Over 100 homes to be razed through Toms River’s PPDR program

TOMS RIVER – Mayor Tom Kelaher is pleased to announce that the Township’s demolition program will begin this Saturday. “Our residents are eager to start the rebuilding process,” Kelaher said. Hurricane Sandy damaged over 6,500 homes on the barrier island and almost 4,000 homes on the mainland. “Most of the homes had some form of flooding, but a lot of the dwellings will need to be knocked down because of structural problems,” Kelaher stated.
Toms River residents with structurally damaged homes were mailed a packet of information encouraging them to enroll in the Township’s Private Property Debris Removal Program, or PPDR. Assistant Township Planner Erika Stahl has been assisting homeowners in registering for the PPDR program, which is free to residents who have homes that have been structurally damaged. Stahl says, “Enrollment in the program must be approved by FEMA, which can take a while because there are many steps involved.”
According to Public Works Director Lou Amoruso, “We are starting our demolition program on Saturday May 17th. We will begin by taking down a structure on Seagull Lane and then move onto Beier and Nichols Avenue in Ortley Beach.”
After the first round of Ortley Beach homes are demolished, the contractor will move onto the North Beach area and also homes on the mainland.
The Township’s Demolition program will cover the cost of demolition and removal of homes, if approved beforehand. The PPDR program will also cover the removal of debris such as sand, neighbor’s dwelling or buildings, and other debris that may have floated onto another property.

By Phil Stilton
Photo by Phil Stilton

TOMS RIVER—Shortly after announcing the creation of a municipal position to help Toms River Township residents navigate through the difficult networks of red tape involved with disaster recovery, Mayor Thomas Kelaher told the Ocean Signal today that the township has hired long time resident Trevor Newman for the job.

Mr. Newman will start his job as Disaster Recovery Ombudsman on Monday, May 20^th.  Initially, he will meet with township officials and department heads to work out a plan on how the township can begin to offer assistance to those negatively impacted by Sandy who are struggling to understand FEMA guidelines, insurance policies and to help them seek out available programs they may qualify for.

Shortly after the announcement of the position was made, Mr. Newman ironically tells us that he was sitting at the Band Wagon Diner on Route 37 and was thumbing through the inaugural issue of the Ocean Signal when he read the article about the Ombudsman position.

“I saw the article and read what the mayor was saying and thought, “That’s me”, so I sent him an email and my resume and some thoughts I had.  The rest, as they say, is history,” Mr. Newman said.

Newman, 67, who has lived in Toms River for 40 years, said he worked as a front line manager for Allstate insurance in property loss for 37 years.  He is a certified adjuster for the National Flood Insurance Program.

“When Katrina took place, most of the flood qualified people were sent to Louisiana,” he said.  “What they failed to recognize there were flood damages in other places and nobody was going to those places.”

Newman was tasked by his company to devise a plan to branch out beyond Louisiana and help those affected in other states by the hurricane, handling over 1,600 claims between the end of 2005 and 2006.

He also warned that there’s no quick solution to many of the problems residents in Toms River now face.  “We have a long way to go as a town and there are an awful lot of people who don’t understand the programs and that are where the problem lies, people need to know the programs available and how to wade through the mass of documentation to get back on their feet,” he said.   “Many people have expectations that their policies can’t meet and it’s because they didn’t understand the policies that they run into those problems, which isn’t unusual.”

Part of the problem, according to Newman is the complexity of the situation between insurance companies, FEMA and other programs designed to help people.

It’s a problem Mayor Kelaher and the township are fully aware of.  “We have a lot of residents who are overwhelmed with paperwork and the process involved in fixing up your home from Sandy,” Mr. Kelaher said.  “The purpose of the ombudsman is to help residents work through the steps, and assist with insurance problems, FEMA applications and grant programs.”

Newman concurs.

“It’s a complicated program on a good day, on a bad day it’s much worse,” he added.   “My hope is that I can clarify for people what they have and where they are going and help them make the necessary applications to get them on their feet.”

Newman said one of the ways he hopes to help people is by helping them properly fill out the right paperwork and in the right order to ease some of the pains sometimes associated with the recovery process.    He said during the process you have to be aware of everything, including municipal building codes, the permit process and the application processes for various assistance programs.

“You have to follow proper procedures to be successful,” he concluded.

TOMS RIVER–On Saturday, approximately 40 cadets from the U.S. Naval Academy were treated to dinner at the Toms River Country Club by retired Air Force Brigadier General Robert Paschon, of Toms River.   The cadets spent their week volunteering and helping the Bucket Brigade in Ortley Beach under the direction of Cassandra Vitale.

The cadets were thanked by Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher and Robert DiBiase, who coordinated the event for the township between the Naval Academy and the Bucket Brigade.

DOVER BEACHES NORTH– Toms River Police responded to a Silver Beach Road home here at 2 pm on Tuesday after receiving an alarm regarding a 24 foot boat that was fully engulfed in fire.

Ocean Beach, Seaside Heights and Lavallette fire departments responded and quickly extinguished the fire.

The boat located in the front yard was totally destroyed and the fire damaged the vinyl siding on the front of the two story home.    A 68 year old man Normandy Beach man was taken to Brick Hospital for burns to his hand and foot.  The man stated he was working on the boat and it caught fire when he turned the engine on.

The team, consisting of  Emily Golembiski of Little Egg Harbor, Jillian Hubbard of Toms River, Gillian Schriever of West Creek, Michael Signorelli of Toms River and Megan Tumpey of  Brick, will represent New Jersey in the 2013 North American Envirothon at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana in August.

The Ocean County students competed against 33 other teams on knowledge of natural resources-related topics, including soils, forestry, aquatics, wildlife ecology and a current environmental issue. This year’s theme was “Sustainable Rangeland Management: Achieving a Balance Between Traditional Agricultural Uses with Non-Agricultural Uses on Montana Rangelands.”

“For 20 years, New Jersey high school students have had the opportunity to participate in this valuable competition and learn more about the environment, natural resources and science,” said Secretary Fisher. “We hope they take advantage of the skills they learned and consider careers in agriculture and natural resources-related fields.”

Each of the MATES team members received $1,000 scholarships from the New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts, $2,000 scholarships from Richard Stockton State College and $1,000 scholarships from Applied and Health Sciences at Kean University.

Two 5-member teams of MATES students competed in last year’s Envirothon with all but one of those students graduating. The two MATES teams placed first and second in 2012. An almost entirely new set of 10 students made up this year’s two teams.

“I am very proud of the hard work and dedication put forth by our members,” said MATES Advisor Adam Sprague.  “It was quite an accomplishment considering it was the first year competing for nine out of the 10 team members. We now turn our attention to Montana which offers an exciting variety of challenges in terms of preparation for our students.”

The second-place team in this year’s Envirothon was West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North and third place was taken by High Tech High School, North Bergen.

The Envirothon is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, State Soil Conservation Committee; New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts; the 15 Soil Conservation Districts; United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

The 15 Soil Conservation Districts in New Jersey follow county boundaries and implement the New Jersey Soil and Sediment Control Act, which governs certain aspects of new development.  These semi-autonomous bodies are locally governed and play a strong role in the protection of New Jersey’s natural resources.

“As part of our annual overlay program, we will be starting work shortly on safety improvements including stormwater drainage work, new paving and reconstruction on several roads throughout Ocean County,” said Ocean County Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. “All totaled we will be repairing more than 13 miles of roadway starting in the next few weeks.”

The Board of Freeholders is scheduled to award a contract to Earle Asphalt Company, Farmingdale, in the amount of $2 million to reconstruct portions of seven roadways.

“This work will get under way in the next few weeks and while there may be some inconvenience to motorists during the work surely the completed repairs will make for better and safer traveling around OceanCounty,” said Freeholder Deputy Director James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Road Department.

The roadways to be improved under the contract are 1.05 miles of Herbertsville Road in Brick Township from the Monmouth County line to Lanes Mills Road; 1.24 miles of Farraday Avenue in Lakewood; one mile of Long Beach Boulevard from 31^st to 59^th street in Long Beach Township; almost one mile of James Street, from Main Street to Hooper Avenue in Toms River; 6/10ths of a mile of Massachusetts Avenue, from Cox Cro Road to Route 70 in Toms River; 1.12 miles of Vermont Avenue, in Toms River, from Cox Cro Road to the Lakewood border and Buckwald Drive at Ocean County College in Toms River.

In addition, the Board is scheduled to go out to bid to provide safety improvements to four additional roads with work expected to begin in July.

Those roads include 2.16 miles of Church Road in Toms River, from Hooper Avenue to North Bay Avenue; 1.39 miles of Lanes Mills Road in Lakewood and Brick Townships, from Route 88 to limits of Garden State Parkway Interchange 91; 1.11 miles of Lighthouse Drive in Ocean Township from Route 9 east to Barnegat Bay and 2.34 miles of West Bay Avenue in Barnegat Township from Pine Street to Route 72.

“We maintain more than 620 county road miles so it is imperative we have a program in place to maintain our infrastructure,” said Kelly, who serves as liaison for the Ocean County Engineering Department. “Each year we perform improvements to a number of roadways. Well maintained roads certainly are safer for our motorists and pedestrians.”

FILE PHOTO: Downtown Toms River by Erik Weber, dated March 17th, 2012. (c) Ocean Signal Media Group

The following was submitted by Ward 4 Councilman Alfonso Manforti and is published unedited per our letters policy.

While some say the only certainties in life are death and taxes, what happens after death is a matter of intense debate. What happens after you don’t pay your property taxes –that’s something else- a lien is sold at a municipal tax sale.
Historically the traditional tax sale process in NJ was slow and antiquated with very limited participation from the public while at the same time tying up township resources before and during the sale.
That was until recent changes to the tax sale law.
In yet another effort to move the township forward the governing body at the April 23, 2013 Township Council meeting unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the township tax collector to complete an application to participate in the electronic tax sale program.
In 2012 the Division of Local Government Services under N.J.S.A. 54:5-519.1, authorized electronic tax sales for the first time. The internet has helped increase sales of everything from automobiles to homes and anything in between.
With the passage of this timely and innovative resolution the township takes another positive step in the right direction for Toms River. By conducting the sale online we will reduce administrative costs and increase the efficiency of the tax sale. At the same time we will be increasing the bidding pool to include potential buyers from all over the country.
The sales are conducted by realauction.com which answers all questions concerning the online procedures and even provides online webinars to learn how to participate in the auction. The entire process from registration to bidding is done online in your favorite chair from the comfort of your home or office.
The first electronic tax sale in NJ was held in Red Bank on October 29th 2012. If that date sounds familiar it should. That was the morning Hurricane Sandy made landfall. The town had no power, no employees, and no computers yet the sale went off without problem and every lien sold, many at a premium, netting the town $600,000.

In particular, the new School Performance Reports seek to:

• Focus attention on metrics that are indicative of college and career readiness.
• Benchmark a school’s performance against other peer schools that are educating similar students, against statewide outcomes, and against state targets to illuminate and build upon a school’s strengths and identify areas for improvement.
• Improve educational outcomes for students by providing both longitudinal and growth data so that progress can be measured as part of an individual school’s efforts to engage in continuous improvement.

TOMS RIVER REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

BEACHWOOD ELEM
CEDAR GROVE ELEM
EAST DOVER ELEM
HOOPER AVE ELEM
JOSEPH A CITTA ELEM
NORTH DOVER ELEM
PINE BEACH ELEM
SILVER BAY ELEMENTARY
SOUTH TOMS RIVER ELEM
TOMS RIVER HIGH EAST
TOMS RIVER HIGH NORTH
TOMS RIVER HIGH SOUTH
TOMS RIVER INTERMEDIATE E
TOMS RIVER INTERMEDIATE N
TOMS RIVER INTERMEDIATE S
WALNUT STREET ELEM
WASHINGTON ST ELEM
WEST DOVER ELEM

JACKSON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

CARL W GOETZ MIDDLE SCH
CHRISTA MCAULIFFE MID SCH
CRAWFORD RODRIGUEZ ELEM
ELMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HOWARD C JOHNSON ELEM
JACKSON LIBERTY HIGH
JACKSON MEMORIAL HIGH
LUCY N HOLMAN ELEM
SWITLIK ELEM
SYLVIA ROSENAUER ELEM

BRICK TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

BRICK COMM PRIM LEARN CTR
BRICK TWP HIGH
BRICK TWP MEMORIAL HIGH
DRUM POINT ROAD ELEM
EMMA HAVENS YOUNG ELEM
HERBERTSVILLE ELEM
LAKE RIVIERA MIDDLE
LANES MILL ELEM
MIDSTREAMS ELEM
OSBORNVILLE ELEM
VETERANS MEM ELEM
VETERANS MEM MIDDLE SCH

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

BAYVILLE ELEM
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP ES
CLARA B WORTH ELEM
H & M POTTER ELEM

CENTRAL REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

CENTRAL REGIONAL HIGH
CENTRAL REGIONAL MIDDLE

TOMS RIVER–Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced today the arrest of several individuals as a result of a cooperative multi-jurisdictional investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, the South Brunswick Police Department along with other state, county and local law enforcement agencies. The investigation, identified as “Operation Road Runner” began in August of 2012 and culminated on Friday April 5, 2013. Over a four day period beginning Tuesday April 2, 2013, Police executed search warrants in Ocean, Mercer, Essex and Monmouth counties resulting in the arrest of 25 area men and women on various drug, weapons and money laundering charges. Included among the arrestees was a Lavallette Police Dispatcher identified as Kathy Anne Graham age 57 of Toms River as well as an employee of the Manalapan School District identified as Shawn Hannon age 26 of Tinton Falls.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato stated, “Today is just the first the many successful multi-jurisdictional cooperative investigations that the Special Operations Group will be responsible for during my tenure as County Prosecutor. The success of this investigation is a direct result of the cooperation between the federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies that participated in this operation. I am heartened by the dedication of those individuals and agencies that participated.”

Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s New Jersey Division, Robert G. Koval, stated, “This case represents another outstanding victory achieved with the collaboration of law enforcement resources between Ocean County, the South Brunswick Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other state and local law enforcement entities.   The investigation also revealed the ever-increasing domestic use of the US Postal system parcel service to distribute illicit drugs in smaller quantities to numerous destinations, designed to lower transportation expenses, increase frequency of supply distribution, minimize risk, and evade law enforcement authorities.  The collective persistence, diligence, and dedicated law enforcement efforts exhibited by all the participants is exceptionally noteworthy and greatly appreciated by DEA”.

The seven-month long investigation involved the following agencies, in addition to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Group:

Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division

Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, Asset Forfeiture Unit

United States Postal Inspection Service

South Brunswick Police Department

Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit

Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit

Brick Township Police Department K-9 Unit

Brick Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit

Toms River Police Department Emergency Services Unit

Toms River Police Department K-9 Unit

Toms River Police Department Operations Bureau

Lakewood Township Police Emergency Services Unit

Lakewood Township Police Street Crimes Unit

Berkeley Township Police Department

Lacey Township Police Department

Lakehurst Borough Police Department

Ocean County Department of Corrections

Manchester Township Police Department

Barnegat Township Police Department Narcotics Unit

Little Egg Harbor Police Department

Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit

Stafford Township Police Department K-9 Unit

New Jersey State Police Electronic Surveillance Unit

Ocean County Regional S.W.A.T. Team

Ocean County Sheriffs Department K-9 Unit

Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office

West Windsor Police Department

Essex County Prosecutor’s Office

North Caldwell Police Department

This investigation established probable cause to obtain search warrants, which were executed at homes and businesses located in Lakewood, Manchester Township, Toms River, Brick Township, West Windsor (Mercer County), North Caldwell (Essex County), and Tinton Falls (Monmouth County). As a result of the execution of the search warrants law enforcement authorities confiscated over twenty pounds of marijuana, large quantities of MDMA (Ecstasy), prescription pills including Oxycodone, Roxicet, Zanax, Methadone and Suboxone, multiple firearms including a loaded Smith and Wesson 44 Magnum handgun, a loaded 9mm American Tactical pistol, a Weatherby 7 mm rifle, large quantities of L.S.D. and psilocybin mushrooms as well as approximately $91,000 in cash. Police also seized several bank accounts that were found to contain proceeds from this illicit drug network, one of which contained approximately $70,000 in drug proceeds. The investigation regarding the seized bank accounts is continuing and the total amount to be seized from the various banks has yet to be determined. Drug paraphernalia, including packaging and distribution materials as well as electronic scales utilized to weigh CDS were also seized in the raids.

Search Warrants were executed at the following locations during the early morning hours of Tuesday April 2, 2013:

The residence of Jeremy Zahn 10 Commodore Drive Brick NJ

The residence of Mary Zahn 1560 Cabot Avenue, Manchester NJ

J & N Auto and Performance 1561 Route 9 Toms River NJ

The residence of Brian Suzuki 10 Webster Road, Toms River NJ

The residence of Ian Elkins 1916 9^th Avenue, Manchester NJ

The residence of Nicholas Santillo 128 Delaware Trail, Lakewood NJ

The residence of Jacob Prestia 2508 Green View Way, Toms River NJ

The residence of Deven Skyers 22 Cadillac Drive, Toms River NJ

A search of Stephan Regan’s Toms River Auction located at 1561 Route 9, Toms River NJ was also conducted on Tuesday April 2, 2013.

Search Warrants were executed at the following locations during the early morning hours of Wednesday April 3, 2013:

The residence of Joseph Schmidt 604 Green View Way, Toms River NJ

The residence of Michael Battista 72 Mobile Lane, Toms River NJ

The residence of Shawn Hannon and Caitlin E. Dohrenwend 12 Richmond Court, Tinton Falls NJ

A Search Warrant was executed at the following location during the early morning hours of Friday April 5, 2013:

The residence of Joanne K. Murray 25 Wind Ridge Drive, North Caldwell NJ

A search of an alternate address for Joanne K. Murray, specifically 650 Route 23, Wayne NJ was also conducted on Friday April 5, 2013.

Also on Friday April 5, 2013 member’s of the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group along with member’s of the Toms River Police Department, Operations Bureau conducted a search of 28 4^th Bay Way, Toms River, the residence of Frank Casulli and Melissa Amos. As a result approximately 1200 prescription pills including Alprazolam (Zanax), Methadone, Anabolic Steroids, quantities of Marijuana, Hashish, two loaded handguns, a rifle along with drug paraphernalia including packaging materials and scales were seized. The current charges for Mr. Casulli and Ms. Amos are detailed below.

The following individuals were arrested as a result of this cooperative multi-jurisdictional investigation:

Jeremy Zahn age 25 of 10 Commodore Drive Brick NJ:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (Money Laundering), Conspiracy to commit Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (Money Laundering) and Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Zahn at $500,000 cash.

Mary Zahn age 51 of 1560 Cabot Avenue, Manchester NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Ms. Zahn at $50,000 no ten percent.

Miguel Serrano Jr. age 21 of 10 Commodore Drive Brick NJ:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana and Conspiracy to commit Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (Money Laundering). The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Serrano Jr. at $100,000 no ten percent.

Bryan Suzuki age 21 of 10 Webster Road Toms River NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams, Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) and Possession of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) with Intent to Distribute.  The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Brian Suzuki Jr. at $100,000 no ten percent.

Christian Suzuki age 22 of 10 Webster Road Toms River NJ: Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams and Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute. Christian Suzuki was released on a summons.

Richard M. Rodriguez age 22 of 10 Webster Road Toms River NJ: Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams and Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute. Richard Rodriguez was released on a summons.

Ian Elkins age 23 of 1916 9^th Avenue, Manchester NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Elkins at $50,000 no ten percent.

Matthew C. Humbert age 28 of 1916 9^th Avenue, Manchester NJ: Possession of Anabolic Steroids.  Matthew C. Humbert was released on a summons.

Jonathan A. Watts age 28 of 1916 9^th Avenue, Manchester NJ: Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jonathan A. Watts was released on a summons.

Nicholas Santillo age 22 of 128 Delaware Trail, Lakewood NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Santillo at $50,000 no ten percent.

Jacob Prestia age 29 of 2508 Green View Way, Toms River NJ:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Conspiracy to commit Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (Money Laundering), Possession of Anabolic Steroids, Possession of marijuana with Intent to distribute and Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Serrano Jr. at $150,000 no ten percent.

Jenny Thompson age 25 of 53 Butterfly Road, Jackson NJ: Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams and Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute. Jenny Thompson was released on a summons.

Stephen P. Regan age 46 of 24 Oak Leaf Lane, Toms River NJ: Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams and Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute. Stephan Regan was released on a summons.

Deven Skyers age 19 of 22 Cadillac Drive, Toms River NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Skyers at $75,000 no ten percent.

Joseph Schmidt age 26 of 604 Green View Way, Toms River NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Packaging Materials and Digital Scales). The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Schmidt at $50,000 no ten percent.

Michael Battista age 28 of 72 Mobile Lane, Toms River NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of

Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Possession of Psilocybin Mushrooms, Possession of MDMA (Ecstasy), Possession of MDMA (Ecstasy) with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Hashish. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Battista at $50,000 no ten percent.

Caitlin E. Dohrenwend age 26 of 12 Richmond Court, Tinton Falls NJ: Possession of CDS (30 Oxycodones and 1 Suboxone), Possession of CDS (30 Oxycodones) with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. Ms. Dohreenwend was released on a summons.

Shawn Hannon age 26 of 12 Richmond Court, Tinton Falls, NJ: Possession of CDS (30 Oxycodones and 1 Suboxone), Possession of CDS (30 Oxycodones) with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Drug paraphernalia. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Hannon at $35,000 with the ten percent option.

Michael E. Boggess age 28 of 145 New Egypt/Cookstown Road, Cookstown NJ: Possession of CDS (Oxycodone).  Mr. Boggess was released on a summons.

Tyler Sargent age 21 of 41 Sixth Avenue, Seaside Park NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Sargent at $50,000 no ten percent.

William Thomas age 27 of 256 Cherry Quay Road, Brick NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Thomas at $50,000 no ten percent.

Kellee Graham age 28 of 57 of 1404 King George Lane Toms River NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Ms. Graham at $75,000 no ten percent.

Kathy Anne Graham age 57 of 1404 King George Lane, Toms River NJ: Hindering the detention, apprehension, investigation, prosecution, conviction and/or punishment of Jeremy Zahn and others by warning Kelle Graham, Jeremy Zahn and others of impending apprehension by law enforcement in connection of crimes of the second degree or greater.

The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Ms. Kathy Anne Graham at $35,000 with the ten percent option.

Melissa Amos age 22 of 28 4^th Bay Way, Toms River NJ: Possession of CDS (Alprazolam), Possession of CDS (Alprazolam) with intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to distribute, Possession of a firearm specifically a loaded Smith and Wesson .44 Caliber Handgun and a loaded 9mm American Tactical Handgun while committing a CDS offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Packaging Materials and a Scale). The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Ms. Amos at $100,000 cash.

Frank Casulli age 25 of 28 4^th Bay Way, Toms River NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Possession of CDS (Alprazolam), Possession of CDS (Alprazolam) with intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to distribute, Possession of a firearm specifically a loaded Smith and Wesson .44 Caliber Handgun and a loaded 9mm American Tactical Handgun while committing a CDS offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Packaging Materials and a Scale). The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Casulli at $35,000 no ten percent for the Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds charge. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Casulli at $100,000 cash for the remaining charges.

As a result of this investigation 15 vehicles were identified as being utilized by the listed participants of this drug distribution network to facilitate their drug distribution activities. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operation Group along with members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division Asset Forfeiture Unit seized the following vehicles, all of which are now pending forfeiture proceedings:

Tyler Sargent – 2010 White Jeep Wrangler

Tyler Sargent – 2009 Blue Nissan 370

Jacob Prestia – 2008 Black Audi A4

Jeremy Zahn- 2001 Gray Audi A4

Jeremy Zahn- 2007 Blue Audi RS4

Jeremy Zahn- 2004 Red/Black CVR (Motorcycle)

Ian Elkins – 2010 Black Audi A4

Ian Elkins – 2008 White Audi A4

Ian Elkins – 2010 White Jetta

Nicholas Santillo – 2010 Black VW GTI

Joseph Schmidt – 2004 Gold Lincoln Aviator

Deven Skyers – 2001 Black Jeep Grand Cherokee

Michael Battista – 2010 Silver VW Jetta

Miguel Serrano Jr. – 1998 Black Ford Mustang GT

Frank Casulli – 2005 Gray Hyundai Sonata

This investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected.

On the evening of October 29, 2012 during the height of Super Storm Sandy, Ladder 2865 was dispatched to the south side of Route 37 to Riverside Drive for a report of two females in distress, trapped within their home. The crew of 2865 included Lt.Travis Seaman, Driver/Operator – Ex-Chief Andy Goresh, Ex-District Chief Sam Seaman, FF Pete Dowdell, FF Kyle Schmitt, and FF Joe Catapano.
Upon arriving at the corner of Garfield and McKinley Aves, Lt. Seaman radioed that they encountered a rising body of water which prevented unit 2865 from proceeding down the street any further.
He requested at that time unit 2806 be dispatched to our location with its water rescue equipment on it. Upon arrival of the water rescue equipment Ex-DC Sam Seaman and Lt. Seaman obtained a rescue board and they both proceed south down Garfield Ave. to Riverside Drive. They soon encountered chest high water turning onto Riverside drive attempting to locate the address where the two females were reported to be in trapped.
While Ex-DC Seaman and Lt. Seaman proceeded to affect the rescue Ex-Chief Goresh took command of the operation and requested Station 28 to dispatch their small boat to their location in case the rising waters became untenable.
Once the victims were located Lt. Seaman and Ex-DC Seaman situated them on the rescue board and proceeded to float them out of harm’s way. When they turned onto Garfield Ave, the wind & currents made it increasing difficult to maneuver the board through the water. Without the benefit of protective waterproof gear, Firefighters Schmitt, Dowdell and Catapano jumped into the water and proceeded to help retrieve the victims, at the same time Firefighter Cardinale who had stationed himself midpoint between McKinley Ave.
and Riverside Drive also rushed to their aid and brought them up to unit 2806 and safety.
When these two victims were safe, Lt. Seaman received a report from Police that more people were trapped near the lower circle, while attempting to get out of their homes.
The crew of Ladder 2865 responded back up Garfield Ave to Morris Blvd., and under downed wires and fallen trees to the location just north of the lower circle. L t. Seaman and Ex-DC Seaman continued on foot down McKinley Ave. through the rising waters because the exact location of the family in distress was unknown. Once they arrived close to the lower circle, they observed a family trapped in a pick-up truck. Ex-DC Seaman proceeded to carry a juvenile victim on his back to safety while Lt. Seaman aided another juvenile and the adult passenger of the vehicle to safety.
The actions of Lt. Seaman and Ex-District Chief Seaman in my opinion warrants they be considered for the Medal of Courage for extending themselves at great risk to themselves for their rescue of not less than five individuals from the raging waters that night. While the crew members of 2865 & 2806 assisted in getting the victims to a safety and out of continuing deteriorating conditions.