Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, July 17-19, 2015

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, July 17

• Hairspray at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Ocean Grove Historic House & Garden Tour – MORE INFO
• Tim McGraw Shotgun Rider Tour at PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel) – MORE INFO
• Summer Jazz Cafe: Tribute to Billie Holiday at TRT – MORE INFO
• Ideal Beach Party (Middletown) – MORE INFO
• Young Drummers Workshop (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Coastal Explorers on Sandy Hook – MORE INFO
• Shakespeare on the Lawn: Titus Andronicus (Lincroft) – MORE INFO
• Big: The Musical at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Closure at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Bluegrass Mini Golf at Monmouth Park (Oceanport) – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Cinemas Movie Night (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

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Christie’s super PAC has raised $11M for his 2016 run

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie’s super PAC has raised $11 million toward his presidential bid since its formation in February, it announced Tuesday. “Thanks to the generous support of a diverse set of donors from across the country, we exceeded our goal for the quarter and are in strong position as the campaign gets under way,”… Read the rest of this entry »

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Christie to Public-Employee Unions: No Contracts, No Step Increases in Salaries

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Businesses damaged by Sandy may get new chance to seek federal help

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives voted Monday to allow businesses damaged by Hurricane Sandy to again seek federal disaster loans. The legislation to reopen the application process was passed by voice vote in response to reports of delays in the Small Business Administration loan process, where the agency was overwhelmed by requests for assistance… Read the rest of this entry »

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Authorities identify man shot to death in Eatontown

EATONTOWN – A 37-year-old Red Bank man has been identified as the victim of a fatal Friday morning shooting in the borough. Shortly before 12:15 a.m. Friday, Eatontown police responded to the entrance of Country Club Apartments, at the corner of Tilton Avenue and Country Club Road, after shots were fired at the location, the Monmouth… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sea Bright favorite Donovan’s Reef reopens tiki bar post Hurricane Sandy

SEA BRIGHT — When borough resident Daniel Ekdahl heard that Donovan’s Reef was reopening its tiki bar on Friday afternoon, he was the first in line and bought the first beer they sold this season. He returned each day of the weekend. “I’ve known Donovan’s my whole life,” said Ekdahl, 33, remembering that his parents used… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sandy-related contractor complaints piling up | Di Ionno

Weeds now envelop the pile of broken concrete slab where Nancy Wirtz’s home once stood. A swing set, bowed and rusted from neglect, is the only remnant of the place where she raised two children. It was a simple house, like most in the Forked River Beach section of Lacey Township. Compact and rectangular, it was… Read the rest of this entry »

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New Jersey won’t pay legal bills for Bridget Anne Kelly in GWB case

Bridget Ann Kelly, texting, with Governor Chris Christie and Michelle Brown at Seaside Park fire, September 12, 2013 photo credit, Phil Stilon, Ocean County Signal

TRENTON, N.J.—New Jersey won’t pay for Bridget Anne Kelly’s legal bills. That decision followed a months-long fight by her attorney who argued she was being treated differently from other state employees who, like her, all believed it was a traffic study that caused the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge in September 2013. The details… Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon: We MUST move forward on pension and budget reform

By Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

Now that the 2016 budget debate is over, we must get back to the most pressing state issue of our time.  The suggestion of some in the public worker sector that those of us who voted against the budget are in favor of our abandoning our commitment to ensuring their pensions is completely false.  For any responsible elected official, and decent human being, it is imperative that we meet our commitments in a way that protects our pubic workers – and the NJ economy at the same time.

The reason we couldn’t make a payment larger than the $1.3 billion one included in the Governor’s budget has nothing to do with a lack of will or integrity.  It’s about devoting as much $ as possible without inflicting massive, economy-killing, tax increases on an economy just now showing signs of real growth.  Without economic growth there will be no chance we will be able to meet our commitments to the system in the many years to come – so ensuring growth is as important to public workers as anyone else.  We don’t simply have a $1.8 billion deficit this year. We have a $6 to $7 billion hole over the next few years. Taxing the life out of our economy this year, with no plan going forward – and leaving us in a $2 billion hole next year as the Democrat’s proposed budget would – is bad policy, for all New Jerseyans.

But it is true as well that we can’t foster growth to the exclusion of our obligation to our dedicated public workers.  And I can’t state that point vehemently enough.  Our teachers and other public workers are decent, devoted, professional people.  Generalizations to the contrary are without merit.

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Why New Jersey Got Billions Less Than New York in FEMA Disaster Aid After Sandy

In the two-and-a-half years since Superstorm Sandy, while the Garden State has struggled to recover, many people have puzzled over the question of why New Jersey has received substantially less federal aid than New York, even though both states suffered roughly the same amount of damage — close to $37 billion. Much of the focus has… Read the rest of this entry »

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