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Obituaries
South Jersey High School Graduate, Pianist, Devoted Dad Dies Suddenly, 22 South Jersey High School Graduate, Pianist, Devoted Dad Dies Suddenly, 22
South Jersey High School Graduate, Pianist, Devoted Dad Dies Suddenly, 22 South Jersey high school graduate, talented pianist, and devoted father Steven Dennis Scalzi died suddenly in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, Aug. 13. He was 22. Born at Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Washington Township, Steven attended Chestnut Assembly of God and more recently Victory Assembly of God in Pittsgrove, his obituary says. Steven was known for his endlessly curious mind, his caring heart, and his talent for music, especially playing the piano. Above all, Steven is remembered for embracing his role as a loving and devoted father to his daughter, Luna Alice Rae Scalzi. In addition…

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
Support Surges For Family Of South Jersey Middle Schooler Killed Riding Bicycle Support Surges For Family Of South Jersey Middle Schooler Killed Riding Bicycle
Support Surges For Family Of South Jersey Middle Schooler Killed Riding Bicycle Support is skyrocketing for the family of a South Jersey middle schooler who was struck and killed while riding a bicycle last week. Anthony (A.J.) Dewayne Collins Jr., 13, was struck by a car while riding a bicycle at the intersection of West Ward and Mercer streets in Hightstown around 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, DailyVoice.com reported. He slipped into cardiac arrest while waiting for EMS crews to arrived and was pronounced dead at the hospital around 10:20 p.m. Known for his bright smile and endless positivity, the Melvin H. Kreps Middle Schooler was born in New Brunswick and had r…

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by Valerie Musson
Obituaries
Funds For Headstone Needed For Hit-Run Victim, South Jersey Mom Says Funds For Headstone Needed For Hit-Run Victim, South Jersey Mom Says
Funds For Headstone Needed For Hit-Run Victim, South Jersey Mom Says Support is on the rise for a South Jersey mom whose 31-year-old daughter was tragically struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while bicycling in Florida, City, FL, last month. Donna Carducci of Burlington, is making a GoFundMe plea for funds for a headstone for her daughter, Maryann, who she describes as a "kind soul” who “loved her family and life.” “How could somebody just run someone's child over and leave them for dead?" Donna Carlucci wrote. Carlucci was her daughter’s only surviving parent, leaving her to take care of memorial expenses herself. “Any help would be grea…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Camden House Fire Victims Looking For Help Camden House Fire Victims Looking For Help
Camden House Fire Victims Looking For Help The victims of a South Jersey house fire are left with little more than the clothes on their backs and are looking for help. Derek Rodriguez and his mother, Evelyn, were not hurt in the fire and got out safely, according to this GoFundMe page. But a lot of clothes, shoes, electronics, beds, and other linens were destroyed, the fundraiser says.  "We have little more than the clothes on our back at the moment and we're looking for a little help to get a little back of which was destroyed," Derek Rodriguez wrote. Nearly $300 had been raised of a $2,000 goal as of Thursday, Sept. 8. Cli…

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
Friends Rally For Hunter's Emergency Bladder Surgery Friends Rally For Hunter's Emergency Bladder Surgery
Friends Rally For Hunter's Emergency Bladder Surgery A Toms River woman is raising money to pay for her 11-year-old dog's emergency surgery. Krystine Puccerella had raised more than $600 of her $7,000 GoFundMe goal for Hunter, who she has owned since he was weeks old.   "He has been bearing down to urinate without much urine coming out. After two vet visits, it was determined he has bladder and urethra stones," she said.  "He is almost completely blocked and requires surgery to help him expel his urine properly. The vets at Garden State Veterinary Hospital say his prognosis is good, and I am not ready to say goodbye to my boy.…

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
Mom Slain In South Jersey Was Advocate For Women, Children Mom Slain In South Jersey Was Advocate For Women, Children
Mom Slain In South Jersey Was Advocate For Women, Children Friends of a woman slain at her South Jersey home this week are coming together to raise money for her daughters. Sheila Maguire's body was found Monday, Aug. 29 at her home in Florence, and the cause of death was later ruled a homicide. Christine Conklin organized a GoFundMe page to help the family, which had raised more than $7,100 as of Wednesday, Aug. 31. "Sheila was a light! She was fun, positive, uplifting and supportive," Conklin writes.  "She was an advocate for women, children and families with an unmatched passion. Unfortunately, she was senselessly taken from all of us, bu…

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
‘Tragedy:’ Family Raising Money For Burial After Beloved Trenton Native Dies In Sleep, 28 ‘Tragedy:’ Family Raising Money For Burial After Beloved Trenton Native Dies In Sleep, 28
‘Tragedy:’ Family Raising Money For Burial After Beloved Trenton Native Dies In Sleep, 28 A heartbroken family has launched a fundraiser with hopes of collecting money to bury a beloved 28-year-old Trenton native who unexpectedly died in his sleep. Daqueece Washington died on Thursday, August 11, his obituary says. A native of Trenton, Daqueece attended Trenton Central High School, according to his social media page. More recently, Daqueece moved to Dallas, Texas, to “start a new life,” according to a GoFundMe launched by Thomasina Ortiz, who described him as a cousin. “He bettered himself, became a manager at his local Popeyes, but tragedy struck,” Ortiz writes. “My youn…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Community Support Grows For Family Who Lost Home In Jersey Shore Fire Community Support Grows For Family Who Lost Home In Jersey Shore Fire
Community Support Grows For Family Who Lost Home In Jersey Shore Fire A family in Ocean County is trying to rebuild their lives after a fire destroyed their home on Monday, Aug. 8. Ella Ponte and her family lost everything in the late-night Bayville blaze, according to a GoFundMe launched to help them start over. "The house my parents worked so hard to get us was in flames and we were losing everything," Ponte recalls in the fundraiser. "It is not like us to ask for help, but in a time like this, there is not much else we can do. These next few days, weeks, and months are going to be hard, but we are supported by so many amazing people that love us and will …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Ten Killed In Pennsylvania Fire Identified Ten Killed In Pennsylvania Fire Identified
Ten Killed In Pennsylvania Fire Identified Three children and seven adults died in a fire that destroyed a two-story home in Luzerne County, PA on Friday, Aug. 5, authorities said. The blaze broke out on the 700 block of First Street in Nescopeck around 2:40 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police said. Ten people died fire while three adults were able to escape, police said.  Rest In Peace angels! To all the families friends fire departments ems personal PSP and everyone else involved today who... Posted by Julie Superko Rosato on Friday, August 5, 2022 The victims were identified by police as Dale Baker, 19, Star Baker, 22, Brian Dau…

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by Nicole Acosta
News
NJ Pair Killed In NY Crash Were Set To Play In Sikh Basketball Tournament: Officials NJ Pair Killed In NY Crash Were Set To Play In Sikh Basketball Tournament: Officials
NJ Pair Killed In NY Crash Were Set To Play In Sikh Basketball Tournament: Officials Two New Jerseyans both with bright futures were among three victims killed last month in a fiery Long Island crash. Puneet Singh, of Iselin, Amarjit Singh, of Hazlet and Harpaul Multani, of Queens — all 23 — were set to play in the Sikh Hoops NY tournament the weekend they were killed, according to Congressional candidate Reema Rasool. Our NY South Asian Community is mourning the loss of Harpaul Singh Multani, Puneet Singh Nijjar & Amarjit Singh Gill.... Posted by Reema Rasool for Congress on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 My Son Puneet Singh #23 Jassi Subzi Mandi Rest In Peace 💔🙏 P…

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by Kathy Reakes & Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Toddler Drowned In North Jersey Pool Was Brother's Fearless Bestie Toddler Drowned In North Jersey Pool Was Brother's Fearless Bestie
Toddler Drowned In North Jersey Pool Was Brother's Fearless Bestie Support is surging for the brother and parents of a North Jersey boy who drowned in a backyard pool over the weekend. Christian Carter Ruiz was rushed to the hospital on Sunday, July 31, after his lifeless body was pulled from a pool on the 400 block of McKinley Street in Linden, according to police and those who know the family. Christian was pronounced dead at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, leaving his family in shock and disbelief. "Christian was a sweet little boy, funny, fearless, and could brighten even your darkest days," his godmother Marcia Pimentel wrote on a GoFundMe pag…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Kind, Courageous East Rutherford Deputy Police Chief Dies Kind, Courageous East Rutherford Deputy Police Chief Dies
Kind, Courageous East Rutherford Deputy Police Chief Dies It all happened so quickly. East Rutherford Deputy Police Chief Phil Taormina, a man who was as kind as he was courageous, died Wednesday, just months after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of liver cancer. He was only 46. Fundraising efforts in the community and among law enforcement were accelerating at a furious pace when the news came. East Rutherford PBA Local #275 called Phil a “great man, husband, father, deputy chief, and community superstar.” "He was compassionate, kind, full of laughter," the department's Tammy Verdugo-Gil added. "Phil was like a super hero, soft spoke…

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by Jerry DeMarco