Raising Awareness and Remembering

Ocean County Commissioners joined with Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and members of the Prosecutor’s Office to recognize Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31. In honor of those Ocean County residents that have died from fatal overdoses, a purple pinwheel garden was placed outside the Prosecutor’s Office at 119 Hooper Avenue, Toms River. Each pinwheel represents an individual lost to a fatal overdose in Ocean County since the beginning of 2023. As staff and officials assembled for a photo, participants were asked to wear something purple to acknowledge the significance of the day, to demonstrate support for the families that have lost a loved one to a fatal overdose and to help raise awareness that resources and help are available. Joining Prosecutor Billhimer from the Ocean County Board of Commissioners were Director Joseph H. Vicari, Deputy Director Gary Quinn, liaison to the Prosecutor’s Office, and Commissioners Virginia E. Haines and Barbara Jo Crea.