No. 1 Manasquan has looked unstoppable through the first eight games of the year.

With just under six minutes left on Thursday night, Manasquan coach Lisa Kukoda emptied the bench with her team up a sizable margin.

This has become seemingly commonplace for a team that regularly holds double-digit leads against its opponents.

Such was the case of Thursday, when Manasquan, No. 1 in the NJ.com Top 20, held a 20-plus point lead for much of the game on its way to a 73-46 win against No. 9 Middletown South, a feat that turned more than a few heads.

The outcome was never in question, as the Warriors zipped out to a 19-4 first-quarter lead and led by as much as 31 points in the second half before cruising to the 27-point victory.

Manasquan is now 8-0 and has won six of those games by at least 25 points.

With the meat of its schedule still very much in front of them, it's not too early to ask: can any team beat Manasquan this season? This is a program that has been built on success, reaching three straight Tournament of Champions finals, but getting to that point without a loss would be an unheralded accomplishment (Manasquan went 31-2 in 2014-15 when it beat St. Rose, 59-55, in the ToC final).

Widely regarded as one of the top girls basketball programs in the country, Manasquan has already played an out-of-state schedule that would resemble that. During the holiday break, the Warriors travelled to Orlando, Fla. where it beat Seneca Valley (Pa.), Nease (Fla.) and Harrison (Ga.).

This weekend, Mansasquan will venture to New York to play Long Island Lutheran, ranked No. 17 nationally, on Sunday. For Kukoda and her team, everything they do is about embracing the concept of being challenged.

Within New Jersey, Manasquan's schedule is just a tough. Aside from being locked in to divisional meetings with Red Bank Catholic and Middletown South, the Warriors will also face No. 3 Rutgers Prep on Jan. 29, No. 4 Rumson-Fair Haven on Feb. 4, and No. 2 St. Rose on Feb. 11 before beginning play in the Shore Conference Tournament.

Manasquan employed a number of different defensive looks on Thursday, and each of them hampered Middletown South's offense. The Eagles mustered just 10 points of offense in the first half and never had a real chance to hang with the top team in the state. 

"I'm fortunate to have the girls that we have with that basketball IQ. It does take a lot," Kukoda said. "We analyze a lot of different things, we talk about a lot of different things. We put in a defense early in the year, and yesterday, we were talking about certain situations where we would use it."

That high basketball IQ from all over the floor has enabled Kukoda, the 2015-16 NJ.com Coach of the Year, and Manasquan to rise to another level this season.

"A lot of our defenses are based off of their IQ and their reads they can make off of it," Kukoda said. "There isn't always a set rule in the defense. I'm fortunate to have that little bit of freedom to play with their strengths in that way. I know at times at time it could be a little bit overwhelming, but I think by challenging them here early on, we only become comfortable in thinking in the moment as we progress through the season."

Even more impressive: Manasquan starts just two seniors, with two juniors, and one sophomore. These players aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

Junior Dara Mabrey, who scored 21 points in the win on Thursday and is averaging a team-best 19.8 points-per-game so far this season has the ability to take over any game as evidenced by her 33-point performance in Manasquan's tight 66-62 win against No. 7 Red Bank Catholic on Dec. 20. But she isn't the only contributor.

Stella Clark, who is 15 points away from 1,000 for her career has been a major catalyst for Manasquan this season with 11.5 points-per-game, and sophomore Faith Masonius has been a force inside the paint all year. Lola Mullaney, a Colts Neck transfer and Victoria Galvan, who missed last season with a knee injury, have been major components off the bench.

Simply put: there is no way to stop everything Manasquan can throw at any given team on any given night. Playing in the loaded Shore Conference and B-North division, the Warriors could theoretically get caught somewhere down the line, but it's hard to imagine at this point.

The only teams to finish within 25 points of Manasquan so far this year have been Red Bank Catholic (66-62 on Dec. 20) and Harrison (Ga.) (68-61 on Dec. 30.

And for a team this good, Manasquan still believes it has something to prove after going 1-2 in the last three T of C finals.

"It was our first big home game with a big atmosphere," Mabrey said after Thursday's win. "But we definitely knew we wanted to come out on top and keep proving that statement that we're back this year."

Brian Deakyne may be reached at bdeakyne@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook. 

The shootout occurred after Aaron Riley of Eatontown tried to rob a pharmacy in town, authorities said

FREEHOLD -- A man accused of shooting at Eatontown police officers during a pharmacy robbery last month is due in court Friday afternoon to face attempted murder charges.

Aaron Riley, 31, has been in custody since his arrest in the Dec. 20 holdup of the AllTown Pharmacy on Wyckoff Road. He shot at police officers as they chased him, authorities said.

One of the officers returned fire and apparently hit Riley because when he was found, he had a gunshot wound on his leg, authorities said at the time.

Eatontown man charged with attempted murder

Authorities said Riley went into the pharmacy around 6:43 p.m. and demanded prescription drugs. Riley ran out the back door as police arrived and the gunfire exchange occurred as they chased him on foot, authorities said.

Riley ran to a car in the nearby Michael's Plaza parking lot and was last seen on Route 36 west, police said. Officers found the car, a gray four-door 2007 Nissan Altima, in the back parking lot of Stony Hill Apartments a few blocks from the pharmacy. The Nissan had damage consistent with being hit by gunfire, authorities said.

The New York City Police Department contacted detectives in Monmouth County to alert them that Riley was in the city and had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.

Riley has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count each of armed robbery, certain persons not to have a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was being held on $1.45 million bail.

Park officials said they're closing the entrance to Sandy Hook for up to eight hours on Saturday to dispose of the ammunition

SANDY HOOK -- Live ammunition washed up on a beach at Sandy Hook, prompting park officials to block off the area and plan to close the park temporarily on Saturday.

Unexploded ordnance was found on the beach at Sandy Hook on Wednesday(National Park Service) 

A park visitor on Wednesday found the unexploded ordnance, which was identified as a mortar, at Beach F, the park's fishing beach, said Daphe Yun, spokeswoman for Sandy Hook.

She said that beach and the area north of it has been closed since the discovery, which is not unusual for Sandy Hook because it was once a U.S. Army testing ground for ammunition.

The park will be closed between 5 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday as crews from the Naval Weapons Station at Earle detonate the mortar, she said.

Officials at Earle said the detonation may cause the ground to shake and create "considerable" noise. And because the weather is predicted to be overcast on Saturday, the sound may be louder and travel farther, they said.

The park will open sooner if operations are completed sooner, Yun said.

Crews chose to dispose of the mortar on a weekend to minimize the impact of those who use the park during the week, including high school students and pre-schoolers, she said. They also chose a time of low tide when crews would have better access to the mortar, she said.

The heaviest snow should fall in South Jersey and along the Shore, according to the National Weather Service

UPDATE: Snowstorm strengthens over N.J., pushing up snow totals

A winter storm barreling up the coast is expected to bring frigid temperatures while dumping most of its snowfall in South Jersey and along the Jersey Shore - a bit more than initially expected - then thin out inland before pulling out of the state early Saturday evening.

The National Weather Service's updated forecast calls for slightly more snow than it predicted Friday night, with most of the snow falling in South Jersey and along the Shore but very little expected for North Jersey.

The weather service expanded its winter weather advisory zone for much of the state to now include Mercer and Middlesex counties. That advisory remains in effect for much of the state on Saturday from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. as the storm moves north, bringing with it anywhere from 6 to 8 inches in southeast New Jersey to a dusting in far northwest New Jersey, according to the National Weather Service.

UPDATE: A winter storm warning has now been issued for Middlesex County, Monmouth County and most of the New Jersey Turnpike corridor from central New Jersey down to the southwestern region of the state. Heavier snow is now anticipated in those areas.

Storm warnings, advisories expanded in N.J. for weekend snow

Saturday's high should reach near 28 and a northwest wind should be running 14 to 17 mph during the day Saturday.

The heaviest snowfall - anywhere from 6 to 8 inches - is predicted for southern Ocean County to Cape May. Tapering off to the north and west, it's expected to drop 4 inches in Medford, 3 inches in Trenton, 2 inches in New Brunswick and less than an inch in Morristown.

(National Weather Service) 

The real chill comes Saturday night, after the snow finishes around 7 p.m. Temperatures drop to around 15 overnight but a northwest wind will be running 16 to 18 mph.

511.org reported a 45-mph speed restriction on the Garden State Parkway between Toms River and Cape May in both directions starting at 6:30 a.m. because of road conditions and salting operations.

Sunday gets even colder, with a high near 26 but the wind chill could make it feel like -1. The weather service says the day will be blustery, with a northwest wind 16 to 23 mph and gusts as high as 36 mph. 

On Sunday night, temperatures take a dive to around 11. A blustery wind will be blowing 15 to 20 mph but decreasing to between 9 and 14 mph after midnight, the weather service says.

The factory-built modules came together in a three-story dwelling worthy of inclusion in a book called "Prefabulous Small Homes."

N.J. home makeover is a regular feature on NJ.com. To submit your renovation for consideration, email home@starledger.com with your full name, email address, phone number and town/city. Attach "before" and "after" photos of what you renovated.

The little bungalow right off the beach in Manasquan was flooded in Hurricane Sandy, but its owners of less than a year figured they would get it back to usable shape for Shore days while they decided on their ultimate plans.

With a repair list that kept growing and two daughters away at college, however, the bank executive and his wife decided to tear down the existing property and build a new beach house in its place. 

They would hire Manasquan-based Atlantic Modular Builders, which delivered their three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom custom home in seven pieces on flatbed trailers. The factory-built modules came together in a three-story dwelling worthy of inclusion in "Prefabulous Small Homes" by Sheri Koones, an author who has written extensively about prefabricated houses.

Dubbed Olde Seawatch for its proximity to the U.S. Coast Guard Station, the new house was built taller in answer to the constraints of its small lot.

"The lot is only 25 feet wide, so it didn't lend a lot of options," said Atlantic Modular Builders' Ryan Scott Meyers who designed the house, built in Pennsylvania by Excel Homes. To comply with updated flood zone regulations that require Shore-area houses to be lifted above future floodwaters, the house has a site-built ground level, constructed around timber piles sunk 20 feet below ground.

"We set the modular units on top of those pilings that are sticking up 8 feet out of the ground," Meyers said. The ground level is all garage and storage space. Its concrete floor is walled by a flood-friendly fiberglass sheathing called DensGlass. James Hardie fiber cement siding was used for the exterior, which is trimmed with Azek PVC molding. The moisture-resistant materials help make the ground level flood compliant, Meyers said.

"If floodwaters come up, it won't grow mold, it won't deteriorate. It will dry out and look exactly the same as when you installed it," he said.

The couple also added a flood-friendly outdoor living area designed by JM Lifestyles of Randolph. It features a proprietary lightweight concrete-based material molded into water-resistant tabletops, counters, planters and other elements that look like wood.

Since the couple, who wished to remain anonymous, built the 1,900-square-foot house as their "forever home," an elevator was installed along with a staircase to access its three levels. The kitchen, a half bath and a family room opening to a deck with water views are on the home's top floor. The couple chose GE Monogram appliances in stainless steel, including a 48-inch dual oven range. The counters are "leathered" granite with a sheen-free finish. Wide-plank hardwood flooring is used throughout the house.   

On the middle level, the master bedroom has a walk-through closet to the master bath. Two smaller bedrooms share a bathroom, and the long hallway is lined with shelves for books and decorative objects.

"Most people are surprised at how much design variety we can put into the modular process," Meyers said. He estimates that the cost of modular construction is about 10 percent less than that of a traditionally site-built house. "When people are wanting to build that really nice house, they are starting to look in the modular direction," he said.

The owners of Olde Seawatch were familiar with the modular builder and pleased with the process and the result of their project.

"I think we utilized every inch of this narrow, small lot to the best of our ability," the wife said."We got in everything that we wanted to."

What they renovated

A small beach bungalow was demolished and replaced by a new three-level home.

Who did the work

Atlantic Modular Builders of Manasquan was general contractor; custom cabinetry by Jaeger Lumber; JM Lifestyles of Randolph designed the outdoor kitchen and bar area

How long it took

About nine months including design decisions and appliance purchases. Demolition began in February 2015 and the house was ready for occupancy by July 2015.

What they spent

"The original budget was $550,000, but we went over that," the wife said. Much of the added expense was related to the backyard dining and entertaining area, she said. ur backyard is a custom backyard custom concrete. That is what put us way over the budget.

Where they splurged

"Definitely the backyard," the wife said. The outdoor living area has Lynx appliances and several custom concrete elements including the bar top and a water feature dining table with a small stream that runs through its center.

How they saved

They didn't. "Building this house, we tried to look at it as 'this is our forever home'," the wife said. "We looked at it as investing in our future and our childrens' future.

What they did themselves

"We chose everything, we tweaked the design," the wife said. The wife's choices in surface materials and colors resulted in her being hired part time by Atlantic Modular Builders to help other customers with such decisions. "Coming from a customer's perspective helps me out," she said of her consultations.

What they like most

The master bedroom and the backyard. "I like the way we have a bedroom that flows into a walk-in closet into the master bathroom," the wife said. "It's an open concept, but it feels open without losing the privacy."

What they'd have done differently

Nothing.

The suspect was stopped as he went through the Outerbridge Crossing toll plaza without paying, authorities said

Sean Haluska (Port Authority police)

STATEN ISLAND -- A Monmouth County man who allegedly blew through the Outerbridge Crossing toll plaza without paying Friday morning has been ditching tolls on a regular basis to the point of owing more than $94,000, authorities said Saturday.

Sean Haluska, 43, of Farmingdale was stopped 9:40 a.m. on Friday in Staten Island after Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police saw him drive through the EZPass toll lane of the Outerbridge Crossing without paying, said Joseph Pentangelo, department spokesman.

When police stopped him in his 2011 Mazda, he told them he didn't pay because he didn't have an EZPass account, Pentangelo said. But authorities later learned he did have an account, he said.

Pentangelo said Haluska's driver's license was suspended four times, including when he was stopped.

A review of his EZPass account showed that he had more than 1,490 open violations and that he owes more than $94,600 in tolls and fees, Pentangelo said.

Haluska was arrested and charged with obstructing governmental administration, petit larceny and aggravated unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle.

Authorities also impounded his car, Pentangelo said.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Five New Jersey locations slated to close.

Women's clothing company The Limited is closing all of its 250 retail stores by Sunday, including its New Jersey locations, reports said.

The apparel chain will continue to operate online, according to the company's website.

The Limited operated brick and mortar stores at locations including the Freehold Raceway Mall, Woodbridge Center in Woodbridge, Bridgewater Commons, Menlo Park Mall and Newport Centre in Jersey City, its website said.

The Ohio-based company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, known as a WARN notice, Nov. 28 indicating that widespread layoffs were planned, according to The Washington Post.

"As you know, the company's Q3 results were very disappointing and we substantially missed our sales budget," a notice to employees said, Cleveland.com reported.  

Macy's to close 3 N.J. stores, cut jobs

A company spokesman said the store closures would lead to 4,000 job cuts, The Associated Press reported. It was not immediately clear how many New Jersey positions would be eliminated.

Other retailers have also recently announced store closings. Macy's and Kmart have both said they would shut down several New Jersey stores this year as part of a larger downsizing.

RELATED: Kmart says it will close stores in 4 N.J. towns

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Towns should find another way to honor law enforcement, the Federal Highway Administration says.

In October, scores of New Jersey towns painted blue lines in the middle of bustling downtown roads to show support for law enforcement.

But this practice is unsafe and towns should find another way to honor their men and women in blue, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.

"There are many appropriate and fitting ways to recognize service to the public that do not involve the modification of a traffic control device, which can put the road user at risk due to misinterpretation of its meaning," reads a Dec. 8 letter from the FHA to the Somerset County Engineering Division.

"The use of blue lines as part of centerline markings does not comply with the provisions of the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways)," the letter states.

The FHA says the space in between the double yellow lines should remain empty. In certain cases, black paint can be used "where a light-colored pavement does not provide sufficient contrast with the markings," the MUTCD states.

Blue paint should only be used on roads to mark handicapped parking spaces, according to the MUTCD.  

The letter from the Federal Highway Administration is a response to an October 2016 letter written by Somerset County's chief engineer, Matthew D. Loper. Loper had requested clarification on the federal guidelines when it comes to painting the blue lines on roadways, the letter states.

Loper could not be reached Sunday for an interview.

The letter does not condemn support for law enforcement. It states: "We appreciate the impact of expressing support for law enforcement officers and value their contributions to society."

When towns first started painting the blue lines on county roads, local officials said they did so only after receiving permission from the county.

In Mantua in Gloucester County, police Chief Rodney Sawyer said in October that the town painted the blue line in a park rather than on the road to abide by the FHA's MUTCD.

It's unclear if a local municipality can be penalized for not removing the blue line. An FHA spokesperson could not be reached by phone on Sunday morning.

A spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, Stephen Schapiro, said in a statement to NJ 101.5, who first reported the FHA letter, that the NJDOT "follows the rules set forth by the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" when it comes to road markings.

In Union County, Department of Engineering Director Joseph Graziano sent an email to police chiefs requesting they have the blue lines removed, NJ 101.5 reported.

Howell Township police Chief Andrew Kudrick said he had not been informed by Monmouth County to remove the township's blue line.

"Although absurd, we would paint over the approximately 200-foot line if required," Kudrick said. "I'll just paint the entire parking lot blue at the police department."

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Participants go from 19 degree weather on land to 46 degree temperatures in the ocean for charity.

LONG BRANCH -- It was cold and windy out and then you jumped in the 46 degree water.

Hundreds raced across snow covered sand and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean getting out of 19 degree weather with strong winds to help raise money for charity.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians held their 11th annual Polar Bear Plunge to raise money for catholic schools.

"I'm not good," said a shivering Augustus Torres, standing on the boardwalk waiting to go in the ocean. After his dip the Roselle Catholic High School student added, I can't feel anything."

The event has raised more than $900,000 since it started and hopes to make enough this year to go over $1 million raised.

Jimmy Shaw, chairman of the event, dressed as Elvis and led the march into the water. "When you hit the water, it takes your breathe away," he said.

Ed Murray may be reached at emurray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Ed on Twitter at @EdMurrayphoto. Find NJ.COM on Facebook.

The driver fled prior to the arrival of authorities, police said.

ASBURY PARK -- A car slammed into a residence on Friday night, leaving the hood and front wheels lodged into the wall of the house's basement. 

Officials were called to the residence on Prospect Avenue near Bangs Avenue just before midnight on Friday. The two-story house, home to multiple residents, was set back off the roadway.

It was unoccupied at the time of the crash, officials said. The city's fire chief, Kevin Keddy, said no one was injured.

The car was still running when firefighters arrived at the scene, Keddy said, but the driver was not present. A spokesman for the Asbury Park Police Department, Officer Michael Casey, said the driver fled before authorities arrived.

Members of the fire department placed temporary struts on the structure before the car was removed. The car was removed by the city's towing contractor, officials said.

A representative from the Asbury Park Building Department checked out the building and gave it the "all-clear" before the struts were removed. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The 23-year-old Freehold man driving the Jeep was flown to Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center in New Brunswick, while a passenger was treated locally for less serious injuries

Police say a Jeep Cherokee smashed into a tree along this stretch of Ryan Road in Marlboro on SundayGoogle 

MARLBORO -- A 23-year-old Freehold Borough man had to be flown by helicopter to a trauma center Sunday afternoon after the Jeep he was driving smashed into a tree in Marlboro, police said. 

The driver, Yoshio Dominguez Romero, had to be extricated from the black 2001 Jeep Cherokee, then was taken by a State Police North Star Medivac helicopter to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, according to a Marlboro Police Department report of the incident.

The type and severity of Romero's injuries were not disclosed.

A passenger, Faustino Mendez-Romero, 49, also of Freehold Borough, was taken by a Marlboro FirstAid Squad ambulance to Centrastate Medical Center in Freehold Township for treatment of what police described as non-life threatening injuries.

The crash occurred at 4:24 p.m., on Ryan Road, near Cross Ridge Circle, where Marlboro Police officers found the wrecked SUV with the two injured men trapped inside.

Ryan Road was closed for about 3 hours while the accident was being investigated.

The Marlboro, Gordons Corner Road, and Robertsville Fire Departments and MONOC Paramedics also responded.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption.

The history of pet photography goes back quite a bit further than the founding of icanhas.cheezburger.com. And for the record, I have both a dog and a cat, so don't read anything into which I talk about first.

courtesy of mashable.com 

The photo at right has long been accepted as the oldest photograph to show a human being. Taken in Paris in 1838 by Louis Daguerre, the scene captures a man having his shoes shined in the lower-left portion.

But Amanda Uren notes on mashable.com that modern researchers believe they've also located a child and a dog on the opposite side of the street. They have not yet been able to determine if he was leashed or being properly curbed ... yet.

courtesy of i09.com 

Cats weren't too far behind. Cyriaque Lamar states on i09.com that "the progenitor of shameless cat pictures was probably English photographer Harry Pointer (1822-1889), who snapped approximately 200 photos of his perplexed, albeit jovial, Brighton Cats. Pointer began his career shooting naturalistic photos of cats, but he realized in the 1870s that coaxing felines into ludicrous poses was an exercise in delicious absurdity."

"Pointer often arranged his cats in unusual poses that mimicked human activities -- a cat riding a tricycle, cats roller-skating and even a cat taking a photograph. Pointer increased the commercial potential of his cat pictures by adding a written greeting such as "A Happy New Year" or "Very many happy returns of the day."

Had the internet existed in Pointer's day, he would've been a very wealthy man.

Here's a gallery of pets in need of adoption in New Jersey. More homeless pets can be seen by clicking here and here.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

Dozens of districts, particularly in South Jersey, opted to delay the start of school on Monday

The snowfall that affected travel throughout New Jersey on Saturday led to dozens of delayed school openings on Monday.

Though snow ended Saturday evening, some towns gave road crews and school officials a bit of extra time to prepare for the arrival of students and staff on Monday morning.

Most of the affected districts are along the Shore and in South Jersey.

Among the places where the most snow fell were Port Norris in Cumberland County, where 10 inches fell, Lanoka Harbor in Ocean County, with 9 inches, Estell Manor in Atlantic County, with 9 inches, Stafford Township in Ocean County, with 8.6 inches, and Barnegat in Ocean County, with 8.5 inches.

All schools below are opening two hours late except where noted:

ATLANTIC COUNTY

• Atlantic City
• Buena Regional
• Estell Manor
• Pleasantville (closed)
• Weymouth 

• Oaklyn (closed)

CAPE MAY COUNTY

• North Wildwood

CUMBERLAND COUNTY -

• More than a dozen districts. Click here for Cumberland County delays and closings

MONMOUTH COUNTY

• Red Bank Regional High School

OCEAN COUNTY

• Barnegat
• Berkeley
• Lacey
• Lakehurst

Two teams in and two teams out.

This hotel earned accolades for its ocean views and for being a "social hub."

ASBURY PARK -- The city's first new hotel in more than a half-century, The Asbury, was voted as the best new hotel in the country by USA Today readers.

The hotel, located just blocks from the city's boardwalk, was praised for its "stellar seaside views," amenities and for being a "social hub."

"The Asbury features a grab-and-go kitchen, ground-floor lounge with ping pong and board games, a community table and a pool during the warmer months," the report states. 

The editors of USA Today's 10Best section teamed up with hotel experts to pick 20 of the best hotels that opened in 2016. The Asbury debuted on Memorial Day weekend.

The list of hotels was then presented to the readers for them to vote on.

The Asbury's victory is a significant achievement for the small seaside city that's seen a resurgence in its downtown and boardwalk in recent years. The 110-room boutique hotel bested flashy, large hotels in major vacation hubs, including New York City, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii.

The owners of The Asbury, iStar, invested $50 million into the property on Fifth Avenue, transforming a seven-story dilapidated Salvation Army building into a hotel loaded with unique amenities and ocean views.

"We are thrilled to be named the best new hotel in America," The Asbury's operator, David Bowd, told the Asbury Park Press. "It has been an amazing first year for us and we could not be happier, thank you to our incredible team and to everyone who voted for us."

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Criminal case against Sgt. Marc Dennis has brought some 20,000 DWI cases into question.

FREEHOLD -- A New Jersey State Police sergeant accused of lying about performing legally required checks on alcohol breath-testing devices pleaded not guilty Monday to official misconduct and records tampering charges.

Sgt. Marc Dennis did not speak during his arraignment in front of Judge Richard English in Superior Court in Monmouth County

After the court appearance, his attorney, Robert Ebberup, said the sergeant was "innocent of the charges brought against him."

"We have faith in the justice process," Ebberup said. "In the end, my client will be fully vindicated." 

Dennis was released without bail following his appearance. He has been charged with second-degree official misconduct, third-degree tampering with public records and fourth degree falsifying records. State prosecutors have not offered a plea deal. 

The criminal case against Dennis, a coordinator in the State Police Alcohol Drug Testing Unit, has jeopardized some 20,000 drunken driving convictions across New Jersey because the unit performs routine checks on machines used by local police departments.

Dennis was criminally charged in September after a supervisor allegedly caught him skipping a required step in the calibration of the machines approved by the state's Supreme Court to test DWI suspects, which are known as Alcotest devices.

20K DWI cases in the air. Now what?

The sergeant remains suspended without pay over the accusations, in which he was accused of deliberately omitting a temperature check in re-calibrating just a handful of devices. 

But records obtained by NJ Advance Media show state authorities are concerned the disclosure could undermine convictions in any case involving a machine Dennis tested across Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset and Union counties. 

Prosecutors maintain the temperature check Dennis is accused of skipping was not scientifically necessary, but it is required under procedures created to comply with a state Supreme Court decision regarding the admissibility of DWI test results, known as State v. Chun.

DWI lawyers previously told NJ Advance Media the temperature check was a crucial step meant to ensure citizens aren't convicted of drunken driving based on a faulty machine reading.

They argue that because penalties for DWI can hinge on the precise level of intoxication, any departure from standard procedure can undermine the machines' findings. 

The state Division of Criminal Justice has requested a special judge be appointed to handle a potential glut of legal challenges. That request is still before the Supreme Court, according to a judiciary spokesman.

The state also faces a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of potentially thousands of people convicted based on results from machines Dennis calibrated. 

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Feds say a blue line in between double yellow lines represents a safety issue for motorists.

SOMERVILLE - Somerset County Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano said he plans to reach out to state elected officials to get a bill allowing towns to paint blue lines on roads or around local police headquarters to honor law enforcement.

In December, after many New Jersey towns had painted a thin blue line between double yellow lines, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration said in a letter that the practice is unsafe and towns should find another way to honor law enforcement.

Provenzano said he would reach out to N.J. Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman, (R-Somerset) and our other senators in Somerset County to see if they could introduce legislation supporting the painted blue line.

"I know there are other ways to support law enforcement but it (the blue line) is a symbol out there," the sheriff said. "It stands out. I think the blue line would go a long way in showing respect for law enforcement. We are the first line of defense. We're the ones running towards danger while people are running away."

The Highway Administration's letter was in response to an October 2016 letter written by Somerset County's chief Engineer Matthew D. Loper. Loper had requested clarification on the federal guidelines when it comes to painting the blue lines on roadways.

Loper declined comment on Monday in an email.

Patrick Colligan, president of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, said he's "shocked" that the FHA had time to weigh in on this issue when traffic deaths were up more than 10 percent in the first half of 2016, which he said is the biggest increase in over 50 years.

"I hope the FHA has more important things on their to-do list," said Colligan, adding that he supports Provenzano but "do we really need to legislate a blue line?

"E-Z Pass paints lines purple. Towns paint lines green for St. Patrick's Day. The FHA never weighs in on that. But when it comes to painting lines blue to honor law enforcement it's a federal issue. It really boggles the mind."

North Plainfield Police Chief William Parenti, head of the Somerset County Police Association of Chiefs of Police, said he understood the Highway Administration's position.

"They feel that a blue line in between two yellow lines isn't discernible," said Parenti, whose town painted a blue line on Somerset Street that will have to be removed.

What's with blue lines on NJ roads?

In its Dec. 8 letter to the Somerset County Engineering Division, the Highway Administration said the painting of blue lines could put "the road user at risk due to misinterpretation of its meaning."

It added that the use of blue lines "as part of centerline markings does not comply with the provisions of the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways)" and blue paint should only be used to mark handicapped parking spaces.

Provenzano said that if a blue line -- which represents an officer's role as the dividing line between peace and chaos -- can't be painted on roads, perhaps they can be painted around or near a town's police headquarters.

"It would be a great way for law enforcement to be recognized and for the public to show their appreciation," he said.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The driver was also charged with assault by automobile and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, police said.

A Mercedes Benz was rear-ended on Route 34 south Sunday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of the Wall Township Police Department) 

WALL TOWNSHIP -- A 24-year-old township man is accused of assault by auto, drunken driving and other drug charges after he allegedly rear-ended a car stopped at a red light on Sunday afternoon.

Township police say Vincent Petrucelli was driving a 2015 GMC Yukon around 2:40 p.m. on Route 34 south when he drifted into the left turn lane and hit a Mercedes Benz that was stopped at a red light.

The driver of the Mercedes, a 26-year-old Manasquan resident, was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he was treated for an injury that was not life-threatening, Wall police Detective Lieutenant Greg Carpino said in a statement.

Petrucelli was charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated assault by automobile, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.

He was released after he was issued a complaint summons pending a future court date.

The left turn lane of Route 34 south at the intersection with Route 35 north was closed for approximately one hour as police investigated the crash. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The next step would be a vote on the move

LOCH ARBOUR-- The state Department of Education has paved the way for a vote to decide whether the community's tiny number of students will continue to attend school in Ocean Township, app.com reported.

Citing a per-pupil cost of more than $100,000, Mayor Paul Fernicola said the town's students would instead attend school in West Long Branch if voters approve the change in a special election.

The overall per-pupil cost for Ocean Township was a little more than $20,000, although records do not show how the costs break out between the two communities.

Ocean Township plans to appeal the state's decision.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  

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