The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 12 - No. 19
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
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Community News Pages 8-13
Dr. Izzy Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 19
Classifieds Page 21
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JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
November 9, 2024
Tree Dedicated To Memory Local Students Paint New Life On Of Coast Guard Hero By Stephanie Recycling Igloos Faughnan
LACEY – A quiet reverence filled the air as Patricia Bye and her husband, David, led a dedication service to a majestic Nordmann fir, now towering at the Lacey Elks Lodge. The tree stands as a tribute to their son, U.S. Coast Guard FN Jeffrey M. Svoboda, honoring his bravery and sacrifice. Jeffrey Svoboda was just 25 years old when he tragically lost his life on active duty in 2010 while serving in the capacity of EE3 fireman/military law enforcement at Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Jeffrey joined the Coast Guard in 2003 and served with distinction, receiving numerous commendations and a special letter from the Coast Guard Com ma nd a nt for a life-saving mission off the coast of New Jersey. As the President of the American Gold Star
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Patricia and David Bye led a dedication service to a tree that was relocated to the Lacey Elks in honor of their fallen hero son, Jeffrey M. Svoboda. Mothers, Department of NJ, Patricia is no stranger to honoring fallen heroes. While time may have softened the pain of losing her son, it is a void Patricia will forever carry. She and David made it through the ceremony with an amazing display of strength and grace. “In 2011, we planted
this memorial tree in the front of our yard at our then new home in Waretown,” Patricia shared. “We chose this Nordmann fir tree as a symbolic gesture, be cau se Ch r ist ma s was Jeffrey’s favorite holiday. We wanted to decorate the tree every Christmas as a fond memory and to honor him.”
The tree’s journey to the Elks Lodge was anything but simple. T he r elo c at ion r e quired over a year of persistence, several setbacks, and f inally, a stroke of luck. When the Byes sold their Waretown home to move to Forked River in 2023, the sales contract stipulated their (Heros - See Page 4)
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Robyn-Kate Buenaventura, Jaylisse Cruz, Kaylee Janssen, Sofia Leonard, and Isabella Martinez collaborated on a mural showcasing sea creatures, migratory birds, and even a red fox. By Stephanie Faughnan BARNEGAT - Be on the lookout for some fancy new art in town - murals that just happen to be painted on two recycling igloos. In collaboration with the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management, Barnegat High School art students have redefined the concepts of “reuse” and “renew.” They’ve proven that even the most mundane objects can become masterpieces. The talented junior and senior high school students who worked on the project are all in advanced placement art classes and are National Art Honor Society members. Their advisors, art teachers Astin Williams and Nina Polcino, guided them through the creative process. (Igloos - See Page 5)
The TomS River HalLoweEn Parade: Where HorRorS LurK
Theo and Iris scrambled down the street as zombies.
By Chris Lundy TOMS R I V ER – Where else but Toms River could you see a haunted pirate ship sail down Main Street? Where else could disco zombies follow marching robots? Where else could children duel with glowing swords while waiting for the
horror to begin? Toms River, of course! T he second-la rgest Halloween parade in A mer ica descended upon the downtown area. As evening grew dark, people lined up on the sides of the road to watch. Witches and werewolves snacked on pizza and a pirate
carried a stainless steel water bottle instead of a bottle of grog. One woman wore an elegant dress and antenna that suggested a moth, while the cryptid mothman silently glided through the crowd, eyes glowing. During the day, it (Parade - See Page 5)
Photos by Chris Lundy If the Barnegat School System is missing their haunted bus, we think we found it.
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