Streets - See

Continued From Page 1 clean-up appeared representative of the times. It was not something the original organizers thought of as a concern when they fi rst advocated for the program in 2019. “We all found a lot of masks on the ground,” said Nora Hansen, a Barnegat High School junior. “They were the one thing that kept popping up over and over again.” Hansen and Jenna Marcy were just entering their freshman year at Barnegat High School when they made a presentation to the local township committee regarding their desire to create an Adopt-a-Street program. They did so with the help of Michele Cucinotta, who once acted as their school guidance counselor. Barnegat High School junior Skylar Dasti joined the two program originators as a leader soon after the Township Committee formally approved the Adopt-a-Street plans. The three returned to appear before the local government in September of this year. Deputy Mayor Al Cirulli, the township liaison, commended the students on their eff orts. He also gained assurances the three were training others to take their place when they graduate from high school. “This is what makes Barnegat great,” said Mayor Al Bille. “Whether it’s the little things or the big things, this is what makes Barnegat great.” The Adopt-a-Street program schedules clean-ups in both spring and fall and hopes to plan others. Children must be accompanied by adults and all are required to complete registration forms. Upon completion, bags are left at street corners for collection by the Department of Public Works. The Barnegat Police Department is aware of the program and continues its regular patrol to ensure that it is safe. One new feature added to this year’s Adopt-a-Street event involved data collection. Michele Cucinotta’s role within the Barnegat School District has changed to the K-8 Student Assistance Coordijerseyshoreonline.com nator/Drug Free Community Support Coordinator. She actively participates in the Communities that Cares program and asked volunteers to record certain items they came across. “I had at least six groups report to me they found little alcohol nip bottles,” Cucinotta shared. “And, an assortment of fl avored vapes thrown on the ground as well.” According to Cucinotta, future events may include an expansion of the program to include local parks. One mother said that she tries to pick up trash she fi nds when she visits Project Playground and expressed her willingness to help with that aspect of cleaning up the town. Another mom called with a similar desire to assist.

Daughter Charged In LBI Double Murder Claims To Be Framed

By Alyssa Riccardi

SURF CITY – A woman who was arrested for murdering her father and his girlfriend in their Surf City home claims she was “being framed” after she appeared before a judge in Pennsylvania, according to a news report. Sherry Lee Heff ernan, 55, of Landenberg, Pennsylvania, was charged with two counts of Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of Weapon after police arrested her for the deaths of John Enders, 87, of Surf City, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, of Manchester. Police had found Enders and Pitoy dead with multiple stab wounds on October 3. The next day, Heff ernan was arrested at her Pennsylvania home. On Friday, Heff ernan appeared before a Chester County judge and agreed to waive her rights regarding extradition, the Daily Local News of West Chester reported. “I would have surrendered myself in New Jersey if I had known I was wanted for something,” Heff ernan told a Pennsylvania judge. According to the report, when asked if she wanted to comment on the charges, Heffernan told the reporter, “Not guilty…I’m being framed.” A neighbor of Enders’ told police how Heff ernan was a real estate agent and became “disgruntled” after Enders did not let her sell his house, according to documents that were released last week. Police also stated how Heff ernan went to the Surf City home in an RV in the middle of the night and left behind a bloody crime scene. The Pennsylvania State Police had found several spots of suspected blood inside her vehicle. Heff ernan has to face criminal charges for retail theft and receiving stolen property in Montgomery County before returning to New Jersey. According to the report, she did not appear for hearings for an October 2019 arrest by Upper Providence police.

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