TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 20 - No. 36
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Jewish Federation Honors Heroes Against Hate
January 11, 2025
Commissioner Quinn Bids Farewell To County Office
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Photo by Bob Vosseller Gary Quinn, seen here being sworn in with family in 2022, chose not to run for re-election in last fall’s general election.
Government Page 8
Community News Pages 9-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Inside The Law Page 19
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan (L to R) Avi Kotler, Father Michael Lorentsen, Prosecutor Brad Billhimer, Reisa Sweet, Dr. Henry Jackson, Ariel Ifrah, Managing Director of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County Keith Krivitzky and Chairwoman of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County Annabel Lindenbaum (not pictured Chief Gregory Meyer). By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - The Jewish Federation of Ocean County honored five individuals and one organization for their dedication to combating hate and promoting unity at a special event at the Clarion Hotel. The evening, which celebrated
local “Heroes Against Hate,” was attended by community members, activists, and leaders. “In recent years, we’ve been honoring local heroes against hate, recognizing that hate, in all its forms, including antisemitism, has been on the up-
swing,” said Jewish Federation of Ocean County Chairwoman Annabel Lindenbaum. “And the best way to counter that is for diverse communities and people to be upstanders and stand up against hate together.” T he recog nition alig ns (Heroes - See Page 4)
Local Mom Thanks Lifesaving Team After Rare Heart Crisis
By Stephanie Faughnan BRICK - Eva Maravelias and her husband Brian Wenckebach walked into the conference room at Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center (OUMC) in Brick, overcome with emotion. Nearly a year ago, Eva had been wheeled into the hospital, barely clinging to life
after a rare and catastrophic heart condition tore through her arteries. The 45-year-old mother of two returned to the hospital to thank the “first angels” who stabilized her during the most harrowing moment of her life. The reunion brought together the OUMC’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab team, the air med-
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ical flight crew, and a cardiac rehabilitation nurse who helped her recover from spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a rare and potentially fatal heart condition. “I couldn’t open my eyes and couldn’t speak to you guys,” Eva recalled, tears welling up. “But in my mind, I was praying. I could
hear your voices, and I knew God was with me. You were all part of my journey.” The reunion was emotional for everyone involved. Eva exchanged hugs, starting with Dr. Arthur Okere, the interventional cardiologist who led her care, the nurses who stayed by her side (Heart - See Page 6)
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By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – For years Gary Quinn has been a public servant. He’s served on the schoolboard and Lacey Township Committee, county boards and for two terms, as a member of the Board of Ocean County Commissioners but now he’ll be focusing more on family and maybe some Lacey Township interests. Quinn, a longtime Republican, didn’t run for re-election last year. He and fellow commissioner Barbara Jo Crea did not receive the endorsement of the Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore who instead chose Manchester Mayor Robert Arace and Berkeley Township Board of Education President Jennifer Bacchione, whose husband serves as mayor of Berkeley Township, to take their place on the party ticket. “It has been 26 years. I was fortunate enough to get involved on the school board and spent five years there. I went on to the governing body in Lacey and then spent the last six years being on the county board,” Quinn remarked. Quinn was the first to be sworn in as a commissioner after the state retired the title of “Freeholder” on that board making it a Board of Commissioners although the term Freeholder is often mistakenly used out of habit after generations of reference by officials, professional staff and residents. “Every day we wake up is a blessing,” Quinn said in an interview with Micromedia Publications/ Jersey Shore Online.com. Quinn also served on the (Quinn - See Page 6)
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