Stacey Weathers, 46, of Tinton Falls, was killed on Saturday afternoon, October 3 when a tree fell onto her Mustang Convertible while she was driving southbound on Rt 34 in Colts Neck. Weathers was the executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, where she helped raise $7 million to support patients and fund cancer research.
Matthew Kleinstein, 20, of Marlboro Township pleaded guilty to Cyber Harrassment and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor. Kleinstein admitted to “sexting” photos of his genitals via text message and SnapChat to four females, ages 11-13, while he was a camp counselor for the Marlboro Recreation Department during the summer of 2014. Kleinstein was sentenced to PTI for a minimum of one year. His criminal record will be expunged if he sucessfully complete’s the program.
Dylan Gowan, a 19 year old Highlands man, spent the the night of August 11 and early morning hours of August 12 on a buoy 4 miles off the coast of Sandy Hook after the wave runner he was riding from Brooklyn failed and while the U.S. Coast Guard and the NYPD Marine Unit searched New York Harbor for him via helicopter and boat.
Marissa Procopio, 15, of Atlantic Highlands was struck and killed on July 7 by a hit and run driver on Rt 36 in the Leonardo section of Middletown. Toni Ann Marletta, 49, of Leonardo was arrested and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Accident, No Insurance, and other Motor Vehicle offenses on July 15. Marletta was released from the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on August 4 after Judge Francis Vernoia allowed her to post 10% of her 150,000 bail. She remains free on bail pending trial.
The Procopio family filed a wrongful death suit against Marletta in December.
Leo Cervantes, the owner of Chilango’s Mexican Restaurant in Highlands and LaPlaya in Keansburg, was surprised to see himself featured in Governor Chris Christie’s first television commercial of the 2016 GOP presidential race. Cervantes was part of Christie’s Hispanic outreach in the 2013 gubernatorial campaign, but said he never heard from the presidential campaign and that he has not decided who to support for president.
Tamara Wilson-Seidle was shot and killed in Asbury Park by her ex-husband, Neptune Township Police Sgt Philip Seidle. Philip is awaiting trial on the murder and faces life in prison. Tami’s Legaciesis a facebook community set up to look after the nine Seidle children.
Christine Giordano Hanlondropped the “Acting” from her title and became Monmouth County Clerk when the NJ Senate unanimously confirmed her nomination to replace M.Claire French. Hanlon was elected to her own five year term on November 3.
U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman cleared Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno in the allegations lodged at her by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. Zimmer alleged that Guadagno delivered a message from Governor Chris Christie threatening to withhold Sandy relief funds if Hoboken did not approve a development application by the Rockefeller Group.
Former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucaswas sentenced to five years in federal prison for his convictions related to his acquisition of Burke Farm.
David Wildsteinpleaded guilty in the Bridgegate scandal, claiming that the George Washington Bridge lane closures in September of 2013 were political retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for failing to endorse Governor Chris Christie’s reelection. Bridget Ann Kelly and Bill Baroni were indicted in the matter.Wildstein’s attorney claimed that Christie knew about the lane closures while they were occurring. Christie claimed that U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman’s indictment announcement cleared the governor of any wrong doing in the matter.
Governor Chris Christie pardoned Shaneen Allen,the single mother from Philadelphia who was arrested on gun possession charges in Atlantic County in 2013.
Senator Bob Menendezwas indicted on federal corruption charges. Menendez stepped down as ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
State Senator Joe Kyrillos endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.
FEMAannounced it would review every Hurricane Sandy related flood insurance claim.
SPCA Chief Buddy Amato retired six months earlier than planned after being sued for sending sexist and racist text to agency employees. MMM reported that Amato’s accuser, Suzanne DesMarias, has a long history of suing her employers for harassment and work related injuries.
MMM reported that the Monmouth Democrats would consolidate their resources in the 11th Legislative District in an attempt to unseat Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande.
A federal jury in Trenton cleared the Monmouth County Correctional Institution of any wrongdoing in the death of a 22 year inmate who became violent after being refused the use of a cell phone.
Fire fighter Pat Breen and Freeholder Lillian Burry inspect the devastation in Ocean Grove. Feb 7, 2015. Photo by Bob Burlew
Fort Monmouthwas designated as an Ebola quarantine site.
Mater Dei Prepwas slated to close. The community raised $1 million to save the school.
While in New Hampshire, Governor Chris Christie criticized Governor Maggie Hassan for appearing to be more focused on running for her next job than on governing the state she was elected to lead.
A fire destroyed four businesses and seven apartments in Ocean Grove.
In reaction to 50 Shades of Grey, Tommy DeSenowrote that sex is the same for everyone, like eating, and that we shouldn’t talk about it so much.
Belmar’s Home By Summercampaign raised $50K in two weeks to assist the last two borough residents who were displaced by Hurricane Sandy get back into their homes.
In Atlantic Highlands, an ongoing rift within the local GOP became public when Republican Councilman Lou Fligor nominated Democrat Roy Dellosso to be Council President, catching Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, who was on hand to swear in Republicans Jack Archibald and Peter Doyle in to their new council terms, off guard.
Archibald and Fligor went on to a primary fight to replace retiring Mayor Fred Rast at the GOP standard bearer. Archibald beat Fligor in June but lost badly to Democrat in November Rhonda “Randi” Le Grice and turned over control of the borough’s government to the Democrats.
