TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 19 - No. 48
In This Week’s Edition
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Local Woman’s Impactful Journey To How Will April 16 Vote Affect Best-Selling Author
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Government Page 8
Community News Pages 9-15
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 18
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Suzanne Le Voie of Toms River holds two of the books that contain her work and have made it to Amazon’s best seller list. By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – A local best-selling author has masterfully adapted her gif t of storytelling – using it to comfort herself as a child and now using it to inspire others. Now 52, Suzan ne Le Voie battled childhood asthma, spend-
i ng hou r s i n isolation within an oxygen tent. The experience, though challenging, sparked a lifelong love for writing that would fuel her success and future impact. “ I c ou ld n’t eve n watch television because they were afraid the sparks from the elect r icit y would
do something to the tents,” said Le Voie. “So, I had to learn to be okay with being alone and would make up little stories about my favorite characters on different shows.” Not many other children suffered as badly f rom ast h ma as Le Voie did, which made her feel left out and
bullied. Her writing a ct ed a s a for m of t herapy – allow i ng her to create a world where she wasn’t defined by her illness or the taunts of others. Despite the adversities Le Voie faced as a child, she persevered and ventured onto a path to help others. She taught special education classes and earned an MSW (Master of Social Work) from Monmouth University. Whether working in the classroom or helping families in crisis, Le Voie focused on positive change. Her life took a t ur n for the worse when she was doing a program with the Red Cross and taking a coworker home after their shift. On October 2, 2000, an SUV ran a red light and smashed into Le Voie’s vehicle. She (Author - See Page 4)
Police Cuts Stay Despite Petition By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – A cont rove r sial ord inance that cut two police captains will be overturned, however the positions won’t be filled. Two captains are retiring this year. Instead of refilling these positions by promoting from within, Mayor Daniel Rodrick chose
April 6, 2024
to cut those two positions, in a move he said would save the town $700,000. He said this would free up the money to provide a yearround, 24/7 ambulance stationed on the barrier island. However, Rodrick said that restructuring the department can be done administratively and didn’t need the
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council’s vote. “The fact is I never needed the ordinance,” Rodrick said in a prepared statement. “With or without that ordinance, the captains are not coming back.” Petitioners had collected thousands of signatures urging the council to change their minds and reinstate those two positions.
Councilwoman Lynn O’Toole took issue with the characterization of this change. The petitioners accused them of defunding the police. “We’re not defunding, we’re just not refilling two positions,” she said. “The salaries are outrageous.” The council voted to repeal the ordinance. Cou ncil President
Craig Coleman, and council members Justin Lamb, George Lobman, Thomas Nivison, and O’Toole voted to repeal but still agreed with the mayor’s reasons for cutting the administrative positions to save money. Councilmen David Ciccozzi and James Quinlisk voted to repeal because they
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Kids, Taxes?
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – Officials said taxpayers in Toms River, Pine Beach, Beachwood, South Toms River and even Seaside Heights would see reduced taxes if the Toms River Regional School District takes in all Seaside Heights students. This was shared by Superintendent Michael Citta during information sessions before the April 16 referendum. A referendum is a special election. Residents in all of the above towns will be voting. If the “yes” votes win, the changes will come about in September with the 2024-2025 school year. However, if Seaside Heights votes “no” to regionalization, it doesn’t matter if Toms River votes “yes.” Speaking to residents and staff at Intermediate South’s cafetorium during one of three information sessions, Citta outlined the financial position that caused this to happen. Before S-2 and before current financial shortfalls, there was Superstorm Sandy. Sandy and the boardwalk fire gave a 1-2 punch in 2012 and 2013. The state provided special aid to the Seaside Heights school district. As a condition of this aid, Seaside had to do studies to see if they could save money by joining another district. This situation flowed out of that study. Where Will Seaside Kids Go? There has been a lot of disinformation online about this very important topic. Part of this is because there are people intentionally misleading voters. Part of this is because the plan for Seaside kids changed a month ago. The Seaside kids currently go to the Hugh J. Boyd Jr. School for kindergarten through 6th , and then go to Central Regional for middle and high school. A February 27 letter from Toms River Schools’ attorney to the State Department of Education said that Boyd could stay open for the 2024-2025 school year and four years after. Staff and students would remain unchanged. Originally, Seaside Heights officials were going to close down the Boyd school. The plan approved by Acting Commissioner of Education Kevin Dehmer in March would keep (Vote - See Page 4)
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