Authorities identify Hazlet husband, wife found dead in apparent murder-suicide

 HAZLET – Authorities on Monday identified the couple who were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide at their township home. Christine Dzienisiewski, 37, was killed, while it appeared her husband, 37-year-old Richard Dzienisiewski, died from self-inflicted wounds, said Thomas Huth, director of the major crimes bureau at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. First Assistant Prosecutor Marc…

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Two found dead in Hazlet, authorities say

HAZLET – Two people were found dead in a township home Saturday night and one of the deaths has been ruled a homicide, authorities said. Police responded to a Peter Place residence at 7:53 p.m. and found man and woman, both 37, dead, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Charles Webster. A medical examiner determined… Read the rest of this entry »

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Middletown Oxy Ring Busted

Suspended Doctor Caught Selling Forged Scripts for $300-$400

The Middletown Police Department in conjunction with investigators from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the State Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs broke up a prescription drug enterprise Thursday night following a month long investigation, according to a statement by Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Dr. Kenneth Lewandowski

Dr. Kenneth Lewandowski, 51, of Tatum Dr , Middletown, was charged with six counts of third degree Conspiracy, six counts of third degree Forgery and the Unlawful Practice of Medicine, also a third degree crime.  He was held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $140,000 bail as set by Middletown Municipal Judge Richard Thompson.

Lewandowski’s medical license was temporarily suspended last April after he was arrested for DUI three times in the six weeks between February 14 and March 31.  His DUI arrests occurred in Middletown, Lakewood and Wall.  The Lakewood incident included an accident that resulted in injuries.  Lewandowski was charged with Assault by Auto in that case, according to the Order suspending his medical license.

Thomas Menendez, 50, of Geary Drive in Middletown is alleged to be Lewandowski’s partner in the criminal enterprise.  Menendez was charged with six counts of  third degree Conspiracy and six counts of third degree Forgery.  Judge Thompson set Menendez’s bail at $30,000.

Neither Lewandowski or Menendez are currently in the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, according to APP’s Data Universe.

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Monmouth County Police Academy graduate proposes to girlfriend at ceremony

NEPTUNE – A newly-minted Keyport police officer proposed to his girlfriend at the police academy graduation Thursday as 58 other cadets looked on, authorities said. After dating for more than six years, Keyport Police Officer Christopher Degroat proposed to Melissa Fleming, of Hazlet. Days before the graduation ceremony, Fleming said Degroat pretended one of the other… Read the rest of this entry »

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Kolibas Elected Hazlet Board of Education President

William Kolibas Jr

William Kolibas, Jr was unanimously elected President of the Hazlet Board of Education on Monday evening, according to a statement by Superintendent Bernard F. Bragen, Jr Ed. D.

Kolibas replaces Stephen F. Willig who stepped down after serving on the Board for nine years due to conflicts with his work schedule.

Lauri O’ Leary was elected to replace Kolibas as Vice President.

The Board is seeking a replacement for Willig and hope to appoint the new member at its November 17, 2014 meeting.  Interested parties should contact Board Secretary Chris Mullins, [email protected] or 732-264-8401 ext. 1109.

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Business groups join together to kick-off summer on the bayshore

Five Bayshore business groups and the Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau joined together yesterday in Keyport to kick-off the Summer of 2014 on the Monmouth County Bayshore..Exit 117…the Gateway to the Jersey Shore.

Lt Governor Kim Guadagno, Congressman Frank Pallone, State Senator Joe Kyrillos, Keyport Mayor Harry Aumack were on hand as the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, the Keyport Bayshore Business Copperative, the Hazlet Business Owners Association, the Atlantic Highlands Chamber of Commerce, the Highlands Business Partnership and the Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau  joined together in cooperation for ceremonial ribbon cutting for the region’s summer tourist season.

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Union Beach Man Charged With Setting Fire To Hazlet First Aid Building

Ronald Schroeder,  43 of Union Beach, was charged with second degree Aggravated Arson today for allegedly setting fire inside the lounge of Hazlet First Aid Unit 1 Building at 33 Leocadia Court on Sunday, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The fire was reported at 5:07 pm on Sunday.  Firefighters from the West Keansburg and North Centerville Fire Departments extinguished the blaze with assistance from Union Beach and Matawan firefighters.  An investigation determined that the fire was set intentionally, that Schroeder was the only person in building and that he was seen fleeing the building.  He returned while firefighters were still on the scene.

Schroeder is a probationary member of the First Aid Squad, having volunteered a short time ago.  He was arrested by the Hazlet Police and is in custody at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold.  His bail is $100,000 with not 10% option and is prohibited from returning to the building if his bail is posted.

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Republicans Win In Hazlet

Incumbent Republican Committeemen Mike Sachs and Scott Aagre beat back a challenge from Democrats Cliff Moore and Audrey Tyler, with all districts reporting.

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Municipal Races To Watch

The Battle of Monmouth is in the municipalities today.

Monmouth Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal is hoping to be the Gene Michael of politics. Michael, the New York Yankees General Manger in the early 1990’s, rebuilt the mediocre team back to dominant glory by focusing on new talent in the farm system.  As a player, Michael was a master of the hidden ball trick.  In baseball the hidden ball trick is when a position player fakes throwing the ball back to the pitcher after a play, only to tag out the base runner when he take a lead off the base.

Like Michael, Gopal is trying to build his farm team in Monmouth County municipal races, knowing he can’t win the big show in the short term, with an eye on future dominance of Monmouth County government and the State of New Jersey.  Also like Michael, Gopal always has a trick up his sleeve behind his youthful smile and pleasant demeanor.

Gopal hasn’t even fielded a team in 23 races in 16 Monmouth County towns.  Yet he has the press and New Jersey’s Democratic leadership convinced he’s building a future empire from the bottom up.

But if he doesn’t deliver the goods tonight, Gopal could end up as a Hardy Peterson, the Yankees General Manager who only lasted in the job for one year, 1990, instead of Michael, and find himself challenged for the county chairmanship when his first term ends in June.

The towns to watch tonight are Red Bank, Aberdeen, Eatontown, Highlands, Hazlet and Marlboro.

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Hazlet Municipal Race: Meet the Candidates

Courtesey of John Schneider, JerseyBayShore.com

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