The BERKELEY Times Vol. 29 - No. 37
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 6
Community News Pages 10-12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Inside The Law Page 17
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Central Grad Competing In World Championship Send donations to Puerto Rico Lacrosse, 2565 Phyllis Dr., Bellmore, N.Y., 11710. Place Women’s National U20 Team in the memo. Now a freshman attacker with the James Madison University Dukes, Lewis learned of the team on Instagram. “I knew I had to try out,” she said. “I did it because I love Photo courtesy Bianca Diaz lacrosse and Hannah Lewis surveys the scene. wanted to represent my family. Most imporBy Chris crosse National Team. tantly, the team is new Christopher The 22-player club and and not as large as othBERKELEY - Hannah its coaches will travel to er programs. They are Lewis needs an assist. Hong Kong in August for trying to build up the The former Central the 2024 World Champi- sport on the island. In a Regional High School onships. The team will lot of ways, it parallels my high school career. standout has earned a train in Puerto Rico. berth on the U20 Puer- It hopes to raise $100,000 During my freshman to Rico Women’s La- to cover its expenses. and sophomore years, I
March 2, 2024
Kuch Family Sues Central
was the lone travel player on the team. At Central, softball is the dominant spring sport. Most of the lacrosse players were soccer and basketball players who wanted to play a spring sport. “The majority did not even know how to throw or pick up a ground ball. Knowing that lacrosse is really not that big on the island hit home. To be able to bring this sport to the forefront is a great honor. I want to show the younger girls that anything is possible. Being able to set this example for my mini-me (Addison Frulio) and other girls like her in my area is what really helped me decide to try out ... letting them know if you work hard on and off the field and in the classroom you can do anything. Set your dreams high. Reach for the stars. You never know what will happen.” (Central Grad See Page 4)
By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – A lawsuit filed on the anniversary of the death of Adriana Kuch accuses Central Regional School District staff of failing to protect her from being attacked by other teens in school, which was broadcast on social media, contributing to her suicide. The attack was on February 1 and her death was on February 3, 2023. The death of the 14-year-old freshman was heartbreaking for many of the residents in town, bringing up memories of when they were also bullied at school. The incident garnered international attention. A law making it illegal to share video or images of an attack on a minor has been proposed. The law firm of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman has publicized the lawsuit, sending it to the media. As with all legal
issues, school officials have declined to comment. This is a civil case, not a criminal one. The suit was brought by her father and stepmother, Michael Kuch, Sr. and Sarah Kuch. Ad r iana’s mother, Brandy, died in 2016. The suit names former Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides, former high school Principal Irene Marousis, anti-bullying specialist Darryl Heale, former anti-bullying coordinator (current director of data management) Thomas Gallahue, anti-bullying specialist Jennifer Mullins, former assistant principal (current principal) Angello Mazzuca, and the Central Regional Board of Education. It also lists a number of John and Jane Does who are meant to represent staff at the school (Kuch Lawsuit See Page 5)
Polar Bear Plunge Raises $2.5M For Special Olympics Photo by Bob Vosseller The Polar Bear Plunge wouldn’t be the same without Joe Sarnoski, a retired police captain from Lyndhurst, at left who once again served as the event’s mascot and cheered people on as the official polar bear. This year he took photos beside another costumed polar bear.
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By Bob Vosseller SEASIDE HEIGHTS – Around 8,000 people made up of about 570 t e ams plu nged into the icy surf on a cold Seaside morning, raising more than a combined $2.5 million to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey. Including specta-
tors, approximately 65,000 people came out to boardwalk for t he 31 s t a n n ive r s a ry of the Polar Bear Plunge. For over 55 years, Special Olympics New Jersey has provided year-round spor ts t raining and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type
sports for thousands of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, completely free of charge. The morning began cloudy with some rain dropping but the sky t u r ned blue arou nd the 1 p.m. plunge time that featured an air t e mp e r at u re i n t he
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m id -30 s a nd wat e r temperatures in the low 40s. “This is my seventh year,” Cheryl Klouda of Columbia New Jersey told Jersey Shore Online.com. She was dressed in a shark costume and holding the du f f le bag she got this year to hold her
change of clothes. “I have friends who come dow n here to plunge with me. Our tea m is We Plu nge Fo r w a r d d o t , d o t , d o t .” S h e a d d e d , “one of my f r iends has a daughter who has cerebral palsy (Polar Plunge See Page 5)
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