The Arnone Report: Asbury Park-Brookdale Promise…and more good things happening!
By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone
Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone
Summer is finally upon on – the weather is cooperating and the first official day of summer is just around the corner.
So proud to have been at Asbury Park High School last week for the announcement of the partnership between the Asbury Park School District and Brookdale Community College for the Asbury Park-Brookdale Promise. This program targets all Asbury Park High School students and is designed to give them access to college readiness programs and scholarship opportunities in an effort to increase the number of students attending college. This will be achieved by granting scholarships to attend Brookdale to any of our students who have been enrolled at Asbury Park High School for all four years. This is a great accomplishment for the Asbury Park school district as this will enable more students to come closer to realizing their dreams of attending college.
Speaking of Brookdale, this week, I, along with my fellow board members of the Greater Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, will recognize Maureen Murphy, president of Brookdale Community College, with the Circle of Excellence Chairman’s Award for her steadfast commitment and dedication to education. In addition to Maureen, we are recognizing the Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno; Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County, Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC; Hope For Children Foundation, Edie Legg and Shari Scaramuzzo. Congratulations to all the honorees and thank you for your commitment to making Monmouth County a great place to work and live.
Last week I presented Kalpesh H. Shah, owner of Jersey Shore Pharmacy, with a check for $1,850 for facade improvements as part of our Economic 
Development program. I am extremely pleased with how well this program is going and that our small businesses are taking advantage of this and other services we offer to support them. It is extremely gratifying to help out a small business owner here in Monmouth County, as they are backbone of our community. Another small business opened last week as well, and myself, along with several Freeholders were there to cut the ribbon and officially open the Future Generation Early Learning Center in Colts Neck. For more information on our Economic Development programs, please visit www.visitmonmouth.com/economicdevelopment .
It was also my pleasure, along with entire Freeholder Board, to recognize Raymond Santiago, a student from Freehold Township, with a proclamation, designating June 9, 2016, as Raymond Santiago Day in the County of Monmouth, for his quick and heroic response last summer in saving the life of his choking babysitter. Raymond is a Boy Scout and calmly and effectively used the skills he learned as a scout to save her life. We are so proud of you Raymond!
I recently attended two great events at Monmouth Mall in Eatontown, both focused on the seniors in our County. A few days after Memorial Day, a wonderful event was sponsored by Monmouth County Government for our veterans. We had representatives from our Veterans services department there to support them and provide them with information, our sheriff’s office, surrogate’s office as well as our county clerk and other community organizations that support and assist our veterans in many ways. Thank you to all those who have served and those serving today, we are always here to support you. We are the land of the free, because of the brave. In addition to the county veteran event, myself and Deputy Director DiMaso attended the SCAN sponsored health fair.
Thank you to those who came out to support us during the primary! I look forward to continuing to serve your now and throughout the next few years!
Freeholder Director Tom Arnone can be reached at [email protected]
More from my site
The Arnone Report: Fort Monmouth Progress, Monmouth Park needs help
The Arnone Report: Spring into Monmouth County
The Arnone Report: Show us the 9-1-1 money!
The Arnone Report: Promises made, promises kept; a tax cut for Monmouth County
The Arnone Report: Tree Planting, Pledge of Allegiance and Summer is Coming!
The Arnone Report: Stay cool and hydrated, Kyrillos bridge dedication on July 27- The Arnone Report: Freeholder Director Tom Arnone’s update
- The Arnone Report: Important Infrastructure Projects In The Works
- The Arnone Report: Shark River Dredging To Resume, Freeholders Support Mayors’ and Assemblywoman Handlin’s Efforts With JCP&L
- The Arnone Report: Gratitude and Accomplishment
Freeholder Arnone is an inspirational leader of an excellent Board of Chosen Freeholders. Creating the Brookdale / Asbury partnership will result in benefits for the families in Asbury and all of Monmouth County.
I also think the county-wide recognition of Freehold’s Boy Scout Raymond Santiago for saving the choking person really spotlights the values we cherish. It cost not one tax dollar and Mr. Santiago and his family will never forget it. Neither will we Mr. Santiago.
When will all these politicians realize that not every kid belongs in college, even a Community College.
How many graduate from a real college or university with a 4 year degree and can’t find a job.
Do they really expect a kid from Asbury who barely passes remedial classes to be competitive?
How about training these kids to be a tradesman? God forbid because they may get their hands dirty?
When was the last time you called a plumber or electrician? Have you seen what they charge?
Try becoming a Mason, an electrician, an auto mechanic etc atc etc…you will wind up making more than the kid who studied “The Analysis of The 20th Century Skirt Length of Middle Aged Women”….or some other useless subject.
Mr. Jimmy Jones:
Understand your point and just to let you know Brookdale has many vocational type certificates and classes including: auto tech, culinary, nursing, medical coding, book keeping, linemen for power companies. Regarding tradesmen, I think an apprentice type program might work. Go to school 2 days a week and work 4.
http://catalog.brookdalecc.edu/content.php?catoid=6&navoid=382