UPDATE: Monday Zoning Board Meeting Cancelled

Route 9 hotel application was on the agenda

UPDATE: The zoning board meeting scheduled for Monday was cancelled due to inclement weather. With up to five inches of snow possible for the township the board cancelled the meeting on Monday afternoon with no word on when it will be rescheduled.  Original Report: An application in front of the zoning board to build a hotel at the intersection of Route 9 North and Northwoods Place is expected to continue tonight at the new Municipal building at 7:30 p.m. The hearing is the second for the current application though there have been several proposals for the site over more than two decades. In its current form the hotel would be a 4-story, 109 room building and would include a 200 seat restaurant and a 400 seat conference and banquet …

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Shammy

10:57 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

Perhaps the only time you have traveled Southbound is during the evening rush. Traffic is there from 10:30 AM until about 7:00 PM. The heaviest is from about 3:30-6:30. Keep in mind that the plans call for a Conference center that could house up to two weddings or gatherings simultaneously so your theory of people not leaving en masse isn't exactly correct. Regarding changing the zoning - this …   more ›

Easter in the Park Returns Next Week

Annual event coming back to Oak Glen Park

A popular tradition in the township is set to make its grand return next Saturday at the annual Easter in the Park.  The event will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Oak Glen Park for children 12 and under. In addition to the always popular Easter egg hunt the day will also include face painting, games, crafts, cookie decorating and a petting zoo.  Along with the smaller animals for young residents to enjoy the event will also get the chance to spend some time with the Easter Bunny and get their picture taken with their holiday friend.  The first hunt will start at 1:30 for kids under the age of 5. At 2:30 children between 6 and 9 will have their chance followed by the older participants at 3 p.m.  Those residents taking part in the hunts are …

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Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy Damages Fewer Than 50 Homes in Howell

New report from NJSpotlight.com maps damage town-by-town

Compared to other towns residences in Howell made out well in the wake of Hurricane Sandy in the township with 37 homes sustaining damage, while nearly 2000 businesses reported being impacted according to a new report. NJ Department of Community Affairs data was analyzed by NJSpotlight and released last week. The report found that 37 homes and 1,916 businesses in Howell were damaged by the November storm. Of the homeowners reporting damage all but one reported major damage which is calculated as $8,000 to $28,800. Only three rental units reported damage with all of them being minor according to the report.  "By far, the largest number of housing units damaged was in sprawling Toms River, which includes Ortley Beach – an area so hard-hit …

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Jim Lang

6:14 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

"Reporting impact" from the storm probably includes areas that were without power for 10 days or more in some areas of Howell. Even if the businesses had power, their customers were either not getting out to shop or had other things to take care of than shopping, especially for perishables. Don't forget that we had alternate days to buy gasoline when you could even find a gas station that was …   more ›

Big Week For Budgets in Howell

Council, BOE scheduled to introduce budgets

The 2013 calendar year is well underway and this week the Howell Township administration and the Howell Public Schools are scheduled to introduce their budgets for the upcoming year.  On Tuesday night at the new Municipal Building the introduction of the budget is listed among the items on the consent agenda. The budget has been a multistep process with department heads meeting with Township Manager Helene Schlegel before the preliminary budget was presented to the council at the last meeting.  The budget is not the only item on the agenda. Sgt. Thomas Rizzo of the Howell Police Department will be sworn in as the newest lieutenant in the local department. The national championship cheerleading squad from Howell High School will also be …

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Woman Facing 100s of Animal Cruelty Charges Was a Woodbridge Animal Control Officer

Mercedes Lopez of Howell was arrested Sunday on charges of neglecting hundreds of animals on her Howell property.

A woman charged with hundreds of counts of animal cruelty in Howell Township was once an animal control officer in Woodbridge.     Mercedes Lopez, 57, was arrested Sunday at her Howell home after tips to the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA) led officials to discover neglected and dead animals all over her property. Chief Victor “Buddy” Amato of the MCSPCA confirmed that Lopez had once worked as a Woodbridge animal control officer before she was terminated from the job. He said she had also been employed in neighboring Perth Amboy in a similar capacity, but lost that position as well.   Lopez is also involved with Happy Homes Animal Shelter, a non-profit Perth Amboy-based animal welfare group. A …

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No Injuries Reported From Moon Motel Fire

Cigarette believed responsible

The Moon Motel on Route 9 is now closed after a fire early Saturday morning that forced all residents to be moved to another location. Detective Sgt. Eileen Dodd said the fire was reported at 4:42 Saturday morning and the building was evacuated as soon as crews arrived on the scene.  Dodd said the fire is believed to have centered around the room of 41-year-old Erik Kelly, who she said had been living at the hotel for "several months." Kelly told responding officers he had been smoking a cigarette when he took his child to the bathroom. When they came back he said the bed was on fire before the flames spread to the ceiling area.  The fire, Dodd said, caused "significant damage" to the motel. Following an investigation the Howell Fire …

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Hurricane Sandy

Emergency Info as Howell Area Faces Impact of Nor'Easter

Keep coming back for information related to the storm; information posted as we get it

Update 1:22 p.m. Wednesday: Jersey Central Power & Light says there could be power outages lasting a day or more, the utility said. JCP&L, much criticized for its handling of Hurricane Sandy outages, is warning customers on its web page that the impending winter storm could knock out power to some for 24 hours or more. "We recommend that our customers have enough supplies to provide for the safety and welfare of all persons and pets in their household," said a warning on the utility's web site. "These supplies should include nonperishable food items, drinking water, a battery-powered radio, flashlights, batteries, blankets and other basic staples. We also urge customers to stay away from all downed power lines." The utility is giving out …

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