A fire that burned through a South Jersey diner early Thursday morning has likely destroyed the building, according to police. The Country Town Diner in Berlin sustained significant damage when a fire broke out just before midnight. The flames raged through the early hours of Thursday morning, and police closed a portion of the White Horse…
The massive 153,000 vehicle Ford recall from 2016 is continuing to plague the auto-manufacturer, this time at a potentially much larger scale. Federal authorities are investigating whether the 2016 recall should be expanded to include an additional 1.4 million vehicles after reports continued to flow in reporting the automatic transmissions on many of Ford’s cars and…
The Camden Adventure Aquarium will be closed to the public Sunday for a “Family Day” event with Gov.-elect Phil Murphy. The event is part of Murphy’s inaugural festivities, and will be held in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Tickets are free to those who register in advance. The aquarium did not immediately return a call…
A purge of political appointees may be underway at NJ Transit, with Gov.-elect asking for the resignation of 100 senior staff members, NJ Advance Media has learned. The requests were made in a letter sent to NJ Transit Executive Director Steven Santoro from Murphy’s transition team. The 100 people covered by letter have until the end…
A doctor from New Jersey, who was accused of hiring a person to kill his wife after she threatened to divorce and expose him for running an illegal prescription opioid drug ring with Pagans motorcycle gang, was charged Tuesday. He was arrested in June 2017. Dr. James Kauffman’s wife April Kauffman, a New Jersey radio host,…
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP- Mayor Carmen Amato and Police Chief Karin DiMichele are pleased to announce Berkeley Township’s participation in “Project Child Safe.”
“Project Child Safe” is a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation to promote firearms safety and education.
“The Police Chief and I are committed to firearm safety in our community. We are pleased to offer FREE firearm safety kits to the residents of Berkeley Township,” Mayor Amato stated.
The safety kits include gun locks and literature on how to handle firearms in a safe manner.
Chief DiMichele added, “If you own a firearm, please practice responsible gun ownership by using a gun lock and storing your firearms away from children.”
The free kits can be picked up at the Berkeley Township Police Department located at Pinewald-Keswick Road, Bayville, New Jersey 08721 at the Records window. The window hours are: 8:30am to 3:30pm.
For further information on this program, please visit www.projectchildsafe.org.
“We encourage our residents to continue to keep our township safe and take advantage of this free program,” Amato said.
JACKSON-On January 5th, at 11:52pm Officer Keith French responded to the Woodmere Apartment Complex regarding an unresponsive 49 year old male. After observing drug paraphernalia, Officer French administered Narcan, in an attempt to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Although CPR was also initiated, the male was unable to be revived and was pronounced deceased by the paramedics on scene.
A small borough in New Jersey has decided to push back against the phenomenon of traffic created by navigation apps such as Waze and Google Maps. According to The New York Times, police in the New Jersey borough of Leonia will, starting in January, be penalizing nonresidents who use 60 local streets during rush hours, in…
The Parks and Recreation Department conducts a Christmas tree recycling program each January. Residents should recycle Christmas trees by taking them to any one of the following locations through January. The trees will be made into wood chips rather than being added to the landfill thus saving landfill tipping fees.
The Public Works Department will collect Christmas trees after the Parks & Recreation recycling program is completed. From January 16th through February 2nd, Public Works will collect Christmas trees. Place the trees at the curb for collection. After February 2nd, all trees must be dropped off at our Recycling Convenience Center on Church Road.
All dogs & cats must be licensed in Toms River. Proof of a current rabies shot, valid for the full license term, is required in order to obtain a license. For more information, call 732-341-1000 x 8408.
Toms River sponsors a free rabies clinic each year. Written proof of a prior rabies shot must be presented to obtain a 3-year rabies shot at the clinic. Toms River residents can purchase licenses at the Clinic. Acceptable payment is check or cash in exact $, amount only. All dogs & cats must be in a carrier or on a leash.
The 2018 Rabies Clinic will be held:
DATE: Saturday, January 13, 2018
TIME: 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon
PLACE: Toms River Animal Facility
235 Oak Avenue, Toms River
Toms River residents can attend a clinic in any Ocean County
town, if this date does not meet with scheduling needs. There is a
calendar of events on the OC Health Dept. website, which
includes free rabies clinics on various dates throughout the year:
go to ochd.org and “Calendar” or call Ocean County
Animal Facility, Jackson. The County Animal Facility does
free rabies shots by appointment only. Please call 732-657-8086
for more information.
The Toms River Field of Dreams is the passion of residents Christian and Mary Kane, which would benefit those like their six-year-old son Gavin and other special needs children in town.
Their son Gavin suffered serious injuries in a car accident nearly five years ago as dad Christian pulled into the entrance of Toms River High School North where he teaches. The (then) 19-month old spent two months hospitalized and suffered severe brain trauma.
With that, Christian set out to build a park for kids like Gavin and dubbed it, the “Field of Dreams”. The park will require an estimated $1.2 million in private funding to build, but must first get approvals from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program for a change in use from open space to a playground facility.
Once built, according to Kane, the playground would include a special needs baseball field, playground, basketball court, miniature golf course, pavilion and snack area. It will also be used for YMCA programs and home to the Frazier Special Needs Baseball Program with the full endorsement of White Sox slugger Todd Frazier.
To learn more about the Field of Dreams, visit their website at: http://tomsriverfieldofdreams.com/
The township issued the following public notice:
TAKE NOTICE that TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP is proposing to change the
purpose or use of approximately 3.4 acres of Bey Lea Park [1505 North
Bay Ave.; Block 573, Lots 1,3,4] from Vacant Open Space to a Special
Needs Children’s Playground.
FIELD OF DREAMS – SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN’S PARK
PURSUANT TO N.J.A.C. 7:36-25.6(a)(1) a hearing to obtain public comment on this proposed change of purpose or use will be held at the following date, time, and location:
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 2018
TIME: 6:00 pm
LOCATION: Township of Toms River Municipal Building L. Manuel Hirshblond Meeting Room 33 Washington Street Toms River, New Jersey 08753
ALL INFORMATION regarding the proposed change in purpose or use is
available for public inspection at the Office of the Municipal Clerk.
WRITTEN COMMENTS on the proposed change in purpose or use may be
directed to the Toms River Municipal Clerk at 732-341-1000 or in writing
addressed to 33 Washington Street, Toms River, New Jersey, 08753.
Please send a copy of any comments submitted on this request to the New
Jersey Department of Environmenal Protection, Green Acres Program,
Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship, Mail Code 501-01, 501 East
State Street, PO Box 420, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420.
PUBLIC COMMENT on this proposed change in purpose or use will be
accepted during the public hearing or until March 1, 2018. On or after 90
days from the date of the public hearing, the Township of Toms River may
take formal action to approve the proposed change in purpose or use
HOLLYWOOD-In a 2013 interview about racism, daytime television diva Oprah Winfrey who the left is now calling the future President of the United States said there’s an entire generation of people who were born and bred in the south that “Just have to die”.
Even the online liberal media “fact checker” Snopes admits she said it, but of course, she didn’t quite say it that way.
“Of course the problem is not solved. As long as people can be judged by the color of their skin, the problem’s not solved. As long as there are people who still…” the television talk show host said. “And there’s a whole generation — I said this for apartheid South Africa, I said this for my own community in the South — there are still generations of people, older people, who were born and bred and marinated in it, in that prejudice and racism, and they just have to die.”
Apologetic Snopes said Winfrey’s comments were not racist, nor was her demand for the death of generations intended JUST for white people.
“However contentious and impolitic it may have been for Winfrey to claim that older generations steeped in prejudice will have to die before the problem of racism can be solved, the objection that it was racist of her to say so is absurd,” Snopes concluded.
Really?
“It’s valid, given the context, to infer that the majority of the people Winfrey was talking about are white, but invalid to infer that her remarks targeted all older white people, or only older white people,” Snopes continued to drivel.
This is where the media, if she was a white, male, Republican would denounce Winfrey as the next Adolf Hitler, but they won’t.
by Ralph Stocco, TRPD
TOMS RIVER-On January 10th at 4:30pm Police, Fire, and Medical units responded to an office building at 833 Route 37 west for a motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival they observed that a 2006 Ford Taurus was lodged within the structure. The 86 year old driver, Jeanette Martin of Toms River, was not injured during the crash. Mrs. Martin was attempting to park her car when her foot slipped off of the brake pedal. The Taurus then went over the curb and through the class window of a vacant building causing significant damage to the structure. A 91 year old female passenger of the car was also uninjured. Traffic officer Robert Westfall is conducting the investigation.
JACKSON-A Jackson Township homeowner on White Road was summoned before the township zoning board to discuss a privacy barrier he erected around his family’s swimming pool.
Shneur Verschleiser, was told by the zoning board that the shower curtain-like material he used to shield his pool for privacy purposes did not meet the requirements set forth by the zoning board.
According to the zoning board, such a barrier could be made from e wood, masonry, stone, wire, metal or other types of materials, adding that a collapsible cloth 10 feet in height was not permitted.
The homeowner’s pool, according to the official minutes of the zoning board does have the required 4 feet tall safety fence around its perimeter, but officials here have said a variance would be required to use the curtain.
Although the board told Verschleieser the curtain falls under the category of fencing, but he rebutted that claim.
“I see it as a curtain and not a fence,” he told the board.
“Curtains are not permitted and if you call it a curtain, you’ll need a use variance,” replied board planner Ernie Peters. “By you calling it a curtain, it doesn’t match our ordinance.”
Board attorney Sean Gertner added, “A curtain isn’t permitted and requires a use variance. I asked you to refute it and you went back to the curtain variance. Nothing precludes 2 fences or screening.”
The board advised the homeowner to consult with a professional on the matter.
One resident in attendance, who lives approximately two miles from the home in question said he felt the screening of the pool from view is a safety issue that puts people at risk.
The issue of homeowners installing privacy screens around their pool in Jackson had been a heated debate this past summer as residents have lodged complaints and called township code enforcement officers against the homes of Orthodox Jewish residents seeking privacy in their pools.
JACKSON-A longtime member of the Jackson Republican Club, Carol Blake, has been reappointed to serve on the Jackson Municipal Utilities Authority. Blake will rejoin fellow Jackson Republican Club members, past and present, Todd Porter, Geneva Clayton, Clara Glory, Viciki Rickabaugh and William Allman.
According to the MUA, Blake is compensated with $3,500 annually to serve on the board which meets monthly. She also received 516.00 in benefits in 2017 according to the MUA.
Blake’s appointment to the authority was unanimous.
Correction: Type of 3,500 changed to 3,500.
A Lakewood man has been charged with setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s bed, police said in a statement Wednesday. The woman returned to her Michelle Way home just after midnight Sunday to thick black smoke pouring from the third floor. The woman and her boyfriend suffered smoke inhalation before escaping the home. Firefighters deemed the fire…
With the marijuana legalization debate set to heat up this year in New Jersey, leaders in two of the state’s highest-profile towns say they have no problem with weed businesses in their cities. Should state lawmakers legalize pot, count Jersey City and Asbury Park among those likely to be a part of what could eventually be…
by Peter Aseltine
TRENTON –Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that a lawyer from Ocean County who formerly practiced in Jersey City was convicted at trial today on charges that he stole approximately $1.5 million from five clients over a period of more than a decade.
Joseph J. Talafous Jr., 55, of Toms River, N.J., was found guilty today by a Hudson County jury of three counts of theft by unlawful taking (2nd degree), three counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property received (2nd degree), five counts of misapplication of entrusted property (four 2nd degree and one 3rd degree), two counts of theft by deception (2nd degree and 3rd degree), and four counts of filing fraudulent state income tax returns (3rd degree). The verdict followed a six-week trial before Superior Court Judge Mirtha Ospina in Jersey City. The second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison. Talafous is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 16.
Talafous was indicted in an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau. Deputy Attorneys General Janet Bosi and Brandy Malfitano tried the case for the Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau, assisted by Detective Scott Stevens, Detective Roxanna Ordonez-Fresse, Detective Franco Cignarella, and Analyst Gaby Pichler. Sgt. James Scott, Lt. Vincent Gaeta, Deputy Chief of Detectives William Fredrick and Bureau Chief Michael Monahan supervised the investigation and prosecution.
“Lawyers have a duty to uphold the law and protect the interests of their clients, but Talafous treated his law license like a license to steal, sinking to the point of stealing nearly half a million dollars from a young boy who lost his father,” said Attorney General Porrino. “This verdict will send Talafous to prison, where he belongs for his deplorable conduct. I commend our attorneys, detectives and entire trial team for building a strong case and skillfully presenting it at trial.”
“This verdict sends a strong message that lawyers who abuse their licenses and break the law will face stern punishment,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We will not tolerate lawyers who steal from their clients.”
The state presented testimony and evidence at trial that Talafous committed the following thefts between October 2004 and May 2015 totaling approximately $1.5 million:
Talafous used a power of attorney to make unauthorized withdrawals of thousands of dollars from the investment account of an elderly client who lived in Jersey City and from the client’s estate after the client died in 2010.
Talafous stole approximately $461,000 from a trust set up for the benefit of a young boy in 2005 with funds from a wrongful death suit stemming from the death of his father. The father died in 2001 in a workplace accident when the child, a West New York resident, was still an infant.
Talafous stole approximately $300,000 from the estate of an elderly Jersey City woman who died in 2009 without any immediate family. She had hired him to prepare her will and had named him executor of her estate.
Talafous stole approximately $400,000 from the estate of a Jersey City man who died in 2012 and whose family hired Talafous as attorney for the estate, which included several life insurance policies worth a total of more than $870,000.
From 2012 to 2015, Talafous stole $330,000 that was entrusted to him as counsel for the estate of a Jersey City woman who owned property in New York.
Talafous failed to report the monies he allegedly misappropriated from his clients in state income tax returns that he filed for the tax years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The case was referred to the Division of Criminal Justice by the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics. The Supreme Court of New Jersey revoked Talafous’ license to practice law in August 2015.
Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
Toms River Regional Schools today announced a multifaceted partnership with RWJBarnabas Health on a five-year agreement to become the official healthcare partner to the Toms River School District. Through this alliance, RWJBarnabas Health will receive naming rights to the district’s arena on the campus of Toms River High School North, and will collaborate with the district on health and wellness initiatives.
The partnership agreement, which was approved and announced at the Dec. 20 school board meeting, totals $637,500 over the span of five years, and officially begins Jan. 1, 2018.
“RWJBarnabas Health is a trusted name with a significant local presence, and this agreement will truly benefit our students and community,” said Superintendent David Healy. “The revenue for naming rights to the arena– though certainly important and a source of financial stability for our district– is but a small part of what this means. This is more of a partnership than a sponsorship, and what we’re most excited about is to work side-by-side with RWJBarnabas Health in a way that directly and positively impacts our students. Everything from student internships to wellness education to athletic protocol is being discussed, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.”
The official name of the 3,200-seat arena has yet to be determined, and an announcement will be made during the first quarter of 2018. A temporary banner will soon be placed on the arena, which will host a handful of major events this winter including the WOBM Christmas Classic basketball tournament and a popular restaurant show.
RWJBarnabas Health will serve as a consultant on planned updates to health-based curriculum, particularly for the STEAM Academy School of Biomedicine, and will work with teachers and staff on training in an effort to support and prepare students for future healthcare positions.
“At RWJBarnabas Health, it is our mission to create healthier communities throughout New Jersey. This partnership provides us with the unique opportunity to collaborate with the Toms River School District in a meaningful way to develop education and wellness opportunities that will directly affect the community,” said Amy Mansue, President of the Southern Region of RWJBarnabas Health. “This will allow both of our organizations to leverage resources to serve the students and their families. We look forward to investing in health education and overall community wellness.”
For the past five years the nearly 20,000-square-foot facility has been known as Pine Belt Arena. That agreement expired last year. The district has maintained a positive working relationship with RWJBarnabas Health over the years, and the two entities were brought together for this particular effort by Fox Run Group, a NJ-based company specializing in sponsorship management. The district contracted for the services of Fox Run Group and its president, Angelo Scialfa, in September 2016 to further expand their efforts in securing alternative revenue sources from corporate sponsorships.
New Career Academies debuted in September at each of the district’s three high schools, with strands and courses that include biological sciences, anatomy and physiology, and the medical arts. Beyond the obvious medical connection, the district and RWJBarnabas Health plan to explore student-centered opportunities in emergency preparedness, sustainability, and cyber security, as well as partnerships for grant programs and wellness initiatives such as blood drives, screenings, nutrition consultation, and youth sports.
“We are excited to partner with Toms River Regional Schools and further expand our outreach efforts in collaboration with the school district,” said Michael Mimoso, MHSA, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer for Community Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility. “Community Medical Center has a strong commitment to creating healthier communities and this partnership will provide greater access to health education opportunities – both personal and career related – for students, staff and the community at large. We look forward to furthering this innovative partnership.”
Over the past several years the district has worked extensively to stabilize existing sources of alternative revenue while pursuing new methods to maximize funding opportunities, initiatives fully supported by its school board.
“This partnership agreement is poised to benefit our students, budget, and this community in the short and long term,” said Board President Ben Giovine. “It also highlights our steadfast commitment to alternative funding. In the past year alone, our board has backed successful efforts to join the Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP) to self-fund over $17 million in energy projects, bring our district corporate offices to full capacity and, now, secure a long-term partnership and naming rights for one of the premier facilities in Ocean County for the next half decade. This is truly something worth celebrating.”
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest healthcare system in New Jersey, and Toms River Regional Schools is the largest suburban school district in the state. The district and RWJBarnabas Health have collaborated on a number of initiatives and events in recent years, including Jersey Shore Makerfest, an annual event since 2015 held at the arena. RWJBarnabas Health is hitting the ground running, already planning its increased involvement for Makerfest 4.0, and working to partake in upcoming special events at the arena in early 2018.
Toms River High School South students Andrew Xiques and Natalie Swindell both placed first in their gender divisions at the 10th annual South Jersey Singles Classic Bowling Tournament. The tournament consisted of bowlers from around the state including participants from Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, and Ocean Counties. Andrew placed first out of 112 boy bowlers and Natalie placed first out of 71 girl bowlers.
The Toms River Intermediate North girls basketball team is still enjoying an undefeated season. Recently, they won the championship game at the St. Dominic’s Tournament to keep that perfect record intact.
Submitted by Brick Township
On Monday, January 1, Mayor John G. Ducey took the Oath of Office to start his next four year term as Mayor of Brick Township. Governor-Elect Phil Murphy administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Ducey, as well as Councilwoman Marianna Pontoriero and Councilman Paul Mummolo. Councilwoman Heather deJong’s Oath of Office was administered by Judge Mark Troncone. Councilwoman Heather deJong was also sworn in as Council President and Councilwoman Lisa Crate was sworn in as Council Vice President.
The Township is hosting a Blood Drive in partnership with the Central Jersey Blood Center on Thursday, January 11, 10:30am-3:30pm at Town Hall (401 Chambers Bridge Rd.). Donors must be healthy, at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 120 pounds. Donors are also required to present a signature or photo ID. Please eat and drink plenty of fluids before donating. For additional information and to schedule an appointment, please contact Human Resources at 732-262-1052.
LACEY-On Monday, January 1, 2018, at 3:05 a.m., Officers Patrick Watkins, Elton Copes, and Scott Keefe responded to Donald Street in Lanoka Harbor for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a parked vehicle. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 25-year-old Thomas Granit, of Alameda Court in Eatontown, NJ, for DUI. He was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Thomas Granit was released after receiving traffic summonses for DUI, Refusal to Submit to Breath Testing, Reckless Driving and Failure to Maintain Lane. The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.