🌱 Patch AM: Asbury Park Man Charged In 'Operation Bad Santa' Of Alleged Online Child Luring

Hi there, Asbury Park! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Asbury Park man among 12 charged in child-luring sting

Also on today's calendar: New Years Eve 2026- A New World 4 a New Year and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and windy, with a high of 46 and low of 31 degrees.
• Thursday: Breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 46, low: 26.
• Friday: Colder; snow in the afternoon, with a high of 33 and low of 30 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Asbury Park Man Charged In 'Operation Bad Santa' Of Alleged Online Child Luring (patch.com) — Asbury Park readers are learning that a 53-year-old city resident is among 12 men charged in a countywide sting targeting alleged online child luring, dubbed “Operation Bad Santa.” Prosecutors say undercover officers posed as minors, and the suspects were arrested when they arrived at a decoy residence, highlighting ongoing regional efforts to combat online child exploitation.
   

📸 Around Asbury Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Asbury Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday December 26

• Asbury Park Spring Bazaar 2025
  Asbury Park Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Ave N unit c-4, Asbury Park
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 25

• Library Closed
  Asbury Park Public Library , 500 First Avenue , Asbury Park
• Recycling Center Closed
  Asbury Park Recycling Center , 9 Main Street , Asbury Park
• City Hall Closed
  City Hall , 1 Municipal Plaza , Asbury Park

Friday December 26

• What A Wonderful Year Music Festival 2Day Pass
  Wonder Bar , 1213 Ocean Ave N , Asbury Park
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• City Vision Concert
  Asbury Park Brewery , 614 Cookman Ave Suite 1 , Asbury Park
  7:00 pm

Sunday December 28

• Asbury Park Spring Bazaar 2025
  Asbury Park Convention Hall , 1300 Ocean Ave N unit c-4 , Asbury Park
  12:00 pm
• 2025 What A Wonderful Year Music Festival - Sunday
  Wonder Bar , 1213 Ocean Ave N , Asbury Park
  5:00 pm

Wednesday December 31

• New Years Eve 2026- A New World 4 a New Year
  Asbury Lanes , 209 4th Ave , Asbury Park
  8:00 pm

📣 Asbury Park Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes
  Pagano's Uva Restaurant , 800 Main St , Bradley Beach
  2:00 pm
• Chess Club
  Spring Lake Borough Spring Lake, NJ 07762
  3:00 pm
• Sound of Ascension Crystal Bowl Meditation
  With Intentions Holistic Studio , 1700 Main St STE 101 , Lake Como
  7:00 pm
• Rec Basketball
  Spring Lake Borough Spring Lake, NJ 07762
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Asbury Park PatchAM possible:

• The NJ Paddock Car Storage Facility — (732) 278-3255
  Now accepting Spring and Annual Storage reservations
• Blossom (Divorce) Coaching, LLC — (201) 903-0240
  Divorce Support and Recovery Group
• Brookdale Community College — (732) 224-1857
  Be Supported, Be Successful, and Be Brookdale
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Dogtopia of Shrewsbury — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• As I announced at tonight’s Township Committee meeting, Neptune Township will be forming an Arts Committee.
  The Neptune Township Arts Committee will be a resident-driven body focused on fostering creativity, enhancing neighborhood character, and supporting… (Nextdoor Steiner / Sylvania)
• Merry Christmas & Season's Greetings from the City of Asbury Park
  Wednesday, December 24, 2025 • Library closed Thursday, December 25, 2025 • City Hall, Library and Recycling Center closed • No garbage or recycling… (Nextdoor )

• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Neptune. Apply here.
• Miller's Ale House posted a job opening for Cook in Oakhurst. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Asbury Park here.

🗞 Nearby News

Ocean

• Ocean County Man Tried To Lure Child For Sex, Prosecutor Says (patch.com)
• Trump team pauses wind projects, including one off Jersey Shore (app.com)
• 'All Was Right in the New Jersey Surf World Again" (surfer.com)

Belmar

• Borough of Belmar Seeks Human Resources Manager to Lead Municipal Personnel Operations (tapinto.net)
• Belmar Builders See Relief as New Inspection Scheduling Law Takes Effect (tapinto.net)
• No. 13 St. Thomas Aquinas defeats Thrive Charter in Shore Games (nj.com)

Wall

Ok Asbury Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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