The BRICK Times Vol. 24 - No. 25
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
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Community News Pages 9-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Inside The Law Page 17
Classifieds Pages 21
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Trap Neuter Return Program Humanely Reduces Feral Cat Population cats that have been abandoned, lost or have adapted to living on their own. Brick has an estimated 80 cat colonies with some 453 cats, with each colony ranging from three to 10 cats. The colony caretakers sign an agreement with TNR that they will care for and feed the animals and keep them sheltered and warm in the winter, said committee chair John Talty, who served as a Brick police officer for 30 years before retiring in 2017. The TNR Committee meets every four to six Photo courtesy Catherine G. weeks, with some 20 residents attending the most Feral cats live out their lives in the wild after being fixed to recent meeting held at stop the constant influx of kittens. Town Hall on October 15. During the meeting, Talty By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - There is humane support in the said they were able to distribute some 1,000 township for anyone who is feeding stray pounds of cat food that had been donated or abandoned cats: the Trap-Neuter-Release from veterinarians of soon-to-expire cat (TNR) Program exists to help feral cat colony food, donations from shoppers at Petco, caretakers spay, neuter and vaccinate the ani- where there is a drop-off bin for feral cats, mals, which ultimately helps to halt the number and from private donations. When Catherine G. (she prefers that her last of kittens born in the wild. (Trap Neuter - See Page 4) Feral cats are the offspring of domesticated
October 26, 2024
Six Seek Seats On School Board
By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – Brick Township residents will have the chance to choose between six candidates to fill three seats on the Board of Education in the November election. The Board of Education will be seeing big changes after this election season, as two incumbents are not seeking re-election – Board President Stephanie Wohlrab and member Nicole Siebert. Wohlrab was elected in 2015 and is currently completing her ninth year on the board. Siebert was elected to her first term in 2018 and is finishing her sixth year on the board. School board races are supposed to be nonpartisan, so the candidates aren’t referred to by their political party. Instead, they are allowed to have a short slogan after their name. Current member Victoria Pakala is seeking her fourth term on the board. She was first elected in 2015 and is running on the “Believe in Brick” slogan. She is joined by newcomers John Henry and Nancy Ellson Pakala worked as a special education teacher for about 25 years and is currently retired. She was an active PTA member who organized fundraisers, events, activities and chaired various PTA programs. Henry is a retired teacher from public education after 29 years. He worked for the New Jersey School Boards Association as the senior manager of their STEAM and Sustainable Jersey programs. He’s a member of Brick’s Green Team and former PTA member of the Collingswood School District. Ellson holds a Master’s of Science in Nursing and Post-Master’s degree - Psychiatric/MH Nurse Practitioner. She is a nurse practitioner. (School Board - See Page 4)
A Vet Describes His Calling To Advocate For Other Veterans
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Phil Zimmerman, Director/ Service Officer of the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau, proudly shows a hand-crafted gift a veteran gave him.
By Stephanie Faughnan OCEAN COUNTY - With more than 35,000 former service members, Ocean County has a larger veteran population than any other New Jersey county. Men and women who have served in conflicts across generations face unique challenges in civilian life. Phil Zimmerman, Director/ Service Officer of the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau, leads the local fight for their rights. Zimmerman’s own personal journey makes
him an advocate who truly understands the struggles faced by those who have worn the uniform. His own case file is several inches thick, representing years of bureaucratic battles and personal hardship. It’s also a symbol of Zimmerman’s commitment to fighting for veterans who face their own challenges, whether they are dealing with the complexities of healthcare, disability claims, or the emotional scars of service. “I know what it feels like to be lost, to not know where to turn,” Zimmerman said.
“That’s why I’m here - to make sure no veteran feels like they’re alone in this.” One Soldier’s Journey Zimmerman’s path to championing veteran causes began with his own service in the U.S. Navy. From 1980 to 1986, he served as a cryptologic technician, specializing in Arabic and Farsi languages. Zimmerman’s linguistic talents and dedication earned him the distinction as the Navy’s top Farsi (Veterans - See Page 16)
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