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THURSDAY 12.31.15

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Champagne. Table

PASS THE BUBBLY

THEIR SPIRITS
REMEMBERED
The deaths of
Andrew Jova and
Bob McCullion,
who were both
organ donors,
helped improve
many lives.
Both will be
honored in the
Tournament of
Roses Parade.

New law
could save
commuters
hundreds
Transportation benefits will be
offered to non-union employees
MIKE DAVIS @BYMIKEDAVIS

NEW YORK - A new commuter benefits law goes

into effect Jan. 1 that will save New Jersey commuters
an average of $400 a year on their commuting costs.
Under the new law, employers with 20 or more fulltime, non-union employees must offer the opportunity to use up to $130 of pre-tax income for transportation fringe benefits. Before the new law, employers
were not required to offer the benefit. Individuals
could apply for them separately.
NJ Transit, Academy Bus, PATH, Seastreak and
New York Waterway ferries are all covered under the
new law. Monthly MetroCard passes for use on the
New York subway system are also eligible.
By offering commuter benefits, New York City employers will also reduce payroll taxes for each worker
signed up, about $10 per month. Until now, it was an
optional program.
By making transit more affordable, this will have
a tremendous impact on commuters bottom line,
New York City Councilman Dan Garodnick said at a
news conference, according to WNYC.
Riders Alliance, a New York rider advocacy group,
has created a calculator for commuters to learn just

The gift of giving

See COMMUTE, Page 5A

the life to someone

else, its amazing.
We know he lives on.
PAUL JOVA
ANDREW JOVAS FATHER

It gave us comfort
to know that people
were benefiting from
Bobs death. I know
he would want that.
EILEEN MCCULLION

MICHAEL L. DIAMOND/STAFF PHOTO

Acme recently bought the A&P supermarket in Little Silver.

WIDOW OF BOB MCCULLION

AMANDA OGLESBY @OGLESBYAPP

eventeen-year-old Andrew Jova was a Brick Fire Explorer, an active church member and a sports fan who loved the Yankees. Thats how he was remembered following his death from injuries suffered in a fall from a car on Sally Ike Road in 2008.
Robert McCullion, 68, of Toms River was a Vietnam veteran, loving husband and

father of three. He died from heart disease and pneumonia in 2014.

Despite the years and miles between them, Jova
and McCullion share something in common: Each
helped improve lives after their deaths. Both will be
remembered on a float at the Tournament of Roses
Parade in Pasadena, California, on New Years Day.
When Andrew died at Jersey Shore University
Medical Center in Neptune, doctors saved his heart,
lungs, skin and corneas for the benefit of five recipients. Though Andrew has been gone seven years, his
parents know that the legacy of his donation lives on.
We wanted to make sure that another family was
blessed with the continuing of life, or the betterment
of life, said Andrews father, Paul Jova of Brick.
Andrews parents have met his heart recipient,
and know that part of their son is living on and traveling the world.
See DONORS, Page 4A

COURTESY OF THE NJ SHARING NETWORK

Final preparations are made on the Donate Life float, which

will appear Friday in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Should state let

more grocery
stores sell booze?
MICHAEL L. DIAMOND @MDIAMONDAPP

LITTLE SILVER - Since Acme Markets Inc. bought

the A&P supermarket here from the bankrupt company and converted it last month, longtime customers
say they have noticed an improvement in selection,
with just one exception: They cant find alcohol.
Admittedly, its not a big concession. A&P only sold
unrefrigerated beer. And Little Silver Bottle Shop is
just on the other side of the parking lot. But there is
something to be said for consumers who can get out of
the car, find everything they need, pay for it and get
back in the car just once.
Its just easier, Nancy Bruno, 81, of Little Silver,
said of one-stop shopping as she loaded up her Volkswagen Beetle with groceries.
Acme is part of a coalition of supermarkets calling
for New Jersey to ease what it says is an antiquated
law. It wants lawmakers to let them sell alcohol at
more than two of their stores, helping their bottom
line and giving consumers more convenience and selection.
See ALCOHOL, Page 5A

From the bright lights of Times Square to the capitals of

Europe, the world is on alert for New Years Eve. STORY, 1B

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VOLUME 136
NUMBER 313
SINCE 1879