A 20-year-old Branchburg man has been charged in the killings, authorities say.

Ezra Simon-Daniels (Courtesy of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office) 

BRANCHBURG -- The weapon investigators suspect was used to kill the elderly township couple found beaten to death Saturday has been identified as an aluminum baseball bat, according to a release by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

Investigators discovered the bat inside the Readington Road home of Louis Simon, 78, and Betty Simon, 65, shortly after their bodies were discovered early Saturday morning by Readington and Branchburg police, the release states.

Authorities have charged Ezra Simon-Daniels, 20, of Branchburg, with two counts of homicide in connection to the killings.

According to the release, Simon-Daniels was arrested Saturday after making a "distraught" 911 call at approximately 5:57 a.m. alerting authorities of his whereabouts.

Readington police later discovered Simon-Daniels covered in blood and sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle parked at a Branchburg Walmart, authorities said in the release.

http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2016/02/20-year-old_charged_in_somerset_county_double-homi.html

Investigators conducting a welfare-check at the home of Louis and Betty Simon later found both dead lying inside their bed, the release states. Both suffered "significant" blunt force trauma to their heads, authorities said.

The exact cause of death will be released pending an investigation by New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiners Office, the release states. Additional details of the killings were not immediately made available.

Following his arrest, Simon-Daniels  was transferred into custody at the Somerset County Jail, where he remains on $2,000,000 bail.

An investigation into the killings by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is ongoing.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Several Somerset school districts announced delayed openings for Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016.

Due to the Presidents Day winter storm that blanketed Somerset County, school districts throughout the county have announced delayed openings for Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016.

The following schools are operating on a delay as of 6 a.m. Tuesday:

• Bound Brook, 90-minute delay
• Branchburg Public Schools, delayed start
• Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, two-hour delay
• Central Jersey College Prep Charter School, 90-minute delay
• Franklin Township, 90-minute delay
• Immaculata High School, two-hour delay
• Hillsborough, two-hour delay
• Manville, two-hour delay
• Midland School, 90-minute delay
• Montgomery, two-hour delay
• Somerset Hills Regional School District, delayed start
• Somerville Public Schools, delayed start
• South Bound Brook Public Schools, delayed start
• Watchung, delayed start
• Raritan Valley Community College, delayed start at 10 a.m.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' National Response Team are leading the investigation into the massive Hillsborough warehouse fire. Watch video

HILLSBOROUGH -- Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' National Response Team are leading a joint investigation into the massive blaze that destroyed two warehouses at Veterans Industrial Park on Route 206.

The fire burned for over 24 hours from Thursday afternoon into Friday night. The team, activated Saturday, has self-contained response vehicles that allow for forensic examination at fire scenes, according to a news release.

Damage to the buildings at the Veterans Industrial Center is estimated at several million dollars, the ATF reported.

The fire started at about 3:50 p.m. Thursday and burned through the night before it was contained Friday morning. Hot spots were still being put out Saturday morning. The five-alarm fire drew more than 30 different fire companies from five counties, and involved more than 200 emergency vehicles.

Fire was an inferno from the start

National Response Team personnel and agents from the ATF Newark Field Division on Monday are at the site of the fire and will lead the investigation along with the Hillsborough Township Fire Marshals, the Hillsborough Township Police Department, the New Jersey State Division of Fire Safety, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

They will reconstruct the scene, identify the origin of the fire, and determine the cause, according to the news release. A team generally has two components: A group that processes the scene and an investigative element.

The team's primary mission is to provide ATF explosives and fire investigative resources and expertise on large-scale incidents, or on more complex investigations because of the size, scope, or number of victims.

Sprinklers, hydrants to blame at blaze

The team is comprised of veteran special agents, including certified explosives specialists, certified fire investigators, forensic mapping specialists, accelerant and explosives detection canine teams, explosives enforcement officers, fire protection engineers, electrical engineers and forensic chemists.

Past events the team has been called in to investigate include:

• an explosion in West Texas that killed 14 people in 2013
• the 10 arsons at churches in Texas in 2010
• a commercial fire in Charleston, S.C. that killed nine firefighters in 2007
• national-level incidents such as the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon, the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, the Oklahoma City bombing and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

The ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson.

A Manville organization has turned to Gofundme to raise money for a community dinner to thank firefighters for their efforts battling a warehouse blaze in Hillsborough. Watch video

HILLSBOROUGH -- A local organization has turned to Gofundme to raise money for a thank you dinner for those who spent over 24 hours battling a warehouse blaze in the township from Thursday afternoon into Friday evening.

Charity Events Group, started by Manville resident Derek Basista, is organizing the community dinner to honor and thank them.

"We were on the right track when we thought the dinner was for 200 to 300 firefighters," Basista said. "However, after speaking with the Somerset County Fire Coordinator (Doug Rue), we realized the count was well above that, of 500 firefighters."

The warehouse blaze at Veterans Industrial Park on Route 206 drew hundreds of firefighters from 30 towns in Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris and Warren counties. The fire started Thursday afternoon and continued into Friday evening. Hot spots were still being extinguished on Saturday.

Warehouse fire was an inferno from start

"We feel as if this event would help bring a little spirit and love back into the hearts of many after this horrific event took place," Basista said on the Gofundme stie he's launched to raise funds for the event.

"We will never have all the words to say 'thank you,' but we hope in some way by bringing in the countless people who helped keep this fire under control we can share a night of great food, music and friendships," he said. "Without these brave men and woman, we could have lost so much more."

Hillsborough Chief Fire Marshall Chris Weniger said the warehouse fire was the biggest blaze he had ever faced.

"We didn't arrive at a small fire and it grew," Weniger, the township's chief fire marshal for the past 18 years, told NJ Advance Media Saturday. "We arrived at a large fire. Also, the wind was a big factor.

"Within the boundaries of Somerset County, I can't think of a larger fire. Just the sheer size of it. And the fact we had so many challenges with the weather, the wind, the water supply wasn't the best."

Basista is hoping to raise $10,000 by the end of March. The date of the dinner depends on where it will be held.

Fire damage runs into millions

"We will be meeting with Pines Manor tomorrow in hopes that they can hold the amount of people we are looking to invite," he said Tuesday. "If the venue can indeed hold our number, the event would take place there."

If they can't accommodate the crowd, "we are looking to hold the event at Station 38 (firehouse) off Woods Road in Hillsborough," Basista said.

Tentative dates are Friday, April 1, if it can be held at Pines Manor or the second Saturday in May if it is held at the firehouse.

Any proceeds raised that are not used for the dinner will be donated to the counties who responded to the fire, Basista said. "They will determine the best use of the funds," he said.

By Tuesday morning the site had raised $1,330.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.

Members of the Bound Brook Presbyterian Church share their story after surviving a 64-vehicle crash on I-78 that killed three people Saturday morning in central Pennsylvania.

BOUND BROOK -- Eight members of the Bound Brook Presbyterian Church are recuperating after surviving a 64-vehicle crash on I-78 in central Pennsylvania that killed three people, including a Bridgewater resident, Saturday morning.

While one woman in the group suffered a broken vertebra in her neck and a broken arm, the seven others, who were in two separate vehicles, made it out of the accident with bruises, scrapes and other minor injuries.

The group was traveling to West Virginia for the church's annual winter Appalachia Service Project, bringing tools and other supplies to repair the homes of families in need.

"It's astounding that they all made it out," said Pastor Nancy Birdsong, who was able to visit the group on Saturday in Harrisburg following the crash. "These are all people who were worried about everyone else in the accident. They are blessed to be alive, and they're only concerned about those who didn't survive."

Birdsong declined to provide the name of those traveling with the group.

N.J. woman killed in I-78 wreck

The winter Appalachia Service Project will not be rescheduled and the church is now looking to help the organization financially instead, Birdsong said.

Church members also traveled out to salvage the items being transported by the group.

"Everyone is fine, and that's the good thing," said John Almendinger of Dunellen, who was involved in the pileup. "It's hard to describe, but everyone in this church is family, and everyone has been helping out, asking how we're doing and helping get the items back. I'm just so thankful."

The Bound Brook Presbyterian Church has participated in the Appalachia Service Project with its youth groups of more than 80 teens and chaperones for 15 years, and Birdsong said it's unfortunate the group will have to wait until the next trip in the summer to continue their good work.

"It's more than helping rebuild these homes. They learn a lot from those they serve, and the people out there have great faith and strength," she said.

The crash sent more than 70 people to the hospital according to Pennsylvania State Police, and Francisca V. Pear, 54, of Bridgewater, Kenneth J. Lesko, 50, of Bethpage, N.Y., and Alfred Dean Kinnick, 57, of Limestone, Tenn. were pronounced dead at the scene.

Drivers in I-78 pileup describe whiteout

The major accident occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. on the westbound lanes of I-78 in Bethel Township, Pa., State Police said. Bethel is about 75 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

The wreckage from the pileup shut down both lanes of the highway overnight. The eastbound lanes of the interstate were reopened just before 5 a.m. on Sunday, followed by the westbound lanes at 7 a.m.

Initial reports indicated that a snow squall might have contributed to the crash, and the investigation may take up to a month.

Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook. 

Some storms could pack winds as strong as 50 to 60 mph, the National Weather Service said.

A line of storms packing heavy rain and strong winds is moving through New Jersey at this hour, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a series of severe thunderstorm warnings for most of the state.

Warnings were posted for southwestern sections of the state early Tuesday afternoon, followed by new warnings for most of central and northern New Jersey.

The warnings are effective through 2 p.m. for Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties. Another warning is effective through 2:45 p.m. for Atlantic, Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. And a warning for Morris and Sussex is active through 3 p.m.

High winds leave thousands without power in N.J.

A thunderstorm moving into northern New Jersey at about 1:30 p.m. could bring winds as strong as 60 mph, the weather service said.

The state Department of Transportation has reported numerous downed trees, utility poles and wires this afternoon.

A flood advisory is in effect for much of the state, through 5:15 p.m., because of the heavy rain combined with the recent snow melt. The weather service is urging motorists not to drive any vehicles on water-covered roads.

Incredible image from AccuTrack radar - tracking some very heavy rain across NY, NJ and PA https://t.co/rtU7jGnoeG pic.twitter.com/tJntI0VXwd

-- Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) February 16, 2016

"The water depth may be too great to allow your car to cross safely," the weather service said in its flood advisory. "Move to higher ground."

A flood advisory means river or stream flows are elevated, or ponding of water in some areas is either occurring now or is imminent.

Ezra Simon-Daniels was appointed a public defender during his first appearance in Somerset County Superior Court on Tuesday. Watch video

BRANCHBURG -- Speaking in a low, barely-audible voice, Ezra Simon-Daniels made his first appearance in Somerset County Superior Court Tuesday after being charged with two counts of murder in the bludgeoning deaths of his grandparents.

Simon-Daniels, 20, entered the courtroom with his hands cuffed in front of him. The slightly-built and youthful-looking Simon Daniels kept his head down and closed his eyes for much of the hearing while a Somerset County Sheriff's officer stood within with a foot of him.

Simon-Daniels is accused of beating Louis Simon, 78, and Beatrice Simon, 65, to death with a baseball bat in the Branchburg home they shared. The couple was found dead in their bed early Saturday.

During his first court appearance Tuesday, Simon-Daniels quietly responded "yes" when asked by Superior Court Judge Kathy C. Qasim if he is a U.S. citizen and if he understands English. He said "no" when asked if he wanted the complaint against him read in open court. Simon-Daniels was appointed a public defender and will have a plea hearing at a future date.

Assistant prosecutor Lauren Martinez represented the state at the first appearance.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office confirmed Tuesday that Louis Simon, 78, and his wife, Beatrice Simon, 65, were the victims. Capt. Jack Bennett, spokesman for the prosecutor's office, also confirmed that the elderly couple is Simon-Daniels' grandparents and that he lived with them.

Photos: Authorities investigate scene of double homicide

Police recovered the aluminum baseball bat believed used in the killing at the top of the stairs in the Readington Road home.

Simon-Daniels was arrested Saturday after making a "distraught" 911 call at approximately 5:57 a.m. from the parking lot of a Hunterdon County Wal-Mart.

Readington Township police found Simon-Daniels in the driver's seat of a vehicle covered in blood. He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, but no shoes, according to an affidavit released Tuesday.

Couple attacked with baseball bat

Branchburg and Readington police responded to the residence and found the couple dead in the bedroom of their home. Both suffered "significant" blunt force trauma to their heads, authorities said.

Simon-Daniels has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and third-degree possession of a weapon. He is currently being held in Somerset County Jail on $2 million bail.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Police was initially unable to locate the victim but found him when a local hospital called to report a gunshot victim.

Franklin police investigating President's Day shooting in the Somerset section of the township. (File photo)

FRANKLIN -- Police are investigating a shooting that took place in the early morning hours on President's Day in the Somerset section of the township.

The victim, a 26-year-old man from New Brunswick, was found at a local hospital where he had been driven by a friend after the shooting, authorities reported Tuesday.

He had been shot twice, once in his hand and one in the torso.

According to authorities, township police received a 9-1-1 call Monday at approximately 12:39 a.m. that a person had been shot on Ambrose Street. Police found a small pool of blood and were later notified by a local area hospital that a gunshot victim, who had just arrived, was being treated. Authorities did not name the hospital.

Officers confirmed the gunshot victim was the same who had been shot on Ambrose Street. His injuries do not appear to be life threatening, authorities said.

Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers' Tip Line at 1-888-577-8477 or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either "Crime Stoppers" or "TIPS HOTLINE".

All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Teen challenged his being ruled a delinquent, placed on three years probation and forced to register under Megan's Law.

RARITAN -- A New Jersey appellate court upheld an earlier decision to rule a teen delinquent after he grabbed and molested a woman in front of her three children as they entered a gym in 2013.

The teen, referred to in court documents by the initials T.T., argued that he was traumatized by watching a pornographic movie two years before the incident and it left him with uncontrollable urges.

A two-judge panel, however, rejected the teen's appeal in a ruling handed up on Feb. 11.

If he had been tried as an adult, the court stated, he would have been found guilty of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Because he was under 18, he was ruled a delinquent. He had also pleaded guilty to two other incidents involving women in 2013.

On April 1, 2013, according to court documents, the teen, wearing a maroon hoodie, came up from behind and molested the woman. While the victim's two youngest children, ages 7 and 4, "froze,"  her 9-year-old yelled "get off my mom" and the teen ran away, court documents showed.

During questioning at Raritan police headquarters with his father present, the teen told police he had grabbed a woman near her stomach area and rubbed himself against her buttocks. The teen claimed that when he first saw the woman, memory of a porn film he had seen two years earlier raced to his mind and he acted, according to court documents.

The woman told the court that her children have been traumatized by the incident and do not want to go near the gym where the attack happened.

In upholding the delinquent ruling, the court rejected the teen's argument that the evidence doesn't support the charges he faced, that his statements immediately after the incident should've been suppressed because they were given involuntarily and that evidence don't support the three-year probation term and registration under Megan's Law that he must serve.

He was required to register under Megan's Law because of the endangering the welfare of a child charge, the court wrote.

"We are not persuaded by any of T.T.'s arguments and affirm (the ruling)," the court stated.

It wasn't the first time the teen made inappropriate contact with a woman.

On March 20, 2013, the teen ran up behind a woman in a CVS parking lot in Manville and grabbed her back pocket. He pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sexual contact, according to the court documents.

On June 15, 2013, the teen approached a woman in a pedestrian tunnel in Manville and grabbed her around the waist and rubbed his crotch up against her buttocks. He pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact in that incident, court documents show.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com.Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

She likes country; he likes modern, but they settled on a space that suits them both.

N.J. Home Makeover is a new feature on NJ.com. To submit your renovation for consideration, email home@starledger.com with your full name, email address, phone number and town/city. Attach "before" and "after" photos of what you renovated.

The place that becomes home after a divorce often reflects a need to rediscover aspects of one's self that may have been lost in coupling.

For Laura, a cheerful event planner who asked that her last name not be used, a 1,250-square-foot condo in Bedminster would celebrate single life and her passions as a dressage equestrian rider with a taste for country furnishings and ultra-girly pastels and florals.

Then the devoted horsewoman met Kurt, and after a three-year courtship, two divorcees realized they had found love again. But each had the accumulated possessions of their previous adult households, and it seemed like an insurmountable challenge to bring their things together harmoniously.

"We decided that this would be the better place for us to live," Laura said of the two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo where she had lived for five years before they met. "I had it decorated the way I liked it, and he had this giant painting." They needed to find a place for the 6-foot-by-4-foot abstract scene that reminds them of a river running through a forest. "To try to blend it with what I had was impossible," Laura said.

Kurt did not want to feel like a guest in a place that would become their shared home.

"I really wanted the place to be a representation of both of our personalities,"  said Kurt, who is in finance and has an artistic side that is attracted to modern furnishings and abstract images. The goal for their home, he said, was to respect their individual tastes while finding a way to blend them.

"We just had no idea how to do that," Laura said. "Mine was so country and horsey. His was so stark modern."

So they began to seek professional guidance. After interviewing a few interior designers, they settled on Theresa Ogando of Ogando Partners Interior Design. They liked her can-do spirit and the solutions she proposed. The dining room had one long wall, and on it Ogando envisioned both a place for the painting and sorely needed storage.

The renovation

"She sketched it out for us, and we loved it," Laura said. So Ogando called in Jeff Baumann to build custom cabinets with a niche between them for the painting.

"What she did was to paint the wall between the cabinets to act as a frame for the painting," Laura said of the bright blue border that, along with gallery lighting, helps highlight the artwork.

The new cabinetry, which features two glass doors, makes room for barware and serving pieces, freeing up space in kitchen cabinets where they had previously been kept. Ogando also picked out four chandeliers from which the couple made their selection.

The dining room has an imposing closet that Ogando felt was misplaced and wanted to modify to improve ease of movement through a small space. The couple decided to hold off on moving walls, but Ogando had other solutions to improve storage in the 1980s home, including replacing sliding closet doors with double doors in the bedrooms.

Aside from finding space for the painting and maximizing storage, the project involved updating the living room and a shared home office.

The couple shopped for furnishings with guidelines from Ogando, who specified measurements for the sofa and suggested a round coffee table. They were advised to consult her before making any purchase to be sure everything would blend well.

The living room would need large artwork to help balance its high ceilings. An assemblage piece where Kurt combined sea glass and stained glass on a recycled glass panel was hung from a cathedral-style window for light-changing interest.

A shot of a Bird of Paradise flower and another of black-eyed Susans that Laura captured in a photography class at Leonard J. Buck Garden were enlarged to 11-by-14 inches and matted for 25-inch square Pottery Barn frames. The cost-effective decorating move also brings Laura's photographic interests into the room.

For the couple's shared office, Ogando placed three white filing cabinets along one wall and topped them with a thick slab of finished wood. That made a shared desk with room for chairs between the cabinets.

"We couldn't figure out how the two of us could be comfortable in there," Laura said of the new work space. "It's now very efficient for us."

The redesign made it possible for two people to live comfortably in a relatively small space, she said. Her horse-related art is displayed in a loft area, and the decor now includes elements that please her husband. "We each came to the marriage with our own art, furniture and strong opinions," she said. "Both of us learned a little bit more about the other's taste, and I think we grew from it."

What they renovated

Living room, dining room and home office

Who did the work

Ogando Partners acted as designer and project manager. Flooring was supplied and installed by Whitehouse Floors. The custom cabinetry is by Baumann Custom Woodworking

How long it took

May to August 2015

How much it cost

$40,000

Where they splurged

New hardwood floors in the dining room

How they saved

"Working with Theresa ensured that we were doing things right the first time," Laura said. The couple also decorated with their personal artwork and photography.

What they would have done differently

"We'd have begun the project earlier because our new home brings us so much pleasure," Laura said.

Kimberly L. Jackson may be reached at home@starledger.com. Find NJ.com Entertainment on Facebook.

Derek W. Monge told police that he has since removed videos of him having sex with the victim from a website.

Defendant has since moved to Florida. (File photo)

HILLSBOROUGH -- A former township man has been charged with two counts of third-degree invasion of privacy after he secretly video taped himself having sex with a woman and posted it on the internet.

Derek W. Monge, 21, who now lives in Florida, is alleged to have had a sexual relationship with a woman between June 1-30, 2015, video taping them having sex without her consent and posting the videos on a website.

On Jan 2, township police investigated an invasion of privacy allegation by the woman, according to an affidavit filed in Somerset County Superior Court.

Court rejects teen's porn claim

Police went to the website and discovered four videos of the victim that had been uploaded by the profile "Anonymous240" that showed Monge having sex with her. The videos, the only one uploaded using that profile, had been uploaded on Nov. 26, 2015, according to the affidavit.

Monge was contacted by police and allegedly told them that he had removed all of the videos from the website and he no longer had them, according to the affidavit. Police subsequently checked the website and the videos had been removed.

If convicted on both counts, Monge could face up to five years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine for each charge. He could also face an additional fine of up to $30,000 for each charge because he posted the videos online. 

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Louis P. Simon Sr. and Beatrice "Betty" Simon were found dead in their bedroom on Saturday. Their grandson has been charged in their killing

BRANCHBURG -- Funeral services will be held Saturday for Louis P. Simon Sr. and Beatrice "Betty" Simon, the elderly couple found beaten to death with an aluminum baseball bat in their Branchburg home last weekend.

Their grandson, Ezra Simon-Daniels, 20, was arrested Saturday and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He lived with his grandparents on Readington Road.

The couple, who were married for 45 years, are described in an obituary from Branchburg Funeral Home as engaging and family-oriented, doting on their four children and 11 grandchildren.

Louis P. Simon Sr., 78, was born in Hungary and immigrated to the United States in 1956, according to his obituary. He lived in Manhattan for 15 years before moving to Branchburg 39 years ago.

He was a self-employed engineer and inventor who specialized in the recycled plastics industry, in which he held multiple patents for machinery, materials and structures. Friends and colleagues referred to him as a "Mechanical Genius," according to his obituary.

Man accused in killing has first court hearing

Beatrice "Betty" Simon, 65, was born in Brooklyn and modeled with the Ford Modeling Agency in New York City for several years before moving to Branchburg. For the past 21 years, she worked for Verizon, according to her obituary.

Betty Simon was also a communicant with St. Ann R.C. Church, where she taught CCD for over 20 years.

Family was important to the couple, both of whom had engaging personalities and huge smiles, according to their obituaries. Betty loved to cook and host family gatherings. The couple enjoyed cruises, casinos and dinners and spending time with their children and grandchildren. They kept their home immaculate.

The couple is survived by two sons, Louis and his wife Suzan Simon of Oceanside California, and Paul and his wife Kathryn Simon of Flemington; two daughters, Erica and her husband Jason Vavrence of Lambertville, and Eva Simon of Flemington; and 11 grandchildren.

Memorial visitation will be held Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 US Highway 202 South, Branchburg.

Funeral services will start with a prayer at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home on Saturday followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral liturgy at St. Ann R.C. Church in Raritan. They will be buried at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Bridgewater.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

As the federal investigation into Hillsborough warehouse fire continues, some businesses at the complex are beginning to resume operations. Watch video

HILLSBOROUGH -- As agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives continue to investigate the cause of last week's massive fire at the Veterans Industrial Park warehouse complex off Route 206, some of the businesses there are reopening.

PSE&G spokeswoman Brooke Houston said Wednesday that electricity is back at much of the warehouse complex with the exception of some buildings near the warehouses where the fire began.

"Under direction from the ATF, a few buildings in the front area of the property will remain de-energized until further notice from the ATF," Houston said. "Electric service for all other customers was restored as of noon on Monday. Gas service is off to the entire complex and will remain off during the investigation."

ATF agents arrived on the site over the weekend and are now leading the investigation into the cause of the fire. The blaze began on Thursday afternoon and continued into Friday evening. Firefighters were still putting hot spots out on Saturday. Up to 500 firefighters from 30 departments in five counties responded to the fire.

Warehouse blaze being investigated by ATF

The ATF's National Response Team is working with the Hillsborough Township Fire Marshals, the Hillsborough Township Police Department, the New Jersey State Division of Fire Safety and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in investigating the fire and its cause.

Walter Kudron, public information officer for the ATF's Newark office, said it is not known when the agency will announce what caused the fire.  

Royal Cabinet Co., which designs and creates custom cabinets, is hoping to reopen soon.

"We survived the fire at the Veteran's Industrial Park last week and hope to be opened again by the end of this week," Paul McDonald stated on the company's website. "Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support."

Carlos Feliciano, senior vice president of production and business development at USA Container, Inc., which has 172,000-square-feet of warehouse space at the complex, said Wednesday that none of its space sustained damage.

More than 500 firefighters battle blaze

The fire was a couple hundred yards from Operation Shoebox New Jersey's headquarters, and staffers there overcame numerous challenges to hold its 11th anniversary event at the Manville VFW on Saturday. A post on the group's Facebook page said it was a close call, "with embers flying overhead and landing alongside our building."

A person contacted at PJ's Express declined to comment on the status of its operations at a complex.

New Jersey & Northern Railroad is listed as a tenant at the site, but company president Eyal Shapira said Wednesday the company ceased operations there nine years ago.

Firefighters worked 10- to 12-hour shifts with anywhere from 50 to 100 firefighters working at any one time to battle the blaze. Six to 10 ladders were operating at the peak of the fire.

By Friday morning, the fire at Veterans Industrial Park was contained to the two 240,000-square foot buildings initially involved at the four-building warehouse complex.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.

Bridgewater's NJ Center of Excellence will include multi-family homes, apartments, restaurants, offices, a supermarket, hotel and a health/wellness center.

The new owners of the former Sanofi campus in Bridgewater, pictured above, are looking to reinvent the site as a mixed-use town center. (Advance Realty)

BRIDGEWATER -- The Township Council has invited the public to comment on its proposed New Jersey Center of Excellence at Bridgewater during its meeting Thursday.

The meeting, being held at the Township Administration Building, will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The project is the biggest in the township since the construction of Bridgewater Commons Mall, which opened in 1988.

An ordinance was introduced at the Jan. 21 council meeting that, if adopted, will allow the acceptance of amendments to the Master Plan clearing the way for redevelopment of 62 acres of the 110-acre site.

The property, former known as Sanofi-Aventis and located at Route 202/206 and Route 287, was purchased by Advance Realty and CrossHarbor Capital Partners, LLC in 2014.

Developer talks about N.J. downtown

The council could vote on the ordinance as early as Thursday night following public comments.

The site's remaining 48 acres, which houses laboratory and office space, is located in the back of the property and will not be redeveloped.

One of the major bio-science companies moving into the existing complex is Nestle Health Science, which has leased 180,000-square-feet of research and development space.

The front portion of the property will include 400 multi-family housing units, apartments, retail stores, restaurants, offices, an 80,000-square foot supermarket, hotel and a health/wellness center.

Officials said they hope the mini-city will attract milennials and further solidify the township as a bio-science research and regional development hub.

A group, including three former New Jersey governors, is calling for the investigation into the deaths of John and Joyce Sheridan to be reopened.

MONTGOMERY -- A group of 200 prominent New Jersey residents -- including three former governors -- have called for the investigation into the deaths of John and Joyce Sheridan to be reopened.

The group, known as the Friends of John & Joyce Sheridan, stated in a letter released Wednesday that the family is offering a $250,000 reward "for information leading to the arrest and conviction of John and Joyce's killer(s)."

Its members include former Governors Thomas Kean, James J. Florio and Christine Whitman, former Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein and former Attorney Generals John Farmer and Peter Harvey.

Other members include Ed Stier, former director of the NJ Division of Criminal Justice, former state cabinet officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, lawyers, friends and professional associates of the couple.

Sheridan's sons continue to ask questions

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office ruled in March of 2015 that John Sheridan, 72, former president and chief executive officer of Cooper Health System and an adviser to several governors, killed his wife, Joyce Sheridan, 69, set the couple's Montgomery Township home on fire and then took his own life on Sept. 28, 2014.

George E. Norcross III, chairman of Cooper Health System, also signed the Friends of John & Joyce Sheridan's letter.

The couples' four sons have long questioned the prosecutor's office's conclusion, and in December filed an affidavit with the state Medical Examiner's Office and the Attorney General's Office from nationally-recognized pathologist Michael Baden stating that the death appears to be a homicide, not a suicide.

The Friends group is the latest to join in questioning the ruling of their deaths as murder and suicide. It is asking for John Sheridan's manner of death be changed by the medical examiner from suicide to undetermined.

"We have long agreed with independent experts and the media that have reviewed the case that there are compelling reasons to question the murder/suicide conclusion reached by the medical examiner and the prosecutor's office," the group stated in an open letter. "The only truth in this terrible tragedy is that no one knows what happened on that September morning -- not us, not the medical examiner, not the prosecutor."

There was no immediately response from the prosecutor's office to an email from NJ Advance Media seeking comment on the letter.

Ex-N.J. medical examiner weighs in on deaths

In its letter, the Friends of John & Joyce Sheridan insisted that the determination that the Sheridan's died as a result of a murder-suicide is uncharacteristic of the couple who were married for 47 years.

"We knew them as colleagues, as leaders, as mentors, and as neighbors who loved each other and their family," it was stated in the letter. "And, most importantly, we knew them as friends who cared deeply about how they conducted their lives."

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The EPA and the state Department of Environmental Protection set up air monitoring stations around the site of the fire Watch video

HILLSBOROUGH -- Federal and state environmental officials monitoring the air quality near the site of the massive warehouse fire in Hillsborough last week have found no danger to the public and have closed their investigations.

"We concluded that there was nothing of concern," Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Elias Rodriguez said of the tests Wednesday.

The EPA and the state Department of Environmental Protection began monitoring the air quality Thursday night after the massive blaze broke out at Veterans Industrial Park and continued to check for high levels of toxicity.

Though there was no imminent public health threat, the township recommended that nearby residents stay inside.

"Breathing in smoke, by its very nature, is hazardous," state DEP spokesman Larry Hajna said. "It's not something that you want to be in the direct path of. Even on a smaller scale, sitting around a campfire, when the wind shifts and the smoke blows at you, you move."

But apart from one air monitoring station located directly across the site at the intersection of Route 206 and Camplain Road that showed an elevated level of particulate matter for a short time early Friday, there were no exceedance of carbon monoxide and particulates, Hajna said.

"Everything was going up into the atmosphere and dissipating," he said.

Hillsborough Health Officer Glen Belnay said Friday the levels dropped considerably as the fire was contained and the thick smoke had dissipated.

Hajna said samples were also collected in Summa canisters to test for the presence of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, but all of those readings were non-detect.

Old sprinklers, hydrants to blame at warehouse fire

Nearby Duke Farms had expressed initial concerns about possible water contamination from the fire's runoff, but those have since been put to rest, said programs director Nora Wagner.

"As far as we know, there isn't any impact to our property," she said. "There's a large mound of soil that runs the length of the property between the two properties (Duke Farms and the site of the fire). We're not expecting any kind of runoff."

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

A Monroe Township resident suffered life-threatening injuries after striking an ambulance and a second vehicle in Franklin Township on Tuesday.

An ambulance was involved in a 3-car crash in which a N.J. man suffered life-threatening injuries. (File photo)

FRANKLIN -- A Monroe Township man suffered life-threatening injuries when his vehicle sideswiped an ambulance and then struck another vehicle head-on Tuesday afternoon, Franklin police spokesman Sgt. Phillip Rizzo said Wednesday.

Robert Held, 76, of Monroe Township was identified as the driver of the Nissan Altima that struck the ambulance and another vehicle, Rizzo said.

Township police received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a serious, multi-car crash on South Middlebush Road and Buffa Drive on Tuesday at 3:32 p.m., Rizzo said.

An initial investigation revealed that Held's Altima was reportedly traveling south on South Middlebush road when it crossed the center line and sideswiped an ABLE Medical Transport ambulance taking a patient to a local hospital, Rizzo said.

After sideswiping the ambulance, driven by Mathew Hall, 24, of Bloomsbury, Held's Altima reportedly continued heading south in the northbound lanes, colliding head-on with a Kia Sorrento driven by Terrence Brown, 50, of Franklin Park. The ambulance continued on for a short distance before going off the roadway, Rizzo said.

Church group among those hurt in crash

In addition to the injuries suffered by Held, Brown was transported to a local area hospital with non-life threatening injures. Hall and his 28-year-old female passenger were not injured in the crash, Rizzo said.

Members of the Franklin Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Bureau and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team were on scene conducting an investigation, Rizzo said.

South Middlebush Road was closed for four hours as a result of the crash and investigation, Rizzo said.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact Ptl. Jose Jaime of the Franklin Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Bureau at 732-873-5533 ext. 3143, Rizzo said.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A North Brunswick man faces drug charges after being arrested when he tried to sell cocaine to an undercover detective.

Juan Jose' Morales-Bustos (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)

FRANKLIN -- A North Brunswick man has been arrested as part of a sting operation during which he allegedly sold nearly $35,000 worth of cocaine to an undercover detective, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday.

Juan Jose' Morales-Bustos, 28, has been charged with first-degree distribution of cocaine, third-degree possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia, a disorderly-persons offense.

Morales-Bustos is being held in the Somerset County Jail on $200,000 cash-only bail, according to the prosecutor's office.

An undercover detective assigned to the Somerset County's Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force allegedly purchased 22 grams of cocaine from Morales-Bustos during a meeting in a Route 27 restaurant parking lot at 8 p.m. on Dec. 4, according to the release.

Man indicted on charges he had $1.2 million in drugs

The same undercover reportedly bought cocaine from Morales-Bustos on five subsequent occasions in the same parking lot between Dec. 4 and Feb. 10. A total of 165 grams of cocaine was purchased over that time, according to the release.

On Feb. 12, when the undercover detective allegedly purchased another 160 grams of cocaine from Morales-Bustos, additional detectives moved in and arrested Morales-Bustos, it was stated in the release.

The approximate street value of the cocaine seized in the string operation was $34,700, according to the prosecutor's office.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A Hillsborough teen recently attended the New Jersey Board of Agriculture Delegates Dinner in Atlantic City

Samantha Eristavi of Hillsborough attended the New Jersey Board of Agriculture Delegates Dinner in Atlantic City on Feb. 10. 

She was selected to represent the Somerset County 4-H program because she was named an Outstanding 4-H'er in 2015, according to a news release.

Eristavi is a senior at Hillsborough High School and has been a Somerset County 4-H member for 10 years. Eristavi is a member of Chaps and Spurs 4-H Horse Club and has taken leadership in the Horse Teen Council where she used her organizational skills to improve the Horse Awards Dinner, as well as develop a Horse Project Summer Picnic.

Dedication to 4-H earns woman honor

Her leadership abilities have been demonstrated through several club officer roles and she has participated in all County 4-H Association fund raisers as well as the County 4-H Tack Sale which benefits the 4-H Horse Program.

Her equine knowledge has been developed and served her well in competition for state and national 4-H equine events, including the NJ 4-H Horse Bowl. 

In the past several years, she has placed first in state 4-H equine contests and was a member of the New Jersey 4-H State Hippology and Horse Bowl teams which competed at the Eastern National 4-H Round Up in Louisville.

From 1932 through 1935, unemployment in the U.S. never dipped below 20 percent.

My parents, who are 90 and 91 years old, experienced the hardships of the Great Depression and I bore witness to many of the effects the crisis had on them.

Gardenstatelegacy.com notes that the nation saw unemployment rates that never went below 14 percent and, from 1932 through 1935, never dipped below 20 percent.

My parents, who both grew up on farms in South Jersey, were not affected by unemployment in the strictest sense since there was always work to do on a farm. The problem for them was that there wasn't necessarily a market to sell the products. So, the difficult economic times had a sure impact on them.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

I saw how my parents were reluctant to throw things out if they could be repurposed in some way. In a sense, they were green before it was cool, but not by choice. I saw a whole barter economy that went on for decades - trading goods or labor among friends and relatives.

That background instilled lifelong habits in me. Some are valuable -- I've been able to repurpose things into games for my kids, others are curious -- I pick up every single lost coin I see, even pennies.

If you have the chance, listen to the stories of someone who lived through those times. History books offer facts about the period, but those who lived through it can share memories that make the past vivid.

Here's a gallery of photos from New Jersey taken during the Great Depression. Make sure captions are enabled to learn more.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.