Final Ritacco Center Signage Discovered, Removed
Mentions of disgraced superintendent's name scraped from directional signs
You can see the outline of where the letters used to be.
But that's all that remains of the former name of the Pine Belt Arena, which was previously known as the Ritacco Center.
Though the Poland Springs Arena name changed due to a new contract for naming rights, the other name — the Ritacco Center — was dropped shortly after former Superintendent Michael J. Ritacco's indictment for more than $2 million in federal tax evasion and bribery.
The words "Ritacco Center" were covered shortly after the October 2010 indictment, and the main sign remained hidden under white until the district took it down completely on the building in October 2011.
The building, a project under Ritacco and named for him while he was superintendent, is a multi-purpose arena on the Toms River High School North campus that's hosted large scale sporting and entertainment events as well as conventions.
But months after Ritacco's guilty plea, a resident discovered some remnant mentions of the building as the "Ritacco Center" remained around the campus.
Namely, three signs on the back of the property directing drivers to parking lots still said "Ritacco Center."
The resident brought the topic of the remaining signs up at the July Toms River Regional school board meeting, which was held at Toms River High School North. She asked why they still remained and asked they be removed.
Officials responded that they were unaware of the signs and that they too would be removed. The lettering was on signs that also serve as markers for the multiple parking lots at High School North. There are more than three parking lot markers on the campus, but in those three spots the name Ritacco Center was still in use. The words Ritacco Center have already been removed from the building's main sign, as well as secondary signs on doors and on the parking lot markers elsewhere.
The remaining old lettering was removed in the days after the board meeting.
Ritacco's original July sentencing date remains postponed.
1stcav
9:11 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
It's not only the BOE that has signage problems it's also the town, come in from Lakehurst and the sign says welcome to Dover Twp , this also was/should be corrected. It's been yrs. since it was CHANGED to Toms River. Who's working and who's asleep at the wheel ??????? I'm sure others will post even more on this forum about poor signage around town.....
.
5:55 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
I think up until last year some police cars also said Dover Twp.
Mr. ?
10:00 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
.....but they said it would not cost much to change the name. Guess it does not cost much if you don't do it, but say you will. Isn't that what politicians do best?...say what they promise they will do, Then don't do, yet it still costs us taxpayers lots of dollars?
Martin
1:12 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
At all entrances to the town, especially on Rt. 37, put up "Toms River - the eyesore to the shore" signs, with the mayor's name in big letters.
Born and Raised
4:15 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Apparently you voted YES to the ridiculous name change of this town, which you probably were not born and raised in, which is why you get so confused as to where you are...
But while you were voting YES to changing the name, you must have missed the part where it said the signs and such will be changed based on attrition, in order to save money. Thats how you confused transients got the name changed passed. Therefore, if the sign still works and doesn't need to be replaced, it shouldn't be changed to say Toms River.
Those of us who were born and raised here in Dover Twp, know who we are and where we are from, we don't need your silly signs to remind us.
The funny part is, the mail and the tourist can still find is too... Glad we wasted tax dollars.
And where can I find the signage that points to 1stCav's positive contributions to this community? He's always negative and pointing out what he sees wrong with the town... in my opinion, if your worried about a sign, go elsewhere... We the people of Dover Twp know where we're going...
.
6:02 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Except there is no Dover Township any more. My family has owned the house that I live in for 52 years and it has always been in Toms River. Wasn't it the Toms River Little League that won the championship? Was you mailing address ever Dover Township? The name is now officially Toms River...just what it should be. Time to move on with the times.
holden2112
8:19 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
born and raised you sound awfully bitter and kind of silly..."we the people of dover twp"...give me a break.
dave
4:25 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
hey bernie madoff, move over,company coming
jason
6:11 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
@ born and raised....im a resident my whole life...silverton then off of bay...i voted for toms river ...no bitching about the people who have common sence and realize we have been toms river for a long time....good riddens dover township
T
6:21 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
How about the signs inside Toms River North as you enter the gym which still show the center named as the Ritacco Center? Any plans to remover his name there.......
Mr. ?
10:13 am on Saturday, August 4, 2012
How many TR school employees and especially administration have passed these signs daily?....and no one noticed and thought it appropriate to remove them? Pathetic! "A resident" - I always love that one - a concerned citizen without a name? but of course that is not important to the story. Some one more conscientious than those whom are supposed to responsible.