Vol. 6 - No. 18
In This Week’s Edition
THE SOUTHERN OCEAN
TIMES
FOR BREAKING NEWS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM Your FREE Weekly Hometown Newspaper For Lacey, Waretown, Barnegat, Manahawkin, LBI, Tuckerton and Little Egg | October 27, 2018
Memorial For Alice
OCC Breaks Ground On New Performing Arts Academy
Page 5.
Community News! Don’t miss what’s happening in your town.
Pages 10-13.
Letters Page 8.
Government Page 7.
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Hearing Health Snap Shot
Page 16.
Dear Pharmacist
6 Surprising Benefits Of Dandelion Weeds
Page 17.
Inside The Law Page 19.
Business Directory Page 21.
Classifieds Page 22.
Wolfgang Puck Page 27.
–Photo by Kimberly Bosco Students from the OCVTS Performing Arts Academy performed a dance and song to close the ceremony. By Kimberly Bosco TOMS RIVER – It was a cold, sunny afternoon, but spirits were not chilled by the persistent winds at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ocean County Vocational Technical School Performing Arts Academy, held outside of the Jay & Linda Grunin Center on Oct. 18. “I can’t believe that it was just a year ago that we were
gathered here as a community to announce the construction of a new, state-of-the-art performance academy right here on the Ocean County College Campus, “ mused Jay Grunin, co-founder and co-chair of The Jay & Linda Grunin Foundation, and one of the ceremony’s VIP guests. “Here we are today, with construction well underway.” Bulldozers and construction
vehicles were actively working behind the scenes on the beginning stages of the new building during the afternoon ceremony. The new OCVTS Performing Arts Academy will be a 50,000-square-foot building intended to “provide a rigorous education for creatively gifted high school students, (offering) majors in theater, vocal, dance, (Arts - See Page 14)
Southern Ocean Board Of Education Candidates
By Kimberly Bosco OCEAN COUNTY – Not only will residents be voting for their picks in municipal elections, but they will also have a chance to vote for those they wish to see hold a seat on the Board of Education in their town. The candidates for the 2018 Board of Education election for southern Ocean County towns are as follows. Their slogan or other information is following their name. Barnegat residents will be choosing three of the four candidates running for 3-year terms on the
board including: • Michael J. Hickey – Keeping Barnegat Great! • Lauren Sarno - Keeping Barnegat Great! • David Sherman - Keeping Barnegat Great! • Richard Quelch Little Egg Harbor residents will be choosing three of the four candidates up for 3-year terms on the board including: • Jonathan Zimmerman – All About Kids • Martha June Palan (Candidates - See Page 9)
Six Vie For Two Spots On Lacey School Board
By Kimberly Bosco LACEY – A group of impassioned residents have th row n themselves into the race for Lacey Township Board of Education this year, intending to “restore Lacey pride” or advocate for the taxpayer. Running against two i ncu mbent s, Boa rd President Robert Klaus III and board member David Silletti, are four residents that have made quite a name for themselves in recent months. New Candidates Regina Discenza said she is running on behalf of the taxpayer. A former board member herself from 20152017, Discenza claims perfect attendance at Lacey school board meetings for the past 48 months. A regular attendee at Lacey Township Committee meetings, Plan ning Board Meetings, Municipal Utility Authority meetings and Lacey School Board meetings, Discenza has proved a committedly involved resident over the past 15 years. She emphasized that being a member of the board is quite a demanding role. “Most people that do it take too much for granted,” she said. Discenza’s campaign slogan describes her as an “Experienced
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Taxpayer Advocate.” One of her main goals, should she be elected, is to work against the recent state cuts to school funding. “State funding cuts must be stopped,” she said. Discenza is also big on heading straight to the source: the governor. At the Sept. 17 meeting, “I told the School Board to ask for a personal meeting with the [Governor]! Start at the top when there is a problem.” She explained that $583,000 has been cut from this year’s budget; one of many local school budgets to be severely slashed by Gov. Murphy’s aid changes. Discenza intends to go after this fervently, stating “I don’t take no for an answer easily.” While Discenza is branding herself as a “taxpayer advocate” she also emphasized that students always come first. “That is what is taught at NJSBA [New Jersey School Board Association]... Board Members must focus on students,” she added. Second after students is making sure there is a balance between expenses and raising taxes. Discenza leaves you with this message to consider on Election Day: “I will always be (Lacey - See Page 4)