Democrats show up for ballot drawing with temperature gun

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal’s entourage showed up at County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon’s office today for the ballot positioning drawing, armed with a space age temperature gun.

Not Linda Baum

Linda Baum, a Middletown Democrat who has twice been defeated for Township Committee, and who got the Middletown Librarian fired when they conspired together to politicize library operations behind the backs of the Library’s Trustees, was on the scene in Freehold to take the temperature of the capsules containing the names Democrat and Republican for the ballot positioning drawing.

Gopal issued a press release this morning wherein he accused former County Clerk M. Claire French of refrigerating the capsules in the past in order that she could pick the cold one to assure the Republicans win the favored ballot position.

Baum, who’s  certification in temperature gun operation is unclear, pointed her gun at the capsules while Bertha Sumick, the Clerk of Elections and a Deputy County Clerk looked on.

Hanlon had recused herself from presiding over the drawing, because she is on the ballot in November.

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The Arnone Report: History made in Monmouth and $45 million in infrastructure grants

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

NHL Star Trevor VanRiemsdyk, a CBA graduate, brought the Stanley Club to Middletown on July 30th

What an exciting few weeks for Monmouth County! We are making history and people around the region are taking notice. The weather has been incredible – which means our beaches, restaurants and attractions are packed and in turn, economic rewards for the community.

We even got a visit from the Stanley Cup. Trevor VanRiemsdyk, a defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks and Middletown native, attended a ceremony in his honor at Middletown Arts Center on July 30. Hundreds of fans from the area turned out for this exciting event, where Mayor Stephanie Murray awarded Trevor a key to the city, and myself, along with my fellow Freeholders, dedicated the day in his honor, marking Thursday, July 30, 2015, as Trevor VanRiemsdyk Day.

And let’s not forget history making at the William Haskell Invitational.  With a record setting crowd at Monmouth Racetrack, nearly 61,000 people came out to see triple crown winner, American Pharaoh.  Officials said that is was the largest crowd in the 145-year-old racetrack’s history, with the previous single day attendance record, 53,638, set at the Haskell in 2013. We can now say that Monmouth Park, rich in its own traditions, is part of national horse racing history as well.

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Vin Gopal’s Losing Formula

Gopal’s only political play is to attack the integrity of the candidates he’s running against, regardless of the veracity of the attack.

Vin Gopal is setting himself up for another fall. photo via facebook

By Art Gallagher

In the aftermath of Red Bank Council President Art Murphy announcing on MoreMonmouthMusings that he would resign his seat on the borough council and withdraw as a candidate for another term, Monmouth Demcoratic Chairman Vin Gopal complained to the Asbury Park Press and The Two River Times that he has a hard time recruiting candidates to run for office because of the toxic political environment.

From APP:

“I think it (Murphy’s resignation) is part of a larger problem, and he’s been thinking about it for a while,” Gopal said. “It’s about how negative and nasty local campaigns have been getting.”

From Two River Times:

Gopal however, said Murphy’s decision was not solely in response to the video. “It’s part of a larger problem with contemporary politics,” Gopal said, alleging that political opponents had on the sly recorded Murphy, unbeknownst to the councilman and released it for political gain.

“It’s sad it’s come to this,” Gopal said, noting that these tactics increasingly have been making it difficult to get qualified candidates.”

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How long before gas prices hit the $2 mark?

Close the doors, because the gas price elevator is going down, again. How long will it take before the $2 a gallon mark is hit. It may not be that long, especially if gas stations decide to have a price war to move product, said Jeff Pelton, senior oil analyst for Gas Buddy.com “Expectation into next… Read the rest of this entry »

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Hammerhead shark swimming around Jersey Shore surfaces off Belmar

BELMAR — Elias, a 100-pound Hammerhead shark that has been swimming around the Jersey Cost over the past week, made its way to Belmar Sunday morning. The shark was recently tagged by OCEARCH, the same non-profit organization that tracks the whereabouts of social media sensation Mary Lee, a 3,000 pound great white shark. The group is… Read the rest of this entry »

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Domestic calls involving cop and slain ex-wife started soon into their marriage, records show

Tamara Seidle

NEPTUNE –A decades-old report discovered by Neptune Township police indicates law enforcement officers intervened in domestic disputes between Sgt. Philip Seidle and the ex-wife he’s accused of gunning down in broad daylight in June soon into their marriage and shortly after he joined the force. Neptune officials found a 1994 report relating to a domestic incident… Read the rest of this entry »

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Body of missing swimmer found at Sandy Hook identified

SANDY HOOK –Federal parks officials identified the man who died while swimming at Sandy Hook as a 25-year-old Red Bank man. Andros Vega-Pena was swimming with a group of people Wednesday evening at Beach B when he came into distress between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., said Daphne Yun, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service.… Read the rest of this entry »

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West Front Street Bridge To Close For Two Weeks In August

The newly constructed West Front Street Bridge, also known as the Hubbard Bridge, will be closed to motor vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. on Wednesday August 12 through Wednesday August 26, according to a statement by Freeholder Tom Arnone.

The bridge connects Middletown and Red Bank over the Swimming River.  It will be open to pedestrian traffic during the two week period.

The purpose of the closure is to allow utility workers to move overhead power lines off of the old bridge to newly constructed underground facilities, and to the contractor to reconstruct intersections on both the Red Bank and Middletown sides of the span.

Arnone said the other option was to have the contractors work in stages, over a twelve week period, which would have kept the bridge open but slowed traffic considerably for three months.  The chosen schedule, made in consultation with elected and administrative officials in both Red Bank and Middletown, will allow the bridge to reopen prior to the Labor Day Weekend and before the start of school.

“This schedule allows motorists to make adjustments to their travel plans for two weeks,” Arnone said.

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Man shot in head flags down cop for help, shooter kills himself, officials say

ASBURY PARK — One man was killed and another is in extremely critical condition in an attempted murder-suicide that occurred Thursday afternoon in broad daylight on a public street in Asbury Park, authorities said. A 30-year-old city man was shot in the head by a 20-year-old man who later turned the gun on himself and pulled… Read the rest of this entry »

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Red Bank Council President Art Murphy To Resign, Will Not Seek Another Term

Red Bank Council President Art Murphy

Red Bank Council President Art Murphy told MoreMonmouthMusingsthat he will resign from the borough council and he will not stand for reelection in November.  He expects to submit his resignation by Wednesday of next week.

“Yes, I am stepping down,” Murphy said when asked if he was resigning, “this has been in the works for a while. They’re (the Red Bank Democrats) are looking for my replacement.  I have a lot going on with my business.”

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