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, 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
Prosecutor to jury: DiGIlio acted in a manner that was 'senseless and reckless'
The vehicular homicide and assault case against Brick resident Anthony DiGilio is now in the hands of a jury. Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Hillary Bryce delivered an approximately two hour-long summation of the state's case Monday morning, wrapping up closing arguments that began Friday with defense attorney Joseph Tacopina delivering his own nearly five hour-long summation. Bryce used her summation to try to convince jurors that DiGilio, now 33, was operating his boat recklessly and that his recklessness caused the death of 49-year-old Robert Post of Essex Fells, who was at the helm of a 17-foot Boston Whaler that collided with DiGilio's 27-foot Imperial performance boat. "There was no way for Bob Post or anyone on that Boston Whaler…
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
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…
Monday, March 11, 2013
Work begins to pull debris from Barnegat Bay
Even one of Germany's finest automobiles was no match for Superstorm Sandy. It's tough to tell the exact model this car was, but the body style and taillights indicate it's a midsize Mercedes-Benz, probably from the 1990s. Crews found it in Barnegat Bay Monday afternoon and towed it to the boat ramp at Traders Cove Marina off Mantoloking Road in Brick, where it was hauled out from the murky depths. The muddied car is suspected to have gotten washed into the waterway during Sandy. A contract was awarded by the state last month to Crowder Gulf, a Theodore, Ala.-based company, to remove debris from the northern and central portions of Barnegat Bay, hopefully in time for the summer boating season. Department of Environmental Protection …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Toms River and other towns prepare for flooding; 60 m.p.h. wind gusts, 16-foot seas offshore possible in strong nor'easter
A few days into the month, March will come in like a lion at the Jersey Shore, where a nor'easter is forecast to spur flooding, high winds and extremely rough surf. The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a coastal flood watch that remains in effect for the entire Shore area, as well as a storm watch and small craft advisory for offshore waters. The storm is forecast to begin as a rain event in coastal areas after 8 a.m. Wednesday and continue through late Thursday, with the potential for the precipitation to turn to snow. Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said he would meet Tuesday with the township’s public works department to discuss possible preparations, according to NJ.com. Toms River took substantial damage …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Stolen air conditioning unit leads to Brick man, Point Pleasant man
A Brick man and a Point Pleasant man have been arrested and charged by Brick police with stealing three air conditioning units from the storm-damaged home of a Brick resident. The pair are now being investigated for additional thefts in the area as well. The home that had its air conditioning units stolen had been damaged during Superstorm Sandy and was vacant at the time of the theft, which the resident reported to police Feb. 15, Sgt. Keith Reinhard said. The Carrier units were valued at about $12,000, and were only eight months old, since the home had been newly constructed before the storm struck, said Reinhard. An investigation by Detectives Bob Shepherd, Michael Feeney and Thomas Cooney eventually led to the arrests of Steven A. …
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 ›