Advanced Knee Pain Treatment in Ocean, NJ

EATONTOWN, NJ — The Panda Express in Eatontown just opened Monday, plus a Dave's Hot Chicken location is coming to Rt. 66 in Ocean Township.

Dave's Hot Chicken will be located at 2311 Rt. 66, in the Seaview Square Shopping Center. Grand opening is Dec. 2.

Panda Express is located at 151 Rt. 35 in Eatontown. They're already open, but at 10 a.m. next Tuesday, November 28 they will have a ribbon cutting and grand opening giveaway for the first 88 guests, who will receive a special mystery gift.

Panda Express will serve all of their iconic dishes, including their Original Orange Chicken, award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp and guest-favorite Broccoli Beef entrée. Panda Express is now selling their first-ever dessert item, the Apple Pie Roll of juicy apples, fall spices and cinnamon sugar wrapped in a crispy wonton wrapper.

For those who are not familiar, Dave's Hot Chicken is a fried chicken franchise, where chicken can be topped with a range of signature sauces, ranging from No Spice to “The Reaper.”

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They say on their website: "Dave’s Hot Chicken was created by best friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan and Tommy and Gary Rubenyan. Dave, a chef trained in Thomas Keller’s (French Laundry) organization set out to create the perfect Hot Chicken by searching, tasting and frying. The four friends scrounged up $900 to put a tiny stand in an East Hollywood parking lot. The menu was simple, and the chicken was the star. Sourced and prepared to be the juiciest and most tender chicken imaginable, each piece is topped with Dave’s signature mix of spices ranging from No Spice to “The Reaper.”

Arman created Instagram buzz and the lines began to grow. Two nights later, Eater/LA showed up to see what the fuss was about. The next morning's headline read "East Hollywood's Late Night Chicken Stand Might Blow Your Mind." Almost instantly, the lines stretched around the block. A year later, the boys had the money to open a shop in a hip strip-mall with décor by local street artists, where the crowds continued to grow with wait-times of an hour and more. From there, the incredibly craveable “Hot and Spicy” varieties have created a cult following with rave reviews across the U.S., Canada, UAE & Qatar."

LACEY — A single-engine plane carrying only the pilot crashed in the woods near the Robert J. Miller Air Park late Saturday, sparking a wildfire that has spread to 600 acres, an official and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.

The condition of the pilot has not been determined.

What we know about the plane, pilot

A Cirrus SR20 crashed at 10:18 p.m. Saturday about a half mile southwest of the airport, also known as the Ocean County Airport, part of which lies in Berkeley, after taking off from the Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash.

An official told the Asbury Park Press that local authorities first caught wind of the crash when they investigated a smoke condition south of the airport between the airport and Lacey Road about 11:40 p.m. Saturday.

It took about two hours for authorities at the scene to discover the fiery crash, the official said.

The fire has prevented crews from reaching the pilot, the official said.

An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board was expected to visit the crash site Sunday afternoon.

More:No injuries in small plane crash at Ocean County Airport in Berkeley

What's the scale of the fire?

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service posted an update on Facebook around 7:30 p.m. Sunday saying the fire had grown to 600 acres was 50% contained. Twenty-five structures were threatened by it.

Heavy smoke from the fire prompted the closing of Dover Road from Lacey Road to Pinewald Keswick Road and Mule Road from Lacey Road to Pinewald Keswick Road, according to the Forest Fire Service. There have been no evacuations, according to the post.

Smoke from the fire could be smelled as far away as Stafford and Lakewood, according to the Ocean County Sheriff's Department.

Lacey Mayor Timothy McDonald said authorities informed him that the fire was likely to burn for a few days before being fully extinguished. The road closures have not made traffic worse elsewhere in the township, he said.

About the Ocean County Airport

Ocean County Airport was closed Sunday, according to Sheriff's Department. The 822-acre airport is a county-owned airport for public use. It has two runways and a heliport and serves private and corporate planes as well as emergency services aircraft, according to the airport website.

The airport has nighttime takeoffs and landings and is equipped with lights, said county spokeswoman Donna Flynn.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Ken Serrano covers breaking news, crime and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or at kserrano@gannettnj.com.

Huge waves along the Jersey Shore this week gave some surfers a run for their money, with some offshore waves heights reaching 20 feet before breaking.

The large waves attracted onlookers, photographers and surfers who came to see the powerful breakers up close.

One surfer, Brendan Tighe, told News12 he was out surfing Monday, when he was taken down by a 20-foot wave. "The wave stood up, I opened my eyes and it had gotten too vertical…so I had no choice but to leap," he said.

A photographer, Dave Nilsen, told News12 he was there to see it all. "I can undoubtedly say that was the biggest wipeout - the tallest, heaviest wave - that I have ever seen here," he said.

But the National Weather Service said the huge waves were not unique.

"They were certainly unusual but not anything unprecedented," said Alex Staarmann, meteorologist for the National Weather Service at Mt. Holly.

The National Weather Service did not record the heights of breaking waves Monday, but Staarmann said the buoys off-shore measured wave heights of about 20 or 21 feet off the coast of the northern Jersey Shore.

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Staarmann said there are often large, breaking waves during and immediately following a storm, like the one felt across the state from Sunday into Monday. There was a very long period easterly swell due to the onshore wind.

Then, as the storm lifted north, the winds quickly shifted offshore, he said. The ocean current was pushing water and waves toward the beach, but then came the strong offshore wind, making the breaking waves even more magnified.

Staarmann the unusual aspect was that once the storm passed north of the area, it was mostly clear and sunny.

"A lot of times when the bigger waves are occurring there's still very strong winds and heavy rain or heavy snow, so there's not really anyone out there taking pictures...or out surfing," he said

Staarmann said if there's any time of year for waves like this, it's the winter starting around December, but especially January through March.

But that's not always the case.

"If we have a tropical cyclone...that passes close to our coast...there can also be waves of that magnitude," he said.

Jenna Calderón covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com

When it comes to craft beer, New Jersey has some tremendous breweries that you need to check out.

I recently did the Cape May County brewery scene, visiting six different breweries from Ludlham, Slack Tide, Bucket Brigade, COHO, Behr, and Cape May Brewing on a recent Saturday.

I recently spent the day in Hammonton and checked out Three 3's, Vinyl, and Chimney. Over in Somers Point, I was at SoPo and there are plenty of other great spots in Atlantic County to check out.

But what is the highest-rated beer in New Jersey? While its not in Atlantic or Cape May County, it is not to far for you to take a drive and try!

According to the website Beer Advocate, the highest-rated in the New Jersey comes from Kane Brewing Company, called Sunday Brunch, which is a Imperial Milk Porter with Rock Coffee, maple syrup, and cinnamon.

Sunday Brunch is brewed with maple syrup, cinnamon, Rook Coffee, and lactose. It is brewed with a blend of pilsner malt and English crystal and roasted malts. Sunday Brunch pours a black color with light coffee foam. Aromatics are of freshly roasted coffee and maple-drenched french toast. Sunday Brunch drinks are smooth with a rounded body and intertwined notes of coffee, maple, and cinnamon.

Over at one of my favorite beer app, Untapped, the beer is rated a 4.42 out of five stars by almost 12,000 reviewers.

It has a 9.2% ABV and is one of many solid beers at Kane Brewing which is located at 1750 Bloomsbury Ave in Ocean up in Monmouth county. It is close enough for our listeners to take a drive and check it out, about 65.2 miles away from out Northfield studios.

Kane brewing has some other pretty highly rated beers, including Head High, Overhead, Sneakbox, which just won a bronze medal at the great American Beer Festival, Party Wave, Morning Bell, SBX and more that are highly rated beers on the Untapped App.

Over in Delaware, the high-rated beer was from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, called Utopias Barrel-Aged World Wide Stout, which is a American Imperial Stout with a 17.3 ABV.

11 Craft Breweries to Try at the Jersey Shore!

Christmas is around the corner, so for fresh tree lovers, it's time to start thinking of a live pine for the holidays.

Here's where you can cut a fresh Christmas tree in Ocean and Monmouth Counties:

Monmouth County Christmas tree farms

MANALAPLAN

Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm

There are more than 50,000 trees throughout this 100-acre farm. You can find Norway spruce, blue spruce, Douglas fir, white pine and Cannan fir. Pre-cut trees, wreaths and grave blankets are also available.

WALL

Conover’s Christmas Tree Farm

There are over 3,000 Christmas trees from 4 feet tall to over 12 feet.

COLTS NECK

The Fir Farm

Christmas trees are available in different sizes as well as seasonal greenery arrangements.

COLTS NECK

Woodfield Christmas Tree Plantation

Here you can find Douglas fir, Scotch pine, Norway spruce and white pine trees for cutting. Pre-cut Fraser firs are also available, as well as custom wreaths and centerpieces.

ALLENTOWN

Keris Tree Farm & Christmas Shop

This 24-acre farm grows Norway spruce, white fir, white pine, blue spruce and Canaan trees. The farm also sells pre-cut Canadian balsam, Fraser fir, and many seasonal arrangements. Rooted trees are also available and there is a shop with Christmas ornaments, including vintage collectibles.

HOWELL

Patterson Greenhouses

Patrons can cut their own trees or buy prearranged wreaths or grave blankets.

Kavett Christmas Tree Farm

This location offers more than 2,000 blue spruce and Norway spruce trees. If you need delivery, it can be provided for an additional cost.

Ocean County Christmas tree farms

JACKSON

Picea Acres

You can bring your leashed pet to this farm and pick between Norway spruce, white spruce, Serbia spruce, Douglas fir and white pine trees. Handmade wreaths and tabletop trees are also available.

NEW EGYPT

The Little Christmas Tree Farm

In this small farm, you can cut a fresh Douglas fir, blue spruce and Norway spruce. Pre-cut Fraser firs are available from Nov. 24 through Dec. 22.

Yuletide Tree Farm

Yuletide Tree Farm has more than 500 trees available, including Canaan fir, blue spruce, white pine, Douglas fir and Norway spruce.