Pair busted with $70K in stolen spices at Aberdeen storage facility

Two men were arrested after being caught with more than $70,000 in stolen spices at a northern Monmouth County storage facility, State Police said. Luis Rivera, 50, of Jersey City and Samir Helou, 56, of Brooklyn, N.Y. were charged with possession of stolen property, according to a news release. Helou was also charged with possession of… Read the rest of this entry »

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Art G returns to Tommy G

Your favorite blogger will be taking his radio face to the Tommy G Show this afternoon.

The Tommy G Show is broadcast Monday through Friday from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. on 1450 Talk Radio, WTC The Voice of Central Jersey on your AM dial or via the Internet at TommyGShow.com.  At Tommy’s website you can also link to an app through TuneIn to easily access the show everyday from your phone.

Art’s segment is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.  He and Tommy will be discussing the 2016 Presidential campaign, Governor Chris Christie’s return to New Jersey and you never know what else comes up when Tommy and Art get together.

Tune in for some fun yet provocative talk about some serious subjects.

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Feds: ICE Agent Traded Green Cards For Cash And Sex

Newark– A federal grand jury indicted  a former ICE deportation officer today for accepting cash and sexual favors from undocumented immigrants in exchange  for  employment authorization documents, commonly called green cards, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

Seven of the eight immigrants involved in the scheme resided in Monmouth County;  three lived in Red Bank, two lived in Tinton Falls, one lived in Red Bank and Ocean Township, and one resided in Long Branch.  The eighth undocumented immigrant resided in North Plainfield.

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Asbury Park man indicted for firing at cop in shooting that injured 8 year old girl

FREEHOLD – A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted a 20-year-old Asbury Park man on six counts, including attempted murder, after he allegedly exchanged gunfire with a police officer in November. At approximately 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 4, an Asbury Park police officer attempted to conduct a field stop of Dante Allen, 20, of Asbury Park,… Read the rest of this entry »

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Dealizt App Yields Real Savings for Monmouth County Consumers

Freehold Family Boosts Local Businesses and Shoppers

By Art Gallagher

A new app developed by a father and son team from Freehold has the potential to save Monmouth County residents real money on our everyday purchases and for local businesses to develop enhanced customer loyalty.

Dealizt was launched late last year by Dan Davidson and his son Justin, both of Freehold. The app has the look and feel of a big, nationwide endeavor, and maybe someday it will be.  In reality it is a small business just like the companies that offer ongoing discounts to new and loyal customers through the app that is available on the Apple Store and Google Play.

So far the app is populated by just under 100 Monmouth County businesses.  Justin tells me that new users are downloading the app at a rate of about 25 per day.

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Why the great gas decline of the past year is nearing an end

The decline in gas prices has slowed as prices dropped just two cents in the past week, and some gas stations with the cheapest prices could actually see prices start to increase. If there… Read the rest of this entry »

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Physicians Assistant Charged With Selling Phony Scripts

Frank Campione, a 45 year old physicians assistant with a home office in Brick Township, was arrested by the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office this week on charges of selling prescriptions for opiates and other drugs, according to an announcement by Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

A four month long investigation revealed that between January 2015 and January 2016 Campione met with individuals in public places and sold them prescriptions for oxycodone and Xanax and other dangerous drugs.

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Monmouth GOP endorses Brent Sonnek-Schmelz to challenge Pallone

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz

Freehold Township- The Monmouth County Republican Committee endorsed Brent Sonnek-Schmelz, a member of the Atlantic Highlands Board of Education, to challenge Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr in the November 8, 2016 election last night during their annual nominating convention at iPlay America.

Sonneck-Schmelz, 39, is an Eagle Scout, attorney, Wharton educated MBA and entrepreneur who announced to the world that he likes to wear short shorts in the summer when he won $100,000 as a contestant on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.  He currently works as the General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer of The Soccer Post, a family owned franchise system of soccer stores with 33 locations nationally, and as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of City Sports, a Boston based sports apparel retailer that he is working to relaunch.

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Howard Birdsall Pleads Guilty To Pay To Play Crimes

Howard Birdsall, 72 of Brielle, pleaded guilty today to corporate misconduct for his role in a criminal scheme in which more than $1 million in corporate political contributions were illegally made through employees of his now defunct engineering firm, Birdsall Services Group, in violation New Jersey’s pay-to-play law, according to an announcement by the NJ Attorney General’s Office.

Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Birdsall be sentenced to four years in state prison. He also must pay $49,808 to the state, representing forfeiture of the political contributions that he made on behalf Birdsall Services Group that were reimbursed by the firm. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22.

“As the CEO and largest shareholder of Birdsall Services Group, Howard Birdsall reaped major profits from the millions of dollars in public contracts his firm secured each year – contracts that should have been off limits based on the illegal campaign contributions made by the firm,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “This plea should serve as a warning to any corporate officials who would engage in this type of criminal scheme to skirt our pay-to-play law and skew public contracting in their favor.”

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Middletown Recognizes Richard Saker As A Distinguished Citizen

Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Laura Saker and Richard Saker

Middletown– Mayor Gerald Scharfenberger, PhD. and the Township Committee awarded Richard Saker the Distinguished Citizen Award at the Township Committee meeting on February 15.

Saker, the head of Saker ShopRites, Inc., was honored for his ongoing and significant contributions to the township’s Cultural and Arts Council, the Middletown Arts Center, and Middletown Day. He’s a major sponsor of many township outreach programs including the Welcome Home Picnic for Vietnam Veterans and the Mayor’s Food Basket. He’s also dedicated member of the Economic Development Committee, explained Mayor  Scharfenberger.

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