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Heart Of 14-Year-Old Athlete Struck By Car In NJ Will Help Others Live Heart Of 14-Year-Old Athlete Struck By Car In NJ Will Help Others Live
Heart Of 14-Year-Old Athlete Struck By Car In NJ Will Help Others Live The organs of a 14-year-old boy struck by a car while riding his bicycle will help others live. One day after his 8th-grade graduation, Vincent Pieczynski was hit by a car while riding his bike home on Route 38 in Southampton, according to a GoFundMe page for his family. More than $47,000 was raised as of Saturday, June 22, according to the GoFundMe campaign. Vincent, affectionately known as Vinny Pie, was being remembered as a "kind, smart, strong and hard-working young man," writes campaign organizer Devin Cuoco. "Vincent was the best son, brother and friend a guy could a…

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by Jon Craig
Obituaries
Jersey Shore HS Employee Suffers Cardiac Arrest Before Vasectomy, Dies At Hospital: Fundraiser Jersey Shore HS Employee Suffers Cardiac Arrest Before Vasectomy, Dies At Hospital: Fundraiser
Jersey Shore HS Employee Suffers Cardiac Arrest Before Vasectomy, Dies At Hospital: Fundraiser A Howell Township man died after going into cardiac arrest right before having a vasectomy, according to a fundraising campaign. A GoFundMe page said Michael Vacchiano went to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch for the procedure on Thursday, June 13. When he was brought into the operating room, he threw up, aspirated, and went into cardiac arrest. Doctors tried life-saving measures but Vacchiano went into cardiac arrest again. Specialists traveled from Newark Beth Israel Medical Center to connect him to a life support machine to relieve lung pressure and get his organs to func…

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by Chris Spiker
News
NJ High School Senior Dies Week Before Graduation: 'Promising Future Cut Short' NJ High School Senior Dies Week Before Graduation: 'Promising Future Cut Short'
NJ High School Senior Dies Week Before Graduation: 'Promising Future Cut Short' Support is on the rise for the mother of a 19-year-old Elizabeth man who recently died. Anthony Cruz passed away on June 11, according to his obituary. A GoFundMe launched for his mother, Sandra Santos, said he was on the brink of graduating from high school and embarking on a new chapter in life. "His achievements and plans for further education had made his mother incredibly proud, but his promising future was tragically cut short," reads the campaign launched by Melanie Martinez. A cause of death was not provided. I still can’t believe that your gone it feels like a bad dream you …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Families Seek Help After Devastating Condo Fire In Mercer County Families Seek Help After Devastating Condo Fire In Mercer County
Families Seek Help After Devastating Condo Fire In Mercer County A nephew is appealing for help for his relatives after a fire destroyed their condominium in East Windsor. The fire broke out at about 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 10 in the K building of the American Way Condos on Avon Drive, as previously reported by Daily Voice. "This tragedy caused my family to lose everything," Odalys Garcia of Hightstown wrote on a GoFundMe page. A total of 24 condominium units were destroyed by the fire displacing 47 residents, officials said. Another GoFundMe campaign was started by Maria Carattini of Cedar Grove for her nephew's family. A separate GoFundMe cam…

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by Jon Craig
News
Former Bergen County Dad Fights For Better Life Quality For Disabled Son Former Bergen County Dad Fights For Better Life Quality For Disabled Son
Former Bergen County Dad Fights For Better Life Quality For Disabled Son Two steps forward, one step back. Lately, that's how progress looks for 17-year-old Jason Leider, a former Elmwood Park resident who lives with Hunter Syndrome, like his 15-year-old brother, Justin. The genetic and degenerative disease comes with a life expectancy of between 15 and 20 years, according to the boys' father, Jeff Leider. The disease impacts the entire body, most notably, making it impossible to break down waste. Leider — who recently moved to Florida from Elmwood Park with his wife, Deanna, Jason, Justin, and their daughter — credits two enzyme-replacement medications for the…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Mom Of Woman Killed In Trenton Hit-Run Lost 3 Kids In 5-Year Span Mom Of Woman Killed In Trenton Hit-Run Lost 3 Kids In 5-Year Span
Mom Of Woman Killed In Trenton Hit-Run Lost 3 Kids In 5-Year Span Support is on the rise for a Trenton mother who lost three of her four children in a five-year span. Toshawn West first lost her first-born, Nuna, then her second-born, Nyshirah, and now, her third, Shydasia Merrick. Merrick, 26, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver at approximately 4:30 a.m. Saturday, June 1, as previously reported by Daily Voice. More than $2,900 had been raised as of Monday, June 10 on a GoFundMe that West launched for herself. "I have suffered over the years losing two of my other children as well. Mentally, I’m trying to hold myself together and it…

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by Jon Craig & Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
6-Year-Old NJ Girl Dies When Piece Of Badminton Racquet Pierces Skull On Lake Vacation 6-Year-Old NJ Girl Dies When Piece Of Badminton Racquet Pierces Skull On Lake Vacation
6-Year-Old NJ Girl Dies When Piece Of Badminton Racquet Pierces Skull On Lake Vacation What was supposed to be a fun game of badminton on a family vacation became a tragic nightmare for one Sussex County family earlier this month. The Morgan family was enjoying lunch during a trip to a lakeside cottage on Maine around noon Saturday, June 1 when they heard screaming. The aluminum shaft of a badminton racquet her 10-year-old brother was playing with became dislodged from the wooden handle, causing the shaft to strike 6-year-old Lucy Morgan, who had been sitting on the sidelines, in the head, piercing through her skull, Maine State Police said. The Stockholm girl was rushe…

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by Sam Barron
Obituaries
IT Consultant, NJ Dad Suffers Stroke, Dies While Hiking, Campaign Says IT Consultant, NJ Dad Suffers Stroke, Dies While Hiking, Campaign Says
IT Consultant, NJ Dad Suffers Stroke, Dies While Hiking, Campaign Says Support is on the rise for the family of a 50-year-old New Jersey man who suffered a stroke and died on Friday, May 31. Umashankar Bandi was seemingly the epitome of health, having participated in Olympic qualifiers in rowing, run countless marathons, and conquered numerous sections along the Appalachian Trail, according to a GoFundMe campaign. "It was during one of these hikes that he experienced the heart attack," reads the campaign, launched by a group of friends of the Monmouth Junction dad, "a testament to his adventurous spirit and love for the great outdoors." Left to mourn his…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Motorcyclist, 23, Killed In NJ Crash Was Movie Set Builder Motorcyclist, 23, Killed In NJ Crash Was Movie Set Builder
Motorcyclist, 23, Killed In NJ Crash Was Movie Set Builder Support is on the rise for the family of a 23-year-old man killed in a New Jersey motorcycle crash last month. Kacy Cook, of Whitehouse Station, died Sunday, May 26, after his motorcycle veered off Croton Road in Quakertown (Hunterdon County). A GoFundMe raised for Kacy's family had raised more than $9,900 as of Sunday, June 2. The campaign, launched by Sophia Vaughn, said Kacy worked as a grip and set builder in the movie industry and was "cherished" by his colleagues. "His unwavering commitment to his craft was evident as he strived to secure a place in his local Union," the page s…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Central Jersey Toddler Battling Brain Cancer Receives New Pool In Time For Summer Central Jersey Toddler Battling Brain Cancer Receives New Pool In Time For Summer
Central Jersey Toddler Battling Brain Cancer Receives New Pool In Time For Summer A young boy in Monmouth County battling brain cancer will have plenty of summer fun thanks to some generous donations. An above-ground saltwater pool was donated to three-year-old Mick Augustitus, the Ashley Lauren Foundation said in a Facebook post. The Hazlet toddler was diagnosed with four brain tumors and several tumors on his spine. At Home Recreation donated the pool, while Kiki Pools in South Amboy donated a heater and installed the pool. "Not only did Mick come home from stem-cell transplant last Friday [May 17], but his pool was done the same day he came home," the Ashle…

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by Chris Spiker
Lifestyle
Popular 'Ice Cream Lady' Sees Support Of Maywood Popular 'Ice Cream Lady' Sees Support Of Maywood
Popular 'Ice Cream Lady' Sees Support Of Maywood Monica Pidhoreki, a.k.a. The Ice Cream Lady is one of the most popular people in Maywood Pidhoreki, whose ice cream truck is a fixture in town is a regular at Maywood Rochelle Park Girls Softball, sponsoring a team and banner in the league and is a regular at birthday parties and events in the community. Pidhoreki recently suffered a residential fire which left her displaced and her new ice cream truck destroyed. GoFundMe A fundraiser has been set up to assist her and get her back on her feet. As of Thursday, May 23, more than $2,800 has been raised. "We would like to now support her, l…

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by Sam Barron
News
Hamilton 'Community Pillar' Game Shop Needs Help To Stay Afloat, Campaign Says Hamilton 'Community Pillar' Game Shop Needs Help To Stay Afloat, Campaign Says
Hamilton 'Community Pillar' Game Shop Needs Help To Stay Afloat, Campaign Says A game store in Hamilton is raising money to stay in business after 15 years. Its owner borrowed $250,000 after suffering a stroke and Family Fun Hobbies needs to raise money to pay off those loans, according to a GoFundMe campaign. "We aren't just a store though. We like to think of ourselves as a pillar of our community," Miranda Suarez, the store's general manager, wrote on the GoFundMe page. The store hosts daily events for different games: Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, Warhammer 40,000 battles, Magic: The Gathering tournaments, Disney's Lorcana League, family board game nights and…

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by Jon Craig