Fair 64°
Police & Fire
Boy Killed Riding Bike In Small Central Jersey Town Leaves Community Reeling Boy Killed Riding Bike In Small Central Jersey Town Leaves Community Reeling
Boy Killed Riding Bike In Small Central Jersey Town Leaves Community Reeling Residents of a small, New Jersey town are coming together following the hit-and-run death of a 14-year-old boy riding a bike. A GoFundMe campaign identifies the boy killed in South River on Whiteland and Russell avenues Friday, July 7 as Bryan Barbosa. "Today our town had a devastating loss," campaign founder Nicole Martins writes, noting "a child was taken from him family because of negligence and disgusting behaviors." Meanwhile, 63-year-old Michael Arena has been charged in the crime, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and SRPD Chief Mark Tinitigan announced. Posting abou…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
High School Sweethearts' Dream Home Destroyed In NJ Arsonist's Violent Rampage High School Sweethearts' Dream Home Destroyed In NJ Arsonist's Violent Rampage
High School Sweethearts' Dream Home Destroyed In NJ Arsonist's Violent Rampage A family who lost their dream home to an arsonist's violent rampage through a Central Jersey neighborhood last month is hoping to rebuild. Angel and Brenda Rivas, who are high school sweethearts and share two daughters together, spent their life savings on a lot in Manchester Township's Pine Lake Park in October 2017. They broke ground in October 2022 and were planning on moving in come Fall 2023, according to a GoFundMe page for the family. Fate cared little for their future, though, as on June 7, 2023, the family fell victim to a hate crime at the hands of Ron Carr, prosecutors in Ocean…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Three Children Orphaned In South Philadelphia Murder-Suicide, Loved Ones Say Three Children Orphaned In South Philadelphia Murder-Suicide, Loved Ones Say
Three Children Orphaned In South Philadelphia Murder-Suicide, Loved Ones Say Philadelphia is rallying on behalf of the three children left orphaned following an apparent murder-suicide late last month.  It happened on Tuesday, May 23, city police told Daily Voice. Officers were called to a home on the 2400 block of South 11th Street around 1:40 p.m. for reports of shots fired, the department said.  They arrived to find an adult woman, later identified as 41-year-old Margaux Leuzzi, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the backyard, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.  Inside, 55-year-old Joseph Messina was found in a bedroom …

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by Mac Bullock
News
Young Bicyclist Embedded In Windshield In Jersey Shore DUI Crash Faces Long Road To Recovery Young Bicyclist Embedded In Windshield In Jersey Shore DUI Crash Faces Long Road To Recovery
Young Bicyclist Embedded In Windshield In Jersey Shore DUI Crash Faces Long Road To Recovery The 10-year-old boy struck on his bike by a DUI driver Memorial Day Weekend at the Jersey Shore is seeing an overwhelming amount of community support. Jackson became embedded in the windshield as the driver, Giancarlos Fernandez, of Hasbrouck Heights, allegedly sped off and then tried to flee police by foot, authorities said. "Jack has a long road to recovery and I’d like everyone to share this story to help support this beautiful family on their healing journey," Jack's aunt, Erin Albertson of Ocean Gate, said on a GoFundMe page. Jack underwent reconstructive surgery to repair the missin…

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by Jon Craig
Obituaries
Boy Orphaned After Parents' Deaths In Central Jersey Boy Orphaned After Parents' Deaths In Central Jersey
Boy Orphaned After Parents' Deaths In Central Jersey Community support is growing for a boy left alone by his parents' deaths in Central Jersey. David's mom, Jaclyn Aochoa, died on May 18, 2023. His dad, David Aochoa, died in 2019. David will remain in the care of his Aunt Cheryl, according to his mom's obituary, which also notes she had a fierce love for her son. Jaclyn's sister, Becky Hensen of Metuchen, has organized a GoFundMe memorial fundraiser to help in the costs of raising David. "As we reflect on her memory, let us come together to extend our love and support to her beloved son, David, who now faces a journey without the guiding p…

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by Jon Craig
News
Air Force Family Recovering After South Jersey Fire Air Force Family Recovering After South Jersey Fire
Air Force Family Recovering After South Jersey Fire An Air Force couple's family has been living at a military base since a fire destroyed their home in Burlington County. Last Monday, May 15, Bob and Kim Dotson and their two young daughters were displaced by the six-alarm fire. Bob is a master sergeant and Kim is a captain in the Air Force at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. A neighbor, Jesse Estlow of Woodland Township, organized a GoFundMe to help the family, who lost everything in the fire. While Kim was coming home from work, Bob awoke on the couch to their family home on fire.  Bob safely evacuated his two daughters and t…

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by Jon Craig
News
Monmouth County Girl Shows Strength Through Major Surgeries Monmouth County Girl Shows Strength Through Major Surgeries
Monmouth County Girl Shows Strength Through Major Surgeries A valiant, Monmouth County 5-year-old girl has maintained her strength through a series of major surgeries, her family says. Charli has endured an open heart surgery, two brain surgeries and countless more over the years, her aunt Mathyer Meghan of Freehold wrote on this GoFundMe page. The youngster again has landed in the hospital, and this time, medical experts are puzzled. "This current hospitalization has her team scratching their heads," the GoFundMe page reads. "A high fever that just won’t break and a blood transfusion." Charli's mother, Monica, is starting a new job and …

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by Jon Craig
News
Ocean County Varsity Basketball Player Hasn't Let Debilitating Disease Set Him Back Ocean County Varsity Basketball Player Hasn't Let Debilitating Disease Set Him Back
Ocean County Varsity Basketball Player Hasn't Let Debilitating Disease Set Him Back The community is rallying to support a Jersey Shore teenager with a chronic disease. Shannon Macinnes is organizing a GoFundMe on behalf of her nephew Sean from Ocean County, who was admitted to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia last January, with chronic bowel disease. The 16-year-old has been battling inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) since he was nine. He's had to endure multiple procedures, monthly infusions, hospital stays and has been in severe pain constantly, said his aunt, who coordinated the GoFundMe. "We have all been in awe of his bravery, determined attitud…

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by Jon Craig
News
Paralyzed Accidental Gunshot Victim From Toms River Needs New Van Paralyzed Accidental Gunshot Victim From Toms River Needs New Van
Paralyzed Accidental Gunshot Victim From Toms River Needs New Van The Toms River community is rallying to support a local quadriplegic and disability advocate in buying an accessible van. Nearly $25,000 has been raised in this GoFundMe campaign for Thomas Spadaro, 55, who suffered an accidental gunshot to the head when he was 11 years old, the campaign says. Spadaro needs a new or used accessible van to improve his quality of life, the page says. Gus Romano, the page's organizer, wrote: "Many of you know Thomas Spadaro & the traumatic, life-altering injury he suffered on March 15th, 1979 in Toms River NJ when he was 11 years old.  "Fo…

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by Jon Craig
News
Gym Teacher, Coach Battles Cancer In Gloucester County Gym Teacher, Coach Battles Cancer In Gloucester County
Gym Teacher, Coach Battles Cancer In Gloucester County A Gloucester County coach and gym teacher is battling stage 3 colon cancer — but not without community support. LaKesha Bryant, who teaches health and physical education at the Gloucester Institute of Technology, was diagnosed on Feb. 7, according to this GoFundMe page. The 42-year-old teacher lives in Clayton. Follow health and PE teacher Jason Ruczynski organized the GoFundMe, writing: "If you know Kesha, you know she is a hard worker, independent, and strong woman. She is the most genuine and kind-hearted person you could ever meet. Her smile brightens any room. . . .Her students m…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Family Of Seven Seeks Pets Missing After Major Fire Jersey Shore Family Of Seven Seeks Pets Missing After Major Fire
Jersey Shore Family Of Seven Seeks Pets Missing After Major Fire A family of seven lost everything in a house fire on Friday, Feb. 3 in Holmdel, including their German Shepherd and cats — who are now missing. More than 600 donors have contributed $56,000 to Zdena Rubin and her family, according to this GoFundMe page. Last night just before 5 PM, Holmdel First Aid Squad was dispatched to provide EMS support at an active structure fire... Posted by Holmdel First Aid Squad on Saturday, February 4, 2023 The blaze broke out around 5 p.m. at the family's Holland Road home on Feb. 4, bringing multiple responders — in frigid temps — to the scene, where they…

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
Christmas Night Gas Can Explosion Leaves South Jersey Dad With Severe Burns And Wave Of Support Christmas Night Gas Can Explosion Leaves South Jersey Dad With Severe Burns And Wave Of Support
Christmas Night Gas Can Explosion Leaves South Jersey Dad With Severe Burns And Wave Of Support A heartbreaking Christmas night gas can explosion that left a South Jersey dad with severe burns and a long road to recovery has prompted a massive wave of support from the local community. Nicole Smith, of Hammonton, was sitting on the couch with family on Christmas evening when she heard a loud ‘boom’ after her husband, James, went outside to make a fire, according to a GoFundMe launched for the family. “I thought it was a gunshot,” Smith writes. “Then, my dad starts screaming, ‘James is on fire.’” James was airlifted to Temple Burn Center, where Smith says he faces a “very long recovery…

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by Valerie Musson