Despite its scenic Jersey Shore beaches, mountain destinations, pinelands and
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…
On Tuesday night, the Travel Channel will air its episode
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…
Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the New Jersey Division
Gov.-elect Phil Murphy and U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez agree: The sole New Jersey Republican to support the President Donald Trump-backed tax plan needs to change his votes. The state’s top three elected Democrats expressed their dismay Friday over U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur’s decision to back the GOP tax plan they say will devastate…
SEARCHING FOR the perfect holiday gift? Then shop smart and
WHEN forecasters start using the s-word – snow – or
SEVENTY-SIX YEARS ago this week, Imperial Japanese forces launched a
OCEAN COUNTY officials are hoping to make this holiday season
TOMS RIVER – The Public is invited to join Ocean
by The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Joseph Vicari,
In the upcoming days and weeks, downtown business districts and
SURROUNDED BY HEAVY EQUIPMENT and the sounds associated with it,
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria, a strong, category-four hurricane
Anthony Crincoli spent almost 31/2 years in battle in Iraq. His unit of the 112th Infantry Regiment lost 32 members during fighting around Baghdad. “That was in 2006,” he said. “The first time we were ambushed was Easter Sunday that year. That always stuck with me. “I’ve seen tanks blown in half. I’ve seen the Iraqi…
ONE HUNDRED YEARS ago, hundreds of men from Ocean County
TOMS RIVER – With more than 60,000 veterans calling Ocean
TOMS RIVER – With the state Gubernatorial Election just days
SOUTHERN OCEAN COUNTY commuters will be able to enjoy a
MONMOUTH COUNTY — One northbound local lane on the Garden State Parkway will be closed “indefinitely” for emergency bridge repairs, officials said. The closure north of exit 109 is necessary because the span carrying the Parkway over Middletown-Lincroft Road was damaged Thursday when it was struck by a back hoe being hauled on the bed of…
THE OCEAN COUNTY Clerk’s Office and the Ocean County Board
TOMS RIVER – In an effort to raise awareness that
TOMS RIVER – The state and local tax deduction (SALT)
TOMS RIVER – Women’s Health Month is being celebrated around
TOMS RIVER – Ocean County is encouraging residents to take
TOMS RIVER – Noting that Ocean County students will be
TOMS RIVER – From the installation of a high-tech heat
WASHINGTON — Civil rights lawyer Katherine Hartman withdrew Thursday from the race for the Democratic nomination against Rep. Tom MacArthur, citing the time needed to raise enough money to compete. Hartman said she would have to spend eight to 10 hours a day for 13 months in order to fund a viable campaign, time better spent…
AN E-ZPASS DISCOUNT for commuters along the Garden
TOMS RIVER – Ocean County Airport located off Route 530
COOLER temperatures, clear, crisp days and leaves changing colors –
A New Jersey man who developed lung disease after working around Ground Zero following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has been awarded $369,000, according to a report. James Delman, now 63, of Toms River, received the payment from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund last month, NJLawJournal.com said. A locksmith and carpenter for the Metropolitan Transportation…
A lifelong resident of Toms River, Joell Lanfrank passed away on Sunday after being pulled from the Atlantic Ocean in Seaside Park.
SEASIDE PARK — A 44-year-old woman died Sunday after she was pulled from the ocean off Seaside Park, officials said. The woman was brought in by lifeguards around 2 p.m., according to Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy. He said additional information on the incident would have to come from Seaside Park police Chief Francis Larkin, who…
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman
New Jersey could be on the brink of its third heat wave of the year — with temperatures soaring to the 90-degree mark and high humidity making it feel like it’s close to 100 degrees — just in time for Fourth of July weekend. “Summer is back,” said Joe Martucci, a meteorologist at the WeatherWorks forecasting…
Federal authorities on Thursday arrested a contractor accused of bilking victims of Hurricane Sandy out of more than $1.5 million by skipping out on repair jobs after taking their money. Jamie Lynn Lawson, 42, was arrested early Thursday morning at an extended stay hotel in Florence, SC, by U.S. Marshals in that area, said Michael Schroeder,…
TRENTON — If you lined up every person who had been arrested on marijuana charges in the Garden State since 2000, according to a new report from the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, they would stretch the entire length of the New Jersey Turnpike — and into Maryland. The advocacy group found marijuana…
A warm welcome under chilly gray skies was provided to participants in the 8th Barnegat Bay Blitz held on June 7 at the Ocean County Parks and Recreation Administrative Offices off Bandon Road in Toms River. Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari and Freeholder Virginia E. Haines joined with state Department of Environmental Commissioner Bob Martin, Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher, and a host of students from the Silver Bay Elementary School, Toms River, the Ocean County Vo-Tech MATES Academy and numerous volunteers to kick off the event that focuses on cleaning litter from Barnegat Bay and surrounding area in an effort to protect and preserve the waterway. Freeholders Vicari and Haines also recognized Commissioner Martin for being an environmental steward of the bay and for raising awareness to the importance of protecting and preserving the watershed. To date, more than 27,000 participants have removed nearly 4,200 cubic yards of trash and recyclables from the watershed.
TOMS RIVER – Ocean County will hold five more free household hazardous waste collection dates this year.
“We are currently completing our first three collections of 2017 with the next scheduled for June 3 at the Manchester Township Public Works Garage, at 1360 Route 70,” said Ocean County Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management. “We have now put into place the summer/fall schedule which will run from July through October.
“So far we have collected 121,576 pounds of household hazardous waste during our first two collections this year,” Little said. “This program provides benefits to not just our citizens but it also protects the environment.”
The additional dates, times and locations for the 2017 disposal program are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 15, Little Egg Harbor Township Recycling Center, 1363 County Road 539; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 5, Jackson Township Municipal Building, 95 West Veterans Highway; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 27, Lakewood Public Works Yard, 1 America Ave.; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sept. 23, Long Beach Township Public Works Garage, 7910 Long Beach Boulevard, Beach Haven Crest, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 7, Point Pleasant Municipal Building, 2233 Bridge Avenue.
While the program is free registration is required.
To register for the Little Egg Harbor and Long Beach townships collection sites call 609-978-0913; for the Lakewood call 732-506-5047 and for the Jackson Township and Point Pleasant collection site call 732-367-0802.
Last year, the County collected 290,602 pounds of household hazardous waste, up about 20,000 pounds, at a cost of $123,688. The program is funded in part by the State Recycling Enhancement Act Tax Fund.
“This free program, which got started in 1989, provides an avenue to get rid of items like paints, paint thinner, and cleaners, properly and safely, keeping the material from entering our waterways and our preserved lands,” said Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. “The Department of Solid Waste Management has done a great job in implementing this program for almost three decades.”
The program runs at least once a month from April to October and is held at different collection sites throughout the County. Residents can register for any of the sites.
“We work to make certain this program is accessible to our residents,” Little said. “It is held in towns, both large and small, and citizens in any Ocean County town can attend any site. Our residents can attend any location.”
Municipal recycling centers and the county’s recycling centers also allow for drop off of a host of materials including used paint, motor oil and car batteries.
“Our residents should check with us or their local recycling center to determine what is accepted year-round eliminating the need to store potentially hazardous items in their home,” Little said.
Residents can drop off a maximum of 200 pounds of dry material and 20 gallons of liquid at the County’s household hazardous waste collection sites. No containers over five gallons will be accepted.
Materials accepted at the household hazardous waste collection sites are: paints, thinners, boat paints, solvents, pool chemicals, pesticides and herbicides, aerosol cans, auto products, toilet and drain cleaners, silver polishes, oven cleaners, photographic chemicals, rug and upholstery cleaners, polishes and bleaches, waste oil and used gasoline.
The five summer/fall dates also will be serviced by Radiac Environmental Services at a cost of about 44 cents a pound.
Program information also can be found on the county website at www.co.ocean.nj.us or by calling 1-800-55-RECYCLE.
“We encourage our residents to use this free program to make certain chemicals, cleaners, solvents and other items we use around the house are disposed of properly,” Little said.
by Ocean County, NJ
MYLAR BALLOONS, those metallic covered novelty decorations that come in a host of shapes and sizes, may be fine for parties or graduation celebrations, but they can be deadly to wildlife that thrive in Ocean County’s bays and other waterways.
“We are getting more and more reports of deflated or shredded Mylar balloons found floating in the bay and in the ocean,” said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. “Some wildlife can mistake the balloons for food and try to consume them.”
While all balloons can pose a threat to fish, birds, reptiles and mammals, Vicari said the popularity of the Mylar balloons is adding to the problem.
“People like them because of the bright colors and various designs. You can find a Mylar balloon to celebrate just about any occasion,” he said.
Vicari asked that anyone using Mylar balloons keep them carefully tethered and do not let the helium-filled balloons escape. Afterwards, they should be disposed of properly in the trash.
Loose balloons that rise high enough and are caught in the wind can travel for hundreds of miles.
“Part of the problem we are seeing is the prevailing winds are bringing these balloons in from other states,” Vicari said. “Let’s set an example in Ocean County not release balloons.”
According to reports from across the nation, Mylar balloons also pose another threat.
“If these metallic-covered balloons strike power cables, they can cause widespread electrical outages,” he said.
California utility companies reported that Mylar balloons were responsible for more than 1,900 outages in that state in 2015.
“For everyone’s safety, please keep all balloons tethered,” he said.
Vicari said he discussed the Mylar balloon problem with representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection and local environmentalists at Wednesday’s Barnegat Bay Blitz at the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation Administrative Offices in Toms River.
“We spoke of the importance of educating people about unseen dangers of these balloons,” he said.
Vicari said plastics, including plastic bags and ringed six-pack can holders are also a growing problem in the bay.
“We ask everyone to please properly dispose of their plastics so they don’t threaten our wildlife,” he said.
Many supermarkets accept old plastic bags for recycling, Vicari added.
“The bags are used to make composite plastic decking for boardwalks and backyard decks,” he said. “Park benches are also made from the material.”
TOMS RIVER-A robocall being made this evening across New Jersey, claiming to be “John” from Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno’s office went out to voters tonight asking them to vote for Chris Christie’s number two and against Ocean County resident Joe Rullo.
“I’d also like to inform you that Joe Rullo has absolutely no chance of victory whatsoever, so if you had any inkling of an idea of voting for him…you’re wasting your time,” the caller said.
“They must be worried we’re going to win,” Rullo said. Rullo said voters in New Jersey who want to drain the swamp still have a few hours to vote and urged them to pull the drain on eight more years of the Chris Christie administration.
The Guadagno team has not yet issued a statement regarding this robocall.
https://www.facebook.com/ShoreNewsNJ/videos/1076333472466370/
New Jersey residents on Friday should be able to end their week with some pretty nice weather that should carry into Saturday. Friday should be mostly sunny with highs near 77. After 2 p.m., however, there is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Forecasters say highs will reach 79 in Vineland, Trenton and Newark. There…
A Point Pleasant man who was accused by the FBI of providing material support for ISIS was caught after police were called on a report that he had stabbed his mother’s dog and threatened to kill her.
According to the Point Pleasant Police Department, officers arrived at the residence for a report of a male subject threatening to kill the family dog.
Responding Point Pleasant Police officers set up a perimeter around the residence and attempted to make contact with the male resident.
“During our attempt to negotiate, 20 year old Gregory Lepsky emerged from the residence and was taken into custody,” police said.
According to a report in the Asbury Park Press, Lepsky told first responders he wanted to kill the dog, because under his view of Islam, the pet was dirty.
He also stabbed himself. Lepsky was transported to Brick Hospital to be treated for a self-inflicted laceration.
The family dog was located within the residence alive, however, sustained a significant laceration to his back. The dog was immediately transported to an area veterinary hospital.
A large knife was recovered from the suspect’s bedroom that was believed to have been used in the attack on the dog. Detective Scalabrini of the Point Pleasant Police Department charged Gregory Lepsky with Terroristic Threats 2C:12-3a, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose 2C:39-4d, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon 2C:39-5d, Criminal Mischief 2C:17-3a and Animal Cruelty 4:22-17c(1).
Through the course of this investigation, information was developed to connect Mr. Lepsky with ISIS and a potential plan to build and use a pressure cooker bomb. Detectives from the Point Pleasant Police Department commenced a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
Gregory Lepsky, 20, of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, will appear in federal court today to face allegations that he planned to construct and use a pressure cooker bomb in support of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Lepsky is charged by criminal complaint with one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
During searches of computers and other digital evidence linked to Lepsky, law enforcement found evidence of Lepsky’s plan to build and detonate a bomb as part of his support for ISIS. During several social media communications, Lepsky told others that he intended to fight on behalf of ISIS, and that he would, if necessary, become a martyr by driving a “bunch of explosives” to where the “enemies” could be found and blowing himself up.
Law enforcement also located a series of instructions that had been published online by another terrorist group that gave specific, step-by-step instructions on how to build a pressure cooker bomb, which coincided with the delivery to Lepsky of the pressure cooker a short time before his arrest. In addition, law enforcement recovered a message forwarded by Lepsky from another ISIS supporter stating that if a westerner could not travel to Syria to fight for ISIS, he could conduct a terrorist attack in his home country using improvised explosive devices.
JACKSON-It’s being called Jackson Crossing 2 and includes a domed multipurpose sports facility. The project as submitted by Cardinale Enterprises of Jackson Township, developer of Jackson Crossing, consists of an indoor soccer dome, and multipurpose turf fields that include one full baseball field, 3 soccer fields and 4 baseball/softball diamonds.
A hearing at the township zoning board will be heard on April 19th at 7pm. A variance is needed to build the 50.5 ft high dome in a zone where there is a 35.5 foot limit.
The proposed facility will be built at the southeast corner of the exit 16 interchange of Route 195, just north of Six Flags Great Adventure.
According to tax records, the the property was purchased on March 29, 2016 for $1.15 million.
FREEHOLD – A judge Friday rejected a motion by Ocean County to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former detective in the county prosecutor’s office who alleges county-wide corruption, according to a published report. The Asbury Park Press reports the motion was denied by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jamie S. Perri. The case was moved…
Celebrating April Fool’s Day is an age old media gag that can’t be passed up. This year, we take a look at the race for New Jersey Governor in New Jersey, one of the most important political elections of the 2017 cycle nationwide. While most of the candidates are playing the Trenton and D.C. political game by the Politics 101 playbook, local resident Joe Rullo has been out there doing his own thing. He’s been ignored by the establishment elite, big money donors and even his own opponents who have already written him off as dead.
Like Donald Trump, many are saying Rullo is doing it for the name recognition, but as the primary heats up, Rullo, is in dead last in every big name poll that sampled 200 or so random landline telephone owners, but he’s won virtually every online poll in the state, yet his opponents, the media and all of the other cogs in the Trenton machine walk by and shake their head at him.
The last time we heard Rullo speak, he said “I’m not like the others”. My mind instantly flashed back to a childhood moment. I was maybe 7 or 8 and Sesame Street was on and the the “Which of these things don’t belong?” game came on. As Rullo was speaking, I was humming the song in my head. I instantly knew that was my 2017 April Fools Day skit for the Shore News Network if he was still in the race.
So here it is:
https://www.facebook.com/416437185078997/videos/1411455585577147/
This aerial photograph of the small community of Loveladies on Long Beach Island shows the development of Long Beach Island. The original photo was taken in the early to mid 1950’s and the current view is the most recent Google Earth imagery available.
If you look closely, you can see that some of the original homes still exist with modifications and additions. Loveladies is located in the northern section of Long Beach Township on Long Beach Island.
It was a location of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, established in 1871. The land adjacent to the station was owned by Thomas Lovelady and the section of the island was called “Lovelady’s” before eventually evolving into Loveladies.
TOMS RIVER-Make no mistake, Joe Rullo is an Ocean County “Good Ole’ Boy”, but not in the more commonly accepted pejorative way the term is usually used in New Jersey’s oceanside Republican stronghold.
Rullo is a small businessman who has never held a public office, bestowed a public appointment or awarded a public contract, but for a decade has been a staunch supporter of Republican values at the Jersey Shore. While he’s a “Good Ole’ Boy”, he’s definitely not one of the “Good Ole’ Boys”.
At a recent governor candidate forum held in Toms River which featured Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, Hirsch Singh and Joe Rullo, those vying for Governor had a chance to speak directly to a room full of about 100 Ocean County political movers and shakers.
Rullo’s speech was in stark contrast to longtime Trenton insiders Jack Ciattarelli and Kim Guadagno. Although Rullo touted his core campaign message of ending the streak of New Jersey being last in all the wrong things, he also reminded the audience that he was the outsider who was not beholden to anyone and has the resolve to make the hard choices that lay ahead.
He was the only person to take the stage that night who openly backed and admittedly voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential election. While many in the New Jersey Trenton sociopolitical elite very publicly and very clearly distanced themselves from the President during his campaign, Rullo was promoting and campaigning for him, something he hopes will resonate with Trump’s supporters in the June primary.
Both Ciattarelli and Kim Guadagno, by proxy supported Hillary Clinton with their clear and open refusal to support their the top of their own party’s ticket in November.
On the stage Tuesday night, it was obvious Rullo was the outsider. Both Guadagno and Ciattarelli delivered well planned and calculated campaign speeches, that were probably written by well seasoned political establishment speech writers and delivered countless times in the past few weeks. Both gave the generic politician speeches of lower taxes, fix Trenton, make things better for everyone in the state and other well rehearsed talking points, but it was only Rullo who spoke to the audience with passion and determination to actually fulfill the promises he was making on stage.
Guadagno tried hard to distance herself from her 8 year affiliation with Governor Chris Christie.”All he [Christie] wanted the Lt. Governor to do was bring jobs back to New Jersey,” Guadagno said, and she admitted that’s all she did during those eight years.
“I want to be New Jersey’s first governor from Ocean County,” Rullo said. “I’m the political outsider here. I’ve never held a job and never was given a contract with my business.” Rullo prides himself on being a good Republican with no financial strings attached.
Rullo has tackled many issues that are truly important to New Jersey voters. He resists giving his audiences lip service, because at the end of the day, just a few months ago, he was that guy in the audience.
Rullo has also been critical of New Jersey’s 23 cent gas tax hike imposed by the Christie/Guadagno administration and vows to repeal it. He is a strong supporter of the second amendment, critic of New Jersey’s Bail Reform and Speedy Trial Act and wants to see an end to New Jersey’s income tax on veterans pensions. Rullo is also a critic of common core and New Jersey’s Abbott school districts which takes tax dollars from rural and suburban communities across the state and dumps that money into failing and corrupt urban school districts. He’d like to see more of that money staying in the home districts.
He stated that he wants to once and for all fix the pension system in New Jersey so that the money can get into the hands of New Jersey’s public workers and law enforcement retirees.
“Right now, $1.3 billion from the pension fund goes to politically connected brokerage houses in New York City,” he said. “We need to replace those connected brokerages with licensed brokers here in New Jersey and use those fees towards pension payment.”
“I will fire hundreds of high-salary patronage jobs, saving hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes,” he added.
Rullo has been trending on social media. His platform is being consumed by Republicans and moderate independents statewide who are sick and tired of the state’s ultra-liberal tendencies.
In the polls, Rullo is hands down winning them all, except on those where his name is omitted, like a recent NJ 101.5 poll held by GOP political insider Bill Spadea and a recent FDU poll where he polled at 0%.
He’s won several politicker NJ polls and a Save Jersey poll. In an Asbury Park Press Poll today, Rullo was leading Steve Rogers 47% to 32%. Kim Guadagno had 3.8% and Jack Ciattarelli had 2.12%, showing that New Jersey voters are clearly looking for an outsider this November.
Comedian Joe Piscopo was a now show Tuesday night. He just didn’t show up. Steve Rogers hosted his campaign rally and couldn’t attend.
https://www.facebook.com/brian.mcdowell.771/videos/10212438772703177/
