Latest news with #Rodrick
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ocean County primary results: Toms River voters reject mayor's picks, turnout low in county
Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick will likely face a hostile Township Council in January after his political opponents won three of the four available council seats in a hotly contested Republican primary. Robert Bianchini, Ward 1; Clinton Bradley, Ward 2; and Councilman David Ciccozzi, Ward 4; defeated Rodrick allies Council President Justin Lamb, Councilman William Byrne, and Anthony Matarazzo. If all three win their November races in this deep-red town, they would join Councilman Thomas Nivison, a Rodrick critic, to form a 4 to 3 council majority. In Ward 4, Anthony Ricotta, who was backed by Ocean County GOP Chairman George R. Gilmore over Matarazzo, finished second behind Ciccozzi in a three-way race. Rodrick ally Harry Aber defeated Councilman James Quinlisk in the Ward 3 race, with the support of the township's growing Orthodox Jewish community. The council seats are all four-year terms. Turnout was light in the township and in the county. Just 23% of the county's registered voters cast ballots Tuesday. While vote totals are still unofficial, the ward races were close: in Ward 1, Bianchini received 1,597 votes to 1,323 for Lamb. In Ward 2, Bradley defeated Byrne by a 1,555-to-1,469 margin. In Ward 4, Ciccozzi received 883 votes to 753 for Ricotta, while Matarazzo garnered 743. In Ward 3, Aber won by a commanding margin, receiving 1,559 to Quinlisk's 929. More: Live updates of New Jersey Primary Election as Ocean, Monmouth residents head to polls Only one of the Democrat races was contested: in downtown's Ward 4, Justin Moran defeated Paul Williams by a margin of 725 to 415. Moran will seek a council seat along with Democratic running mates Anthony Colucci, in Ward 1, and Susan Payne Gato, Ward 2. The Democrats do not have a candidate in Ward 3. Rodrick's opponents appeared to have been successful in attacking the mayor for attempting to buy or seize Christ Episcopal Church through eminent domain, and also for his attacks on the county that centered on the growing homeless population in the township's downtown. More: Live election results for New Jersey Governor's race; voting totals from each NJ county Toms River PBA's criticism of the mayor for reduced staffing in the police department may also have hurt Rodrick's candidates. Here are results in other contested races in Ocean County: Democrats Lisa Bennett and Rosalee Keech defeated Donald Campbell in the race for two seats in the state Assembly. They will face Republican Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Gregory Mhyre in the fall. Democrats Debra Di Donato and Janine G. Bauer took the two Democratic Assembly nominations, beating out Phil Nufrio. Di Donato won 8,922 votes; Bauer, 7576; and Nufrio, 4,477. The two will face Republicans incumbents Gregory P. McGuckin and Paul Kanitra in November. The results are based on 100% of Monmouth County votes counted and the votes in 151 out of 152 districts in Ocean County. Longtime Ocean County Commissioner John P. "Jack" Kelly handily defeated former Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Rory Wells in the GOP county clerk's race. Kelly, 73, is the current director of the Board of Commissioners, and a former mayor of Eagleswood. He was first elected to the board in 1992. Raymond Newman, with 228 votes, and Barry Wick, 217, defeated Augustine J. Rillo, 93, in the race for two available Borough Council seats in the Pine Beach GOP primary. In a race for two spots, Karen Stillufsen earned 523 votes and John H. Dixon received 488 votes in Point Pleasant Beach's GOP primary. Incumbent Councilmember David Betten received 371 votes. The results are unofficial. While no Democrats filed in the primary there were 47 write-in ballots cast. If the results hold, Stillufsen and Dixon will run in the General Election for a pair of council seats. Incumbent Councilman Robert Butkus was the top vote-getter in Ship Bottom's GOP primary with 139 votes followed by William Fenimore with 125 votes. Those two will run in the general election for a pair of three-year council seats. Incumbent Tom Tallon was defeated in the GOP primary. While no Democrats ran in the primary, there were 3 write-in votes cast. Jean Mikle covers Toms River, Seaside Heights and several other Ocean County towns. She is also passionate about Asbury Park's musical history. Contact her: jmikle@ Staff Writers Dan Radel and Ken Serrano contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ocean County results: Turnout low; Toms River rejects mayor's picks
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Church fights New Jersey town over plans to seize property and turn it into park
A Christian church is fighting a New Jersey town for attempting to seize their property, alongside other land, and turn it into a waterfront park. Christ Episcopal Church is fighting plans from Toms River, NJ officials to seize their church property, alongside three other town marinas, as part of the township's plans to revitalize the downtown community. Bishop Sally French, in a letter to parishioners, told churchgoers that on April 30, about a day before a scheduled town meeting, officials were alerted by a concerned community member that the church's property had been "added to a proposal for an eminent domain ordinance." The church, which has been a part of the community for 160 years, says the action comes amid trying to build a homeless shelter on their property. "As a Christian leader and a resident of New Jersey, I am troubled by the township's move to block the faithful ministry of Christ Church and their care for those in need, and I am saddened that the mayor and township council are prioritizing pickleball courts over responding to hunger and homelessness," Bishop Sally French said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "I ask that Toms River lift the burden these proceedings have placed on our parish and diocese, and I pray that we can move forward in serving our neighbors." Psaki Bombs: Msnbc's Newest Primetime Program Sheds 53% Of Viewers From Key Demo In Second Episode Republican Mayor Rodrick told Fox News Digital he feels the plan is in the best interest of the constituents because children do not have a playground in the immediate area. The town ordinance allows officials to enter into negotiations to secure the areas or acquire them by eminent domain should the church not want to sell the property. Read On The Fox News App "We have about 20,000 residents, 5,000 households within a stone's throw of the Episcopal church," he said. "The property is very large, it's a 10-acre parcel and has a tremendous amount of parking and the parking, we would never be allowed to make that much parking on a property that size anymore. It would be very difficult... so it would be great for the kids in the local area and the families in that area to have a park that they can walk to with their kids and a playground. We're also interested in doing a skate park there." Rodrick argued that the project, which he believes would benefit both residents and businesses, is part of a larger plan to "redevelop downtown" and make it more of a "destination" for residents. The agenda would "enhance business downtown" by bringing more customers to the area. He also spoke to Fox News Digital about how he is proud of his budget as mayor, explaining they were "DOGE before DOGE was cool" as they cut the budget from $146 million to $135 million. The Episcopalian church has a different take on the matter, with the bishop offering her full support to the community church. "The people of Christ Episcopal Church have my support and gratitude for their Gospel ministry of feeding the hungry and providing shelter to unhoused people," she said. "Jesus tells us to care for the poor and vulnerable as we would care for him, and the people of Christ Church are putting that commandment into action." Should the town acquire the property, Rodrick says the church would have time to purchase another property or may choose to consolidate churches according to the church leader's digression, pointing to there possibly being a silver lining to consolidation for the church due to the high value of the property compared to liabilities. "Nationwide, the Episcopal church is in steep decline. I think they lost 40,000 members last year. A lot of these Protestant churches have seen big decreases in membership. They still have a lot of these legacy costs and pensions for their pastors that they need to make payments on and it costs a lot of money. So, if you have 75 people put $10 in, and you bring in $3,000 a month, do you know what it must cost to heat a 20,000-square-foot church? So, they could probably benefit from some consolidation and many of the smaller Protestant denominations are doing that." The church is standing alongside "approximately 150 church members, community members, clergy" and others in their fight against the ordinance, according to the website. "Christ Church Toms River is a vital resource in the community," Mother Lisa Hoffman, rector of Christ Church in Toms River, told Fox News Digital. "Our outreach includes nearly 20 12-step meetings per week. While the members of Christ Church are disappointed with this situation, we are determined to protect our Gospel ministry." As for next steps, the council has already voted four to three and "anticipates" it will pass for a second time four to three, according to the article source: Church fights New Jersey town over plans to seize property and turn it into park
Fox News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Church fights New Jersey town over plans to seize property and turn it into park
A Christian church is fighting a New Jersey town for attempting to seize their property, alongside other land, and turn it into a waterfront park. Christ Episcopal Church is fighting plans from Toms River, NJ officials to seize their church property, alongside three other town marinas, as part of the township's plans to revitalize the downtown community. Bishop Sally French, in a letter to parishioners, told churchgoers that on April 30, about a day before a scheduled town meeting, officials were alerted by a concerned community member that the church's property had been "added to a proposal for an eminent domain ordinance." The church, which has been a part of the community for 160 years, says the action comes amid trying to build a homeless shelter on their property. "As a Christian leader and a resident of New Jersey, I am troubled by the township's move to block the faithful ministry of Christ Church and their care for those in need, and I am saddened that the mayor and township council are prioritizing pickleball courts over responding to hunger and homelessness," Bishop Sally French said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "I ask that Toms River lift the burden these proceedings have placed on our parish and diocese, and I pray that we can move forward in serving our neighbors." Republican Mayor Rodrick told Fox News Digital he feels the plan is in the best interest of the constituents because children do not have a playground in the immediate area. The town ordinance allows officials to enter into negotiations to secure the areas or acquire them by eminent domain should the church not want to sell the property. "We have about 20,000 residents, 5,000 households within a stone's throw of the Episcopal church," he said. "The property is very large, it's a 10-acre parcel and has a tremendous amount of parking and the parking, we would never be allowed to make that much parking on a property that size anymore. It would be very difficult... so it would be great for the kids in the local area and the families in that area to have a park that they can walk to with their kids and a playground. We're also interested in doing a skate park there." Rodrick argued that the project, which he believes would benefit both residents and businesses, is part of a larger plan to "redevelop downtown" and make it more of a "destination" for residents. The agenda would "enhance business downtown" by bringing more customers to the area. He also spoke to Fox News Digital about how he is proud of his budget as mayor, explaining they were "DOGE before DOGE was cool" as they cut the budget from $146 million to $135 million. The Episcopalian church has a different take on the matter, with the bishop offering her full support to the community church. "The people of Christ Episcopal Church have my support and gratitude for their Gospel ministry of feeding the hungry and providing shelter to unhoused people," she said. "Jesus tells us to care for the poor and vulnerable as we would care for him, and the people of Christ Church are putting that commandment into action." Should the town acquire the property, Rodrick says the church would have time to purchase another property or may choose to consolidate churches according to the church leader's digression, pointing to there possibly being a silver lining to consolidation for the church due to the high value of the property compared to liabilities. "Nationwide, the Episcopal church is in steep decline. I think they lost 40,000 members last year. A lot of these Protestant churches have seen big decreases in membership. They still have a lot of these legacy costs and pensions for their pastors that they need to make payments on and it costs a lot of money. So, if you have 75 people put $10 in, and you bring in $3,000 a month, do you know what it must cost to heat a 20,000-square-foot church? So, they could probably benefit from some consolidation and many of the smaller Protestant denominations are doing that." The church is standing alongside "approximately 150 church members, community members, clergy" and others in their fight against the ordinance, according to the website. "Christ Church Toms River is a vital resource in the community," Mother Lisa Hoffman, rector of Christ Church in Toms River, told Fox News Digital. "Our outreach includes nearly 20 12-step meetings per week. While the members of Christ Church are disappointed with this situation, we are determined to protect our Gospel ministry." As for next steps, the council has already voted four to three and "anticipates" it will pass for a second time four to three, according to the mayor.
American Press
02-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
American Press wins 11 LPA awards
The American Press office is located in downtown Lake Charles at 444 Pujo St. (Crystal Stevenson / American Press) The American Press won 11 news awards — including six first-place honors — during Thursday's Louisiana Press Association's 2024 Better Newspaper Competition in Baton Rouge. The South Dakota Press Association judged the 29 LPA member publications that entered the contest. The American Press competes in Division I against The Advocate in Baton Rouge and The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. The American Press received first place in the general excellence category for its coverage of an EF-2 tornado that pounded Lake Charles on April 10, 2024. Executive Editor Crystal Stevenson and sports writer Rodrick Anderson won first place for best overall website. The pair also placed second in front page design — Rodrick for a McNeese State University-themed front page announcing the first home football game of the season and Stevenson for her picture page of the Capital One Tower's implosion. 'Great-looking pages,' the judges wrote. 'Two different design approaches, and they are done very well.' Rodrick also placed first in the best sports photo category with an image of the Lutcher Bulldogs celebrating after Marshall Louque's three-run first-inning home run in the Division II semifinals of the LHSAA state baseball tournament. 'Love the variety of the action involved in these photos,' the judges wrote in naming Rodrick the category's top winner. 'The celebration image has great emotion and draws in the reader.' Rodrick also shared second-place honors with staff writer Doris Maricle in the photo package category — Rodrick for his collection of high school rodeo photos as well as continuing shots of the Capitol One tower as it crumbled to the ground and Maricle for photos of the Jeff Davis Special Olympics. Maricle also placed third in the news photo category for an image of a funeral procession at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery. Columnist Jim Beam won first in best single editorial for his piece attacking efforts by state Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, that would allow governments to withhold records on how they make decisions. The bill, though it ultimately failed, was supported by Gov. Jeff Landry who said residents aren't worried about the details and only want elected officials to solve their problems. 'Nice job of explaining shameful efforts by Louisiana legislators to dodge public accountability and enable government secrecy,' the judges wrote. Beam also placed third in the regular column category for a piece on a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments be placed in every classroom in the state, including grades K-12 and at university and college levels. Recently retired graphic artist Donna Price was awarded the Gary Hebert Award for best layout and design for a trio of cover designs featuring brown pelicans putting on a show for area spectators, a celebration of taco night at the family table, and mental health awareness. 'Pages are clean and easy to read,' the judges wrote. 'Love the Mental Health layout and use of color — well done! I do love when photos are allowed to go beyond their border on a page. Overall, all pages are well done and attractive.' Staff writer Emily Burleigh won first place for best web project for her Teacher of the Week-themed special section and coordinating online voting efforts for the American Press Teacher of the Year honors. Page designer Nick Walsh received third-place honors in the headline category for 'Shu-perman,' which accompanied a piece on McNeese State basketball standout Christian Shumate and his attention-grabbing dunks. 'Short and sweet,' the judges wrote.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Jersey mayor's feud with Jon Bon Jovi giving rocker's charitable efforts for unhoused a bad name
A New Jersey mayor lashed out Friday at Jon Bon Jovi's charitable, "pay it forward" restaurant, claiming the eatery is attracting a problematic number of unhoused people to the town of Toms River. Mayor Dan Rodrick claims that Bon Jovi's popup restaurant, JBJ Soul Kitchen which operates out of an Ocean County library, is nothing more than a "soup kitchen" that's within walking distance of a school. "We appreciate that Bon Jovi wants to feed people that are needy," Rodrick told NBC News. "But the public library down a block from a school is not the appropriate place to bus homeless in from all over the state of New Jersey and other states." Through the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, the "Livin' on a Prayer" singer and wife Dorothea run JBJ Soul Kitchen, a nonprofit community restaurant where patrons pay a "suggested donation." "There are no prices on our menu," according to the restaurant's website. "Instead, we offer a suggested donation to our paying customers and we ask that you Pay it Forward to cover the cost of those who are unable to pay for their meals." It has permanent locations in Red Bank, Toms River, Newark and Jersey City and this recently opened pop-up Toms River location. That temporary spot opened doors in February on Washington Street. "It is not a restaurant," Rodrick said. "It is a soup kitchen that they put there for the homeless that they're bussing in." A rep for the famed Garden State rocker could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday. An attorney representing the Ocean County Library Commission said the JBJ pop-up has a lease that goes to May 23. But the lawyer didn't immediately address the mayor's assertion that unhoused people coming to that location are taxing town resources. "They're (patrons at the pop-up) not from Toms River and Toms River should not have to bear the brunt of homelessness for the entire county of Ocean, especially when not a single one of these folks are from Toms River," Rodrick said. While the town has no immediate options to have the eatery shuttered, Rodrick said his legal team is weighing lawsuits that could eventually lead to its closure. The Ocean County community of about 99,000 residents has a median household income of a little less than $95,000 and is probably best known for its youth baseball. The Toms River East American team, featuring future MLB player Todd Frazier, won the 1998 Little League World Series. Free agent pioneer Andy Messersmith and longtime big league pitcher and MLB analyst Al Leiter were both born in Toms River. This article was originally published on
