2024-01-20 - The Southern Ocean Times

Page 1

The

SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 11 - No. 29

In This Week’s Edition

MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS

JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM

Facing Coastal Storms, Long-Term Solutions To Flooding Sought

BREAKING NEWS @

jerseyshoreonline.com

Community News Pages 8-11

Dr. Izzy Sound News Page 14

Inside The Law Page 17

Classifieds Page 19

Photo courtesy Bob Faiges A drone showed parts of the Barnegat Bay flooding Berkeley bayshore areas. By Chris Lundy and Alyssa Riccardi JERSEY SHORE – A coastal storm that made its way across the state on January 9 had left thousands of people without power and brought severe flooding to local streets throughout Ocean and Monmouth Counties. It underscored the importance of resiliency in the face of flooding. The National Weather Service issued coastal flood warnings and wind advisories. It noted peak records of flood heights, stating that certain

areas of Ocean County reached nearly five feet of water levels. In Brick, flooding was reported on the Route 35 Spur south of Sixth Avenue according to the State Department of Transportation website 511nj.org. All lanes were closed and detoured. There was also flooding south of Normandy Beach. Parts of Brick’s residential communities such as Cherry Quay and Shore Acres also had (Storms - See Page 12)

New Lacey Town Hall Stalled

By Stephanie Faughnan LACEY - Local officials announced at the latest Township Committee meeting that they will hold off on plans to build a new municipal complex. The decision comes after months of analysis and public

debate surrounding the project, which had been a focal point of township discourse. The proposed complex would have included a new town hall, police station, and indoor recreation center aimed to address the township’s need for modern facilities and additional

community space. To achieve this, Lacey officials planned to partner with Johnson Cont rols Indust r ies (JCI) for construction under a state program called Public Private Partnership (P3). This program allows municipalities to enter into agreements with private

organizations for various aspects of largescale projects, such as design, construction, and maintenance. However, concerns about the project’s financial implications grew louder as estimates mounted and details of the P3 agreement emerged. A grassroots

movement of residents voiced their opposition to the proposal, expressing concerns about potential tax hikes and the overall financial burden on the community. “The com mit tee has stated from the (Town Hall See Page 16)

January 20, 2024

Crash Claims 9/11 Responder Advocate

By Stephanie Faughnan GALLOWAY – A Little Egg Harbor man, a vocal advocate of a fund for 9/11 first responders created in his son’s name, was killed in a tragic accident at Bacharach Rehabilitation on Jimmie Leeds Road. The Galloway Township Police Department released an on-site investigation report detailing the devastating incident leading to the passing of 76-year-old Joseph Zadroga. The unfortunate event unfolded as Zadroga stood outside his parked car and was struck by another vehicle that was pulling into a parking space. The driver, James McNeal, 82, of Absecon, accelerated and hit Zadroga’s car, pinning him underneath his own SUV. Life-saving measures were attempted on the scene. Zadroga was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The accident investigation is still ongoing. Renowned as a retired North Arlington police chief, Zadroga’s legacy extended beyond his distinguished police service career to his unwavering advocacy on behalf of first responders, volunteers, and survivors of 9/11. The roots of Zadroga’s staunch support for the passage of a fund providing health monitoring and aid were deeply personal. On January 5, 2006, Joseph and Linda Zadroga tragically lost their 34-year-old son, James Zadroga, a dedicated New York City Police Department detective. James succumbed to a respiratory disease attributed to his heroic participation in rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks. A CBS news report titled “Tale of the Walking Dead” shed light on the story of James Zadroga, who dedicated over 450 hours to the disaster site, becoming the first police officer to die from health issues related to Ground Zero. Just months after the 9/11 tragedy, Zadroga found himself bedridden and reliant on an oxygen tank. He relocated to Florida, where his wife, Ronda, fell victim to a heart ailment and passed away in October 2004 at the age of 29. James came to New Jersey with their daughter Tyler Ann and moved in with his parents. The little girl, who fi rst lost her (Crash - See Page 4)

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