The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 11 - No. 42
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
New Police Chief Shares Vision For Stafford
Potential Sale Of Community Buildings Internal Affairs. The new chief also went Causes Ire to college later in life and
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 9-15
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 18
Classifieds Page 21
April 20, 2024
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Stafford Police Chief James Haldenwang brings 24 years of experience within the department he now leads. By Stephanie Faughnan STAFFORD – In a personal interview, James Haldenwang, the newly appointed police chief of Stafford, shared his vision for community-oriented policing and his deep commitment to both public service and the well-being of his officers. Approved unanimously by the gover ning body, Haldenwang, 52,
brings 24 years of experience within the Stafford Police Department. The new chief says he started late at age 28, working in the trades before he decided to pursue a career in law enforcement. Haldenwang, hired by the local department in 2000, graduated second in his class from the Ocean County Police Academy. He worked in
the patrol division until 2006, transitioning into the Drug Enforcement Unit for seven years. Promoted in 2013 to sergeant, he moved up the ranks to lieutenant in 2020 and became the captain of service in 2023. His last role before becoming chief placed him in charge of the department’s purchasing and budgets, public information, and
has both an undergraduate and master’s degree in administrative science from Farleigh Dickinson University. Reflecting on his career, Haldenwang emphasized his belief in the fundamental principles of policing, rooted in community service and protection. “We’re here to serve the public,” he stated unequivocally. “We’re here to protect people, from the weak and the strong and everybody in between – and we are not going to put up with unlawful behavior.” Haldenwang added that protecting the public meant charging people appropriately and letting the justice department take its course when someone violates the law. Central to his vision for the local law enforcement agency is a commitment to excellence in policing, underpinned by ongoing (Chief - See Page 4)
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan The Worden House, built in 1850, is one of the two buildings residents hope they can save. By Stephanie Faughnan LACEY – A group of residents were stunned to learn that two buildings they contend hold historical significance are again set for auction. This comes even after a contract had been signed for the sale of the properties located at the northeast corner of Route 9 and Lacey Road. The turn of events stems from the vigilance of advocates for the preservation of the original Charles A. Smith Community Hall and the Worden House. Their efforts to protect these two structures led to the discovery of a clerical error in the bidding process. “When the property was originally put up for auction, there was a resolution adopted by the governing body,” said Township Attorney Christopher Connors. “That authorized the online sale of the property for $2.9 million.” (Buildings - See Page 5)
AuTiSm FaIr CoNnEcTs FaMiLiEs To KeY ReSoUrCeS By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – Forget the stereotype of hushed wh ispers a nd dust y shelves – the Ocean County Library is proving libraries are more than just books. Most recently, the Toms River Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Branch held its seventh Gianna Vazquez met a mermaid at the Autism Autism Resources Fair empowering families by Resources Fair.
offering them a wealth of resources and a supportive community. Imagine the overwhelming flood of information that washes over parents after receiving an autism diagnosis. While potentially vast, the internet can feel like an unnavigable ocean of conflicting advice and questionable sources.
Wendi Smolowitz, a librarian who works for the Ocean County Library system, knows the struggle intimately. When her son, Joshua, was diagnosed with autism when he was 3, she experienced firsthand the tremendous sense of confusion and uncertainty that many parents face. However, armed
with her background in research, Wendi possessed a vital skill – the ability to navigate the labyrinth of information. “Joshua is fifteen now, and I’ll always remember June 21, 2012, as the date we were given the diagnosis,” shared Smolowitz. “We were not given a path to follow, no roadmap, no places to go
for therapies.” As Smolowitz reflected on her own “mom experience” as a parent of a child diagnosed with autism, she recognized a glaring disconnect between support systems and families looking for them. She contends that parents still aren’t given the tools to work with, (Fair - See Page 8)
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