The BERKELEY Times Vol. 32 - No. 2
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Local Man’s Plight Shows How Life-Saving Kidney Donations Are
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Government Page 7
Community News Pages 8-9
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 15
Inside The Law Page 12
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Photo courtesy Janice Holm Michael Patrisso (second from right) was joined by family for a Father’s Day celebration. By Chris Lundy BERKELEY - Michael Patrisso worked hard so that he could retire at 65 and enjoy the good life. Put his boat in the lagoon behind his house and leave all the worries behind. He retired from owning a Servpro franchise and almost immediately got
sick. The 73-year-old who fought hard for his whole life is now in a position he doesn’t like to be in – asking for help. Born and raised in Clifton, he lived in New England for a time before moving to the shore eight years ago. Two sisters live in Holiday City, so Ocean County
was on his radar. It started innocently enough with kidney stones. For most people, these are very painful but most of the time patients continue without any repercussions after they pass. However, in his situation, they ruined his kidneys. They weren’t draining. This led to problems with his ureter, bladder and prostate. “It snowballed very quickly,” Patrisso said. Surgeons removed his prostate and bladder. Stents created infections which also impacted the kidneys. He went through every doctor he could in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and even Massachusetts. He even spent time at the Mayo Clinic. “They book you solid. They give you eight to ten appointments a day,” he said. Throughout this ordeal, he’s had his partner Jan-
ice Holm by his side. “I don’t know how I’d do it without her.” “Every imaginable test, they’ve done,” she said. Kidney function is measured in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which reveals how much of your blood is being cleaned by the kidneys. Patrisso’s GFR is around 14-17 percent, he said. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 15 or higher denotes kidney disease, while lower than 15 is kidney failure. “But I feel good,” Patrisso said, despite being in Stage 5 kidney failure. He certainly doesn’t look sick, either. He recently hosted his kids for Father’s Day. Still, the numbers don’t lie. He needs a new kidney to survive. A live donor will help right away. Waiting for a posthumous one could be eight-ten years, which (Kidney Donations See Page 4)
Democrat Chair Retains Leadership In GOP-Strong County
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan (Clockwise from left) The leaders of the Ocean County Democrats are Chairman Wyatt Earp, Treasurer Dan Ward, Corresponding Secretary Dave Dolan, and Vice Chair Kathy Frisch.
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By Stephanie Faughnan OCEAN COUNTY - Longtime Ocean County Democratic Chairman Wyatt Earp secured another four-year term, defeating reform challenger Alison Miller in a closely watched leadership battle that exposed deep divisions within the county party while also highlighting a shared desire to rebuild Democratic representation in one of New Jersey’s most Republican counties. Parliamentarian Jeff Horn announced
that Earp defeated Miller by a vote of 230-180 during the Ocean County Democratic Organization’s reorganization convention. The victory extends Earp’s tenure atop the organization to more than two decades. He has served as county chairman since 2005. Joining Earp on the victorious Team OC Dems slate were Vice Chair Kathy Frisch, Recording Secretary Gabe Franco, Corresponding Secretary Dan (Democrat Chair - See Page 10)
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Driver Sentenced In DWI Hit-And-Run That Killed Local Restaurateur
Photo courtesy Ocean County Jail Genell Mcinaw By Jason Allentoff TOMS RIVER - A Seaside Park woman was sentenced to five years in state prison for driving drunk, striking 75-year-old Robert “Bob” Popovics in Seaside Heights and leaving the scene, authorities said. Genell McInaw, 51, was sentenced June
24 by Superior Court Judge Ken neth T. Palmer after previously pleading guilty to vehicular homicide, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Popovics, also of Seaside Park, was a Mar ine veteran, n at ion al ly k now n fly-fishing expert and longtime owner of the Shady Rest restaurant in Berkeley Township. His death drew widespread attention throughout the Jersey Shore restaurant and fishing communities. Under the No Early Release Act, McInaw must serve at least (Hit and Run See Page 5)
Bipartisan Bill Could Make Housing Affordable By Stephanie Faughnan JERSEY SHORE - An interview scheduled with United States Senator Andy Kim about the passage of a major bipartisan housing package took on added significance after President Donald Trump canceled plans to sign the legislation just hours before the ceremony was expected to take place. Trump had been expected to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on June 24, but canceled the ceremony, later saying he would not sign the measure until Congress passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. (Bipartisan Bill - See Page 10)
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