Good News: Monmouth County 2024 Year In Review

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — As 2024 comes to a close, we’re looking back at some of this year’s most heartwarming stories throughout Monmouth County.

Whether a resident hit the jackpot with the NJ Lottery, a community came together to support someone else, or a local business was featured on TV, here are some good things that happened throughout Monmouth County this year.

Support Soars For NJ Teen After Saving Siblings From Fiery Car
After a local teenager saved her siblings’ lives when their car went up in flames on Route 18, the community rallied donations to replace the family’s lost school supplies, clothes and more.

New Bruce Springsteen Movie Seeks NJ Residents As Extras
This year, New Jersey residents got the chance to be part of music history and star as extras in Bruce Springsteen’s upcoming biopic “Deliver Me From Nowhere.”

Colts Neck General Store & Deli Celebrates 175 Years
The Colts Neck General Store has been described by some as the heart of the Colts Neck community. This year, the store celebrated 175 years with residents.

Hazlet Community Unites To Honor Girl Who Died In House Fire
In January 2023, Hazlet residents Jacqueline and Madelyn Montanaro passed away in a house fire. This September, the town renamed Brookside Park in Madelyn’s honor, as the young girl visited the park frequently and enjoyed playing there with her sister and friends.

Olde Silver Tavern Celebrates First Anniversary Since Re-Opening
When Olde Silver Tavern closed in 2009 after suffering damages from a fire, the restaurant wasn’t sure when they’d be able to re-open. This September, the tavern officially returned to the Manalapan community.

IMA Patients Help Spread Holiday Cheer To Middletown Helps Its Own
For the seventh year in a row, IMA Urgent Care/Primary Care hosted an annual toy drive for Middletown Helps Its Own and Toys for Tots.

Marlboro Resident Donates 250 Thanksgiving Meals To Single Moms
Nicole Guzzardi knows what it’s like to provide for your family as a single mom during the holidays. So this November, she donated over 250 Thanksgiving meal items to single moms throughout the community with her organization, the S.M.A.R.T. Foundation.

$1.3M Winning Lottery Ticket Sold In Monmouth County
In November, one lucky winner hit the jackpot and took home $1,308,245 after visiting a Wawa in Freehold.

Ready, Set, Glow: Meet The Monmouth County Family Set To Be Featured On Hallmark+
This holiday season, one Hazlet family got the opportunity of a lifetime to be featured on the Hallmark+ show “Ready, Set, Glow” which highlighted their annual holiday lights display.

Asbury Park BBQ Spot Will Appear On 'Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives'
In other TV news, the Mayor of Flavortown featured this local barbeque spot on his show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

Dave Portnoy Reviews Old Bridge, Aberdeen, Hazlet Pizzerias
New Jersey is known for its pizza, and this year, three Monmouth County pizzerias got a special visit from Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports, who sampled and reviewed pizza from each location.

Winner Now Emerges For $1.12 Billion Lottery Ticket Sold At Neptune ShopRite
There’s been no shortage of lottery wins throughout Monmouth County in 2024, and just a week ago, this Neptune ShopRite sold a ticket to the largest jackpot ever won in New Jersey.

Rook Coffee Raises $14,362 For Big Brothers, Big Sisters Of NJ
This year, Rook Coffee raised and donated $14,362 to the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey to support children in need.

Belmar Firefighters Save Seagull Stuck In Fishing Wire In Tree
Earlier this month, Belmar Firefighters saved a seagull stuck in a tree and crying for help. The seagull was rescued and brought to the Monmouth County SCPA Headquarters for treatment.

Little Free Library Donated To Wall's Community Park In Honor Of Girl Who Died
In November, Wall’s Community Park unveiled the little free library donated by the Schwartz Family and “Love From Lydia” non-profit in honor of Lydia Schwartz, who passed away in December 2022.

Colts Neck Teen Starts Tennis Ball Recycling Program
Colts Neck resident Richard Ecklord has always loved playing tennis. But when Ecklord noticed how many discarded tennis balls filled the courts he played at, he decided to start his own program to recycle discarded tennis balls and turn them into new courts, turf and more.