COVID-19, Superintendent Retires: Toms River's Top 2020 Stories

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The year 2020 brought illness, strife and death to Toms River. It also brought community, perseverance and new beginnings.

Even as families mourned the more than 1,200 lives taken by the coronavirus in Ocean County, Toms River families wrestled with school complications and businesses fought to keep going.

Patch is looking back at some of the top stories from in 2020.

Pregnant Toms River Woman Is Positive For Coronavirus: County

A pregnant woman from Toms River became the second positive case of the new coronavirus in Ocean County, the Ocean County Health Department announced.

Missing Wallet, Laptop And Mystery After Toms River Man's Death

A few days after Larry Cohen died at Community Medical Center on April 20, a package arrived in the mail for his sister, Stephanie Hill. In it, she found his car keys, his smart phone and its charger, a quarter and a nickel. The rest of his belongings were missing.

NJ Power Restoration May Take Until End Of The Weekend: Official

More than 977,000 New Jerseyans woke up to no power after Isaias roared through the state.

Toms River Man Arrested At 2 Wawas Over Refusal To Wear Mask

A Toms River man was arrested twice in one day after he allegedly got into altercations at two Wawas after he refused to wear a mask to go into the stores, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said Monday.

Toms River Students Defend Teacher, Hands-On Slavery Lesson

Toms River students say an accusation that a Toms River middle school teacher demeaned and kicked students during a classroom lesson on slavery is a lie.

Toms River Superintendent David Healy Announces Retirement

David M. Healy, hired in 2014 as the superintendent of the Toms River Regional School District, announced his retirement effective Jan. 1.

Toms River Police March With George Floyd Protesters

Joined by Toms River and Ocean County law enforcement, a couple hundred demonstrators marched to the Ocean County Courthouse on Tuesday in a peaceful protest over the death of George Floyd.

Toms River Man Died After PA Facility Sent Him Home In Uber: Suit

A Toms River man's widow has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a Pennsylvania health care facility and its administrator after her husband suffered a heart attack and stroke during a three-hour Uber ride home in 2018.

Toms River's Darian Barnes Takes On 'Worst Cooks' Contest

A year ago, if you'd handed Darian Barnes some eggs and bacon and asked him to make breakfast, there's a good chance you would have been headed to IHOP. After his appearance on the Worst Cooks in America contest, his family is happy to have him make dinner.

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