2020-05-02 - The Toms River Times

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TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 16 - No. 1

In This Week’s Edition

MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS

JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM

Volunteers Dish Up A Serving Of Kindness

Former Superintendent Ritacco Released From Jail Early

BREAKING NEWS @

jerseyshoreonline.com

Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Pages 16

Dear Pharmacist Pages 17

─Photo courtesy Operation BBQ

Volunteers and staff helped dole out meals to those in need. By Chris Lundy wa s d o n e i n o r d e r to catch those falling T OM S R I V E R – t o slow t he s pre a d through the cracks. Going into the second of COVID-19 to the Several food donamonth of businesses poi nt where hospi- tions were given out being closed dow n, tals can handle the in Toms River, located the need for food is emergency. Medical throughout the town. greater than ever. professionals say it In Ortley Beach, the Gov. Phil Murphy’s is working, however “ s o u p g r o u p ” m o Executive Order 107, it has caused a lot of bilized, ser vi ng up requiring non-essen- people to be in need home m a de soup t o tial workers to stay when they never were those in need, Counat home, was passed before. cil President Mar ia on Ma r ch 21. T h is It fell to volunteers Maruca said.

DRJ Catering, supported by Operation Barbecue Relief, ser ved i nd iv idu al take-out meals to residents on May 1. They were also scheduled to do the same on May 8, 15, and 22 out of the Presbyterian Church Toms River parking lot, 1070 Hooper Ave. (BBQ - See Page 6)

Local Musician, Family Man Remembered

By Chris Lundy OCEAN GATE – A local musician and boater was remembered after he went out on his rowboat before a recent storm and didn’t make it back. Matt Conway, 67, was remembered by his fellow bandmates in the Shamrock & Thistle Pipes & Drums as a man who loved his family,

friends, and of course music. He was a multi-instrumentalist, playing saxophone, accordion, guitar, smallpipes, and trombone in addition to the bagpipes. “The loss of our dear brother is immeasurable and will be felt by us for years to come. We ask that you please pray for his wife Pat and their

family during this very difficult time,” the band stated. “Matt was kind, compassionate, intelligent, and funny, and his contributions to the band were innumerable. His memory will live in our hearts always.” The band said that he was an experienced boater, and photos from home security videos showed

him leaving with his life vest on. The band thanked the Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police for their tireless efforts trying to find him. The storm had blown through the area very suddenly on April 21, causing a lot of damage inland in Toms River, where residents reported

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May 2, 2020

seeing a tornado. A release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said that he had been found washed ashore on Island Beach State Park on April 23, two days after he had gone out on his rowboat. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Mr.

(Musician - See Page 9)

By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – Former Superintendent Michael Ritacco did a lot for Toms River schools, but he will be remembered for what he did for himself. Ritacco was sentenced to prison in 2012 for tax evasion and bribery charges. Between 2002 and 2010, he had swindled more than a million dollars from the district through insurance scams with the district’s insurance broker, Francis X. Gartland, insurance broker Frank Cotroneo, and Frank D’Alonzo, who had been the district’s athletic supervisor and supervisor of technology projects. According to the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, Ritacco was incarcerated in Fairton, New Jersey, with a release date of Aug. 6, 2022. Today, the Bureau of Prisons shows that he is at a Residential Reentry Management in Philadelphia. It is now shown that his release date is May 25, 2022. Residential programs like this one are halfway houses that allow recently released inmates to acclimate to outside life. (Jail - See Page 8)

Text System Will Help Struggling Families Find Food

By Bob Vosseller NEPTUNE - Noting the greater demand placed upon food banks, some of which have had to close due to the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fullf ill, formerly the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties announced details of a new “FindFood” text system to help struggling families with their needs. Fulfill President and CEO Kim Guadagno outlined the new system to help connect the growing number of struggling children, families, and seniors to the services (Food - See Page 7)

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