After a diner found -- and filmed -- a worm in her cod at Stella Marina in Asbury Park, I put my gastronomical fortitude to the test.

The cats were rescued from conditions that "no human being or animal should be subject to living in," officials said.

A squatter was arrested and charged with numerous counts of animal cruelty after authorities discovered at least 50 cats -- including two that were dead -- in "unbelievably deplorable" conditions at a home in western Monmouth County, officials said. 

Officials with the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty charged Ivan Sevastianow, 61, after police made the grisly discovery Tuesday afternoon at a residence on East 3rd Street in Howell. 

Nearly 24 hours later, officials with the SPCA and the Humane Society of Tinton Falls continued to pull cats from every nook and cranny of the house. 

"The stench is just unbelievable," said Ross Licitra, chief of the Monmouth County SPCA. "The floor is covered in inches thick of feces, grime and debris. No human being or animal should be subject to living in it." 

Licitra said some of the cats are in good shape, while others have to be medically evaluated. None of them, however, had the proper vaccinations, Licitra said.

The Howell Police Department initially responded to the house because of a report of a gas leak. 

Licitra said officers then notified the SPCA after they found cats living in "absolutely deplorable, foul conditions." 

Most of the cats will be taken to the Monmouth County SPCA headquarters in Eatontown. Some of the cats will also be taken to the Humane Society. 

Licitra said donations, whether it's monetary or supplies, are greatly appreciated. More information can be found on the SPCA website. Donations can also be made to the Humane Society of Tinton Falls.  

According to municipal court records, Sevastianow has numerous prior charges out of Howell Township, including a cruelty to animal charge in 2017.

In June 2016, Howell was home to one of the worst hoarding cases Licitra had ever seen. More than 270 dogs were found in a home on Bennett Road, which is about 5 miles north of East 3rd Street. The homeowners in that case pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and paid $25,000 in fines and penalties. 

"This is another one of those hoarding situations, you go there and say, 'Holy cow,'" Licitra said. "You never get used to it."

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

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Buddy Valastro and his famous family crew are exploring the option of a new type of eatery in New Jersey.

In the span of five months, a famous bakery chain has put the piping bags away at two New Jersey stores for the last time.

In April, Carlo's Bake Shop, featured on the TLC show "Cake Boss," shut down its Westfield location. The company closed its Red Bank location Tuesday night, after five years of business.

But fear not, cake lovers and "Cake Boss" fans -- the iconic bakery has plans for another store in New Jersey.

The lease of the Red Bank location ended, and the company chose not to renew it as owner and TV star Buddy Valastro works to bring different types of retail locations to the Garden State, company spokeswoman Nicole Valdes said.

Valastro, she said, is looking into creating a dining and bakery experience for guests and fans. "It was determined the space could not host the new concept," she said.

Valastro, a Hoboken native, hopes to expand the model, which has been introduced in Texas, to New Jersey.

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On Wednesday morning, customers of the bakery were greeted with a red sign at the door announcing the Broad Street shop had closed, directing them to locations in Marlton and Philadelphia. The store opened in November 2013. 

"We really enjoyed our time in Red Bank and are so grateful for the community's warm welcome and support throughout the years," Valdes said.

The Westfield location closed in April, according to the spokeswoman. The reason for that closure was not clear.

Valastro and his chain of family-run bakeries rose to fame in 2009, when the original Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken became the scene for TLC's "Cake Boss," which features elaborate custom cakes and family drama.

There are five remaining Carlo's Bake Shop locations in New Jersey, including the original store in Hoboken, and eateries in Marlton, Morristown, Ridgewood and Willowbrook. The company has stores across the country, including at Times Square in New York and in Las Vegas. 

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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The two cars collided on Belmar Boulevard and Adrienne Road in Wall Township.

The driver of a vehicle was killed Wednesday afternoon after it collided with a Monmouth County Sheriff's Office truck, police said. 

The crash occurred just before 2 p.m. at the intersection of Belmar Boulevard and Adrienne Road in Wall Township, said Trooper Alejandro Goez, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police. 

The truck, used for special operations, was traveling on Belmar Boulevard when it collided with a vehicle that was coming from a side street, according to a statement released on the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page.

The driver, whose identity is being withheld, was pronounced dead.

The truck was occupied by two officers who were not injured. 

"Our thoughts and prayers go out the driver of the vehicle," the statement from the Sheriff's Office said.

The investigation is being handled by the New Jersey State Police.

Goez said additional details on the incident will likely be released Thursday morning. 

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

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Smith said online-based threats "went up like a rocket" after the 2016 election

A Plainfield man was arrested Saturday on a felony charge accusing him of making threats on social media targeting U.S. Rep. Chris Smith. 

Dereal Finklin, 43, is charged with making terroristic threats and is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute in Freehold. 

He is scheduled to have a detention hearing next week.

Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Chris Swendeman said the threat against Smith, R-4th Dist., was made online. 

Swendeman said he could not discuss the nature of the threat. 

In a phone interview on Wednesday following a meeting in Ocean County, Smith said the threat was spotted by a retired police officer, who then notified the congressman's office. 

"I am glad the prosecutor's office is involved," he said. "It won't change what I am doing."

Smith said this is not the first time he and his office have had to deal with such an incident, which he described as "unbridled hate."

The congressman said he feels like he deals with online attacks "24/7."

"I've never seen it like it's been the last two years, even before the election, and it went up like a rocket after (the 2016 election)," Smith said.

Smith has represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district since 1981 and only two other current representatives have longer terms. He currently chairs the Veteran's Affairs Committee in the House. 

The district covers parts of Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties, and Smith has local offices in Freehold, Plumsted and Hamilton. 

- NJ Advance Media reporter Kevin Shea contributed to this report. 

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

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Authorities say a 3-year-old New Jersey boy died the morning after he was found unconscious in his home's swimming pool.

Authorities say a 3-year-old New Jersey boy died the morning after he was found unconscious in his home's swimming pool.

The Howell Township police department says officers and emergency medical personnel were called to the home shortly before 5:30 p.m. Sunday and found 3-year-old Lucas Hynes unresponsive.

First responders began resuscitation efforts that resulted in the child regaining his pulse, and he was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Police said he and other children were swimming while supervised, and the group went to the yard and later inside, but the child's mother realized Lucas wasn't present. She found him floating in the pool, got him out and began CPR.

Police and Monmouth County prosecutors called the case a tragic accident.

The goal is to make mental health care as important and available as other medical treatment.

Carrier Clinic, a renowned, century-old psychiatric facility in Somerset County, will merge with Hackensack Meridian Health, the largest hospital chain and healthcare provider in New Jersey, in a partnership that will produce a new addiction treatment facility next year, hospital officials announced Wednesday. 

Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett said even more investments are to come that would require more deliberation before the two entities decide how much money would be spent and which services would be expanded.

"We are writing a new chapter for the treatment of behavioral health and substance abuse disorders as we integrate Carrier's proven services into our network's robust behavioral health care,'' Garrett said.

"We must continue to truly integrate behavioral health into health care and expand treatment options as our state battles an opioid epidemic that has claimed too many lives and devastated so many families.''

An NJ Advance Media analysis of state data shows that 1,669 people in New Jersey have died of drug overdoses in 2018 -- an average of more than eight a day.

The goal is to make mental health care as important and available as other medical treatment, said Carrier's President and CEO Donald Parker said. A separate board of trustees will be formed to chart the institutions' future plans, he said.  

N.J. largest hospital chain's next acquisition target is psychiatric center

"The future of behavioral health is the ability to integrate it with physical health," Parker said.

"We also believe research is our future, and there hasn't been enough attention to research in psychiatry," Parker added.

Partnering with "a world-class provider" like Hackensack Meridian and the new Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, allows Carrier "to get involved in education, new delivery systems and research -- all of which are in great need."

Long a mental health provider solely in the private market, Carrier will begin accepting Medicaid clients in October under a change in the federal program's rules, Parker said. About 30 inpatient beds will be added, he said. 

The move bolsters the $5 billion Hackensack Meridian's presence in the state, which includes 12 acute-care hospitals and a wide network of outpatient care facilities from the New York border to the Jersey shore. 

Fitch Ratings in April noted the company's "consistently solid financial profile and strong presence in a large and demographically favorable market," following the acquisition of JFK Medical Center in Edison.

Fitch analyst Eva Thein said the Carrier merger is another step in the hospital system's "path to become as relevant to their market as possible," by providing "the entire scale of health services."

Located in the Belle Mead section of Montgomery, Carrier employs about 1,000 people at its 281-bed capacity hospital; the Blake Recovery Center, a licensed 40-bed inpatient and outpatient detox and recovery facility; East Mountain Youth Lodge, which can house up to 91 residents ages 13-18; and East Mountain School, a fully-accredited school for 120 middle-school and high-school students.

Teaming up with Carrier bolsters Hackensack Meridian's portfolio of mental health services, which included the addition in July of 37 inpatient beds to the 150 beds it already supported, and two new psychiatry residency programs in July, Garrett said.

Carrier and Hackensack Meridian announced five months ago they were exploring a merger.

The deal must meet with the approval from the New Jersey Departments of Health and Education and the Attorney General's approval before it is final.

Robert William Brower is charged with multiple counts of theft and one count of money laundering.

Authorities arrested and charged an Ocean County man this week after an 18-month investigation into suspected fraud involving Superstorm Sandy.

Robert William Brower Jr., a 45-year-old Seaside Heights resident, was charged with money laundering and second-degree theft, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said in a statement. 

Robert William Brower Jr. 

The theft charges include both theft by failure to make required disposition and theft by deception.

Authorities allege Brower defrauded a homeowner out of $1 million which he received after taking on a contract to renovate a storm-damaged home in Toms River.

While investigating that case, prosecutors learned of another. Brower, Coronato alleged, applied for and received more than $200,000 in public disaster relief funds.

"He deposited [the funds] into various bank accounts rather than rehabilitating the property as required," the prosecutor's statement said. The bank accounts were opened with fraudulent information, he added.

"This case highlights the flagrant extent of the 'Super Storm Sandy' fraud," Coronato said. "Over five years later people's lives are still being devastated, and unscrupulous individuals are still seeking to profit off of the misfortune of others."

"This historic storm brought out the best in many who joined efforts to assist those hardest hit, but sadly it also brought out callous predators who took advantage of victims and relief programs," state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in the statement. He said the state Sandy Fraud Task Force has criminally charged more than 220 defendants.

County sheriff's officers and U.S. Marshals located Brower on Monday at a home on Waters Edge Drive in Toms River. Brower is in the Ocean County Jail before a detention hearing.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Brian Farmer, 61, of Long Branch, was charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his cousin, Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10-year-old foster daughter Veronica Roach.

A Long Branch man awaiting trial in the murder of his cousin and her foster daughter has died, authorities confirmed.

Brian Farmer, 61, of Long Branch, died on July 14 at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township, Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Spokesman Chris Swendeman said Wednesday night.

Farmer was being held in the Monmouth County Jail and had been taken to the hospital for treatment, Swendeman said.

Swendeman said Farmer's death was "not suspicious" but said he did not have information on how the man died.

Farmer was arrested in 2014 and charged with two counts of murder and four counts of child endangerment related to the deaths of his cousin, Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10-year-old foster daughter Veronica Roach.

The bodies of Colbert and Roach were found on Aug. 1, 2014, in their Lippincott Avenue apartment, and investigators determined they were killed two days earlier, officials have said.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni had said that while Farmer was at his cousin's home on July 30, 2014, she discovered him taking pornographic photos of the girl.

After Colbert confronted him, Farmer strangled Colbert and the girl, and then ran from the scene, Gramiccioni has said.

Detectives found pornographic pictures of the girl on Farmer's cell phone, which led to the child endangerment charges, officials have said.

Farmer was also under community supervision for life as a sex offender.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Rooms for rent from New Jersey's past.

A report by the Combined Heat and Power Partnership (CHP) of the Environmental Protection Agency shows that in 2015 there were a total of 101,668 rooms available to book in New Jersey.

From bed and breakfasts to centuries old historic houses to the classic motel signs and designs of the Jersey Shore, travelers have always had a tremendous choice of places to stay in New Jersey.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Here's a gallery of vintage hotels and motels, as well as links to other galleries you might enjoy.

Vintage photos of N.J. hotels, motels and inns

Vintage photos of mansions and estates in N.J.

Vintage photos of estates and mansions in N.J.

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

The beach is great. Don't be that person that ruins it!

How did those shells get those holes in them? And what's a mermaid's purse? A guide to almost every shell you'll find at the Jersey Shore.

Here's what you can do to save that furry friend trapped in a hot car.

According to its Trulia listing, the taxes on the property are $21,128.58.

In this week's "Sold!" property, we feature a home in Manalapan with 4,915 square feet of living space.

The house sold for $1,100,000 in October. According to its Trulia listing, the taxes on the property are $21,128.58.

The home features five bedrooms and five bathrooms. The house was assessed at $1,041,200.

The median sale price for homes in the area is $440,000.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Antonio Ramos, 56, of Neptune City, was killed in the crash.

A man who was killed in a car crash with a Monmouth County Sheriff's Office's truck Wednesday afternoon blew through a stop sign before he was hit by the truck in Wall Township, police said. 

Antonio Ramos, 56, of Neptune City, was driving a 2015 Nissan Altima southbound on Adrienne Road when he failed to stop at the intersection with Belmar Boulevard just before 2 p.m., the New Jersey State Police said in a statement. 

The Altima was hit on the left side by a Monmouth County Sheriff's Office 2010 Spartan truck heading westbound on Belmar Boulevard, police said. 

Ramos was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he was pronounced dead at 2:52 p.m. 

The two officers in the truck did not receive any injuries. 

No additional information was available. 

The crash remains under investigation by the State Police. 

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

Brian Farmer, 61, was taken from his jail cell to a nearby hospital on July 14 where he died, authorities said.

A twice-convicted rapist awaiting trial for the killing of his cousin and her foster daughter died in July from cancer, officials said Thursday.

Brian Farmer, 61, of Long Branch, was charged with murder and child endangerment related to the deaths of Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10-year-old child Veronica Roach.

The bodies of Colbert and Roach were found Aug. 1, 2014, in their Lippincott Avenue apartment in Long Branch. Authorities said Farmer strangled his cousin and the girl on July 30, 2014, after Colbert found him taking pornographic photos of the girl.

He was arrested on Aug. 13, 2014.

Farmer was taken to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold on July 14 where he died from cancer, according to a spokeswoman for the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, which oversees the Monmouth County Correctional Institute. Information on what type of cancer killed him was not available as of Thursday evening.   

Farmer's case was held up because of appeals regarding the evidence.  

Detectives, authorities said, found pornographic pictures of the girl after they searched Farmer's cell phone.

But, in January, a three-judge appellate court ruling agreed with the trial court's ruling that Farmer did not fully consent to a search of his phone and that the photos shouldn't be admissible in court.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office made an appeal to the state Supreme Court to overturn the lower court's ruling.

Farmer was convicted of rape in 1984 and sentenced to five years in prison. Almost 10 years later, Farmer was accused of taking his girlfriend and her 15-year-old daughter hostage and sexually assaulting the teen. He was convicted of rape again and sentenced in 1996 to 25 years in prison but was released in October 2009, according to Department of Corrections records. 

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

It was a beautiful day for hanging on Belmar's beach or strolling along the mile-long boardwalk.

Michelle Alvarez, 25, and her two sons, 4-year-old Jadrian, and 2-year-old Josiah stood at the edge of the Belmar shoreline as the ocean surf rushed around their feet.

Alvarez and her children head to the beach from their Hamilton home about twice a week during the summer months. She prefers this Jersey Shore location over Seaside Heights.

"Belmar is more family oriented and a little closer to home," Alverez said.

According to Mike Dahrouge, a Belmar lifeguard for 12 years, Belmar has been getting busier every summer.

On this near-perfect summer day, the water temperature was 72 degrees, great for cooling off.

"Today is absolutely gorgeous, and the water is very clean," Dahrouge said.

Belmar's beaches and boardwalk, located on Ocean Avenue from 1st to 20th avenues, are open year-round. The boardwalk and town offer residents and visitors many diverse attractions, restaurants and shops.
 
During the summer people can sunbathe on the sandy white beach or stroll along the mile-long boardwalk.

Beachgoers can also swim, fish, surf, boogie board and kayak along the stretch of beach.  

The town also offers an active arts scene, sporting events, festivals and a variety of family-oriented activities year.

Annual events include the New Jersey Sand Castle Contest, New Jersey Seafood Festival, Belmar Pro Surf Contest, and Belmar Fall Festival.

Beach badges are required from 9:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. Fees are: daily, $8; seasonal adult, $55; senior citizen (62 plus), $15; persons 15 years of age or younger are free; active members of the military and their families through "Operation: Thank You" are free.

Patti Sapone can be reached at psapone@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Instagram @psapo,  Twitter @psapone.  Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The arrests and seizures of marijuana, cocaine and heroin occurred July 27, the State Police said.

Eight people were arrested this week on suspicion that they ran a cocaine and heroin trafficking ring, mostly in Middlesex and Monmouth counties, the New Jersey State Police said.

Last Friday, detectives involved in "Operation Punch Out" arrested the eight people and seized more than 700 grams of cocaine, 350 grams of heroin, more than 10 pounds of marijuana, $65,610 in cash and a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox, the State Police announced.

The arrests were made and warrants were executed in Old Bridge, Long Branch City and Edison Township. Detectives began working on the case in December 2017. Police in Perth Amboy, Elizabeth, Wall Township and Old Bridge worked on the investigation, along with the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the DEA in Newark.

"The accused were well-organized, operating a sophisticated trafficking network that profited by peddling deadly and highly addictive narcotics like heroin and cocaine," said Col. Patrick Callahan, head of the State Police.

Tyson Abel, 42, of Edison and Jose Concepcion Jr., 39, of Long Branch, face the most serious charges. They are accused of heading the drug ring.

Abel was charged with:

• Cocaine distribution
• Heroin distribution
• Possession of both
• Conspiracy to distribute both

Concepcion Jr. was charged with:

• Cocaine distribution
• Money laundering
• Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
• Marijuana distribution.

Also charged were: 

Anthony Velasquez, 24, of Long Branch:

• Cocaine distribution
• Heroin distribution
• Possession of cocaine and heroin
• Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin

Alejandro Burgos, 38, of Asbury Park:

• Money laundering
• Distribution of marijuana
• Conspiracy to distribute marijuana

Jose Concepcion III, 22, of Old Bridge:

• Money laundering
• Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

Saleem Kelly, 21, of Old Bridge:

• Money laundering
• Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

Khalid Thomas, 36, of Old Bridge:

• Money laundering
• Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

Davon Cody, 28, of Brick:

• Distribution of cocaine
• Distribution of heroin
• Possession of cocaine/heroin

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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The boats overturned near the Shark River Municipal Marina in Neptune City around 1:30 p.m., according a social media post by the Neptune Office of Emergency Management's water rescue team.

At least three boaters were rescued Friday after three sailboats capsized in the Shark River.

The boats overturned near the Shark River Municipal Marina in Neptune City around 1:30 p.m., according a social media post by the Neptune Office of Emergency Management's water rescue team.

The team was dispatched to the scene and by the time they got there, everyone on the boats had already been taken safely to shore by staff from the Belmar Marina, the post said.

None of the boaters were injured, officials said.

The marina staff members also helped the water rescue team flip the boats back over and tow them to shore.

The post did not say how the boats capsized.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Aaron D. Davis, 36, of Long Branch, is wanted in connection with the abandonment of the dog now named River, who was left in a cage on the water side of a rock bulkhead.

A warrant was issued Friday for a man suspected of leaving a caged pit bull to die in the rising tide at a bayfront park in Highlands.

Aaron D. Davis, 36, of Long Branch, is wanted in connection with the abandonment of the dog now named River, who was left in a cage on the water side of a rock bulkhead before being rescued Tuesday morning by a woman who was walking her dog, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

When asked why the prosecutor's office had issued a warrant for Davis, a spokesman said he could not "discuss any further details at this time as the investigation is continuing."

A pit bull was rescued from rising tide waters Monday morning by a dog walker in Highlands. (Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office) 

A Highlands resident was walking her dog in Veterans Memorial Park at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday when their canine noticed the caged animal on the water side of the rock bulkhead, according to a Facebook post from the prosecutor's office.

Jennifer Vaz saw the black wire cage half-submerged along the bank of the bay and quickly called the Monmouth County SPCA. An animal control officer arrived and helped Vaz remove River.

Vaz told WABC-7 she plans to adopt River, who is estimated to be 10 months old.

Anyone who has any information on the whereabouts of Davis or that may have witnessed anything was asked to call the Monmouth County SPCA Animal Cruelty Hot Line 877-898-7297 or the Highlands Police Department at 732-872-1158.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christoper Gramiccioni has said the person responsible for leaving River could faces three to five years in prison if it can be proven that the person acted intentionally.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.