47 days, coincidences and counting

By Muriel J. Smith

Editor’s note: This article is the third in an exclusive series of Muriel’s inspiring and hopeful message after dealing with breast cancer

It was Dec. 18, a week before Christmas, I learned I had breast cancer. But it was little. The tumor couldn’t be felt by Dr. Mary Martucci, the surgical oncologist at Centra State Medical Center, who examined me. But it could be seen on the ultra sound. And confirmed by the biopsy. And it was located pretty well directly in the middle of my right breast.

On the other hand, I was at the Star & Barry Tobias Women’s Health Center at Freehold’s Centra State Medical Center where radiologist Dr. Kenneth Tomkovich was involved in a nation-wide trial procedure. I fit the criteria to participate in it. Even better, Dr. Martucci, the  surgeon who would have done the lumpectomy had I opted for that option, said that whichever I chose…surgery or the trial, cryoablation, would be ok. A surgeon who certainly put her patient first! And I was grateful.

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“Lawless Matt” Doherty defies Court, Pay to Play Ordinance

Defy– openly resist or refuse to obey

Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty speaks during the Two Year Hurricane Sandy Anniversary while Governor Christie practices his Trump sidekick pose(Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen)

In his latest campaign finance disclosure with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, Belmar Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty did not disclose the names of donors who gave his campaign $300 or less, as required by Belmar’s Ethics and Pay to Play Law.

Before he stopped talking to MoreMonmouthMusings, shortly after he declared his candidacy for Monmouth County Freeholder in January, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty told us that his borough’s pay to play ordinance was unenforceable.  Never-the-less, he pushed the Borough Council to pass a new ordinance that would allow him to take donations from people and entities who have business with or are regulated by the Borough and not to disclose donations less than $300.

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N.J. lawmaker fuming after Sandy whistleblower told to leave FEMA contractor alone

WASHINGTON — A lawyer for the contractor helping the Federal Emergency Management Agency review Hurricane Sandy damage claims has demanded that a whistleblower and a law firm stop contacting its employees to bolster allegations that storm victims were shortchanged. The letter from Optimal Solutions and Technologies referenced Jeff Coolidge, a whistleblower who worked for a company… Read the rest of this entry »

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May 17 is the voter registration deadline to vote in the June 7 primary

New voters can still register to vote in the June 7 primary. The deadline is Tuesday, May 17.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are still battling for the Democratic Presidential nomination and locally, the Democrats have an election to choose who their County Freeholder candidates will be on the November general election ballot.  Running for Freeholder under Clinton’s line are Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty and Brenda Sue Fulton of Middletown.  Running with Bernie Sander are Angelica Ashford of Manalapan and Laury Wills of Little Silver.

The Republican presidential primary has been settled, with Donald Trump the presumptive nominee.  Ted Cruz and John Kasich remain on the New Jersey ballot.   The Republican Freeholder candidates, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Freeholder Serena DiMaso are running unopposed for their nominations.

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Rider dies after fall from horse at Jersey Fresh International

ALLENTOWN — A 33-year-old rider died Saturday after she fell from her horse at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event hosted at the Horse Park of New Jersey, organizers said. Philippa Humphreys, a British citizen living in Rockford, Michigan, fell at fence 16 of the course, according to a statement from the competition. Emergency crews rushed… Read the rest of this entry »

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Surrogate Rosemarie Peters Reminds County Residents of the Importance of Having a Will

By Caitlin Brown

FREEHOLD- Entertainment news has been dominated lately by the passing of one of the biggest names in music for over thirty years- Prince, who died suddenly at age 57. Although he passed away on April 21, this story will remain in the news for quite some time, due largely to the fact that the superstar seemingly did not leave a will to cover the vast wealth of his estate, according to his lawyers. The announcement of his death has led to hundreds of people coming forward to request DNA testing, in the hopes of being named an heir of his estate- an issue that will take months, perhaps even years, to resolve.

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School business administrator resigns amid investigation

WEST LONG BRANCH — The business administrator for the Shore Regional High School district has resigned under the cloud of an investigation. Dennis Kotch, who has served as the district’s business administrator and board secretary since September 2007, handed in his resignation on Friday, Superintendent Thomas Farrell confirmed. Farrell would not say why Kotch resigned but… Read the rest of this entry »

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Report: Pallone is holding up animal safety measure over grudge with Booker

Congressman Frank Pallone is holding up the passage of a legislation that would update the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by objecting to language inserted in the Senate version of the bill by Senator Cory Booker that would restrict the use of animals in testing the health risks of chemicals, according to a report today on Politico.

Pallone’s resistance to the language surprised many on the Hill because he has traditionally been a reliable supporter of animal safety legislation. 39 House Democrats wrote to Pallone on Friday asking him to accept the Senate version of the animal safety which he is currently holding up in a conference committee.  A copy of the letter to Pallone from his colleagues can be downloaded here.

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Middletown Police to hold Child Safety Checkpoint on Friday, May 13

The Middletown Police Department will hold a Child Safety Checkpoint on Friday, May 13^th from 3pm to 7pm inside Old Village Firehouse, located at 1340 Route 35.

Police officers trained as child passenger safety technicians will assist motorists with proper child safety seat installation as well as proper positioning and harnessing of a child. No appointment is necessary. The checkpoint is free and open to the public. Please remember state law requires that all children below 8 years old or less than 80 lbs. in weight must be seated in a child restraint system.

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So That’s What Cancer Looks Like

By Muriel J. Smith

Editor’s note: This article is the second in an exclusive series of Muriel’s inspiring and hopeful message after dealing with breast cancer

It was Nov. 25, two days after my 79^th birthday, when Dr. Ann Hughes, the interpreting radiologist for the Star and Barry Tobias Women’s Health Center at Central State Medical Center, wrote to let me know my mammogram showed a finding “that requires additional imaging studies.”  The radiologist sent the same information to Dr. Robert Pedowitz, my general practitioner, who immediately called me. He wanted me to see Dr. Mary Martucci, the medical director and surgical oncologist at the Women’s Center. I’m not saying it’s cancer, he cautioned, simply that he would like an oncologist involved right from the get go. Just in case.

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