Two Days of Halloween

Your calendar says Halloween is tomorrow and you’re wondering why kids are roaming the neighborhood tonight dressed for trick-or-treating. Welcome to Toms River and several surrounding towns where Halloween (at least the best part for kids) comes a day early.

After a couple of years in which they held their parade on the Saturday before Halloween Toms River Fire Company #1 is going back to the way it used to be and scheduling the parade on Halloween itself. That means for places like Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach, South Toms River and Ocean Gate tonight is the night you get the treats. You can be guaranteed that someone who just moved into one of those towns doesn’t know this and will be caught off guard when the doorbell rings later today.

The Friday trick or treat also presents a dilemma for some because of high school football games. All three Toms River public high schools, Donovan Catholic and Central Regional have games tonight that could in some way be impacted by the parade change. Families might have to make some tough decisions like who goes to watch one son play football while taking other children around the neighborhood.

That issue was not a dilemma for the Oizerowitz family. Dave is the head football coach at Toms River North and his Mariners visit undefeated Brick tonight in a game that will decide the Class A South championship. Last night Coach Oizerowitz was a guest on the weekly Shore Sports Network football show we broadcast from the Water Street Grill.

He came in early with his wife and three young sons for dinner and when I asked the boys about the choice between their dad’s game and trick or treating there was no hesitation: they were all in to support the Mariners. Mom might have to make a few extra trips to the refreshment stand tonight to make up for the loss of sweets.

Tonight’s North-Brick game is the “Jersey Mike’s Game of the Week” and will be broadcast live on 1160/1310AM and streamed at shoresportsnetwork.com

Toms River South’s great run in the Shore Conference Boys Soccer tournament ended with a 2-1 loss to C.B.A. in the semifinals Thursday night. The Indians Cameron Geerinck scored in the 66th minute to tie the game before the Colts responded with the game-winner just three minutes later to advance into the finals against Ocean. South now turns their attention to the state tournament where they are the 2nd seed in South Jersey Group 3.