The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 9 - No. 27
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Rotary Elves Hit The Shelves To Shop For Families In Need
By Stephanie Faughnan BARNEGAT - It was a regular school day earlier this month when 25 Barnegat High School s t u d e nt s c o m m a n deered shopping carts at the Manahawkin Target store. They came armed - with holiday wish lists for local families. The Rotary Club of Barnegat created its Annual Elf Program
December 25, 2021
Sign Language Instructor Helps Everyone Communicate
(Elves - See Page 4)
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Page 8-11
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
–Photo courtesy Suzie Block (Right) Students fill wish lists for families in need. (Bottom) Teachers and students outside the Manahawkin Target store after shopping for the Barnegat Rotary Elf Program.
–Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Anthony De Franco signs “I love you” during a recent American Sign Language Class.
Inside The Law Page 17
Dear Joel Page 17
By Bob Vosseller LITTLE EGG HARBOR – Wearing a long Santa hat that draped down to his shoulders and his bright blue 92.7 WOBM sweat shirt, veteran radio personality Shawn Michaels joined his long-time co-host Sue Moll in welcoming in the season to Toms River residents during the recently held
Christmas Tree lighting. The duo are fixtures at that event and Michaels has been a familiar voice on the airwaves making the early morning hours a comfortable pleasure for listeners to begin their day. For a quarter of a century, he’s reminded his shore area audience that there are a lot of positive things going on around them and that
they were a part of it. He’s been in broadcasting for 40 years and he’s not about to slow down. He continues to wake up in the wee hours of the morning ready to begin another day. “I feel that I have been the luckiest guy in radio because I have been able to have this morning show for 25 years (Host - See Page 5)
By Stephanie Faughnan BARNEGAT – Anthony De Franco, 33, moved to Barnegat this spring and has already established himself in Southern Ocean County. Born Deaf and also autistic, De Franco primarily uses American Sign Language (ASL) to convey thoughts by employing talking hands and expressive facial gestures. A cochlear implant installed when De Franco was 9 stimulates a nerve in his ear and gives him some hearing ability. De Franco also has limited speech and can read lips to some extent. Masking related to COVID-19 makes the latter just about impossible. De Franco graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor’s degree in Deaf Studies. He subsequently worked as an ASL tutor at Bergen Community College for over seven years. An entrepreneur of sorts, De Franco began developing classes that focused on the basics of ASL. His students learned to sign the alphabet and numbers and colors and phrases. Parents eagerly sat in on De Franco’s storytelling sessions. De Franco’s move to Barnegat put him in a position to help break down communication barriers close to his new home. He figured he found the ideal place for summer ASL classes after a day in the sun and surf. “I’m announcing that I will start to do sign language classes at the Bay Beach,” said De Franco. “I can’t wait to teach sign language in Barnegat this summer, and it will be fun for everyone of all ages.” People reacted positively to De Franco’s offer and (Instructor - See Page 13)