The woman said the school was letting uncertified aides supervise her sister's special needs children

A former school employee in Ocean County who alleges she was fired after complaining that her sister's special needs children were being improperly supervised settled her lawsuit with the district for $25,000.

Joette Montee, a 38-year-old former playground and cafeteria aide said principal Troy Henderson repeatedly told her not to share any information with her sister or other parents about what goes on at Frog Pond Elementary School in Little Egg Harbor.

News of the Nov. 27 settlement was first reported by NJ Civil Settlements, which provides partial list of settlements paid by New Jersey government agencies and their insurers to those who have sued them.

Montee's sister also voiced concerns to Henderson that her three kids were supervised by non-certified aides. On another occasion, she charged that he asthmatic son was forced to participate in gym class even though he had a note from a doctor excusing him.

Montee said Henderson fired her days later after learning she made a disparaging comment about him to another staff member during a private conversation off school grounds, the suit says. 

An incident report written by school officials says Montee was kicked off school grounds after loudly using profane language to describe the principal while in the cafeteria with children present.

Henderson, 44, of Stafford, remains the principal at the school.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Rabbi Mendel Epstein was convicted of arranging the kidnappings of Orthodox Jewish men who refused to give their wives religious divorces.

TRENTON -- A prominent Lakewood rabbi convicted of helping to arrange the kidnapping of Orthodox Jewish men who refused to grant their wives religious divorces was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday.

The sentence for Rabbi Mendel Epstein, 70, is less than what the federal government had requested for a man prosecutors said was the head of a well-organized operation that kidnapped and beat men. But it also was more than what his defense attorney argued was deserving of a man who devoted his life to good deeds and charitable acts.

The sentence was one, though, that U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson said was necessary to deter others in the Orthodox Jewish community from continuing what federal prosecutors called "paid vigilantism."

Lakewood rabbi and 2 others convicted in kidnapping conspiracy; son acquitted

"No one is permitted to commit acts of violence against another," Wolfson said during the three-hour sentencing proceeding in Trenton. "It is not the law of our society and what we live under."

During the hearing, much was made about the conversations undercover FBI agents secretly recorded with Epstein in 2013 in setting up a sting operation in which Epstein bragged about using a cattle prod and other violent means to force recalcitrant husbands to agree to the religious divorces, known as gets.

In those conversations, which were played for a jury during Epstein's trial earlier this year, Epstein provides the undercover agents with details of how the husband - who turned out to be fictitious - would be taken to a warehouse in Edison where he would be kidnapped and beaten until he agreed to the get.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Gribko said that in those secretly taped conversations, Epstein boasted about having a reputation as a "tough" guy who could effectuate gets.

"He did this regularly. He did this for money," Gribko said. "He understood exactly how out of hand this could get."

In a 10-minute address to the judge, Epstein said he was "embarrassed and ashamed" at what he said in those conversations.

"Over the years, I guess, I got caught up in my tough guy image," he said. "Truthfully, it helped me -- the reputation -- convince many of these reprobates to do the right thing."

He recalled going to the docks in Red Hook in Brooklyn where he confronted one of the stubborn husbands who worked there to convince him without using coercion to grant a divorce. In another case, he recalled going to a club full of belly dancers where he knew he'd find another recalcitrant husband. 

"I had a reputation (that) this is the rabbi who goes and gets into all crazy places and he doesn't give up He gets you the get," he said.

But he also objected strongly to the government's portrayal of him as a person motivated by money to help the so-called "chained" wives. He said he was driven to help them out of a compassion for the women, who couldn't remarry without the get, and their children, who would have been considered illegitimate.

Wolfson noted that Epstein demanded $60,000 from the undercover agent in the 2013 sting and that only a small portion of that payment went to the "muscle men" who were there to rough up the fictitious husband.

Epstein's attorney, Robert Stahl, said an appeal of the conviction is forthcoming.

"While we're heartened that the judge listened carefully to what we argued, we're disappointed the sentence was for 10 years," he said after court. "We believe there serious issues for the Court of Appeals to examine in this very unique case."

Stahl had argued that Epstein's sentence should be less than that for the traditional kidnapping cases before judges, which usually involve murder, terrorism or child abduction.

Wolfson said she didn't see a difference. She also said that although Epstein may have been motivated by his desire to help women, his methods were not legal.

"You may start with the motive of hoping the chained women...but the means certainly don't justify the ends," she said.

During the trial, Gribko and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wolfe elicited testimony about five kidnappings to which they claimed Epstein was tied. The father of nine, grandfather of 45 and great-grandfather of five  was convicted in April of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

Sitting in the audience Tuesday was Menachem Teitelbaum, a Brooklyn man who testified during the he and his roommate were beaten for hours in their apartment in 2011 Teitelbaum told jurors that his attackers yelled to his roommate, Usher Chaimowitz, orders to give his wife a divorce.

"They were calling out all the time 'give a get. Give a divorce to your wife,'" Teitelbaum testified at the time.

Epstein's wife and several of his children were in attendance and cried as he and one of his daughters addressed the judge. Epstein wiped away tears as that daughter, Dina Gongola, asked Wolfson for a light sentence for her father, particularly in light of his health problems, which includes diabetes, high blood pressure, severe sleep apnea and coronary artery disease. She asked Wolfson to consider his lifetime of good deeds and not his one "major mistake."

"Please, please, your honor. Have mercy," she begged through tears. "Please judge him as a whole human being."

The family left court without commenting and whisked Epstein away in an SUV that was waiting in front of the federal courthouse. Up the block, he got into a minivan with other family members.

Wolfson allowed Epstein to report to prison on March 1. 

In front of a hundreds of people Tuesday night at the Civic Plaza in Brick, James Riccio was sworn in as police chief.

BRICK -- James Riccio knew from the day he entered the police academy approximately 30 years ago that someday he would be chief.

It was a dream he strived to attain since his first day on the job in August of 1986. Nearly three decades later, that dream is now a reality.

In front of hundreds of people Tuesday night at a packed Civic Plaza in Brick, Riccio was sworn in as police chief.

"I worked my entire career for the hopes of this day," Riccio said, just moments after he pledged his dedication to the township. "You can say that it had become my dream. I'm fortunate because a lot of people don't get to see their dreams come true."

Riccio said he is grateful for the opportunity to lead the "best police department hands down," and commended his fellow officers for their devotion to the department.

Mayor John Ducey said Riccio is a "boots on the ground" type of individual, who emerged as the clear candidate to lead the department after Chief Nils R. Bergquist announced his retirement.

"Chief Riccio is an outstanding leader who will play an instrumental role in how our police department continues to evolve and continues to serve the needs of our community," Ducey said.

Riccio has a decorated resume in his 29 years in the Brick Township Police Department. He has served in every rank of the department. He was the unit commander of the Drug Enforcement unit, and served as a member of the Special Enforcement Team and Internal Affairs unit.

Riccio has investigated cases of official misconduct and corruption on special assignment with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the FBI. He worked on the biggest federal investigation into fraud and corruption in New Jersey history, "Operation Big Rig," which took down more than 40 people in 2009, including rabbis, mayors and other public officials.

A member of the volunteer fire company Breton Woods for 30 years, Riccio also serves as the District One fire commissioner. Riccio will earn an annual salary of $167,707 in his new role as chief. 

He is the recipient of 19 medals and eight chief certificates, making him "the most highly decorated member of the entire (Brick police) department," Ducey said.

Several other officers were promoted at the ceremony on Tuesday night. Robert Mazza, a 27-year veteran with the department, was promoted to deputy chief, and Donald Ling and Vincent Pacitti were both promoted to captain. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

We've collected hundreds of stories from readers about their experiences with heroin. We want to hear yours.

If one thing is clear in the hours since we published our special report on the New Jersey heroin crisis, it's that it is resonating broadly with state residents.  

We've received scores of touching notes from friends, family members or former users in response to "Herointown," which concluded New Jersey has an active heroin user population of at least 128,000.  

The response hits on one of the key goals of the project -- to help people understand, whatever their connection to the drug may be -- that they are not alone.  

So we want to hear from you.  

If you'd like to share your story with us, please take our short survey below.

Each day, we'll be updating our living wall of stories (we added two dozen more this morning) to include more and more people who have been impacted by the state's growing heroin crisis.  

If you'd like to participate, fill out the survey below. We only ask for a first name, and will only publish what you submit, potentially with light edits for formatting purposes.  

Herointown, N.J.: In their own words

Stephen Stirling | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Click or tap on the icons to show each person's full story, as told to us.  You can filter by the storyteller's county by clicking the buttons at the top.  

They are presented as they were received, and may include typos or strong language. Each provides a window into the life of someone who has gone through, or is going through a battle, in some form, with heroin or opioids in New Jersey 

The federal sentence for Rufus Young, 42, of Asbury Park, reflected his top role in a group that distributed heroin throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties as well as other parts of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.

 

TRENTON -- A leader of a drug-trafficking organization based in Monmouth County was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years in prison.

The federal sentence for Rufus Young, 42, of Asbury Park, reflected his top role in a group that distributed heroin throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties as well as other parts of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.

Young was half of the Britt-Young drug trafficking organization that authorities took down last year in a series of arrests.

Asbury Park man admits heroin distribution conspiracy

Young pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin between Feb. 2013 and March 2014, when police charged 19 people.

Robert Britt, a 45-year-old Asbury Park resident who was incarcerated on unrelated charges at the time, controlled the operation from prison, authorities said, while Young was in charge of the street operations.

Young's responsibilities included supplying heroin to lower level dealers who, in turn, distributed the opiate to others, according to court documents.

When he pleaded guilty, Young told U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridan in Trenton that he kept several stash houses, including a recording studio in Toms River and two apartments in Neptune.

In all, Young admitted to distributing between 1 and 3 kilograms of heroin during the conspiracy.

He could have faced up to 40 years in prison.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

The $1.1 trillion spending bill contains the same provisions in the defense policy bill to protect McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst from cutbacks.

WASHINGTON -- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, saved from reductions in the defense policy bill signed into law last month, will receive additional protection in the $1.1 trillion government spending bill to be enacted by Congress this week.

Legislation funding the government through Sept. 30 contains the same provisions as the National Defense Authorization Act, which established defense policy for the current fiscal year.

Those provisions prevent the Pentagon from both transferring or retiring the KC-10 refueling tanker planes now stationed at the base, and from creating a new Base Realignment and Closure Commission to look at shutting down military facilities.

"We now have double protection,'' said U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3rd Dist.), whose district includes the joint base. "There's no authority to retire the KC-10s or do a (Base Realignment and Closure Commission) and there's no funding to do either."

The spending bill also made permanent a program providing health care to 9/11 first responders and blocked longer trucks from transversing New Jersey highways.

MacArthur and other New Jersey officials had been concerned that Defense Department officials, looking for ways to save money, would target the joint base.

A member of the House Armed Services Committee, MacArthur teamed up with fellow New Jersey freshman and panel member Donald Norcross (D-1st Dist.) to insert a provision in the defense policy bill preventing the Pentagon from moving the KC-10s, thus reducing the base's mission.

He also enlisted the help of U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.), chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee that writes the annual Pentagon funding bill.

"You never know which path is going to lead to success," MacArthur said. "I went down two parallel paths. I was fortunate. I got both provisions into both bills." 

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook

The $612 billion National Defense Authorization Act specifically blocks the Defense Department from undertaking a new round of base closings, something Obama had initially requested.

The more than 40,000 workers at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst can breathe a collective sigh of relief knowing that their jobs are secure for the next 12 months.

President Obama late last month signed a revised defense policy bill that protects the joint base from cuts or closure during the 2016 fiscal year.

The $612 billion National Defense Authorization Act specifically blocks the Defense Department from undertaking a new round of base closings, something Obama had initially requested.

It also denied any funding to move or retire any of the KC-10 refueling tanker planes based there, thus preventing the Defense Department from employing a backdoor method of crippling the base's critical role of providing aerial refueling for military aircraft around the world. Such a loss would make the facility a prime target for future base closings.

It also would jeopardize the base's role of providing the airlift muscle to transport troops and material anywhere they are needed.

If the joint base were to close, it would be a huge hit to New Jersey's economy. The base, which sits on 42,000 contiguous acres in Burlington and Ocean counties, is the state's second largest employer and injects almost $7 billion into the local economy, according to the New Jersey Defense Enhancement Coalition. The base also supports about 65,500 indirect jobs, the coalition says.

It was through the diligent work of New Jersey's congressional delegation that JBMDL was spared from any closing consideration in the recently passed defense bill. Playing a key role in the legislation were freshmen Reps. Tom MacArthur (R-3rd Dist.), whose district includes the joint base, and Donald Norcross (D-1st Dist.). Both sit on the powerful House Armed Services Committee along with Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.). New Jersey is fortunate to have such a large voice on the panel that sets defense spending policy.

The state's lawmakers in Washington know all too well that Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is not immune from the budget ax. Back in 1993, the Pentagon proposed scaling back operations at McGuire Air Force Base in favor of an expanded presence in Plattsburgh, N.Y. It took a concerted effort by New Jersey legislators and civic leaders to scuttle that proposal and it was the Plattsburgh base that was eventually closed.

And during another round of base closings in 2005, the three local military installations banded together to form a unique joint base that offered greater economy and efficiency. It was another step in guarding against closing.

Keeping New Jersey's military installations viable and thriving requires constant struggle and vigilance but the effort is worth it to keep the thousands of jobs that they generate.

But for now, we are safe for another year.

It's difficult to think of an out-of-state or international mega-act that hasn't performed in New Jersey.

New Jersey is a great place for music. Frankly, I'd say there's hardly room for debate.

Certainly, the list of chart-topping musicians who hail from the Garden State is a long one. And, I'd venture to say there's nary an out-of-state or international mega-act that hasn't performed here. Bands and solo acts have packed venues ranging from high school auditoriums to football stadiums.

We from the Garden State are steeped in the traditions of Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. We've been told about girl groups from the '60s like the Angels and the Shirelles and solo acts like Lesley Gore and Connie Francis. And we've reveled in the innovations of performers and producers like George Clinton and Les Paul. Here are a handful of lesser-known facts about pop music in New Jersey:

Mark Stein, founding member of Vanilla Fudge, was a Bayonne native.courtesy of Bayonne Retro 

* The first live performance of "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and his Comets took place at the HofBrau Hotel in Wildwood in 1954.

* Donald Fagan of Steely Dan was born in Passaic in 1948 and later attended South Brunswick High School.

* Paul Simon was born in Newark, as was Ice T (Tracy Marrow)

* Joe Walsh attended Montclair High School, where he played oboe in the school band.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

* Country superstar Clint Black was born in Long Branch; Wyclef Jean was born in South Orange.

* Kate Pierson, one of the founding members of the B-52s, was born in Weehawken.

This gallery offers a humble sampling of some of the pop, rock and soul talent to take the stage in the Garden State. Be sure to click on the captions button to read more about these vintage photos.

Can't get enough? Here's a link to last year's gallery.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

Despite the heavy cloud cover, there were enough gaps to allow vivid streaks of orange and purple to glow in the eastern sky.

New Jerseyans who woke up early enough Thursday morning and looked outside their windows at the right time were treated to a colorful sunrise.

Despite the heavy cloud cover in many spots across the Garden State, there were enough gaps to allow vivid streaks of orange and purple to glow in the eastern sky.

Luckily for us, some Jerseyans who witnessed the morning glow snapped photos and posted them on social media. (See the posts below.)

ALSO: A snowless December in NJ? How rare would it be?

One interesting note: The scenic sunrise was predicted by a computer model created by two young meteorologists and a meteorology student in Pennsylvania. Their model, known as SunsetWx, forecasts the probability of vivid sunrises and sunsets every day, all across the nation.

The SunsetWX creators posted notes on their Twitter feed Wednesday night with their prediction that New Jersey, New York City and the Washington, D.C. area would see a nice sunrise Thursday morning. Their forecast turned out to be spot on.

A view from Harvey Cedars

Killer sunrise this am! [?] @GiglioAwning #lbi @JSHurricaneNews @GarySzatkowski @NWS_MountHolly @CecilyTynan pic.twitter.com/XTrzkemeD7

-- Harvey Cedars Police (@HCPolice) December 17, 2015

A view from Surf City

Another view from Surf City

A view from Long Branch

Gorgeous #sunrise this morning in #longbranch #nj!!! @sunset_wx @nynjpaweather @SamChampion @StephanieAbrams :) pic.twitter.com/sd6F4THR5Q

-- Barb Youchah (@byouchah) December 17, 2015

A view from Burlington County

@sunset_wx @myWeatherNJ @NJWeatherBlogs Burlington county, NJ. Verified! pic.twitter.com/2qvULSTdGe

-- marc carpenter (@mcadehaven) December 17, 2015

A view from Monmouth Beach

Sunrise over Atlantic worth waking up to #MonmouthBeach #JerseyShore @JSHurricaneNews @GarySzatkowski @NBCNewYork pic.twitter.com/EMMqlGC5Y9

-- Brian Thompson (@brian4NY) December 17, 2015

If you took photos of Thursday's sunrise, We would love to see them. Feel free to post them in the comments below, or email them to LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Please include the name of the town where the photo was snapped.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The approval allows the pipeline to traverse parts of South Jersey without the need of officials to get approval from those municipalities.

Running 22 miles through South Jersey towns and forest, South Jersey Gas Company is going to construct a natural gas pipeline after receiving New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approval Wednesday for the project.

The BPU's approval allows the pipeline to traverse parts of Cumberland and Cape May County without the need of South Jersey Gas officials to get approval from those municipalities or for the pipeline construction to abide by local zoning and ordinance laws.

According to an announcement by the BPU, such action was necessary to ease the construction of the pipeline due to its importance in maintaining utility services for 142,000 utility customers and for the conversion of a local power plant from coal and oil to natural gas.

The B.L. England power plant at Beasley Point in Upper Township will run on natural gas after its conversion is complete.

In order to build the pipeline, South Jersey Gas needed approval from Upper Township, Estell Manor and Maurice River Township. However, with the BPU's action Wednesday, that approval is no longer needed to continue the project. The route was one of six that officials considered and was chosen due to its environmental impact being less than other routes.

Consideration for the pipeline dates back to 2013 when it first went before the BPU. Orders dating back to 2013 were amended in 2015 to limit the pipeline's presence in protected pineland forests. That order is currently before the New Jersey Appellate Division.

Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

We've detailed the reality of the heroin crisis in N.J. Today, we ask you — what do we do about it?

On Tuesday, we opened the door to the reality of the heroin crisis in New Jersey.  

At least 128,000 people are enslaved today by heroin's grip. More than 5,200 have died since 2004, a figure that's grown exponentially with each passing year.  Hundreds of thousands more feel the effects of heroin second-hand, and our ever-growing "living wall" documents hundreds of stories about the fallout the drug can cause beyond the user. 

Today the question becomes -- what now? Next week NJ Advance Media will take a comprehensive look at what's been done, what hasn't and what is planned to stem the tide of heroin use in New Jersey.  

But as it stands today, clearly the problem remains unencumbered and growing. We want to hear from you. What do you think can be done?  Where should the primary solution come from?  

Take our anonymous survey below to let us know. Once we have received enough responses, we will create an interactive graphic on this page showcasing them and use them to support our report next week on where New Jersey stands in the fight against heroin.

SEE THE RESULTS

While we wait for enough responses to come in, you will be able to see the current results of the survey in summary form once you have submitted your response. 

Results

Click or tap on each icon for more information about each user's answer. Use the buttons to sort by an individual category. This page will be updated periodically as new results come in. 

Last updated: 10:30 p.m., Dec. 17

Stephen Stirling may be reached at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @sstirling. Find him on Facebook.

 

Rabbis Binyamin Stimler and Jay Goldstein are two of a dozen people arrested as part of an FBI sting investigation into the kidnapping and beating of Orthodox Jewish men who refused to give their wives religious divorces.

TRENTON -- Two rabbis who participated in the kidnappings and beatings of Orthodox Jewish men under the guise of a religious service in order to extract divorce agreements from them have been sentenced to federal prison.

In what authorities described was a well-organized system of brutalizing men until they agreed to grant their wives religious divorces, U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson imposed a 39-month prison term for Rabbi Binyamin Stimler, 40, and a 96-month term for Rabbi Jay Goldstein, 61, both of Brooklyn.

Goldstein, who was arrested along with two of his sons in a federal sting that exposed the illegal practice, received the second-harshest term of the 10 people who have been sentenced so far.

Lakewood rabbi sentenced to 10 years in prison for divorce kidnappings

Wolfson has said that although Goldstein was not the organizer of the attacks, he attended the beatings to serve as the scribe to write the official religious divorce decree and had considerable knowledge of what was going to take place.

"To some extent, there's an established organization here and he knew how to get it done," Wolfson said of Goldstein at an earlier sentencing.

Stimler also served as a scribe but was not as active in the planning of the attacks, Wolfson also noted.

Although he faced several charges, the group's leader, Mendel Epstein, a 70-year-old Lakewood rabbi, was able to fend off most of the allegations because he took deliberate steps to distance himself from the attacks, such as instructing the henchmen to use cell phones whose calls couldn't be traced to him, Wolfson has said.

He was convicted at trial in April on one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping. But because Epstein organized the attacks, Wolfson gave him the longest prison term so far - 10 years - when she sentenced him on Tuesday.

Stimler and Goldstein, who were sentenced Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, were arrested Oct. 9, 2013, as part of an FBI sting in which an undercover agent posing as an Orthodox Jewish woman arranged to have her "husband" beaten until he agreed to give her a religious divorce, known as a get.

Orthodox Jewish women get civil divorces to settle financial and child custody issues, but without a get, they can't remarry and their children are considered illegitimate.

In the sting, another FBI agent posing as the wife's brother was supposed to drive the husband to a warehouse in Edison where he would be beaten until he agreed to grant the divorce. But there was no husband. Instead, FBI agents moved in and arrested Goldstein, Stimler and six others waiting to execute the planned kidnapping and beating.

After that eight-week trial with Epstein, Goldstein and Stimler were convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and attempted kidnapping.

Man charged with weapons offenses, theft  

BARNEGAT -- A package containing a small arsenal's worth of guns arrived at a home on Deer Run Drive South last month, allegedly the result of a mix-up at a package sorting facility.

 

Now the man who police say received that package is in trouble with the law.

An investigator with shipper UPS notified police Wednesday that the shipment from Ruger Guns in Connecticut ended up at a local home instead of its intended destination, a Ruger dealer at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The package containing eight handguns and three rifles was damaged and when the weapons were repackaged at the UPS facility in Secaucus, an incorrect address label was placed on the new box, the investigator told police. The package arrived in Barnegat Nov. 25, police said.

An investigation by Sgt. Gary Larussa and Ptlmn. Richard Carr turned up all the weapons and also led to the arrest of Kevin Nagle, 33, of Barnegat. Nagle was being held on $100,000 bail at the Ocean County Jail on charges of theft by failure to make proper disposition, unlawful possession of handguns and unlawful possession of rifles.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook

 

NJ.com's best pictures from the week Watch video

Woodbridge - The holidays are just around the corner, but it didn't feel like it this week, as the Garden State enjoyed a stretch of very warm spring like temperatures. 

Pete Genovese announced live on NJ.com that New Jersey's best diner was the Broad Street Diner in Keport. 

Earlier in the week, NJ Advance Media published the result of a yearlong project, called "Welcome to Herointown, New Jersey's Fourth Largest City," which exposed heroin and opioid addiction in New Jersey.

Rutgers wrestling surprised Nebraska with a 17-16 upset during their Big Ten wrestling meet. 

The New Jersey Devils treated loyal fans to a unique Star Wars-themed night at the Rock. Fans could meet Star Wars characters and pose for photos with them and took home Star Wars-themed T-shirts and posters, as the team celebrated "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which opens today.  

Make sure to look through the gallery above and leave a comment about your favorite picture this week. 

Saed Hindash can be reached at shindash@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @saedhindash. On Instagram at @Throughthecameraeye. Find NJ.com on Facebook

He offered a few tips for using the weight machines, and she soon fell in love.

In 2015, NJ.com launched a new series celebrating New Jersey nuptials. If you would like to be considered for a feature, email weddingsjerseystyle@gmail.com.

Every single guy who's ever had a gym membership has done it at least once. You see attractive person working out -- and decide to offer some "expert advice." It doesn't matter if you're shredded like Bruce Lee or as rotund as Peter Griffin, when you spy the right person in the gym, you instant turn into the Obi Wan Kenobi of lats and squats.

Usually this ends badly. Very badly.

However, for 33-year-old Danilo Ventura of Barnegat, lending his advice ended up being one of the smartest moves of his life.

In 2010, Ventura was working out at Retro Fitness in Piscataway when he noticed Lindsey Happel occupying all of the gym stations he needed to use.

"She was doing some kind of circuit training," said Ventura, a medical student taking his U.S. medical boards at American University of Antigua. "I thought it was a perfect opportunity to squeeze in my expertise."

Happel and Ventura became friends in August, were dating by December and in August 2011, Ventura proposed to Happel.

The proposal took place on a dinner cruise around New York City. Ventura employed some subterfuge and song in order to truly make the night special -- and also throw his soon-to-be fiancee off his trail.

"I was totally caught off-guard," said Happel. "He picked a fight with me, on purpose, to throw me off."

Post-fight, Ventura would surprise Happel by getting down on one knee, proposing and then serenading Happel with the song "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain.

Then came the "very long engagement" as Ventura puts it. In 2012, things went long-distance when Ventura entered a post-bachelor's program at the American University of Antigua. In 2013 he began medical school there.

The food at The Manor in West Orange was what sold Lindsey Happel and Danilo Ventura on the venue. They married there in October. (Joy Glenn Photography) Joy Glenn 

"It was a great test for us," said Ventura who is taking his American medical in February. "We had a regular Skype routine, and she came down and spent a semester on the island with me." 

"I knew Danilo was the one because he made me happier than I had ever been in life," said Happel a social worker in Cumberland County. 

"I knew from the very beginning that if this woman were to be my lady, then my life would be complete," said Ventura. "She was a complete mystery to me, and I never felt more compelled to challenge myself and let this woman see that I genuinely felt a need to learn more about her."

The wedding date

The couple chose their October 25 wedding date for very practical reasons.

"I would love to say that we chose October because we are avid fall foliage fans," joked Happel.

October 25 turned out to be one of the only dates their venues had available that also coincided with Ventura being able to take time away from school.

The venue

The couple had their ceremony at Saint Helena's Roman Catholic Church in Edison.

"This location was meaningful to Danilo because he went to school there when he was young," said Happel. "Because it was meaningful to him, it was meaningful to me, too.

The reception was held 30 minutes away at The Manor in West Orange. While the ambience and price were attractive to her, it was the venue's food that convinced Happel that The Manor would be the spot for the wedding.

"Danilo's family has had other events at The Manor, so they know the venue's quality is top-notch," said Happel. "They took also took me to eat at [The Manor's] lobster buffet, and the food was out of this world."

Where they splurged

While the couple prided themselves on planning their wedding economically, there was a limit to their willingness to save. 

"Don't ever cut corners with your flowers, even for a deal," said Happel.

Happel decided to go with Gardenias Floral in Metuchen, which was the most expensive florist on her list.

"Anyone can shove flowers into a vase and call it an arrangement," said Happel. "Samantha, the florist at Gardenias is so talented -- a true artist."

Where they saved

Happel and Ventura took an interesting approach to cutting cost at their wedding.

"We based our choices upon what we wanted, not upon how much it cost," said Happel. "After we chose we wanted, we tried find ways to cut costs ... timing and research were a crucial part of saving in terms of wedding planning."

A perfect example of this was with Happel's choice of shoes -- a pair of Jimmy Choo's. The pair she wanted cost $900, but after searching and searching she was able to land a pair at a third of the cost thanks to an eBay auction.

Lindsey Happel's Marsala wedding gown was from the 2015 Pronovias collection. She found it by attending a trunk show. (Joy Glenn Photography) Joy Glenn 

Happel was also able to save on her Marsala wedding gown from the 2015 Pronovias collection by attending a trunk show and was able to snag laser cut wedding invitations through an online sale.

"Basically my best advice is know what you want and to do your research to find out how you can make it fit into your budget," said Happel.

How they made their wedding special

The couple wanted to make the ceremony the most memorable part of their big day. They began by writing their own vows, which they agreed made the ceremony "extra special."

However, it was a wedding tradition that the two held sacred that made it most memorable for themselves and their guests.

"We strongly agreed not do the 'first look,'" said Happel. "We both thought that having Danilo and I see each other for the first time in the church with all our friends and family watching would make it that much more special."

Most memorable moments

While Happel cited exchanging vows and the father-daughter dance as some of her favorite moments, a funny moment at the church was her top moment.

"The priest told me to repeat everything he said," said Happel. "So he said 'I, Danilo...' instead of 'I Lindsey.' I looked at him and asked him if he was sure, and he told me yes."

"Being as nervous as I was, I didn't want to disappoint the priest," said Happel. "So I said, 'I Danilo...' It was a simple mistake but everyone found it funny."

"That's an easy one," said Ventura. "Watching her walk down the aisle with both of her parents and then hearing them tell me to take care of her as they gave her away was my most memorable moment."

All Photos Courtesy of Joy Glenn Photography

Bill Bodkin can be reached at bodkinwrites@gmail.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

Conrad Sipa drove to Richard Doody's Barnegat Light home several times over a span of three days after the killing in an attempt to clean up the crime scene, authorities said.

TOMS RIVER -- A Colts Neck man accused of beating his good friend to death went back to the scene of the crime several times over three days to try to cover up the killing by cleaning up around the dead man's body, authorities disclosed on Friday.

Conrad Sipa drove to Richard Doody's Barnegat Light home several times over a span of three days after the killing in an attempt to clean up the crime scene, Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Meghan O'Neill told a Superior Court judge during a court proceeding.

The details emerged during a hearing in which Judge Rochelle Gzinski agreed to change the conditions of Sipa's $1 million cash-only bail that will likely have him out of jail within a week.

Man accused of slaying retired FDNY firefighter is a law-abiding citizen, lawyer says

In laying out her case against a change in bail, O'Neill said Doody was beaten to death with a golf club and was struck so hard that the force of the blow fractured Doody's skull and split the graphite neck of the club.

Along with the beating, Doody's throat was slashed and his neck was severed "so severely that his trachea was cut through and through," O'Neill said.

She said detectives found Sipa's fingerprints at Doody's home and blood in Sipa's home. She conceded authorities don't yet know whether that blood is Doody's because the results of DNA tests have not come back yet.

Detectives also found in Sipa's home a bail bond receipt for a murder charge - obtained before Sipa was arrested - as if Sipa anticipated getting caught, O'Neill said.

"He was aware of what was going to be charged," she said.

Sipa's E-ZPass records show he went to and from Doody's home before and after the killing, she said.

O'Neill offered those details to counter an attempt by Sipa's attorneys to have his $1 million cash bail reduced to allow him to get out of jail. But she did not offer a motive for the slaying.

The courtroom was packed with about 25 of Sipa's friends and relatives, including his wife and mother, and about a dozen of Doody's family and friends. Sipa watched the proceeding by video conference from the jail but did not speak.

A 52-year-old freelance occupational therapist, Sipa has been in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River since he was charged Nov. 25 with what prosecutors said was a  "savage and brutal" beating of Doody, a 60-year-old retired FDNY firefighter.

Doody's body was found Nov. 23 when police were asked to check on him because he hadn't been heard from in two days, according to authorities.

"The evidence is overwhelming. His print is in the victim's house. We know he was there," O'Neill said. "The evidence suggests he did this."

But Arthur Aidala, one of two attorneys hired by Sipa's family, said his client did not kill Doody. He said Sipa's fingerprints would logically be in Doody's home because the two were friends.

He said it made more sense for Sipa, charged with murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, to flee rather than to try to clean up the crime scene - which wasn't very clean. There was still "blood everywhere" and although items were thrown in the garbage, the trash was not discarded, Aidala said.

"He could have run up to the mountains. He could have gone anywhere," Aidala said hypothetically.  "He had an abundance of time to do so."

In the arguments over whether Sipa's bail should be reduced, Aidala contended that the fact that Sipa didn't leave showed he was not a flight risk.

"He wants to present a vigorous defense and it's hard to do it from inside (a jail)," Aidala argued.

He asked for Gzinski to reduce Sipa's bail to $500,000 and allow that amount to be secured by a bond.

Sipa and Doody, who met through a travel club, went to several remote locations, including the Amazon, O'Neill said. She argued that past experience would help Sipa hide from authorities if he was released on bail.

A Colts Neck resident for three years, Sipa has stronger ties in New York, where he lived all his life and most of his family still resides, O'Neill argued.

Gzinski agreed change Sipa's bail from cash-only to bond but she kept it at $1 million. Aidala said Sipa should be home by Christmas.

Leah Lamendola, 35, of the Lanoka Harbor section of town, was named in an eight-count indictment on Thursday charging her in connection with a Nov. 5 car crash.

Leah Lamendola (Ocean County Jail) 

TOMS RIVER -- A Lacey Township woman is facing serious charges after she was found to be driving under the influence when she got into an accident with her three young children in the car.

Leah Lamendola, 35, of the Lanoka Harbor section of town, was named in an eight-count indictment on Thursday charging her in connection with a Nov. 5 car crash.

Authorities have said Lamendola was driving with her three children, who are 7, 6 and 2 when she got into a three-car accident shortly after 5:30 p.m. near Route 9 north and First Street.

The indictment charged Lamendola with two counts of assault by auto, three counts of cruelty and neglect of a child and three counts of drug possession.

The indictment said that at the time of the crash, she had with her oxycodone, alprazolam (which is also known as Xanax) and methadone.

The drug charges are third-degree offenses that carry penalties of up to five years in prison. The assault and child cruelty charges are fourth-degree offenses that call for up to 18-monhts in prison.

At the time of the crash, the children were placed in the custody of a family member, authorities said.

Lamendola is being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River on $50,000 bail.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

 

Currently, the United States has military personnel deployed in about 150 countries. DVIDS, a service paid for by the Department of Defense, via the Department of the Army, Third Army/US Army Central (ARCENT), has provided video greetings from members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines who will not be home for the holidays. Enjoy this second installment...

Currently, the United States has military personnel deployed in about 150 countries.

DVIDS, a service paid for by the Department of Defense, via the Department of the Army, Third Army/US Army Central (ARCENT), has provided video greetings from members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines who will not be home for the holidays.

Enjoy this second installment of messages sent by service members who hail from, or, who have family in the Garden State.

Watch more holiday messages from the troops here.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

The 2015 edition of the Seaside Heights SantaCon drew hundreds of participants to the popular shore town on Saturday. Watch video

SEASIDE HEIGHTS - Saturday was a chilly, quiet December day in this popular Jersey Shore town - other than the hundreds of Santas, elves and other holiday characters who were spreading Christmas cheer from bar to bar, of course.

The 2015 edition of the Seaside Heights SantaCon drew hundreds of participants to the borough and helped to collect toys and food for families in need in the process.

And while SantaCon organizers are reluctant to call the event a "bar crawl" - saying "a sugarplum fairy dies" whenever someone calls it that - the Santas started their day at Hooks and then merrily made their way to several of the other participating bars. 

"If this wasn't going on there would be four people out in Seaside today, because shore towns really shut down once the winter hits," said Beachwood resident Andrew Heck, who was one of a half dozen Santas in his group of SantaCon regulars. "But it's a good day, there's nice weather out and it gives everybody a chance to have a good time and get in the holiday spirit."

Toms River resident Samantha Calabrese took part in her first SantaCon event on Saturday when she and a friend dressed as "Elf 1 and Elf 2" in a nod to Dr. Seuss's "Cat in the Hat."

"It's an awesome time, I'd definitely do it again," she said. " There are crazy costumes, everyone is in the holiday spirit and it's good to get everyone to come out here for a good cause."

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A state corrections officer has been indicted on charges that he set his own vehicle on fire in Deptford earlier this year, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

WOODBURY -- A state corrections officer has been indicted on charges that he set his own vehicle on fire in Deptford earlier this year, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Devin E. Cooper, 27, of Lakehurst, was indicted by a Gloucester County grand jury last week on charges of second-degree aggravated arson, third-degree arson/insurance and third-degree insurance fraud in connection with the April 17 incident.

Authorities say Cooper set fire to a 2014 Jeep Compass in a wooded area off Caulfield Avenue.

Cooper turned himself in to Deptford Police headquarters in late April and was released after posting $25,000 bail.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.