Monmouth Leaders Speak Out On Bridgegate, Christie’s Response.

We’re hearing plenty about Bridgegate and Governor Christie’s response to it from cable news pundits and late night comedians.  MMM thought it would be interesting to hear what our Monmouth County leaders, from both parties, have to say about the controversy and Christie’s response to it at his press conference last Thursday.

Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long, said “No, and I’m angry that some are tossing by name around as if I’m waffling about my endorsement,” when we asked her if she regretted endorsing Christie in light of the Bridgegate scandal. “Bridgegate is terrible, but it does not undue the Sandy recovery.  My endorsement was based on the Sandy recovery.   Let’s wait and see what happens when all the facts come out. Right now it’s a feeding frenzy.”

Senator Jennifer Beck said, “The governor has always straight forward me with, and he was forthcoming in his press conference on Thursday.  I believe him.”

Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett said, “Governor Christie was open and sincere in his press conference.  He said that he will now talk to everyone on his staff himself to get to the bottom of what happened.  This issue may have gotten away from him because he departed from his usual practice of doing it all himself.

“Unfettered and overzealous politicos on Christie’s staff went way over the mark.  The lane closures were a bad, bad idea that never should have happened.”

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal hasn’t returned our calls since we debunked his malicious and inaccurate attempted character assassination of a Red Bank Republican Council Candidate last October, so we asked his predecessor, Victor Scudiery, and the man who opposed him in the chairman’s race in 2011, Frank LaRocca to comment.

Former Monmouth Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery said, “I take Chris Christie’s word for it. We’ll have to play it out and see what happens.  Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, it’s frightening, but we have to wait and see.”

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Sandy Hook’s Fort Hancock a step closer to getting a makeover as more than just a beach destination

Sandy Hook’s Fort Hancock a step closer to getting a makeover as more than just a beach destination (via NJ.com)

Like many young teens in the mid-to-late 1960s, Julie Hankinson spent some of her best days at Sandy Hook. Hankinson, though, had an advantage. She didn’t have to leave after the sun set or when the school year started. She lived there year-round…

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Burry and Rich take leadership roles on Freeholder Board

Arnone, DiMaso sworn in as freeholders

Shaun Golden sworn in as County Sheriff

Freeholder Tom Arnone, the 2013 Director, turns over the gavel to 2014 Freeholder Director Lillian Burry. Don Burry, the director’s husband, and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande look on with approval.

FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County freeholders Lillian G. Burry and Gary J. Rich, Sr. became, respectively, freeholder director and deputy director at the Board’s 2014 organization meeting held on Jan. 2 at Biotechnology High School.

“In the year ahead, I promise to work tirelessly for changes we desire that will make better lives and a stronger economy for the people of Monmouth County,” said Director Burry. “We have much work to do in transitioning Fort Monmouth into an engine for economic growth while restoring services for our veterans, finding a balance between economic development and historic preservation at Fort Hancock, creating a new County Master Plan and completing the County’s Child Advocacy Center.”

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SHAUN GOLDEN SWORN IN FOR SECOND TERM AS MONMOUTH COUNTY SHERIFF

Freehold: Sheriff Shaun Golden took the oath of office for a second three year term as Monmouth County Sheriff on January 2 during the Board of Chosen Freeholders annual organization meeting at the Monmouth County Biotech High School in Freehold. Sheriff Golden was re-elected in November and serves as the 76th Sheriff of Monmouth County. The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office consists of three divisions which include law enforcement, communications and corrections and has 609 officers and employees dedicated to serving public safety needs throughout Monmouth County. Sheriff Golden’s family watches as he is sworn in for a second term as Sheriff by Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno  > “It is an honor and privilege to have been sworn in as the Monmouth County Sheriff for a second term,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “I look forward to continuing to serve all who live, work or visit this great county in an efficient and effective manner for another three years.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth County Government Offices Open, State Closed

FREEHOLD, NJ – County’s Public Works crews were busy overnight and all morning with plowing and sanding operations to keep County roads open. Work is ongoing to take care of blowing and drifting snow across roadways.

Monmouth County offices and services are open and operating.

“If you must be on the roads, please exercise caution and give the plows and sand trucks room to do their work,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the County Department of Public Works and Engineering. “County road crews are now targeting some trouble spots, so the assistance of motorists is appreciated as they work their way through the storm.”

The exceptions are four branches of the County Library System that are closed today. Those locations are Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Hazlet, Holmdel and Oceanport. All other Library branches are open. However, please call your local branch to check on exact opening times.

All New Jersey State offices, located within Monmouth County, are closed. This includes:

• ·Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold
• ·Probation Offices in in Freehold and Ocean Township

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County ready to battle snowstorm

Public Works crews pre-treating the roads before it snows

Photo via PlowSite.com

FREEHOLD, NJ – Meteorologists predict three to eight inches snow could fall in Monmouth County in the next 24 hours, and the County’s Public Works crews have been busy today applying liquid salt brine and rock salt to the County roads.

“Pre-treating the roads is key,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. “Magnesium chloride-treated rock salt is much more effective and, therefore, there is a savings in man hours and material. We use 30 to 50 percent less material and require less spreading trips, depending on the snow event, for the same result.”

Road crews from the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering apply liquid salt brine to the County’s roads, followed by an application of salt treated with magnesium chloride. The pre-treatment prevents the snow and ice from bonding to the road surface, making it easier for the plows to clear the snow. The County maintains about 1,000 lane miles of roads.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, January 3-5, 2014

By Greg Kelly

Friday, January 3

• Health Care Reform: An Overview for Seniors (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO

• Yoga for Adults (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Play Mah Jongg (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO

• The Underpants at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Open Skating (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• jsaPLAY Kids Night Out! (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• College Women’s Basketball: Monmouth U vs. Fairfield (WLB) – MORE INFO

The seals are back in Spermaceti Cove on Sandy Hook to sun themselves on the sandbars for the winter.
Photo Courtesy of Paul Scharff Photography

• Chemtrail at The Saint (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• Billy Hector Band at The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• Blood Drive at Freehold Raceway Mall – MORE INFO

• Ballroom, Latin, Swing, and Salsa Dancing (Sea Girt) – MORE INFO

• Blood Drive (Keyport) – MORE INFO

• Free Sandy Financial Recovery Assistance (Keansburg) – MORE INFO

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Monmouth County Government to Reorganize on Thursday

Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso with Sheriff Shaun Golden

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders will hold their annual reorganization meeting on Thursday, January 2, 2014, 4 PM, at the Biotechnology High School, 5000 Kozloski Road, in Freehold Township.

Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso will be sworn into their new terms of office, as will Sheriff Shaun Golden.

Freeholder Lillian Burry is expected to be elected Freeholder Director for 2014.  Freeholder Gary Rich is expected to be elected Deputy Director.

The 2013 Freeholder Board will hold a Sine Die meeting to conclude the years business at 2PM on the 2nd, at the Monmouth County Hall of Records.

The Latin term Sine Die means the final adjournment of a legislative session, without adjourning to a specific time or date; literally it means “adjournment without a day.”

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Winners and Losers of 2013, Part One

Winners

January 2013 seems like a long time ago.

The years are supposed to go by faster as we get older.  2013 missed the memo, at least for me. President Obama’s second Inauguration and Freeholder John Curley’s second swearing in seem like a long time ago.

Selikia Joshia Gore started us off in 2013 with a timeless call to renew our humanity; the ongoing struggle of saints and sinners to love one another regardless of standing, status or creed.   It is a winning message that works only by embracing our failures without resigning to them.

The Governor. Governor Chris Christie started the year lambasting House Speaker John Boehner and the Congressional Republicans for playing politics with Superstorm Sandy aid and ended the year as the front runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. In between he built a bi-partisan and multi-cultural coalition that reelected him with over 60% of the vote in Blue Jersey.   Christie had the best year of any politician in America.  Only Pope Francis and Vladimir Putin had better years globally.

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.  Menendez started the year on the losers list. Embroiled in a sandal of allegations of his cavorting with teenaged girls in the Dominican Republic and using the powers of his office to benefit the businesses of the donor who arranged the party, speculation was that he would resign as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, if not his Senate seat.  Menendez seems to have survived an FBI investigation into his relationship with Dr. Saloman Melgan unscathed.

At the end of the year, Menendez’s position seems secure. He is the leading, and most powerful, critic of President Obama’s foreign policy.   His approval ratings are net positive 22 points in the last Monmouth University Poll. He got engaged to be married earlier this month.

Given where he started, Menendez may have had the best 2013 of any New Jersey public figure, other than Christie.

The Gramiccionis.  The Wall Township power couple had a very good year.  In March, Christopher, the Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor and U.S. Naval Reserve Officer, received orders to report for a 9 month tour of active duty in Afghanistan effective in August.  Those orders were canceled in July, keeping Chris on the job fighting crime in Monmouth County and home for the holidays.  Deborah was appointed by Governor Christie to be the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  The job pays $289,657.

Monmouth County Republicans.  Sheriff Shaun Golden, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Director Serena DiMaso were always expected to be reelected on the strength of their records and due to the fact that Monmouth County Independent voters usually vote Republican.  They make the winners list by virtue of fact that they ran as if they were behind, not taking any votes for granted.  More importantly, they ran a positive campaign based on reducing spending, holding the line on taxes, and improving services, in the face of yet another negative campaign on the part of the Monmouth County Democrats.

Monmouth County’s Legislative Delegation.  Each member of Monmouth County’s Legislative Delegation deserves more recognition than space will allow.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, December 27-29, 2013

SPONSORED BY SEASTREAK

By Greg Kelly

Courtesy of Teddy Bears by the Shore

Friday, December 27

• Hunger Games Meets the Olympics (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• A Wind in The Willows Christmas at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Open Skating (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• The Nutcracker Extra Performance (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Growing History for the Holidays (Freehold) – MORE INFO

• “A Day OFF from School is a Day ON at the MAC” (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• Monmouth County Parks Weekend Things to Do – MORE INFO

• Library Lego Party (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• After-Holiday Sales at Jersey Shore Premium Outlets (Tinton Falls) – MORE INFO

• Open Swim (Middletown) – MORE INFO

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