Security Guard Initiated Rescue Of Shadow Lake Fire Victim

photo via gofundme

Keith Thornton, 31, of Asbury Park, a Security Officer employed by Marion Security of Red Bank, is credited with initiating the rescue of the 88 year old woman trapped in her burning Shadow Lake Village home on Saturday night, according to an updated press release by Detective Lt. Paul Bailey of the Middletown Township Police Department.

Family and friends of the fire victims have identified them as George and Gladys Bowden in a gofundme page. 

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Opinion: Cap on SALT deduction should lead to property tax reform

By Harold V. Kane

Harold V. Kane

Did President Donald Trump inadvertently give the New Jersey Republicans a gift horse? It is no secret that the cap of $10,000 on the deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) will hit many Garden State residents hard. Many residents of the Hudson County Gold Coast are paying $20,000 to $30,000 in property taxes plus New Jersey income and sales taxes, and New York City and state income taxes. These residents are used to taking the full SALT deduction from their federal taxes and often receive a tax refund from the Treasury. Now there is a high probability that these people will be sending a check to the Treasury instead of receiving one. Some will blame the president for the additional tax liability, but the national tax laws have to be applied equally. Where the changes hurt New Jersey they actually help Texas since Texas has much lower property taxes and no state income tax. So why is this a gift horse?

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Middletown Cop Saves Woman From Shadow Lake Village Fire

UPDATED, Dec 17: 

Security Guard Initiated Rescue Of Shadow Lake Fire Victim

Middletown Patrolman Nicholas Manochio was first on the scene at a fire at 54 Friendship Court in Shadow Lake Village on Saturday evening.  Upon arriving at the fire which was reported at 7:20 p.m., Ptl. Manchio learned that there was an 87 year old woman in the burning home, according to Detective Lt. Paul Bailey, Public Information Officer of the Middletown Township Police Department.

Manchio entered the home and successfully rescued the woman who was then transported to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, along with a 91 year old male resident of the home.  Both residents were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

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Volunteers Welcome To RAINE Christmas Wrapping

Elves of all ages have been wrapping gifts for those less fortunate this week in preparation for the RAINE Foundation’s 17th annual Christmas gift delivery to thousands of Raritan Bayshore area children.

Volunteers are welcome to join the wrapping party Monday through Wednesday, December 17-19, at 2931 Route 35 N in Hazlet (the former Franks Nursery building) from 5 p.m till 9 p.m.

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35 Recruits Graduate From Monmouth County Police Academy

Fifteen new police officers and twenty new corrections officers graduated from the Monmouth County Police Academy on Thursday, December 13, during a ceremony in Freehold, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden announced.

“By successfully completing this training, these fine men and women have demonstrated their commitment to law enforcement and corrections,” said Sheriff Golden, whose agency runs the Monmouth County Police Academy. “That is a great privilege, since there is no higher responsibility, than maintaining public safety. I’m proud of their accomplishments and commend all for a job well done.”

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Scharfenberger in no rush to decide which office he will seek next year

Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger takes the Oath of Office on Feb 3.

Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger will be running for office again in 2019.  He will either seek his own full term on the Freeholder Board, having been elected to complete Assemblywoman Serena Dimaso’s term last month, or he will seek the Assembly seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Middletown).

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The Season: Giving is Contagious

By Greg Kelly

With the nation’s economy now in a very good phase, it’s time to give back to those who are truly in need this holiday season. In good times and bad — generosity is always necessary.

And besides, your efforts at giving can “jumpstart a cascade of generosity through your community.” According to a report from the Greater Good Science Center, “giving is contagious. When we give, we don’t only help the immediate recipient of our gift. We also spur a ripple effect of generosity through our community.”

The following Monmouth County-based charitable/volunteer/service organizations (along with some worthy arts groups) help the needy as well as the community at large. When it comes to giving be sure to remember them this holiday season.

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Greg’s List: Things to Do in Monmouth County This Weekend, December 14-16, 2018:

By Greg Kelly

Courtesy of Teddy Bears by the Shore

Friday, Dec. 14

• Holiday Doo Wop at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• “Art” at Holmdel Theatre Company – MORE INFO
• Scrooge (Spring Lake) – MORE INFO
• The Nutcracker by ARB at Two River Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• “The Emperor’s New Duds” by Center Players (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Spectacular & Train Display at InfoAge (Wall Twp.) – MORE INFO
• Santa Claus at Sickles Market (Little Silver) – MORE INFO
• August Wilson’s King Hedley II at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• “Holiday Model Train Display” at Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

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Saving Lives: President Signs Two of Rep Smith’s Bills Into Law

Callista Gingrich, Ambassador to the Holy See, Rep Chris Smith and Vice President Mike Pence at the White House for the bill signing ceremony

President Donald Trump signed two bills crafted by Congressman Chris Smith into law on Tuesday: a five-year, $30 billion extension of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act, legislation to ensure ISIS genocide victims in Iraq and Syria receive humanitarian relief and hold the perpetrators accountable for their crimes.

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O’Scanlon: Over-Brining NJ Roads is a Large-Scale Waste of Taxpayer Funds

By Senator Declan O’Scanlon

The lack of government response and preparedness for the first winter storm of the season was clearly a failure,” Senator O’Scanlon said. “Although it was somewhat ameliorated by the moving target forecast, there’s no question we should have been better-prepared, and more on top of the treacherous situation as it evolved.

However, the answer for that failure is NOT to waste obscene amounts of taxpayer money by over-brining roads, every time the temperature dips below 40 degrees.

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