NJ pension payment could be delayed by Christie, risking downgrades

NJ pension payment could be delayed by Christie, risking downgrades (via NJ.com)

TRENTON — New Jersey may delay a payment to the state pension fund by several days to help plug an $807 million budget gap, the state treasurer said Thursday, a risky move that could touch off union lawsuits and downgrades by Wall Street credit-rating…

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Middletown Officials Backing Golden For Chairman

All five members of the Middletown Township Committee have announced that they are backing Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden in his bid to replace John O. Bennett III as Chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

Front, Mayor Stephanie Murray and Deputy Mayor Kevin Settembrino. Rear, Committeemen Tony Fiore, Gerry Scharfenberger and Steve Massell. Photo via MiddletownNJ.org

Mayor Stephanie Murray, Deputy Mayor Kevin Settembrino, and Committee Members Gerry Scharfenberger, Stephen Massell and Tony Fiore, all Republicans, issued a statement through Fiore .

“Sheriff Golden will bring a new energy to our Party and make us even stronger in delivering the best and most efficient county and municipal governments in New Jersey to the people of Monmouth County.

“Shaun has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and innovation while improving the performance of the Sheriff’s Office and controlling costs to the taxpayers on both the county and municipal levels.  We believe his leadership and executive skills will greatly serve Monmouth County residents in a political capacity as well.

“Shaun will move our party forward and is the best person to heal any fractures that have occurred over the years.

“We appreciate the good job that Chairman Bennett has done during his term, but now, we face new challenges as elected officials and political leaders.  We can’t afford to rest on our laurels, but must move forward with fresh eyes and with a renewed commitment to improve our performance for the people we represent and serve.”

Fiore told MMM that the committee members were speaking for themselves, not for the Middletown Republican Organization.  Middletown GOP Chairman Peter Carton is aware of their endorsement, but has yet to speak with Golden or Bennett, Fiore said.

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Save the Date, Saturday, May 23, 2014

The Atlantic Highlands Police Benevolence Association Local 242 
hosts their 27th annual event, which, for many residents of Atlantic Highlands, is an annual rite of Spring on Saturday, May 23rd, 2014 

Fine dining, hors d’oeuvres and an open bar combined with a 
charity auction with dozens of spectacular prizes are expected, as always, to attract large numbers of residents.Over the years, P.B.A Local #242 has contributed proceeds from the event to local organzations, including : The AH Historical Society, Henry Hudson Regional School and the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School. 

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, May 9 – 11, 2014  

By Greg Kelly

Friday, May 9

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

• Mother’s Day Soul Jam at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• 13: The Musical at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

• Carousel the Musical at Premier Theatre (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• Images of Christ Church Shrewsbury: Then & Now – MORE INFO

• Saltwater Fishing Clinic (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• Jersey Fresh International Event at Horse Park of NJ (Allentown) – MORE INFO

• Paint the Town Pink Events (County wide) – MORE INFO

• Family Game Night (Tinton Falls) – MORE INFO

• Firehouse Plant Sale (Fair Haven) – MORE INFO

• Law Enforcement Career Fair (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

• Beginner Photography Using a Digital SLR (Belmar) – MORE INFO

• Monmouth Civic Chorus Spring Soirée (Deal) – MORE INFO

• Sweet Dreams for Seniors: Getting a Good Night’s Rest (Howell) – MORE INFO

• Moon Over Buffalo by Spotlight Players (Matawan) – MORE INFO

• Art Show & Sale (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

• The Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Spring Lake Theatre – MORE INFO

• A View of the Mountains at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Aberdeen) – MORE INFO

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Three Monmouth Towns Have Elections Next Week, Highlands to have its first non-partisan election

Voters in Highlands, Keansburg and Long Branch will go to the polls next Tuesday (May 13) to elect members of their towns governing bodies in non-partisan elections.

Highlands has the only competitive race of the three towns with elections next week. The Sandy ravaged borough is having its first non-partisan election. Last November voters approved a referendum that moved municipal election day to May and did away with party lines.

Six candidates are running for two seats on the council.  None of the six are bracketed together or share the same slogan.

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Sheriff Shaun Golden is running for Monmouth GOP Chairman

UPDATED 10:14 am

Sheriff Shaun Golden

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden will seek the Monmouth County Republican Chairmanship when the party convenes to elect a chairman on June 10.

Incumbent Chairman John O. Bennett III said he is running for reelection.

“Shaun’s a good man and a good sheriff,” Bennett said. “I’ve always thought that elected officials should be elected officials and chairmen should be chairmen.  I think Shaun should focus on being sheriff.  We live in a Democracy.  The committee will decide.”

“It’s a race,” Golden said, “we need to get our party moving forward.”

The two men met for breakfast this morning.  Golden informed Bennett that he was running and asked for a smooth transition.

Golden told MMM that he would be releasing a formal statement and sending a letter to members of the Republican County Committee later today.

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Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long leaves the Democratic Party

Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long. photo credit:RedBankGreen.com

When Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal promised retribution and accused Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long of abandoning her principals by endorsing Governor Chris Christie for reelection, Long said, “Whether Vin likes it or not, I’m still a Democrat.”

Now she’s not a Democrat.  Long quietly changed her registration to Unaffiliated in February.  The Asbury Park Press was the first to report Long’s new status.

“I did this quietly and without fanfare,” Long told MMM, “to talk about why I did it would defeat the purpose.”  Prodded, Long said, “its a long story, no pun intended.”

Political insiders in Sea Bright have been aware of Long’s new status for a few weeks.  One insider said that something happened in the county Democratic Party that Long considered  personally hurtful.

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Tuesday, May 6, Greater Shore Concert Band Spring Concert

The Greater Shore Concert Bandwill be performing it’s
SPRING PROGRAM tonight at 7:30 PM at the
Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 992 Broadway, West Long Branch

The Greater Shore Concert Band of Monmouth County, New Jersey is comprised of amateur musicians who meet, practice and perform 
for the love of music. The band is comprised of approximately 
70 musicians whose ages range from students in junior high school to retired individuals.
The band’s concerts consist of marches, symphonies, overtures and
popular music. The band performs a series of winter concerts and a spring concert.
The band is a non-profit and volunteer organization. Band members 
are not paid for their services. The band is self-funding through concert ticket sales, program advertisements and donations.

This is a Free Will Offering Event, donations are gratefully accepted

If you miss this performance, the GSCB will be at Wall High School
on Friday, May 9th. This is their fundraising event and tickets are $10

The above information was brought to you by,
Lynn Humphrey Administrator/Owner of
BizEturtle:Events in Monmouth, www.bizeturtle.com
The website fully dedicated to Monmouth County
BizEturtle does not have any information on the
above subject except what is stated.

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Middletown Military Shout Out

Middletown – The three Middletown Middle Schools, in conjunction with ‘Middletown 350‘, will be honoring World War II veterans at “MIDDLETOWN MILITARY SHOUT OUT”, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2014.  The theme of this multi-faceted event is to “Remember, Educate, and Entertain,” culminating in an authentic World War II U.S.O. Show performed by students from the Thorne, Bayshore, and Thompson Middle Schools.

Thorne Middle School, home of the WWII Battle of the Bulge Monument, will host the event.  Special guests will include survivors of that battle, and other World War II Veterans.  The school is named for Corporal Horace Thorne, Middletown’s only Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.  The Medal was awarded posthumously for Corporal Thorne’s heroism during the Battle of the Bulge.  The “MIDDLETOWN MILITARY SHOUT OUT” event is part of a series commemorating Middletown’s 350th Anniversary.

“MIDDLETOWN MILITARY SHOUT OUT” will feature three events, beginning with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge Monument in front of the school.  This Monument, previously housed at Fort Monmouth, was relocated to Thorne in May of 2011, with a re-dedication ceremony that included over 90 survivors of the Battle.  Next, attendees will be welcome to visit inside the school to see a “WALL OF HEROES” and showcases of World War II gear and uniforms.  There will be a special presentation by Mr. Frank McGinley, an artist who captures history through painting.  Several of Mr. McGinley’s original paintings depicting the Battle will be on display.  The program will conclude with the U.S.O. Show, which will take place outside, behind the school.

Veterans who wish to attend “MIDDLETOWN MILITARY SHOUT OUT” should contact the school at (732) 787-1220.  Families and the general public are welcome to attend any part of the program, and need not contact the school.  For the U.S.O. Show, seating will be available for veterans and their families.  Other attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating.  Thorne Middle School is located at 70 Murphy Road, in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown.     For more information Middletown 350 and planned events, please visit http://www.middletownnj.org/content/middletown 350.

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Manalapan bridge is closed for repair work

Detours will be in place

MANALAPAN, NJ  – The bridge on Pine Brook Road between State Highway 9 and Arrowood Road is closed for repair work.

“The heavy rain last week created a scour condition beneath the bridge over Pine Brook,” said County Engineer Joseph Ettore. “In the interest of public safety and to complete the bridge repair as quickly as possible, a detour for motor vehicle traffic has been put in place.”

It is expected that the County bridge (MN-40) will be closed for up to three weeks, weather permitting.

While the section of Pine Brook Road bridge between Arrowood Road to State Hwy. 9 is closed, traffic should use Pease Road. Northbound traffic on Pease Road should travel to Union Hill Road to access Hwy. 9; southbound traffic on Pease Road should travel to Gordon’s Corner Road to access Hwy. 9.

“County crews are posting the detour and will be mobilizing to begin the repair work,” Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone said. “The County understands the inconvenience that this closure will have on the motoring public in the area. Our first concern is for the safety of the travelling public and the County will work to get the bridge and road reopened as soon as possible.”

In total, the county maintains of approximately 1,000 lane miles of roads, 980 bridges and culverts and 250 traffic signals and beacons.

If an adjustment to the work schedule is necessary, updates will be posted to the County’s website at www.visitmonmouth.com.

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