Novak Concedes Spring Lake Hts Council Race

Nate Novak

Republicans Sarah King and Robert Merriken each picked up votes in the recount by the Board of Elections this morning which was requested by their Democratic opponent, Nathaniel “Nate” Novak.  Novak trailed Merriken by one vote, 638-639 after the provisional ballots were qualified and counted on November 9.

King, an incumbent councilwoman remains the top vote getter at 680. Merriken expanded his lead over Novack to 640-638.

Novak told MoreMonmouthMusings that he accepts the results and does not plan to contest the election. “We just wanted to make sure all the votes were counted, ” Novak said, “I congratulate Robert Merriken on his election.”

Novak said that he hopes to start serving on the Borough Council in January, despite is loss, as the replacement for Councilman Thomas O’Brien who was elected mayor. “I hope to get that appointment and run again next year,” said Novak.

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Recount Tilts Outcome Of Neptune City Council Race

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor is trailing Michael Skudera by one vote after the recount

The outcome of the election for a seat on the Neptune City Council changed as a result of the recount that took place this morning at the Board of Elections office in Freehold.

Democratic candidate Michael Skudera (not the same Michael Skudera who is the former mayor of Tinton Falls) gained three votes in the hand count of Vote-By-Mail  and provisional ballots and now leads incumbent Republican Councilman Richard Pryor by one vote, 602-601.  Pryor picked up one vote in the recount.

Hand recounts of Vote-By-Mail and provisional ballots often result in additional votes being counted. The votes are first counted electronically via scanner.  During a hand recount, elections commissioners are able to determine the intent of a voter who may have not completely filled in the box on the ballot sufficiently to be  read by the scanner.

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N.J. lawmakers takes action on surprise out-of-network medical costs

TRENTON — A state Assembly committee Monday approved legislation that would prevent consumers from getting surprise out-of-network medical bills that can saddle them with huge bills. The measure would require hospitals and doctors to disclose whether they are part of a person’s insurance network before treatment occurs. The bill was praised by consumer advocates and picked… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sen Jennifer Beck calls for Tax Administrator’s Suspension

Senator Jennifer Beck

Senator Jennifer Beck today called for Monmouth County Tax Board Administrator Matthew Clark to step down or being suspended, pending the outcome of a reported Monmouth County Prosecutor’s investigation to his relationships with vendors of the the controversial Assessment Demonstration Program that creates new assessments of Monmouth County properties for property tax purposes annually.

“In light of the fact the Prosecutor has an active and ongoing investigation into the Tax Administrator, steps must be taken to suspend him from his day-to-day duties until the Prosecutor’s investigation is complete,” Beck said in a statement issued to the media.  “At present, our taxpayers have lost confidence in the Administrator and until he is either vindicated or indicted, Matthew Clark should step aside.”

The Asbury Park Press reported last week that grand jury subpoenas were served on at least three county towns as well as the Monmouth County government in connection with a criminal investigation to the program.

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Keyport Garden Club Decorates Governor’s Study

via Keyport Garden Club’s facebook page

The Keyport Garden Club is decorating the Governor’s study at Drumthwacket,  for the holiday open houses at the official residence of New Jersey’s chief executive, according to a statement by First Lady Mary Pat Christie.

Keyport’s garders cut and dried hydrangeas and luminaria from members’ gardens, which club designers artfully turned into elegant holiday pieces.  Preserved cream colored roses and orchids are interspersed throughout our arrangements to add elegance and brightness to the Governor’s Study.  Dogwood red twigs, also from a Keyport Garden Club member, creates a gentle flow to the arrangements.  Also, the white vestibule is decorated by the club to entice visitors into the Governor’s Study.

Also participating in the holiday decorating of the mansion are garden clubs from Bayhead, Mountain Lakes ,Warren, Morristown, Somerset Hills and for the first time, the Garden Club of America.

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Rabid cat found in Middletown

The Middletown Township Health Department issued a rabies alert on Friday, November 20.

Middletown Township Animal Control responded to a cat that appeared sick and acting abnormally in the area of Ferraro Court, Green Oak Blvd. and Daniel Towers in the New Monmouth section of the Township on November 17, 2015. The animal was captured and sent to the State Laboratory for testing. On Friday, November 20, 2015, we were informed that this cat did test positive for the rabies virus.

This is the first case of a rabid cat in 2015, although we have had other cases in wildlife samples. The cat was black with white markings on the chest and paws. It is possible that this stray cat was living in or around the neighborhood.

If anyone, or their domestic pet had any contact with this cat, please contact the Middletown Township Health Department and Animal Control at 732-615-2097 or the Middletown Police Department at night or on the weekends at 732-615-2100. We need to ascertain if there has been any contact that would warrant an immediate referral to a physician or veterinarian. Any resident with concerns or who may see other stray cats in this area are also encouraged to contact Animal Control.

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Rumson native bound for Oxford as Rhodes Scholar

Evan Soltas. photo via twitter

RUMSON — In 2012, Rumson native and Princeton University student Evan Soltas started an economics website that earned him a job with Ezra Klein’s Wonkblog at The Washington Post. Three years later, it has led him to a Rhodes Scholarship to pursue post-graduate studies at Oxford University. The 22-year-old New Jersey man was one of 32… Read the rest of this entry »

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2 men charged when Ocean Township Police find 118 bags of heroin in bullet-riddled car

Lesley Valentin, photo via NJ Dept of Corrections

OCEAN TOWNSHIP — Two men have been charged with having 118 bags of heroin in a car that was riddled with bullet holes in Ocean Township, authorities said. Police are still looking for one of those suspects, Robinson Marvilus, 26, of Elizabeth, who along with Lesly Valentin, 30, of Asbury Park, were stopped on Nov. 4… Read the rest of this entry »

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Howell Mayor Gotto calls his video taped behavior “unacceptable”

Howell Mayor William Gotto. Photo via HowellRepublican.com

A heated exchanged between Howell Mayor William Gotto and a 19 year old Township resident, Chris Cohen, that ended with both parties apologizing, shaking hands and expressing their respect for one another has ignited a social media outrage now that a video of part of their encounter has been posted on facebook and YouTube, more than a month after the incident occurred.

On October 14, there was a petition drive at the Howell library to collect signatures of residents opposed to a proposed affordable housing development at West Farms on Route 9.   Grotto and Deputy Mayor Robert Nicastro went to the gathering to answer questions about the proposed development.

The questions were heated and pointed when Cohen says he asked the mayor, “Whose pockets were being lined here?”

Gotto says he heard the question as an accusation of personal corruption. He lost his composure, as can be seen on the video:

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How easy is it to buy a Syrian passport on Facebook?

When a man who blew himself up as part of the attacks in Paris last week, was found to be in possession of a fake Syrian passport it highlighted just how easy it was to come by such a thing. To get a fake Syrian passport appears not very difficult at all in the Turkish capital… Read the rest of this entry »

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