The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 9 - No. 48
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Ocean County Memorial Day Parade Returns
June 4, 2022
Lacey Mom Pushes For Spinal Cord Injury Research
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Letters Pages 7
Community News Pages 9-12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Inside The Law Page 17
–Photos by Bob Vosseller (Above) Susan Gilham, left, and Karen Kelly stand next to Gilham’s vintage red Chevrolet truck awaiting their turn to take part in this year’s Ocean County Memorial Day Parade in Toms River. (Right) Members of the George P. Vanderveer American Legion Post 129 and their Women’s Auxiliary marched down the parade route. By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ocean County Memorial Day Parade returned to the streets of Toms River. The parade, sponsored by the George P. Vanderveer American Legion Post 129, kicked off Memorial Day morning with participants gathered at the Toms River Shopping Center on Route 37. Various groups marched south on Main Street (Route 166) and then moved east
onto Washington Street for the event. Among those who participated in the parade were local high school marching bands, several military vehicles, first responders, elected officials, civic groups and vintage cars. While this marks the official return of the parade, veterans who paid the ultimate price were remembered last year through the efforts of long time Ocean County figure Joseph Placente. He is well known throughout Ocean County and (Parade - See Page 5)
Bill Would Reimburse Taxes For Seniors
By Chris Lundy TRENTON – A bill introduced in the State Legislature would keep property taxes from going up for seniors and the disabled. The bill, S-1451, is sponsored by Senators James Holzapfel (R-10th) and Anthony Bucco (R-25th) and co-sponsored by Senator Christopher Connors (R-9th). This applies to the Homestead Property Tax reimbursement program, commonly known as the “Senior Freeze” or the disabled citizens’ property freeze program. It applies to anyone who is 65 or older,
or who is disabled. They have to own a homestead or lease a site in a mobile home park. Their annual income needs to be lower than a certain amount. As introduced, the bill would increase the income eligibility limits to $160,000 beginning in tax year 2021. The income limit for tax year 2020 was $92,969, so this is a significant increase. You have to maintain your principal residence in New Jersey for at least 10 consecutive years. If you move, the freeze kicks in during the full second tax year after moving.
It’s getting expensive for everyone, especially seniors and the disabled, said Berkeley resident Sam Cammarato. Many are on fixed incomes. “Food prices and medicine is going up, but you don’t have any more money,” he said. Children are sometimes moving back in with their senior parents. If a senior has to take money from their IRA, for example, to help them get by, that might put them over the income eligibility limits, he added. If that happens, then they are out (Seniors - See Page 4)
–File Photo By Bob Vosseller Lacey resident Matt Muckelston organized an event last fall for those like himself to bring funds and awareness to the need for spinal injury research. By Bob Vosseller LACEY – A township mother continues to advocate for advanced treatments for those, like her son, who have sustained life altering spinal injuries. Camille Muckelston has gotten an education in the treatment of spinal injuries since her son Matt Muckelston’s injury two years ago. Since his Halloween themed car/truck show fundraiser in Gille Park last October, a lot has been happening with his progress. His mother was happy to report to The Southern Ocean Times that there has been “some wild and promising treatments that have
surfaced. Despite a spinal cord injury being the most horrifying injury people can sustain, there is little camaraderie from our fellow man to cure or properly heal the injury. “I am hoping to raise and in turn, clear the process path of FDA approvals. COVID-19 delayed or destroyed a lot of trials and research plans and I was told the lack of support or pressure to find a cure is simply a matter of numbers,” she added. “A spinal cord injury includes diseases as well. Still, only 1215,000 new cases a year with something like 300,000 or so living (Research - See Page 4)
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