TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 20 - No. 5
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Field Of Dreams Hosts First Unified Kickball Clash
In This Week’s Edition
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Photo by Stephanie Faughnan
Government
Athletes took to the field to compete in the first ever Unified Kickball Clash.
Page 8
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - The RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams complex set the stage for yet another remarkable first this season. The inaugural kickball game between the Unified Sports teams from Toms River High School East and High School North unfolded in a spirited
Community News Pages 10-16
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 18
Inside The Law Page 23
showdown of fun. This wasn’t your typical high school rivalry; it was an epic clash of school spirit where inclusion was the true champion. Unif ied Spor ts, a groundbreaking initiative by the Special Olympics, first began in the Toms River School District in 2023. The games rewrite the rules,
bringing together students receiving special services and their peers in a fully inclusive environment. Student mentors and staff guide the teams as other students take on different roles. Both the Raiders and the Mariners came with cheerleaders and bands to add an extra spark to the competition. The excitement was palpa-
Byrne Wins Council Primary
William R. Byrne By Chris Lundy TOMS R I V ER – Newcomer William Byrne won the right to
compete for a council seat after besting his opponent in the primary election. A primary election deter mines whose name will be on the ballot in November. Democrats choose their person and Republicans choose theirs. On the Democrat sid e , S u s a n Pay n e
Gato ran unopposed and will be on the ballot in November. On the Republican side, this was a match between William R. B y r n e a n d fo r m e r c o u n c i l m a n Ke v i n Geoghegan. Byrne won the primary 1,409 to 923. In an election preview published by The Toms River Times, By-
rne said his message has been on keeping taxes down and fighting overdevelopment. “ I believe my position on taxes and development is more in line with the voters of Toms River than that of the previous mayor and cou ncil. Residents were tired of their pro-development (Primary - See Page 4)
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ble as players danced to the music, releasing their inhibitions and embracing the joy of the moment. “There’s never been a unified kickball game between high schools like this,” said Christian Kane, co-founder of RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams. “If you had your eyes closed and heard everything, you’d think you were at a Toms River North or Toms River East football or basketball game.” But this game was something special. Players from High School North were in orange, while those from High School East donned grey. Instead of displaying their surnames on the backs of their shirts, neurotypical students sported lettering designating them as coaches. The student coaches seemed as elated as (Field Of Dreams See Page 4)
June 8, 2024
How An Ocean County Child’s Death Made International News
Photo courtesy Asbury Park Press Christopher Gregor is led out of court after his conviction for child endangerment and aggravated manslaughter of his six-yearold son. By Stephanie Faughnan B A R N E G AT A n est i mated 50 0 children die at the hands of their parents every year in the United States. The 2021 t r ag ic de at h of Corey Micciolo, a f i r s t-g r a d e s t u dent from Barnegat brought this statistic close to home. A
jury convicted his father, 32-year-old Christopher Gregor, of child endangerment and aggravated manslaughter after a month-long trial. But why did this particular case capt u re i nter nat ional attention? One key factor was the involvement of (Trial - See Page 5)
Justice Alito’s Shore House In News Again By Stephanie Faughnan L ON G BE AC H ISLAND – A copyr ig hted photog raph depicting a group of handmaids visiting Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s summer home has been widely circulated without proper credit to
the Southern Ocean Times. It also contains misinformation about the timing of the event. Contrary to recent claims, the protest did not occu r this past weekend but on May 14, 2022. Renewed interest in Justice Alito’s Long Beach Island residence
emerged following reports that a controversial “Appeal to Heaven” f lag, associated with insurrectionists, was on display. However, Alito’s residence was not photographed, and its address was not released in conjunction with the 2022 article in (Alito’s - See Page 7)
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