Central Ocean County’s Community News Magazine Jan. 17-30, 2014 • Vol. 1, Issue 1 • Inaugural Issue TM
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Winter Arrives in Ocean County p. 19 The Skirmish at Cedar Creek p.20
FREE! Up to two copies. Each Additional $2.
Mastronardy Sworn In p.23
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
Water Pipe Break Causes Massive Internal Damage at Toms River Yacht Club
The broken water pipe, as seen above the ceiling of a second floor bathroom. Photos by Erik Weber
Photo of the Week
Workers from ServPro of Toms River removed fallen ceiling debris on January 8th after a frozen water pipe burst near the roof the night before, devastating the clubhouse.
“Icicles on the Toms River” by Erik Weber The Island Heights riverfront is a frozen spectacle on January 8th following a winter storm that pushed the temperature into subzero digits. Here can be seen wind-sculpted icicles clinging to a private pier along the borough waterfront. Did you take a recent photo that you think would make a good Photo of the Week? We’d love to see it! Submit all photos to news@ocsignal.com for consideration. by Erik Weber
The Ocean Signal News Magazine is published by Ocean Signal, LLC 16 Washington Street • Toms River, NJ • 08753 • 732-833-2365 All Mail to: P.O. Box 288, Toms River, N.J. 08754 Visit us online at www.ocsignal.com • Twitter: @NewsNJ • Facebook: Ocean Signal All Content © 2014 Ocean Signal, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Commercial reproduction Distribution The Ocean Signal is distributed for free (first two copies; $2 each additional) in Toms River, Brick, Lakewood, Jackson, Manchester, Berkeley, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Beachwood, Island Heights, South Toms River, Pine Beach, Ocean Gate, Ortley Beach, South Seaside Park and Lavallette. Letters to the Editor & Submissions The Ocean Signal welcomes readers and community submissions. To send photos, news, stories or other items for consideration, email news@ocsignal.com. Fax and hard copy notices not permitted. The Ocean Signal reserves the right to use any reader submitted material for a period of two [2] years after submission date. The Ocean Signal, at its sole discretion, may reject or refuse submissions at any time without notice or cause.
Contact the Ocean Signal Newsroom: news@ocsignal.com Advertising Sales: sales@ocsignal.com Advertising Design: ads@ocsignal.com The Ocean Signal Team Editor/Publisher: Erik Weber Digital Media Editor: Phil Stilton Contributors & Contractors Sales & Business: Christine Stilton Brick Reporter: Carly Kilroy Toms River Reporter: Daniel Malebranche Feature Reporter: Christa Riddle History: Steve Baeli Wisdom, Humor & Soul: Frank Cipriani Sales Team Christine Stilton, Brad Blecker, Leah Lamanna
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ON THE COVER
Winter Arrives in Ocean County. Children enjoy the snow in Berkeley Township. Photo by Erik Weber. History Comes Alive. The Reenactment of the Revolutionary War skirmish at Cedar Mill Tavern. Photo by Erik Weber. A New Sheriff in Town. Former Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy sworn in as Ocean County’s new mayor. Photo by Phil Stilton.
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TOMS RIVER - Just before midnight on Tuesday, January 7th, Toms River Yacht Club Member Will Demand stopped by the property with the intention of checking the ice on the Toms River to see if it was safe for iceboating. What he saw instead was water rushing out of every doorway and down the sides of the clubhouse, located at the end of Riviera Avenue in the Money Island section, here. “My initial thought was that there was a fire and the sprinkler system went off,” he said. “It was bad.” After calling Art Bailey, who had been appointed club commodore for the 2014 season just one week earlier, emergency services were called to turn the water off due to fear of an electrical charge in the gushing waters, with the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company responding. After entering the structure, it was discovered that a water pipe above a second floor bathroom had burst from subzero wind that appeared to have blown in through a partly opened attic vent. The force of the water was so powerful that it blasted a hole through the adjacent wall and spewed frigid water into the restaurant and bar area, which flooded the entire floor before showering down into the ground level offices, chart room and other facilities. Water also poured out the sides of the building, forming ice rills down the siding and over utility meters and the back porch; water that had flowed out the doorways covered the parking lot and grounds with more ice. In the early hours of the morning, utility companies arrived one by one to shut off services to the already deeply
cold building. Commodore Bailey stated that ServPro of Toms River was on the scene early to begin cleaning up the damage as he and other members began storing important trophies and artifacts of the club’s long history, including the Challenge Cup, a coin silver trophy created by Tiffany’s in 1871. On the morning of January 8th, the case where the cup had been prominently displayed was empty, it having been removed for safe keeping, and the case interior visibly soaked with water. Nearby, framed portrait photographs of all previous commodores hanging on a wall appeared partly encrusted with ice. “It’s a mess. I hope we get it back - we’re going to have to make goal of Memorial Day, I think, to reoccupy this place,” said Commodore Bailey, adding that this was far better than the several inches of water flooding they had received 14 months earlier during Hurricane Sandy. “Much, much worse. You can see all over - you can see how the wall’s buckling where the water shot through.” He stated that it appeared upon early estimation that much of the building needed to be gutted and rebuilt from the inside. This week, in the wake of other such frozen pipe breaks in the area, the Ocean County Public Information Office released the following information to residents and business owners to help reduce the possibility of devastating damage such as was felt at the Toms River Yacht Club: • Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic, even if you live in a climate where freezing is un-
common. Exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember: The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be. • Heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and only for the use intended (exterior or interior). Closely follow all manufacturers’ installation and operation instructions. • Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes, and use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze. • Before winter hits, disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets, reducing the chance of freezing in the span of pipe just inside the house. • Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature during both day and night. You might be in the habit of turning down the heat when you’re asleep, but further drops in the temperature – more common overnight – could catch you off guard and freeze your pipes. • Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls. • A dripping faucet wastes some water, so only pipes vulnerable to freezing (ones that run through an unheated or unprotected space) should be left with the water flowing. The drip can be very slight. Even the slowest drip at normal pressure will provide pressure relief when needed.
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
Ocean Signal Photographer Captured the Images of Bridgegate for World News Reports
Photo taken at the scene of the September 12, 2013 Seaside boardwalk fire show Bridget Anne Kelly texting about Bridgegate, according to the Bergen Record. Photo by Phil Stilton.
by Phil Stilton SEASIDE HEIGHTS - As I watched my childhood memories burn before my eyes, like so many others who witnessed the fire at the boardwalk in Seaside Park and into Seaside Heights, I realized I had an obligation to document history for future generations.
Little did I know at the time that I was also documenting a globally syndicated scandal that would break nearly four months later. When the Bergen Record broke the story that provided the smoking gun of political retribution in Fort Lee, Bridget Anne Kelly became the face tens of millions of people around the world would see that night on television and in newspapers for several days. Although I documented the fire and Governor Chris Christie’s visit to Seaside Heights, it became apparent that I also possessed the only previously published photos
of Kelly and the Governor together. That morning, newspapers from England called, including The Guardian and The Daily Mirror. Following, requests for the photos came in from Fox News, Time Magazine, The New York Times and many more. By mid-day, the photos were the front page photo of the New York Post, Huffington Post and several other top news websites in America. They were used as a backdrop on breaking news stories over the next week by CNN, Fox News, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and others,
Politics, Council Investigation Delayed Toms River Chief Selection
Mayor Thomas Kelaher
by Phil Stilton TOMS RIVER - Mayor Thomas Kelaher and the Toms River Township Council avoided a drawn out conflict and brokered a settlement in a closed meeting in December to appease all parties surrounding the nomination of Mitch Little as the next chief of police here, according to a GOP insider who spoke on condition of anonymity. The mayor, who wanted to appoint Captain Steve Henry to the position, was blocked by the council after members of the council launched an unsanctioned investigation into the background of Captain Henry. Council officials would not
comment on the reasoning for their investigation, nor would members of the township’s Law and Public Safety Committee. During the investigation process at least one officer, possibly others were summoned to testify before council members and the Law and Public Safety Committee. The interviews with those officers were conducted without the knowledge of Chief Michael Mastronardy and without PBA representation, according to a source within the department with knowledge of the incident who wished to remain anonymous. Both the council and the committee were advised against conducting future interviews with the township officers, the source said. After weeks of stalemate, the township council and mayor met before New Year’s Day to make a final decision.
After, it was announced that the opposing parties devised a solution to appoint Capt. Little to chief and to create a new position of deputy chief for Capt. Henry to minimize Mayor Kelaher’s defeat. At the mayor’s request, the council will now have to vote to create the new title for Capt. Henry, which is expected to be finalized on February 11th. According to township officials, the position of deputy chief was eliminated five years ago to allow for the creation of three captain positions. Under the new arrangement, one captain position will be eliminated when vacated by Capt. Henry. As far as the investigation, neither the mayor nor the township council were willing to speak on the record. Township Public Information Officer Debbi Winogracki said, “We do not comment on personnel matters by law.”
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Photos show a visibly distraught Bridget Anne Kelly as reporters began asking questions about political retribution after she ordered traffic delays on the George Washington Bridge. Photo by Phil Stilton. making appearances on several top television talk show programs. It was later determined by the Bergen Record, that the photos depicted Kelly as she was dealing with fallout from the Bridgegate scandal. The Record tied the timestamps on the photos to texts released by the New Jersey legislature and determined she was fully engaged in discussing strategy after the sham story of a traffic study was falling apart.
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
2013 Ocean County Man & Woman of the Year Awards The Ocean Signal Ocean County Man & Woman of the Year Awards are chosen by the editorial board of the Ocean Signal. The award is given to citizens who demonstrate exemplary service to the community at large and
Man of the Year: Michael Mastronardy
Former Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy (Right) briefs former Acting Sheriff William T. Sommeling on September 12, 2013 during the Seaside boardwalk fire. Photo by Phil Stilton.
by Christa Riddle Toms River’s chief of police Michael Mastronardy will embark upon a new path in his career when he is sworn in as the new sheriff of
Ocean County this January. In November, Mastronardy, a Republican, was elected as Ocean County’s sheriff after capturing more than 68 percent of votes. During Mastronardy’s 40-plus years as a municipal police officer in Ocean County, 21 of which were as chief of police in Toms River, perhaps nothing proved to be as challenging as the widespread impact of Hurricane Sandy on the Bar-
rier Island. With more than a year passing since Hurricane Sandy pounded the Jersey Shore, Mastronardy shared about the long process of rebuilding: “It is hard to watch people and businesses suffer and try to get answers to their difficult questions. The businesses have been hurt by roadway reconstruction and detours, and the financial impact of this may be more
Woman of the Year: Cassandre Vitale
Cassandre Vitale, founder of the Ortley Beach Bucket Brigade helped collect and distribute supplies to residents of the barrier island in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Photo by Phil Stilton. by Christa Riddle Unwavering determination and perseverance proved to be two motivating forces that led Cassandra Vitale to start the Bucket Brigade, an independent, private, grassroots organization based in Ortley Beach that collected and distributed supplies for the
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Barrier Island communities desperately needing relief after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. In all, Vitale estimates that 2,500 volunteers in different capacities have helped hurricane survivors throughout the Jersey Shore area through the Bucket Brigade; about the same amount of Hurricane Sandy survi-
vors have benefited from the organization’s volunteer services in one way or another. Although she was in Florida when Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey Shore, Vitale, a 27-year-old Beachwood native, felt compelled to help hurricane survivors in her hometown area. “My friend’s mom had kidney transplant surgery the day the storm hit, and on her way home from the hospital, it would figure that she got a flat tire,” remembered Vitale. “There were no repair places open because of the storm, and my friend wound up sleeping at the Jackson Police Department that night because there was no one available to help her get back on the road. I put her story on Facebook to see if anyone could help. Another friend’s brother saw the post and repaired her tire.” Since then, Vitale has been using Facebook to post hurricane survivors’ needs for supplies and assistance, as well as to coordinate donations and volunteer services on behalf of those willing to help. She also implements social media to raise awareness of the on-going predicaments still faced by the Barrier Island communities, to keep the hurricane survivors and their needs visible. “One of our main focuses has been channeling appro-
drastic than the storm itself in many cases. I don’t think any of us envisioned progress moving so slowly. I feel saddened for the storm survivors and the stresses they have had to endure.” Mastronardy is proud of the fact that his community had zero fatalities and no major casualties resulting from Hurricane Sandy, statistics that he credits to everyone coming together. “We learned as a group how good our people are. They understood and complied when we asked them to evacuate their homes because of safety issues, something that wasn’t easy to do. I learned a lot from and earned a lot of respect for my community: the cooperating public and the 9-1-1 operators, first responders, volunteers, and the officers in my own department,” credited Mastronardy. “It was a difficult time all around. People were suffering from stress and a lack of sleep, but dignity and respect remained.” A true testament to the strength and magnitude of Mastronardy’s leadership is the many compliments his department received regarding their response to Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath; priate supplies to each community because each community has specific needs based on its situation. In the Barrier Island area, we needed flood buckets, shovels, and clean-up supplies to deal with the muck and debris left by the storm. Food was not as much of an issue because homes were uninhabitable and destroyed. Since residents were forced to live elsewhere and could only return to the island for cleanups after the storm, food was not as high on our donations list as it was for other communities,” explained Vitale. In addition to coordinating and re-routing supplies, the Bucket Brigade provided hot meals and staples for residents and volunteers. They also contacted and organized volunteer efforts, matching volunteers with pending service projects throughout the area. Although Vitale had no prior experience with coordinating volunteer efforts, her determination and perseverance led her to success. “My parents and family always supported me in whatever I chose to do. My mom has always been a people helper, and my dad is very business-oriented and knows what it takes to get any job done. I learned from both of them, and I think this combination is what led to my success with the Bucket Brigade,” credited Vitale.
although Mastronardy remained too modest to comment on his own efforts and dedication, which helped set the tone for his department and the community, he was quick to praise captains Bruce Burgess and Steve Harvey and their rescue and re-entry planning and execution. Mastronardy also remains grateful for the coordinated efforts of the chiefs from other police departments on the Barrier Island, who met daily post-Hurricane Sandy to work through issues and coordinate efforts. He commended how all of the Hurricane Sandy 9-1-1 tapes are being saved to document the way in which dispatchers should respond during emergency situations: “Those dispatchers should stand as a benchmark for professionalism. They remained calm and treated people with respect, despite the amount of calls they were receiving.” From the hurricane, Mastronardy learned that without technology and electricity, disseminating essential, timely information presents a real challenge, which is where printed announcements and flyers, as well as in-person communication come into play. “I [also] saw
the need for more documentation. This was difficult because the first missions were search and rescue. However, having videos and documentation of the areas both before and after the storm hit would have been helpful with moving forward. We have video-equipped vehicles that can do this, but again, search and rescue were the priority,” shared Mastronardy. After heading to the sheriff’s office to begin his term with the knowledge gleaned from Hurricane Sandy, Mastronardy said he will place emphasis on widespread Office of Emergency Management involvement, including registration, identifying shelter needs, communication, and coordinating all emergency services so that potential disaster preparations are in place ahead of time. On a personal note, Mastronardy shared, “The most important lesson I take away from Hurricane Sandy’s devastation is to cherish every day. Try to help somebody every day. Life goes by so quickly when you are living it. It is important to appreciate every minute.” allaboutwritingconsulting.net
Volunteers from the Ortley Beach Bucket Brigade. Photo by Phil Stilton. Through persistence and remaining steady in her vision to others, Vitale eventually secured permission from Toms River’s chief of police, Michael Mastronardy, to set up a supplies station at the Normandy Beach Wawa. Chief Mastronardy, impressed with Vitale’s tenacity and sincere motives, provided Vitale with a police escort daily so she could access the island. From there, supplies stations moved around to wherever there was available space. In total, Vitale and her crew of volunteers managed to fill eight trailers with donated supplies, then made lists of their inventory and made distributions as needed to people from the community. The Bucket Brigade included the following core of 10 volunteers, in addition to Vitale: Jim McCue, Tom Petruzziello, Crystal Leone, Ashley Svenson, Mike Higgins, Erin Wolleon, Sharon
Moriarity, Judy Scheller, Travis Elliot, and Stacy D’Amore. Vitale now lives in Lavallette with friends she made during Hurricane Sandy. “When it was time to attend college, I couldn’t wait to leave New Jersey and see other places. I wanted to see the world,” told Vitale, who went to college at the University of Miami. “But Hurricane Sandy and my experiences with the Bucket Brigade gave me a new perspective, and I have never been more content or happier to be home in New Jersey. I appreciate my hometown community much more now, and I have seen the strength and dedication community members here have.” Vitale’s Bucket Brigade volunteer efforts earned her recognition from the United Way of Ocean County, as well as the American Baptist Council of New Jersey.
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
Brick Mayor Unveils 100 Day Plan
Mayor John Ducey assumes the role of Mayor of Brick Township after being sworn in on New Years Day. Photo by Phil Stilton. by Carly Kilroy BRICK - During the annual township reorganization meeting, here, Mayor John Ducey announced his administration’s ‘100 Day Plan’ to carry out the recommendations of his 2014 Brick Transition Team. The transition team was made up of residents who volunteered their time and helped the mayor arrive at a plan that includes 71 separate goals divided into nine categories addressing fiscal, community, and Hurricane Sandy related issues. The overall purpose of the plan is to improve the quality of life for Brick residents. “I’m actually going to have it posted online as well so there is accountability,” the mayor said. Eight days after the plan was announced to the public, four goals were already marked as being “done” on the township’s official website as Mayor Ducey made progress on his plan moments after being sworn in. “The first thing I need to do as a part of the hundred day plan is I have to rescind an executive order which has been in place that didn’t allow township employees to speak with members of the council,” he said. “So council – at this moment – has full right to speak with all of the employees.” On January 6th, the mayor sent out an Executive Order to all departments, division heads, and council members stating the restrictions set by forth by previous administrations were officially “null and
void.” Mayor Ducey’s aspirations for more open communication will not be confined within the walls of town hall, but will also apply to the relationship between government officials and the residents of Brick. “I’m going to have what’s called mayor’s in or mayor’s out nights,” he said. ‘Mayor’s In Nights’ will provide those who cannot make it to town hall during normal business hours with one-onone access to the mayor as well assigned department heads on specifically scheduled days after 5 pm. Mayor Ducey described it as a “one stop shop” environment where residents will hopefully be able to get all of their needs met and questions answered at the same time. He will also be participating in “Mayors Out Nights” so those interested can schedule appointments for the mayor to come out and speak with residents in their own neighborhoods. In keeping with the pattern of a more accessible government, an email system is slated to soon be created to keep residents up to speed with current township issues. “You can opt in and sign up for this email system where you are going to get reports from the administration, from myself, that’s going to
say what’s going on in town hall,” Mayor Ducey said. “This way everything is out there in the open.” Other goals in the mayor’s ‘100 Day Plan’ include the creation of a Brick teen advisory board, which will give high school students a voice in town hall, and the implementation of a program that will give residents who shop and dine with local businesses who participate in the program reductions on their property tax bills. Although Mayor Ducey does not promise that everything in the plan will be completed by the end of his 100th day in office, he said the first steps toward accomplishing them will be part of his administration’s top priority and that the most important issues currently being faced by the administration come from the repercussions of Hurricane Sandy. “The impacts of Sandy are still here, they are still pretty prevalent,” said the mayor. “Government has failed to help the residents and in some cases the government actually made things worse. We must do better.” Anyone who is interested in reading the full 100 Day Plan can visit this online link: www.twp.brick.nj.us/government/mayor/100-dayplan
Brick Democrats Oust Law Firm
Attorney Kevin Starkey (left) congratulates Mayor John Ducey (right) after Ducey was sworn in on January 1st. Ducey and the all-Democrat council then chose Mr. Starkey’s law firm as the municipal legal counsel, replacing the firm of Gilmore and Monahan, led by Ocean County Republican Club Chairman, George Gilmore. Inset: (left to right) Governor Chris Christie, George Gilmore and Ocean County Prosecutor, Joe Coronato at Seaside fire, Sept. 12, 2013 Photos by Phil Stilton.
Mitch Little New Police Chief in Toms River By Daniel Malebranche TOMS RIVER - Mayor Thomas Kelaher moved to appoint Captain Mitch Little as Toms River’s new chief of police effective New Year’s Day 2014. Chief Little will fill the vacancy left by Chief Michael Mastronardy, who was elected to take over the office of Ocean County Sheriff on January 1st. The township council adopted a resolution consenting to Chief
Little’s appointment and the mayor also requested that the township council consider reestablishing the position of deputy chief of the Toms River Police Department in the new year, adding that if and when the council consents to do so, he would appoint Captain Steve Henry to that position. Handout Photo by Toms River Township.
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014 Bricktown Door
Exploring Ocean County’s Drug Epidemic STUDENTS STEERED STRAIGHT IN POINT PLEASANT By Carly Kilroy
Michael DeLeon. Photo by Carly Kilroy.
POINT PLEASANT BEACH – In 2000, Michael DeLeon watched the guard tower of the New Jersey State Prison where he had just spent the past 10 years of his life drift farther and farther away through the passenger-side mirror of his wife’s car as he vowed to himself that he would never be back. “My eyes glanced down to the words, ‘objects in mirror seem closer than they appear’,” Mr. DeLeon said. “It was an eerie message from God telling me, ‘guess what? You have anything to do with drugs or you go back to committing crime, you go back to prison.’” Since then, he has helped educate over two million students all over the country about the real world consequences of drug use and gang involvement as the founder and president of Steered Straight, a non-profit presentation program comprised of 16 speakers dedi-
cated to bringing awareness to the seriousness of making negative life choices by sharing their own personal stories with children and young adults. To date the program has held over 2,600 presentation nationwide. “I don’t want my past to become your future. That’s why I do this,” he said to a bleacher full of Point Pleasant Beach High School students last month on a day where he and another member of his organization spent the majority of their time speaking to the school health classes about how drug abuse caused him to veer off the successful path of having his own business while still in college into a life of gang-related crime. After being in a gang-related incident that put his family’s lives at risk and sentenced him to a lengthy prison term, Mr. DeLeon decid-
ed to turn his life around by doing motivational speaking while earning three associate degrees from his local college. “If you have ever been incarcerated for a long period of time I feel you have an obligation to give back to your community,” he explained. Although Mr. DeLeon’s story has a much more successful ending than that of 64 percent of New Jersey inmates who end up returning to prison soon after they are released, he also acknowledged the long-term consequences his convictions hold over the rest of his life. “I’ve been to at school districts in 16 different states and I can’t be hired at a single one because I’m an excon,” he told the students. He also spoke about the documentary he has been working on about drug addiction in New Jersey called Kids are Dying. Mr. DeLeon has interviewed over 230 addicts in the past five years about their addiction and how major drug abuse is moving off the streets of major urban cities and into the homes of middle class suburban neighborhoods. “More people die accidentally through a drug overdose than due to a car accident,” the anti-drug speaker said. “It’s out of control and you know what – it’s 100 percent preventable.” Anyone who is interested in more information about Steered Straight can visit their website at www. steeredstraight.org or call (856) 691-6676.
State Report Shows Ocean County Heroin Capital of New Jersey by Phil Stilton TOMS RIVER - What does Ocean County have in common with Essex County? You might think very little, considering Ocean County consists of rural bedroom communities and Essex County is home to urbanized cities such as Newark and East Orange. For years, the two counties have led the state in heroin addiction and use, according to a 2013 substance abuse report by the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Health and Addiction Services. For the past few years, Ocean County has trailed Essex County in resident substance abuse admissions, but in 2011, Ocean County surpassed Essex County in being the heroin ‘capital’ of New Jersey, or,
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the county with the most heroin addiction cases reported. In 2011, Ocean County’s 3,301 heroin admissions surpassed Essex County, which had 3,278. For the first time in its history, Ocean County led the state in heroin use. Essex County has 200,000 more residents when compared to Ocean County. Ocean County’s population is 580,000, compared to 780,000 in Essex. After taking the lead in 2011, Ocean County took a commanding lead in 2012, with 3,683 cases compared to 3,175 in Essex County. Figures for 2013 are expected to be released later this year. It should not come as a surprise that in 2013, Ocean County had 110 drug related overdose deaths. The
figures have been quickly creeping up since 2006, according to state records. In 2006, Ocean County had 1,354 heroin admissions. That number tripled over the next 5 years. At that time, Ocean County was ranked 9th in the state in heroin addiction cases. Today, the county ranks first in both the number of heroin abuse admissions and admissions per capita in New Jersey, above places like Camden, Newark, Atlantic City and other urbanized areas. In fact, Ocean County now accounts for more than 11% of all heroin addiction cases in a state of 21 counties. Ocean County also ranks second to Monmouth County when it comes to alcohol abuse, but trails the other counties when it comes to marijuana and cocaine.
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
Seaside Park Residents Are Not Immune To County Heroin Problem
Michael Cowell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Juvenile Unit. Photo by Carly Kilroy. by Carly Kilroy SEASIDE PARK – In the wake of Ocean County’s troubling heroin epidemic, Seaside Park Police Chief Francis “Murph” Larkin hosted a presentation by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office on Monday night to remind residents that they are not exempt from its effects. “Ocean County is leading the pack out of all the counties in New Jersey,” he said. “Seaside Park is definitely not immune to it.” This borough has seen over a dozen overdoses in the past year with one resulting in death, and just last week police here charged 10 people for heroin possession. “We've had our trouble over the years and over the past year with it,” the chief told residents. While police are trying to stop drug users from bringing
their habits into town with them, members of the community not directly affected by the influx of possession charges are still vulnerable to other crime related problems that may correlate back to drug use – such as the recent chain of car burglaries. “Why were they breaking into our cars?” he asked. “They needed money for drugs.” The Seaside Park Police Department also has reason to believe that the daily routines of elderly Seaside Park residents are being monitored by certain individuals seeking out potential homes to burglarize. While members of the force encouraged residents to report any suspicious activity in town at this month’s neighborhood watch meeting, Juvenile Unit Agent Michael Colwell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office
provided the members with both practical and statistical information. “You don't want to be number one in this sort of statistic, but unfortunately we are,” Agent Cowell said of Ocean County’s overdose rate. “Every town in Ocean County has had an overdose death related to heroin.” Since New Jersey has become a primary target for illegal networks and criminal organizations to import and distribute drugs, the purity levels of heroin in the state have reached the highest they have ever been. “The best drugs are in New Jersey,” he continued. “They want it here because we are the most densely populated state in the nation.” Ocean County’s location in particular gives dealers an upper hand, as most of its towns are about an hour’s distance from a handful of major cities: Philadelphia, New York City, and Atlantic City. “Geographically we are in a bad spot,” Agent Colwell said. “We are in the middle of all of these metropolitan areas.” While location may play a key role in Ocean County’s heroin addiction, Mr. Cowell said it will take at least two more years until studies can prove whether the heightened rate of overdoses are being caused by an increased number of heroin users, rising purity levels, tainted products, or a combination of the three.
South Toms River Thanks Outgoing Officials, Welcomes Incoming
(Clockwise, from above) Outgoing South Toms River Councilman Donald J. Williams is presented with a plaque commemorating his three consecutive years of service beginning January 1st, 2011 by Mayor Joseph Champagne on December 16th. Joseph Kostecki is sworn in as municipal clerk of South Toms River on December 16th by Island Heights Councilman Kieran Pillion as Mayor Joseph Champagne and Mr. Kostecki’s wife, Siobhan, looked on. Newly sworn-in South Toms River council members Tanya Mosley and Bill Gleason pause for a photo at their seats on the dais during the January 1st council reorganization meeting. Photos by Erik Weber
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
W
hat’s Happening
The Ocean Signal’s new regional calendar listings is our scout to unique and enriching events, cultural happenings and entertainment in Central Ocean County. It is produced by a collection of local guidebooks, press releases, announcements and submissions by area residents, clubs and municipalities. To submit your community event for consideration, send complete information on the event and contact person online to news@ocsignal.com
ACTIVITIES
FIRESIDE CRAFT & STORYTELLING Parents, caregivers and children are welcome to pull up a chair in front of the warm fireside hearth at the Jakes Branch Park Nature Center for children’s stories followed by a related nature-themed craft. (Thursdays, January 23rd, February 6th & 20th, 10:30 – 11:30 am. Jakes Branch County Park Nature Center, 1100 Double Trouble Road, Beachwood. Registration is $3 per adult, $3 per child, open to ages 2 ½ to 5 years. www.oceancountyparks.org. 732-281-2750.) RAILROAD HISTORY VAN TOUR Although gone for most of 50 years, much still remains of the numerous railroads that once stitched together southern coastal New Jersey. Join the Ocean County Parks System on Friday, January 24th in tracing the routes of the Tuckerton, Central Railroad of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Railroads. (Pick up at the parking lot of Wells Mills County Park, 905 Wells Mills Road, Waretown at 9 am. Traveling to Ocean and Burlington counties. Pack a lunch, dress for the weather and be prepared for short walks. Estimated return time 4 pm. Registration is $14 per person, open to ages 9 and up. www.oceancountyparks.org. 609-971-3085.) ARTISTS’ “DO YOUR THING” Area artists are invited to join the Ocean County Artists’ Guild for a fun time of work with others in a creative atmosphere. (Thursdays, 10 am – 4 pm. Ocean County Artists’ Guild, 22 Chestnut Avenue, Island Heights. Bring your own equipment; have lunch with members. Cost is $3 per session. www.ocartistsguild.org. 732-270-3111.)
in
Ocean County
Community Event Calendar or by regular mail to Events, Ocean Signal, P.O. Box 288, Toms River, N.J. 08754. No submissions will be accepted over the phone. The Ocean Signal is not responsible for changes or errors in listings. Only activities open to the general public and of free or fundraised admission for a non-profit organization will be accepted for insertion free. Enhanced sponsored event listings placement may be attained by calling sales at 732-833-2365.
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY Street Photography The Ocean County Artists’ Guild invites the public to view this special invitational exhibit in their galleries as well as a member’s show entitled, “My Keeper.” (Through January 26th. Tuesdays through Sundays, 1 – 4 pm. Ocean County Artists’ Guild, 22 Chestnut Avenue, Island Heights. Free. www.ocartistsguild.org. 732-270-3111.)
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Emmy nominated comedian Nick DiPaolo will be performing at the Tuscan Bistro Bar in Toms River on January 24th. Di Paolo’s career took off after he appeared on “HBO’s Young Comedian Special”. He has since written and performed four standup specials and four CDs. The most recent standup effort being a one hour Showtime special entitled “Raw Nerve”. For years he has been a favorite guest on radio shows
In the spotlight COMMUNITY EVENTS
SPORTING EVENTS
GIVE KIDS A SMILE DAY On February 7, 2014 Jackson Orthodontics is hosting a Give Kids A Smile Day in our office. This day dentist all around give free dental check ups and cleanings to children without any dental insurance. If you do not have dental insurance for you child, or know of someone who could benefit from this please give our office a 732-942-8400. We have dozens of volunteers: dentist, hygienist and more.... For more information visit: www.ada. org/givekidsasmile.
TRFC FLAPJACK FUNDRAISER Sunday, January 26, 2014, 8:00 AM! Applebees Ocean County Mall, 1201 Hooper Ave, Toms River, NJ
CATTUS ISLAND NATURE WALKS Come to Tims Square to LITTLE LEAGUE see Yosi and the Superdads BASEBALL REGISTRATION perform with Miley Cyrus Don’t forget, spring will naked and on stage. Contact be here before you know it. Register your child today for 555-1212 for info. Little League baseball and softball. Call your local Little SCI-FI FANTASY League Organization today! BY BRIAN FENCE Join local author Brian Fence MANAGEMENT as he talks about his novel, DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP AT KMC Librarian, on Tuesday, January 28 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Living with diabetes can be the Toms River Branch of challenging, but we can help. the Ocean County Library. Join the Center for Healthy Librarian received a positive Living at Kimball Medical review from Kirkus Reviews as Center for a free support group a debut novel and a promising to learn how to manage your new series. Mr. Fence will blood glucose and continue discuss the changing roles of enjoying the foods you love. women as protagonists and Share with others the challengfeminism in popular fiction. es and victories of daily He will also talk about the shift glucose management. This free from traditional publishing group is supported by Kimball to successful self-publishing; Medical Center and partially becoming an author, publisher funded by the Ocean County Office of Senior Services and and entrepreneur. will be held at the Center for BARNEGAT LIGHT MUSEUM Healthy Living, located at 198 5th St. & Central Ave. (501 Prospect Street in Lakewood. Central Ave). The Museum Registration is required by Gardens are open all year. calling 1.888.724.7123. Museum is open June September and October, THE MUSIC OF CHARLES weekends from 10 - 4 pm. & FARRELL AND THE IRISH BAND July & August, daily from 10 - 4 Friday, January 24, 2014, pm. Sponsored by the Barnegat 7:00 PM Ocean County Artists Light Historical Society. Guild, 23 Chestnut Ave, Island Information: 609-494-8578 Heights TUCKERTON SEAPORT MUSEUM Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum, 120 W. Main St., Rt. 9. Open 362 days a year, rain or shine. An open air maritime museum with buildings located on a BRICK MARCHING boardwalk along the Tuckerton DRAGON GIFT AUCTION Creek. Share the stories of the Sunday, January 26, 2014, people who lived and worked 1:00 PM. BTHS 346 Chambersin the region through exhibits, bridge Road, Brick 08723 - East demonstrations, classes, and Gym special events. 609-296-8868.
Add Your Event: Email news@ocsignal.com 10
Emmy Nominated Comedian at the Tuscan House
JANUARY H
including “The Howard Stern Show”, “The Opie and Anthony Show” and “The Dennis Miller Show” to name a few. He also hosted “The Nick Di Paolo Show” in New York City in 2007 and “The Nick and Artie Show” from 2011-2012. Doors open at 7pm and show time is at 8pm A full bar and menu will be available. Visit tuscanbistrobar.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
DID YOU KNOW? January 17th is Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day. January 19th is National Popcorn Day. January 21st is Squirrel Appreciation Day. January 24th is Beer Can Appreciation Day.
THEATER TRHS PLAY: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Toms River High School East students will be delighting audiences with the hilarious production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” on Thursday, February 6 at 7pm, Friday, February 7 at 8pm and Saturday, February 8 at 8pm. “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a fun-filled, light-hearted comedy that takes place in the mind and apartment of an older, lonely and comical man. His home is literally transformed into the playground of some interesting characters. There is a starlet, a love story, gangsters, a plane, a pilot and even a monkey! Come see it to understand! Tickets are $7.
MUSIC CLASSIC GUITAR & FLUTE CONCERT Ocean Classic Concerts presents Keith Calmes and Marjorie Koharski in a concert of music for classical guitar and flute. No tickets required. For more information call 732-349-1331 or visit www. pctr.org.
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ANGEL IN HEAVEN BENEFIT A benefit will be on February 1st, 2014 at 4pm at the Station 55 Firehouse in Jackson on New Prospect Rd. It is called “Angel in Heaven Benefit for Chelsea Gerrish.” Food & Beer is included with admission, there will be a DJ, Live band performance by Black Reign, a raffle as well as a 50/50. Tickets are being sold for $25 (732-804-5644) or http:// www.chelseagerrishlaw.com/ OPEN MIC NIGHT @ TOMS RIVER LIBRARY Join the Toms River Library for a night of acoustic entertainment. New and experienced musicians, comedians and spoken word artists invited. (First Wednesday of each month, 7 pm. Performer sign-ups at 6:30 pm. Toms River Library, 101 Washington Street, Toms River. Free, all ages. www.theoceancountylibrary.com. 732-349-6200.)
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
Weaponized Mediocrity: Explosive Drug Use in Ocean County
by Frank Cipriani On the appeal of heroin in Ocean County or anywhere: my research says it isn't a dramatic first-time addiction, and that the gateway to it is provided by Percocet and Vicodin. Eventually, withdrawal symptoms develop, but they don't come on until continued use. Its effects have intensified all across our region, and it is terrible the levels to which it has risen, especially in my town of South Toms River, recently ranked 17th in a statewide study of municipalities with heroin abuse cases in 2012, striking because with just around 4,000 residents, it had 202. In the previous six years of the same study, that's somewhere between a three and four-fold increase from 2006. We are losing our kids in sixth grade when they shift to the middle school and the towns can no longer keep a loving eye on them. I wrote about it when it happened, predicting that this alone would increase the heroin use. Study after study shows that districts with K-6 elementary schools are less prone to drug use, and that K-8 elementary schools have even lower drug use. The earlier a kid goes into a district wide school system - read: middle and high school - and out of the local community, the more likely s/he is to experiment with drugs, because the community scrutiny is not there. Kids are thus lost in the monotony of test-driven schools and little promise of a bright future. We need to let our kids know that they are great. The Gatherer Institute, which is dedicated to teaching children to respect nature, others and themselves, has its motto as "Mediocrity is the enemy." Drugs and alcohol are weapons of mediocrity. We must provide constructive risk-taking, we must give our kids means by which they can change the world, we need to let them know that they matter. All this is hard for us grownups to do while looking for full-time work and managing our lives. Perhaps we can show kids here that they can make a difference on a global scale, that they are more than thumbs on a controller, or useless nobodies. A related problem to this is that our school districts are fear-based. You need to perform because you fear not
Last week, county officials warned heroin users about a potentially deadly batch in circulation. Authorities suspect at least two have died from bad heroin marked with a “Bud Light” stamp . Photo by Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. passing a test. Teachers fear, administrators fear, and students fear. Without this fear, there is no motivation. The love of learning factor has been removed. Auto shop and other such classes are only available to vocational-technical students, the science classes are no longer hands-on, and students are not prepared for college ('College Prep' means just the opposite). Students are prepared not for life, not for college, and when teaching to the test, they're not even prepared for the SAT. Instead, they are prepared for these meaningless state tests that drive the entire curriculum and favor only textbook companies. It has also become harder for our communities to properly fund effective extra-curricular activities for children from the state level. The way grants work now, things like local little league organizations are no longer funded. It is increasingly more difficult to get funds for area municipal alliance projects that used to be community-based and in which prevention was activity-based, not testing based. We need to pay attention to our citizens aged 14 to 24. The new state formulas - the outcome-based, test-based assessments that are now required to fund projects simply don't work because all they do is generate statistics without actually helping anybody. The state needs to trust municipalities to understand their own needs and address them with local small non-profits, church organizations and concerned citizens. The way our South Toms River Municipal Alliance used to work was very successful for those of us who ran the not-for profits that fought drug abuse. In recent years, we all but gave up applying for funds because the new formulas didn't allow us the flexibility we needed to get the job done. Larger towns with their ability to employ grant writers and larger institutional concerns could handle this, but we, and other smaller municipalities,
couldn't. There is no empirical way to prove that little league or outdoor activities prevents drugs, so in order to get funding you have to give kids a written test. As an educator, I can tell you how useless this is. I invite people to list ten positive, alternate things kids can do in this area to either escape or engage and send them right to the Ocean Signal, so we can continue this dialogue in the next and future issues, working together against a deadly enemy of our society that is stealing an entire generation of our children. To submit positive alternatives that youths and adults
Sample of potentially fatal “Bud Light” stamped heroin. Photo by Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. can do in this area, write the Ocean Signal at news@ocsignal.com with the subject line 'Frank Cipriani Column,' or send it to Ocean Signal, c/o Frank Cipriani Column, P.O. Box 288, Toms River, N.J. 08754. Frank Domenico Cipriani, professor at Monmouth University and one of South Toms River's environmental commissioners, writes a weekly column in the bdnews24.com, an online publication in Bangladesh. He is also the founder and CEO of The Gatherer Institute — a not-for-profit public charity dedicated to promoting respect for the environment and empowering individuals to become self-taught and self-sufficient. His most recent book, “Learning Little Hawk’s Way of Storytelling,” teaches the native art of oral tradition storytelling.
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
IN YOUR TOWN Two Brick Men Honored For Selfless Acts During Sandy
by Carly Kilroy BRICK - Two members of the Brick Housing Authority were honored at the final council meeting of 2013, here, for their selfless efforts and actions that helped 124 senior and disabled residents of the George Conway Apartment Complex without power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. “The staff and the authority went above and beyond their call of duty hoping to prevent what could have been a major disaster before and after su-
per storm sandy hit,” Council President Bob Moore said. “[They] took action and although it was a group effort, two members went above and beyond.” Before, during and after the ferocious storm swept through Ocean County, leaving many Brick and regional residents without power, Anthony Matthews and Dan Esposito exceeded the expectations of their duties and ensured the safety of those stuck at the complex. “For nearly ten days these two individuals worked day and night during regularly scheduled fire walks every half hour,” Mr. Moore said. The pair did everything they could for residents, from assisting in door-todoor checks to seeing who needed hot food and medication to sitting in common areas with residents to keep them in good spirits. “Dan and myself, we treat the residents like they’re family. We did spend a lot of
time [there], but again, it was for a good reason,” explained Mr. Mathews. And for that reason, December 31st, 2013 is a day forever dedicated in their honor. While Mr. Matthews was taking care of the needs of residents, Mr. Esposito took it upon himself to solve the complexes electrical problems by running extension cords to those who needed power and lining stairwells with Christmas lights so they were safe and accessible. “You wouldn’t find a man smarter than Dan here,” Mr. Matthews said. “The ingenuity that he came up with – just finding Christmas lights to run up and down the stairwells in the dark so those who could walk up and down could get there.” Mr. Matthews added that they couldn’t have done it without the help of the township emergency response team members, who were already overloaded due to the storm. “We knew that the town had already been stressed, [there was] no place to house or evacuate 124 people.” he explained. “It was just [about] trying to keep 124 people calm who had nowhere to go,” “We survived, the town survived, and we are all moving forward,” Mr. Matthews concluded. “Let’s hope and pray that we never have to face anything like that again.”
2014 Toms River Township Reorganization Meeting Notes
by Daniel Malebranch The following are news and actions of the township mayor and council during their December 23rd regular meeting and January 7th reorganization meeting. Officials Reflect on 2013 At the end of the late December meeting, elected officials took a few moments to reflect upon the hardships the town faced in 2013 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and the work that has gone into township’s recovery. “I think it goes without say-
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ing that the year 2013 was probably one of the most challenging and toughest years in the history of Toms River Township,” said Mayor Kelaher. “I was so gratified that the council and the administration worked together to solve all these challenges that came up during the year. We are certainly lightyears ahead of where we were a year ago thanks to the teamwork that has been displayed.” Returning Council Members Sworn In At the 2014 reorganization meeting on January 7th, the four members of the Toms River Township Council who won their re-election bids last Election Day officially resumed their posts. After an invocation by the Reverend Mark Kreder of St. Justin’s Church in which he asked that the township’s elected officials have the wisdom to do what is right, oaths of office were administered
to the returning officials by New Jersey State Assemblyman and former Toms River Councilman Gregory P. McGuckin. Ward council members Maria Maruca, Jeffrey Carr, Brian Kubiel and Alfonso Manforti each stood with Assemblyman McGuckin in turn, joined by their families as they swore to uphold the constitutions of the United States and the State of New Jersey. Council Names New President and VP for 2014 The council unanimously voted to name Mrs. Maruca as 2014 council president and to name Councilman John Sevastakis as council vice-president. The new council leaders were each sworn in to their new positions by Mayor Thomas Kelaher, after which they took a moment to set the tone and outline the focuses for the government of Toms River in 2014.
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Continued on Page 17
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
Brick Township Meeting Notes
by Carly Kilroy BRICK -The following are news and actions from the December 17th council meeting. Police Explorer Program Graduation Brick Township saw its first graduates from the Police Explorer program in five years. “After being inactive for the past five years I am very proud to announce that we have re-instituted our Police Explorers Program which is also known as Law Enforcement Career Exploring,” Nils Bergquist, Brick Township’s Chief of Police said. The program is made up of boys and girls within the age range of 14-years-old to 20-years-old interested in the law enforcement field. The three month long curriculum is modeled after the police academy and trains participants in the areas of physical training, drill marching, motor vehicle stops, radio communications, CPR certification, self defense, and scenario based training. Outgoing Council Members and Staff During the meeting council
Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 33 recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Photo by Carly Kilroy president Bob Moore presented outgoing councilmen Dan Toth and Dominick Brando with plaques commemorating their time served on the township council. Both councilmen, along with Township Attorney Jean Cipriani, later gave their final closing statements reflecting on their time with the governing body. “I’ve had the honor and privilege to be elected by the people of Brick Township twice
as their councilman and its job that I have never taken lightly,” Councilman Toth said. He began serving on the council in 2006 and for the eight years he held the position of councilman Mr. Toth viewed himself as a problem solver for the residents of Brick Township. “That’s what I like to do,” Councilman Toth said. “I like to help out people as much as I can.” Citing many of the projects he played an important role in completing over the years, such as ordinances to improve the aesthetic nature of the township to improvements in the municipal budget, Mr. Toth said if given the chance he would return to his position, “in a heartbeat.” He added, “I can’t thank each and every one of you enough for giving me the opportunity to serve you as your councilman. It’s been wonderful.” Councilman Brando started serving on the council four years ago, in 2010. Continued on Page 17
Newman Begins Freshman Term; Wieck Rejoins for Second
(above) Raymond Newman is sworn into his first term as councilman by Pine Beach Mayor Lawrence Cuneo as members of the Newman family look on during the New Year’s Day reorganization meeting of the governing body. (right) Councilman Barry Wieck is sworn into his second term as councilman by Pine Beach Mayor Lawrence Cuneo as his wife and grandson look on during the January 1st council reorganization meeting. Photos by Thea Kratochvil.
Marisa Patella sings the National Anthem as members of the Brick VFW Post #8867 salute the flag . Photo by Carly Kilroy.
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
Ocean Gate Rings in 2014
Nicastro Returns, Serpica Installed
by Erik Weber OCEAN GATE – The following are news and actions of the mayor and governing body, here, from the annual reorganization meeting on New Year’s Day. Officials Welcome 2014 Following the swearing in and oaths of service to re-elected Councilwoman Joella Nicastro, newly elected Councilman John Serpica and officials from the Ocean Gate Volunteer First Aid Squad and Ocean Gate Volunteer Fire Company, governing body members took time to comment on the changing calendar year. “I’ve been here now going on four years,” said Council President Brian DiStefano, “and I’m looking forward to the new year and thank all employees of the borough. Our staff does a wonderful job all down the line.” He included the volunteer fire company and first aid squad members, and members of the police department, adding that he did not feel the borough could have recovered as well as it has thus far since Hurricane Sandy swept devastation to private home and property and public infrastructure 14 months earlier in late October 2012. Councilmen Jim McGrath, Frank Santarpia – who called in to the meeting via telephone while recovering from a medical issue – and Dave Kendrick echoed Mr. DiStefano, with Mr. McGrath adding that the borough came together following the crisis which showed that Ocean Gate is “really great to live in and raise your children in.” “I’d again like to thank everybody for re-electing me to my second term,” said Ms. Nicastro, who also welcomed Mr. Serpica to the council and thanked all the volunteers and police department members within the bor-
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ough. “Like Brian just said, it takes an entire team to get work done in this little borough, and most of it is done by volunteers.” Mr. Serpica, for his turn, stated that he knew he had some things to learn but that he was “very willing to do the job and I’m looking forward to the committee appointments – I have some ideas I’d like to implement and we’ll see how it goes.” Mayor Paul Kennedy welcomed those who came that day and pointed out the presence of Michael Mastronardy, a borough native who worked with the Toms River Police Department for many years before being promoted to chief and last November being elected as sheriff of Ocean County. Sheriff Mastronardy wished all a happy new year. Committee Appointments Governing body members were appointed to the following committees for the new year: • Finance and Communications: Mr. Distefano, chair; Mr. Kendrick and Mr. Serpica, members. • Public Safety: Mr. Kendrick, chair; Mr. Serpica and Mr. Santarpia, members. • Recreation: Mr. Serpica, chair; Mr. McGrath and Ms. Nicastro, members. • Public Utility: Mr. McGrath, chair; Mr. Santarpia and Ms. Nicastro, members. • Public Works: Ms. Nicastro, chair; Mr. Distefano and Mr. Kendrick, members. • Health, Welfare and Environment: Mr. Santarpia, chair; Mr. DiStefano and Mr. McGrath, members. • Personnel Policy and Negotiations Committee: Mayor Kennedy, chair; Mr. Kendrick and Mr. Distefano, members. • Mr. Serpica was also appointed as borough liaison to
(from above top) During the New Year’s Day Reorganization Meeting, Ocean Gate Councilwoman Joella Nicastro is sworn into her second elected term and John Serpica his first by Mayor Paul Kennedy. Photos by Erik Weber. the borough school and regional school district. Other News • The governing body unanimously voted to approve Mr. Distefano as council president for the second consecutive year. • Mr. McGrath voiced opposition for a resolution granting Mayor Kennedy a combined total of $50,000 annual stipend for performing the roles of acting municipal administrator, acting personnel director, acting Americans with Disabilities (ADA) coordinator, and acting insurance administrator. Members of the governing body countered that the titled roles Mayor Kennedy was willing to perform without pensions or further benefits annually saved the borough tens of thousands of dollars from having to hire individuals at far greater amounts plus pensions and benefits. Mayor Kennedy produced a full-page outline of a borough mayor’s specific duties and a page and a half rundown of
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
OCEAN COUNTY REAL ESTATE REPORT
by Bob Suarez, Real Estate Correspondent Love it or hate it, it’s that time again to look back at the old year and make resolutions for the new. What happened to the local real estate market in 2013? Let's have a look:
Top 5 Local Real Estate Stories of 2013 5. The FED, a “grant” (SHAP) was created to enable home-buyers at 80 percent of the median income to purchase homes in the designated counties affected by Hurricane Sandy. Unfortunately, these funds have only helped a few to actually buy homes in affected areas. 4. Due to the destruction of many homes by Sandy, many of our local municipalities have lost revenue from ratables. For example, some estimates place the loss of Toms River’s tax ratables near 30 percent. Obviously, Toms River was not the only municipality affected by the storm and not the only township to use tax rate increases to try to balance the loss of value. 3. Ocean County’s Adult Communities Shut Out Hurricane Sandy Evacuees Despite the efforts of the Ocean County Board of Realtors, New Jersey Association of Realtors, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), our local adult communities refused to relax their restrictions and amend their bylaws to allow short term rentals to evacuees displaced by Hurricane Sandy who did not meet the age requirement. As a result of this inaction, however, those evacuees with age compliance bought up the vacant inventory of homes for sale in these very same adult communities and subsequently created a seller's market in the process! 2. FEMA, ABFEs, BFEs & The Biggert-Waters Act If you own a house near the water, you are most likely going to have to raise it. How high you will have to raise it is determined by how close you are to the water. If you don’t raise it, you will have to pay higher insurance premiums though incremental increases scheduled over the next five years, however, the revised flood maps are still not official yet so rates are still not certain.
With Robert Suarez Robert Suarez has 30 years of experience in the construction industry and is a full-time Realtor at Flanagan Realty in Toms River.
1. Hurricane Sandy Delays The Housing Recovery for Ocean County While the rest of the nation saw their housing markets recover and some actually rebound, Ocean County saw its housing recovery stall as the waterfront home market, decimated by Hurricane Sandy, become a drag on the local real estate market. Adding to the drag on the local recovery were delayed insurance claim payouts, local infrastructure rebuilding, federal and local red tape, and general apprehension over lack of information and the uncertainty it created. All of these only wound up preventing many from buying and/or selling in 2013. Next are six 'major' predictions for the local real estate market. You may want to read them and save them if you plan on buying and/ or selling a house in Ocean County.
The 6 Local Real Estate Predictions For 2014 6. Mortgage Interest Rates Will Rise To Over 5.5% Mortgage interest rates have been at their lowest (historically) for quite some time now, but that is over. The Fed has announced they will begin tapering off some of their stimulus package in 2014. Look for mortgage interest rates to pass 5% in the first half of the year and come close to 6% by the end of 2014. 5. Condos and Townhouses Will Start To Sell As mortgage interest rates rise, home affordability falls. Watch for condos and townhomes to become affordable alternatives to single family homes, especially for first time home-buyers. The concern here is financing. Many condo associations lost their FHA approval in the recession, so conventional financing will make this prediction challenging. 4. The Waterfront Market Will Start To Sell Despite the fear and apprehension surrounding flood insurance, look for speculative builders and investors to begin buying up the storm damaged homes on the local waterfront. Home-buyers looking for that waterfront “bargain” untouched by sandy will also be out , but they will be more cautious and concerned how elevation will affect insurance cost. 3. Home Prices Will Rise Demand will increase in 2014, supply will fall and increases in home prices will be a gradual process due to those rising mortgage interest rates. 2. Realtors Roles Will Change Due to new Continuation Education requirements for real estate agents, less agents will be serving the public but
the level of professionalism from the remaining agents will be higher. This, coupled with the amount of real estate information available to the general public, will change the role of that agent from a source of information for what is for sale to a informed professional who will represent and guide buyers and renters in the process of finding and then negotiating the purchase of a home at the best price. Further, real estate agents will continue to be professionals who use all the modern tools available to get the best possible price for a home. This is a win-win for both the consumer and the real estate professional as the consumer receives the service and representation they demand and the real estate professional earns the compensation they deserve. 1. Alternative Real Estate Office Business Models Will Appear With the seemingly never ending advances in technology and the recovering housing market, look for alternative real estate business model to emerge in 2014 due to the history of the established real estate offices being slow in absorbing new methods and technology. However it plays out, 2014 looks to be an exciting year in local real estate. Overall, the market is tracking up - for example, Toms River home sales increased by 14.21 percent over the same time last year with one sale coming in at over $1.5 million! We have witnessed a noticeable stabilization in home prices located in the non-waterfront communities as sales of single family homes continue to increase and the existing supply of these homes continues to decrease. While we have not yet achieved a balanced market here, do not be surprised to see price increases in certain price ranges as the inventory of non-waterfront homes continues to diminish throughout the winter. There is, however, a drop in waterfront market home values due to the continued effects of Sandy, mostly between $400,000 and $899,999. As the non-waterfront market in Ocean County resembled the national trend in home sales, the waterfront market continued to suffer. As rebuilding continues and shows results, I believe the waterfront areas will rebound quickly. To close, over one year after Sandy crashed into Ocean County, her affects are still impacting our lives, but just as we are slowly restoring our shore area, the local real estate market is restoring itself as well. This year should be the year the Ocean County real estate market falls into step with the national housing market recovery.
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roles he has fulfilled continuously over the past decade at no pay or lower annual stipends that were not present on the first sheet as being roles he is to fulfill solely as mayor. After several minutes of discussion, the resolution passed with Mr. McGrath and Mr. Santarpia casting dissenting votes. • After the borough council hired Robert Al Bairan as a full-time employee within the public works department following his working for eight months as a temporary worker, he thanked the mayor and council and residents of Ocean Gate. Mayor Kennedy noted that Mr. Bairan had done an “excellent job” in 2013. • Borough residents for the 2014 Ocean Gate Municipal Alliance were appointed, including Tamie Serpica as chair and Phil Bruce, Bob Holshue and Peggy Sue Russell as community representatives. • Beach and Boardwalk Revival Committee members appointed for 2014 single-year terms included James Fry, chair; Roger Love, treasurer and members Larry McDowell, Patrick O’Neill, George Chernego, Robert
“Woody” Vassallo and Alexandra Adams. • Tom Fitz and Woody Vassallo were appointed to coordinator and deputy coordinator, respectively, of the Ocean Gate Office of Emergency Management. • Members appointed to the planning board/board of adjustment included Mayor Kennedy, Class I Member; Paul Butow, Class II Member and Brian DiStefano, Class III Member, all with terms ending December 31st, 2014. Greg Hanusey and Richard Mihalkovitz were appointed as Class IV members with terms ending December 31st, 2017. • For the eight consecutive year, the governing body participated in the America Supporting Americans “Adopt a Unit” program by continuing to appoint a liaison and alternate liaison to work with A Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), with Richard Russell filling the primary role and Robert Bonner as his alternate. Actions by participating municipalities in the program can include sending letters and care packages, asking unit
TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP MEETING CONTINUED
president said is anticipated to be completed by March of this year. Mrs. Maruca congratulated Toms River’s new police chief, Mitch Little, and Ocean County’s new sheriff, Michael Mastronardy. “I pledge to work with our mayor, the administration, and the council to see these projects of beach replenishment, seeking funding until our ratable base is strong, and helping the Toms River Police department continue to be the finest police department in the State of New Jersey through,” she said. Mr. Sevastakis spoke about his past focus on ensuring that there are plenty of sports-oriented recreational activities for Toms River’s children to engage in in order to keep them busy and off of drugs and out of trouble, saying that while active youths are less likely to get involved in drugs, he believes that it is not enough, and that the belief that enrolling children in organized sports would ensure that they are never exposed to drug use was a false one. He reflected on the news that Ocean County leads New Jersey in heroin overdoses and pledged his cooperation with the new police chief and sheriff, as well as schools and commu-
nity programs to attack the problem. “I truly hope that next year when I sit here I can say that our overdose numbers have decreased, as well as all the statistics related to drug dealing," the council vice-president added. Oath of Office Administered to Mitch Little New Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little had the oath of service administered to him for a second time by Mayor Kelaher; he was earlier brought to the role at the police department on New Year's Day. Chief Little’s father, Robert, a retired deputy chief of the department, presented him with his deputy chief’s star. The newly-minted chief then thanked his predecessor, Sheriff Mastronardy, for leaving the department in good condition, which he said would make his job easier and that he recognized “the serious issues facing our community and I am committed to combating them with the most talented group of law enforcement professionals I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the past 28 years. They say that it takes a village to raise a family. You have my word that my law enforcement family will
Steered Straight Pleads for Serious Recognition of Suburban Drug Issues Michael DeLeon, president of Steered Straight, an anti-drug organization focused on sending speakers with personal and often tragic experience with drug addiction an gang violence all over New Jersey to speak to teens, gave a presentation addressing Toms River’s growing heroin epidemic, saying that it could no longer be ignored. He also said that he believes that drug-based gangs have been migrating into suburban communities such as those in Ocean and Monmouth counties but he expressed his hopes that Toms River’s new chief of police, Ocean County’s new sheriff and the county and municipal prosecutors would work with his organization to address the problem. He also urged those in attendance to visit his organization’s website - steeredstraight.org - to view a preview for a documentary he is working on that features the stories of people whose lives have been negatively affected by drugs and gangs.
tremendous love and support and I thank you very much for that.” The councilman also announced that in June he will once again throw his hat in the ring for a chance at the vacant councilman seat left by Mayor John Ducey. No longer a member of the Republican Club, he will be running independently from any political affiliations. “When we get to November
I hope we keep the campaign about issues and we don’t make it personal,” Councilman Brando said. “To the residents – this is a great town and don’t ever let anyone tell you anything differently.” Serving as the township attorney for seven years, Mrs. Cipriani said she never looked at her position as just another job. “I’ve enjoyed working with all the elected officials and
meeting so many members of the public,” she said. “My only regrets are those that I have not been able to assist and I just want everyone to know what an amazing town I think this is and how many extraordinary people work here in the Township of Brick.” She added, “I have deeply, deeply enjoyed and have been proud to be the attorney for Brick Township.”
Mrs. Maruca reflected on the challenges faced by Toms River in 2013 in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and said that 2014 will largely be a continuation of the rebuilding effort, noting that there were still a number of projects left to finish, such as the continuing road reconstruction projects along the barrier islands. She also emphasized the importance of ensuring that residents and business owners were guided through the rebuilding process, urging those who are still rebuilding to visit the township’s website where they can find a flowchart guiding them through the process of obtaining permits. The council president stated that the biggest issues facing Toms River in 2014 would be the Army Corps of Engineers’ dune and beach replenishment projects, the rebuilding of residencies and businesses and keeping the Toms River Police Department sufficiently staffed as retirements occur. The beach replenishment project is scheduled to start in June. Thirteen easements are still needed, and the township is still working on obtaining them through eminent domain, which the Brick Township Continued GET LISTED | HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY
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Meeting
Councilman Brando started serving on the council four years ago, in 2010. In his closing comments, Mr. Brando thanked his wife and children for enduring the sacrifices and demands constantly faced by families of elected officials. “You never complained,” he said. “All you did was give
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members to speak at school and community groups, holding parades and hosting parties, exchanging awards and holding recognition ceremonies, engaging in joint community service projects, showing support to family members of unit members deployed abroad and more. • West Barnegat Avenue resident Aileen Alonzo publicly thanked her neighbors,
friends and fellow residents who came to her and her family’s aid after her brother had a serious heart attack a month earlier and was still recovering. “I’d like to thank everyone for their support and prayers because that’s what Ocean Gate is about and that’s why this town is so special,” she said.
(above) Officials of the Ocean Gate Volunteer Fire Company and (below) officialsof the Ocean Gate Volunteer First Aid Squad are given their oaths of service by Mayor Paul Kennedy. Photos by Erik Weber.
protect and serve this village so you can do your job and raise your families in a safe and healthy environment.”
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
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WINTER FUN IN OCEAN COUNTY
The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
Photos by Erik Weber
Families from Berkeley Township and surrounding municipalities enjoy sledding and snowboarding down the low slopes alongside Central Regional High School on January 4th. Photos by Erik Weber.
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The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
County Revisits Final Skirmish of the American Revolution
On Friday, December 27th, the annual commemoration event of the Skirmish at Cedar Bridge was held in Warren Grove, a section of Barnegat Township, and included actors dressed in Revolutionary War period clothes singing Christmas carols and period songs, an open house at the ongoing restoration efforts at the tavern itself - the current structure of which dates to 1816 - plus several re-enactors telling the story of Cedar Bridge and various other tales from the era (who also fired off blanks in their period weaponry). Approximately 150 were in attendance at the event, the largest in years, and Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Director Tim Hart stated that in future years the event would be moved to a Sunday and expanded to include more of a re-enactment of the skirmish itself. Photo by Erik Weber.
Beachwood Councilman Edward A. Zakar thanks Ocean County Surrogate Jeffrey Moran after being sworn in to his second term on the dais as his family looks on and (below) Mr. Moran swears in Gerald W. “Jerry� LaCrosse to his latest term in office as a councilman as his wife, daughter and grandchildren look on during the borough reorganization meeting on January 2nd. (Below Right) Members of Brownie Troop 229 lead Beachwood officials and the public in the pledge of allegiance to kick off the festivities. Photos by Erik Weber.
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The Leopard of Island Heights
by Steven J. Baeli, Historical Correspondent
E
very so often an event takes place that explodes in the common cultural in a way that it becomes the entire focus of day-to-day living of society-at-large. It sometimes
becomes so ingrained that everyone is talking about it all of the time, at home, in school, at work, until before long certain people begin to find artistic ways to become part of the story itself, while others are ensnared by default. The same was true in 1926 when a spotted Indian leopard slipped its cage at Oliver W. Holton’s Twin Brook Zoological Park in Monmouth County, the comedy of errors trailing on for two full months before the leopard was snared in Island Heights, where a trap was set to catch whatever critter was eating up ducks owned by Mrs. Eliza Irons and her
son, Willard. The incident itself happened in August, but the real story began in 1924, when Mr. Holton realized his plans to build a zoological park in Middletown Township, on his acres of property along King’s Highway. Oliver Williams Holton and his wife, Virginia, were wealthy socialites in the Episcopal community at Middletown, Monmouth County. Mr. Holton was a man of grand scale who followed through on those grand designs in a very successful manner, and the Twin Brook zoo was his most successful endeavor and a dream come true.
Although the zoo did make money and boosted the Holtons into the upper echelon of society, it was largely a philanthropic effort given that the exotic species he maintained there were expensive to purchase, ship, and care for. Holton imported several species of large cats, wolves, hyenas, elephants, alligators, hundreds of snakes and birds, among them 200 flamingoes, and none of which was indigenous to central New Jersey. That would amount to a very expensive undertaking for Oliver Holton, but one he seemed to very easily work out. The zoo began with a collection of pheasants, which had the misfortune of being decimated by wild dogs attracted to the muster of birds in the dense woodland area. Holton later dove head first into stocking the game farm with the aforementioned fauna and set a deadline for opening the zoo for Memorial Day, May 30th, 1925. The killing of the pheasants was not the last time that dogs and other predators attacked the zoo, and it also saw its share of escapes, often by one or more of the 800 monkeys on the premises, but things ran rather smoothly over all and almost overnight the zoo became one of the most popular attractions in the tri-state area. and by the May 1st opening people came out in numbers to see the wonders that Oliver Holton had brought to their world. Just two short months later, however, things suddenly turned potentially deadly, sounding what some believed would be the end of the short-lived park. The new arrival to Twin Brook was a spotted leopard, sent across the seas and on land from India to New Jersey in a cage from which it had once gotten free of along the way. The permanent cage was still being constructed when the leopard arrived, and so it was made to stay in the same contraption that it had traveled the world in, but within an hour of its arrival, the crafty cat had loosened two bars on its cage widening them enough for it to slip through. It wasn’t immediately noticed that the leopard had escaped and by the time the alarm was sounded it had made its way into the woods and was nowhere to be seen. Holton quickly put together a search team to find it, and although it is the nature of a leopard to run from humans, if cornered or threatened it could potentially kill a human, and so the decision was made right away to shoot the 90 pound beast before it could do harm. In a bit of a parallel to Frankenstein, the cat was first seen by Margaret Ellison, who lived in Nutswamp, a farming community south of Twin Brook. Luckily little Margaret hadn’t attempted to approach the animal bearing flowers, but instead she told her father that she had seen “a big, queer dog [with] big spots all over him” out in the orchard. Checking on the girl’s story, Fred Ellison saw nothing and went back to his duties on the
farm. Neither the authorities nor the public were immediately notified that a wild leopard was on the loose in the neighborhood, Holton’s theory being that they would check the farm area first as not to alarm the people unnecessarily, but he didn’t take into account that the cat had ideas of its own and had adapted swiftly to its new environment. Leopards are known for their ability to move about unnoticed through forests and overgrown areas, also having the ability to climb trees, so it was not surprising that it was seen several miles away so close to the time it had escaped. The driving force for members of the Panthera genus, as is for all life on the planet, is food, and it is likely that the leopard followed the scents of wild game out in the woods. Indeed, it fed on the abundant supply of rabbits and other small game until it tired of that fare and moved on to raiding chicken coops on nearby farms throughout the distance of its journey. Other sightings, both real and imagined, were reported constantly to the police and to Mr. Holton directly as dozens of people called him on his house phone, a relatively new household appliance that both hindered and helped the situation. In response to these reports, Holton checked out every account that he felt held some credibility, and some that didn’t just in case, and called up his search team to hunt the cat down. Rumors about the cat and what happened abounded immediately, the first of which was that the cat had attacked its prior keeper; something that Mr. Holton immediately said was untrue. In a move perhaps designed to fend off scam artists and pranksters, Oliver Holton offered a $100 reward for the animal dead or alive and he promised to let the capturer keep the pelt of the beast as a bonus, one taxidermist from Jersey City offering to process it professionally for free. In the end Holton went back on his promise and kept the dead cat for himself, after which he put it on display at the zoo, attracting hundreds of people to the park to get a glimpse of the beast that had held everyone captive for so long. Ironically, the general public seemed more intrigued than afraid of the leopard, with the possible exception of the huckleberry pickers, most of whom refused to go into thick underbrush out of fear of coming face-to-face with an animal that could kill them in seconds with its sharp fangs and teeth, which in turn left an empty market for that year’s crop. Hunters went on a quest for the reward money and took to the woods in hopes of being the man who brought down the big cat, but more often than not they mistook their hunting dogs for the leopard and shot them instead. As time passed other methods were employed to catch the beast, the first being the use of bait in the form of small goats and sheep that were tied
to trees in hopes of incising it, but never did that work. Frustrated, Holton finally decided to add to that method the use of catnip oil sent to him by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which had heard about the incident and thought it might help to capture the leopard. That scheme also failed, and the leopard, now free for over a month, continued to survive successfully in a strange land, eluding even the most avid experts in the art of safari hunting. Meanwhile, the newspapers across the country had gotten hold of the story and sent reporters to get the scoop, some stayed around for a couple of weeks before tiring of the same false alarms day after day. The local papers, specifically the Red Bank Register, continued to keep the story alive, reporting on every incident and sighting that they heard about. The legend of the leopard also began to bleed into the culture, one man firing most of his road crew because they couldn’t stop talking about it, and some stores using it as an advertising opportunity, giving away small prizes to the child who finds the toy leopard hidden somewhere in the merchandise. Despite the constant attention on the leopard, Mr. Holton continued to expand the zoo’s stock of new animals, adding a new leopard, two lions, an ostrich and four owls to the inventory. Amazingly, there was no effort made by law enforcement or the local government to help capture the wild cat, despite the potential danger of its existence in their community, which allowed for Holton to allow the zoo to operate without the threat of closure. The leopard, in the meantime, was holding its own and depleting the area of small game, which likely forced it to continue its southeasterly route for nourishment. Many chicken farmers complained of attacks on their broods, but it was often discovered that human chicken thieves had been taking advantage of the situation and raiding coops in the middle of the night. As sightings and animal attacks in the Middletown area began to wane somewhat, it was thought that the leopard had moved on, although where it went off to was anybody’s guess, until finally signs of its presence showed up in Island Heights, roughly forty miles southeast of Middletown. Read the next edition of the Ocean Signal News Magazine for the second half of Steven J. Baeli’s, “A Leopard at Island Heights.”
~ Steven J. Baeli is a professional historian who has written extensively on Ocean County history. He is the owner of the Ocean County Compendium of History (www.ochistory.org), the founder of the Ocean County Preservation Society, and is a Life Member of the Ocean County Historical Society.
1st Annual Toms River High School South Kickers
DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT
Dodgeball teams from all around Toms River came together to compete in the first annual Toms River High School South Turf Wars Tournament at All-Star Sports Academy. The event was a fund raiser for the Toms River South High School Soccer Kickers Club. In the end, the Toms River North Mariners baseball team won the tournament and were crowned champions. Photos by Phil Stilton.
OCEAN COUNTY
POLICE BLOTTER
The Ocean Signal January 17-30, 2014
Left to Right (front): Ocean County Freeholders Jim Lacey, Joe Vicari and Jack Kelly; New Jersey State Senator Robert Singer. Photos by Phil Stilton. by Phil Stilton
THERE’S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN
Mike Mastronardy Sworn In
New Years Eve Shootings at Toms River Ramada Inn POLICE REPORT BY THE TOMS RIVER POLICE DEPARTMENT The Toms River Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred at 12:55 AM on January 1, 2014 at the Ramada near the Lakewood border. The Toms River Police Department received a call via the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department 911 system. The unidentified caller stated there had been a shooting at the Ramada Inn located at 2373 Route 9 in Toms River. The caller stated there was a shooting victim in one of the rooms at the hotel which was later determined to be in a rear section of the hotel containing suites. Officers Herr, Robertazzi and Pedalino were first to arrive on scene and they encountered several individuals in the area screaming and yelling. They also observed four (4) or five (5) people climbing out of a second story hotel room window onto an adjoining roof. They entered the hotel room and found one victim lying on the floor with an apparent gunshot wound. They then found a second victim in another area of the hotel room. Both victims were transported to a local trauma center. Additional police officers from Toms
River and the surrounding towns of Lakewood and Brick were dispatched to the scene as there were upwards of 30 people in the hotel and hallways and each of the rooms had to cleared for additional victims and suspects. As officers were on scene at the Ramada Inn, the Lakewood Police Department contacted this department and advised there was another shooting victim at a hospital in Lakewood apparently driven there by private vehicle. Lt. Michael Brosnan of the department’s
Criminal Investigation Bureau, under the command of Captain Bruce Burgess, responded and coordinated the investigation. As of 0930 hrs. this date one victim is still in the operating room, a second is in critical condition and the condition of the third victim is unavailable at this time. No suspects were located at the hotel, the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information regarding this incident please contact Detective Hull of the Toms River Police Department at 732-349-0150 ext 1291.
Woman Escapes Attempted Kidnapping in Brick Township On January 10, 2014 at approximately 10 am, Officers responded to a residence on Georgia Drive for a subject reporting that they had been kidnapped. The adult victim, a resident of Essex Drive was walking through the Lake Riviera section of Brick when she was approached by a white work van with tinted windows, occupied by two white male subjects. The passenger of the van exited the vehicle, approached the victim, and forced the victim into the van. Once inside the van, the victim stated that she was struck several times in the torso with what was described as a “piece of steel.” The subject then produced a box cutter. Shortly thereafter, the victim was able to escape the van as it travelled slowly north on Georgia Drive. The victim then ran to a nearby residence, knocked on the door, and asked the resident to contact police. The victim described the suspect that pulled her into the van as a white male, wearing a blue navy sweatshirt and black pants. The driver was described as a white male, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, and possibly having blonde hair. The investigation is being conducted by Detective James Burgess of the Brick Township Police Detective Bureau. Anyone who believes that they may have seen this vehicle or anything related to this incident is asked to contact Detective Burgess at 732262-1115.
TOMS RIVER-A packed courtroom, consisting of family, friends and local dignitaries witnessed the swearing in of former Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy as he became the new sheriff of Ocean County on New Years Day. Mastronardy replaces the Sheriff William Polhemus who passed away in December of 2012. Freeholder John Bartlett said of Mastronardy, “After Hurricane Sandy, he worked night and day to help the residents of Ortley Beach and Toms River.”
POLICE BLOTTER TOMS RIVER - On January 15th, Toms River Police announced they are searching for a red or maroon BMW possibly involved in a burglary. TOMS RIVER - On January 14th, Edward O’Neill, a contractor, plead guilty to guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in federal court in Newark. O’Niell paid $20,000 in hopes that he would get a lucrative New Jersey Transit snow removal contract. SOUTH TOMS RIVER - At approximately 9:15 pm on January 13, two adults, a man and woman were rescued from a septic tank in the area of 175 Attison Avenue. Multiple
Sketch of suspected Brick Township kidnapper.
“He knows how to deal with people and he has respect for people,” Bartlett added. “And that is the key to his success over the years.” “I always wanted to be a police officer,” Mastronardy told the audience. He became a police officer in 1974. “I know we can make a difference in the county,” he said. “There’s people who don’t know what the sheriff’s department does.” “I assure you, over the next three years, the people of Ocean County will understand what the sheriff’s department does.” EMS and fire units responded and assisted with the rescue. No injuries were reported. According to a report, a woman walking her dog fell through the lid of septic well, approximately 8 feet deep. The woman’s husband heard the woman’s screams and in the darkness, also fell into the then exposed hole. BRICK - At 2:23pm on January 8th, Brick Police and firefighters responded to a bathroom fire at the Lanes Mill Elementary School. TOMS RIVER - Kenneth Staunton, a convicted drug dealer who sold heroin to a person who died was convicted for his crime and sentenced to 7.5 years in prison with no early release. BERKELEY - On January 8th, a man was found dead in the Berkeley Township municipal building. Police said he died of a single self inflicted gunshot wound. TOMS RIVER - Former Toms River Republican Mayor Carmine Inteso was sentenced to six months in prison for tax evasion related to the Ritacco Era insurance bribery scandal. Inteso accepted bribes and funneled the money into sham companies. Federal authorities captured him at JFK International Airport last year.
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