'Toms River' Author to Discuss Book at Library Thursday

Author Dan Fagin will appear in Toms River Thursday night to discuss his new book focusing on the township's troubling history with chemical pollution and illness. 

Fagin, who spoke about his book, "Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation," with Patch last week, will continue the discussion when he visits the township's Ocean County Library branch, 101 Washington St., at 7 p.m.

"I'm looking forward to talking a little bit about why I did this book and what I'm hoping to accomplish. And I'm very much looking forward to hearing from people in Toms River," Fagin said about his visit.

Registration for the program can be completed online through the library's website.

The author recently participated in an online panel hosted by HuffPost Live and spoke about the implications of pollutions worldwide.

"Toms River is, in some ways, it is a town like any other town," Fagin said. "The difference is the chemical industry came to Toms River in the 1950s ... and then later it came in the form of illegal dumping."

Others on the panel, which is archived online for viewing, include attorney Esther Berezofsky, who helped impacted families win a settlement with Ciba-Geigy, Lisa Boornazian, a Philadelphia nurse who helped bring Toms River's problems to light, and epidemiologist Dr. Richard Clapp from Boston University.