BELMAR — The 12-year-old girl who drowned in Belmar Thursday night and her 11-year-old cousin who remains on life support after being pulled from the ocean would have attended their last day of elementary school Friday. Instead, Belmar Elementary School is gripped with grief by the tragedy, school Superintendent David R. Hallman said Friday morning. “They’re…
Community News
NASA to Light Up Skies Over Atlantic Coast Tonight
After seven aborted missions, NASA is going to try again to launch a rocket that will generate colorful artificial clouds in the night sky over the Atlantic coast as part of a study on how air moves in the upper atmosphere. The launch is planned for Friday night, sometime between 9:05 p.m. and 9:20 p.m., weather…
Police: Brick Teen Killed, Mutilated Rabbit While Other Kids Recorded Incident
BRICK — Authorities are investigating a teenage boy accused of killing and dismembering a rabbit while others watched and recorded it on video, according to a report. The boy, a resident of the Maple Leaf Park condo complex, allegedly hit the rabbit with a brick and then smashed the animal’s head on June 8, the report…
New Justice League Ride Unveiled at Great Adventure
JACKSON – Metropolis is under attack and the Justice League team of superheroes needs help. That is the scenario that riders of Six Flags Great Adventure’s new 4D ride Justice League: Battle for Metropolis – which opened for season pass holders on Thursday – are faced with as they don 3D glasses and head into a…
No Takers for Jackson's $375,000 Liquor License
JACKSON-Jackson Township’s plan to sell liquor licenses to generate additional revenue fell flat after there were no interested bidders on a new liquor license approved earlier this year.
The township hoped to raise at least $375,000 in revenue with the sale of an additional plenary retail distribution license, a hot commodity in most surrounding towns, but had a frigid reception here.
Township Clerk Ann Marie Eden removed the discussion of the license from June 13th’s meeting agenda.
“There’s no reason to discuss it,” Eden said. “We did not get a pre-qualification, it’s unfortunately not happening.”
Police Officers Surprise Boy Fighting Cancer with New Motorcycle
HOWELL-Police here gave 7 year old Jake the ride of his life, a motorcycle.
“I am honored to introduce to you Jake “The Tank” Honig. Jake is a 7 year old resident of Howell. This brave young man has courageously fought cancer since he was 2. Jake came to visit us at the PD last year where he was given a tour and a ride-along with Detective Corporal Mike Pavlick. He’s a huge fan of the police,” Chief Andrew Kudrick said. “This year, we decided to visit him.”
Kudrick said a police department job is waiting for him when he gets older.
https://www.facebook.com/CBSNewYork/videos/10154966571574024/
“He truly is an inspiration to all of us. I’m sure he has positively impacted more people in the past 5 years than most adults do in their entire life,” Kudrick said. “Recognition to Det. Cpl. Mike Pavlick who organized and coordinated the entire event. He arranged the purchase of the motorcycle through the PBA, assembled it and arranged for the delivery. He rallied the officers and made the presentation to Jake. He is truly “committed to community.”
Where to Drop off Hazardous Waste, Paint Cans, Pool Chemicals and Gasoline in Ocean County
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.
Freeholder Tries to Get Grip on Loose Mylar Balloons
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.”
Manahawkin butcher wins $1M in World Series of Poker event
A butcher from New Jersey outlasted 18,053 other players to win $1 million at a World Series of Poker event on Wednesday. Thomas Pomponio topped the field at the “Colossus” No-limit Hold’em tournament in Las Vegas, ReviewJournal.com said. N.J. man makes final table at WSOP Pomponio, who lives in the Manahawkin section of Stafford, started the…
Dangerous clinging jellyfish found in N.J. river
The jellyfish with a dangerous sting that caused a scare on the Jersey Shore last summer, prompting the cancellation of several events, have reappeared in a Monmouth County river, researchers say. Clinging jellyfish – whose sting can cause “excruciating pain”, muscle weakness and serious medical problems, including kidney failure – were observed and recorded in New…