The BRICK Times Vol. 24 - No. 2
In This Week’s Edition
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New Memorial Honors Local Fallen Police Officers By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – A statue of a police officer saluting has found its home at the Brick Township Police headquarters, representing the lives of officers who died in the line of duty. During a recent ceremony, the Fallen Officer Memorial Monument was unveiled. “We gather here today to honor the lives and sacr if ices made by those officers who lost their lives while serving as law enforcement for the township of brick. This monument stands as a testament to the courage, dedication, and self lessness of protecting the people of this town,” said Ptl. Scott Mesmer, who organized the ceremony. “As we unveil this monument, we remember the faces, the names and the stories of those who have come and gone. We recall the unwav-
Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity built this home in Ocean County.
Tentative Date Set For New VA Clinic Opening
Photo by Chris Lundy HVAC and other workers were on site during a recent visit to the Toms River VA Clinic.
Photo by Alyssa Riccardi The monument honors officers who died in the line of duty. ering commitment to protecting our communities, our families, and our freedom. This place will act as a gathering space for everyone to reflect on the sacrifices made by these heroes and by their loved ones left behind. Let us hon-
or their memories by continuing to support and uplift those who continue to serve and protect us all.” Af ter the passing of Officer Kristopher DeMarco in January of 2016, t he Br ick Township Policemen’s Benevolent Associa-
tion Local #230 envisioned creating a place where all of the names of those officers who passed away while employed with the department can be remembered. Many PBA members had the (Fallen OfficersSee Page 4)
Habitat For Humanity: Building Houses And More
Photo courtesy Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity
May 18, 2024
By Stephanie Faughnan OCEAN COUNTY - For many people in Ocean County, hopes of owning a safe and affordable home can seem out of reach. But thanks to the work of Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, that
dream can be a reality for some families in need. T he orga n i zat ion doesn’t just build houses; it builds a sense of pride. They offer a path to home ownership through a unique program that combines affordable mortgag-
es with sweat equity from the families themselves. This “hand up, not a handout” approach fosters a sense of dignity and personal investment in homes people can call their own. “We’re there to help (Habitat- See Page 5)
By Chris Lundy They have complained TOMS RIVER – Af- that the facility is unter years of prepara- derstaffed and that it tion for the new facil- doesn’t have enough ity, the grand opening parking. Also, some of the Veterans Ad- of them have to travel ministration clinic is up to East Orange for July 16. certain services. A VA official told There were a few The Toms River Times years when the VA that the date is ten- w a s w o r k i n g o n tative and subject to choosing the location, change. and there was red tape The building’s offi- that stretched out the cial address is 1051 p r o c e s s . M u l t i p l e Hooper Avenue, and t ow n s v ie d for t he there’s an entrance to oppor t unity to host the parking lot from the new “Communit h a t r o a d . T h e r e’s ty Based Outpatient another entrance on Clinic.” C a u d i n a Av e n u e , The same site was w h i c h i s t h e b a c k previously selected road past two banks by the VA in 2019, but that leads to the Sea- the prospective develcourt Pavilion. When oper at that time degroundbreaking cere- clined the lease in earmonies took place in ly 2020. This caused 2022, the expectation the VA to restart the was that it was going site selection process. to open in spring of The new building 2024. will be about twice Currently, veterans the size as the one travel to Brick’s James in Brick, measuring J. Howard Outpatient 68,000 square feet. It Clinic for their needs. (VA Clinic - See Page 4)
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