TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 16 - No. 9
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Toms River Native Not Quite The Worst Cook In America
How To Help Local Businesses
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Dear Pharmacist Page 15
Dear Joel Page 16
Inside The Law Page 17
─Photo provided by The Food Network Tampa Bay Buccaneer Super Bowl champion Darian Barnes a former resident of Toms River is taking on a new challenge trading the gridiron for a griddle as a contestant on the show “Worst Cook In America” that will air on Food Network. By Bob Vosseller and Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER - Former township resident and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Super Bowl champion Darian Barnes is taking on a new challenge - trading the gridiron for a griddle as a contestant on “Worst Cooks In America” on the Food Network. Darian is not an accomplished cook. In fact, he never learned
how to cook. But the athlete who graduated from Toms River High School North in 1998 and was a star running back is facing a whole new contest than he had in the Super Bowl. He had to work with some real bowls when his wife Becky started attending classes at Kean University. That meant making dinner for his four daughters and his wife. He
learned it wasn’t as easy as it looked and it appeared the family was heading toward starvation. “There was nothing I couldn’t burn,” Darian said with a laugh. “I have four children and a 2-year-old so when my wife was out of the house…I don’t know how she cooks with them in the house as it is insanity in the house.”
Now in its 20 th season, the show brings on 14 people to face off. Two people went home at the end of the fi rst episode, and neither of them were Darian. Other contestants were a woman who talked to her stomach and a psychic who talked to her deceased mother. The first round involved each competitor making a family recipe. (Cook - See Page 4)
Spa Closed, But What Happens To Gift Cards?
By Chris Lundy TOMS R I V ER – W hen a local spa closed its doors, it left former customers i n t he lu rch. Some claimed that they were swindled, still holding gift cards, but the owner said that the company is another victim of COVID-19. There is a Facebook
group where people still left holding gift cards to Simply Skin have found each other. Some of them have hundreds of dollars worth of gift certifi cates and gift cards. They share what news they get from the owner and infor m each other about where the employees a re now
working. Since the salons and barbershops are now reopening, they wanted their shop to be open again and wanted an answer to whether Simply Skin was always planning to close a nd was just usi ng the coronavirus as an excuse. “Simply Skin Day
spa, formerly located in Downtown Toms River, while planning to shut their doors anyways used COVID-19 as a cover-up to close their store and screw 20-plus people out of hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards/gift certificates,” one writer said. “The owners have been completely
Quinn Hopping Funeral Home BURIALS | ENTOMBMENTS | CREMATIONS PRE-PLANNING without OBLIGATION Michael T. Sutton, Manager • N.J. Lic. No. 4128
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June 27, 2020
negligent on responding to phone calls and emails. They shut down their Facebook, phone number and had a generic email stating they would not be answering emails after the 15th. There is now a Facebook group with all the people who they screwed over trying to (Spa - See Page 9)
By Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY – We’re not quite there yet, but local businesses are welcoming the easing of restrictions to help summer get underway. Local businesses, especially the small ones owned by our neighbors, need help in rebuilding after being closed for months. Marina Papanikolas, director of business for the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce, said customers can help get the word out about their favorite businesses. They can share pages on social media, and let others know what they might be missing. She also encouraged people to buy gift cards, even if they are not really a gift – even if you keep it for yourself. Buying a gift card injects a business with needed cash right now, and then you can redeem that card later when the business is on more solid footing. “If they are open, just encourage people to (Local - See Page 9)
Parents Of Autistic Teen Discuss Coping Mechanisms During COVID-19
By Bob Vosseller NEW JERSEY – While conditions are gradually changing to allow more in person contact during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, autistic children and their parents are are continuing to face new challenges. Not only are families suffering from reduced income, closed schools, and closed day programs, but individualized educational and vocational supports sometimes cannot be delivered remotely or are more limited in hours per week or scope. Donna S. Murray, PhD. is vice president of clinical programs and head of the Autism (Autism - See Page 11)
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