S&P rates Marlboro AA+

Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik

Standard and Poors, the international credit rating agency, has rated $21.957 million of general obligation bonds, water utility bonds and recreation utility bonds authorized in 2014 and 2015 as AA+. The AA+ differs from the top AAA rating only to a small degree, according to S&P.  The rating means that S&P considers Marlboro’s ability to meet its obligations is very strong.

“This is tremendous news for Marlboro”, said Mayor Jonathan Hornik. “This rating upgrade affirms the difficult decisions made over the last eight years to reduce the size of government and run it more efficiently. It also represents a reflection of the overall financial stewardship of the municipality. ”

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Long Branch Parolee Arrested in 2006 Asbury Park Murder

Joey Johnson AKA Davell Reevey

Joey Jomaine Johnson, AKA Davell Reevey, 35, of Long Branch was arrested yesterday by investigators of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Asbury Park Police Department with the assistance of the New Jersey Parole Board for the March 26, 2006 murder of 21-year-old Jakeema Kelly of Asbury Park, according to a statement by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Johnson had been on parole since his October 22, 2015 release from state prison.  He served eight years for his 2007 convictions on drug dealing charges.  He now faces a minimum of 30 years to a maximum of life imprisonment, if convicted in the first degree murder of Kelly.

He is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, on $1.2 million cash only bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.  In addition to first degree murder, Johnson is charged with second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and second degree Certain Persons Not to Possess Weapons.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, December 4-6, 2015

By Greg Kelly

Courtesy of Teddy Bears by the Shore

Friday, December 4

• Christ Church at Four Corners Lantern Tours (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO
• Scrooge at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO
• A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Miracle on 34th Street at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Time for a Miracle by Lighthouse Stage Productions (Monmouth Beach) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Murder Mystery Dinner Theater (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• Travis Tritt at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Emily Kinney from The Walking Dead (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Winter Solstice: A Seasonal Artisan Market (Belmar) – MORE INFO
• 12 Days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• A Little Shakespeare: Pericles at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Tree Lighting in the Park (Highlands) – MORE INFO

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Indictments issued in 2014 Long Branch Double Murder

Veronica Roach

Joan Colbert

Brian Farmer, 59, the registered sex offender arrested for the double strangulation murders of his cousin Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10 year old foster daughter Veronica Roach in August of 2014, was indicted on six charges by a Monmouth County Grand Jury on November 30th, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The grand jury charged Farmer with first degree Murder for causing the death of Colbert and Roach, one count of first degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child and two counts of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The Endangering charges are related to Farmer causing or permitting a child to engage in child pornography, for the manufacture of child pornography and for the possession of child pornography.

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Monmouth Tax Board: Towns Can Opt Out of Assessment Demonstration Program

Tax Commissioners Cliff Moore, James Stuart and Kathy Cody Bjelka

The Monmouth County Tax Board acted on Monday to allow municipalities to opt out of the controversial pilot program, the Assessment Demonstration Program. The program has resulted in the volatility of property assessments and spurred a grand jury investigation into alleged conflicts of interest among key players in the County’s complex property tax system.

By an unanimous vote Monday afternoon, the Tax Board approved a resolution offered by Commissioner Clifford J. Moore III to immediately allow municipalities to opt out of the program for the 2017 tax year.  Towns must notify the board that they are opting out by 11:59 p.m. on April 29, 2016.

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Ocean Township Police Seek Help in Locating Alleged Burglar

photo via Ocean Township PD

The Ocean Township Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating James Florio, a suspect in a burglary earlier this month.

There is a warrant for Florio’s arrest and he has refused to cooperate with the OTPD. Anyone with information regarding Florio’s whereabouts is asked to call 732-531-1800, 732-531-1428 (Dectectives) or 732-531-3323.

The Case Detective is Michael Melody.

Melody refused to give Florio’s age, last known residence or the location of the alleged burglary when MMM called for additional information.

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Woman critical after being shot during large fight at party, authorities say

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP — A Neptune Township woman was shot during a large fight that broke out at a party in town Friday night, authorities said. The woman, who was not identified, was in critical condition after being rushed to the hospital following the fight at the party at the VFW hall on Route 33, said Charlie… Read the rest of this entry »

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Guadagno to shop Red Bank on Small Business Saturday

Lt Governor Kim Guadagno. Photo credit: Tim Larsen/Governor’s office

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno will be visiting three Red Bank business on Saturday morning, Small Business Saturday.

Guadagno is scheduled to arrive on White Street at 10am with stops at Rook Coffee and ToyMasters.  She will wrap up her visit by stopping at Poor Cat Designs at 69 Broad Street.

The Lt. Governor will continue her support on small businesses tomorrow afternoon in Westwood in Bergen County where she will visit Songo Coffee, Conrad’s Confectionery and Society Men.

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Asbury Park restaurant serves 1,500 free meals on Thanksgiving

ASBURY PARK — The boardwalk’s Third Avenue pavilion was bustling Thursday morning, as people packed inside Langosta Lounge for a free Turkey Day meal. Despite it being a holiday and the offseason, the restaurant had the feel of a mid-summer Saturday night, with people eating at tables on the boardwalk and a line to get in… Read the rest of this entry »

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Middletown motorcycle rider dies in Pohatcong Township crash

A Middletown, New Jersey, man died early Thursday afternoon after his motorcycle crashed into another vehicle on Route 639 in Pohatcong Township, police said. James Padden, 25, was visiting family in Hunterdon County when he went out for a ride on his Kawasaki ZX1, township police Chief Jeffrey Greenmeir said. About noon, the motorcycle crossed from… Read the rest of this entry »

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