Arnone Report: Taking Care of Kids In Need, Tourism and the Dump

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Happy May! After this rainy and cold spring, I am looking forward to the summer months ahead.

I know I always say that it has been a busy couple of weeks but it truly has been. I’d like to take some time to share with you what I have been up to and a few important dates to come.

Last week I, along with my fellow Freeholders, attended the 10^th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center. The center was established with the intention to create a single “one-stop” location for abused children and their families to receive the services they need. The building was designed to be a child-focused facility in order to reduce the trauma to the victims. In 2015, the center saw an expansion with the addition of a medical suite where exams can be conducted, as well as space for art therapy and mental health counseling. Read the rest of this entry »

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RINO Alert: Gilmore Resigned In Name Only

RINO George Gilmore

George Gilmore, the Toms River attorney who was found guilty last month of twice failing to pay his employees’ payroll taxes to the IRS after withholding the money from their paychecks and also of lying on an application for a $1 million plus loan, is continuing to strong arm and threaten Ocean County Republicans, according to several GOP loyalist who witnessed Gilmore’s behavior at the Ocean County Federation of Republican Women’s Annual Gala last Thursday night.

Gilmore’s criminal defense attorney, Kevin Marino, said his client had no intention of resigning as Ocean Republican Chairman, when the federal jury returned their verdict in Trenton on April 17.  On April 24, Gilmore finally submitted his resignation.  He continues to control the Chairman’s PAC, and is raising money for the PAC through direct solicitations and through the Ocean GOP Gala which is being held on Thursday evening at the Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Lakewood. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Seagull’s Nest is Being Demolished

photo by Art Gallagher

“Raise  your hand if this is your first time here,”  Eddie Segall religiously started off his nightly sunset ceremonies at the Sea Gull’s Nest.  “Now raise your hand if this is your last time here,” Segall barked as 10’s of customers raised their hands in laughter, just as they had the night or the week before.  The joke never got old.

We’ve raised our hands, sung God Bless American along with a Kate Smith recording, honored our troops and first responders and watched the octogenarian Segall challenge much younger men to 50 push ups for the last time.

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Guadagno is new the CEO of Fulfill

Kim Guadagno

Fulfill, formerly known as the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, announced today that former Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno will serve as the President and CEO of the organization starting on Monday, May 6.

“Our mission is driven by a desire to help those who have fallen on hard times,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chair of Fulfill’s Board of Trustees. “In searching for a new CEO, we wanted someone with an established history of charitable giving and involvement; extensive connections that could bring new resources to the organization; and who could help bring greater attention to Fulfill and its programs so we can serve as a model for other non-profits statewide. We have found that and more in Lieutenant Governor Guadagno.”

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Disabled Vets To Play Hook-e From PTSD In Millstone

The third annual Take A Veteran Fishing Day is Saturday, May 4 from 9 am till 2pm at Lake Julianna, Ponderosa Estates Farm,  in Millstone Township. The goal of the day is to provide  fun and relaxation for disabled veterans and to relax while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of Lake Julianna with other veterans.

click for larger view

The event is sponsored by Cardinale Enterprises LCC and supported by Vietnam Veterans of America Shore Area Chapter 12, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Boating Education and Rescue and the Jersey Coast Anglers Association. Read the rest of this entry »

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Gilmore Angling to Retain Power In Ocean County

George Gilmore, NewJerseyGlobe photo

Despite resigning from his public and party positions, former Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore is actively participating in the Toms River Republican primary and in the special election campaign to elect his replacement, according to several GOP sources.

Frank Sadeghi, a candidate for the Ocean GOP Chairmanship in the May 15 special election, told a gathering of Republican men enjoying cigars and cocktails at Shogun Legacy on April 23 that he speaks to Gilmore 20 times per day and “George Gilmore wants me to do this,” according to two people who were in the room of municipal elected officials, mayors and councilmen, and municipal party leaders, as well as Joe Coronato, the former Ocean County Prosecutor who is running for Mayor of Toms River.

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NJ Congressional Delegation Joins Smith’s Fight For Braeden Bradforth

Joanne Atkins-Ingram, center, her attorney, Jill E. Green, and Congressman Chris Smith, held a press conference on April 7, to demand an independent investigation into the death Braeden Bradforth, Atkins-Ingram’s son.

New Jersey’s 11 Democrat members of the House of Representatives joined the delegation’s sole Republican, Congressman Chris Smith, this week in the battle to achieve justice for Braeden Bradforth, the 19 year old Neptune, NJ  football player who died suddenly at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas last August.

The 12 members of Congress jointly signed a letter to Ryan Ruda, president of the college, demanding an independent investigation into the young Monmouth County man’s death.

Bradforth died on August 1, 2018 following a football practice on his second day on the GCCC squad.  The team’s coach, Jeff Sims, attributed Bradforth’s death to a blood clot.  The local medical examiner ruled the cause of death extreme heat stroke.  The college administration destroyed surveillance video.

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Acerra: Siciliano “should consider” getting out of the Ocean Township Council race

Rob Acerra and Victor Ashkenazi

Ocean Township Councilman Rob Acerra responded to the news of Mayor Christopher Siciliano’s threat to a constituent on social media by demanding that Siciliano apologize and consider resigning.  Acerra said that Ocean Township “voters should strongly consider turning the page on the Siciliano era” in the municipal election on May 14.

“Here in Ocean we have a rich history of non-partisanship and civil political discourse,” said Acerra in a statement released early on Monday afternoon. “To see the Mayor acting like a schoolyard bully toward a constituent he is supposed to be representing raises doubts about his ability to lead. He is responsible for the commentary posted on his facebook profile in his name, period. At the very least Chris needs to apologize for these remarks, if not consider dropping out of the race. Voters don’t deserve a Mayor who solves challenges and bridges divides by threatening Ocean residents. We can and must do better.”

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Integrity, Hypocrisy and Lawn Signs: The Ocean Township Silly Season Heats Up

Ocean Township Mayor Christopher Siciliano questioned the integrity of Councilman Rob Acerra over the placement of lawn signs in a video posted on facebook on Saturday.

When a 22 year year old constituent called Siciliano “Mayor Hypocrite” for talking about integrity, he was challenged to meet up like a real man and discuss it behind headquarters.

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Arnone to hold public meeting about dump odors in Tinton Falls

photo courtesy of Monmouth County Citizens for Environmental Health and Safety facebook group

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone announced that a public meeting regarding the County government’s efforts to remediate the odors emitting from the Monmouth County Reclamation Center will be held on Monday, May 13, 7 p.m., at the Tinton Falls Municipal Building, 556 Tinton Avenue.

“At this meeting, I look forward to providing an in-person update on the progress that has been made as well as the current work being done at the landfill. I will be addressing specific questions and concerns that have been raised and discussing the next steps the County will be taking over the coming weeks,” Arnone said in an email to Tinton Falls residents.

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