Spend a Night in Cardboard Box City 2014

Friday, September 26 Cardboard Box City for Family Promise of Monmouth County

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Chris Christie is lone GOP presidential prospect to expand Medicaid

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Exciting Progress At Fort Monmouth

By Lillian G. Burry, Monmouth County Freeholder Director

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry

Amidst a summer awash in bad news, there is a very good news story I’m pleased to share regarding the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth; a topic I am asked about frequently. Since the fort was closed by the U.S. Army in 2005, I have been a member of both public-private agencies, led by the state, that first planned, and is now executing plans to transform the fort into a hub of recreation, commerce, technology, innovation, education, residential and retail use. Tangible results emerged last year and continue to increase this year. More are on the near horizon, bringing jobs, ratables and opportunities for the public to enjoy new open spaces and recreational options within the borders of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls.

As the county’s representative, first on the Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Planning Authority (FMERPA) and currently on the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA), I identified certain facilities and spaces for county use early on. Last year, the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering took over, refurbished and is now utilizing the fort’s former motor pool, bringing critical services including snow and storm damage removal closer to that region. The county Park System now runs the former teen center and pool, a beautiful facility. Programs initiated there last year have been well-attended and growing. This year, we opened the pool for classes. The reception and attendance have been outstanding. We hope to increase programs at the pool next summer. That’s just the beginning…

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FREE Strengthening Families Program. Neptune, NJ

A free 14-week educational program for Monmouth County parents, grandparents, guardians, and their 9th graders.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, August 22-24, 2014

By Greg Kelly

Friday, August 22

• Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair – MORE INFO

• Martha’s Vineyard Weekend Trip via Seastreak (Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Bluegrass Mini Golf at Monmouth Park (Oceanport) – MORE INFO

• D-Day Exhibit at NJ National Guard Militia Museum (Sea Girt) – MORE INFO

• Kids Night Out (Fair Haven) – MORE INFO

• Downtown Freehold Farmer’s Market – MORE INFO

• Walking Lantern Ghost Tours (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Lucky Me at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Seining at the Bayshore (Port Monmouth) – MORE INFO

• Bus Stop at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Shore Dance ‘14: Ready for Prime Time at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

• Car Show Art Show (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• The King and I at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO

• tick, Tick…Boom! at ReVision Theatre (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• Rockit! at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Brad Paisley and Others at PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel) – MORE INFO

• Kayak Birding Expedition (Locust) – MORE INFO

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Victims of Triple Fatal Freehold Crash Identified

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the three people who died yesterday afternoon in the three vehicle crash on Kozloski Road in Freehold Township. A fourth victim who has not been identified remains in extremely critical condition at a local hospital.

Nicholas J. Dever, 19, of Freehold Borough, was at the wheel of a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta travelling south on Kozloski Road when he lost control of the vehicle before crossing over the centerline of the roadway and into the oncoming northbound travel lanes.

The Volkswagen collided offset head-on with the 2006 Honda Pilot driven by Thomas J. Koller, 50, of Freehold Township, who was traveling in the northbound lanes. As a result of the impact, both vehicles rotated counterclockwise and the Honda lifted and became partially airborne before it collided with the 1994 Toyota Camry driven by a 25-year-old Freehold Borough man. He remains in extremely critical condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township.

The passenger in the Volkswagen is identified as Noelle DeLuccio, 20, of Howell. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Assistant Middlesex County Medical Examiner Dr. Diane Karluk.

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Belmar Bonding Defeated In Referendum

Campaign materials for and against the Belmar Bonding referendum. Photo via Thomas Burke’s facebook page

In a stunning rebuke to Mayor Matt Doherty who campaigned hard for its passage, Belmar voters today overwhelmingly rejected borrowing $7 million to rebuild two pavilions on the boardwalk.

Doherty told MMM this afternoon that he expected the turnout would be like that of any general election and that his side spent as much on this Special Election as they have in any general election.  Doherty spent $10,411 in his 2010 campaign for mayor, according to his reports at the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Thomas E. Burke was a leader in the movement to force the referendum and in the campaign to defeat the measure.  Burke told MMM that his side spent between $500 and $1000 and had a volunteer campaign team of about 20 people.

1,797 voters cast a ballot. 1,041, 58%, voted against the borrowing.  There are 4,407 registered voters in Belmar.

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Investigators Seek Witnesses To Fatal Freehold Crash

Three people are confirmed dead and another is hospitalized in critical condition following a three vehicle crash on Kozloski Rd in Freehold this afternoon.

The identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The incident was first reported at 3:47 p.m. today and occurred on the Kosloski Road overpass at Route 33 Business.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to call Detective Eric Kerecman, of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, at 732-522-8885, or Police Officer Joseph Winowski, of the Freehold Police Department, at 732-462-7908

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Christie on Ferguson: Let’s not pre-judge

In response to a question from a member of the public, Governor Chris Christie addressed the situation in Ferguson,MO this afternoon at his Town Hall Meeting in Long Branch.

The following is a video of his response and a transcript, both released by his office.

Governor Christie: None of us quite know yet exactly what happened in Ferguson and what happened to this young man who was killed. And I spent seven years in law enforcement as the chief federal prosecutor in this state and what I learned during that period of time, among other things, was that what you read in the newspapers and what you see on TV is almost always just a fraction of the story. And so, I’ve been urging people to not pre-judge anything here. We have a really good justice system in this country, is it perfect? No, but it’s really good. And, in fact, there’s no better justice system in the world than the justice system we have in dealing with folks who are accused of crimes in this country. And so first, I’d say, you know, let’s give the justice system an opportunity to play itself out before we make any kind of broad judgments. Secondly, I’m really concerned about the generalizations that we’re then making about police officers. The fact is, that the overwhelming majority of police officers in this country are hardworking men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect us from bad people, violent people, people who mean ill to us. So when something like this happens like its happened in Ferguson, people already jump to conclusions not only about what happened in Ferguson but also how does that apply to every other police force across the country. Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon: Redflex Indictment Should Surprise No one

NJ101.5 photo

Karen Finley, former CEO of Redflex Traffic Systems Inc, one of two Red Light Camera companies operating in New Jersey, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Chicago last week on bribery charges.

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, New Jersey’s fiercest opponent of Red Light Cameras, says that is not a surprise:
“Well this is a shocking turn of events, said no one! If cameras actually increased safety no one would have to bribe anyone for business – we’d all be lining up!  How any public entity can continue to do business with Redflex in particular, but really any of these companies pitching these ineffective, thieving cameras is beyond me.  Is the lure of fast cash so strong we have decided that morality doesn’t matter?  We now have multiple pieces of evidence of corruption reaching the highest levels of one of the two companies operating these cameras in New Jersey.  Both companies are guilty of blatantly lying about their products and misrepresenting data.”

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