The BRICK Times Vol. 25 - No. 43
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Store Opens That Doesn’t Charge People In Need
February 28, 2026
Consumer Affairs Makes A Difference
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
Community News Page 9-12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 15
Inside The Law Page 17
Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn Choose Love Celebrate Life is like any other store, except that everything is free. By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - As a 14-year old runaway living in a shelter, Tiffany deSousa recalls a colorful, hand-knit woolen hat that came in as a donation that she imagined was handed down from grandchild to great-grandchild that could have been thrown away, “but it kept my ears warm,” she said decades later. As the founder of Choose Love Celebrate Life (CLCL) deSousa is the force behind Community Threads, a store that does not charge shoppers for donated items, now open at the township-owned Civic Plaza in a nocost leased storefront. There are no shelters for homeless youth in Ocean, Monmouth or Atlantic Counties, so deSousa founded
the non-profit organization in late 2023. “It’s very important that we restore that service,” she said. “It’s going to take a little bit more work to get a shelter up and running, and in the meantime it’s important that we really prevent family crises, prevent runaway homeless youth because there is no place for them to safely turn, so prevention is even more crucial.” CLCL has been rolling out several pilot programs and initiatives - including Community Threads - which is actually the second phase of a three-part “Community Cares” pilot program. The first phase of the Community Cares pilot program is the Community Cares Connection Line where (Store Open - See Page 4)
Underwear Run Draws Attention To Good Cause
Photo by Chris Lundy A few dozen people showed up and showed off for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
By Chris Lundy JERSEY SHORE – As a reporter, I’m asked to cover a number of special events throughout the year: fundraisers, street festivals, etc. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to take part in the event and write the article about my experiences. Fortunately for you, this is not that article. There were, however, a few dozen other people who braved the cold weather and ran in their underwear to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. They assembled at the Beachcomber Bar and Grill in Seaside Heights, spending a few hours on registration, drinks and dancing before the run kicked off. According to the Children’s Tumor Foundation, NF occurs in approximately 1 in every 2,000 births. NF refers to a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors
GOLD Exceeds $4,500 an Ounce! OVER 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS
HIGHEST RATED CASH FOR GOLD STORE IN OCEAN COUNTY
(Underwear Run - See Page 4)
SILVER Nears $70 an Ounce!
90% SILVER • MEDALLIONS FLATWARE • SCRAP • JEWELRY TEA SETS • TRAYS • PITCHERS CANDELABRAS
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Several members of the Ocean County Office of Consumer Affairs attended a recent Ocean County Commissioners meeting, where the department was recognized for its work. By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - A grieving widow waited months for her husband’s headstone. A senior feared he would soon be living in his van. A shopper bought meat stamped “fresh” that investigators later said was not. Those cases may seem unrelated, but they all landed on the desk of the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs. During a recent Ocean County Board of Commissioners meeting, Director Ronald Heinzman offered a detailed look at the work his department performs when residents feel they have run out of options. Price Gouging Explained Following the late January ice and snowstorm that preceded February’s blizzard, Consumer Affairs received calls from residents concerned about potential price gouging, particularly involving road salt. Heinzman explained that under New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act, price gouging laws take effect only when the governor declares a state of emergency. If a business raises prices more than 10 percent above the pre-emergency price, it may constitute a violation. However, he cautioned that not every high price is illegal. “In the summer, we field numerous calls that a gas station is price gouging,” Heinzman said. “It’s not price gouging. It’s what a consumer is willing to pay for it.” He reported that no complaints were filed (Consumer Affairs - See Page 5)
RATED 5 STARS - OVER 1000 POSITIVE REVIEWS!
156 RT 37 EAST • TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753
609-781-6559