Vol. 15 - No. 34
In This Week’s Edition
THE TOMS RIVER
TIMES
FOR BREAKING NEWS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Your FREE Weekly Hometown Newspaper For Toms River, Island Heights, Ortley Beach & Lavallette
Artists Paint A Portrait Of Homelessness
Police Warn: More Crime With School Funding Cuts
Community News! Don’t miss what’s happening in your town.
Pages 10-14.
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 18.
Dear Pharmacist Page 19.
Inside The Law Page 23.
Classifieds Page 26.
Business Directory Page 24-25.
Horoscope Page 31.
Wolfgang Puck Page 31.
–Photos by Chris Lundy By Chris Lundy SOUTH TOMS RIVER – They never craved the spotlight. In fact, they don’t want attention. However, they stepped out of the shadows to show people what the homeless of Ocean County really look like. If you walked past any of them on the street, they don’t fit the stereotype. Most people picture homeless people as living in cardboard boxes. The cartoon of a hobo with all his possessions in a bag on a stick. That’s why Shore Vineyard Church wanted to show the real faces of local homeless. These are people who are stuck with underpaying jobs in an expensive area. W hile most people have a support system in place to fall back on when something goes wrong, these people have less. Some combination of bad luck and missteps is all it takes to find themselves with no place to sleep at night. Local painters were given photographs of a half dozen homeless
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(Left) The paintings were put on display at the church. (Right) Artists and the organizers stand before their works. people. In a ceremony but as they are inside. was 28, and was shot that was part art show, It was a parable about in the head by a police part religious service, Jesus fi nding the best officer (he had been and part community in people and bringing an innocent bystander). event, these paintings it forward. The story What turned his life were revealed. says of one subject, “He around was a group of Every time a portrait had actually become volunteers who cared was unveiled, there the man the master had about him and helped him reach higher. were gasps and usually painted.” someone saying “That’s “Some of the most Greg Andrus, who him!” or “That’s her!” photographs and inter- beautiful people I’ve They were humble, and views people for his site ever met were without felt strange being the “Portraits of the Jersey homes,” he said. subject of attention and Shore,” spoke as an exAfter the ceremony, of someone’s art. ample of how someone and after a meal from One man, Jamie, was can pull themselves up. the church’s kitchens, one of the subjects. He had been homeless the homeless were some Since it started, he re- at times in his life, and of the first to leave. Sevstored relationship with dove into drinking. A eral of them had to go his sister, and got a low point was when he to work. job, and is no longer homeless. A painting of a young man named Jimmy had The church was selling various works of art two versions of himself to support homeless in the area, particularly on canvas – one hidLiving Water Community Church’s work to ing in shadows and one provide a truck that has a shower in it that smiling in the light. homeless can use. One of the organizThe paintings were for sale for $300 each. ers, Taffy Spaloss, read Prints, 8”x10”, were $20. A 5x7 print was $10. the story of the Master Anyone interested in buying these can email Painter who didn’t paint Taffy08731@yahoo.com. people as they look,
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By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – A school system is more than just education, the police chief said, it forms the foundation of students and keeps them off the streets. The school district is dealing with millions in funding cuts. District officials have warned that they might cut all after-school activities to make up for that. Schools are required to provide certain services, but clubs and sports are not a requirement. That’s why they are on the chopping block. Police Chief Mitchell Little wrote a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy, and read the letter at a recent Board of Education meeting. He said that these after-school programs keep kids out of trouble. “After-school activities provide a safe haven for children whose parents are working beyond school hours,” he said. “Unsupervised after-school hours are prime time for kids to smoke, drink, use drugs, or be involved in a car crash. Keeping children engaged in healthy activities deters them from getting into trouble with the law. Cutting school funding is forcing (Police - See Page 7)
State Asked To Invest More To Buy Surf Club
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – In the latest chapter of the saga to purchase Joey Harrison’s Surf Club, state legislators are now lobbying Trenton to put up some more money. The Surf Club was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy and has remained closed ever since. Locals want it to be purchased and turned into a recreational area. There’s a plan to eventually put up a boardwalk and gazebo there. Between the existing parking lot, and more that would be added, there could be 100 spots. The property, (Surf - See Page 8)
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