PLAYER, TEAM, GAMES-TOTAL 3-POINTERS-AVG Michelle Sidor, Saddle River Day, 7-32-4.6 Devin Gibbs, Boonton, 5-22-4.4 Ashley Tutzauer, Toms River North, 6-26-4.3 Jessica Washington, Irvington, 6-21-3.5 Angelina Jones, Brick Township, 2-7-3.5 Brooke Timinski, Woodbridge, 6-20-3.3 Janean Cuffee, Lawrenceville, 3-10-3.3 Brianna Smith, Pascack Valley, 7-23-3.3 Amber Sagan, Hackettstown, 5-16-3.2 Jessica Beck, Gloucester Tech, 5-16-3.2 Sarah Skeith, Dumont, 6-19-3.2 Samirah…
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Toms River Scout Honors Fallen Marine for Eagle Scout Project
Eagle Scout Christopher Plate chose to honor one of Toms River’s fallen war heroes for his Eagle Scout project last year. At the December meeting of the Toms River Board of Education, Plate was recognized by the board.
Plate built a retaining wall and landscaped the area around the sign on Old Freehold Road which was dedicated in honor of Major James Matthew Weiss, a Toms River North alumni who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. Weiss was a Marine Corps helicopter pilot.
Weiss was piloting a Cobra helicopter when he was shot down providing air support for Marines pinned down by Taliban fighters.
Today's Daily Dose: January 3, 2017
250 Earthquakes reported on New Year’s Eve near California-Mexico border
More than 250 small earthquakes have struck since New Year’s Eve near the California-Mexico border, causing unease among residents and attention from scientists.
Western Dress is Blame for Rapes
Over in India, a politician blamed a New Year’s Eve mass molestation on western style dress. Reacting to the incident, G Parameshwara, Karnataka’s state home minister, blamed the victims for dressing in Western clothing. “They try to copy westerners not only in mindset, but even the dressing … some girls are harassed, these kind of things do happen.”
Big headed Rosie O’Donnell calls Donald Trump mentally unstable
The new year may be off to a fresh start, but actress Rosie O’Donnell still going at it with her offensive tweets about President-elect Donald Trump. It looks like she’s back on Twitter after going incognito after being schooled on making fun of autistic children.
Nancy Pelosi: Dismantling Obamacare is cowardice
America’s least favorite talking bobblehead who wields absolutely no power in the country still voices an opinion. “You break it, you own it,” Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said of Obamacare. Pst, Nancy, it’s already broken.
8 new laws in NJ may be affecting you already
New tax breaks, a slight bump in the minimum wage and an opportunity for adopted people to obtain their original birth certificates await New Jerseyans as a plethora of high-impact laws take effect in 2017.
Iran received more than $10 billion in cash and gold
Iran has received more than $10 billion in sanctions relief from around the world in the form of cash and gold in the past three years, since it signed a preliminary nuclear deal with world powers, The Wall Street Journal has revealed.
Mariah Carey blames others for not knowing words to her songs on NYE
Mariah Carey’s team insist that she was sabotaged for ratings on Sunday night’s New Year’s Eve performance.
And now for the most pirated movie of 2016….
2016 wasn’t just a great year for movies, it was also a good year for illegal downloads. According to TorrentFreak, the most pirated movie of last year was none other than…
Some bedtime rituals that could help you lose weight
Between the kids, the laundry, the dust, and all the emails (and everything else) we haven’t answered, Americans appear lucky to sneak in a good six hours of sleep each night.
Fat, hairy naked man chasing teens now wanted for two incidents
MEDFORD TWP. — Authorities believe that a naked man who ran toward teen girls in Evesham Township on Dec. 30 was the same man seen nude in Medford Township earlier last month. Medford Township police received a report Saturday that a naked man was seen on Dec. 21 around 2 p.m. on Huntington Circle Drive. A…
School district pays out $60,000 on sexual harrassment suit
BARNEGAT — The township’s board of education agreed to pay $60,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a middle school student alleging the district failed to stop sexual harassment by another student that went on for years. The girl, who was a student Brackman Middle School from 2011 to 2014, was subjected to…
Jersey Wife Killer Found Hiding in Woods Near Black Horse Pike
Folsom Borough, Atlantic County – Troopers from the Buena Vista Barracks arrested Jeremiah Monell earlier today after a two-week manhunt. Monell had previously been charged with Murder and other related offenses in the December 18, 2016 homicide of his estranged wife, Tara O’Shea-Watson.
At approximately 2:45 p.m., a witness contacted the New Jersey State Police Buena Vista Barracks after recognizing Monell in Folsom Borough.
Troopers arrived on scene shortly thereafter and discovered Monell hiding in a wooded area off US Highway 322. He was placed under arrest and taken into custody without incident.
Monell was transported to an area hospital for a medical evaluation. He will be lodged in jail thereafter.
A $1,000 reward was offered for Monell, but it was not said whether or not the witness will receive the reward.
Police Investigating Accidental Shooting at Pistol Range
Just before 4:30 pm, Officers and Detectives responded to the Garden State Pistol Range located on Swarthmore Avenue regarding a shooting victim.
Upon arrival emergency personnel learned that a 61 year old employee from Neptune had accidentally shot himself in the hand while retrieving a rental gun from a storage cabinet.
The bullet entered and exited the employee’s left hand and as a result he was transported to Brick Hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery.
At the time of the incident, there were several customers, including two young boys and at least one other employee in the area. Thankfully no one else was injured.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Det. Chase Messer at 732-363-0200
Video: Man Stoned to Death; Dumped in Trash Can at Jersey Shore
An Atlantic City man has been charged with the murder of a man whose body was discovered this morning in Atlantic City, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.
Atlantic City Police responded on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 8:43 a.m., to the 1200 block of Adriatic Avenue, Atlantic City, for a report that a dead man’s body had been discovered in a trashcan. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene.
The victim, identified as Ricky L. Ward, 52, of the 400 block of Delta Avenue, Atlantic City, was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene. Investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Atlantic City Police Department led to the location and detention at approximately 5:15 p.m. of Thomas Green, 64, of the 1300 block of Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, who was subsequently charged with Murder, for purposely and knowingly causing the death of the victim “by hitting him in the head multiple times with stones,” and with Possession of a Weapon For an Unlawful Purpose (stones), and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (stones). Green was processed for the arrest and lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on 1,000,000 full cash bail set by Superior Court Judge John C. Porto.
A conviction for murder carries a potential sentence of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison for a period of 30 years to life.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Atlantic City Police Department continue the investigation.
Breaking/AC was on scene and posted the above video to YouTube. For more on Breaking/AC, visit their website.
Toms River Shelter Hosting Free Rabies Clinic
TOMS RIVER-The Toms River Animal Facility will be holding a free rabies clinic on Saturday, January 14, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until noon.
Ocean County residents are reminded to bring proof of prior immunization, if applicable, and proof the animal is spayed or neutered. That day, Toms River residents can also get their pet’s license renewed. Payment for licenses accepted in
cash or check. All dogs and cats must be leashed or in a carrier.
The Toms River Animal Facility is located at 235 Oak Avenue, adjacent to Police Headquarters.
Toms River dog owners are reminded that all dogs over seven months of age must be licensed each year, per State law. In Toms River, dog licenses must be renewed each year in January. In order to purchase a dog license, the owner must present a current rabies shot certificate with an expiration date after November 1, 2017. If the shot expires before November 1st, the dog cannot be licensed.
The cost is $15 for a spayed/neutered dog and $20 if not spayed or neutered, with proof from a veterinarian, if not on file.
All pet licenses can be renewed in person at the Toms River Health Department, 33 Washington Street, or by mail.
Fitzpatrick throws two TDs as Jets rout Bills
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ryan Fitzpatrick, likely making his final appearance in a New York Jets uniform, threw a pair of short touchdown passes Sunday afternoon as the Jets routed the Buffalo Bills, 30-10, in the season finale at MetLife Stadium. Fitzpatrick, who threw a franchise-record 31 touchdown passes last season but was benched twice this…
No day off for Giants' starters in 19-10 win over 'Skins
LANDOVER, Md. — Each time the ball changed hands during Sunday’s game between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field, the question was whether the Giants’ starters would still be in the game. As the game wore on, the answer remained affirmative. With the No. 5 seed locked up and no chance…
On the Agenda: 2017 Jackson Township Council Reorganization Meeting
by Phil Stilton
JACKSON-Few changes will occur at Tuesday night’s township reorganization meeting, the town’s 173rd such meeting. The township will swear in incumbents Ken Bressi, Barry Calogero and Robert Nixon after the trio won an uncontested election in November.
Some changes are on the agenda, most notably the addition of former Superior Court judge Melanie Donohue Appleby is expected to replace New Jersey legislator James Holzapfel as township’s labor lawyer.
In 2014, Appleby was suspended by the New Jersey Supreme Court over after being found guilty of conduct violations related to her own child custody battle. Appleby is a former Toms River Township councilwoman. Appleby reportedly retired from her position as a judge in December, nearly two years shy of the end of her seven year appointment. As a judge, she earned $165,000 annually.
Another move by the township this year is the addition of Carlos Ferreira, esq. as an alternate public defender.
Down the list of professional appointments, the roster for the township remained the same.
The meeting will take place Tuesday night at 7pm. Originally, the meeting was scheduled for 7:30pm, but a public notice published on New Year’s Eve changed moved the start time up by 30 minutes.
Clemson player gets a little too close to the end zone in BCS playoff game
Illegal touching on Clemson https://t.co/gIJ8yxGEKI pic.twitter.com/bTbH2VSaSH — SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) January 1, 2017 Sometimes in football you have to make the tackle or keep your hands on a guy until the official confirms the play is over. However, Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins might have gotten a little too personal doing so on this play.…
Family of Missing New Jersey Teen: We're at a loss
NEPTUNE — It’s been four weeks since the disappearance of a Neptune City teen after her car was found unoccupied on a Belmar bridge on Dec. 2. Sarah Stern, 19, left her family’s home in Neptune City at 11:45 p.m. driving her grandmother’s 1994 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royal, according to her father Michael Stern. The car was…
Middle East Rings in New Year, 39 Dead in Night Club Attack
A shooting has taken place at the popular Reina night club in Istanbul, killing an unknown number of people and injuring others, according to witnesses and local media reports. Only few details were immediately available. (more) Credit: DHA FOR LIVE UPDATES: Twitter, Facebook The incident happened just before 2 a.m. local time on Sunday when heavy…
Lakewood Law Firm Files Federal Class Action Lawsuit Against Defective Turf Vendor
by Phil Stilton
LAKEWOOD-The Ocean County law firm of Bathgate, Wegener & Wolf, P.C. has joined forces with with national class action specialist Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton, P.A., of Coral Gables, Florida, to file the first federal class action lawsuit in the United States against FieldTurf USA and its affiliates.
FieldTurf USA has come under fire across New Jersey after fields it promised would last 10 years began breaking down much sooner than the company guaranteed. In the company’s advertising, they claimed, “Making the wrong turf decision can cost you a million dollars.”, but instead, their customers such as Carteret claim the fields will end up costing more to repair and replace.
The lawsuit claims Early on, however, FieldTurf internally knew that its marketing campaign was grossly exaggerated.
“Rather than adjust its campaign strategy to reflect this reality or simply warn existing and new customers about the defective nature of the Synthetic Grass Fields, FieldTurf chose to maximize profits and maintain its leading market share,” the suit claims.
Lawyers said a leaked internal email from FieldTurf executive Kenny Gilman revealed that in 2007, FieldTurf knew its marketing campaign for the affected Synthetic Grass Fields was “ridiculous” and opened up the company “to tons of exposure from a legal standpoint.”
The class action suit seeks over $5,000,000 in damages at the hands of FieldTurf and claims to have over 100 affected customers.
One of the earliest complaints about premature disintegration came in October 2006 after FieldTurf installed the new Synthetic Grass Field in a South American country. Laura Braga, FieldTurf’s operation director for FieldTurf Latin America, emailed Gilman, explaining that an artificial turf field using the old slim-fit fiber that was installed in 2003 was in better condition than the Synthetic Grass Field that was installed within the year. The new Synthetic Grass Field was displaying significant “premature wear.”
FieldTurf executives discussed the failures, but continued to keep the information from their customers according to the legal filing.
“Like other municipalities, school districts and public and private entities throughout the United States, Carteret purchased six synthetic grass fields from FieldTurf, which were marketed under brand names “FieldTurf,” “Duraspine” and “Prestige,” in reliance on FieldTurf’s representations,” the firm said. “Carteret contends in the class action lawsuit that the fields are defective because the fibers that make up the fields deteriorate prematurely, sometimes in as little as two years, in stark contrast to the 10 year life expectancy represented by FieldTurf. Carteret asserts that FieldTurf knew through field inspections and independent testing that the fields would deteriorate much sooner than FieldTurf had represented to potential customers. Instead of advising their customers of these problems, FieldTurf chose to maximize profits by increasing the intensity of its marketing campaign designed around the false information.”
Carteret seeks immediate relief requiring FieldTurf to repair and replace the synthetic grass fields and to pay damages. Immediate relief is necessary and appropriate because of the risk of injury to those using the deteriorating fields.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court, New Jersey on December 14th.
New Jersey Could Soon Require Background Checks for In-Home Day Care Providers
by Phil Stilton
TRENTON-Those running family day care centers out of their homes in New Jersey may soon be subjected to federal background checks if a law moving through the state assembly reaches the desk of Governor Christie and he signs it.
The New Jersey Assembly wrote today:
All family day care providers would be required to undergo state and federal background checks under bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Joe Pennacchio and Shirley Turner and approved by the New Jersey Senate.
Under current law, prospective and current providers only have to undergo a child abuse registry check administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF.) They are not, however, required to undergo standard state and federal criminal history record background checks.
“It is impossible to know how many child abusers are slipping through the cracks in the system without subjecting every day care employee to a criminal background check,” Senator Pennacchio (R-26) said. “Clearly, a child abuse record check is not sufficient enough to prevent predators from accessing our children. An innocent child who is cared for by a handful of people in a private residence is no less deserving of the State’s protection.”
A “family day care” is defined as a private residence in which child care services are provided for a fee to between three and five children at a time, for no less than 15 hours per week.
S-651 would mandate that all current and prospective family day care providers, as well as anyone who works at the day care, also submit to criminal background checks. 11 states currently have this law in place.
Under the bill, the New Jersey State Police would be required to notify DCF in the event that a current or prospective family day care provider is convicted of a crime or offense in this state after the background check has been performed. Additionally, anyone who refuses to submit to a background check would be denied an issuance or renewal certificate of registration as a family day care provider. Senator Pennacchio’s legislation is currently awaiting action in the Assembly.
“We cannot guarantee our children’s safety until we correct this unequitable, dangerous oversight in state law,” Senator Pennacchio added. “I thank Senator Turner for her leadership on this bill and I urge my colleagues in the Assembly to take up our cause as soon as possible.”
Bill to Protect Consumers from Post Disaster Price Gouging Passes Assembly
by Phil Stilton
TRENTON-After Superstorm Sandy, allegations over price gouging on items ranging from food to emergency essentials was prevalent around the county by unscrupulous business owners trying to cash in on the disaster.
If a bill passed by the assembly is signed into law by Governor Chris Christie, it was place a prohibition on post-disaster price gouging.
“The protections we put in place will deter businesses from taking advantage of consumers during a natural disaster by spiking prices for necessities, such as gasoline and groceries,” Senator Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) said. “This bill will ensure business won’t be put at a disadvantage because of the inflexibility of the current protocol, and still protect consumers from price gouging tactics that threaten their welfare and safety.”
The legislation, S-2321, amends existing law to provide that it would be unlawful for any person to sell any product at an excessive price for a 30-day period following the declaration of a state of emergency. It also allows for the Governor to extend the period during which the price gouging prohibition remains in force.
Under current law, excessive price increases are prohibited for a period that extends to 30 days after the termination of a state of emergency. An “excessive price” is defined as more than 10 percent above the price of the item or service as offered immediately before the state of emergency.
“Every disaster is different, and a rigid, 30-day period might not work for every one of them,” Senator Oroho said. “We need to tailor these protections to fit each unique situation that arises. I think this will help us strike a balance between protecting consumers during a natural disaster and supporting businesses once the emergency is over.”
With Notice Bill Dead, Double Dipping Newspapers Should Cut Rates Anyway
by Phil Stilton
TRENTON-One thing we learned this past week in the fight between the corporate media lawyers and six-figure executives versus Governor Chris Christie is that newspapers offered to cut public notice rates by two-thirds.
Now that the legislation to strip them of their government funded life support now lies dead on the floor of the statehouse, the newspaper industry of New Jersey should prove to the rest of New Jersey that they’re not the double dipping, taxpayer funded entities that they are.
While newspapers are quick to tell us who in Trenton is a double dipper and who is ripping off consumers, they fail to mention their own feeding at the trough that contributes their own fair to high taxes in New Jersey.
During the fight, they said they could afford to cut rates by two-thirds. Now is the time for the six-figure salaried newspaper executives who cry poverty to put their…no, our money where their mouth is and voluntarily offer the discount.
Our own local representative of the dishonest media, the Asbury Park Press has had no problems making cuts to its editorial and reporter staff over the years for the sake of corporate greed, bottom lines and stock prices. Now, all of the sudden they are worried about those very jobs they have nonchalantly chopped on a regular basis for years.
Give the taxpayers their money back so it can be used for more useful projects in our communities. Even though this is New Jersey, that $80 million can do wonders for the communities you claim to serve.
In their dishonest self-serving campaign to fight for their government welfare, they once again proved they are part of the dishonest media of America, as they bundled the Chris Christie book deal with a piece of legislation that was fair to the New Jersey taxpayer.
The move was deceitful and devious as publishers and editors gathered in Trenton on Monday, the first time they have been seen in public in decades, to threaten the New Jersey lawmakers. They outright said whoever votes against their welfare checks, would face revenge and scorn. They threatened to exact revenge within the pages of their papers, which few read these days, especially here in Ocean County.
The newspaper industry in New Jersey is no better than the double-dipping, tax raiding politicians they claim to be the watchdogs of.
Newspaper is a dying industry, just like fax machines, telegraph, pagers, 8 track tapes, records, smoke signals, morse code and other antiquated mediums of information dissemination. They don’t deserve the bail out.
If you are interested in this, please call your local newspaper and demand that they come clean and tell us how much tax money they took in from the government this year.
Jackson K-9 Valor Charity Helps Fire Department After Thief Stole Christmas Tree Funds
by Phil Stilton
SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS-This weekend, a thief walked off with $1,000 of Christmas Tree sales raised through a tree sale fundraiser by the Independent Fire Company. Today, there has been an outpouring of support all along the Jersey Shore for the firefighters.
“We have been the victim of a real life grinch,” the fire company said Saturday morning when they found out their cash register had been stolen.
This morning, Sue DesMarais and Jennifer Gallagher visited the Independent Fire Company and donated $500 to them from money the charity raised last month at a Jackson Township fundraiser held at Cornerstone Kitchen and Tap.
DesMarais is a former police officer and has been the victim of two home fires said she read the story and felt compelled to make the donation.
” I read that the someone stole $1000.00 dollars from the Independent Fire Company in Spring Lakes Christmas Tree Fundraiser. So Jennifer Gallagher and I went down there with a $500.00 donation from K-9 Valor Task Force.”
She said she was interviewed by Channel 7 News, New York and spoke about her own ordeal where firefighters rescued her pets from her burning home in Jackson.
“I’m sorry this happened, I like to pay things forward,” she said.
“Any donations can be either mailed to Independent Fire Co #1 at 700 6th Ave, spring lake heights NJ 07762. Or can be directly dropped off at our station,” the department said to those who have offered support on their Facebook page.
Berkeley Island Park Begins Rebuilding After Being Damaged During Sandy
by Phil Stilton
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP-More than four years after being critically damaged by Superstorm Sandy, the Berkeley Island County Park is finally being rebuilt. In November, the county announced a $6.9 million construction contract was approved by the Board of Chosen Freeholders. 
“To say we are excited about the bid award and ground breaking would be an understatement,” said Mayor Carmen Amato. “Berkeley Island County Park is enjoyed by so many Berkeley residents and we can’t wait for construction to begin.”
The park has been closed since Sandy, but the new plans unveiled to the community highlighted new amenities, including the first Ocean County run splash park for children.
“We have also added a unique and new feature sure to make children happy especially in the warm weather,” said Ocean County Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation. “Berkeley Island County Park will be home to the county’s first splash park.”
Bartlett said he traveled to Philadelphia to see firsthand how the splash pad operates and whether it would be a good fit for an Ocean County park. Bartlett said if the 2,300 square foot, nautically themed splash park is successful at Berkeley Island, Ocean County may consider installing them at other county parks.
“I want to thank the Ocean County Freeholders for providing the investment to not only repair, but to rebuild the entire park. In our early discussions with Freeholder Bartlett, a splash park was discussed, which we were very supportive of having,” Amato added. “We are extremely pleased that the Freeholders did include the splash park. Prior to Superstorm Sandy, Berkeley Island Park was showing its age. I’m looking forward to it’s opening very soon!”
The Freeholders on Nov. 2 awarded a contract for the park redevelopment project to Eagle Construction, of Burlington, in the amount of $6.9 million.
Ocean County expects about $1.2 million reimbursement for the work from the Federal Emergency Management Administration and about $200,000 from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Additional funding may be provided by FEMA from mitigation funds.
Engineers from T&M Associates and Barlo & Associates designed the park redevelopment and buildings, strengthening them to withstand future storms.
A living shoreline will be installed on the south side of the park, and shoreline protection has been fitted on the north side. All new infrastructures, a new parking area with ADA accommodations and improved lighting for easy access are just some of the features that improve the function, aesthetics and recreational opportunities available at this 25 acre park.
Man to police: Military hacked my phone; Retired airman's daughter is international spy
Editors Note: After obtaining the video from this encounter, we are now able to properly report this story. For the benefit of the actor involved, suffering from mental illness, we will not disclose his name or publish the video.
Originally reported on December 15th.
JACKSON-A Jackson resident this week called police after a bizarre interaction with a man who abruptly stopped and skidded his vehicle in front of his home.
According to the video of the event, the man who was driving the vehicle told the resident, “I have reason to believe your daughter is an international criminal.”
“How do you know that?” the victim asked.
“Because my phone’s been hacked playing a silly game and I got a whole bunch of details of things that would seem like her,” the man responded.
When asked by the victim to see the phone, the man notified him he was live broadcasting the encounter on Facebook.
“Just move on,” the victim said and walked back towards his home.
The man then told the victim that the military has been flying jets low over his home and spying on him, and he gives them the middle finger all the time and the pilots saw it. He then confronted the victim, allegedly an air force veteran and demanding that he tells everything he knew about the military’s spying on him.
“Do you know anything about the jets harassing me?” he said. “Are you going to enjoy your discharge from misusing military equipment?”
“Where do you get this?” the victim responded.
“From the jets flying circles around my house…when I flip them off…they [expletive] fly over me real nice and slow,” the man said.
“You think I’m flying these jets?” the victim asked the man.
“I’m not sure, I know you’re a helicopter pilot mechanic…,” the man said.
The man then continued to argue with the victim, saying he was had information about the jets and helicopters flying over his house. The encounter happened in an area which lies just a few miles from Joint Base MDL and is in the flight path of the U.S. Navy training missions that circle Jackson Township from the former Lakehurst Naval Air Station side of the joint base.”
“You are just f’d dude, just move on,” the victim told the man. The man began yelling at the victim and that’s when he called the police. “I know she’s in a non-extradition neighbor…I’m going to come back with more people later. You’re not going to misused your [expletive] authority as a soldier…have your daughter and her stupid [expletive] friends harass me with jets and try to ruin my life.”
Later the man who made the outlandish claims arrived at the Jackson Police headquarters to file a report.
“This same male came in to the police department to report his phone had been hacked by the military after downloading a game,” the department said. “The male, who suffers from mental health issues was not taking his prescribed medication.”
Police notified EMT’s and he was transported to Monmouth Medical Southern Campus for treatment.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Evolution of the Public Notice
by Phil Stilton
TRENTON-Like everything in life, nothing stays the same forever. Aspects of society come and go. Some become prominent and mainstream while others fade away into obscurity. Yet, others evolve to adapt to the changing world around them.
One of those things that have changed as the world has changed has been how the public receives public notices.
In early Colonial America, town criers and bellman were officers of the courts who shouted court bulletins and notices in high traffic public areas of a town. These sharp dressed officers would walk the streets of the city ringing a bell, shouting “Hear ye, Hear ye, Hear Ye” to the denizens of the community.
For almost two hundred years, the town crier was how the governing bodies relayed their messages to the public.
In the mid 1800’s governing bodies in more rural and remote areas began using the nation’s fledgling newspapers to disseminate public notices. Not every town had a newspaper and not everyone knew how to read. By the 1800’s most northern white men knew how to read, but just around 50% of southern men could read. Few black man of the era could read, so town criers and newspaper public notices shared the spotlight.
Through the early 1900’s some cities in America still employed town criers, but as populations grew the town crier became obsolete and the courts eventually shifted their notices to the newspapers. By the time the last town crier lost their job, Americans got their public notices through newspapers.
The media did not evolve much in the 20th century to allow any other practical forms of disseminating public notices. Yes, radio and the television came along, but stations were limited to the bigger cities for decades and public notices just never took off on tv, a purely visual and audial experience. Sure, some cable companies used to run bulletins for the towns, but who really read them when there wasn’t two or more inches of snow on the ground?
Long after the last town crier argued that the switch to newspaper was an attack on their trade, the Internet appeared.
In the early to mid 1990’s Americans began discovering the internet. Today, 84.2% of Americans have access to the internet. 23% of Americans subscribe to a newspaper.
This week, New Jersey legislators are prepared to retire the newspapers as the town criers of the state and move the government messaging to the internet.
Society changes. I’m sure the town criers didn’t want to lose their jobs. After all, a small part of the population still preferred to get their public notices from the local town crier. It must have been a difficult and contentious times.
It’s not sure if town criers united to fight the shift, but after two hundred years, we’re confident the system that worked through colonial times and the industrial revolution were a valid replacement.
I’m also sure the online publication of public notices will also stand the test of time when history moves on to the next chapter…whether that’s neuro-news implants installed by the government or some kind of instant server to brain data transfer system.
There will always be a few people who prefer to get their public notices in 4 point walls of text in a remote section of the newspaper, just as there will eventually be those who prefer to get their news from a computer when those new fangled neural implants work just fine.
Governor Christie: Public Notice Bill Archaic System that Costs Taxpayers $80 Million Annually
by Phil Stilton
TRENTON-Last week, the New Jersey legislature once again tried to get a common sense tax savings bill through the defenses of the dishonest and greedy New Jersey media and newspaper legal and lobbying firewall.
According to our initial estimate, just tallying municipalities, we lost count after $20 million dollars. Today, Governor Christie estimated the overall total including state agencies, county agencies, utility authorities and school boards could be well over $80 million per year.
That is the system in place that requires government entities to publish paid public notices in New Jersey’s print newspapers.
The newspapers have been viciously firing back at the Governor and threatening legislators in editorials to not pass the bill to take away the taxpayer money that keeps their industry afloat.
“On Thursday, the Legislature advanced a commonsense piece of legislation that was first proposed in 2004 and will reform the archaic practice of requiring taxpayers and private businesses to pay for costly legal notices in print newspapers,” Christie said. “The legislation provides the option of posting notices online and citizens will be allowed to take advantage of modern technologies that are already in use by the vast majority of the people in our State.”
It also saves money the Governor added. Money that could go for other much needed projects, not a lifeline to an industry that has failed to adapt to the modern technological society.
“The current unfunded mandate that is being addressed by this legislation costs New Jersey taxpayers and private citizens more than $80 million per year,” Christie said. “That is $80 million annually from property taxpayers, including those facing the nightmare of foreclosure.”
According to Christie, the taxpayers and citizens of New Jersey can no longer afford this arrangement and thanks to technology, they don’t have to.
Christie said the law right now adds an additional $910 on families facing foreclosures by the requirement to post multiple notices.
“The New Jersey Press Association proposes increasing those charges,” he pointed out. “As a result, required legal notices earned newspapers approximately $14 million for the 12-month period ending in October 2016. And these costs were borne by the 15,764 financially distressed people who had just suffered a foreclosure of their home in that time period. This is simply unacceptable.”
As part of a “concession” offered by the NJPA and its members, the papers offered to slash prices for government entities but increase rates for those posting foreclosure notices and applying for building permits. It is nothing but an additional corporate tax and tax on the middle class.
“Today, there are more than 65,000 foreclosures currently pending in New Jersey,” Christie said. “That’s $59 million in potential revenue going to private media outlets that can instead be saved by citizens experiencing a foreclosure. Giving them a choice to post online at no cost helps them prevent losing what little equity they may have left or sinking them further into debt.”
Christie continued:
For government entities, hundreds of millions of dollars of future resources to be spent on required legal notices could now be made available for public schools and other municipal and county services rather than on an outmoded method which has been supplanted for the majority of New Jerseyans by the Internet.
The NJ Press Association has acknowledged the inescapable truth — newspapers have a vested interest in seeing this reform movement fail, and it is why they are making baseless charges to support taxing homeowners and bilking those subject to foreclosure unnecessarily.
For years newspapers have enjoyed a statutorily-protected monopoly on the publication of a vast array of legal notices. Monopolies are always bad for our economy and, in this case, awfully expensive for our citizens.
The facts are clear: nearly 90 percent of New Jersey households have an internet connection and 100 percent of the state’s public libraries provide free internet access to their more than 43 million annual visitors. Only 22 percent of New Jerseyans buy a print newspaper. This reform will bring New Jersey government directly to the people, who primarily spend their time online accessing information — for free. According to a Pew Research Center study from this summer, 81 percent of adults get their news from online sources or through mobile devices.
Contrary to the flailing assertions of the NJ Press Association, there will be no lack of transparency and no harm to the public as a result of this reform. These are merely scare tactics by their paid Trenton lobbyists designed to protect the interests of newspaper companies who argue for a free press, but are really arguing for a taxpayer funded subsidy in disguise. This bill, and their fight over it, unmasks their greed. In fact, their true disinterest in transparency and the public’s access to information through a free press — not to mention their undeniable hypocrisy — are fully displayed by the fact that this op-ed was refused publication. I was therefore left with no choice but to disseminate this opinion myself, which will no doubt be read by a vast majority of the population online.
The truth is this reform legislation maintains the requirement for local governments to provide advance public notice for matters such as meetings, agendas, bid requests and contract awards, while also establishing the requirements for public websites to ensure ease of access for the public. Government entities and individuals would still be able to fulfill notice obligations, but what would no longer be mandatory is the requirement of publishing an exorbitantly expensive notice in a newspaper.
Although the NJ Press Association insists that this reform bill will result in an overwhelming burden for municipal staff, they intentionally ignore the basic facts. Most importantly, they ignore the fact that this legislation is optional. If municipal clerks can’t manage to transfer the text of a legal notice and post it on their website, they are not required to change their process. However, 532 of the 565 municipalities in New Jersey already maintain websites that provide public notices and information — adding the legal notices that are currently published in newspapers will not be a major leap.
The New Jersey Association of Counties, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and the New Jersey School Boards Association all support this bill. The only group raising alarms on behalf of municipalities is the NJ Press Association.
In 2004, when a nearly identical bill was proposed, Assemblyman Wisniewski, then-Assemblyman (now Senator) Gordon, and then-Assemblywoman (now Senator) Weinberg voted for it. Yet now they have the chutzpah to turn their backs on the taxpayers they serve in order to further their misguided political agenda.
We must update and modernize the public notification responsibilities of local government so that residents are fully informed and we eliminate the outrageous cost for the taxpayers of New Jersey. It will permit a greater number of citizens access to government. The NJ Press Association’s attempts to hang on to an antiquated, self-serving, money making statutory scheme is shameful. The Constitution guarantees a free press, not a government-subsidized one.
That is why I support this bill, and all taxpayers who don’t have Trenton lobbyists arguing for government-ordered profit for them, should as well.
Council to Township: Remember Veterans During the Holiday Season
by Phil Stilton
JACKSON-The Jackson Township council took time during their final meeting before the holidays to remind residents to keep America’s warriors in their thoughts.
“This holiday season, they will be out in the cold, away from their families defending our rights and freedoms to keep our community a wonderful place to live,” Council President Rob Nixon said.
Ken Bressi, the only veteran on the council, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Marine Corps reminded the public of the sacrifices made by Americans killed in battle and their gold star families who live on without them.
“It’s the holiday season, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, whatever it is,” Councilman Ken Bressi said. “We celebrate Memorial Day, but Gold Star families celebrate every holiday as a memorial day. Think of all the veterans who gave supreme sacrifices, all veterans who have served us in the past and all our armed forces out there today, keeping our freedoms as they are and sustaining them, also to our first responders who enable us to life safely with these freedoms.”
Bressi said that although Americans celebrate the holidays differently, it’s important to remember the inherent freedoms that allow us to celebrate the holidays as we see fit.
“Always remember during these holidays, no matter what it is, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, whatever it may be, we have the freedom to celebrate the one we want in this country due to our veterans, our armed forces. I want you to take a moment at every holiday to remember that.”
“Think about our gold star families, who every holiday, every day, it’s memorial day,” Bressi added.
The meeting was recorded in its entirety and published to YouTube. Photo: YouTube. Video capture of Jackson Council Meeting.
If Public Notice Law Passes, Gannett Could Pay Dearly for Nearly 20 Year Old Miscalculation
by Phil Stilton
NEPTUNE-The Asbury Park Press was once a national leader in online news delivery.
It was 1995, then publisher, Jules Plangere Jr., an aging newspaper man had a vision, along with his son Jules, III–To be one of the first newspapers in America to deliver news daily online.
The project was called “IN Jersey”. The team operated inside an old warehouse across the street from the company’s Neptune headquarters. Both buildings are gone now, but in the late 1990’s the Asbury Park Press was a cutting edge technology company, buzzing with technology and oozing with excitement.
IN Jersey was run by Diane Burley and John Lott, two people who shared the Plangere’s vision. The Plangeres let the pair run the company as most dot-com companies were run. We had budgets to develop cool gizmos and gadgets galore. The Asbury Park Press was a true internet pioneer, like no other newspaper in America.
Burley built a team with a generous mix of seasoned and young energetic programmers, while Lott managed the company’s new statewide dial-up internet that service connected readers to the paper’s new online venture.
We had people on staff like Stanton Fisque who was sort of like our odd company mascot and go to guy at the same time. Stan could program anything out of thin air and he could solve almost any technical roadblock you dropped on his desk.
Eventually once the platform, designed by former Bell Labs whizz kids Ken Kruse and Greg Phelan was stable, online reporters and editors were hired. The warehouse began to fill and expand. Network engineers Steve Passalacqua and Anissa Stone singlehandedly managed the company’s many points of presence and statewide internet backbone.
On the newspaper side, Paul Lamhutt was the mad scientist of a systems engineer who knew how to connect the editors using the newspaper’s archaic roadrunner news terminals and windows 3.1 operating systems to the Solaris servers and Oracle databases that powered the company’s website. Paul designed systems that would allow editors to send a story to print layout and publish it online with a single mouse click. For the era, it was a revolutionary concept when the even the simplest task would sometimes require lines of code and macros.
IN Jersey was the state’s first “hyperlocal” news service, quite arguably the first in the nation. It launched with Freehold.InJersey and quickly expanded to many other towns.
Keep in mind, this was over 15 years before AOL launched Patch. The Asbury Park Press’ technology initiative was lightyears ahead of the Star Ledger’s NJ.Com project.
As a young whiz kid, I always thought Diane Burley was a bit corny when she said, “One day, we’ll look back and be seen as New Jersey’s Internet news pioneers.” Today, I get it. While as young adults, our skills were way beyond what we were doing at the Asbury Park Press, we never really appreciated the size of the technological eight ball Diane and John had to deal with every day. Nor did we understand the resistance they received from the lifelong newspaper guys who might not have fully embraced…the Internet or shared the same expensive high-tech vision of the Plangeres.
Everything was going great. The great sales team at IN Jersey worked well with the existing newspaper sales team at the Asbury Park Press. Bill Meyers and Bill Leitner were our GQ model salesmen who swept customer after customer off their feet. Linda Goodgold was the rock that managed a tight ship when it came to her sales team.
Major corporations were lining up to be a part of the future of news in New Jersey. There was always a line of design work waiting for Christine Harrington and Ralph Rivera’s off shoot enterprise, Neptune Interactive Design. They were the creative and visual artists of the project, designing everything from online user interface components of the news website to full websites for the growing base of customers.
IN Jersey grew…and grew…and it was excitingly popular with the paper’s customers. We were experimenting with all sorts of new technology, streaming audio servers for NJ 101.5, video, commercial broadcasting technology and much more. It was essentially a miniature version of Bell Labs. Life was great for all of us, except on those days when John and Diane woke up on the wrong side of the bed or just got out of a belittling conference meeting with the paper’s oldguard executive board.
IN Jersey was the future of the news industry and way ahead of its time. We were working on all kinds of innovative and interactive projects built to engage readers and for the first time ever, in the history of the industry, allow everyday people to create news, discuss the news and interact with each other online.
We were working on everything that made the most diehard cigar and pipe smoking old-school newspaper executive cringe…except the Plangeres, who loved the technology and supported us youngins with every available penny they could spare for research and development.
Jules III, was like a kid in a candy store when we showed off our latest widgets and updates that would enhance his vision of online news.
Then, August 7, 1997 happened.
The Plangeres and their partners sold the newspaper to Gannett. Jules Jr, recently deceased and the partners decided it was time to get out of the newspaper business. Gannett, a newspaper company, descended upon the Asbury Park Press like a conquering imperial army eager to rape and pillage whatever they wanted. It was like the opening scene of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but with a much shorter version of Kylo Ren leading the charge.
Robert Collins replaced Plangere as the publisher. He quickly assembled the entire company in the cafeteria within the Neptune headquarters. He was all of about 5 foot nothing, climbed up on a table and introduced himself. He was very Napoleonic.
“The Internet is a fad,” Collins told the stunned group of reporters, editors and technology gurus. “We are a newspaper and we are going to survive by being a newspaper. All this internet stuff is going away. The future of news is not online, but in the newspaper.”
He started talking about razor thin profits, bottom lines, 2%, 4%, whatever, we didn’t really care, we were the all-stars and he was just some old guy blowing wind to be heard, but it eventually set in.
It was a kick in the balls…even for the women. It was as if every last molecule of oxygen was being sucked out of the room as he blabbed away about ink and print and delivery trucks. The more he spoke, the harder it became to breath. He made us sick. Not that we were worried about our jobs, because those were ours for the taking at that point in history, but because we knew he was throwing the future of the company into the box of newspaper misprints on the pressroom floor.
Needless to say, many resumes had the dust blown off them that week. I was gone by December and in January joined Kruse and Phelan at their even more exciting technology shop in Red Bank, ePresence.
After that day, Gannett began systematically disassembling what the Plangeres, Lott, Burley, Lamhut, Kruse, Goodgold, newsroom editor Bob Kern and the others had built. They sold off InJersey’s internet provider service to Infinet, just to get rid of it. By the spring of 1998, the IN Jersey building was vacant and only a small skeleton crew remained squirreled away in a corner on the newsroom’s third floor.
The Star Ledger quickly surpassed the Asbury Park Press, becoming the number one source of online news as Gannett literally folded their hand in the online news card game.
IN Jersey eventually died and was later resurrected as some sort of Madison Avenue magazine geared towards God knows who of a target audience that also failed.
Back then, we didn’t call it “Hyperlocal”, we called it “local news” and “community news”, but that died too, never to resurface again until AOL unsuccessfully tried to recreate local news from the top down. We had already created from the bottom up 15 years prior. Gannett began closing community news offices and continued ripping the heart out of what had made the paper great for nearly a century, the reporters working in the neighborhoods.
Now, the Asbury Park Press is struggling more than ever after multiple rounds of layoffs. They’re now staring down the barrel of a very loaded shotgun as New Jersey lawmakers are threatening to take away their government funded public notice life support.
“We’re really concerned,” said Hollis Towns, editor, in a New York Times interview today. “The impact will be devastating. It would entail potentially major losses. And it would mean that local politicians would no longer be required to post legal notices in a place where the majority of the public could see them.”
Towns, like every other newspaper editor in the state who wished with every last breath that print news has a viable future in the digital age, blamed Governor Chris Christie. Many of his peers called it an act of revenge against the media who has not been so nice to governor over the years. Who they fail to blame is themselves.
The Asbury Park Press lost their base over the past 20 years, not because “print is dead”, but because they abandoned the communities they once proudly served. Gannett lost a golden opportunity to be a global leader in digital media the day their publisher declared the internet a fad. They have alienated their reader base with an anti-cop agenda, an anti-conservative platform and a basic disconnect with their reader base in Ocean County.
They abandoned nearly every principle the Plangeres instilled in their editors, to deliver fair, balanced and engaging community news. Instead, they focused, like their liberal peers, on divisive news, clickbaiting and ridiculously agenda driven “watchdog” reporting that usually targets police, school officials, religious communities, Republicans, conservatives and pretty much anyone who they don’t like or agree with.
They apparently have put too many of their eggs in the public notice basket, a disservice to the dedicated, hard working reporters who stuck around and continued to pound the pavement looking for great stories in the community every day, now being pushed to drive clicks instead of uncovering exciting and engaging news stories. They systematically executed their aging and experienced veterans with inexperienced snowflakes who seemingly operate without any supervision at all.
To blame the governor for their failure, twenty years after they dropped the ball is not only a disservice to their employees, but a disservice to their readers.
To claim to be the government watchdog, yet moan and groan when the government wants to end their own double dipping is laughable at best. They charge the taxpayer on one end to publish the notices and the reader on the other end to read the notices. There is nothing free about that kind of free press.
To think this day wasn’t coming and never planning for it is their own fault. Stop telling us we, as taxpayers should pay to read these public notices. Stop telling us how you want to increase the rates to New Jersey businesses who are already having a tough time and lying about how only high powered engineers will be affected. You know as well as we do that they will pass those costs down to the homeowners still trying to raise their homes and repair after Hurricane Sandy. The ones who pay will be the family who saved to buy a new swimming pool, to put an addition on their home or maybe a handicapped accessible extension for an elderly family member who can no longer afford to live alone in New Jersey.
Their compromise of lowering municipal rates and increasing the applicant rates was nothing but a new business tax and an additional tax on the people of New Jersey.
Your double dipping of government funds needs to end immediately. It’s 2016. Not 1916.
Newspapers Public Notice "Compromise" Nothing Short of a Business Tax
by Phil Stilton
TRENTON-Today, New Jersey’s newspapers offered lawmakers a compromise on the proposed bill to eliminate the state mandate requiring towns to pay newspapers to publish public notices. Fortunately, according to published reports, Governor Chris Christie rejected the offer that would lower municipal advertising rates by 50%, but increase rates for private businesses.
In a story in today’s Asbury Park Press, Brian Murray, a spokesperson for the governor said the deal was unacceptable.
The APP reported: “Those private ads are paid for by poor people getting their houses foreclosed on and the costs of the legal notices passed directly on to them by the financial institutions,’’ Murray said. “Our proposal lifts that burden from those facing foreclosure while the NJPA proposes to increase their burden even further. It is no compromise; it just shifts the burden from the taxpayers to the citizens facing foreclosure.’’
The rate shift also equals nothing more than an additional tax on New Jersey businesses, many already reeling from a recent 23% gas tax increase. The newspaper industry’s proposal would ensure that at the end of the day, they don’t lose their government mandated revenues.
The bill, unlike previous attempts is expected to quickly move through the state house before reaching the Governor’s desk where he has indicated he will sign the measure into law.
If passed, newspapers, already on the decline nationwide would be faced with revenue shortfalls in the millions of dollars in 2017 and could lead to even more layoffs in an industry where commercial advertising has dropped off in favor online and social media based advertising.
Newspapers have long hailed themselves as the watchdogs of the public tax dollar, however when it comes to cutting their own taxpayer funded enterprise they abandoned their watchdogging.
Jackson Township Residents Vote in First Annual JTOWN Magazine "People's Choice Awards"
by Phil Stilton
JACKSON-Over 1,200 readers voted in November in the inaugural JTOWN Magazine “People’s Choice Awards”.
Over 40 individuals, businesses and charities were nominated by the public in our online Facebook page, Jackson,NJ (Over 5,400 members). Of those 40, four were chosen by our readers.
After Maureen Olsen lost her son Chase Ryan to cancer, she become devoted to supporting childhood cancer charities and awareness around Jackson. She started the Chase Ryan Olsen Foundation in memory of her son.
She was the driving force behind Jackson’s “Paint the Town Gold” initiative that has raised awareness of childhood cancer in the township exponentially. Sports teams across Jackson wear gold ribbons, shoe laces, socks to raise money for cancer based charities and to keep the memory of those children the township has lost alive.
Mayor Michael Reina has served as Jackson’s mayor for 8 years and has been one of the town’s most liked mayors in recent history. Reina has been open in his support of everything that is Jackson from veterans to childhood illness awareness to youth sports programs. Reina is a fixture at many community events and has been a hands on mayor when it comes to being part of the community since before he took office.
Reina and his wife Laura take the efforts of charities such as the Chase Ryan Olsen Foundation personally as their own granddaughter Angelina has been battling childhood cancer for several years.
Farley’s Ice Cream was chosen as business of the year. Owner John Burnetsky is a long time community supporter, president of the Jackson Liberty Band Association and a member of the Jackson School Board.
The James Volpe Foundation is another foundation that had its start after a tragedy. After Jackson Memorial student James Volpe died in a car crash, his father Anthony, mother Christine and brother Justin, along with family and friends began raising money in James’ name to support James’ most passionate interest, youth sports and baseball. The foundation raises money to help sports teams and has donated a driving simulator to promote safe driving among students learning to drive in the school. The foundation helps fund sports equipment for volunteer and school teams and assists under privileged athletes pay for sports fees when needed.
The poll was conducted by JTOWN Magazine and the Shore News Network. The poll application software was managed by Code Rubik, Inc. a third party application developer based out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Local Authorities Mum on Sheriff Officer Who Struck Teen Girl With Car
LAKEWOOD-Little is still known about a crash that involved an Ocean County Sheriff’s Department officer enroute to a routine call in Lakewood Wednesday afternoon after the driver struck a 17 year old girl walking on the northbound shoulder on New Hampshire Avenue.
Toms River and Lakewood Police arrived on scene, but neither department has issued a media release on the incident, which is typical in a non-officer involved crash within the first 24 hours after the incident.
Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy deferred media questions to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Calls made to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Freeholder / Director of Public Safety Jack Kelly have either yet to be returned or calls have been missed and return calls have not been returned.
According to the New Jersey State Police, Juan Mercado, 44, of Jackson struck the Lakewood girl at approximately 1:25 pm as she was walking on the shoulder.
According to The Lakewood Scoop, the girl was rushed to Jersey Shore Medical Center’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where she was in critical condition.
Racial and Religious Tensions Escalate to Violence Around New Jersey Jewish Orthodox Enclave
LAKEWOOD-Over the past year, racial and religious tensions between Lakewood’s predominantly Orthodox Jewish population and residents in surrounding towns have escalated, culminating in violence for the first time this week.
As Lakewood Township runs out of open space to build sufficient housing for its exploding Orthodox population, community leaders last year encouraged Orthodox Jewish families in Lakewood and Brooklyn to consider moving beyond the borders of Lakewood. Rabbi Schmuel Lefkowitz advised at a conference of Agudath Israel of America that land investors and families looking to join the population boom in Lakewood, to invest in properties and buy homes in the surrounding towns of Jackson, Brick, Howell and Toms River.
Over the next few months, gold fever struck realtors and land prospectors, now referred to as “Schtick [little] Pioneers” by Lefkowitz. Realtors from from agencies that cater to the Orthodox population went fast and furious, relentlessly knocking on doors, buying foreclosures and open land in those neighboring towns. Many residents in those towns complained about realtors knocking on their doors for days on end, asking them to sell them home. Jackson Township Councilman Rob Nixon said those real estate buyers were engaging in “panic peddling“.
Eventually the towns of Toms River, Jackson and Brick established no-knock registries as a quality of life control measure to regulate the volume of real estate door knocking. Toms River went as far as a complete ban on real estate soliciting in some neighborhoods bordering Lakewood. Most residents supported the measure. Realtors would now have to list the neighborhoods they wanted to canvass.
Facebook pages popped up just as quickly as for sale signs in neighboring towns. Jackson Strong, Toms River Strong and others, where angry residents could communicate their frustrations with each other and talk about their now changing communities as homes in their neighborhoods were being purchased at a high rate by Orthodox families, many seeking to escape their urban lifestyles in Lakewood and New York City, others, hiding behind LLC’s, purchasing homes and land as rental investment properties.
For decades, the five communities, co-existed peacefully. Since the middle of the twentieth century, Lakewood has been home to the Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva and has since grown into one of the largest Orthodox Jewish population centers outside of Israel. Most still coexist peacefully.
In the 2000 census, Lakewood, a mixed community with a large Hispanic and African American population, was home to 60,000 people.
Fifteen years later, that population has nearly doubled to 100,000 making it the most populous town in Ocean County. The increase was mostly in the Orthodox Jewish demographic, causing a near overload and failure in the Lakewood public school system, which is now overseen by a state monitor in an attempt prevent a complete collapse.
Tensions between Lakewood’s Orthodox and non-Orthodox neighbors continue to escalate.
In 2016, residents in Toms River and Jackson complained after Lakewood Shomrim (An Orthodox founded community security force), called the Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch (LCSW) was accused of patrolling neighborhoods in those towns. In Jackson, Mayor Michael Reina and the township ordered police Chief Matthew Kunz to advise the LCSW to not patrol their town. Toms River followed suit, ordering an immediate cease and desist.
The orders resulted in then Lakewood Police Chief Robert Lawson to testify that LCSW does not patrol outside of Lakewood, despite several of photographs submitted by residents showing LCSW operating in Jackson and Toms River. Lawson criticized the elected officials for their meddling saying they are politicians just worried about their political careers. Lawson was not showing his cards though. A month later, he retired from the Lakewood Police Department and was immediately hired to be the head of security at the BMG Yeshiva.
Chief Kunz in Jackson, according to an Asbury Park Press report defied local leaders and endorsed LCSW on the department’s Facebook page, prompting a disapproval response from Reina.
Coupled with aggressive real estate tactics and aggressive home buying by Orthodox families and what many perceive as an encroachment into their communities, the Jackson Township municipal council requested the State of New Jersey to investigate possible blockbusting in Jackson. That request was denied by the state.
On social media residents in both communities have verbally battled, humiliated and mocked each other.
Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher called the growth of Orthodox Jewish families in his town, an invasion. Lakewood Mayor Manashe Miller, a member of the Orthodox community demanded an apology by his Republican peer. That was back in March. Kelaher has yet to issue a formal apology. Instead the 83 year old mayor and former U.S. Marine Corps Reserve officer denied that his comment was anti-Semitic and said he maintains a good relationship with his Jewish residents.
Neither side is innocent in the back and forth.
Toms River Police earlier this year took issue with false reports claimed in Lakewood newspapers which misrepresented facts found by investigating officers in a possible bias crime incident.
On Purim, many Lakewood children dressed in redneck garb, wearing Jackson Strong shirts. Many Orthodox on Lakewood websites and social media pages openly criticize residents of Jackson, referring to the community as ‘ignorant’ and ‘rednecks’.
Lakewood residents have openly called for Department of Justice investigations into what is described as “pure anti-Semitism” at Jackson Township council meetings.
An outreach meeting between mayors of Jackson, Howell, Lakewood and Manchester yielded no relief or plan to resolve the differences and problems that face those communities.
This past winter, a Jewish male made headlines when he paid a homeless man to pour a cup of hot coffee on his head.
Parks in Toms River and Howell have been defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti.
Police in all of the towns surrounding Lakewood aggressively investigated those crimes, some leading to charges.
This week, however, things began turning violent.
A woman in Howell has been accused of assaulting a young male in front of the local Wal-Mart.
In Lakewood, a black man from Jackson, Elijah Chandler was driving his vehicle in Lakewood when he was struck by an Orthodox man who he said ran a red light. The Lakewood Orthodox population, like many others in New Jersey is notorious for bad driving etiquette and disregard for other drivers. Leaders in the Orthodox community have said on several occasions this pattern of driving is attributed to the large number of former city dwellers who are not yet familiar with Ocean County’s open roads and high speed limits.
After the crash, Chandler exited his car, and according to witnesses, pulled the man from his car and engaged in a verbal argument with him and several other Orthodox men who had descended upon the crash site.
Chandler yelled bias slurs at the men, “Go back to your own country, you kike.” One man off camera shouted, “Get out of here, coon!” to Chandler. A video of the incident can be found on Facebook.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple offenses including bias crime, assault and harassment.
Lakewood Police did not say whether charges were filed against the offending driver or the man who rebutted Chandler’s hate speech with his own verbal racial assault.
As the tensions rise, few, if any religious or political leaders from Lakewood and surrounding towns have offered solutions on how to curb the rising tensions, which this week have escalated to violent acts and will most likely continue as the situation on the ground heats up here in “Four Towns”.
Jackson Man Hit by Reckless Lakewood Driver Arrested by Police
LAKEWOOD-A situation in Lakewood escalated quickly between a black man and Orthodox Jewish men after a car accident here on Wednesday.
Police in Lakewood have arrested 34 year old Elijah’s Chandler of Jackson after he reacted aggressively and violently to the driver of a vehicle in Lakewood he claims ran a red light and crashed into his vehicle.
Chandler claimed the driver ran the red light, police have not released any information pertaining to the actual accident, but did file charges against him.
“The [expletive] ran the light,” Chandler shouted. “He tried to beat the light, like all y’all [expletive].”
After the accident, he began yelling at a driver he claims sped through the intersection after the traffic light had turned red. During the heated confrontation, some of which was captured on video, police arrived and arrested Chandler, charging him with bias intimidation, terroristic threats, simple assault, criminal mischief and two counts of harassment. Chandler was surrounded by a group of individuals described as Orthodox Jewish men during the clash.
In the video, Chandler could be seen yelling and pointing at the man, shouting anti-semitic remarks, but no physical assault was captured on video. Chandler then kicked the vehicle which was operated by the driver who committed the initial offense. Witnesses claimed Chandler opened the offending driver’s car door and removed him from the vehicle.
Lakewood police refused to release the comments made by Elijah to the media, but the video released shortly afterwards on social media captured the event.
You can watch the full video on the Ocean County Police Blotter facebook page.
Main Photo: Chandler lays on the road after being instructed by police, prior to his arrest.
Man Arrested for Child Neglect After Nearly OD'ing While Giving Child Bath
JACKSON-On Saturday September 17, 2016 at approximately 8:30 pm, Jackson Police Officers Michael Kelly and Shane Davis, along with Jackson First Aid responded to a residence located on Bennetts Mills Road on the report of an unresponsive male who had been located in the bathroom of the residence.
While enroute to the location, officers were updated that the male was now responsive. The officers arrived on scene and observed the 35 year old male who had been reported as the unresponsive victim. Officer Kelly, who is one of the agency’s certified Drug Recognition Experts (DRE), made observations that it appeared that the male was exhibiting the common signs and symptoms of being under the influence of a narcotic and was having difficulty in speaking with the officer. Further investigation revealed that the male had been in the bathroom giving a small child a bath and when other family members arrived home from being out, the small child ran from the bathroom saying that the male was sleeping. The male was then found in the bathroom, reportedly barely breathing and failing to respond to attempts to wake him.
The investigation was continued and resulted in the male being arrested and charged with child abuse/neglect. He was processed at Police Headquarters and was released on summons pending a court appearance, further investigation is ongoing at this time. The child was placed with family members for safety and the DCPP was also contacted to investigate.
– The media and the public are reminded that any persons arrested or charged with any offenses or crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Police Seeking Woman Who Verbally, Physically Assaulted Jewish Boy at WalMart
Howell p
olice today are seeking to identify a woman who allegedly harassed a group young boys at the Walmart store on Route 9 here earlier this month.
Tensions are beginning to flare as some residents in Howell, Jackson, Toms River in Brick react to a growing trend of Orthodox Jewish families moving into those towns surrounding Lakewood.
On September 5th, at around 10pm, a boy was standing in front of Walmart with his friends and was harassed by a woman.
“According to the victim, the female suspect enters the Walmart with another male and as she’s entering the store she turns towards and confronts him aggressively without provocation,” Chief Andrew Kudrick said. “The male that was with the female unsuccessfully attempted to restrain her.”
The woman then asked the boy if he was from Lakewood.
“Go back to Lakewood you [expletive] Hasidic Jews”, she yelled at them and pushed one of the boys as she entered the store.
Kudrick said police were called, but the woman left the store minutes later and was gone prior to police arrival.
The female is described as a white female in her mid-twenties to early thirties operating what appears to be a newer model white 4-door Kia Optima. Photographs of the female suspect and her vehicle are attached.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect is asked to contact Detective Corporal Nancy Carroll #182 at ncarroll@howellpolice.org or (732)938-4575 Ext. 2894.
Rahami Charged with Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Seaside, NYC Bombings
Attorney General of the United States Loretta E. Lynch, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman for the District of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara for the Southern District of New York, Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Director James B. Comey, Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney of the FBI New York Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher of the FBI Newark Field Office and Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York (“NYPD”) James O’Neill announced that Ahmad Khan Rahami, a/k/a “Ahmad Rahimi,” has been charged in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, for conducting and attempting to conduct bombings in New York City and various locations in New Jersey on September 17, 2016, and September 18, 2016.
Rahami, 28, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is charged in a Complaint filed in the Southern District of New York with one count of using and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2332a, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; one count of bombing and attempting to bomb a place of public use, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2332f, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; one count of destroying and attempting to destroy property by means of fire or explosive, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(d), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and use of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, namely, the use and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), which carries a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 30 years in prison, all in connection with Rahami’s alleged detonation of an explosive device and efforts to detonate explosives in New York City.
Rahami is also charged in a Complaint filed in the District of New Jersey with two counts of using and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2332a, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on each count; one count of bombing and attempting to bomb a place of public use and public transportation system, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2332f, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; one count of attempting to destroy property by means of fire or explosive, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and two counts of using a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, namely, the use and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), each count of which carries a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 30 years in prison and, if convicted of both counts, a
mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, all in connection with Rahami’s alleged efforts to detonate explosives in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Rahami will first be transported by the United States Marshals Service, pursuant to a writ of habeas corpus ad prosequendum, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to face the charges filed in the Southern District of New York. More than 30 people were injured as a result of the detonation of a bomb in the Chelsea area of New York City.
Mr. Bharara and Mr. Fishman praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD, and the FBI’s New Jersey Joint Terrorism Task Force. Mr. Bharara and Mr. Fishman also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division for its assistance.
The prosecution in the Southern District of New York is being handled by that Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Lewin, Emil J. Bove III, Andrew J. DeFilippis, and Shawn G. Crowley are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The prosecution in the District of New Jersey is being handled by that Office’s National Security Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis C. Carletta, Francisco J. Navarro, Margaret Ann Mahoney, and James M. Donnelly are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Father of bomb suspect, Ahmad Khan Rahami: I called FBI twice
ELIZABETH — The father of Ahmad Khan Rahami, the man suspected in planting bombs in New York and New Jersey, told reporters outside his fried chicken restaurant this morning that he called the FBI twice about his son. Mohammad Rahami at first came to a side gate outside the First American Fried Chicken restaurant around 10…
Man Charged After Leaving Children in Car While Inquiring About Gym Membership
On September, 19, Berkeley Township Police Det. Joseph Santoro and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Victim’s Unit Det. Stephanie Bayha arrested and charged Yordy R. Santanacastillo, 28, of Forked River, NJ, with 2 counts of Fourth Degree Child Abuse.
The investigation initiated on September 9th, 2016, by the partnering Detectives, with assistance from Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI, found the defendant was allegedly observed at approximately 4:40 pm by witnesses leaving his two children (ages 1 and 3) unattended in his car for approximately 19 minutes. The car was parked in the Retro Fitness parking lot on Route 9 in Berkeley with the ignition to the vehicle off while SantaCastillo inquired about a gym membership. The outdoor air temperature at the time exceeded 90 degrees. A temperature as high as 97 degrees was recorded on the day of the incident.
The case was reviewed by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Christine Lento who approved the above charges. The defendant is released on a summons pending his appearance in Superior Court.
The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that these defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Seaside Bomber Charged with Attempted Murder of 5 Cops
New York and New Jersey bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami will be charged with five counts of attempted murder, Reuters reported Monday. He will be charged with two gun related offences, a law enforcement official told the news agency. Rahami was apprehended in Linden, New Jersey, after a firefight earlier on Monday. Rahami is an immigrant from…
Rahami Officially Linked to Seaside Park Terrorist Bombing
TRENTON-Ahmad Kahn Rahami is now being connected officially by authorities as suspect in all 3 New York and New Jersey bomb incidents. Authorities today said all of the devices used similar components and those individuals arrested in Brooklyn were also tied to Elizabeth and Rahami, saying they could be part of a New Jersey based sleeper terrorist cell.
Multiple agencies are continuing the investigations today.
New Jersey State Police said, “The FBI is asking for assistance in locating Ahmad Khan Rahami, who is wanted for questioning in connection with an explosion that occurred on September 17, 2016, at approximately 10:14 a.m. in the vicinity of Ocean Ave., Seaside Park, NJ and on September 17, 2016, at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the vicinity of 135 West 23rd Street , New York, NY.”
That No-Knock Ordinance is Our Only Hope…No, There was Another
Records obtained from Jackson Township show that Jackson’s new no-knock ordinance removed several components of the original 1995 ordinance that regulated peddling and door-to-door solicitation in the township that are now being requested by township residents.
In particular, the requirement of township issued identification and criminal background checks have been removed from the new ordinance, after being the law for the pasts 30 years.
Back in 1995, to combat the persistent door-to-door peddling the township council then enacted an ordinance to license and regulate peddlers, vendors and solicitors in residential neighborhoods.
That ordinance required solicitors to go through a vigorous registration process that required them to pay a $100 fee to the township and submit a more detailed application.
Applicants had to provide in writing each individual solicitor’s name and address, a physical description of the applicant, the applicant’s places of residents for the past 5 year period, a complete description of the services offered, complete description of the vehicles to be used including the make, model, color and license plate, the same as the amended ordinance passed in 2015.
Additionally the applicant had to certify that they had never been denied a peddler’s license and that if they did, their license had never been revoked.
Unlike the new ordinance, a criminal background check was also part of the process.
All solicitors were required to provide the township proof of a New Jersey license and an insurance policy that included damages to property and persons, including death. That policy should cover $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident.
A township issued ID card was to be worn by all solicitors, visible to residents while they scoured the neighborhoods.
Under the old ordinance, the peddler’s license could be revoked by the township in the event of fraud, public nuisance or if the township felt the vendor’s activities were a risk to public health and safety.
Soliciting was permitted only between the hours of 7am and 9pm. Violations under the old ordinance were capped at a $500 fine and up to 90 days in prison.
Fast forward 30 years to 2015.
A new ordinance enacted by the township council was passed to address the new concerns of aggressive real estate buyers and rumors of religious blockbusting and bullying tactics by those realtors.
In that new ordinance, there were no requirements for criminal background checks and the township no longer required solicitors to wear the township issued ID badge.
Similarly, both ordinances require the names and addresses of the solicitors, their past 5 years of residence, past denials, insurance and business license.
The new ordinance forces the applicant to narrow down their target area by street and further limits the hours to 10-6pm Monday through Saturday and 12-2pm on Sunday.
The 1995 ordinance specifically declared that it superceded any previous similar ordinance, but the 2015 ordinance does not specify, but township administrator Helene Schlegel said the new ordinance supersedes the 1995 ordinance.
While the amended ordinance added language to address blockbusting, a no-knock registry and attempted to curb unethical real-estate practices, it did effectively dropped the requirement for criminal background checks and the requirement of township issued identification cards to be worn by those approved to solicit in the town’s neighborhoods.
At the last township council meeting, Councilman Rob Nixon requested the township attorney to look into adding language for criminal background checks.
The next township council meeting is scheduled for tonight, discussion of the no-knock ordinance, nor amendments to the ordinance have been proposed.
Crosstown Rivalry Ice Hockey Game & Food Drive
The annual Jackson crosstown rivalry game took place on Friday,
St. Aloysius Students take part in Verizon App Challenge
Sixth and seventh grade students at Saint Aloysius School in
Heating Bill Assistance Available for Ocean County residents
TOMS RIVER – Ocean County residents who need help with
Thomas Tarver named new Head Football Coach at Donovan Catholic
TOMS RIVER – Donovan Catholic School has named Thomas Tarver
Encore Dental in Brick Township Chamber’s Business of the Week
BRICK – Encore Dental is the Brick Township Chamber of
Ocean County Boat Pumpout Program Entering 19th Season
TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Pumpout Boat Program will
Poll: 86.9% of Residents Approve of Toms River's Cease and Desist Order Against Realtors
In an online poll by the Shore News Network with 770 readers, 86.9% of our readers said they approve of the performance of Toms River Mayor Tom Kelaher and the township council’s cease and desist order against residential soliciting by real estate agents in the North Dover section of town.
11.3% of those polled said the council’s decision did not change their views of the mayor and council in any way, but just 1.9% disagreed with the action and expressed disapproval in the poll.
Toms River residents have been pressuring the township council since late 2015 to take action against what they feel are overly aggressive real estate tactics, mostly in the North Dover section.
Last Tuesday, the council voted unanimously to ban real estate soliciting in portions of North Dover, bordering Lakewood Township.
A few days later, Toms River police reported they had charged a man for trespassing in an abandoned and foreclosed home. The man entered the house illegally, but claimed he was a potential buyer and was acting upon the guidance of a realtor in Lakewood.
Toms River police, unable to corroborate the man’s story, issued Israel Feldbrand, of Lakewood a summons for trespassing.
Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher stated, “The arrest of Mr. Feldbrand is further proof of the type of conduct taking place in Toms River by unscrupulous individuals and realtors. This type of behavior will not be tolerated and is added justification for the cease and desist ordinance unanimously approved by the Township Council.”
“This is the kind of behavior our residents have repeatedly complained about which is the reason the cease and desist ordinance was enacted,” council president Brian Kubiel said. “Residents should remain vigilant about the safety and security of their residences and report any suspicious activity to the Police.”
Photo by Lakewood Scoop.
Jackson Based Harmony Bank Sold to Lakeland Bancorp for $32 Million
JACKSON-The Boards of Directors of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. announced that they have entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant to which Harmony Bank will be merged with and into Lakeland Bank, with Lakeland Bank as the surviving bank.
The Merger Agreement provides that shareholders of Harmony Bank will receive 1.25 shares of Lakeland Bancorp common stock for each share of Harmony Bank common stock that they own at the effective time of the merger. Lakeland Bancorp expects to issue an aggregate of approximately 3.0 million shares of its common stock in the merger and will cash out Harmony Bank options that remain outstanding at the effective time of the merger. The transaction is valued at approximately $32.0 million, or $12.79 per share, based on the closing price per share of Lakeland Bancorp’s common stock of $10.23 on February 17, 2016. The transaction is expected to be approximately 1% accretive to Lakeland Bancorp’s Earnings Per Share in 2017 and approximately 0.5% dilutive to Tangible Book Value with an estimated Earnback in approximately 3.5 years.
Thomas J. Shara, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lakeland Bancorp and Lakeland Bank, remarked: “We are delighted to be combining with Harmony Bank and expanding Lakeland’s presence into Ocean County. This merger is consistent with our recent initiatives to expand into desirable markets and leverages our highly successful Loan Production Office initiated in 2015 covering neighboring Middlesex and Monmouth counties. We look forward to working with Harmony Bank in delivering a broad array of business and consumer products into a dynamic marketplace.”
Michael Schutzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Bank, stated: “We are very excited to be partnering with such a strong, well-managed organization as Lakeland. This merger will bring together two financially strong banks with similar cultures as well as a proven history of building relationships through superior customer service. We are excited to bring our hometown bank relationship focus together with the sophistication and experience of a larger one. Lakeland’s extensive consumer banking products will enable us to now offer better consumer service and products, including home mortgages, in our marketplace. Harmony Bank provides a great presence in one of the most attractive banking markets in the State of New Jersey.”
Lakeland Bank operates 53 New Jersey branch offices in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties; five New Jersey regional commercial lending centers in Bernardsville, Montville, Newton, Teaneck and Wyckoff/Waldwick; and, two commercial loan production offices serving Middlesex and Monmouth counties in New Jersey and the Hudson Valley region of New York. Lakeland Bank offers an extensive suite of financial products and services for businesses and consumers.
As of December 31, 2015, Lakeland Bancorp had consolidated total assets, total loans, total deposits and total stockholders’ equity of $3.87 billion, $2.97 billion, $3.00 billion and $400.5 million, respectively. Following -2- the closing of Lakeland Bancorp’s acquisition of Pascack Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary, Pascack Community Bank, on January 7, 2016, Lakeland Bancorp’s total assets approximated $4.3 billion. Harmony Bank, a state-chartered commercial bank that focuses on serving consumers and small-to-medium-size businesses, is headquartered in Jackson, New Jersey, with additional branch offices in Lakewood and Toms River, New Jersey. As of December 31, 2015, Harmony Bank had total assets, total loans, total deposits and total stockholders’ equity of $295 million, $241 million, $257 million and $28 million, respectively. The Boards of Directors of Lakeland Bancorp, Lakeland Bank and Harmony Bank have approved the merger.
Closing is subject to receipt of approvals from regulators, approval of the merger by Harmony Bank’s shareholders and other customary conditions. No approval is required from Lakeland Bancorp’s shareholders. The closing is expected to occur in the late second quarter or early third quarter of 2016. Harmony Bank’s directors and executive officers, owning in the aggregate approximately 25.9% of Harmony Bank’s outstanding shares on the date the Merger Agreement was executed, have signed voting agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the merger. Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P is acting as financial advisor to Lakeland Bancorp. Raymond James is acting as financial advisor to Harmony Bank. Lowenstein Sandler LLP is acting as Lakeland Bancorp’s legal advisor. Day Pitney LLP is acting as Harmony Bank’s legal advisor
HS GIRLS BASKETBALL: Ball Scores 16 in Brick Memorial Loss
Lyric Green scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Friday
HS GIRLS BASKETBALL: Holmdel Defeats Toms River South 60-54
The Toms River South High School girls basketball team held
Police: Drunk Driver Causes Three Accidents in Manahawkin
STAFFORD- On Wednesday February 24, 2016 at approximately 4:50 PM Stafford Police received a report of a hit and run involving a red mustang in the area of Route 9 North and Oxycocus Road. Prior to police arrival, additional reports were received that a red mustang was involved in an accident at the intersection of Route 9 and Hilliard Boulevard and fled the scene. As the vehicle fled the second accident, it struck another vehicle at the same intersection. The accidents heavily damaged the vehicle and it lost a tire and fled the scene driving on the tire rim.
Police located the vehicle a short distance away at a residence on Willow Court. The engine of the vehicle was smoking heavily. Further investigation determined that Veronica Belluscio, 41 YOA, of Willow Court, Manahawkin, NJ was the operator of the 2000 Ford Mustang involved in the accidents. She was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated.
As a result of this incident, a total of 5 vehicles other than Belluscio’s vehicle were damaged with three occupants being transported to SOMC for minor injuries.
Accident at Route 9 and Oxycocus: Three Car Accident
Belluscio struck: 2016 Lexus Rx3 (Operated by Wendy A. Tomasello of Manahawkin, NJ 49 YOA)
Pushed into a 2005 Honda CRV (Operated by Diana M. Dabrowski, 62 YOA of West Creek, NJ)
Accident at Route 9 and Hilliard Blvd: Three Car Accident
Belluscio struck: 2012 Chevy Equinox( Operated by Lindsay Hoosack of 32 YOA of Barnegat/ Two Child Occupants: 3 YOA female and 9 Months old female Driver was transported for neck pain and two children were transported to get checked out
Pushed into a 2011 Lincoln Mkz (Operated by Amy Fence, 43 YOA of Manahawkin)
Accident at Route 9 and Hilliard Blvd: Two Car Accident
Belluscio struck: 2005 GMC Savannah (Operated by Richard Coffman, 69 YOA Of Manahawkin, NJ)
Belluscio was charged with one count of Resisting Arrest, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, 3 count of leaving the scene of an accident, 3 counts of failure to report an accident, 2 counts of improper passing. She was processed and released pending a future court appearance.
Patrolman Erik Smithman was the arresting officer. Stafford EMS and Stafford Township Volunteer Fire Company assisted in the matter.