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Lifestyle
Neighbors Support Military Family After 6-Alarm Blaze Deems Burlington County Home 'Total Loss' Neighbors Support Military Family After 6-Alarm Blaze Deems Burlington County Home 'Total Loss'
Neighbors Support Military Family After 6-Alarm Blaze Deems Burlington County Home 'Total Loss' A military family stationed at a Burlington County base is getting an outpour of support after a devastating six-alarm fire deemed their home a “total loss.” Bob and Kim Dotson purchased their home in December 2020 on assignment to Joint Base MDL, according to a GoFundMe launched by neighbors. The Dotsons — as well as their two young daughters — “suffered a devastating and life-altering event” on Monday, May 15 as a fire that would soon grow into a massive six-alarm blaze ignited as Bob was asleep. “While Kim was coming home from work, Bob awoke on the couch to their family home on fire,”…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Pizza Delivery Man Trips Suspect In High-Speed PA Chase (VIDEO) Pizza Delivery Man Trips Suspect In High-Speed PA Chase (VIDEO)
Pizza Delivery Man Trips Suspect In High-Speed PA Chase (Video) A police chase in Delaware County ended sooner than expected on Sunday, April 16 thanks to a quick-thinking pizza man — and the entire encounter was caught on video.  @coccos_aston Since the first one got deleted ♬ original sound - Cocco’s Pizza - Aston Authorities in Brookhaven Borough were pursuing a suspect on a residential street when the man jumped out of his vehicle and fled in the opposite direction on foot, as seen in a TikTok posted by Cocco's Pizza of Aston.  Meanwhile, Cocco's delivery driver Tyler Morrell was approaching a house on the block with a freshly-made pie. …

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by Mac Bullock
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
Police & Fire
23 People Displaced By Fire In Cape May County 23 People Displaced By Fire In Cape May County
23 People Displaced By Fire In Cape May County Twenty-three people were left homeless by a fire in Ocean City on Friday, Jan. 27, authorities said. A GoFundMe page has been created to help those displaced by the fire on Simpson Avenue. The fundraiser was established by local nonprofit El Pueblo Unido to help support the survivors of the fire. "We are currently working with countless other organizations, churches, businesses, and kind neighbors to provide hot meals, clothing, gift cards and hygienic supplies over the next few days," the fundraiser says. "Please contact us if you would like to donate any of these items as well and we can…

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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
Obituaries
Death Of 14-Year-Old Trenton Girl From Cardiac Arrest Prompts Wave Of Community Support Death Of 14-Year-Old Trenton Girl From Cardiac Arrest Prompts Wave Of Community Support
Death Of 14-Year-Old Trenton Girl From Cardiac Arrest Prompts Wave Of Community Support The Trenton community has come together to support a local family after the unexpected death of their beloved 14-year-old daughter from cardiac arrest. Heidy N. Cortez Cruz died on Wednesday, Nov. 9 in a Trenton hospital after suffering from cardiac arrest, according to a GoFundMe created for the family. The funds will be used to “return her body and give her the last goodbye in her native country [of] Guatemala,” reads the campaign, launched by Fatima Marroquin. Nearly $4,500 had been raised before the fundraiser had stopped accepting donations. Meanwhile, a viewing will be held at …

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by Valerie Musson
News
Community Supports South Jersey Baseball Coach In ICU With Brain Aneurysm Community Supports South Jersey Baseball Coach In ICU With Brain Aneurysm
Community Supports South Jersey Baseball Coach In ICU With Brain Aneurysm There is an outpouring of community support for a South Jersey baseball coach as he recovers in the intensive care unit after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm.  Jason Downey is a coach at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon. Downey is the school's former admissions director and is married to the girls' soccer coach, Alicia. "Many of you know Jay as a loving father, husband, or coach," reads a GoFundMe page organized by Steve Normane. "He has likely touched your life with his loving spirit, humor or generosity." "He is stable, but the coming days are critical," Normane wrote. "Please con…

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by Jon Craig
Obituaries
Officer Killed In Raleigh Mass Shooting Laid To Rest In Home State Of NJ Officer Killed In Raleigh Mass Shooting Laid To Rest In Home State Of NJ
Officer Killed In Raleigh Mass Shooting Laid To Rest In Home State Of NJ A 29-year-old police officer ambushed and killed while on his way to work as a police officer in Raleigh, NC has been buried in New Jersey — his home state. Services for Gabriel Torres, a Jackson native, were held at the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, with internment at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington. Posted by Raleigh Police Department on Saturday, October 22, 2022 Torres and four other victims were killed, and two others wounded, by a 15-year-old shooter wearing camouflage clothing the evening of Thursday, Oct. 13 in Northeastern Raleigh, police said.  Torres was found by h…

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by Cecilia Levine