Gov. Christie Christie will bid New Jersey farewell on Tuesday as he gives his eighth and final State of the State address. Below is the full text of his prepared remarks. Before we begin, let us rise one more time for, not a moment of silence but a moment of celebration, for the extraordinary life of…
On Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at 5:07 a.m., the Lacey Township Police Department responded to the Lacey Business Park, located on Challenger Way in Forked River in reference to a power outage. Upon arrival, officers located damage to a utility pole. An investigation revealed that an unknown person or persons used a chain attached to a vehicle to pull the electrical service wire from the utility pole. As the tension was applied, a primary wire severed and caused an attached transformer to explode. Damage was also discovered to a nearby business that was supplied by the power wires. The damage is estimated at $20,000.
Lacey Township Police Detectives were able to identify the vehicle involved as a dark-colored pickup truck, and determined that the incident occurred at 4:15 a.m. At approximately 12:oo p.m., a business owner in the area reported a black Ford pickup truck stolen from his parking lot. Officer John D. Simonson then observed the vehicle traveling on Newark Avenue in Forked River, and attempted to make a motor vehicle stop. The driver failed to stop and continued to elude police as it entered a wooded area near Argo’s Farm on Lacey Road, just west of the Garden State Parkway in Forked River. A short time later officers located the abandoned pickup truck approximately two miles south of Lacey Road in the woods. A New Jersey State Police helicopter responded to assist with air patrol while a K-9 Unit from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department searched the wooded area in an attempt to locate the suspects.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Unit processed the pickup truck for latent fingerprints and DNA. At approximately 3:50 p.m., a citizen traveling on the Garden State Parkway in Forked River contacted police and reported two male subjects on the center median. Officers responded to the area of Llewellyn Parkway in Forked River, a road that runs adjacent to the Garden State Parkway on the east side. Upon arrival the Officers located two men walking on Serpentine Drive. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 23-year-old Eric Anderson, of Newark Avenue in Forked River, and 25-year-old John Clifton, of Raleigh Drive in Toms River, NJ. Both suspects were charged with burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest. Additionally, Eric Anderson was charged with eluding police. They were both lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility to await a bail hearing.
TOMS RIVER-A new restaurant could be coming to a pad site at the Ocean County Mall in the near future. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, a chain restaurant is planning to open here, but first needs approvals from the Toms River planning board.
Founded in 1978, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse offers a Southern California twist on Chicago style pizza, complete with their own handcrafted beers on tap.
“We started as a pizza shop before we were a restaurant and brewhouse,” the company states. “Now we have over 18 signature flavors of pizza, from tavern-cut to deep dish to made-to-order combinations. And we craft our hand-pressed deep dish pizza dough to be double proofed — which means it rises twice — which means it looks and tastes better — which means you might have to have more than one slice.”
Later, as the company grew, they began to brew their own beer.
“We wouldn’t be a brewhouse without beer. We offer a variety of our very own award-winning brews on tap every day,” the company added. “In addition to our 11 signature beers and cider, which over the years have won us over 160 awards, we also offer seasonal and local brews as well.”
The Toms River location will be the company’s second location in New Jersey after opening in Teterboro in 2016. The company operates over 185 restaurants in 24 states. It would be the company’s fourth restaurant in the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area with two others operating in Nanuet and Valley Stream, New York.
A unique feature to BJ’s is their beer dinners, which include a welcome beer, a five-course meal, complete with an intermission palate cleansing beer and of course an after-dinner beer, all for just $45 per person.
Signature menu items at BJ’s include root beer glazed ribs, chicken wings, Chicago style deep dish pizza, New Orleans Jambalaya, bison burgers, and steaks.
Kids menus include the usual offerings for just $6.25 per dinner.
A meeting will be held January 17th at the Toms River town hall at 6 pm with the township planning board. The restaurant will be 9,947 square feet and the company hopes the township will allow them to build an outdoor patio deck.
Photos by BJ’s Brewhouse and Restaurant.
BRICK-Police are once again reminding residents to lock their vehicle doors at night due to another rash of burglaries.
“We are experiencing a high number of burglaries to vehicles in the area of Lanes Mill Rd, Sally Ike Rd and surrounding State Streets. If anyone needs to report a vehicle burglary who has not already reported it contact (732)262-1100,” the Brick Police Department said in a statement today. “If you have any information about the identities of the suspects or have video surveillance of possible suspects, please contact Detective Mullarkey at (732)262-1122.”
Residents are reminded to lock their vehicles and hide their valuables from view.
TOMS RIVER-Toms River’s hometown hero Todd Frazier and the New York Yankees still haven’t reached an agreement to keep the slugger in pinstripes in 2018, according to a report in the New York Post.
Frazier said he would prefer to play for the Yankees or crosstown New York Mets in 2018, but said in the article, he’s keeping all options on the table and maintains dialogue with several other teams.
The Yankees are scheduled to report to spring training in Tampa on Monday, February 19th, in just a little over one month.
“This is a different free-agent year, you see some crazy stuff going on, man,” Frazier told The Post. “I know how good of a player I am. I’m confident in everything I do. No cockiness about it. I believe in myself, and I have believed in myself ever since I was a young kid. Nothing has changed. Nothing will change.”
This off-season, Frazier is doing his strength and conditioning training with Bobby Smith at his Tinton Falls based “Rypt” facility.
“Once we lost that last game to the Astros, I take that flight home, I’m talking to my wife, and I’m like, ‘All right, I’m jobless right now.’ We started laughing together,” Frazier said. “It is what it is. I have the options to do what I want to do, which is great. I would love a multi-year deal, but I am not closing the door on anything. I’m prepared for anything.
Frazier hopes to be part of the Yankees in 2018 especially after the team acquired Giancarlo Stanton. From the article, it would appear that the Yankees aren’t offering Frazier a multi-year deal to return at this point, despite the loss of Chase Headley at third base.
Read the full story at the New York Post.
Man Facing Charges of Armed Burglary, Attempted Murder, Weapons Offenses
FREEHOLD – An Ocean County man is named in a 4-count indictment handed up by a Monmouth County grand jury today charging him with a Long Branch shooting back in October, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Related: Your source for BRICK TOWNSHIP NEWS.
Donovan Wesley, 25, of Brick Township, is charged with one count each of second degree Armed Burglary, first degree Attempted Murder, second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and first degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
The charges stem from a Sunday, October 8, 2017, shooting inside a residence on West Columbus Place in Long Branch. The Long Branch Police Department responded to a 911 call at about 1:50 a.m. reporting shots fired at that location. Police arrived to find the victim, a 31-year-old male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township, by Long Branch EMS and MONOC paramedics, where he was treated for his injuries and released a few days later.
A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Branch Police Department revealed Wesley shot the victim after the two men got into a verbal disagreement earlier in the evening. Wesley then arrived at the victim’s home and confronted the victim before shooting him during a brief struggle.
If convicted of Armed Burglary, Wesley faces a sentence of five to ten years in prison. If convicted of Attempted Murder, Wesley faces up to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison. Both charges are subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison. If convicted of Attempted Murder, he would be under parole supervision for three years following his release if convicted of Armed Burglary.
If convicted of Possession of Weapon for an Unlawful purpose, he faces a sentence of five to ten years in prison. If convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, Wesley faces five to ten years in state prison. Each of those charges is subject to the Graves Act mandatory period of parole ineligibility of up to one half of the custodial sentence imposed.
The case is assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Bogner, Director of the Office’s Major Crimes Bureau, Asbury Park Satellite Office.
Wesley is represented by Adam Mitchell, Esq., of Freehold.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
Most Americans have kitchens and cupboards full of treats, desserts, and snacks from about Thanksgiving through the New Year celebration. Many spend New Year’s Day tossing out the old and promising to end their wicked ways of the past two months.
Just one week into your New Year’s resolution of getting in shape to build that perfect beach body this June, it happens.
Girl Scouts peddle their confectionary concoctions.
The annual Girl Scout cookie drive is about to begin, and this year, they come armed with more than cookies…an online app to make ordering cookies easier than ever.
The Girl Scout Cookie app is available on Android and IOS deices. By now, you have probably depleted your inventory from the 2017 sale, but starting this month, you can begin replenishing.
If you go to the Girl Scouts cookie sale website, you can even find out where booths are going to be set up in our area.
This year marks the 101st year of the Girl Scout Cookie sale.
Through the program, girls learn the essential skills they need to become effective leaders, manage finances, gain self-sufficiency, and develop confidence in handling money.
Today, nearly 1 million Girl Scouts participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, generating nearly $800 million in cookie sales during the average season. All of the net revenue raised through the Girl Scout Cookie Program—100 percent of it— stays with the local council and troops. With over 50 million households purchasing cookies every season, the irresistible treats can be found nationwide and will hold a beloved place in Americana for years to come, continuing to help girls take the lead and, ultimately, change the world.
“I am so thrilled that, as an organization, we’ve reached such an important milestone—celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouts selling cookies,” said Sylvia Acevedo, interim CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “The Girl Scout Cookie Program has long been the engine that powers Girl Scouts on every level. Cookie earnings fund local council programming for girls and allow girls to do incredible things of their own choosing—from civic-engagement projects to educational travel opportunities, and beyond. Each box of delicious Girl Scout Cookies —and the entrepreneurial skills gained by participating in the Girl Scout Cookie program—helps girls fulfill their dreams, follow their passions, take the lead in their lives and communities, and change the world.”
JACKSON –
Jackson School District music teachers who wanted to provide a way for students to play music in an informal, fun way outside of the regular school day had an idea. What if they invited students to come “jam” on a weekend?“There was very little rehearsal, only performing,” said Diaz, who is the band director at Jackson Memorial High School. “We had no idea how the experiment was going to work out but were enthusiastically surprised!”
Superintendent David Healy hands to Administrative Secretary Clare Carbone a UPS package containing more than 65 gift cards totaling nearly $1,500. The donations represent the initial wave of support from the Toms River Regional Schools community to Beaumont, Texas. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the Toms River community has adopted Beaumont as part of a Shore 2 Help campaign in an effort to help the Texas town recover from the devastating storm. Toms River Regional Schools’ donation is being sent directly to Beaumont Independent School District.
by Al DellaFave, OCPO
TOMS RIVER-Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Pine Beach Borough Police Chief Matthew Petrecca announce the arrest of Beth Ellen Brown, 54, of Toms River, in the Pine Beach Santander Bank robbery.
The arrest stems from the January 5, 2018 robbery, when shortly after 3 pm, an elderly woman entered the Santander Bank on Route 9, handed the teller a note stating she had a gun and demanded cash. The woman was given an undisclosed minimum amount of cash and departed the bank. No weapon was shown during the incident and no one was injured.
Det. Anthony Pruchnik of the Pine Beach Police Department Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and Toms River Police Department began a collaborative investigation, which would result in the arrest. On January 8, at approximately 9:00 pm, the partnering agencies located and arrested Beth Ellen Brown at the Pelican Hotel on Route 37 in Toms River.
Brown is charged with 1st degree Robbery and is being lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a court appearance. The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
On Tuesday night, the Travel Channel will air its episode of Andrew Zimmern’s show “Bizarre Foods:Delicious Destinations” filmed last year at the Jersey Shore.
“Andrew Zimmern uncovers the boardwalk indulgences of the Jersey Shore. From sticky-sweet saltwater taffy, to slices of tomato pie and Italian subs, the Jersey Shore’s culinary scene is a carnival for the taste buds,” according to a blurb by the Travel Channel.
One of the spots featured will be Maruca’s Tomato Pies on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk.
The show will air Tuesday, January 9th at 9:30pm on the Travel Channel.
The night before temperatures dipped into the single digits, Lisa F. turned on her propane heater and tucked herself into three sleeping bags. Although just a thin tent separated her from frigid air that dipped in or near the single digits, she said she was warm as she slept in her makeshift home in a wooded…
Professor Digby Tatum of the University of Sheffield claims that our brains have the biological equivalent of a Wi-Fi, allowing other, nearby people to pick up micro-signals, gathering more information about our personality and what we’re communicating. Our brain avoids eye contact because it gets overwhelmed by stimuli. Image via Wikipedia. The interbrain We’ve known for…
Mr. Sager’s AP Statistics classes at High School South participated in “Egg Roulette” Jan. 3 to explore probabilities of dependent events. Students faced off against each other, choosing an egg to smash on their head from a sample that included both raw and hard-boiled eggs. Some of the questions posed were whether there was an advantage to picking first, and what the probability of being eliminated was at any given point. Winners advanced through a bracket system, where the ultimate victor competed head-to-head against Mr. Sager in final showdown. Congratulations to Evan Raichle and Jacky Pan, the Egg Roulette champions!
South Toms River Elementary School’s vocal music and strings teacher, Dr. Josh Melson, was the piano accompanist on December 19th and 20th for a Cypress, Texas choir as they performed in Washington, D.C. during the “Time-Honored Traditions: Christmas at the White House.”
While at the White House, Dr. Melson also had the privilege of being asked to conduct the choir as they sang two different songs. The choir performed in the East Room, the largest room of the Executive Mansion in the White House, which was also used in the first White House Christmas celebration.
White House visitors enjoyed the festive decorations and guest musical talents of the “people’s house” during this very special time of year.
The first time I asked Gov. Chris Christie a question we were 2,000 miles from New Jersey. I was a year into my first newspaper job in southeast New Mexico. Christie, just eight months into his first term, was there to stump for Susana Martinez’s campaign for governor. Noting the candidate’s law-and-order record, Christie played up…
For some, the evening commute on Monday could include some freezing rain and sleet. A winter weather advisory has been issued for central and southwestern New Jersey, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, according to the National Weather Service forecast. A wintry mix, including light freezing rain, sleet and snow, could hit commuters in…
The lingering effects of a blizzard that swept through New Jersey on Thursday followed by dangerously cold temperatures over the weekend have forced some school closures and delayed openings for Monday, Jan. 8. While temperatures are expected to climb above freezing for much of the state for the first time in a while, many residents woke…
On Saturday, a natural gas leak forced a temporary evacuation of homes in the Lake Riviera section of Brick Township. Ocean County Sherrif’s officers assisted along with Brick Township Police near Tennessee Drive and Vermont Drive.
From the Brick Township Police Department:
t 12:15 PM New Jersey Natural Gas contacted the Brick Township Police Department for assistance with a gas leak in the area of the 400 block of Tennessee Drive.
Upon arrival of Police units it was determined that dangerously high levels of natural gas were detected in storm drains on Tennessee Drive that required the evacuation of approximately 40 homes in the area. All of the Brick Township Fire Companies, Stations 21, 22, 23 and 24 responded along with the Brick Township Police EMS to assist in evacuations of the area homes.
Due to the extremely cold temperatures a warming tent was set up by EMS on Dartmouth Court. Several surrounding fire companies identified as, Silverton, Lakewood, Point Boro and Point Beach responded to assist with evacuations. The NJEMS Task Force also responded along with the Ocean County Fire Coordinator car 13 due to the large scale of the operation. A command post was set up at the Lake Riviera Park to coordinate evacuations.
The New Jersey Natural Gas Company located the leak in the roadway in the area of 404 Tennessee Drive at approximately 3 PM and was able to shut gas off to the area so repairs can be made. The cause of the leak is not known at this time and repair crews will be working to restore gas to the area residents. The Gas Company believes the repair will take 5-6 hours at which time gas can be restored to the approximately 40 homes.
No injuries were reported during this incident.
The eastern United States and Canada shivered under record-breaking low temperatures Saturday as Arctic blasts followed a deadly winter storm that left airports struggling to cope with the backlog of flights. In Canada, temperatures approaching minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit) were forecast in northern Ontario and Quebec. Arctic air and dangerously cold wind…
wordpress-photo Congratulations are in order for George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara, who just celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary and marked the longest marriage in presidential history! The former president married the former first lady on this day back in 1945 after meeting her when he was just 16 years old. After long-distance dating for a…
by Capt. Todd Malland,
Manchester Police Department
On Wednesday afternoon, January 3rd, at approximately 3:41 pm, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the area of Route 37 and Colonial Drive for the report of a motor vehicle crash involving a SUV and an ambulance. Upon arrival, officers located the two involved vehicles, a Manchester Volunteer First Aid ambulance and Hyundai Tucson in the roadway with heavy front end and side damage.
The initial investigation revealed that the ambulance was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Colonial Drive when it collided with a 2016 Hyundai Tucson that was traveling westbound on Route 37 in the intersection. The ambulance, which had been transporting a patient to Community Medical Center in Toms River, had its lights and sirens activated at the time of the crash but had entered the intersection against the red traffic signal. Upon entering the intersection, the two vehicles collided in the westbound lanes of Route 37. The ambulance driver, 20-year-old, Chase Swartz of Seaside Park and his front seat passenger, 52-year-old, Caroline Bruckel of Manchester were uninjured in the collision. Additionally, the 57-year-old on-board patient, was not injured but did need to be transferred to another ambulance after the crash. The driver of the Hyundai Tucson, 77-year-old, Lorraine Flatley of Whiting as well as her front seat passenger, 82-year-old, Annette Black, also of Whiting, sustained minor injuries but refused additional medical attention at the scene.
The crash is currently under investigation by Patrolman Michael O’Hara and Ptl. Ian Bole of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit and motor vehicle charges are pending. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact the department’s Traffic Safety Unit at 732-657-2009 ext. 4401.
NEWARK, N.J. – The former Jersey City Chief of Police today admitted defrauding the Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) by obtaining compensation for off-duty work that he did not perform, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Philip D. Zacche, 61, of Manalapan, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of embezzling, stealing, obtaining by fraud, misapplying, and without authority knowingly converting money belonging to the JCHA.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Zacche was a member of the Jersey City Police Department who was available to perform off-duty work. The JCHA was responsible for the administration of certain housing units in Jersey City. Between 2010 and 2014, the JCHA hired and paid Jersey City police officers to provide security at some of their housing sites.
Zacche admitted defrauding the JCHA by filling out and submitting time sheets representing that he completed certain security shifts even though he was not present at the JCHA site. As such, Zacche was paid a total of $31,713 for work that he did not perform.
Zacche faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Zacche is required to forfeit $24,700. His sentencing is scheduled for April 9, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy A. Gallagher in Newark, and special agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The Jersey City Police Department is cooperating with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna, Deputy Chief of the Health Care and Government Fraud Unit.
Matthew Reilly, Office of the US Attorney
An Indian national who admitted that he assaulted a girl on a flight from Seattle, Washington, to Newark Liberty International Airport, was sentenced today to 90 days in prison, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Vijaykumar Krishnappa, 29, pleaded guilty Nov. 8, 2017, before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark in Newark federal court to a superseding information charging him with assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, while on a United Airlines flight from Seattle to Newark on July 23, 2017, Krishnappa intentionally assaulted a girl who was unknown to him and seated next to him on the flight. Krishnappa admitted that while the victim was asleep, he intentionally touched her near her groin over her leggings without her consent.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, and the Port Authority of New York-New Jersey, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tazneen Shahabuddin of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division in Newark.
An additional 103 Sears and KMart stores will close in the next several months, Sears Holdings announced Thursday. Among the locations set to go out of business is the Sears on Hooper Avenue in Toms River. That store will close in early April. The Sears Auto Center there will shutter its doors in late January. Sears…