Middletown, NJ
Police & Fire
Judge Releases Monmouth University Baseball Player After Home Burglary Judge Releases Monmouth University Baseball Player After Home Burglary
Judge Releases Monmouth University Baseball Player After Home Burglary A New Jersey homeowner was able to detain a burglar later identified as a 19-year-old Monmouth University varsity baseball player in an overnight break-in, police said. Surveillance tapes show Marlboro's Anthony Brienza entering the Old Farm Road home in Ocean Township through an unlocked door, then disabling the home security system around 4:50 a.m., Sept. 13, Detective Sgt. Paul Flammia said. Brienza was confronted by the homeowner while taking several items from the master bedroom, Flammia said. A brief struggle ensued when Brienza tried fleeing, police said. Brienza was arrested …

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by Cecilia Levine
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Police & Fire
NJ Mom Who Gave Daughter, 11, Pills Causing OD Death Faces 7 Years In Jail NJ Mom Who Gave Daughter, 11, Pills Causing OD Death Faces 7 Years In Jail
NJ Mom Who Gave Daughter, 11, Pills Causing OD Death Faces 7 Years In Jail A Boonton mom is facing a seven-year prison sentence after she admitted giving her 11-year-old daughter unprescribed pills that ultimately killed her. Shay Mooney, 35, plead guilty in July to child endangerment and said that she neglected to keep her prescription medications from her daughter, Wade Richardson, Daily Record reports. Richardson died last December from a combination of lorazepam, a sedative, as well as fentanyl, a narcotic, the report says citing the child’s autopsy. The child was found unconscious in an apartment in Boonton that was trashed with pill bottles, syringes, medic…

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by Valerie Musson
Greenwich, CT
Schools
Here's A Fun, Easy Way To Break The Boring Streak And Help Fairfield County Children In Crisis Here's A Fun, Easy Way To Break The Boring Streak And Help Fairfield County Children In Crisis
Here's A Fun, Easy Way To Break The Boring Streak And Help Fairfield County Children In Crisis If your kids are complaining they're bored, it's time to break the monotonous routine. Here's a way that seems fun, can engage the whole family and can help other kids whose lives are much direr. Kids in Crisis in Cos Cob invites all county residents to download a free app today and join a Scavenger Hunt. The fun started Monday, July 27 but it's not too late — you have two weeks to complete 60 missions, until  Friday, Aug. 7. The game is entirely virtual and calls upon participants to download the free app called Goosechase and then access various challenges, ranging from "Family …

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by Donna Christopher
Fairfield, CT
News
Healthcare Provider In Fairfield County Ordered To Pay $354K For Improper Billing Healthcare Provider In Fairfield County Ordered To Pay $354K For Improper Billing
Healthcare Provider In Fairfield County Ordered To Pay $354K For Improper Billing A healthcare organization that provides substance abuse and mental health services in Fairfield County, has agreed to pay more than $350,000 in restitution for overcharging for certain services. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Recovery Network of Programs Inc. (RNP) has entered into a civil settlement with the government to pay $354,367 to resolve allegations that it caused overpayments for urine drug testing services to be paid by the Connecticut Medicaid Program. RNP provides behavioral health and substance use disorder services to Medicaid beneficiaries. An audit by the State of Co…

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by Zak Failla
Beekman-Poughquag, NY
Lifestyle
Stress, Anxiety And COVID-19 Stress, Anxiety And COVID-19
Stress, Anxiety And Covid-19 Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life. Everyone reacts differently to difficult situations, especially when it’s a situation that necessitates social distancing, isolation and quarantine. Multiple challenges daily can push you beyond your ability to cope. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be experiencing stress, anxiety, fear, sadness and loneliness. You are not alone. Everyone is experiencing stress during these unprecedented times. The single, most important thing you can do is to avoid feeling isolated and stay connected. Take advantage of th…

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Content Partner: CareMount Medical
Armonk, NY
Lifestyle
Stress, Anxiety And COVID-19 Stress, Anxiety And COVID-19
Stress, Anxiety And Covid-19 Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life. Everyone reacts differently to difficult situations, especially when it’s a situation that necessitates social distancing, isolation and quarantine. Multiple challenges daily can push you beyond your ability to cope. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be experiencing stress, anxiety, fear, sadness and loneliness. You are not alone. Everyone is experiencing stress during these unprecedented times. The single, most important thing you can do is to avoid feeling isolated and stay connected. Take advantage of th…

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Content Partner: CareMount Medical
Highland Lakes-Vernon, NJ
Police & Fire
Authorities: Man Who Kicked Hamburg Officer In Groin Once Assaulted State Trooper Authorities: Man Who Kicked Hamburg Officer In Groin Once Assaulted State Trooper
Authorities: Man Who Kicked Hamburg Officer In Groin Once Assaulted State Trooper A man recently arrested for drunkenly assaulting three Hamburg police officers was once taken into custody for slamming a car door on a state trooper, said authorities who charged him. Hamburg police responded to a dispute between the 52-year-old man and an unidentified woman at 100 Quarry Road Sunday evening, police said in a release. Upon arrival,  Kurt M. Takach appeared highly intoxicated was immediately uncooperative with officers, authorities said.  The property's landlord said Takach was told numerous times before that he was not permitted there due to prior incidents…

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by Jon Craig
Lyndhurst, NJ
Police & Fire
Lyndhurst Police: Nodded-Out Vermont Couple Had Drugs, Dozens Of Syringes In Car Lyndhurst Police: Nodded-Out Vermont Couple Had Drugs, Dozens Of Syringes In Car
Lyndhurst Police: Nodded-Out Vermont Couple Had Drugs, Dozens Of Syringes In Car A Vermont couple found sleeping in their car on a quiet Lyndhurst street had drugs and dozens of hypodermic syringes with them, authorities said. Sgt. Richard Holicki, Detective Billy Kapp and Officer Matt Giunta, responding to a call, found the couple nodded out in a Toyota Prius on Kearney Street around 7 p.m. They woke the pair and immediately spotted several syringes on the center console, Detective Lt. Vincent Auteri said. A search, Auteri said, turned up: 13 empty wax paper folds; 151 anticonvulsant pills; 1 pack of Suboxone; small amount of cocaine, including a rock of crack; 86…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Police & Fire
Jefferson Police Officer Revives Overdose Victim Jefferson Police Officer Revives Overdose Victim
Jefferson Police Officer Revives Overdose Victim A man overdosing on suspected heroin was revived by a quick-acting Jefferson Township police officer, authorities said. Officer Christopher Smolt responded to reports of an unconscious man on a suspected heroin overdose on April 17, police said in a news release. Smolt administered Narcan before a team of Milton First Aid Squad members continued treatment. The victim was transported to St. Clare’s Denville and is expected to make a full recovery.  A hypodermic needle was recovered at the scene.  At the hospital, the victim was supplied with the Morris County resources related t…

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by Valerie Musson
Northern Highlands, NJ
Schools
Grant Helps USR-Allendale Coalition Assist Families Dealing With Drugs, Other Youth Issues Grant Helps USR-Allendale Coalition Assist Families Dealing With Drugs, Other Youth Issues
Grant Helps Usr-allendale Coalition Assist Families Dealing With Drugs, Other Youth Issues A unique program aimed at reducing substance abuse while also tackling other troubling issues among young people in Allendale and Upper Saddle River will grow even stronger, thanks to a new federal grant, organizers said. The $625,000 National Drug Control Policy grant will be distributed evenly over five years to the USRA Coalition, said Upper Saddle River Mayor Joanne Minichetti, the group’s chairperson. The money will “both sustain and broaden the USRA Coalition’s programming and education,” Minichetti said. The USRA Coalition was created in 2017 in response to the increase in substan…

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by Jerry DeMarco
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Schools
Around The Schools: Drug Counselor Course Is NY's First, Vets Remind Students Of Pearl Harbor Around The Schools: Drug Counselor Course Is NY's First, Vets Remind Students Of Pearl Harbor
Around The Schools: Drug Counselor Course Is NY's First, Vets Remind Students Of Pearl Harbor Here's a New York first: Mahopac High School now offers its students the Substance Abuse, Addiction & Recovery course leading to counselor certification.  It is a viable career in New York, which is fourth, to California, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, for having the most employment options for substance abuse counselors. The elective will start in January and be open to juniors and seniors. It teaches students the facts on substance abuse, addiction, and recovery in their local environment, "so they have a stake in the vitality of it," said the district, noting the philosophy beh…

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by Donna Christopher
DV Plus - Fairfield, CT
Schools
Connecticut Courage To Speak Founder Warns Parents About Signs Of Drug Use Connecticut Courage To Speak Founder Warns Parents About Signs Of Drug Use
Connecticut Courage To Speak Founder Warns Parents About Signs Of Drug Use If you are a parent and worried your kids are saying yes to drugs you are not alone.  But first. Do you know why kids use drugs? Stress, pain, peer pressure, fitting in, some say it's cool, to feel better and boredom, according to an expert in the field whose family tragedy turned into her mission to help kids say no to drugs. The good news: All parents have this in their arsenal: communication. The number one way for parents to prevent drug abuse is to talk to their kids, says Ginger Katz, CEO and Founder, along with husband Larry Katz of the Courage to Speak Foundation.It was founde…

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by Donna Christopher