Thursday, May 9, 2013
OCC second year student Nick Tyler to continue studying computer science after graduation this month
When Nick Tyler graduates from Ocean County College in Toms River, N.J. later this month, he'll do so with a dual mission in mind: continue his computer science studies at Kean University, then use his programming skills to make life easier for those with disabilities. For his efforts, Tyler has been chosen as Huffington Post's Greatest Person of the Day. Tyler, of Brick Township, N.J., relies on technology to help him navigate life on a daily basis to a much greater extent than most people. He was born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which has resulted in his having limited control of his arms and legs, as well as his voice. "Since my muscles are affected, I have a difficult time being understood," he said, through a voice synthesizer …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Reconstruction will take place after Labor Day, but DOT will work on drainage, pump stations during summer
The state is postponing Route 35 reconstruction until after Labor Day, a welcome relief to local officials and business people who feared that the work would cause massive traffic delays all summer. "I'm very happy," said Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis. "This is more than enough of a change, even if they start the day after Labor Day." He and other local officials and business owners had also been concerned the state Department of Transportation (DOT) road work would kill parking spaces on Route 35, just as businesses are hoping a robust summer tourism season can help them recover from Superstorm Sandy. Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Vincent Barrella had more of a mixed reaction. "I'm pleased, but disappointed they didn't let me know," said …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Man also led police on high-speed chase, cops say
A Toms River man dragged a Brick police officer with his pickup truck, then led police on a high speed chase before being located near an entrance to the Garden State Parkway, authorities said. The incident began at about midnight April 18, when Ptl. Mark Nixon attempted to pull over Ronald C. DeFreitas, 36, who was driving a 2000 Ford F-150 pickup truck, Sgt. Henry Drew said. DeFreitas was suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but as Nixon, with the assistance of Sgt. John Talty, Jr., attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant, DeFreitas reached to put the vehicle in drive and flee from the scene, Drew said. Nixon reached in to prevent him from doing so, but DeFreitas was able to put the vehicle in gear, …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Brick resident cleared on vehicular homicide charge
A jury has found Brick resident Anthony DiGilio not guilty of vehicular homicide and assault by vessel in connection with a fatal Aug. 3, 2008 boating accident. The jury of eight men and four women began deliberating just after 2 p.m. Monday following the end of closing arguments in the three week-long trial. The verdict was read in Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson's court room at about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday. Minutes after the verdict was read, family and supporters of DiGilio, 33, were outside the court room making emotional phone calls, often crying with joy spreading the news. Family members and friends of Robert Post, the 49-year-old Essex Fells resident who died in the boating accident, were visibly upset as they quickly exited the …
Monday, April 22, 2013
Traffic lights no longer blinking on bulk of barrier island
It's one of those unique "Shore local" problems: when the traffic lights stop blinking each spring, one has to remember to come to a full and complete stop - and most importantly, wait for the light to turn green again. In a small sign of normalcy following Route 35's reopening after surrounding neighborhoods were hard hit by Superstorm Sandy at the end of October, traffic signals are no longer blinking amber and red. Last week, the lights in Brick, Toms River and Lavallette were all changed back over to their solid red-or-green modes. Since then, speed limits have risen in each of those towns from 25 m.p.h. – a limit imposed following Sandy – back to 45 m.p.h. in the southbound lanes and a mix of speeds between 30 and 45 m.p.h. in the …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Cops: Nicholas Fisher caught on surveillance tapes
A Toms River man has been charged with shoplifting tools from the Brick Target store, and is suspected of being behind a string of similar incidents, police said. Nicholas Fisher, 33, of Brand Road in Toms River, was arrested April 4 and transported to Brick Police headquarters where he was charged in a March 27 shoplifting incident at Target. In that incident, Fisher and another white male were caught on a surveillance tape taking over $500 worth of merchandise, said Capt. Robert Mazza. Similar charges are pending in a number of other towns, Mazza said. Fisher was charged in March with shoplifting drills in the Toms River Sears store, and he is suspected of shoplifting two DeWalt drills from the Manchester Lowe's store April 4, the day he…
Operation Restore Hope will open an office in Brick to help storm victims plan out their finances and fill out grant, loan applications
New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie came to Brick Monday to announce a $600,000 grant to Operation Restore Hope, a nonprofit organization that will work with Superstorm Sandy victims in the area of financial planning. The funding will come from Christie's Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, which has raised approximately $33 million since it was founded in the days after the storm struck, Christie said. Operation Restore Hope will open an office at Civic Plaza in Brick, which is where Christie made her announcement Monday morning. "Operation Restore Hope is going to go a long way toward making the people of the community of Brick very successful in navigating these challenges," said Christie. The organization, a representative said…
Thursday, April 4, 2013
'Miracle of Route 35' video released by engineering firm that oversaw the closing of the Mantoloking breach
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Daniel Nee
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Thursday, April 4
Arora and Associates, a Lawrenceville-based consulting civil and structural engineering firm, released a video Wednesday that contains stunning footage of the Mantoloking breach created by Superstorm Sandy. The video chronicles the efforts of the company's employees to engineer a solution to closing the breach, shoring up the island and rebuilding Route 35 and the base of the Mantoloking Bridge intersection.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Scott MacFadden made at least $77,957 in illegally reimbursed political contributions, indictment charges
Brick Township's former business administrator, Scott MacFadden, has been indicted for violating state pay-to-play laws in his role as chief administrative officer of Birdsall Services Group, a Monmouth County-based engineering firm. Birdsall has been under investigation for skirting the state's pay-to-play laws by allegedly reimbursing its employees for their personal, unreportable political contributions. The firm has engineering contracts with a host of Shore area communities, including Brick. MacFadden, 58, a township resident, is accused of making at least $77,957 in such illegally reimbursed contributions, a statement from state Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said Tuesday. He is being represented by Brick-based attorney William P…
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Residents will need to sign new easements, however
Mantoloking officials announced Monday that the borough will likely construct a geotextile fabric revetment – commonly known as a geotube – along its beachfront in order to guard against future ocean breaches. "To use Jersey terms, it'll be a calzone, a wrap," said Chris Nelson, the borough's special counsel for storm recovery. "And inside the calzone will be gravel and sand." The gravel and sand will be wrapped in the ultra-strong geotextile fabric, forming a tube which will then be placed underneath a dune which will eventually be built. Geotextile tubes have been used across the country in shore protection projects on both coasts, experts say. In Mantoloking, however, one barrier could prevent the project from getting off the ground. "…
Team Dawg
1:10 am on Monday, May 13, 2013
For any of us who have ever found an excuse to fail...or worse yet, not try, we ned look no further than this story. Nick , it cannot be restated enough what a true inspiration and role model you are. We at Team Dawg take pride in the fact that we look to raise awareness and celebrate the true Everyday Heroes that exist in our society. You are the epitome of everything we stand for! Team Dawg … more ›