New Jersey

Burlington County breaks ground on its first emergency shelter

Published

12 months ago

October 30, 2024

Burlington County breaks ground on its first emergency shelter

The county previously launched its “Housing Hub” in 2019 to assist residents who have emergency housing needs or are experiencing homelessness. More than 2,800 people were served by the hub in 2023. Currently, a network of agencies and providers collaborate to get people experiencing homelessness or a housing emergency temporary shelter, according to Pastor Darlene Trappier, founder and executive director of Mt. Holly-based Beacon of Hope.

“We do have contracts where we’re able to put them in motel placements,” she said. “We’re able to provide the motel placements throughout the year until cold blue season starts.”

Trappier herself experienced homelessness when she was living in Los Angeles as a 19-year-old with a 5-month-old baby. Her mother took her public assistance check and gave her a half-hour to leave the house.

“I had a choice, I either could go to the park with him … or I go down to Skid Row,” she said.

She chose to go to the park, but said she appealed to God to take her out of her situation and “put me in a position where I can help others not feel what I can feel.”

For Trappier, the new county-run shelter is “a haven of hope” that she likens to one-stop shopping because of its proximity to the county’s Human Services building, which is across the parking lot from the site of the shelter.

“They can go there to get the services that they need, and come back over here,” she added. “It’s all encompassed together to meet not just a part of one person’s needs.”

The shelter is expected to be complete in approximately 16 to 20 months. It will cost more than $18 million. Nearly $6.5 million in federal and state grants will pay for the building.

Some residents have opposed the shelter, saying it will worsen homelessness. Hopson said that the shelter will help people and give them easy access to services that will help them.

“The reality is most homeless people are the ones at risk, not our residents,” she said. “It is my hope that they will find it in their hearts to understand why this is such a need and why we’ve selected this location.”

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Related Topics:burlington county Featured homelessness in greater philadelphia shelter

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New Jersey

New Jersey Super 25 rankings as HS football regular season hits the homestretch

Published

10 minutes ago

October 21, 2025

Press Room

New Jersey Super 25 rankings as HS football regular season hits the homestretch

After another dramatic week of high school football across the Garden State, two teams rejoined the latest New Jersey Super 25 rankings.

Despite a 3-5 record, Paramus Catholic returned by knocking off then-No. 9 Red Bank Catholic, and Brick Memorial returned by taking down previously-undefeated Southern.

In the best game of the week, No. 8 Washington Township stayed undefeated with a wild comeback over No. 25 Kingsway.

The upcoming week is the final week for public schools and the penultimate week for non-publics. There are four games between ranked teams, all in the northern half of the state.

Every week, voters from across USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey rank the top teams in the state. The rankings are posted every Tuesday morning.

25. Kingsway (6-2)

Public ranking: 16

The Dragons squandered a 12-point lead with fewer than seven minutes to play in a 39-36 loss at Washington Township. Kingsway’s two losses to Camden and Washington Township are by a combined eight points and were games in which the team held fourth-quarter leads. Cole DeNick scored three touchdowns and has 19 total TDs for the season.

Next game: Oct. 24 vs. Williamstown (3-5)

24. Camden (6-2)

Public ranking: 15

The Panthers produced their second road win in the span of five days thanks to a 48-14 win at Lenape. The 48 points scored are a season-best for Camden The QB combo of senior Ahmad Jones and freshman Gregory Wyche Jr. combined to complete 24 of 29 pass attempts for 369 yards and five touchdowns.

Next game: TBD in Group 2 playoffs

23. Holmdel (5-2)

Public ranking: 14

Junior Michael Todisco ran for 132 yards and a touchdown on offense, and intercepted a pass and was in on six tackles on defense, as the Hornets defeated Raritan, 35-0. Junior Matt Scheinman ran for two touchdowns, and was in on 10 tackles. Senior quarterback Jack Cannon threw for 132 yards and two TDs.

Next game: Oct. 24 vs. Middletown North (3-3)

22. Brick Memorial (6-2)

Public ranking: 13

Senior quarterback Jason Lajara completed 19 of 24 passes for 330 yards, and ran for 71 yards and a TD, as the Mustangs beat then-No. 18 Southern, 19-14, to hand the Rams their first loss. Junior tight end Joe Livio caught eight passes for 155 yards, and Ricky Dillion caught a touchdown pass.

Next week: Oct. 24 vs. Jackson Township (2-6)

21. Red Bank Catholic (7-1)

Non-public ranking: 9

The Caseys sustained their first loss of the season, a 30-16 defeat to Paramus Catholic. Freshman Simon Picnich booted field goals of 22, 31 and 40 yards, freshman Rahmir Rivera threw a 19-yard TD pass to sophomore Jason Berecsky, and freshman Gabe Kemp ran for 132 yards on 26 carries.

Next game: Oct. 24 vs. Marlboro (2-6)

20. Paramus Catholic (3-5)

Non-public ranking: 8

The Paladins showed the might of North Jersey’s Big Six by knocking off then-No. 9 Red Bank Catholic, 30-16. Sophomore Rowan Martin threw TD passes of 40 yards to senior Aiden Acevedo and 15 yards to senior Julian Franco. Sophomore AJ Lopez scored the first TD in the first quarter on a 63-yard interception return.

Next game: Oct. 24 at Don Bosco (7-0)

19. Phillipsburg (6-1)

Public ranking: 12

Sam Dech ran for 156 yards and four touchdowns as the Stateliners rebounded from their first loss with a 42-0 win over Union. Phillipsburg complied 20 first downs and 401 total yards as Vincent Berger and Thomas LaBella ran for touchdowns.

Next game: Oct. 24 vs. Bridgewater-Raritan (6-2)

18. Northern Highlands (6-1)

Public ranking: 11

The Highlanders registered their first shutout of the season, 21-0 at Ridgewood. Junior Carter Blattner made nine tackles. Senior Chase Calarco rushed for 136 yards, with a 73-yard score, and threw a touchdown pass and made seven tackles. Senior Jack O’Callaghan threw for 113 yards and a touchdown.

Next game: Oct. 24 vs. Ramapo (6-1)

17. Atlantic City (7-1)

Public ranking: 10

Despite being held to a season low in points, the Vikings mustered enough offense to extend their winning streak to five with a 13-0 win at Hammonton. Kyree Barksdale and Ahmad Chambers rushed for touchdowns in the first and third quarters, respectively. AC’s defense posted its second shutout of the season.

Next game: TBD in Group 5 playoffs

16. Cedar Creek (7-1)

Public ranking: 9

The Pirates ran their winning streak to seven with a 49-14 win at Timber Creek on Friday. The 49 points were a season-high and marked the sixth time the team topped 40 points in a game. Aamir Dunbar rushed 10 times for 142 yards and three touchdowns to power the offense.

Next game: Oct. 24 at Ocean City (4-4)

15. Mount Olive (7-0)

Public ranking: 8

Brayden Longo rushed 18 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns in the Marauders’ 31-17 win over Wayne Valley. Longo also had an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown to give Mount Olive a 21-14 halftime lead.

Next game: Oct. 24 at West Morris (8-0)

14. Burlington Township (8-0)

Public ranking: 7

The Falcons remained unbeaten with a 27-14 home win over Northern Burlington. Senior Aiden Binns rushed for a pair of touchdowns, raising his season total to 16. Burlington Township is 8-0 to start a season for the first time since 2018, when it won its first 10 games.

Next game: Oct. 23 at Cinnaminson (4-4)

13. West Morris (8-0)

Public ranking: 6

Mike Finlay rushed 10 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-3 win over Roxbury. The Wolfpack scored the final 34 points of the game, rushing for 279 yards and five touchdowns as a team to eclipse 2,400 rushing yards as a team this season.

Next game: Oct. 24 vs. Mount Olive (7-0)

12. St. Joseph (Metuchen) (7-0)

Non-public ranking: 7

The Falcons continued their redemption tour by topping St. Thomas Aquinas, 41-19. It’s the second straight week St. Joseph avenged a loss from last season. Justin Scaramuzzo threw for 231 yards and five touchdowns, and Reggie Bropleh Jr. had 105 receiving yards and three scores.

Next game: Oct 25 vs. Woodbridge (7-1)

11. St. Augustine (6-1)

Non-public ranking: 6

After spotting Rancocas Valley a 14-point lead in the first quarter, the Hermits stormed back with 28 unanswered points, including 21 in the second half, en route to a 28-14 home win. Roman Comey was a workhorse, carrying 32 times for 135 yards and three touchdowns to pace the offense.

Next game: Oct. 24 at Millville (3-4)

10. Ramapo (6-1)

Public ranking: 5

The Green Raiders broke 40 points for the fourth consecutive week with a 42-7 home win over Hackensack. Senior Casey Grusser threw for 199 yards, with a 53-yard TD pass to senior Michael Ballan and 26-yard score to senior Joseph Yessis. Seniors Liam Hayward and Gino Gorga each ran for two scores.

Next game: Oct. 24 at Northern Highlands (6-1)

9. Glassboro (8-0)

Public ranking: 4

The Bulldogs extended their state-best winning streak to 21 with a 35-7 win over Schalick. Jack O’Connell threw for three touchdowns, raising his season total to 26, one shy of the school record set by Sakeen Wright in 1999 and equaled in 2000.

Next game: Oct. 24 at Woodstown (2-6)

8. Washington Township (8-0)

Public ranking: 3

The Minutemen overcame a 12-point deficit in the final seven minutes to capture a wild 39-36 win over Kingsway. Washington Township is off to a 8-0 start for the first time in 24 years. Senior quarterback Cole Aquino threw for 250 yards and two scores, including the decisive touchdown to Jyair Moore, who turned a screen pass into a go-ahead, 51-yard scoring play.

Next game: Oct. 24 vs. Timber Creek (2-6)

7. Old Tappan (7-0)

Public ranking: 2

The Golden Knights rolled up 587 total yards in a 47-28 home win over Wayne Hills. Junior Zach Miceli threw for 325 yards, including first-quarter TD passes of 41 yards to junior Leo Etter and 22 yards to junior Shane Small. Senior Devyn Radoian returned from injury and carried 30 times for 165 yards and four TDs.

Next game: Oct. 24 vs. Pascack Valley (4-3)

6. St. Peter’s Prep (6-1)

Non-public ranking: 5

The Marauders fell from the unbeaten ranks with a 31-21 home loss to DePaul. Senior Tyler Bell threw for 255 yards and three TDs, and senior Hunter Watson caught six passes for 112 yards and a score. Junior Chris Horn caught nine passes for 85 yards.

Next game: Oct. 25 at Pope John (1-6)

5. St. Joseph (Montvale) (5-2)

Non-public ranking: 4

The Green Knights earned a win via a forfeit by Pope John, and, remarkably, it’s their second forfeit win of the season. In five games of action, senior Mason Geis has thrown for 552 yards and two TDs. Senior Kyshawn Bryant has rushed for 222 yards and five scores. Sophomore Tahj Gray has a team-leading 51 tackles.

Next game: Oct. 25 at Bergen Catholic (6-1)

4. DePaul (5-2)

Non-public ranking: 3

The Spartans’ running game paved the way for a 31-21 victory at then-No. 3 St. Peter’s Prep. Senior Marquan Carter rushed for 158 yards and TD, and senior Derek Zammit ran for 47 yards and a score. Sophomore Ryan Sayles kicked a 27-yard field goal and four extra points. Senior Jaxon Bastante recovered a fumble and scored.

Next game: Oct. 25 at Delbarton (3-4)

3. Winslow (6-2)

Public ranking: 1

The Eagles soared to their fifth straight win with a 41-6 triumph over visiting Mainland. Junior quarterback Jalen Parker threw for five touchdowns, raising his career total to 87, the second highest total in South Jersey history behind Timber Creek’s Devin Leary (105, 2017) and fourth in state history.

Next game: Oct. 24 at Cherokee (3-5)

2. Bergen Catholic (6-1)

Non-public ranking: 2

The Crusaders broke 40 points for the third time this season with a 42-7 home win over Delbarton. Sophomore Trey Tagliaferri threw for 332 yards and four TDs, including two scores to junior Austin Busso. Senior Najee Calhoun rushed for 47 yards and two TDs, and senior Jordan Thomas had two of the team’s three interceptions.

Next game: Oct. 25 vs. St. Joseph (Montvale) (5-2)

1. Don Bosco (7-0)

Non-public ranking: 1

The Ironmen own the top spot for the fourth consecutive week thanks to a 40-7 victory at Seton Hall Prep. Senior Dante DeLuca rushed for 84 yards and a TD, and senior Colin Brennan ran for 70 yards and a score. Senior Dylan Wrona threw a TD pass and ran for a score. Senior Robert Ekins had a tackle for a safety.

Next game: Oct. 24 vs. Paramus Catholic (3-5)

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES (listed alphabetically): Donovan Catholic (5-3), Southern (7-1), West Orange (6-2), Westwood (7-1)

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New Jersey

Young humpback whale dies after becoming beached in Long Beach Island, New Jersey

Published

20 hours ago

October 20, 2025

Press Room

Young humpback whale dies after becoming beached in Long Beach Island, New Jersey

Another whale has died after becoming beached on the coast of the Jersey Shore, according to officials with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

The agency says they received a report from the New Jersey Department of Environmental at 3:00 p.m. on Friday that their aerial survey team spotted the whale on the southern end of Long Beach Island. The Coast Guard, who was on a routine helicopter flight, was able to divert and locate the whale just before sunset. They were able to determine that the whale beached on a sandbar, and was only able to be accessed by boat.

Due to tidal conditions and the whale being located late in the day, members of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center and the New Jersey State Police Marine unit were not able to access the whale until Saturday morning. Once they arrived on scene the whale was identified as a young humpback measuring at 29 feet in length. When the team examined the whale further they found that the mammal was lethargic and in “very thin” body condition. They also found wounds from an apparent propeller strike. Their final prognosis was the whale’s health was “extremely poor” and was unlikely to survive.

Due to the incoming tide on Saturday and the lack of daylight, officials from the stranding center administered sedatives to keep the whale comfortable overnight until operations could continue the next morning in the daylight and at low tide. When they arrived back the next morning along with operators from Sea Tow of Atlantic City, they discovered the mammal had passed away sometime in the overnight hours.

The whale was first seen in the New York Bight on October 2nd by American Princess Cruises. At that time, it was evident that the young whale had experienced significant trauma due to propeller strikes that were still in the process of healing, and the wounds were impacting the animal’s ability to feed based on the very thin body condition.

Additional information will be shared as it becomes available on the Marine Mammal Stranding Center’s website.

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New Jersey

4 men killed in deadly multivehicle crash on New Jersey Turnpike

Published

2 days ago

October 19, 2025

Press Room

4 men killed in deadly multivehicle crash on New Jersey Turnpike

SALEM COUNTY, New Jersey (WABC) — Four people were killed in a deadly multivehicle crash on the New Jersey Turnpike early Sunday morning.

The deadly crash happened around 12:40 a.m. on the southbound side of the New Jersey Turnpike near milepost 1.3 in Carneys Point Township, Salem County.

New Jersey State Police say Christopher Neff, 41, of Westminster, Colorado was driving in a Dodge pickup truck northbound in the southbound lanes of the turnpike when the collision happened.

Yaakov Kilberg, 19, of Lakewood, New Jersey, was driving in a Mazda SUV with three passengers southbound in the left inner lane, officials said.

Authorities say a head-on-collision occurred between the Dodge pickup truck and Mazda SUV near the milepost. Following the collision, Kilberg’s car was struck by a Freightliner tractor-trailer traveling in the right lane behind the vehicle.

Kilberg and his passengers were killed as a result of the crash. The victims include 18-year-old Aharon Lebovits and 18-year-old Shlomo Cohen, both from Lakewood, New Jersey, as well as 18-year-old Chaim Grossman of Fallsburg, New York.

Police say Neff suffered serious injuries from the crash, while the driver of the Freightliner tractor-trailer suffered no injuries.

The crash remains under investigation as police try to determine what led up to the fatal collision.

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