The List: 10 Energy Questions in New Jersey That Need to Be Resolved

In New Jersey, energy issues have emerged as a high priority for both consumers and businesses, with costs typically ranging in the top 10 most expensive in the nation. The Christie administration’s Energy Master Plan cites cutting those costs as a chief concern, in part, to make New Jersey more competitive with neighboring states. It is… Read the rest of this entry »

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Size Doesn’t Matter — Study of NJ Municipal Government Costs Concludes

What do Alpine and Harding, two of the state’s wealthiest enclaves, have in common with Newark, Camden and Trenton, three of New Jersey’s largest and poorest cities? All five spend more than $2,000 per person on municipal government services — 50 percent more than the average for the state’s 513 nonresort communities, Raphael J. Caprio and…

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‘Jersey Girl,’ Bruce Springsteen with Clarence Clemons & the Red Bank Rockers

Bruce Springsteen sings “Jersey Girl” at the Tradewinds in Sea Bright, on June 28, 1993

On June 1, 1993, Bruce Springsteen wrapped up his 1992-93 world tour with what has come to be known as his Other Band: A group of mostly non-E Street Band musicians who did a decent job, but still were inevitably compared…

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Musings from the NJ Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Ceremony

By Chris Fotache

On November 13th I had the pleasure of attending for the first time the NJ Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Class of 2014 was inducted at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, and it was a very fun night out. I was there as a member of the press, and covered both the red carpet arrivals and the show itself. I have to thank NJ Discover for taking me with them, since the organizers don’t accept simply bloggers, just accredited organizations.

The most popular red carpet guests were cast members from the Sopranos. Vince Curatola (Johnny Sacks) arrived first and was very friendly with the media. Then Aida Turturro (Janice Soprano) spent a lot of time really loving the attention and talking to everybody. Vincent Pastore (Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero) was also cool and not in a rush to leave his media friends. The FBI Agent Guy slipped unnoticed since nobody knew who he was. Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts) was last to arrive and while friendly as well, he seemed to be still in character.

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Is Atlantic City In Line for a State-Appointed Emergency Manager?

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, November 14-16, 2014

By Greg Kelly

Friday, November 14

• Monty Python’s Spamalot at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Open House at Sickles Market (Little Silver) – MORE INFO
• Jersey Shore Restaurant Week – MORE INFO
• Our Town by Thornton Wilder at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Johnny Marr at The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Staged Sampler Reading at Grange Playhouse (Howell) – MORE INFO
• Kids Night Out (Fair Haven) – MORE INFO
• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• Yoga for Adults (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

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Connelly leading in Eatontown mayoral race after provisional ballots counted

Eatontown “Mayor-elect” Dennis Connelly. photo via facebook with permission.

Eatontown Council President Dennis J. Connelly, a Republican, appears to have thwarted Democratic Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo’s bid for a 5th four year term as the borough’s mayor.

Tarantolo was leading the race by one vote after all the machine and vote by mail ballots were counted in the wee hours last Wednesday.  This morning, Connelly picked up four votes when the provisional ballots were counted to Tarantolo’s one vote, leaving the final unofficial count 1,481 for Connelley and 1479 for Tarantolo.

Connelly told MMM that he expects the mayor to demand a recount. Tarantolo has until November 19th to file for a recount.

Of the 13 provisional ballots submitted on election day, 6 were disqualified and 2 did not have votes cast for mayor.  Of the five qualified ballots, 4 cast votes for Connelly.

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A Different Brand of Politics

By Gary Rich, Monmouth County Deputy Freeholder Director

Art Gallagher thinks I’m a winner. Well, sort of. And while I appreciate the (backhanded) compliment, I’d like to pose a few items of food for thought.

Maybe, just maybe, voters really are tired of the game playing and posturing that exists in much of politics. (I think voters across the county sent that message pretty loud and clear with their votes this Tuesday.)

Maybe all they really want is for us to get back to the business of working on the issues that affect them.

Maybe they don’t care how many hands we have shaken or how many babies have been kissed. Maybe they see through that.

Maybe that’s why—despite suffering “from a perception within the Party’s leadership that [I have] skated by on the backs of others” (a perception that Art clearly seems all too eager to perpetuate)—I have now TWICE been the top vote-getter in each of my races for County Freeholder. (FOUR TIMES if you add my convention victory in March and June’s Primary Election.)

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Chris Christie gets high marks for handling of Ebola: poll

file photo by Art Gallagher

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie enjoyed a successful election night on the national stage Tuesday, with several Republican governors cruising to election over President Obama’s allies. Now, Mr. Christie’s constituents are giving him higher marks than the federal government for his handling of the Ebola situation. A Monmouth University poll released Thursday says the majority of… Read the rest of this entry »

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Voters Answer Resounding ‘Yes’ to New Jersey’s Two Ballot Questions

Voters approved two ballot questions — one to replenish a virtually bankrupt open-space preservation program and the other to make fundamental changes to who is eligible for bail and who is not in New Jersey. Both questions, which would amend the state’s constitution, proved controversial. Unlike previous open-space ballot questions this one proved contentious, even…

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