Angel Santo Jerez Matos, 60, a/k/a “El Colonel,” today admitted his role in conspiring to traffic approximately 300 grams of fentanyl into New Jersey, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Matos was a supplier of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine to a drug trafficking organization operating in and around New Jersey.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 14th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: New Jersey, News | Tags: Angel Santo Jerez Matos, Cocaine, Drug Trafficking, fentanyl, Heroin, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito | Comments Off on Mexican National Pleads Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl into NJ

Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik
Mayor Jonathan Hornik and the members of the Marlboro Township Council today issued a public letter condemning the Anti-Semitic remarks of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota).
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 12th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Jon Hornik, Marlboro, Monmouth County News, New Jersey | Tags: anti-semitism, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Jonathan Hornik, Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik, Marlboro Township, Monmouth County News | 3 Comments »
Congressman Chris Smith hosted a meeting last week with top doctors and researchers from the National Institute of Health and two fathers from his New Jersey district who are fighting to saves their sons from a devastating disease.
James and Karen Raffone of Manalapan and David and Maria Schultz of Hamilton are parents of sons with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Both families have dedicated their lives to finding a cure for their sons and the hundreds of thousands of boys who until recently faced certain paralysis in their teens and death in their early twenties. The Schultz family founded Ryan’s Quest, the Raffones founded JAR of Hope.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 12th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Smith, Congress, Monmouth County, Monmouth County News | Tags: Congressman Chris Smith, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Duchennes, JAR of Hope, Monmouth County News, National Institute of Health, NIH, NJ 4, Ryan's Quest | Comments Off on Rep Smith, fathers, meet with NIH researchers fighting for cure to deadly muscle disorder
By Steve Frank
I always sorta’ saw myself as a tough guy. Not physically but in a mental patient kind of way. I never pampered myself. Didn’t let the weather affect me; scorcher, nor’easter, flooding, blizzard -didn’t matter. I went about my business doing whatever it is I do. I used to coach wrestling. Anyone who’s ever spent time in a wrestling practice room knows the saying “Suck it Up!” When you’ve got nothing left in the tank; you’re gasping for air; there’s thirty seconds left on the clock. Suck it Up!
I incorporated this politically incorrect child-rearing philosophy into raising my kids. They flirted with 100% attendance almost every year of their school lives. Got a headache? It’ll pass. Queasy stomach? Don’t be a baby. Tired? Stop whining. And, of course, you never get to quit anything. Well, at least, without giving it your best shot.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 11th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Monmouth County News, New Jersey, Opinion | Tags: Frankly Chatting, Monmouth County News, Opinion, Steve Frank | 5 Comments »

Asbury Park Press graphic. Permission to use granted 11 years ago
Politico is reporting that Governor Phil Murphy is reaching back to the previous Goldman Sachs Administration in New Jersey by “launching an effort to identify state assets that could be leveraged to reduce New Jersey’s unfunded pension liability.”
Former Governor Corzine couldn’t sell his idea of selling New Jersey’s toll roads to investors (China) for a $30+ billion cash infusion to plug our chronic budget wholes. Will Murphy, who according to Politico is looking to sell more assets than toll roads,“numerous state assets, including property, buildings, roads, transit facilities, easements, air rights, naming rights and infrastructure, such as airports, bridges, water facilities, ports, parks and recreational facilities,” succeed where Corzine failed?
Politico says that Senate President Steve Sweeney supports the concept.
On January 21, 2008, MMM responded to Corzine’s scheme with a song parody crafted by Lori Gallagher, aka Mrs. Musings:
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 11th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Jon Corzine, New Jersey | Tags: Asset Monetization, Goldman Sachs, Hocking the highways, Jon Corzine, New Jersey, Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney | 1 Comment »
It’s become a winter tradition that Monmouth County Republicans can mark their calendars by. Shaun Golden’s annual Starry Night Celebration is on the last Friday of January followed by the Monmouth GOP’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner two weeks later.
The atmosphere was electric on Friday night in Freehold where over 500 enthusiastic Republicans gathered at Southgate Manor for the annual celebration of America’s first Republican president and the annual kickoff of signature gathering for candidates’ petitions.
New Jersey’s sole remaining Republican in Congress, Rep Chris Smith, received a spontaneous standing ovation when Golden noted his arrival from a Friday voting session in Washington. Smith in turn acknowledged the strong Monmouth Republican team that held back the blue wave that swept the rest of New Jersey in last fall’s election and specifically congratulated Golden, not for politics, but for outstanding government. The Sheriff was honored in Washington last year, Smith noted, for leading the best 911 call center in the country.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 11th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Monmouth County News, Monmouth County Republican Committee, Monmouth GOP, New Jersey | Tags: Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso, Barbara McMorrow, Bill Palatucci, Christine Giordano Hanlon, Congressman Chris Smith, Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger, Freeholder Sue Kiley, Kevin Orender, Monmouth County News, Shaun Golden | Comments Off on Republican Enthusiasm Abounds At Monmouth County Lincoln Day Dinner
Patrick D. Joyce, Jr., 35, of West Long Branch, a Long Branch Police Officer for 12 years, has been charged with fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact and Harassment, a petty disorderly persons offense, according to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.
The charges are the result of an incident that occurred on February 1 at Jack’s Goal Line Stand during a private party celebrating the promotions of 12 Long Branch Officers. MMM was the first to report on the incident and the investigation.
It is alleged that at the private party Joyce inappropriately touched a 21-year-old woman without her consent for his own sexual arousal or gratification.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 8th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Monmouth County News, News | Tags: Long Branch Police Department, Monmouth County News, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, New Jersey, Patrick D. Joyce Jr | Comments Off on Long Branch Cop Charged With Criminal Sexual Contact

River
Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso have introduced legislation that will increase certain animal abuse crimes to the second degree level. Convictions for second degree crimes carry penalties of five to 10 years imprisonment and fines of up to $150,000.
The legislation is named for River, a pitbull/mix that was rescued by a Good Samaritan, Jennifer Vaz of Highlands, who discovered the dog caged and left to drown on the banks of the Shrewbury River at Veterans Memorial Park last June.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 8th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Declan O'Scanlon, Monmouth County News, New Jersey | Tags: Aaron D Davis, Aaron Davis, Declan O'Scanlon, Highlands, Jennifer Vaz, Monmouth County News, New Jersey, River, River's Law, Serena DiMaso | Comments Off on O’Scanlon and DiMaso Introduce “River’s Law” To Increase Penalties For Animal Abuse
Little Silver Mayor Robert C. Neff announced today that he is seeking a third term leading the Borough.
Neff, a 56 year old attorney has been mayor since 2011. He and Council members Donald Galante and Corinne Thygeson are running as a team for the Republican nominations in the primary on June 4 with the “overwhelming endorsement” of the local GOP organization, according to their announcement.
“The committee’s support for Bob was extremely strong, and we look forward to working with Bob and his running mates to continue to serve the people of Little Silver,” said Little Silver Republican Chairman Stuart Van Winkle.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 6th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2019 elections, Little Silver, Monmouth County News | Tags: 2019 elections, Bob Neff, Corinne Thygeson, Donald Galante, Little Silver, Little Silver Republicans, Monmouth County News, Rick Brandt, Robert C. Neff, Senator Declan O'Scanlon, Stuart Van Winkle | 2 Comments »

CHRISCHRISTIE.COM PHOTO
Former Governor Chris Christie floated the idea of his wife, Mary Pat Christie, running for Congress in the 11th district next year as a challenger to freshman Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, according to a report at NewJerseyGlobe.
Sherrill, who flipped the Republican 11th district convincingly with a 57%-42% victory over Assemblyman Jay Webber, and raised a gazillion dollars to do it, will be tough to beat in 2020.
Mary Pat would have a much easier race against 3rd district freshman Congressman Andy Kim who barely beat Tom MacArthur last year. The Chrisites own a house in Bay Head, in addition to their home in Mendam. MacArthur relocated to Ocean County from Morris County to run for the seat after Jon Runyan retired in 2014.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 6th, 2019 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie, New Jersey | Tags: 2020 congressional elections, Chris Christie, Mary Pat Christie, New Jersey, Ocean County Politics | 7 Comments »