Hospitals Join Law Enforcement In Fight Against Opiate Overdose Deaths

Every hospital in Monmouth and Ocean Counties will exchange ready-to-use new doses of the overdose antidote naloxone, free of charge, for the empty syringes used to resuscitate the overdose victims, under a partnership agreement announced today by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni and Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato.

The hospitals affiliated with Barnabas Health, Meridian Health and CentraState Medical Center are absorbing 100% of the cost of the antidotes exchanged with law enforcement officers, according to Charles Webster, spokesman for Gramiccioni’s office.

“Protecting our citizens is our most basic and fundamental function in law enforcement. We can’t do it alone, so we count on help from friends and partners who cooperate with us and who share, in some form or fashion, the same responsibility and commitment in helping to protect human life. It is these partnerships that make us even better.  Through this partnership, our local hospitals are standing with us as we fight the deadly epidemic of heroin or prescription opiates drug overdoses,” Gramiccioni said.

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Cinco de Donald: A MexiCan Celebration

Updated with video

When Leo Cervantes is confronted by a difficult circumstance, he looks for the opportunity it presents.

When the waters of Superstorm Sandy receded from Highlands, Cervantes and his staff at Chilango’s recovered the non-spoiled inventory from their destroyed Bay Avenue restaurant and invited the entire town to a free dinner that they prepared and served at Henry Hudson Regional High School which was serving as a shelter for hundreds of residents displaced by the storm.

When Donald Trump disparaged Mexicans during his presidential candidacy announcement last week, Leo, who immigrated from Neza, a tough town outside of Mexico City in 1989 and became a naturalized United States citizen in 2008, shook off the insult and created an opportunity.

Sunday, July 5th is Cinco de Donald at Leo’s two Monmouth County Mexican restaurants, Chilango’s in Highlands and the newly opened LaPlaya in Keansburg.

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Halfacre Joins Genova Burns

Michael Halfacre

Michael Halfacre, the former Mayor of Fair Haven, and as of this morning the former Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcohol Beverage Control, has joined the prestigious law firm of Genova Burns as Counsel.

Working from the firm’s Red Bank office, Halfacre will be a member of the Commercial Real Estate & Redevelopment and Business Law & Commercial Transactions Practice Groups.  He will also be available for consultation to the Firm’s Craft Beer, Spirits & Alcohol Law Practice Group.

“Michael’s experience running the ABC these past three years makes him an excellent choice to offer counsel to the Firm’s newly formed Craft Beer, Spirits & Alcohol Law practice group,” said Managing Partner Brian W. Kronick. “Moreover, during his many years in private practice prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office he was highly regarded for his representation of clients in business transactional work and particularly in real estate leasing and transactions. He brings those skills and strategic abilities to the Firm as well.”

In his private practice, Halfacre specialized in transactions, including sales and refinance of commercial real estate and transfers of ABC licenses.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, July 3-5, 2015

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, July 3

• Atlantic Highlands Fireman’s Fair – MORE INFO
• Manasquan Gala July 4th Celebration – MORE INFO
• Closure at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Jockey Autograph & Memorabilia Sale at Monmouth Park (Oceanport) – MORE INFO
• Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Denis Coughlan (Belmar) – MORE INFO
• July 4th Fireworks (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• July 4th Fireworks (Bradley Beach) – MORE INFO
• July 4th Fireworks (Union Beach) – MORE INFO
• July 4th Fireworks (Ocean Twp) – MORE INFO
• July 4th Fireworks (Matawan) – MORE INFO

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The Arnone Report: Share the roads with cyclists and pedestrians

Setting  the record straight on proposed Two Rivers bike lanes

By Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Freeholder

Freeholder Tom Arone

Now that summer is here, the kids are out of school and the beaches are open. We know a few things are certain while living in our beautiful Monmouth County – sand will find its way into the house, barbeques will be plentiful and many of us will give in to ice cream cravings on the boardwalk. As residents we will also witness a significant increase to our population as our tourism season gets into full swing.  With this population surge, we will also see an increase in cyclists and pedestrians sharing the roads with motorists throughout the county.

I urge you to be aware of the statewide “rules of the road” and other specific rules in your municipality for whatever mode of transportation you choose. This is especially important when traveling on primary and secondary roads that are highly used, like those without designated bike lanes or sidewalks.  It is extremely important for all of us to be diligent when sharing roads so they are safe for all users– pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists – as safe travel for all is of the utmost importance.

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In Middletown, Presidential campaigns have to pay police overtime or go without protection

Democratic and Republican candidates for President of the United States will have to reimburse Middletown taxpayers for police overtime if they want the Township’s finest to control traffic and provide security for their fundraisers, according to Township Committeeman Tony Fiore.

The Township was left with an overtime bill of about $14,000 in 2008 when Barack Obama held a fundraiser at Jon Bon Jovi’s Navesink home, according to Fiore.  That won’t happen again.  “The Township Committee will not approve the expense.”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, is coming to Bon Jovi’s house today for a $1000 per head soiree, according to Star Ledger columnist Mark Di Ionno.

In 2008, the township requested reimbursement from the rocker, but didn’t have a prayer to collect.  Today, Fiore says the Police Department will not be present for the event unless Bon Jovi agrees upfront to cover the costs.

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Will Sandy recovery help or hurt Christie? | Di Ionno

Today, Jon Bon Jovi is hosting a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in his French Chateau overlooking the Navesink River. It’s a mile from Jyll Jakes’ neighborhood in Sea Bright, where every other house remains boarded up. “It’s a still mess down here. I think people have forgotten how bad it is,” said Jakes, who credits… Read the rest of this entry »

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Kayaker pulled from Raritan Bay has died, authorities say

KEANSBURG -The kayaker pulled from Raritan Bay near a Keansburg beach Saturday morning has died, authorities confirm. Jairo Esquivel-Prendas of Summit, was pulled from the waters near the beach at Beachway Avenue and Raritan Avenue following an hours-long search that included the Keansburg Police Department, the New York Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies.… Read the rest of this entry »

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Robber who targeted women, used pepper spray back in Monmouth?

COLTS NECK — A woman suffered a bizarre pepper-spray attack Tuesday night that is similar to other incidents reported in Freehold and Colts Neck last year, Colts Neck police said. RELATED:Robber in Monmouth uses pepper spray against female victims The victim was driving around midnight near Five Points and Stone Hill roads when another motorist flashed… Read the rest of this entry »

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Happy Gerri Popkin Day!

Today is Gerri Popkin Day in Monmouth County!

Well, officially it will be (will have been?) tonight when the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders declare it so in a proclamation honoring Gerri’s nearly 30 years of public service.  I never understood why the Freeholders honor people with a day in their name at the end of that day.  Gerri has made a deep enough positive impact in Monmouth County in both her professional career and her political activism that the Freeholders should name an entire month or a building, at the very least a conference room, in her honor.

Popkin is retiring as Monmouth County’s Director of Purchasing after 28 years on July 1.  As Director of Purchasing, she supervised a staff of 12 and was responsible for acquiring $100 million in goods and services annually. Prior to becoming Director of Purchasing, Gerri was the Director of Consumer Affairs. For two years in the mid-1980’s, she was a executive with the New Jersey Lottery.

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