TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 18 - No. 40
In This Week’s Edition
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JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Tyre Nichols’ Death
DEP To Hold Hearing On Ciba
Starts Candid Talk Between Police and Community
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – After local environmentalists held a meeting to educate the public about the proposed settlement for the former Ciba-Geigy site, the State Department of Environmental Protection has agreed to host one as well. The meeting will take place at the same location – Toms River High School North’s auditorium – at 6 p.m. on March 13. Additionally, the public comment period on the settlement has been extended another two months. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information to the public and to take questions, the DEP said.
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By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – Before a gathering of residents and police officers, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer told the crowd with a solid assurance that none of the other top police brass assembled with him planned to defend the indefensible. Billhimer wasn’t alone when he first witnessed the graphic footage of Memphis police officers pummeling away at Tyre Nichols pulled over for a traffic stop. The brutal beating of the 29-year-old (Tyre - See Page 5)
─Photos by Stephanie Faughnan Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer lead the discussion between the law enforcement and the community in the wake of Tyre Nichols’ death. (Inset): Rodney Coursey disputed an earlier member’s suggestion that diversity was not called for in law enforcement.
Nastase Left His Signature On High School Basketball
By Chris Christopher LAKEWOOD - There were cheers, tears and numerous fond memories in the Lakewood High School gymnasium. Its floor was named the Robert J. Nastase
Court in honor of the Piners’ head boys varsity basketball coach. He died March 13, 2022, at the age of 86 of natural causes. Markers in his handwriting are on both sides of the court. He helped design the facility. An estimat-
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ed 100 fans, including nearly 40 of his former Lakewood and Toms River players, attended the ceremony, which took place on a recent Friday afternoon. Jay Nastase, one of the -Photos courtesy Tracey Tift family’s five children, Family and friends came out to honor Bob (Nastase - See Page 4) Nastase’s legacy.
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“We hope that this extension of the comment period and opportunity for direct engagement with DEP officials will provide members of the public with additional opportunities to learn more about the assessment and proposed restoration of injured natural resources, and to ask questions about the proposed settlement,” said DEP Deputy Commissioner Sean D. Moriarty. Ciba-Geigy opened in 1952 and closed in 1990. It manufactured dyes and other chemicals, dumping the waste into the river and the ground. Many people attribute the area’s cancer cluster to its (Ciba - See Page 11)
Commissioner Vicari Will Not Seek Another Term By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – He has always taken pride in being the longest serving County Com missioner (formerly, Freeholder) in the state, but all good things come to an end as Joseph Vicari announced that he will not seek re-election in the fall. Vicari, who is serving as Commissioner Director this year, said in his letter to all Ocean County Depar tment heads that after much soul searching, “I am
announcing that I will not seek re-election to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners. After more than 43 years of public service, I have decided to retire and devote more time to my family.” “I am forever thankful to the people of Ocean County, who have seen fit to return me to office time and time again since 1981. Thanks to their enduring support, I will leave office as the longest serving Freeholder/Commissioner (Vicari - See Page 22)
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