A Toms River contractor has been charged with separate offenses after he allegedly failed to perform Hurricane Sandy related work that he was paid to do.

TOMS RIVER - A township contractor has been charged with separate offenses after he allegedly failed to perform Hurricane Sandy related work that he was paid to do, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday.

On Monday, Seaside Heights residents Mary and Nick Ditta went to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office to report a theft by contractor Thomas Carlevale, 29, of Thomas Carlevale Construction in Toms River. 

Thomas Carlevale, 29, of Thomas Carlevale Construction in Toms River. (Ocean County Prosecutor's Office) Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

The couple reported that they contracted Carlevale's company to lift and renovate their home in Seaside Heights, but that the work was left incomplete.

A subsequent investigation by the prosecutor's office's Special Investigations Unit determined that the Ditta's provided approximately $22,000 to Carlevale for the requested services and that Thomas Carlevale spent approximately $4,500 on the job before abandoning the work and leaving the residence damaged and incomplete, authorities said.

The investigation also uncovered that Carlevale was not registered with the State of New Jersey as a home improvement contractor at the time the contract was drafted, the prosecutor's office said.

Arrest warrants for theft by failure to make required disposition and failure to register as a home improvement contractor were granted and bail was set at $50,000 with no 10-percent option.

At approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, members of the Special Investigations Unit arrested Carlevale following a motor vehicle stop on Washington Street in Toms River, the prosecutor's office said.

Anyone experiencing issues with Thomas Carlevale's Construction Company is asked to contact OCPO Special Investigations Unit Detective Brad Frank at 732-929-2027 Ext. 3689.

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

 

Kristopher DeMarco's fellow officers – as well as hundreds of police officers across the state – made sure to return his kindness by paying their last respects to a "warrior" cut down in the prime of his career by his own brief illness.

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP -- Whenever a fellow Brick Township police officer was sick or injured, Officer Kristopher DeMarco made sure to pay a visit.

On Thursday morning, DeMarco's fellow officers - as well as hundreds of police officers across the state - made sure to return that kindness by paying their last respects to a "warrior" cut down in the prime of his career by his own brief illness.

At St. Maximilian Kolbe R.C. Church in Berkeley Township, DeMarco, who died of pancreatic cancer on Saturday, was mourned as a shining example of a police officer who lived his life with compassion and humility.

"On Jan. 2, 2016, the law enforcement community lost a great police officer," Brick police Chief James Riccio said in his eulogy. "The Brick Police Department, however, lost a member of its family."

 

Hired in August 2003, DeMarco worked most of his career on the midnight shift. He was a member of the department's elite Special Emergency Response Team since 2007 and was in the Special Operations Group of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office from 2009 to 2010, according to the department. DeMarco also served as treasurer for the police union, PBA local 230.  He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November.

"Kris was an officer who was loved and respected by his peers and also was a shining example of what a police officer should be," Riccio said.

He earned several departmental commendations, including being named Policeman of the Year in 2007.

Riccio marveled at DeMarco's "devotion to duty" and said he was the type of officer any chief would be proud to have on the force.

"Kris will be missed by us all but he will never be forgotten," Riccio said.

DeMarco, 38, is survived by his parents Victoria and John DeMarco; his paternal grandmother Patricia DeMarco and his brothers Steven and John DeMarco.

Escorted by a motorcade of about 30 motorcycle cops, the funeral car carrying DeMarco's casket passed under a massive flag suspended from the ladders of two aerial fire trucks parked at the entrance to the church.

A contingent of police officers from Brick and dozens of other police departments stood at attention as the hearse passed them. Inside the church, the Port Authority Police Department's Pipe and Drum Corps played 'Amazing Grace' at the conclusion of the Mass. The corps delivered a final song as DeMarco's casket, draped in the American flag, was carried out of the church.

His casket stood at the foot of the altar, drenched with red, pink and white poinsettias, two lighted evergreen trees and a Nativity scene from Christmas.

Veteran Brick police officer dies after battle with cancer

Terrence Turnbach remembered DeMarco, his friend of 26 years, as someone who was so proud to be a police officer, a man he described as "humble," "mentally tough" and quietly confident."

He said the hundreds of people who came to honor and pay their respects to DeMarco "is a direct reflection of the love they received from him."

"We miss your laugh," Turnbach said. "But most of all I'm going to miss knowing you're here."

Retired police officer Jeff Fornarato was one of those whom DeMarco sought to comfort during illness.

Fornarato, who wrote a poem about his former colleague, said DeMarco visited him when he was injured in the line of duty.

"He checked on those with illness or were injured on a call," Fornarato said. "For this warrior had compassion, a true concern for us all."

His friend's smile, Fornarato said, expressed his sincere care and his "heart of gold" made him selfless while earning respect from all those he met.

The Rev. Stephen Piga, pastor of the church, told the group that they gathered in grief for a purpose.

"Collectively as one we are lifting up Kris in our arms," Piga said. "We are holding him up to God and saying 'Here he is.'"

The quick action by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee comes two weeks after a state appellate court panel concluded the DEP does not have the authority to require beach access for waterfront development and construction permits on the coast

TRENTON -- With unusual lightning speed, a state Senate committee advanced a bill Thursday that would give the state Department of Environmental Protection the authority to regulate waterfront access.

The quick action by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee comes two weeks after a state appellate court panel concluded the DEP does not have the authority to require beach access for waterfront development and construction permits on the coast because the state Legislature never specifically granted that power to the department.

Approved unanimously by the five-member panel, the bill (S3321) is expected to be posted for a full vote by the state Assembly and Senate on Monday, the last day before a new legislative session begins.

Court tosses N.J. beach access rules, says agency overstepped authority

"The purpose of today is to make certain that the courts of this state understand that the DEP does have this authority and to protect ourselves so that we do not lose federal funds and other issues," said Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), one of the bill's sponsors. "We do not want chaos."

The legislation is in response to a Dec. 22 Appellate Court ruling that says the DEP can't require access to beaches and other waterfront areas of the state because it wasn't given that authority by lawmakers. The ruling grew out of a lawsuit brought by NY/NJ Baykeeper and Hackensack Riverkeeper, which challenged the public access rules recently adopted by the DEP. 

The court ruling jeopardized the state's ability to pursue easements from beachfront homeowners to build protective dunes as part of a massive federal beach replenishment project after Hurricane Sandy's destruction in 2012.

The DEP is facing several lawsuits related to the beach replenishment work brought by oceanfront property owners who contend the state does not have the authority to require those easements.

DEP Commissioner Bob Martin made a rare appearance before the committee on Thursday to plead his case for the legislation.

He called it an "extremely important issue" that affects nearly 1,300 public access points along the state's 127 miles of coastline and 120 towns with tidal rivers.

"The court's decision seriously and immediately jeopardized the ability of every New Jerseyan to have access to the waterfront areas by right that are available to them," Martin said.

"This court ruling is a direct setback to the work that we have been doing to expand river access to communities," he continued.

Without a specific declaration of the DEP's authority over waterfront access, property owners along the coastline could prevent the public from getting to the waterfront.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew (R-Atlantic), another of the bill's sponsors, said the legislation is necessary to ensure ongoing public access.

"The issue that really exists here is do we have a public access plan and some regulations to deal with public access," Van Drew said.

Smith noted that while the public access rules have come under fire, this wouldn't be the time to address proposed amendments. He pledged to revisit the rules and regulations by setting up a special committee in the upcoming legislative session.

Victim was shot in the arm Thursday, police said

LAKEWOOD -- Police are investigating after a Toms River man was shot in the arm Thursday afternoon, the department said in a statement.

File Photo 

Officer Eduardo Vega responded to Ashley Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive around 3:30 p.m. to a report of shots fired. Vega and other officers found evidence of a shooting but did not find the 35-year-old victim, who had arrived at Monmouth Medical Center. His wound was non-life-threatening, police said.

The shooting is still under investigation and anyone with information is being asked to call Dsgt. Robert Humeny at 732-363-0200 ext. 5339. 

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

 

Mountain Creek was one of 164 ski resorts around the country to participate in the mass challenge event that looked to break a world record for largest multi-venue ski and the largest multi-venue snowboard lessons.

VERNON TOWNSHIP — Hundreds hit the bunny slopes at Mountain Creek Friday to learn to ski and snowboard -- as part of a Guinness World Record Challenge.

The Sussex County ski resort was one of 164 ski resorts around the country -- and the only one in the state -- to participate in the effort to break the record for the largest individual ski/snowboard class record. A resort needed at least 594 skiers or 500 snowboarders to take a lesson all at once.

The resorts also attempted to set a new record for the world's largest multi-venue ski lesson and the largest multi-venue snowboard lesson. No such record currently exists, officials said.

"We are excited," said Bill Benneyan, president of the resort. "We got a couple hundred people trying a lifetime sport."

One of those was 20-year-old Marin Agustin from Bergenfield, as he practiced doing little jumps on the snowboard.

Like many, he came with a group of people, and said he appreciated the quality of the lessons being given.

"I'll definitely come back," said Benneyan. "I'm ready for the big hill."

Taking advantage of the promotional day and treating his class to a day outdoors was John Buckley and his students from the New Jersey Challenge Academy located at Fort Dix.

Buckley, an avid snowboarder, and his group of about 20 students spent much of their time traversing down a small ridge on snowboards. They seemed to have a blast, wipeouts and all. 

"It's fun," said Rodger Emateguy, one of Buckley's students. "I got it now but before I didn't know how to stop."

Snow school ski director Tim Stone said the event had a great turnout especially for a weekday. 

He said many participants had previously either skied or snowboarded and wanted to try the other activity.

One of those was Rashon Arrington, 31, from Newark. An occasional snowboarder, Arrington came out with his mother to try his hand at skiing.

"I can't really explain the difference," said Arrington when asked about learning the other sport. "But I'm going to stick to snowboarding."

After an instructor handed him a pass for a free hot chocolate, Arrington gleefully expressed his praise for the instructor's, "They are so enthusiastic."

By the end of the day, thousands had shown up to set the record for the largest mass ski lesson, said Hugh Reynolds, an organizer of the event. 

However, Reynolds said no resort broke the individual record Friday. Mountain Creek had about 250 first-timers combined. 

The event also unofficially marked the beginning of the ski season after an unseasonably warm December, which kept ski resorts like Mountain Creek closed until earlier this week.

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A Manchester man faces attempted murder and weapons charges in the shooting of another man in Lakewood, police said Saturday.

(File photo) 

Todd Greene, 44, was arrested Friday afternoon after he led police on a brief foot chase in Ocean Township, according to Lakewood police.

Authorities said Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office investigators and Ocean Township police caught Greene following a vehicle stop. 

The Lakewood police Street Crimes Unit also seized two firearms in his vehicle, according to a department statement.

Greene is accused of shooting a 35-year-old Toms River resident Thursday afternoon. The victim suffered non life-threatening injuries, police said at the time.

According to police, Greene was ordered held at the Ocean County Jail on $900,000. He was also charged with eluding and resisting by flight in the Monmouth County stop.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The 10th Annual AOH Polar Bear Plunge drew approximately 1,000 people to the Long Branch beachfront on Jan. 10, 2016. Watch video

LONG BRANCH - It was a rainy and chilly January morning... and then the sun came out, just in time for the 10^th Annual Ancient Order of the Hibernians Polar Bear Plunge.

"Maybe it means God was listening to us, because we were praying really hard," said Jim Shaw, one of the event's organizers for the AOH. "We were going to go no matter what. We've had some years where we had air temperatures in the 20's and water temperatures at 33 degrees, so we've gone in much worse conditions. But it is definitely a lot more enjoyable with nicer weather like this." 

The event, which raises money for the participating Catholic schools, began a decade ago with just two schools - Mater Dei Prep and St. Mary's School in Middletown - taking the plunge.

This year 26 schools and hundreds of plungers took part in the event which was held at Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant.

Since its inception, the event has raised approximately $850,000, which does not include money raised on Sunday.

"Its students, alumni, priests and nuns doing this, one year the bishop even jumped in," Shaw said. "We got another great crowd down here this year to support Catholic education, which is what we're all about."

For Mater Dei Prep students like senior Jim Keating, raising money for their school had an entirely new meaning for them this year, just months after their school was nearly shuttered by the Diocese of Trenton due to a lack of funds.

Keating, 18, took part in several plunges prior to this year's event, but he said this one was different.

"This one was special," said Keating, who ran into the water proudly waving his school's banner in the air. "Because even with all of the heartbreak we went through, we were able to come here together and do this again, and to have a lot of fun while supporting catholic education."

Saint John Vianney High School junior Edward Sheridan came to his first polar bear plunge event on Sunday dressed to impress - in a shirt, tie, a horse head and flippers.

"It was kind of hard to run with the flippers on, but it was a still fun," said Sheridan, 17, of East Brunswick. "I was expecting the water to be colder than it was, but it wasn't bad. It was definitely more fun than just sitting on the beach like you do in the summer."

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

When it's below freezing, cats like to climb inside a car's hood to seek residual warmth. Watch video

Winter can be a dangerous time for pets, and particularly dangerous for dogs and cats that don't have homes.

The Humane Society of the United States offers these tips on assistance that everyone can provide for animals in the cold.

Many neighborhoods have stray or feral cats; sometimes, something as simple as providing them with some food and drinking water makes the difference between surviving the cold months and perishing. They note that to keep water from freezing, a thick plastic water container that's deep and wide is better-insulated than a thin plastic or ceramic container.

When it's below freezing, cats like to climb inside a car's hood to seek residual warmth, and can be injured or killed when the engine is started. Banging on the hood of your car before starting it will cause a cat to leave.

If you see a dog being left out in frigid temperatures by an owner, snap a photo and then call local authorities; documenting the situation will help in ending a possible abusive situation.

Stray and lost dogs should be reported to authorities immediately, as some breeds are not as suited to cold temperatures as others and might not last one night without shelter in winter.

Finally, animal shelters are always in need of donations of blankets and comforters to help keep the animals in their care warm during colder months.

Here's a gallery of homeless pets in need of adoption. More pets can be viewed here and here.

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

For the second time in as many years, the "Spoon Full of Hope" community kitchen, has closed.

UNION BEACH - For the second time in as many years, the "Spoon Full of Hope" community kitchen, has closed.

"Spoon Full of Hope," a program run through Gateway Church of Christ that was originally opened in 2014 in the former temporary home of Jakeabob's Off the Bay, served meals to those in need in the Hurricane Sandy ravaged community.

A few months after the kitchen first closed in the summer of 2014, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation's JBJ Soul Kitchen stepped in with a grant to enable the kitchen to continue its mission.

Jon Bon Jovi speaks during a news conference to announce the development of the B.E.A.T. Center, a new one-stop food-pantry facility in a section of Toms River hit hard by Hurricane Sandy.Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Following the model of the JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, diners volunteered an hour of service or pay a minimum $10 donation in exchange for their meal.

During 2015, "Spoon Full of Hope" served 4,391 meals, of which 2,692 were in-need meals, according to the kitchen's Facebook page.

However, the kitchen announced on Jan. 4 that "Spoon Full of Hope is taking a break from serving meals, starting in 2016."

"We are thankful for the support of the JBJ Soul Foundation and Soul Kitchen for their generous grant," the Facebook post said. "We believe that a need still exists to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy and individuals struggling to feed their families and look forward to working in the community in the future."

Gigi Liaguno-Dorr, the founder Spoon Full of Hope, told The Asbury Press that she decided to close the kitchen because the work of trying to get Jakeabob's rebuilt, running Spoon Full of Hope and a recent personal matter became too much for her.

A spokesperson for the Soul Kitchen told the newspaper there were no plans at this time to continue in Union Beach.

"We hope that the community of Union Beach continues to work together and help their neighbors and we look forward to seeing its rejuvenation," Spoon Full of Hope's Facebook post said. "We are grateful to those who helped us meet the goals of the program."

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

Authorities say "Operation Speed Racer" took down "major" drug distribution operation Watch video

TRENTON -- Four men pleaded guilty Monday to their roles in what authorities called a "major" drug trafficking ring busted by state and federal law enforcement.

The state Attorney General's Office said the charges were the result of a joint investigation by State Police and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency dubbed "Operation Speed Racer," which took down a large heroin dealing operation in Ocean and Burlington counties. 

Two of the men -- Guadalupe Madrigal-Mejia, 36, of New Egypt, and Elias Corona-Sanchez, 31, of North Hanover -- pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree distribution of heroin. They each face 10 years in prison.

Two other New Egypt men -- Juan Mendez, 48, and Antonio Esqueda, 34 -- pleaded guilty to lesser charges of second-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute and third-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, respectively.

'Operation Speed Racer' - N.J. drug bust targets meth, heroin distribution operation

Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said the men were "major drug traffickers who helped fuel the destructive rise in addiction in our state." Their attorneys did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Monday.

The charges stem from an operation conducted in July 2014, when an undercover officer arranged to buy two kilograms of black tar heroin from Corona-Sanchez and Madrigal-Mejia at their home in New Egypt.

When the men showed the detective the drugs, members of a State Police drug unit swarmed in and executed a search warrant in the house, finding more drugs and arresting Mendez and Esqueda, the Attorney General's Office said in a statement.

They face between five and 10 years in prison.

A fifth defendant, Pemberton Township resident Juan Gutierrez-Valencia, 25, was arrested a day earlier, when he allegedly attempted to flee a separate meth amphetamine sting operation conducted in a Mount Laurel parking lot. Authorities say Gutierrez-Valencia struck and injured two troopers with his car and was shot in the arm by police in the botched escape.

Gutierrez-Valencia was indicted on aggravated assault and drug charges, which remain pending.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Margaret M. Vannell, 34, of Jackson, was arrested after police identified her as a suspect who shoplifted from Target on Friday evening, police said.

Police responded at around 6:24 to the Target in Ocean Township after receiving a report of a shoplifting in progress. (File photo)

OCEAN TWP. -- A 34-year-old Jackson woman was arrested Friday and charged in connection with six shoplifting incidents in the township, police said.

Police responded at around 6:24 to the Target in Ocean Township after receiving a report of someone shoplifting from the store.

Responding officers learned that the suspect, identified as Margaret M. Vannell, had left the store in a taxicab, Detective Lt. Timothy R. Torchia said.

He said detectives located Vannell at the Asbury Park train station, where she was arrested.

Back at police headquarters in Ocean Township, police learned that Vannell had shoplifted from five other businesses in the township, Torchia said. He did not specify which business she shoplifted from. 

Vannell was charged with shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia.

She was released pending a future court appearance. 

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

 

The two, who were traveling with two children – a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old -- were found with a small amount of heroin and a hypodermic needle Watch video

ROBBINSVILLE - A Jackson couple were arrested and charged after stashed heroin bags fell out of the front of their car following a traffic stop on I-195 Monday morning, police said.

File photo 

John Dunn, 24, and Amber Winant, also 24, were stopped for an unsafe lane change and a missing front license plate in Robbinsville as they drove east on the highway in a 1999 Nissan Altima shortly before 12 p.m., Lt. Michael Polaski.

The two, who were traveling with two children - a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old -- were found with a small amount of heroin and a hypodermic needle, Polaski said.

The children were taken to the police station while the Dunn and Winant were processed and tow was called for their car, Polaski said. 

As the car was loaded onto a trailer, hidden heroin fell out of the engine compartment of the car. Police found a total of 30 bags of heroin, Polaski said.

Dunn and Winant each were charged with possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia, Polaski said.

An investigation was ongoing Monday afternoon, Polaski said.

Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

 

The victim, who was only identified as a 36-year-old man, is in critical condition as of Tuesday morning.

Lakewood police responded to a local hospital after receiving a report of a walk-in shooting victim. (File photo)

TOMS RIVER -- A 36-year-old township man is in critical condition after he was shot Monday night, police said.

No arrests have been made and police don't have a suspect in the shooting, which occurred shortly before midnight near a construction site on Route 9.

The investigation began when Lakewood police responded to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood after hospital staff reported that a shooting victim had arrived at the facility by car, said Officer Ralph Stocco, a spokesman for the Toms River Police Department.

The victim is in critical condition as of Tuesday morning.

Police learned that the victim, who was only identified as a 36-year-old Toms River man, was shot by a man at a Route 9 construction site near the Hickory Street entrance, Stocco said. Stocco did not release any additional details on the shooting, which is under investigation by Toms River police Detective Lou Santora.

John Carroll of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff's Office's Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit is assisting in the investigation.

Police asked anyone with information to call Santora at 732-349-1050 ext. 1276 or Carroll at 732-929-2027 ext. 3964.

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

 

In a news release announcing the victim's identity, Howell police detective Sgt. Christian Antunez also released more details on the incident and the identity of the driver.

Police responded at around 10:45 p.m. Sunday night to Route 9 south near the Chapter House restaurant for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. (File photo)

HOWELL -- Police have identified the pedestrian killed crossing Route 9 Sunday night as 29-year-old Charles Waldron of Point Pleasant Borough.

In a news release announcing the victim's identity, Howell police detective Sgt. Christian Antunez also released more details on the incident and the identity of the driver.

Police had previously said that Waldron was hit by a vehicle on Route 9 south while crossing the highway westbound near the Chapter House restaurant at around 10:45 p.m.

As Waldron crossed the highway, he was hit by a 2010 Mazda 6 driven by Jessie McMahon, 20, of Brick. McMahon had two passengers in the Mazda -- Matthew Kuras, 21, and Daniel Kerrigan II, 20, both of Brick. McMahon, Kuras and Kerrigan did not receive any injuries.

Antunez said Tuesday that Waldron crossed the highway illegally on a stretch that had a concrete median and no cross walk or traffic signal.

No charges have been filed at this time, but the incident remains under investigation.

McMahon told police that he didn't see Waldron until it was too late and could not avoid hitting him, according to Antunez. McMahon pulled over after the crash and is cooperating with authorities, along with the two passengers in the vehicle.

Antunez said no other witnesses have contacted police. 

He urged anyone with information to call Patrolman Matthew Cherney at 732-938-4575 ext. 2629 or email him at mccherney@howellpolice.org.

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

Six Flags Great Adventure announced that its veterinary team is raising a Siberian tiger cub and an African lion cub together as one litter. Watch video

JACKSON - Something different, and cute, is happening at Six Flags Great Adventure.

The theme parked announced Tuesday that for the first time, its veterinary team is hand-raising a Siberian tiger cub and an African lion cub together as one litter.

The lion weighed three pounds when it was born on Nov. 19 and on Thanksgiving the safari welcomed its first tiger birth at the safari in 13 years when the tiger was born weighing 2.4 pounds. 

The two female "big cats" are separate species that would typically never meet in the wild, because they are native to different continents. 

"Within a week, two first-time mothers gave birth to healthy cubs but failed to care for them, so we stepped in," Dr. Ken Keiffer, a Six Flags veterinarian, said in a release.

The Six Flags veterinary team became surrogate mothers to the cubs, hand feeding them up to six times a day. Keiffer said the cubs - which have yet to be named - are both doing very well.

"Raising the cubs together helps to develop their socialization skills, and will enhance their chances of being successfully introduced to their own species at the safari when they are a bit older," he said.

Six Flags officials said the cats play, eat and snuggle together and are learning to "find their voices and personalities. The tiger cub is more dominate and vocal, while the lion cub is much more relaxed, Keiffer said.

Siberian tigers are on the endangered species list, with only 3,200 estimated to live in the wild. The new cub is the fifth Siberian tiger at the Six Flags safari.

There are estimated to be less than 19,000 African lions in the wild and the cats now being protected under the endangered species act, the safari's Director and Chief Veterinarian Bill Rives said in a release.

Several healthy African lion cubs have been born in the Six Flags safari during the last few years, and the new cub is the 20^th lion at the safari.

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

Legislature OK's bill allowing experimental oyster colonies, six years after the state ordered them removed. Watch video

New Jersey lawmakers approved a bill that would end a ban on experimental oyster reefs nearly six years after the state ordered colonies dug up and removed from waterways.

 The bill approved by the state Senate allows environmental and research groups to establish colonies in polluted waters, including Raritan Bay, as long as the colonies are invisible to and not easily accessible to the public. It had previously passed the Assembly.

Oyster beds serve as a natural filter that remove contaminants, sediments and impurities from waterways. Scientists also see them as a potential way of buttressing wetlands and shorelines against storm surges and erosion. 

Environmental groups had established two experimental reefs in Keyport and Red Bank before the state ordered them removed in 2010, citing concerns that poachers might steal the mollusks and sell them on the market. Any disease outbreaks caused by such oysters could taint the entire $800 million shellfish industry, DEP officials argued.

The two sides continued to spar while oyster restoration projects in New York State greatly expanded, in stark contrast to New Jersey's ban.

Baykeeper and Rutgers University, meanwhile, began growing oysters on the heavily guarded Naval Weapons Station Earle, where armed patrols were deemed sufficient to ward off potential poachers. 

The new bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia (D-Hudson) and Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen), would allow the reefs to be established in polluted waters, so long as adequate measures are taken to prevent poaching.  The program will be reviewed again after one year.

The oysters are for research only, not human consumption or sale. The bill would have no effect on oysters grown in cleaner waters of Delaware and Barnegat Bays and other waterways approved for the cultivation of oysters for eating.  

"Oyster reefs are able to strengthen coasts by adding a natural protective barrier against flooding and erosion," said Meredith Comi, oyster restoration director for the NY/NJ Baykeeper. "After Hurricane Sandy, it became clear that coastal resiliency should have become an immediate priority. However, NJDEPs 2010 ban on shellfish restoration activities made efforts nearly impossible."

The bill now heads to Gov. Chris Christie.

David and Judy Wax are the last of a dozen defendants to be sentenced in a scheme to kidnap and beat Orthodox Jewish men until they agreed to give their wives religious divorces.

TRENTON -- A Lakewood couple involved in a bizarre kidnapping of an Orthodox Jewish man were sentenced on Tuesday for their roles in forcing the man to agree to give his wife a religious divorce.

David and Judy Wax were the last of a dozen defendants to be sentenced in an odd case that uncovered a scheme concocted by a respected rabbi to kidnap and beat husbands until they agreed to give their estranged wives the religious divorce decrees they needed to get on with their lives.

U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson in Trenton sentenced David Wax, 53, to eight years in prison for the strange kidnapping and beating case of one of those husbands. His wife, Judy Wax, 51, who played a lesser role in the 2010 incident, was sentenced to two years of probation.

David Wax could have been sentenced to life in prison.

In the 2015 trial of Rabbi Mendel Epstein, David Wax testified for nearly four days about his role in the kidnapping and beating of Yisrael Bryskman, an Israeli national living in Brooklyn in 2010 to avoid giving his wife a religious divorce, known as a "get."

Attackers delivered beatings, death threats to force a divorce, victim testifies in Lakewood rabbi trial

And Bryskman also testified during that trial, telling jurors he was lured to Wax's Lakewood home on the promise of a job writing for some Talmudic books Wax was publishing. Arriving there in the last minutes of Oct. 16, 2010, Bryskman was led to an upstairs bedroom - which also served as Wax's office - and ambushed. He told jurors he was blindfolded, his hands cuffed behind his back and his legs bound at the ankles before he was beaten and kicked by several men, including Wax, who donned a white cowboy hat during the attack.

David Wax(AP) 

Wax, who pleaded guilty in 2014 to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, admitted he beat Bryskman, took him on a cab ride to get money from Bryskman's bank account, and tried to extort money from Bryskman's father in Israel after the three-hour beating.

Bryskman said Wax wanted him to withdraw cash from his bank account to pay for Wax to replace the bedroom carpet bloodied in Bryskman's attack. But Bryskman was so scared that he failed to withdraw the money.

Judy Wax, who pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, admitted she followed the cab in her black SUV and eventually, with her husband, drove Bryskman back to Brooklyn after offering him a breakfast of bagels or muffins from a bagel shop along the way.

Ignoring the Waxes' threats against reporting the attack, Bryskman called police, touching off an investigation that eventually led investigators to Epstein.

Epstein, 70, was sentenced last month to 10 years in prison. He, along with nine others, had been charged, convicted and sentenced in the beatings scheme, which ended with an uncover FBI operation at a warehouse in Edison in 2013.

The pursuit started in Toms River and ended in Wall Township.

William A. Errico, 36, of Penndel, Pa. (Ocean County Jail) 

TOMS RIVER -- A Pennsylvania man was arrested early Wednesday morning after he led authorities on a 40-minute chase through Monmouth and Ocean counties, police said.

The pursuit started at around 2:30 a.m. in Toms River, where New Jersey State troopers observed a Ford pickup truck driving northbound on the southbound lanes of the Garden State Parkway, said Sgt. Jeff Flynn, a State Police spokesman.

The pickup truck, driven by William A. Errico, 36, of Penndel, Pa., exited the Parkway at exit 81. That's when troopers attempted to pull the truck over but Errico sped away instead, Flynn said.

A chase ensued through various local municipalities until Errico eventually returned to the parkway northbound, Flynn said.

At around 3:07 a.m., troopers deployed a spike strip, which punctured one of Errico's tires, Flynn said.

He said Errico was eventually arrested in Wall Township, near mile-marker 96.4.

Sate Police were assisted by police in Wall, Lakewood, Seaside Park and Toms River.

Errico was charged with DWI, eluding, possession of a 12-gage shotgun and .22-caliber revolver, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and drug paraphernalia.

He was taken to the Ocean County Jail and bail was set at $200,000 with no 10-percent option. 

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

 

The indictment charged Mark Rothlein, 51, of Island Heights, on Tuesday with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, according to court records.

Mark Rothlein(Ocean County Prosecutor's Office) 

TOMS RIVER -- A grand jury in Ocean County has indicted a man on charges he left the scene of an accident that killed a college student.

The indictment charged Mark Rothlein, 51, of Island Heights, on Tuesday with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, according to court records.

Rothlein is accused of running down Jeffrey Michel, a 27-year-old Colts Neck man, who was struck and killed as he crossed Route 37 west in Toms River on March 6 and continuing on his way.

Michel, a Brookdale Community College student, was the subject of a video that went viral showing college police on the Middletown campus pepper-spraying him as he was being arrested in November 2014.

Arrest made in Toms River hit-and-run death

In their investigation, Toms River police recovered a small blue piece of a car that they eventually tracked to a blue 2013 Jeep Wrangler registered to Rothlein's wife.

Authorities arrested Rothlein  on March 18 after finding the car parked behind the Island Heights house where he was temporarily staying after his home was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The vehicle was parked near a wooded area in an attempt to try to conceal the damage, authorities said at the time.

Michel was a nursing student at the college and the father of a 2-year-old child when he was pepper-sprayed while campus police were arresting him. The video of the arrest questioned whether Michel was a victim of police brutality but an investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office concluded he was not.

Rothlein was released from the Ocean County Jail in Toms River on $100,000 bail on March 18, according to court records.

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

 

The Air Force is considering housing a fleet of tankers at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

WASHINGTON -- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is one of 11 military bases under consideration to house the Air Force's new KC-46 tankers, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith said Wednesday.

Smith (R-4th Dist.) said the base narrowly missed out in the last round of competition to house the tankers three years ago, and was hopeful that it would be selected this time around.

"I am confident that after an objective and thorough review, the joint base will once again be given serious consideration and hopefully, ultimately chosen," Smith said.

Obama used the joint base in December 2014 as the backdrop for announcing the end of combat operations in Afghanistan.

Being selected to house the new tankers could protect McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst from being shut down or scaled back in a future round of military base closings. New Jersey lawmakers have expressed concern that the base could be targeted, and helped push thorough provisions in both the defense policy and government spending bills for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30 to block a new round of base closings.

In addition, both bills also prevent the Pentagon from moving or retiring any of the KC-10 refueling tanker planes now located at the base.

Smith said the Air Force will pare down the list of candidates to house the new tankers this spring.

"I look forward to working with joint base and Air Force officials, our local community and the delegation to continue to make the case for this and other missions to be located in New Jersey," Smith said.

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