Belmar Bonding Defeated In Referendum

Campaign materials for and against the Belmar Bonding referendum. Photo via Thomas Burke’s facebook page

In a stunning rebuke to Mayor Matt Doherty who campaigned hard for its passage, Belmar voters today overwhelmingly rejected borrowing $7 million to rebuild two pavilions on the boardwalk.

Doherty told MMM this afternoon that he expected the turnout would be like that of any general election and that his side spent as much on this Special Election as they have in any general election.  Doherty spent $10,411 in his 2010 campaign for mayor, according to his reports at the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Thomas E. Burke was a leader in the movement to force the referendum and in the campaign to defeat the measure.  Burke told MMM that his side spent between $500 and $1000 and had a volunteer campaign team of about 20 people.

1,797 voters cast a ballot. 1,041, 58%, voted against the borrowing.  There are 4,407 registered voters in Belmar.

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Christie on Ferguson: Let’s not pre-judge

In response to a question from a member of the public, Governor Chris Christie addressed the situation in Ferguson,MO this afternoon at his Town Hall Meeting in Long Branch.

The following is a video of his response and a transcript, both released by his office.

Governor Christie: None of us quite know yet exactly what happened in Ferguson and what happened to this young man who was killed. And I spent seven years in law enforcement as the chief federal prosecutor in this state and what I learned during that period of time, among other things, was that what you read in the newspapers and what you see on TV is almost always just a fraction of the story. And so, I’ve been urging people to not pre-judge anything here. We have a really good justice system in this country, is it perfect? No, but it’s really good. And, in fact, there’s no better justice system in the world than the justice system we have in dealing with folks who are accused of crimes in this country. And so first, I’d say, you know, let’s give the justice system an opportunity to play itself out before we make any kind of broad judgments. Secondly, I’m really concerned about the generalizations that we’re then making about police officers. The fact is, that the overwhelming majority of police officers in this country are hardworking men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect us from bad people, violent people, people who mean ill to us. So when something like this happens like its happened in Ferguson, people already jump to conclusions not only about what happened in Ferguson but also how does that apply to every other police force across the country. Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon: Redflex Indictment Should Surprise No one

NJ101.5 photo

Karen Finley, former CEO of Redflex Traffic Systems Inc, one of two Red Light Camera companies operating in New Jersey, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Chicago last week on bribery charges.

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, New Jersey’s fiercest opponent of Red Light Cameras, says that is not a surprise:
“Well this is a shocking turn of events, said no one! If cameras actually increased safety no one would have to bribe anyone for business – we’d all be lining up!  How any public entity can continue to do business with Redflex in particular, but really any of these companies pitching these ineffective, thieving cameras is beyond me.  Is the lure of fast cash so strong we have decided that morality doesn’t matter?  We now have multiple pieces of evidence of corruption reaching the highest levels of one of the two companies operating these cameras in New Jersey.  Both companies are guilty of blatantly lying about their products and misrepresenting data.”

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Middletown Has A New Police Chief

R. Craig Weber was sworn in as the 8th Chief to lead the Middletown Township Police Department over its 86 year history last evening before an overflow crowd at Town Hall.

Mayor Stephanie C. Murray administered the Oath of Office as Weber’s family stood beside him.

During his remarks, Weber acknowledged the support and friendship of his Deputy Chiefs and all the members of the department.  He welcomed the Chiefs of several area municipalities and law enforcement leaders from County, State and Federal law enforcement agencies.  Weber said that under his leadership there would be an increased level of cooperation with other agencies.

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Van Zandt, Burry to be honored by the Count Basie Theater

Steven and Maureen Van Zandt are among the first Vanguards to be honored by the Count Basie Theater. Photo courtesy of Morris Photographers. www. morrisphotographers.com

Steven Van Zandt, of the E Street Band and Sopranos fame, his wife Maureen and Monmouth County Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry are among the inaugural honorees of the Count Basie Theater’s Vanguard Award for life long devotion to the Arts in New Jersey.

Also being honored is Mary Eileen Fouratt, Executive Director of the Monmouth County Arts Council.

The honorees will be recognized as Vanguards on Friday evening, August 22 at the theater. Tickets to the event, which will include Rockit! the Basie’s annual summer concert, a Tribute to Woodstock & The Age of Aquarius are available here.

Tickets are only $20.  Proceeds will go towards future Rockit! scholarships, the theatre’s bus-in program offering area districts and students a low-cost option to experience the theatre’s cultural programming, and for professional development sessions associated with Mr. Van Zandt’s Rock and Roll: An American Story program.

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Monmouth County Debt Rated AAA for the 16th consecutive year

Freeholder Deputy Director Gary Rich and Freeholder Director Lillian Burry at the Italian American Festival in Ocean Township last week.

Monmouth County has received a new AAA bond rating from all three major rating agencies for the 16th consecutive year, according to a statement by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.

“This is the 16^th straight year the County has been awarded AAA status from Fitch, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr., liaison to the County’s Finance Department. “Monmouth County continues to be top-rated in how it manages taxpayer money.”

The three rating agencies rated the upcoming Monmouth County Improvement Authority’s (MCIA) governmental refunding bond series and reaffirmed the ratings of the County’s outstanding debt.

“Monmouth County continues its demonstration of sound, fiscal management. The County has been careful in its spending and continues to maintain low debt levels,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry. “As a result, we are able to have greater flexibility in delivering quality services to our residents. It shows how well the County is managing its resources and planning for the future.”

Monmouth County is the only county in New Jersey and one of less than three dozen counties in the nation that can claim to have received the highest score from all three rating agencies.  The AAA rating is higher than that of the State of New Jersey and the United States of America.

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Murder suspect checked in with law enforcement one week after the double murder

Brian R. Farmer’s mugshot taken August 6, 2014, one week after the murders of Joan Colbert and Veronica Roach, for which he is accused.

The man accused of murdering Joan Colbert and her 10 year old foster daughter, Veronica Roach, in their Long Branch home on July 30, visited the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office one week after the murder occurred, as part of his mandated monitoring as a registered sex offender.

Brian R. Farmer was convicted in 1996 of aggravated assault for engaging in sexual penetration of a 15 year old girl while he was armed with a knife.  Farmer confined the victim and her mother for three days, keeping them tied up.  The victims escaped and Farmer burned down their house, according to the New Jersey State Police Registry of Sex Offenders.

Farmer was arrested early this morning for murders of Colbert and Roach. He was additionally charged with first, second and third degree Endangering  the Welfare of a Child.  Photos of Farmer engaging in a sex act with the 10 year old Roach were found on his phone.

Sex offenders are monitored by the County Prosecutor’s Offices of the county where they reside, according to State Police Information Officer, Trooper Jeff Flynn.  As part of that monitoring, their photos are updated periodically for the Sex Offenders Directory.

Farmer’s most recent mugshot was taken on August 6, 2014, one week after the July 30th murders occurred.

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Arrest is made in Long Branch double murder

Cousin of elder victim is charged

Related: Suspect Checked In With Prosecutors One Week After The Murders

Brian R. Foster, a registered sex offender, was convicted of aggravated assault in 1996

Brian Farmer, 58, of John St in Long Branch has been charged with the strangulation murders of his cousin, Joan Colbert and her 10 year old foster daughter Veronica Roach.  Farmer also faces child pornography charges in connection with the 10 year old girl, according to a statement by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

The Prosecutor’s office has confirmed that the defendant is the the same Brain R.  Farmer, 58 of Long Branch, who is a registered sex offender convicted of aggravated assault in 1996.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Long Branch Police Department was launched after Colbert and Roach were found in their first floor apartment at 61 Lippincott Ave. on August 1, 2014.  Long Branch police responded to the home around 5:22 p.m. following a report of suspicious circumstances at the address.

A 13-day investigation revealed Farmer was at the home on July 30, where he was discovered by Colbert taking pornographic photographs of the 10-year-old girl. A confrontation ensued ending with Farmer killing Colbert and the girl. Farmer then fled the scene of his crimes.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend: August 15-17, 2014

By Greg Kelly

Friday, August 15

• Red Bank Cocktail Week – MORE INFO

• Keith Urban with Neimann & Eldridge at PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel) – MORE INFO

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

• Ron White at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Brookdale Car Meet (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Crossing Borders Festival at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Computer Skills for Job Hunters (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO

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

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

• Canoeing on Sandy Hook Bay – MORE INFO

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

• Lend Me A Tenor at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

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

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

• Family Gym Time (Tinton Falls) – MORE INFO

• Downtown Freehold Farmer’s Market – 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

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Christie Town Hall in Long Branch on Tuesday August 19

Govenor Chris Christie at his Belmar Town Hall on July 31

Governor Chris Christie will continue his Jersey Shore “No Pain, No Gain” tour with a stop in Long Branch next Tuesday at the Long Branch Amphitheater on McKinley Ave. 

The event is scheduled to start at 3PM.   The Governor’s Office requests RSVPs at  [email protected] .

Christie was rained out in Long Branch on July 15th.

Christie has been informing the public and about the pension and benefit crisis the State is facing during his summer tour.  He promises to announce a plan for pension and benefit reform sometime in the early fall.

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