KEANSBURG -- The Keansburg School District is facing a more than $3 million shortfall as a result of federal administrators slashing millions of dollars in promised infrastructure funding from New Jersey school systems Superintendent Kathleen O'Hare announced this week Keansburg school district officials approved spending nearly $8 million to rebuild school HVAC systems a switchgear and make electrical upgrades using the federal Educational Stabilization Fund The $276 billion Educational Stabilization Fund awarded grants to more than 16,000 school systems and educational institutions across the nation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic While a majority of Keansburg's school projects that were paid for through the grant are complete supply chain problems led to a 82-week delay in the switchgear project the Keansburg superintendent said in a news release That project will not be complete until later this summer The federal dollars for the projects were not provided in advance; rather school officials were required to reimburse for the costs Keansburg school officials had applied for $4,653,455 in reimbursements They had received an extension for the remaining $3,262,729 the superintendent said in the news release last week those plans were dashed when U.S Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent a letter to school leaders across the nation informing them of a sudden change of deadlines for using the Educational Stabilization Fund grants More: Murphy's education 'COVID slush fund' is over, says U.S. education press secretary The letter said that any leftover grant money that had not be used by March 28 must be returned to the federal department Exemptions would be made on a per-project basis The sudden change leaves Keansburg schools and the borough's taxpayers in a potential financial crisis If taxpayers are left to cover the cost of the nearly $3.3 million project the school tax levy would be raised by more than 44% "Keansburg undertook these much-needed HVAC and electrical upgrades with the full approval of the NJDOE (New Jersey Department of Education) and in compliance with all state and federal guidelines," O'Hare said "Despite following the required process and securing all necessary approvals we are now being denied full reimbursement for these projects "Keansburg is entitled to the full reimbursement when the project is completed after the summer of 2025," she said "The need for these upgrades has not changed nor should our community bear the additional burden of increased taxes due to this decision." Nineteen other school districts in New Jersey are also facing clawbacks of federal dollars for their infrastructure projects Linden and Robert Treat Academy Charter School Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Reed Becker | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comEmmanuel Ramirez was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs to spark Keansburg to a 16-4 victory over Long Branch in Keansburg while James Valle and Michael Burke each scored three runs Valle also pitched a five-inning five-hitter allowing three earned runs while striking out 10 and walking four David Jules and Alexander Lucas each finished with two RBIs for the Green Wave in the loss Keansburg (7-1) extends its winning streak to three games and will travel to face East Brunswick Magnet on Monday while Long Branch will visit Newark East Side on Saturday Reed Becker can be reached at rbecker@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices The six men and one woman in the ring are all Chilean nationals Either some or all seven had previously been arrested on immigration violations but then released director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Newark field office "These alleged criminals are part of South American theft groups who have been coming in and out of the United States for months," said Special Agent-in-charge Brian Driscoll "They hit an area and immediately disappear using fake identifications and short-term rentals to evade getting caught Diego Antonio Calderon Leiva and Pedro Alejandro Salgado Vallejos All seven are charged with one count of conspiracy to sell and receive stolen property that had crossed state lines and one count of receiving stolen property that had crossed state lines One of the homes they broke into was in November in Colts Neck jewelry and designer handbags and then fled to the Keansburg safe house "On or about November 15, 2024 Colts Neck Police responded to a home for a reported burglary," read the criminal complaint "The homeowners told police their burglar alarm had been activated at approximately 8:41 p.m. and a rear window of the home had been broken and interior rooms ransacked The homeowners said multiple valuables were missing including several high-value wristwatches." police found an SUV had been rented from a rental car company in Fort Lee and it was in the vicinity of the Colts Neck home around the time of the burglary The SUV then immediately drove to Keansburg and parked in front of the short-term rental (U.S prosecutors could not specify the name of the short-term rental company) A security camera on the property recorded multiple people going in and out of the home and one of them was recorded carrying a device for covering a vehicle’s license plate under his arm and tracked them as they drove the rental SUV from Keansburg into Queens and then traveled to Massachusetts where police watched the men purchase marijuana from a Massachusetts marijuana dispensary again ransacked and several high-value wristwatches and expensive pieces of jewelry stored in a dresser were taken "GPS records for the rental SUV showed it was immediately across the street from the Westwood residence between 6:27 p.m NY police stopped the rental SUV and searched it FBI agents found one of the men wearing a high-value wristwatch bearing a specific model number and serial number The Colts Neck resident was shown a photo of the watch and provided a sales receipt to prove it belonged to him showing its purchase price at approximately $10,022 FBI agents found $100,000 worth of wristwatches perfume bottles and thousands of dollars in U.S The same Colts Neck resident recognized several more wristwatches designer bags and belts and perfume bottles Bags in the car also contained burglary tools and an electronic jamming device that can be used to block wireless signals to deactivate residential home-security alarm systems a false driver’s license and an international driver’s permit The group of Chileans also used short-term rentals in Seattle A later search of a short-term rental in Oregon recovered bags of gold jewelry it often takes strong collaboration and state-of-the-art technology we have both,” said Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetnar “By working together and leveraging our advanced technology we were able to track these subjects across state lines." “We allege these men and women ransacked houses here in New Jersey and the East Coast and then quickly traveled across the country stealing over one hundred thousand dollars in valuables from private homes," said Driscoll of the FBI Newark field office "We put in a tremendous amount of hard work with incredible partner agencies from here to Oregon We caught this group — and a warning to others Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 11:08 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A $50,000-winning lottery ticket was purchased at Main Street Deli & Grocery in Keansburg NJ — A $50,000-winning lottery ticket was purchased at Main Street Deli & Grocery in Keansburg It won in the Double Play portion of the Powerball drawing held Wednesday The winning ticket was purchased at Main Street Deli & Grocery And the bigger news is that someone in North Jersey won the $1,065,447 jackpot Wednesday buying the winning ticket at the Fairlawn News Shop on Fairlawn Avenue in Fairlawn That store will receive a $2,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket his boxed-up documents were headed to a special place — the National Archives That’s what happens when you are a senior adviser to the president of the United States Unlike most members of Joe Biden’s senior staff McCarthy — who grew up in Keansburg and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School — served all four years in the White House “I was there to turn on the lights and I was there to turn off the lights,” he said Presidential betting odds: JD Vance, Josh Shaprio favorites to win 2028 election Before turning off the lights in his office which was just down the hall from the Oval Office This one stayed put as members of Donald Trump’s administration moved in “I left a note in my desk telling the person who was going to sit there that I sat there for four years — and they were the most rewarding and interesting of my life,” he told the Asbury Park Press “I didn’t know who was going to be sitting there but I wanted them to know that I was rooting for them.” Not the only note: Joe Biden's 'inspirational' outgoing letter to Donald Trump revealed He’s just 33 years old and is still ironing out what comes next — some sleep he’s got stories to tell and insights worth sharing about life in the White House McCarthy was promoted to senior adviser for political engagement; he handled the White House’s relationships with groups ranging from unions to party leaders to elected officials throughout the country he frequently accompanied Biden on trips via Air Force One Biden and NJ: President Biden's ban on oil and gas drilling is 'victory' for NJ, says environmentalist “That was the coolest part — getting to see the presidency outside the White House,” McCarthy said During informal meet-and-greets that took place before and after events on the road “people would open up and tell (Biden) about their struggles on everything from prescription drug costs to stuttering to losing a loved one.” were "a reminder of the importance of the office even more so than the person who occupies it,” McCarthy said “People have such respect and reverence for the American presidency.” What is a preemptive pardon? A look at who Biden pardoned as he left office folks gathered along the presidential motorcade route to get a look at the leader of the free world outside of the day-to-day bickering in Washington about the power of the American presidency and the United States,” McCarthy said “You got to see the president come to a country that wasn’t his and people lined the streets to see him just because of what America stood for in the world.” McCarthy typically arrived at his office around 7 a.m He ate most meals at his desk unless he was hosting a visitor He spent so much time in the West Wing that the refrigerator in his Washington apartment was perpetually empty (no need to grocery shop) “The average time frame people serve at the White House is a year to 18 months Doing four years of it is pretty uncommon because it’s all-consuming.” and I really felt like we were making a difference and I really believe in Joe Biden,” he said growing up in Keansburg and watching 'The West Wing' and being a political junkie you see pictures of all these things — the White House Air Force One — so you’re constantly totally shocked that this is your life and this is something that you’re doing because these are things you’ve only seen in pictures so you can’t really be caught up too much in the romance of the whole thing.” McCarthy is well aware of the toxic discourse pervading national politics and tamping that down is a goal of his that will inform his next act — most likely as a consultant for candidates would be better served by both parties moving back toward the center,” he said “The things that I’m talking about and working on right now are mostly focused on that so in terms of where I’m going to be putting my energy That belief is why McCarthy left such an encouraging message for the new inhabitant of his West Wing office and she said she was really surprised that someone from an opposite political party left her a note,” he said “But she’s got really important work to do and people elected them into office Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jack McKenna | For NJ Advance MediaA 10-run outburst in the top of the firth inning helped Keansburg put an early end to Friday’s game and remain undefeated with an 18-1 victory in five innings of Lakewood in Lakewood Keansburg opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third before plating five in the fourth and 10 in the fifth to extend its margin Emmanuel Ramirez had a perfect day in the batter’s box for Keansburg going 3-for-3 with a walk while driving in three runs and stealing a base knocking in two runs and coming around to score twice as a batter while ceding one unearned run in a complete game on the mound Valle scattered five hits while striking out eight Lakewood batters and walking two for Keansburg (4-0) Cris Rosario went 2-for-3 and notched an RBI for Lakewood (2-5) Jack McKenna can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com KEANSBURG - On a recent late afternoon in Keansburg Forest Park was filled with youths enjoying a picturesque fall day A steady stream of cars drove past the park heading up and down adjacent Forest Avenue a busy road that cuts through the borough from Keansburg High School to a few blocks shy of the waterfront The vast majority of the cars fully stopped at the stop signs at both ends of the park These stop signs were installed this fall to address longtime safety concerns about Forest Avenue where a motorcyclist was killed in February and an 11-year-old was struck by a car and died after playing baseball in the park in 2014 On this day, watching the safer scene unfold, Antonietta Carbone, Braden Salas and Cristina Onciu took some satisfaction in having made a difference. The trio, who formed a neighborhood advocacy group called the Keansburg ABCs made traffic and pedestrian safety a high priority was mainly used to bypass Main Street’s lights,” said Carbone who has lived in Keansburg for eight years A new 'hot spot': The Beach Gallery in Keansburg hosts rooftop events, brunches and more said the preexisting speed strips on the road were ineffective the speeding concerns around this park,” she said Monmouth County and the (Keansburg) police department worked together on it.” The stop signs are an example of successful community organizing but a half-block before each of them sits a reminder of the work that remains The signs warning motorists of stop signs upcoming — commonly used when new stop signs are installed — feature an arrow pointing down to the ground instead of the standard up-ahead direction “The warnings are upside down,” Carbone said it’s up to citizens of the town to put the pressure on,” Salas said “If a single individual brings up something it’s less likely to be heard or followed up on Deadly crossings: Nearly 100 pedestrians killed in Ocean, Monmouth since 2020 Salas and Onciu tried to effect change the old-fashioned way: Joining the borough council After their run for three open seats fell short in May’s election they formed the Keansburg ABCs (Advocacy Beyond Campaigns) with a web page and social media channels One of their first initiatives was using the platform to spotlight local businesses Every few weeks a different Keansburg business is featured — and the ABCs took the additional step of 3-D printing and distributing custom QR codes for the businesses so the customers could scan the code and be directed to their websites and Yelp sites “We’re trying to encourage the businesses in town to claim their Yelp page because it’s a free service that can help them greatly,” Salas said “The idea is if you can’t support them with a purchase this week you can support them by writing a review about your past purchase Salas did some probing of cyberspace and determined that the search-engine optimization for many Keansburg businesses was poor — they were coming up low on Google searches and the like A robust Yelp page is a way to improve that “Unfortunately in our area if you search (the internet) for a place it seems like every other town’s stores are being populated first because they have greater SEO value,” Salas said NJ report: Keansburg keeps overpaying workers, ignored fixes sought three years ago Owners of the businesses the Keansburg ABCs have spotlighted are thankful for the assistance “They are great, man; there’s a lot of people getting educated about what’s in town because of this,” said Sean Ragab, who runs Keansburg Pizza on Carr Avenue Bryan Morales-McGrath, the owner of Carr High Café on Carr Avenue “They’re shining a light upon the small businesses,” he said Ground was broken in October 2021 but construction remains ongoing “We can’t rely on an amusement park (Keansburg Amusement Park) that isn’t open half the year,” he said “You need other things in town that spark people to come in.” Keansburg developer: Owner of 'tired old amusement park' holds town back with lawsuits and the parking meters that line Beachway Avenue are another focus for Carbone There are different kinds of meters — the classic coin-takers more modern ones that print a receipt for display on the dashboard and the newest kind that perform transactions via app the pay station reads “pay by plate — no receipt given” but a sign directly above it instructs drivers to “obtain ticket at machine” and “display on dashboard.” there are paper signs posted with app instructions that have been torn in half by the elements “It’s very confusing to the public,” Salas said they could impact the day-to-day life of a small town “The fact that they do all this as volunteers is amazing,” Ragab I wouldn’t do this much work unless they were paying me.” He added: “But these are the people who will make a change.” For more information about the Keansburg ABCs, visit www.the-keansburg-abcs.com 2024 at 1:17 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)KEANSBURG Monmouth County announced a list of towns that will receive county funding to make park improvements but Keansburg did: Keansburg received $75,000 from the county and the big news is Keansburg will use it to build a pickleball court next to the three existing tennis courts at Collins Field The pickleball court will be built in the open field area that is there now No space will be taken from the tennis courts to build the pickleball court It will have an eight-foot high chain-link fence around it to keep balls contained Resurfacing of the tennis courts will also be done Hoff expects the project will be awarded in December and anticipates construction will start in February with the new pickleball court completed in May 2025 Collins Field is located at the corner of Wood Avenue and Wood Street in Keansburg and adjacent to the Henry Hudson bike trail The Keansburg High School tennis team plays on the tennis courts there but residents can use the courts when not in use by the high school Aberdeen Township received $475,000 from the county to build a new snack stand and bathrooms at the baseball diamond at Fireman’s Field All these following towns were awarded funding through the 2024 Municipal Open Space grants: .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance MediaLillian Boccio went 4-for-4 with a triple five RBIs and three runs and earned the victory in Keansburg’s 25-8 win over Lakewood in Lakewood Jabnelyz Crespo-Borges had three hits and knocked in four runs and Lindsay Rivera added three hits and three RBIs for Keansburg (2-5) Silvana Carpio went 2-for-2 with three RBIs for Lakewood (0-6) The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! The Beach Gallery in Keansburg is more than a restaurant with three levels all serving a different purpose The first floor is a grab-and-go market and cafe; the second is a brunch vista and tea room; and the third is an indoor/outdoor party destination When we first visited in April when finishing touches were still being worked on Could the place be all of these things at once Our last visit: Opening soon, multilevel Beach Gallery in Keansburg is more than just a restaurant, bar Every weekend has drawn in a crowd, with events like drag brunches, foodie events and karaoke nights, which Beach Gallery will host on the Fourth of July is regularly drenched in sunlight — a perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine and read We've had great crowds and people have been very supportive," said director of operations John Schulte "We've had some really great packed events "Everyone seems to love the patio upstairs that seems to be a hot spot," he continued adding that the cabana closest to the front of the building gets the best views and sun showcased in the gallery and throughout the restaurant pulls it all together with eccentric and whimsical drawings of fae and the female form "The Beach Gallery features rotating art displays from local artists and supports community initiatives promoting the arts, such as donating to the Locals Art Space [in Asbury Park]," said owner and founder Janna Epstein We believe in celebrating Keansburg's rich history while fostering a vibrant future." One Bite Pizza reviews: Dave Portnoy has visited these Shore pizzerias. Here's how he scored them Every detail in the building — the resin bar counter the flower-decorated Korbel mimosa flights the golden oyster shells hidden throughout — ties it all together featuring sweet and savory bites like homemade sweet potato waffles drenched in smoky bourbon barrel maple syrup and candied pecans topped by crispy fried chicken with hot honey The steak and eggs shakshuka is a Middle Eastern and North African dish featuring ribeye steak and three poached eggs in a zesty red sauce with caramelized onions Another highlight is the burrata toast: a crisped piece of Italian bread topped with prosciutto roasted cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar caviar Work from... not home: These Shore cafes are perfect for working remotely she's worried about the whole customer experience — the presentation "We want the plates to come out looking like a work of art." There are plenty of brunch cocktails available The Korbel flight comes in flavors like Cherry Bomb try the flowering spritz tower with Grey Goose Essence spritz cocktails in strawberry lemongrass Hardier drinks include the Brunch Julep with Angels Envy Rye Schulte hopes The Beach Gallery can be a place where everyone feels welcome whether you're on a date or spending time with family after the beach Epstein said this is the perfect time to open we’re proud to be at the forefront of this transformation," she said The Beach Gallery is contributing to Keansburg’s revitalization." Go: 260 Beachway Ave., Keansburg; 732-778-4098, beachgallerykeansburg.com Seven members of an interstate burglary crew were charged with conspiring to target homeowners across multiple states in residential burglaries were each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to sell and receive stolen property that had crossed state lines and one count of receiving stolen property that had crossed state lines These burglaries have resulted in the theft of expensive wristwatches designer handbags and thousands of dollars in cash These alleged criminals are part of South American theft groups who have been coming in and out of the United States for months now FBI-Newark Special Agent-in-charge Brian J using fake identifications and short-term rentals to keep a low profile "We caught this group—and a warning to others Colts Neck Police responded to a residence for a reported burglary that day and a rear window of the had been broken and the rooms had been ransacked the rental SUV drove to Keansburg and parked in front of a home offered for short-term vacation rentals A security camera near the front door of the property recorded six of the defendants getting out of SUV and other vehicles and enter the property Law enforcement obtained GPS records for a sports utility vehicle that had been rented from a rental carcompany in Fort Lee around the same date They learned that the SUV had been rented to an individual who gave a Peruvian passport with the name Ronaldo Efrain Leon Mercado The GPS records for the SUV showed that it was in the vicinity of the Colts Neck residence around the time when the burglary is suspected to have occurred the rental SUV drove from the Keansburg Rental Property to the area of Astoria in or around Queens before returning to the Keansburg Rental Home at approximately 6:42 a.m Sanguesa Aguirre and Castillo Gonzalez appeared on January 15 Waldor in Newark federal court and were detained Del Valle Munoz and Calderon Valencia had their initial appearances on January 15 Calderon Leiva had his initial appearance on January 15 Massachusetts on Thursday and was detained Law enforcement searched a vehicle the defendants were using to transport the stolen goods and recovered multiple pieces of jewelry alongside tools commonly used to burglarize residences Del Valle Munoz and Calderon Valencia fled across the country Washington before traveling to a residence in Carlton Law enforcement searched the residence where Del Valle Munoz and others had arrived and recovered bags and backpacks containing additional gold jewelry The charge of conspiracy to sell or receive stolen property carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and the charge of receipt of stolen property carries a maximum potential penalty of ten years in prison Both charges also carry a maximum potential penalty of up to a $250,000 fine or twice the amount of money involved in the offense Anyone who believes they may be a victim, or has information about the theft group or burglaries, is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, submit the information online at tips.fbi.gov won $50,000 in the Double Play portion of Wednesday's Powerball drawing The winning ticket was purchased at Main Street Deli & Grocery in Keansburg The player matched four of the five white balls and the Power Ball 💰💰 14 lucky NJ Lottery winners hit jackpots last week (list) The Power Ball was 14 and the multiplier was 3 The jackpot has grown to about $133 million New Jersey now has had 85 winners of prizes of more than $10,000 this year 2024 at 12:39 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)NEPTUNE NJ — After being on the lam from police for more than two years a Keansburg man has now been arrested and indicted for a fatal shooting May 2022 in Neptune Township They were indicted on one count each of first-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder This is the fatal shooting that killed 39-year-old Marques Mills of Neptune Township: Shortly before 11 p.m Neptune Police responded to shots fired at the intersection of Hillview Drive and Edgemere Road Officers later found Mills inside a car parked in the driveway of his home Police think he drove himself home after the shooting He died the next morning at Jersey Shore University Medical Center The prosecutor says Chatmon and Walker are responsible with Chatmon specifically accused of owning the gun the two men were not arrested until two years later: Both Chatmon and Walker were located and apprehended last Thursday with Chatmon located in Keansburg and Walker taken into custody in Barnegat Both men were apprehended by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Case unit They are currently being held at the county jail until their next scheduled court hearing Anyone with information about this shooting is urged to contact county prosecutor's Detective Matthew Delgado at 800-533-7443 or Neptune Township Police Detective Robert Hagerman at 732-988-8000 New reports released today by the Office of the State Comptroller identify deficiencies in health insurance procurement TRENTON—The Hunterdon Central Regional High School District spent $13 million a year on insurance coverage without seeking competitive proposals and the Borough of Keansburg failed to recoup $95,000 in improper sick and vacation payouts These are just a few of the wasteful practices that the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) detailed in the two reports released today OSC’s audit of the Hunterdon Regional School District finds that the District hired an insurance broker and purchased the insurance coverage without seeking other proposals in fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 The broker – who was compensated $253,000 in fiscal year 2022 alone– recommended renewing the medical and prescription coverage for two consecutive years OSC’s analysis found that the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) could cost up to $2.3 million less a year  While changing providers requires negotiations with employee unions knowing a potential benchmark – and what competitors can provide – can help with those negotiations and ensure that the District obtains the best coverage at the best price In the case of Keansburg, OSC finds that the Borough failed to fully implement 11 of 13 recommendations OSC made in 2021 to address excessive employee benefits and lax internal financial controls “Our audits frequently uncover wasteful practices in health insurance procurement and unused vacation and sick leave payouts or tolerated,” said Acting State Comptroller Kevin Walsh “Taxpayers expect public officials to fulfill their obligation to protect public funds.”   OSC found that Hunterdon violated Public School Contracts Law by hiring a broker without seeking other quotes for brokerage services and failing to have a written contract with the broker This fundamental failure to obtain competition and transparency brings a greater risk of waste and abuse Hunterdon’s broker fees increased from $50.49 per employee per month in fiscal year 2021 to $54.07 per employee per month in fiscal 2023 OSC has recommended in prior reports and continues to recommend that school districts and local governments pay brokers a flat fee so that they can be assured the brokers do not have a conflict of interest and recommend the provider that offers the best deal for employees and the public entity Read the Hunterdon audit and Keansburg review.  Sign up now for OSC's newsletter.   To report government fraud, waste, mismanagement, or corruption, file a complaint with OSC or call 1-855-OSC-TIPS The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) is an independent State agency that works to make government in New Jersey more efficient OSC is tasked with examining all aspects of government expenditures conducts audits and investigations of government agencies throughout New Jersey Stay up-to-date with the latest from OSC by signing up for our newsletter.  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads Pamela KrugerPamela.Kruger@osc.nj.gov609-789-5094 2024 at 12:06 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Anyone with further information about Wells’ activities is asked to contact MCPO Detective Michael Acquaviva at 800-533-7443 NJ — A Monmouth County man is facing multiple criminal charges after authorities say he squatted at two empty homes in recent months theft and threatening to kill members of law enforcement among other charges Wells was discovered living in an abandoned home in Keansburg and in July he was found in a foreclosed home in Holmdel Keansburg Police said he climbed through the back window of a home on Pine View Avenue and changed the locks on the front and back doors police found Wells had done the same thing with a foreclosed home on Middletown Road and was living there with his three dogs using utilities that had not been turned off The dogs had caused extensive damage to the interior of the home Wells threatened to kill them with a knife he had on him Authorities then learned that Wells had filed documents with the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office claiming to be the rightful owner of the homes Wells was arrested on July 3 and charged with the following: armed burglary threatening to kill members of law enforcement possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose trespassing and unlawful possession of a weapon Wells was ordered held in the Monmouth County jail until trial at his detention hearing Anyone with additional information is asked to contact MCPO Detective Michael Acquaviva at 800-533-7443 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Jayden Elijah (40) of Matawan lands awkwardly after battling for a rebound with I’shon Young (0) and A’son young(1) of Keansburg during the boys basketball game between Matawan and Keansburg at Matawan Regional High School in Matawan NJ on 1/17/25.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jack McKenna | For NJ Advance MediaA’son Young and I’shon Young combined for 26 points for Keansburg in a 56-52 victory over Piscataway Magnet in Keansburg Milan Mraz and Quadir Taylor added another 11 and eight points respectively for Keansburg (9-14) Piscataway Magnet’s Joel Polynice led all players with a 19-point showing Justin Livingston tacked on 14 points for Piscataway Magnet (17-9) Three years after hammering Keansburg for lax oversight of employee benefits the Office of the State Comptroller said Wednesday that the borough failed to implement many of its recommended fixes and continued to provide excessive payments the report found that Keansburg officials considered trying to recoup the $95,000 that the state found to be gratuitous benefit payments to its police chief and municipal clerk but decided against it after its attorney said the action would be difficult to defend in court "We found that the borough has made limited progress in implementing the recommendations set forth in our 2021 audit and that substantial work remains," Kevin Walsh said in a letter sent to Keansburg Mayor George Hoff The findings were part of a follow-up report to a state audit in 2021 that found Keansburg gave what it described as excessive benefits to its employees, including 11 weeks of vacation to the police chief in 2018 The state made about a dozen recommendations that it said would help Keansburg improve its internal controls The audit released Wednesday found Keansburg implemented fewer than half of the recommendations leaving taxpayers on the hook for more excessive payments Among them: The comptroller found Keansburg still uses index cards to track employee wage history and calculate pay rates even though the state suggested the borough turn to an automated process You can see the full new report at the bottom of this story Keansburg officials told the comptroller that a new technology system was too expensive and they applied to Monmouth County for funding Keansburg's attorney Jonathan Cohen called the followup audit disappointing and unfair He said a preliminary report provided by the Office of the Comptroller found two of the 13 recommendations for improvement weren't implemented And Cohen said the savings identified by the state would have been minimal compared with the time it took to respond to the audit "The Borough always seeks to improve and welcomes recommendations from the OSC and other partners," Cohen wrote "Sadly … the OSC seems more concerned with receiving accolades on social media and press releases than actually working efficiently to solve problems in local government "The OSC’s inexplicable decision to change its status determinations regarding whether the Borough implemented its recommendations calls into question the OSC’s motives and findings with which the Borough takes exception in many areas as set out above," he wrote "The Borough will nevertheless continue to work to improve its operations to the benefit of its taxpayers and residents." You can see Cohen's full response at the bottom of this story 'I can't do anything': Keansburg luxury Baypoint project makes smaller owners feel ignored the Office of the Comptroller said Keansburg didn't comply with the recommendation that Keansburg enhance its administration and oversight of employee benefits the borough paid employees more than the collective bargaining agreement called for "These errors indicate that the borough has not meaningfully improved its administration and oversight of employee benefits including appropriate approvals and authorization," Walsh said Keansburg officials said they began in February to require administrators to sign off on payments to employees who leave The state said the policy hadn't been in place long enough to review its effectiveness Keansburg news: Multilevel Beach Gallery is more than just a restaurant, bar we have criticized longevity payments in prior reports as being wasteful," the followup report said "State employees do not receive longevity payments We recognize the efforts made by the borough however the excessive and wasteful benefits pointed out in the 2021 audit still exist." Diamond is a business reporter who has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry for more than 20 years He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com KEANSBURG - A man who was shot by a police officer in the borough on Memorial Day while coming at officers with a running chainsaw has been identified died June 14 from the injuries he suffered during the encounter the New Jersey Attorney General's office said Monday in a statement Police were sent to a home on Seabreeze Way shortly after 1 p.m on May 27 to check on the well being of someone there including a running chainsaw that he was wielding Death in custody: NJ Attorney General investigating after man dies in police custody in Brick Patrolman John Swartz used a Taser on Roman and Patrolman Tyler Manges fired his service weapon inflicting the injuries that eventually killed Roman Police and EMS provided first aid to Roman who was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he was initially listed in critical but stable condition The investigation into the death of Roman is continuing The Attorney General’s Office is required to investigate all deaths of a person that occur during an encounter with law enforcement officers or while in their custody Ken Serrano covers breaking news Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com Ariday Cruz (5) of South Hunterdon defends against Gabriella Flanzbaum (21) of Keansburg during the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 1 girls basketball game between South Hunterdon and Keansburg at South Hunterdon Regional High School in Lambertville .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Anthony Gabbianelli | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comGabriella Flanzbaum led Keansburg with a game-high 13 points in a 32-26 win over Matawan in Keansburg Keansburg (10-1) cut the lead with a 6-4 third quarter and took over the game with a 12-5 fourth quarter to win Keansburg has now won four games in a row after falling to Middletown North for its first loss of the season on Jan Keansburg trails Middletown North in the Coastal B Group of the Shore Conference with a 3-1 group record Middletown North leads the group with a 3-0 record Lindsay Rivera had eight points for Keansburg Zaira Carballo scored seven points for Matawan (3-11) FREEHOLD – After a former Keansburg man was charged in October 2023 with sexually assaulting a child more than 20 years ago A Monmouth County grand jury handed up an indictment against Robert L charging him with the aggravated sexual assault of the two children acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Julia Alonso said in a statement Monday Wisiak was arrested by Keansburg police officers Oct for charges in connection with the first victim An investigation found that the sexual assaults of both children took place between 1999 and 2001 Wisiak's attorney did not immediately return a message More: Eatontown man gets 48 years in prison for sexual assaults on two Monmouth girls The aggravated sexual assault charges can each bring up to 20 years in prison and mandatory sex offender registration under Megan's Law Alonso is urging anyone with information about Wisiak that could aid the investigation to call Detective Charles Trucillo of the prosecutor's office at 800-533-7443 or Keansburg Detective Thomas Sheehan at 732-787-0600 Information about this or any crime can be anonymously submitted to the Monmouth County Crime Stoppers tipline at 800-671-4400; through the free P3 Tips mobile app or through the Crime Stoppers website .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By John Lewis | For NJ Advance MediaGianna Bettinger’s 12 points boosted Keansburg as the Titans ended a two-game skid with a 42-20 win over host Keyport Gabriella Flanzbaum added 11 points for Keansburg (12-3) Keyport fell to 3-12 with its second straight loss John Lewis can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Craig Epstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comGabriella Flanzbaum scored 17 points to lead Keansburg past Sayreville 51-38 in Keansburg Keansburg (5-0) trailed 23-19 at halftime before tying things up at 33 at the end of the third quarter Keansburg took control in the fourth and outscored Sayreville 18-5 The N.J. 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