The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 8 - No. 28
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Hindsight Is 2020:
In This Week’s Edition
More Waste To Be Stored At Oyster Creek
The Year’s Best Photos
−Photo by Chris Lundy Lily Fitzpatrick and Cassidi Martin get creative during a Drawing and Painting class.
BREAKING NEWS @
−Photo by Patricia A. Miller A few dozen animals are waiting for their forever home at the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter.
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 8-10
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
Dear Pharm
−Photo by Alyssa Riccardi Austin Paladino, 6, dressed as a police officer, tries his hand at the dunk tank at the Vest-ACop in Toms River. −Photo by Bob Vosseller St. Patrick’s Day Parade marchers take to the street in Seaside. By Chris Lundy JERSEY SHORE – While a lot happened this year that no one will want to recall, there were also some memorable moments captured by photographers.
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Inside The Law Page 14
Every year, this newspaper presents the best photo taken during the year by staff members. Most of these ran with articles, but some of these are being seen here for the first time.
−Photo by Bob Vosseller Some of the 279 students who attend the new OCVTS Performing Arts Academy on the campus of OCC enter the doors on their first day of class on January 6.
Southern Ocean Medical Center Begins Vaccinating Workers
By Alyssa Riccardi MANAHAWKIN – Southern Ocean Medical Center is among the many hospit als that have begun giving some of their staff the COVID-19 vaccine. On December 17, Southern Ocean Med-
ical Center received its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine. The Chief Hospital Executive, Michele Morrison, expressed how excited she was for the hospital to acquire the vaccine for its employees. “I’m ver y excited
about the opportunity for our staff to start receiving the vaccine. It’s really a momentous occasion in our war against COVID-19,” Morrison told TapInto’s Kaitlyn DeBarth. “I’m thrilled that Hackensack Meridian Health
is really in the forefront of vaccinations for our team members as they continue to care for all of our patients, whether they are COVID or non-COVID.” First responders have been at the forefront of the pandemic for months,
January 2, 2021
and many are taking the vaccine so that they don’t get the virus – and so that they don’t spread it to other patients. “I truly feel it means that it’s the beginning of the end of this disaster and crisis to humanity,” (Workers - See Page 4)
By Bob Vosseller LACEY – A settlement has been reached to end multiple litigations between Lacey Township and Holtec International. The agreement will permit additional nuclear waste to be sorted outside the former Oyster Creek Generating Station previously owned by Exelon. Members of the Lacey Planning Board voted to approve a settlement agreement that would dissolve lawsuits launched by the township toward Holtec, as well as Holtec toward Lacey. A public hearing was required to be held before the measure could be voted on according to Planning Board Attorney Terry Brady. The litigation concerned aspects of Holtec International’s ongoing decommissioning of the nuclear power plant which was the oldest operating facility of its type until it ceased operation in recent years. The in-person forum was held at the courtroom/municipal building and addressed Holtec’s application to add 20 fuel storage models (bringing it up to 68) on the site. The Agreement The Planning Board unanimously voted to approve a resolution prepared by Brady who read the lengthy agreement during the meeting. It allows Holtec to move nuclear waste from the facility’s cooling pool into 20 new steel and concrete storage casks. There are 48 casks currently present at the site, west of Route 9. The new settlement permits the addition of 20 new storage casks, a security fence and the construction of a cask transfer pad on the already developed portion of the site. The cask site is intended as temporary. The federal government hasn’t approved a permanent location to store nuclear waste. Holtec has applied to build an interim storage site in southeast New Mexico and if its application is approved, such material would be removed from Lacey to that location. Holtec has yet to reveal details of how the waste would be transferred or approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Holtec’s website suggests a rail line would be used. Regina Discenza was the only resident to speak during the public hearing. She commented after the meeting, “I think it’s hysterical that (Waste - See Page 7)
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