The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 11 - No. 1
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Exploring The Lore Of The Jersey Devil
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 8-13
Dr. Izzy Sound News Page 15
Inside The Law Page 17
Classifieds Page 18
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Popular folklore points to the end of this road through the Pine Barrens in Leeds Point. By Stephanie Faughnan PINE BARRENS – The recent theft of a prized Jersey Devil statue from an Ocean County restaurant has reignited a wave of interest in the history of the legendary creature. Accounts of sightings of the “real” Jersey Devil have persisted for well over two centuries. The allure of capturing the elusive creature has even led to rewards being offered, and at one point, claims that it was caught
and on public display. According to popular folklore regarding the Jersey Devil, the story begins with Mother Leeds, a woman who lived in a part of Galloway outside Smithville. She became quite upset after she learned she was pregnant for the thirteenth time. On a stormy night in 1735, Mother Leeds was surrounded by her concerned friends as she entered labor. During a 2014 presentation given to the Colonel Rich-
ard Somers Chapter, New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Kean University professor Dr. Brian Regal provided more of the details associated with the legend. “It was a difficult birth, and she screamed out, ‘Let this one be the devil,’” said Regal. “Rather than a normal baby coming out, a kind of horse-like thing with wings came out. It yelps at the astonished family, flies up the chimney, and disappears off into the Pine Barrens.” “It then spends the next several centuries accosting anyone unfor tunate enough to encounter it,” Regal continued. A visit to Leeds Point confi rms that a Leeds family were prominent members of the local area. However, the road leading to their home is now private property. Others have reported that the Leeds house itself burned to the ground in 1952, and only its foundation still exists. Kenneth Sooy, Sr., who has (Lore - See Page 4)
July 8, 2023
The Hunt Is On For Stolen Jersey Devil Statue
Photo courtesy Stafford Police The Jersey Devil was a landmark in front of Lucille’s Luncheonette-Country Cooking. By Stephanie Faughnan STAFFORD – Usually, it’s a sighting of the Jersey Devil that makes news. This time, the story is that it’s nowhere to be found. The iconic Jersey Devil statue was snatched from Lucille’s Luncheonette-Country Cooking on Route 539. Karen Bates-Flynn, one of the popular dining spot’s owners, said cameras picked up someone removing the large wood-carved Jersey Devil on Friday, June 24, at 10:18 p.m. “We noticed from the camera that he came from the south,” said Bates-Flynn. “He then drove north, turned around, and came back. He then backed up to it, hooked it with a tow strap, and pulled it down the road.” (Statue - See Page 5)
Officials Make Sure Boardwalk Games Are Fair
Photo By Bob Vosseller An investigator for the Legalized Games of Chance Commission puts the hammer down to send a rubber frog flying to test the balance of the Seaside Heights boardwalk attraction during a recent inspection.
By Bob Vosseller SEASIDE HEIGHTS – Making sure rubber frogs have all their limbs and arcade game claws are actually able to grab stuffed animals keeps games of chance fair and honest. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D.
Billhimer, Seaside Heights Police Chief Thomas Boyd, Division of Consumer Affairs Acting Director Cari Fais and numerous members of her department came out to the borough boardwalk to promote a safe summer, honest shopping and a fair chance of winning a prize. Their visit at Blaine Av-
enue was part of the Division’s annual enforcement initiative designed to promote a family-friendly environment at the Jersey Shore. The “Safe Summer” program includes summer-long inspections of boardwalk games for fairness of play, and to ensure they have not been modified to the disad-
vantage of players. Bruce Hurlbunt, an investigator for the Legalized Games of Chance Commission, was among those looking over the games that day and one of their first stops was the flying rubber frog attraction. “We’re making sure they are all level.” He (Games - See Page 5)
TO ADVERTISE, CALL 732-657-7344 EXT. 206