Manalapan Wachovia Robber Nabbed

The Manalapan Bank Bandit that last week robbed the Wachovia on Route 9 has been arrested and implicated in nine robberies throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Burlington Counties, according to the APP.

A surveillance photo shows the suspect passing a robbery note Wednesday afternoon at the Wachovia Bank in Manalapan.

According to a criminal complaint filed by FBI Special Agent Silvana Sotillo in U.S. District Court, 47-year-old Scott MacKay admitted to robbing nine banks since February 2009 when he was taken into custody on Saturday.
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3 Deaths on Route 9 in Freehold Township Last Year

Last week, the Asbury Park Press reported that 5 of the 19 pedestrian fatalities on Route 9 occurred in Monmouth County. But according to state records, three of those deaths occurred on the stretch of Route 9 traversing Freehold Township, making it the most dangerous road in our area.

The lack of sidewalks leading away from bus stops makes it difficult for pedestrians and motorists on Route 9.

The issue of pedestrian safety was first brought to light on InJersey via our Fixer Upper map, where readers voted that the lack of sidewalks at bus stops on Route 9 posed a real danger to pedestrians and motorists.
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Reality Stars Say No Press…Yet

The newest Jersey reality stars said no to publicity...for now. Diane & Co., the Route 9 Dress Boutique that will be featured in the upcoming Oxygen series "Jersey Couture," said they're under a gag-order from the network until more information about the show is released.

A sampling of "Jersey Couture" gowns in the window at Diean & Co. yesterday.

Kimberly Gambale, a representative for the boutique, said via Facebook message that they could not answer any questions from the press just yet, but would be happy to as soon as Oxygen gave them the go-ahead.

In her statement, Gambale did say she was hopeful that Diane & Co.  "can showcase the positivity and class New Jersey really has to offer thru our show."

Report Confirms Route 9 Danger

Route 9 is the second-most deadly road in New Jersey for pedestrians, according to a reported cited on APP.com today.

Following a series of articles on InJersey and numerous complains to the Fixer Upper map about pedestrian safety near bus stops on Route 9, the APP reports that 19 deaths were counted on Route 9 in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex Counties between 2006-2008.
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Two Pedestrians Hit in 12-Hour Span

Police are now reporting that another pedestrian was struck on Route 9 in Freehold Township Wednesday, 12 hours before a Freehold man was hit while waiting for a bus.

According to APP.com, Wednesday's incident happened around 7:30 p.m, when a man walking near Elton-Adelphia road was struck by a Pontiac Grand Prix headed north on the highway, said Patrolman Tom Hartman.

Patrick Graziano, 58, of Howell was listed in critical condition at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune where he is being treated for injuries suffered when he was hit, Hartman said.

The driver of the car, Dervish Mehmet, 50, of East Windsor was uninjured.

No summonses have been issued, Hartman said, and the crash remains under investigation.

Update: Route 9 to Get Pedestrian Safety Improvements

The New Jersey Department of Transportation will change the timing of traffic lights at the intersection of Route 9 and the Freehold Raceway Mall in order to increase pedestrian safety in the area, according to DOT spokesman Timothy Greely.

The intersection of Route 9 and Freehold Raceway Mall will see traffic light improvements to increase pedestrian safety.

Following two stories and a host of complaints on our Fixer Upper Map about the lack of sidewalks on Route 9--particularly by the many bus stops in Freehold, Manalapan, and Howell-- the DOT acknowledged the danger posed to walkers on the major state highway.
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The Streets of Freehold: Fixer Upper Map Updates

Have you seen our Fixer Upper Map recently? Or the list of infrastructure problems running down the right sidebar of our homepage? It seems like Freeholders have some things to say about the roads here in town, and we're listening.

After complaints last week about a lack of sidewalks on Route 9 in Freehold and Manalapan, we put in a call to the New Jersey Department of Transportation to get some answers.
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You Asked: Why are there No Sidewalks on Route 9?

We've had some buzz over at our Fixer Upper Map recently: people are wondering why there are no sidewalks on Route 9.

The pedestrian-hostile thoroughfare has multiple bus stops in Freehold Township and Borough, Manalapan, and Howell; and yet, there is nowhere for pedestrians to safely walk once they get off the bus.
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Route 9 Bridge Gets New Name to Honor Vet

The Route 9 Bridge in Freehold Township was renamed yesterday for a soldier killed in the Korean War.

Governor Corzine signed a bill yesterday to rename the Route 9 bridge over Throckmorton Street as "Corporal Philip A. Reynolds Memorial Bridge," in honor of a lifelong Freehold Borough resident who fought and was killed in the Korean War on November 29, 1950.

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, State Senator Jennifer Beck, and Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon were present at the bill-signing, after pushing for the privately-funded name-change on behalf of the Detachment.

Reynolds was previously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his bravery. He was standing cover for a friend under enemy fire when he was shot and killed at twenty years old.

The bridge overlooks the St. Rose of Lima Cemetery where Reynolds is buried.

The Governor also signed a bill on Sunday offering a package of assistance programs for veterans transitioning into college classes; the bill was co-sponsored by Casagrande.

Newly-Approved Renaissance Plaza to Get Arcade

The newly-approved Renaissance Plaza on Schanck Road in Freehold Township has its first tenant: a family entertainment center, according to the News Transcript. The report states that the shopping center is zoned for a commercial arcade, and no additional variances for the development will be needed.

The redevelopment of the shopping center was approved almost-unanimously by the Freehold Township Planning Board last month after months of meetings about variances, including inadequate parking and traffic congestion. The development group promised to reassess parking and traffic in 60 days and again one year after full-occupancy.

They can expect their first tenant this October, according to the NT.

From the report:

According to Lombardi, the indoor family entertainment center will feature battery-operated go-carts, miniature golf, arcade games and children's amusement rides. He said a rock-climbing wall is being considered as one of the attractions. Lombardi said the owner of the family entertainment center is working to see what type of amusements will fit into the space and to determine which attractions make the most sense. It is expected that food will be available at the center and that there will be a room available for birthday parties.

Lombardi said the anticipated start date for the construction of the family entertainment center is October. The facility may be open by the summer of 2010, he said. Lombardi said Renaissance Plaza will also offer traditional neighborhood retail shops and services such as a pharmacy, a dry cleaner, and a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Freehold Police Blotter: 8/3-8/7

Freehold Borough:

Union Ave: Borough man William Casrell, 23, was charged Aug. 3 by Detective Michael George with burglary and theft. Patrolman Sean Healy conducted the initial investigation.

Parker Street: Borough man Jerry Johnson, 51, was charged Aug. 3 by Patrolman Mark Garahan with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of a weapon.

East Main Street: Borough man Sebastian Delorenzo, 53, was charged Aug. 4 by Patrolman Samuel Hernandez with driving while intoxicated.

Freehold Township:

Route 9: Patterson residents Carlos Lopez, 39, Erislande Ojeda, 33, and Carlos Gutierrez, 29, were charged July 29 with theft, receiving stolen property, and obstructing the administration of justice when they were discovered at STS Tire Company with a rental truck loaded with tires. Detective Lieutenant John Todd and Patrolmen Michael Denham, Patrick Cruse, Jeffery Palladino and J. Kodran made the arrests.

Raceway Mall: Woodside, NY residents Daniel O. Cortazar Lozano, 29 and Leidy A. Idarraga, 19, were charged Aug. 1 with shoplifting at Sephora. Lozano was charged with shoplifting $729.21 in merchandise and Idarraga with shoplifting $258.94 in merchandise. Patrolmen Frank Mount, Thomas Goetke and Santiago made the arrests.

Route 9: Jessica Sullivan, 20, of Manalapan was charged Aug. 3 with driving while intoxicated. Patrolmen James Burdge, Joseph Winowski and J. Tacopino made the arrests.

Other Police Business: Between July 29 and August 4 police made 12 arrests for outstanding warrants, seven for misdemeanor shoplifting and one for trespassing.

Quest for the moldy (not exactly) grail.

In between researching education bills in the State Legislature and making phone calls to school district administrators, I decided to follow a feature story lead and was taken into a patch of three-foot high grass and weeds before I found what I had been looking for: a dead-end on ramp, an interesting perspective, and a hidden box, which was said to contain a pencil and notepad.

Much like this road, the mission began and ended here:

Ex-Exit from Route 9 to Route 33, Freehold

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