MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Authorities are searching for 17-year-old Jesse Wills, who was last seen on Wednesday in the Pine Lake Park neighborhood, according to the Manchester Township Police Department Wills was reported missing after he was last spotted in the area of Third Avenue on April 23 and a black baseball cap at the time of his disappearance Manchester police said “numerous investigative steps have already been taken” to locate the teen The department is asking for the public’s help and has issued a public advisory for any information that could assist in locating him The case has prompted increased patrols and search coordination in and around the Pine Lake Park area Officers have also been in contact with nearby agencies and community members in their efforts to track down any possible leads No further details about the circumstances of Jesse’s disappearance have been released Authorities have not indicated whether foul play is suspected or if Jesse left voluntarily Police are continuing to investigate and are encouraging anyone who may have seen Jesse or has any relevant information to reach out immediately no sightings or credible tips have been reported to law enforcement The Manchester Township Police Department emphasized the urgency of the situation and said all information could be helpful in locating the missing teen The department provided a direct contact line for leads: 732-657-6111 © 2008-2025 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd 2025 at 5:30 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Pine Lake Park will have focused traffic enforcement to bring reckless driving under control NJ — Manchester Township police will be conducting focused traffic enforcement in Pine Lake Park to address reckless driving The enforcement is planned for April 14-20 "This effort is in response to multiple concerns we’ve received about things like aggressive driving "Traffic safety isn’t just about enforcement," Manchester police said Our goal isn’t just to write everyone tickets it’s to prevent violations from happening in the first place we’re hoping everyone will be good neighbors The police department posted a graphic pointing out the common violations under New Jersey Title 39 that the police department will be enforcing "Knowing the rules helps keep things running smoothly — and helps you avoid a potential summons," the police department said "Let’s all do our part to keep Pine Lake Park safe!" Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Koal Oberfell pitched the win and struck out 11 in four innings He allowed three runs on three hits and four walks He also finished with a double and two RBI Eli Abraham ripped a double and finished with three runs and two RBI who were postponed against Sebeka on Monday They were scheduled to face Walker-Hackensack-Akeley on Tuesday VERNDALE — Shawn Schmitz finished 3-3 with a double two runs and four RBI as Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale topped Pine River-Backus 12-1 in the season opener Thursday Koal Oberfell and Andrew Volk belted a double apiece for PR-B Volk was the losing pitcher for the Tigers WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP – A 25-year-old man was caught right after sexually assaulting a child at an Oakland County park in the middle of the night Officers from West Bloomfield Township said they saw a car at Pine Lake Park on West Long Lake Road around 1 a.m The officer said two people were near the car: a 12-year-old girl and a 25-year-old Detroit man The man was identified as Joshua Charston Brown-Hill Police said they learned that he “had just engaged in alleged criminal sexual conduct with the minor child.” Brown-Hill was arrested on suspicion of raping the girl and charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was arraigned Friday and given a $3 million bond. “I commend the diligence of the West Bloomfield officer who saw and intervened in this crime,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said. “Those who target children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Brown-Hill remains in the Oakland County Jail. Officials said the charges stem from crimes that happened dating back to June 1, 2024. A probable cause conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 29, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 5. The girl was brought back to her parents. She has since received medical attention, police said. There is no danger to the public, according to officials. Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Derick is the Digital Executive Producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Sign In Subscribe Now The Yukon government is planning upgrades to Pine Lake Campground over a five-year development to improve the site’s infrastructure and recreational offerings according to a Yukon government proposal before the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YEASB).  The proposal indicates that the government plans to build 16 new vehicle-accessible campsites involving approximately 350 metres of additional roadway Six walk-in camping sites with tent pads are also part of the government’s plan to upgrade the Pine Lake campground Each new campsite will include standard amenities like firepits Walk-in campsites will have foot access paths that connect them to parking areas and roads and a nine-hole disc golf course is expected to be developed within the connecting Pine Creek trail network The Yukon government’s development plans for the site include establishing a year-round multi-use trail measuring 1,500 metres and re-routing the Pine Creek trail to 600 metres a footbridge or boardwalk will be installed across the low-lying area of the trail The proposal states that trails will be surfaced with wood chips or filled with geotextiles a type of fabric commonly used in construction, when required The development proposal submitted to YESAB also includes a new campground kiosk and cultural installation Other upgrades include additional outhouses along with interpretive signage that provides educational information along trails and within the campground area the government reported that the campground approximately five kilometres from Haines Junction saw just over 9,000 visitors in 2023 The planned construction of additional campsites aligns with Yukon Parks' 2020 Strategy which aims to increase camping opportunities within the network of territorial campgrounds The timing of individual development components will depend on assessment and regulatory processes and funding availability collaboration with Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN) will play a role in determining the project's timeline The Pine Lake campground experiences peak activity during the snow-free season locals also frequent it in the winter for cross-country skiing the Pine Lake campground includes 42 campsites a dock and a day-use area equipped with a kitchen shelter To mitigate compromising or destroying heritage resources through development work the proposal highlights that the Yukon government shall seek opportunities to work with and engage staff from Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Yukon Tourism and Culture during construction phases of the project The Pine Lake recreation park development overlaps with a registered trapline concession and an outfitting concession but no impact on these activities is expected given the area's high human presence and proximity to residential properties The environmental assessment highlighted the importance of Pine Lake as a winter habitat for the endangered little brown bat species Mitigation measures include avoiding construction near bat shelters and maintaining existing bat boxes to protect the bats' winter roosting areas The removal of trees and ground clearing activities could lead to wildlife and habitat loss lynx and bears usually avoid hazards making them less vulnerable may be more prone to directly being impacted by development activities Birds are considered low risk in the proposal but nesting birds may suffer if their nests are damaged during the nesting season Tree removal and ground cover disturbance will be avoided during bird nesting season Early nesting bird nests will be protected Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines. highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person Share LinkPine Lake Park Is A Lakeside Waterpark In Indiana That’s The Perfect Place To Spend A Summer’s DayPine Lake Water Park in Berne is a historic and affordable summer destination with numerous attractions Pine Lake Water Park in Indiana is a must-do for pretty much everyone - so pack up the sunblock and let's go this is a sterilized version of Pine Lake's beginning; the full story is full of twists and turns Pine Lake Water Park/FacebookBut really what matters the most is this: Pine Lake Water Park is easily one of the single best places to go in Indiana during summer There are a few things that have remained consistent during the life of this legendary local getaway Pine Lake Water Park/FacebookOne it's always been one of the most beloved things to do among locals full of new ideas and state-of-the-art fun stuff how is it that this popular water park in Indiana seems to still fly under the radar for anyone not near the town of Berne Pine Lake Water Park/FacebookWe're not sure, but we hope to change that: this delightful little hidden gem deserves to be one of the top attractions in the Hoosier State. The sheer number of fun things to do while you're here is almost ridiculous, considering how low the entry fees are. you won't be spending $40+ per person to experience Pine Lake Water Park Pine Lake Water Park/FacebookWe strongly suggest arriving bright and early As strangely lesser-known as it is for the rest of the state the folks who live nearby the park absolutely LOVE it Pine Lake Water Park is truly one of the best summer destinations in Indiana Pine Lake Water Park/FacebookCheck out this overview of Pink Lake Waterpark: Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... This Airbnb with a fishing pond in Louisiana is an angler's paradise. The two-acre, catch-and-release oasis is stocked with bass, bream, and catfish. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! MANCHESTER — An Ocean County man has been sentenced to time in state prison for an anti-Semitic crime spree that destroyed the new home of a young Hispanic family admitted earlier this year that he was responsible for vandalizing 14 houses in his hometown of Manchester on June 6 according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office The graffiti spree targeted a Jewish neighborhood Carr also set fire to a house in the Pine Lake Park section of town Three homes and trees nearby were also damaged but no one was hurt Carr pleaded guilty on June 20 Carr was sentenced on Friday to seven years in state prison on the arson charge He also received five years on one count of bias intimidation and 18 months for criminal mischief however the sentences will run concurrently Carr said to police that he thought the home would be turned into a school after it burnt down He believed he was "saving the neighborhood" from its Jewish residents which he called an "infestation." "It’s my hope he’ll get the help he needs," Carr's defense attorney Shane Paugh said to NJ.com Angel and Brenda Rivas are rebuilding after they lost their new home in the June 7 The structure was under construction and burnt down to its foundation The mayor, a local councilman, a member of the school board, business owners, and several Orthodox Jewish community members got together to help. They created the Rebuild RIVAS Pine Lake Park Coalition A GoFundMe was also created to raise money for the new home Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom Gallery Credit: Eric Scott Ron Carr, of Manchester, NJ, has been sentenced to state prison for an anti-Semitic crime spree and home fire in June 2023.\nRead More Carr pleaded guilty on June 20 "It’s my hope he’ll get the help he needs," Carr's defense attorney Shane Paugh said to NJ.com The mayor, a local councilman, a member of the school board, business owners, and several Orthodox Jewish community members got together to help. They created the Rebuild RIVAS Pine Lake Park Coalition A GoFundMe was also created to raise money for the new home In the early morning hours of June 7th 2023 a young Hispanic Family were the victims of an awful hate crime Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom 2024 at 5:55 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}This composite sketch was released by Manchester police in an attempt to identify a suspect in an assault that happened in Pine Lake Park NJ — Manchester Township police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man they say is a possible suspect in an assault in Pine Lake Park and police said that after numerous investigative steps and attempts to identify the suspect released the composite sketch in hope of producing tips Police did not provide details of the assault and said "We want to emphasize that there is no potential harm to the public at this time and our primary goal is to identify and locate the individual involved." The suspect is described as a Hispanic male "The suspect may have a small tribal tattoo of a triangle on his left hand," police said Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Richard Conklin at 732-657-2009 Tips can be sent to the department through its social media pages and can be submitted anonymously through the tip line on the police department's website MANCHESTER−Police are looking for help from the public to find a possible suspect in a May 31 assault in the Pine Lake Park section of the township Police described the possible suspect as a Hispanic man between 41 and 50 years old with a medium build Detectives took several steps in its investigation before the department sought the public's help and released the composite sketch Police stressed the public is not in harm's way as it is believed to be an isolated incident Ken Serrano covers breaking news Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com Manchester Mayor Rob Arace has announced the opening of the Pine Lake Park Splash Pad located on Lake Drive at the end of Lockhart Street (off of Rt 571/Ridgeway Road is now open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Thanks to the diligent efforts of the Public Works and Recreation Departments, along with Manchester’s Water Utility Division the splash pad has undergone significant repairs and upgrades and spray heads have been fixed to ensure a seamless and fun experience for all visitors The park offers picnic tables and ample parking making it a perfect spot for family outings The use of the splash pad is free for Manchester residents young children must be accompanied by an adult to ensure safety Mayor Arace expressed his enthusiasm for the project “Thanks to the combined efforts of our Public Works and Recreation Departments and Manchester’s Water Utility Division the pad’s been repaired and repainted and everything is ready for you and the children.” Residents are encouraged to visit and have a really COOL summer at the newly reopened splash pad 2024 at 12:31 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The intersection of Commonwealth Boulevard and Beacon Street has a traffic signal that is operating NJ — Manchester Township police are warning drivers to be aware of a new traffic signal on Commonwealth Boulevard in Pine Lake Park The intersection has been the site of multiple crashes in the last few years The new signal was installed just over two years after a full signal became operational at the intersection of Commonwealth and Northampton boulevards "Please use additional caution while approaching this intersection and follow all traffic controls 2024 at 6:05 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Ron Carr who admitted burning down a Pine Lake Park home because "the Jews are ruining everything" has been sentenced to state prison in the 2023 spree (Ocean County Corrections website)TOMS RIVER NJ — A Manchester Township man who vandalized 14 homes and set fire to one because he believed "the Jews are ruining everything" has been sentenced to 7 years in prison in the crime spree in Pine Lake Park was sentenced Friday to 7 years in state prison for his guilty plea to arson in the spree of incidents that happened in Manchester on June 6 and 7 Ryan sentenced Carr to five years in prison on the charge of bias intimidation and 18 months in prison on two counts of criminal mischief in the incidents Carr pled guilty to the charges before Ryan on June 20 According to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by Patch Carr was initially arrested as he was found walking near Commonwealth Boulevard less than an hour after the fire was reported dressed in clothing matching that of a suspect seen on Ring camera at one of the vandalized homes Carr had "multiple encounters with the Manchester Police Department," Detective Patrick Cervenak wrote in the affidavit police could smell the odor of gasoline on his clothing Police had received numerous calls about houses being vandalized with 14 homes spray-painted with graffiti including hearts names and "other miscellaneous words," in red and silver on "front doors and on driveways," the affidavit said.A fire was reported at a First Avenue house at 3:11 a.m. and about half an hour later received a call about a suspicious person walking near Commonwealth Boulevard When police found the suspicious person — identified as Carr — he was wearing the clothing seen on the person in the Ring video at one of the vandalized homes Carr was carrying a backpack and initially took out a baseball bat that he used to menace police before he was forcefully arrested Carr told police he spray-painted the homes to "keep sneaky penguins out," and when Cervenak asked for clarification "as to who the 'sneaky penguins,' were Carr said he sprayed red hearts on homes because he "felt bad for the people who were not part of the Jewish community," along with the names of his daughters Carr "made multiple anti-Semitic statements stating that the 'Jews are ruining the world,' that 'they are bad for the environment,' and that 'they should be a dying breed,' " Cervenak wrote Carr — whose statement was video and audiotaped — confessed to starting the fire at the First Avenue home saying he poured gasoline on wood inside the home and lit it with a cigarette lighter then threw the gasoline can in the basement That description matched what arson investigators found Carr told Cervenak and Officer Jordan Weed "he started this fire because he was 'saving the neighborhood' " and said the house would become a school or "prayerland" and "destroy everything," the affidavit said was destroyed in the fire and three additional homes suffered heat damage and flames spread to a wooded area behind the house 2024 at 3:46 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Patch has compiled a list of some popular public spray grounds (Shutterstock)NEW JERSEY — Summer is in full swing which means New Jersey residents and their families are likely looking for the best ways to beat the heat on those sweltering sunny days While communities throughout the Garden State offer a range of summer activities for families arguably one of the best ways to cool down is by taking a trip to the local splash pad or spray grounds Most of these facilities are free to enjoy Patch has compiled a list of some popular public spray grounds Asbury Park Splash Park - Monmouth County Brennan Field Spray Park - Union County (registration required) Carver Park Splash Pad - Bergen County Colonial Spray Park - Somerset County Cottrell Farm Spray Park - Middlesex County Fasola Park Splash Pad - Gloucester County John C. Bartlett Jr. County Park Spray Park - Ocean County Manalapan Recreation Center Splash Pad - Monmouth County Newport Green - Hudson County Pine Lake Park & Playground - Ocean County Pirate’s Cove at Turkey Brook Park - Morris County The Splash Zone - Bergen County (entry fee required) Veterans Park Spray Park and Playground - Middlesex County Watsessing Park Spray Park - Essex County Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ—The Manchester Township Police Department is seeking public assistance to locate missing 14-year-old Isabella Zayas She was wearing a white shirt with either blue or red horizontal stripes and black loose-fitting shorts at the time of her disappearance Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement to find her Isabella’s current location remains unknown Anyone with information regarding Isabella Zayas’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Manchester Township Police Department at 732-657-6111 2024 at 1:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Cody A Diaz was arrested after a resident reported seeing a suspicious person in the neighborhood (Ocean County Corrections website)MANCHESTER NJ — A Toms River man has been arrested in connection with a series of vehicle burglaries in Pine Lake Park was arrested Wednesday after a Pine Lake Park resident saw a man matching the description of a person sought in burglaries that had happened Tuesday There were nearly a dozen vehicle burglaries reported in Pine Lake Park on Tuesday and police released video surveillance showing the suspect in the act and asking for information about the person's identity a resident saw a man behaving suspiciously who matched the description and called police The officers who responded found Diaz had a bicycle that had been reported stolen on Tuesday along with other items that had been taken during Tuesday's burglaries and additional evidence collected further linked Diaz to several of the reported vehicle burglaries Diaz has been charged with eight counts of burglary and is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing "We encourage the community to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to the authorities," Vega said please ensure that your vehicles are securely locked to help prevent further incidents." Anyone with information regarding additional vehicle burglaries is urged to contact the Manchester Township Police Anonymous tips can be submitted on the Manchester Police Department's website Tips may also be submitted through private Facebook message Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. MANCHESTER — A 60-year-old woman from Toms River confessed to killing a man in a disturbing case of domestic violence pleaded guilty on Monday to aggravated manslaughter of her housemate in February 2020 prosecutors spared her from a more serious murder charge Police found the body of Frank Stochel after responding to a report of an unresponsive man in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester The Medical Examiner determined the death was a homicide Investigators said Carbone killed Stochel with a shower curtain rod tape dispenser and a wooden board in the pair's 6th Avenue residence “Although Mary Carbone was originally facing a murder charge in connection with Mr legitimate proof issues arose during the course of our investigation that we simply could not ignore and which we were ethically bound to take into account in evaluating this very difficult case,” Prosecutor Bradley D With Carbone’s upcoming sentencing in September the prosecutor’s office says the state will look for 10 years in state prison She remains locked up at Ocean County Jail Mary Carbone, 60, of Toms River, pled guilty on Monday to aggravated manslaughter from an event dating back to February 2020, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.\nRead More I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009 I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography as well as to far-flung locations around the world Share LinkPlan A Visit To This Inflatable Water Park In Pine Lakes IllinoisYogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Pine Lakes in Illinois offers a fun-filled inflatable water park and various summer activities this is one fun place we just know that you won't want to miss Get ready for one of the most popular places in Illinois during the summer Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park RV Resort at Pine Lakes is a premier destination for fun in Illinois Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park RV Resort at Pine Lakes/Facebook.. there's also the inflatable obstacle course This massive inflatable water park has a section for smaller children as well as a larger course for the older crowd Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park RV Resort at Pine Lakes/FacebookIt simply must be part of any summertime bucket list this year You can also learn about renting an RV by visiting RVShare. And whether you are new to RVing or are a seasoned pro, here are some great RV tips for your next adventure Have you ever been to this exciting inflatable water park in Illinois Would you agree that it is one of the best water parks in Illinois We'd love to read your thoughts and all about your experience in the comments section below For more seasonal fun, take our scenic Weekend Road Trip to 7 Summer Spots In Illinois. If you’re still in the mood for more Illinois adventures, take a look at this video about the historic river town of Galena: Enjoy your own private fishing pond and then head to one of Missouri's underrated fishing spots with a stay at this cozy cabin. 2023 at 4:34 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Here is the list of homes participating in the Pine Lake Park community yard sale in Manchester NJ — If you're a bargain hunter or just someone who enjoys finding special treasures in others' discards the Pine Lake Park Community Yard Sale is this weekend The yard sale is organized by members of the community Here's a list of the addresses that are participating in the event which is roughly scheduled for 8 a.m.-3 p.m   “…The Supervising Planner of Ocean County contacted us recently since we were currently working with them on donating property for the [Ocean County] Park The numerous lots…border on the east side of Pine Lake park and are all wetlands and unbuildable,” Markulic said in an email to The Manchester Times “They will be deed restricted as Open Space and listed on the Recreational and Open Space Inventory overseen by Green Acres through the DEP.”   MANCHESTER – Pine Lake Park residents made their voices loud and clear in support of an ordinance that would limit the size of homes on undersized lots within that section of the community   Every town in New Jersey is required to set aside a percentage of development for affordable homes   A new ordinance passed recently at a Township Council meeting impacts undersized lots in the R-10 Zone Buildings on lots that do not meet the minimum lot size minimum lot width or improvable lot area requirements as specified are required to meet additional requirements and are subject to the building height limitations   A lot of 50 feet or less has a minimum building height of 20 feet and a maximum building height of one story A lot width of 90 feet or less must have a maximum building height of 25 feet and a maximum building height of 1.5 stories   The ordinance states that single story dwelling units on undersized lots of record in the R-10 Zone (Pine Lake Park area) are a valuable form of affordable housing and present a way to expand on the township’s housing supply that is both cost effective and consistent with sound planning and that single story dwelling units offer low-cost housing within existing neighborhoods while maintaining the architectural character of a neighborhood strongly opposed that ordinance and spoke for around 10 minutes about why it should not be implemented   “I own many undersized lots in Pine Lake Park and I am very affected by this,” he said “I own many 70-foot lots in addition to dozens and dozens of 50 by 100-foot lots which this ordinance mainly effects This ordinance is unlawful and it is in direct opposition to the reason stated for the enactment of this ordinance.”   Jerman argued that the ordinance will impose extremely costly expenses on the township for a variety of reasons “I’ve done hundreds and hundreds of variances from Little Egg up to Plumsted including Brick many in Manchester and many counties in New Jersey.”   When a plan for a new house doesn’t meet all the rules If a variance is granted for one undersized property to have a house then a property of the same size should be granted a variance as well   The ordinance also includes a “Regional Drainage Fund Contribution” in the amount of 5% of the assessed value of the property The purpose of this fee is to offset township costs for future stormwater improvement projects and maintenance due to downstream drainage effects of development within Pine Lake Park   Jerman was critical of the Regional Drainage Fund contribution “That doesn’t say if it is 5% of the value of the current assessment or 5% after you get your variance appeal or 5% of the assessment of the CO (Certificate of Occupancy) time You cannot simply impose a 5% fee on an unknowable specified space   “This fund contribution only effects undersized lots and not-conforming lots That is clearly an illegal offsite improvement cost You can’t charge a lot owner for something done off site It is in violation of what is called the uniformity clause because it discriminates against undersized lot owners,” he added   He also criticized the elimination of allowing for a basement Especially on a small lot where only a small one-story house would be permitted.” He said it was to “stop families from moving on to these lots.”   Resident Gail Apgar disagreed with Jerman saying “half the time (Jerman) doesn’t want to make the garages anyway People are jamming bedrooms in the basements.”   “The sewers should be built before the overbuilding and this is getting overbuilt,” Apgar said “The water tables don’t match the amount of building – not only by Mr   Tracy McMullin of First Avenue remarked that the land next to her’s was purchased in 2020 “I tried to buy this property twice and was told don’t worry about it it will never (be developed) but it happened.”   Resident Heather Reibsame said she has a 50- by 100-foot lot next to her residence “Building on these undersized lots for those of us who have been here   First Avenue resident Rick Joyce who has lived in his home for 34 years said “it makes no sense to buy a lot that small A 50-foot lot is not something to build on in the town.” “we would like Pine Lake Park to stay the way it is The houses are proportional to the lot sizes With the building that is going on in Pine Lake Park and in Manchester and in Toms River there would be huge issues with traffic Nobody is talking about expanding infrastructure which should go hand and hand with this.”   Council President Roxy Conniff said the township’s engineering department collaborated on the drafting of the ordinance   Township Engineer and Planner Mark Rohmeyer of Morgan Engineering said “there are already regulations for how a lot can be developed such as maximum building coverage or building height This ordinance is just an update to that to provide more strict restrictions on lots that are less than 100 foot in length.”   “Building coverage is just the footprint of the home and percentage of lot area for a 50 by 100 lot – that would equal a 5,000 square foot area 20% of that would require a 1,000 square foot home Many people have mobile homes that are less than that and it is common throughout New Jersey,” Rohmeyer added Land Use and Planning in Manchester Township spoke later in the meeting “If you want to build a tiny house you can build a tiny house   “This develops storm water mitigation I have received so many drainage complaints and I am still working with the Department of Public Works and utilities to resolve them Not building a basement allows for storm water mitigation,” Sylvester said 2023 at 5:10 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}This granite stone in the Manchester Town Hall courtyard was bought in 1990 to honor Joseph Portash the new plaque bore the reminder: "Lest We Forget 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' " (Karen Wall/Patch)MANCHESTER NJ — Sabina Martin remembers the days of lugging 5-gallon jugs to the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department’s firehouse to fill them with a day’s worth of water Chemical contamination had been found in the wells of the 1,600 homes in the Pine Lake Park section of the township the previous year as people who were selling their homes had them tested to meet a new state requirement who retired earlier this year after 27 years of working for Manchester Township including the last 15 as the township clerk was a mom raising three young children at the time and the township’s water crisis was turning everyone’s lives upside down “We would take towels and shower every time we went to see family,” Martin said because they couldn’t use the water for drinking or showering and they were warned not to breathe the steam The contamination had Pine Lake Park residents looking for help and the first place they turned was the township government “We don’t have any money to help you,” Martin says was the essence of what Portash told residents back then “We were paying a lot of money in taxes,” she said and there had been a few bond approvals earmarked for various projects Martin and other residents started asking questions The answers changed the town’s history and left a scar that runs as deep as the chemical contamination Joe Portash first came to power in Manchester in the 1960s when he was elected to the then-Township Committee Articles from the early 1990s credit him with turning the town into a haven for retirees thanks in part to deals he made with developer Robert J who then owned the NBA’s Boston Celtics and Leisure Technology which built hundreds of homes in age-restricted communities including Leisure Village West It was a preview of things to come for Manchester Martin said she was among a group of Pine Lake Park residents who started going to township meetings first asking for help then as time went on they started going to town hall and requesting information about various bonds the town had purchased for projects including roadwork and water and sewer lines “We’d go at different times” to get information so as not to arouse suspicion of what they were researching “We’d go out and check on the projects where the money was supposed to be spent and find the project was never touched,” Martin said so bad they joked to the kids to be careful because they risked falling in one and showing up somewhere else “We weren’t getting anything for our money,” she said “Pine Lake Park was a collection of cheap houses built along bumpy, sometimes unpaved roads carved out of the Pinelands in the mid-1960s,” Thomas Peele wrote in a 2013 recollection of the Portash era Peele was just starting his journalism career in 1988 Pine Lake Park “surrounded a flooded gravel pit with the imaginative name of Pine Lake The homes were built without a public water system Each came with a well tapping the giant Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer.” Peele started at the Observer as the water crisis was forcing Sam Martin and the hundreds of other Pine Lake Park residents to shower at Surf and Stream Campground and lug 5-gallon jugs to fill with water for daily cooking “We used about 15 gallons a day,” Martin said sometimes as much as 25 gallons if she was doing a lot of cooking “We drank a lot of store-bought drinks.” Bottled water wasn’t a thing back then; you couldn’t walk into a store and buy Poland Spring or Fiji or Deer Park off the shelves It wasn’t entirely clear where the contamination came from because different homes got different results depending on where they were located in Pine Lake Park “We were the center of the doughnut,” she said There was Lakehurst Naval Air Station about 2 miles to the west where it’s estimated that “millions of gallons of aviation fuel solvents and other chemicals were simply dumped in open ditches there and allowed to permeate into the ground.” “On the other side of the neighborhood stood an asphalt plant that ran day and night using millions of gallons of oil to make road tar,” Peele wrote the 1,400-acre compound of the Ciba-Geigy Chemical Corp. one of the worst polluters in world history was neatly hidden behind gates staffed by armed guards.” Not far away was the Legler landfill in Jackson which was closed due to chemical contamination where people had dumped anything in the years before environmental and groundwater concerns were given any attention The chemicals that seeped into their wells included the carcinogens benzene and trichloroethylene Peele wrote there were a number of women who suffered miscarriages and stillbirths Martin said she nearly lost her third child in 1985 because of a benign tumor that was growing in her uterus while she was pregnant It was discovered when she started bleeding three months into the pregnancy “We had a lot of people in Manchester with medical issues,” she said had so many medical issues as a teenager that at one point she connected with Erin Brockovich who became famous for her involvement in helping build a case in California that tied health problems to groundwater contamination But proving the well contamination was to blame was an uphill battle that was never fought in Manchester was getting water mains run in Pine Lake Park which ended up being financed through the New Jersey Spill Compensation Fund The fight to get water lines run in Pine Lake Park and persistent questions about how Manchester officials were spending the town’s tax money spurred the community to act the Pine Lake Park Association for a Better Community formed to fight for the water lines and for help in paying for them That group later became a key part of Stop Tax Oppression Promptly which included members from the retirement communities and the non-retirement neighborhoods as well Martin said members of the group would go door-to-door particularly in the retirement communities which she said were paying taxes and receiving very little in the way of services The grassroots group started filling the court room at Manchester Township Town Hall and demanding the township committee meetings be moved to accommodate everyone But the group also made its goal to change the township’s form of government to get new people involved in town governance and to oust Portash in particular Marianne Borthwick and Martin were among a group who worked to build support for the change of government Manchester had a township committee that would elect the mayor from within its members Portash, whose wife, Adelaide, took over as mayor when he was convicted in the 1970s bribery scandal, had appointed him as the township’s business administrator in 1979 after he was found not guilty during a retrial “Portash had control of the Republican Party,” Martin said “All you had to have was an ‘R’ beside your name and you got elected.” and the group’s organizers felt the only way they were going to succeed in changing the government was to take the party affiliations out of it They submitted a petition for the change just under the wire to prevent the township from derailing their efforts by creating a committee to study the possible change including Joseph Murray who served as mayor for a few years would defer to Portash and would follow his directions on everything Portash approached Martin and Borthwick and asked what they wanted after what Martin said were attempts to intimidate them — including bricks thrown through their windshields and anonymous letters — failed you never met anyone you couldn’t buy off,’ ” Martin said “We just want people to have what they deserve: clean drinking water.” Portash sent a messenger to offer Martin the position as township clerk saying they would convince the woman who was serving then to retire ‘Go back to Joe and tell him thank you but no thank you I don’t even know what a municipal clerk does If I ever decide to become municipal clerk I’ll do it on my own,’ ” she said When the outcome approving the government change became apparent during the January 1990 referendum Portash approached Martin at a polling place “I was at the polls because I was a challenger,” she said however; Portash died a month after the referendum of a heart attack while at his vacation home in May A special election was held in May to choose members of the new Township Council and choose a mayor and the township council members were all part of the STOP slate who recently stepped down because he and his wife moved out of Manchester “The nonpartisan governing body opened the door for people like Sam and Carmen Cicalese to run because they were federal employees” who were barred under the Hatch Act from affiliating with a political party In the final days of the old administration who had been the chief financial officer; Beverly Ramsdell the deputy treasurer; township clerk Manuela Herring and township attorney Siegfried Steele When Manchester Township police officers saw township employees loading up boxes of records and dumping them in the landfill on June 29 In addition to pulling sludge-covered documents from the landfill Martin said filing cabinets were recovered from Rizzolo’s home and documents were from beneath the dog run at Gawales’ home Martin said the estimates of how much was stolen from Manchester range from $10 million to more than $20 million but it was impossible to determine accurately because it was unclear how long the theft — directed by Portash who benefited the most — had been going on as the documentation from years earlier was spotty with payees on the check stubs not matching the payee actually written on the checks; in other cases The new council had to scramble to put together a budget and figure out how they were going to meet the payroll Martin said there were accounts that had less than $5 in them when the new administration took over “Jane Cordo Cameron thought we were exaggerating,” Martin said “Then when she walked in and realized what was going on The town’s residents came to the rescue as much as they could lining up to pay their quarterly taxes early even without having their tax bills Manchester also received assistance in the form of a $1.5 million loan from the state — which also stepped in to oversee Manchester's finances authorities estimated Portash had stolen more than $2 million for himself most of which funded a serious gambling habit he had in Atlantic City and Las Vegas The timing of his death set off conspiracy theories that he had faked his death and was living on an island but authorities confirmed Portash had indeed died the fight to get clean water led to a career in public service She was appointed to the Planning Board and served there for six years before going to work in the township’s building office in 1996 as a technical assistant to the construction official While working in the building department Martin took a number of courses and became a certified fire official and got certified by the state Department of Community Affairs to teach the classes She went on earn her certified public manager certification through Fairleigh Dickinson University She took all the courses and passed the registered municipal clerk exam — a 5- to 6-hour test — on the first try In 2001 she was hired by then-clerk Marie Pellecchia as the deputy clerk which surprised her because she had no experience in the clerk’s office Pellecchia told Martin it was her planning board experience along with her organizational skills that impressed her I knew I wanted to hire you,” Martin recalled Pellecchia saying Martin was appointed township clerk on June 1 the irony of which is not lost on her given her refusal to take the job when Portash offered it “I said I would do it on my own if I wanted it Martin said she kept a copy of the article listing the indictments of the various Portash officials who took money pinned up on her desk as a reminder to everyone of what can happen if people are not paying attention to what their government is doing from mayors to council members to township staff of the importance of understanding they are there to serve the public “You can’t be a public official if you don’t understand the responsibility,” Martin said “These people (the residents of Manchester) work their whole lives and they’re giving you their money to invest and use to make the town and their lives better.” “You’re in a position where you have that trust and you can’t just take advantage of that trust,” she said Portash drew people in and took advantage of them because “he was an extremely charismatic man,” Martin said “You definitely knew his presence in the room.” Portash’s administration named Colonial Drive in his honor and ordered a massive granite stone and a plaque to honor the man who had been in power for so many years “One of the first things the new government did was change the name back to Colonial Drive,” Martin said And the plaque praising Portash was replaced with one “Dedicated to the residents of Manchester ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ ” whose Pine Lake Park home was one of the last to receive public water in late 1989 said she sometimes marvels at the chain of events that brought Portash down “Had the state not passed the (well testing) law “People don’t understand that it’s a slow process that occurs A Manchester family as well as two dogs and a pet bird have been relocated after their Pine Lake Park home was deemed uninhabitable following a Wednesday morning fire Listen to Vin Ebenau mornings on Townsquare Media Jersey Shore Radio Stations, email him news tips here, and download our free app. Manchester Police said they arrived on scene around 11:32 to the Fifth Avenue home and saw smoke and flames emanating from the roof Officers were able to quickly confirm that nobody was inside the home at the time they arrived Firefighters from the Manchester Fire Department and Joint Base Fire all worked together to put out the flames and extinguish the fire the Manchester Township Building Inspector deemed the dwelling uninhabitable Manchester Police said that the residents have been relocated with family The dogs and bird were rescued by fire department personnel and police said they appeared to be unharmed Manchester Police said that EMT’s from Manchester Township Emergency Medical Services and Toms River EMS also responded to the house fire A Manchester Fire Department Firefighter sustained a minor injury and was then brought to and treated at Community Medical Center before later being released from care The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Ocean County Fire Marshall’s Office and the Manchester Police Investigations Bureau A Manchester family as well as two dogs and a pet bird have been relocated after their Pine Lake Park home was deemed uninhabitable following a Wednesday morning fire.\nRead More Listen to Vin Ebenau mornings on Townsquare Media Jersey Shore Radio Stations, email him news tips here, and download our free app. 2015 at 4:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A conflict over a child’s one-piece bathing suit has Manchester officials pondering ways to encourage cooperation and respect among those using Pine Lake Park and its splash pad At the Manchester Township Council meeting Monday night a township resident spoke to the council about an issue she encountered at Pine Lake Park a couple of weeks ago The resident told the council she was at the park with her children -- a 13-year-old girl with special needs and an 8-year-old boy -- giving them a chance to cool off before heading off to her son’s sports practice The park was packed with people that evening and “none of them were (Manchester) residents.” As her daughter took off her beach coverup to play at the splash pad the woman said she was approached by a man who asked that her daughter put the coverup back on has not gone through puberty yet and was wearing a one-piece suit “She looks like an 8-year-old,” the woman said she packed up her children and left the park “No matter what I would have said it would have been misconstrued,” she said The man -- and the others at the park that night -- were members of the Orthodox Jewish community in Lakewood “I have been there many times when they (the members of the Orthodox community) have been there and never had an issue,” the woman said ”There is one gentleman who comes and bring all his kids and he is the nicest guy “But this man made me uncomfortable in my own town,” she said Pine Lake Park has been a favorite spot for members of the Orthodox community to come and bring their children for a few years Last year the Township Council was faced with residents who were frustrated because a camp from the Orthodox community was bringing busloads of kids to the park and using it all day -- leaving residents feeling unwelcome Season passes and daily badges were instituted this year along with an ordinance that bans the use of the park by any group without a permit -- which has enabled the town to turn away buses from the camp this year But Councilman Craig Wallis said there are limits to the restrictions the town can place on use of the park because it was funded in part by Green Acres money “I don’t mind if people (from outside Manchester) use the park,” Wallis said The town has been working to make Pine Lake Park a place for Manchester families to come and have fun Though the lake itself still isn’t swimmable -- a situation the town is continuing to address Wallis said -- town officials have taken steps to make the park usable including putting paddleboats that had been sitting back into use As for situations such as the one the woman detailed Wallis said he hoped that anyone who comes to the park would exercise respect and consideration for everyone and understand that it is a public park with many people from all backgrounds using the park The mother said she was upset that someone would come into a public park and try to impose their beliefs on others in the park ”This park should be for residents,” she said Wallis said town officials would look into the issue to see what can be done “We have an outright goal to make Pine Lake usable again so it becomes a gathering place for our residents,” he said MANCHESTER – An unoccupied home in the Pine Lake Park section of town caught fire Friday afternoon No one was injured and the cause is not yet known Manchester Township Police responded to the scene on July 22 at around 4:13 p.m The house at 1001 Twelfth Avenue had flames and smoke coming from the attic Authorities determined that the house was unoccupied and they began evacuating some of the neighboring homes as a precaution as well as multiple mutual aid partner jurisdictions responded and were able to rapidly extinguish the fire The cause remains under investigation by Manchester Police Detectives and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office Lakehurst Fire Department and the Manchester EMS for responding Above: Raw video from the scene in which Ocean County investigators converged on 6th Street in Manchester to investigate a suspicious death MANCHESTER - A woman was charged Wednesday with murder in connection to the death of a man in the Pine Lake Park section last week How we got here:  Ocean County investigators converged on 6th Street in Manchester late Monday to investigate a suspicious death who lived with the victim in Manchester, was also charged with two counts of possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose and two counts of unlawful possession of weapon Billhimer said in a prepared statement.  Manchester police responded to a home on Sixth Avenue for a report of an unresponsive male officers found the lifeless body of 55-year-old Frank Stochel a former janitor at Manchester High School About the victim:  Manchester death ruled to be a homicide; victim identified as former high school janitor An investigation revealed that several household items were used by Carbone in the commission of this murder The items included a tape dispenser and a shower rod Carbone was taken to the Ocean County Jail Erik Larsen: 732-682-9359 or elarsen@gannettnj.com Brenda and Angel Rivas purchased a wooded lot in the Pine Lake Park neighborhood of Manchester they’d finally saved enough money to break ground They had sold a restaurant they owned in Beachwood to help raise the capital Last week, with the building nearing completion, it burned to the ground. Ron Carr, 34, of Manchester was charged with 36 criminal counts stemming from a bias-crime spree that targeted Jewish residents by spray-painting Nazi symbols on more than a dozen homes and setting fire to the Rivas’ home-in-waiting Now Toms River resident Ashley Lamb is leading a coalition of community members who are intent on helping the Rivas family back on their feet. Lamb launched a GoFundMe campaign and her husband Toms River councilman and attorney Justin Lamb “We are trying to gather as a community and make them whole again and rebuild their house,” Ashley Lamb said crazy situation and this really could have happened to anyone.” 'I didn't want to be a Jew': NJ woman survived Holocaust through parents who hid identity Lamb said there is a growing Orthodox Jewish community in the neighborhood and although the Rivas family is not Jewish it appears as though “the individual who targeted the Jewish community assumed this new construction was going to be inhabited by a Jewish family.” She said the outpouring of support from Orthodox Jewish neighbors has been “above and beyond” and “a lot people from the Orthodox community feel personally connected to this.” “We’re not going to stand for this in our community and the bottom line is any community is stronger together,” Lamb said See the numbers: Lakewood is NJ's fastest growing, but its neighbors are catching up The house’s foundation and frame were set and the windows were about to be put in Brenda and Angel Rivas and their daughters have been renting in Toms River with Brenda’s parents as they awaited its completion The house was designed for all six of them to live in the siding on some neighbors’ homes melted,” Lamb said Within days of the fire, Lamb said, Farmingdale-based Boulder Petroleum was conducting a free cleanup of the site. Lamb, who formerly served as a project manager with the post-superstorm Sandy charity Hometown Heroes, said she has been working closely with Manchester Mayor Rob Arace, who has endorsed the GoFundMe and the Facebook page she created, Rebuild Rivas Pine Lake Park Lamb said the Rivas family does not own insurance for the house “Mayor Arace has reached out to (state Sen.) Vin Gopal and Gov (Phil) Murphy to see if there is a victim assistance fund for the family,” Lamb said she welcomes any and all assistance — financial “The outpouring of support has been fantastic,” she said “People are coming out of the woodwork to help.” To help, email RebuildRivas@gmail.com or visit the GoFundMe campaign titled “Rebuild Rivas Pine Lake Park.” Updates also will be posted on the Facebook page titled Rebuild Rivas Pine Lake Park. Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people MANCHESTER - The state Department of Environmental Protection and two asphalt companies are nearing the end of a 30-year-long feud over water contamination agreeing to a $10 million settlement worth just half of the claimed damages. Under terms of a proposed settlement the owners of South Brunswick Asphalt and Thomas Nicol Asphalt Co would pay the state $9.5 million for all past and future costs to clean up the site where hazardous chemicals were found in water tests from 1987 to 1990 They would pay another $500,000 in natural resource damages Thomas Nicol Asphalt owned the site from 1966 until 2006 but leased it to South Brunswick Asphalt from 1981 until the property sale represents about half of what the state sought in the protracted litigation prompting criticism that the state should have held out for more money “If you think about the people who lived there who moved in and out of those 1,000 units (nearby housing affected by the polluted water) this settlement is nothing,” said Jeff Tittel “It’s another example of this Christie administration’s DEP selling out.” In 2014, Gov. Chris Christie announced a $225 million settlement with Exxon over polluted refineries and retail sites that was widely criticized as a drop in the bucket of what was appropriate MORE: Federal lawmakers target drinking water contamination The DEP is accepting public comments until Oct A spokesman declined to comment on the settlement groundwater tests — conducted during real estate transactions — from 1987 to 1990 revealed the presence of a bevy of chemicals: Carbon tetrachloride.Trichloroethane.1,1,1 tricholoroethane.1,1 dichloroethene.1,1 dichloroethylene.Methylene chloride.Tetrachloroethylen.eBenzene.Toluene POO-LUTION: Human fecal matter contaminating Navesink River all of which are identified as "hazardous chemicals" by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration are used in the production of fire extinguishers Symptoms from exposure range from dizziness and confusion to cancer the DEP stated that "no further action" was needed to remediate the site more than 1,000 homes in Pine Lake Park were connected to the township's municipal water system which in turn sought reimbursement from the asphalt companies the DEP filed suit for $20 million after receiving only a single $86,333 payment from Nicol and South Brunswick Asphalt South Brunswick Asphalt did not obey a single DEP directive until current site owner Davies Consultants Inc There have been divergent views on the origin of the water contamination South Brunswick Asphalt filed a countersuit against 1,046 Pine Lake Park residents — claiming they polluted their own water supply with laundry detergents and septic cleaners "They used Drano back then and polluted their own wells Our company didn't do anything wrong," then-South Brunswick Asphalt general partner Robert E Johnson told the Asbury Park Press in December 2002 An attorney for South Brunswick Asphalt did not immediately return calls seeking comment RECENTLY: NJ beaches under bacteria advisory MORE: Chemical contamination at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst? EDITORIAL: Christie sellout to Exxon sounds like another scandal Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com MANCHESTER – The Manchester Township Police Athletic League has set June 3 2023 as the 18th Annual Kids Fishing Derby date This event will be held at Pine Lake in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester Township The past Derbies have proven to be a tremendous success due to the support of the Mayor Volunteers and generous donations from local businesses have made this a great day for our community The Ocean County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs is supports the Derby as well We will also be registering this event with NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife’s HOFNOD’s 8th Annual Youth Fishing Challenge The Division of Fish and Wildlife supports all those organizations participating in the Event by providing program materials and prizes for the children The Derby sends an educational anti-drug and alcohol abuse message as well as fishing education and fun This event is for children up to 15 years of age and must be accompanied by an adult Free food and prizes will be given to participants There is no fee charged to attend this event Children must bring their own fishing equipment Please preregister by sending your child(ren)’s name and age as well as the guardians name to: Manchester Pal A 12-year-old girl helps lead the environmental council Head east from Atlanta past Decatur and Avondale Estates through the frenetic commercialism of Memorial Drive and a couple of miles before Stone Mountain it’s here the locals swear the numbers will start dropping And behold the funky little city that sprawl forgot Maybe by virtue of its proximity to Atlanta there’s a feeling of otherworldly detachment to this quiet which has been coined “Arts’ Natural Habitat” and “Little Asheville.” to this rectangular city laid out in an urban-style grid Colorful bungalows are interspersed with older ranches and fairytale cottages alongside midcentury-style creations that defy description and rustic You might see a carousel horse on a front porch and a Mona Lisa window covering on the exterior of the next In the breeze you’ll hear an inordinate amount of wind chimes which would discourage folks from catching up down at the post office As a village that doesn’t float the mainstream Pine Lake has long been a haven for artists and free-spirited retirees who travel the country in vintage teardrop-shaped trailers parked in so many front yards Where else in metro Atlanta can you ask the police chief—a thoughtful hilarious Brooklyn expat named Sarai Y’hudah-Green who writes existential poetry—to describe her constituency and hear a reply like this: family and pet friendly festival with 40-plus vendors Also: Pet Parade, beach sculpture contest, FLOATZILLA! lake parade, and more or in designated areas along Rockbridge Road with shuttle service to the festival Find Pine Lake about seven miles east of downtown Decatur with guitars and artists and nosey neighbors and super cool freakin’ kids And I’m not even going to tell you that these folks are not—uh—out there.” It’ll play host this weekend to Pine Lake’s main festival and the beach will be open for one last swim LakeFest started 19 years ago as “a kind of glorified yard sale,” says Pine Lake Mayor Melanie Hammet In discussing the significance of the lake you enter Pine Lake and drive downhill to the lake,” she explains “Which means that everything flows down toward the lake emotionally and in terms of runoff; the impact in every way That’s one of the reasons our zoning is so environmentally specific If we were doing like a lot of cities and paving over everything we’d end up destroying this ecological center of what makes the city amazing Pine Lake was incorporated as a city in 1937 but for years it’d been marketed as a recreational escape from the “Big City” to the west a place to camp and plunge off docks and diving boards into cooling lake water The relatively small lots by country standards (20 by 100 feet) helped contribute to a feeling of quaintness which the mayor says encourages residents to get outside Explorers these days include legions of kids which marks a change from the primarily adult population of yesteryear Pine Lake (Families priced out of intown neighborhoods have uprooted for the city’s more affordable housing stock A flyer posted for a “cute cottage on a flat lot” on Laurel Road two-bathroom house with quirky charm to spare “I can just imagine what it’s like to grow up here,” says the mayor And another big thing here with the kids—huge—they’re all tree-climbers You walk down the street and hear this noise and it’s like the tree is infested with kids the tents and cabins of Pine Lake weekenders became standalone houses A mayor’s office and city council were formed alongside a police force that counts three full-time officers today Chief Green stumbled on Pine Lake by word of mouth from friends or family She came aboard the police department in 1997 and still cherishes the intangibles that small-town policing affords—the fulfillment trying to get ’em dropped off at school,” says the chief want a letter of recommendation for the military To be able to see things come full circle—you don’t always get that It’s like the difference between turning around a big boat versus a small boat and flags in front yards with a snagged trout on them—“Welcome to the Lake”—seem too pooped to flap and kids chasing each other on a new playground near the restored beach house A diverse DeKalb citizenry is exercising on trails around the lake a half-dozen shells shine in the evening light on what’s called Turtle Island The birdcalls seem as ubiquitous as porch-side laughter the mayor laughs at her salary—$3,600 per year before taxes—and says a palpable sense of humor is a hallmark of her community When the conversation veers toward conservation and the future in general Pine Lake has two appointed panels—one focused on arts On the latter sits a precocious 12-year-old girl (and devout tree-climber) is key to protecting what makes Pine Lake special you have this city that’s almost like a mom and pop grocery in the land of Amazon What is the future of a place this size?” says Hammet “[These] are cities that are never going to contribute to hospitals But these places are going to be where the morale of community gets constructed it’s these little places that hold us together.” 2020 at 12:50 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mary Carbone is accused of killing Frank Stochel with whom she shared the Pine Lake Park home (Ocean County Prosecutor's Office)MANCHESTER NJ – A 56-year-old woman has been charged with murder in connection with a the killing of a Manchester man in February the Ocean Conty Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday of the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester was also charged with two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose 24 when Manchester Township Police responded to a residence on 6th Avenue in the Pine Lake Park section on a report of an unresponsive man officers found the lifeless body of Frank Stochel lying on the floor of the residence the Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination of Stochel’s body The medical examiner ruled the manner of death to be a homicide An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit Manchester Township Police Detective Bureau and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that Carbone and Stochel both resided at the 6th Avenue residence in Manchester The cooperative investigation further revealed that several household items were used by Carbone in the murder a tape dispenser and a shower rod were recovered from the scene The injuries sustained by Stochel were consistent with the use of these items Carbone was arrested and transported to the Ocean County jail where she is lodged pending a detention hearing “This truly was a team effort in terms of the investigation These detectives combed through a ton of forensic evidence to ultimately determine that Ms “We were able to determine very early on in this investigation that there was no immediate danger to the public from there — these detectives went to work doing what they do best every law enforcement officer involved this investigation has my profound gratitude,” Billhimer said Note: This article has been updated to correct the hometown to Manchester; Pine Lake Park has a Toms River mailing address The city of Sammamish announced Thursday it will remove 18 Douglas fir trees at Pine Lake Park due to laminated root rot Monday (May 5) for more than 3,200 seats on city councils No fish or people were harmed in the April 22 fire The prosecutor reported that Chase Jones was traveling at 112 mph when he crashed into the victims UW's Julian Olden has studied the native and invasive crayfish populations of Sammamish's Pine Lake But the citizen scientists who live onshore are his secret weapon Julian Olden, professor at the University of Washington's School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences “I think we all do work hoping it's going to inform a better process around natural resource management and contribute to science in a basic or applied way," said Olden Dr. Julian Olden’s research subject is unhappy. The granola-bar-sized red swamp crayfish in his hand gesticulates wildly her spiky red claws sweeping outwardly like a malfunctioning C3PO but she won’t find them: He’s holding her shell just outside her legs’ range of motion.  Our canoe rocks in Sammamish’s 85-acre Pine Lake crowded by a park and dozens of lake houses with docks and man-made beaches hordes would be out to splash and set nonmotorized boats adrift here our only company is a swimmer tugging a yellow buoy Olden positions the crayfish (“crawfish” is also acceptable from the equivalent of her nose to the base of her ribcage “It's right on 63 — I'm not lying,” he says with a laugh Calipers out the window!” He logs other measurements location and a few notes before plopping her back into the water It’s not surprising that Olden’s dimensional sense for crayfish is dialed in. A professor at the University of Washington's School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences Olden has floated Pine Lake four times each summer for 12 years to study them and we’re out doing his final sampling of 2019 But it’s jolting to see him return her to the lake: Red swamps She’s not supposed to be anywhere in Washington But she’s an unwitting accomplice in Olden’s effort to evaluate invasive species management in a changed lake.  To monitor changing population dynamics of invasive to native signal crayfish he sets 40 traps full of large-breed dog food around the lake perimeter on summer weekends so he can evaluate the ecosystem’s natural responses to invasion.  it’s a proving ground for a looming ecological disaster and he’s the only researcher behind enemy lines He’s sampled a couple hundred Western Washington lakes but Pine Lake has historic importance: The state’s first red swamps were found here in 2000 and they’ve since spread to about a dozen other bodies of water in the state he’s shown that signals and red swamps tensely coexist in Pine Lake with human intervention; he spent a few years removing red swamps to gauge management impacts native crayfish disappear completely.  Invasive crayfish are the main reason for declines in native crayfish; according to Oregon Sea Grant, 45 percent of North American crayfish are at risk of extinction There are about 380 crayfish species in North America but the only one native to Washington is the signal crayfish And because crayfish play huge roles in food chains “The biomass of crayfish alone exceeds every other animal that lives on the bottom, combined,” says Dr. Brian Roth a Seward Park-raised crayfish researcher at Michigan State University handling a more-recent influx of red swamp in Michigan “There’s a tremendous amount of [nutritional] energy that flows through [them].”  but it has implications for how we manage future invasions Olden’s study depends on involvement of people living on the lake: By tapping into the human power of the local population he’s showing citizens can play a key role in keeping our lakes alive.  While sampling more than 100 Washington lakes to establish invasive and native crayfish baselines at the start of his UW career Olden learned biologist Karl Mueller discovered red swamps in Pine Lake in 2000 and saw an opportunity to watch an invasion develop in a common environment.  What does one lake tell you?’ ” Olden says “I can tell you this lake is very similar to many of the other lakes around here So as opposed to spreading yourself thin and visiting [20 or 30] lakes every 10 years … I think there's value in going to one lake multiple times over a decade Then the really complicated questions can be answered.” relying on discretionary funds from when he first joined UW’s faculty in 2006 to pay for $10 traps or $20 of dog food but with huge rewards in the end,” he says.  Multidecade invasive species monitoring projects are rare, but valuable, for evaluating species permanence, Roth says. “We would not know the outcome of invasions, in a lot of cases, if we did not have long-term research,” he says. “It really helps us understand and perhaps mitigate some of their impacts.” In Washington state, invasive aquatic species of greatest concern include zebra and quagga mussels and New Zealand mudsnails It’s a mystery how red swamps arrived in Washington, though there are theories (one of Olden’s favorites is that schoolchildren released class pets into lakes) There are only a handful of crayfish researchers in the Pacific Northwest and the state lacks funding to fully monitor invasive crayfish Native crayfish are linchpins of food chains Crayfish eat primary producers such as plants “Any time you put in a new organism which may disrupt that [food chain animals] might feed differently,” Olden says Where invasive crayfish have shown up, native species have also largely failed. Early studies at Pine Lake show signals are often outcompeted for territory by red swamps limiting shelter necessary to hide from predators While signal crayfish reproduce once a year “red swamp crayfish reproduce twice per year sometimes three if it’s a mild winter,” Olden says handing me a red swamp to evaluate for myself.  most Washington signal populations are healthy “[but] there are no monitoring efforts out there to determine population status and distribution.”  To put hard numbers on the red swamp threat to Pine Lake Olden enlisted the help of the people who care about the lake most.  While Olden visits Pine Lake outside the summer study season he enlists locals to keep regular tabs.  “I can't think of anyone better to collect data than the people living on the lake,” he says Nearly 50 or 60 households — half the population on the lakeshore —  have assisted in trapping since Olden first presented at Pine Lake Community Center in 2013 “This project required a commitment,” Olden says “If no one showed up for that first meeting It was his first foray involving nonscientists in data collection … It's building and maintaining relationships so that you can get the data Olden’s group is not the first group to engage in [citizen science] but certainly in terms of crayfish “The efforts there really demonstrate that it is possible to galvanize the general public to take action on invasive species.” that Olden is both a productive scientist and “a nice guy.”  “One of the amazing things about Julian is how many collaborators he can get into his orbit as a scientist That really speaks to his ability,” Roth says logged and returned crayfish to the lake establishing undisturbed population baselines Olden and the volunteers began a removal effort to see whether human intervention reduced red swamp numbers over time.  Volunteers euthanized red swamps by sticking them in freezers “Freezing them is the most humane,” Olden says [...] you always have to taste your study organism,” Olden jokes Volunteers removed 8,674 crayfish over more than 175,000 hours of trapping in that period the project has removed more than 10,000.  “There’s just incredible wealth in the volume and the quality of data that can be collected by people,” Olden says.  Honing the experiment was a matter of trial and error: If the traps were too shallow mallards dove down and banged on the sides to release dog food Raccoons pulled up crayfish traps and ate study subjects.  Olden was constantly dropping off supplies and picking up crayfish samples “like a milkman “[People] gave all their time and I think that's remarkable.”  Two 12-year-old boys spent their summers removing hundreds of crayfish with their grandmother for which Olden rewarded them with shirts boasting “Julian is down to earth and a pleasure to interact with,” says resident Dwayne Lamb, who has been involved in the project since 2015 He says he’s removed more than 2,700 by himself over the years and calls Olden’s effort “a very worthy pursuit” that “got him hooked” on environmental monitoring “The project really drove home that everyone on the lake plays a big role in the health of [it] and the wildlife it supports,” he says.  volunteers stopped removing crayfish to let the lake self-regulate informing how hard and long an effective removal effort would need to be The rest of the volunteers on Pine Lake operate like a sleeper cell waiting to deploy crayfish-destroying skills other lake associations have contacted Olden about setting up similar projects.  you can start to better understand more decadal scale changes,” Olden says he’s finally evaluating which variability is natural and what might come from outside factors like the removal effort the ratio narrowed to 5:1 and even 2:1 for a few months "We have seen a 50-percent reduction of the abundance of red swamp crayfish comparing the years before and after the volunteer control effort," Olden says “we’ve seen native crayfish popping up in parts of the lake where I've never seen them before… [which means] they're rebounding and spreading back out." But invasive crayfish have rebounded this year.  Signals were nowhere to be found during the final sampling trip. Traps either came up empty or full of (mostly male) invaders “There are still some months when I come out that I don't catch a single signal crayfish,” Olden says But it's less common now than it was before.”  Knowing red swamp reproduce more often during mild winters like the one Washington had a few winters ago Olden can account for natural fluctuation and the removal effort to say that winter likely helped the invasives gain ground Mild winters “are a fact of climate change,” Olden says “[No matter] how strong the volunteer effort is sometimes the environment can just trump over that And that's why invasive species management has to be for the long term and timed with other environmental factors.” he’ll identify whether the removal effort created lasting impacts “that [would] basically tell us that we’ve got to remove more and you can't just take your foot off the gas,” Olden says.  Olden pulls out a bucket holding two signals he caught before we set out in the canoe: a giant 5-year-old “grandpa” at least 6 inches long They have attention-getting white  splotches — “signals” — on their claws Catching a baby “hasn’t happened in a long time."  “It means they're still reproducing … which is a great sign,” he says “I've never been so happy to see a small crayfish In working with volunteers and getting a sense of management challenges Olden says he stopped thinking “purely as a scientist” and started caring about impacts.  “It [proves it’s] not hopeless when an invasive species comes in,” he says Olden can’t hide his affection for his captives he scanned the water for a big leafy plant “I'm going to put him on a nice resting spot,” he said Update: We added language to clarify the methods of sampling; that Olden alone sampled during the first phase of the project; and that he didn't give a presentation to community members until 2013.  Olden says he enjoys his time on the lake. “Other than the slight sound of a plane going by both in your imagination and on the boat.”  (Hannah Weinberger/Crosscut) We rely on donations from readers like you to sustain Cascade PBS's in-depth reporting on issues crticial to the PNW Renters on fixed incomes hope a 10% ceiling on increases will provide relief while older landlords worry it will force them out of business of Children of the Setting Sun helps publish Reefnetters of the Salish Sea the final thesis of world-renowned anthropologist Wayne Suttles there are just 12 reefnetting licenses in the state and Tah-Mahs Ellie Kinley carries on generations of tradition as the only tribal fisher Hannah Weinberger is a former reporter at Crosscut focused on science and the environment. Reach her on Twitter @weinbergrrrrr and email at hannah.weinberger@crosscut.com The new budget would raise the price of gas while Republicans say it will hurt residents 2012 at 3:06 pm ETPine Lake Park Clubhouse members are preparing to celebrate the historic structure's 86th birthday this weekend with a chili cook-off and carnival the log cabin clubhouse is the last historic building remaining in Manchester president of the Pine Lake Park Taxpayers' Association Organizers will celebrate the building on Sunday "It has enormous historical significance to both the community and history in general," said Peck who has been with the nonprofit association for 16 years "We are the only community with an 85 year old log cabin as it's clubhouse and we are proud and honored that our forefathers left it to us to watch over." To help spread the word about the clubhouse and its significance to the township about six years ago the organization's board of directors formed plans to hold yearly carnivals "A carnival would bring folks out to have a good time and let them visit the clubhouse and see what goes on here," said Peck who along with Vice President Deidre Morales have organized the event with the help of neighbors which uses the clubhouse as a meeting space sell popcorn and help prepare for the carnival Pine Lake Park resident Ray Rudolph and his band have volunteered to perform Toms River amusement company Party on with Natalie donated a moon bounce to the carnival Volunteers make the organization run — last year about 20 residents donated their time at the carnival Admittance to the carnival is free; tickets can be purchased for rides and games "The directors are all volunteers and donate countless man hours to the restoration and preservation of this great old building," Peck said edged out six other contestants to win the cook-off with his "green chili" creation The Taxpayers' Association typically hosts eight to 10 fundraising events annually Memberships and clubhouse rentals also help to support the organization More information about the clubhouse is available through the organization's website MANCHESTER — Angel and Brenda Rivas bought property in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester in 2017 after selling their business in order to buy a home for their two young daughters and Brenda's parents Those dreams went up in smoke when Ron Carr targeted the Jewish neighborhood on June 5 and vandalized 14 homes with swastikas according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer He also torched the Rivas' home believing the Latino owners were Jewish Looking for help because he did not have insurance Angel Rivas searched online for an attorney and came upon Justin Lamb Justin and his wife Ashley met Angel with Manchester Mayor Rob Arace plus a couple of members from the Orthodox Jewish community and some local business owners They all wanted to offer assistance to the Rivas to rebuild "We all kind of just looked at each other and at the same time we kind of agreed 'we got to rebuild the house,'" Ashley Lamb "It was just happenstance that they Googled us and found us couldn't imagine ourselves in this situation." The group agreed that they all know people who could help and the Rebuild RIVAS Pine Lake Park Coalition was born "People just came out of the woodwork and they said 'I'll help I could do this or I could do that.' So within about 20 minutes We started sharing it out on social media," Ashley Lamb said Lamb said Boulder Propane had a skid steer and dumpsters delivered and Arace had public works put up a safety fence "When I tell you that the community has just rallied around this family it really is beautiful to see people come together and just care about each other." some churches and other groups are pledging to get involved with donations of lumber and framing," Ashley said "We're just hoping that at the end of it A GoFundMe page is accepting monetary donations a wine tasting is planned for the Pine Lake Park clubhouse and a booth will collect donations at the upcoming Manchester Days "There is light at the end of this tunnel and the Rivas Family is on the way to rebuilding their dream," Ashley said Gallery Credit: Dan Zarrow Angel and Brenda Rivas bought property in Manchester Township in 2017 after selling their business in order to buy a home for their family. The home they were building was set on fire.\nRead More Those dreams went up in smoke when Ron Carr targeted the Jewish neighborhood on June 5 and vandalized 14 homes with swastikas The group agreed that they all know people who could help and the Rebuild RIVAS Pine Lake Park Coalition was born A GoFundMe page is accepting monetary donations 2011 at 2:40 pm ETLocals braved the heat to sample some chili at one of Manchester's oldest buildings on Sunday in celebration of the Pine Lake Park Clubhouse's 85th birthday this is the last historical building left in Manchester," said Grace Peck the president of the Pine Lake Park Taxpayers' Association the nonprofit group that manages the clubhouse who has been with the association for 15 years — the last six as its president — said that fundraisers like this are held to maintain and restore the building both from the association as well as Boy Scout Pack 425 which meets at the clubhouse each week when school is in session "[The scouts] do anything we ask them to do They're a great bunch of guys and we're very thankful for what they do," Peck said The water slide was and ponies were donated leaving the association only to pay for attraction attendants small town family event," said clubhouse secretary Jeanette Liput who estimated that over 100 locals showed up to the event Pine Lake Park band RGB — short for Ray's Garage Band — performed for the crowd as guests browsed vendor stands played carnival games and ate food off the grill Having recently moved to Pine Lake Park from Lakewood Ernestine Hines and her husband sampled chili while their two grandchildren took a pony ride "It's our first time in the community," Hines said Seven locals entered chili in the cook-off a life-long Pine Lake Park resident whose "green chili" took the top spot Mine is made with fresh roasted pepper," he said Borris recalled attending summer camp at the clubhouse and said he is always willing to support the historical site "It's local and you have to maintain some sort of continuity from one generation to the next," he said The Taxpayers' Association typically hosts eight to 10 fundraising events More information about the clubhouse is available through the organization's website The following is a photographic look from Saturday’s first day of trout fishing in the area The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association is once again hosting its HERYN (Helping Engage our River’s Youth .. N.Y.—A groundbreaking study published in Science last Thursday reveals that North American bird .. Pine Lake Water Park is the perfect summer day trip for families looking to spend the day at the beach. Pine Lake Waterpark, located about 2-hours north of Indianapolis, has been a family-run business since 1922. Guests can soak up the sun at this unique beach/waterpark each summer Pine Lake Water Park has attractions unlike any other beach near Indianapolis. This waterpark has giant water slides and classic log walks Then the high adrenaline attractions like the black hole and the drop slide Consider yourself a bit of a daredevil? The Jump Tower is for you Whether you are looking to work on some wicked tricks or just your pencil dive and 30ft diving platforms are a blast for everyone The jump tower is in deep water and is for strong swimmers only The Cable Ride, aka “The Zipline,” is a thrill for anyone who dares to ride the line the zip line takes you for a quick ride across the water Find even more attractions on the Pine Lake website you can bring your own grill and use the picnic tables in the parking lot grills and picnic stuff can’t come inside the park You can leave and come back as much as you like You get the $5 back when you return the jacket No alcohol is allowed anywhere at Pine Lake Water Park It opens between 3:00 and 4:00 PM every day there are fish and other typical lake animals but you have to stay in the roped-off swimming area […] those who can’t resolve between the lake or the seashore This distinctive vacation spot presents all of the adrenaline rushes you’ll […] […] Distance from Indianapolis: 2 hrs If you can’t decide between the lake or the beach, Pine Lake Waterpark has you covered This unique destination offers all the adrenaline rushes you would expect […] Copyright 2024 Midwest Parenting Publications | All Right Reserved