The BRICK Times
Vol. 20 - No. 12
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Police Regulations Changing Because Of George Floyd
What Makes Youth Turn To Drugs?
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Inside The Law Page 12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Dear Joel Page 22
─Photo by Bob Vosseller Hundreds of local residents came together for justice at rallies and protests like this one, which took place in Jackson. By Bob Vosseller the law enforcement ment representatives Ocean County ProseTOMS RIVER – The and the com munit y addressed community cutor’s Office. updating of use of force were among the many policing, concerns of The forum called “Movprotocols for police, subjects touched on social justice and police ing Forward: A Converexisting police training, during a recent virtual accountability during sation on Law Enforceaddressing racism and forum. an online town hall ment and Community better rapport between Various law enforce- meeting hosted by the (Police - See Page 10)
SummerFest Challenged By State Restrictions
By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - Will it be possible for any of August’s SummerFest concerts to take place during the coronavirus pandemic? The f irst concer t, scheduled for August 6, was cancelled on July 29 due to the State of New Jersey’s current capacity limitations for
outdoor gatherings due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The concert was to feature Super Trans Am at Windward Beach Park, Princeton Avenue, and followed by fireworks. According to an announcement from Brick Township, the remaining SummerFest concerts are still tentative-
ly scheduled, pending the State’s revision of the guidelines, That’s true, said Mayor John G. Ducey after a June 30 phone call with the Governor’s office, when he was told that the limit on outside gatherings would be increased by the end of July. “On Wednesday [July
29] we found out that it would definitely not be increased in time for the August 6 show,” Ducey wrote in a July 30 email. “Hopefully, the other shows can move forward as scheduled, but right now it does not look good.” The concert series had originally been planned for Thursdays
August 8, 2020
in July, but was moved to Thursdays in August in the hopes that restrictions on outdoor gatherings would have been lifted. On July 5, Governor Phil Murphy signed an Executive Order that allows indoor gatherings of up to 100 people or 25 percent of a room’s (State - See Page 18)
By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - Recent criminal activity in the Maple Leaf Condominium complex resulted in the arrest of 22 individuals for drug possession, alcohol-related offenses, disorderly conduct, firearms, resisting arrest and more by the Brick Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit and the K-9 Unit. Maple Leaf is a 359-condominium complex located in the Herbertsville section of town and is known for a high crime rate. Problems there have been brought to the attention of the township administration since 2009. What causes people in certain areas to turn to drugs and gangs? What, if anything, can members of the community do to stop people from going down this road? Brick Police Officer Sean Flynn is a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer at the elementary schools and also teaches a #NotEvenOnce program at the high schools, which was developed to educate students about the dangers of opiates before they leave for college or enter the workforce. In a recent phone interview, Officer Flynn said oftentimes there is a socio-economic situation which can result in kids using or selling drugs after being enticed by money. “They see gang members with money, with cars and clothes and things they can’t afford,” he said. “Joining a gang gives them a sense of belonging, since some of the kids come from single-parent homes and they’re looking for a role model.” Kids see wealthy celebrities on social media living fast and spending big, but the students learn “just because that looks cool, there’s a back door and bad things are happening,” he said. Officer Flynn said peer pressure from other kids who are using drugs can be another motivating factor for making bad decisions. The officers discuss peer pressure with the students, which can also lead to opioid abuse, alcohol abuse, tobacco use and vaping, which has become part of the lesson plan, he said. Besides socio-economic pressures and peer pressure, some people abuse drugs because they’re self medicating for depression, loneliness and stress, Officer Flynn said. (Drugs - See Page 4)
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