TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 20 - No. 7
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
First Responders Celebrated For Courage
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan
Government
Manchester Township EMT Dylan Tortorelli, Point Pleasant EMT Joshua Menack, and Toms River Police Officers Alex Van Lew and Charles Grainger with Senator Carmen Amato, Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer and 200 Club of Ocean Trustees.
Page 8
Community News
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 first responders and a Berkeley councilman received recognition for their courage and unwavering commitment
Pages 10-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 18
Inside The Law Page 14
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. Valor In The Face Of Danger Sgt. Paul Bachovchin of the Manchester Police Department stood out for his courageous actions during a tense standoff with an armed, suicidal individual.
the lead project manager with the company doing the work, gave a brief over view of the project during a recent Board of Education meeti ng. It involves replacing the roof and the structures supporting the roof. Flashing and sealants
will be used to keep the elements out. A water repellant liquid will be applied to the masonry after it is cleaned. The drainage system carrying water off the roof and away from the building will also be
(Repair - See Page 7)
(200 Club See Page 4)
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – The School Board agreed that they would raise taxes up to 9.9% but only if the state provides the rest of the money they need to balance the budget. Superintendent Michael Citta said this decision doesn’t raise taxes by itself. It sends a message to Trenton that the district is willing to meet them halfway so that they receive more state funding to fill in the gap. Replying to questions from a resident, officials clarified that the 9.9% is this year only, and that it doesn’t mean that the 9.9% increase won’t be compounded every year. At the center of the problem is that several years ago, a bill
called S-2 cut school aid year over year to a number of local districts. The other side is that districts are not allowed to raise taxes more than 2%. This has left a gap between what it takes to run a district and the two main forms of revenue – taxes and state aid - coming in to pay those bills. District officials said that the gap for next school year is $26.5 million. Two state bills were recently passed that gave schools some options in how to overcome the problem. One of them allows schools to apply for grants to get back 45% of what they lost this year. The other allows districts to raise taxes (School Taxes See Page 5)
John Camera’s Decades As Public Servant Remembered
Roof Repair Planned For School By Chris Lundy BEACHWOOD – Toms R iver I ntermediate South will see some roof repairs done this su m mer amid concer ns about the district’s finances. Ti m Sullivan of Becht Engineering,
“The Manchester Police Department received a call from a representative of a local Addiction Treatment Center, alerting them to a life-threatening situation,” said 200 Club of Ocean County President David G. Paulus. “Involving an individual who was traveling from Maryland to their location, claiming he was going to take his own life.” Paulus said the individual was armed with a .22 caliber firearm, and when he stopped on a local road, he pointed it at his own head. Bachovchin was credited with persuading the individual to drop the firearm without harming himself. “The sergeant utilized de-escalation training, maintained his composure, displayed patience, discipline, and good judgment,” summed up Paulus. “And with compassion and empathy,
June 22, 2024
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By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – John Camera, 68, wore a number of hats during his decades as a public official. The busine ss a d m i n ist r at or of Berkeley, School Boa rd P resident of Colts Neck, and former councilman and administrator of Seaside
Heights passed away f rom complications related to pancreatic cancer. “He was quite a man,” Mayor John Bacchione said. “He was an asset to the town.” A business administrator is the head of day-to-day operations for a town, answer-
ing only to the mayor. Those close to him said Camera was positive about fighting the disease, and didn’t let it slow him down. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of J o h n C a m e r a ,” said Bacchione, who (John Camera See Page 7)
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