Spend a Night in Cardboard Box City 2014

Friday, September 26 Cardboard Box City for Family Promise of Monmouth County

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Chris Christie is lone GOP presidential prospect to expand Medicaid

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Exciting Progress At Fort Monmouth

By Lillian G. Burry, Monmouth County Freeholder Director

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry

Amidst a summer awash in bad news, there is a very good news story I’m pleased to share regarding the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth; a topic I am asked about frequently. Since the fort was closed by the U.S. Army in 2005, I have been a member of both public-private agencies, led by the state, that first planned, and is now executing plans to transform the fort into a hub of recreation, commerce, technology, innovation, education, residential and retail use. Tangible results emerged last year and continue to increase this year. More are on the near horizon, bringing jobs, ratables and opportunities for the public to enjoy new open spaces and recreational options within the borders of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls.

As the county’s representative, first on the Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Planning Authority (FMERPA) and currently on the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA), I identified certain facilities and spaces for county use early on. Last year, the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering took over, refurbished and is now utilizing the fort’s former motor pool, bringing critical services including snow and storm damage removal closer to that region. The county Park System now runs the former teen center and pool, a beautiful facility. Programs initiated there last year have been well-attended and growing. This year, we opened the pool for classes. The reception and attendance have been outstanding. We hope to increase programs at the pool next summer. That’s just the beginning…

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FREE Strengthening Families Program. Neptune, NJ

A free 14-week educational program for Monmouth County parents, grandparents, guardians, and their 9th graders.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, August 22-24, 2014

By Greg Kelly

Friday, August 22

• Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair – MORE INFO

• Martha’s Vineyard Weekend Trip via Seastreak (Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Bluegrass Mini Golf at Monmouth Park (Oceanport) – MORE INFO

• D-Day Exhibit at NJ National Guard Militia Museum (Sea Girt) – MORE INFO

• Kids Night Out (Fair Haven) – MORE INFO

• Downtown Freehold Farmer’s Market – MORE INFO

• Walking Lantern Ghost Tours (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Lucky Me at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Seining at the Bayshore (Port Monmouth) – MORE INFO

• Bus Stop at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Shore Dance ‘14: Ready for Prime Time at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

• Car Show Art Show (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• The King and I at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO

• tick, Tick…Boom! at ReVision Theatre (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• Rockit! at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Brad Paisley and Others at PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel) – MORE INFO

• Kayak Birding Expedition (Locust) – MORE INFO

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Victims of Triple Fatal Freehold Crash Identified

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the three people who died yesterday afternoon in the three vehicle crash on Kozloski Road in Freehold Township. A fourth victim who has not been identified remains in extremely critical condition at a local hospital.

Nicholas J. Dever, 19, of Freehold Borough, was at the wheel of a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta travelling south on Kozloski Road when he lost control of the vehicle before crossing over the centerline of the roadway and into the oncoming northbound travel lanes.

The Volkswagen collided offset head-on with the 2006 Honda Pilot driven by Thomas J. Koller, 50, of Freehold Township, who was traveling in the northbound lanes. As a result of the impact, both vehicles rotated counterclockwise and the Honda lifted and became partially airborne before it collided with the 1994 Toyota Camry driven by a 25-year-old Freehold Borough man. He remains in extremely critical condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township.

The passenger in the Volkswagen is identified as Noelle DeLuccio, 20, of Howell. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Assistant Middlesex County Medical Examiner Dr. Diane Karluk.

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Investigators Seek Witnesses To Fatal Freehold Crash

Three people are confirmed dead and another is hospitalized in critical condition following a three vehicle crash on Kozloski Rd in Freehold this afternoon.

The identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The incident was first reported at 3:47 p.m. today and occurred on the Kosloski Road overpass at Route 33 Business.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to call Detective Eric Kerecman, of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, at 732-522-8885, or Police Officer Joseph Winowski, of the Freehold Police Department, at 732-462-7908

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The Arnone Report

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

Freeholder Tom Arone

Recently a Mayor’s Luncheon was held in Belmar for the purpose of giving Belmar businesses a forum to meet and discuss tourism and how it benefits businesses at the Jersey Shore. I was happy to attend and join Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty in greeting the local business owners and to share with them what the County Tourism Division does to promote the industry. The luncheon was held at Ollie Klein’s Waterside Café located on River Road in Belmar.

Additionally, we are currently working toward entering into a shared services agreement with Hightstown to utilize the Monmouth County Vehicle Wash facilities. This is yet another approach to help reduce costs and redundancies in the delivery of public services, while adding some additional revenue for the county to help offset our operational costs. Because Hightstown already has a shared services agreement with Roosevelt Borough for trash collection which is hauled to the Monmouth County Reclamation Center, it makes good sense for them to utilize the county vehicle wash facilities as a value added shared services while they are in the area. Howell Township has just been added to our MODIV property tax assessment shared services system. This system has been recognized for innovation and excellence in public service by the Harvard Kennedy School and Moody’s Investor’s Service for its role in streamlining the delivery and implementation of the tax assessment process. Certain municipalities have seen savings of up to 65% through this shared service.

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Proceed with caution

By Ernesto Cullari

I’m not an expert on suicide and chances are neither are you –that’s okay. But if you read the news, or if you’ve logged onto Facebook, Instagram or Twitter recently, nearly everyone has something to say about suicide and actor Robin Williams’s death.

Be careful what you say and what you write, because it is likely that the person sleeping next to you; the guy that delivers your mail or the person sitting near you on the train has thought about suicide at least once before.

Nearly 1 in 20 people have thought about suicide. Suicidal thoughts are more common than we realize. What we say to our friends, family and colleagues and what we write about suicide on social media will certainly have an impact on those around us. Many are more vulnerable to past and current suicidal thoughts, because Robin William’s death has made their feelings of suicide very raw.

Being able to talk to someone about suicidal thoughts is very important. There are people specially trained to help those in need of someone to listen. Share this number on your social media, it is operational 24 hours a day, from everywhere in the country: 1-800-273-TALK

There is a stigma surrounding mental health issues that should not exist. That stigma is an impediment to people who should be seeking help but are reluctant to do so for fear of being judged by others. What you say about Robin Williams, you’re really saying about them. I’ve thought about suicide on more than one occasion, depression runs in my family and it is something that I wont be ashamed of.

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Two Smith Laws Signed Into Law On The Same Day

In Dec 2013, left-behind parents, Captain Paul Toland whose daughter was kidnapped in Japan; Bindu Philips of Plainsboro, N.J., whose two sons were abducted to India, and David Goldman whose son was abducted to Brazil and returned after a five year ordeal, joined Rep. Chris Smith in calling for passage of legislation, dubbed the Goldman Act (HR 3212) to help families who have been victimized by international abductions

It is rare for most congressmen to get one of there bills signed into law. Frank Pallone, for example, has only had 6 bills, two naming post offices, become law in his entire 26 year career in congress.

Congressman Chris Smith is #4 of all members of the 435 member House of Representatives in getting their bills through both houses and signed by the president.  On Friday, two more of Smith’s bills became the law of the land. Families and children are better off because of Smith’s new laws.

Between ordering airstrikes in Iraq and flying off to vacation in Martha’s Vineyard on Friday, President Obama signed two separate bills sponsored by Smith. One to help prevent international child abduction and return American children now held overseas, and the other targeting $1.3 billion in federal funds to assist families touched by autism.

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