New Jersey

N.J. school board fired gay superintendent in anti-LGBTQ+ campaign, lawsuits say

Published

1 year ago

November 13, 2024

N.J. school board fired gay superintendent in anti-LGBTQ+ campaign, lawsuits say

The Manchester Township School District in Ocean County is facing multiple lawsuits, with one former superintendent arguing he was fired due to anti-LGBTQ+ bias.

John Berenato, who served as superintendent and is gay, claims the Manchester Board of Education fired him after community members and board officials targeted him in a campaign for his ouster.

Berenato’s lawsuit describes derogatory remarks and overt hostility from district staff and community members, which he says were part of an effort to dismantle LGBTQ+ protections and undermine his leadership.

His lawsuit against the district accuses officials of fostering a hostile work environment intolerant of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity.

Two other former employees, Bridget Antonucci and Lori Burns, have also filed lawsuits against the district and various officials, including current Superintendent Diane Pedroza.

Pedroza did not respond to requests for comment. In an email on Monday, the district said it could not comment or provide information on pending litigation.

Antonucci, the former director of special services, claims that her support for state-mandated inclusive policies and her advocacy for LGBTQ+ colleagues led to targeted harassment and eventual termination. She states in her lawsuit a campaign of retaliation began in late 2023.

Burns, former director of early childhood education and a lesbian, says she experienced anti-LGBTQ+ comments from district officials who opposed her efforts to promote an inclusive curriculum.

Known for her work on LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools, Burns resigned in June, citing a hostile environment for diversity advocacy.

All three former employees accuse the district of violating New Jersey’s anti-discrimination laws and are seeking damages for emotional distress, lost wages, and punitive measures against those involved.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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New Jersey

From Belmar to Asbury Park, here’s why NJ goes all-in for St. Patrick’s Day

Published

4 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

From Belmar to Asbury Park, here’s why NJ goes all-in for St. Patrick’s Day

I almost take the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and the celebration of my Irish heritage for granted. I said almost.

I am fortunate to ride in New Jersey’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Belmar-Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will now run on Saturday, March 28, 2026. It was postponed because of the Jersey Shore snowstorm that dumped a couple of feet of snow.

Photo via vadimguzhva

I am also fortunate to serve as the Grand Marshall in 2015 and continue to ride in the Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will step off this Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 1 p.m.

New Jersey 101.5 (Canva Edit)

Just those parade experiences alone are filled with so many people lined up to catch the parades, the pipes and drums, the marchers, along with having fun and enjoying the experience.

2024 Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Seaside Heights

2024 Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Seaside Heights (Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee)

There are many other parades up and down the Jersey Shore and all over New Jersey celebrating the wearing of the green.

There are a considerable number of exceptionally good Irish pubs, bars, and restaurants sprinkled all over the Garden State. A fan favorite is Irish dancers and Irish music at big venues like the Count Basie in Red Bank.

Highlands St.Patrick’s Day parade

Highlands St.Patrick’s Day parade (Highlands Business Partnership)

All those festivities and the celebration have made New Jersey the number one state in the country for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

According to new data released by BETMGM, the company analyzed Google Trends search data across categories such as alcohol and drinkware, green clothing, costumes, party supplies, Irish artists, Irish music, and miscellaneous topics over the past three years.

Jon Polunas poses with Women of Irish Heritage members on St. Patrick’s Day March 17, 2021 in Belmar. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

The data showed that New Jersey still grew with celebration intensity. As a result, New Jersey claimed the top shillelagh in the country. Indiana, Iowa, Georgia, and Illinois fared well, too.

I found it interesting that Irish music has gained the biggest leap in popularity with an 82% of all states compared to the previous two years.

(Gloucester City Irish Events)

Alcohol and drinkware are on the down trend along with green clothing and costumes on a national basis.

New Jersey likes to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, it is a celebration of unwinding, having a little fun and enjoying the atmosphere of the great New Jersey tradition. Enjoy, see you in the parades.

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New Jersey

Pesce Youth Clinic | New Jersey Devils

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16 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

NewJerseyDevils.com is the official web site of the New Jersey Devils, a member team of the National Hockey League (“NHL”). NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Copyright © 1999-2025 New Jersey Devils and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.

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How much are World Cup tickets? FIFA sells $2,000 tailgate tickets

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

How much are World Cup tickets? FIFA sells ,000 tailgate tickets

Tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are highly coveted. Admission to a game can cost thousands and most matches are already sold out.

Here’s what to know, and how much tickets are selling for.

How to get New Jersey New York FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets

Fans can buy the New Jersey New York Venue Series pass starting at $25,800 per person, for admission to all eight games in New Jersey New York Stadium Stadium.

Alternatively, fans can buy premium admission that are available for upward of $1,000.

For instance, the admission to the France vs Senegal game on June 16 ranges from $2,300 to $3,400.

The closer to the final, the more expensive tickets are. Admission for the Round of 16 match on July 5, costs between $2,800 and $6,000.

Anyone interested in a luxury suite should be ready to pay roughly $200,000 for game at the New Jersey New York Stadium. The silver lining is that the price includes admission for to 24 people.

Premium tickets for the final match are sold out.

How can I buy cheaper FIFA World Cup Tickets?

A Last-Minute Sales Phase for individual tickets opens on April 2 at 11 a.m. ET. Tickets might sell out within minutes, given the high global demand for them. Most of the tickets left are category 1 and 2, the most expensive seats.

Price varies depending on the match. As an example the USA vs Paraguay match has seats available for $1,940 and $2,735, according to The Athletic.

Forty out of the 104 matches are already sold out.

What are the tailgate tickets? What is the FIFA Pavilion?

FIFA is selling Pavilion tickets for roughly $2,000. The sporting organization describes the pavilions as “an exclusive retreat located in our secure perimeter immediately outside the stadium. Featuring beverage service and elevated street food-inspired dining available pre- and post-match.

For the price, you get to tailgate a game three hours before the match and two hours after it finishes. It also includes a ticket to see the game inside the stadium.

Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today Network. Find him on Twitter at _JCCastillo.

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