LACEY – A Forked River man faces life imprisonment for strangling his wife and leaving her body on the side of the road. Jeremy B. Cruz, 53, killed his wife, Dawn C. Cruz, 51, on October 30, 2022. A driver spotted her body near the intersection of Colonial and Asbury avenues in Ocean Township in Monmouth County.

BERKELEY – A company capping an old landfill and installing a solar field over it is the future, and officials said it’s a perfect way to bring green energy to the state and create jobs. The solar fields, dubbed Eagle 1 and 2, were built over the municipal...

TOMS RIVER – A man who allegedly used a machete to threaten a driver was arrested after a crash. Police said that a road rage incident at around 6 p.m. on April 24 was the start of the situation. The victim said he was stopped at a red light on Water Street when the suspect tapped on his window with a machete.

HOWELL – Imagine a classroom without walls, where lessons come alive in the vibrant colors of blooming flowers and the gentle buzz of pollinators. That’s the vision coming to life at the Aldrich School, thanks to a joint effort between the school, the Howell Green Team, the Howell Shade Tree Commission, and a donation from First Energy Corporation.

LAKEWOOD – The Arc, Ocean County Chapter will host the 22nd Annual Step Up for The Arc Walk and Inaugural 5K Race on May 18 at ShoreTown Ballpark, home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, to benefit programs and support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Step Up...

STAFFORD – In a personal interview, James Haldenwang, the newly appointed police chief of Stafford, shared his vision for community-oriented policing and his deep commitment to both public service and the well-being of his officers. Approved unanimously by the governing body, Haldenwang, 52, brings 24 years of experience within...

PLUMSTED – Twenty-five years ago a dream came true with the building of a new location for the township library. The anniversary of that special event was celebrated with a party atmosphere that featured some special guests. The building is at 119 Evergreen Road, situated between the New Egypt...

TOMS RIVER – Officer Nicollette Criscione was hired by the Seaside Park Police Department in 2022 as a Class 2 Officer. Nicollette then attended the Ocean County Police Academy in class 52 and graduated as an Officer for the residents of Seaside Park. She was then hired on October...

BRICK – Three department heads presented their 2024 budgets during a recent Township Council meeting. Township Engineer Elissa Commins introduced the engineering division budget. The cost to the township for salary and wages is $170,00 but the funds are recouped from inspections, escrow accounts and capital accounts, which vary from year to year, she said.

TOMS RIVER – He isn’t a rock star or a politician but Dr. Santiago A. Centurion has quite a following. He heads four Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center offices, the latest of which opened recently in the township. Toms River Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center had a soft...

ASBURY PARK – A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison after he entered a stranger’s home, threatened and robbed the two occupants at knifepoint, and sexually assaulted one, officials said. Shawn Connolly of Asbury Park will need to serve 85 percent of his...

MONMOUTH COUNTY – Beaches throughout Monmouth County had a huge “clean sweep” as volunteers removed harmful litter from beaches and waterways for Clean Ocean Action’s (COA) 39th Annual Beach Sweeps. Volunteers braved the brisk winds and light showers at 81 locations, a record high for Beach...

JACKSON – Street maintenance and educating the public on new parking protocols are part of the roadmap of change in the township. Mayor Michael Reina announced that road improvement projects were on the horizon and were “vital to our residents and to the safety of all. These roads have been identified through our roadway grading system which helps us identify our municipal roadways that need repair.”

BRICK – “Straight from the Mustang’s Mouth,” a student-led podcast, has given young journalists the opportunity to expand their creativity. With a goal to amplify the voices of students at Brick Memorial High School, English teacher and Podcast Advisor Joseph Stefanelli created the podcast in 2023 to grab more attention on the growingly unpopular student newspaper.

BERKELEY – An expanse of marsh bordering the Barnegat Bay at Good Luck Point has been in decline, but local ecologists are hoping to turn that trend around. “These marshes are in the worst condition,” said Joseph Smith, a wildlife biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife. He works out of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and on one recent week his job site was the land near the old abandoned AT&T building. He and a crew were planting spartina, a grass the thrives in marshes and is cultivated to curb erosion.

MANCHESTER – Pine Lake Park residents made their voices loud and clear in support of an ordinance that would limit the size of homes on undersized lots within that section of the community. Every town in New Jersey is required to set aside a percentage of development for affordable...

TOMS RIVER – A Township woman has admitted to robbing a woman, spitting on police officers and more, over several dates in 2023, officials said. Olivia Paige, 35, of Toms River, pled guilty to Robbery in connection with an incident that occurred on August 29, 2023, in Lakewood. Additionally, Paige pled guilty to Possession of Cocaine from an incident on January 11, 2023, in Brick. Finally, Paige pled guilty to Aggravated Assault from an incident that occurred on April 14, 2023, likewise in Lakewood.

FREEHOLD – A Newark man, who was a former gas station attendant, has received a 52-count indictment on charges for stealing thousands of dollars from customers during his shifts, officials said. Patrick A. Brown, 48, was charged with 13 counts apiece of third-degree Credit Card Fraud, third-degree False Uttering,...

MANCHESTER – Two Ocean County residents have been hospitalized after a driver suffered a medical episode and crashed into a utility pole Tuesday, police said. The single-car crash occurred at the intersection of Route 70 and Green Acres Road. According to police, a 2020 Honda SUV was traveling east on Route 70 when the driver suffered a medical episode causing the car to veer off the roadway. The vehicle traveled about 55 feet in the grass shoulder before colliding into a utility pole.

TOMS RIVER – Forget the stereotype of hushed whispers and dusty shelves – the Ocean County Library is proving libraries are more than just books. Most recently, the Toms River Branch held its seventh Autism Resources Fair – empowering families by offering them a wealth of resources and a supportive community.