The SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 12 - No. 14
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 9-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 19
Classifieds Pages 21
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October 5, 2024
“Come And Knock On Our Door:” Old Kmart To Be A Local Fun-Filled Helen Roper Romp
By Stephanie Faughnan LONG BEACH ISLAND – “Come and knock on our door We’ve been waiting for you!” That was the vibe on Long Beach Island as 45 women donned their best Helen Roper outfits and romped around for a day of pure nostalgia and fun. The bar crawl celebrated the quirky, free-spirited wife of grumpy landlord Stanley Roper from the beloved 1970s sitcom Three’s Company. Participants channeled the eccentric, quick-w it ted Helen Roper, portrayed by the late Audra Lindley, wearing floral caftans, clunky jewelry, and curly red wigs. The wigs served a dual purpose - no one needed to be worried about frizz and extra curls associated with the raindrenched day. The event was organized by Christine DeJianne and Rosemary (Roper - See Page 4)
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan The Kmart closed down seven years ago. By Stephanie Faughnan STAFFORD - Sources have revealed that preliminary plans to relocate the Manahawkin ShopRite from its current address at 295 Route 72 to 733 Route 72 do not include demolishing the entire structure vacated by Kmart in 2017. Saker Properties of Manahawkin, LLC is planning to renovate the existing Kmart building to create space for a (ShopRite - See Page 4)
Photo courtesy Christine DeJianne Helen Ropers competed for titles like “most original.”
Church Plans 17-Bed Homeless Shelter
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - Many of the neighborhood people weren’t aware that the Christ Church of Toms River at 415 Washington Street has been used to host a homelessness outreach program since July 2023. However, notification of plans to expand the location to include a 17-bed shelter quickly filled the room at a recent Board of Adjustment hearing. A zoning permit to allow the use of the church hall as an outreach center was
Home Of New ShopRite
approved in July 2023. Since then, homeless individuals in search of assistance have been visiting the church for various services. The Toms River Housing and Homeless Coalition oversees the Ocean County Housing Resource Center - a collaborative group of faith-based leaders, nonprofits, and government agencies. Since the outreach program began, over 500 individuals have sought assistance. Services at the center range from referrals for housing placements and food
pantries, resume help and even showers for the unhoused. Shelter Plans The church is located in an area zoned residential and requires a variance in order to provide overnight accommodations for the unhoused. A non-profit organization named the Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA) plans to manage the facility. (Homeless - See Page 5)
Nonprofits Funded To Fight Opioid Crisis By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - The Ocean County Board of Commissioners recently awarded $200,000 in preliminary four-month contracts to five non-profit organizations working to combat the opioid epidemic. The funds come from legal settlements with drug companies and distributors linked to the national opioid crisis with the fi rst round allocated through the end of 2024. If these programs are extended for two additional years, the non-profits could receive a total of $1.2 million. “These awards amount to $600,000 annually,” said Dr. Jamie Busch, Assistant Director of Ocean County Human Services. The contracts began in September and cover an (Crisis - See Page 6)
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