The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 11 - No. 51
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Domestic Violence Awareness Poker Run: A Tale Of Hearts And Harleys
June 22, 2024
Barnegat Schools Abolish Transgender Policy
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Supporters of LGBTQ+ people cheered students speaking about equality.
Community News Pages 9-12
Dr. Izzy Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 19
Classifieds Page 22
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Dennis Devy, Jon Miller, and Jeffrey Martinez take a moment to pose before the future Captain Cow Chopper. By Stephanie Faughnan SOUTHERN OCEAN COUNTY – Tragedy can tear people apart – and even throw them into a deep abyss. And then, there’s the people from Hearts and Harleys, who have channeled grief into a powerful mission of hope and healing. Nearly ten years ago, now Barnegat resident
John Pabst received unfathomable news. His seven-year-old son Gavin Pabst and the child’s mother, Michelle Heist, were dead. Even more inconceivable – the two were murdered. John and Michelle were in the middle of a divorce when the devastating events unfolded on (Awareness - See Page 4)
First Responders Celebrated For Courage
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – The 200 Club of Ocean County shone a light on bravery and dedication at their 35th Annual Awards Reception. Over two dozen local fi rst responders and a Berkeley councilman received recognition for their cou r age a nd u nwaver i ng commitment to the safety of Ocean County residents. The evening began with the
Ocean County Sheriff’s Department’s Color Guard presenting the colors. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer, the county’s chief law enforcement officer, was among the officials who acknowledged the contributions of the honorees. Senator Carmen Amato (R-9) presented resolutions to the award recipients on behalf of the state legislature. (Courage - See Page 6)
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Ocean County Sheriff’s Department’s Color Guard presented the colors at the Reception.
By Stephanie Faughnan BARNEGAT – The local school board voted 5-3 to abolish its transgender student policy on June 11. The decision aligns with a trend seen in about 20 other New Jersey districts that have also repealed similar policies recently. The vote’s timing, coinciding with Pride Month, has sparked a debate within the community. Some board members advocated for further discussions and postponing the vote until July. Doreen Continanza, who serves as the Board’s Vice President and Chair of the Governance Committee, said the policies were poorly written from the state and that the district didn’t have the liberty to make changes to the verbiage. During the first reading of the motion to abolish the policy in May,
board member Sandra Churney detailed her reasons for opposing Policy 5756. Churney has consistently spoken out against the policy, saying it interferes with parental rights. Key provisions of the policy include allowing students to choose their preferred name and pronouns while keepi ng thei r bi r th name confidential and requiring staff to respect these preferences. School officials are also advised to work with the student to create an appropriate confidentiality plan regarding the student’s transgender or transitioning status. “Confidentiality plans are where the staff doesn’t tell you what’s going on with your children,” Churney shared. “That might be poorly written for you (parents) – parents need to pay attention to that.” T he Tr a n sgender Student Guidance for (Policy - See Page 5)
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