May 05 1900hrs
Due to the current construction being held at the Ramtown Fire House Memorial day services will be held at Squankum Fire House 269 Route 524 Famringdale NJ 07727. We are appologise for the inconvenience.

December 31 2230hrs

HOWELL –   A family of five was displaced by a house fire Tuesday night, authorities said.

The fire, which started in the attic, caused extensive damage to the house on the 90 block of Cascades Avenue. The house belonged to Gregory White his wife, Lauren White, who is seven months pregnant, and their three children.

No one was injured, but the house was severely damaged, according to a statement from Det. Sgt. Eileen Dodd of the Howel Township Police Department.

The Township released a statement encouraging residents to donate clothes, household goods and money to the Howell Police Athletic League for the family.

"Howel PAL is calling upon Township residents to band together in an effort to make this an easier rebuilding process for the family," the statement from Mayor William J. Gotto and the Council said.

he specifications for the mother and children's sizes are as follows:

  • Size 8 for a 6-year-old girl
  • Size 5/6 for a 4-year-old boy
  • Size 3T for a 2-year-old girl
  • Clothing for a woman, seven months pregnant

The fire broke out in the attic of the house before 10:30 p.m. The Whites were preparing for bed when they heard a "persistent, strange noise," Dodd said. While looking for the source of the smell, they noticed a burning smell and evacuated the family. They reported seeing smoke coming out of the attic vents after they left the building.

Several agencies responded to the call, including Ramtown Fire Company, Squankum Fire Company, Adelphia Fire company, Southard Fire Company, Freewood Acres Fire Company, South Wall Fire Rescue, Howell First Aid, Ramtown First Aid, Howell Fire Bureau and the Howell Office of Emergency Management.

The Howell Township Fire Bureau is investigating the fire.

Donations can be dropped off this week at Town Hall and at the Howell PAL building.

Steph Solis: 732-456-2159; ssolis@app.com; @stephmsolis

How to Help:

Donation drop offs can be made at the following locations:

Manager's Office, Town Hall

4567 Route 9 North

12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 1

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2 and thereafter

Howell PAL building

115 Kent Road (former Southard School)

6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 2 and thereafter

 

June 12 1800hrs


HOWELL – Marie Scalese choked back tears as she tried to find the words to say to Howell Middle School South staff and first responders who saved her son’s life.

“I’ll try to keep it together. A thank you seems too simple, but it comes right from my heart. I can never say enough to you,” Scalese of Howell told the group, which assembled Wednesday night at a dual Town Council and Board of Education meeting for a heartfelt show of appreciation.

On May 22 Scalese’s son, Michael Dolcemascolo, a 12-year-old sixth grader with a pre-existing heart condition, collapsed during gym class and went into cardiac arrest. He became unresponsive and stopped breathing.

School staff including health and physical education teachers Rob Kline, Kathleen Lynch and Trish Sorrentino and school nurse Kathleen McCarthy immediately responded, initiating the first shocks from the automated external defibrillator (AED).

The Ramtown Fire Department No. 2 and Ramtown First Aid Squad arrived within a minute of the 9-1-1 call.

“We successfully brought him back three times in the ambulance and once at the school,” said Capt. Brian Schwarz, Ramtown First Aid Squad.

Members of Ramtown Fire Company No. 2 assisting were Capt. Jamey Pallitto, Joe Smigelsky, Rich Stalling and Chief James Bailey.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better of them,” Bailey said. “They did exactly what they were trained to do.”

All of the first responders are volunteers.

Dolcemascolo was taken to Ocean Medical Center in Brick, then to New York Presbyterian Hospital for further treatment.

“He is home now and he is doing wonderful,” Scalese said.

The Howell Township Council and Board of Education recognized each of the school staff and first responders with proclamations.

“You saved a youth in our community and you can’t be thanked enough for that,” Mayor William Gotto said.

Dan Radel: 732-643-4072; dradel@app.com