Vin’s Folly

The reaction to Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal’s declaration of victory has been hilarious…and has overloaded MMM stat counter!

Two Tinton Falls officials called first thing this morning unable to contain their laughter at Gopal’s delusional claim of credit for Gerry Turning’s election as mayor.

Tinton Falls Mayor-elect Gerry Turning

“I’m the most conservative Democrat you’ll ever meet,” Mayor-elect Turning said when we got him on the phone. “I registered as a Democrat over 40 years ago when I was 18 and Jerry Brown was running for President.  I don’t consider myself a partisan.  I vote for the best candidates.”  Turning said he voted for Mitt Romney for President last year, Chris Christie for Governor on Tuesday and Steve Lonegan for U.S. Senate last month.

“Neither the Democrats or Republicans in Tinton Falls were involved in my campaign.  We spent no money.  I’m proud of that.  I’ve never run for office before and don’t consider myself a politician,” said Turning, “I have good relationships with John Bennett (the Monmouth GOP Chairman) and Gopal and I want to keep it that way.  But I am not a partisan person and Tinton Falls is not a partisan town.  The residents like it that way,”

A Manalapan resident said via facebook, “Gopal’s letter is actually very funny. He states, ‘In MANALAPAN, Ryan Urgo, Dr. Ayesha Chaudhary and David Goldstein ran a strong campaign for township committee but lost due to an onslaught of negative attacks from the Republicans.’  Manalapan Democrats: In fact, the Republicans never mentioned the Democrats, not wanting to give them publicity since they were all unknowns. The Democrats, on the other hand, spent their entire campaign attacking Andrew Lucas and the farmland preservation, rather than running against the Republican candidates.”

Asbury Park Councilman John Moor said, “Funny that he claims the Asbury Park referendum a victory, I thought it was going to be non partisan.”

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18 Year Old Long Branch Man Charged With Murder

Dante Strong, top right. photo from Strong’s facebook page

Dante Strong, 18, of Long Branch was charged with the murder of Adrian Anderson, 23, also of Long Branch,  yesterday according to a statement released by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Officers from the Long Branch Police Department were in the area of Central Avenue and Liberty Street in Long Branch around 2:29 a.m. on September 21, 2013, when they heard gunshots.  Officers responding to the sounds of gunfire and were flagged down by several people at 135 Liberty Street, where they found the victim on the front porch, unconscious and bleeding from several gunshot wounds.  The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township, where he was pronounced dead at 5:22 a.m., despite the efforts made to save his life by medical personnel.

A joint investigation was launched by the Long Branch Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.  During the course of the investigation, Strong was linked to an armed robbery the morning prior to the shooting, near the intersection of Central Avenue and Ellis Avenue in Long Branch, less than one block from where the victim was killed.

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Republican Romp in Monmouth County

Monmouth County voters overwhelming elected  Sheriff Shaun Golden and Freeholder Director Tom Arnone to second terms yesterday.  Deputy Freeholder Director won her second election in as many years, earning her first full term as a freeholder.  DiMaso was elected last year to complete the term of Assemblyman Rob Clifton.

Golden defeated criminal defense attorney Rueben Scolavino  with 102,840 votes. 58,923 people voted for Scolavino.

Only Governor Chris Christie, who earned 70.6% of the vote in Monmouth County, 122,928, outpolled Golden.

Freeholders Arnone and DiMaso bested their Democratic opponents Brian Froelich of Spring Lake and Larry Luttrell of Holmdel by an almost 2-1 margin.  Arnone got 98,832 votes, Dimaso 95,829.  Froelich, who ran for the House of Representative against Congressman Chris Smith last year came in third with 58,450 votes and Luttrell, who was endorsed by the Asbury Park Press, received  56,394 votes.

In the legislative races, Republicans dominated.

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Municipal Races To Watch

The Battle of Monmouth is in the municipalities today.

Monmouth Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal is hoping to be the Gene Michael of politics. Michael, the New York Yankees General Manger in the early 1990’s, rebuilt the mediocre team back to dominant glory by focusing on new talent in the farm system.  As a player, Michael was a master of the hidden ball trick.  In baseball the hidden ball trick is when a position player fakes throwing the ball back to the pitcher after a play, only to tag out the base runner when he take a lead off the base.

Like Michael, Gopal is trying to build his farm team in Monmouth County municipal races, knowing he can’t win the big show in the short term, with an eye on future dominance of Monmouth County government and the State of New Jersey.  Also like Michael, Gopal always has a trick up his sleeve behind his youthful smile and pleasant demeanor.

Gopal hasn’t even fielded a team in 23 races in 16 Monmouth County towns.  Yet he has the press and New Jersey’s Democratic leadership convinced he’s building a future empire from the bottom up.

But if he doesn’t deliver the goods tonight, Gopal could end up as a Hardy Peterson, the Yankees General Manager who only lasted in the job for one year, 1990, instead of Michael, and find himself challenged for the county chairmanship when his first term ends in June.

The towns to watch tonight are Red Bank, Aberdeen, Eatontown, Highlands, Hazlet and Marlboro.

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Stuff to know about Freeholders Arnone and DiMaso

By Tom DeSeno

Sen Jennifer Beck, her husband Dan Shields and Freeholders Serena DiMaso and Tom Arnone @ Highlands Mayor Frank Nolan’s Rally @Bahr’s Landing. November 3.

The Freeholder Board runs the county government.  It’s always been puzzling why political parties are so entrenched in the process of selecting candidates, because the job of Freeholder has so little to do with the center-right and center-left political ideologies that the parties have come to represent.

The Freeholder board transcends the purely political because the issues they deal with don’t lend themselves to the various divisive topics that get folks to arguing.  The reality of being Freeholder is this – delivering quality government services at the least possible price.

With that understanding, let’s take a look at two of the candidates for Monmouth County Freeholder.

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Greg’s List: Things to do this weekend in Monmouth County, October 25-27, 2013

SPONSORED BY SEASTREAK

By Greg Kelly

Sunday, October 27

• Monmouth Symphony Orchestra at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• The Wonders of Wildlife (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Fall Wine & Cheese Tasting Weekend (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO

• Eco-Kayak Tour of the Navesink River (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• The Spirit of Woodstock (Manalapan) – MORE INFO

• Snuggies, S’mores & More (Freehold Twp) – MORE INFO

• JC’s Classic Car Show (Farmingdale) – MORE INFO

• Wild Edibles & Medicinals (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Play Dates in the Park (Colts Neck, Middletown) – MORE INFO

• The Tricky Part at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Fall Foliage Cruise on the Navesink River (Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Art & Crafts Show at Monmouth Mall (Eatontown) – MORE INFO

• A Day of Poe (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• Fall Scavenger Hunt (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Trick or Trot 5k (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• What Were We Talking About? (Spring Lake) – MORE INFO

• Oceanport Halloween Parade & Party – MORE INFO

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, October 11-13, 2013

SPONSORED BY SEASTREAK

By Greg Kelly

Sunday, October 13

• Belmar Fall Festival – MORE INFO

• Keyport Screamin’ Country Jamboree & Chili Contest – MORE INFO

• Craft Fair/Oktoberfest by Southern Monmouth C of C (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

• Blacksmith Demonstration (Holmdel) – MORE INFO

• Critters & Jitters (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• Monmouth University Open House (WLB) – MORE INFO

• Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise via Seastreak (Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Oktoberfest at Bear Mountain via Seastreak (Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Brighton Beach Memoirs by Monmouth Players (Navesink) – MORE INFO

• Mammoths, Monsters & More (Howell) – MORE INFO

• Family Halloween Camping (Freehold Twp) – MORE INFO

• Book Swap Drop In (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Allentown Fall Festival – MORE INFO

• Run thru Deal 5k and 1-Mile – MORE INFO

• On Borrowed Time at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Apple Fest (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• Rummage Sale (Tinton Falls) – MORE INFO

• Pumpkin Carving & Painting Station (various county parks) – MORE INFO

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Andrew Lucas Resigns From Manalapan Township Committee

Andrew Lucas resigned his position on the Manalapan Committee today.  His term was due to expire at the end of this year.  He was not seeking reelection.

His two line resignation letter simply said he was resigning effective immediately and appreciated the opportunity to serve.

Mayor Susan Cohen and Committeeman Ryan Green both said they had no idea why Lucas resigned.  Lucas has not returned a call for comment.

Once a rising star in the Monmouth GOP, Lucas was a nominee for Freeholder in 2006, losing to Barbara McMarrow of Freehold Township, then a Democrat. McMarrow has since become a Republican and is a member of the Freehold Township Committee.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, October 4-6, 2013

SPONSORED BY SEASTREAK

By Greg Kelly

Saturday, October 5

• Bradley Beach Tour-the-Town Garage Sale – MORE INFO

• Putting the Garden to Bed (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• Latino Festival of Monmouth County (Freehold) – MORE INFO

• Asbury Park Zombie Walk – MORE INFO

• Fall Flea Market at Allaire Village – MORE INFO

• AUM Church Rummage Sale (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Sandy Hook Bird Walk – MORE INFO

• Oktoberfest at Bear Mountain via Seastreak (Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Oktoberfest in Highlands – MORE INFO

• Oktoberfest in Fair Haven – MORE INFO

• SPCA Dog Walk & Pet Fair (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Fall Craft & Vendor Show (Bradley Beach) – MORE INFO

• Broomstick at NJ Repertory Theater (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• College Football: Monmouth U vs. Robert Morris (WLB) – MORE INFO

• Ocean Twp IAA Flea Market – MORE INFO

• Our Town by Stone Church Players (Navesink) – MORE INFO

• Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day (Upper Freehold) – MORE INFO

• Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise via Seastreak (Highlands) – MORE INFO

• AAUW Used Book Sale (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• Tinton Falls Community Day – MORE INFO

• Open Hearth Cooking Demonstrations (Freehold) – MORE INFO

• Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (Spring Lake) – MORE INFO

• Open Shoot Archery (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Yoga Class for Beginners (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Guitar Concert with Paul Pugliese (Howell) – MORE INFO

• Hazlet Day Festival – MORE INFO

• Homeowners: Short Sale vs. Foreclosure (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• Camp Evans “Base of Terror” (Wall Twp) – MORE INFO

• First Saturday Asbury Park – MORE INFO

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Allaire Village – MORE INFO

• NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Ride (Holmdel) – MORE INFO

• SPUR Fine Wine & Craft Beer Tasting (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• St. John’s Fall Festival (Hazlet) – MORE INFO

• Saturday Morning Craft Time (Tinton Falls) – MORE INFO

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Motocross tracks proposed in Tinton Falls

Photo via facebook

A motocross facility with three tracks, two buildings, parking for 475 cars and 100 foot stadium style lights is being proposed for a 21 acre site off Shafto Road in Tinton Falls.

The application by Jersey Shore Motocross for use and bulk variances as well as site plan approval is scheduled for a public hearing before the Tinton Falls Zoning Board tomorrow, October 3, at 7:30 pm at the municipal building, 565 Tinton Ave.  The site is currently zoned for light industrial use.

Mayor Michael Skudera alerted thousands of Tinton Falls residents to the hearing in an email yesterday.  Skudera presented a summary of the proposal and did not take a position, pro or con, on the application.

Jersey Shore Motocross has been using social media to rally public support for their project.  The company’s facebook page had its first entry on September 15.  The page has 1,775 “likes”.  The company is encouraging its supporters to arrive one hour early to the hearing as they anticipate a large crowd.

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