HOWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ – The Howell Township Police Department expressed gratitude to the residents of Pine View Estates at Howell for their participation and warm welcome at a recent fraud presentation.
The presentation alerted seniors to the different types of fraud schemes occurring recently and how to prevent being the next victim of fraud.
The event, which took place earlier today, featured presentations by Detective Ortenzi and Detective Robertiello. Additionally, Traffic Officers Bush and Silvani were on hand to address all traffic-related inquiries. The police department used their Facebook page to extend thanks to all attendees and officers involved in the event.
- Eatontown Residents Seem OK With Democrat Love Affair Between Mayor and Councilwoman
Patch reports Anthony Talerico and Candace Faust are dating and living together as both seek reelection.
EATONTOWN, NJ — Eatontown Mayor Anthony Talerico’s relationship with Councilwoman Candace Faust is raising questions about independence on the Eatontown governing body, according to a Patch report on October 23.
The two have dated for more than a year and live together, Patch reported. Both Democrats are seeking reelection November 3.
Residents differ on relationship
On social media, comments are split. Many residents say Patch should have minded their own business because they are two consenting adults. Others say it’s a matter of public interest because of the relationship between two people in a government setting that is supposed to provide checks and balances.
“The best power couple ever!!!! You really need to find something better to write about,” one commenter said.
“They are the best at their jobs, in their personal life and the political arena. They are a wonderful couple dedicated to each other and the town. Too bad others don’t follow in their footsteps. There is no conflict. Why can’t people just leave success alone,” another supporter said.Others didn’t see the relationship as a political romance story destined for a Lifetime Christmas special.
“It’s unethical no matter if your think there is no favoritism the perception is there. That alone sparks concern,” one person said.
“Hasn’t shit like this been a conflict of interest for decades? Also look into vin gopal and his chick approving everything Jared kushner wants yet they are diehard democrats… must be some money moving into pockets,” another said.For the most part, comments on Facebook appear to be overwhelmingly in favor of the relationship
Jackson Spox denies dating mayor
Rumors of public officials dating each other is not new. Two weeks ago in Jackson, the township public information officer, Fred Meabe made a bizarre statement at a town hall meeting.
“I’m not dating the mayor,” Meabe said.
Meabe, who was hired as the township’s public information officer fended off online rumors that he and Mayor Jennifer Kuhn were engaged in a romantic relationship.
Meabe publicly denied dating Mayor Jennifer Kuhn and said both were single, turning to the audience and settling the rumor in front of townspeople.
This story was first reported by Patch.
- $1M Powerball Win and $200K Toms River Prize Headline NJ Lottery Week
Sixteen New Jersey Lottery tickets won at least $10,000 in one week, with major prizes sold in Livingston, Franklin Lakes, Toms River and across the state.
TRENTON, NJ – Sixteen New Jersey Lottery players won a combined $2,032,346 in prizes of at least $10,000 during the week of October 19 through October 25, including a $1 million Powerball ticket sold in Essex County. The week’s biggest prizes also included a $315,562 Jersey Cash 5 win in Bergen County and a $200,000 scratch-off prize in Ocean County.
The New Jersey Lottery released its weekly winners report Monday, October 26, identifying retailers across 11 counties that sold tickets associated with prizes ranging from $10,000 to $1 million. The largest single prize came from a Powerball ticket sold at a 7-Eleven in Livingston.
Other standout wins included $150,000 in Clayton, two $100,000 scratch-off prizes in Avenel and Passaic, and a $50,000 Powerball ticket sold in Lodi. Ocean County recorded two winning scratch-off tickets, including one worth $200,000 at a Toms River convenience store.
Livingston Powerball Ticket Leads the Week With $1 Million
The week’s biggest winner was a $1 million Powerball ticket for the Wednesday, October 21, drawing, sold at 7-Eleven #11437 at 280 South Livingston Avenue in Livingston, Essex County.
A day earlier, a 20X scratch-off ticket worth $200,000 was recorded at Krauszer’s, 946 Hooper Avenue in Toms River.
Bergen County also had a strong showing. A Jersey Cash 5 XTRA ticket worth $315,562 was sold at Super Shop Deli Mart, 809 Franklin Avenue in Franklin Lakes, for the October 19 drawing.
Another Bergen County retailer, 7-Eleven #34906 at 280 Route 46 in Lodi, sold a $50,000 Powerball ticket associated with the October 24 drawing.
In Gloucester County, Clayton Liquors at 369 North Delsea Drive in Clayton was listed as the retailer for a $150,000 Poker Nights scratch-off prize on October 22.
Those five tickets alone accounted for $1,715,562 in prizes.
Two $100,000 Winners and More Scratch-Off Prizes
Two Golden Riches Bingo scratch-off tickets appeared on the weekly list with prizes of $100,000 each.
The first was recorded October 22 at Wawa #8323, 930 U.S. Highway 1 in Avenel, Middlesex County. The second appeared October 23 at Morinas Wine & Spirit, 497 Van Houten Avenue in Passaic.
Hudson County recorded three prizes during the week: a $10,000 Neon 9’s ticket at Stop N Save in Guttenberg, a $25,000 Crossword Xtreme ticket at Las Americas Grocery in West New York, and a $10,000 $1 Million Premier Ca$h ticket at Quick Stop in North Bergen.
In Camden County, a Crossword scratch-off worth $20,000 was listed at Wawa #8325, 50 Haddonfield Road in Cherry Hill.
A $10,000 $1,000,000 Spectacular ticket was recorded at Wawa #8341, 580 Union Avenue in Bridgewater. Irvington also appeared on the list with an $11,784 Pick 6 prize associated with JDSP Management LLC at 1060 Stuyvesant Avenue.
Three $10,000 Scratch-Off Winners Close Out the Week
The final three entries in the report, all dated Sunday, October 25, were $10,000 scratch-off prizes.
A 50X Cash Blitz ticket was recorded at 6 Ten Deli and Convenience Store, 902 Hamilton Street in Somerset.
In Ocean County, ShopRite #641 at Route 70 and Chambers Bridge Road in Brick was listed for a $10,000 Ruby 7’s prize.
The third was a Black Opal 7’s ticket worth $10,000 at Beach Tobacco Cigar & Convenience, 3106 Brigantine Boulevard in Brigantine, Atlantic County.
The Lottery’s report identifies the retailers associated with the winning tickets but does not provide details about the players, their plans for the money or whether each scratch-off prize was claimed on the listed date.
Across all 16 entries, the reported prizes totaled more than $2 million, giving the week a substantial mix of seven-figure Powerball winnings and smaller but significant prizes at neighborhood retailers.
- Illegal Alien Who Raped and Kidnapped Young Girl in Asbury Park Arrested
Adolfo Cruz-Garcia was arrested October 20 and awaits a detention hearing as ICE lodges an immigration detainer.
ASBURY PARK, NJ — Adolfo A. Cruz-Garcia, 23, is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold after his arrest on charges of kidnapping and repeatedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.
Cruz is an illegal alien, according to ICE and the federal agency is asking Monmouth County to not release him under New Jersey’s Bail Reform Law.
Cruz-Garcia was arrested without incident near his Haledon home on October 20. His detention hearing is tentatively scheduled for October 26, and prosecutors are seeking to keep him jailed while the case proceeds.
ICE has also lodged an immigration detainer against him.
Threats over photographs allegedly preceded assault
Prosecutors say Cruz-Garcia met the child through social media on October 2. Despite knowing her age, he allegedly solicited explicit photographs and offered her money for sexual acts.
Hours later, he allegedly arrived at her Asbury Park home and threatened to share the photographs with her family and friends unless she came outside.
Investigators say he lured her into the rear of his vehicle, sexually assaulted her multiple times and later dropped her off near her home.
Kidnapping, assault and extortion charges filed
Cruz-Garcia faces first-degree aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child, along with second-degree aggravated sexual extortion and sexual assault and third-degree endangering.
The investigation involved the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau and Asbury Park Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Stephanie Regina at 732-431-7160, extension 8791, or Detective Terrence McGhee at 732-502-5781.
- $3.3 Million in New Jersey Lottery Prizes Hits 13 Stores in One Week
Two million-dollar scratch-offs, a $708K jackpot and a $400K crossword prize lead a huge week of lottery wins across New Jersey.
TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Lottery players collected nearly $3.3 million in major prizes during a seven-day winning streak that included two $1 million scratch-off tickets, a $708,751 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot and a $400,000 crossword prize. Thirteen tickets worth at least $10,000 were sold across eight counties from October 12 through October 18.
The biggest prizes came from Wawa in Old Bridge and Mak on Main Liquors in Asbury Park, where separate scratch-off tickets each delivered $1 million. Meanwhile, a Verona food store sold a Jersey Cash 5 jackpot ticket worth $708,751, according to the New Jersey Lottery’s Monday, October 19 report.
Monmouth County had the strongest showing, with four winning tickets totaling $1.47 million. Ocean County recorded three $10,000 prizes, including two separate winning tickets sold in Toms River.
Two Million-Dollar Tickets Lead New Jersey’s Winning Week
The first million-dollar prize appeared Wednesday, October 14, when a $100 Million Diamond Dazzler ticket worth $1 million was recorded at Wawa #8315, located at 3600 U.S. Highway 9 in Old Bridge.
Two days later, Mak on Main Liquors at 1500 Main Street in Asbury Park sold a Black Opal 7’s ticket worth another $1 million.
Those two tickets alone accounted for more than 60% of the week’s reported prize money.
Other major winners included a $708,751 Jersey Cash 5 ticket sold October 15 at R & K Food Store, 24 Grove Avenue in Verona, and a $400,000 Crossword Bonanza ticket sold October 14 at ShopRite #634, 1500 Route 35 in Middletown.
Together, the four largest prizes totaled $3,108,751.
All 13 New Jersey Lottery Prizes of $10K or More
The New Jersey Lottery reported the following winning tickets for the October 12–18 period:
Date Town Retailer Game Prize Oct. 13 Cedar Knolls Greater Morristown ShopRite $1,000,000 Ultimate Spectacular $10,000 Oct. 14 Old Bridge Wawa #8315 $100 Million Diamond Dazzler $1,000,000 Oct. 14 Middletown ShopRite #634 Crossword Bonanza $400,000 Oct. 15 Verona R & K Food Store Jersey Cash 5 $708,751 Oct. 15 Hoboken Davis Stationery Black Opal 7’s $10,000 Oct. 15 Toms River Corner Store at Toms River Super Hot 7’s $10,000 Oct. 16 Asbury Park Mak on Main Liquors Black Opal 7’s $1,000,000 Oct. 16 Red Bank Walgreens #15557 Mega Millions $20,000 Oct. 17 Lumberton Walmart #2841 Powerball $50,000 Oct. 17 Middletown ShopRite Liquor #833 Powerball $50,000 Oct. 18 Flanders Walmart #3291 $250,000 Crossword $20,000 Oct. 18 New Egypt Wawa #798 Black Opal 7’s $10,000 Oct. 18 Toms River Wawa #995 Black Opal 7’s $10,000 The 13 prizes totaled $3,298,751.
Middletown appeared twice, with the $400,000 crossword prize and a $50,000 Powerball ticket. Toms River also appeared twice, with separate $10,000 scratch-off prizes reported at two retailers.
Five More Winners Close Out the Weekend
The final five prizes on the Lottery’s list came Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, two Powerball tickets worth $50,000 each were sold at Walmart in Lumberton and ShopRite Liquor in Middletown.
Sunday brought three scratch-off prizes: $20,000 at a Flanders Walmart, $10,000 at a New Egypt Wawa and $10,000 at a Toms River Wawa.
Those five prizes added another $140,000 to the week’s statewide total.
The Lottery’s report identified the retailers, games, dates and prize amounts. It did not provide personal details about the players or describe how individual scratch-off tickets were purchased.
For New Jersey retailers, the week produced substantial wins across supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and liquor stores.
- These New Jersey Restaurants Closed in October Adding to New Jersey’s Growing Business Body Count
Longtime Shore favorites, national chains and neighborhood businesses are shutting down, with more restaurants preparing to serve their final customers.
NEW JERSEY — October is bringing a string of restaurant closures across New Jersey, from Bonefish Grill in Brick and Fratello’s in Sea Girt to two True Food Kitchen locations. Other familiar businesses, including Annie’s Deli in Pluckemin and Salted Lime in Somerville, are preparing for their final days.
The reasons vary. Some owners are selling, one chain is restructuring in bankruptcy, and a longtime deli says building conditions and fire-code requirements are forcing its departure.
Bonefish Grill closes in Brick after 20 years
Photo: howell township police department receives warm reception at fraud presentation Bonefish Grill at 179 Van Zile Road permanently closed October 12, ending a roughly two-decade run in Brick Township.
The location disappeared from the company’s website, and photographs shared after the shutdown showed its signage had been removed. The company had not publicly explained the decision in the initial reporting, and the number of affected employees was not confirmed.
Fratello’s serves its final meals in Sea Girt
Fratello’s at 810 The Plaza closed October 14 after approximately 20 years in business.
“The restaurant and property have been sold, and our last day is Wednesday, October 14, 2026,” the restaurant announced.
The sale ends a long run for the Italian restaurant, another familiar dining destination leaving the Jersey Shore this month.
True Food Kitchen shuts two New Jersey restaurants
Photo: howell township police department receives warm reception at fraud presentation True Food Kitchen closed its restaurants at the Shops at Riverside in Hackensack and Menlo Park Mall in Edison after business October 4.
The health-focused chain included both locations among 12 nationwide closures connected to its Chapter 11 restructuring. The company said 34 restaurants would remain open as it pursued a court-supervised sale.
Chip City exits familiar downtown storefronts
Chip City’s shutdown also reached New Jersey, with closures reported in Hoboken, Montclair and Ridgewood in early October.
The cookie chain’s Hoboken shop at 113 Washington Street and Montclair location at 2 Church Street had opened in 2023. Its Ridgewood storefront was at 305 East Ridgewood Avenue.
The company’s remaining stores ceased operations October 1, ending a business that had expanded beyond its New York roots.
Bloomfield loses 23 Skiddoo Café
23 Skiddoo Café at 33 Carteret Street in Bloomfield announced its closure in early October after opening in 2018.
Owner Hodge Halili described the difficulty of sustaining the neighborhood business. A farewell gathering was announced for October 24 and 25, giving customers another opportunity to say goodbye.
Annie’s Deli prepares to close after 40 years
Annie’s Deli at 2095 Burnt Mills Road in Pluckemin has announced October 24 as its final day.
Management attributed the decision to “new fire codes and the age of our building,” bringing the family-owned deli’s four-decade run toward an end.
Customers still have time to visit before the scheduled Saturday closing.
Salted Lime’s owner sells the Somerville restaurant
Salted Lime at 46 East Main Street in Somerville will serve its final customers October 30, nearly eight years after opening.
“Unfortunately, I have made the difficult decision to sell Salted Lime,” owner Mark Farro announced.
Another restaurant is expected to take over the space. Customers with outstanding gift cards were advised to redeem them before Salted Lime closes.
Goodbeet winds down its Haddon Township storefront
Goodbeet at 29 Haddon Avenue ended full kitchen service October 9 after nearly 11 years.
Limited grab-and-go sales, meal preparation and wholesale operations were scheduled to continue through October 31. The business also outlined plans to continue through products, wholesale offerings and pop-up events after the storefront closes.
Two other recent closures affect local customers
In Jersey City, Subculture announced September 26 that it had temporarily vacated its storefront for building repairs. The owners said structural safety concerns prompted the move, while catering continued without an announced reopening date.
Rockin Roots in Hillsdale also closed September 26 after seven years. Both closures were covered in October but occurred before the month began.
