Gopal’s political mentor, Joe Vas, gets out of prison today

Vin Gopal and Joe Vas

Joe Vas, the former Perth Amboy Mayor and Assemblyman who went to prison for campaign finance fraud and money laundering during his 2006 campaign for Congress, which was managed by Vin Gopal, will be released from prison today, according to a report in MyCentralJersey.

Vas was convicted on both federal and state charges, with his sentences to run concurrently.  He finished serving his 6 1/2 year federal prison sentence in February when he was transferred to the custody of the New Jersey prison system. His release today is about 3 weeks earlier than the planned June 2 release date.

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Deal backs down on pricey parking permits near beach

DEAL — Borough officials pulled a controversial ordinance that would have required permit parking on five streets near the beachfront. The ordinance, which is the borough’s third attempt in almost two years to enforce parking regulations near the beach, was set for a public hearing on Wednesday. But officials pulled the ordinance prior to the meeting,… Read the rest of this entry »

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Freeholder Director Lillian Burry honored by state Federation of Women

By Muriel Smith

Barbara Mitchell of Middletown nominated Lillian for the Honor.

ATLANTIC CITY_ Freeholder Director Lillian Burry was honored as a Woman of Distinction by the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs at its 123^rd annual convention at the Golden Nugget Monday night, the first Monmouth County Freeholder to ever be accorded the honor.

In accepting the honor, Burry joined the ranks of such luminaries as Deborah Tobias Poritz, the first woman to be both Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court and state Attorney General, Virginia Bauer, former state Secretary of Commerce, and Dr. Formica Palma, the first woman president of the Medical Society of New Jersey and the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey.

Burry was nominated by Barbara B. Mitchell of Middletown, a long time active member of the Federation and the Women’s Club of Middletown.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, May 12-14, 2017

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, May 12

• Scout’s Pinewood Derby ‘17 at Monmouth Mall (Eatontown) – MORE INFO
• Full Moon Walk at Sandy Hook – MORE INFO
• ‘17 Brookdale CC Commencement Ceremonies (Lincroft) – MORE INFO
• Church Rummage Sale (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Brielle Kitchen Tour – MORE INFO
• “Carousel” at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Whose Live Anyway? at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Learn About Horseshoe Crabs on Sandy Hook – MORE INFO

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Hazlet Man Admits Sexually Assaulting Elderly Nursing Home Patient In His Care

Todd Fulton, 43, a certified nursing assistant from Hazlet, pleaded guilty on Monday to sexually assaulting a female patient who was in his care at the then Monmouth County owned Geraldine Thompson Care Center in Wall Township in 2015, according to an announcement by Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

A Monmouth County Grand Jury indicted Fulton on last month for first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, one count of second degree Sexual Assault and one count of second degree Official Misconduct.  He pleaded guilty to one count of second degree Sexual Assault and one count of second degree Official Misconduct before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Scully.

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DiMaso: Deadline to file for SBA Disaster Loans Is June 6

Freeholder Serena DiMaso

Freeholder Serena DiMaso is reminding Monmouth County small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and non-profits impacted by freeze conditions,  excessive heat and drought between April 1 and Sept. 19, 2016 that the deadline to apply for economic injury disaster loans from the federal Small Business Administration in June 6, 2017.

“Monmouth County is among the 18 New Jersey counties impacted by the mid-2016 disaster declaration,” said Freeholder Serena DiMaso, Esq. liaison to the County’s division of Emergency Management. “I encourage our qualified, small businesses to consider applying for a low-interest working capital loans through the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.”

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The Arnone Report: Grown In Monmouth Launch, Shared Services Summit, Summer Kickoff

By Freeholder Tom Arnone

Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

It has been an eventful few weeks here in Monmouth County. From officially launching a countywide brand to hosting a shared services summit, we certainly have been keeping busy.

I’m proud to announce that after years of hard work, determination and great coordination, we officially launched the Grown in Monmouth brand and logo during a recent event with Saker ShopRites and Davino Greenhouses in Howell.

The mission of the Grown in Monmouth brand is to help retain and grow our County’s vibrant agricultural industry, while showcasing locally grown produce and vegetation. Through this initiative, we will work to connect County growers with residential and commercial consumers, as well as provide business skills and assistance to the County’s agricultural community, among other goals.

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Middletown’s Crime Rate Declines For 7th Consecutive Year

Crime in Middletown is down for the seventh year in a row, as measured by the FBI’s index crime rate, according to an announcement my Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, PhD and Police Chief Craig Webber.

Index crimes are the eight crimes the FBI combines to produce its annual crime index. These offenses include willful homicide, forcible rape, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, larceny over $50, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Index crimes in Middletown are down 13 percent over last year and 48 percent compared to 2010.

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Business Group Honors Freeholder Director Burry

Freeholder Director Lillian Burry. Photo courtesy of Joe Sharp, All Is Sharp Photography.

The Monmouth-Ocean Development Council (MODC) recognized Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry’s many contributions to the quality of life and economy of the Jersey Shore Region on Thursday evening when they presented her the President’s Award at their 52nd annual Silver Gull Awards Dinner.

MODC is a business advocacy and networking group that is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and business environment in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. MODC’s members include hundreds of influential business, community and government leaders representing diverse groups through the bi-county region.

“Freeholder Director Burry has made a powerful and positive impact on the quality of life and the vitality of our region,” said MODC Executive Director Ben Waldron. “We are proud to honor her ongoing leadership in revitalizing our region while preserving our history and open space.”

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Ocean County Man, 28, Charged With Luring 15 Year Old Girl In Howell

Craig Sorokach, 28, of Sawmill Road in Brick Township was arrested on Saturday after he arranged via the Internet to engage in sexual activity with a 15 year old girl in Howell, according to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Sorokach was charged following an investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office working in conjunction with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). He is charged with Attempted Sexual Assault, Luring, Enticing a Child by Various Means, Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Attempted Obscenity to a Minor after he arranged to meet with the girl in Howell. He is in the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold.

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