Carly Baldwin,Patch Staff Posted Wed, Feb 26, 2025 at 10:32 am ET Congressman Smith presents the Bronze Star to Middletown resident Mike Vaccaro Feb. 21. At either side are N.J. State Assemblymembers Gerry Scharfenberger and Vicky Flynn. (Office of Congressman Chris Smith) On Friday, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ4) presented the Bronze Star to a 79-year-old Middletown man who served his country in the Vietnam war. The man is Mike Vaccaro. He was 24 years old when he served in the Vietnam War fr... Read more

— On Nov. 10, 1967, 20-year-old Pete Celentano wrote home to his mother and father about surviving the Battle of Dak To in Vietnam, noting that he was injured in battle, which they might read in the newspaper. Little did he know that very letter and a local news report of the battle published on the same day, would be at the crux of a congressional inquiry to the Department of the Army. The documents would provide proof that the now 78-year-old Jackson resident was deserving of the Purple Heart... Read more

— Flying into the jungles of South Vietnam and meeting with community leaders in remote villages was a dangerous job. And Mike Vaccaro, then 24, did it often. “What I was doing was helping local people protect themselves, defend themselves, and know what to do,” when faced with threats from the Viet Cong or North Vietnamese Army raiding their villages, Vaccaro told Congressman Chris Smith (NJ04) on Friday, Feb. 21, at Smith’s office in Middletown. Though the dangerous terrain in the Mekong Delta... Read more

U.S. Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, a four-star general and top commander of all air defenses for the continental U.S. and Canada, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on February 13th that the Pentagon needs more technology and expanded authorities to deal with the large numbers of drones over U.S. military installations, including in New Jersey. The commander of NORTHCOM, the Northern Command of the U.S. military responsible for defending North America from various threats,... Read more

By Kenneth R. Cerini - In a significant win for the autism community, Congress has approved the extension of the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (Autism CARES) Act for another five years. This extension paves the way for an allocation of $1.95 billion to support crucial initiatives in autism research, early detection, and intervention. What It Means The reauthorization of the Autism CARES Act ensures that nearly $2 billion in federal funding will be direct... Read more

At a hearing this week before the Senate Armed Services Committee, the top general for all air defenses for the continental United States and Canada expressed concerns about the origin and purpose of swarms of drones that have been reported across the country, including over New Jersey’s military facilities and power infrastructure. “The General’s comments provide further proof that the Biden national security team was dismissive and downplayed the risks presented by the mystery drones spotted a... Read more

By Joti Rekhi published Feb 10, 2025, 12:36 PM Beaches across Ocean County are being replenished beginning Monday. The total project costs $73.5 million. It includes $30.2 million in funding from the federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress. According to Seaside Heights Borough Mayor Tony Vaz, taxpayers won't feel the pinch. Vaz said 75% of the project is being funded by the federal government, 25% is coming from the state, and the county commission will front the remaining 25%. "It's a v... Read more

By Ocean County Leader Feb 11, 2025 Beaches in Ocean County are undergoing a replenishment project starting Monday, with a total cost of $73.5 million. The initiative is partially funded by $30.2 million from the federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress. Seaside Heights Borough Mayor Tony Vaz assured residents that taxpayers would not bear the financial burden. "It's a very costly venture and one that we need. It's a protection from inclement weather, severe weather, flooding," said Vaz. ... Read more

Carly Baldwin,Patch Staff Posted Mon, Feb 10, 2025 at 9:37 am ET| MANASQUAN, NJ — A long-delayed beach replenishment from Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet is scheduled to begin Monday, announced Congressman Chris Smith (R-Manchester). This is a project that will improve Ocean County beaches. Sand will be dredged from three separate areas offshore, and then 2.1 million cubic yards of sand will be pumped onto the following Ocean County beaches, listed below. The sand put on the beaches will be g... Read more

Critical, extensive beach protection efforts, made possible by federal funding secured by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), will FINALLY begin on Monday, Feb. 10. “Our NJ coastline often bears the brunt of frequent, major storm events that over time cause significant erosion, decimate our local beaches and threatens the safety and well-being of local homeowners and beachgoers,” Smith said. “To help protect our shore communities and help our towns meet the staggering costs of beach erosion, t... Read more