Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Toms River honors Lt. Ron Sermarini’s 25 years of police service
Be sure to catch Sour Dough Making Class at the Mathis House on the Toms River Patch calendar

Good morning Toms River! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Toms River honors Lt. Ron Sermarini's 25 years of police service
- How a minor crash spotlights big zoning changes in Toms River
- How a Toms River teacher's decision saved a local toddler's life
Also on today's calendar: Sour Dough Making Class at the Mathis House and 15 more events.
And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Richaard P.!
Today's riddle: Why do Norway's navy ships all have barcodes? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Tuesday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 64 and low of 38 degrees.
- Wednesday: Sunny; breezy in the p.m., temps: high: 71, low: 51.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny and warm, with a high of 79 and low of 50 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Toms River Police Lieutenant Ron Sermarini Retires After 25 Years Of Service (lakewoodalerts.com) — Toms River is saying goodbye to Police Lieutenant Ron Sermarini, a lifelong resident who has retired after 25 years with the Toms River Police Department. From patrol officer to midnight shift commander and Community Affairs leader, he helped shape school safety, public outreach, and officer representation while mentoring young people and negotiating contracts for local police supervisors.
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2. Morning Crash Near East Brentwood Shul Briefly Backs Up Traffic in Toms River (shorenewsnetwork.com) — A Monday morning crash near East Brentwood in Toms River briefly slowed traffic as worshippers arrived at a home-based synagogue, but no serious injuries were reported and the scene cleared in about 30 minutes. The incident underscores how northern Toms River neighborhoods are changing as small shuls open in residential areas following a 2021 federal settlement that forced the township to relax zoning rules for houses of worship.
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3. Toms River Teacher Saves Toddler With Liver Donation (jerseyshoreonline.com) — A Toms River High School South teacher has saved a local toddler's life by becoming his living liver donor, uniting two longtime Toms River families. The story traces how a Facebook post, community coverage, and months of testing led to a successful transplant and an emotional reunion at a local flag football game, while encouraging residents to learn about living organ donation and support the family's fundraiser.
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4. RWJBarnabas opens women's health, urology suites in Toms River (photos) (njbiz.com) — Patients in Toms River now have closer access to advanced women's health and urology care at RWJBarnabas Health's newly updated suites in the Toms River Nexus Building on Lakehurst Road. The multispecialty facility brings OB/GYN, urogynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, and expanded imaging together in one outpatient location, with a breast cancer surgery center planned for 2027 as part of a broader systemwide expansion.
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📸 Around Toms River
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Toms River
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Sour Dough Making Class at the Mathis House →
Mathis House a Victorian Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room, 600 Main St, Toms River
6:30 pm - Rummage Sale Two-Day Event October 9th & 10th 9 AM - 3 PM →
Christ Episcopal Church, 415 Washington St, Toms River
9:00 am - Mathis House Speakeasy Dinner Show Pop-Up Speakeasy Jazz Night Dinner →
Mathis House a Victorian Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room, 600 Main St, Toms River
7:00 pm - Second Annual 'Race to Remember' 5K Set for October 10 in Manahawkin →
Manahawkin Municipal Center,
7:00 am - German Night with Phonograph DJ MAC →
Mathis House a Victorian Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room, 600 Main St, Toms River
7:00 pm - Princess Tea Party with Anna at The Mathis House →
Mathis House a Victorian Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room, 600 Main St, Toms River
6:30 pm - Cooking Class Butternut Squash Soup with the Innkeeper →
Mathis House a Victorian Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room, 600 Main St, Toms River
6:30 pm - Midnight Masquerade Murder Mystery Dinner Show →
Mathis House a Victorian Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room, 600 Main St, Toms River
7:00 pm - Thomas Mathis Burlesque Dinner Show →
Mathis House a Victorian Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room, 600 Main St, Toms River
7:00 pm
Thursday October 8
Friday October 9
Saturday October 10
Wednesday October 14
Thursday October 15
Friday October 16
Saturday October 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Yoga at the Guild →
Ocean County Artists Guild, 22 Chestnut Ave, Island Heights
8:30 am - Oil Painting Class: All Levels with Debra Kurtz →
Ocean County Artists Guild, 22 Chestnut Ave, Island Heights
10:00 am - October Children's Classes with Miss Alison Tuesday →
Ocean County Artists Guild, 22 Chestnut Ave, Island Heights
4:00 pm - LEGO Robotics & Coding-Amazing Engineers with Built By Me & Toms River Recreation →
Toms River Twp Youth Services Department, 1505 N Bay Ave, Toms River
5:00 pm - LEGO Robotics & Coding Scratch MIT-Adventures in Space with Built By Me & Toms River Recreation →
Toms River Twp Youth Services Department, 1505 N Bay Ave, Toms River
6:15 pm - Tuesday Night Life Drawing →
Ocean County Artists Guild, 22 Chestnut Ave, Island Heights
7:00 pm - Textures of Nature Watercolor with Leona Lavone →
Ocean County Artists Guild, 22 Chestnut Ave, Island Heights
9:30 am - Wellness Wednesdays →
Online via Zoom
12:30 pm - October Children's Classes with Miss Alison Wednesday →
Ocean County Artists Guild, 22 Chestnut Ave, Island Heights
4:00 pm
Tuesday October 6
Wednesday October 7
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Toms River PatchAM possible:
- Sit Stay And Beyond LLC — (908) 656-4286
- Sit Stay And Beyond LLC — 9086564286
- Mathis House Bed & Breakfast and Victorian Tea Room — (732) 818-7580
- Klarr Transport Service Inc — (732) 905-5100
- Insurcomm Restoration — (866) 708-5357
- Premier Roofing — 7322448588
- Carfagno Professional Painting LLC — (609) 224-0235
- De Lareau Studio — (732) 998-8729
- Liberty Door and Awning — (732) 286-3667
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Oceanaires to Perform on Flannel Shirt Night! —Peter Fenzel Read on Patch
- It's Monday morning....
enjoy! (TAP IT) 10/05/26. Stay away from that "missing" donut! (Nextdoor Holiday Heights) - Hello!
Can someone help me for a good dentist in the area? I always had bad experiences back in the day . My root canal tooth's cap came out . I don't know… (Nextdoor Holiday Heights)
- Boscov's Department Store posted a job opening for Retail Sales Department Manager - FT in Toms River. Apply here.
- Santander posted a job opening for Full Time Teller, North Toms River, Toms River, NJ in Toms River. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Toms River here.
Ok Toms River! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "Why do Norway's navy ships all have barcodes?" — So when they come back to port they can just scan-da-navi-an! (Thank you Jessica C. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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