Casa Freehold Director: There is no influx of Central American Youth in Freehold

Rita Dentino, Executive Director of Casa Freehold

Rita Dentino, Executive Director of Casa Freehold said her comments reported in the Sentinel and other Greater Media newspapers regarding a steady stream of unaccompanied Central American Youth arriving in Freehold Borough were not reported accurately.  MMM relied on those reports earlier this week when reporting on the situation and  State Senator Jennifer Beck’s response.

During an interview in her Freehold office, Dentino said that to her knowledge there has been only one refugee child, a 16 year old boy, that has arrived in Freehold from Central America since the first of the year and that there is no parade of children arriving at a rate of one per day.  The Sentinel reported that Dentino said there were 5-10 young refugees in the Borough and that more were arriving daily.  Denton told MMM that the 5-10 figure represents all young Central American youth that have come to Freehold over the last 11 years that she has worked at Casa Freehold, not a recent influx due to the situation on the United States’ southern border.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, August 8-10, 2014

SPONSORED BY SEASTREAK

By Greg Kelly

Friday, August 8

• Ocean Township Italian Festival – MORE INFO

• Navesink Firemen’s Fair (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• The King and I at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO

• Lucky Me at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Royal Preparatory at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

• Highlands Gets Jazzed – MORE INFO

• Heart at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Enviro-Quest (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Seining at the Bayshore (Port Monmouth) – MORE INFO

• Andrew McMahon at The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• Lend Me A Tenor at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

• Butterflies in the Garden (Howell) – MORE INFO

• Computer Skills for Job Hunters (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO

Don’t miss the fun at the Italian Amerian Festival in Ocean Twp!

• Choose Your Adventure Boat Ride (Howell) – MORE INFO

• Family Gym Time (Tinton Falls) – MORE INFO

• A Few Good Men at Duncan Smith Theatre (Holmdel) – MORE INFO

• The Wizard of Oz by Spotlight Players (Matawan) – MORE INFO

• tick, Tick…Boom! at ReVision Theatre (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• Martha’s Vineyard Weekend Trip via Seastreak (Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Bus Stop at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

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Helicopter goes for $421K in online auction

Freeholder Director Lillian Burry

A surplus helicopter previously deployed by the Monmouth County Mosquito Commission was sold via online auction on June 17 for $421,000, according to a statement issued yesterday by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

All told, the County netted $2,686,208 through the online sale of 38 surplus items from the County Fleet, the Sheriff’s Office, Buildings and Grounds, the Reclamation Center and property seized by the Prosecutor’s Office during the spring auction.

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Guadagno travels to Hope for Land of Make Believe Celebration

Photo via Guardlife, The Official Magazine of the NJ National Guard

Acting Governor Kim Guadagno will travel to Hope, NJ tomorrow afternoon for the Land of Make Believe 60th Anniversary Celebration.

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Monmouth County seeking employers for September 19 job fair

Companies must register to participate; jobseekers do not

Spring Job Fair at Brookdale Community College, April 2014

LINCROFT, NJ – Monmouth County will again offer employers and jobseekers the opportunity to connect at the Monmouth County Fall Job Fair scheduled for Friday, Sept. 19 at Brookdale Community College.

“Employers who have immediate job openings are invited to participate in Monmouth County’s Fall Job Fair,” said Freeholder Serena DiMaso, liaison to the Monmouth County Division of Workforce Development. “This will improve the probability that jobseekers will find employment by attending.”

The event is free for employers to reserve a table and for jobseekers to attend.

The 2014 Monmouth County Job Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at the Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft.

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39th Annual NJ Friends of Clearwater’s CLEARWATER FESTIVAL

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Romney Is Headlining Christie’s Birthday Fundraiser

Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican Presidential nominee, is schedule to be a “Special Guest” at Governor Chris Christie’s birthday celebration/NJGOP fundraiser on September 10.  Christie turns 52 on September 6.

The grand party will be held at the Hilton East Brunswick.  A ticket to the general reception costs $150.  Entrance to a private reception is $5,000 per person.  There are 20 “Roundtable” spots reserved for 20 well healed guests.

For an additional $75, guests can have a message inserted in Christie’s birthday card.  For $35 a family will be listed in the card, $15 for an individual listing.

In lieu of gifts for the Governor, guests are urged to bring an unwrapped toy which will be donated to Toys 4 Tots.

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August 4-August 10 BizEturtle Community Events

 BIZETURTLE COMMUNITY EVENTS 

 August 4-August 10

Monday, August 4
SCORE SEMINAR
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
RSVP: 732-224-2573
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Tuesday, August 5 & Wednesday, August 6
INDOOR MOVIE-OCEAN TWP
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Middlebrook Cinema
ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED
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Tuesday, August 5
DINNER AT THE OG PAVILION
4:30 PM -7:00 PM
Ocean Grove Auditorium Pavilion
Cost $12 per person.
Fish ‘n Chips or Chicken Nuggets Dinner
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Tuesday, August 5
OUTDOOR MOVIE–RED BANK
8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Riverside Gardens Park
JAWS
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FDU Poll: Most in New Jersey oppose casinos outside of Atlantic City

A majority of New Jersey residents oppose expanding legalized gambling in the State beyond the borders of Atlantic City, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson Public Mind Poll released this morning.  50 percent oppose casinos outside of AC. 42 percent favor expanding gambling venues in New Jersey.

Men favor casinos elsewhere in the State by a small margin, 48-46, while women are opposed , 53-36.  Young adults aged 18-34 are in favor of gambling venues outside of AC, 52-38.  Those aged 35-50 are opposed, 53-41 and those over 60 are opposed by a 56-36 margin.

Of the 819 respondents, those who have been to Atlantic City within the last 12 months are most likely to favor casinos elsewhere in New Jersey, by a 52-35 margin.  Those who have been to casinos elsewhere but not in AC favor new gaming halls in New Jersey by a much narrower margin, 47-45.  Those who have not been to a casino in the last 12 month are opposed to expanding gambling in NJ by 45-40.

When asked if they favored expanding to the Meadowlands or Monmouth Park in Oceanport, the Meadowlands was favored.  Respondents favored opening casinos in the Meadowlands by a 47-45 margin.  They opposed casino gambling at Monmouth Park by narrow 44-43 margin.

The margin of error of the poll is +/- 3.4%

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Unaccompanied Central American Children Showing Up In Freehold

Read this update: CASA FREEHOLD DIRECTOR: There is no influx on Central American Youth in Freehold

Senator Jennifer Beck working with federal officials and Governor to handle the crisis

Between 5 and 10 Central American children, ages 11-16, who have crossed our borders without adults have found their way to Freehold Borough, according to a statement by Rita Dentino, Director of Casa Freehold, an immigrants rights organization that helps newly arrived immigrants integrate into the community.

Dentino said that more children are arriving everyday, according to a report in the Sentinal.

State Senator Jennifer Beck issued a statement today saying she is working with federal and state officials to secure funding to deal with the situation and to evaluate New Jersey’s legal options and obligations.

“This is an issue with far ranging implications that is being experienced all across the country. I am working closely with federal representatives and the Governor’s Office to fully understand our legal options and obligations. I am hopeful that money will come from the federal government as part of an overall response to this issue. There are real humanitarian, fiscal and capacity concerns so all decisions must be fully vetted. I will continue to communicate openly with local officials to keep all appraised of our progress.”

Published reports indicate that over 1,500 Central American children have arrived in New Jersey.  The federal government operates only one 10 bed facility in the State, and none of the children are housed there.

Dentino told the Sentinal that she would be contacting DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services) to begin the process of finding the children guardians.

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