TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 19 - No. 43
In This Week’s Edition
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MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Rink Honors Fallen Players With Wall Of Heroes
Photos by Stephanie Faughnan Overlooking the ice from the Wall of Heroes.
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Government Page 7
Community News Pages 8-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 20
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By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - Beyond the graceful glides of figure skaters and the heated battles for the puck by hockey players, Toms River’s Winding River Rink holds a deeper meaning. Eleven hockey jerseys form the “Wall of Heroes” – a tribute to players who left their mark not only on the ice, but also in the hearts of those who knew them. Each jersey represents a player who laced up their skates at Wind-
ing River, only to have their journey tragically interrupted. The Wall of Heroes is more than just a memorial; it’s an act of love and respect. “We understand the competitive nature of the sport,” said Dean Marusic, the rink’s General Manager. “But at the end of the day, we’re a family. We grieve together, and we honor those who came before us.” The youngest commemorated on the Wall of Heroes is Parker Nork, who tragically
lost his battle with ALL leukemia at just nine years old on March 11, 2017 - a mere 22 days after his diagnosis. His passion for hockey included dreams of guarding the net for the Toms River Blackhawks. In honor of Parker’s memory, Parker’s Army, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, raises funds channeled into scholarships for high school student-athletes, support for local youth recreational programs,
and contributions to the ongoing fight against childhood cancer. The most senior figure honored on the Wall of Heroes is Gerard H. Gawdun, who passed away on June 2, 2021, fondly known as “Jerry the Hack.” A childhood companion reminisced that Gerry was the only kid he couldn’t prevent from scoring, showcasing an awe-inspiring backhand and an even (Hockey See Page 4)
In addition to jerseys hanging in their honor, some of those remembered have plaques dedicated to them.
March 2, 2024
District Receives $4.9M From State By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – The school district received $4,903,429 in stabilization aid from the state but officials said they still have a fiscal hole to patch before the start of the next school year. The district made the application for stabilization aid in the amount of $8,536,146 back in September. They received a little more than half of their request. School Business Administrator William Doering said that the district still has a $28 million problem. So, while this income is welcome, it doesn’t solve all of the problems expected for the 2024-2025 school year. Officials said they would love additional state aid. Barring that, they will be seeking a state loan. Stabilization aid is
given to make up for a cut in state funding or some other imbalance. There are two state decisions that are causing the shortfall. The first is that the state aid is governed by a formula started several years ago, commonly referred to as S-2, the number of the Senate bill that created it. This funding formula directed aid away from towns like Toms River. Lower enrollment is one factor, but all of the factors can’t be put into words because the state has not shared the formula, even after being sued to make it public. Toms River has lost millions of dollars every year due to the new formula enacted by the state lawmakers and signed by Governor Phil Murphy. The other issue is that (Aid- See Page 4)
Polar Bear Plunge Raises $2.5M For Special Olympics
Photo by Bob Vosseller The Frozen Hoses was their theme but their team was named “The Mixed Bag of Nuts.”
By Bob Vosseller SEASIDE HEIGHTS – Around 8,000 people made up of about 570 t ea m s plu nge d into the icy surf on a cold Seaside morning, raising more than a combined $2.5 million to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey.
Including spectators, 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
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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 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 (Polar Plunge See Page 5)
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