2025 at 10:29 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}​A fire that badly damaged a home in a Berkeley Township senior community Friday afternoon is under investigation NJ — A fire that badly damaged a home in a Berkeley Township senior community Friday afternoon is under investigation all three Berkeley Township fire departments and Holiday City First Aid were dispatched to the fire on the 300 block of St Vincent Court in Holiday City at about 1:30 p.m but not before causing heavy damage to the home The homeowner was not injured by the fire; however a family member was hospitalized for smoke inhalation treatment Its cause is currently under investigation though it's not believed to be suspicious in nature Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Get vaccinated for COVID-19, report a crime, access homeless services Apply for a permit, schedule an inspection Apply for a business license, get business assistance, find bid & proposal opportunities Attend a City Council or commission meeting apply for jobs, look up City holidays Regular Wednesday pickups on Christmas and New Years will be pushed back a day Keep holiday trees off streets and sidewalks by knowing rules for compost and using Transfer Station.  Remember to remove all decorations and lights.   Residents and merchants who have regular refuse and compost collection on Wednesdays will have their pickups the day after Christmas and New Year’s days.   Ensure that your carts are curbside by 7:00 am but please be advised that collection may occur later in the day than usual If your collection is more than one day behind schedule call (510) 981-7270 to report a missed pickup When you're ready to dispose of your holiday tree you can cut it up and place it in your bin for curbside pickup or drop it off whole at the City's Transfer Station Help keep Berkeley clean by keeping discarded trees off our streets and sidewalks.  Whole trees will not be picked up if left on the curb as they can damage the City's collection trucks Cut trees to fit into your green compost cart with the closed lid Trees that are flocked – artificially "snow-covered" – are not compostable cut it up and treat it like a plastic tree: place it in your gray refuse cart Berkeley Tool Lending Library1901 Russell Street (at MLK)Monday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pmOnly Berkeley residents or property owners over age 18 may borrow tools The Transfer Station will take compostable trees for free from December 30 through the end of January the cost returns to the regular fee of $27.75 for disposal of up to 330lbs of plant debris and organic matter Flocked or plastic trees cost $38.50 to dispose of plus a $3.50 Environmental Compliance Fee.   Berkeley Transfer Station1201 2nd Street (off Gilman) Open Monday - Saturday8:00 am - 4:30 pmClosed on Christmas and New Year's Day Help keep our streets and sidewalks clean by using your refuse and compost carts properly Keep up with City of Berkeley news via our news page, email, Bluesky, or Instagram Translation Disclaimer 2024 at 2:09 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Berkeley police responded to the intersection of Jamaica Boulevard and Bimini Drive at 9:15 a.m Tuesday and found a tan Toyota Camry and a white Honda Civic "with heavy damage." (Shutterstock)BERKELEY NJ — Two drivers were injured after one ran a stop sign and crashed into another car in Holiday City Berkeley Berkeley police responded to the intersection of Jamaica Boulevard and Bimini Drive at 9:15 a.m Tuesday and found a tan Toyota Camry and a white Honda Civic "with heavy damage." The Camry's driver was heading west on Jamaica Boulevard and ran the stop sign at the intersection with Bimini Drive The force of the collision sent both cars off the road with the Camry stopping in the front lawn of a Bimini Drive home and the Civic ending up on the northwest sidewalk of Jamaica Boulevard The Camry's driver was significantly injured in the crash and needed to be extracted from her car She was then airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune The Civic's driver was taken to Community Medical Center by ambulance The Ocean County Sheriff's Department CSI responded to the scene as well and assisted with the crash investigation Ed Hendrickson of the Berkeley Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Bureau Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call the Berkeley Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Bureau at (732)-341-1132 ext compostable tree; learn composting guidelines When selecting your tree this holiday season consider a plan that reduces waste and fits the City's disposal rules for when the season is over If you get a cut tree or other type of holiday tree know which ones can be composted and which go to your trash bin.  Consider buying a living tree to plant in your yard after the holidays – and avoid waste altogether.  aim for an option that minimizes waste and contributes to Berkeley's efforts to reduce landfill contributions.   know that the City only composts the tree itself Avoid trees that have been "flocked" – covered with chemicals mimicking snow Flocked trees cannot be composted and must either fit in your trash bin or be taken to the Transfer Station cut the tree to fit inside your green compost cart with the lid closed ask a neighbor if they have space or wait until the following week to dispose of the rest If you don't have the tools to cut your tree, free tool rental is available through the Berkeley Tool Lending Library Renters must provide proof of Berkeley residency before checking out tools Watch this video from Berkeley Community Media on how to correctly dispose a compostable tree and how your tree becomes compost here Trees left whole on the curb won't get picked up as they can damage City side-loader collection trucks You may prefer dropping off discarded trees at the Transfer Station: City of Berkeley Transfer Station 1201 2nd Street (off Gilman Avenue) Monday - Saturday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Closed Christmas and New Year's days  $27.75 fee per minimum load (330 pounds or less) plus $3.50 Environmental Compliance Fee  Flocked or plastic trees: $38.50 fee per minimum load (330 pounds or less) plus $3.50 Environmental Compliance Fee  the City's Zero Waste Division encourages you take some steps to reduce holiday waste.  Berkeley Tool Lending Library City of Berkeley Transfer Station Video from Berkeley Community Media on tips to reduce holiday tree waste  A home in the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township sustained damage in a Thursday fire Berkeley Police said they responded around 10:15 am to a La Combe Terrace residence and saw that it was engulfed in flames They were able to then learn that nobody was inside the home at the time The Berkeley Township fire department had some assistance putting out the fire from The Manitou Park Fire Department Beachwood Fire Department and the Toms River Fire Department surrounding homes on the street were evacuated and traffic was diverted from the area Police said the residents of the home reported no injuries The fire is currently being investigated by the Berkeley Township Detective Bureau The Berkeley Township Fire Official and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office You can follow Vin Ebenau on Twitter and Instagram and email news tips to vin.ebenau@townsquaremedia.com More From Townsquare Media Monmouth-Ocean: A home in the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township sustained damage in a Thursday fire, that appears accidental in its cause, but remains under further investigation.\nRead More You can follow Vin Ebenau on Twitter and Instagram and email news tips to vin.ebenau@townsquaremedia.com   BERKELEY – You have to be at least 55 to live in senior housing however the bylaws really don’t have much teeth the governing body will make it a township law that you have to be a senior to live there   The Township Council recently introduced an ordinance that would change the definition of “Planned Residential Retirement Community.”   Planned age restricted communities have their own code What this ordinance does is to make the township have a rule as well It essentially takes a senior community bylaw and makes it a law who also heads up the coalition of senior developments in town If more than 20% of the homes are owned by people younger than 55 then the community might lose its protected status   Mayor Carmen Amato said that this ordinance codifies what the bylaws already state It will keep these neighborhoods the way seniors want them   “As more and more individuals try to take ownership,” he said there could be families moving in with children and then that puts a strain on the school districts   “Certain factors want to sell to younger people,” Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich said the ordinance states that “permanent residents of communities which mandate that in accordance with (federal Housing and Urban Development laws) only persons fifty-five (55) years of age and older along with either their respective spouse or domestic partner shall purchase a lot or living unit” to assure that the senior community does not have its age-restricted status revoked   The ordinance also notes that it is made in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Act This is significant because in the last few years local officials have been fighting against state laws that would alter senior bylaws   Although the state legislators making these laws say they only want to have consistency across New Jersey on how senior developments are governed locals were concerned about Trenton overreaching their authority they have worried that this would eventually lead to action to take away the senior communities’ 55+ designation  The ordinance does say that it may be in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A which is the State Retirement Community Full Disclosure Act   Another section of the ordinance covers the maintenance of property owned by the association such as private roadways and recreational areas basically keeping that under control of the senior community’s own board   It also states that this would not be altered or revoked without a resolution from the Berkeley Township Council the person proposing the change would have to provide notice to all owners of property in the senior community any new senior developments in the town would have to follow all of the above rules   There have been many arguments behind the scenes about this concept Some realtors want to open the senior communities to any kind of buyer because it’s good for business some say this would drive up prices in these communities – which would drive seniors out there are people living in senior communities that are younger than 55 Some are children who live with their elderly parents Some have special needs and can’t live on their own Some are just living there in violation of the bylaws   People in senior communities will be the first to tell you that there are school-aged children living there   One argument against this ordinance is that sometimes adult children are given the house while the senior is still living in it They do this to protect their finances in case they ever go to a nursing home The value of the house is often used when figuring how to pay for care in the nursing home   The change was introduced as an ordinance during the council’s January meeting the township and the county planning boards have to review it Plan ahead to reduce trash that goes to the landfill and compost pickups normally on Thursdays will be pushed to Friday Regular Friday pickups will be collected on Saturday Plan ahead to not only reduce what goes from your Thanksgiving table to the landfill Residents with regular Thursday collections should place their recycling Those with regular Friday pickups should place carts curbside by 7:00 a.m Collection may occur later in the day than usual. Please report any missed pickups on Monday, December 2 by submitting an online form or dialing Customer Service at (510) 981-7270.  Think through what can be re-used. Sort your recyclables and compost. Cutting back on waste at the end of the year helps you and Berkeley be more sustainable. Learn best practices to reduce waste this holiday season at StopWaste’s Sustainable Holiday Guide Prevent wasted food by making small changes in how you plan and resources that went into producing that food and getting it into our kitchens.  Compost the following items in your green cart:  and pie: All food scraps from food prep or plate scrapings Coffee grounds and filters: Coffee grounds Food-soiled paper products: Paper napkins, towels and other food-soiled paper products should be placed into the compost cart. Seemingly plastic tablecloths, plates, and cups that are marketed as “compostable” must have the BPI symbol to prove it is BPI-certified Plastic or synthetic corks should be placed in the trash then wipe with a paper towel and place the paper towel in the compost cart.  Take large amounts of oil or grease to an oil and grease drop-off location near you. Use the Re:Source search tool to find the nearest drop-off location Recycle the following items in your blue cart: Aluminum pie and baking trays: Wipe your tray clean before recycling Steel cans and aluminum foil: Ball up your foil before tossing it in the recycling Plastic containers: Wipe all plastic containers before placing them in the recycle bin.  Help reduce what Berkeley sends to landfills by planning ahead and properly sorting your recycling and compost.  Report missed trash pickup stopfoodwaste.org Re:Source Research Tool – find a drop-off location for oil and grease Re:Source Guide  for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal     BERKELEY – The Township Council approved an ordinance that would add age restrictions in retirement communities to the township code   The ordinance will change the definition of “Planned Residential Retirement Community” in town   Homeowner associations have their own bylaws restricting who can live there The new ordinance is a town law that would reinforce the existing bylaws   “The ordinance will not change any of the bylaws of the homeowner association in which you live,” township attorney Lauren Staiger had previously said She also noted that Berkeley is not regulating whether your grandchildren can live with you   This move was popular with seniors in the area   Residents talked about how the property is deed restricted for those over a certain age They said the entire intention of the senior communities was for retirees they read the bylaws and believed that would be the way it is forever One resident shared a story of a flipper who bought an $80,000 house in a senior development   Former Councilwoman Judy Noonan was the first speaker She has brought up Berkeley’s ordinance to the governing body of Manchester She used to encounter a lot of problems with underage people living here when she was the president of the Holiday City Silver Ridge Park Coalition of Berkeley Township and Silver Ridge Park East   “I think this is overdue,” she said thanking the governing body for passing the ordinance “I’m really proud of Berkeley for standing up for their seniors.”   The Board of Realtors is misusing the word “discrimination,” she said That word is used in terms of race or religion   “There are a lot of good realtors,” she said but there are some who are trying to open up the senior communities to sell to anyone They will sell to limited liability companies who will rent the homes to young families   The ordinance states that it is made in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Act   Although the state legislators making these laws have said they only want to have consistency across New Jersey on how senior developments are governed   This is a hot topic in these senior communities as everyone seems to have a story about an underage person living near them The residents fear real estate flippers and renters that would lower their quality of life they fear that if too many younger people move in they might lose their protected status as a senior community   Township Council meetings are usually held in Bayville they moved it to the Holiday City South clubhouse Most of the speakers were residents who were in favor of the ordinance   Bruce Shapiro is director of regulatory affairs for the Realtor Political Action Committee He said that the age restriction is on occupancy as long as the person actually living there is of the right age   He said there is legal precedence of this and that the ordinance could violate federal and state laws   Councilman James Byrnes said “These aren’t commodities If you can’t sell over 55 then you don’t belong in the business.” said that Byrnes comments were uncalled for She worried that the ordinance would interfere with estate planning and asset allocation reiterated that the only thing the ordinance does is preserve the status quo If the association allows children to buy homes for their parent said there are very few instances where a child is buying for a parent The town should check who is living in a home versus who is paying taxes on a home they could ask the schools to find out where children’s addresses are an attorney who lives in a senior community president of the Realtor Association of New Jersey both said that the homeowner association bylaws aren’t more powerful than state and federal laws   “Maybe the state and federal laws are wrong,” Mayor Amato said   Amato held up a flier that had been sent to seniors in the area from the realtors that were against the ordinance He estimated that between printing and postage That shows that the realtors want to make money on these homes Supreme Court to defend our ordinance,” he said BERKELEY - A house fire that killed a 93-year-old woman in the age-restricted Holiday City section was the result of contents in a closet becoming too close to a light fixture arson investigators for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office have determined The identity of the victim at 66 Castle Harbor Drive still has not been made public She was pronounced dead at the scene Tuesday night and the Ocean County Medical Examiner later determined that the cause of death was smoke inhalation a spokesman for the Prosecutor’s Office all responded to the blaze late Monday night See the damage to the home for yourself in the video below Heavy smoke was observed coming out of the back of the house and first responders did believe at the time there may have been an occupant inside The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Arson Unit conducted the investigation Erik Larsen: 732-682-9359 or elarsen@gannettnj.com There are two house fires that occurred within hours of each other in the Holiday City section of Toms River between Sunday night and Monday morning The Silverton Volunteer Fire Company responded to both fires the Chief Fire Inspector for the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention and were joined by the Pleasant Plains Fire Company and East Dover Fire Company at the second fire Firefighters from the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company put out the first fire on Mount Everest Lane Toms River Police Officers rescued two occupants of the home Both the Toms River Police Department and the Toms River Township Fire Department were dispatched to the home around 8:45 pm Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced Monday that the man and woman rescued from the home were flown by a medivac to the Burn Center at Cooper Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston due to the extent of their injuries Both are currently listed in critical condition There were also three firefighters who received minor injuries and were treated at the scene after helping put out the fire Prosecutor Billhimer said that the cause of this fire is under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau and Toms River Township Bureau of Fire Prevention It was around 2:27 am Monday morning that another fire was reported in Holiday City Three fire companies worked together to put out flames that had engulfed the residence Inspector Novak said there were people in the house at the time of the fire but they were able to get out without suffering any injuries The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention and Toms River Police are investigating the second fire Inspector Novak said that: "at this time there is no connection between the two fires and the fire does not appear to be suspicious." There are two house fires that occurred within hours of each other in the Holiday City section of Toms River that are under investigation.\nRead More 2023 at 4:07 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Holiday City properties were sold to a Lakewood real estate firm NJ — Ten Hovnanian-owned retail centers in Berkeley Toms River and Brick have undergone new ownership The news came as a "big surprise" to Holiday City residents Berkeley Township Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich said at a recent meeting Gingrich said that Holiday City Plaza I (the mini mall on Jamaica Boulevard) Holiday City Plaza II (the strip mall anchored by Provident Bank) the Social Security Administration building on St the Bellcrest Plaza on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River and the Yorktowne Plaza in Brick were sold for $46 million These properties are being called the "Ocean County Middle Market Portfolio." According to a news release, the buyer is Lakewood-based Horizon Equities “Although Horizon Equities is a national firm we started in New Jersey and have 82 years of family history here,” said Joe Kotler “The people of Central Jersey matter to us and this acquisition reflects our concern We will continue to invest in local businesses here and work alongside our tenants to upgrade the portfolio for mutual success.” Kotler told the Asbury Park Press that the firm plans to invest in site improvements The properties will benefit from "significant investment," Kotler told the Press and he plans to work with the tenants for mutual success   OCEAN COUNTY – Holiday City is usually thought of as acres of senior housing but the company that built them also built several strip malls for the residents to shop at They were sold in a large transaction recently   “Holiday City has changed hands,” Berkeley Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich notified the public at a recent Township Council meeting she mentioned that some of her residents have expressed concerns about the purchase   The locations are throughout Berkeley and 3; Rite Aid on Mule Road and Plaza Drive; Holiday City Medical Center at Plaza Drive; the Wells Fargo Bank on Jamaica Boulevard and Plaza Drive; the Social Security Administration building on St Catherine’s Boulevard; the closed PNC Bank on Wranglebrook Road; and the Bellcrest Plaza on Fischer Boulevard The lone Brick location is the Yorktowne Plaza on Hooper Avenue and Yorktowne Boulevard   Most of the units in the shopping centers have tenants already The Toms River location on Fischer has more regional names like RWJBarnabas and national chains like Dollar Tree and Planet Fitness   The Asbury Park Press reported that the $46 million sale was between Edele Hovnanian   This newspaper reached out to Hovnanian senior managing director of investments at Marcus and Millichap who was one of the people representing Hovnanian and who found the buyer These requests for comment were not returned BERKELEY - A fire that engulfed a home Thursday morning in the age-restricted community of Holiday City was accidental More: Fire at Scojo's restaurant in Surf City under investigation blaze — that started in the garage of the residence — on La Combe Terrace prompted the evacuation of nearby homes and forced authorities to close the residential street No one was in the house at the time and there were no injuries More: Fire destroys duplex in Whiting age-restricted community, leaves one firefighter injured Multiple first responders from Berkeley and neighboring municipalities responded to the scene.  These included the Manitou Park Beachwood and the Toms River fire departments The Berkeley Township EMS and Holiday City Berkeley First Aid also responded to the fire A preliminary investigation indicates the fire was accidental in origin but authorities did not disclose the nature of the accident the fire remains under investigation by the Berkeley Township Police Department’s Detective Bureau the township’s fire official and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office BERKELEY - One person has died in a house fire at a home on Miles Pond Road in the Holiday City age-restricted section of the township “Our (Berkeley) Office of Fire Prevention along with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office are still out doing the investigation,” Amato said Firefighters responded to the blaze about 2 p.m An Asbury Park Press photographer took photos of an investigator from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit inspecting an electrical box in the garage of the residence and of another investigator taking photos on the front porch There was a hole in the pitched roof of the house that faces the road The Berkeley Police Department and the Manitou Park Volunteer Fire Company responded to the fire This is a breaking news story. Stay with app.com for updates BERKELEY – After a lot of suspicious activity was noticed by neighbors in the Holiday City West senior community police got a search warrant and found the house to be part of a drug operation Berkeley and Ocean County Prosecutor officers initiated the search at 8:50 p.m according to a release from the prosecutor’s office The warrant stemmed from an ongoing narcotics investigation residents were tipped off by the unusually high amount of vehicles and people coming and going to the property in an otherwise quiet area “It was suspected that the home was being used as what is commonly referred to as a ‘crack house,’ a location used by multiple nonresidents and transients for the purpose of using narcotics as well as distributing them,” according to a release by the prosecutor’s office “Prostitution was also alleged to have occurred at this home this home was used as an unlicensed tattoo parlor.” There was also paraphernalia used to manufacture He was charged with Possession of Control Dangerous Substance Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Possession with the Intent to Use Drug Paraphernalia Possession with the Intent to Use a Hypodermic Needle The lead investigators were Berkeley Detective Michael O’Connor and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Alex Bromley and William Somers of the Berkeley Township Detective Bureau and detectives Denis Mitchell and Anthony Carrington III from the prosecutor’s office also assisted in the investigation Assisting in the execution of the search warrant was the Berkeley Township Patrol Division the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Anonymous tips about suspicious activity can always be reported to Berkeley police by calling 732-341-1132 ext 2025) – A late-morning motor vehicle accident caused a major response in the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township on Monday at the intersection of Jamaica Boulevard and Bimini Drive quickly arrived on scene to assess injuries and secure the area Aerial imagery from the scene shows multiple vehicles involved including a fire engine and ambulance stationed at the intersection The incident appears to have led to lane closures in both directions while responders assisted those involved and investigated the cause At least one person was hurt in the crash and was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment Details on the extent of injuries have not been released at this time The intersection remained partially blocked for a short time before vehicles were cleared and traffic resumed Authorities are still piecing together what led to the crash We hope everyone injured in this collision makes a timely and full recovery Car crashes are one of the most common emergencies across New Jersey From major highways to residential intersections the state recorded over 60,000 injury-causing crashes are frequent sites of collisions due to stop sign violations Here are some of the most common contributing factors behind residential intersection crashes: If you were involved in a crash in Berkeley Township, don’t wait to contact our Berkeley car accident attorneys at Metro Law Insurance companies might seem cooperative at first An attorney can help make sure your rights are protected and that you receive full compensation for medical expenses we’re proud to serve injury victims across Ocean County and beyond Solomon has nearly four decades of experience representing those hurt in accidents Our legal team has secured millions for clients injured in car crashes Call us now at 800-469-6476 to schedule your free consultation You don’t have to go through this alone—we’re here to help Bronx, NY (September 3, 2024) – On the night of September 2, 2024, a tragic incident unfolded in the... read more Bronx, NY (May 29, 2024) – A driver struck and killed a woman in the Bronx on May 28,... read more Monmouth County, NJ (May 15, 2023) –A teenager who was set to graduate from high school tragically lost her... read more Delanco Twp, NY (March 17, 2023) – An auto accident occurred on Friday afternoon, March 17, in Burlington County.... read more Staten Island, NY (October 9, 2023) – A car accident occurred in Staten Island on the evening of October... read more Elizabeth, NJ (August 13, 2024) – A tragic accident occurred on Sunday night, August 11, near Newark Liberty International... read more Rahway, NJ (June 20, 2024) – Police in Rahway were called to the scene of an injury accident on... read more Egg Harbor Twp, NJ (February 21, 2024) – One driver was sent to the hospital after a serious car... read more Rockaway Twp, NJ (April 9, 2025) – An injury crash occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Rockaway Township, causing major... read more Brooklyn, NY (February 29, 2024) – A passenger in a vehicle involved in a crash lost their life in... read more Notes: Outside sources were used in the creation of this post including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accident and injuries involved the details of the accident presented have not been independently verified If you identify any false information in the story or want the post removed and we will correct the information or remove the post Disclaimer: As a member of the local community we at Metro Law strive to improve the overall safety and quality of life for everyone who lives in our beloved state We are extremely saddened by these accidents We hope awareness of these dangers allows our community to take precautions and avoid these accidents This information is not medical or legal advice We wish only the best and quickest recovery to all those involved in the accident The photos depicted in this post are not from the actual accident scene 2016 at 11:04 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}An Ocean Gate man and a Toms River man have been charged with burglary and theft in connection with the ransacking and burglary of a Holiday City home Berkeley police responded to a Pulaski Drive home on Feb The victim's home was ransacked and a large amount of valuables were missing including unique jewelry with certain identifiers Berkeley detectives developed leads that John Mullen may have sold the stolen jewelry from the Pulaski Drive burglary Police found several of the unique jewelry pieces from a local buy-gold store The victim positively identified the items as stolen Berkeley detectives and Toms River detectives collaborated to locate Mullen Berkeley detectives obtained a search warrant for Mullen's Toms River home and executed the warrant at 10 p.m turned himself in to police without incident Mullen was charged with burglary and theft Mullen taken to the Ocean County Jail in default Mullen's arrest provided information about other suspects "This new information pointed to Ocean Gate where more proceeds existed and more suspects resided," DiMichele said Ocean Gate detectives noticed similarities to some of their own burglaries Berkeley detectives obtained an additional search warrant for an apartment on West Chelsea Avenue in Ocean Gate Detectives from all agencies were aware of the suspect since he had previously been arrested by Berkeley Township Pine Beach and Manchester Township in 2015 for residential burglaries Authorities and the Ocean County Regional SWAT team entered Monahan's home and arrested him at the scene and an imitation firearm and coin containers linked to the Pulaski Boulevard burglary More valuables were found and could be proceeds from other burglaries Monahan was charged with burglary possession of an imitation firearm and possession of heroin He was taken to the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail More charges are pending as valuables are identifed and suspects located "This successful investigation was again the result of a collaborative work effort between detectives from Toms River and Ocean Gate who aggressively follow all available leads," she said "This collaboration assisted with solving these crimes as they often flow into other jurisdictions." use City services to properly dispose of unwanted items Dumping is illegal and can result in fines up to $500/day Use various refuse collection and recycling options tenants and landlords can help keep our streets clean and safe by planning ahead and properly disposing of the items they no longer need Dumping mattresses and other items on the sidewalk creates a mess, can be a safety hazard, and doesn't promote reuse. It is also illegal and punishable by fines reaching up to $500 a day. Please use the available mattress collection and recycling options for mattresses and box springs and recycling bins or other resources below to reuse Start thinking now about what you will keep and discard Please don’t wait until the last minute and throw too much in the garbage or on our streets Try to find someone to use what you don't need Abandoned furniture and debris on sidewalks or in the public right-of-way can result in citations and fines of up to $500 daily For recyclable items that can't be reused, recycle using your building's recycling bins. Review guidelines to see if an item is recyclable For single-family homes or small apartment complexes with Ecology Center Recycling collection, review the Ecology Center's recycling guidelines for specifics Extra cardboard can be bundled and placed curbside next to your Ecology Center recycle cart on your recycling service day For items that can't be recycled curbside: all your materials should fit inside your cart with the lid closed completely If boxes are too big to fit inside your recycling cart Recycled materials are hand sorted by workers so it is important to only put recyclable materials in your bin Please do not put the following items in the recycling: and other materials at encampments may seem like a gesture of goodwill to those in need Consider donating to one of Berkeley’s numerous nonprofit social service agencies that directly serve the homeless population All of them provide meals and food resources to people experiencing homelessness in Berkeley Know that most nonprofits usually prefer cash donations. Consider calling nonprofits that work in Berkeley to inquire about their need and capacity to accept donations We can all play a valuable role in keeping our streets clean and safe call 311 or (510) 981-2489 to report.  tenants and landlords are key to keeping Berkeley's streets clean and safe 2023 at 12:27 pm ETMayoral candidate Kia Phua (Courtesy of Kia Phua)Council candidate Mary K Curtis (Courtesy of Kia Phua)Council candidate Thomas White (Courtesy of Kia Phua)Council candidate Frank DeMaio (Courtesy of Kia Phua)BERKELEY and Berkeley voters will head to the polls to cast their votes for a new mayor and three council seats Patch sent questionnaires to all candidates seeking their responses Here are responses from the Democratic ticket: mayoral candidate Kia Phua and council candidates Mary K Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk The responses received will be published between now and the Nov These responses will be published edited only for style Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact veronica.flesher@patch.com Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Occupation: I am currently a Train Operator for NYC Transit for the past 20 years I was a former Vice President for the Transport Workers Union Previous public office experience: I am an elected democratic committee member for District 35 in Berkeley Township where we advocated for the 42,000+ members in our union for better wages I am running to make a positive change in Berkeley Township More opportunities for growth for our children and grandparents in the senior communities More quality businesses to attract a thriving municipal economy More transparency as to what our local government is doing for the people We need and deserve more and it is my commitment to the people of Berkeley Township to deliver that as a fellow Berkeley Township citizen and mayor of our town What separates you from the other candidates?What separates me from the others is that I am an active participant in many different organizations in the community I am currently a Board Member and Coach for the Berkeley Girls Softball League I coached two teams in the spring as well as currently coaching an 8U year-round travel team I restarted Cub Scout Pack 27 and head the organization as Cubmaster here in Berkeley Township after it disbanded several years ago our community deserves to have a youth organization like Cub Scouts available to participate in I am a member of the CBW and BTES Parent-Teacher Associations I am a member of the National Organization of Women I also served as a Eucharistic Minister for St Our elected officials need to be active participants in the different organizations within our community so that we can be in touch with the people It is not enough to simply show up for a photo opportunity We are answering the last few questions as a slate: What do you think is the most pressing issue in the town and how do you intend to address it?The biggest issue our town is facing is the lack of transparency and action from our elected officials The current administration claims to have the 2nd lowest taxes in Ocean County Berkeley Township’s 2023 municipal tax rate of 70.5 cents per $100 of assessed evaluation is 21st out of 33 municipalities in Ocean County and higher than ourneighbors in Lacey taxes have increased by 25.59% with no major services for that increase This manipulation of the data and lack of real clarity with the taxpayers will not be accepted on my watch The other major concern is the development of the Beachwood Shopping Center and the traffic in town Mayor Amato and his team campaigned on this problem every election cycle and the Center is still an eyesore to this day and traffic is worse than ever the mayor and council are coming up with a “plan” for the center which will fade away as soon as the election is over 12 years is long enough and it’s a shame it’s not resolved yet My plan to fix the traffic in town is to apply for grants from all aspects of government We need to get our fair share of money from other areas of government to help support our needs The residents of Berkeley are paying more than our fair share in property taxes and as a government we can develop a plan to finally alleviate the traffic along Route 9 what do you hope to accomplish?As our next Mayor and Council members to address the problem with transparency and action we will provide full transparency and clarity of township activities on the township’s website The public has a right to review and inspect these items as they see fit to advance meaningful development for the Beachwood Shopping Center we will survey the residents to see what they envision the area would become we will find the right developers to put the plan in place and hold them accountable to ensure the plan is moving along we would love to partner with our local school districts to build a community center in Berkeley Township The YMCA-style community center would include a pool and turf area for all our residents and community teams to utilize we could raise funds from other areas of government with no increase in taxes for the residents of Berkeley Township to build the community center We currently have ice hockey and swim teams in Central Regional and it is a shame that our children have to travel to use out-of-town facilities and soccer teams would love to have a facility to practice in during the winter months and this would also give our families a place to go to for recreation and to build relationships with other members of the community We would also like to start our own youth basketball league It’s a shame that our children are forced to wear the Lacey Lions' name and logo on their uniforms because Berkeley Township does not have our own program available We deserve better and it’s time for a change in leadership One issue that many are focused on is the redevelopment of the former Beachwood Mall site What do you think is the best course of action Is there anything else you would like voters to know?Our biography and plan of action are listed on our website one of the biggest problems our community faces is the lack of transparency from our current elected officials We are currently in the middle of an election and we do not evenknow what platforms our opponents are running on and what they plan to do moving forward our slate is representative of the community we want to represent Kia Phua is from Bayville and is in touch with many different organizations throughout the community Mary Curtis and Thomas White are from Silver Ridge Park and Holiday City and are here to represent the senior community of Berkeley Township Frank DeMaio is a Gen-Z candidate from Bayville seeking to be a voice for the younger community Vote Team Phua for a Better Berkeley Township Education: I have a degree in Paralegal Studies and have worked in Human Resources,Accounting Occupation: I am currently retired but have always strived to serve my community andthe people around me Family: I have a sister who lives in Pennsylvania Previous public office experience: For years I have and continue to serve as a committee person for District 13 in Berkeley Township’s Silver Ridge Park West Why are you running for this position?I have an inherent desire to make positive changes in Berkeley Township as a member of the town council What separates you from the other candidates?I am an active member of the senior community and the only female candidate running in this election females represent 53.5% of the population of Berkeley Township and we need more female representation in our local government Occupation: I am a retired United States Postal Carrier Previous public office experience: I am a current elected committee member serving District 12 in Holiday City Berkeley and also a previous candidate for town council in Berkeley Township Why are you running for this position?I am running to make a positive change for the people of Berkeley Township and as a resident of Holiday City – Berkeley I also want to represent the needs of the senior community as a Council-at-Large member What separates you from the other candidates?I am a proud union man serving as a member of the National Association for Letter Carriers I am an active member of my local NAACP and member of the Berkeley Township Democratic Club always striving to make our community better Education: Associate's degree in Health Science Current OCVTS student in a Certified Medical Assistant program Occupation: I am an assistant manager at Dollar General here in Bayville Previous public office experience: There is an opening as a committee person in my district in Berkeley Township that I am looking to be appointed to Why are you running for this position?This is my first time running for public office and I would like to be a voice for the Generation Z community as a Council-at-Large member What separates you from the other candidates?I became an Eagle Scout for the Boy Scouts of America in 2018 and became a member of the National Eagle Scout Association recently restarted Cub Scout Pack 27 in Bayville and I volunteered to be a Den Leader to assist with the Pack’s startup I am also a member of the National Organization of Women (NOW) it is important to actively participate in groups within the community to understand the needs and wants of the people As the only Gen-Z candidate running in the election I can say there is a big disconnect between our elected officials and the Gen-Z community and I am here to bridge that gap and be a voice for our community 2016 at 11:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}TOMS RIVER – An Ocean County jury cleared a Holiday City man of charges that he set his disabled neighbor's home back in 2013 The jury acquitted O'Leary of three counts of aggravated arson in the March 13 blaze at the Barbuda Street home of brothers James and John Bean The brothers testified that O'Leary showed up at their house drunk and demanded they pay him for beer he bought to their house a least a month earlier The Bean brothers also claimed O'Leary wanted an apology from them the brothers smelled smoke and realized their home was on fire O'Leary had been charged with two counts or aggravated arson related to attempts to cause bodily injury to each of the two Bean brothers He also was charged with aggravated arson related to an attempt to destroy the house where the Beans lived Each of the charges would have carried prison terms of five to 10 years if O'Leary was convicted To read the entire story, click here to a host of beaches with boardwalks and no tax on Social Security benefits at the state level a Garden State retirement may appeal to your needs The resources and geography website has discovered 9 Charming New Jersey Communities recommended for retirees approaching their Golden years contemplating relocation According to the website these communities boast an array of benefits while retaining their small-town atmosphere and are close enough to Newark and more larger cities with ease of access to amenities Among the nine on the list three find themselves on the Jersey Shore Here's why World Atlas chose these small yet charming towns Tinton FallsTinton Falls is home to just over 19,000 residents Tinton Falls is just an hour south of New York City and 45 minutes from Newark Over 89 walking trails covering 757 miles are within the Tinton Falls area perfect for seniors who cherish outdoor time entice many retirees to move to Tinton Falls Senior Centers: Arbor Terrace Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls VA Clinic The Monmouth County Department of Aging provides senior transportation The Encompass Health Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital is also in Tinton Falls for those in need of rehab or nursing services.Median home prices: $550,000BerkeleyJersey Shore westward into the Pine Barrens is Berkeley Township which is a haven for retirees Just an hour and a half from New York City and one hour from Newark Medical centers in Berkeley Township include Holiday City Medical Center and CityMD Berkeley Heights Crystal Lake Healthcare and Rehabilitation also exists in Berkeley Township for those in need of its services It is easy to see why Berkeley Township appeals to many retirees who are looking to relocate This program offers outreach and benefits counseling for seniors in need the Recreation Center offers senior activities and programs for those over age 65.Median home prices: $370,000ManchesterIn the New Jersey Pinelands Manchester Township houses just over 45,000 people with 47.8% of them over the age of 65 Half of its population comprised of senior citizens there are many attractions for retirees to relocate here Manchester Township is in between Philadelphia and New York City about an hour's drive to each and an hour and a half's drive to Newark History buffs can enjoy the popular attractions in the township such as Lakehurst Naval Air Station Harry Wright Park and beautiful art and architecture at Cathedral of the Air Medical centers in the township are plentiful and Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center These communities all have dedicated senior housing centers and medical centers in close proximity according to the website 2024 at 2:28 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}If you're in one of these neighborhoods don't bother bringing out the bins tonight NJ — Don't bother setting out your garbage cans tonight Berkeley is moving Saturday's trash pick-up to Monday The news was sent out in a Nixle alert Friday afternoon, ahead of the storm that's set to bring up to four inches of snow to Ocean County. Read more: Winter Weather Advisory: When Will Snow Arrive In Ocean County? "Due to inclement weather and the anticipated requirement for road crews to clear and salt township roadways holiday trash scheduled for pick up tomorrow will be suspended," the Berkeley Township Office of Emergency Management said Trash and recycling pick-up will resume Monday leave it out and it will be picked up Tuesday "We apologize for the interruption in service and thank you for your cooperation," officials said This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page BAYVILLE —A Berkeley Township man was arrested in connection to multiple car burglaries throughout the town according to the Berkeley Township Police Department of Saint Thomas Drive allegedly burglarized 11 unlocked cars in the Holiday City and Silver Ridge Park sections of the township officers executed a search warrant of Sloan's home where they found stolen gift cards Drugs and drug paraphernalia were also recovered in the raid Sloan has been charged with Third Degree Burglary and Third Degree Theft and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia He also has a charge of Contempt of Judicial Order listed under his name thus keeping him behind bars at the Ocean County Jail More charges may be tacked onto Sloan after evidence is processed Residents are reminded to always lock their car doors and not to leave valuables in their car overnight If you see anything suspicious in your neighborhood Mark Anthony is a reporter with Townsquare Media: Mark.Kowalski@townsquaremedia.com A Berkeley Township man has charges pending against him after he was accused of burglarizing multiple cars throughout the town.\nRead More a skilled nursing facility is pleased to announce the hiring of Jimmie King as Director of Nursing Jimmie has 25 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in the long term care field – including a decade as Director of Nursing – during which he earned a sterling reputation amongst his peers Jimmie has led his facility through nine successful Department of Health surveys Jimmie graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kean University where he earned BS and MS degrees in Nursing He also earned an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Brookdale Community College which presented him with the “Outstanding Minority Student” award Complete Care at Holiday City is a 180 bed modern skilled nursing facility It is the only facility of its kind in Holiday City and attracts residents from throughout South Jersey therapists and other Complete Care staff members are pleased to welcome Jimmie to the team and look forward to work together to provide residents with first class nursing and rehabilitative care in both professionalism and compassion,” Jimmie observes “I am excited to work to continue raising the bar on behalf of residents and their families.” For more information, please call 732-240-0900 or visit ccholidaycity.com 2015 at 10:34 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Berkeley Township police recently arrested a Toms River man on multiple warrants in Holiday City then had to conduct a search after he fled the scene Patrolman Ryan Wahl responded to the area of St on July 26 on a report of a suspicious vehicle The car had been parked and running for an hour Wahl pulled up to the vehicle and spoke with the driver who told him that he was waiting for his grandmother Wahl was notified by dispatch that Dugo had multiple warrants for his arrest Patrolman Joseph Chrzanowski and Patrolman Wahl conducted a search of the surrounding area They were soon joined by Ocean County Sheriff’s Officer Kevin Fennessy with his K9 “Stash” to help in the search He was transported to Berkeley Township police headquarters issued a summons for resisting arrest by flight He was turned over to the Atlantic City Police Department in default of bail.gault of bailt and then was turned over to Atlantic City Police Department in default of bail 2015 at 3:46 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Berkeley Township police recently arrested a Toms River man for driving under the influence Patrolman Pat Coletti responded to Costa Mesa Drive at 7p.m on June 3 on a report of a driver who was suspected of being under the influence of Toms River parked on the side of the road John Fosbre and Coletti spoke with Pirogue and determined that he was under the influence They arrested him and took him to police headquarter for processing From Toms River Fire Department © 2008-2025 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd 2019 at 3:12 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bimini Bob has become a celebrity in his Berkeley neighborhood But many neighbors are concerned about his well-being NJ — "Bimini Bob" survived another Thanksgiving The turkey struts in the area of Bimini Drive Bimini Bob mostly hangs out on Bimini Drive sidewalks — mostly between Bonaire Drive and Jamaica Boulevard who lives around Bimini Drive and Bonaire Drive often sees Bimini Bob when she walks her dog but her dog is so used to the turkey that he doesn't bark "I kind of think that he lost a mate and this is where he wants to be now," Viscel-Borek said There have been plenty of Nextdoor posts in the area he roams — within Holiday City-Berkeley by Mule Road well-being checks and stories of Bimini Bob's growing legend A neighbor even wrote a humorous but sentimental Thanksgiving letter signed by Bimini Bob "It’s because of you that I can smile and be brave about life," the letter said and I want to be with you for a very long time." The area is close to several ecological preserves But residential roads aren't the easiest place for turkeys to live — even turkeys like Bimini Bob who conquer the streets Bimini Bob doesn't always make the smartest or safest decisions "He saw his reflection in a Jeep and he started pecking at it," Viscel-Borek said of one of her recent sightings and we don’t want anyone to get in an accident." Local wild turkeys have also gotten a bad rap recently. Widespread reports showed a large flock of turkeys terrorizing Holiday City at Silverton in Toms River. The turkeys reportedly broke house windows and tried to bite people. Read more: Wild Turkeys Reportedly 'Terrorize' Toms River Community But some of Bimini Bob's neighbors have told Patch that his behavior shouldn't be lumped with his aggressive brethren of Holiday City at Silverton "We want Bimini Bob pardoned!" local resident Kate Bearden wrote to Patch "Since the turkey roundup at Holiday City Silverton our neighborhood turkey has come under fire and we don't think this is OK." And if Bimini Bob wanders too far up Bimini Drive Many residents have posted in Nextdoor and told Patch that they hope an animal sanctuary can adopt him Several neighbors have contacted the Popcorn Park Animal Refuge hoping they can take action much of the neighborhood enjoys Bimini Bob and hope he stays safe "The neighborhood loves him now," she said "Some don’t like him because of the traffic Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Berkeley Patch on Facebook 2018 at 10:34 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}SEASIDE PARK NJ - The Ocean County Sheriff's Department is asking that motorists avoid the area of Route 35 and J Street due to police activity according to the department's Facebook page Patch will update when more information is available TOMS RIVER – An Ocean County jury on Wednesday agreed with a defense attorney who said that although his client is annoying and likes to drink he isn't an arsonist.The panel of 12 cleared Daniel O'Leary of all the charges related to a 2013 arson  at the home of his disabled neighbors in the age-restricted Holiday City residential community in Berkeley The jury acquitted O'Leary of three counts of aggravated arson stemming from a fire on March 15 2013 at the Barbuda Street home of his neighbors The verdict followed a trial before Superior Court Judge James M The jury deliberated briefly on Tuesday before resuming deliberations Wednesday morning and announcing its verdict right after lunch After the forewoman read the verdict on each of the charges O’Leary put his head down and briefly wept MORE: Did drinking inspire arson? who testified that her son was home all night when the fire was started waited outside the courtroom as the verdict was announced After Blaney told Daniel O’Leary he was free to go he joined his mother in the hallway of the courthouse and told a reporter that he was relieved “It’s exhausting – this just drains you,’’ Daniel O’Leary said “I feel bad that this happened to them (the Bean brothers) but I just didn’t have anything to do with it  referring to his Red Bank defense attorney WATCH: Disabled brothers flee arson "My client and his mother are just so happy that the system works,'' Zager said Zager argued that Daniel O'Leary was friends with the Bean brothers and that he had no reason to want to harm them He also argued that the state’s eyewitnesses were lying and that a burn on O’Leary’s Miami Dolphins jacket was there years before the fire at the Bean home maintained that the jacket was burned while starting the fire She argued unsuccessfully that O’Leary intentionally set the blaze after his neighbors refused to give him money he thought he was owed for some beer he brought over to their home on a previous occasion.James and John Bean were the state's first witnesses at the trial and John Bean is a double amputee.The brothers told the jury that O'Leary came to their house drunk demanding money for beer he brought over to their house at least a month earlier The Bean brothers also said O'Leary wanted an apology from them the Bean brothers smelled smoke and realized their house was on fire Coughlin argued that O'Leary started the fire after getting neither the beer money or an apology from the Beans.The brothers testified about having to flee from their burning home just as they were ready to go to bed for the night John Bean testified he had already taken off his prosthetic limbs and had to crawl out of the burning house.But Zager pointed out that John Bean told a police officer that he walked out of the house on his prosthetic limbs James Bean testified that his brother's prosthetic limbs had melted in the fire.The Bean brothers were not in the courtroom to hear the verdict.Zager conceded to the jury that while O'Leary can be annoying that doesn't make him an arsonist.O'Leary had been charged with two counts or aggravated arson related to attempts to cause bodily injury to each of the two Bean brothers He also was charged with another count of aggravated arson related to an attempt to destroy the house where the Beans lived Each of the charges would have carried prison terms of five to 10 years upon convictions Kathleen Hopkins: 732-643-4202; Khopkins@app.com  2013 at 3:06 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}No one was injured in a fire that broke out in a house at 77 Barbuda Drive home in Holiday City early this morning "Everyone was out of the house when rescue companies arrived," he said The blaze broke out in the garage of the one-story ranch around 12:24 a.m and was confined to the garage and the attic it was a working fire in the garage," he said It took firefighters about 20 minutes to knock the blaze down the Toms River Fire Department 2 and the Bayville Fire Company also responded Walking around in women's clothing including a bra is only part of what drew attention to a Berkeley Township Peeping Tom who police say was allegedly peeking into windows in Holiday City and pleasuring himself while doing so on September 20 26-year old Justin Guy has now been arrested and is charged with criminal trespass and invasion of privacy Berkeley Police responded to a Jamaica Boulevard home on September 20 for a suspicious incident and were informed by the victim reported that their surveillance cameras captured an image of a person peeking into windows and was committing lewd acts to himself in the middle of the night The video then showed the subject leave the area An investigation continued and included neighborhood interviews neighborhood watches and press and social media posts Police credit the public for providing leads to help identify the suspect On October 17 enough was collected to get a search warrant of a home and then came the arrest of Justin Guy He was charged with one count of Criminal Trespass (peering) and Invasion of Privacy and was released on a summons in accordance with the Bail Reform Act "The successful resolution to this case was the result of a coordinated effort by police and the community sharing information," Berkeley Township Police said on Facebook "Concerned Citizens came forward to provide critical information to officers on the road and to the tip line." Residents are reminded to contact the Berkeley Township Police to report suspicious activity by calling 732-341-1132 extension 611 or by email at tips@btpdnj.org Walking around in women's clothing including a bra is only part of what drew attention to a Berkeley Township Peeping Tom who police say was allegedly peeking into windows in Holiday City.\nRead More 2015 at 10:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}by Patricia A The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has released the name of the woman who perished in a house fire in the Holiday City section of the Berkeley Township a week ago It took the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office some time to determine the victim’s identity and cause of death died of smoke inhalation and thermal burns Authorities had first listed her age as 48 The autopsy was conducted at Community Medical Center in Toms River “The ME has positively identified the victim as Dawn Perez,” Della Fave said Investigators returned to the fire scene at 77 Encinitas Drive on the day after the Jan 9 fire to continue their fire investigation and scene examination the day after the blaze The preliminary determination was that the fire originated on the family room couch along the north wall “The cause of this fire is tentatively classified accidental with careless smoking unable to be eliminated as the cause of the fire,” Della Fave said The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit assisted with their ignitable liquid detection K9 and results were negative during the K9 sniff Follow up interviews were conducted throughout the day to corroborate previous interviews Perez was the only person in the home at the time of the fire Various rumors have been spread that the fire was intentionally set after various threats by other individuals known to the victim,” Della Fave said ”Those rumors do not stand true and have been investigated fully.” the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Arson Unit and township fire departments investigated Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2012 at 8:36 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}  Emergency medical technicians from the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad will start their first overnight shift based out of the 's building on Jamaica Boulevard tonight "They are going to provide support from 7 p.m "They are able to do a shared service with us to get it going." The Tri-Boro EMTs will provide services temporarily "They are able to do a shared service with us They are going to know the neighbors and the neighborhood Township officials worked on a plan earlier this summer to supplement first aid coverage in the senior communities at night "We have a very serious problem," Mayor Carmen F "Response times in the senior communities at night are longer and longer it becomes more difficult to get volunteers." Township Councilman Thomas Grosse said then that public safety committee members met with first aid squad representatives to discuss the "dwindling numbers" in squads in the senior communities and an increase in required training hours from 140 hours to 195 hours have contributed to the problem The EMT service will come at no cost to taxpayers who billed residents separately for their services The new EMT service will bill Medicaid for the cost of answering calls Residents will not have to pay above and beyond what Medicare pays "They're not going to get hit with extra charges," Byrnes said The first aid squads in the senior communities will continue to work as they always have Byrnes also said the township is planning to paint house numbers in blue on curbs in the senior communities to make it easier for emergency responders to locate homes