New Jersey
New Jersey’s most paranoid apps — and the alerts that prove it
I will admit it. I have way too many notifications turned on.
It is an occupational hazard. As a talk show host and content provider for NJ 101.5, I need to stay on top of local news, national news, weather alerts for towns I visited three years ago — and yes, Ring and Nextdoor. Both of them. All notifications. All the time.
They wake me up in the middle of the night and I let them, because of FOMO. It is a terrible affliction and I am not proud of it.
Ring, Nextdoor and the anxiety they call features
But I am seriously considering turning them off. Because just about every alert that comes through turns out to be nothing. The guy in sunglasses and a Giants hoodie walking down the street. The strange car parked in front of someone’s house. The rotten egg smell nobody can identify. The contractors who showed up wanting to pave the driveway, fix the roof, and install new windows all in one visit.
And the granddaddy of them all: “Was that a gunshot, a car backfiring, or fireworks at 11pm?”
These apps do not give me peace of mind. They give me anxiety!
SEE ALSO: Financial anxiety is crushing NJ residents
Photo by Konstantin Shmatov on Unsplash
The top 10 alerts guaranteed to flood your New Jersey feed
“Was that gunshots or fireworks?” The undisputed champion. Loud bang at night, instant neighborhood panic. Thunderstorms, construction, a truck with a bad muffler — all submitted as possible gunfire. Never gets resolved.
Suspicious person walking down the street “White van driving slowly.” “Someone looking at houses.” In New Jersey this category also includes door-to-door solicitors offering to check your utility bill, inspect your roof, and repave your driveway simultaneously.
Pets, poop and the ongoing war Barking dogs. Lost cats. The eternal fury of the un-scooped lawn. Runs 365 days a year and generates more passion than most political debates.
Parking drama “Someone parked in front of my house.” Not blocking the driveway. Not illegally parked. Just in front of the house. In New Jersey this is a declaration of war.
Package theft and petty crime The actually useful one. Porch pirates, car break-ins, garage thefts with real Ring footage and real descriptions. About one in ten posts here is genuinely worth your attention.
“Did anyone else hear that?” Helicopters. Sirens. Internet going down for four minutes. All submitted as neighborhood emergencies requiring community response.
Teens being teenagers “A group of teenagers walking around.” “Kids on bikes after dark.” “Someone rang my doorbell and ran.” Almost always harmless. Always posted as suspicious.
Smells, trash and mystery odors The rotten egg smell. Construction dust. A neighbor burning something. In denser NJ towns this category gets surprisingly heated.
Door-to-door scams and solicitors Actually one of the more legitimate categories. Fake utility workers, solar salespeople, roofing crews appearing out of nowhere. Worth reading and worth sharing.
Overreaction posts about overreaction posts The meta-complaint. People posting about people who post too much. Duplicate alerts about the same non-event. The feed eating itself.
Photo by Hamish Duncan on Unsplash
I keep thinking about what we did before these apps. We just wondered. We heard a noise and went back to sleep. We did not know about the white van and we were fine.
I am turning off the notifications. Both apps. All of them.
And I am going back to sleep.
13 apps all NJ parents need to know about
Some of these social media apps are aimed at mature users. A false birthday on either end can link young users with potential predators, if adults are not paying attention.
Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt
New Jersey
Severe Weather Poised To Pound NJ Easter Sunday
The Garden State is expected to see a quick shift in weather Easter Sunday, with low clouds and pockets of dense fog in the morning giving way to warmer temperatures and thunderstorms by midday, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters note that areas north of a warm front were seeing low clouds and locally dense fog Sunday morning. That front is expected to lift north after daybreak, leading to temperatures in the 60s and 70s later in the morning. The warmer stretch is not expected to last long.
A cold front is forecast to approach by midday, bringing a line of showers and isolated thunderstorms
The National Weather Service said some storms could be strong to severe. A Marginal risk was in place Sunday across the Delmarva region and southern New Jersey.

According to the weather service, the primary threat with the stronger storms is locally damaging winds. The forecast does not list other threats in the source material provided. Residents in areas included in the Marginal risk may want to keep an eye on changing conditions through the middle of the day as the front moves in.
The setup points to a fast-changing day for people making outdoor plans. Morning fog and low cloud cover are expected to improve after daybreak as the warm front lifts north, but the window for milder weather may be brief before the next system arrives. By midday, showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop along the approaching cold front.
The National Weather Service did not provide a more specific timetable in the source beyond saying the cold front would approach by midday and that the warm front would lift north after daybreak. It also did not identify individual towns expected to see the strongest conditions.
The forecast area highlighted for the stronger storm risk includes southern New Jersey and Delmarva.
New Jersey
Plainfield apartment complex now leasing near NJ Transit station
Choose MyCentralJersey for breaking news in Central Jersey
MyCentralJersey is your source for breaking news
PLAINFIELD – A new residential development is bringing luxury living and modern convenience to a well-connected neighborhood.
Centurion Sleepy Hollow, a 100-unit apartment complex, is now leasing in the city, offering spacious one- and two-bedroom homes with upscale amenities and immediate occupancy.
Developed by Landmark, the four-story building includes ground-floor retail and is part of the company’s expanding Centurion portfolio across New Jersey.
“Sleepy Hollow is an ideal location for our next Centurion property,” Manny Fernandez, founder of Landmark, said in a news release.
“The neighborhood offers a quiet, residential setting while remaining close to Plainfield, which continues to evolve, with a growing mix of shops, restaurants and cultural offerings. With New York City less than an hour away by train and major business and entertainment centers throughout Central New Jersey nearby, Centurion Sleepy Hollow adds a dynamic new residential option to the area.”
Located at 1222 South Ave., the development is within walking distance of the NJ Transit Netherwood station, providing direct service to Midtown Manhattan via the Raritan Valley Line.
Designed by Rotwein + Blake, with interiors by Mary Cook Associates, Centurion Sleepy Hollow reflects Landmark’s focus on transit-oriented living.
Rents start in the low $2,000s, with a limited-time grand opening offer of one month free on a 13-month lease.
The apartments feature high-end finishes, including nine-foot ceilings, wood-style plank flooring, Draper window shades and open-concept kitchens. Kitchens are equipped with full-size GE Slate appliances, gas ranges, soft-close cabinetry and vented microwaves. Bathrooms feature spa-inspired glass-enclosed showers and polished chrome fixtures.
Each unit includes smart-home technology and keyless entry.
The development offers a range of amenities designed for comfort, wellness and productivity, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga studio, media room, work-from-home pods and a resident lounge.
Outdoor amenities include a terrace with grilling stations and a fenced-in dog run. Additional conveniences include a premium package management system and on-site parking.
The surrounding area features a growing mix of dining, retail and everyday services, with locally owned restaurants, seasonal farmers markets and outdoor concerts.
Email: bwadlow@MyCentralJersey.com
This story was created by reporter Brad Wadlow, bwadlow@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
New Jersey
Fire guts multi-family Jersey Shore home
SEASIDE HEIGHTS, New Jersey (WABC) — A fire gutted a multi-family home at the Jersey Shore.
The flames erupted Saturday around 3 a.m. at a home on Sheridan Avenue in Seaside Heights.
Three families, with a total of nine people were living there. The Red Cross is now assisting them.
There is no word on how the fire may have started.
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