Kathleen “Kass” A. Maass, 87, of Brooklawn

On March 28, 2026, at the age of 87. (nee Stockman) Longtime resident of Brooklawn. Loving wife of the late Jesse S. Maass, Sr. Loving mother of Kellie Kessler and Jesse S. Maass, Jr. Cherished grandmother of Katelynne Maass, Gabby Maass, Colton Kessler (Alyssia Richards), Brant Kessler and Sawyer Kessler and great-grandmother of Logan Maurer, Alex Kessler and Nicholas Kessler. Predeceased by her sisters, Leona Hoffman and Flora Maloy. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Kass was a graduate of Camden High School class of 1957. Kass was deeply committed to her community and dedicated much of her life to service. She served as past president of the Brooklawn PTA and was a devoted member of the Brooklawn Board of Education for over 30 years, including 18 years as its president. She was also actively involved in several civic and fraternal organizations. Kass served as Past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Fairview Chapter; Past Mother Advisor for Rainbow for Girls; and was a member of the DeMolay International Mothers’ Club.

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Dutch Colonial Preservation Gains Significance for Revolution’s 250th Anniversary

In 1779, as General George Washington was traversing a wintery New Jersey during the Revolutionary War, he paid a visit to the home of Derrick Van Veghten. The Dutch family had not only built an estate along the Raritan River, but also the bridges that allowed Washington and his troops to cross the waterway.
“There was this bridge and the Queens Bridge in Bound Brook Brook and those were the only two places close to New Brunswick where he could cross,” said Frank McGonigle, president of the Somerset County Historical Society.
The Van Veghton House’s location near the river was crucial to its existence as goods back then were transported on waterways. But it has also made the historic structure prone to flooding. The Somerville Historical Society, which is headquartered at the home, is tasked with building a floodwall that could cost more than $2 million.
Dutch Colonial homes are some of the United States oldest remaining historic buildings and preserving them is key to understanding how our nation and its early infrastructure came to be. Unfortunately, we continue to lose many of these homes. In the past few years, the Van Zile House and DeBaun House were both demolished, despite battles to save them. Read Full Story

Yards Brewing Hosts ‘Real Ale Invitational’

The Yards Real Ale Invitational returns later this month at Yards Brewing Company. Discover and sample over forty unique beers from the Mid-Atlantic’s finest brewing establishments at the region’s only cask-conditioned beer festival on April 12th from 12:30pm to 4:00pm. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Yards brewing facility, surrounded by towering walls of kegs, cans, and bottles, all while indulging in truly historic brews and enjoying live music, good food and even better company.

Real Ale isn’t your typical beerfest. What makes the Real Ale Invitational truly special is that it’s all about Real Ale; beer that is unfiltered, unpasteurized and has been naturally carbonated inside a cask. Yards has played a pivotal role in reviving this brewing method, a tradition that traces back to England, over the last thirty years with their renowned Extra Special Ale (ESA). A beer that they always keep available on cask at their taproom.

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Camden City homicides down 90% from 2012

The first quarter of 2026 has underscored the significant reduction of crime in the city

(Camden, NJ) –In a stunning accomplishment, the Camden County Police Department has reached a 90% reduction in homicides, compared to the same period in 2012, the last full year of operation of the former city department. The city has also seen a 57% reduction in overall violent crime and an 89% reduction in shootings throughout Camden’s 19 neighborhoods. During the Camden County Police Department’s tenure, robberies have declined 78% and assaults with a firearm have fallen more than 75%, compared with the first quarter of 2012.

This new analysis comes on the heels of the city’s first homicide-free winter in 50 years and builds on the department’s 2025 Uniform Crime Reporting results, which recorded the lowest number of violent crimes and homicides since 1985 with 12 total homicides. Under the leadership of Chief Gabriel Rodriguez and his command staff, the CCPD has collectively focused their strategies on unity policing and embracing technology to make officers smarter and safer on the streets.

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Winslow Township Job Fair & Expungement Seminar April 25th

Free Job Fair & Expungent Seminar
Come meet various employers to discuss available positions and network across various industries including healthcare, laborer, education, insurance, first responders, and so much more!
Saturday April 25th
9am Expungement Seminar (Registration Required)

Followed by the Job Fair:
10:00 am- Noon
Bud Duble Senior Center
33 Cooper Folly Road
Atco, NJ 08004

DRBC News Update: Upcoming Webinars

The DRBC and its River Basin Commission partners are hosting a free, public webinar on Data Centers: What About Water? on April 16, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The webinar will explore how water factors into the rise of data centers, why it matters for our communities and shared resources and the role of interstate River Basin Commissions. Learn more and register at https://www.nj.gov/drbc/programs/supply/datacenters.html#webinar.
DRBC Sr. Chemist/Toxicologist Dr. Jeremy Conkle will be one of the presenters at an upcoming webinar hosted by the New Jersey Section of the American Water Resources Association (NJ-AWRA). The April 23, 2026, webinar will take place from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will focus on PFAS: Toxicology, Data Collection and Treatment. Conkle’s presentation is entitled “Twenty years of PFAS data in the Delaware River Basin: Just scratching the surfactant.” Learn more and register at https://njawra.org/event-6626649.

Escape to Atlantic City This Spring

Spring has arrived in Atlantic City, bringing fresh ocean breezes, longer days, and plenty of reasons to get outside and play. As flowers and greenery begin to take shape, the city gears up for the joy of Easter celebrations.
April also marks Golf Month in Atlantic City, making it the perfect time to hit championship-caliber courses. Whether you’re planning a relaxing spring break with family, hunting for Easter treats, or teeing off on one of the region’s scenic courses, Atlantic City offers the ideal mix of coastal charm and outdoor recreation. This spring, celebrate the season of renewal with sunshine, seaside views, and a round of golf to start things off right.

6 Overlooked Gardening Tasks That Cost You Money

You didn’t get into gardening to funnel your money into a black hole disguised as ‘just one more trip to the garden centre.’

And yet somehow, here you are, replacing plants that didn’t make it, topping up fertiliser like it’s a subscription service, and side-eyeing tools that retired far earlier than expected.

The thing is, it’s rarely the big decisions that drain your wallet. It’s the small, easy-to-ignore tasks that snowball into expensive problems. Fortunately, they’re all fixable, and all you need is one weekend to get your garden back on track. Here’s where to start.

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Investigation Reveals Fatal Waretown House Fire Ruled Accidental, Woman, Age 71, Died

Cleary’s Notebook News (April 3, 2026)-Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Ocean Township Police Chief Michal Rogalski announced that on April 2, 2026, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the Ocean Township (Waretown) Police Department and Waretown Fire Departments were dispatched to a structure fire on Route 9 in Waretown. During a primary search of the structure, emergency personnel discovered a deceased 71-year-old female in a first-floor bedroom in the northwest corner of the structure.

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NJ Department of Corrections Releases Latest Recidivism Report

Report highlights continued record-low number of individuals released and reincarcerated for a new offense within three years of release

The New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) announces the publication of the 2021 Recidivism Outcome Report, which found that that reincarcerations for new criminal convictions continue to decline. The report, which tracks 4,174 individuals released in 2021 over a three-year period, demonstrates the continued effectiveness of the Department’s rehabilitation and reentry initiatives in strengthening public safety across New Jersey.

The latest report shows that New Jersey’s recidivism rate has reached a new low; only 6% of those released in 2021 were reincarcerated for a new conviction within three years. This reflects a significant long-term downward trend since 2013, dropping approximately 50 percent for both the male (approximately 12 percent to 6 percent) and female (approximately 4 percent to just under 2 percent) release cohort.