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Asbury Park Press :: Monmouth Edition

WEDNESDAY 03.04.15

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What to look out for before you invest.

YOUR MONEY, A10

FEDS FIND RACIALLY BIASED POLICING IN FERGUSON PAGE 1B

Driver, 27,
charged
after truck
fell in river
ANDREW FORD AND STEPH SOLIS
@ANDREWFORDNEWS AND @STEPHMSOLIS
PINE BEACH Andrew Mayer faces a criminal
charge after his truck fell through the frozen Toms River. Police say he was spinning doughnuts on the ice before his vehicle sank in the early morning hours Sunday.
Police Sgt. First Class Greg Williams said Mayer, 27,
was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, as
well as reckless driving and pollution. A passenger in
Mayers truck was not charged, according to Williams.
Mayers dog, a boxer mix named Rolo, died in the
truck after it sank in the river. Williams said the New
Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
still is investigating the dogs death.
Deanna Leidy, a friend who often watched Mayers
dog when he was working as a roofer, said Mayer loved
his dog. Rolo, who was 2 years old and weighed about 70
pounds, had a brown coat with a white stripe from his
nose down his throat to his belly, and white paws.
Leidy described Rolo as a good dog, one that had
more of a howl than a bark, who liked to play fetch and
tug of war. Leidy said he also liked to chew her expensive shoes, and once knocked over flower pots.
Mayers cousin, Helecia Morris, said Rolo is one of
her dogs puppies. She said Mayer tried to get Rolo out

ASBURY PARKS

WAR ON
BLIGHT

The city is cracking down on eyesores, abandoned properties

See DRIVER, Page A9

Scan the QR code or visit

APP.com to see a video of
Rolo playing.

Looming snowfall
biggest this
season for N.J.?

BOB BIELK/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Asbury Park officials have launched a new effort to clean up blighted housing and business properties across the city.

NICQUEL TERRY @NTERRYAPP

TODD B. BATES @TODDBBATESAPP

Winters snowy grip is holding fast in New Jersey

at least this week.
Up to 8 inches of snow may fall in Monmouth and
Ocean counties tonight into Thursday, following a wintry mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain that began
Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The late Wednesday-Thursday snowstorm could become the biggest in New Jersey this cold season, according to David A. Robinson, the New Jersey state climatologist, especially in areas south of Route 78 or perhaps south of Route 195 if the storm takes a slightly
more southern track.
Steven DiMartino of Freehold, owner and meteorologist at NY NJ PA Weather, a private forecasting firm,
said it looks like its a very complex storm. Its kind of a
three-part storm.
He added: March is definitely a crazy month. It definitely is, so this is not out of the norm, any way, shape or
form.
The wintry weather comes after one of the three

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/BOB BIELK

Kenneth Saunders Jr., who owns a home on Ridge Avenue in

Asbury Park, stands in front of a blighted house on
Springwood Avenue in the city.

To see a video about homes

in Asbury Park, scan the QR
code or visit

See SNOW, Page A4

APP.com

Drewniak to make $147,700 at NJT

STORY, A16

Schilling vows to take legal action

SPORTS, C1
ADVICE
CLASSIFIED
COMICS
LOCAL
OBITUARIES

D5
E1
D4
A3
A11

OPINION
SPORTS
TABLE
WEATHER
YOUR MONEY

A14
C1
D1
C8
A10

VOLUME 136
NUMBER 54
SINCE 1879

"6<;<3
 










"TCVSZ
1BSL
1SFTT
EBJMZ

LLLLLLLL

ASBURY PARK Drive down Springwood

Avenue, turn north on Ridge and the first
thing one sees are three hulking symbols of
neglect.
One is covered in mildew, with an address
spray-painted on a rotting,
wooden board nailed to
what should be a front People living in
door. The yellow structure
next door has chipped vi- abandoned
nyl siding and mangled lattice surrounded by weeds. houses ... dont
The third has a black mailbox dangling from the fa- have the
cade and missing porch
railings.
neighborhoods
All three properties,
residents say, have invited best interest.
hopelessness to the neighborhood. On any given day, KENNETH SAUNDERS
squatters break inside JR., CITY RESIDENT
them for shelter, leaving
neighbors like Kenneth
Saunders Jr. terrified.
Its a safety concern for my family, said
Saunders, who has owned a house on Ridge

See BLIGHT, Page A5