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Take this week's New Jersey Local News Quiz

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Seven questions, all based on this week's top stories.

It was a busy week in New Jersey news. Were you paying attention? Time to show how well you know local news in NJ.com's weekly quiz. There are seven questions below, all based on popular stories you saw on NJ.com since last Friday. Answer each question and then share your score in comments, on Facebook and Twitter. I did you a favor this week: One of these questions is a total gimme.

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow John on Twitter and find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

35 N.J wrestlers in latest national rankings

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Click through the slideshow to see the list of high school wrestlers and teams ranked nationally

Flu now rampant throughout all New Jersey

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While the southern portion of the state had dodged the flu until now, the latest reports show it has caught up with the northern counties.

The seasonal flu is now rampant in New Jersey with all areas reporting now high levels.

That's a change from last week's report, when only the northern part of the state had seen a big uptick in cases.

The latest reporting week covers the period when children returned to school, and shows that absentee rates are very high in Cumberland and Salem counties, with more than one in ten children out sick.

Those absentee rates are more than twice as high as seen in schools in other sections of the state.

For all ages, the flu hot spots so far are Bergen and Monmouth counties, with Bergen alone accounting for roughly a fifth of the positive flu samples discovered in tests.

Doctors say the predominant strain they're seeing is a variant of the 'A' strain, the H3N2 version.

While its symptoms are typical of the flu, they have been more severe than those experienced by patients in the 2009 "swine flu" epidemic.

That flu, the H1N1, is nearly non-existent in New Jersey this season.

This year's vaccine is thought to be a good match for the most commonly circulating viruses, as it contains the H3N2 strain.

However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention typically aren't able to determine each seasonal flu vaccine's efficacy until February.

While the flu shot is usually a good match, based on what strains predominated in the Southern Hemisphere during its flu season, occasionally that approach fails, as it did two years ago, when the shot people received didn't offer protection against some surprise strains.

Kathleen O'Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  

 

N.J. man hit, killed woman with walker in DWI crash, cops say

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The 35-year-old from Howell hit the 84-year-old as she crossed a road in Van Buren, Ark.

Screen Shot 2017-01-13 at 9.18.33 AM.pngMichael Kensak 

A New Jersey man was driving drunkwhen he struck and killed an 84-year-old woman with a walker crossing a street in Arkansas on Thursday evening, police said.

Michael Kenask, 35, was charged with negligent homicide, DWI and careless driving after the Jeep he was driving hit an 84-year-old woman in Van Buren around 7:30 p.m., police said.

Kensak is a Howell resident, police said.

Wilma Glass, of Van Buren, was crossing Alma Highway in front of Clover Leaf Plaza when the SUV struck her, police said.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Historic Holmdel church to get a major makeover

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The 138-year-old St. Catharine's Church in Holmdel has so significant structural damage that it is visibly tilting.

HOLMDEL - The Holmdel Historical Society is planning to give a deteriorating historic building a major makeover.

The group, which works to research and preserve the history of Holmdel, unanimously voted earlier this week to move forward on the full restoration of St. Catharine's Church.

St. Catharine's was the first Catholic Church in Holmdel after being founded in 1879 by Father Michael L. Glennon, an Irish immigrant, on a one-acre plot on Stillwell Road.

The church, which was donated to the historical society by the Archdiocese of Trenton in 1975, is covered by a slate roof and its pews once accommodated approximately 100 parishioners. 

The building currently has significant structural damage, which is causing the church to tilt. It also has extensive water and insect damage, loose slate roofing, and windows in need of being replaced, according to a release from the historical society.

The church also has no heat, electric or running water or sewage system, and is not handicap accessible.

It previously had a wild animal infestation, but that has since been addressed, the historical society said.

The Holmdel Historical Society plans to start work on the extensive restoration project in February.

From 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Feb. 15, the group will host its first church cleanup, weather conditions permitting. Pizza will be served as volunteers work on revitalizing parts of the church. 

The group is also planning to hold various fundraising events to raise money to begin correcting the church's major structural problems.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the initial church cleanup day is asked to RSVP by contacting Manieri or Treasurer Rhonda Beck by calling 732-768-7583 or 732-685-4450, or by email at holmdelhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Boys basketball: 12 bold predictions for the weekend of Jan. 13-16

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Who is going to win and who is going to shine?

Dan Finn Classic: Complete preview of Saturday's epic showcase

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We're not quite a month into the New Jersey basketball season, but it's the middle of January and that means it's time for one of the most prestigious showcases in the Garden State &amp...

We're not quite a month into the New Jersey basketball season, but it's the middle of January and that means it's time for one of the most prestigious showcases in the Garden State — The Dan Finn Classic. Five games will be played at the Jersey City Armory on Saturday, including three games pitting teams from the NJ.com Top 20 against each other.

NJ Advance Media will be there with coverage of the event, and that starts with our preview. Check out all the links below to get filled in before opening tip.

SCHEDULE
St. Peter's Prep vs. Fredrick Douglass Academy (N.Y.), 12:30
Ramapo vs. Brighton (Ma.), 2:15
No. 9 Mater Dei vs. No. 5 Newark East Side, 4
No. 1 Patrick School vs. No. 4 St. Anthony, 5:45
No. 11 Ranney vs. Montclair Immaculate, 7:30

PARKING/TICKET INFORMATION
Address: 678 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, N.J.
Tickets: $8 for adults and $4 for students online, $10 dollars for adults and $5 for students at the door
Parking: Basically street parking, and some parking lots. Arrive early to give yourself time.

MEET THE TEAMS
No. 1 Patrick School
No. 4 St. Anthony
No. 5 Newark East Side
No. 8 Mater Dei

KEY LINKS
Complete Dan Finn Classic Schedule
7 things you need to know about the 2016 Dan Finn Classic
Previewing No. 1 Patrick School vs. No. 4 St. Anthony
Bob Hurley anticipates St. Anthony remaining open next year; future changes possible
Look back at last year's event

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

5 great shows to check out this week in N.J.

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A musical legend, some Mardi Gras and a maestro are a few of the shows are on offer.

January Thaw Music Fest at Centenary Stage

Get excited for Mardi Gras with January Thaw Music Fest, three nights of Carnival-inspired fare  in the Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Performing Arts Center in Hackettstown. The HooDoo Loungers kick off the annual festival Jan 14 with a mix of original music and revisited New Orleans classics. The nine -piece band's sound encompasses traditional NOLA jazz and brass bands, classic R&B and funk. The festival's second show, 3hree for Louis: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong, is Jan. 22. The final performance, by Sweet Plantain Quartet, is Jan. 28.

$27.50 for adults, $17.50 children under 12. Additional $5 charged for tickets purchased on the day of the performance. Jan. 14, 8 p.m., Centenary Stage Company, 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown. 908-979-0900.

The 'Empress of Soul,' Gladys Knight comes to NJPAC

Seven-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight has recorded more than 38 albums, scoring hits in the pop, gospel, R&B and adult contemporary categories. On Jan. 15 at NJPAC, she'll perform some of her classics --like "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" and "Midnight Train to Georgia" - while also sharing newer music, including songs from 2014's Gospel Grammy award-winning album "Where My Heart Belongs." She will share the concert stage with The Whispers, the R&B quartet behind more than a dozen hits, including "Rock Steady" and "And the Beat Goes On."

$48-119, Jan. 15., 7 p.m., NJPAC's Prudential Hall, 1 Center St., Newark. 800-GO-NJPAC.

Winter Festival: Zukerman Plays Tchaikovsky

Grammy-winning maestro/violinist Pinchas Zukerman conducts and solos with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra with three shows this week. The richly melodic program includes Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings" and Mendelssohn's Symphony #4 "Italian."

$20-88, Jan. 13, 8 p.m.,  NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark. 800-GO-NJPAC.

$20-75, Jan. 14, 8 p.m., Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank. 732-224-8778 

$20-90, Jan. 15, 3 p.m., State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick. 732-246-7469. 

Two more at Mayo

The Mayo Performing Arts Center presents two interesting shows this weekend. On Jan. 13, the Capitol Steps -- a comedy troop largely composed of former government employees -- presents "What to Expect When You're Expecting," another Steps' show that aims to put "the mock in democracy." On Saturday the 14th, four of Broadway's leading ladies -- Andrea McArdle, Maureen McGovern, Christine Andreas and Faith Prince -- take the stage to share songs and memories in 4 Girls 4

$29-59, The Capitol Steps, Jan 13. 8 p.m., Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown. 973-539-8008.

$39-69, 4 Girls 4, Jan. 14, 8 p.m.,  Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown. 973-539-8008.

Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.


Soup with wrong label, undeclared allergens recalled

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The product was labeled as chicken soup but is actually Italian wedding soup.

Kettle Cuisine is recalling 3,000 pounds of mislabeled chicken soup product that contains undeclared allergens.

The Massachusetts-based company said the labels say it's chicken soup, but the product is actually Italian soup with meatballs, according to the recall notice on the Food Safety and Inspection Service website.

004-2017.jpg 

The soup also contains eggs, milk and wheat which are not shown on the label.

The product subject to recall is the 24-ounce cups labeled "Mom's Chicken Soup" with a "use by" date of Feb. 17, 2017, and have the establishment number "P-18468." They were sold in Whole Foods Market locations in New Jersey.

Consumers are being told to throw out the soup or return it to the place of purchase.

Rajeev Dhir may be reached at rdhir@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @googasmammoo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Girls Basketball: 10 bold predictions for the weekend of Jan. 13-16

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A look at a handful of bold predictions for this weekend's girls basketball games.

Monmouth University graduates told to 'get busy' (PHOTOS)

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More than 400 students received degrees during Monmouth University's winter commencement on Friday afternoon.

WEST LONG BRANCH - The more than 400 students who graduated during Monmouth University's winter commencement on Friday afternoon received life lessons from a record company executive and a three-time Olympic gold medalist before receiving their diplomas.

U.S. women's soccer star Christie Rampone, a 1999 graduate of Monmouth University, was awarded the school's "Distinguished Alumni Award" during the commencement ceremony.

Rampone said she learned a lot during her 19 years on the U.S. women's national soccer team and shared some of that wisdom with the graduates.

Monmouth University winter commencement 2017U.S. women's soccer star Christie Rampone received a "Distinguished Alumni Award" during Monmouth University's winter commencement ceremony on Jan. 13, 2017. (Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

"Really enjoy and embrace all the good times. Persevere through all of those difficult times, because you're going to have some ups and downs," she said.

"Believe in yourself. Be you, be who you are. And always remember what wakes you up every day to be you and what inspires you, and bring that with you into your next chapter and into your workplace. Have that positive energy that's contagious and good things will happen."

Jon Esposito, the chairman and CEO of Warner Music Nashville, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the university and delivered the ceremony's commencement address.

Esposito, who has worked with artists ranging from Bon Jovi and Blake Shelton to Jay Z and Sum 41, challenged the graduates to "get busy" finding their hearts' desires, to make a difference in the world and to be decisive when faced with life's many forks in the road.

"You do not need to have the answers today," he reassured the graduates. "Have ideas, but accept that the road of life is a process and one to enjoy."

He also encouraged the graduates to be compelling and trustworthy, to reinvent themselves often and not to be afraid to fail, but to learn from the failures that they do have.

"As you become the leaders of tomorrow... lead," he said. "Lead with an open mind, an attentive ear and understanding heart. And have fun. Have lots and lots and lots of fun. You've got enough crap along the way. Find the moments to have fun as often as you possibly can. "

Monmouth University President Paul R. Brown said the 229 undergraduates and the 189 graduate students were the first class to graduate in the school's newly renamed OceanFirst Bank Center, as well as the university's last class to participant in a winter commencement.

"So this ceremony - your ceremony - is a historic one," he told the graduates.

Brown then told the graduates that recent polling determined that nearly half of the registered voters nationwide believe the "American way of life" is under a great deal of threat, while another third sense some threat.

"Hiding from issues doesn't make them go away. ... The world needs leaders who can engage in productive civil discourse even when, especially when, good people with good intentions disagree," he added. "Your new responsibility, as an educated citizen and a leader, is to help find solutions through action informed by thoughtful, respectful discussion - no matter what side of any particular issue you are passionate about."

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Man admits strangling pregnant girlfriend

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Sender Neftalii Villatoro-Reyes said he strangled Lucenay Fermin Gallegos, who was five months pregnant, while the two argued

FREEHOLD -- A Freehold Borough man admitted Friday to strangling his pregnant girlfriend during an argument nearly two years ago.

Sender Neftali Villatoro-Reyes, 27, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in connection with the May 16, 2014, death of his live-in girlfriend, Lucenay Fermin Gallegos at their Hudson Street home, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Villatoro-Reyes told Superior Court Judge Richard English that he strangled Fermin Gallegos, who was five months pregnant at the time, by choking her with his hands during an argument, Gramiccioni said.

Villatoro-Reyes called 911 at 2:15 a.m. that day to report that he had killed his girlfriend, the prosecutor said. When officers arrived, they found Fermin Gallegos, 30, lying unresponsive on the couch, he said.

The autopsy concluded she died from asphyxiation due to manual strangulation, Gramiccioni said.

In return for his plea, prosecutors will recommend that Villatoro-Reyes be sentenced to 28 years in prison and be required to serve nearly 24 years of that term before becoming eligible for parole, Gramiccioni said.

Originally charged with murder, Villatoro-Reyes could have been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison if convicted of that charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 21 for Villatoro-Reyes, who remains in the Monmouth County jail in Freehold in lieu of $1 million bail.

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

 

Woman 'alive and breathing' after being struck by train

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A woman was struck by a train in Woodbridge on Saturday.

WOODBRIDGE -- A woman survived being struck by a North Jersey Coast Line train Saturday morning, officials said.

The woman's name and age were not immediately made public, but she was hit shortly after 11 a.m. near the Woodbridge Train Station, NJ Transit spokeswoman Lisa Torbic said.

The woman's current condition and the extent of her injuries remain unknown, but Torbic said she was last reported "alive and breathing." She was taken to an area hospital.

Torbic said 400 passengers and five crew members were on the train, which was heading from New York Penn Station to Long Branch.

No one else was injured, Torbic said.

Train traffic was briefly suspended but is now up and running, Torbic said.

The incident remains under investigation by NJ Transit Police.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

WATCH: Emotional win by pin for special needs wrestler from Brick Memorial

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A special needs wrestler from Brick Memorial with Down Syndrome scored a pin to get his first varsity victory in a 15th bout at Middletown North on Saturday, January 17, 2017.

MIDDLETOWN – A Brick Memorial wrestler made his varsity debut on Saturday and won his match. While that might not sound remarkable, it was a moment that won't soon be forgotten by those who witnessed it. 

Moments after No. 17 Middletown North “officially” put a 32-29 victory over Brick Memorial in the books, David Richards, a four-year member of the Brick Memorial program with Down Syndrome, made his varsity debut and made a memory for anyone in the gym at Middletown North.

“He’s been in our program for four years, wrestled three years at Veterans Middle School and he just loves it,” said Brick Memorial’s first-year head coach Mike Kiley.

“This is a moment that reminded us all what sports are supposed to be. It was an opportunity for David, but it is why we coach and wrestlers wrestle. It was a special moment for David, for the coaches, his parents and our entire program.”

A collaborative effort by Kiley, Middletown North head coach Matt Sirchio and North freshman Rich Wall – the wrestler who volunteered for the bout – allowed Richards to win by pin using a cement mixer in the first period.

Richards let loose a roar after the pin was called.

“Everybody in the gym had tears in their eyes,” Sirchio said. “When Mike (Kiley) approached me a couple of weeks ago about doing it, I said absolutely. This was about doing the right thing. It was a moment that was bigger than all of us.”

Sirchio said he asked for volunteers earlier this week.

“Rich (Wall) had beaten the kid (Richards) in a JV match a couple of week ago and he understood what we were trying to do,” Sirchio said. “Rich is a class act and a great kid.”

Richardson scored a pair takedowns and before he hit the big move.

“We accept everybody in our program,” Kiley said. “David shows up every day, he works hard. To see the expression on his face, to see how is mom and dad reacted was amazing and made it all worth it.”

Joe Zedalis may be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephzedalis. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.

Without Springsteen, Light of Day's marathon show soldiers on in Asbury Park (PHOTOS)

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Without Springsteen to anchor the show, this charity event could use some fresh blood

ASBURY PARK -- Every volunteer associated with the Light of Day foundation and its annual winter festival in Asbury Park insists the weekend's main-course concert at the Paramount Theatre is not meant to be centered on Bruce Springsteen, and whether or not he chooses to drop by for a "surprise" set. 

And that's the right attitude; through nearly 20 years and thousands of performances, the organization has raised more than $4 million for Parkinson's Disease research, and ticket sales to Saturday night's marathon show on the boardwalk are a fair chunk of those funds. 

But from an entertainment perspective, this six-and-a-half-hour beast survives on The Boss and the frenetic energy his arrival provides. When Springsteen doesn't show -- he chose to stay in Saturday, maybe to prep for his approaching Australia tour -- it's largely the same lineup of twilighted regional rockers year in and year out. 

And even if the event sells out regardless, as it did last year though Bruce was on tour and everyone knew he wouldn't attend, the mere hope of his presence vastly alters the electricity in the theater. He has anchored the event 11 of its 17 years. 

"I spoke to Bruce earlier and he says 'thanks for coming out,'" said Joe Grushecky, the Pittsburgh rock veteran and Springsteen's usual playing partner at these events. That moment, which confirmed to many the no-show rumors, seemed to steal the air from the room. 

Oh, well. No Bruce, and the show, called Bob's Birthday Bash in honor of organization founder Bob Benjamin, must go on. Springsteen's E Street saxophonist Jake Clemons picked up some slack, headlining the gig with his own band -- refreshingly, their brand of free-wheeling folk and alt-rock sounded very little like Springsteen -- on the strength of his debut LP "Fear & Love," which just dropped Friday. It was an interesting change-up; Clemons is typically sequestered near the back of the stage for E Street Band shows, but to see him front-and-center with a guitar and his own impassioned lyrics, it looked as though he learned some from his Boss.

lod-2017522.JPGE Street saxophonist Jake Clemons and his band at the 17th annual Light of Day Bob's Birthday Bash show at The Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, Jan. 14, 2017. (Mark Brown | For NJ.com)  

Otherwise, main acts featured Light of Day regulars and recycled scenes: Grushecky and his Houserockers performing Bruce and Clarence's "Savin' Up," -- this time with original vocalist Rochester N.Y.'s J.T. Bowen -- complete with a sweeping sax solo from original Asbury Juke Ed Manion; the aging punk-rock frontman Willie Nile chanting the "na-na-na's" to "One Guitar" and turning in a decent cover of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane"; Jesse Malin, one of the gig's youngest headliners at 48, urging "global unity" -- and actually pumping up the crowd a bit -- before his tune "Modern World." 

The night's most intriguing moments came and went quickly. Between full-band sets, the folksy duo Porter & Sayles, of Stroudsburg, Pa., absolutely nailed their 10-minute offering, with playful lyrics, wonderfully crisp male-and-female harmonies, and showing no sign that this was the group's third performance of the day (the Paramount show was just one of dozens of events around Asbury Park this weekend). Another killer 10 minutes came after midnight, from Harrisburg soul-rocker Jeffrey Gaines. His cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" might have been the strongest three minutes of the whole night.  

lod-2017550.JPGPorter and Sayles at the 17th annual Light of Day Bob's Birthday Bash show at The Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, Jan. 14, 2017. (Mark Brown | For NJ.com)  

Overall, the show is upbeat, serviceable to its decidedly older crowd, and raises money for a good cause. It's likely not fair to pick at it so finely. 

All I'm saying is that 100 yards down the boardwalk at the pipsqueak surf bar Asbury Park Yacht Club, there was a lineup that featured terrific New Jersey-grown talent: the wild piano-rock of Will Wood and the Tapeworms, the indie-garage phenoms The Vaughns, the grooving adventurers Experiment 34 and more. Give some fresh blood a chance at the big stage and sustain this important event for decades to come. 

Jake Clemons tribute to Clarence "You're A Friend Of Mine" #jakeclemons #lod2017

A video posted by Gail Hoffman (@gail_hoffman) on

Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier. Find NJ.com on Facebook
.


N.J. pets in need: Jan. 16, 2017

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Dogs and cats in need of homes are waiting at shelters and fosters throughout the state.

There are many common misconceptions about pet adoption.

Petfinder, the for-profit internet company that operates the largest online pet adoption website serving all of North America, put this list together of common adoption myths in the hope that more people will adopt dogs and cats from shelters and rescues.

"I don't know what I'm getting."

There is likely more information available on adoptable animals than pets for purchase in pet stores. Many of the pets from rescue groups are in foster care, living with their fosterer 24/7; information on their personality and habits is typically vast. Even shelters have a very good idea about how the dogs and cats in their care behave with people and other animals.

"I can't find what I want at a shelter."

Not only are their breed-specific rescue groups, but some rescues and shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds. There are even means on Petfinder.com to be notified when certain breeds are posted for adoption.

"I can get a pet for free from a friend or acquaintance; why pay an adoption fee?"

The 'free pet' from a source other than a shelter or rescue group isn't necessarily free. Adoption fees usually cover a number of services and treatments including spay/neuter and veterinary checkups. Covering these costs on your own would call for spending the following estimated amounts:

* Spay/neuter: $150-$300

* Distemper vaccination: $20-$30, twice

* Rabies vaccination: $15-$25

* Heartworm test: $15-$35

* Flea/tick treatment: $50-$200

* Microchip: $25-$50

"Pets are in shelters because they don't make good pets."

Here are the main reasons animals end up in shelters or with rescue groups:

* Owners have to move, pets not allowed

* Allergies

* Owner having personal problems

* Too many, no room for littermates

* Owner can no longer afford a pet

* Owner's health does not allow for pet care

While no one can say that every pet adopted from a shelter or rescue will work out perfectly, it's important to remember that misinformation about these homeless animals often keeps them from finding loving homes.

Here's a gallery of pets in New Jersey in need of adoption. Enable captions to get all their information. More pets in need of homes can be seen here and here.

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

Family of Shore restaurant owner files suit over fatal bike crash

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Thomas J. Palermo Jr. was riding along South Long Beach Boulevard on Nov. 19 around 8:30 p.m. when the 66-year-old bicyclist fell into the exposed excavation trench

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP -- The wife of a Jersey Shore restaurant owner who died after his bicycle crashed into a roadside construction trench has filed suit against the company accused of leaving the hole uncovered.

Thomas J. Palermo Jr., 66, of the Holgate section of Long Beach Township, was riding along South Long Beach Boulevard around 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2015, when his bicycle crashed into the sewer excavation trench, according to the suit. 

mx0113courthouse SaponeMiddlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick.  

Palermo ran the Maine Course restaurant in Beach Haven with his wife Cheryl. The seafood spot has since closed.

The wrongful death suit was filed in Middlesex County Superior Court against P&A Construction. The company was hired by Long Beach Township to perform sewer replacement as part of a Superstorm Sandy recovery project in 2014, the suit states.

Baby humpback whale found dead on sandbar off LBI

It also names the engineer hired for the project and unnamed workers charged with safety control. 

P&A Construction, based in Woodbridge, is accused of leaving the 28-foot trench uncovered after finishing up work at 5 p.m. on that Monday, according to the suit.

The crash report from the Long Beach Township Police Department found that the shoulder size was insufficient and there was no signage to warn Palermo of the work zone, according to the suit. The report also said there was no barrier to prevent a car or pedestrian from going into the trench. 

Palermo died from his injuries in the accident that night. His wife filed the suit on Dec. 5 seeking damages, relief and attorney fees. 

The company did not respond for comment. 

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook 

37 percent of people in N.J. are among the working poor, study says

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About 1.2 million households in New Jersey are struggling to make ends meet and accrue any kind of meaningful savings

Charlene O'Brian doesn't want help.

The 38-year-old single mother of two has built her life on being a strong, independent woman. The Hardyston divorcee has a full-time job training educators, which she balances with raising her 7 and 10 year-old boys, the latter of which has special needs. In her spare time she runs and designs grueling obstacle courses, the kind that make even the biggest fitness buff think twice.

But O'Brian knows today she needs help. She just doesn't know where to turn to get it.

"It doesn't make me feel good. It's been a struggle," O'Brian said. "But it makes me want to make a difference."

People spend the most on housing in these towns

O'Brian's family is one of the estimated 1.2 million households in New Jersey struggling to make ends meet, according to a new study by United Way. She belongs to a group they dub ALICE (Asset-limited, income constrained, employed) -- a group of people the United Way says make too much money to qualify for federal poverty assistance, but are being crippled by the high cost of living in New Jersey.

"We estimate that for a family of four, the bare minimum to live, the basic survival budget is $64,176," said Stephanie Hoopes, the author of the study. "That's more than double the U.S. poverty level."

 

For O'Brian, that reality means she is forced to rely on friends and family for child care, which is too expensive full-time. It means that when her son broke his leg last year, it nearly completely wiped her out financially. It meant losing her house, the only one her children had ever known.

"I do try to be a strong person. I'm a very independent person. I know that I'm not the only one going through this," O'Brian said. "This isn't a path I wanted to go down. But I didn't have a choice ... You can't keep a family of three afloat based on my salary alone."

The United Way estimates that 37 percent of households fall into this expanded definition of poverty. In New Jersey, it's due to a combination of expenses -- housing costs, childcare, food, healthcare and other expenses -- that far exceed national averages.

Child care for two children, the United Way estimates, now costs more than $16,000 a year in New Jersey, more than any other category, including housing. Healthcare costs have jumped by 66 percent since 2007. And combined, the cost of simply making ends meet in New Jersey has increased at nearly twice the rate of inflation.

"Here you have people who want to work and are, in fact, working very hard and still struggling," said John Franklin, CEO of the United Way of Northern New Jersey, which commissioned the study. "And we're talking about the bare minimum needed to live. And you think if you have a family health crisis, there are so many repercussions to that."

Hoopes, a former faculty member at Rutgers, has been producing research on the ALICE population for five years. The cost-of-living measure is achieved using a compendium of local and national data to analyze how costs in each state differ, rather than using a national model like the Federal Poverty Level (See her methodology here).

New Jersey is not unique. Since beginning work on ALICE studies in New Jersey in 2012, the non-profit has expanded research to 15 states. Of the 38 million households studied, about 40 percent fell below the survival budget in their respective states.

Within the Garden State, rural areas in southern New Jersey are struggling more than others. In Cumberland County, more than half of households fall below the ALICE threshold. Atlantic, Salem and Cape May counties are not far behind.

The study also shows the impact that the great recession has had on New Jersey, and lays bare how slow the state has been to recover. While there are signs of recovery today in the Garden State, the household survival budget has increased by 23 percent since 2007, while job and wage growth has remained all but stagnant until recently. 

The United Way estimates that stability, a budget that includes space for meaningful savings, isn't reached in New Jersey until a family of four has a combined income of more than $118,000 -- nearly $50,000 more than the median household income in the state today.

"Given the mismatch between the cost of living and the preponderance of low-wage jobs, accumulating assets is difficult in New Jersey," Hoopes writes in the study. "Having minimal or no assets makes ALICE households more vulnerable to emergencies. It also can increase their overall costs when they have to use alternative financing with fees and high interest rates that make it difficult or impossible to save money or amass more assets."

For O'Brian, there has been some solace in learning she isn't alone. In 2015, she went to a United Way event where a woman shared her story of struggle. Sitting in the audience, she began to cry.

"The story she was telling was mine," she said. "And I just said 'wow, I'm not alone.' So if this is an opportunity for me to stand up and put a voice to this, I want to do that, because this is happening too frequently to too many people." 

Stephen Stirling may be reached at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @sstirling. Find him on Facebook.

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