The BRICK Times Vol. 21 - No. 34
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 8-10
Inside The Law Page 12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Dear Joel Page 23
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MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Double Organ Recipient Opioid Lawsuit Encourages People To Be Donors Payment Pending
By Judy Smestad-Nunn POINT PLEASANT Imagine undergoing a double organ transplant during the age of COVID. That’s what happened to Point Pleasant resident Patrick McGlone, 40, who was born with Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes. McGlone received a kidney and pancreas, and was part of a historic milestone in receiving two of the 40,000 transplanted organs in (Donors - See Page 6)
–Photo courtesy Patrick McGlone Patrick McGlone and husband Nicolas during happier times.
Girl Scout Donates 39 Oxygen Masks For Fire Dogs
By Chris Lundy JACKSON – A Girl Scout collected money – and raised awareness – about safety equipment dogs need when working with the fire department. The dogs that work with fi refighters these days aren’t the dalmatian mascots you sometimes see riding on the truck.
Instead, these are like police K-9 units, trained to detect certain chemicals. Take Sammy, for example. Sammy is a yellow lab-golden retriever mix who can determine if a fire was intentionally set. “Meeting Sammy and learning about what an arson dog does was very interesting,” said Shan-
non Calsetta, who is a freshman at Jackson Memorial High School. “I learned a lot from talking to John (Pasola, Ocean County Deputy Fire Marshal) and by watching Sammy during a presentation given by John. For instance, I didn’t know there were 27 different accelerants (Scout - See Page 5)
Oyster Creek Facing $150,000 Security Fine
By Bob Vosseller LACEY – Holtec Decommissioning International LLC, (HDI) which is overseeing the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, has a month to either pay a $150,000 fine, challenge the violation or request an alternative solution.
January 8, 2022
Nuclear Regulatory Commission ( NRC) spokesman Neil Sheehan issued a statement on December 22 about the $150,000 civil penalty for violations at Oyster Creek which will require a dispute resolut ion bet ween Holtec and the NRC. The NRC identified a
violation by Holtec “for apparent security-related violations at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. Because of the sensitive nature of these violations, the NRC will not publicly provide specifics; however, the agency has determined the overall security program at the
non-operational plant remains effective.” The NRC added that “Holtec has taken steps to address the concerns and overall security performance at the site.” The plant, which operated for about a half century, permanently ceased operations in September 2018 and is
in the process of being decommissioned. The NRC license for the plant was transferred on July 1, 2019 to Holtec. Sheehan noted that NRC staff notified Holtec about the apparent violations on July 28, which were (Fine - See Page 5)
By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK – In September 2019, the township filed a lawsuit against various pharmaceutical companies and distributors for improperly promoting the use of opioids to the public and for the cost the township incurred while responding to the resulting opioid crisis. As the result of a class action lawsuit filed by states, counties and municipalities, a $26 billion settlement was reached in July 2021 with Johnson & Johnson and some of the country’s major drug distributors, including Cardinal Health, McKesson Corporation and AmerisourceBergen. During a recent Township Council meeting, township attorney Kevin Starkey said that the settlement amount would be distributed across the nation, starting with states and then down to counties and municipalities. The amount each municipality receives would depend on the participation, or “opting in,” Starkey said. “No one knows yet, no one can determine that. That’s going to await approval by counties and states across the country.” The manner in which the settlement funds are to be allocated to the township has not yet been determined. The amount will ultimately depend on the population and the effects the opioid epidemic has had on each community, he said. The states, counties and municipalities who have not opted in may pursue their own individual claim against the pharmaceutical companies, Starkey added. As part of the settlement, thousands of lawsuits filed by states and municipalities would be dropped against the companies, and that no future lawsuits would be filed. Cardinal health, McKesson Corporation and AmerisourceBergen will pay the combined $21 billion over the next 18 years to be used by state governments to aid opioid treatment and prevention. Also, Johnson & Johnson is expected to pay up to $5 billion over the next nine years, and they must stop the selling and marketing of opioids. According to the settlement, each state’s share in the funding will depend on the severity of cases in that state. The 2019 lawsuit filed by Brick Township (Lawsuit - See Page 4)
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