.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comDanielle Flores went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI while Cira Limaldi went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored to lead Old Bridge to an 8-4 win over South Brunswick The Knights (7-10) scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a 6-3 lead before adding on two more runs in the fifth Alexandria Hunt and Jenna Pullano each recorded a hit and two RBI in the win Kaitlyn Trela recorded two hits and one RBI for the Vikings (6-9) The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. 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 two officers and a firefighter were injured in a four-alarm apartment fire Monday night Township police and firefighters responded shortly before 9:20 p.m to the blaze on Rellim Drive at the Madison Arms Apartments where they found part of building three fully engulfed in flames Officers worked quickly to evacuate neighboring apartments while firefighters fought the blaze Four residents were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries with one taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation and the other was treated on scene A firefighter also suffered smoke inhalation but was treated on scene The fire was put out in a little under an hour thanks to firefighters from Cheesequake The cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious and remains under investigation and the American Red Cross is helping the displaced residents Email: alewis@njpressmedia.com Alexander Lewis is an award-winning reporter and photojournalist whose work spans many topics The Eagles (11-3) built what seemed like a comfortable 10-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning before the Knights (7-11) erupted for eight runs in the frame to make it a one-run game Smith not only led Middletown South’s offense but also pitched effectively striking out 14 batters and walking three while allowing just one run over 5⅓ innings before giving way to Celia Collings Middletown South did most of its damage in the second inning and a hit-by-pitch while scoring twice and stealing a base Aileen Henderson added two hits and two RBI for the Eagles while Reilly Connolly went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base Old Bridge’s Alexandria Hunt led the Knights’ comeback effort with a home run Danielle Flores contributed two hits and two RBIs while Cira Limaldi added a double and a single with an RBI Middletown South has now won five of its past six games The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff 2024 at 9:38 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)OLD BRIDGE NJ — One of the candidates for Old Bridge school board this election was named in a sexual harassment lawsuit two years ago and was part of a $295,000 settlement reached to resolve the lawsuit Richard Dunn, one of six candidates running for Old Bridge school board, was sued when he was chief of the South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Co. As Patch reported at the time Original Patch report on this: Female Old Bridge Firefighter Alleges Sexist Jokes, Mistreatment (2022) Lent alleged that she frequently overheard male firefighters talking about the women they slept with showing pornographic videos to each other and that one firefighter in particular (South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Co President Tom Howard) made sexual comments at her expense Dunn and Deputy Chief Jeff Sellmeyer as defendants in her suit Lent said the bulk of the sexual harassment came from Howard She specifically said Dunn apologized to her for Howard's comments But she also said Dunn and Sellmeyer "tried to deter her" multiple times from filing formal complaints about Howard and the South Old Bridge Volunteer Company agreed to settle with her last year for $295,000 The $295,000 settlement was paid by the firehouse's insurance company none of the male firefighters admitted wrongdoing and Lent agreed to resign from the firehouse Dunn is still a volunteer firefighter with that firehouse All the parties involved signed a confidentiality/non-disclosure agreement but Patch obtained a copy of the settlement through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request Dunn said all this information about him coming to light is the work of the Old Bridge Republican Party "I'm hated by the Old Bridge Republican Party They dislike me because I do not follow the orders of power brokers of the party," he said Monday I did not participate in any of the comments and I did not harass Ms I was sued in my capacity as chief of the department There is a lot of misinformation out there to character assassinate me." Dunn also said that he and Lent "are friends" today and that she has one of his campaign signs on her lawn Lent herself currently sits on the Old Bridge Board of Education Lent did not respond when Patch asked her to comment for this story Dunn previously served for 10 years on the Old Bridge school board; he was first elected in 2011 His wife is a teacher in the school district The final day of voting in the Old Bridge school board election is Tuesday Meet All 6 Old Bridge School Board Candidates Meet Richard Dunn, Running For Old Bridge School Board Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Justin Hascup (29) of Old Bridge pitches in the bottom of the seventh inning to close out the game for the Knights during the GMC Championship baseball game between Old Bridge and South Plainfield at East Brunswick Magnet School in East Brunswick NJ on 5/18/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Reed Becker | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comOld Bridge scored five runs in the second and sixth innings to pull away from South Brunswick in a 13-0 win in Monmouth Junction Justin Hascup pitched five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits Chris Crosta went 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI Old Bridge (9-7) will travel to face Millburn on Saturday while South Brunswick (2-13) will host Trenton on Friday Reed Becker can be reached at rbecker@njadvancemedia.com 2024 at 12:47 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Richard Dunn (Campaign photo)OLD BRIDGE NJ — Six people are running for three seats on the Old Bridge school board Patch asked all six candidates the same set of questions and I have been a resident of Old Bridge Township for 26 years Kristine (1st grade teacher at Cooper Elementary School) for 32 years and have two children I attended the City University of New York ~ College of Staten Island and graduated with a BA in history and secondary education I attended New York University-School of Continuing Education and received a 2-year certificate in real estate and construction management I am currently employed as senior vice president of a Newark-based real estate company I have over 35 years of experience in real estate management I have been a volunteer firefighter with the South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Company for 21 years attaining the position of Chief of the Department from December 2020 to December 2022 Do you have children in the district or formerly in the district Both of my children are graduates of Old Bridge Public Schools having taken the educational paths that best supported their individual educational needs Erin currently attends Brookdale Community College and is finishing her associate degree and Reagan is a junior at Monmouth University What experience do you have that would make you a good BOE member I was elected to the Old Bridge Board of Education in April 2011 and served for 10 years I am a two-time past president and under my leadership we had full-day Kindergarten approved and implemented in 2013 which was a monumental achievement for our school district and community I was also appointed to the Old Bridge Township Planning Board as an alternate member for a one-year period in 2017 I believe based upon my considerable experience as a business leader I am well positioned to assume the responsibilities and challenges that are required of an effective school board member I am a community-minded volunteer with extensive experience in business administration and management in both private and public sectors what is some of the work you're proudest of that the Board has done Where do you think the Old Bridge school board needs to improve the Old Bridge Board of Education is lacking decorum and professionalism I pledge to bring back experience and leadership that the board has been missing I will champion fair and equitable opportunities for all children and will find fiscal balance while protecting the interests of the Old Bridge taxpayer what are some of the biggest challenges facing the Old Bridge school district in the next 2 -5 years There are many challenges forthcoming that will adversely affect our public schools in the near future including additional sequestration of state aid; aging facilities and buildings; possible redistricting of schools; enacting a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan; providing enhanced special services for our most vulnerable and keeping political influence out of our schools Who's running for Old Bridge school board in 2024 All six candidates answered our questions: Meet Carl Von Stetten, Running For Old Bridge School Board Meet Brooke Richards-Patterson, Running For Old Bridge School Board Meet Kiran Venkatesan, Running For Old Bridge School Board Meet Jay Slade, Running For Re-Election On Old Bridge School Board Meet Mireille Cameau-Wicks, Running For Old Bridge School Board but you can vote early in person at the Old Bridge Public Library from Oct controlled the offensive tempo against South Brunswick with six goals.Brian Bobal | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaReagan Connolly put six shots into the back of the net as Old Bridge remained undefeated in 2025 with a home victory Old Bridge (6-0) used a strong first half performance to secure the win Laila Vaughan and Adrienne Cabrera each recorded a hat trick for Old Bridge Addison Albrecht posted game-highs with four assists Madison Monkowski scored a pair of goals for South Brunswick and dished out an assist Dulcinea Solomons registered five draw controls and Madison Rorie controlled three ground balls After winning the Greater Middlesex Conference tournament last season Old Bridge is picking up right where it left off with an undefeated start through six games Dylan McCoy can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com Kevin Penny (13) of South Plainfield pitches during the GMC Championship baseball game between Old Bridge and South Plainfield at East Brunswick Magnet School in East Brunswick .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comKevin Penny gave up three hits over six innings while striking out four and walking two to lead South Plainfield to a 4-3 win over Old Bridge The Tigers (3-1) scored tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh Kevin Penny and Dan Kapsch each drove in a run for South Plainfield Brody Nugent had two RBI for the Knights (2-3) 1/43Boys Wrestling: Old Bridge at South Plainfield, January 22, 2025.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comOld Bridge picked up bonus points in eight of its nine bout wins to roll to a 47-24 victory over South Plainfield The win improves the Knights’ overall record to 9-4 and its record against GMC opposition to 5-0 The Knights remain at the top of the GMC Red Division with a 4-0 record while the Tigers (10-5) are 3-3 in in-division matches The Knights put together an eight-bout win streak from 175 to 126 Temiloluwa Odumbo started the streak with a major over Ivan Bondar Dominic Paulino pinned fellow region place-winner Joseph Ronzo at 190 Tari Mohamed-Ali pinned Aaron Everitt at heavyweight David Peoples took a 12-9 decision at 106 over region qualifier Logan Stoeckel Gavin Young pinned district place-winner Alex Pigna at 113 Viktor Ilnytskyi earned a 15-3 major over Alexander Teal at 120 and Lorenzo Granato pinned Hayden Hook at 126 Former state qualifier Jake Tenebruso opened the bout with a pin over Jose Rodriguez at 157 James Bermingham (165) Justin Culver (132) and Nicholas Irizarry (144) earned pins for South Plainfield Ryan Balent earned a 12-5 decision over Ryan Hoey at 150 and region qualifier Joseph Stanzioned outlasted district place-winner Griffin Nugent for a 5-3 decision win at 138 2024 at 10:50 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Kristin Borden/Patch)JACKSON NJ — It was a 29-year-old Old Bridge man who died when his kayak capsized this weekend in a lake near Six Flags Great Adventure On Monday afternoon, the Ocean County Prosecutor released the identity of the young man: John Pereira, 29, of Old Bridge, whose body was found shortly before 4 p.m Police say he and a group of others took a kayak out Saturday Prospertown Lake is an 80-acre man-made lake that is stocked by the state with fish; it is popular for kayaking and fishing It butts up against the property of Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson Township Police received a 911 call reporting the kayak had overturned and one of its occupants was unaccounted for in the murky lake water Witnesses told investigators that Pereira was not wearing a life jacket Numerous law enforcement and emergency units responded The search was suspended Saturday evening due to storms and loss of daylight Pereira's body was found just before 4 p.m The Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office is currently doing an autopsy to determine the man's exact cause of death but it is currently believed to be drowning alleging that inside the firehouse she frequently overheard male firefighters talking about the women they slept with showing pornographic videos to each other and that one firefighter in particular made sexual comments at her expense Lent is a volunteer firefighter with the South Old Bridge Fire Company She specifically named South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Co Fire Chief Richard Dunn and Deputy Chief Jeff Sellmeyer in her lawsuit She said the worst of the sex jokes came from Howard but she said Chief Dunn and Deputy Chief Sellmeyer did nothing to stop his behavior South Old Bridge Fire Company referred all questions about the lawsuit to their lawyers Dunn unsuccessfully ran this year for a seat on the Old Bridge Board of Education Lent is seeking financial damages in her lawsuit filed under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination "This utterly deplorable behavior includes many male employees .. and the women they believed had 'big b—' and a 'big a—'," read her lawsuit repeatedly referred to women as 'whores,' and several male employees passed around pornographic videos to each other in the workplace thus humiliating (Lent) and other employees." She said it was on May 21 of this year that the sexist atmosphere "reached a nexus," when she and the other firefighters took a bus to attend a firefighting conference in Harrisburg one defendant (Howard) peppered plaintiff with increasingly vile and misogynistic commentary about women being sex objects such as 'She was a good f—,' 'She was a lot of fun' and 'She’s a pig "This deplorable and degrading behavior only escalated when defendants began drinking alcohol on the bus ride home hypersexual and misogynistic 'jokes' about (Lent) When she demanded he cease his inappropriate conduct defendant Howard viciously responded 'You wouldn’t say no if the chief tried to f— you.' Needless to say Lent was shocked and deeply embarrassed by the public harassment she was forced to endure." Lent said Howard's comments on that bus ride were so deplorable the bus driver apologized to her that she had been treated so poorly by her coworkers throughout the day with the driver telling her at the end of the ride Lent also said that Fire Chief Dunn and Deputy Chief Sellmeyer witnessed Howard's comments on the bus that day and refused to intervene or tell him to stop Dunn and Sellmeyer both apologized her to and for their lack of trying to stop what Howard said on the bus She also said Sellmeyer tried many times to discourage her from filing a formal complaint against Howard warning her that if she were to file a complaint Old Bridge firefighters would “look at her differently,” and possibly retaliate against her Sellmeyer also encouraged Lent to “let it go” because Defendant Howard “was drunk," according to her lawsuit Lent said Dunn sent her a letter vaguely stating the Old Bridge Fire Co would implement a “Three-Point Action Plan," but no actual corrective action was taken Lent said she filed a formal complaint against Howard and she was then retaliated against with Howard filing his own complaint against her After filing her formal complaint against Howard Lent said she was told by other firefighters she should stop responding to calls and she should quit being a volunteer firefighter This is a statement Lent herself submitted in her lawsuit: "I would like to start off by saying that since I joined in December 2020 I have absolutely loved being a firefighter Every responsibility of the job itself has been a wonderful experience Learning about firefighting and experiencing the job duties has been so rewarding unfortunately my job duties are not the only factor that goes into someone’s experience The 'brotherhood' South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Department outwardly displays is not something I have fully experienced There are some members that ruin it for all during a Fire Department outing it crossed the line several high-ranking individuals became highly intoxicated during our early group dinner In addition they repeatedly supplied a minor alcohol later encouraging him to participate in taking beer mugs from the restaurant without paying for them I pretty much ignored the conversation and rolled with it I actually got up from the table four times during the meal so I could take a break from the conversation joked several times how “this is a red card conversation." In my professional line of work when someone is inappropriate investigated or sanctioned we issue a “red card." So clearly this firefighter was well aware that the conversation was out of line the conversation turned to talking about a video (I can not confirm what type of video it was) that I didn’t want to see I made passive “vomit” noises to jokingly indicate I wasn’t comfortable with seeing the video said a sexual in nature comment in reference to myself and the Chief Finally I yelled at him “Are you going to be able to finish your beer once I break your jaw this was the only way I felt I could make my point extremely clear He mumbled a few more comments about “beer muscles” and then returned to speaking to other people at the table Shortly after we left and returned to the bus insults and conversation in reference to my comment continued more than halfway home I felt extremely uncomfortable and would have left The firefighter who mentioned the “red card” earlier mentioned it again in which I openly told the entire bus that this entire trip is an outright lawsuit and way passed a “red card." Although the harassment and comments predominantly came from only a few members none of the other seven members said a single word to stop it They all sat there and listened to insults and degradation I had to endure Once the intoxicated individuals ran out of alcohol they repeatedly harassed the driver to stop so they could purchase more When we stopped for them to purchase more alcohol I couldn’t even pass them to use the bus bathroom It seems while I was inside the store bathroom the Chief did speak up and ask them to stop Up until that point not one member said a single comment in my defense or tried to quiet the inappropriate behavior There is a fine line between “boys will be boys” and inappropriate and illegal behavior the bus driver apologized to me for their behavior and said “I am so sorry they treat you this way.” As I previously mentioned I will either remove myself from the conversation or ignore “stupid” talk But the second the comments turned directly about me especially in reference to another member it became too much." the South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Company expressed great pride in acknowledging and celebrating the exceptional contributions of its three active women firefighters – Cecilia Nieves “These courageous women have not only met but surpassed the stringent requirements to become certified firefighters,” said Company President Dennis Cahill “They have undergone the same rigorous training as their counterparts demonstrating unwavering dedication and commitment to our organization." More: 'The ocean gives so many gifts': This NJ native is among USA TODAY's Women of the Year Cahill extended an open invitation to all members who meet the current standards and training prerequisites to join the company’s ranks while adding he believes in promoting inclusivity and diversity Company Chief Joseph Frizalone echoed Cahill's sentiments and encouraged the trio to aspire to become lieutenants within the department showcasing their exceptional skills and capabilities Cahill noted that Kristen Kellett was recognized in 2022 at the Company’s 75th anniversary for being the first women captain in the organization EAST BRUNSWICK – This is way one to sum up Old Bridge’s 6-5 win over South Plainfield in Saturday’s Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament baseball final it was just a good old-fashioned brawl between two good teams you know,” Old Bridge coach Matt Donaghue said it’s that eloquent simplicity which says it all More: Baseball May roundup: Results, analysis, links for GMC, Skyland and area Union County The Knights jumped to an early lead. South Plainfield came back. Old Bridge added insurance runs. South Plainfield cut it closer and the Knights held off a seventh-inning rally highlighted by a slick double play at host East Brunswick Magnet. It added up to Old Bridge’s third GMCT crown, with championships in 2011 and 2019. (Old Bridge Township schools Cedar Ridge in 1987 and Madison Central in 1989 also won titles before the merger.) “Huge win,” Knights shortstop John Smith said. “Huge win. I mean, we worked hard all season for this and it’s well deserved.” The third-seeded Knights (18-7) avenged two regular-season defeats to top-seeded South Plainfield (19-5-1). Old Bridge used its winning formula of nothing fancy, just contagious hitting and getting on base combined with stellar pitching. Frank Papeo earned the victory by pitching a gritty four innings, JT Meyer went 2 2/3 innings in relief and Justin Hascup got the final out via a groundout and the celebration was on. All three have been excellent this spring, but Papeo got the start and the senior lefty delivered. “I wasn’t too worried about strikeouts today, just pitched to contact,” said Papeo, noting he cut down on walks. “My infield and outfield did a good job.” In the top of the first, Old Bridge opened a 4-0 lead via four singles, two walks and a hit batter with 10 up to bat. “We’re not a home run-hitting team,” Donaghue said. “We’re just trying to get good at-bats together one after another and they did. We put up four runs in the first inning but even with that, you knew the game was not going to be over at that point. It’s a long baseball game.” South Plainfield cut it to 4-3 after the second inning, but the Knights got two key insurances runs in the sixth inning. The Tigers threatened in the bottom of the seventh with Dan Kapsch singling past the diving shortstop to open the frame. Meyer then got a double play from second baseman Chris Crosta to shortstop John Smith, who threw it to first baseman Noah Balbuena. Jayden Smith doubled and Nick Irizarry got an infield single, but the Tigers couldn’t get closer. Alvarez and Irizarry each went 2-for-4 and Zach Robinson had a two-RBI single. Dom Massaro and Brandon Bickunas each singled, drove in a run and scored. “You got to play a complete game,” South Plainfield coach Scott Gleichenhaus said. “We gave them opportunities, they took advantage of the opportunities we gave them and they won the game as a result. “… We’re never out. We battled to the end, just came up short here. Obviously wish things would have worked out a little different in certain situations. I’m going to look back on it, kick myself why didn’t I do this. Why didn’t I do that.” Saturday, Old Bridge got the more timely hits. Akhil Penkala went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Also having a hit – all singles – were Papeo (run), John Smith (run), Hascup (RBI), MJ Altman (RBI, run) and Evan Smith (RBI). Meyer also had an RBI. With the win, Old Bridge’s Donaghue earned his 100th career victory in the sixth season as head coach. Yeah, it’s a nice milestone, but … “To me that’s just a number,” he said. “Championships are more important. That’s more important to me.” highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems Share LinkThis Footage Of A Rickety South Carolina Bridge Will Take You Back In TimeThe John P Grace Memorial Bridge in South Carolina was a notoriously unsafe and thrilling crossing before being replaced by the Ravenel Bridge It's estimated that as many as 50,000 cars crossed the new bridge on its first day The state of South Carolina purchased the bridge in 1946 and got rid of the toll Flickr/Hunter DesportesIn 1929 cars were certainly skinnier than in more recent times Crossing in an early model Ford was likely a very different experience than getting over this rickety old bridge in a dually or a passenger van in later years as cars began to swell and the bridge began to deteriorate Watch this amazing video from Facebook user Andrew Doyle taken with his cell phone in 2005 just before the closing of the Grace Memorial Bridge (The music in the background on his radio is 96Wave playing "Church" and "Nirvana.") Did this scary footage bring back memories for you What are your thoughts on the Old Copper River Bridge Do you just love South Carolina? Check out these 11 crazy facts about our state and see how many of these outlandish claims you already knew. Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... Enjoy your own private fishing pond and then head to one of Missouri's underrated fishing spots with a stay at this cozy cabin. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! the South Plainfield High School softball team’s senior power-hitting stepped up to the plate in the first inning of Saturday’s Greater Middlesex Conference championship game with a singular mindset “Going into the game I knew that on the first pitch I was going to rock Oller drilled the first pitch she saw up the middle for a single and went on to score the first of two Tigers runs in the opening inning She saw her second pitch in the second inning and turned on that one driving it over the fence in left-center for a two-run homer and a four-run lead and second-seeded South Plainfield was on its way to a 10-0 victory over top-seeded Old Bridge for the school’s first title since 2013 who added a three-run homer in the seventh inning to complete her memorable three-hit we said we were going to make it here and we’re going to win.” More: Softball roundup: Daily May results and links for Skyland , GMC, area Union County More: Softball Player of the Week: Rutgers Prep’s Julia Opong-Marfo wins Week 6 honors Although they split their two regular-season games and were awarded the two top seeds in the tournament the teams’ output yesterday could not have been more disparate and all nine batters delivered at least one hit which had a nine-game winning streak snapped managed only one hit off Erin Townley - a bloop single down the left-field line leading off the third inning by Emma DiMartini I can’t say it was just me pitching that one-hitter because our defense absolutely killed it today,” said Townley (14-3) walked three and said she was blissfully unaware that she fired a one-hitter until informed after the game and we carry that excitement into the field so I know that we’re going to be a little more sure-handed in the field Oller wasn’t the only Tigers player who shined at the plate Sophia Alvarez and Kelsey Geurts each had two singles and a double the Knights did not hit a ball on the ground until Gianna Velez smashed a grounder off Townley’s foot in the seventh inning which the junior calmly collected and threw to first for an out South Plainfield played error-free softball and combining that with the 15-hit attack and one-hit pitching proved to be insurmountable “I knew that we needed to jump out and I wanted more but the two-run lead was good and we built on it,” said Panzarella whose team’s 10-run win was the most lopsided in the GMCT final since “I’m impressed with the way we hit the ball today I’m so happy for them because we’ve really played well this year I think if we play good defense and she pitches well we’ll be in the game.” This was the fourth GMCT title for Panzarella and he admitted he was nervous before the contest We’ve won four state championship and a lot of sectionals but this is the hardest because you’re playing all size schools,” Panzarella explained “It means a lot to me and it means a lot to the program.” Old Bridge also fell behind 2-0 in its semifinals win over St but held the Trojans scoreless for the remainder of the afternoon in securing a 7-2 victory The Knights hit the balls hard all afternoon with 11 fly balls to the outfield which center fielder Gabby DiCencia corralled with a diving grab “We hit the ball fairly well at some points but we didn’t adjust the way that we needed to,” Old Bridge coach Angela D’Amico said they’re a good hitting team and we knew that we would have to hit today they did a good job and they executed and got the job done.” Zoe Milonopolous (27) of Old Bridge celebrates after hitting a solo home run against South Plainfield during the softball game at South Plainfield High School in South Plainfield NJ on Thursday .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jake Aferiat | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comGREATER MIDDLESEX CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT1-Old Bridge (19-4) vs Old Bridge has won two GMC Tournament titles (2003 South Plainfield has won three GMC Tournament titles (1995 Old Bridge will in if: The bottom of the lineup can come through The Knights have some potent hitters in the top/middle part of their lineup that can do some major damage and set the tone early But what might make the Knights even more dangerous is if the bottom of the lineup can come through 9 hitter Ava Accettulli hit a massive home run and drove in four of Old Bridge’s seven runs after the five previous hitters in front of her went 0-fer in the game If the Knights can find some balance and get timely productive hits and at bats from the middle and bottom of their order in this one then that should portend well for coach Angela D’Amico’s group which is looking for its first title in 16 years and which D’Amico was a star on that team South Plainfield will win if: They can put pressure on the defense Old Bridge ace Gianna Lombardi has a WHIP over 1.00 and doesn’t strike out many batters but it hasn’t seemed to matter for the Knights as she’s been able to limit the damage and propel them this far with South Plainfield both having seen Lombardi twice already this season (the two sides have split with each other) and knowing that baserunners will be likely the Tigers will need to put pressure on the Knights’ capable defense and try to manufacture runs Don Panzarella’s group has only stolen two bases this season so they’re capable of running into one and making something happen that way Jake Aferiat can be reached at jaferiat@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @Jake_Aferiat Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Old Bridge is brought to you by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick OLD BRIDGE – A volunteer firefighter is suing the South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Company alleging female firefighters are "dehumanized In the suit filed in September by township resident Lisa Lent the other named defendants are the township; Tom Howard president of the South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Co.; Richard Dunn fire company and firefighters have not yet filed a formal response to the charges Lent filed the lawsuit under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination under her right to work in an environment free from harassment and retaliation Lent joined the fire company in December 2020 as a probationary firefighter but was "quickly taken off probation and promoted." the lawsuit says Lent "endured years of sexual harassment meted out to her on a daily basis by the predominantly male" volunteers The "utterly deplorable behavior," the lawsuit alleges included open conversations about sexual practices and women's physical characteristics Also see:Over 40 Central Jersey fire departments get grants for new safety equipment Local:Plans delayed for 529 apartments along the Garden State Parkway in Old Bridge. Here's why several men passed around pornographic videos and referred to women as "whores," the suit charges The fire company "was so grossly misogynistic that (Lent) dreaded reporting for work each shift," the lawsuit alleges But Lent "endured the unfettered bigotry,” fearing she would be the victim of retaliation if she reported it The breaking point came May 21 when Howard "targeted her with the most vile and reprehensible harassment she experienced to date," during a weekend trip to a firefighters' convention in Harrisburg Howard made "grossly misogynistic and entirely inappropriate" comments that constituted a "sophomoric display of machismo" that only worsened when the firefighters began drinking on the bus ride home the remarks continued and Lent become "so uncomfortable" she had to leave the table and walk around the restaurant four times The lawsuit alleges that though Dunn and Sellmeyer witnessed Howard's behavior Lent "tried to defuse the situation" by saying "You won't be able to finish your beer when I break your jaw Howard's behavior continued all the way home to Old Bridge the bus driver apologized to Lent that she had been treated so poorly Lent complained to Dunn about Howard's conduct and that nothing was done to stop it Sellmeyer and Dunn that she wanted to file formal charges but they discouraged her from filing any complaints Lent "suffered an unbearable hostile work environment in retaliation." She was treated with hostility told she should resign and stop going on calls and was discouraged from filing a formal charge against Howard Lent received a letter from Dunn saying a "Three Point Action Plan" would be implemented to address her concerns but Howard filed formal charges against her for making a "threat of physical violence" and for "continually harass(ing him) via emails making threats to write (him) up," the lawsuit says When Lent told Sellmeyer and Dunn she wanted to file formal charges against Howard she was told that under the fire company's bylaws she could not because more than 30 days had elapsed since the incident ran in November for a seat on the board of education he did not finish among the top three contenders Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com please subscribe or activate your digital account today 1/39Baseball: South Planfield vs. Old Bridge, GMC Final, May 18, 2024.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaRain could not dampen the excitement of championship baseball in Central Jersey Cipperly Field at East Brunswick Magnet School was a packed house on Saturday afternoon for the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament final The two teams playing knew each other very well as top-seeded South Plainfield had defeated third-seed Old Bridge in both of their matchups this year This matchup would be different from the others to claim their first conference championship since 2019 “You have to play a complete game,” South Plainfield coach Scott Gleichenhaus said they took advantage and won the game as a result.” Old Bridge (18-7), which came into the game No. 18 in NJ.com’s Top 20 started off the game with a big first inning recording two runs before junior pitcher Kevin Penny could record an out A single from senior outfielder Evan Smith brought in the fourth run giving the Knights a healthy lead after their first turn at-bat you need as many runs as you can get,” said Old Bridge coach Matt Donaghue Senior pitcher Frank Papeo responded by retiring South Plainfield (19-5-1) in order to keep the lead at 4-0 after the first inning Penny was able to counter in the top of the second pitching a clean inning to get the Tigers back on offense South Plainfield took the momentum back in the bottom of the second starting out the inning with three straight singles as senior infielder Brandon Bickunas drove their first run across home plate A pair of fielder’s choices brought in two more before Papeo was able to work out of the jam “We’re never out of the game,” Gleichenhaus said Both pitchers settled down after one big offensive inning from each side as Papeo and Penny both put up a clean third Old Bridge was able to get two runners on via walks but a pair of groundouts kept the score at 4-3 as both starters settled in for scoreless innings “I was all smiles after that first inning,” Papeo said but the next two innings were all zeroes.” The top of the fifth saw the Knights put the first two runners on base signaling the end of Penny’s day on the mound he recorded five strikeouts while allowing six hits and two walks Junior pitcher Mike Castagnia came in to relieve him and looked to be in control Junior first baseman Noah Balbuena then took a pitch off of his shoulder to load the bases with one out Old Bridge used a fielder’s choice from senior pitcher Justin Meyer and a wild pitch to get the lead back up to three after four and a half innings The Tigers responded by putting their first two batters on base in the bottom of the fifth He recorded one strikeout while allowing six hits and two walks “I wasn’t too worried about strikeouts today,” Papeo said “Most of the games that I’ve struggled with had plenty of walks letting my infield and outfield do their jobs.” and South Plainfield was able to capitalize A wild pickoff attempt at second put two runners into scoring position and senior infielder Zach Robinson drove both in on a single but Meyer responded with a quick groundout and a flyout go out there and throw strikes,” Donaghue said and hit the ball then we’re going to be alright.” Castagnia retired the first two hitters of the inning before Old Bridge put two runners on ending his relief effort after 1.2 innings Senior pitcher Chase Donovan came in to work out of the jam and got the last out of the inning Meyer’s second inning of relief saw one runner get on base for South Plainfield but he was able to neutralize the offense and not allow a run “They’re some of the best (relief pitchers) in the state,” Papeo said striking out the first two hitters and retiring the side in order to give the Tigers a chance to take the game in the bottom of the seventh Junior infielder Dan Kapsch opened up the final half-inning with a single but Robinson hit the ball straight to the second baseman for a double play A double from Jayden Alvarez gave South Plainfield life with one out remaining Old Bridge went to their junior closer Justin Hascup but an infield single from junior outfielder Nick Irizarry put runners on the corners Bickunas came up with a chance to change the game but a groundout gave the championship to the Knights “There’s a lot of things that I want to say about these guys,” Donaghue said they just bought into the process of what we have going on.” Both teams will now prepare for sectionals to close out their 2023-24 season “We have about six more hours to celebrate this win,” Papeo said The N.J. 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Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) 1/39Baseball: South Planfield vs. Old Bridge, GMC Final, May 18, 2024.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Luis Torres | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comOur HS sports photos like the ones above put you right up close with the action and the whole experience Check them out by clicking anywhere in the collage above to open the photo gallery Don’t forget to share the gallery with friends and relatives.These photos are also available for purchase in a variety of sizes and finishes – just click the “BUY IMAGE” link below any photo to see available options and make a purchase NJ.com subscribers can also get free print-quality digital downloads of any images in this gallery Note: Because we are trying to make these galleries available for viewing as quickly as possible you are probably seeing an early version and more photos will be added later Please return and refresh the page to see additions Mobile device users: For the best experience downloading high-resolution images (available free and to subscribers only) and making photo purchases it’s best to visit this page from your desktop or laptop computer was an employee of the company Superior Signal Officials say a firefighter was also treated for injuries and was released from the hospital Superior Signal is located on Greystone Road across the street from Jonas Salk Middle School where students had to be put into shelter-in-place as a precaution Wednesday once the fire started they are a manufacturer of smoke generators and ultrasonic instruments for leak detection Police say they received a call of a loud explosion and smoke in the air Two of the patients were transported by ground two patients were transported by helicopter to St Barnabas,” said South River firefighter Chief Joseph Frizalone And now an opening date has been announced for the ShopRite: The new grocery store will open its doors at 8 a.m. March 17, the Old Bridge ShopRite announced on their Facebook page The existing ShopRite of Old Bridge will close on Saturday the day before the grand opening of the new location A few things you can expect from the grand opening: The Old Bridge ShopRite will be located in the Glenwood Green development complex The Target that's also coming there did not yet announce an opening date According to a press release from ShopRite here's what the new Old Bridge ShopRite will have: “It was important to us that the community be part of the planning and Old Bridge residents told us they wanted premium quality and inspiration,” said Perry Blatt director of business development for Village Super Market the family-run business that owns and operates the new Old Bridge ShopRite “We offer all the value and variety of ShopRite with lots of special surprises we believe customers will love.” Customers looking for grocery delivery can use Instacart for delivery in as little as one hour apply to work at new ShopRite of Old Bridge a retailer-owned cooperative based in Keasbey and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States With nearly 280 ShopRite supermarkets located throughout New Jersey ShopRite serves millions of customers each week The Old Bridge ShopRite is owned by Village Supermarkets a member of the retailer-owned supermarket cooperative Wakefern Food Corp Village Supermarkets currently operates 30 ShopRite supermarkets throughout New Jersey as well as four specialty markets under the Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market brands in Manhattan According to the Glenwood Green website from Regency here is what's already confirmed to open there: There will also be a healthcare building on site (operated by Rendina Healthcare) and more than 1,200 new apartments are currently under construction at Glenwood Green New Target, ShopRite Opening This Spring In Old Bridge (March 1) OLD BRIDGE – A woman and her two dogs escaped a fire Thursday morning at their home on Eagle Court Police said they received a call at 6:30 a.m The homeowner woke up to the smell of smoke and the residential fire alarms were activated and the cause of the fire is under investigation South Old Bridge Fire Company and Monroe Fire Company responded to the scene along with first aid units from Laurence Harbor Local:Old Bridge is planning a new beachfront community center. Here's what we know 2023 at 2:35 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Google Maps)OLD BRIDGE The fire was extinguished with the assistance of several fire departments including some called in from nearby towns There was nothing suspicious about the fire and there were no injuries all businesses were able to continue normal operations with the exception of the nail salon The nail salon remains temporarily closed as of Monday South Plainfield faces the daunting task of going up against the past present and future of the Old Bridge High School wrestling program during the seventh annual Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual on Friday night Members of the township’s recreation and middle school programs have been invited to attend the match during which Old Bridge will also celebrate the 1990 Cedar Ridge sectional championship team More: East Brunswick Wrestling Alumni Night will benefit Middlesex County children in need Donations collected at the door will benefit The Marisa Tufaro Foundation which assists pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area “This match is their Youth Night and Alumni Night and obviously supports a great cause as the Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual,” South Plainfield head coach Steve Johnston said Our guys need to wrestle in those types of environments to prepare themselves for what they are going to see down the road Old Bridge is a solid team this year and we are gearing up and ready to give our best effort.” resurgent Old Bridge defeated South Plainfield for the first time in more than two decades which graduated the bulk of its starters from last season’s senior-laden squad features just two upperclassmen including incumbent state champion Logan Roman (120) The team’s losses are to Phillipsburg and Cranford both of which the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association ranks in its Top 20 Old Bridge may be a year or two away from returning to the precipice of prominence it enjoyed last season when it broke into the state rankings and placed second in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament who took third at the Sam Cali Invitational and reached the finals of the Ron Mazzola Memorial Tournament joins JoJo Nalewajko (106) and upperweights Dominick Paulino and Zack Florio as program cornerstones the son of former South River head coach Bobby Young is a promising newcomer who reflects Old Bridge’s promise “We have some good young wrestlers right now and we’re figuring things out,” Old Bridge head coach John Post said The Knights opened the year with a nine-point loss to Monroe with a much different lineup than that which they expect to showcase during the NJSIAA District Tournament where Old Bridge will see the Falcons again Old Bridge’s tough remaining schedule includes duals with Southern Regional widely regarded as New Jersey’s best public-school team state-ranked Saint Joseph of Metuchen and Rumson-Fair Haven which enters the Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual with an uncharacteristic 2-9 record Despite having to replace eight starters from a team that won an eighth consecutive sectional title last season South Plainfield continues to wrestle a challenging slate including another annual appearance in last weekend’s Boresch Duals Incumbent region qualifiers Nolan Hook (138) Jose Rodriguez (150) and Ryan Balent (144) anchor the lineup along with sophomore Anthony Matteo (132) South Plainfield won’t only be wrestling against Old Bridge’s varsity squad Members of the Old Bridge Mat Rats and wrestlers from the township’s Salk and Sandburg middle schools will pose for a photo on the mat with the Knights after the dual as former letterwinners and coaches from Old Bridge Madison Central (including its 1990 sectional championship squad) and Cedar Ridge will be in attendance One Town” will resonate throughout the gymnasium as a program steeped in tradition looks to connect the future with the present through the past “It’s really great to recognize the history but I also like to meet face-to-face with a lot of the kids who are going to be here in the coming years and show them what they can be a part of,” said Post who credits former Old Bridge head coach Bryan Garnett with reuniting the wrestling program’s alumni “We like to get the kids in the feeder system accustomed to setting goals to wrestle at the high school It’s a rivalry match and it benefits The Marisa Tufaro Foundation which we should be able to help in a big way.” The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than $300,000 to fulfill its mission The nonprofit has also donated thousands of toys and other items upon which it has placed no monetary value The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has awarded $29,500 in academic scholarships to exceptional Middlesex County high school seniors who support its mission through community service and volunteerism but when we are getting together for an event like this whose program is among New Jersey’s most successful with 12 state championships and a state-record 37 consecutive district tournament titles “Both teams want to come away with a win and perform well We are giving back and continuing to show the state that while wrestling is very big in New Jersey there are a lot greater causes and bigger things going on that we should continue to honor and pay tribute to.” the Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual has raised nearly $30,000 for the nonprofit bearing its namesake’s moniker Marisa is the daughter of former Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com sportswriter Greg Tufaro and longtime Edison Township Public Schools educator Cyndi Tufaro Marisa survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctors’ appointments Marisa was an honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired SOUTH PLAINFIELD – The Old Bridge wrestling coaches recently scanned old box scores and the best they could find was the last Knights win over South Plainfield came in 1996 a proud program that made strides the last couple seasons under John Post continued its ascent with a 48-21 win over the Tigers in Friday’s sixth annual Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual The Knights held a 9-5 edge in matches and their fans even cheered when South Plainfield jumped to an early lead but the Old Bridge wrestlers fought to keep three of those losses to decisions Old Bridge produced a stretch of seven-straight stunning wins from 157 to 106 that featured lineup switches a dramatic ending and plenty of bonus points The result: Old Bridge seized a 39-15 lead and clinched the dual with three bouts left “We have a number of goals and this was one of them,” Post said “We know the route goes through them and we wanted to go through them I think we made a statement for the rest of the state.” Winning by fall for Old Bridge were Gage Gojani (157) Nicholas Caruso (285) and Joseph Stanzione (113) while Avery Mack (190) took a technical fall and Robert Orzol (215) won 8-0 Dan Hennessey (175) used a late rally to force overtime and then won by injury default Logan Roman (120) won by an injury default and Jesse Koczon (126) won 6-3 Old Bridge (8-2) got its signature win over a state-ranked opponent after coming close this season with losses against North Hunterdon and Phillipsburg 14 in the latest NJ Wrestling Writers state top 20 is still alive in the GMC Red Division race and will host No South Plainfield topped Old Bridge 37-24 and won eight matches South Plainfield defeated Old Bridge by an average of 62 points a match will simply go back to work as the GMC Tournament is in two weeks and the NJSIAA team state sectionals start Feb Proceeds from the night benefited The Marisa Tufaro Foundation whose mission is to help pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area Friday’s dual generated more than $4,400 for the foundation That raises the six-year total of the annual match to nearly $25,000 who would have graduated from Edison High School survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle at 13 Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments Marisa is the daughter of former Home News Tribune and Courier News sports reporter Greg Tufaro and longtime Edison Township Public Schools educator Cyndi Tufaro The Marisa Tufaro Foundation recognized the late Ron Mazzola an Old Bridge native and longtime supporter of the foundation and wrestling statewide Grace Patella received flowers and a plaque The foundation also recognized South Plainfield’s Dave and Jenn Stoeckel Their daughter Laney was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and had two open-heart surgeries and an experimental procedure a charity that supports families of cardiac patients The Marisa Tufaro Foundation partnered with Team Laney Bug last year to make a generous donation to the CHOP Cardiac Center at Saint Peter’s Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick Old Bridge sophomore Gage Gojani (157) received a trophy as his team’s Outstanding Wrestler in Ron Mazzola’s memory while South Plainfield’s Nicholas Campagna (150) got a pin in 1:25 and received his team’s OW in the memory of Laney Stoeckel Old Bridge trailed 15-0 after the first four matches The Knights then scored 39 straight points over seven bouts to seal the victory Post said that Old Bridge’s 165-pounder Dylan Miller was hurt in his last match Old Bridge bumped up Tyler Sagi to 165 and put Gojani in at 157 locked in cradles at the end of the first and second periods to open a 9-1 lead and got the fall with 1:44 left The Tigers were without starter Mark Molinaro who South Plainfield coach Steve Johnston said is a little banged up South Plainfield’s Daniel Borsos went up 5-0 in the first period after a takedown and back points Old Bridge’s Hennessey completed the takedown by spinning around with about 10 seconds left to make it 7-6 let Borsos go and spun behind at the buzzer for the 8-8 tie The South Plainfield wrestler needed to again get looked at by the trainer and couldn’t continue for the unfortunate injury default as Old Bridge gained a 18-15 lead The Knights continued the torrid stretch at 190 has looked comfortable at the heavier weight and got an impressive 18-2 win in 4:27 to give Old Bridge the 23-15 edge Robert Orzol completed a single leg takedown with 25 seconds left to win 8-0 and get his team a bonus point and a 27-15 lead Nicholas Caruso (285) and Joseph Nalewajko (106) finished the seven-win stretch with pins as Old Bridge led 39-15 with three matches left – and the purple and white celebration was on Rocco Celentano (138) and Jake Tenebruso (144) for holding their defeats to a decision and not giving up extra team points “We had to remind the kids that we’re not all expected to win Sometimes we’re expected to limit damage and we were able to do that.” but he’s been getting better and better every match technically He’s a physical kid and that’s not something you could teach “I came ready to wrestle no matter if I was wrestling or not 132: Andrew Loniewski (SOPL) over Brandon Koczon (OLBR) (Dec 8-3) 138: Daniel Gonzalez-Ross (SOPL) over Rocco Celentano (OLBR) (Dec 7-1) 144: J.J Giordano (SOPL) over Jake Tenebruso (OLBR) (Dec 8-3) 150: Nicholas Campagna (SOPL) over Austin Miller (OLBR) (Fall 1:25) 157: Gage Gojani (OLBR) over Vincent Conselina (SOPL) (Fall 4:16) 165: Tyler Sagi (OLBR) over Justus Niemeyer (SOPL) (Fall 4:55) 175: Daniel Hennessey (OLBR) over Daniel Borsos (SOPL) (Inj [time]) 190: Avery Mack (OLBR) over Adam Bowles (SOPL) (TF 18-2 4:27) 215: Robert Orzol (OLBR) over Manuel Alvaranga (SOPL) (MD 8-0) 285: Nicholas Caruso (OLBR) over Aaron Everitt (SOPL) (Fall 0:27) 106: Joseph Nalewajko (OLBR) over Alex Pigna (SOPL) (Fall 2:44) 113: Joseph Stanzione (SOPL) over (OLBR) (For.) 120: Logan Roman (OLBR) over Nicholas Irizarry (SOPL) (Inj [time]) 126: Jesse Koczon (OLBR) over Aldo Pigna (SOPL) (Dec 6-3) 1/33Softball: Old Bridge vs. South Plainfield, Greater Middlesex Conference softball tournament, May 18, 2024.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Steven Bassin | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comThere is a new head of the table in the Greater Middlesex Conference softball world and it’s South Plainfield Led by senior Lindsay Oller and junior ace Erin Townley the two-seeded Tigers roared to a 10-0 victory over top-seed Old Bridge during the finals of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament in Woodbridge “We came out on a mission and I’m very excited for our team (winning the GMC championship),” South Plainfield coach Donald Panzarella said We’re hitting the ball in a timely fashion and our pitching has been awesome.” This is the first GMC title for South Plainfield (18-4) since 2013 and marks the fourth time in the program’s history that the Tigers have won the conference tournament It’s also the first time since 2018 that a team besides St Oller’s single on the very first pitch of the game began South Plainfield’s march to scoring 10 or more runs in back-to-back games for the third time this season She would later come around and score as part of the team’s two-run first inning The senior made her presence felt at the plate even larger during her next at-bat in the second inning Oller again swung early in the count and bashed a two-run home run to dead center to extend the South Plainfield lead to 4-0 “We wanted to get up in the box and attack early on in the count,” Oller said We definitely set the tone of the game early on.” Oller left the yard again during South Plainfield’s four-run seventh inning smacking a three-run home run this time around The senior finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs five RBI and three runs scored and also reached base four times with a hit by pitch during the victory “It feels amazing,” Oller said of her performance in the GMC final Kelsey Geurts had two hits and two RBI for the Tigers and Nicole Swatko reached base three times during the victory with two hits Hailey Fonti added an RBI single to the victory as well for the Tigers The junior was flawless in the circle for South Plainfield tossing a one-hitter with two strikeouts to claim her second straight shutout and seventh of the spring “It’s awesome but I do know that the reason it was a one-hitter was because of how well our defense played,” Townley said We’ve become really close as a team over the season I trust every one of my teammates to make the plays I need them to make out there.” Townley allowed only four Old Bridge batters to reach base by issuing three walks in the contest as well Emma DiMartini collected the lone hit for Old Bridge (19-5) and Gianna Lombardi lasted four innings in her start for the Knights and allowed six runs on nine hits and two hit batters This was Old Bridge’s second appearance in the GMC final in three years The Knights currently have the most power points in the NJSIAA Central Jersey “It’s going to hurt (losing in the GMC final) for a bit but we have to find a way to move and focus on states,” Old Bridge coach Angela D’Amico said “We have a good shot to make a good run (in the sectional tournament) We just have to go out there and execute.” The same can be said for South Plainfield heading into the NJSIAA North Jersey The Tigers currently have the most power points in their section heading into seedings on Monday “We will hopefully come out ready to go,” Panzarella said “We won our division and now we won the county We just have to take things one step at a time and see what happens.” The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Steven Bassin can be reached at SBassin@njadvancemedia.com OLD BRIDGE - A township family was  left homeless after their Firethorn Road house was destroyed in a two-alarm fire Police said the cause of the fire appears to be electrical firefighters were called to 3 Firethorn Road for a report of a fire Police said the fire apparently started on the side of the house with arcing wires The fire spread to a garbage can and a vehicle before spreading to the home Firefighters had to wait for the utility company to turn off the power to fight the fire READ: Raccoon tests positive for rabies in Old Bridge READ: Arson suspected in Old Bridge car dealership fires Police said the fire burned most of the house to the ground A bulldozer was used to knock down the rest of the structure Police said the Pabon family lived in the home The family escaped the fire with just the clothes they were wearing A GoFundMe account has been set up for the family at https://www.gofundme.com/dyzm22b8 about $13,187 of the $20,000 sought has been raised by more than 200 people The South Old Bridge Fire Company and Green and White First Aid Squad responded to the scene Staff Writer Suzanne Russell:732-565-7335; srussell@mycentraljersey.com 2024 at 3:21 pm ETHere is a map of where exactly the shuttles pick up and drop off (weekday mornings/evenings only): (NY Waterway)And the shuttle schedule (NY Waterway)The South Amboy ferry leaves from 100 Radford Ferry Road (Carly Baldwin/Patch)(Carly Baldwin/Patch)SOUTH AMBOY NJ — NY Waterway wants to remind people they offer free shuttles Parlin and South Amboy and taking them to the ferry dock at 100 Radford Ferry Road in South Amboy Here is everything you need to know about the South Amboy-to-NYC ferry service: https://www.nywaterway.com/Sou... NY Waterway launched their South Amboy ferry service into Manhattan in October. Customers on the first day of service said they "loved it:" read this review of how the first day of service went The South Amboy ferry only runs Monday - Friday for now; it still does not run on weekends The free shuttles pick people up weekday mornings and evenings at major roads and residential complexes in Sayreville See exactly where they stop and what time on the map above The shuttles drop riders off at the ferry dock at 100 Radford Ferry Road "We want to make sure that those who take the trip to Manhattan know that they can take advantage of the free ride to and from the ferry landing,” said NY Waterway CEO Armand Pohan South Amboy ferry fares to NYC are one-way adult: $18 For comparison, a 40-trip ticket from nearby Belford into NYC by Seastreak is $720 The trip from South Amboy to Brookfield Place in Lower Manhattan is just under 50 minutes The boat then makes a second stop at West 39th Street in Midtown there is no weekend service; boats run on weekdays only Ferries leave during the morning and evening commute hours The first ferry leaves at 5:45 a.m., and then every hour: 6:45 a.m., 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Here is the South Amboy-NYC schedule: https://www.nywaterway.com/Sou... If you want to drive and park at the ferry dock there is free parking at the ferry lot at 100 Radford Ferry Road; the lot is unpaved and you have to walk down a dirt road to get to the ferry First Day Of South Amboy-NYC Ferry Service: Customers 'Love It' (Oct South Amboy Ferry Service To NYC Will Get Floating Dock (Nov OLD BRIDGE - An early morning fire forced the evacuation of eight Glenwood apartments in the township Daroci said two people were treated for smoke inhalation at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge and one person was treated at the scene was under control in approximately two hours Cheesequake and Madison Park responded to the scene in addition to the Office of Emergency Management in Middlesex County and South River Staff Writer Everett Merrill: 908-243-6606; emerrill@mycentraljersey.com A dozen candidates are running for three three-year Old Bridge Board of Education seats on a wide range of issues from loss of state aid and lack of transparency to loss of learning during the pandemic and politicization of policies there is only one candidate for a one-year term on the board Divinder Singh is running unopposed for the open one-year term on a "Recover Lost Learning" ticket in the Nov Two current members − Jill Cali and Teresa Burns − declined to run for reelection When Jill DeCaro stepped down last year for a seat on the Township Council Elena Francisco was appointed to that seat and is now running for a full three-year term The race for the three three-year terms includes two incumbents − Francisco and Sal Giordano − as well as Richard Dunn and Salvatore J two former board members who served as board presidents during their tenure Recently endorsed by the Old Bridge Education Association (OBEA) Marjorie Jodrey and Lance Hilfman are newcomers to the school board race the OBEA has become "increasingly concerned about the politicization of the Board of Education." This is the first time the OBEA which is comprised of more than 1,000 educators D’Antuono is running on the "For The Kids" ticket and Jodrey is on the "Paraprofessional Dunn is on the "Education Empowers Children" ticket and newcomer Raya Arbiol is on the "Children First" ticket Meet the candidatesA two-time school board president He has lived in the township for 24 years and is married with two adult children both of whom are graduates of the school system Dunn is employed as senior vice president for a property management company Dunn also served 19 years as a volunteer firefighter for the South Old Bridge Fire Company Dunn said he believes that the current school board has caused "irreparable harm to the children and school district." He added the "soul of our schools is at stake." "I decided to seek election again to advocate and promote for the preservation of the quality programs in our wonderful school district and to fight for the best interest of our staff and students," Dunn said "I believe that education is the solution to many of society's ills I am disheartened at the current state of the Old Bridge Board of Education." Dunn sees the most critical issues are the "sequestration of state aid," enhanced "special services for our special needs population" and "improved education facilities." "The reduction in aid will drastically impact our vital programs which have benefited our children over the years," Dunn said "We must ensure that our incredible teachers and professionals have the resources to provide the finest education to our children." More election coverage:Are you ready for November's midterms? What you should know in NJ A father of two grown children who attended district schools DiPrima previously served on the school board for nine years twice as vice president and once as president DiPrima said that as a former board member he was part of the "renaissance" of the school district from a good district to a great district," said DiPrima a branch operations manager in the financial services industry "Some of the accomplishments I am proudest of are the implementation of full-day kindergarten attaining 'District of Character' and 'Blue Ribbon' status and keeping most programs and personnel intact amidst massive budget cuts." He said he believes top challenges facing the district are the impact of the pandemic the pandemic has forced the district to "take a step backward." "Through the hard work and cooperation of every stakeholder and I would love to be a part of the rebuilding once again as I know I would be an asset having already been through it," he said "Our school district is at a crossroads; this is where experience and leadership matters." Giordano is working on his master’s degree in accounting and focuses his attention on more traditional issues "Overseeing the budget is one of the most important parts of being a board member because with the reduced state aid in our district we have to focus on real educational expenses instead of capital projects that have the ability to be postponed or rejected outright," Giordano said He also believes high school students need to be more prepared for employment and/or college and learning lost from school closures during the pandemic needs to be recovered and prevented from happening again All Kids" − reflects how she lives her life A mother of an elementary school student and middle school student has been a PTA board member for eight years education basics and vocational classes need to be given more attention in schools I treat every student as I would want my kids treated," said D'Antuono "I've seen the changes that have occurred on the Board of Education for the past few elections as well as people using the Board of Education as a jumping platform to get into political positions elsewhere in town I feel the children of Old Bridge are not a platform to jump off of or to stand on − they are a platform to stand for She would like to see less "games" on the board more focus on the board's mission and a cohesive board working together you can't complain about an issue unless you're willing to step up and do something," D'Antuono said "Why can't the board work together to get decisions and tasks done Committees have been reformed and are still not meeting timely not harder − why have the same discussion twice?” A former New York City Department of Education paraprofessional and teacher which also is as long as she has lived in the township She also has experience as an autism instructional coach education administrator and is a board-certified behavior analyst Jodrey has a grown daughter who attended township schools The issues that Jodrey believes are most important include students returning to classrooms in a post-pandemic environment "We invest in things that matter to us and nothing matters more than the academic and social emotional wellbeing of our kids," Jodrey said and I will work diligently to be the bridge for families the community and taxpayers to ensure that Old Bridge schools maintain their level of excellence and all students get what they need." Hilfman has lived in the township for more than 30 years raised his children in town and is married to a retired district teacher A middle school special education teacher in Irvington Hilfman said he knows what the school system was like and what it can be "We have had a lot to offer our students and staff in the past," Hilfman said I see the current BOE prioritizing their own personal agendas and not focusing on the needs of all our staff and students We are here for one purpose and one purpose alone − to give our children access to the best education possible." Hilfman prioritizes innovative ways to provide for educators and services in lieu of rising costs rebounding from learning loss since the pandemic and educating the whole child as the main issues for the district and school board "It should be the board's goal to have our administration be able to understand what our students need to succeed and cope emotionally educationally and creatively in 2022," Hilfman said "We need to embrace concepts such as Social Emotional Learning and promote acceptance for our students to see and understand the way the world is and can be so that our educational system can better prepare our children for the 'real' world." Cornelius Akubueze has lived in the township for three decades He sees himself as an advocate for fostering a safe and healthy learning environment for current and future students as well as an advocate for parents He said all "interested parties" should work together to achieve what is best for the "students’ future health and education goals employment opportunities and civic-minded engagement." are "encouraging and engaging a healthy learning environment," the "safety addressing "teacher and staff needs" and "deficits in the budget." Arbiol has lived in the township for almost 20 years While it is Arbiol's first time on the ballot she raised her six younger siblings after her mother's death and all five attended the district's schools Her "Children First" slogan connects to her belief that "no matter what the issues are children should be prioritized in all major decisions with a strong collaboration with parents."  Pressing issues for Arbiol include improving the district's special education program creating "a shared vision for academic achievement by improving fiscal management" and devising "a plan for adequate and appropriate resources available to meet all standards regarding students' success." "I have a genuine interest in improving the quality of education in my school district and enhancing the way it’s operated," said Arbiol who is running on a slate with other "like-minded" candidates Matthew DeFranco sees accountability as the umbrella for all the most important issues facing the school district Those issues include a "continued statewide funding crisis," the "social and academic impact of the COVID pandemic" on students and a "need to bring about an improved standard of transparency to those involved in leading the school district." In the finance industry for more than 20 years DeFranco and his wife are active PTA members and class parents "I would seek to set a new strategic and long-range plan to enhance our district's financial stability,” DeFranco said "As part of this plan it is imperative to include all stakeholders as this will help foster trust and pride in our leaders and board members as they are the facilitators so our financial operations." a 1988 graduate of Madison Central High School raised two children who also attended district schools Davis said he is running for a seat because he would like to "be involved in the decision-making process" to help guide district students "to create their own pathways for their education and future." Issues that need to be focused on include building a "solid core curriculum with a focus of more Math Science and English/Language Arts" and ensuring that trade curriculums and programs get an equal amount of attention Davis supports the "expansion and exposure of multiple programs in the district," and "updating and renovating" schools there was no response or information available from Francisco or Lynn Berghahn Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin please subscribe or activate your digital account today.