MANCHESTER, NJ (OCEAN)–Around 10:00 p.m. there was a report of a fire department chief’s vehicle overturned in the 2800 Block of Ridgeway Road, County Road 571 near the Ridgeway Fire Company and Manchester Middle School. There were reports of live electrical lines down with a person trapped in the vehicle. Jersey Central Power & Light JCP&L was called to cut the power so the person could be removed from the vehicle. The medevac helicopter Life Flight was called to land at the Manchester Middle School near the accident scene. At 10:57 p.m. the medical helicopter crew reported that they have not had contact with the patient and that extrication is in progress.
Update at 11:20 p.m. the helicopter crew reports they will be transporting the patient to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.
Update: 11:29 the helicopter landed at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.
8:30 a.m. update sources say that the he is expected to be released from the hospital this morning.
This is a breaking news report, and the scene is still active. Please check back the story will be updated as information becomes available. Official details will not be available until sometime tomorrow.
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–West Windsor Police and West Windsor Emergency Services were dispatched to Old Trenton Road Near Dorchester Drive for a crash. Upon arrival it was determined that there were at least four injuries and extra ambulances were called from East Windsor and Cranbury and a paramedic unit from Captial Health. The injured were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The West Windsor Police Department is investigating the crash. No additional details are available at this time.
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–Around 2:00 p.m. a tractor trailer crashed into the rear of a tow truck in the center lane of Route 1 near Carnegie Center. West Windor Police and West Windsor Fire & Emergency Services responded to the scene.
When West Windsor Fire & Emergency Services arrived, it appeared that a Tractor Trailer rear-ended a flatbed tow truck in the middle lane. During the collision, the Tractor Trailer Jack-knifed, and together the vehicles slid toward the shoulder of the roadway.
During the collision, the motor of the tractor-trailer sheered off its mounts. Due to the motor being damaged, a significant amount of motor oil discharged into the highway.
The Incident Commander requested a sand truck from the New Jersey Department of Transportation to the scene to apply sand to the roadway. This response was ideal as there was no immediate risk of rain and the oil spanned a considerable distance.
Recovery operators with Eddie’s towing were able to disentangle the two vehicles. The tractor-trailer was towed due to significant damage to the motor.
Once removed, members assessed the nearby storm drains, water runoffs, debris removal, and documentation.
West Windsor Police closed traffic to one lane of the highway until about 3:30 p.m. West Windsor Police Department is investigating.
WEST WINDSOR PD: TRAFFIC ADVISORY – avoid Route 1 North @ Carnegie Center Blvd due to motor vehicle accident. Traffic flow down to one Northbound lane.
WEST WINDSOR PD: TRAFFIC ADVISORY – All Route 1 Northbound lanes @ Carnegie Center Blvd have been re-opened. Traffic flow is normal. – Dispatcher 766
EAST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–Around 9:00 a.m. East Windsor and Monroe Township Fire Companies were dispatched to Twin Rivers and Lake Drives for a box truck into a car with reported entrapment. Captial Health EMS and Paramedics responded to the scene. One person was transported to the hospital and the injuries did not seem life-threating. East Windsor Police Department is investigating the crash. No additional details are available.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–A Mercer County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for his role in a string of armed robberies of businesses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in May and June of 2019, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Omar Feliciano-Estremera, 45, of Trenton, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to a five-count information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three substantive counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm which was discharged during a crime of violence. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Feliciano and his conspirator, who is now deceased, committed a string of armed robberies in May and June of 2019 of businesses located in Mercer County, New Jersey, Union County, New Jersey, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The conspirator entered the businesses, brandished a handgun, and demanded money from the store clerks working the register. After stealing the money, the conspirator fled the scene with the assistance of Feliciano, who acted as the getaway driver. While fleeing the scene of one of the robberies, in Union County, New Jersey, the conspirator fired a handgun at passing witnesses, shortly before being picked up by Feliciano. Feliciano admitted to conspiring to commit eight robberies and aiding and abetting three robberies, including the Union County robbery at which a firearm was discharged.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Feliciano to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked officers of the Hamilton Township, Trenton, Rahway, Morrisville, Bristol Township, and Lawrence Township Police Departments for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander E. Ramey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Defense counsel: Santos A. Perez Esq., Rochelle Park, New Jersey
Mayor ready to take action if Council misses multimillion-dollar deadline
November 22, 2022
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mayor Reed Gusciora said today that taxpayers are on the hook for millions of dollars if the outgoing City Council fails to pass a budget at their meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, November 23, at 5:30 p.m.
“They’ve created a fiscal cliff and they’re staring out over the ledge,” Mayor Gusciora said. “Hopefully, Council members have by now received the message from Trentonians that this sort of cavalier approach to the budget process is entirely counterproductive.”
City Council members were notified in three joint letters from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in July, August, and October this year regarding the severe consequences of operating without a budget.
Without a budget in place by Friday, November 25, 2022, the City would default on several agreements with the I-Bank and consequentially would:
Terminate access to current short-term loan accounts;
Forgo the opportunity to convert those loans into long-term loans;
Forfeit all principal forgiveness on those loans;
Immediately owe $35 million drawn to-date from those loans;
Invalidate submitted loan applications totaling $131 million; and
Force the City to seek higher interest rate loans elsewhere to continue ongoing projects.
City Council President Kathy McBride was reminded of those letters this week by the director of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Division of Local Government Services, who warned again about exceeding the November 25 extended budget deadline. (Link to letter)
“Therefore, in order for Trenton to avoid defaulting on its existing obligations and maintain its ability to realize the financial benefits associated with the Water Bank, the City must adopt its budget by November 25, 2022,” Director Jacquelyn A. Suárez wrote. “Failure to do so will negatively impact the City’s residents and ratepayers and put the City in an untenable financial position by losing the significant principal forgiveness funds and special interest rates made available through the I-Bank and NJDEP’s Program.”
Gusciora said that he is prepared to sign an executive order to pass a City budget in the event the Council fails to do so, but he also intends to call a special meeting this Friday to give Council a final opportunity to fulfill their official duty and pass a budget for the year ending in December.
“I don’t think they want a legacy of driving the taxpayers off a cliff,” Gusciora said. “I certainly cannot think of a worse ending to this Council’s tenure. This would scar taxpayers for years.”
APPROPRIATIONS PASSED: 22-095 Transfers made by Finance of the TY 2021 Appropriations for $2,073,000. (Pass 5-2; Vaughn and Rodriguez vote no)
APPROPRIATIONS PASSED: 22-096 Emergency Appropriations to the CY 2022 Temporary Budget for $64,655,101.28. (Pass 5-1; Vaughn votes no)
APRIL
PROPOSED BUDGET: Council passes resolution to receive Mayor Gusciora’s proposed budget with no municipal tax increase. ⧉
BUDGET HEARINGS CANCELLED: Council President Kathy McBride refused to hold budget meetings until the City hires a “budget officer” to “explain” the proposed budget.
APPROPRIATIONS PASSED: 22-102 Emergency Appropriations to the CY 2022 Temporary Parking Utility Budget for $200,000. (Pass 7-0)
DEPARTMENT REVIEW CANCELLED: City Council leadership cancels departmental budget hearings for Law, Administration, and Public Works.
DEPARTMENT REVIEW CANCELLED: City Council leadership cancels departmental budget hearings for Finance, Municipal Court, Housing & Economic Development, and Inspections.
BUDGET DEADLINE: State law requires City Council adopt a fiscal year municipal budget by the end of April.
MAY
REQUEST FOR HEARINGS: Gusciora writes to McBride refuting her requirement for a budget officer and advising that specific questions about the budget should be communicated and the Administration will provide detailed responses. ⧉
JUNE
APPROPRIATIONS REJECTED: 22-229 Emergency Appropriations to the CY 2022 Temporary Budget in Current Fund including Debt Service for $ $28,184,505.54. (Fail 4-3; McBride, Rodriguez, Vaughn, Wilkins vote no)
APPROPRIATIONS REJECTED: 22-245 Emergency Appropriations to the CY 2022 Temporary Utility Budgets CY 2022 in Current Fund for $19,011462.64. (Fail 4-3; McBride, Rodriguez, Vaughn, Wilkins vote no)
APPROPRIATIONS REJECTED: 22-246 Emergency resolution authorizing emergency appropriations to the CY 2022 Temporary Budgets of the City of Trenton Current Fund including Debt Service for $46,970,773.32. (Fail 4-3; McBride, Rodriguez, Vaughn, Wilkins vote no) ⧉
EXECUTIVE ORDER: Mayor Gusciora issues Executive Order 22-04 permitting payment of City debts and continuation of uninterrupted services to residents and businesses. ⧉
JULY
DEPARTMENT REVIEW: Council holds budget hearings for Municipal Court and Finance.
DEPARTMENT REVIEW: Council holds budget hearings for Housing & Economic Development and Inspections.
DEPARTMENT REVIEW: Council holds budget hearings for Mayor’s Office and Health & Human Services.
DEPARTMENT REVIEW: Council holds budget hearings for Water.
DEPARTMENT REVIEW: Council holds budget hearings for Clerk’s Office and Recreation.
DEPARTMENT REVIEW: Council holds budget hearings for Police and Fire.
TAX DEADLINE EXTENSION: Municipal tax deadline extended for third quarter bills. ⧉
AUGUST
CREDIT DOWNGRADE: Moody’s downgrades City of Trenton’s bond grading following City Council refusal to pay debt service. ⧉
SEPTEMBER
STATE INTERVENES: To allow the City to issue fourth quarter tax bills, the NJ Department of Community Affairs sends the City a letter confirming use of the tax rate from the April proposed budget to generate tax bills.
OCTOBER
BUDGET HEARING: City Council leadership scheduled, cancelled, rescheduled, and again cancelled hearings to adopt, or adopt with amendment(s), the 2022 municipal budget.
LONG BRANCH, NJ (MONMOUTH)–Nearly 100 motorcycle riders from the Blue Knights NJ XV and Jersey Shore HOGs braved the cold and wind on November 20th to travel to Monmouth Medical Center (MMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, to deliver hundreds of toys to brighten the holiday season for Unterberg Children’s Hospital patients.
The Sunday morning ride began at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. When the motorcyclists arrived at the hospital, they gathered in the parking lot and unloaded a trailer full of toys that had been collected over the last months at locations that include Simply Southern restaurant in Belmar, Sissy’s at the Harbor restaurant in Atlantic Highlands, Shoreline Harley-Davidson, West Long Branch, and Creative Performance motorcycle repair shop in Wall. Additionally, the Freehold Regional High School Football and Cheer Club worked with the two groups on a toy drive, and members of the club were on hand for the event.
“It’s always tough to be sick in the hospital when you’re a child,” said Jonathan Teitelbaum, Chair of Pediatrics at The Unterberg Children’s Hospital. “This type of event means the world to them – they get extra toys, and they know that the community really cares about them and wants them to get better.”
Each rider’s $10 donation benefits The Comprehensive Cystic Fibrosis Center at The Unterberg Children’s Hospital, the oldest and largest of the centers in New Jersey, offering patient care, teaching and research. Members of area police and fire departments, as well as the Freehold Regional High School Football and Cheer Club, also contributed to the cash donation. The Cystic Fibrosis Center — which includes both pediatric and adult programs — is accredited by the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is designated by the State of New Jersey as a referral center for Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening and has been designated as a Therapeutic Development Center by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Therapeutic Development Network.
From left, Robert Zanni, M.D., Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology, and Jonathan Teitelbaum, Chair of Pediatrics, help unload toys with the assistance of the Freehold Regional High School Football and Cheer Club.
Dr. Zanni and Dr. Teitelbaum gather with riders from the Blue Knights NJ XV and Jersey Shore HOGs and local police departments.
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for threatening to assault and murder federal law enforcement officers, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Frank Monte, 51, of New Jersey, was previously convicted following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez of three counts of threatening a federal law enforcement officer, and of two counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. Judge Vazquez imposed the sentence on Nov. 21, 2022, in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and the evidence at trial:
On July 21, 2019, Monte repeatedly called the emergency line of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Police at the VA Lyons hospital campus. During one of those calls, Monte threatened to “shoot up” a VA Police officer. On Oct. 15, 2019, Monte called the office of a U.S. Congressman and spoke with a staff member. During that call, Monte threatened that if he ever saw a particular special agent of the U.S. Secret Service in New Jersey, Monte would assault him. On Oct. 18, 2019, Monte called a special agent of the U.S. Capitol Police. During that call, Monte once again threatened to assault the same special agent of the U.S. Secret Service.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Vazquez sentenced Monte to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jose Riera, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police, VA New Jersey Health Care System, under the direction of Acting Chief Minelli Torres-Sukola; members of the U.S. Capitol Police, Threat Assessment Section, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chad Beckett; members of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.; and members of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Torntore and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Trombly of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Saverio A. Viggiano Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Today, Mayor Reed Gusciora joined the Trenton Police Department (TPD) for their annual Thanksgiving food drive at 225 N. Clinton Ave.
Every year, for the last twelve years, TPD has organized a Thanksgiving food drive. Each year, the number of meals donated to feed food-insecure Trenton families has increased. Twelve years ago, TPD donated 50 meals to families and this holiday season TPD is donating 230 meals to food-insecure Trenton families.
Det. Tamika Veal, Det. Tomika Sommer, Det. Angel Turner, and Det. Glendy Peña, as members of the Trenton Police Community Affairs Unit, planned the food drive, collected donations from other officers, and managed the food drive operations.
TPD Director Steve Wilson said, “I’m proud of our police force for making this year’s food drive such as a success. We’re thankful to the many local businesses and other organizations for supporting our shared vision.”
Cash and in-kind gifts for the food drive come from businesses, law enforcement organizations, and non-profits/higher education institutions. The TPD Thanksgiving food drive is supported by the following business entities, all located in the Capital City:
Campare Foods Supermarket (847 Roebling Ave)
Fernandez Supermarket (634 Whittaker Ave)
The Hibbert Group (400 Pennington Ave)
Central Jersey Paint Company (121 S. Olden Ave)
The following law enforcement organizations made significant contributions: Superior Officer Association (Lt. Jason Woodhead), Police Benevolent Association (Ofc. Mike Schiaretti), Director Wilson, and Trenton Police Department officers.
Support also came from the non-profit, ONEProjectNJ, students at The College of New Jersey who filled grocery bags, and the City of Trenton Department of Recreation, Natural Resources & Culture.
The objective of the TPD Thanksgiving food drive is to identify Trentonians facing food disparities and to provide them with a full meal. Through collaboration with the Trenton Board of Education, city senior centers, and city day cares, families in need are identified and fed.
Mayor Gusciora said, “TPD’s Thanksgiving food drive is part-and-parcel of the Department’s strategy to improve officer-community relations. This is an example of TPD actively searching for ways to support their families that they are sworn to protect.”
ALLENTOWN, NJ (MONMOUTH)–On Thursday, November 17th, 2022, the Allentown FFA participated in Fall Career Development Events, hosted by the New Jersey FFA Association at Rutgers University, School of Environmental & Biological Sciences (SEBS). The Allentown FFA earned top spots in Land Judging, Fruit & Vegetable Identification, Turf Management, and Forestry.
Allentown FFA Members won 1st in the State for the Land Judging & Homesite Evaluation Event. During this event, members evaluate soil texture, determine slope, erosion, and other factors that will determine land use. Team members included (and their rank):
Sean Cary- First Place
Derek Voorhees- Second Place
Gavin Byrne- Fifth Place
Brayden Jany- Ninth Place
Land Judging has qualified to represent New Jersey at the National Land & Range Judging Contest in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma this May.
Fruit & Vegetable Identification also placed 1st in the State. In this contest, members must identify 50 different types of fruits and vegetables, judge fruits and vegetables based on appearance and other quality standards, and complete a written exam on the produce industry. Team Members included (and their rank):
Sophia Jones- First Place
Maddin Emmons- Eighth Place
Adam Ugi
Paige Conroy
Forestry placed 2nd in the State. Members in this contest measured and identified trees, completed a forestry business plan, evaluated common tree disorders, and completed a written exam on the forestry industry. Team Members included (and their rank):
Matthew McCormick- Second Place
Anna Holman- Eighth Place
Cody Ponzio
Rafferty Burden
Turf Management earned 3rd in the State. In this contest, students identified common turf and weed species, identified common turfgrass equipment, evaluated a turf site, and completed a written exam on turfgrass. Team members included (and their rank):
Kathryn Giovanelli- Fifth Place
Allison Josielewski-Tenth Place
Lilly Haines
Kaci Byrne
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 735,000 student members as part of 8,817 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To learn more about the Allentown FFA, please visit FFA.ufrsd.net.
BORDENTOWN, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Demolition has started on the old grain silos along Route 130 South in Bordentown Township. The silos were used years ago by Agway where grain was processed and stored then shipped out on the historic Camden Amboy Railroad.
According to documents available from the Township website the area will be part of an Affordable Housing District of the Team Campus. The project is part of the Agway (Growmark)/Yates Redevelopment Plan.
The plan for Team Campus contains 351 apartments, 40,000 square feet of apartment amenities, 170,000 square feet of office and retail space and a 140,000 square foot health club in a mixed-use planned development.
According to the Team Campus Website project is Wellness Community Living and states “If home is where the heart is, it stands to reason that it should be healthy and happy. Welcome Home! Team Campus offers luxurious living through thoughtfully appointed apartments centered in a carefully constructed community comprised of everything needed to Live Work Play and Thrive.”
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