TOMS RIVER, N.J. – To celebrate American Heart Month and to encourage people of all ages to dance and keep moving as a way to stay heart healthy, Community Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, will host its annual Dancing for Heart Health event on Saturday, February 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Ocean County Mall on Hooper Avenue in Toms River.

Heart disease and stroke are both leading killers of American adults, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer. Since 1963, the Untied Statues Congress has proclaimed February American Heart Month to educate the public of the dangers of heart disease and the importance of a heart healthy lifestyle.

Community Medical Center’s Dancing for Heart Health event is an opportunity for people of all ages to get their heart pumping and learn healthy heart habits. Participants may stop by throughout the day and learn basic steps to take to achieve optimal heart health. Groups from local dance schools will perform throughout the day and guests at the event are welcome to dance alongside with them. Free blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index screenings will be offered throughout the day and those who stop by can find information on cardiology, oncology, sleep, diabetes and stroke services as well.

The event is free and pre-registration is not required. For more information on heart health or for a referral to a cardiologist, call 1-888-724-7123 or visit rwjbh.org/heart.

About Community Medical Center
Community Medical Center (CMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is dedicated to advancing the quality of life and health of the greater Ocean County region by providing safe, high quality care. CMC is a fully accredited acute care hospital and maintains national accreditations in multiple specialty areas. Highly sophisticated services, not typically found in a community hospital, include advanced cancer, cardiac, emergency, maternity and neurology care, as well as cutting edge surgical care. Patients have access to advanced technology including the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical platform, Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System for joint replacement procedures and state-of-the-art imaging technology. RWJBarnabas Health and CMC, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. The J. Phillip Citta Regional Cancer Center at CMC features one of the most sophisticated linear accelerators used for radiation therapy, a CyberKnife for treating inoperable tumors and holistic therapies to care for the whole person. CMC provides a broad array of health and wellness programs designed to help people achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles and optimal health. Visit rwjbh.org/community for more information.

TOMS RIVER, NJ-New Jersey 101.5 radio host Bill Spadea has gone on an all-out rage-fit against New York Met Todd Frazier, along with his trolls.    Frazier committed the ultimate sin in Spadea’s eye, sticking up for his hometown school district.   Like Spadea, but unlike Spadea, because I’m also a product of the Toms River School District, we’re all mad at what happened to the district over the years.     Spadea, from his perch in Princeton, lashed out at anyone who supported fixing the district.

Spadea called the $40 something million dollar state funding portion an unfair tax to the rest of the state, but Spadea sounds just like every other Trenton Democrat on that subject over the past 20 years.   You see, our local districts and taxpayers, we have been funding underperforming, failing school districts for decades, through the Abbott district funding scheme and now through the Sweeney-Murphy school tax funding plan.

For decades, Bill, Ocean County taxpayers have paid for more than their fair share of school taxes that were siphoned out of the school districts and into failing districts like Newark, Camden, Elizabeth, East Orange, Paterson, Trenton and the list goes on.   While we pay for hundren-million dollar state of the art facilities in those cities, our districts, Toms River, Brick, Jackson, Central Regional and others have suffered.

Now, Bill the Republican gets pissy when Toms River gets a small portion of their losses back, but that’s just the facts on the subject at hand, Bill.

Like they say on the internet, “Educate yourself”.

I have known Todd since his early days in the minors and know him to be nothing more than a class act, a role model professional athlete and somebody who gives back to his community.  He has done more for Toms River and youth sports for Ocean County than any other professional athlete I know.    After Hurricane Sandy, who came home to support the community?  That’s right, it was Todd Frazier…and Frankie Edgar.    I don’t recall Bill Spadea coming down this way…ever.

Who shows up at our Little League facilities when kids are playing ball to cheer them on?   I can’t remember how many times now, Todd Frazier has shown up to help the kids in our community.

When local Little League teams are in the State Championship and beyond, who makes a facetime live call to the dugout to cheer on and give the kids positive support? That would be Todd Frazier too…not sure when the last time Bill Spadea did something like that.

Who is there for the community anytime he is asked to support a local charity, support group, team, school, even a local business…that would also be Todd Frazier.

The man made it to the big leagues and not only did he not forget his roots, every off-season he makes those roots stronger to the best of his ability…he’s a class act.

That’s why Spadea isn’t finding much support in his battle against Frazier in this neck of the woods, even from people who might even slightly agree with his take on the referendum.  Spadea is attacking the wrong guy.

You won’t know any of the above from Frazier because well, he doesn’t toot his own horn either, he just does what he does because he is who he is.

Here’s a great Frazier story.   A few years ago, I was in Disney getting my son a haircut at the barber just inside the front gate.  Sitting next to me was a little boy about age 5 or so.  He had a 21 Frazier Reds hat, a 21 Frazier Jersey, red sneakers and shorts with the Red’s logo on them.   I texted Todd.  He was getting ready for pre-game warmups.  I asked if he had 2 minutes because I was sitting next to the ultimate Todd Frazier fan.   He called me so I reach over to the boy’s mom and told her, “Excuse me ma’am, I have a phone call for your son.”

At first, she pulled her son closer and began looking for security, and I said, “No really he should answer this and showed her the CID on my phone that said, ‘FlavaFraz'”

Todd spoke to the kid for a few minutes, made his day, if not his entire life have a facetime with his hero.

It’s the type of guy Todd is.

Yelling at people for radio ratings is the type of guy Spadea comes off as.

And that’s the difference here.  Spadea swinging at Frazier is like a fly swinging at Frankie Edgar.  The two are just leagues apart and Spadea should head back to the locker room knowing that he gave it a good shot, but ultimately lost the game and move on to easier targets in his own league, like Phil Murphy and Bob Menendez.

As a 15 year coach of kids playing baseball and softball, I’ll tell Bill what I tell many kids who want to play up before they’re ready.  Make sure you can dominate your own division before you play up.

Photo: A cheesey Photoshopped pic of Bill Spadea with a black eye.

by Mike Rubin

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (Jan. 22) – When diners entered the Cozy Kitchen Café at 1839 Hooper Ave. in Toms River on New Year’s Day, they were greeted by new owners, restaurant veteran Terry and husband Wayne Eckhoff. Under their direction, the 12-year-old breakfast and lunch café will continue its mission to serve tasty American food in a comfortable atmosphere at a reasonable price.

“I’ve worked in restaurants for 38 years and have been at the Cozy Kitchen Café for the past seven, so I know how to create a cozy experience for our customers,” said Terry. “When the previous owner decided to retire and was looking for a buyer, it was an ideal fit for Wayne and me to continue the business. We are so excited to keep the Cozy Kitchen tradition going.”

Terry and Wayne kept the Cozy Kitchen Café name and want their customers to feel they are entering exactly that when they walk in the front door.

“Cozy evokes warmth and comfort – in the food, the service and décor,” said Wayne. “And, kitchen evokes home. We intend to provide a happy and healthy atmosphere so our guests can relax and rejuvenate as they start their day or power up for their afternoon.”

Terry and Wayne also aim to serve the highest quality food. Serving the best pancakes and home fries in Ocean County, Cozy Kitchen Café offers a variety of omelets, French toast and breakfast specials. For lunch, Cozy Kitchen serves salads, sandwiches, wraps and burgers. There are kids’ menus and senior citizen breakfast specials. “And, of course, our coffee’s always first-rate,” Terry added.

Cozy Kitchen is truly a family affair. Terry runs the restaurant operations, Wayne handles the facility management, and daughter Leigh-Anne keeps the books. The family shares the credit, though, with a top-notch kitchen and wait staff dedicated to providing a hits-the-spot experience for every diner.
Cozy Kitchen Café is open daily from 7 am to 2 pm. For more information, call 732-255-3005 or visit www.cozykitchencafe.com.