Seinfeld Cast Makes Dying Man’s 67th Birthday One To Remember (WATCH)

For a television show about nothing, the cast members sure know how to give a little something to a dying man in celebration of his 67th birthday. Jim Calder had been battling lung cancer for two years leading up to this November birthday. His son, James Calder, felt inspired to throw a virtual party and began… Read the rest of this entry »

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Holiday Giving List: Hurting and Helping

By Greg Kelly

My father once told that when you make a charitable donation to a worthy cause, “it should hurt a little.” Meaning the gift or contribution should bring about a significant sacrifice on your part.

Although charities certainly welcome big donations, it’s the smaller donations, when added together, that allow them to function. Kindness and generosity is the spirit of our holiday season. And with most charities needing financial support to keep their cause going, now is the season to make an impact.

The many Monmouth County-based charitable/volunteer organizations listed below work hard every day to help those less fortunate or for causes that improve the human condition. Please help them to help others this holiday season.

(And remember, a nice gift to your local police, fire, first aid and/or public works departments is both a supportive and wise contribution.)

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The Arnone Report: Shop Local, $32.4 million bid for county nursing homes

By Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone

Freeholder Tom Arone

Believe it or not, the holidays are upon us. We’ve been extremely fortunate as the weather has been mild thus far, allowing many of us to continue to enjoy the outdoor activities we love to do throughout our beautiful county – from the beaches and parks, to local tree and menorah lightings, to shopping in our beautiful downtowns and local shopping centers.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to shop local, I encourage all of you to do some this holiday season when buying gifts for your loved ones. I was happy to join our Lieutenant Governor, Kim Guadagno, on Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving), along with my fellow Freeholder, Serena DiMaso, on a tour of several local businesses in the Red Bank region. We were pleased to see these businesses thriving on that start to the holiday shopping season, as well as the crowds we saw on the bustling sidewalks throughout the downtown.

It’s a proven fact that independent and locally-owned businesses recirculate more revenue locally. The spending done by a local business to operate (including inventory, utilities, equipment and salary to employees) directly impacts the economy within our own community. In addition, the indirect impact happens as employees and business owners spend their income within our local economy, recirculating dollars through their earned money.

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Holiday season is also Holiday Express season

Holiday Express, in a concert setting. This holiday season, Holiday Express will bring high-spirited holiday music to 81 homeless shelters, psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers and other places where live music is seldom heard. And it won’t charge the facilities a penny. About 150 musicians donate their services to make those 81 shows happen – about 50… Read the rest of this entry »

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Pryor contests Neptune City election

Michaela O’Brien, 18 of Neptune City. “Every vote counts…I prove it.”

Election result rests with first time voter

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor has lodged a contest of the November 3 general election in Monmouth County Superior Court.

Pryor, a Republican, was leading his race for reelection by one vote following the counting of provisional ballots on November 9.  In the November 24 recount, Democrat Michael Skudera picked up three votes while Pryor picked up one.  Skudera now leads Pryor by one vote, 602-601.

At issue in the contest, which was filed by Jason N. Sena, Esq of the Manalapan law firm Cutolo Mandel, LLC, is one of the two provisional votes that was disqualified by the Board of Election on November 9.

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Masked gunman robbed $3K from poker game at Union Beach firehouse, police say

UNION BEACH — A gunman clad in dark-colored clothing and a ski mask robbed a poker game being held at the Union Beach firehouse on Saturday night, police said. Police Chief Charles Ervin said at around 8:45 p.m. a man entered the side door of the firehouse on Union Avenue, displayed a gun and fled with… Read the rest of this entry »

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Scholastic Sports: Saturday was a big day for Monmouth student-athletes

There were 18 New Jersey high school football title games this weekend.  6 Monmouth County teams played in five of those games, bringing home 4 championships.

Middletown South ended a 9 year championship drought and denied Phillipsburg a three-peat with a 35-7 victory in the NJSIAA/Sports Care Institute North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 final at MetLife Stadium.

Lead by twin brothers Cole and Dylan Rogers, the Eagles finished the season 12-0 and won their 10th sectional title.  Running back Cole ran for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Linebacker Dylan had 4.5 sacks.

The Shore Regional (West Long Branch) Blue Devils dominated Palmyra at Kean University in Union with over 500 rushing yards in their fourth straight Central Jersey Group 1 championship game appearance.

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Gopal Pushes Hornik for Governor, Bashes Monmouth Republicans

Vin Gopal and Jon Hornik, photo via facebook

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal is publicly calling for Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik to run for governor in 2017.

In a Letter to the Editor published on APP.com,  Gopal sings Hornik’s praises as a “socially conscious and fiscally ressponsible” Democrat who was elected in three time in a town that voted for Chris Christie for Governor and Steve Lonegan for U.S. Senate over Cory Booker in 2013. Gopal said that should Hornik run for governor, he would have Vin’s unwavering support.

I wonder how Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Senate President Steve Sweeney and former Ambassador to Germany Phil Murphy, all presumed Democratic candidates for governor who have contributed generously to Gopal’s Monmouth County Democratic campaigns, feel about this.

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Woman accused of hiding Xanax in her vajayjay

KEANSBURG — A Piscataway woman who didn’t want Keansburg police to find prescription drugs on her hid them where she thought cops wouldn’t find them. Keansburg police said that when Erica Chapman, 34, was taken into custody for heroin and marijuana possession, she hid some Xanax pills in, according to police reports. Chapman was arrested on… Read the rest of this entry »

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John Bennett: Not the retiring type

By Art Gallagher

John Bennett

Oceanport Administrator John Bennett is applying to keep the job that he announced his retirement from in October.

Bennett’s retirement is effective December 31.  When I met him at Oceanport’s temporary Borough Hall today, there was no signs of him slowing down.  He was working with a borough employee on the town’s debt amortization schedule when I arrived. Over lunch he was excited about the future of Oceanport and proud of what he’s accomplished in his two years as administrator.  He was also well aware the that town needs to heal the divisions…that he is in the center of….that resulted in Mayor Michael Mahon going from being unopposed for reelection last month to being defeated by write-in candidate Jay Coffey.  “I promised I would give 110% until my last day,” for former Senate President and Acting Governor said.

Bennett is hopeful that his last day will come after December 31.   “I love being an administrator,” he said, “I wish I had done this earlier in my career. I submitted my application for the job.”

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