Week in Review

Here's our look back at stories from the past week – a week that brought tragedy and good news alike.

• . His colleagues and the governor expressed their shock and sadness at the loss of DeCroce, a Republican from Parsippany who was the longest serving member of the Assembly, and .

• The small community of Barnegat Light was rocked Tuesday night when about 10 miles offshore from the LBI port. First mate Trevor Horan was pulled from the water by Coast Guard rescuers, with help from local fishermen who rushed to the scene. 

• The Barnegat Township during tough economic times. Their demand for a reimbursement for taxpayers raised the ire of distric officials, who called the move political and said the township is looking for a scapegoat for its own poorly managed financial situation.

• Officials announced this week that after detectives from the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor and local police raided a home on Highland Drive, finding an ounce of cocaine, marijuana, cash and drug paraphernalia.

• The Barnegat School District shared some good news this week with the announcement of a  and . The performance group will put on at least half a dozen musicals and plays on the high school stage in 2012, and will give Barnegat students first crack at apprenticeship programs for young actors.

• In his regular Friday fishing column, Dan Nee shared news that .

• Local 9th District legislators celebrated a partial victory this week with the . Gov. Chris Christie struck out one important provision from the bill, however, which would have mandated that 3 percent of state contracts go to vet-owned businesses.