Lakewood, NJ
Business
Tuesday Morning Retailer Struck By Coronavirus Closing 7 NJ Stores Tuesday Morning Retailer Struck By Coronavirus Closing 7 NJ Stores
Tuesday Morning Retailer Struck By Coronavirus Closing 7 NJ Stores Home goods retailer Tuesday Morning is the latest national outlet to seek bankruptcy protection, company officials said. Tuesday Morning's closing is a result of the "immense strain of the COVID-19 pandemic," the Dallas-based retail chain said in a statement.  At least seven Tuesday Morning stores in New Jersey will close as a result of the bankruptcy. The discount home retailer has 11 stores in the Garden State, Tuesday Morning Corp., founded in 1974, said it expects to close about 230 of its 687 stores nationwide. New Jersey stores that will remain closed are in East Hanover, Middl…

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by Jon Craig
Hackensack, NJ
Police & Fire
‘Patient Broker’ Admits Bribing NJ Addicts To Fly To Cali Rehab Clinics That Paid Him Kickbacks ‘Patient Broker’ Admits Bribing NJ Addicts To Fly To Cali Rehab Clinics That Paid Him Kickbacks
‘Patient Broker’ Admits Bribing NJ Addicts To Fly To Cali Rehab Clinics That Paid Him Kickbacks A Jersey Shore man admitted Wednesday that he bribed drug addicts to enroll in rehab centers -- some in as far away as California -- in order to collect kickbacks. Peter J. Costas, 26, of Red Bank, told a federal judge via teleconference that he paid some addicts several thousand dollars to use specific rehab centers in New Jersey and other states. He and owners of a marketing company that he conspired with arranged for cross-country travel to the drug treatment centers in California and other states, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. In exchange, Carpenito said, the conspirators “could …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Middletown, NJ
Obituaries
Longtime Union Beach Mayor Paul Smith Dies At 66 Longtime Union Beach Mayor Paul Smith Dies At 66
Longtime Union Beach Mayor Paul Smith Dies At 66 Union Beach Mayor Paul J. Smith Jr., who was serving his ninth year as the town’s mayor, died Thursday at the age of 66. “I am broken-hearted along with all the members of the borough council to have to share with you the news of the passing of our beloved friend and longtime mayor of Union Beach,” Councilman Albin J. Wicki wrote on Facebook. The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office said on social media that Smith died from “health complications." He died of cardiac arrest at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank after falling at home, local officials said. Smith was a member of the borough cou…

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by Jon Craig
Middletown, NJ
News
'Loss Of Smell And Taste:' Red Bank Business Administrator Tests Positive For COVID-19 'Loss Of Smell And Taste:' Red Bank Business Administrator Tests Positive For COVID-19
'Loss Of Smell And Taste:' Red Bank Business Administrator Tests Positive For Covid-19 Red Bank Business Administrator Ziad “Z” Shehady has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-quarantined at home. Shehady announced the diagnosis on his Facebook page on Thursday. According to the Facebook post, Shehady was having severe respiratory symptoms on Friday. Due to being immuno-compromised, Shehady’s doctor sent him to the hospital for testing. Shehady said all other viral diseases were ruled out. He received a positive coronavirus diagnosis Thursday. “The coughing, congestion and sniffles have lasted the longest but the worst and most noticeable is the loss of smell and ta…

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by Jon Craig
Middletown, NJ
News
UPDATE: Monmouth County Coronavirus Cases Linked To Golden Age Senior Program, Officials Say UPDATE: Monmouth County Coronavirus Cases Linked To Golden Age Senior Program, Officials Say
Update: Monmouth County Coronavirus Cases Linked To Golden Age Senior Program, Officials Say Two of the newest presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in Monmouth County have a common link to a senior program, officials said. The Golden Age adult day-care program in Morganville, which has closed, is associated with two women -- one 66 years old and the other 83, state and county health officials said. Both women are from Hazlet and have ben admitted to Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel. As of Thursday, there were three other presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Monmouth County, including a newly announced case involving a 53-year-old man from Manalapan. The man …

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by Jon Craig
Hackensack, NJ
News
UPDATED: Coronavirus Concerns Cancel Classes Across NJ UPDATED: Coronavirus Concerns Cancel Classes Across NJ
Updated: Coronavirus Concerns Cancel Classes Across NJ Several schools and universities have cancelled classes in an effort to plan ahead and prevent the spread of coronavirus in New Jersey (scroll for complete list). As of Thursday, there were 29 presumed positive cases in New Jersey, including a 16- and- 17-year-old. UPDATE: All Bergen County schools will close indefinitely as of 3 p.m. Friday, Bergen County Jim Tedesco announced Thursday evening. Rutgers University recently announced classes would be held remotely after spring break. Students were strongly encouraged to remain off campus through April 3. Bergen Community College extended S…

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by Cecilia Levine
Middletown, NJ
Police & Fire
Red Bank's K-9 Hunter Excels On 'America's Top Dog' Red Bank's K-9 Hunter Excels On 'America's Top Dog'
Red Bank's K-9 Hunter Excels On 'America's Top Dog' K-9 Hunter of the Red Bank Police Department competed on "America’s Top Dog" and fared better than expected. The A&E television episode starring Red Bank Patrolman Stan Balmer and his K-9 partner Hunter aired on Wednesday night. Hunter placed first in the "boneyard" scent detection round and second overall. Hunter was the first official police dog in the borough’s history when he joined the department in 2015. The eighth episode of the season shined the spotlight on four police K-9 teams including Hunter and his handler. A preview of the show, posted by Red Bank Police Department on F…

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by Jon Craig
Middletown, NJ
Police & Fire
Shrewsbury Man Admits Sexual Assault Of 7 Pre-Teen Children Shrewsbury Man Admits Sexual Assault Of 7 Pre-Teen Children
Shrewsbury Man Admits Sexual Assault Of 7 Pre-Teen Children A Shrewsbury man admitted on Tuesday that he sexually assaulted seven juvenile victims -- all under the age of 13 -- between 2008 and 2018, authorities said, and now faces 18 years in state prison. Victor Mejia-Salinas, 46, of Shrewsbury, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual Assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said. The charges stem from three separate indictments that resulted from joint investigations by the Monmo…

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by Jon Craig
Lakewood, NJ
Business
Everything Must Go: LBI Department Store Hand's Shutters After 70 Years Everything Must Go: LBI Department Store Hand's Shutters After 70 Years
Everything Must Go: LBI Department Store Hand's Shutters After 70 Years After nearly 70 years in business, a highly popular Jersey Shore department and convenience store plans to close this spring. Hand’s, on Long Beach Island, is set to close for good in early April. However, an official closing date for the store at 1310 Long Beach Blvd., in Beach Haven has not been set. The owner of Hand’s is reportedly retiring and sold the property, according to media reports, which said the store is in “Everything Must Go” mode, with closeout markdowns on products. Hand’s was founded in 1952. In addition to beach necessities, Hand’s sells clothing, furniture, h…

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by Jon Craig
Middletown, NJ
Lifestyle
10 Most Popular Pizzerias In Monmouth County 10 Most Popular Pizzerias In Monmouth County
10 Most Popular Pizzerias In Monmouth County Craving a slice of crispy, cheesy pizza loaded with toppings in Monmouth County? Here are 10 places you can try today. The spots you see on this list were top-rated on several user-generated review sites, featured in local publications and recommended by Daily Voice readers. Some are longtime favorites while others have only recently opened their doors. All of these pizzerias, however, are dishing up pies we think you'll love. Federici's: The Federici family has been serving up thin-crust pizza and "unsurpassed" hospitality for the better part of a century, now with locations in Belmar, F…

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by Cecilia Levine
Newark, NJ
Business
Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen Opens At Rutgers Newark Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen Opens At Rutgers Newark
Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen Opens At Rutgers Newark Struggling students at Rutgers Newark won't have to live on a prayer for food much longer. Jon Bon Jovi's Soul Kitchen will be opening a third location on campus in January 2020. The rocker and his wife Dorothea Hurley opened the first pay-if-you-can restaurant in Red Bank in 2011. Customers are asked to pay a suggested $12 donation to cover their meal and someone else's. If they can't, they are asked to volunteer.  Most of the labor and nearly all of the food come from donations. The couple later opened the second JBJ Kitchen in Toms River and are planning on a Jan. 23 opening date…

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by Cecilia Levine
Jersey City, NJ
Obituaries
Liam O'Connell, 40, Of Hoboken; Fought Cancer With 'Humor And Grace' Liam O'Connell, 40, Of Hoboken; Fought Cancer With 'Humor And Grace'
Liam O'Connell, 40, Of Hoboken; Fought Cancer With 'Humor And Grace' Liam Patrick O'Connell of Hoboken died at home Friday. He was 40 years old.  He died from a rare form of nueroendocrine cancer, which he battled for eight months with "humor and grace," loved ones said.  Born in Red Bank to Timothy and the late Catherine O'Connell, he graduated from Holmdel High School and Boston College before embarking on a successful career as a financial adviser. He worked for Merrill Lynch for 15 years and finished his career with Morgan Stanley.  Along with his father, he is survived by his wife Stefanie; brothers Tim O’Connell Jr and Sean O’Conne…

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by Paul Milo