By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Owen Schoeneick’s work is currently on display at the township library. He is an artist but his work doesn’t involve water colors, paints or pastels - it’s with Lego bricks.
The 11-year-old 6th grader at Goetz Middle School recently talked to The Jackson Times about his interests in Lego building.
“I was three years old when I got my fi rst Lego set. It was a Duplo set and now I’m doing 18 and older sets.”
By Bob Vosseller
PLUMSTED – Two recent workshop meetings held at Town Hall had the purpose of gathering public input on a controversial ordinance that would expand the community’s C-4 Zone in downtown New Egypt but it also brought up issues of zoning within the community.
Mayor Dominick Cuozzo has hosted these sessions that have a slightly different format than a Township Committee meeting. He made a case for rezoning four lots on Main
Over the years he’s made “a ton of Star Wars items, some cars and other things but I love Star Wars,” Owen said. Two versions of the popular Jedi Master Yoda character are on view in a display case on the first floor of the Jackson Library.
As to collecting Lego figures and pieces, Owen said, “I do some collecting. I do a lot of holiday sets with my dad.”
Owen decided to share part of his collection with the rest of the world or at least those who pass through the township branch of the Ocean County Library after he and his mom “were at the library looking for books and we saw a display case with some Legos from another kid and so I went up to the front desk and asked and they gave me a form to fill out.”
“They told me to bring items in. I made the decision (of what to bring in) by myself and I picked some of my bigger and newer sets.”
That included his ancient Egypt set that features a pyramid, Star Wars items which include a well-known Empire vehicle from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and a number of large-scale race cars.
“Somehow I picked just the right amount
(Lego - See Page 5)
Street but residents who came out for those meetings aren’t convinced that this would be a positive move.
The lots in question are currently zoned as R-40, which is residential. Commercial businesses, single family homes and multifamily residences would be permitted in the C-4 zone. The mayor stressed that the meetings were scheduled to allow details of the ordinance to be better understood by the public, provide community input, and
(Workshop - See Page 4)
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON
– Officials said that fewer traffic violations were noted when police educated drivers in some problem areas.
A 30 to 40% reduction in traffic violations was seen, Council President Jennifer Kuhn said. A traffic safety detail was implemented, putting officers on the road in various areas.
“There were 30 to 40% less incidents give or take,” she said. Staff marked parking areas and drivers were educated about safety. Additional education of 30 hot spots would be provided to inform drivers where cars couldn’t be parked or stopped.
“The chief requested red paint so you will see it along with the stop sign,” she said. “That will give people a visual of where they can and not park …because a lot of residents are saying they don’t know where 50 feet is.”
She discussed these issues at a Township Council meeting. The information had been provided to her earlier
by Police Chief Matthew Kunz and members of the township police department administration.
Bus safety is also an issue.
“We discussed plans to have pick-ups of students on the same side of the road, on the road where they live where the speed limits are 35 miles per hour or more,” Kuhn said.
“This change was made to change the safety of K-8 grade children and we are looking to possibly implement this in September of 2025. We’ve gotten a lot of complaints which is why the traffic safety e-mail is very important. I am on that and I do read it. There are seven of us on there.” She noted some of the concerns involve children crossing a county road “that people are going around busses. We hear you and we are working on that,” she added.
The council president remarked that “after reading all these reports I called
(Safety - See Page 15)
By Bob Vosseller
JACKSON – Seven council candidates will be on the November 5 ballot seeking three, four-year seats on the township council. Topics raised by voters include concerns of overdevelopment, traffic safety, transparency and the future of Rova Farms Park. Other concerns include the updating of the township’s master plan and the zoning ordinances that codify them. The Jackson Times asked the
candidates about these issues. Proven Leadership
The Jackson GOP candidates supported by Mayor Michael Reina are running with the slogan of “Proven Leadership.” They include incumbents Councilmen Nino Borrelli and Mordechai Burnstein. They are joined by Giuseppe Palmieri, the current Jackson Board of Education president.
(Candidates- See Page 10)
to show transparency.
“No action will be taken. This is about the purpose behind it and the problem we have in our town. Some of these things were discussed way back in August,” the mayor remarked.
The mayor’s remark referenced a contentious August committee meeting that was held in the middle of the afternoon. That session drew approximately 111 residents who loudly opposed the change, voicing that the concept behind it had not been properly discussed, was being introduced at an inappropriate time of day and that they wanted more details prior to its introduction.
While the mayor disagreed with that view, he joined the rest of the committee in voting it down and calling for a follow up meeting where the governing body would revise it for reintroduction.
Cuozzo said during the workshops that the current ordinance was simply a means to get the process moving forward. “This is something we are considering. Our town has a very serious situation. I think to really understand the problem you need to understand that the decisions made contributing to this problem were not made in the last six months or the last two years, these decisions were made decades ago.”
decision to make - either cut more programs and more staff and teachers or balance their budget by voting to sell a portion of property that the school district owns.
“Their current school budget includes the sale of that property on Main Street,” he said.
The district wants to get the highest value when selling that property and requested the township rezone the land to C-4 so they could get a better price.
Rezoning that land by itself however, could be considered as spot zoning according to Township Attorney Jean Cipriani and that wouldn’t be permitted. Therefore, the idea came up to link that property with other lots along Main Street noting changes in the downtown redevelopment area.
“Now that we have a functioning sewer system, zoning options for the downtown redevelopment area have changed so we can have slightly more density, six residences per acre which is called the C-4 redevelopment zone,” Cuozzo said.
He said this would involve “areas that currently touch C-4 zoning” and that “all of these blocks that are being recommended already are touching and are adjacent to C-4 zoning and were brought up by myself as something we could consider to rezone.”
“That $1.3 million budget doesn’t include what it should for repairs and modifications that will be needed. We are approximately $600,000 in a deficit,” the mayor said. He warned that “every taxpayer of the town is going to subsidize that sewer system until it is solvent.” The PTMUA has just under 900 connections. He added that more than double the number of connections would we needed for the sewer system to approach solvency.
The mayor said, “we only have 3,000 residences in the whole town. For that to be more than double that means about 2,000 connections in order for the sewer system to become solvent.”
“We can sit back and literally do nothing about that and let the sewer system, like an albatross, drown the town in cost and expenses until we all run out of money and no one can pay their taxes. Instead of letting the overdevelopment of some developer who doesn’t have the best intentions of this town, we can - as a town - try to use our zoning to be smart about how we develop these things and we can consider doing some rezoning so we keep the developing there and we kill two birds with one stone,” Cuozzo added.
“We are planning for at least four meetings if we go forward with this,” the mayor added.
Sixteen residents offered comments and/or questions during that first session held on a Thursday afternoon.
the school and in their proposal, it proposes buying the property from the school and in the process did offer the school other properties for recreational fields for larger or better than the school property.”
John Neyenhouse, who served for 10 years on the Land Use Board until the mayor removed him in January, had a number of questions and some comments. “There are a lot of things I think we need to be discussing as far as cons and pros with this.”
He noted that while Ocean County had initially rejected including the school property for its preservation program, “because it is a pseudo government agency that it is not even preserved through the natural lands there are at least eight other avenues that we are still working through for it to be potentially preserved.”
“A number of those look very promising still and it is not at a point where we need to say there is no option to preserve this,” Neyenhouse added.
“Rezoning it doesn’t take it off the table from being preserved. In fact rezoning it still makes the sale price to the preservation more valuable,” the mayor said.
He referenced school district state aid funding losses through the state’s S-2 formula that drastically reduced funds for Plumsted by $7 million. This year when they were going over their budget paperwork, they had a
Neyenhouse pointed out the workshop meetings were about changing the zoning for the property next to the school and that August’s Committee meeting featured a proposal to change “four entire blocks to C-4 zoning and it was basically the bulk of downtown and changing the existing residential zone and impacting residences by changing them.” “Our town is probably the largest to receive farmland preservation. We have done an Workshops: Continued From Page 1 (Workshops - See Page 5)
The mayor noted a second problem, which involves the Plumsted Township Municipal Utility Authority (PTMUA), which he said might soon be known for having “the highest utility cost in the state. That is where we are headed. We have a budget right now of approximately $1.3 million and a revenue stream of approximately $700,000.”
Resident Carol Reed asked about whether there were any deed restrictions on the school property to which Cuozzo replied, “the school hasn’t listed the property for sale yet however a developer sent a letter to
Continued From Page 1
of items for it,” Owen said.
A large red race car that is on display took him three days to build “a few hours each day. The pyramid I saved up for that and paid for it myself,” he added.
Owen puts a lot of his allowance money towards his Lego hobby. “That and a lot of birthday money.” His father chimed in “a lot of Lego gift cards.”
He finds his Lego kits and items at “Target and the Lego store in the Freehold Raceway Mall.”
As to future purchases that he has his eye on Owen said he was saving up for Titanic. “That will be a large one and we’re thinking of building a case for it because it is so big, costs a lot of money and is valuable.”
As to his vault of treasured Lego kits, Owen said “I rotate them around. Some are in boxes in the basement. I have some of them on display. My dad and I are thinking of making shelves for them.”
Continued From Page 4
excellent job in preserving our farmland. The way they look at preservation programs they look at the best possible use value of the property,” Neyenhouse explained.
“At this point there really is no need to change the zoning on that but this really isn’t about the school property it’s about
“The one I enjoyed the most to build is definitely the Millenium Falcon (a starship from the Star Wars franchise which is also featured in the display case at the Jackson Library).”
He also enjoyed building the pyramid as part of the Egyptian Lego kit. On average he says that “the car and something big like that takes about two to three days but if it is something that is smaller it could be just two hours a day.”
With the Star Wars franchise being as popular as ever, Owen is already anticipating building more Lego kits built with that theme. He juggles his Lego building with his other passion which is being on the soccer field.
“It’s soccer, Lego, soccer,” Owen said. His father said he was on a soccer team at school and an academy team. He and his dad agreed all that is needed now is a soccer field Lego tournament that would bridge the gap of both his interests.
Owen said he also likes doing “Technic” “which is kind of like Lego but there are gears which his father said “is a more
changing four entire blocks of property which would impact residential homes.”
“Single family homes, multi-family home use is permitted on these parcels,” Cuozzo loudly responded.
Neyenhouse said “there are currently protections people have as residential home owners that will go away if this changes. Maybe it is protected but I think that is something we need to understand as a com-
engineered version of Lego. It assembles a little differently and is a bit more solid.”
munity before we change zoning of people’s residences.”
The resident also noted the township’s redevelopment plan “was a mess right now” and that needed to be addressed. “We have developers coming into the Land Use Board and questioning redevelopment zones because there are multiple contradictions within the redevelopment zone.”
He said the Land Use Board and Envi-
Owen’s display will be available for viewing until the end of October.
ronmental Committee has been trying “to clean up our zoning so it makes more sense” and that a redone redevelopment plan might serve to “remove some of this ambiguity.” Neyenhouse also said that this needed to be addressed first “before we blanket change half of our downtown to a C-4 Zone when we aren’t confident of what that C-4 zoning is and what our redevelopment plan does for that.”
In the last three issues, we took a look at some of the swing states to keep an eye on. Because of the Electoral College, these are the only states that matter.
We also looked at states where there could be a change in the political party of the Senator. The control of the Legislative branch is probably going to be even more important than the White House, I predict.
We’ll continue in the same vein in this week’s edition.
New Jersey
Yeah, believe it or not, our state is one to watch. Whether the news station watches, that’s another story. The state is predicted to go Demo-
crat for Kamala Harris and Andy Kim. I bet the big newspapers already have that pre-written. We’re called a “Blue State” so they’ll call it for the Dems soon after the polls close. Like I said, Electoral College.
What’s more interesting is the race for the 7th District House seat. Democrat Sue Altman is mounting a strong campaign to unseat Republican incumbent Thomas Kean. She received slightly more votes in the primary than he did. Kean only beat his last opponent, Malinowski, 159,392-150,701. This was in 2022 after the district was redrawn to be more Republican, so you would think that he would have done better. This is one spot that the Democrats are
hoping to pick up. There are currently 220 House Republicans and 212 Democrats, with 3 vacancies. One seat in the house being fl ipped is newsworthy even if it’s not huge news. It’s still the most competitive race in our state, and I’m sure it’ll be lost among the bigger profi le races on election night.
Pennsylvania
Everyone’s eyes are always on Pennsylvania and its 19 Electoral votes (down from 20 last election).
Pennsylvania went for Trump in 2016, who got just 44,292 over Hillary Clinton. This was one of the states that people were surprised Trump won, because the state voted Dem going all the way back to
Bill Clinton. In 2020, they went back to Dem, choosing Biden over Trump with a margin of 80,555. Close margins like this are tough to call.
Let’s look at some other recent races. In 2022, Democrat Josh Shapiro won the governor’s race over Republican Doug Mastriano by almost 800,000 votes.
The last senate race in 2022 had John Fetterman beat Mehmet Oz by 260,000 votes. However, Fetterman was a rising star - despite his stroke and other issues - and Oz was generally known as a quack whose actual address was in NJ.
This year, there’s a Senate seat up in PA. Bob Casey Jr. is the Dem incumbent being challenged by Da-
vid McCormick. Casey is beating McCormick in the polls, but not by an insurmountable percentage.
Democrats have consistently won this state with a large margin - unless Trump was on the ballot. The results show that Trump is more popular in Pennsylvania than any Republican by themselves. They need him to lead the charge. He barely lost to Biden last time, but will he lose to Harris? And is his popularity enough to bring McCormick into the Senate?
Pennsylvania House members might bear nextday coverage, particularly in the case of their 1 st District. Both sides are pouring tons of money into this race. Incumbent Republican Brian Fitz-
patrick actually beat Democrat challenger Ashley Ehasz two years ago, roughly 201,000 to 160,000. They’re up for a rematch. It’s a long shot but you never know.
Another one to watch is Pennsylvania’s 12 th House District, which Democrats flipped in 2022. No doubt the Republicans are going to be gunning for that back this year. Democrat Summer Lee beat Mike Doyle 184,000 to 144,000. The district has a history and social make-up too weird to go into here, but keep an eye on it for a possible switch back to Republican.
Chris Lundy News Editor
Thank You Good Samaritans driver came. It was great to know in today’s world there are such wonderful people. Thank you all.
On Wednesday, August 14, around 3 p.m., I fell in the parking lot in front of Miracle Ear on Route 37. I am 98 years old and not sure why I fell. Before I could get up several people (men and women) rushed to help me. After checking that I was OK, two of the men helped me up. They stayed until my
Don Huff Toms River
Puppets of America get ready. The big show is coming to a town near you this November.
The Jackson Times welcomes all points of view for publication and provides this page as an open forum for residents to express themselves regarding politics, government, current events and local concerns.
All letters are printed as space allows unless deemed offensive by the editorial staff, and provided they are signed and include address & phone number for veri�ication. Letters may not be printed if we cannot verify them. Names will not be withheld from publication. While most letters are printed as submitted, we reserve the right to edit or reject letters. The weekly deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday. Mail typed letters to: PO Box 521, Lakehurst, NJ 08733, fax 732-657-7388 or e-mail news@jerseyshoreonline.com. Letters may be limited to one per month per writer at the editor’s discretion. The opinions expressed in the Letters To The Editor section do not necessarily re�lect those of the staff, management or sponsors of Micromedia Publications/Jersey Shore Online. Letters to the Editor are the OPINION of the writer and the content is not checked for accuracy.
You as puppets have 2 choices.
Puppet D is a black, younger and female with a big dopey grin, you can’t miss it. She talks in circles about the same things over and over with no new thoughts.
Puppet R is older and male. He has a big ego and loves to talk a lot.
He’s performed all over the world and knows how the show works. Puppets, this is where you come in. If you don’t use your brains, this is what you will have.
Puppet D will be favored by blacks, females and alphabet people (D.E.I., L.G.B.T.Qs and now Swifttys) They’ll get free admission, food and money to buy a house.
Puppet R will have the same following as before, whites, males, seniors and the N.R.A.
Hard working blue collar folks who don’t want to pay $3 plus for gas, eggs and milk.
Although it’s looking like
one, this is NOT a popularity contest. It’s a world shaping event.
You have to stop being puppets and use your thought processes. America and the world is at stake. Think before you cast your vote. Don’t be a D or R out of habit or the next show might be behind the iron curtain.
Future shows depend on us!
Who will make us safer and better off?
God Bless the USA.
Joseph Tyrrell Brick
LORD, our country needs your help. For centuries you have looked out for the best interests of America. Lord, please don’t abandon us now. LORD, it seems millions have lost their way. Once you placed “mud on the eyes” so one could see.
America needs that miracle once again LORD. If you would open and touch the hearts and minds of those whose eyes, ears, minds and hearts are presently, closed, America would be eternally grateful.
Many have come to believe that it is ok to abandon our democracy in favor of autocracy. They wish to abolish our Constitution. They believe it is permissible to chastise the poor, make disparaging remarks about one’s religion, race and gender. LORD, we know you do not support such poor behaviors. Please help those to see the error of their ways. America does not want our children growing up to emulate such disdainful behaviors.
LORD, many now accept potential leadership who disparages our veterans and heroes who have served our country with honor and pride. Gone are the days of thankfulness
for those who serve in our military, our police and our first responders. It used to be inappropriate to criticize these patriots in our distinguished past. Millions appear ready to accept the concept of dictatorship for America. Many want to take away long realized entities such as the right to vote for all US citizens. The precious right to cast our votes and have them counted without rebellion or rancor. LORD, you professed loving your neighbor as yourself, not promoting constant fear of each other’s differences.
LORD, “mud on the eyes” of all Americans is needed more than ever before. Please symbolize this miracle to millions of Americans prior to this election and, LORD, please deliver us from all of this evil. AMEN.
Ron Vanadia Barnegat
Correspondence & Commentary From Your Local, County, State & Federal Officials
Assemblyman Alex Sauickie
TRENTON - One of the most memorable days in my public life was the one on which I stood in the Assembly chamber, placed my hand on the Bible held by my wife with two of my children looking on, and swore to support and defend the constitutions of my country and my state. Although I’ll never forget doing so, I have a copy of that oath on the wall of my office as a constant reminder of my sworn obligation. Unfortunately, there are some people with influential voices who seem to favor undermining a key tenet of both constitutions: the right of free speech.
By now, many have heard through the socalled “Twitter files” about how the FBI had regular contact with social media companies such as the former Twitter, flagging user comments that government employees found problematic. Depending on who’s characterizing those interactions, they were either benevolent efforts to thwart suspected foreign disinformation, or government overreach pressuring private companies to squelch disfavored opinions.
That was mostly during the pandemic, and the “files” were released after Elon Musk bought the platform. Since then, however, there has
been a troubling string of statements by influential public figures that seem to show a trending school of thought that government needs more power to stop certain speech, not just counter it.
First among the more recent such statements was the one made by Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during oral arguments in the case of Murthy v. Missouri, which involves the federal government’s powers relating to social media content. Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. unsuccessfully sought to intervene in that case.
Two lower courts had found that there was a “coordinated campaign” by senior federal officials to suppress certain views on social media.
A federal district court found that government officials had asked social media companies to block Kennedy’s communications with the public, and that the companies complied.
During oral arguments in March, the court was hearing from the attorney for Louisiana, one of the parties arguing for less government interference in free speech online. Justice Jackson expressed concern about restricting the government’s ability to limit Americans’ speech during an emergency, say a “once-ina-lifetime pandemic.”
“My biggest concern is that your view has the First Amendment hamstringing the government in significant ways in the most important time periods,” she said. Critics observed that the First Amendment, like each constitutional
enumeration of individual rights, was specifically intended to “hamstring” the government. Another statement along those lines came from former presidential candidate John Kerry, more recently the Biden administration’s Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
He said in September that if a source of news or information “is sick, and, you know, has an agenda, and they’re putting out disinformation, our First Amendment stands as a major block to be able to just, you know, hammer it out of existence. So what we need is to win the ground, win the right to govern, by hopefully winning enough votes that you’re free to be able to implement change.”
It’s unclear to me whether he’s suggesting hammering the “disinformation” or its sources out of existence, or what “change” he would like to see to get around the First Amendment.
Yet another recent statement came from former senator and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. On CNN, she said this month that “if the platforms – whether it’s Facebook or Twitter/X or Instagram or TikTok, whatever they are – if they don’t moderate and monitor the content, we lose total control,” she said. It’s unclear who she meant by “we” and why she thinks platforms might suddenly stop monitoring and moderating user posts. Her remarks on another recent occasion about civil or criminal penalties for certain speech garnered a lot of criticism and questions, but she seemed to be talking about people being paid by foreign entities to promote their propaganda.
Law professor and legal pundit Jonathan Turley has written a book and some columns on this fight against free speech. He says there’s a “growing anti-free speech movement being led by law professors and supported by both politicians and journalists.” He cites a Michigan law professor and MSNBC commentator who referred to free speech as America’s “Achilles’ heel.” He notes a Columbia law professor and former Biden White House aide wrote a column declaring “The First Amendment Is Out of Control,” while a George Washington University Law School professor has complained that the First Amendment is too “aggressively individualistic” and endangers domestic tranquility and general welfare.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a former social studies teacher, insists there’s no First Amendment protection for misinformation or hate speech. He’s wrong. I’ve publicly denounced hate speech such as antisemitic remarks, and have called for social and other consequences for egregious cases. But I don’t want government agencies policing personal or political speech. Turley calls free speech “the indispensable right.” He’s right, and we should dispense with censorship instead.
Alex Sauickie is a life-long Jackson resident who represents his home town and 12 other towns in the State Assembly. Follow him on Facebook (/AssemblymanAlex) and on Instagram (@AssemblymanAlex), or visit his website at AssemblymanAlex.com.
Senator Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finalized the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade.
In addition to the LCRI, the EPA also announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to support lead-related activities, including lead pipe replacement projects. The finalized rule comes ahead of the deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implement-
ed as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration - also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) - which would put public health at risk.
“The EPA’s bold leadership in finalizing this critical rule will help us eliminate lead pipes within a decade and put a stop to lead exposure that continues to threaten the health of far too many families and children in our nation today,” said Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ).
“Every American deserves access to clean and safe drinking water, and by modernizing our aging water infrastructure we are investing in a future where every family can turn on the tap and know their water is clean. I am proud to have helped lead the call in Congress for a strong final rule, and I thank the Biden-Harris administration for their commitment to environmental justice and public health.”
The finalized rule also improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them. Exposure to lead is harmful to health, especially for young children. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells.
“Every American, no matter their zip-code, deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth. “We’ve been working hard in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in America over the next decade, and this historic rule from the Biden Administration and billions in new funding will help us make it a reality while preventing Trump-era policies that would harm human health from going into effect.
This is a win-win for all Americans.”
“Today’s announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration is a win-win for our com-
munities because it delivers on our shared commitment to replace all lead pipes across the country within 10 years and protect public health,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, colead of the congressional Get the Lead Out Caucus. “I am proud to have helped push for the swift finalization of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements with my colleagues in Congress. Thanks to our advocacy, and with the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are closer than ever to actualizing a 100% lead-free future.”
“As the founder of the Get the Lead Out Caucus, I know that clean drinking water is a human right,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “We must move urgently to replace all lead pipes in our country within the next 10 years, and I’m glad to see the EPA announce the final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements to continue the critical work toward this objective. Congress must continue to work to appropriate the funding necessary to help all of our communities identify, remove, and replace every lead pipe over this next decade.”
Disclaimer: Micromedia Publications has always provided a space in its newspapers to provide a place for readers to learn what their elected officials are doing. These items are lightly edited for such things as punctuation and grammar but are mostly unchanged from the source. These press releases are the politicians’ own views, not that of Micromedia Publications. We cannot vouch for the accuracy of information that these politicians are providing, and readers are encouraged to keep an open mind and consider multiple sources.
JACKSON – Recently, members of the Jackson Police Department took part in their annual voluntary physical fitness test. This test for the officers to showcase their fitness levels to their peers and also develops friendly competition and comradery.
Approximately one-third of the officers participated in the test this year, which consisted of push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, a 300-meter sprint and a one-mile run.
This annual test has been administered nearly 15 years now and the voluntary participation has been on an incline for years. They would like to take this time to thank Det. Craig Lindenberg for taking the lead
with this program. He was quick to point out that this could not be accomplished without others officer’s assistance. So, thank you also to Sgt. Keith Uricks, Sgt. Mike Basso, Officers Kale Mabey, Chris Schinder, Ryan Gladysz, Andrew Brodzinski and Matt Kalbach.
Congratulations to Sgt. Mike Basso for achieving the top score, followed by Officer David DeJesus in second place and Officer Peter Lauria taking home third.
This program is a true testament to fitness and dedication for the agency and they applaud all of those who participated and strived to put their fitness to the test!
JACKSON – Jackson Elks #2744 Soccer Shoot will be on October 20 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Soldier Memorial Park, 587 Lakewood Farmingdale Road, Howell. Event is free and open to all boys and girls from Jackson, Howell, and Lake-
wood. First, Second, and Third place winners will advance to the district soccer shoot.
Must bring proof of age; age as of January 1, 2024. Questions? Contac Dawn at trooperd@optonline.net.
The Jackson Times welcomes your special announcements! Engagements, Weddings, Births, Birthday Wishes, etc. Please call 732-657-7344 for more details!
JACKSON – Calling All Cats is a cat rescue group made up of volunteers, some of whom work at a spay and neuter clinic. People would drop off unwanted cats. As a group, they save the babies that are left alone, the countless mothers that have had numerous litters and those that are losing or have lost their home.
Look how cute Mikey is! He is about 3 months old and the sweetest. Loves to snuggle and be held. He just purrs away. His vet says he has a condition called pectus excavatum which does not need treatment and will not hinder his life in
any way. He gets along with other cats and kittens and a big dog. He is all ready for a forever home.
To help humanely lower the feline population, they spay and neuter feral cats and then fi nd homes for the friendly adults and the offspring that have been born. The rescue works extremely hard to fi nd the best homes for cats of all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. While these cats wait, they are cared for in safe, loving, and nurturing foster homes
To start the application process, visit Calling All Cats on Facebook and Petfinder.com.
JACKSON – Jackson Moose Lodge 1459 will be hosting a Fish Fry Dinner on November 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Preorder your plate by October 25 for a $2 discount on each plate. Fish Fry
by Chef Doug! All fish comes fried or broiled and is served with French fries, coleslaw and a choice of cocktail or tartar sauce. Open to members and qualified quests.
JACKSON – Jackson Township Recreation and Jackson Elks present Hoop Shoot Out on October 22 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Goetz Middle School, 835 Patterson Road,
Jackson.
Open for 8 to 13 years old. Registration is free. Register at register.communitypass. net/jackson
JACKSON – The Howell/Jackson Knights of Columbus presents their Comedy Night on October 26 at 401 Bartley Road, Jackson.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner from 6 to 8
p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 and includes pasta dinner, salad, coffee, tea, dessert, comedy show, and cash bar. For reservations, call Angela Dorsey at 908-670-4588.
JACKSON – Jackson Liberty Lion Band’s 11th annual Vendor and Craft Fair will be on December 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jackson Liberty High School gym, 125
North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson. They are currently looking for vendors. For more information, vendorfair4libertylionband@gmail.com.
Borrelli said, “My desire in wanting to continue to serve as a Councilman is to continue to give back to the town we call home. Having served on Council and volunteered with numerous local organizations, has given me a unique understanding of those issues”
“This is particularly true when it comes to land use. Code enforcement efforts have been expanded under our leadership. Funding in the budget has been increased for it over the last few years to ensure legal compliance and building is conforming to the area,” the candidate said.
“We’ll continue to maintain our town’s excellent AA+ credit rating and the healthy budget surpluses.”
Borrelli added, “we’ll enhance direct communication with our town’s active adult communities, mobile home park communities, and veterans’ groups and continue to support and vote for upgrades and improvements to our many parks and active Township Senior Center,” Borrelli said.
“We voted for a professional grant writer to search for and obtain grant funding for the township and lessen the burden on the municipal budget,” he added.
Borrelli has worked for 20 years as a Human Resources representative for the state of New Jersey. “I’m an Ocean County native who has lived in Jackson for nearly eight years, in one of our town’s great active adult communities Four Seasons at Metedeconk Lakes.”
The candidate said, “On overdevelopment,
we’ve continually searched for, recommended, advocated, and voted for the purchase of hundreds upon hundreds of acres of available and valuable land that will be protected from future development.”
“We’ll continue working with our Township’s traffic safety unit and with the county which this Council has a great relationship with to improve road traffic conditions in our growing town,” Borrelli said.
Borrelli added, “since the purchase of the Rova Farms property, Jackson Township has been looking at how best this land can be utilized as a recreational facility for the residents of the township. Rova Park is moving forward for residents and visitors alike.
“There are traffic issues in the area and state DEP restrictions that have to be addressed before any amenities or structure can be considered or built,” he said.
“Transparency has certainly improved on the Council. Meeting agendas are on the Township website the Fridays before the Tuesday meetings. Regarding the Citizen’s Leadership application, I helped rewrite it on the Council. It’s a more open and transparent process,” he added.
Borrelli explained that each application received is forwarded “by our Township Clerk to the Council for us to review.”
“My wife and I chose Jackson nearly 10 years ago as the best place to build our family and raise our kids,” said Burnstein who is president of the Jackson GOP. He added that he was “running for Council to make sure that the Jackson we all love is around for my kids to grow up in and future generations to enjoy.”
Burnstein said, “professionally, I am the Dean of a school. It is no secret that Jackson is grow-
THURS. NOV 7 AMISH COUNTRY ONLY $79. (N.J. SCHOOLS CLOSED) LANCASTER, PA. INCLUDES BUFFET LUNCH, PLUS A BEAUTIFUL DRIVE THROUGH THE PASTORAL, AMISH FARMLANDS WITH STUNNING FALL FOLIAGE. PLUS, VISIT KITCHEN KETTLE VILLAGE.
THURS. NOV 7 “DANIEL” $166. (N.J. SCHOOLS CLOSED) SIGHT & SOUND THEATER. MAIN FLOOR SEATS. INCLUDES LUNCH AT SHADY MAPLE SMORGASBORD. OUR LAST TRIP TO SEE “DANIEL”. SUN. NOV 10 WIND CREEK CASINO $45. BETHLEHEM, PA. LOTS OF NEW GAMES! OUR GUESTS RECEIVE $30. SLOT PLAY.
FRI. DEC 27 CAPE MAY CHRISTMAS $133. INCLUDES LUNCH AT LOBSTER HOUSE, “HOLIDAY LIGHTS” TROLLEY TOUR AND PHYSICK ESTATE HOUSE TOUR – ALL DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS! VERY FESTIVE DAY TRIP AT
ing. People want to live here and bring their families here. Our job as local leaders are to make sure that we allow for that growth responsibly and in a way that preserves the fundamental character of our town.”
“That means fighting overdevelopment by preserving open space, working with the county to improve our roadways and alleviate traffic, enhancing code enforcement and supporting our police so that they have the resources necessary to keep our communities safe,” he added.
Burnstein said, “The Rova Farms project is a top priority for this team. These plans currently include a museum, an all-season platform for events, a restroom facility and more. We have to work within the confines of what is allowed there.”
He said, “I am proud to have supported and spearheaded a number of efforts aimed at improving transparency. Our agenda is publicly available the week before our meeting. We moved our deadlines up so that everyone can see the agenda earlier. We record and post our meetings on YouTube for all residents to view and we’ve expanded our citizen boards to bring in new voices. I’d love to see all our commissions be active,” Burnstein said.
Palmeri said, “Running for council is an honor and I look forward to representing the voices of our residents and collaborating with others to shape a brighter future for our town.”
“I’ve been in retail market management for many years and have been fortunate to call Jackson Township home for 15 years. I believe the primary focus should be on smart, sustainable growth which improves, rather than complicates, our quality of life,” Palmeri added. The candidate noted, “improving infrastructure
to alleviate traffic and ensuring that we have strong, fair code enforcement are key steps we can take. Open communication with residents and thoughtful planning will go a long way.”
“The Rova Farms property should be maintained with a focus on balancing recreational features like trails, picnic areas, and perhaps a cultural center with environmentally friendly and cost-effective planning,” he added. Palmeri added, “transparency is incredibly important in fostering trust within the community, and I’m happy to see that progress has been made. I would strongly support efforts to revitalize the historical and environmental commissions.”
The Voice You Deserve
Elenor M. Hannum, her husband Eric B. Hannum and Amanda Trombetta are running as independent Republicans under the motto of “The Voice You Deserve.”
Elenor Hannum said, “as a lifelong resident, I see my beautiful town and quality of life deteriorating at the hands of an administration who has an agenda. The Environmental Commission is nonexistent and the Historical Commission went defunct.”
“Code, illegal housing, Zoning, traffic, garbage are major safety issues. After seeing the Republican Club backed 2022 candidates’ donor list and their big contributions, then the heavy hitters from out of town, contributing to the 2024 campaign, it’s obvious Jackson is up for sale,” she added.
Hannum said, “we have a majority council who consistently violates residents’ First Amendment rights during public comment. Zoning must be immediately addressed, and the fast tracking of
(Candidates - See Page 11)
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the Master Plan halted.”
She is a history teacher to students with learning disabilities. She was on the original Rova Farms sub-committee. “In January, I was removed by Mordechai Burnstein and Council President Jennifer Kuhn who took over the committee, and stripped our two-year project born from the history of the Rova Farms community.”
“Subsequent to my removal, Kuhn and Burnstein told the residents that the original design could not be done due to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) requirements. I attended the meeting, where the new engineering firm (Morgan Engineering owned by Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi) admitted that our original design could be complete, with minor changes,” she added.
She added, “adult communities have been asking for the arts for a long time. Our amphitheater and community center would satisfy everyone.”
Amanda Trombetta has two children and said she has watched “decisions made by the current council impact the quality of life for families. I feel the majority of Jackson residents’ voices are not being heard, or their concerns addressed.”
“I felt compelled to do something about it, and that something, is to run for council. I moved to Jackson in 2013 and own two homes. I am a government representative in a law enforcement agency. I also hold an active social worker license (LSW) however, I have not practiced in the last five years.”
Eric Hannum said that “for the past several years, I have watched this beautiful town’s quality of life deteriorate, while watching an
administration and council do little to fix the issues.”
He described the township as having “a developer-friendly agenda with clearcutting, massive housing applications approved, warehouses, and traffic safety, and an infrastructure that has gone untouched and cannot sustain such rapid development.”
“I am an attorney in Monmouth County and the owner of the law firm of Eric B. Hannum in Manasquan. I have lived in Jackson for approximately 20 years,” he added.
The slate collectively responded to questions concerning township resident concerns. “The major issue in Jackson today is enforcement of our codes and zoning ordinances. The penalties need to be greater for those who violate our laws.”
“We have a Business Administrator, municipal attorney and mayor who control both code and zoning departments and we believe are influencing enforcement. That behavior is evidence in the lawsuits,” the candidates said.
“That administration needs to be held accountable and we will work to ensure the integrity of the code and zoning officials while strengthening our laws so our employees can do their job and preserve the safety for all residents. Traffic safety has increased again because of zoning without an infrastructure to sustain it,” the candidates added.
It was noted that in August, “Jackson had 146 car accidents with several fatalities. In residential neighborhoods, children are at risk with the higher volume and speed of cars flying through, again deteriorating the quality of their childhood. This can also be linked to zoning and higher intensity use of residential homes.”
“This administration is the least transparent,
twisting the law to hide information that is public. Most appointments to committees and commissions are born from nepotism or cronyism. This past year, the Council removed some of the most experienced professionals from the Zoning Board, and Rova committee.”
Jackson Needs Hope Running independently is Hope Drew whose slogan is “Conservative Common Sense. Jackson Needs Hope.”
“As a lifelong resident of Jackson, it’s disheartening to see a town I love being pressured into approving every application. I felt it was time to step up and fight for real changes - changes that lifelong Jackson residents deserve.”
Drew said, “Raising my four children and being a homemaker is a privilege that I have never taken for granted. Being home throughout those many years I became very active in the town. For over 10 years, I attended council, zoning, and planning board meetings, holding our elected officials accountable for upholding their oath to protect our quality of life and enforcing laws equally.”
She said when she learned the township needed substitute teachers, she “jumped at the opportunity and am now a permanent building substitute teacher at Christa McAuliffe Middle School.”
The candidate noted that “everything that is occurring is a ripple effect from the lack of enforcement in all areas throughout our town. Enforcement falls under the administration control. What’s occurring here in Jackson is unprecedented in New Jersey.”
“Illegally used residential homes and over reached discriminatory zoning laws that now permit mixed-use zones are the primary causes
of increased traffic in areas where it doesn’t belong. This is creating congestion in places where it should never exist,” she added.
Drew said, “out of fear of lawsuits, our building and zoning departments have been approving homes that no longer fit the character or aesthetic of our neighborhoods, along with massive developments that are causing unnecessary traffic and safety issues that are putting our infrastructure and residents at risk.”
“Laws need to be written, ordinances need to have standards created, giving the tools to our zoning officers and our code enforcement in order for them to do their jobs to protect the quality life of our residents,” she said.
Drew added, “the previous council cared more about preserving land than the current council, recognizing the history and importance to the residents. The prior council created a resident advisory committee for Rova Farms with the express purpose of getting residents’ input on the future of this important property.”
She also said the prior council had “drafted plans by an engineering firm with over 20 years of experience. These plans were presented to the Jackson community during Rova Park Day in 2023. Those plans and the community’s input have been completely disregarded.”
“The mayor replaced the original engineer with a firm (Morgan Engineering) owned by the newly elected Ocean County Commissioner,” she added.
“I feel there is a real lack of transparency when it comes to boards and committees,” Drew said. She wants “clear procedures in place to establish a well-defined application process. Ensuring these commissions are fully functional is essential to protecting the future of our community.”
Presented By: Isidore Kirsh, Ph.D., F.A.A.A. (N.J. Lic. #678)
368 Lakehurst Road | Suite 305
Toms River, NJ 08755
732-473-1123
1301 Rte 72 | Ste 305 | Manahawkin, NJ 08050
609-597-9195
211 W Millstream Road Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 609-758-9595
According to a study attributed to the Alzheimer’s Association (AA), in conjunction with the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), strong evidence suggests that hearing impairment contributes to the progression of mental impairment in older adults.
“People living with Alzheimer’s face many challenges,” says Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the BHI. “Hearing loss should not have to be one of them. When hearing loss is left unaddressed, it can significantly compound the challenges that people with Alzheimer’s and their families already face.”
What is Alzheimer’s? Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and fatal brain disease that affects behavior, cognition and memory loss in over 26 million people worldwide. Alzheimer’s is typically diagnosed in individuals age 65 and older. The number of those affected is expected to rapidly increase as our nation’s aging population explodes over the next 30 years. When hearing loss or impairment goes undetected, it can interrupt the brain’s understanding of spoken language and sounds. When someone is experiencing both Alzheimer’s and hearing loss symptoms, their ability to understand can sharply decrease. If their hearing issues were diagnosed and treated earlier, the means of successfully managing the disease increase.
The BHI’s research has discovered that people with Alzheimer’s who regularly wear hearing devices in combination with a consistently practiced aural retraining therapy
program are able to diminish the wide range of Alzheimer’s symptoms. If you are concerned that you or a loved one might be experiencing the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s, it is recommended that you maintain your regular hearing evaluations. Working with your hearing health care professional to detect these warning signs as early as possible is a critical first step in confirming an accurate diagnosis and creating an effective long-term plan of treatment for Alzheimer’s and hearing loss. Ten Signs To Watch Out For The Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance (AEDA) campaign, “Know The Ten Signs: Early Detection Matters,” is working to identify the early signs of Alzheimer’s. According to the AEDA, the 10 signs to watch for include:
1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and special relationship
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things and losing ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood or personality Dr. Izzy and his Staff are always available to answer questions pertaining to your hearing health care. Please feel free to contact 732-451-3962 or visit gardenstatehearing.com
His offices are in Toms River, Whiting, and Manahawkin. He can be reached at 732-451-3962 or via Web site at gardenstatehearing.com. Dr. Izzy & Staff gives Retirement Community Talks!
BRICK – For as little as an hour or two a month you can make a difference to a hospice patient in your community. Angelic Health Palliative & Hospice Care is asking you to share your time and compassion to those on their fi nal journey. Your volunteer service will fit your schedule and interests, and visit assignments are your choice.
For more information visit Angelic.health, email volunteer@Angelic.health, or call Kathy Donadio at 609-432-0073.
Your visits can mean so very much to hospice patients and their loved ones. Volunteer
activities can include: Reading, playing music, card games, or crafts activities.
Listening to and documenting their memories for a life or memory journal.
Staying with patients to give family members a break to run errands or take care of their own needs.
Certified Pet Visitors for pet lovers. Keeping vigil with patients in their final hours. Bereavement and grief support of family. Military Veterans Visiting Veterans/ Flag Pinning Ceremonies
Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.
By Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.
Lyme disease is a challenging infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete transmitted by tick bites. Since the tick numbs the skin, most people don’t know they got bit. They also naively think if they pulled the tick out, they didn’t get Lyme, but that’s not true either.
One unique trait of Borrelia is its ability to thrive on manganese instead of iron, making it unlike many other bacteria. Typically, pathogens rely on iron for growth, but Borrelia has adapted to use manganese, which helps it avoid detection by the immune system.
Understanding this relationship offers a new avenue for managing Lyme disease, particularly in how e might be able to “starve” the bacteria by disrupting its access to manganese.
Natural herbal remedies also play a role in managing symptoms and supporting immune function during Lyme treatment. Herbs such as cat’s claw, Japanese knotweed, and andrographis have shown potential in reducing the inflammatory response an aiding the body in fighting Lyme. These herbs are not only anti-inflammatory but also antimicrobial.
Given that Borrelia thrives on manganese, reducing dietary and supplemental intake of this mineral may serve as a strategy to limit the bacteria’s growth. Manganese is found in many healthy foods including hazelnuts, oats, pine nuts (so pesto!), various seeds, quinoa and more. Pumpkin spice (because of the clove spice) contains a high amount of manganese! Limiting manganese might not kill the bacteria outright, but it can interfere with their ability to multiply and resist treatments.
If you have Lyme, you make sure your multivitamins are not too high in manganese, so that you are not inadvertently feeling Borrelia. One thing you can do is take zinc supplements because zinc and manganese are absorbed through similar pathways in the body. By increasing zinc intake, you might reduce manganese absorption, potentially depriving Borrelia of its needed nutrients.
Immune system support is critical. I think that’s better than killing Lyme because you really can’t kill Lyme with prescription drugs. It hides in biofilms, and its co-infections stay in the body forever. So if you can coexist in peace it’s a better situation in my humble pharmacist opinion. Supporting yourself with vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc and selenium are useful.
Clarinex®, a prescription antihistamine available generically as desloratadine, has been examined in high doses for its potential to suppress manganese. Desloratadine, which is a metabolite of the antihistamine loratadine, marketed as Claritin, is derived from its “parent” drug. However, neither med seems effective at reducing manganese levels when taken in safe, therapeutic doses. The effectiveness of desloratadine only becomes apparent in higher doses, which would be lethal to take.
What if you’ve had Lyme for 20 or 30 years? Even in a chronic state, Borrelia requires manganese to maintain its defenses and support its growth. Limiting manganese might not kill the bacteria outright, but it can interfere with their ability to multiply and resist treatments. If this topic interests you, take a few minutes to read the longer version of this article posted at my website suzycohen.com
(This information is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Suzy Cohen is the author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist” and “Real Solutions.” For more information, visit www.SuzyCohen.com) ©2024 SUZY COHEN, RPH. DISTRIBUTED BY DEAR PHARMACIST, INC.
TOMS RIVER – If you are a veteran and need to apply for veteran’s benefits or for an increase in your existing claim rating, then please read the following. Our specialists at your local American Legion Post #129 want to help. All veterans are welcome! On November 2 at 12 to 2 p.m., the American Legion Post #129 at 2025 Church Road, Toms River, will be hosting a claims clinic and there will be volunteer claims specialists on site to help you apply for your benefits from the Veterans Administration.
Please bring your DD-214 with you if you have it available. If you have lost your DD214, we can help you apply for a new copy. Do you already have an approved Claim Rating? The specialist may be able to help you obtain a higher percentage rating with a higher monthly benefit. Bring your paperwork with you. If you are not able to drive, your family member or friend is welcome to come in to the clinic to assist you. So, please come join us and let us help you attain your deserved benefits… you earned them!
By: Robert C. Shea, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates
Dredging is the process of removing soil and sediment from the bottoms of waterways to maintain channels and promote navigable waters. Besides providing positive effects for boaters and waterfront property owners, dredging can also benefit the local environment. The soil and sediment removed from the bottom, referred to as the spoils, can be deposited into other underwater areas with similar soil compositions to help populate the area with plants and sea life. Dredging is also a commonplace practice after massive storms. If you live locally, you may remember seeing boats dredging the bottom of the Metedeconk River and other waterways to remove debris and detritus during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Although dredging may have many positive effects, everything comes with a dollar sign attached. Municipalities have the authority to pass the cost onto the taxpayers after applying for dredging permits concurrently with the Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Army. If property owners are receiving a benefit from the dredging, such as a deeper area to moor a larger boat, the municipality can assess all the owners receiving the benefit. The cost assessed to each applicable property owner is then added to their respective property taxes at the end of the tax year. Taxpayers can choose either to pay in a lump sum, or over the course of 10 years with interest.
Regarding the validity of assessments, the Supreme Court of New Jersey has determined two things. First, to form the basis of the assessment, there needs to be a peculiar
benefit, advantage, or increase in property value. Second, the cost assessed to the property owner must be proportionate to the benefit received. This second determination sits in a slightly grey area as it is dictated by reasonableness. For example, if both Property A and Property B are being assessed a total of $10,000, the Township may not be able to simply divide the cost in half and assess both Property A and B equally. If Property A is receiving a greater benefit compared to Property B, then the assessment may need to be split 75/25 or even 85/15. This kind of determination is made on a case-bycase basis, and it is situation specific. In some circumstances, it may be as straightforward as determining the difference in property value before and after the dredging. In other circumstances, the lot sizes of each property are considered. However, if the benefit received is more peculiar, the task of properly assessing can become more difficult. From a bird’s-eye view, dredging can be beneficial for boaters, commercial shippers, business owners, waterfront property owners, and the surrounding environment. However, waterfront property owners already deal with high property taxes, and depending on the location, high insurance payments. Adding the cost of dredging onto an already steep tax bill can place a tremendous amount of stress on household budgets. It is crucial for waterfront property owners to remember that the benefit can come at a price, and plan accordingly.
TOMS RIVER – Take a dramatic turn into darkness this month as the Ocean County College Repertory Theatre Co. presents “Madness, Murder and Mayhem” in the Black Box Theater at the Grunin Center for the Arts, October 18 through 27.
In this gripping production of moments from William Shakespeare’s greatest works, the stage comes alive with the echoes of Macbeth’s maniacal ambitions, the chilling whispers of Hamlet’s ghostly revenge, and the venomous schemes of Iago from Othello. Through a seamless blend of drama, suspense, and the supernatural, audiences are transported to a world where madness lurks around every corner, and murder hangs like a foul stench. But amidst the darkness, flashes of humanity emerge as characters grapple with their inner demons and moral dilemmas. From the tortured souls of Lady Macbeth and King Lear to the tragic descent of Ophelia into madness, each performance is a haunting exploration of the human psyche. “Madness,
Murder and Mayhem” invites audiences to confront the darkest aspects of human nature and the timeless allure of Shakespeare’s most twisted tales.
Tickets are $21 for adults, $19 for seniors and can be purchased online at grunincenter.org, by phone at 732-255-0500, or in person at the Grunin Center Box Office.
Performances:
October 18 at 7:30 p.m.
October 19 at 7:30 p.m.
October 20 at 2 p.m.
October 25 at 7:30 p.m.
October 26 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
October 27 at 2 p.m.
Cast: Samantha Acquaviva, Angel Berrios, Kyle Bodie, Katie Bromborsky, Annette Curran, Shea Gaughan, Brendan Keffner, Nick Koval, Bridget Magnusson, Alfred Parchment, Dave Robbins, Zach Zabarsky.
Production Crew: Alex Garcia; Jacob Mastroly.
By Chris Lundy
TOMS RIVER – The Veterans Administration clinic in Toms River is set to have a grand opening soon, while the one in Brick closes its doors.
The Toms River clinic’s official address is 1051 Hooper Avenue. There’s an entrance to the facility from Hooper and another entrance on Caudina Avenue, which is the back road past two banks that leads to the Seacourt Pavilion.
“Patient Day One” of this building will be October 22, said Xiomara Johnson, a Navy veteran who serves as Deputy Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place in November. That exact date will be announced in the future, and is likely to have veterans, politicians, and other stakeholders invited.
“The opening of the Toms River Clinic marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide world-class healthcare to our veterans in Ocean County and beyond. This new facility allows us to expand access to care, improve services and better meet the needs of our veteran community. We are excited to welcome them to this state-of-the-art clinic,” said Patricia O’Kane, Executive Medical Center Director.
The current facility in our area is the James J. Howard Outpatient Clinic, located at 970 Route 70 in Brick. Veterans have long said that this property doesn’t have enough parking, and that it’s not large enough to serve the significant number of local vets.
This building will permanently close its doors on Monday, October 21. Johnson said that any appointments scheduled after Octo-
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(Ocean County) Commissioner Frank Sadeghi and said ‘our town is growing and we are having a lot of issues can you commit to me if anyone could come to our quarterly meetings with the engineer to help us with our traffic concerns?’”
Kuhn said she wanted to put four dates on the calendar focusing on the 42 county roads in the township. The town can’t make any changes to county roads. “If we want to do anything we have to get their approval. He has committed to that.”
Police Retirements
“We have 13 officers who are eligible to retire in 2025. We need to hire and keep our staff in our police department,” Kuhn noted. The retirements “will leave a lot of gaps and would leave us under the 100-member mark which we are barely at right now.”
Kuhn said this was “raising a lot of concerns” noting there were plans to hire more Class I officers, Class II and full-time officers. “The Class Is the business administrator (Terence Wall) has already given us approval on that. Class IIs we already have the mayor’s approval on that and we are awaiting the Class IIs and we are waiting on finding full time officers and flipping the
ber 21 will automatically be transferred to the Toms River Clinic. Veterans will receive new appointment cards with updated information indicating their new location at the Toms River facility.
“This new addition to the VA New Jersey Healthcare System reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering enhanced healthcare services to veterans across Ocean County and surrounding areas. We look forward to welcoming our veterans and ensuring they receive the highest level of care in this expanded, modern facility,” she said.
The new building will be about twice the size as the one in Brick, measuring 68,000 square feet. It will neighbor county social services as well. There is also a bus stop and other amenities nearby.
Officials at the groundbreaking said that the building will enhance services currently provided, and will also add more. Some of the specialties noted during the presentation was primary care, mental health, dental, podiatry, and women’s health, which is the fastest growing department.
On the new building, women’s health has its own entrance. There’s also an entrance for ambulance pick-up. A road around the outskirts of the property could one day link to the social services buildings nearby.
The same Toms River site was previously selected by the VA in 2019, but the prospective developer at that time declined the lease in early 2020. This caused the VA to restart the site selection process. Toms River, Brick, and Manchester officials made offers, but the VA came back to this site again. There was also some red tape that slowed down the construction of this much-anticipated building.
Class IIs to full time.
“It is good fi nancially for the town to have Class Is and Class IIs and the Class IIs can be flipped to full time and get the full benefit package,” she added.
All-Stars Receive Recognition
It was the 8-year-old division of the Jackson Little League’s turn to be recognized at a township council meeting. The 9 UAll-Star players were honored a few weeks prior.
“They won not one but two championship titles for the fi rst time in over 20 years,” Council President Kuhn said.
The council president read Mayor Michael Reina’s proclamation to the 8-U All-Star Players stating their victory “set a remarkable example of sportsmanship and excellence. It is not just a win on the scoreboard but a triumph of spirit and determination. The members of the team have shown exceptional skills on the field as well as discipline and commitment off the field.”
“Their coaches and families have fostered an important role in encouraging growth, resilience and success. We extend our congratulations to the team on their outstanding season and earning the title of District 18 and Section 3 Championship fi nishing the season fourth all around in the state of New Jersey,” she added.
By Bob Vosseller
OCEAN COUNTY – Seniors have options when it comes to picking their Medicare options and the County’s Senior Services Office is offering assistance to those needing help to select the best option for them.
If you are turning 65 years old in the near future, or if you need to make changes to your existing health care coverage, chances are your mailbox has been fi lled with glossy brochures advertising the very best Medicare options for you - according to the sales pitch.
“There is so much information and also misinformation out there when it comes to signing up for a Medicare plan that it often creates more confusion than help for our seniors,” Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Barbara Jo Crea said.
Crea, who also serves as the liaison to the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, added “in an effort to cut through the abundance of plans and solicitations, Ocean County offers one on one assistance to help our seniors choose the best health care coverage for them.”
Enrollment starts on Oct. 15. Ocean County, through its Office of Senior Services, is making State Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) Counselors available for individual appointments to discuss coverage.
“These counselors are professionally trained to provide unbiased information to you in all facets of Medicare,” Crea said.
“They are not insurance sales people, they do not work on commission, rather they are tasked with providing you information on all plans that are available,” she added. Assistance is available by appointment at
the following locations:
The County Connection at the Ocean County Mall, Toms River, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from Oct. 15 through Dec. 5, call 732-288-777 to register
The Toms River Senior Center, Windsor Avenue, Toms River, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays, Oct. 16 through Dec. 4, call 732-341-1000, Ext. 8460 to register
Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, Washington Street, Toms River, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., every other Friday, from Oct. 15 through Dec. 6, call 732-929-2091 to register Beachwood Recreation Center, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Oct. 18, call 732-929-2091 to register
The Ocean County Southern Service Center, Stafford Township, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, call 732-929-2091.
Crea stressed that registration was important. “It’s a very popular service we offer and we want everyone to be able to avail themselves to an appointment.”
During open enrollment which runs until December 7, individuals can make any changes to their coverage that will take effect in the new year.
“SHIP counselors are available to sit with you one on one to discuss your coverage,” Crea added. “Remember these plans are not one size fits all. Just because a plan works for your neighbor doesn’t mean it will work for you.”
Crea explained, “these plans change annually. It’s important to find the best fit for you.” For more information or to make an appointment for many of the sites contact the Ocean County Office of Senior Services at 732- 929-2091.
OCEAN COUNTY – We are available to present “Waves of Hope,” by Ronald Edward Negra at your place. Presentation is completely free!
Come and listen to the remarkable story of an inspiring young woman, Agnes Joan Negra, and her heroic acts of kindness during WWII. Imagine a time back in 1944 when Agnes sat at her shortwave radio each night, listening to Radio Berlin, as the Nazis read names of American soldiers they were holding as POWs. Agnes would write down 5 names and hometowns, and then wrote
to the families of these soldiers to let them know their loved one was still alive! Agnes’ story is a deeply moving story of kindness and hope.
We are available to present to woman’s clubs, men’s clubs, residence clubs, veteran’s clubs, historical societies, and libraries, upon request. The presentation is approximately 45 minutes to one hour long. For more information, contact Valerie Negra at 201-650-1838 or email: Penelopepe@comcast.net. Check out our website: ronaldedwardnegra.com.
TOMS RIVER – Join the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, NJ4S COMPASS, and YMCA Counseling on October 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Toms River High School North Media Center for “Crisp
Conversations,” a panel that will educate and answer questions about mental health. Registration is recommended but not required. To register, visit bit.ly/crispconversations.
Comics, Cards, Shows - 10/20
Brick VFW 373 Adamston. 11/10 Toms River Elks 600 Washington. Artists, writers, crafts, costume groups. Call 609-242-7756. (45)
Senior Man Looking For Women - 65 or 70 who still enjoy having a good time. Call Mark 732-5575017 for dinner and fun. (45)
Ocean County Memorial ParkChapel Mausoleum. Side by side. 6th level. Going rate $14,000. Will sell for $8,000. We hold deed. Will be signed over to new owners upon payment at OCMP. Leave name and number. 732-941-9902. (45)
Furniture For Sale - Dining room table, 6 chairs and 2 PC China cabinet $1000. 6 piece white wicker
bedroom set $500, 3 piece cream
sofa bed, love seat, chair $300. Call Barb 973-519-6482. (48)
COSTUME/ESTATE JEWELRY
Looking to buy costume/estate jewelry, old rosaries and religious medals, all watches and any type of sterling silver, bowls, flatware candlesticks or jewelry. Same day house calls and cash on the spot. 5 percent more with this AD. Call Peggy at 732-581-5225. (t/n)
$$$ WANTED TO BUY $$$
Jewelry and watches, costume jewelry, sterling silver, silverplate, medals, military items, antiques, musical instruments, pottery, fine art, photographs, paintings, statues, old coins, vintage toys and dolls, rugs, old pens and postcards, clocks, furniture, bric-a-brac, select china and crystal patterns. Cash paid. Over 35 years experience. Call Gary Struncius. 732849-6068 (new number). (t/n)
Used Guns Wanted - All types: collectibles, military, etc. Call 917-681-6809. (t/n)
CASH PAID!! LP records - stereos, musical instruments, guitar, saxophone, CD’s, reel tapes, music related items. Come to you. 732-804-8115. (44)
CASH, CASH, CASH! - Instant cash paid for junk cars, trucks, vans. Free removal of any metal items. Discount towing. Call Dano 732-239-3949. (t/n)
Entire Estates Bought - Bedroom/dining sets, dressers, cedar chests, wardrobes, secretaries, pre-1950 wooden furniture, older glassware, oriental rugs, paintings, bronzes, silver, bric-a-brac. Call Jason at 609-970-4806. (t/n)
Cash - Top dollar, paid for junk, cars running and nonrunning, late model salvage, cars and trucks, etc. 732-928-3713. (t/n)
Bus Driver NEEDED! - Flexible Scheduling. Perfect for Retiree in Retirement Community. CDL w/ Passenger endorsement required. Call SilverWoods Clubhouse for more information at 732-341-4825. (t/n)
Laundromat Attendant - For FT/ PT Good communication skills, math and min computer knowledge. Transportation needed. Long term commitment only. 732-286-1863. (t/n)
Certified Home Health Aides - Needed for Ocean County area. Hourly and live-in positions avail. P/T and F/T. Call CCC at 732-206-1047. (t/n)
R.C. Shea and Associates is seeking to hire a paralegal with civil/commercial litigation experience as well as an administrative assistant. Pay and benefits commensurate with experience. Please call Pam Williams, office manager at (732) 505-1212 or email at pwilliams@rcshea.com (t/n)
A1 HANDYMAN SERVICESOver 30 years experience in all phases of home improvements. Free estimates and referrals. Call John 267475-7962 or 732-477-0379. (43)
Handyman Small jobs - Painting, powerwash, electrical, plumbing, light hauling. Call 732-859-9266. (44)
Looking for a home health aid or family assistant for your loved one?
Call today to get started. 24/7 or hourly assistance with daily tasks: meal preparation, errands, light housekeeping, driving to appointments, personal care, emotional and physical support...No agency fees or commitment, you can choose the right candidate without any hidden fees. 732-9108869. elenpaposh@gmail.com. (45)
ANGEL APPLIANCE REPAIR732-403-6975. 50+ years serving Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Senior owned and operated. INSURED, RELIABLE AND HONEST. (47)
APlus Home Improvements - Over 30 years experience. Everything from small handyman tasks to large renovations, decks, finished basements and much more. Lic #13VH11453600. No job too small give us a call. 908-278-1322. (52)
THE RIDE GUY - Takes you anywhere! No limits. Comfy mini-van. References. Call Charlie 732-216-3176 or Email: cr@exit109.com. Let's Go! (t/n)
Garden State Property Maintenance - All yard work. Tree-trimming and removal, stump grinding, pavers, decks, flower beds, weeding. 609-661-5470. (t/n)
Nor’easter Painting and Staining, LLC - Interior and exterior. Decks, powerwashing. Affordable. Senior discounts. References. No job too small. Fully insured. 732-6910123. Lic #13VH09460600. (t/n)
Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-844-897-8361. (t/n)
HANDYMAN SOLUTIONSAll Types of Home Improvement and Repairs. EXPERT Carpentry •Doors •Windows •Bathroom And Kitchen Upgrades •Finished Basements •Ceramic Tile •Laminate Flooring •Decks •Vinyl Railings •Masonry •Painting •More. Licensed and Insured. Advanced Building. 609-384-9030. (38)
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-833-901-0309 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. (t/n)
Since 1979, Kitchen Magic, a family-owned business offering cabinet refacing, new cabinetry, and luxury countertop throughout the Northeast. We transform kitchens in less time, with less stress, at an amazing value. Call today for a free estimate 1-844-367-2477. (t/n)
Adult Care Provider - Filipino Woman seeking live-in job as home healthcare provider for elderly with 10 years experience, with excellent reference. Please call 973-454-6818. (46)
Painting - Special Fall Pricing. Interior/Exterior. Meticulous work. All materials and jobs guaranteed. Fully licensed and insured. $ave. Call 732-850-5060. (47)
Car Service - 24/7. Doctors, shopping, airports, hospitals, cruise, shops, Atlantic City, family functions, NYC accomodations for large groups. Call for reasonable rates. Kerry 732-606-2725. (42)
When You Need A Caregiver Call Lucy - European Registered Nurse, 25 years. US Eldercare experience, 19 years. Live in/out, hourly, negotiable. 732-657-1409 (H), 732-833-3273 (C). (47)
MY HANDY CREW - Home repairs, carpentry, painting, roofing and siding, decks, powerwashing, yardwork, all your home maintenance needs. $ave. Call Clark 732-850-5060. Insured and NJ License #13VH11804800. (44)
Learn To Play The - Flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or drums, from a NJ State Certified Teacher of Instrumental Music, in your home! Call 732-3504427 for more information. (38)
DIRECTV - All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/ mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-877-557-1213 (t/n)
CHEAP PAINTING Done RITEFree est. Senior discounts interior exterior. Call 732-506-7787, cell 646-643-7678. (t/n)
Affordable Landscaping - Fall & spring clean ups. Shrubs & tree pruning, sod & seed lawns, retaining & stone walls, topsoil & mulch planting, & much more. 640-999-0072. (47)
Handyman Service - Carpentry, masonry, painting repairs large and small. 40 years experience. Call Jim 732-674-3346. (39)
Housecleaning - We offer services: House cleaning, laundy, window cleaning, painting, office cleaning, carpet cleaning, shopping, take clothes dry cleaning, typing, office work, demonstration, merchandise in store. Very good prices. Call 732330-4189 or 848-287-3944. (t/n)
PQ Painting & Home Improvement Services - Over 5 decades of service in NJ. Visit us online at pqpaintingservice.com . Winner of Angie’s List Super Service Award. Free estimates, reasonable rates, fully licensed and insured NJ Lic #13VH06752800. Call 732500-3063 or 609-356-2444. (t/n)
Do You Want Your Car To Look Nice And Shine - Call Lenny Lenny's Mobile Auto Detailing 908-868-4609. (43)
• Mail this form to: PO Box 521, Lakehurst, NJ 08733. OR
• Go to jerseyshoreonline.com, click classifieds, fill out the form and pay by credit card. OR
• Fax this form to 732-657-7388 ATTN: ALI.
1. Below, circle the heading you would like your ad to appear under:
Auto For Sale
Items For Sale
2. Print clearly your ad as you want it to read. Include Phone # within ad below (counts as 1 word). Use separate sheet if necessary.
You are responsible for checking your ad the first time it runs and notifying us of any errors. If we make an error, we will correct it and rerun the ad. We will not be responsible for multiple insertions if you do not call us after the first ad run. No refunds for classified ads. Newspapers are available at our office. Please feel free to stop in and check your ad.
3. 1 week* at $29.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea.
order to qualify for discounts, the same ad must run over the requested weeks. • Estate/Garage/Yard Sales
=
weeks* at $44.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word =
3 weeks* at $60.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $ 4 weeks* at $74.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $ Total = $
Print Name: 4. Make check payable in advance to Micromedia Publications, or fill in Mastercard/Visa/American Express SORRY NO DISCOVER info below:
Cardholder Signature:
Billing Address:
PHONE NUMBER (THIS IS REQUIRED)
If you have any questions, leave a message for Ali 732-657-7344, ext. 203.
Deadline For Classified Ads: 12pm Monday (For that Saturday’s
By Renee A. Thomaier Retired New Jersey State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
Considered giant-sized sea monsters in mythology, these invertebrates (lacking a backbone) are cold-blooded creatures belonging to the cephalopoda class. They join the group with squids, cuttlefish, and
nautiloid (shaped like a nautilus shell). Most of this species have an arm span anywhere in the range of 14 feet to as much as 32 feet. Adult weight can be approximately 33 pounds to 110 pounds on average.
The octopus has a large head with a brain and mouth. The mouth, having a hard, sharp beak, is located underneath the arms. It
has three hearts - one that assists in blood circulation, the other two are responsible for keeping blood flowing into its gills. Their skin has specialized cells referred to as chromatophores which contains pigments of red, yellow, brown, orange and black. Typically, they possess three colors, but some may have two or four. This complex
and interesting skin structure changes colors giving them camouflage from their enemies. Enemies include humans, dolphins, whales, crocodiles, seals, sharks, and penguins, to name a few.
Octopi can be found worldwide in every ocean, like the east Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and Pacific, depending upon which of the 22 types there are. Sadly, their lifespan is a short one. Some species will live for only six months, while others, two years. The giant Pacific octopus has a life expectancy of approximately five years. Reproduction does limit their lifespan with the males dying after mating. Females pass away shortly after the eggs are hatched. Hatching varies – depending on species, several weeks to months, where the mother will care for them until they hatch. Once hatched the young become fully independent of the mother.
The octopus is an elusive and intelligent creature with remarkable problem-solving skills. They are supersmart, living a solitary lifestyle, learning from other members of its species. Transporting materials to build a shelter enables them the chance to survive longer. Using their strong suction cups, they can walk, swim, and cling to any surface. I gathered the information for this article from multiple sources so statistics may vary slightly. To reach me please call 732244-2768.
It’s illegal to possess, relocate, or cause harm to wildlife for any reason. Managing wildlife without the proper state/federal permits is illegal. Violating laws protecting wildlife is punishable by law.
LACEY – Ocean County Business Expo, brought to you by Central Ocean Business Association (COBA), will be on November 19 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Lacey Township Community Center, 15 E Lacey Road, Forked River.
The Ocean County Health Department will have a free clinic for Flu and COVID vaccines!
For more information, call Lousia Kasper at 732-995-3681 or Denise Thatcher at 609384-4619.
Did you catch the Northern Lights last week? The local community and social media were abuzz with excitement as tons of amazing photos were posted. This one was captured by Justin Anderson. Have a pic to share with our readers? Email photos@ jerseyshoreonline.com and you may win a prize!
TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Historical Society’s 36 Annual Holiday, Craft and Collectibles Faire will be on November 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Toms River High School South Cafetorium at the intersection of Hooper and Grant. (Use 212 Hooper Avenue with your GPS)
Admission is free! Over 80 quality vendors. The Ocean County Historical and Cultural Pavilion Sponsored by Ocean
County Cultural and Heritage. Featuring author William Lewis signing his books about the Pine Barrens. The OCHS famous baked goods table. A very large 5 -50. A snack stands and more!
A great opportunity to start your holiday shopping! Vendor tables are available. Contact Joseph at rjl072001@gmail.com or 732-998-5934. Additional information and contracts are available on the OCHS website.
PLUMSTED – The New Egypt Comic Book and Toy Show is heading back to the township and will feature dealers from all over the state.
The show is offering exciting collectibles including Silver Age, Bronze Age, and Modern comics, as well as modern and vintage toys, Funko Pops, and various other
collectibles.
The latest show to be held on November 3 will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with $5 admission for adults and children 12 and under will enter free.
Additionally, the fi rst 100 paid admissions will receive a comic pack, and door prizes will be given randomly throughout the day.
Director of a Bat-
Chorus of agree-
Instrument that
Sighed words
Biblical book part-
by
Only U.S. presi-
Ore deposit
Hanukkah moolah
Many Sharon Olds
Informal “You’re oversharing”
“That girl?”
“Viva __ Vegas”
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Decide where to direct your attention and where your abilities may be most valuable. Demanding circumstances could force you to choose between your professional and personal obligations or to try to juggle them equally.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Giving in to an urge to splurge or allowing extravagances to take over may cause you some trouble in the week to come. Consider putting away the screens, taking a break to breathe some fresh air, and spending time in nature.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An unbelievable offer may be exactly that. Perform your due diligence before signing any documents or agreements. Someone’s impatience or vagueness could be a clue that you need to slow down before moving forward.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): You could become unfocused if you spend too much time daydreaming. Shift your attention back to your goals. You may find an agreeable compromise with others but put things in writing to prevent details from becoming unclear.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You may take time for much-needed relaxation today. Be careful not to become consumed in an unnecessary power struggle. An intense focus on your tasks could carry over and cause problems within relationships this week.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You may demonstrate your bright ideas and reinforce your goals as this week begins by spending time with others who can offer you a support system. Powerful connections might inspire you to be more open-minded and freer.
FOR THE WEEK OF OCT 19 - OCT 25
BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Powerful feelings should be directed into the appropriate channels. Do not let outsized ambitions or minor jealousies interfere with your serenity in the week to come. Focus on inspired methods to make your dreams come true.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A cool and calculating mind will find all the angles. You might be particularly talented at handling details today. You could avoid a lot of trouble by asking key questions and refusing to move on until you receive the answer.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It could be wise to avoid temptations in the week ahead. You may be better off using your skills to help others and improve circumstances. Make it a point to play it clean and your reputation can become ever more spotless.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): If you spend more time with friends or participate in group gatherings you may be less likely to lose sight of your purpose in the upcoming week. Loved ones and close companions could trigger a fight or flight mechanism.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) : It may be possible to keep a loved one close without smothering them. Possessiveness could become slightly problematic in the week ahead or you could be tempted to take drastic steps to express your feelings.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) : You may need to move outside your comfort zone to properly work the room. There are people out there who need to know you, so don’t be shy. Let them know how you could work together and make everyone a winner.
By America’s Test Kitchen
