Breaking: Historic Fort Hancock Roof Collapses

Brian Thompson of NBC News 4 NY is reporting via facebook that the roof of a historic structure in Fort Hancock, part of the Gateway National Recreational Area-Sandy Hook, has collapsed and the building may not be able to be saved.

UPDATE: THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE KNEW OF THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND EXPECTED THE COLLASPE

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Colts Neck Man, 22, Pleads Guilty to Federal Kiddie Porn Charges

Chad Weber, 22, of Colts Neck pleaded guilty to one federal count of possession child pornography charges today before U.S. District Court Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton.

Weber admitted possessing sexually explicit images of a 12-year old Pennsylvania girl with whom he had an online relationship in 2013, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

The young man was released on unsecured bail of $100,000 and subject to home confinement with electronic monitoring when he surrendered to federal authorities last June.  He remains free on unsecured bail until his sentencing which is scheduled for June 22, 2015.  The electronic monitoring device was removed from Weber today, according to a spokesman for Fishman.

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First Lady Mary Pat Christie Awards NJ Heroes Grants

New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie announced today that 18 organizations designated as New Jersey Heroes have been awarded a total of $120,000 in grants to enhance their missions with new programs and services.

A non-partisan, non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization founded by Mrs. Christie in 2010, NJ Heroes’ mission is to recognize, celebrate, and promote the Heroes of New Jersey who inspire fellow New Jerseyans to give back to their community.  Since its inception, the organization has awarded approximately $320,000 in grants to 24 New Jersey non-profits.

“I am proud our New Jersey Heroes Foundation was able to expand its grant program for 2015 to help these remarkable organizations continue to do good work in their respective communities throughout the Garden State,” said Mrs. Christie. “Our New Jersey Heroes recipients represent such a broad coalition of causes that touch many people in so many ways. With these grants, we’re providing these groups with an opportunity to make an even greater difference by giving them the ability to improve and expand their programs to further reach community members in need.”

Of the 18 groups honored today, 3 are from Monmouth County:

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Tinton Falls Animal Shelter Fires Volunteers

photo via ashcares.org

Asbury Park Deputy Mayor disputes Associated Human Societies’ allegations

The Associated Human Societies (AHS) has suspended the volunteer program at its Tinton Falls facility, according to a post on the organization’s facebook page for its Popcorn Park (Lacey Township) facility. (h/t app.com)

The announcement alleges that volunteers at the facility chronically violated protocols for handing animals which resulted in deaths, human and animal injuries and expensive veterinary bills. Additionally, the announcement alleges that volunteers “solicited funds to be collected as donations for Associated Humane Societies, yet they were never turned in.”

“The animals at our Tinton Falls facility will continue to receive the excellent care and attention that they always have from our dedicated staff while we work hard to formulate a plan for a new volunteer program going forward. Be assured that our dogs will continue to be walked. Volunteers were never responsible for feeding or medicating animals, cleaning or maintaining our facility, and were not involved with the general day to day operations of running the shelter, so none of that will be affected.”

The announcement said that the problems that have occurred at the Tinton Falls facility have not occurred at the organizations animal shelters in Newark or Forked River.

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Museums join to present unique Open Hearth Open House afternoon

FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Historical Association and the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will present a unique colonial Sephardic Jewish cooking demonstration, “Open Hearth Open House” Sunday, April 12 at the Covenhoven House, 150 West Main St.

This will be the first time the two museums have combined their histories in a single demonstration and are presenting the program operating in part under a grand received by the Historical Association from the NJ Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

Sephardic Jews, as defined for this Open Hearth demonstration, are Jews of Spanish or Portuguese ancestry who came to the New World after the Spanish Inquisition in the 15^th century. Although not many of these Jews settled in Monmouth County before the 19^th century, their existence here has been documented as early as 1716 when the Gomez family,  a family of Jewish traveling merchants, were here at least for a brief period of time. Their existence has been documented in both court and deed records.

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Cops want to bar Jersey Shore police chief from looking at their cellphone bills

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The Shore Fine Art Scene Springs to Life

By April W. Klimley, Art Critic

April W. Klimley

April is certainly the cruelest month, as T.S Eliot wrote. Spring keeps peeking out followed by rainy and cold days here at the Shore. So, why not cheer yourself up by jumping into the Shore Art Circuit as it emerges from its winter torpor.

New exhibitions are emerging like the daffodils in your garden. Last weekend at least two galleries held openings. One was the A.J. Dillon Gallery of Art in Atlantic Highlands with an exhibit entitled “Art in Nature,” a theme appropriate to the season, despite the chill. The other was held in Red Bank. The Art Alliance held a juried member show with two themes–“Contrasts” and “Personalities.” The curator of the show was Michael Burrus Johnson who had several paintings displayed in the showcase front windows of the gallery.

As I strolled around the small gallery gleaming with a wide variety of styles, Bathers by Miguel A. Fugeras drew me in. At first glance, the piece looked like a wood block print—a powerful rendering of statuesque tall women in black and white bathing in a river. But up close, it’s clearly a drawing, probably pen and ink. It’s an arresting piece that reinterprets the time honored,  traditional theme of artists painting (dressed) women or female nudes at the seashore, ocean, or other body of water. Virtually all major artists from Botticelli to Degas have painted these scenes. But in tone and feeling, Fugeras’ drawing feels closer to Picasso’s Demoiselles of Avignon because of its angles and abstract nature .

Bathers by Miguel A. Fugeras. Drawing. The Art Alliance.

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Freeholders honor MAST students

By Muriel Smith

FREEHOLD –  Eighty cadets from the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) NJROTC unit were honored Thursday night at the regular meeting of the Board of Freeholders, when each received a certificate of appreciation and the day was proclaimed MAST Day in Monmouth County.

Freeholder Lillian Burry brought the honors to the high school students citing their first place awards in senior and freshman divisions of drill competitions. The senior team placed first in three of the four, second in the fourth at the senior level, while both the senior and freshmen teams took all the top honors in the academics portion of the events. MAST’s varsity Color Guard led by Cadets Steven Vieira and Kyle McKean also is undefeated in each of the competitions.  The Color Guard opened the meeting Thursday night and presented colors for the pledge of allegiance which starts every freeholder meeting.

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Several injured, homeless after Eatontown apartment blaze

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

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, April 3

• Law Enforcement Career Fair at BCC (Lincroft) – MORE INFO
• Splintered Sunlight at The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Fortunate Youth at The Saint (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Commander Cody & His Modern Day Airmen at The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Men’s College Baseball: Monmouth U vs. Quinnipiac (WLB) – MORE INFO
• MBFC Easter Bake Sale (Monmouth Beach) – MORE INFO
• It Took A Miracle (Marlboro) – MORE INFO
• Living Stations of the Cross (Holmdel) – MORE INFO
• The Color Atlantic Extravaganza (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Cinemas Movie Night (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

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