BERKELEY – Another family is being welcomed to the Manitou Park section of the township with help from the Northern Ocean Habitat For Humanity, local businesses and elected officials.
Habitat provides housing for those in need, and chooses a “partner family” to gift a home. The reason they are a partner is that they help build the house alongside the volunteers. They put in the “sweat equity” and then help future families as well.
“If you were to tell me four years ago
when I walked into Habitat for a job application that I would be here, I wouldn’t believe you,” said Isaiah. “I still can’t believe it now. As a kid we would move from apartment to apartment, rental house to rental house, always trying to find a stable place to call home. It was hard to feel like I belonged somewhere. Knowing that my family and I are going to have a place to call home, is the biggest blessing in our lives.
Thank you, Habitat.”
This is Habitat’s 24th home build and the second to be completed this year in Manitou. This section of town is adjacent to South Toms River. It has gone through a renovation over the last decade or so, with abandoned homes torn
down and new houses built. Roads were constructed or lengthened. The land for the Habitat houses is donated by the town.
Local elected officials Senator Carmen Amato, Councilman Michael Signorile, and Commissioner Frank Sadeghi were among those on hand for the ceremonial turning of the first shovel of dirt marking the beginning of construction.
Home Repair
Habitat also has an active Critical Home Repair where Ocean County homeowners who meet income requirements can have repairs performed that will make their homes safer. There were 63 households who benefitted from this during fiscal year 2024. The goal is to hit 85.
Habitat shared some stories about
Three Sea Turtles Return To The Ocean After Recovery
By Alyssa Riccardi POINT PLEASANT BEACH
– Three juvenile sea turtles were released back out into the ocean after a New Jersey-based nonprofit helped rehabilitate them from injuries and sickness.
Sea turtles Lulu, Taylor Drift, and Teddy Swims, journeyed through the sand of Point Pleasant Beach and slowly made
their way into the water. All thanks to Sea Turtle Recovery.
Sea Turtle Recovery was created by two marine scientists, Bill Deerr and Brandi Biehl, who wanted to do more to help save the endangered and threatened animals in New Jersey.
Sea Turtle Recovery is the first long term sea turtle hospital in the state, operating at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange.
“Our busiest season is November, when all of the cold stunned sea turtles come in,” Biehl said.
Similar to hypothermia, sea turtles will shut down their body system and can shut down all their organs but their brain and heart. Due to this, they wash ashore very sick.
The three sea turtles who were (Sea Turtles - See Page 17)
123-Unit Veterans Village Proposed
By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – A
The development would be at the intersection of Atlantic City Boulevard (Route 9) and Sloop Creek Road. It would contain 99 apartments and 24 one-story houses. There would also be 24/7 onsite support services.
The developer is Tunnel To Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that supports veterans and their families. They did not return a phone call for this story.
“This is the fi rst of its kind in the state of New Jersey,” Mayor John Bacchione told The Berkeley Times
One of the most important parts of this is a requirement that the housing be deed restricted, he said. This means that by law, only veterans and their families can live there.
The town has frequently
A new family will be helped by the Northern Ocean Habitat For Humanity.
Photos courtesy NOHFH
Local elected officials joined Northern Ocean Habitat For Humanity and the new family for a symbolic groundbreaking.
“Veterans Village” made up of 124 homes is planned to be built on Route 9.
Teddy Swims, a rare hybrid species, released back into the ocean after rehabilitation.
Photo courtesy Sea Turtle Recovery
(Habitat Home - See Page 4)
(Veteran Village - See Page 4)
Habitat Home:
Continued From Page 1
homeowners who were helped.
Darlene, 65, is the widow of a Marine Corps veteran. She hurt her back years ago. She asked Habitat for help with her bathtub. Habitat performed a tub-to-shower conversion, and repaired her deck and replaced the roof.
Steve has lived in his home for 15 years and shared concerns about his broken back deck and drafty windows while shopping
Veteran
Village:
Continued From Page 1
supported veterans and veteran services. He said that at a recent meeting when the development was discussed, “there was not one negative remark” about it.
The development was approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. This is the
at the Habitat ReStore on Route 37 in Toms River. Crews were able to repair the deck, replace the front steps, and replace the bay windows.
“I haven’t been able to sit on my deck in 5 years and now I can,” he told the organization. “The windows were so drafty and I’m so grateful for all you did. The volunteers really know they’re stuff and could do all the repairs. I’m so happy that my house is back together.”
Another resident who has lived in her house for more than 20 years said she
land use board that determines if a development is a good fit for the area. That land is zoned for highway business, so the developer had to go through the Zoning Board to be given the OK to move forward.
Next, the development would have to go before the Planning Board. This land use board looks at specific plans of a development, such as where the buildings
had electrical issues and a water leak.
When volunteers arrived, they could hear running water. They repaired the leak, installed vinyl plank flooring, and repaired the breaker.
A couple who has been married for 53 years needed a roof replacement to address issues with their homeowner’s insurance.
“Financially, we couldn’t have done this ourselves. We had a leak and it was a blessing to have our roof repaired. Everyone at Habitat was so friendly and we couldn’t be happier,” Debbie said.
are, where the entrance is, and how it will impact drainage.
Tunnel To Towers is dedicated to fi refighter Stephen Gerard Siller who lost both parents at a young age and was raised by older siblings. He was driving home after his shift as a Brooklyn fi refighter when he heard on the police scanner that a plane had hit the fi rst tower on September 11, 2001.
Tales From The Pine Barrens And Beyond
Projects were funded, in part, by Amboy Bank Foundation, Brick Township Community Development Block Grant, Dave and Nan Daly, Federal Home Loan Bank, Friends Foundation for the Aging, Kearny Bank, Lowe’s, Manasquan Bank, Ocean County Senior Services, Ocean County Community Development Block Grant, OceanFirst Bank, Project Home Repair, and Toms River Community Development Block Grant.
For more information, visit northernoceanhabitat.org/.
He tried to get back to the station but the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel was closed for security reasons. He took his gear out of his truck and ran with 60 pounds of gear on his back. He lost his life saving others from the Twin Towers.
For more information, including how to donate or how to get help as a veteran, visit T2T.org
TOMS RIVER – On September 8 at 2 p.m., the Ocean County Historical Society will welcome renowned author William Lewis as he discusses his newest book “South Jersey Legends & Lore: Tales from the Pine Barrens and Beyond.” This will be followed by a book signing. The book will be available
for purchase that day.
William is a lifelong resident of the New Jersey Pine Barrens as were multiple generations of his family before him. He is also the author of “New Jersey’s Lost Piney Culture” and “Adventures with Piney Joe: Exploring the New Jersey Pine Barrens.”
This event takes place at our museum at 26 Hadley Avenue in Toms River. Their speaker series is free to members; but donations are greatly appreciated.
Due to major increases in expenses that OCHS is incurring they will now be charging a $5 admission for this program for non-members. Members will still be attending at no cost. The fee will be collected at the door on the day of the event. Cash only please. Seating is limited! To reserve your seat, send your name, zip code, email address, and the date of the program to oceancountyhistory. programs@gmail.com.
Advocates Fear Homeless Will Be Left Out In The Cold
By Stephanie Faughnan
TOMS RIVER - The thought of freezing temperatures might seem far away, but for Toms River homeless advocates, the harsh reality of winter is already hitting hard. Concerns are mounting that those who work tirelessly to provide cold weather shelter for the town’s unhoused population could soon find themselves homeless.
Just Believe, Inc. a nonprofit organization, has operated the Code Blue warming shelter out of the Riverwood Recreation Center at 250 Riverwood Drive for the past several years. However, the group was recently locked out of the facility, raising fears that the homeless could be left out in the cold when temperatures drop.
Kevin McKenna, a representative of Just Believe, addressed the Toms River Township Council at a recent meeting, expressing both gratitude for the town’s past support and concern over this recent development. He said that he didn’t understand the lock change but wanted to express his gratitude.
“I’m here to first thank Toms River as a whole for allowing us to operate that building for the past seven years, allowing us to accomplish the great things that we’ve been able to accomplish,” McKenna said. “On top of that, I’m hoping to come back here and be able to thank this council, and you, mayor, for allowing us to continue that operation.”
“What we do at Just Believe, is we take the homeless population that’s here and we serve them,” continued McKenna. “We help them. We bring them in from the cold, we feed them,
we plug them into resources.”
McKenna listed the numerous ways the nonprofit helps the homeless and implored local officials to allow Just Believe to continue the operations in Riverwood Park.
The shelter’s uncertain future stems from confusion over the terms of its contract with the township. When questioned by Councilman Tom Nivison about the status of the agreement, Mayor Dan Rodrick stated, “I believe we were advised by legal counsel that their contract only went until 2019 to 2020.”
Rodrick added that no action had been taken to shut down the shelter since it was not winter, and that the situation was under review.
The original agreement between the Township of Toms River and Just Believe was signed on October 16, 2019, by then-Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher. The contract allowed Just Believe to provide overnight lodging for up to 30 individuals during Code Blue alerts, with the capacity increased to 40 beds during a state of emergency.
The initial term of the agreement commenced on November 1, 2019, and was set to terminate on March 31, 2020. However, the contract included an automatic renewal clause, stating that the agreement would renew for the same period unless either party provided 30 days’ notice to terminate it.
Under the contract’s terms, Just Believe assumes responsibility for covering utilities and liability insurance for each night the facility is used. Atrisk individuals are required to leave the warming center by 8:30 a.m. the following morning, unless a Code Blue weather event or State of Emergency
was expected that night. Despite these provisions, the recent lock change has sparked fears that the township may be planning to close the shelter.
Some have suggested that Rodrick, who was on the council when the shelter’s contract was initially approved in 2019, now appears to be at odds with the organization. Rodrick has countered that complaints from Just Believe may be politically motivated, even accusing one of its members of raising concerns for that reason.
The mayor has not responded to three separate media requests for clarification on why the locks were changed or why Just Believe was not provided with a new set of keys. He did not answer whether closure of the Code Blue shelter is imminent or a request for a proposal for another service provider is in the works.
Just Believe CEO Paul Hulse said that the organization discovered the locks had been changed when they went to use the facilities recently. Past administrations have allowed the non-profit to utilize the space for particular projects without an issue.
“We have a storage container on site and we host our monthly meetings there the third Wednesday of the month,” said Hulse. “We are currently utilizing the space for wrapping gifts for our gift auction coming up in November.”
In a social media post, Rodrick said that “Just Believe was not locked out” and that the organization had completed its duties in March. He stated that new keys were created for the clubs that utilize the facility but did not address whether Just Believe would be able to continue its operations.
For Just Believe, the stakes could not be higher.
Last year alone, the Code Blue Center served 167 people and provided over 2,700 bed nights. The facility has also been a key part of Toms River’s efforts to reduce homelessness in the area. In addition to operating the warming shelter, Just Believe has provided cooling services during extreme heat at its administration building on Corporate Circle. The nonprofit also recently partnered with Ocean’s Harbor House to open the first Family Code Blue shelter in Ocean County, which began operations in January 2024.
Attorney Terrence Turnbach, who once served as a member of the Toms River council, has worked with Just Believe in their quest to help the less fortunate. He expressed optimism that the non-profit will be allowed to continue its work at the Riverwood Park location.
“For the past six years, Just Believe, Inc., has played a vital role in public safety by operating the Code Blue Program and providing warmth and shelter to Toms River residents who were struggling with housing insecurity,” said Turnbach. “Through the previous work of Just Believe and the Toms River Township Council, New Jersey State law was changed to afford better protections to the homeless throughout the state during the brutally cold winter months.”
“It is our hope that the new Toms River Township governing body will continue to work with Just Believe, Inc., and continue to allow the warming center to operate at the Riverwood Recreation Building,” Turnbach continued. “To stop this program would be a significant step backward in public health, safety and welfare.”
Urgent Appeal: Stop the Devastation of New Jersey’s Beautiful Shoreline
The New Jersey shore is an astounding place. From the cooler air that greets visitors as they arrive over beach-bound bridges to the pristine white sand and soothing sound of breaking waves. The pure joy of children frolicking in the sand. The fishing. The surfing. The whale watching. The cool refreshing ocean breeze in the afternoon. The magnificent sunrises. The treasured tradition of friends and families gathering in their favorite shore town every year. Just ask the millions of visitors in and around the Garden State who brave Parkway traffic to enjoy a day, a week, a month at the Jersey Shore.
All of this is being destroyed. Forever.
The Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind project is moving forward with an offshore wind project that will place three hundred and fifty seven 1,000-foottall wind turbines — three times the height of the Statue of liberty — along the coastline of New Jersey between Barnegat Light and Brigantine. Starting just 8.4 miles from the shore, the project will be the most shore intrusive wind project in the world.
The Atlantic Shores wind project will:
• Destroy the pristine natural seascape for generations to come; once the turbines are embedded in the ocean floor, the removal of foundation sections, towers and blades, and on-shore processing and disposal is not practical
• Create airborne noise that will be audible from shore
• Reduce sea breeze and waves
• Contaminate beaches and the ocean with debris from likely turbine component failures over the project lifetime
• Significantly reduce tourism and jobs, vacation rentals, and property values
• Kill whales from the underwater noise created by vessel surveys, pile driving, and turbine operation
• Prevent migratory birds from reaching their nesting areas
• Remove hundreds of thousands of acres of fishing grounds from their traditional use
• Restrict vessel traffic to narrow corridors, jeopardizing navigation safety
• Interfere with onshore national-defense radar
• Restrict airport approach paths, jeopardizing civilian air safety
• Destroy ancient, now-submerged, archaeological sites, and for just for good measure…
• Increase everyone’s electric bills by 22% (residential), 27% (commercial,) and 32% (industrial)
• Degrade National Wilderness Areas with air pollution from the powerful diesel-engine machinery used during construction
Save Long Beach Island (Save LBI) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit coalition of citizens working together to protect the ocean and Long Beach Island and neighboring communities from the devastating impact of this wind project. We are disappointed by the biased and incomplete information coming from Atlantic Shores and from the agencies we should be able to trust, and troubled by how both entities simply gloss over ominous signs, ranging from dead whales to the many destructive consequences noted above, including the potential for turbine failure and disastrous outcomes. We are puzzled by the stand aside attitude of the larger environmental organizations that would be aghast at these events if they originated from offshore oil and gas development.
Given the impending damage here, and with public support for offshore wind energy dropping to only 25 percent if it means their electric bills will go up, which they will, we are puzzled by the silence of many of our elected officials. We are not impressed with plans that fund studies to be completed after turbines are in place and the damage is done. Nor will we be silenced by scurrilous allegations accusing us of being beholden to the fossil-fuel industry, which we are not.
Therefore, the job of preserving the Jersey Shore, and its ocean and marine life falls to us and TO YOU. All efforts to inject common sense into the siting of the Atlantic Shores project have fallen on deaf ears. To stop this ill-conceived project, Save LBI will be challenging it in court under multiple laws:
• To protect marine mammals under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act
• To preserve the shore experience from airborne noise under Noise Control and Nuisance law
• To prevent excessive electric bill increases under the State’s Offshore Wind Energy Development Act
• To protect the offshore and onshore environment and question the entire governmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act
• To protect vessel navigation, fishing, and national defense uses of the ocean under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
• To protect the coastal zone under the Coastal Zone Management Act
• To protect the Brigantine National Wilderness area under the Clean Air Act
Time is of the essence. Please stand with us in the fight before it’s too late. Visit savelbi.org and make a donation today to support our legal work. Thank you.
Bob Stern, Ph.D. President, Save LBI info@savelbi.org
OPINIONS & COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL
No, Sorry - There Is No Snooki Here
In 2017, Micromedia Publications launched a hyperlocal news website, Jersey Shore Online. The idea was simple: a place in cyberspace to showcase our newspapers, interact with readers through social media and turn a weekly news source into a daily. It was also a more marketable URL for potential advertisers as MicromediaPubs.com didn’t roll off the tongue so well, and didn’t draw in an abundance of web traffic.
The site hit browsers seven years ago on July 1. From the beginning, our web developer put out a caveat: no matter how successful Jersey Shore Online could become, it will always be number two on the search engines thanks to MTV’s reality show “Jersey Shore.”
Hey, remember when the cable network actually played music videos? The show in question gave us Snooki, Gym Tan Laundry or GTL, The Situation, Pauly-D, Vinny, Sammi the Sweetheart and put Seaside Heights on the map - sometimes not in the best of lights.
Well, the web developer was right. While we have enjoyed success these past few years with over 15 million page views and counting, the site does play second fiddle to the show that airs in almost every country on earth, at least in terms of SEO - or Search Engine Optimization - yeah, web gobbledygook.
What has it also spawned? Fan mail. Lots and lots of
fan mail from legions of adoring fans. But of course it has…but wait…did I mention the fan mail is being directed to us?!
Since the site’s launch, our email server has been bombarded with some of the most ridiculous letters.
Some are short, some are long. They range from young teens who are begging for dates with Pauly-D or Vinny, nasty messages directed at Ronnie or Angelina and even inquires on how to obtain autographed pictures, pitches for storylines and aspiring actors looking for work.
Now, I understand that if you search for Jersey Shore News on Google, we come up in the top five next to links about the show. I’ll give you that. What’s perplexing is that there is nothing on Jersey Shore Online that would lead anyone to believe that a 29 year old media outlet is affiliated with the show, the cast, the producers or the MTV network. There’s no mention of the show, no production stills, no video clips - nothing! So, how does this happen? We simply don’t know.
If you would like to have a look at some of these for a laugh, we have them posted on our site.
My new generic response to those who write to us?
No, Sorry - There Is No Snooki Here
Jason Allentoff VP, Micromedia Publications
The Berkeley Times welcomes all points of view for publication and provides this page as an open forum for residents to express themselves regarding politics, government, current events and local concerns.
All letters are printed as space allows unless deemed offensive by the editorial staff, and provided they are signed and include address & phone number for veri�ication. Letters may not be printed if we cannot verify them. Names will not be withheld from publication. While most letters are printed as submitted, we reserve the right to edit or reject letters. The weekly deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday. Mail typed letters to: PO Box 521, Lakehurst, NJ 08733, fax 732-657-7388 or e-mail news@jerseyshoreonline.com. Letters may be limited to one per month per writer at the editor’s discretion. The opinions expressed in the Letters To The Editor section do not necessarily re�lect those of the staff, management or sponsors of Micromedia Publications/Jersey Shore Online. Letters to the Editor are the OPINION of the writer and the content is not checked for accuracy.
Praise For Mitch Little
Politics is not my bag. Vote for whom you want and ride the waves.
My bag is I’ve been a lifelong resident of Toms River (92 years’ worth) and have lived with and through the Ol Dover Twp Police Dept. and some of the now Toms River Police Dept. Goin through Facebook this evening and ran upon the post Mitch Little (We all know this gent as the Chief of the Toms River Police Dept.) put up and he said he was going to retire. (One biiiiigggg loss for Toms River)
Over the years Toms River PD gained fame as to one of the best in the country. I grew with the Dept and knew just about all personally until a few years ago. Must say as to one who put forth all he could (and there were many more) to make Toms River the town it was (and kinda leave a legacy for our kids).
Just have to thank OUR Toms River PD for being the finest and one of the safest in the country. They were always there when we needed and gave forth much to make Toms River one of the best. Again many of us worked elbow to elbow with these folks (Fire co’s, First Aid Squad, etc.) all for the effort of making Toms River what it is. (must be a good place - a lot of folks moved in to give their families a safe haven and great place to grow up in.)
Folks, Mitch Little did one heck of a job for our little town. Must say really hate to see yah go Mitch, but have to thank you for many as to what an exquisite job you have done. Toms River has been blessed with all that has passed through the portals of Dover Twp Police and now Toms River PD. Once again we have been blessed with those we had and have. Mitch once again hate to see yah go and must thank you for all yah did for our town. (You were a pretty damn good Chief.)
A little foot note I hope downtown can get their act
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
together “yah asked to get there to make the town a great place so let’s do it. “
God Bless Ol Toms River
God Bless Our TR Pd
God Bless Our Vets
God Bless America
God Bless All of Yah
Joe Placente Toms River
Education, Prevention Are Key In Fighting Opioids
The nation is experiencing a promising decline in opioid overdose deaths. Preliminary data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows a decrease in fatalities, especially from synthetic opioids like fentanyl. New Jersey is one of the states leading this national trend with state police and the Department of Health confi rming a decrease in suspected overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023. However, one overdose death in New Jersey is one person too many, and we need to continue our efforts to end this epidemic. One of the primary reasons for the positive trend in New Jersey is the extensive availability of prevention programs catering to all age groups. These programs play a crucial role in helping people make better, healthy choices. Prevention and education, particularly for children, are essential. When children learn about the dangers of illicit drugs from an early age, they are more likely to make healthy, drug-free choices as they grow up.
Programs in schools, workplaces, and communities play a significant role in raising awareness and knowledge. These initiatives reach people where they are and provide the necessary tools for them to stay safe. Education about substance misuse should not be limited to childhood; adults and seniors also benefit from learning about the risks and how to avoid them.
Our elected leaders play
a crucial role in communicating these important messages to our community as well. One example of prevention-based legislation is the Right to Know law. This law, initially adopted in New Jersey in 2017 and now implemented in 20 other states, mandates that healthcare providers discuss the risks of opioid dependency with their patients and inform them about safer, non-opioid alternatives for pain management.
Continuing to support and expand prevention programs is essential for maintaining, and even accelerating, the decline in opioid overdose deaths. These efforts are crucial for ensuring that everyone, from children to seniors, has the knowledge and resources to stay safe and healthy. Together, we can make a real difference in fighting the opioid epidemic.
Angelo Valente Executive Director, Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey
In Defense Of Trump
Editor’s note: This letter is in response to the letter named “Just The Facts,” which ran in the August 3 edition, not an article written by staff.
Your article about Donald trump is very bad taste. Do you ever have anything good to say about him. I will be voting for him. I cannot bring myself to vote for Socialists communist Party of the Democrats. (Once) you vote that way there’s no going back. It is your paper and you can right what you want, just be fair and honest.
SA Thomas Ocean County
Doctors With No Bedside Manner
My husband and I moved to Whiting, NJ last year. I grew up a “shore” kid every summer and knew all my
life I wanted to retire near my beloved Jersey Shore. We moved to an over 55 community, love our home, our community and our new neighbors.
In February after a low impact exercise class I took a turn and developed excruciating pain in my hip, leg and foot. Having to fi nd new doctors took some time and relied on word of mouth from neighbors. My husband and I went to 2 orthopedic doctors in Toms River. The fi rst visit I was treated with such lack of interest, no solutions, and felt like he took me for an old lady (I’m 67) day for the grave! I cried all the way home.
Found a very compassionate pain management doctor who sent me for an MRI and X-ray at an imaging center in Toms River. I realize everyone is understaffed but the center has employees with no patience and lack of empathy! Again treated like I was ready for the grave!
So my theory is this, if you live and work in an area such as our area of the shore, you better get used to the idea that there are thousands of us senior citizens that RELY ON YOU! One day you will be our age and will need help so get used to the idea! If you choose a profession where you are supposed to be CARING FOR PEOPLE then do just that OR CHANGE YOUR PROFESSION! After 5 months I have no relief and pray every day for a PROFESSIONAL willing to help me!
Gina Conklin Whiting
Editor’s note: This letter is responding to another letter from our April 27, 2024 edition.
As a veteran, why would I vote for Donald Trump who feels that people who served in the armed forces and got
Correspondence & Commentary From Your Local, County, State & Federal Officials
Veterans Programs Touted Throughout State
Capitol Comments
NEWARK – On the fourth day of his 2024 summer road trip, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) made stops in Ocean, Hudson, and Essex Counties.
In Ocean County, Booker visited Little Egg Harbor to announce three Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) awards he secured for New Jersey veterans. The New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars (NJVFW) is set to receive two CDS awards in FY25 totaling $547K to establish a disenfranchised veterans mental health and outreach program. These awards will enable NJVFW to expand its mental wellness program for New Jersey’s 338,000
veterans by increasing social worker and case management capabilities, by funding increased peer to peer programming and mental wellness retreats, and by expanding outreach to disadvantaged veterans through the purchase of two electric vans.
The third CDS award is an allocation of $600K to the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce to establish an online platform for disadvantaged and diverse small businesses. This award will allow the chamber to develop an online platform that allows the state and private sector business community to buy first from diverse businesses, to include veterans, disabled veterans, military spouses, women, and minority owned businesses.
“Our veterans have sacrificed everything for our country, and it’s our duty to ensure they have access to the resources and
support they need,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud to have secured these three CDS awards for New Jersey’s veterans. These investments will expand mental health services and outreach efforts so we can ensure no veteran in Jersey is left behind, and will help to strengthen diverse small businesses in New Jersey, to include veteran-owned businesses.”
“The NJ State Veterans Chamber of Commerce is sincerely grateful to Senator Cory Booker for prioritizing veterans in this year’s grant opportunities. These grants will go a long way to make the lives of veterans better in our state,” said Jeff Cantor, Founder and CEO of New Jersey Veterans Chamber of Commerce. “The grant money that the NJ State Veterans Chamber of Commerce will receive will go towards building a platform that allows the state and private sector business community buy first from diverse businesses like veterans, disabled veterans, military
spouses, black owned businesses, women owned businesses, Hispanic owned businesses, and minority owned businesses. This will allow for greater procurement opportunities to disadvantaged and small businesses. We are thankful for Senator Booker’s tenacity in fighting for these diverse businesses and helping to find a solution for better procurement across all business sectors.”
“The VFW is very honored to have been awarded this grant through Senator Booker. This funding will allow the VFW to provide mental health counseling and outreach resources to some of the most fragile and disenfranchised veterans that call New Jersey home. We look forward to working with Senator Booker to better the lives of veterans in New Jersey,” said Jay ‘Doc’ Boxwell Jr., Past All-American Department Commander 2022-23, Legislative Director, and Convention Director of the New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars.
George Samir Helmy Appointed To United States Senate
From The Desk Of The
Governor
Phil Murphy
NEWARK – Governor Phil Murphy appointed George Samir Helmy to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Robert Menendez. Helmy will serve as one of New Jersey’s two United States Senators until the winner of the November General Election is certified on November 27, at which point Senator Helmy will resign and the Governor will appoint the winner of November’s election to the U.S. Senate.
“It is an honor to appoint George Helmy, a proven public servant who deeply understands the complexities of Congress, to the United States Senate,” said Governor Murphy. “George is the model of integrity we need to help restore public trust in our state’s leadership. There is no one better prepared - or more committed - to delivering for the people of our state, especially when it comes to providing the highest caliber of constituent services. For four and a half years, I witnessed firsthand George’s unique skillset, wealth of knowledge, and willingness to pour his heart and soul into serving the people of our state. I have absolute confidence that he will serve New Jerseyans well over the next few months.”
“Once the voters of New Jersey elect their next representative in the United States Senate,
and their votes are certified, I will appoint the winner of November’s election to the United States Senate before the new year begins,” continued Governor Murphy.
“This approach will allow the democratically-chosen winner of November’s election to embark on the smoothest possible transition into office so they can provide the best possible representation for New Jersey.”
“I thank the Governor and accept this appointment with great humility and even greater determination to represent New Jerseyans in the United States Senate,” said incoming U.S. Senator George Helmy. “While I am honored to serve and provide New Jersey with a Senate office that they can depend on, I commit to stepping down early to give the duly elected Senator the chance to begin their work. As I serve my state as Senator for the next few months, I promise to work for the people of New Jersey and hope to restore their faith in public service.”
“George Helmy is one of the most committed public servants I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” said Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way. “I am confident that he will provide New Jerseyans with the principled and effective leadership that they deserve. George is brilliant, caring, and extremely dedicated to serving our state. This appointment by Governor Murphy ensures that our state is in good hands until the people of New Jersey elect their next Senator.”
“Governor Murphy has made a wise and historic choice in appointing George Helmy to the Senate,” said Senator Cory Booker. “New Jersey deserves the most prepared and capable person to serve in this interim period. There is perhaps no one else more qualified to hit the ground running and make an impact for New Jersey in this role over the next several months.
From his dedicated years of service for Senator Lautenberg and his strong leadership as my state director, George knows how a Senator can be most effective for the people of New Jersey. Even more so, his experience as Governor Murphy’s chief of staff makes him deeply knowledgeable about the diverse needs of our (Government - See Page 14)
Senator Cory Booker
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Additional Costs: Crematory Fee, Urns, Disposition Of Cremains & Certi ed Copies Of Death Certi cates, Permit, Removal Assist. & Mileage, Viewings Or Memorial Services
Peer Leadership Program Reaches Seventh Year
BEACHWOOD – Incoming fifth-grade students from the district’s 12 elementary schools were invited to participate in Toms River Regional Schools’ seventh annual Peer Leadership Program.
This week-long program was held at Beachwood Elementary and focused on enhancing students’ leadership skills with a focus on selfcare, empathy, kindness, acceptance of others, and ability to communicate. The camp serves as an opportunity to extend and build upon the various social and emotional offerings already embedded within the elementary schools’ curriculum and daily practices.
The program features team-building activities, keynote speeches from community members and leaders – including Superintendent Michael Citta – problem-solving challenges, and opportunities for self-reflection.
“While our ultimate goal remains the same, one of my favorite things about this program is how each year it looks a little bit different,” said Jim Klass who, in addition to his role as supervisor of instruction at Beachwood, helps
Photo courtesy Toms River Schools lead the summer program. “Seeing students from every one of our elementary schools interact with one another and learn such valuable leadership skills throughout the week is nothing short of incredible. Our facilitators are passionate and dedicated teachers from across the district who truly make the program come alive!”
This fantastic opportunity was made possible through funding from the Toms River Municipal Alliance. This year’s facilitators included Ms. Okuniewicz (South Toms River), Mrs. Cameron (Beachwood), Ms. Francis (Pine Beach), Mrs. Smith (West Dover), and Mrs. Hanson (Cedar Grove).
Partnerships included RWJBarnabas Health, Toms River Regional Schools Food Services Department, JBJ Soul Kitchen, Dementia Living Solutions, LeadU, and other health and wellness professionals from throughout the area. This exceptional group of students will serve as leaders in various capacities within their home schools throughout the 2024-2025 school year.
Beachwood Community Yard Sale
BEACHWOOD – Beachwood Recreation has announced their community yard sale on September 28 and 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As the summer ends, it’s time to clean out your homes and garages, and get ready for this town-wide event! They welcome residents and visitors to buy, sell and trade
throughout the weekend.
Cost is $12 per property. Deadline to register is September 13. Registration fee is non-refundable. Balloon and map pick up is at Borough Hall lobby on September 27 from 4 to 6 p.m., 1600 Pinewald Avenue. The event is rain or shine.
Central Regional School District
Now Hiring
BERKELEY – Central Regional School District is now hiring. Open positions include: Temporary Long-Term Special; Educations Middle School; and ELA Teacher. For more information, visit applitrack.com/centralreg/onlineapp.
Meet Berkeley Mayor John Bacchione
BERKELEY – Berkeley residents, speak one-on-one with Mayor John Bacchione in a casual setting. Drop in and “Meet the Mayor” at the Ocean County Library Berkeley Branch, 6 p. m. on September 3. Members of the Berkeley Township Police and Fire Departments will also be available
to discuss your questions, issues and concerns during the relaxed, informal hour. Register at tinyurl.com/OclBkyMayor for this free program. For more information, stop by the OCL Berkeley Branch, 30 Station Road, Bayville, call 732-269-2144 or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.
1st Annual PBA 237 Fluke Tournament
BERKELEY – Join for the 1st Annual PBA 237 Fluke Tournament on August 25 from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Get ready for an exciting day on the water with the PBA 237 community! They are thrilled to announce the very fi rst Fluke Tournament, and they want you to be a part of it. After fi nal weigh ins there will be food and drinks for participants and
guests. There will be amazing prizes for the top anglers as well as 50/50 and tricky tray. Whether you’re a seasoned fisherman or just looking for a fun day out with friends and family, this event has something for everyone. All proceeds from the tournament will go towards supporting PBA237. For more information, contact Ryan at 732-330-2344.
Habitat For Humanity 8th Annual Walk To Build
SEASIDE HEIGHTS – Help families walk towards a brighter future! Join in making a difference by sponsoring the 8th annual Walk to Build on September 21 on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk at 9 a.m. Your support helps pave the way for Ocean County families, transforming lives with each step we take together. Be a champion
for change - sponsor today and walk with us toward a brighter future!
If you would like to learn more about Walk to Build, visit northernoceanhabitat.org/ events/2023-annual-walk-to-build. Contact ErinB@nohfh.com or 732-818-9500 ext. 100 with questions about becoming a sponsor or signing up for the walk!
VFW 9503 Annual Picnic
BERKELEY – VFW Post 9503 will be holding their Annual Picnic on August 31 from 12 to 4 p.m. at 383 Veterans Boulevard, Bayville.
Enjoy burgers, dogs, chicken, salads, etc. Members and children under 12 are free. All other attendees will cost $10. All are welcome. For more information, call 732-269-2265.
Halloween Home Decorating Contest
BEACHWOOD – Register early for the Beachwood Recreation Halloween Home Decorating contest. Judging will be done during October 25 to 27. Registration deadline is October 19. For more information, email recreation@beachwoodusa.com.
BERKELEY – Join for a live presentation by TJ Fallon, Founder and Creator of Dead History. TJ will take us on a fascinating journey as he has visited the gravesites of every baseball Hall of Famer, as well as many of their homes and other sites associated with these important men. It is sure to be a fun, comical and educational
presentation. Be sure to check out Dead History on YouTube and on Instagram @DeadHistory1776.
Program will be held on October 10 and starts promptly at 7 p.m., at the Berkeley Township Recreation Building, 630 Route 9, Bayville. Light refreshments will be served.
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – Support South Toms River fi rst responders a the 6th Annual Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival on September 28 from 12 to 8 p.m. at Mathis Plaza.
craft vendors, and a day filled with
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – Ptl. Stratton and Ptl. Palino checking
fellow First Responders at Manitou Park Family Day,
all! Thank you
the invite, Rob Taylor and Berkeley Township.
Photo courtesy South Toms River Police
TJ Fallon Presents Gravesites Of Presidents And Vice-Presidents
BERKELEY – Join for a live presentation by TJ Fallon, Founder and Creator of Dead History. TJ will take us on a fascinating journey as he has visited the gravesites of every president and vice president of the USA, as well as many of their homes and other sites associated with these important men. TJ is an absolutely phenomenal speaker! Come along on his adventures that will make you laugh, boost your History IQ,
and make you want to ride shotgun on his next adventure! It is sure to be a fun, comical and educational presentation. Be sure to check out Dead History on YouTube and on Instagram @DeadHistory1776.
Program will be on September 12 and starts promptly at 7 p.m., at the Berkeley Township Recreation Building, 630 Route 9, Bayville. Light refreshments will be served.
Firehouse Rock Music Festival
OCEAN GATE – Ocean Gate Fire Company is proud to announce they will be hosting the Inaugural “Firehouse Rock” Music Festival on September 7 (rain date October 5). This year’s event will include a dedication ceremony for our new ladder truck. It’s been almost 30 years since we’ve housed a new engine and it’s a huge step forward for
our department to now have a ladder truck to serve our town, of which we are truly grateful.
Now that it’s here we are looking forward to officially housing it and showing our gratitude to the entire town with a full day of music, food vendors, craft vendors, and beer garden.
Guided Nature Walks At Double Trouble
BERKELEY – Join a naturalist for a guided walk down the Clear Brook Path on August 31 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Double Trouble State Park.
Follow a naturalist for a short nature walk down the Clear Brook Trail. This shady hike will be a little over a mile and a half in length. Please dress appropriately for outdoor activities (long pants,
hat, bug spray). Rain or shine, thunder may cancel. Bring rain gear if precipitation is forecasted. Meeting spot: Village parking area.
No registration or tickets required. For program questions, please send an email to Delaney.Westphal@dep.nj.gov. Sign up for emails about upcoming park events & programs at AlertMeDEP.nj.gov.
Beach Plum Festival
BERKELEY – This annual event features over 100 arts and craft vendors, children’s games, nonprofits and of course beach plum jelly!
This year’s Beach Plum Festival will be on September 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
Ocean Beach Bathing Area 1 at Island Beach State Park.
Suggested donation is $8. This is a rain or shine event. Funded in part by a grant for the Ocean County Board of Commissioners. Explore more at OceanCountyTourism.com.
Labor Day Pig Roast
BAYVILLE – Bayville Elks #2394 House & Bar Committee present their fi rst Labor Day Pig Roast on September 2 from 2 to 6 p.m.
Music by Coastal Vibe. Tickets at $35 for presale or $40 at the door. Kids are $15. En-
joy BBQ pig, hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, and more. Includes soda, draft beer, and water. Open to members and their guests. Tickets are available for pre-purchase at the bar or by contacting Krissy at 732-5230855 or Jamie 732-614-2203.
WALK Pajama Club Present Back To School
BAYVILLE – WALK, Inc. “Walk in Acts of Love and Kindness” believe every child deserves a nice pair of cozy pajamas to sleep in. They will be giving free pajamas from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Living Water
Community Church on September 1.
Living Water Community Church and WALK will also have free school supplies as well! For more information, visit walkinc.org.
Ocean Gate School Orientation
OCEAN GATE – Preschool and Kindergarten Orientation will be on August 28 at 9 a.m.! They are looking forward to a “Gator Great” school year!
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Government: Continued From Page 9 211 ROUTE 9, BAYVILLE, NJ 08721 • 732-269-8555
Teens, Start The School Year With Yoga
BERKELEY – Here’s a way to meet the approaching academic year relaxed, refreshed, and ready: Devote an hour to “Yoga for Teens with Belle” at the Ocean County Library Berkeley Branch, 6:30 p.m. on September 12.
Certified yoga instructor Belle Burns will lead the exercises designed to promote physical, mental and emotional well-being. Yoga practitioners extol its benefits for flexibility,
concentration, muscle strength, awareness and self-esteem.
Register at tinyurl.com/OclBkyYoga for this free program. Registrants will be asked to sign waivers before taking part.
For more information, visit the OCL Berkeley Branch, 30 Station Road, Bayville, call 732-269-2144 or visit theoceancountylibrary. org/events.
Beachwood Summer Community Luau
BEACHWOOD – Beachwood’s community day this year will be luau style down at Beachwood Beach!
Mark your calendars and plan to bring the entire family. The event will be on August 24 from 12 to 4 p.m. Enjoy food truck,
vendor booths, conga line, hula dancers, dunk tank, fi retruck slide, and beachfront games. Free entry!
They are currently looking for vendors for the event. If interested, email recreation@ beachwoodusa.com.
Community Yard Sale
PINE BEACH – The Pine Beach Community Yard Sale will be held on September 7 and 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration forms may be obtained through pinebeachborough.us or picked up at Borough Hall.
Registration fee is $20 and includes advertisement and listing on map. Pick up maps and certificates on September 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Pine Beach Volunteer Firehouse, 525 Prospect Avenue, Pine Beach.
state. George is a leader who will undoubtedly make a difference in the lives of New Jerseyans as our Senator, even in this short period of time. I will be proud to serve alongside him. And I know he will make New Jerseyans proud through his service too.”
Serving as Chief of Staff to Governor Phil Murphy from February 2019 to October 2023, George Helmy played a critical role in leading New Jersey’s pandemic response, negotiated six on-time state budgets, and ensured the completion of many of the Governor’s legislative goals. Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, Helmy served as State Director to U.S. Senator Cory Booker, serving on the Senator’s senior staff and overseeing the day-to-day operations of
his New Jersey offices. Prior to that, he worked as Senator Booker’s Deputy Chief of Staff for two years. Helmy has also worked in the private sector with two Fortune 100 companies and served as an aide and caseworker to the late U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, handling issues such as gun safety and financial affairs. Helmy currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs and Policy Officer at RWJBarnabas Health. A native of Jersey City, Helmy lives in Morris County with his wife and two children. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University and Master’s degree from Harvard University. Upon his appointment to the U.S. Senate, Helmy will become the only Arab-American Senator in the 118th Congress. Helmy is tentatively scheduled to be sworn in on September 9th, when the U.S. Senate reconvenes.
AroUnD the JerSeY Shore
Fulfi ll Announces Honorees For Its 40th Anniversary Celebration
NEPTUNE – Fulfill Board Chair, Susan Doctorian Kyrillos and Fulfill President and CEO, Triada Stampas proudly announced this year’s honorees for its 40th Anniversary Gala. The honorees include:
• Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy – Champion of Change Award
• The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners – Humanitarian Impact Award
• Causeway CARes, funded by the Wintrode Family Foundation – Community Leadership Award
• Monmouth Beach Kids Quench Hunger
– Junior Humanitarian Award
The evening will also feature Emmy and Peabody Award-winning television journalist, Yale professor and author, Jack Ford as the esteemed master of ceremonies, and entertainment from the popular Jersey Shore band Brian Kirk & The Jirks. Fulfill honored Kirk for his longtime support at its “Shore to Rock” benefit concert in 2023.
Held at the Fulfill warehouse in Neptune on September 26, the 40th Anniversary Celebration will highlight the organization’s legacy of fighting hunger and improving lives. Begun in 1984 as a compassionate response to a local need, Fulfill has evolved into a transformative approach to addressing food insecurity comprehensively throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
“We are thrilled to share this milestone with our esteemed gala honorees, starting with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy,” said Kyrillos. “The significant work being done to fight food insecurity at the state level by the Murphy Administration and the Legislature, combined with First Lady Tammy Murphy’s critical efforts in 2020 to marshal private support through the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, places New Jersey at the forefront of that fight. Our region is also fortunate to have support at the county level, thanks to the Board of County Commissioners and Monmouth ACTS.”
Two organizations with close ties to Fulfill round out the list of this year’s honorees. Causeway CARes is a longtime supporter of Fulfill, supporting through sponsorships, donations, hosting food drives and volunteering, while Kids Quench Hunger is a group of children from Monmouth Beach who help Fulfill fight hunger by raising funds and awareness at their lemonade stand every summer.
“Our two honoree organizations exemplify legacy and leadership, and we are delighted to recognize their contributions to our mission,” said Stampas. “Causeway CARes, funded by the Wintrode Family Foundation, has been a steadfast and generous supporter for two decades, and instrumental to the launch of The BEAT Center, Fulfill’s food security hub in Ocean County. The Monmouth Beach students who run the ‘Kids Quench Hunger’ lemonade stand are powerful examples of how young leaders can help others and improve their communities.” The Awards recognize the honorees in the following ways:
• Champion of Change Award – Recognizing exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing policies and resources that support hunger relief and food security in New Jersey.
• Humanitarian Impact Award – Honoring the commitment and impactful contributions of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners in supporting community initiatives to combat hunger.
• Community Leadership Award – Celebrating outstanding community efforts and significant contributions to alleviating hunger and improving the lives of those in need.
• Junior Humanitarian Award – Acknowledging the inspiring efforts and remarkable achievements of young philanthropists in addressing hunger and fostering a culture of giving in their community.
The choice of Fulfill’s warehouse headquarters for this event has special meaning. By the late 1990s, Fulfill had outgrown the small Spring Lake warehouse where it was founded. This necessitated the construction in 2001 of its current 43,000-square-foot headquarters, enabling Fulfill to distribute three million pounds of food in its first year there. Today, having distributed nearly 18 million pounds of food from this same warehouse, Fulfill is at another inflection point: it is embarking on a historic campaign to raise critical funds for several key initiatives, including an expansion of its warehouse with cold storage space to supply nutritious protein, produce and dairy items for the more than 100,000 Monmouth & Ocean County residents who rely on its network of food pantries, soup kitchens, and community distribution sites for food every month.
To learn more about the gala, one of Fulfill’s most important fundraisers, visit fulfillnj.org/40thannivsignup.
Drift our little fighter,” Biehl added.
Continued From Page 1
recently released were all victims of cold stunning.
Lulu, a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle, was stranded due to becoming cold stunned in Massachusetts.
“She was very sick, very anemic. When we offered food she would eat, however they usually swim and hunt and gulp it down. But with her she would see it and take over a half hour to eat all of her diet, because she was so exhausted,” Biehl said. “We also discovered she had fungal ammonia. She was on several different antibiotics and fighting a lot of different infections. That’s why she was with us for so long.”
Taylor Drift is a juvenile Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle who was also stranded in Massachusetts due to being cold stunned.
“She was a fighter from the beginning. When she first came in, she had the worst set of x-rays we’ve ever seen. Just the congestion and fluid in her lungs, a massive and severe lung infection. She had so much congestion that she would tilt on one side when she was swimming. She would sleep on her side as well,” Biehl said.
“What was fun about her, she was beyond feisty. She had no interest in cooperating with anything we did. Even at the release she had no interest in cooperating there. We like to call Taylor
The final sea turtle, Teddy Swims, is a rare hybrid species who was also stranded due to becoming cold stunned in Massachusetts.
Biehl explained how finding a hybrid species raises concerns regarding the future of sea turtles.
“We’re very concerned when we see a hybrid sea turtle because that means the female, which we believe was a Kemp’s Ridley, only mated with the loggerhead if she couldn’t find enough males of her own species to mate with,” Biehl said. “The Kemp’s Ridley is critically endangered. It’s very possible we could lose them in our lifetime if something doesn’t change. It’s very concerning to see a hybrid.”
“With the changes in the climate and the habitat, we’ll be interested to see if this is a survival of the species and their continuation. Hopefully this was just a fluke,” Biehl added.
Since opening over seven years ago, Sea Turtle Recovery has saved 122 sea turtles.
“They have a chance not only to live and have a wonderful life, but they also can help continue their species,” Biehl said.
Loggerhead sea turtle Lulu is tracked via satellite so the team can follow where she swims. The public can fi nd updates on tracked sea turtles on the nonprofit’s social media pages.
There are many different ways the public can help sea turtles and support Sea Turtle Recovery. You can visit seaturtlerecovery. org and make a donation, or you can adopt or sponsor a sea turtle. Sea Turtles:
Eagles Take Flight Community Tailgate
BERKELEY – Save the date for Eagles Take Flight on August 30, starting at 3 p.m. at Central Regional High School. Join for games, food trucks, raffles, athletic
demos, giveaways, and live music! Stay after the event for AYF night at the Varsity Football Season Opener vs. Hightstown at 7 p.m.
Hearing & Your Brain: A Medical Approach To Health Care
The research is in: Hearing loss affects more than the ability to communicate. It’s a chronic condition that puts your brain at risk. That’s why we emphasize a comprehensive approach to hearing care and want you to feel informed to make educated health decisions.
What does this mean, and how can you put the details to work for your total wellness?
contributor to the condition.
Your brain, while remarkably complex, has limited resources. Hearing loss and associated problems like tinnitus and balance disorders can tax those resources — diverting them from functions like thinking, attention, or memory — and may even cause physical changes to the brain.
Read on for critical facts about hearing loss, balance, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears or head) — including links to brain health and important ways we can help.
Many people don’t realize that the brain and ears collaborate to support hearing. Both also play a role in balance. And though tinnitus can have many causes, it’s thought that the core issue involves some sort of damage to the auditory or hearing system.
These and other interconnections can drive strengths and vulnerabilities. Consider these facts:
You could have as much as 5X* higher likelihood of dementia, depending on the severity of any hearing loss.
Hearing loss puts you at greater risk of balance problems and falling, which is the second leading cause* of accidental death and is behind a significant number of injuries. Hearing loss is present in about 90%* of tinnitus cases and is considered a primary
The good news? Increasing research, including the groundbreaking 2023-released ACHIEVE study*, credits audiologic care including properly fit hearing aids in helping stem the threat of cognitive decline and dementia.
Hearing technology is also one of the most effective ways to manage tinnitus and is associated with decreased risk* of fall-related injury.
Don’t wait. Regular hearing evaluations are recommended, so book for yourself or a loved one today. We’re here to support your hearing, brain, and balance health for a better quality of life!
Dr. Izzy and his Staff are always available to provide you with honest answers about your hearing health care. Please feel free to contact our office at 732-451-3962 or visit our website at gardenstatehearing.com
We Hear You and We are Here for You! *Sources available upon request
His offices are in Toms River, Whiting, and Manahawkin. He can be reached at 732-451-3962 or via Web site at gardenstatehearing.com. Dr. Izzy & Staff gives Retirement Community Talks!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS! Expand your patient base by advertising in Micromedia Publications’ 7 weekly newspapers. Call 732-657-7344 to find out how!
Dr. Isidore Kirsh Ph.D., F.A.A.A.
H ERE ’ S T O Y OUR H EALTH
Dear Pharmacist
Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.
Breaking Free From Obsessive Thoughts: Causes And Natural Paths To Peace
By Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.
Obsessive thoughts can feel like a never-ending loop, trapping you in a cycle of anxiety and distress. If you find yourself constantly worrying or fixating on certain ideas, you’re not alone. These thoughts can be overwhelming, but they don’t have to control your life.
There are so many causes that I can’t elaborate on all of them, and also, my article is only a high-level viewpoint. This condition requires a professional therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist if it is serious. What I can say is that obsessive thoughts can stem from stress, anxiety, physical health issues and medication side effects. Sometimes, an imbalance in neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, plays a role. It’s low serotonin function, not high in case you’re wondering.
If you’ve been under a lot of stress lately or have experienced significant life changes, your mind might struggle to process everything, leading to repetitive, unwanted thoughts. Medications, particularly those that affect the brain, can sometimes trigger or exacerbate obsessive thinking. I mentioned medications above and that’s because certain antidepressants or stimulants prescribed for ADHD might have side effects that include intrusive thoughts. There is a gut-brain connection to this problem as you might have guessed. Serotonin is mostly made in the GI tract so your gut health can significantly impact your mental state. I have a longer blog about that very topic posted at my website, just use my search box there. The point is, the gut and brain are connected through your vagus nerve, and an imbalance in gut bacteria can lead to symptoms like anxiety, depression,
and yes, obsessive thoughts.
Probiotics, a diet rich in fiber, and reducing sugar intake can help balance your gut microbiome, potentially easing your mental load. I wouldn’t say probiotics cure it, but they play a role in gut microflora which is critical to serotonin (and other neurotransmitter) production. Furthermore, healthy probiotic status helps you extract nutrients from your food which aid in the synthesis of neurotransmitters - which then contribute to your emotional state. Aside from probiotics, magnesium can help relax your muscles and nervous system, reducing the frequency and intensity of obsessive thoughts. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, are also beneficial for brain health and can help stabilize your mood. And herbal remedies such as ashwagandha or rhodiola.
I’m a big believer in regular physical activity (to your own level of course, but this is another effective way to manage stress and reduce obsessive thinking. Exercise releases feel-good endorphins and natural mood lifters which offset intrusive thoughts. While it can be tough, most people can manage and even overcome mild obsessive thoughts. Sometimes, all it takes is writing a letter to someone about what’s been on your mind or finally posting that review for a company you’ve been mentally drafting for days. Other times, it might mean letting go of a problematic employee or setting a clear boundary within a relationship. Of course, more serious obsessive thoughts might need professional help. But by understanding the root causes and taking proactive steps to support both your mental and physical health, you can fi nd some peace of mind.
By: Michael J. Deem, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates
If your phone rings once and then stops, think twice before returning the call. It may be a SCAM!
Some wireless consumers receive calls from phone numbers with three-digit area codes that appear to be domestic, but are actually associated with international pay-per-call phone numbers. These calls often disconnect after one ring to try to tempt consumers to return the call. Therefore, if you receive a call like this and do not recognize the number of the incoming call, do not return the call. If you do, you may be connected to an international hotline than can charge a fee for connecting, along with significant per-minute fees if they can keep you on the phone. These charges may show up on your bill as premium services.
How the scam works
Your wireless phone rings once or twice before the call is disconnected. The number that appears in your wireless phone log as a missed call appears to be a U.S area code, but is actually a three-digit international area code. If you return the call you will be connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and charged expensive international call rates. (For example, “649” goes to the Turks and Caicos, “809” goes to the Dominican Republic, “284” goes to the British Virgin Islands, and “876” goes to Jamaica.)
This scam appears to be a variation of fraud involving phony messages on answering machines urging you to call a number with an unfamiliar area code to collect a fake prize or find out about a “sick” relative.
Tips to avoid the scam
• Check any unfamiliar area codes before returning calls.
• Be aware that many 3-digit area codes (mostly in the Caribbean) connect callers to international telephone numbers.
• If you do not otherwise make international calls, ask your local or wireless phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.
Remember, you should always be cautious even if a number appears authentic. Criminals may also engage in caller ID “spoofing” - deliberately falsifying the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Bottom line: Avoid answering or returning any calls from unfamiliar area codes or calls you suspect may be spoofed.
What to do if you are a victim of this scam
If you are billed for a call you made as a result of this scam, first try to resolve the matter with your telephone company. If you are unable to resolve it directly, you can file a free complaint with the FCC.
AroUnD the JerSeY Shore
New Jersey Natural Gas Emphasizes Safe Digging Practices
WALL – August 11 is National 811 Day, and New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) wants to remind residents to keep themselves and their communities safe by calling 811 to have underground public utility lines marked out prior to the start of any digging project. Underground utility lines are located virtually everywhere, and some may be buried at a shallow depth. An unintended shovel dig can strike a utility line and result in utility outages, costly repairs, fi nes or catastrophic consequences.
All projects big and small require a call to 811 at least three business days before breaking ground to have the work site properly marked. In fact, the most common homeowner projects that result in damage to underground utility lines are installing or replacing a fence or mailbox, building a deck, planting or removing a tree or shrub, laying a patio and repaving the driveway. Knowing where underground facilities are located can help keep communities safe.
New Jersey law requires anyone who plans to dig to call at least three full business days (excluding weekends and holidays) – and not more than 10 – prior to beginning work. This includes excavators, contractors and homeowners. Contacting 811 automatically connects whoever plans to dig with New Jersey One Call, which generates a request to local utility companies to mark the approximate location of their buried lines with paint or flags.
Yellow indicates a natural gas line is below. Every project that involves digging warrants a request for a free mark out of underground utilities with a call to 811 or visit to nj1-call.org.
“On National 811 Day and throughout the year, we encourage homeowners and contractors alike to make safety a priority with a call to 811 before putting a shovel in the ground. Contacting 811 is an important fi rst step to keeping our communities safe,” said John Wyckoff, vice president of Energy Delivery at New Jersey Natural Gas. When planning a digging project, always take the following actions:
• Contact 811 a few days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property.
• Plan ahead. Make a free 811 request on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.
• Confi rm all lines have been marked.
• Consider moving the location of the project if it is near utility line markings.
• If a contractor has been hired, confi rm the contractor has contacted 811 for a markout of underground utilities. Don’t allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.
Visit nj1-call.org or 811beforeyoudig.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices.
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Letters: Continued From Page 8
captured are losers and suckers?
I am an 87-year-old proud veteran who served the USA with dignity and honor. Donald Trump has no idea what dignity and honor mean or what respect for democracy and the rule of law is. He thinks he is above the law and can say and do what he wants. If Trump gets elected president, we should all have serious concerns for the survival of democracy and the United States of America.
For a man who never served in the armed forces Donald Trump has no right to call any veteran losers and suckers.
Jerry Dixel Howell
An Open Letter To Toms River
This spring and summer in Toms River, there’s been a lot of news about our Police Department and Animal Shelter. Both have been the subject of citizens’ initiated petitions, discussion, and debate. It’s citizen democracy at its best.
But what has received much less attention was the decision by the Township involving the future of downtown Toms River.
At the June Council meeting, our Town
Council voted to acquire the strip of land along the river next to Huddy Park that had been previously planned for private development. I’m talking about the Toms River Boat Works - that old dilapidated building by the park along the river.
The prior town administration had grandiose plans for that part of downtown: a tall restaurant and a banquet hall, and a several story parking deck.
If ever built, they would have blocked off the view of the river and with the prior approval of those tall apartment buildings on the other side of Huddy Park on Water Street, the visual would have been that of an urban streetscape.
Many of our people in Toms River were - and are - strongly opposed to these plans to overdevelop our village and last year’s election for mayor was a referendum on the issue.
But, let’s take a step back. A little history might be helpful.
As Toms River began to grow after the American Revolution, the village flourished. Destroyed by the British in the 1782 battle of Toms River, all structures but two were burned to the ground. But, we rose from the ashes.
In 1850, our town was designated the county seat. By the late nineteenth century, numerous buildings had been built along the river on Water Street. There was the First National Bank of Toms River, orga-
nized in 1881, and shops and markets. They were built alongside the river, blocking the river. And the land where the park is located was acquired in 1905 in a voter referendum.
As time went by, most of the commercial activity in the village was along the riverfront. But with the advent of the automobile, in the twentieth century, Main and Washington Streets became the hub of downtown.
Using federal urban renewal monies in the 1960s, the buildings along the river by the park were acquired and demolished - opening up the wide, open vista along Water Street. That’s the environment that we’ve all grown up with and have known and enjoyed.
Those recent plans by the prior town administration to build tall buildings, blocking, in part, the river, would have been a step back, not forward, in Toms River’s history.
Instead, the town’s recent decision to spend less than $2 million for the boat works property is a step forward.
The plans are for a pier and marina. Instead of tall buildings and a garage, the park will effectively be expanded and the river front vista will remain. As a citizen, that’s my view of the future.
As important as today’s issues involving the Police Department and Animal Shelter are, they can be temporary. People can
change minds and today’s policies can change.
But the decision on a park and river, these can have long term, irreversible consequences.
That’s why when I was mayor, I always thought that it were the land use decisions that had the most significant impact for the long term future for our community. That’s why I fought so hard to create an open space program. Many were opposed, but I fought the fight, and in the end, over 70% of the voters approved of the idea. I often wonder, today, how much more developed our town might be without our open space program which has saved many hundreds of acres of land from development.
So, I say, let us all look long term, beyond ourselves, for the future. For the next generation.
I commend and congratulate our mayor and council for their wise, forward-looking decision to preserve and protect our beloved village.
J. Mark Mutter Toms River
(The author was elected to the then Dover Township Committee for three terms and served as Mayor in 1993 and 2000. He also served as Dover and Toms River Township Municipal Clerk. He is the official Township Historian. The opinions expressed in this letter are stated solely as a private citizen.)
Government 0fficials... Have news that you would like the community to be involved with? Let everyone know by placing a news release in this paper! Send it to news@jerseyshoreonline.com.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Real Estate
House For Sale - 1791 Mount Everest Road. 2BD, 1 Bath. $245,000. Holiday City Silverton. Call Mike, 732-762-3952. No text. (38)
For Sale
General dental practice for saleEstablished office over 50 years in South Jersery, Ocean County/Jersey shore area. 2023 annual gross $275,000, 2 1/2 days a week. 3 ops, fully equipped in a professional rented office building with parking. Digital xray, sterilization and lab area. Reception area and waiting room. TMJ, Invisalign, cosmetic dentistry. Pay $2500 rent. Asking $325,000. Any interest, send questions to dentalofficeinquiry@gmail.com. (37)
Items For Sale
CRAFTSMAN SNOW MACHINE
- 24 inch used twice. Gas. $250 OBO. Cost 850. 718-948-6968. (36)
RUMBA - self charging/ cleaning programable vacuum. BOX NEVER OPENED, cost about $400. Asking $200 OBO. 718-948-6968. (36)
“Up Bed” - Never used.Electronically assists you up. Removable short guard rails. Remote control. Set of sheets included. Call/text for information and pricing. 646-872-6317. (37)
Powered Wheelchair - high back reclines, joystick control, inflated tires, lith-ion battery, charge indoors, new $2100. 301-338-5321, Whiting. (36)
Furniture - Antique buffet, brown sofa, white wicker 4 pc. lawn furniture. All excellent condition. Reasonable prices. 732-674-7336. (37)
Items Wanted
COSTUME/ESTATE JEWEL-
RY 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)
Comics From 1970'S And Older Wanted.- Any amount is fine. Cash paid. Call Steve, any time, at 732-277-7327. (36)
Vinyl Records Wanted - Paying cash for LP albums. Rock, Reggae, Blues, Jazz. Also buying Comic Books . Call Rick 908-616-7104 (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)
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)
CLASSIFIEDS
Items Wanted
$$$ WANTED TO BUY $$$
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, bric-a-brac, select china and crystal patterns. Cash paid. Over 35 years experience. Call Gary Struncius. 732-849-6068 (new number). (t/n)
Used Guns Wanted - All types: collectibles, military, etc. Call 917-681-6809. (t/n)
Help Wanted
P/T 1st or 2nd Class Conventional Machinist - WeekdaysLakewood, NJ. Hours/Rate TBD. 732-367-3100 ext. 107. (38)
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)
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)
Laundromat Attendant - For FT/ PT Good communication skills, math and min computer knowledge. Transportation needed. Long term commitment only. 732-286-1863. (t/n)
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)
Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living is hiring a full time Maintenance worker. If interested, please email resume to HR@magnoliaal.com or call us at 732-557-6500. You can also visit us in person at 1935 Route 9 Toms River 08755. (39)
School Bus Drivers Needed - Free CDL Training. $23-26/hour starting rate + overtime, 401K, Health, Life, and Dental Insurance. FT and PT positions available. 732-905-5100. (39)
Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living is hiring a full/part time CNA. Must be licensed, and available to work weekends. If interested, please email resume to HR@magnoliaal. com or call us at 732-557-6500. You can also visit us in person at 1935 Route 9 Toms River 08755. (39)
Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living is hiring a full and part time Dietary Aides If interested, please email resume to HR@magnoliaal. com or call us at 732-557-6500. You can also visit us in person at 1935 Route 9 Toms River 08755. (39)
Services
Services Services Services Services
A1 HANDYMAN SERVICESOver 30 years experience in all phases of home improvements. Free estimates and referrals. Call John 267475-7962 or 732-477-0379. (43)
Since 1979, Kitchen Magic, a family-owned business offering cabinet refacing, new cabinetry, and
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 609335-0330 HIC# 13VH10806000. NO JOB TOO SMALL! Servicing Toms River, Lakehurst, Manchester, Whiting, Jackson, New Egypt, Plumstead Beachwood, Bayville, Berkeley. (47)
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)
Painting - Special Summer Pricing. Interior/Exterior. Meticulous work. All materials and jobs guaranteed. Fully licensed and insured. $ave. Call 732-850-5060. (47)
When You Need A Caregiver Call Lucy - European Registered Nurse, 25 years. US Eldercare experience, 19 years. Live in/out, hourly, negotiable. 732-657-1409 (H), 732-833-3273 (C). (47)
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)
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)
Roofing - Covering the Jersey Shore since 1984. Removal of old shingles, all woodwork inspected and repaired. GAF lifetime roofing shingles. meticulous cleanup. Fully insured and free estimates. $ave. Call Clark 732-850-5060. NJ Lic # 13VH11804800. (17)
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. 848-224-0516. email woolnoughkris@gmail.com. (t/n)
MY HANDY CREW - Home repairs, carpentry, painting roofing and siding, decks, powerwashing, yardwork all your home maintenance needs. $ave. Call Clark 732-850-5060. Insured and NJ License #13VH11804800. (10)
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)
Housecleaning - We offer services: House cleaning, laundy, window cleaning, painting, office cleaning, carpet cleaning, shopping, take clothes dry cleaning, typing, office work, demonstration, merchandise in store. Very good prices. Call 732330-4189 or 848-287-3944. (t/n)
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. (38)
Handyman Service - Carpentry, masonry, painting repairs large and small. 40 years experience. Call Jim 732-674-3346. (39)
To Look Nice And Shine - Call Lenny Lenny's Mobile Auto Detailing 908-868-4609. (37)
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. (t/n)
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! 1-844-897-8361. (t/n)
HANDYMAN SOLUTIONS - All Types of Home Improvement and Repairs. EXPERT Carpentry •Doors •Windows •Bathroom And Kitchen Upgrades •Finished Basements •Ceramic Tile •Laminate Flooring •Decks •Vinyl Railings •Masonry •Painting •More. Licensed and Insured. Advanced Building. 609-384-9030. (38)
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-833-901-0309 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. (t/n)
609-394-9030 (36)
DIRECTV - All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Direct and get your first free months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/ mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-877-557-1213. (t/n)
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1. What heading would like your ad to appear under:
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.
(44)
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)
Garden State Property Maintenance - All yard work. Tree-trimming and removal, stump grinding, pavers, decks, flower beds, weeding. 609-661-5470. (t/n)
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Do You Want Your Car
CASH PAID!! LP records - stereos, musical instruments, guitar, saxophone, CD’s, reel tapes, music related items. Come to you. 732-804-8115.
Cash - Top dollar, paid for junk, cars running and nonrunning, late model salvage, cars and trucks, etc. 732-928-3713. (t/n)
Elizabeth Hugg of Beachwood recently took her son Jackson to Island Beach State Park. They had a blast! Now, they are headed to Six Flags Great Adventure, courtesy of Jersey Shore Online. Want to win tickets of your own? Send your best shore pix to photos@jerseyshoreonline.com and you may hear from us!
“Night Of The Stars” At Jakes Branch
BEACHWOOD – Spend the night under the stars with A.S.T.R.A., The Astronomical Society of the Toms River Area. Whether you’re a budding astronomer or simply a casual stargazer, this night is for you.
Volunteer members of the club will be on-site to share their out-of-this-world knowledge and answer your questions about the great unknown. They will have telescopes that will leave your mind reel-
ing in amazement for days from the views you see.
If you have your own telescope, feel free to bring it along and come a little early. The club members will be happy to give you pointers on how to find the planets and locate constellations. No registration required. Ending time approximate. Weather permitting.
Location: Sports Field Parking Lot, Jakes Branch County Park, Beachwood. September 7 – 8 to 10 p.m.
FUN & GAMES SUDOKU
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Across 1 Paul of guitar fame 4 Old manuscript artisan
10 Doesn’t sit on 14 Shuttlecock’s path 15 BabyGap buy 16 Order 17 Religious figure known as the “Queen of Heaven”
19 Fashion journalist Garc’a 20 Trick 21 Small matter 23 Gorp morsel 24 Novelist known as the “Queen of Crime” 29 Battery size 30 River to the English Channel
31 Military division known as the “Queen of Battle”
33 Plants with purple bell-shaped flowers 34 Latin stars 35 Though 37 Droop
38 “Jeopardy!” champion Schneider
41 Early Democrat’s adversary
42 Bone-dry
45 Sort (through)
47 Stick in the water?
49 B complex vitamin
50 Long step
52 Big fanfare 53 France’s longest river
54 Districts
55 Journalist Curry
56 Like salad greens
57 So last year
61 Gets even?
63 Sup
65 Roomba rider, in some viral videos
66 Brooklyn suffix
67 Nancy Drew’s beau Nickerson
JERALDINE SAUNDERS
OMARR’S ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST
ARIES (March 21-April 19): A romantic relationship might spark ignored passions, or magical moments with your loved one could bring a rosy glow back to your cheeks. Use your imagination and you might make progress with your money goals this week.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Enjoy some extra attention and appreciation today. You can combine practical know-how, original ideas, and imagination to make your life better in the coming week. If you love what you do, your routines will be a joy, not a burden.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Dedicate more time to activities which feed you, and people you cherish. You might be exposed to people who influence your decisions but may be emotionally volatile. Discover the difference between casual acquaintances and genuine friends.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): When expectations are set too high, it’s easy to fall short. This week, you might overspend in an effort to keep up with your social circle. However, loyal and trustworthy friends might share their valuable experiences with you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Friends may not always make great lovers, and if in a relationship, your special someone might not be happy with just being a roommate. It may be time to decide how you want to classify some relationships and sort them out.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Love might be in the air so romance can play a huge role in your life. However, you may also be thinking about your money and spending power. Your optimism and faith in the future could help pave the way for important changes.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Embrace your independence and out of the box approach. Your unique style might earn you praise or advancement in the coming week. However, remember that being a free spirit doesn’t excuse you from responsibilities.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Knowledge is power, or so they say. Learning something new could transform your life or change your future for the better. Consider seeking advice from elders or exploring the library or other online resources for beneficial facts.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Your constant dedication and inspired action may bring your goals to life rather than trying to follow the right steps or a cookie cutter plan. You may feel led to seize opportunities to show loyalty to loved ones.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Overcome the urge to stay at home, get out and engage with people from various backgrounds. Consider reviving an old hobby this weekend. Friends and hidden delights may resurface if you devote more time to pleasures.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Use your people skills. Your ability to let the power of attraction work in your favor may bring the most influential people closer. It could be an opportune time to learn a new and trendy skill or delve deeper into your passions.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): As the week progresses, you may find many ways to express your romantic side. Someone might stir your sympathies or inspire you to be more compassionate than usual. Your sensitivity could earn you much needed respect.
THIS NO-BAKE PIE IS PERFECT FOR THOSE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
By
America’s Test Kitchen
SUMMER BERRY PIE
(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) 2024 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
