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 12 lemons) Ice (for serving)

1. Using potato masher, mash lemon slices and sugar in a deep bowl until slices release their juice and sugar begins to dissolve. Stir in water and lemon juice until sugar completely dissolves. Strain out lemon slices and chill or pour over ice before serving.

(c) 2023 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

(For 25 years, confident cooks in the know have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. See more online at www.americastestkitchen. com/TCA.) (c) 2023 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.