Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, November 20-22, 2015

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By Greg Kelly

Friday, November 20

• One Last Waltz: Celebration of The Band at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Peter Pan at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• The Choir Room by Spotlight Players (Matawan) – MORE INFO
• Winter Solstice: A Seasonal Artisan Market (Belmar) – MORE INFO
• Laura by Monmouth Players (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• The Producers at Axelrod PAC (Deal) – MORE INFO
• A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Otto’s Fortune at Grange Playhouse (Howell) – MORE INFO
• Jersey Shore Ghost Tours (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Live Harness Racing at Freehold Raceway – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Cinemas Movie Night (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

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The Arnone Report: Infrastructure Updates

Freeholder Tom Arnone

By Monmouth County Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone

What an incredible fall season we have experienced thus far. The weather has been extremely kind, allowing us to enjoy the amazing landscapes Monmouth County has to offer. I hope that you attended some of the fall events and festivals held in our beautiful county parks and at our beaches, and also those coordinated in your hometowns. The leaves have changed and that means after leaf collection is completed, the county will begin to prep for the upcoming winter season. We are already collecting salt and materials to safeguard our over 1000 miles of roadways when the inclement weather presents itself. The county will be ready as always.

In the meantime, you may have noticed our red trucks mobilized throughout the county as the Public Works and Engineering staff have been busy the past few months, working hard to enhance the infrastructure and efficiency of our roadways, bridge and culvert structures, traffic signals and natural resources.

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The Power Grid – America’s Achilles’ Heel

Energy Security Requires National Leadership

By Scott Rudder

The former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, James Woolsey,  issued a stark warning, based on a US government study, that the death of millions of Americans could be only weeks away due to our national power grid’s shocking vulnerability to man-made and natural disasters. Knowing that, you might assume that our national leaders are doing everything in their power to ensure that the grid is adequately protected and that tragedy will be averted. But you would be wrong.

Consider this, the United States is the most powerful country the world has ever known.  We have the ability to cure the incurable, to explore the unexplorable, to give generously to our friends and to wreak devastation upon our enemies.  We can do this because we, as a people, are inventive and determined, and we have the energy infrastructure to facilitate these amazing things.  Simply put, our modern-day success is interdependent with our energy infrastructure.

Yet, all of this could come to a screeching halt through a single cyber or electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack from a rogue state or terror organization, or a major solar flare, known as a Carrington Event, which could plunge our nation into an extended blackout.

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Red Bank Recount Set For Friday, November 20

The results of the municipal election in Red Bank will be rechecked and recounted on Friday, November 20, 10 a.m., at the Board of Elections office in Freehold, pursuant to a Order by Superior Court Judge Katie A. Gummer.

Judge Gummer’s Order was requested in a petition by Councilman Michael DuPont. DuPont is down two votes to Republican challenger Michael Whelan in the current “unofficial” ballot count.  If Whelan prevails, Red Bank Republicans will hold a 4-2 partisan majority on the Borough Council.   Should DuPont gain three or more votes in the recount, and if those results are not contested, there would be 3-3 partisan split on the Council with Mayor Pat Menna, a Democrat, being the deciding vote.

In her Order dated November 13, Gummer rejected DuPont’s request that rejected absentee (Vote-By-Mail) and provisional ballots be examined and reconsidered.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, November 13-15, 2015

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, November 13

• Peter Pan at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• The Choir Room by Spotlight Players (Matawan) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Open House at Sickles Market (Little Silver) – MORE INFO
• Jersey Shore Restaurant Week – MORE INFO
• Matt & Ben at Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• Laura by Monmouth Players (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• The Producers at Axelrod PAC (Deal) – MORE INFO
• Otto’s Fortune at Grange Playhouse (Howell) – MORE INFO
• Agnes of God by South Street Players (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• The Seedbed at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Dancing In the Light at Axelrod PAC (Deal) – MORE INFO
• Anything Goes at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Jersey Shore Ghost Tours (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Live Harness Racing at Freehold Raceway – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Highlands Farmer’s Market – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Cinemas Movie Night (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

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Neptune City Council Race Tied

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor, a Republican, is tied with Democratic challenger Michael Skudera now that the provisional ballots have been counted.

In the post-Election Day machine count, Pryor trailed Skudera by one vote.

Barring a change in the tally due to a recount, which neither side has announced, there will be a run-off election between Pryor and Skudera, on a date to be determined, most likely in mid-December.

Republicans are said to be reviewing the Vote-By-Mail applications from the City prior to deciding whether to file for a recount. Operatives of the notorious Asbury Park “A Team” are rumored to have managed the Vote-By-Mail operation for the Democrats.

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Tax Man Shuts Down Merla’s Sub Shop

John Merla

The New Jersey Division of Taxation has closed Jersey Shore Subs, the Keyport eatery owned and operated by the borough’s former mayor John Merla, according to a report on KeyportAnchorNews.

On Monday, November 2, Merla announced his troubles via facebook:

The Past 14 Days Have Without a Doubt, Been The Toughest Time For Me Personally, When The SAY The Devil Works 24-7 Thats No Bull !!! Yes It Is True My Store Has Been Temporarly Closed Down For The Past Week, The Little Orange Sticker Doesn’t Tell All Only What The Haters Want To Read…I Personally Can’t Believe The Amount Of Friends, Great Customers And Family That Have Reached Out To Me Or A Family Member To Try To Help, This Setback, Just Made Me Much Much Stronger Then Ever, We Have OptionsAnd We Are Weighing Our Options Very Carefully… Many Of You Want The Store Back OPEN, And That Is One Of Are Options…I Just Can’t Tell You How HARD I’ve Worked This Past 5 Years To Make A Little Business Work For Our Community, I Really Wasn’t Going To Write This But Because Of The Support For The Business And My Family I Had Too…. I’m Sure Those That Have Been Supportive Will Appreciate It, And Those Who Like The Drama, And Want To Continue To Hate,Love It Too…. All I Can Say Is We’re Looking At Every Option Possible….The Devil Might Work 24-7, But I Work Harder…… Anyone That Knows What I’ve Done And My Business Has Contributed, Knows Where My Heart Lies…….Thank You For Your SUPPORT!!!!!!!

Merla told MMM publisher Art Gallagher that a former employee complained to the State that his wages were paid in cash.

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Under new bill, a ‘smart gun’ in every N.J. gun shop

TRENTON — More than a dozen years after passing a “smart gun” law that is now blamed for stopping them from being sold across the country, state Senate Democrats on Thursday said they want to revamp the law and force gun dealers to carry the high-tech weapons. Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) said she is introducing a… Read the rest of this entry »

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Hornikcrats Sweep in Marlboro

Democratic Mayor Jonathan Hornik has been elected to a third term in Marlboro.

With 27 of 28 districts reporting, Hornik is leading Republican Ira Goldberg with 68% of the vote, 4,739 votes to Goldberg’s 2,138.

In the Council race, Democratic incumbent Randi Marder and Michael Scalea held off Republicans John Dwyer and Sui Allex.

Scalea is the top vote getter so far in the Council race with 3820.  Marder has 3772.   Dwyer earned 2761 votes and Allex got 2706.

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Race to watch: Red Bank

Over the last two elections, Red Bank voters have expressed their dissatisfaction with their municipal government and transformed a Democratic stronghold into a swing town by splitting their partisan preferences in Council candidates.

Tomorrow, Red Bank will either turn over their government to Republican office holders with a 4-2 new majority, split partisan control of the Council 3-3, giving Democratic Mayor Pat Menna a deciding vote, or keep the current status-quo of 4-2 Democratic partisan control with Menna presiding over meetings and cutting ribbons, but having no power over policy.

Democratic incumbent Michael DuPont, 54, is running for his fourth term. Joining his effort to retain Democratic control of Red Bank is Board of Education Member Michael Ballard.  Ballard, 52, replaced former Council President Art Murphy who resigned after a video of a drunken rant of him deriding a small business went viral.

Challenging DuPont and Ballard are Young Republicans Mark Taylor, 37, an attorney and Michael Whalen, 24, an insurance executive.

As the campaign comes to a close, the Democrats seem desperate to maintain control and their composure.

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