The HOWELL Times
Vol. 23 - No. 31
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
January 10, 2026
Heroes Against Hate Honored
Local Talent Takes Center Stage
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 6-7
Dear Pharmacist Page 9
Inside The Law Page 9
Classifieds Page 13
Photo by Andrew Rice Mike Galligan and Karen Bowdan perform their country music at the Southard Grange’s open mic night. By Andrew Rice HOWELL - The Southard Grange hosted its first monthly open mic night of 2026, where talents from across the local area took the stage to share their diverse music and poetry. Several different genres of music were played and sung by nine different acts for the crowd to enjoy, spanning from original country songs to Elvis Presley being played on an accordion. The event itself was put on by the grange to establish a sense of community, spread the word of their organization, and to find a way to bring people together. Food was available for eventgoers to make a plate, and tables were set up so that attendees could sit together while the music played. The first performers at the event were guitarist Mike Galligan and flute player Karen Bowdan. They specialized in country music and sang a few
original songs during their time on the mic. Other acts that followed them included an accordion player who played a lot of Elvis Presley songs, a guitarist who specialized in 80s rock, and a poet who read a few original works while on the mic. The Southard Grange is run by a group that is dedicated to giving back to the community. They have done volunteer work with local pet associations including the Jersey Shore Animal Center and they also have plans in the works to do a stockings for soldiers drive next year, to do volunteer work at local senior centers, and will be helping out one of the other granges in north Jersey with a veterans benefit theater. The grange itself was originally founded to be a gathering place for farmers. When granges were first popping up around the country in the late (Local Talent - See Page 2)
VA Clinic Officially Named For Army Hero
By Andrew Rice JERSEY SHORE - The Veterans Administration clinic just hosted its official naming ceremony, as it will now be known as the Leonard G ‘Bud’ Lomell VA Clinic. Leonard ‘Bud’ Lomell was a local World War II hero. After his service, he assisted other veterans when they arrived home via his work with the local veterans affairs offices. His impact rippled throughout the local veterans communities in Toms River. Photo by Andrew Rice Lomell’s service included the raid on Pointe Du Hoc with the Army Rangers Bud Lomell’s family and Army Ranger veteran as a part of the D-Day invasion. The Rangers scaled the 100-foot cliffs of their John Wardell gathered in front of the picture landing zones but could not find the artillery they were sent to destroy at first. (VA Clinic - See Page 3) of the VA Clinic with his name on it.
GOLD Exceeds $4,500 an Ounce! OVER 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS
HIGHEST RATED CASH FOR GOLD STORE IN OCEAN COUNTY
SILVER Nears $70 an Ounce!
90% SILVER • MEDALLIONS FLATWARE • SCRAP • JEWELRY TEA SETS • TRAYS • PITCHERS CANDELABRAS
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan George Josephsen of Toms River holds the inaugural Mensch Award, presented in recognition of decades of service through the Rotary Club. By Stephanie Faughnan JERSEY SHORE - In a year marked by rising antisemitism and deepening divisions, the Jewish Federation of Ocean County once again recognized those who chose a different path. During a Community of Caring celebration, the Federation honored Heroes Against Hate at the Clarion Hotel. The annual event brought together a cross section of Ocean County’s civic life. Elected officials, law enforcement leaders, faith representatives, and longtime community volunteers filled the room. The purpose was not simply to celebrate individual accomplishments, but to underscore a shared responsibility. Hate does not disappear on its own. It is pushed back when people are willing to stand up, speak out, and protect one another. Keith Krivitzky, the Federation’s executive director, served as master of ceremonies. He emphasized that standing against hate is not reserved for moments of crisis. It is a daily choice that shapes community culture, and silence is never neutral. He described an attack on a Hanukkah candle-lighting celebration in Bondi Beach near Sydney, Australia, where two terrorists opened fire on a gathering meant to share light. In response, Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian Muslim father of two, risked his life to disarm one of the attackers and was shot multiple times in the process. Though the incident occurred far from Ocean County, Krivitzky said it reflected the purpose (Honored - See Page 2)
RATED 5 STARS - OVER 1000 POSITIVE REVIEWS!
156 RT 37 EAST • TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753
609-781-6559