The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 8 - No. 15
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
New Stores Coming To The Vacant Stafford Kmart
Rift Created Over Contract Negotiations
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 17
Dear Pharmacist Page 18
Dear Joel Pages 19
Inside The Law Page 26
─Photo by Alyssa Riccardi Residents have been waiting for the vacant Kmart to be filled with new business. By Alyssa Riccardi STAFFORD – One of the largest shopping centers in the township is about to receive an extreme makeover. Manahawkin Commons is a huge shopping plaza home to the Regal Cinemas 10 and the vacant Kmart store. After the township Planning Board approved some new
decisions, the complex will now be acquiring brand new stores in the future. As stated in the planning documents on file in Stafford Township’s municipal building, marketing materials and meeting minutes, here are the new stores expected to come: T he va c a nt K m a r t building will be divid-
ed to make spaces for four stores. TJ Maxx and HomeGoods will move to the Kmart building. Ross Dress for Less will take a spot next to TJ Maxx/HomeGoods. This will be the first Ross Stores’ location in Ocean County. Old Navy will take a spot next to Ross. Burlington, formerly
known as Burlington Coat Factory, will move into the 40,000-squarefoot store that TJ Maxx and HomeGoods are currently located in. Ulta Beauty will move from Stafford Square shopping center and into Manahawkin Commons. The vacant Kmart, which has been sitting (Stores - See Page 4)
Drop Boxes Are Ready For Your Ballot
By Bob Vosseller TOMS R I V ER – There are 17 drop boxes available in Ocean County to bring your completed ballot to. Officials of the state recently released a complete list of locations of where secure drop boxes are for use during this year’s mailin general election on
November 3. The 17 drop boxes are spread out throughout the county and several are already available for depositing completed ballots, which are collected by the Ocean County Board of Elections on a daily basis. Cameras have been installed to monitor the boxes on 24 hour/seven
day a week basis. Once you return your ballot, a voter will have the ability to track their ballot online through the state Division of Elections. Considering the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic, Governor Phil Mur phy signed P.L. 2020, c. 72 which requires County Clerks
to send all active registered voters a vote by mail ballot for the November 3, 2020 General Election. Ocean County Clerk Scott Colabella said mail-in ballots are being sent to active registered voters. Those who have not yet registered to vote have until October 13
October 3, 2020
to do so and can register in person at the Ocean County Clerk’s office located at the Ocean County Courthouse at 118 Washington St. According to the state Division of Elections drop boxes are already available at the following locations and towns. (Ballot - See Page 12)
By Bob Vosseller LACEY – Republican Committeemen Mark Dykoff and Timothy McDonald resigned from serving as representatives of the governing body in relation to ongoing police contract negotiations and called on fellow GOP members Deputy Mayor Peter Curatolo and Committeeman Nicholas Juliano to take their place. Audience members were surprised by the exchange that took place between the four committee members during a recent committee meeting. Dykoff told the audience that “we are in the process of negotiating contracts for the PBA and the Teamsters. There are five of us here and when we go back to our executive session and we talk about three particular things, pending litigation, real estate and personnel where we talk about negotiations of contracts and all five of us have input.” “There are two of us who are liaisons to the (Rift - See Page 4)
Employees Charged With Stealing From Veterans Organization
By Chris Lundy LACEY – Three employees at an organization that assists Ocean County veterans were charged with embezzling from it. Vetwork, a nonprofit in Lacey Township, helps veterans find employment and housing. It was partially funded by a grant from the county. The organization is overseen by a board of directors. This board commissioned an audit which revealed certain employees getting extra payroll checks. They had contacted the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Unit about it. The prosecutor’s office announced that these employees were charged with embezzling (Vets - See Page 9)
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