TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 20 - No. 30
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
A Ribbon-Cutting For Heroes: New VA Clinic Brings Care Closer To Home
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
The new VA Clinic is located on Hooper Avenue in Toms River.
Community News Pages 8-12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 19
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – With palpable excitement, VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal said it was great to be back home in New Jersey to celebrate the grand opening of the new VA Clinic on Hooper Avenue in Toms River. “I love this state and the tens of thousands of veterans who are going to benefit from this clinic for generations to come,” he said. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Elnahal joined a lineup of dignitaries addressing a crowd of more than 300
people gathered under a large tent outside the new clinic. The audience included veterans attending individually and as part of organized groups, alongside local, county, state, and federal officials, all united to celebrate the milestone for the veteran community. Elnahal estimated there are nearly 60,000 veterans between Monmouth and Ocean County alone and that other New Jersey veterans will benefit from the center. He described the opening as a major step forward, highlighting its alignment with the PACT Act, which expanded health-
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan care eligibility for veterans. This bipartisan legislation, signed by President Joe Biden, has significantly improved access to care for veterans exposed to toxic substances, including Agent Orange and burn pits. The new 68,000-square-foot facility, located on Hooper Avenue, doubles the capacity of the James J. Howard Outpatient Clinic in Brick and features expanded services, including primary care, mental health, cardiology, dental care, and a women’s health clinic. It offers telehealth, an infusion (VA Clinic - See Page 4)
November 30, 2024
Town Hall Sees Administrative Changes By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – An ordinance restructured departments and divisions in town hall. While the mayor and administration said this is a housekeeping measure, critics say it’s a power grab. The difference is between what constitutes a division and what constitutes a department. The ordinance that passed at the most recent Township Council meeting created four new divisions: Community Development; Health and Human Services; Recreation; and Parks, Buildings, and Grounds. These will replace departments of the same name. Mayor Daniel Rodrick said that this move is little more than a way to make the structure in town hall make sense. “We currently have the Division of Roads with over 50 employees and a Department of Senior Services with four employees,” he said. Sanitation is a division under the administration, although it’s one of the largest groups. Department heads and division heads both report to the business administrator anyway, he said. The only department heads that will be left on the books are the ones required by state statute. “I believe it’s a consolidation of power,” said Councilman James Quinlisk. He noted that a possible purpose was to undermine the Township Council. (Town Hall - See Page 13)
“The Spirit Of Scrooge”: A New Chapter Of A Classic Story By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – Have you ever thought about what happens to Ebenezer Scrooge after the events in “A Christmas Carol?” In the famous story, now nearly 200 years old, Scrooge is a cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas. He’s visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, resulting in Scrooge having a change of heart. But what if there’s more to the story?
“The Spirit of Scrooge” is a play written by local actor and director Corey Crawford that covers one more chapter in the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. Crawford is a member of the Guild Theaterworks, which put on “A Christmas Carol” a couple years ago. The show being their first full scale Christmas production in a long time sparked the idea of continuing the story. “It goes back a couple years ago when we
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first did the traditional Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol.’ I had the idea of exploring what Scrooge’s life became after all the events of Christmas Carol,” Crawford explained. In 2023, Crawford wrote the play “A New Scrooge” which took place in the year after “A Christmas Carol.” “The Spirit of Scrooge” carries on with Scrooge’s tale years later. “The new play jumps further down the road, (Scrooge - See Page 18)
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Photo courtesy Corey Crawford Corey Crawford as Ebenezer Scrooge and Christine Pryor as Mrs. Scrooge
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