TOP LOCAL News
By JEANNE WALL
April 23, 2026
MONMOUTH COUNTY: Earth Day is a powerful reminder that while April 22 every year, is set aside to celebrate our planet, caring for the environment is something we can—and should—do every day. In Monmouth County, that message resonates strongly thanks to the area’s commitment to preserving open ...
NEWTON, NJ – The former Vernon resident, Robert William McCaffrey Jr, accused in the murder and kidnapping of Lisa Marie McBride, had a plea of not guilty entered by his attorney on Monday, April 20 in Sussex County Superior Court.McCaffrey appeared before Judge Janine Allen, shackled, wearing an ...
SAYREVILLE, NJ – Samantha Marley turned in a standout week for the Bombers, earning TAPinto Raritan Bay Athlete of the Week honors after leading the girls lacrosse team to a pair of victories.Marley powered the offense with 11 goals and two assists across the two wins, consistently creating scoring ...
Dear Monmouth County Residents, Spring is in full swing here in Monmouth County, and with the warmer weather finally upon us, there is a renewed sense of energy and excitement throughout our communities. From outdoor events and community gatherings to important discussions about our future, this is ...
PLAINFIELD, NJ — Mayor Mapp will deliver his annual State of the City address on Thursday, April 30. The speech will take place at 7pm at the Charles and Anna Booker Elementary School.Each address has a theme, and following his re-election to a record fourth term in office, Mapp has entitled this ...
SPARTA, NJ – Days after a brush fire in Lake Mohawk, the township council presented Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Amy Hayowyk with a proclamation for Light Up the Night for Fallen Firefighters week.Deputy Mayor Michael Sylvester discussed the details of the “substantial brush fire this weekend, ...
RICHMOND, VA - The Somerset Patriots roared back from down five runs, beating the Richmond Flying Squirrels 9-8 at CarMax Park on Wednesday evening. The last time Somerset overcame five runs to win a game was also in Richmond (6/28/24 @RIC, 7-5 W, trailed 5-0). Somerset smashed four home runs, ...
RICHMOND, VA - The Somerset Patriots roared back from down five runs, beating the Richmond Flying Squirrels 9-8 at CarMax Park on Wednesday evening. The last time Somerset overcame five runs to win a game was also in Richmond (6/28/24 @RIC, 7-5 W, trailed 5-0). Somerset smashed four home runs, ...
NEWARK, NJ – A Pine Brook man who pleaded guilty last year to defrauding the federal government through his Paterson pharmacy has been sentenced to 24 months in prison, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.Nestor E. Jaime, 37, was arrested in 2025 as part of a $2.5 million crime ...
SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Somerville Environmental Commission invites residents and visitors to celebrate Earth Day 2026 with a full weekend of community-focused events dedicated to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and reuse.Taking place April 25–27, 2026, this year’s Earth Day weekend ...
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - Residents Miguel Liriano and Alison Porga have been named South Plainfield High School’s 2026 Unsung Hero Award recipients. Presented annually by the Middlesex County School Boards Association and Middlesex County Association of School Administrators, in collaboration with ...
MONTCLAIR, NJ – Livingston completed a sweep of a two-game baseball series over Montclair with a 7-2 victory on Wednesday.The score was 2-2 before the Lancers scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning.Livingston (5-5) had only four hits in the game, and only one of those came in the five-run ...
MONMOUTH COUNTY: Earth Day is a powerful reminder that while April 22 every year, is set aside to celebrate our planet, caring for the environment is something we can—and should—do every day. In Monmouth County, that message resonates strongly thanks to the area’s commitment to preserving open ...
Welcome to this Thursday edition of the Renss Lens Newsletter. We have brief news about the new Hoosick Falls Village budget, how the village is coming together to help fire victims and this week's Community News Column. Friday look for our Cops and Courts report as well as the community calendar, ...
HILLSBOROUGH, NJ - Mayor Catherine Payne has been selected by the Somerset County Federated Republican Women as the recipient of their 2026 Millicent Fenwick Award. This award is presented annually as it acknowledges and recognizes women who have dedicated their lives to outstanding public service ...
MORRIS PLAINS, NJ – Sophomore first baseman Kieran Brendle delivered three hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs to highlight Chatham's sixth straight baseball win, 11-2 vs. Parsippany Hills on Wednesday.Senior left-hander Justin Zigon earned the win for Chatham (10-2) with four ...
Colts Neck, NJ — A heartfelt new book written by a mother and her son is resonating with readers and families alike, arriving at a time when awareness and understanding are more important than ever. April has long been recognized as Autism Awareness Month in the United States. In recent years, many ...
HAWTHORNE, NJ — Borough officials are pressing for progress on the cleanup of a former industrial property as redevelopment plans move forward at the Pan Chemical site.The issue was discussed during the April 15 council meeting, where officials provided updates on efforts to remove contaminated ...
HOOSICK FALLS – The Village’s Board of Trustees gathered on Wednesday evening to adopt a budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The plan calls for $4.8 million in spending but only hikes taxes 0.006% per thousand of assessed valuation.The Renss Lens will have a complete report on the budget and the ...
In a market where a lot of flowers start to feel the same, certain brands still manage to separate themselves.Victory Natural Farms is one of them.And right now, The Frosted Nug at Red Bank has just made it a lot easier to see why — with 30% off all Victory Natural Farms flower and pre-rolls.And ...
JEFFERSON, NJ - 911 operators are the first voice people hear when reporting in an emergency.Last week marked National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and the Jefferson Township Police Department expressed its gratitude to the men and women that play an integral part in the safety of the ...
HOOSICK FALLS - A GoFundMe page has been set up for Jason and Erin Conety following a devasting early morning fire on Friday, April 17 that destroyed their Congress Street home. While no injuries were reported the family lost two cherished pets and all their belongings.The funds raised through this ...
PARSIPPANY, NJ - The Parsippany Police have issued a missing juvenile alert.Twelve-year-old Ryan Kitsuta was last seen in the area of Volunteer's Park around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22.He is 5ft 3in and weighs 122lbs. He is wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and black pants. Volunteer's Park is ...
BAYVILLE — In a defensive stalemate that transformed into a high-stakes endurance test, Southern Regional outlasted Central Regional with a 4-2 victory in a 10-inning Shore Conference clash on Wednesday.The game remained scoreless for nearly the entire afternoon until the international tie-breaker ...
A New LookAs we continue to receive more and more submissions for our Community News section, we have started to group the stories by location or organization to make finding news of your neighboring communities a bit easier.If you have news you feel fits in this section, please send at least a ...
BARNEGAT, NJ — In a high-stakes Shore Conference clash, the Barnegat Bengals proved why they are one of the most resilient squads in the region, overcoming a tough Lacey Lions team in a 2-1 set victory on Wednesday.The win moves Barnegat to an impressive 9-3 on the season, while Lacey drops to 7-4 ...
The Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District honored three icons from the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Newark recently with a ceremony recognizing their impact on the arts, culture, and the city’s history.The event, “WORD. SONG. DANCE,” celebrated tap dancer Savion Glover, the late singer Sarah ...
CHATHAM, NJ – The Chatham boys tennis team took all five matches in straight sets as the Cougars posted their 10th win of the season, 5-0 vs. Montville on Wednesday at the Colony Courts.
With a black shirt, black half cap and a smile stretched across his face, Marcus Sexton draws in the next student at Stonsby cafeteria as he sets his pan to the flaming stove top.“Hey, how are you doing? What can I get you today?”It could be a brief or a long encounter for a student or faculty ...
STAFFORD TOWNSHIP — The Southern Regional girls lacrosse team continued its scorched-earth run through the spring season on Wednesday, dismantling Shore Regional 14-2. The victory, which moves the Rams to an impressive 8-1 record, was defined by a series of career-best performances and a major ...