The BERKELEY Times Vol. 32 - No. 1
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Three High School Students Save Residents From House Fire
Pre-Trial Intervention Rejected In Dog Killing Case
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
Community News Pages 8-10
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
Inside The Law Page 16
Photo by Chris Lundy Jakob Bodtmann, Danny Maresca and Noel Acevedo outside town hall where they just met the governing body and a few of Berkeley’s finest. By Chris Lundy BERKELEY - Three teenagers have been celebrated by town governments and boards of education for risking their own lives - charging into a burning house to save the residents inside. The three Central Regional High School students - Noel Acevedo, Danny Maresca, and
Jakob Bodtmann – were honored by the Central Regional Board of Education, Berkeley Township Council, and Pine Beach Borough Council, since it happened in Pine Beach. They had left Station Avenue beach just before midnight when they noticed the fire on a home on (House Fire - See Page 4)
Jersey Shore Roller Derby Rolls On
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Jersey Shore Roller Derby skaters communicate and reposition as the pack moves around the track during a recent bout at Winding River Skating Center.
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - Mention roller derby to someone of a certain generation and chances are they’ll smile. They remember the nicknames. The speed. The spills. The skaters flying around the track on Saturday morning television while parents drank coffee and kids watched wide-eyed from the living room floor. Others discovered the sport de-
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cades later through the film “Whip It.” Either way, roller derby has a way of staying with people. What many people may not realize is that it never really disappeared. It simply evolved. At Winding River Skating Center in Toms River, there are still colorful nicknames, hard hits and plenty of excitement. What you’ll also find is (Roller Derby - See Page 6)
June 27, 2026
By Stephanie Faughnan OCEAN COUNTY – A Superior Court judge has denied Jeffrey Lentz’s bid to enter New Jersey’s Pre-Trial Intervention program, rejecting arguments that the Berkeley Township man’s background and the circumstances surrounding the death of Ruby, a French bulldog, justified diversion from criminal prosecution. The ruling came during a hearing that touched not only on Lentz’s unsuccessful PTI appeal, but also allegations that he violated court monitoring conditions by photographing people in the courtroom whom his attorney said had made death threats against him. Lentz, 56, is charged with second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, third-degree animal cruelty and related offenses stemming from Ruby’s October 3, 2025 death. He has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The case has generated intense public interest, with supporters wearing “Justice for Ruby” shirts regularly filling courtrooms in support of Ruby’s owners, Nicole and Nick Guarino. As previously reported, the Guarinos left Ruby, their one-year-old French bulldog, in the care of Nicole’s mother and stepfather while attending a wedding. Investigators said Nicole Guarino was initially told the dog had been injured in an animal attack. A veterinarian later determined Ruby had been shot, with X-rays revealing a bullet lodged in the dog’s jaw. During the hearing, Judge Kimarie Rahill emphasized that defendants charged with second-degree crimes face an exceptionally high burden when seeking admission into PTI. “Persons charged with second degree crimes must demonstrate extraordinary or unusual facts to establish compelling reasons for admission into PTI,” Rahill said. “I (Pre-Trial - See Page 4)
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