DUI Lawyers in Brick, NJ

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township School District is applying for a state program it hopes will garner more state funding for the 2025-26 school budget.

The Tax Levy Incentive Aid program, part of the state's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, is open to districts whose spending is under adequacy — meaning they are not spending what the state says they should be to provide a thorough and efficient education as mandated by the New Jersey Constitution — and whose property tax levy is below the local fair share.

The Brick Township schools meet both of these criteria. The $166 million tentative budget is $28 million below adequacy, and its property tax levy is $40 million below its local fair share, according to the state Department of Education.

A resolution approved Monday night by the Brick Township Board of Education seeks approval from the state to increase its expenditures "up to $5,500,000 to support operations that if not supported would have a negative impact on the district’s ability to satisfy the State thoroughness and efficiency standards," according to the agenda for the special meeting that was held.

The resolution says the district would be eligible under the program "to increase expenditures by $41,030,494 and qualify for Tax Levy Incentive Aid in the amount of $1,000,000."

The agenda includes a statement that the resolution "is not a vote to raise taxes but rather a vote to apply for additional revenues through a State tax levy incentive program."

Details about the Tax Levy Incentive Aid program could not be located on the state's websites on Monday evening, however a report by TapInto on the East Brunswick School District says the program would allow qualifying districts to get additional funding through a one-time exception to the 2 percent cap on tax levy increases. Districts that do so would receive additional aid from the state of 5 percent of the amount of the adjustment for the 2025-26 budget year, according to that report.

A notice published by the Collingswood School District to its residents includes a similar description of the program.

The Brick Schools would need approval from the state before they could move forward with the adjustment in the tax levy.

The board has a public hearing on the 2025-26 budget set for 7 p.m. April 28 at the Professional Development Center on Hendrickson Boulevard.

Read more: $166M Tentative Budget OK'd For Brick Schools

Specialty breakfast restaurants are popular these days.

An eatery with dozens of locations in PA and NJ is expanding its footprint in Jersey.

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Two breakfast joints have blown up in the state recently.

First, there's Turning Point. This chain has become a staple in the state for elevating breakfast.

They have locations in Brick, Cherry Hill, Hoboken, Holmdel, Little Silver, Long Branch, Manalapan, Marlton, Moorestown, Morris Township, Ocean Township, Old Bridge, Paramus, Princeton, Sea Girt, two locations in Toms River, and Westfield.

While breakfast is Turning Point's main attraction, the restaurant also offers a lunch menu with delicious wraps and other offerings.

ALSO READ: Popular Burger Restaurant With Brick Location Announces Closures

The other breakfast spot that everybody raves about is the over-the-top Brownstone Pancake Factory.

Brownstone is a family dream come to life that started with one location in Edgewater.

This franchise has significantly grown, with eateries now in Brick, Freehold, and Englewood Cliffs. There's even a Brownstone food truck.

The next big breakfast destination is coming soon, Brick, which already has a Turning Point and Brownstone Pancake Factory.

With so many New Jersey and Pennsylvania locations, there's a good chance that you've dined here before.

Have you ever tried First Watch?

They are in Cherry Hill, Sicklerville, Union, Sewell, Eatontown, and Morris Plains.

READ MORE: The Prices of These Items in Brick Are About to Skyrocket

First Watch puts a massive priority on fresh ingredients. Their website says:

Just as we greet each morning with the sunrise, we welcome each season into the First Watch menu with ingredients and flavors inspired by the position of the sun. That’s why on our menu you’ll find vibrant, green California-grown asparagus in April, or the most refreshing Florida watermelon in July, or tender, sweet yellow corn from the midwest in August.

They lean heavily on healthy options, but there are plenty of ways to splurge and satisfy your sweet tooth.

First Watch Brick is scheduled to open on April 21 at Brick Commons next to Old Navy.

LOOK: Popular Dinners Americans Don’t Make as Often Anymore

From classic casseroles to heaping helpings of beige-on-beige, these beloved American dinner dishes have fallen out of the mealtime rotation.

The event is designed for LEGO fans of all ages and attendees can enjoy hands-on attractions and activities.

Patch Staff

EDISON, NJ – LEGO lovers, mark your calendars. Brick Fest Live is coming to Edison on April 26-27.

The can’t-miss experience for young LEGO and brick-building fans visits the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center.

Brick Fest Live is all-in on imagination with stations and attractions designed to inspire creativity and play.

It is a family-friendly, live event focused on LEGO bricks, offering hands-on attractions, activities, and opportunities to inspire, educate, and entertain LEGO enthusiasts of all ages.

Families can get hands-on with different brick challenges throughout the event as well as explore community collab builds and master creations from all over the world.

Find out what's happening in Edison-Metuchenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Families can get 30 percent off tickets online in advance with the promo code BFL30 at www.brickfestlive.com.

Little brick builders won’t want to miss these highlights:

Founded a decade ago by LEGO-loving dad Chad Collins, who was inspired by his own children’s love of building, Brick Fest Live was created to build family connections through collaborative play.

“At Brick Fest Live, families build together to accomplish their goals and find creative solutions—all while inspiring the next generation of artists, engineers and leaders,” said Brick Fest Live COO Joe Boerner.

Here are the timings:

For tickets and more information, visit: http://www.brickfestlive.com/ . Paid admission starts at $20 for attendees ages 3+ / children 2 and under are free.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

BRICK -- Hobby Lobby is set to move into the former Christmas Tree Shops store on Route 70, the arts and craft retailer's first store in Ocean County.

Hobby Lobby has signed a lease for the 50,000-square-foot anchor store at the Marketplace at Brick, said Joseph Morris, executive vice president of Edgewood Properties. The store has been vacant since Christmas Tree Shops closed all of its stores in mid 2023.

Morris said he was "thrilled to have them join us."

"Brick was one of the (if not THE) best Christmas Tree Shops in their chain and the most requested tenant was Hobby Lobby," he wrote in a text message to What's Going There, adding Hobby Lobby is "a perfect fit."

A Hobby Lobby representative could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Hobby Lobby is expanding at the Jersey Shore. In late December, it opened a new store on Route 66 in Neptune. Another store is planned for the Freehold Mall shopping center on Route 9 in Freehold Township. Its other existing stores are in Holmdel, Marlboro and Howell.

David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 27 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.

BRICK, NJ — The Mantoloking Road Playhouse opens its doors this weekend celebrating community theater in Brick.

The new theater provides a permanent home for the Brick Children's Community Theatre troupe, which kicks off its 33rd season of performances with "Frozen Jr." followed later in March by a grand opening gala featuring troupe alumnus and Brick native Remember Jones.

The theatre company, which got its start in the home of a theatre-loving Brick resident and director Heather Campagno, has been through many transitions over the years, including moving its operation outdoors with its Theatre in the Park series during the coronavirus pandemic.

The venue was the passion project of the Zarrilli family, who have been involved with the Brick Children's Community Theatre group for 15 years. Kendra Zarrilli (now the group's president) and Anthony Zarrilli (who owns Zarrilli Homes) became involved when their then 3-year-old daughter wanted to take her love for family room performing to the next level and participate in "a real performance," and was soon joined by her twin sister.

The theatre group long dreamed of having a permanent home, but the need became a necessity after the pandemic when Brick Children's Community Theatre could no longer use its prior venue, the group said. They went through "quite a few venues," Kendra Zarrilli said, but struggled with distance and scheduling hurdles.

Find out what's happening in Brickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

For the Zarrillis, it was the perfect way to give back to the community theatre group that has become such a big part of their lives, she said.

A former boatyard at 266 Mantoloking Road has been transformed into the theatre venue. It has seating for 120 patrons to easily view the stage and combines the experience of a larger theater in a smaller, more intimate space. The theatre has 20-foot ceilings, a 20-foot by 40-foot stage, high-tech LED stage lighting and projections, and acoustics designed to maximize the experience. The Zarrillis invested $2.4 million into the transformation, according to the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

The building also provides space for the theatre group's entire operations, including classes, set construction and storage for the extensive collection of props and costumes. In the past, the props and costumes were stored wherever they could find space. Kendra Zarrilli shared in 2023 how the props and puppets for "Finding Nemo Jr." took over her in garage. That show led to a viral TikTok that was shared and dueted thousands of times. Read more: 'Where's My Dad?' TikTok Trend Spawned By Brick Theatre Group's 'Finding Nemo Jr.' Promo

The Mantoloking Road Playhouse also will be open for other performing arts groups and performances, such as music shows, small recitals and stand-up comedians.

"In the past, many of Brick’s arts performances had to be pushed to other venues in neighboring towns. With the Playhouse around, they no longer have to do this," Kendra Zarrilli said.

Kendra Zarrilli said "Frozen Jr." is sold out, but tickets are still available for the Grand Opening Gala on March 21 at 7 p.m. Gala tickets can be purchased online.

The Brick Children's Community Theatre, which has performed more than 90 shows over its years, has several other performances on its 2025 slate, including "Beetlejuice Jr." and "Finding Nemo Jr." in May, "Aladdin Jr." in August (scheduled for the Grunin Center for Performing Arts at Ocean County College in Toms River), and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr." set for December.

Those interested in renting the venue or performing can send an email to info@mantolokingroadplayhouse.com.