Around Toms River: Coronavirus Update, School Board Members Sworn

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The first week of the New Year kicked off with the Toms River township council and school board holding their reorganization meetings for 2021.

Ocean County remains in the orange "high risk" category due to the rates of transmission of the coronavirus. As of Sunday, Ocean County had 36,076 cases, up 2,525 from 33,551 on Jan. 3. The growth in the number of new cases has slowed slightly, however.

Toms River has 466 new cases in that time, with 6,031, up from 5,565 on Jan. 3, according to the Ocean County Health Department.

There have been more than 528,000 cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey since March, including 5,032 new ones reported Sunday, according to the state Department of Health COVID-19 website. As of Saturday, 3,589 people were hospitalized due to the coronavirus, with 625 in intensive care and 431 patients on ventilators, according to the state COVID-19 website. The number of COVID-19 patients in ICUs and those on ventilators has decreased over the last week.

Deaths in Ocean County have risen from 1,057 as of Nov. 29 to 1,377, and Toms River has seen an increase from 179 to 234.

Around town

The Township Council reorganized and Councilman Kevin Geoghegan was voted council president, with Councilwoman Maria Maruca as vice president for 2021. The council's next meeting is Tuesday, and the council also will be meeting Jan. 26.

The Toms River Regional Board of Education also reorganized. Michele Williams was sworn in to her second term on the board, and Lisa Contessa and Ashley Palmiere were sworn in to their first terms. Joseph Nardini was elected board president and Anna Polozzo was elected board vice president by 6-3 votes. Board members Kathy Eagan, Jennifer Howe and Kevin Kidney voted against Nardini and Polozzo, while Williams, Contessa, Palmiere, Alex Mizenko and Nardini and Polozzo voted in favor.

It's a schism that bears watching as the school year progresses under Interim Superintendent Thomas Gialanella, including during efforts to hire a new superintendent. Eagan and Nardini are conflicted and cannot vote on matters involving the superintendent, as both have relatives who work in the district. But there was vocal dissatisfaction expressed during the reorganization meeting by Eagan in particular.

The school board has committee meetings scheduled for Wednesday evening, and its next full business meeting is set for Jan. 20.

Also:

ShopRite announced 39 of its pharmacies will be giving the COVID-19 vaccinations, including one in Toms River: Toms River ShopRite Pharmacy To Give COVID-19 Vaccinations

The Ocean County Health Department said it has seen strong demand for the vaccine in the county, despite vocal opposition. COVID-19 Vaccine Demand Strong In Ocean County

Toms River senior citizens can still apply for the state's "senior freeze" property tax rebate program. Toms River Seniors Urged To Apply For NJ Property Tax Rebates

Toms River Police K-9s Kylo, Riggs To Receive Protective Vests

This article has been updated to correct the meeting date for the Toms River Township Council. Patch regrets the error.

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