Monday, August 6, 2012
Amanda Timoney and Lilly the pit bull mix carry on in the wake of Dona Timoney's death
The large framed picture in Amanda Timoney's living room in her Beachwood home sums up her mother's life in one black-and-white photo. Dona Timoney is leaning over her newly rescued pit bull mix Lilly. Lilly — then an 8-month-old pup — gazes up at her, poised for a kiss. Dona once rescued Lilly. And on June 1, Lilly rescued Dona. The bittersweet story — "Pit Bull Leads Good Samaritan To Stricken Owner in Double Trouble State Park" — touched thousands across the United States and some over the world. It was the most read story of any Patch, ever. Dona — a mail carrier at the Pine Beach Post Office — took Lilly to Double Trouble nearly every day, even though Amanda didn't think she should go to the heavily wooded park alone. "I used to get …
Plenty of summer events, things to do this week
Who says there's nothing to do in Berkeley? Check out all these events slated for this week: Monday - Learn how to seine in Barnegat Bay and discover the creatures that live in it at Island Beach State Park. Free daily tour starts at 1 p.m. Please pre-register at Ocean Bathing Pavilion #1. For more information, call the park at 732-793-0506. Wednesday - Come and meet Ocean County reptiles, 10:30 a.m., Berkeley branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville. The Ocean County Parks Department will have several live native reptiles on hand. Ages 5-9. Pre-register at www.oceancountyparks.org or call 732-269-2144. Wednesday - Sedge Islands "Then and Now" kayak tour, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Island Beach State Park. Learn about the …
Monday, July 2, 2012
Summer kicks into high gear this week
Monday through July 7 - Book sale at the Berkeley branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville. Sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Library. For more information, call 732-269-2144 or go online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org. Tuesday - Double Trouble Historic District Village tour, 10 a.m., Double Trouble State Park, Pinewald-Keswick Road. The free event is a one-mile tour of the village buildings, including the cranberry sorting house, general store, sawmill, pickers' cabins and more. For more information, call 732-341-4098. Wednesday - Pine Beach Fourth of July parade, 9 a.m. Pine Beach Fire House, Prospect Avenue. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. Former longtime Mayor Russell K. Corby and his wife Judy are …
Monday, June 25, 2012
This would be the second season no leaseholders have stepped up
The acres and acres of bogs at Double Trouble Start Park are dotted with the tiny pale pink flowers that will soon be transformed into crimson cranberries by early October. But this year, like 2011, it's unlikely there will be anyone to harvest the berries. No leaseholders for the bogs have stepped forward for the 2012 harvest, said Robert Considine, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. "If we decide to lease the bogs, it would be doubtful that the lease would be finalized in time for someone to be able to harvest cranberries in October, as the lease would have to be approved by the State House Commission, whose next meeting is in September," Considine said. That was disappointing news to Daniel Crabbe, whose …
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Dona Timoney, stricken in Double Trouble State Park almost two weeks ago, died Wednesday night, friend says
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ - It was a story that warmed many hearts around the country. Dona Rae Timoney had rescued her pit bull mix "Lilly" from a North Carolina "drug house" last year. Owner and dog became extremely close. Lilly returned the favor two weeks ago, after Dona collapsed on a sugar sand path near the cranberry bogs in Double Trouble State Park. The little dog ran up the path, her leash dragging behind her. Bayville resident Frank Delarosa found Lilly, picked her up and started towards the park office. But Lilly squirmed and Delarosa put her down. She sped back down the path she had just come from and led him to Dona, who was unconscious. Dona, 51, was first taken to Community Medical Center, then airlifted to St. Barnabas Medical…
Monday, March 12, 2012
Dan Crabbe recalls the family business
The thousands of acres of cranberry bogs, pines, oaks and cedars off Pinewald-Keswick Road have belonged to the state of New Jersey since 1964, when Double Trouble State Park was born. But for the Crabbe family of Toms River, Double Trouble was a second home for much of the 20th century. And when Dan Crabbe visits the park, he goes back in time. He can still hear longtime picking boss Alfia (Fred) Masumeci bellowing at workers to make sure their wooden boxes of cranberries were free of vines and leaves. "Pick clean! Pick clean!" Crabbe said at a recent presentation at the Berkeley Township Historical Society. "I can hear him now saying that." It all began with Dan Crabbe's grandfather Commodore Edward Crabbe, who came to Double Trouble …
Monday, March 5, 2012
Taxes, Oreos, Double Trouble and More
Monday - State Sen. Michael Doherty will discuss his fair school funding plan at 7:30 p.m. in the Central Regional Middle School cafeteria off Forest Hills Parkway in Bayville. The event is sponsored by the Berkeley Township Republican Club. Tuesday - Come celebrate the 100th birthday of the Oreo cookie at the Berkeley branch of the Ocean County Library at 30 Station Road in Bayville. Games, trivia, Oreo dunking and Oreo cookies are on the agenda. Showcase your skills and tricks. For ages 13-18. Thursday - Berkeley Township Board of Education, 6:30 p.m., Berkeley Township Elementary School at 10 Emory Road in Bayville. This may be Schools Superintendent Joseph H. Vicari's last board meeting. The funding for the annual Stokes State Forest…
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
A good place to reflect and relax
The entrance to the Garden State Parkway is less than a mile down the road. But the woods, bogs and streams of Double Trouble State Park are much the same as they were 100 years ago. The cranberry plants in the massive bogs near the cranberry sorting house are under about a foot of cobalt-blue water. It's a much different scene than last fall, when the bog was dry and the tiny plants were turning crimson in the October sun. The sugar-sand trails that wind throughout the 8000-acre acre park off Pinewald-Keswick road are nearly deserted. A lone jogger, a few hikers and two women taking their dogs for a romp are the only people to be seen. There are ten cars pulled up near the park entrance on a mid-winter afternoon. The pines and birches …
Friday, December 30, 2011
What are your plans for New Year's Day? Take our poll below!
Looking for a healthy way to kick in the New Year? New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection officials have the answer. The DEP is sponsoring free guided hikes through eight New Jersey state parks, including Double Trouble State Park off Pinewald Keswick Road. The 'First Day' hikes are being held in state parks in all fifty states. The Double Trouble "New Year's Resolution Hike" is an eight-mile trek through the park's undisturbed woodlands and soft sandy trails. It offers a look into the Pine Barrens habitat, including the tea-colored waters of Cedar Creek and acres of cranberry bogs. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. Hikers should meet at the park's Interpretive Center. The hike is described as "easy to …
Friday, October 7, 2011
A Pinelands tradition comes to an end, at least for now
By now, the cranberry bogs at Double Trouble State Park should be filled with the tea-colored waters of Cedar Creek. Harvesters should be trudging through the flooded bogs in waders to catch as many of the crimson globes as possible. But that won't be happening at Double Trouble State Park this year. The latest leaseholders of the bogs have retired. The bogs, still damp from the heavy rains this summer, lie fallow. The leaves on the tiny plants are turning scarlet and butter-yellow in the cool October air. The berries will be left for the birds and animals that call the state park off Double Trouble Road home. It's a situation that state Department of Environmental Protection officials are hoping is temporary. "We plan to work on finding …
Mary Fisher
11:09 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Yes, I remember reading this story, and today I still cry over it, such a wonderful dog, lily, and a wonderful daughter, so glad she has her home with you, prayers still surround all of you, you all have been blessed! more ›