Melissa Maria Festa: A contestant we can all support

Melissa Maria Festa, ‘Mrs. Highlands’ will be competing for the ‘Mrs. New Jersey’ crown this weekend at the annual Mrs New Jersey United States pageant in Mays Landing.

A 2006 Monmouth University graduate, Melissa is one of eight married New Jersey women competing to represent the Garden State in the Mrs. United States pageant this July in Las Vegas.

Melissa Maria Festa teaching Spinning class.

A fitness instructor and model, Melissa, 31, is competing in her first pageant.  After Superstorm Sandy destroyed so much of her hometown, Highlands, she was moved to find a vehicle from which she could contribute to the rebuilding and recovery.  Her platform is Restoring the Shore: Hope for Highlands.

Melissa was WRAT 95.9’s 2011 RAT Rock Girl.  She teaches Spinning at Eastpointe Fitness in Atlantic Highlands and is a Red Carpet Host for Jersey Shore Premiere Events.

Since Sandy hit, Melissa has been hard at work bringing happiness to the lives her Highlands neighbors who have suffered mightily. She promoted Operation Prom to make sure Henry Hudson Regional High School female students will have nice dresses to wear at their prom this weekend. Melissa and her sister Amanda appeared in an Anderson Live segment, Do car dealers rip off women in March.

The Mrs. New Jersey pageant is on Saturday, May 11, 7PM, at the Walter Edge Theater  at Atlantic Cape May Community College.

We’re pulling for Melissa Maria!

• Tweet

Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County This Weekend–May 3-5, 2013

Photo by Art Gallagher

By Greg Kelly

Friday, May 3

• Manasquan Spring Side Walk Sale – MORE INFO

• Sicilians in the Basement at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

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

• The Electric Baby at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Laughter on the 23rd Floor by Center Players (Freehold) – MORE INFO

• Steel Magnolias by Spotlight Players (Matawan) – MORE INFO

• Spirit of the Artist (Avon) – MORE INFO

• The Cocktail Hour by South Street Players (Spring Lake) – MORE INFO

• Psychic Sylvia Browne at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Nearly New Sale (Morganville) – MORE INFO

*     *     *

Saturday, May 4

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Sandy Hook Is Open

Sandy Hook, the northernmost part of the Jersey Shore, reopened to the public this morning after being closed since Superstorm Sandy struck.

Noel Westerlind, SR of Leonardo was there and captured this amazing photo:

• Tweet

Grow Monmouth, Tourism, Shared Services

By Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arone

• ·         As a way of continuing to encourage businesses to come to Monmouth County, my team and I are conducting ongoing Grow Monmouth presentations around the County.  In the past two weeks, we have completed presentations in Aberdeen and Bradley Beach.  Additionally, we are continuing work on the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.  This week we have had roundtable discussions on topics that were suggested by the public during prior meetings. We have begun sending welcome letters to all new businesses registered within the county.  In less than a month, we have sent just over 90 letters offering assistance through the Grow Monmouth Initiative.
• Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Benjamin H. Danskin, 1925-2013, Rest In Peace

BENJAMIN H. DANSKIN, 87, of WALL, passed away April 25, 2013, at Sunnyside Manor in Manasquan. Born and raised in Spring Lake, NJ, he was the son of the late Benjamin S. Danskin and Nora Elizabeth Jackson Danskin.

Mr. Danskin was the husband of the late Betty Joan Slockbower Danskin, of Wall. He was also predeceased by his brother James Clyde Danskin, sister-in-law Helen G. Danskin, and son-in-law Paul L. Stevens.

Ben Danskin was a key figure in government service, public advocacy, business development, and Republican politics in Monmouth County, New Jersey, for more than 57 years. He was appreciated for his dedication to and love of his community, respected for  decisive leadership, relied upon for his business savvy, and revered for his political acumen and absolute integrity. His gregarious character impacted everyone he encountered.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Monmouth County Department Of Consumer Affairs Fight Sandy Scammers

Click photo for Consumer Affairs Brochure

The Monmouth County Department of Consumers Affairs has resolved $1.6 million in disputes since Superstorm Sandy, Freeholder Lillian Burry reported last night, according to NJ.com.

For the entire year of 2012, the department resolved only a little over $1 million in disputes.

Burry said the Department has taken a proactive approach to combatting fraud, answering calls related to price gouging, used cars sold with flood damage, fake charities and illegitimate contractors.

Earlier this year, the Department repeated warnings to consumers of home improvement and repair schemes in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs settled the first two Sandy-related price-gouging cases against gas stations for $46,000 – the division is in the process of investigating the over 2,000 price gouging complaints it received after the storm

• Tweet

Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, April 26-28

By Greg Kelly

Friday, April 26

• Spring Lake Fashion Extravaganza! – MORE INFO

• Marriage Is Hazardous to Your Health at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

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

• Guys & Dolls at Spring Lake Community House – MORE INFO

• The Electric Baby at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Fit to Kill by Monmouth Players (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• Anything Goes at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Laughter on the 23rd Floor by Center Players (Freehold) – MORE INFO

• Steel Magnolias by Spotlight Players (Matawan) – MORE INFO

• Verdi’s Rigoletto at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO

• Denim Day (Hazlet) – MORE INFO

• Hoops for Hope Basketball Tourney (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Global Understanding 5k Run/Walk at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO

*     *     *

Saturday, April 27

• COA Beach Sweeps (County beaches) – MORE INFO

*Today Show and Comcast Cares (Highlands)- MORE INFO

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Monmouth SPCA Asks For Public Help In Burnt Dog Investigation

Chief Victor “Buddy” Amato of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (SPCA) is asking for help from the public in the investigation of a dog suspected of being burnt to death in Eatontown on Tuesday evening.

Eatontown firefighters responded to a report of smoke and possible fire in the wooded area behind the Country Club Apartments off Tinton Ave between 7:00pm and 7:30pm where they found the burning remains of what is believed to be a beagle.

The animal’s remains were taken to the Red Bank Animal Hospital were a necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Amato asks that anyone with any information about the dog call him at 732-312-7153.

• Tweet

O’Scanlon: New Jersey Committed to Rebuilding from Sandy and Redeveloping Fort Monmouth

Assembly Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, commended the New Jersey  Economic Development Authority for its commitment to Monmouth County’s efforts to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy and  redevelop Fort  Monmouth.

“We were knocked down by Sandy and the State has been there from the  beginning offering a helping hand to get businesses and families back on their  feet,” O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, said. “From providing temporary housing units for  families to providing grants and loans to businesses that suffered damage, the  authority has been absolutely committed to our region and intends to place staff  in our communities – potentially at Fort Monmouth – to ensure easy access to grants  and assistance for business owners.”

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Monmouth’s “Rising Stars”

Gopal, Doherty and Nelson make Gannett’s ‘Other” List

Brian Nelson. Asbury Park Press Photo

In addition to the list of twelve ‘rising stars’ that Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande made on Sunday, Gannett published a list of 15 ‘up and comers’ to keep an eye on that includes three Monmouth players.

Democrats Vin Gopal, the 27 year old county chairman and Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, 39 made the list.  Noticeably absent among Democrats were Marlboro Mayor Jonathon Hornik and Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long.

Gopal, from West Long Branch, ran for Assembly in the 11th District in 2011 before being elected county chairman in 2012.  It remains to be seen if the Monmouth Democratic party will become more competitive under Gopal’s leadership, but there is no question that he is developing a statewide portfolio of influence with his early support of Barbara Buono for the 2013 gubernatorial nomination, his non-stop fundraising schedule for candidates statewide and savvy media presence.  Gopal has ties to both Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Congressman Frank Pallone. How he navigates the anticipated 2014 battle between Booker and Pallone for the U.S. Senate nomination will be fascinating to watch.  MMM predicts that he will be seen as a supporter of the winner and an ally of the loser.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet