TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 16 - No. 37
In This Weekâs Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
2020: A Final Look Back
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Dear Joel Page 10
Dr. Izzyâs Sound News Page 16
Dear Pharmacist Page 17
Inside The Law Page 22
âPhotos by Chris Lundy âPhoto courtesy Rafael Adorno (Left) President Donald Trump spoke to supporters at the Wildwood Convention Center. (Top) Mayor Thomas Kelaher looks back on his accomplishments. (Bottom) Even Bud the dinosaur was wearing a mask outside. By Chris Lundy Thereâs no point in because everyone went er fun videos for the The year began with kids. Hospital staďŹ and belaboring how much there because there was residents worried about first responders were COVID changed ev- nowhere else to go. their schools and ser- thanked. erything. Restaurants Itâs hard to believe that vices getting the fundA lot of times, it was and small stores shut- anything but COVID ing they deserve and regular people step- tered. People stayed in- and politics happened then plummeted into ping up to ďŹll the void. doors (in the beginning, in the last year. But fears about just sur- Hospital staff didnât anyway). The prima- looking through the viving. have enough masks, so ry election was post- archives, we found reSome efforts were regular people made poned. Special events ports of ordinary peomade to boost morale. them. Donations came were cancelled. Parks ple doing extraordinary Schools put togeth- from everyday people. eventually shut down (2020 - See Page 2)
County Leader Gerry Little To Retire
By Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY â Gerry Little was sworn in as a Freeholder but will retire as a Commissioner. The 72-year-old announced that he will not seek re-election in 2021. Freeholder was a term for the ďŹve elected oďŹcials who oversee county operations. State law
changed this title to âcommissionerâ for 2021. Little, of Surf City, was appointed in 2003 to ďŹll the term of the late James Mancini. He has held the seat ever since. Multiple attempts at reaching Little for this article have been unsuccessful. All ďŹve County Com-
missioners are Republican. That party always endorses the incumbent during election time. This November, there will have to be a new name on the ballot. A few prominent Republicans are circling the seat. Berkeley Councilman John Bacchione has already stepped up and put his name in the
running. The New Jersey Globe reported that Little Egg Harbor Mayor Barbara Jo Crea has thrown her hat in the ring as well. County Republican Chairman Frank Holman said that four or ďŹve have expressed interest, but they wonât know who the serious candidates are until January 16, the dead-
line to send resumes. The screening committee will interview candidates on February 6. Generally speaking, the GOP will endorse a candidate, and they will have the party line in the primary election in the summer. According to his bio on the countyâs website, Little worked as Chief (Retire - See Page 14)
January 9, 2021
Glimmer Of Hope As Healthcare Workers Vaccinated
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER â Government oďŹcials were on hand when COVID-19 vaccines were being administered to healthcare workers, warning that the vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel, but we are still in the tunnel. The vaccines were being given to healthcare workers at a drive-through vaccination site in the parking lot of Ocean Health Initiatives oďŹ of Lakehurst Road in Toms River. Right now, the vaccines are being given to people working in these categories: hospitals, long care facilities, outpatient clinics, home health care, pharmacies, emergency medical services, and public health. People had registered online for an opportunity to take their ďŹrst dose of the vaccine, and then come back 28 days later for their second dose. Some were a bit surprised to see the fanfare of journalists taking photos and video of their vaccinations for local and national news. They were on hand for the press conference that morning at the facility. Gov. Phil Murphy, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, Congressman Andy Kim, and Freeholder Director Joseph Vicari were among the oďŹcials who visited Ocean Health Initiatives to celebrate the initial rollout of the vaccine. Persichilli commended OHI, a federally qualiďŹed health center, on getting the vaccine out to frontline healthcare workers. These workers are more likely to be exposed to the virus directly or indirectly. âThe vaccine is safe and eďŹcacious,â she said. In 2021, the state will have more than 200 sites set up that will be vaccination areas, she said. The goal is to get 70 percent of eligible adults vaccinated in six months. âToday is the day weâve been dreaming of,â said Congressman Kim (D-3rd). âHopefully, weâre turning the corner on the pandemic.â As the son of a geneticist and a nurse, he said the medical and science communities (Hope - See Page 10)
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