Union Beach News

A thunderstorm Friday night knocked down an electric wire on Poole Avenue in Union Beach, apparently igniting sort of gas possibly from sewerage system line, police said.

As Arcadio Rodrieguez stared up at his garden apartment roof in flames, the principle struck him: Fire travels seemingly lightning-fast. "You could see the deep-black smoke coming from the upstairs," Rodrieguez said.

A Union Beach resident drove his sedan into a man on May 15, pinning the victim against a pickup truck and crushing his left leg, according to court papers made available Friday.

A 4-year-old child playing with a lighter caused a general alarm fire that swept through multiple residences at Gardenview Apartments Friday afternoon, officials said.

They're rebels with a cause. Roughly 300 motorcycle riders donned their helmets, kick-started their engines and roared - albeit safely - from this Bayshore town Sunday to the Morganville section of Marlboro, all in the name of charity to raise funds to build the New Jersey Fallen Firefighters Memorial at Allaire State Park.

Police approached a car that was parked illegally, but soon found heroin and a loaded gun in the vehicle, authorities said.

Veterans whose duties spanned conflicts ranging from World War II to Vietnam have donated money to start a scholarship fund in memory of a serviceman young enough to be their son or grandson, someone they never knew.

FREEHOLD: Clifford J. Daniels is a hefty 6-foot-3, yet the former jail warden is known as "Tiny." But there is nothing small about his career accomplishments.

The Knights of Inferno Firefighters Motorcycle is taking the baton this year to oversee the annual Poker Run and Bike Show to benefit the New Jersey Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

Brian Connelly from Union Beach was just 26 when, in February while serving in the United States Army, he paid the highest price those on the frontlines can pay.

A nearly $100 million spending measure - for planned work on bridges, roads and county-owned buildings and for preservation purchases of open space - is being advanced by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser to help pay the medical bills of borough man Bobby Ettore, who has been in a coma for two years, will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Union Beach Fire Company 1, 1110 Union Ave.

LAKEHURST: A borough police officer was injured when he wrestled a suspect to the floor in a Burger King restroom Thursday night.

Hoboken Police Officer Michael Miranda, right, and his father, Ron, helped pull a man out of Raritan Bay yesterday.

Dana Ujobagy, owner of Paw Palace, plans to relocate her shop to Monmouth Street in June.

Borough Council members approved a new three-year contract for Borough Administrator Mary Howell, which boosts her salary to $99,000 this year, $105,000 next year and $111,000 in 2011.

THE STAKES: Two candidates are running unopposed for two three-year seats on the Board of Education.

It looks as if Iraq War veteran Sgt. Michael Minard is more than getting by with a little help from his friends.

While the other children in his neighborhood were playing outdoors, Mark Nistico sat in his room writing stories.

AUTHOR ALEX AUSTIN has lived in California since he was 21, but it is the Jersey Shore that fuels his imagination.