.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. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! 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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 This story has been updated because the Jersey Devil Fable Festival Pier Village welcomes expert and novice flyers to its annual Kite Festival Watch the pros fly inflatable kites up and down the beach The fest also features a makers market on the boardwalk plus face painting and live music by the carousel miniature golf and a family-friendly scavenger hunt Go: Pier Village Kite Festival, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 50 Chelsea Ave., Long Branch, piervillage.com. Here are other things to do at the Shore this weekend including the Jersey Devil Fable Festival in Asbury Park Asbury Park First FridayWelcome the warmer weather with Asbury Park First Friday The free event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m Celebrate early childhood education with art entertainment and activities on Saturday during the 2025 Ocean County Children’s Festival at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library Presented by the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children drop-in family event will have programs and activities geared for young children plus family resources and community connections The theme is “The Wonderful World of Art,” and children can make an original piece of art to take home in the Budding Artists’ Gallery There also will be an interactive family sing-along with music teacher and early childhood specialist Brenda Limaldi of Musically Mindful More information on NJAEYC is available on Facebook and Instagram Go: 2025 Ocean County Children's Festival, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River, free; 732-349-6200, theoceancountylibrary.org, njaeyc.org The Tony-nominated musical "Rock of Ages" begins performances Friday at Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park the jukebox musical celebrating the best of 1980s rock runs through Sunday Directed and choreographed by Lisa Stevens “I love this show because it doesn’t take itself too seriously — and yet it sneaks up and hits you right in the heart," Stevens said and it reminds us that chasing your dreams Small town girl Sherrie (Landry Champlin) meets city boy Drew (Chad Marge) in 1987 on LA's famous Sunset Strip at the Dupree Room a legendary club that's threatened with demolition The arrival of rocker Stacee Jaxx (Danny Drewes) could be the key to their dreams — or what splits Drew and Sherrie up Navesink Maritime Heritage Association's headquarters will be open during the Weekend in Old Monmouth tour you can learn about the history of Grover House the historic 1730s farmhouse that serves as the association's headquarters Grover House is on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places and successive generations of the Grover family played important roles in the founding of Monmouth County as farmers and traders including one who became the first clerk of Middletown Township Go: Weekend in Old Monmouth, Grover House, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 930 W. Front St., Red Bank; navesinkmaritime.org/Events Two exhibits at Monmouth MuseumThe Monmouth Museum is presenting a solo exhibition of Jersey City-born artist Fred Staloff and held exhibits throughout the United States “Origins of a Modernist” celebrates Staloff’s artistic vision and talent. “The paintings may emerge intuitively from some inner need," Staloff said before his passing I have always felt the need to situate my forms in space I assiduously avoid the flat rendition of form which leads to decoration or stylization." The exhibit is on loan from the Butler Institute of American Art. In the museum's Nilson Gallery are works by Carol Nussbaum Balance & Symmetry" features original photographs inviting viewers to view familiar objects in an original way through Carol’s mandala or circular designed fine art "Each image offers the eye an adventure in harmony a mandala is structured around a unifying center and thought to represent both wholeness and the universe be transformed to suggest a period of time or even a movement in the art world,” Nussbaum said in a museum release "Weaving elements of my travel photographs or even a trip to a toy store into an intricate mandala brings a new mood to the experience.” Go: "Fred Staloff: Origins of a Modernist" and "Carol Nussbaum: Harmony, Balance & Symmetry," through Sunday, June 1, Monmouth Museum, 765 Newman Springs Road, Brookdale Community College campus, Lincroft (follow signs to Parking Lot 1), $14, free for kids under 2, $10 for seniors 65 and older; 732-747-2266, monmouthmuseum.org The Red Bank Chamber Music Society presents the Ulysses String Quartet at 4:30 p.m Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Church auditorium in Red Bank The free show features composers whose music re-imagines the traditions of the past especially those of Hungarian and Slavic folk music Opening the program is Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No a youthful and spirited work filled with folk-inspired melodies and an undercurrent of emotional complexity that hints at the composer’s future brilliance The Ulysses Quartet has performed at Carnegie Hall Formed in 2015 and composed of musicians from the U.S. the ensemble's mission is rooted in the belief that music has the power to connect and inspire Members of the quartet are Christina Bouey Go: Ulysses String Quartet, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Trinity Episcopal Church, 50 White St., Red Bank, free; rbcms.org "Fotografia," an afternoon of jazz celebrating imagery Sunday at Holy Innocents Church in Beach Haven will feature jazz selections including "Fotografia" by Antônio Carlos Jobim; "Blue Monk" by Thelonious Monk; "All the Things You Are" by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II; and "Popsicle Toes" by Michael Franks Also performing will be Richard Kraus on saxophone Presented by the Newark LGBTQ Community Center the third annual Newark LGBTQ Film Festival includes a full slate of LGBTQ films made by Each of this year’s three feature and 27 short films have been selected to celebrate underrepresented and marginalized communities and most films and events take place at Express Newark Thursday is the opening night film "Ponyboi." Directed by Esteban Arango the thriller stars River Gallo as a young intersex sex worker employed at a laundromat in New Jersey on Valentine’s Day with his pregnant best friend The festival continues its collaboration with Express Newark’s Community Media Center and Paramount’s Content for Change to support emerging LGBTQIA+ filmmakers of the Greater Newark Area with the Sakia Gunn Legacy Filmmaking Fellowship Awardees for 2025 are Odessa Whitlock and Erby Beauvil On Sunday at New Jersey Institute of Technology's Jim Wise Theater is a screening of "To Be Young Gifted & Queer Shorts Program." The showing is free for high school and college students More information and a complete schedule is at newarklgbtqcenter.org/newarklgbtqfilmfestival Go: Newark LGBTQ Film Festival, Thursday to Sunday, most films and events take place at Empress Newark, 54 Halsey St., $7 to $15; newarklgbtqcenter.org/newarklgbtqfilmfestival Following a two-decade career at the Smithsonian Institution a Fairlington artist has opened a new boutique with handmade stationery in Long Branch Creek Theresa Esterlund celebrated the grand opening of her new shop, Open to Being prints and notebooks featuring her original artwork many printed on-site using an antique letterpress “We believe in [the] power of art and words to bring people closer together,” Esterlund said in a press release A handcrafted greeting card is a gift of art Our studio and shop are here to nurture these exchanges.” A highlight of the boutique is the 115-year-old press that Esterlund that uses to print designs individually Colorful prints offer abstract designs and inspirational mantras while minimalist greeting cards share “happy birthday” and “congratulations” messages on cotton card stock “All of my greeting cards and all of my prints — they’re not digital prints,” Esterlund told ARLnow “They’re one-off prints or edition prints that I do letterpress.” The boutique also carries collages and products from local businesses, like Northern Virginia-based tea company Rough Seas Productions Esterlund told ARLnow she never imagined she would open a boutique during lockdown and after being laid off from a 25-year career where she led education programs at the National Museum of Asian Art “The idea for this business was born out of that year of all kinds of things happening in my personal and professional life and me really examining what really mattered to me,” she said Esterlund began taking online art classes during that time When she eventually discovered the letterpress she said she immediately knew what direction she wanted to take next “What I wanted to do was to produce something beautiful that could have the right words to connect people,” Esterlund said She started a three-year letterpress work exchange program in 2022 at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center where she familiarized herself with the medium through experimentation and practice She found a letterpress seller by word-of-mouth in the months leading up to her shop’s opening kept the machine long after her husband passed away “My partner and I got to know her and know the craft and got to hear some stories about her husband,” she said “It was just really nice connection for me and something that really matters to me.” Open to Being is Esterlund’s first brick-and-mortar location although she has sold her work independently at D.C.-area markets over the past year and a half Esterlund will offer group classes and events at the shop postcard writing and hand-bound notebook making She also intends to offer private letterpress instruction Esterlund hopes these activities encourage customers to relax reflect and connect with others — something referenced in the new boutique’s name “It’s important for me to be open to whatever the universe offers “It’s important that it’s a little abstract maybe it is a little open to interpretation Montgomery Parks and Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) completed a new fish passage project at the stream underpass of Piney Branch Road in the Long Branch community helping restore habitat for migratory fish and support local aquatic communities Funded through Purple Line mitigation project the work involved installing a new baseflow culvert with specialized “fins” to increase flow depth Species that will benefit from this project include the eastern blacknose dace further investments in water quality are expected to boost biodiversity along the stretch of Long Branch “This stream restoration project represents more than just an environmental responsibility — it reflects our community’s deep connection to this stream and our shared commitment to preserving it for future generations,” said Ray Biggs II senior project director the project raised the streambed and provided channel stability to enhance instream habitat and support aquatic biodiversity FREEHOLD — The former general manager of a West Long Branch motorcycle dealership has been charged with stealing almost $6,000 from the company was charged with third-degree theft by taking or exercising unlawful control over property The West Long Branch Police Department initiated the investigation which later included the Prosecutor’s Office More Local News: Teen boy charged in connection with Jones Road fire; More charges added for Waretown man and sales records revealed that Marra-Kaufmann had erroneously received additional paychecks on three separate occasions in late 2022 without authorization by the dealership’s executive leadership but never reported it,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in its statement The Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Unit found that around the same time Marra-Kaufmann’s had written a $3,300 check for the personal purchase of a motorcycle That prompted her to hide the loss under the guise of multiple bank fees Marra-Kaufmann never paid an $18,000 deposit owed and then conducted a series of transfers in the accounting system to cover up the loss the theft added up to slightly more than $27,000 Marra-Kaufmann was served a summons to appear in state Superior Court in Freehold with a first appearance tentatively scheduled to take place on June 10 The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Lawrence Nelsen director of the Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Unit Marra-Kaufmann is represented by Mitchell J Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com LONG BRANCH -- Kushner Cos.' new high-rise planned for the beachfront received final site plan approval Tuesday from the city's planning board both located at its Pier Village properties said it found the hotel plan no longer feasible and went back to the city with a revised plan for luxury condos earlier this year and was granted a redeveloper's agreement with the city that included no tax exemptions the city will receive $750,000 in redevelopment fees from Kushner Cos. which Mayor John Pallone said will be put to use in future city recreation projects Long Branch construction: After four years of court fights, this high-rise condo is ready to get built The approved plan is for 46 condos in a step-like building with a peak height of eight stories and two lower buildings of six and five floors built on top of a raised parking deck Amenities for future condo owners include a roof-top pool on the lowest deck and lounge areas with interspersed landscaping as the plan still needs to be memorialized by way of a resolution by the city council and Kushner Cos such as a state Coastal Area Facility Review Act permit Long Branch dining: MOGO brings its Korean tacos, fried chicken wings and more to Pier Village in Long Branch In 2018, Kushner Cos. received board approval to build a seven-story, 107 room oceanfront hotel. The next year it entered into a redeveloper's agreement to build the hotel which establishes requirements such as design guidelines is needed because the site is located in the Beachfront South Redevelopment Zone one of the zones established in 1996 to revitalize the city's beachfront When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor LONG BRANCH − Police have made arrests in the stabbing of a man Thursday on Broadway “Two suspects have been arrested and there are currently no active threats to the public," Charles Shirley Jr. The victim suffered injuries that were not life-threatening More: Jury finds salesman guilty of aggravated manslaughter in Jackson man's stabbing death Further details were not immediately available Ken Serrano covers crime Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com LONG BRANCH -- Last March Kushner Cos. put the shovel to the ground and tossed the proverbial dirt in the air launching the start of its transformative project to deliver 299 high-end apartments a Superfresh grocery market and a café to the neighborhood the steel has risen out of the ground and the sound of workers hammering nails pierces the air as the new buildings take shape on lower Broadway's two former barren blocks "Our first residential building is almost completely framed The foundation for the second building is nearing completion The steel and framing for the grocer building are well underway is putting a pair of four-story apartment buildings across from each other at the corner of Second Avenue and Broadway the first of which to go up is on Broadway's south side The Superfresh is closer to the corner of Liberty Street on the north side of Broadway Renovating in Long Branch: WindMill in the West End gets a new look Sommer said they project the first residential units will be ready for tenants in the spring of 2026 while the whole project could be completed by the end of the year Also part of the project was a change to the street pattern at the intersection of Second where Kushner put a small traffic circle at the "five corners," where the four streets meet "We’re very excited with the progress made throughout the winter and we look forward to completing this important 'Dream realized': See what Long Branch library looks like after $6.2M was poured in and sometimes contentious redevelopment plan designating several sections of the beachfront and lower Broadway as redevelopment zones While subsequent developers raced to the beachfront An early development group lost steam in the 2008 recession The roughly 54 properties on lower Broadway were then purchased by another developer After a squabble in court with the city over back taxes and property rights the partners were able to clear the landscape of the many derelict buildings before it decided to sell the properties to Kushner in 2018 Reach him @danielradelapp; dradel@gannettnj.com LONG BRANCH -- There will be a new chapter in the life of a building that's been an essential part of the Broadway streetscape since the early 1900s Father & son real estate developers Martin and Tomer Weber's plan to restore the former Long Branch Record building was approved by the city's Planning Board last week coupled with a redeveloper's agreement they inked with the city back in November clears the way for the building's reuse as high-end apartments above retail The four-story building with the archway entrance and brick façade was once used as the offices for city's hometown paper Monmouth County Property Records indicate the building was constructed in 1910 and some additional commercial space big enough for a possible cafe The Long Branch Record building is one block up from Kushner project Both are in the Lower Broadway redevelopment zone established in 1996 along with several zones at the beachfront to spur economic growth in the neighborhood The Tomers were approved for six apartments and 1,329-square feet of retail on the ground floor While a city can offer tax exemptions in a redevelopment zone no tax breaks were awarded for this project Mini pancakes covered in fun toppings are the newest addition to the dining scene at Long Branch's Pier Village founded by Shanyah Griffith-Rumph of Woodbridge Griffith-Rumph plans to open the store, her second, in early April. The first opened last summer on the boardwalk in Asbury Park (it reopens Friday More: Umi Hotpot Sushi & Seafood opening in Freehold. Here's what to expect "We chose Long Branch because we think Pier Village is absolutely stunning and such a fun place to hang out," she said Pier Village was on the list of places we wanted to be right behind Asbury Griffith-Rumph plans to keep both stores open year-round Buttermee Pancakes sells stacks of mini pancakes with toppings from traditional maple syrup strawberries and whipped cream to bacon crumbles Griffith-Rumph originally started the business on a smaller scale Dutch-style pancakes would be fun to offer at bridal showers it led to a spot in the Asbury Park farmers market she added cold brew coffee and frozen orange juice to complement the pancakes who paused her studies for a master's degree in clinical mental health to start the business donates a portion of Buttermee's proceeds to organizations focused on mental health Go: 8 Ocean Ave., Long Branch; buttermeepancakes.com. Also at 1100 Ocean Ave. Before they were the owners of one of Asbury Park's most popular restaurants Jason Devino and Samuel Chung were colleagues at a Lake Como engineering firm There were barriers surrounding the cuisine Traditional Korean dining could be intimidating for people unfamiliar with the food and there wasn't much of it available at the Shore "We really wanted Korean food to be close to home," said Devino Their solution was MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos a concept inspired by Los Angeles food trucks to deliver Korean barbecue in taco form MOGO opened in a converted shipping container on the Asbury Park boardwalk the menu features tacos and burritos filled with bulgogi (Korean barbecue-marinated ribeye) dak gui (soy and ginger-marinated chicken thighs) "I think we picked the right place at the right time," Devino said of opening in the city which at the time was several years into the redevelopment of the beachfront Superstorm Sandy damaged the container a few months later but Devino and Chung reopened and expanded to a 72-seat restaurant on Cookman Avenue As MOGO's popularity grew, so did their need for prep space, and the pair opened the Asbury Park Food Collective, a commercial kitchen where other food businesses and food trucks prep food of their own taking a 48-seat space previously occupied by The Corner Cafe and Bistro "We just thought it was a next step out of Asbury," said Chung "We're on the boardwalk (like the original MOGO) but with seating like Cookman." The area's walkability is a good match for MOGO's food Go: 10 Centennial Drive, Long Branch; eatmogo.com. LONG BRANCH -- A 10-story beachfront condo, long delayed by litigation, will at last be built following an appellate court decision that upheld a Superior Court ruling that found no wrongdoing on the part of the city and the developer Blackridge Realty accused the city of "spot zoning" because it contended the city extended significant benefits to Ocean 290's project in a beachfront redevelopment zone that were unavailable to others Blackridge then contended that a $2 million redevelopment fee paid to the city by Ocean 290 was illegal because the city lacked standards to determine the amount of the fee and that it was unrelated to the impact of 290 Ocean's project Long Branch is growing: See lower Broadway transformation as 299 apartments, supermarket get built Blackridge claimed that the plan could not be amended without its approval because it was a "designated developer" itself in the zone and had the authority to veto any plan amendments 290 Ocean proposed a redevelopment project to the city that would require an amendment to the design guidelines in the city's Beachfront South Redevelopment Zone one of several redevelopment zones created in 1996 to bring new investment to the beach The city then amended the guidelines to change the permissible building heights from 80 feet to 100 feet increase the allowable building coverage from 35% to 50% and eliminate the density limits in the zone which was recently completed and incorporated an historic Coca-Cola advertisement uncovered during an unrelated building tear-down on Third Avenue More: Long Branch's historic Coca-Cola sign, kept secret for a century, gets new, permanent home said municipalities can collect a redevelopment fee so long as the money is put to offset redevelopment costs The court also ruled that there isn't an explicit nexus requirement regarding the amount of payment a municipality may charge a redeveloper to defray its costs associated with redevelopment The court found the senior center project to be in accordance with law because it is located within close proximity to Ocean 290's site has been impacted by beachfront redevelopment and the fee was used to support the redevelopment within the municipality The court denied Blackridge's spot zoning argument and found the amendment consistent with the city's master plan for the beachfront, which has seen several new and tall luxury condo developments constructed within the redevelopment zones on the beach that were established in 1996. Changes in Long Branch: Renovated WindMill has new look, menu items court the court concluded that since Blackridge's project was complete it was no longer a "designated developer" entitled to vote on the plan amendment "The decision validates the city's position We believed that we were within our rights to be able to negotiate with a developer to the benefit of the city," city attorney Louis Rainone said LONG BRANCH -- Congregants of Holy Trinity Church of Christ the King Parish took part in the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday one of the most popular devotions practiced by Christians around the world The Stations of the Cross observes Jesus' passion and death on the cross There are 14 stations that depict a moment on his journey to Mount Calvary on the day of his crucifixion The practice began during Roman times as pilgrims traced Christ's path through Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa Each year millions of Christians worldwide participate in the devotion during the season of Lent DIGroup Architecture is marking the completion of a project that has restored and updated the historic Long Branch Free Public Library The firm was on hand recently for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the property noting that it now boasts enhanced functionality while still honoring its heritage the building is believed to be the last Carnegie library built with funds awarded by Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie Foundation making it ripe for a plan to both rehabilitate and modernize the space That included reimagining the local history collections room a redesigned circulation hub and flexible community areas DIG also created a custom display case enclosure to house Long Branch’s rich historical archives ensuring they remain protected while still visible to visitors Other new features include an arched glass entryway window as well as restored and new indoor columns accentuating the original ceiling DIG also pointed to the newly elevated ceiling revealing historic Carnegie windows and a traditional color palette infused with Long Branch’s signature green hues “Libraries are the heartbeat of the community and this project was about more than restoring a building — it was about reviving a legacy,” said Rich Alderiso DIG co-founding principal who was the Long Branch Free Public Library’s keynote speaker last week at its Celebration of Champions benefit “Our goal was to preserve the library’s architectural integrity while ensuring it continues to inspire and serve all who walk through its doors.” The Long Branch Free Public Library is one of three Carnegie-era library projects involving New Brunswick-based DIG where the firm established an office six years ago complimentary refreshments and commemorative gifts for new library cardholders has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Greek Real Estate Partners has gained a seal of approval for one of its key divisions thanks to a new accreditation from the Institute of Real Estate Management All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy This story was updated to add new information and a photo TOWNSEND - Many Townsend residents will long for the days of "warm beer lousy service" after a longtime bar was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning co-owner of Long Branch Saloon in northern Oconto County with her cousin "We’re still doing everything with insurance but we are definitely hoping (to rebuild) with it being such a staple in the town," Kelly said Thursday Kelly said she is hoping a new structure to replace the one that was around 130 years old could be up "no more than a year" from now lousy service" motto is currently more like "hot beer and no service." Smoke was discovered in the men's bathroom of the Long Branch Saloon that Sunday as staff was closing up for the night Fire departments responded to the scene and found a blaze in the basement crawl space under the building, according a Facebook post by the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department Townsend Fire Department Chief Dawn Herlache said the fire was related to a space heater that was placed in the crawl space but no official determination has been if it involves wiring or other aspects "They were having issues with water pipes froze up in the bathroom so they were trying to thaw them out," Herlache said "That’s the component that the insurance company is investigating right now." Crews worked in the below-freezing temperatures where wind chills reached around -30 degrees for nearly 12 hours which the department said "added to the challenge of the fire." but some equipment was damaged due to the cold Assistance came from all across the area with support provided by fire departments from the towns of Doty as well as Oconto County Emergency Management Oconto County Sheriff's Department and Lakewood Townsend Community Ambulance Service Mike's Supermarket and Little Tipsy Bar & Grill provided food for the firefighters and offered them a place to warm up "(The firefighters) were out in the cold for 12 hours; it was pretty impressive," said Monica Zeller and you see that when you live in a small community You can sit and watch your neighbors fighting for your town like that." Zeller said the saloon "meant everything to our community." "It was a huge piece of history with a building standing for over 130 years," she said Kelly Branch and Eric Branch took the bar over in July 2021 from Kelly's parents who was called Buck and operated the business as Bucks Fort while immediately afterward it shifted out of family's hands for a tenure as Hank's Corner Bar the building built up generations of memories Kelly said "a lot of people do call it home every day." She said "an abundance of people" have reached out in the aftermath encouraging them to rebuild as a place where regulars attended benefits dart tournaments and contributed to Toys for Tots drives because they know us and it’s pretty much a family LONG BRANCH−A Brazilian national wanted for failing to appear in Brazil to serve a long sentence for drug trafficking was arrested in Long Branch on Friday Brazilian authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of the man ICE did not release details on his ties to Long Branch 10-month sentence when he returns to Brazil This wasn't Da Luz's first encounter with immigration officers The border patrol served Da Luz a notice to appear then released him on his own recognizance More: Ocean County to defy Murphy and work with ICE, seeks more state aid to educate undocumented Information on any legal representation he has was not provided The FBI assisted with his arrest in Long Branch 3vs1UCLA 3 UCLA 3-1 In Sold Out Walter Pyramid2/7/2025 10:15:00 PM | Men's Volleyball Long Beach State played a gritty four-set match against the Bruins and came out victorious 1 Long Beach State continued their undefeated season with a win over No Long Beach State ran away with the lead to finish two fast paced sets and take the match 3-1 as the Long Beach State blockers held the Bruins to a .304 hitting percentage Long Beach State played three set points and had to fight off a service ace that shot UCLA to 20-24 A service error by the Bruins ended the set 25-21 in favor of Long Beach State Moni Nikolov could not be stopped from the service line as he hit three service aces to start the fourth set Nikolov hit a kill from the overpass to snatch the momentum right back Nikolov aided in a triple block to put the Beach up 20-16 Long Beach State reached match point thanks to a hit off the block by Siapanis and a service error from the Bruins closed out the match 25-22 Long Beach State will head to Pauley Pavilion to face the Bruins in a rematch between the two Top 5 programs on Wednesday The Long Branch Parks Initiative began in 2022 to examine all 10 parks and ensure improvements to the entire network reflect the community’s wants and needs The initiative aims to connect the community to safe and welcoming parks with inviting amenities and programs while connecting habitats and environmental resources “We worked closely with the Long Branch community to understand the needs of its diverse residents and incorporate feedback we heard during our extensive outreach efforts,” said Miti Figueredo Parks staff gathered input and continued to build important relationships in the community through bi-lingual (English and Spanish) outreach including door-to-door canvassing “Thank you to Montgomery Parks for the Long Branch Parks Initiative staff have been in the community connecting with residents to make sure those who live near the parks are part of the decision-making process about the future of the parks said Montgomery County Council Vice President Kate Stewart “I appreciate the holistic approach parks has taken to address the needed open and conserved space for residents of all ages and backgrounds.” “We have been working closely with Montgomery Parks over many years and we have seen first-hand how their spirited and imaginative efforts in Long Branch have transformed that space into the vibrant town square of commercial Long Branch,” said Paul Grenier “We are excited to see similar vibrancy brought to other Long Branch parks as a result of this initiative.” The ten parks included in the Long Branch Parks Initiative are: For more details on the Long Branch Parks Initiative, including future enhancements for the parks please read the full Long Branch report (accessible PDF) About Montgomery Parks Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland Montgomery Parks is focused on promoting physical activity especially in diverse and urbanizing areas Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. 2425 Reedie Drive, 12th Floor Wheaton, MD 20902Call Montgomery Parks Customer Service: (301) 495-2595 the city's beloved and award-winning library director who gave a few remarks to the large gathering moments before the ribbon was cut Thursday and everyone flooded the rooms to see the library's new look "We've looked forward to this day for a very long time," he said The early feedback from the public was positive who took her two preschool-age daughters to Barnes & Noble in Eatontown during the renovations said the new look to the second floor children's section creates a space that is "more engaging to the kids." Long Branch: Asbury Park's Buttermee Pancakes coming to Pier Village The section has rows of shelves with children's books and a marine life-themed sitting area painted with manta rays and a blue whale featuring felt acoustic ceiling accents colored green to look like sea kelp including a new history room surrounded by all glass windows and doors Inside a mural depicts the seven presidents who visited and stayed in Long Branch when the city was used as summer resort by the presidents in the 19th and early 20th centuries such as a black-and-white photo of a city's championship football team from 1896 How we got here: Long Branch historian's last gift peps up library history room in midst of $6.2M makeover "We're here today not just to celebrate the expansion of the library but to reflect on the impact this institution has had on the community for the last 100 years and the fulfillment of a vision to establish this library as one of the best in the nation," Garcia said Two years ago the library received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities Long Branch: Century-old building in the West End could be replaced with apartments, shops The library was started in the late 19th century by 30 women who originally opened it in what is now the Ace Pharmacy building on Broadway the small library soon grew too big and land was purchased at 328 Broadway for the new library the library was incorporated when it received a $30,000 grant from steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie who dedicated the last two decades of his life to philanthropy including giving millions of dollars to fund public libraries The original Carnegie section was restored during the renovation A development team has secured more than $250 million in financing for a plan to bring 132 lavish condominiums to the Atlantic Ocean shoreline in Long Branch Madison Realty Capital and Unity Capital are providing the funds for what will be known as The Atlantic Club It’s a key step for a development that’s slated to welcome its first residents in late 2026 with plans calling for two towers at 390 Ocean Ave and floorplans ranging from one to five bedrooms plus more than 75,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity space Rich Cooney and Anthony D’Amelio of Iron Hound Management Co arranged the capital structure on behalf of the ownership team which includes Stillman Development International LLC Surrey Equities and Gotham City Real Estate “The closing of this capital structure represents a deep validation of the vision artistic merit and execution capabilities of the development team,” said Roy Stillman president of Stillman Development International “This project will set the new standard for excellence for all development work in the region There is an untapped demand for a world-class condominium experience here on the Jersey Shore and the project’s sales velocity bears this out.” The Atlantic Club will have high-end condos ranging from 993 to 4,246 square feet with many offering unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean electric vehicle chargers and a fitness center with dedicated studios for spinning The developers have also focused on art and culture as a central piece of the project owner of the Cristina Grajales Gallery in Manhattan’s TriBeCa neighborhood is serving as curator and has engaged the renowned French glass sculptor Christophe Côme and Hechizoo’s Jorge Lizarazo one of the world’s leading textile and tapestry artists to create new works commissioned specifically for The Atlantic Club “As the exclusive marketing and sales broker for The Atlantic Club we are thrilled about this significant milestone for the project,” said Sonja Cullaro executive vice president with Christie’s International Real Estate Group “This highly anticipated project is set to redefine oceanfront living in Long Branch showcasing the transformative potential of this prime location and offering future residents a unique blend of luxury Stillman breaks ground on 132-unit oceanfront condo project in Long Branch FREEHOLD − Authorities have charged two Long Branch men with murder in the stabbing of a city man on Friday each drew murder and weapons charges in the killing of 35-year-old Eren Kurkcu in Long Branch Long Branch police were called to the 200 block of Broadway on the report of a stabbing Patrol officers found Kurkcu with several stab wounds where he died from his injuries the next day The Major Crimes Bureau of the prosecutor's office and the Long Branch Police Department found that Faust and Rivera-Cosme were responsible for the stabbing More: Long Branch teen's convictions and 150-year prison term in family massacre upheld by court Attorney information for the two men was not immediately available Both are being held at Monmouth County Jail in Freehold Township Santiago is urging anyone with information on the crime to call Detective Joseph Mason of the prosecutor's office at 800-533-7443 or Long Branch Detective Kevin Morris at 732-222-1000 WEST LONG BRANCH−Police are looking for a man who robbed a gas station on Monmouth Road at knifepoint Tuesday night Officers went to the BP gasoline station at 373 Monmouth Road about 10:40 p.m More: 'I'm so sorry': accused Wall bank robber tells cop who caught him as he drops cash An employee there said that a man wearing all-black clothes and a blue medical mask brandished a small knife and demanded cash out of the register FREEHOLD – A Long Branch fugitive has been arrested in Georgia after a fatal shooting that took place one year ago second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon (firearm) and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose authorities responded to the area of Brighton Avenue between Ocean Boulevard and 2nd Avenue for a report of a shooting they found a 31-year-old male resident of Long Branch who had been shot The investigation identified Montes as the initial shooter gunfire was exchanged between other individuals a 32-year-old male resident of Brick Township That individual took himself to a local hospital for treatment and was later released Montes remains in custody in Georgia awaiting extradition pending proceedings to be held in Monmouth County Superior Court Santiago urged anyone with information about this matter to contact MCPO Detective Josh Rios at 800-533-7443 or Long Branch Police Department Detective Joe Pannullo at 732-222-1000 WEST LONG BRANCH - Patrolman David Brosonski had only one thought when he heard the panicked cries from a terrified 11-year-old boy who had fallen through the ice on Franklin Lake give him the help he needed and bring him back in,'" Brosonski said The frightened boy was yelling that he couldn't feel his arms or feet when officers arrived but Brosonski called back that he was going to be all right: Brosonski was coming in after him The boy made it about 75 yards in from the south side of the icy lake before falling through a weak spot in the ice West Long Branch Police Chief Marlowe Botti said in a press conference Tuesday A resident called police and officers responded in less than a minute though they weren't sure how long the boy was in the water for "[They] immediately jumped into action," Botti said While Brosonski - an instructor with the Monmouth County Police Academy for water rescue - has been training for over 17 years for moments like this "I would have gone in no matter what for anyone there are always residents and kids on the ice even though it's untested the ice was thick enough to where residents were ice skating there daily it only takes minutes before hypothermia starts setting in "My focus was on the boy that was out in the lake." though there are spots that can get up to seven feet deep Brosonski said the ice was probably three inches thick Brosonski was probably in the water for a couple minutes was brought to a local hospital as a precaution Brosonski said he joined the force to help people and it validates his work when he can help someone Brosonski stressed that it is never safe to go on untested ice "It doesn't matter how old you are...it doesn't matter the level of experience you have with swimming." Tonight's meeting location will be at the APS Syphax Building We are pleased to announce expanded hours at the Long Branch and Gulf Branch Nature Centers which aim to enhance community access to nature and environmental education to six days a week The new winter hours at both Long Branch Nature Center and Gulf Branch Nature Center are: This expansion allows our Conservation and Interpretation (C&I) unit to better serve Arlington’s community-- offering popular nature classes on topics like flying squirrels The extended hours also create opportunities for students and working individuals to engage in weekend drop-in visits and weekday programs promoting connections to nature in Arlington Main AddressEllen M. Bozman Government Center 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201 View Map View other County government locations Questions? Need help? Contact the County and learn who to call Sign up for Inside Arlington to get updates and information on projects still needs to bring its plan before the Planning Board for site plan approval but the first major hurdle was cleared Wednesday when the city OK'd a new Redeveloper's Agreement Mayor John Pallone said the new proposal is "a smaller and less intense project," that will "bring in substantially more ratables for the city," adding that "there will absolutely be no tax abatement for this project." The city will receive $750,000 in redevelopment fees from Kushner Cos. which Pallone said will be put to use in future city recreation projects Demolition days: Kushner demolishes buildings for Onada Surf Club, next Long Branch resort In 2018, Kushner Cos. received board approval to build a seven-story, 107 room oceanfront hotel. The next year it entered into a redeveloper's agreement to build the hotel said it found the hotel plan no longer feasible and went back to the city with a revised plan for luxury condos "We’re always considering the highest and best use for each of our properties and we feel that a luxury condo project is the best option," said Michael Sommer Kushner founder: Charles Kushner, who Trump tapped for French Ambassador appointment, has Long Branch home is proposing calls for 46 luxury condo units and related amenities such as an outdoor pool The garage would be used by the condo owners as well as hotel guests at the Wave Resort which is across the street of Pier Village a mix of residential apartments and condos restaurants and boutique shops also owned by Kushner Cos Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com FREEHOLD - An appellate court today upheld the conviction and 150-year prison term for Scott Kologi sister and surrogate grandmother with his brother's assault rifle at the family's New Year's Eve party in 2017 Mawla of the Appellate Division of Superior Court rejected 10 arguments put forth by Kologi's attorneys seeking to overturn his conviction and sentence Chief among the arguments was that the sentencing judge did not adequately consider Kologi's youth and mental limitations in imposing a "grossly excessive sentence.'' the longtime companion of his grandfather whom he considered his grandmother all gathered at the family's Long Branch home for a New Year's Eve party in convicting Kologi of four counts of murder rejected an insanity defense put forth by his attorneys They argued at Kologi's 2022 trial that he is autistic and schizophrenic and was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the massacre The defense argued in its appeal that Superior Court Judge Marc C in sentencing Kologi to 150 years in prison the fact that his mother rebuffed his request for mental health treatment and that his brother left a loaded assault rifle next to his bed Kologi was tried as an adult because of the seriousness of the offenses the appellate judges cited evidence that Kologi planned the murders methodically chose whom to kill and whom to spare and then disarmed himself and waited in his bedroom for police to arrive "These facts outweighed the limited evidence showing defendant sought mental health treatment presented through his aunt's testimony,'' the judges wrote in their opinion The panel noted what Lemieux said in sentencing Kologi: "These acts that the defendant was involved with are clearly the acts of an evil man with an evil spirit with an intention to kill as many people in his path.'' Kologi will not become eligible for parole until he has served 127 years "The trial judge emphasized his intention was that 'defendant never sees the light of the outside of a jail cell ever again,'' the appellate panel noted Upon learning of the appellate court decision Lomurro vowed to appeal to the state Supreme Court and the easier thing to do is walk away and say Scott was a 16-year-old autistic boy with many issues that went ignored The Asbury Park Press has reached out to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office for comment and is waiting to hear back The appellate judges also rejected defense arguments that Lemieux improperly allowed the jury to view Kologi's videotaped confession The defense argued the confession should have been excluded because an older brother who acted as the defendant's guardian during the police questioning had a conflict of interest "The record supports the court's conclusion the brother acted with defendant's best interests in mind,'' the appellate judges wrote supported the defendant and ensured that he understood his rights Defendant's rights were not violated by the brother counseling him to tell the truth.'' Kologi gave detectives a detailed account of the massacre telling them he took his brother's assault rifle loaded a total of 30 bullets into two magazines and turned out the lights in his room so his mother wouldn't see him when she came to look for him minutes before midnight Kologi told detectives he shot her five to seven times in the chest and torso and then shot his father in the back when he came upstairs to see what was going on Kologi said he went downstairs and pumped four bullets into Shulz before turning the gun on his sister and shooting her three times in the chest and head Kologi also told the detectives about experiencing bizarre hallucinations since he was a child He said he felt like he was watching a movie as he was killing his family members testified the teen told his mother he wanted to talk to a therapist about thoughts of harming his family argued to the jury that Kologi knew exactly what he was doing when he loaded the assault rifle and pulled its trigger 14 times while aiming at family members Kologi is serving his term at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties WindMill Hot Dogs has stood at the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Montgomery Avenue in Long Branch for more than 60 years — and this year Owner Ralph Epstein, who took over the iconic hot dog business from longtime owners the Levine family in 2022 peeled back layers of the restaurant's interior The red and white interior has a "retro modern" feel, he said. It is a look he plans to replicate at WindMill's Belmar location, and eventually in Brick, which is opening at 905 Route 70 North The Ocean Boulevard restaurant will host a grand opening The changes were part of a larger plan to bring more efficiency to the decades-old restaurant from giving the cooks more room in the kitchen and bringing in new cooking equipment to opening up the customer-facing grill area "I built this store to bring us into the next 60 years We're really trying to show everybody what we can do in the space that we've got." That space is 800 square feet at the bottom of a windmill-topped restaurant known for its griddled ¼-pound beef and pork Sabrett hot dogs which are made especially for the WindMill Diners can eat at a counter inside or tables at the base of the windmill including a boiled beef "push cart" hot dog and relishes He tasked a chef from Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune which he owns and operates with his family a corn salsa and improving WindMill's pickle salsa "We just really to show (people) what we can do in a new environment," Epstein said Go: 586 Ocean Blvd., Long Branch; 732-229-9863, windmillhotdogs.com. LONG BRANCH -- Kushner Companies wants to swap out its plan to build a seven-story 107 room oceanfront hotel next to Pier Village for an eight-story luxury condo building instead Based on a new agreement it's seeking; Kushner Cos said the hotel plan was no longer economically feasible The hotel would've been Kushner's third hotel at the beachfront along with the Wave Resort and the Bungalow Hotel which are both located inside Pier Village Kushner Cos.' representatives were not immediately available for comment UPDATE TO THIS STORY: Long Branch, Kushner dump Onada hotel plan, sign deal for 46 luxury oceanfront condos The Mayor and City Council will vote Wednesday to approve the change and grant a new redeveloper's agreement The redevelopment plan excludes tax exemptions City attorney Louis Rainone said if the mayor and council approve the new agreement will need to go back to the Planning Board for site plan approval More: Charles Kushner, who Trump tapped for French Ambassador appointment, has Long Branch home Kushner Cos. assembled the 1.8 acre property for the now proposed condo building in four land purchases at the corner of Morris and Ocean avenues between 2017 and 2021 spent approximately $11.5 million to purchase the properties which contained three houses and a 1950s-era motel Kushner then leveled the properties in anticipation of building the Onada Surf Club, which it received board approval for in 2018. In 2019 it entered into a redeveloper's agreement with the city for the hotel If You GoThe regular meeting of the mayor and council will start at 7:30 p.m (This story was updated to add a photo gallery) WEST LONG BRANCH−A borough patrolman rescued an 11-year-old boy who fell through the ice of Franklin Lake Monday afternoon West Long Branch Police Chief Marlowe Botti said Patrolman David Brosonski went to the call shortly after 2:40 p.m The boy fell through the ice in the middle of the lake trudged through the icy water and brought the boy to shore More: 'It was huge': Belmar fire spreads, damages several structures and injures three The West Long Branch Fire Department and First Aid Squad also responded LONG BRANCH -- A plan to redevelop an aging 1910-era building at the corner of Brighton and Sairs avenues in the city's West End is scheduled to be heard by the Zoning Board this Monday evening The building is located at 145-147 Brighton Ave It is presently a two-story building with ground-floor retail that includes a sports apparel shop a real estate agent and a former dental office The building is next to Jack's Goal Line Stand The family is proposing a mixed-use building with 1,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space and three floors of apartments above The residential units proposed are two-bedroom units There would be four apartments to each floor for a total of 12 residential units The building would have 24 on-site parking spots a sun deck on the roof and a residential lobby on the ground floor The family is seeking a variance for the building as they are proposing a 40-foot and currently the zoning heights in the West End are capped at 38 feet and three floors Long Branch development: City and Kushner dump Onada hotel plan, sign deal for 46 luxury oceanfront condos have been sold or knocked down in the last several years of redevelopment