2025-03-15 - The Southern Ocean Times

Times SOUTHERN OCEAN

St.HappyPatricks Day

Born In Middle Of Vietnam War, Coach Of The Year Shares Her Story Buying Land For Recreation Questioned

By Stephanie Faughnan BARNEGAT – At Barnegat High School, Girls Basketball Coach

Tammy Nicolini’s impact goes far beyond the numbers on the scoreboard. Recently named Coach of the Year B South All-Division, Tammy knows what it means to have someone believe in her, and she teaches her student athletes to do their best. Her unwavering belief in her players’ potential stems from her own extraordinary journey to living the American dream.

Tammy’s story began on January 3, 1968, when she was born amidst the chaos of the Vietnam War in the Quang-Nam Province. Her father, Charles “Chuck” Hoff, a US Marine Staff Sergeant, served three tours in Vietnam.

“My birth mother died during the Vietnam War,” Tammy explained, her voice tinged with emotion.

(Coach - See Page 4)

US Marine Staff Sergeant, visited his daughter at the orphanage as regularly as he could until he was able to bring her home.

Health Departments Monitoring Bird Flu

By Judy Smestad-Nunn

OCEAN COUNTY – Five dead waterfowl - four gulls and one duck - were recently discovered on a small sandy beach in a residential neighborhood off Kettle Creek, and while it’s not unusual to see an occasional dead bird on the beach, residents were concerned because of the threat of H5N1 bird flu. The NJ Department of Environmental

(Bird

- See Page 8)

By Stephanie Faughnan

STAFFORD – Two key ordinances were passed at the most recent Township Council meeting that pave the way for Stafford to purchase land adjacent to the Olive Garden on Campbell Boulevard. One proposes bonding for the property at $5.5 million, while the other authorizes the mayor to fi nalize the purchase. The governing body intends to use the property for recreational purposes.

“At this point, we’re still working through something called a Phase One report that has to get done,” said Township Administrator Matthew von der Hayden. “We’re waiting for the Phase One report to come back so the township engineer can review it and provide a recommendation to the governing body regarding the purchase.”

The land is currently owned by Stafford Property Urban Renewal, a division of the Walters Group, and the proposed purchase has ignited a debate about the township’s past redevelopment agreements. Some pointed out that the land was once sold from the township to the Walters Group as part of a larger parcel – for just $1. However, local officials quickly point out the investments made by the developer to increase its value.

From Landfi ll To

Recreation

The site in question, along with the broader Stafford Park area, has a complex history. Originally, it was the Recovery Road Landfill,

(Recreation - See Page 5)

Sherrill Wins County Democrats’ Mini-Convention

By Stephanie Faughnan

secured the most votes at the Ocean County Democrats’ mini-convention at Central Regional High School. However, she did not meet the majority threshold required to receive the or-

ganization’s endorsement in the June 10 primary for New Jersey governor. Sherrill received 63 votes (38.4%), followed by Stephen Sweeney with 31 votes (18.9%), Ras Baraka with 26 votes (15.8%), Steven Fulop (Sherrill - See Page 14)

Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn Four dead birds were found on Brick’s Bay Beach recently.

Flu

Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Mikie Sherrill won the Ocean County Democratic Mini-convention with 38.4% of the vote.

OCEAN COUNTY –Mikie Sherrill

Photos courtesy Tammy Nicolini (Left) Tammy meets her adoptive mother, Priscilla Hoff, for the first time as she and her father get off the plane at Philadelphia International Airport. (Right) Charles Hoff, a

Photo by Stephanie Faughnan (Above) Barnegat High School Girls Basketball Coach Tammy Nicolini has been named Coach of the Year B South All-Division.

Coach:

Continued From Page 1

“There was a grenade that went off, and she died protecting me.”

With no immediate way to care for his daughter, Chuck had some painful decisions to make. He first needed to tell his wife back home of Tammy’s birth. His only alternative was to write her a letter with the news.

A staggering estimate from the United States Institute of Peace suggests up to 500,000 children were born to foreign soldiers and Vietnamese women during the war. A 2023 report, “Transforming the Legacy of Children Born of War in Vietnam,” estimates that many fathers, burdened by war trauma, abandoned their children.

Charles Francis Hoff, a decorated Marine who earned three Purple Hearts, was not one of them. With no immediate way to take Tammy out of the country, he placed his daughter in the Sacred Heart orphanage in Da Nang, a sanctuary for many Amerasian children.

The stark reality of war couldn’t keep Chuck from his daughter. He regularly visited Tammy at the orphanage, a memory etched in the mind of a Sacred Heart nun who witnessed his dedication on her first birthday. During his third tour, Chuck finally gained clearance to return home with Tammy, who was 13 months old. His wife, Priscilla, back in the States with their older child, eagerly anticipated their reunion.

“Bring her back here,” Priscilla had responded after learning of Tammy’s birth. “Because if you don’t, she won’t survive.”

Priscilla and her new daughter met for the first time at Philadelphia International Airport in February of 1969. From that moment until her passing 24 years ago, Priscilla never treated Tammy any differently than her three biological children.

Growing up in the 1970s, a time when interracial families were far less common, Tammy experienced firsthand her mother’s unwavering love and fierce protection.

“People would ask, ‘Wait, you’ve got all these white kids and this little Asian girl?’” recounted Tammy. “And my mother would simply respond that I was her daughter – that I was hers.” This resolute stance ensured Tammy never felt anything other than a fully accepted and cherished member of the Hoff family.

Tammy proudly recalls her father’s military service in a war that left lasting scars. During one harrowing moment, Chuck’s unit was ambushed by Viet Cong while attempting to evacuate via helicopter. Many of his fellow Marines were killed in the attack. Hoff, who suffered injuries from the fall, survived only by playing dead as enemy soldiers checked the bodies. It was just one of three incidents that earned him a Purple Heart.

“He would always say to me all the time, and I can remember this from being a little girl: the best thing that ever happened in that war was you,” Tammy said.

Tammy has never been to Vietnam since the day Chuck brought her home to be with the rest of their family. “I wanted to go back with my dad, but my father would never go back there. The memories were just too

horrible for him.”

Charles Francis Hoff passed away four years ago, leaving behind a heroic legacy.

Joining The Barnegat Community

While her parents ultimately divorced, Tammy learned the power of acceptance and love. She shares a close connection with her two sisters, a bond that extends to her memories of her late brother.

Notably, Tammy’s life has been shaped by three significant women: her birth mother, who initially saved her life; Priscilla, who raised her as her own; and Linda, her stepmother, who later became a vital part of Tammy’s family when Chuck remarried.

Tammy’s first home in the United States was in Keansburg before the family settled in Barnegat. Tammy graduated from Southern Regional High School in 1986, before the opening of Barnegat High School, and later earned her degree from Rowan University in 1994. During her time at Southern Regional, Tammy was an active athlete, participating in various sports, including three years on the basketball team. There, she met her high school sweetheart, Jim Nicolini, whom she ultimately married. Together, they raised three daughters: Bianca, Michaela, and Priscilla.

Her time on the court and her passion for sports extended beyond her own playing days. “I coached in the community when my kids were little,” Tammy shared. “I have a love for sports. When my parents divorced, it was my saving grace. You can only control certain things in your life, and it’s really important to be part of something

bigger than you, knowing that you can’t control everything.”

Building More Than Basketball Players

At Barnegat High School, Coach Nicolini’s girls’ basketball team isn’t just winning games but also learning important life lessons. “I always tell the kids the goal is to not let them settle for what they think they’re able to do,” she explained.

“I tell them I’m going to push them to the point where I know I’m going to take them out of their box and comfort zone,” Tammy continued. “I let them know I am going to push them to things they didn’t think they were capable of doing. I let them know they are capable of being the best.”

Her dedication has yielded impressive results. This year’s team has shattered records, claiming the B South title. “We went 20 and nine in the season, the first time in Barnegat’s girls’ basketball history to do that,” she added. “We won the big game in the quarter finals against a team who went eight straight years in the semifinals. It was just big all the way around.”

Tammy wasn’t the only one to receive state recognition for Barnegat’s Girls’ Basketball team. Emma Thorton was named B-South All-Division Player of the Year and broke a record in girls and boys basketball with 1,585 points and 1,400 rebounds. Zemirah Enalls and Riley Fitzpatrick were First Team All-Division selections, while Madysen Plescho made Third Team All-Division, and Sydney Collins received Honorable Mention.

(Coach - See Page 8)

Recreation:

Continued From Page 1

ordered closed by the Department of Environmental Protection in 1981 and officially shut down in 1983. The potential cleanup and capping of the landfill posed a significant fi nancial burden on the township, with estimates ranging from $20 million to $45 million.

Faced with these costs, Stafford entered into a redevelopment agreement with the Walters Group. This agreement led to the transformation of the landfill into Stafford Park, a mixed-use development that includes commercial spaces, housing units, and infrastructure improvements. The Walters Group dismantled and rebuilt a water storage tank, paid for traffic control measures, built a substation and park, as well as constructed a solar farm on the property.

Discussions with the Walters Group began as early as 2004, with Stafford Business Park breaking ground in 2007. A 2010 agreement allowed for residential construction. Documents from 2006 and 2007 outline resolutions for tax exemptions related to the construction of affordable housing units within Stafford Park Apartments.

At the March 4 Town Council meeting, Mayor Robert Henken emphasized that the land acquisition aligns with residents’ desire for more recreational opportunities and the preservation of the town’s character.

However, former Councilman Paul

Krier strongly opposed the purchase, citing the land’s history and the redevelopment agreement with the Walters Group. He argued that the township is essentially repurchasing land it sold for $1, a move he deemed fiscally irresponsible.

“What makes the newest acquisition even more offensive is that it proposes that Stafford taxpayers pay five and a half million dollars for land that the township previously owned and sold to the Walters Group for $1 because it was part of the redevelopment,” Krier stated.

Krier also criticized the PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) agreement with the Walters Group, claiming it resulted in significant tax breaks for the developer and increased the tax burden on residents.

“Marketing documents from within management indicate that presently, Stafford Park shopping center receives 3.4 million visits per year,” said Krier. “Hundreds of housing units have been built. Recreation areas have been developed, and there have been substantial improvements in the infrastructure, including the landfill closure and the solar project.”

Krier added that completion of the Stafford Park project, as originally planned and intended, would provide for substantial revenue and jobs for the township. However, according to van der Hayden, the seventh and most recent amendment to the redevelopment plan shows the developer has completed all

projects save for five homes. This does not include past reports that the Walters Group intended to build a two-sheet ice rink on the property at one time.

Barbara Crystal, a former mayoral candidate, echoed Krier’s concerns, highlighting the township’s existing debt and questioning the transparency of the land purchase. Holding a document she said she received from former Councilman George Williams, Crystal said the township was about $117 million in debt as of December 31, 2024. She said that with this much debt Stafford should not be adding the $5.5 million bond purchase for property it formerly owned and sold to the Walters Group.

“Was an appraisal of the land conducted to confirm that the two lots were truly worth $5.5 million?” asked Crystal. “Did this governing body negotiate with the seller to obtain a lower price for the land?”

Von der Hayden said that an appraisal done on the land came in at $5,460,000 and the letter of intent for the purchase price was issued at $5,380,000. The additional bond funding for a total of $5.5 million accounts for other costs associated with the sale.

The township maintains an open space fund that is currently being used to pay off the Doc Cramer field. Once Doc Cramer is paid off in seven years, the plan is to use the open space fund to pay off the bond for acquisition of the new recreational use property.

Assemblyman Greg Myhre, a former

Stafford mayor, defended the purchase, arguing that the price is fair given the scarcity of available land in the township. He emphasized the potential to create valuable recreational facilities.

“Good luck trying to get 20 acres anywhere in New Jersey for that price, particularly out of town, that is useful for everybody,” Myhre said. “I understand it’s mostly going to be for recreation, almost exclusively. I think you have to take advantage of an opportunity, and I think you are getting it for a fair price.”

How Will The Land Be Used?

Residents, including Southern Regional High School student Jared Baker, advocated for the construction of a skate park, emphasizing its benefits for youth and the community.

“A skate park is more than just ramps and rails,” Jared said. “It’s a place for creative exercise and community building. We lack dedicated space for skateboarding, BMX riders and scooter enthusiasts. It’s time to change that.”

Once the township acquires the land from the Walters Group, officials intend to host a workshop to gather community input on the types of recreational amenities residents desire. Suggestions such as a skate park have already been proposed.

“The idea is to get to do a workshop to get input from the community as to what they would like to see,” von der Hayden said. “And then work to put a plan in place.”

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S POTLIGHT O N G OVERNMENT

Correspondence & Commentary From Your Local, County, State & Federal Officials

Murphy’s Proposed Tax Increases Will Cost More Th an $1 Billion

Assembly Budget Committee Member

Brian Rumpf

TRENTON - Assembly Budget Committee

member Brian Rumpf criticized Gov. Phil Murphy’s budget address delivered before a joint session of the Legislature for claiming to make New Jersey more affordable when it has become significantly less affordable.

“The middle class in New Jersey is continu-

ally nickel-and-dimed by tax increases that takes money out of people’s pockets,” said Rumpf (R-Ocean). “These tax hikes are regressive. Paychecks are lower and bills are higher, the price of goods keeps going up and finances are becoming a bigger concern for people and their families across the state.”

Murphy’s budget will raise taxes by nearly $1.1 billion, listed below. However, he has adopted a Republican proposal to exempt baby products such as cribs and strollers from sales taxes.

FY26 Tax Increases

Tax

Participatory Sports

Interior Design Vehicle Trade-Ins

Digital Services

Second-Hand Airplane Sales

Complimentary Accommodations

Horse Training

Removing Sales Tax Cap on Boats

Taxes on Property Sales over $1 million

Cigarette Tax Increase from $2.70 to $3

Liquid Nicotine from 10 cents mL to 30 cents per mL

Container E-Liquid from 10% to 30%

Beer, Wine, Liquor and Cider 10% increase

Internet Gaming from 13% up to 25%

Online Sports Wagering from 15% up to 25%

$2 Truck Traffic Excise Fee on Warehouses

Drone Tax

Marijuana Per Ounce Taxes from $2.50 to $15 Cost

Intoxicating Hemp Products Tax $30 Per Ounce Firearm Fee Increases and New Excise Taxes

Exempting Certain Baby Products from Sales Taxes

Total

$277 million $317 million

$41 million

$10 million

$18.5 million

$322.6 million

$20 million

$5 million

$70 million

$7.8 million

($7.5 million)

$1.0814 Billion

Bill Would Strengthen Protections, Restore Intent Of Federal Religious Freedom Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker reintroduced the Do No Harm Act, which will restore the original intent of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), and prohibit individuals and businesses from using religion to deny others’ civil rights. Companion legislation was reintroduced in the House by Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government Ranking Member Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), and Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-09).

The legislation comes amid a sharp rise in the misapplication of RFRA to justify discrimination in a wide range of scenarios.

The Trump Administration is poised to supercharge the misapplication of RFRA through executive actions. For example, on February 7, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14205 titled “Establishment of the White House Faith Office” directing the White House Faith Office to support federal agencies in providing training and education on the availability of religious exemptions.

The Do No Harm Act limits the use of RFRA in cases involving discrimination, child labor and abuse, wages and collective bargaining, access to health care, public accommodations, and social services provided through government contracts.

“Freedom of religion is one of our country’s founding principles, but freely exercising one’s faith does not create the right to deny another person of their civil liberties,” said Senator Booker. “The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) was never meant to create a loophole for discrimination. The Do No Harm Act is critical legislation that will restore the careful balance of the First Amendment and RFRA’s original intent by ensuring that religious beliefs cannot be used to deny people of their right to live free from

discrimination.

“When Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993, it was intended to protect religious exercise - not to erode civil rights under the guise of religious freedom. Regrettably, we have seen RFRA repeatedly used to attack civil rights protections, deny access to health care, and allow discrimination in federal contracts and programs,” said Ranking Member Scott. “The Do No Harm Act simply provides that RFRA cannot be used to limit access to health care, deny services supported by taxpayer dollars, or undermine the Civil Rights Act or other anti-discrimination protections. Congress must take this critical step to ensure no one can weaponize religious freedom to erode our fundamental civil and legal rights.”

“Our constitutional right to worship freely is not a right to violate the civil rights of other people,” said Ranking Member Raskin. “That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Do No Harm Act, a bill which will make sure that we respect the universal free exercise of religion but that no one can turn it into a weapon against other people’s equality and freedom.”

“The free exercise of religious beliefs is one of our country’s founding principles,” said Congresswoman Scanlon. “But religious freedom laws are increasingly being weaponized to justify discrimination and undermine civil rights protections. I’m proud to introduce the Do No Harm Act to restore the chronically misused Religious Freedom Restoration Act to its original intent – which is to provide protections for religious exercise while ensuring that RFRA is not used to erode civil rights under the guise of religious freedom.”

“Civil rights grow. We can enforce and protect one person’s rights without sacrificing another’s. And in so doing, we can apply our laws to expand the rights of all. We don’t need to pit one group against another,” said Congressman Cohen. “The Do No Harm Act advances the original intent of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and corrects the courts’ misguided interpretations that have allowed the religious rights of some to be used to undermine the civil rights of others. I’m pleased to join Congressman Scott in this effort.”

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.

Senator Cory Booker Capitol Comments

P.O. Box 521, Lakehurst, NJ 08733 • Phone: 732-657-7344 • Fax: 732-657-7388 email: news@jerseyshoreonline.com • jerseyshoreonline.com

MANCHESTER TIMES • BERKELEY TIMES • BRICK TIMES

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President & Publisher Stew Swann Vice President/COO Jason Allentoff

News Editor Chris Lundy Assistant News Editor Bob Vosseller

Production Manager Allison Gradzki Graphic Artist Julia Wilkens

Distribution Manager Laura Hoban Sales Manager Lorrie Toscano

Bird Flu:

Continued From Page 1

Protection (DEP) said that the ongoing nationwide bird flu outbreak is primarily an animal health issue that poses low risk to humans, but have issued a public health advisory urging residents to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and report any unusual wildlife deaths to their hotline at 877-927-6337.

Avian influenza, or “bird flu” is a respiratory disease in birds, which can be carried and spread by wild birds such as shorebirds, but may show no signs of illness. However, the disease can kill domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese.

According to the NJ DEP, the mortality rate for bird flu in chickens can be as high as 100%, often within 48 hours. The disease affects the internal organs of poultry producing a gastrointestinal infection, resulting in birds dying of diarrhea along with respiratory distress.

There is a relatively low risk of spreading avian flu to humans through eating eggs because the birds who become sick make them unlikely to lay an egg that makes it into the food chain.

Egg prices in NJ have skyrocketed due to the nationwide outbreak of H5N1 that has killed millions of chickens and has created a shortage of eggs, causing prices to rise.

According to Ocean County Board of Health Public Information Officer Brian Lippai, there have been no cases in NJ of bird flu in humans, and only one suspected case of the disease of a hawk in Ocean County, which is currently being confi rmed by the NJ DEP.

“Bird flu is around, it’s been around - it’s

Coach: Continued From Page 4

Honoring Vietnam Veterans

As the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon approaches, Tammy has agreed to share her remarkable journey at Barnegat’s 2025 Vietnam War Veterans Day event on March 28, 2025, at 3 p.m. The event will be somewhat of a home game for her. However, instead of coaching from the sidelines of the Barnegat High School gym, Tammy will be center court. Thy Cavagnaro, a Vietnamese refugee and the driving force behind the event has dedicated years to honoring the sacrifices of those who served and those displaced by the conflict. Her mission stems from a desire to express gratitude for her family’s support in achieving the American dream and to rectify the lack of appreciation many veterans experienced upon their return. Each year, Cavagnaro curates a program that illuminates the multifaceted experiences of the Vietnam War.

This year’s keynote speaker, Commander Hugh Doyle, brings a remarkable story of heroism and humanitarianism. Featured in documentaries like “The Lucky Few,” Doyle served as Chief Engineer on

not that it’s anything new - it’s something that happens, and it’s rearing its head right now,” he said. “It started out in a bunch of states out west and we’re having a bunch of cases here that started in late 2024 across New York and the tri-state region.”

There was one confi rmed case of bird flu in a feral cat in Hunterdon County in recent weeks, which was traced back to eating cat food containing raw chicken.

When Lippai was asked about the possible transmission of bird flu from bird feeders, he said the state health department “hasn’t gone that far yet, to say everybody remove your bird feeder,” unless waterfowl also use the birdfeeder. “So that’s good news,” he said. Songbirds, like robins, cardinals and sparrows, are not usually infected with bird flu viruses that are dangerous to poultry.

The people who are most susceptible to catching H5N1 are those who work in the poultry industry, or work around dairy cows, he said, since the virus can spread between the infected birds and cows through contaminated equipment, or by people who have been in contact with infected birds.

“There’s a lot of backyard poultry owners who live in Ocean County - you see a lot of chickens in peoples’ backyards - so those folks we’re really trying to get the message out to practice safe biohazard practices,” Lippai said.

Meanwhile, do not approach or touch any sick or dying birds, and if you fi nd one, leave it there. If you want to get rid of it, Lippai said he strongly encourages the use of protective equipment, including gloves and a mask, and double-bag the dead bird and put it into a trash receptacle that is inaccessible to wild animals, such as raccoons.

For the latest information on H5N1 outbreaks visit cdc.gov/bird-fl u/prevention

the USS Kirk, a ship that played a critical role in the evacuation of Vietnamese refugees during the fall of Saigon. The USS Kirk’s extraordinary efforts, including accommodating sixteen helicopters on a deck designed for one and its subsequent escort of South Vietnamese Navy ships to safety, have been recognized as the US Navy’s greatest humanitarian mission. Notably, one of the escorted ships, the Chi Lang II, carried Cavagnaro’s family to freedom.

LBI resident Khai Le, a former 1st Lieutenant in the Infantry Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) will share his harrowing experiences. A graduate of the US Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA, Le was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Communist re-education camps for five years following the fall of Saigon. Alongside these compelling narratives, the event will include honor guards and participation from local students, ensuring that the lessons of the Vietnam War are passed on to future generations. Historically, Barnegat’s Vietnam War Veterans Day celebrations have been one of the most well-attended veteran events in the community since they began in 2018.

C OMMUNITY N EWS

Save LBI Continues Fight Vs. Windmills

BEACH HAVEN – Save Long Beach Island (Save LBI), the non-partisan watchdog group formed in 2021 to protect the ocean and New Jersey Shore communities from the destructive impacts of offshore wind, announced that, while it is gratified by the collapse of the controversial Atlantic Shores South projects, the organization will remain vigilant and continue the fight to ensure that these projects and the Atlantic Shores North project are canceled and never return.

The controversial plan to erect 200 wind turbines as close as 8.7 miles off the coast of southern Long Beach Island (LBI), Brigantine, and Atlantic City, began unraveling on January 30 when Shell New Energies, which owns 50 percent of Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, announced that it would write off a billion-dollar loss and step away from the projects. The announcement came just 17 days after Save LBI filed a comprehensive federal lawsuit against the projects alleging noncompliance with five laws. Four days later, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) refused to award significant additional rate subsidies that Atlantic Shores had requested to fund the projects.

“This is a major victory for shore values, communities, and common sense,” said Bob Stern, president and co-founder of Save LBI in a letter thanking supporters. “But there is also unfi nished business here to ensure that these projects, or similar ones, never reappear, and that the flawed Federal and State processes and impact assessment methods that carried such a costly and damaging project this far are fundamentally changed.” Stern identified several areas in which Save LBI will continue its fight to permanently end Atlantic Shores South and Atlantic Shores North, including the passage of federal legislation to remove investment tax credits and other incentives for offshore wind under the Inflation Reduction Act and

the cancellation of the two wind lease areas.

“We have written to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary [Douglas] Burgum suggesting that, and will be filing a formal petition asking for cancellation,” Stern said.

“Our recent federal lawsuit provides ample justification for such cancellation.”

Save LBI will also seek to overturn prior project approvals through its ongoing litigation - which if granted, would set a precedent for other cases — and continue its longstanding campaign to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale by filing a petition with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a safe migration corridor along the East Coast. That petition, which asks NOAA to designate the corridor as critical habitat, will demonstrate that the Atlantic Shores projects and other offshore wind projects in these sensitive areas would seriously impede or block whale migration.

“We will ask that all wind projects be excluded from that critical habitat corridor,” Stern said.

Finally, Stern welcomed the new administration’s review of the leasing and permitting practices for all offshore wind projects and urged everyone involved with Atlantic Shores South to “reflect on how a project with virtually no benefit, high cost, and significant environmental damage proceeded so far.” Our work on this over the last few years showed that the entire process of site selection and project review was fundamentally flawed.

“We will continue our efforts to inform the public, the media, and our elected representatives as to the true costs and impacts of these projects, suggest major improvements for the leasing, environmental review, and fi nancing practices used, and offer constructive alternative energy supply options to keep the lights on,” Stern concluded.

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Barnegat Town Wide Yard Sale

BARNEGAT – Barnegat Township’s town wide yard sale will be on April 26 and 27 beginning at 9 a.m.

Cost is $10. Make checks payable to the Ro-

tary Club of Barnegat Charitable Foundation. The last day to register is April 17. Find the registration form on the Rotary Club’s Facebook page: facebook.com/BarnegatRotary.

Seed Swap

BARNEGAT – Bring your old seeds to the Seed Swap hosted by the Barnegat High School Environmental Club on March 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free entry. Bring your old seed to swap, or make a small donation and take what you need.

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SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADVOCATE TRAINING

Are you an Ocean County resident who is interested in supporting survivors of sexual violence? Our no cost 40-hour training will certify you to advocate for people who have experienced sexual violence. Once trained, you will be on call to provide crisis intervention, educational information, and resources to survivors. All potential advocates encouraged to apply. Bilingual advocates needed.

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Classes will be held at our St. Francis Toms River location: 1258 NJ-166, Toms River, NJ 08753

Southern Regional Athletics Place At NJSIAA

MANAHAWKIN –

Congratulations, Southern Regional Athletics at NJSIAA Events, from February 28 through March 2.

At the Indoor Track Meet of Champions, Cole Cramer wins 55m dash to take home the gold medal. The Girls 4x400 relay team of Emma Ortiz, Adrianna Zitzner, Carly Murray, and Isabella Millard ran a season best 4:03.46 to fi nish 14th overall in the State of New Jersey.

At the Wrestling Region VII Tournament, the Rams have seven individuals qualifying for the State Individual Tournament in Atlantic City. 1st Place: Anthony Mason 113lbs Scottie Sari 132lbs. Attila Vilgilante 144lbs Wyatt Stout 157lbs

Levi Foote 190lbs

3rd Place: Cade Collins 106lbs

Noah Fontana 150lbs

Congratulations, student athletes and coaches. continued success!

To apply and schedule an interview, please contact: Cheryl Fuller, MSW at cfuller@stfrancislbi.org or 609-494-1554

Southern Regional Athletics Participate In Read Across America Day

MANAHAWKIN –Thank you Stafford School District on allowing Southern Regional Athletics to read to your students for Dr. Seuss “Read Across America Day” on March 3. Thank you, Ocean Acres and PLC Schools. Also, thank you to both school district’s Board of Education and administration for supporting the event.

Photo courtesy Southern Regional

Theater Company Presents “The Addams Family”

LACEY – Lacey Township High School Theatre Company Proudly Presents, “The Addams Family” Spring Musical. Show dates are March 27, 28, & 29 at 7

p.m. and March 30 at 2 p.m. Order your tickets online and choose your exact seat. Purchase tickets at: Lthsdrama.Booktix. net.

Photo courtesy Southern Regional

C OMMUNITY N EWS

Historical Societies Share Stories

STAFFORD – Stafford Historical Society would like to take the time to thank their hosts Karen Larson and Reilly Sharp for an incredible evening of local history and friendship across the bridge!

Stafford and Barnegat Light Historical Societies came together on February 26 for a fieldtrip. They toured their museum, shared

lots of local history and heard countless stories. They even got a visit from our favorite former student of the one room schoolhouse, Manahawkin resident and Barnegat Light native Cassie Montgomery Glascock.

If you couldn’t make it, be sure to make time to visit and support the museum this summer, it’s an experience you won’t forget!

Ocean Township Police Junior Police Academy

WARETOWN – This year the Ocean Township Police Department Community Policing Unit will once again be hosting their annual Junior Police Academy!

The Ocean Township Junior Police Academy is not a “boot camp” for troubled youth, but a camp designed to operate like an actual police academy. You do not have to want to be a police officer to enjoy this camp! The objective of the Junior Police Academy is to educate the recruits with various police procedures, history of law enforcement and familiarization with numerous specialty units within the law enforcement field such as Police K-9, Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.), Traffic Safety, Haz-Mat and Emergency Management, Motorcycle Patrol, Bicycle Patrol and Criminal Investigations to name a few. The curriculum will consist of educational activities as well as physical training.

Those wishing to participate in the Junior Police Academy must:

Must be a current 4th, 5th or 6th grade student.

Must be eager to learn and participate

Applications are available on the township website, but can also be picked up at police headquarters at 50 Railroad Avenue. The cost to attend the academy is $100, which can be paid in cash, or by check made out the Township of Ocean (Please refer to the application for instructions). Payment is due at the time you return the application to police headquarters, and they only have 50 spots available so please do not hesitate to sign up!

For any questions regarding the Junior academy, contact police dispatch at 609693-4007, or contact Cpl. Michael Cicero at mcicero@twpoceannj.gov.

Vacation Club 2025

LONG BEACH – Give your child the best summer ever! Vacation Club 2025 is here for children ages 4 to 13 (Pre-K to 6), offering an unforgettable summer experience! New this year, we’re excited to introduce a Preschool Summer Camp for ages 4 to 5. Registration opens on March 24 at 4 p.m. at the St. Francis Community Center. Enrollment is only open to Ocean County residents, and proof of residency is required,

including a child’s current report card and a parent’s ID. The child must have attended an Ocean County school during the current school year.

Limited spots are available, so be sure to register early! Children must be potty trained to participate.

Don’t miss out on an amazing summer! Learn more at stfranciscenterlbi.org/ vacationclub.

Photo courtesy Stafford Historical Society

Local Pets Available For Adoption

LACEY – The Associated Humane Society shelter at the Popcorn Park Zoo has pets available for adoption.

Meet Houston, a beautiful 5-year-old girl who deserves a chance at a better life. While she’s been making great strides here at the shelter, she needs more than we can always give in this busy environment. That’s why we’re looking for a rescue or dedicated foster to help her reach her full potential!

Houston is a smart and loving dog, but she needs someone willing to work with her and continue her training. She can be a little possessive over her toys, and we want to set her up for success in her forever home.

With the right guidance, she will thrive - but she needs a calm, structured environment to continue learning.

To give Houston the best chance, she must be the only pet in the home. She has already made amazing progress, but a foster or rescue stepping up would truly change her life. Can you be the one to help Houston on her journey? If you can foster, rescue, or want more information, please reach out today! Let’s get this sweet girl into the home she deserves.

Call 609-693-1900, visit ahscares.org/ forked-river-adoptables or email: office@ ahsppz.org for an adoption application.

Gentle Fitness Chair Exercise Class With Jess

MANAHAWKIN – Gentle Fitness is a light workout that will be performed within arm’s reach of a chair or seated in a chair.

Classes include resistance training with small handheld dumbbells, weight bearing cardiovascular exercises, balance exercises, flexibility and range of motion exercises to help reduce arthritis symptoms.

Small exercise balls will be provided. Please bring handheld dumbbells appro-

priately 1 to 5 pounds each or 2 full water bottles to use as dumbbells. Remember your drinking water too!

Gentle Fitness will take place on Tuesdays at 11:45 a.m. at Jennings Road Recreation Building, 385 Jennings Road, Manahawkin. Cost is $15 pay as you go or $100 for 10 classes.

Email JessicaKathryn13@hotmail.com for additional information.

Community Wide Clean Up

LITTLE EGG HARBOR – Little Egg Harbor’s Environmental Commission is calling all volunteers for the Community Wide Clean Up on April 19. Clean up begins at 9 a.m. at the Municipal Building. Volunteer yourself or a group. Volunteer hours/community service earned.

Lunch served immediately following at the community center. All volunteers will receive a tree to take home and plant in honor of Arbor Day.

To register, visit tinyurl.com/53svjb7y. For more information please email: EC@ leht.com.

Photo courtesy AHS

C OMMUNITY N EWS

Basketball Student Scores 1,000 th Career Point

NOTICE OF MEETING FOR THE BOARD OF SCHOOL ESTIMATE OF THE OCEAN COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the meeting of the Board of School Estimate of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School District is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 3:00 p.m., in the Ocean County Administration Building, 101 Hooper Avenue, Room 304, Toms River, New Jersey, for the purpose of reviewing and approving the proposed budget for the Ocean County Vocational Technical School District for the 2025-2026 school year.

Formal action will be taken at this meeting.

Stephen J. Brennan, CPA, MBA Secretary, Board of School Estimate

Photo courtesy Southern Regional MANAHAWKIN – Congratulations, Southern Boys Basketball player Jake Sliwinski, on scoring his 1,000 th career point in the Rams, 1st round NJSIAA playoff victory 63-53 vs Pennsauken on February 27.

Sherrill:

Continued From Page 1 with 23 votes (14.0%), and Sean Spiller with 21 votes (12.8%).

Ocean County Democratic Chairman Wyatt Earp said he received a message from Josh Gottheimer that he was unable to make the event. His name was removed from the ballot per convention rules. Fulop’s name was also eliminated from the ballot at his request, although his supporters decided to write him in as their choice for governor.

Fulop has put together a team throughout the state with state assembly candidates that plan to run together under the slogan “Democrats for Change.” He and the five chosen to represent districts that include Ocean County appeared at the convention. However, Fulop left before the start of speeches and voting. During preliminary remarks, Earp said that he had received communication from Fulop and his attorney requesting the removal of his name and four assembly candidates from the ballot.

“We’re dismayed to learn that the state assembly, senate and governor signed legislation diminishing the ability for good candidates from participating in primary elections by setting up artificial barriers for a number of petition signatures, and another attempt to design a ballot in ways that favor the democratic machine,” read Earp.

“The legislation creates artificial barriers for good candidates by increasing

petition signature requirements and allowing ballot designs that favor the political establishment,” Fulop’s letter stated.

In a separate letter distributed to Ocean County committee members, Fulop described his campaign as “unapologetically about reforming government but also changing and improving the political process in New Jersey.” Without naming specific counties, Fulop criticized party leadership’s influence over election outcomes, arguing that it fosters a system where elected officials are more accountable to party bosses than voters.

The names removed included Fulop, along with LD-9 candidates Donald Campbell and Rosalie Keech, and LD10 candidates Phil Nufrio and Debra Di Donato. However, Freshta Taeb, a candidate in LD-12 who is also part of Fulop’s team, was not named in the letter. She was allowed to join the other candidates listed on the mini-convention ballot to speak before the official vote took place. Taeb confirmed that she intends to continue as part of the “Democrats for Change” team.

Candidates Recommended

While the mini-convention’s results do not determine ballot placement, they serve as a recommendation for candidates to run under the regular Democratic slogan. The following candidates were unopposed and endorsed by the convention:

• LD-9: Lisa Bennett

• LD-10: Janine Bauer, Pam Daniels

• LD-12: Freshta Taeb

• LD-30: Avi Schnall

• Ocean County Sheriff: Jeff Horn

• Ocean County Commissioners: Art Halloran, Brandon Rose

• Ocean County Clerk: Sam Pinkava

“This is the first time we’re casting a vote since the county line was eliminated last year,” Earp noted during the convention.

Michael Jenkins, president of the Lacey Democratic Club, sought clarification on the vote’s significance.

“You’re voting that it will be on record if the Ocean County Democrats pick a candidate - that’s who we support on record,” Earp explained. “It will be the recommendation to use our slogan, which is the regular Democratic slogan.”

Election Changes

Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation recently requiring an office-block format for primary ballots. The county line system, which previously allowed party leaders in most counties to group endorsed candidates together, will no longer be used. Instead, candidates running for the same office will now be listed together, making the ballot more neutral.

The reform follows a lawsuit filed by then-Congressman and now Senator Andy Kim, who successfully challenged the county line system while running

for U.S. Senate. In 2024, a federal judge ruled in Kim’s favor, leading to an appeals court upholding the decision. The new law cements this change statewide.

Party Unity

Mikie Sherrill, Sean Spiller, and Stephen Sweeney delivered speeches ahead of the vote, while Orange Mayor Dwayne D. Warren spoke on behalf of Ras Baraka. All cited their experience as elected officials and their motivation for seeking the governor’s seat. Earp emphasized party unity in his closing remarks. “Just to be very, very clear, there is no way that in this state we can afford to have a Republican governor,” he said. “I know each and every one of these candidates personally, and I’d be happy if any of them were the nominee in November.”

Sherrill (D-11th), a Navy veteran and former federal prosecutor, focused her speech on national political challenges. “I do not recognize what’s going on in Washington, D.C., right now,” she said. “People are afraid of Trump, afraid to stand up, and it’s harming our country.” She pointed to her experience flipping a Republican-held congressional district in 2018 as proof that she can build a winning coalition in November. “I was told I couldn’t do it, that a 20-year incumbent was too powerful, but I refused to give up,” Sherrill said. “We need to bring together grassroots progressives, unions, and voters who’ve lost faith in government. That’s how we win.”

H ERE ’ S T O Y OUR H EALTH Dr. Izzy’s

Sound News

Presented By: Isidore Kirsh, Ph.D., F.A.A.A. (N.J. Lic. #678)

My Hearing Aid Is Dead Again It’s The Stupid Wax Guard!

Hearing aids can stop working for a variety of reasons. The most common cause is build-up in the wax guard. 99% of all hearing instruments have a white wax guard that is typically replaced by you or the hearing care professional. The wax guard protects the receiver of the hearing aid from getting clogged. If you fail to clean your hearing aids on a daily basis, the wax guard could potentially get clogged within a week. You should either clean the wax guard with a soft dry toothbrush or use Audio wipes. With custom hearing aids that are molded to your ears, the wax guard can easily be cleaned and replaced. For those of you that wear receiver in the canal hearing aids, you would typically have to remove the rubber dome to clean the wax guard and replace it. Make sure when you put the dome back on the receiver, that it’s properly secure or the dome may get lodged into your ear and you may not be able to remove it. If you are religiously replacing the wax

guard every week, it is more than likely that you have a significant amount of ear wax which should be removed by either your PCP or ENT. If you replace the wax guard and/or dome and the hearing aid is still not working, you should make an appointment with your hearing care professional.

In summary, make sure you clean your hearing aid on daily basis with a soft dry toothbrush. Consider purchasing Audio wipes from your hearing care professional which is a “non-alcohol” based wipe. These are extremely valuable for removing wax from the fi lter or dome. You should also be put on a 4-6 month schedule with your hearing health care professional to properly clean and adjust your hearing instruments. These visits should be at no charge.

Dr. Izzy and his Staff are always here to listen to your hearing care needs. Please feel free to contact our office at 732-451-3962 or visit our website at 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!

Mental Health & Wellness Workshop

SHIP BOTTOM – Join for a day filled with positivity and connection through engaging activities. The workshop will be on March 25 from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Ship Bottom Fire Hall, 2006 Central Avenue, Ship Bottom. Learn about local mental health resources and coping tools from representatives from Taylor Care Behavioral Health and Swan

Therapy Group LLC. All attendees are welcomed to attend a free chair yoga session provided by Hot or Not Yoga studio.

Refreshments will be provided. Space is limited! Registration is required. To register, call the Long Beach Island Health Department at 609-492-1212.

Relay For Life Of Berkeley/Lacey

BERKELEY – Relay for Life of Berkeley/ Lacey is happening on May 31 at Veteran’s Park, 9 Tilton Boulevard, Bayville, and they’re inviting the community to take part in this meaningful event.

Relay for Life brings people together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved

ones, and support the fight against cancer. Residents can join a team or create one of their own to participate in this special event. For more details on how to get involved, visit: secure.acsevents.org/site/ TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY25NER?pg=entry&fr_id=109541.

Stafford Township EMS Auxiliary Fundraiser

STAFFORD – Save the date to come out and show your support for your Stafford Township EMS Auxiliary!

On March 19 from 5 to 8 p.m., a portion of sales at Chick-fil-A in Manahawkin will be

donated back to the Stafford Township EMS Auxiliary. Show the flyer or simply tell the team member serving you you’re here for the event! For mobile orders, use the code word ‘Stafford’.

Isidore Kirsh

H ERE ’ S T O Y OUR H EALTH

Dear Pharmacist

Ocean Health Initiatives Inc. (OHI)

We are merging our Stafford site into our Little Egg Harbor location, effective April 1st 2025.

Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

Shingles Pain: How To Heal, Recover & Get Your Life Back

By Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

If you’ve had shingles, or know someone who has, you know it’s brutal. The burning pain, the angry rash, the exhaustion... it can knock even the strongest person off their feet. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime.

Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same one that gave you chickenpox. It stays dormant in your nerve cells until stress, a weakened immune system, or just bad luck wakes it up. Then, it travels along the nerves, causing painful blisters and inflammation. Some people develop post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), where the pain lingers long after the rash disappears. But don’t worry, I’ll help you with a solid recovery plan today.

Timing is everything! Starting antiviral medications within 72 hours can significantly reduce pain and complications. A doctor will typically prescribe either acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir. Those are antivirals, but there are drugs that actually target the nerve pain and those would be gabapentin or pregabalin. To numb the area you can buy lidocaine patches. Finally, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are commonly used to help with generalized body aches and pain, but they don’t stop the nerve pain.

A 2016 Journal of Infectious Diseases study found that starting antivirals

within 72 hours cuts PHN risk by nearly 50 percent, so don’t wait! Let’s add some natural power:

Top 6 Supplements for Shingles Recovery

1. Vitamin C: Boosts immunity and helps skin repair (1,000–2,000 mg daily)

2. Zinc: Speeds up wound healing and fights infections (25–50 mg daily)

3. L-Lysine: Helps stop viral replication (1,000 mg three times daily)

4. Vitamin B12: Supports nerve repair (1,000 mcg daily, methyl cobalamin preferred)

5. Magnesium: Calms nerve pain and relaxes muscles (400–600 mg daily)

6. Vitamin D: Helps improve the level of inflammation, therefore reduces pain. This was shown in a 2018 Pain Medicine study that evaluated 60 patients over a few weeks. As far as lifestyle hacks, try a cool compress or some calamine lotion to the rash areas. You can also soak in an oatmeal bath. Try to sleep because your body will heal faster. Act fast with antivirals, support your body with the right nutrients, and give yourself grace to rest. For sure, we know that suboptimal levels of either vitamin C or D will lead to increased pain and problems. So will unmanaged diabetes. If you’re interested in a deeper dive into this topic, I’ve written a longer, more comprehensive blog on my website at 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.

OHI’s Stafford Health Center and Pharmacy will be closed as of April 1, 2025.

Prescription Records and/or patient profiles are available at all OHI locations including your nearest location.

OHI Little Egg Harbor Pharmacy, 798 Route 539, Little Egg Harbor, NJ 8087

Files are available for a one-year period following this publication.

Phone: (732) (609) 879-5696

Hours Of Operation: Mon. - Fri. 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM Pharmacy 7:00 AM-3:30 PM

Dr.Bartisshasoftenbeenreferredtoas“adoctor’sdoctor”,andisfrequentlycalled upon for his diagnostic skills. He is founder and Medical Director of ICAM and a member of the American College for the Advancement of Medicine, the American AcademyofAnti-AgingMedicine,theAmericanAcademyofOzoneTherapists,and adiplomateoftheAmericanAcademyofFamilyPhysicians.Dr.Bartissisamedical writer, lecturer and author who is recognized as one of the top ten specialists in thefieldofBio-IdenticalHormoneReplacementTherapy(BHRT).

THERAPIES/SERVICES

• Hormone Replacement

• IV Therapies

• Thermascan

• Cryoskin • HOCATT

• Colonics • PEMF

• Salt Room/Halotherapy • Theta Chamber • Ozone • Botox • Thyroid/Adrenal Fatigue

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

May, Micromedia Vice President Jason Allentoff was driving home from work, when he noticed a utility pole wearing a bra. It became a Photo of the Week and garnered a lot of hilarious responses from readers. The bra has remained on the pole ever since. This week, there was a new addition: the pole now has a face and is wearing underwear! You can see it on Route 539 at the Lacey-Barnegat border. We still do not know who put it there, but it is hilarious just the same. Submit your Jersey Shore pix to photos@jerseyshoreonline.com and you may see your pic in this space!

Ocean County Photographer’s Work On Display In NYC

NEW YORK – Pleiades Gallery announced the opening of Whispers of Color: Subtle Stories of Imagined Reality, a thought-provoking photographic art show featuring the work of NY- and LBI-based artist, 74-year-old Frederick Ballet.

This immersive art show explores the interplay of color and imagination, inviting viewers to venture into a surreal yet familiar world where the boundaries of reality and fantasy coalesce. Each photograph serves as a window into a narrative that evokes emotion and provokes thought, inviting audiences to see the world from a fresh perspective.

The show will be on display from March 18 through April 12 at Pleiades Gallery at 547 W. 27th St, Suite 304, NY, NY. Entry is free and the gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m.

The opening reception on March 22 from 3 to 6 p.m. is free and open to the public.

There, attendees can meet the artist and enjoy refreshments while delving into the stories behind the works. “I selected these images as a vivid exploration of what lies beneath the surface and encourage viewers to interpret the images in their own way. Through this collection, I hope to evoke a sense of introspection and wonder, revealing the delicate balance between reality and imagination.”

Frederick is in his seventh year as a fine art photographer, having worked previously as an orthopedic hand surgeon in and around NY for 35 years. His interest in photography began when he was a teen working with his dad in the darkroom in the days of film production. Rather than retire, Frederick has sought to renew his passion for photography and bring his fresh perspective to the NY City art scene.

For images, information or interview requests, contact Frederick Ballet, fred@ frederickballetphotography.com, 609467-4050.

This article was brought to you by our advertisers.

Last

Delay, Deny And Defend

By: Michael J. Deem, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates

Mike Deem

Insurance companies are operated by accountants with little or no regard for the human consequences of injuries caused by their insureds or businesses. Their motive is to “delay, deny and defend” and they are the real perpetrators of insurance fraud. “The bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims. They’ll do anything to avoid paying, because if they wait long enough, they know the policyholders will die.” – Mary Beth Senkewicz, former senior executive at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

When the insurance company calls you following an accident, their representative will seem sympathetic and tell you how sorry they are that you were injured. Then they will send you a pre-written, form letter expressing their concerns. At this time, you are now formerly known to the insurance company as Claim # 1234567890. The insurance company’s only real concern is to figure a way to profit from the premiums that you have paid over the years by either not paying your claim or paying well below the true value of your claim. This is called “low balling”. This is why you need to immediately call an experienced attorney to understand your legal rights. The insurance company will not voluntarily tell you all of your legal rights, since doing so will cost them money.

As experienced attorneys, we at R.C. Shea & Associates have become obsessed with exposing insurance companies’ deceptive practices and the junk science they espouse through their hired guns to defeat their insured’s legitimate claims. By call-

ing upon the experienced attorneys at R.C. Shea & Associates, our job is to present the truth to the jury, and effectively counter defense tactics which distort the truth.

If you find yourself injured as a result of an automobile collision, ask your insurance company about your right to medical expense benefits, income continuation benefits (in the event you cannot work) and essential service benefits (in the event you cannot perform household chores).

If you have been injured in a trip and fall accident, you may have a right to extended medical expense benefits (Med-Pay) from the owner/occupier of the property where you were injured.

Have you limited your right to seek compensation for the pain and suffering that was inflicted upon you by an irresponsible party? If you cannot answer this question then the answer is probably “yes.” Ask your insurance company why you have the Limitation on Lawsuit Option (Verbal Threshold) in your automobile insurance policy and ask them why you don’t know that such a limitation is in your policy. You will be surprised to learn that you could have avoided this (verbal threshold) trap had your insurance company told you, up front, that for a small increase in your premium you could have elected an unlimited right to pursue compensation for pain, suffering and future medical expenses.

Don’t be a victim by getting caught-up in the insurance company’s trap. Don’t let them delay, deny and defend your legitimate claim. If you have been involved in an accident, then call us for a free consultation. (732) 505-1212.

www.carmonabolenfh.com

CLASSIFIEDS

Items Wanted

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For Rent Real Estate

The Future of Real Estate is here! Want to sell your Real Estate? Estate sales ~Divorces ~Retirement ~BECAUSE of advances in multiple listing and pictures distribution ~ you don t need to pay ridiculous fees ~ Pay only $2,500 period. Satisfaction guaranteed about 90% of homes qualify. Call Joe Shimonis - 609-713-1727 Talk to a person ~ NJ Lic over 30 years. (14)

Pets For Sale

CAVAPOO male pups availa -

ble - Great disposition,vet chk,shots reds, buff parents on site. Contact 321-377-4000. (15)

Help Save Libby – Urgent Vet Bills Libby needs life-saving treatment. Donate to https://gofund. me/e3c2c90b or call 808-7218189. Every dollar helps! (14)

Greenbriar Woodlands PresentsMidatlantic Men Broadway Talent, Global Hits Two Americans & One witty Brit face off in a vocal sensation to see which country does pop better. Saturday, April 5, 7 p.m. Greenbriar Woodlands Clubhouse, 1 Kensington Circle Toms River. Tickets $30Thursday, March 13, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Saturday, March 22, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 26, 6-7 p.m. Greenbriar Woodlands Clubhouse 1 Kensington Circle Toms River. Questions call Janet 848-224-4761. (15)

Items Wanted

$$$ WANTED TO BUY $$$

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)

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)

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)

Used Guns Wanted - All types: collectibles, military, etc. Call 917-681-6809. (t/n)

Cash - Top dollar, paid for junk, cars running and nonrunning, late model salvage, cars and trucks, etc. 732-928-3713. (t/n)

Services Help Wanted

Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living is hiring a full and part time Dietary Aides If interested, please email resume to HR@magnoliaal.com or call us at 732-557-6500. You can also visit us in person at 1935 Route 9 Toms River 08755. (17)

Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living is hiring a fullcook. If interested, please email resume to HR@magnoliaal.com or call us at 732-557-6500. You can also visit us in person at 1935 Route 9 Toms River 08755. (14)

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)

Services

Handyman Solutions - Affordable prices that are budget friendly. All phases of Home Improvement and Repairs. Carpentry • Laminate Flooring • Painting • Drywall • Doors • Windows • Siding • Hand and Vinyl Railings • Decks • Minor Plumbing/Electrical and more. Licensed Insured. 609-384-9030 (50)

Experienced, Reliable - Private duty (no agency fees) Caregiver/Home Health aide available for live-in, or hourly position South Jersey, Jersey Shore area. Call Nina at 732-8676686. (15)

INCOME TAX ACCOUNTANTSPersonal and small business tax returns.Over 30 years experience. Reasonable fees. Mention this ad and get $20 off. Call for appointment. 732-270-6505. (16)

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)

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)

"Stick With the Man That Covers Your Can! - Residential and Commercia Pump-outs FREE 1 year supply of enzyme treatment with each septic pump-out. Septic Inspections. Septic System Installations and All Repairs. Grease Traps installation and pump outs. Tank Abandonment and Demolition. 24 Hours Emergency Service! 732-244-0189. (5)

CAR SERVICE - Specializing in Newark and Atlantic City Airports, Point Pleasant and Bay Head Train Station. Call Kevin 727-396-7820. (8)

Garden State Property Maintenance - All yard work. Tree-trimming and removal, stump grinding, pavers, decks, flower beds, weeding. 609-661-5470. (t/n)

Gardeners Wanted – Work independently - garden maintenance, plant care, seasonal planting. Small gardens. Experi-enced or will train. Great business opportunity! Learn and grow. Call Joseph 732-232-8144. (12)

Monmouth & Ocean MOBILE NOTARY - I come to you. Text or email for rates and availabilty 732-887-6408, Rhansen0114@gmail.com. (13)

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)

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)

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)

APlus Home Improvements - Over 30 years experience. Everything from small handyman tasks to large renovations. Fully insured and licensed. Seniors 10% off any job $500 or more. Lic #13VH11453600. No job too small give us a call. 908-278-1322. (7)

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)

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. (21)

Nor’easter Painting and Staining, LLC - Interior and exterior. Decks, powerwashing. Affordable. Senior discounts. References. No job too small. Fully insured. 732-691-0123. Lic #13VH09460600. (t/n)

Cleaning Service - Too tired or can't be bothered. Call Donna 732-3305916. Rentals, overturns, construction and residential. Insured and bonded. (9)

International Folk Dance Teacher Available - Beginners classes for adults/youngsters. Also chair-dance for seniors or developmentally disabled. Text 929-465-9773 for info. (7)

CHEAP PAINTING Done RITEFree est. Senior discounts interior exterior. Call 732-506-7787, cell 646-643-7678. (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)

DO YOU WANT YOUR CAR TO LOOK GOOD AND SHINE ? Call Lenny - Lenny's Mobile Auto Detailing 908-868-4609. (15)

• M ail 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:

Estate/Garage/Yard Sales

Auto For Sale

Items For Sale

Items Wanted

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.

Calculate

Price As Follows:

3. 1 week* at $29.95 for 20 words + $0.40 ea. add’tl word = $ 2 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 = $

*In order to qualify for discounts, the same ad must run over the requested weeks.

Print Name: 4. Make check payable in advance to Micromedia Publications, or fill in Mastercard/Visa/American Express SORRY NO DISCOVER info below:

Billing Address:

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 publication)

Dasti & Staiger Sponsors Lacey Police Department’s “Cop Card” Program In Honor Of Former Mayor Nick Juliano

FORKED RIVER – Dasti & Staiger is honored to sponsor the Lacey Township Police Department’s (LTPD) annual “Cop Card” program, which officially kicked off on February 8. Community members are encouraged to stop by Dasti & Staiger’s office to pick up a Cop Card as part of the collection process, further engaging with this long-standing local tradition.

This year’s program holds special significance as it pays tribute to the late Nick Juliano, former Lacey Township Mayor and a longtime advocate for the police department. As a close friend of the fi rm, Juliano’s legacy is celebrated with a special edition Cop Card in his honor, recognizing his dedication to both the LTPD and the community.

The “Cop Card” program is a cherished tradition that encourages local children to collect trading cards featuring LTPD officers. Participants who collect all the cards have the chance to win prizes and attend the highly anticipated “Meet the Officer Day” on March 22, 2025, at Lacey Township Middle School. Through this initiative, children build positive relationships with law enforcement in a fun and engaging way.

“We are proud to support the Cop Card program, especially in honor of our dear friend, Nick Juliano,” said Christopher Dasti, Managing Partner of Dasti & Staiger. “Nick was a true champion of the Lacey Township Police Department, and this program is a meaningful way to carry on his legacy while fostering strong community connections.”

Photo courtesy Dasti & Staiger

Launched in 2000, the Cop Card program was created to strengthen trust and transparency between law enforcement and residents, particularly children. Over the years, it has served as a bridge between officers and the community, helping young people view law enforcement as approachable and integral members of the town. The program has even inspired some participants to pursue careers in law enforcement.

As the initiative celebrates its 25th anniversary, it continues to introduce new officers to the community while honoring those who have dedicated decades of service.

“We’re grateful to be part of such a meaningful tradition,” added Dasti. “Supporting this program not only pays tribute to Nick but also reinforces the importance of positive police-community relationships.”

This article was brought to you by our advertisers.

Spring Vendor Market

LONG BEACH – Spring is in the air, and so is St. Francis Community Center’s annual Spring Vendor Market!

Join on May 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day filled with shopping, food, and fun! With 70+ local artists, crafters, and vendors, you’ll fi nd unique handmade goods, gifts, and one-of-a-kind treasures. Enjoy

delicious food, enter exciting raffles, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.

Admission is just $3, making it the perfect way to support local businesses while enjoying a great spring day. Don’t miss out - grab your friends and come shop!

Ecology Of Native Plants With Jason Goldman

STAFFORD – Mark your calendars!

The Stafford Garden Club is excited to welcome you to an evening on the Ecology of Native Plants with Jason Goldman. Jason Goldman is a naturalist, garden designer, and ecological presenter. Growing up in New Jersey, he always has an appreciation for the natural world.

With a degree in ecology and a passion

For more information, email mdibella@ stfrancislbi.org. for educating others, Jason strives to empower others and help them become more environmentally conscious.

This free event is open to the public and will be held on March 31 at 7 p.m. at the Bay Avenue Community Center, 775 E. Bay Avenue in Manahawkin. Light refreshments will be served.

Questions? Contact recreation@staffordnj.gov, 609-597-1000 ext. 8583.

The Southen Ocean Times welcomes your special announcements! Engagements, Weddings, Births, Birthday Wishes, etc. Please call 732-657-7344 for more details!

AROUND THE JERSEY SHORE

Share Your Military Story –Free Interviews

Navy Memorial Archive, and more.

OCEAN COUNTY – The United States Navy Memorial will be sending film crews to conduct free interviews of the members of the Tin Can Sailors Association of New Jersey, all interested veterans from all branches from the area, and their family members on March 29 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The interviews will take place at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 130 Cable Avenue, Beachwood. The goal of our program is to video, archive, and preserve the stories of our Nation’s Service Veterans for future generations of Americans.

All veterans are welcome to participate, as well as wives, children, and family members who wish to share stories of their loved ones. There are no fees associated for this program and each veteran who participates will receive a Lone Sailor Pin, instructions on where to view their video interviews online, that will be added to the

These interviews will be placed in the Navy Log and archived by the United States Navy Memorial. Sample interview questions:

When did you join the service?

Where were you sent for boot camp?

What was your role in the military?

What was your most memorable experience?

Our mission is to interview, record, and archive the accounts of our Nation’s Veterans. These accounts are vital to our nation’s history, and it is our mission to archive the stories of our veterans so that we can preserve our Nation’s past.

To sign-up for interviews or for more information, contact Commander, Jerry Correll, Tin Can Sailors Association of NJ; Email: commander@tcs-desvets-nj.com; 732-630-1855; tcs-desvets-nj.org.

Change In Date For Veteran’s Claims Clinic

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 (note that this is a different date than originally printed).

Our specialists at your local American Legion Post #129 wants to help. All veterans are welcome! On May 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 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.

Bring your DD-214 with you if you have it available. If you have lost your DD-214, 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 into the clinic to assist you. So please come and join and let us help you attain your deserved benefits… you earned them!

Designer Bag Bingo

MANAHAWKIN – Tickets are now on sale for Family Promise of the Jersey Shore Designer Bag Bingo event on March 22 at St. Mary’s Parish Center, 100 Bishop Lane, Manahawkin.

Doors open at 6 p.m.; Bingo begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person in advance and $50 at the door. Ticket includes 10 games with four boards each.

To purchase tickets, call 609-994-3317 or email info@familypromisejerseyshore. org. Tickets also available at St. Mary’s Parish Office, 747 West Bay Avenue, Barnegat.

In addition to bingo, there will be a 50/50 - basket raffles. Tickets for these are separate and will be available for purchase at the event.

Waretown Library Tea & Author Event

WARETOWN – The Friends of the Waretown library are having a free tea event on March 22 at 12 p.m.

Author Linda Rawlins will present a talk on her two careers and her latest novels.

Copies will be available to be purchased and signed, along with tea and refreshments. Reserve your spot online at theoceancountylibrary.org or call the branch at 609-6935133 Registration is required.

Barnegat American Legion Spring Blood Drive

BARNEGAT – The Barnegat American Legion is hosting a Spring Blood Drive on March 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 499 N. Main Street, Barnegat. Appointments encouraged. Walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment, sign up at nybc.org/drive and use sponsor code 71776.

All donors will receive a chance to win a Spa Basket that includes a Hand & Stone Gift-Certificate. Bake sale, hot breakfast sandwiches for sale and membership drive. Open to the public. Donors 76 and over need a doctor’s note unless one is already on fi le.

P OLICE B LOTTER

Ocean County Woman Charged With Credit Card Theft

By Alyssa Riccardi MANAHAWKIN –

A 42-year-old woman was arrested and charged with stealing a credit card and using it at multiple businesses, police said.

On March 9 around 5:30 p.m., Stafford Township police received a report of a stolen credit card in use. The victim told police that she no longer possessed her credit card and was receiving notifications that it was being used.

The first notification occurred at the Ulta Beauty Store in Manahawkin. Shortly after, a second transaction attempt occurred at Tar-

get, which is in the same shopping complex. Patrolman Racanelli saw the subject in question exiting Target, who was identified as 42-year-old Elizabeth Sierra of Brick. She was found to be in possession of the victim’s credit card.

Sierra was placed under arrest and charged with Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. She was processed and released pending a future court appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.

All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Plastics – The Start – Its Growth –The Problem

By Renee A. Thomaier Retired New Jersey State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator

In the 1970s, plastic became the go-to material. During that time the plastic grocery bag was introduced, serving as an alternative to a paper bag. This is something we are trying to go back to more than 40 years later. A dip in production occurs as laws are introduced. In 2008, China put a ban on supermarkets providing plastic bags being given out. This resulted in global production dropping. The alternative to plastic grocery bags was telling people carry cloth or paper bags for their shopping needs. Of course, now retailers could face prosecution if they were found violating the law.

More and more laws were introduced with at least 23 levies; laws or pieces of legislation being introduced globally in 21 different countries. While more and more laws are created, still plastic production increased, which surpassed growth in population. Online commerce was booming and while eliminating plastic bags, for instance, packing online items often resulted in the use of plastic. Fast forward, we know all too well problems have arisen in using plastics, in particular the disposal of them. Marine wildlife often confuses plastic items with food. As plastics

accumulate in their bodies, animals will die from starvation/poisoning.

Reuse, recycle, cut back on single-use plastics - these can help in addressing the 150 million metric tons of plastic in our oceans (statistic from 2019). Businesses have begun to find solutions such as their use, disposal and sources of plastics. It takes one hundred companies to prevent 50 million tons of plastic waste.

Correcting damage going back decades is and will continue to be something to carefully assess and monitor as we move forward. Demanding urgent action from our government to deliver a successful, effective global treaty addressing the pollution by plastic by 2024. Sadly, a report by The Associated Press, dated December 2, 2024, the headline read ‘Negotiators fail to reach an agreement on a plastic pollution treaty. Talks to resume next year.’ Yet another delay.

I gathered the information for this article from multiple sources from 2019 and 2021 so statistics today will be different. To reach me please call 732-244-2768.

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.

Virtual Author Talk On How Women’s Liberation Transformed America

TOMS RIVER – Join us for a free, virtual conversation with award-winning journalist and author Clara Bingham about her new book, “The Movement: How Women’s Liberation Transformed America, 1963-1973” at 2 p.m. on March 20.

The Movement is an oral history of the decade that built the modern feminist movement, told through the individual voices of the people who lived it. Artists and politicians, athletes and lawyers, black and white, The Movement brings readers into the rooms

where these women insisted on being treated as fi rst-class citizens and, in the process, changed the fabric of American life.

Clara Bingham is the author of The Movement, Witness to the Revolution, Women on the Hill, and the co-author of Class Action. A former Washington, D.C. correspondent for Newsweek, her writing has appeared in Vanity Fair, The Guardian, and The Daily Beast Registration is required for this free virtual program. To register, or for more information, visit tinyurl.com/BinghamAuthorTalk.

LOOK FOR A VARIETY OF PHOTOS SNAPPED ALL AROUND THE JERSEY

SHORE!

Search: @ JSHOREONLINE

FUN & GAMES SUDOKU

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Ongoing drama 5 Sounds of revelation

__ bean 13 Cereal coveted by a silly rabbit

Garlic piece 15 Baaing mamas 16 *Playful semiaquatic mammal 18 Merit 19 “__ the Force, Luke” 20 Looked over 21 Green shade named for a fruit 22 Electric car maker

*Seafood served on the half shell

Chiding sounds

get

Black as night

Sail the seven __

Spiteful, as gossip

Baseball Hall of Famer Stengel

Campfire residue

*Request with a tight timeline

the Lonely”

in a heist

of

Reason to get all gussied up

7 “__ Maria”

8 Spanish verb similar to “estar” 9 Is completely comfortable 10 Anticipate 11 Vivacity 12 Ed who played Lou Grant 14 Playfully shy 17 Share a bedtime story with 21 Kvetching cries 23 “Magically delicious” cereal 25 Has on 26 Norwegian city with a Viking Ship Museum

Flower starter 28 Thompson of “Thor: Love and Thunder” 29 Parcel of land 31 Mammal with elephant and leopard varieties Down 1 Walk like a peacock 2 Pop up 3 Volunteers in the community one grew up in, say 4 Cord cutter? 5 Take in or let out

29 Prefix with athlete

30 “Apollo 13” director Howard

31 Fine equine

33 “Really? There’s no more?”

34 Tool set 35 Wily

37 Cold War initials

39 Egyptian beetle

42 Long-fingered lemurs of Madagascar

45 “You’ve got mail” ISP

47 Politely declines, maybe

48 Development sites 49 Greet and seat 50 Very funny folks 52 Terse refusal

53 Total stranger, or a three-word hint to the answers to the starred clues

56 Rx writers, often 59 Animal logo on a Dodge truck 60 __-Wan Kenobi 61 Caveat in a text

FOR THE WEEK OF MAR 15 - MAR 21 BY JERALDINE

ARIES (March 21-April 19): If you commit to providing a service, make sure to deliver on your promise. In the coming week, you might face challenges from others in your environment if you fail to honor your commitments. Stay passionate about striving for excellence.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may find something unexpected on your bingo card. Consider embracing others’ ideas as this could lead you down thrilling new avenues you wouldn’t discover alone. Think outside the box; traditional methods might seem dull.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Trust your vision and have confidence in your foresight to see what lies ahead. You may discern the truth and expect others to honor their commitments. Consider embracing and implementing changes that depend on collaboration.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Actions may speak louder than words. There might be a limit to how much talk people will trust before you need to take action. Spending quality time with a loved one could significantly boost the mood and health of your relationship.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Someone near to you might need someone to lean on. You may be able to provide significant support just by listening to their concerns; by showing some understanding, you could bring about positive outcomes for everyone involved.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You may feel confident in yourself without needing others’ approval. It might be sufficient to show a job well done, a promise fulfilled, or a goal accomplished. When you’re happy, it could positively affect those around you.

SAUNDERS

OMARR’S ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You might encounter an opportunity to advance that’s taken care of by someone else. Although there’s nothing inherently wrong with progressing, thoroughly check the ethics of a situation. Do right upon others and it could be returned.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You might transform even the most routine tasks into something exciting by exploring unconventional approaches or integrating novel concepts. Your words hold weight so if you make a promise, be sure you follow through.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

You might be too involved in an issue to view it impartially; it could benefit you to step back for a clearer, different viewpoint. Your enthusiasm could attract attention, drawing people eager to include you in their plans.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Doing a small favor could open doors to greater opportunities. You might find chances to enhance both your relationships and your prospects. Consider implementing some small yet crucial habits that may change things for the better.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Little things may hold a lot of meaning. Small gestures of kindness could significantly ease tensions in difficult situations. A touch of playful rivalry might help break down barriers and foster a nice atmosphere with someone special.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You may have a chance to make up for past mistakes. Acknowledging that perfection is unattainable and taking responsibility for your errors could earn respect. Be mindful not to become your own worst critic if emotions run high.

By America’s Test Kitchen

COLCANNON