Squester Blame

Nate Beeler, The Columbus Dispatch

Editorial cartoons are sponsored by New Markets Realty, 146 Maple Ave, Red Bank. 732-741-8211. Jim Giannell, President

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Arnone Addresses The Monmouth County Budget

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone

As I enter the third year of my first term as a Monmouth County Freeholder, I would like to share the following information regarding the county budget. The 2013 budget plan as presented today totals 481 million which is 6.35 million lower than last year’s adopted budget, and has a flat tax levy for the third year in a row.  This spending plan is $12,400,000.00 lower than the spending plan adopted in early 2010, which is where the budget peaked prior to the reduction in the budget over each of the last 3 years.

      The 6.35 million dollar reduction was accomplished by utilizing additional fund balance, anticipated greater levels of revenues that performed well in 2012, a reduction in total salaries based on reduced payroll expenditures, reduction of capital which will lower new debt authorization, reduction in health benefits due to new legislation, as well as, improved benefits management with the new provider, and a reduction in utility expense due to energy efficiency improvements.  All of these items closed the gap to balance the budget, as well as, offset some additional revenue losses that were not expected originally when the budget process started.  These include Medicaid cuts for the Care Centers, reductions in Division of Social Services revenue, reductions in Federal Inmates and a loss of trust fund revenue due to Super Storm Sandy. As the liaison and a strong supporter of shared services, I am extremely happy to report that Shared Services has been a huge success for Monmouth County. As promised we used revenue from Shared Services to offset tax increases. Shared Services generated revenue in excess of $3.6 million which also went a long way in balancing the budget.

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Rand’s Stand Against Drone Strikes

Senator Paul Stages Rare One-Man Filibuster of CIA Director’s Nomination (VIDEO)

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

As of this writing, Save Jerseyans, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is engaged in one of the most dramatic practices unique to American-style democracy: the Senate filibuster.

Typically, U.S. senators “filibuster” a nomination or legislation by refusing to provide a majority of the 60 votes required for cloture. Paul is using the much rarer one-man approach made popularly famous by Mr. Smith Goes to Washington whereby one Senator continues to speak on the floor until he decides to stop (or simply cannot carry on). The Senator’s aim? Holding up the nomination of John Brennan for CIA director; he hopes this gesture will raise awareness of a controversial new Justice Department policy that many believe would permit drone strikes on American citizens without any due process whatsoever.

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Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll On Terror Watchist List Anti-Gun Bill

In this remarkable video, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris) questions Assemblywoman Linda Stender on her bill, A3687, which would prohibit citizens on the federal terrorist watch list from receiving permits to purchase firearms in New Jersey

The bill passed the General Assembly 63-3, with 3 legislators not voting and 10 abstaining.

Click here to view the Assembly Roll Call on the bill.

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Christie to attend Monmouth GOP Convention

Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett announced this morning that Governor Chris Christie will be on hand to accept the party’s nomination for reelection when the Committee convenes at Colts Neck High School on Saturday, March 23.

In an email to County Committee members, Bennett said that he was hopeful that all members would be able to join him in nomination Christie, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and all incumbent legislative and county candidates.

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Colts Neck Democrat Fined By ELEC

“Rick” Ambrosia, center, with Vin Gopal, left and Ray Santiago, right, during a 2011 campaign event. Gopal and Santiago were candidates for legislature in LD 11 at the time. facebook photo.

Colts Neck Democrat Patrick “Rick” Ambrosia, Jr has been fined $250 by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission for failure to file primary election reports for his 2011 campaign to become a member of the Township’s governing body.

Ambrosia, who is best known as a frequent antagonist on center-right blogs, lost his 2011 bid in the predominantly Republican Colts Neck Township.

Click here for ELEC’s decision.

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Middletown Bank Hosts Emerging Artists

Click to view full flyer

Colonial American Bank and the Monmouth Museum are exhibiting the work of Monmouth County’s emerging artists, Gary Dates, photographer and Jane Dell, mixed media painter, at the bank’s Middletown branch, 1405 Rt 35 (Middletown Plaza) starting tomorrow, March 7 through May.

The exhibition kicks off with an opening reception tomorrow from 5-7.  The reception is free and open to the public.

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Bayshore Tea Party Preparing Primary Slate for LD 13, County Offices

The Bayshore Tea Party Group is preparing a primary slate to challenge 13th district legislators, Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon, and county office holders, Sheriff Shaun Golden and Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso, according to the group’s co-founder Barbara Gonzalez.

Gonzalez told MoreMonmouthMusings that the group has six candidates who are clearing their potential candidacies with their families and employers.  She wouldn’t name any of the candidates but expects to make a formal announcement next week.  If the slate declares, they will bypass the Monmouth GOP convention on March 23 and file to run in the June 4 Republican primary.

Gonzalez said that former Highlands Mayor Anna Little, who twice ran and won in Congressional primaries with the group’s backing, is not one of the candidates.

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Lucas takes the money and doesn’t run

Manalapan GOP Chairman Steve McEnery told MoreMonmouthMusings that Andrew Lucas has chosen not to seek reelection to the Manalapan Township Committee, citing the demands of raising two young children and of building a new house on the farmland to which he just sold the development rights to the taxpayers for $1.152 million.

Lucas is completing his third three year term on the committee.  He was a GOP nominee for freeholder in 2006.

The Manalapan GOP Committee is meeting Saturday morning March 9 to choose the replacement for Committeeman Don Holland who resigned on Monday and an additional candidate to run for Lucas’ seat in the fall.  Committeeman Jordan Maskowitz is seeking reelection.

With three seats now open in November, the 5-0 Republican control of the Manalapan Commitee is now at stake in November.

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“Johnny Cash Is A Friend Of Mine:” A Story of Two Remarkable Lives

Henry Vaccaro’s memoir, Johnny Cash Is A Friend of Mine is the story of how a fluke in investment in a Monmouth County based guitar manufacturer and a case of mistaken identity led to a 30 year friendship between two humble yet ambitious men that changed both of their lives.

In sharing his friendship with Johnny Cash, Vaccaro poignantly shares impactful life lessons with his readers.

Promoted as a biography of the iconic country singer that adds a personal touch, the story of the unlikely and profound friendship provides more insight into Viccaro, an ordinary man following his extraordinary dreams through the roller coaster of his life. A life for which, he says, Cash provides the sound track.

Filled with personal stories and never before published photographs, the book reads like Vaccaro is sitting and reciting the events of his friendship.  That’s because the book was written exactly that way.  Vaccaro’s son, Henry, Jr, taped his father telling the stories he heard so many times before and they hired a court reporter to transcribe the videos.

“You’re here because I want you here,” Cash tells Vaccaro during one of their many trips on JC Unit One, Cash’s tour bus,” You don’t know how many want to ride this bus with me, but Henry, I want you here.”

Through the tales of good times and bad, hilarious and sad, Vaccaro provides and insight into Cash’s character and the contributions they made to each others lives.  “He brought out the best in me.  He restored my faith in God above and he taught me what was really important in this life, your faith, your character, your family and friends and your compassion for your fellow man,” Vaccaro writes of his friend.   This reader expects that Cash would say much the same about his friend.

Henry Vaccaro is a friend of mine.  Buy his book here at a $10 discount.  Or, go to the book signing on Saturday, March 9, at Silverball Museum Arcade, 1000 Ocean Ave Asbury Park Boardwalk, and buy a signed copy at a $15 discount.

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