TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 19 - No. 31
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Downtown Toms River Kicks Off Holiday Season
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Letters Page 7
Community News Pages 10-15
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 22
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Local schoolchildren got a taste of the holiday magic by pushing the button to illuminate the tree. By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – While a few degrees lower in temperature might have meant trading raindrops for snowflakes, the spirit of the holidays remained undampened as hundreds of people came out to attend the Toms River tree lighting ceremony.
The event kicked off with a number of performances held inside the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library. Downtown Toms River strategically organized 20-minute sets for an assortment of groups. Those featured included the Toms River High School South Choir, Mi-
crophonics, The Dance Center, Elsa “The Ice Queen,” Donovan Catholic, and a Reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Children’s faces lit up with excitement as they took advantage of posing for pictures with characters from Disney’s “Frozen.” Others eagerly stood in line as volunteers twisted balloons for them into various animal shapes. Three marines outfitted in dress uniforms greeted visitors as they dropped off unwrapped toys for distribution. All three servicemen are stationed in Fort Dix as part of the MALS-49 unit. Two of the three are actually Toms River natives, with the third growing up in another part of New Jersey. Staff Sgt. John Klubnick said that this was the first year the group decided to set up a collection at the (Tree Lighting See Page 4)
Sober Living Houses Questioned By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – Sober living houses in town are sending up red flags for some residents and officials, but operators of these houses said they are providing a meaningful service and are actually being good neighbors. The issue came up at a recent Township
Council meeting, where residents said the property owners are profiting off people with addiction issues, while not giving them the support that they need. They also said that this creates security issues for the neighborhood. Grande Woodlands Way resident Mindy Wolk said that there was
a sober living facility near her in the northern section of town, and from her observation on the outside, there is little in the way of security or background checks going on. “We understand this is a way for people to recover,” she said, but wondered why it was in a residential area. “They
are using this as a business while we have to endure the repercussions.” Township Attorney Gregory McGuckin said that the township can’t regulate these homes, and in fact a different town recently lost a court case trying to fight them. (Sober - See Page 4)
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December 9, 2023
Donations Shared With Those In Need
Photo courtesy Troop 83 Scout Troop 83 helped collect food and supplies for the sixth year in a row. By Chris Lundy TOMS R I V E R – Reg u la r donator s and complete strangers – came out to help people and animals in need once again this year. A sea son of g iving culminates in a 50-foot Pepsi tractor trailer parked outside the ShopRite on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. WJRZ broadcasts live, encouraging people to pop over and help in any way they can. “Our annual ‘Share the Joy’ at 100.1 WJRZ shows just how much our listeners continue to come through for their neighbors in need at the holidays,” program director Matt Knight said. “We were able to collect over 10 , 0 0 0 p o u n d s o f food as well as pallets of pet supplies and toys to benef it Fulfill, Jersey Shore Animal Center & Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Coastal New Jersey. Events like this prove
that the local Mon- there were more than mout h /Ocea n com- 725,000 people with munity cares for their food insecurity this own, and we couldn’t year, and more than be prouder of our lis- 175,000 of them were teners and sponsors ch i ld r e n . C omp a r e that made this year’s this to last year, where event such a success the total was 600,000, to fill the Pepsi truck with 125,000 being with such generous minors. donations.” Troop 83 helped colOne such donator lect food and supplies was Robyn Griffith, for the sixth year in a who turns her Beach- row. wood home into a colThe Boy Scouts did a lection site every year. tremendous job, Griffith There’s so much she said. “Both their scout has to recruit people masters and parents to bring ever ything should be proud for a over. job well done.” A number of people She said it was an emocalled her to offer do- tional time because she nations after seeing it used to do this with her in the paper or online. husband, Joseph D’AmIt has become more bro. than just a local event. “I wish Joe was here to There were state rep- see it,” she said. resentatives from the Once the donations Elks. And Santa Claus are sorted, they are then came down from the turned over to three local North Pole. organizations: T he r e we r e fewFulfill, formerly the er people who vol- Food Bank of Monu nteered , but more mouth and Ocean, which p e o p l e w h o n e e d is looking for non-perhelp. Accord i ng t o ishable food items and the Community Food frozen turkeys. Bank of New Jersey, (Donation - See Page 4)
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