The Arnone Report: Eat Healthy and Keep Safe

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

photo by Michael Colarusso, Monmouth County Government

It has been a busy couple of weeks full of exciting initiatives and events here in Monmouth County! As such, I’d like to share just a few updates with everyone.

First of all, I’m pleased to announce the launch of my Healthy Monmouth initiative, which aims to promote healthy eating and living among our youth. It’s my goal to show students the importance of eating local and eating healthy through educational programs.

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Sweeney again says state government could shut down without a deal on school funding

TRENTON — Senate President Stephen Sweeney on Monday said he plans to meet with Gov. Chris Christie this week on the state budget — a negotiating session that could deliver a small dose of school reform or a messy government shutdown. If Christie won’t play ball on a school funding deal Democratic leaders reached last week,… Read the rest of this entry »

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Christie nominates Assemblyman Dave Rible as Director of Alcoholic Beverage Control

Dave Rible

Assemblyman Dave Rible confirmed a report by InsiderNJ that Governor Christie has nominated him to be the Director of Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.  The nomination appeared on the State Senate’s website on Thursday.

“I’m humbled with the Governor’s trust and confidence and I’m excited to move the ABC in a direction that helps both current and future licenses,” Rible, of Wall Township, said in a phone interview with MMM.

Rible said he would not resign his seat in the Assembly, where he holds the #2 Republican leadership position, until his appointment is confirmed by the Senate.  Rible said he was uncertain about the timing of his confirmation.  It could happen as soon as this month, he said, or it could happen after the election in November.  He said he would stand for reelection to the Assembly if he is not confirmed before the election.

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NJ Democrat Devine Doubles Down On Call To Violence Against Republicans

Self-declared “master Democratic Party campaign strategist” James Devine of Rahway doubled down on his assertion that Democrats are “at war” with Republicans.

Devine told The Asbury Park Press that James Hodgkinson, the looney tune who gunned down Congressman Steve Scalise and three others yesterday before being shot dead by U.S. Capitol Police, was exercising his Second Amendment Rights to defend himself against duly elected tyrannical Republicans practicing baseball. Read the rest of this entry »

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NJ Democrat Operative Advocates Hunting Republicans

James Devine, a well known New Jersey Democrat operative and local newspaper publisher from Union County, responded to the shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise and three others yesterday by creating the hashtag #HuntRepublicans and #HuntRepublicanCongressmen on his social media accounts.  Devine declared that Democrats are “in a war” with Republicans.

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Kiley Connects High School Students and Seniors

Hazlet Mayor Sue Kiley

Hazlet, NJ- Mayor Sue Kiley announced a new community building program in her Mayor’s Update this week.

“Connect” is a program that Kiley has been developing to bring people, places and things together for the betterment of the community.  The inaugural Connect session was on June 7 when Raritan High School honor students, under the direction of teachers Ms. Melissa Trenton and Ms. Melissa Gardner, met with Hazlet Senior Citizens at the Cullen Center for a session on how to use modern technology.

“I’m leaning to use my not so smart phone,” one of the seniors joked.

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Christie nominates Massell and Luttrell for Monmouth County Tax Board

Stephen Massell

Governor Chris Christie this afternoon announced the nominations of Stephen Massell of Middletown and Renee Luttrell of Holmdel to serve five year terms on the Monmouth County Tax Board.   If confirmed by the New Jersey Senate, Massell will fill the Republican seat on the Board currently held by Kathleen Cody Bjelka who term has expired.  Luttrell will take the Democratic seat vacated by the death of Thomas J. Byrne of Spring Lake.

Given the legislative calendar, neither nominee is likely to be confirmed until the lame duck session which starts in November. The State Legislature typically takes the summer off after passing the State Budget which is due by June 30th.  Given that all 120 seats in the legislature are up for election this year, members of the legislature are likely to spend the fall campaigning and not legislating.

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Repairing the Asbury Park Press’ Conservative Insufficiency

By Tom DeSeno

The Asbury Park Press is the only daily paper targeting two New Jersey counties.  If that sounds small, consider those two counties have a larger population than eight U.S. states. They double the population of Washington DC. That makes the AP Press important not only as a courier of news, but considering its monopoly, as a sculptor of opinion in our great national debate.

Owned by media giant Gannett, the largest newspaper publisher in America and parent of USA Today, there exists available resources to publish a product that mirrors the Press’ considerable responsibility (if Gannett is willing to open the spigot on resources, that is).

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Bear roaming through Union County caught, relocated safely

GARWOOD — A bear that had been seen roaming through Cranford early Monday, causing an elementary school to have a delayed opening, was captured in Garwood and safely relocated, police said. The bear was near the Brookside Place School Monday and later wandered into neighboring Garwood, where it was contained to a backyard until animal control… Read the rest of this entry »

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Jughandle Brewing Celebrates 1st Anniversary

Partners Mike Skudera, Chris Hanigan and Peter Artherholt celebrate the Grand Opening of their microbrewery. June 2016

It’s been a terrific first year for Chris Hanigan, Pete Artherholt, Mike Skudera, the founding partners of Jughandle Brewing Company in Tinton Falls.  Since opening their Asbury Ave microbrewery and taproom on June 18 last year, the beermeisters have their brew flowing in about 40 New Jersey adult beverage establishments.

Jughandle Brewing has doubled its beer taps, hired additional staff, extended its public tasting room hours, increased capacity by purchasing new fermenters, and continues to expand its wholesale market to new establishments throughout New Jersey.

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