TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 20 - No. 34
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Donors Share Food And Toys As They “Share The Joy”
In This Week’s Edition
WOBM Christmas Classic To Hear Final Buzzer
By Chris Christopher JERSEY SHORE – It’s the end of an era. The final jumpers, final layups, final points, final rebounds, final assists, final steals and final blocked shots will take place this month in the 40th annual WOBM Christmas Classic, a boys and girls high school basketball event in Toms River. “The decision (to conclude the Classic) was mine and mine alone,” Classic director Kevin Williams said on Facebook. “I am technically retired from Townsquare Media/WOBM (an FM radio station) and as many know I am working for Jersey Mike’s Subs in marketing. Forty years of giving up Christmas week is enough, especially with two grandkids who live
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Government Page 7
(WOBM - See Page 5)
Community News Pages 9-13
Photo by Chris Lundy
Marissa Spencer, promotions assistant, sorts donations.
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 19
December 28, 2024
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – Although most people bring food home from grocery stores, there were some who were bringing food to a grocery store. Share The Joy, 100.1 WJRZ’s annual donation drive, once again set up shop by the ShopRite on
Fischer Boulevard in Toms River to fill a Pepsi tractor trailer with donations that go to a number of good causes. They were accepting food donations that would go to Fulfill Monmouth and Ocean’s Toms River Pantry; dog and cat food, pet accessories and toys for the
Jersey Shore Animal Center; gift cards, Lego sets, board games, and arts and crafts for ages 6-18 for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Coastal New Jersey; and monetary donations to any of those organizations. On the afternoon of a visit from this newspaper, it was Dan Turi’s
Wreaths Placed To Remember Veterans
(Joy - See Page 4)
Barbara Jo Crea Reflects On Her Time As Commissioner
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – In just one term as an Ocean County Commissioner, Barbara “Bobbi” Jo Crea leaves with some commendable accomplishments. During this past year, Crea served as the board’s director, a role traditionally held by senior members. While her time as a commis-
sioner was brief, her career in public service spans decades. Crea served four terms on the Little Egg Harbor Township Committee and was mayor in 2006, 2007, 2019, and 2020. Transitioning to county-level service brought new challenges, but Crea embraced them with determination. “When I was elected to this
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position, I promised to treat it as a full-time job, and I did just that,” Crea said. Her daily commute from Little Egg Harbor to Toms River often included long days and latenight meetings to keep county operations running. One of Crea’s most significant achievements was her (Commissioner - See Page 4)
Photo courtesy Brick Township Volunteers lay wreaths at Gravelly Graveyard to remember those who served.
Photo courtesy Ocean County Barbara Jo Crea
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