TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 21 - No. 42
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Transitional Housing Shelter To Be Discussed
February 21, 2026
County’s Fire Service Grows With 25 Grads
BREAKING NEWS @
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Members of the Fall 2025 Firefighter recruit class stand at attention during their graduation ceremony at Lacey Township High School.
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 8
Community News Pages 9-12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 18
Inside The Law Page 21
By Stephanie Faughnan OCEAN COUNTY - Twenty-five new firefighters earned their badges during a graduation ceremony at Lacey Township High School, marking the completion of six months of intensive training through the Ocean County Fire Academy. The Fall 2025 Firefighter recruit class completed more than 300 hours of classroom instruction and rigorous drill ground training as part of the Ocean County Fire Academy program. With the presentation of their badges, the graduates formally began a lifelong commitment to public service. The ceremony opened with an honor guard from the Ocean County Vocational Technical School public safety program, followed by a formal salute to the flag. The national anthem was performed
Photo courtesy Interfaith This house near St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church is used by Interfaith Family Services in Toms River to help families find their footing. By Chris Lundy and Jason Allentoff TOMS RIVER – A house being used as a transitional shelter for families will be the focus of an upcoming meeting that may impact opportunities for unhoused people. A six-bedroom house on Lexington Avenue is owned by St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. It’s used by Interfaith Family Services in Toms River (despite the name, they serve Ocean County) to help families in need.
The program will be before the Township Zoning Board, which meets at 6:30 p.m. on March 12 in town hall. It had originally been scheduled for the February meeting, but that was cancelled due to a pipe leak in the building. The upcoming meeting gave an opportunity to open the door and look inside the current operation. Not literally, of course. Interfaith protects the privacy of the people they serve.
(Fire Grads - See Page 4)
(Shelter - See Page 7)
Bayside Chapel Rolls Out The Red Carpet For Night To Shine
Photos by Stephanie Faughnan (Left) DJ Chuck “Hype” Gookins leads guests in a high-energy dance on stage as the celebration reaches full swing at Bayside Chapel’s Night to Shine event. (Right) Night to Shine guests share a joyful moment on the dance floor at Bayside Chapel.
VETERAN & FIRST RESPONDER
DISCOUNTS OFFERED
By Stephanie Faughnan BARNEGAT - Bayside Chapel became a palace for its annual Night to Shine prom, welcoming guests with special needs to an evening designed entirely around one idea: everyone deserves to feel celebrated. Sparkling lights shimmered on the ceiling. Music pulsed through the halls. A red carpet stretched across the entrance as volunteers cheered for each arrival. Lacey Limousines pulled up outside. A horse and carriage from Giddy Up Ranch circled
Carmona ~ Bolen Home for Funerals, LLC Michael J. Defonzo Jr., Manager • NJ Lic #4075
the property, offering guests a royal ride beneath the winter sky. For three hours, Bayside Chapel became absolutely magical. The honored guests ranged in age from 14-yearolds attending their first prom to seniors in their 60s and 70s who were just as eager to claim the dance floor. Some arrived with their wheelchairs decorated for the occasion. Others leaned on buddies for guidance. Some were non-verbal. None of that mattered. (Night To Shine - See Page 5)
Affordable Cremation Packages: Starting at $1900
Includes: Removal from Hospital or Facility within 25 miles of funeral home, all funeral home service fees, required cremation container MCDDT-01. Excludes: Crematory Fees, death certificates and residential removal fee. Call us for your Custom Memorial Service with Urn Package Pricing.
TOMS RIVER • 732-349-1922 Traditional Funerals • Cremations • Memorials • Pre-Planning | www.carmonabolenfh.com WHITING • 732-350-0003