Acting Governor Kim Guadagno administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Gerald Scharfenberger, PhD, on Sunday when the Middletown Township Committee reorganized for 2016.
Selected by his fellow members of the Township Committee, Scharfenberger replaces Stephanie Murray who served two terms as mayor through 2014 and 2015. Scharfenberger praised the “spectacular job” Murray did as mayor and expressed his gratitude to her for what she taught him about leadership and public service.
Scharfenberger has been a member of the Township Committee since 2005 and previously served as mayor in 2007,2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013.
Guadagno swore in Committeeman Tony Fiore as Deputy Mayor and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden administered the Oath to Committeeman Steve Massell who was elected to his third term on the Committee last November.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 5th, 2016 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Middletown, Monmouth County News | Tags: Gerry Scharfenberger, Kim Gaudagno, Middletown, Monmouth County News, Shaun Golden, Sheriff Shaun Golden, Stephanie Murray, Steve Massell, Tony Fiore | 1 Comment »
When the NJ Turnpike Authority set out to build an extension and exits 15E and 16E on the Turnpike in 2001, a long forgotten cemetery of unmarked graves, a “Potter’s Field,” was discovered on the site known throughout the years as “Snake Hill,”Laurel Hill,” and more recently “Graffiti Hill.” Dr. Gerry Scharfenberger, PhD, was a member of the team of archaeologists that recovered, identified and re-interred the 4571 bodies that were first buried at the site, as well as over 100,000 historical artifacts.
On Tuesday, October 20, Scharfenberger, a Middletown Township Commiteeman,will be making a fascinating presentation about the site which during the late 1800’s to mid 1900’s was the home of a county jail, a “lunatic” asylum and a tuberculosis asylum.
The event,which is free and open to the public, will take place at the Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street, at 7:30PM until approximately 8:30 p.m.
Posted: September 22nd, 2015 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Gerry Scharfenberger, Middletown, Monmouth County News | Tags: Gerry Scharfenberger, Middletown, Middletown Arts Center, Middletown Republican Club, Monmouth County News, Secaucus Potter's Field, Snake Hill | Comments Off on Scharfenberger presentation on Seacaucus Potter’s Field
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino was in custody for over 2 hours on simple assault charges
Fiore wants the Monmouth County Prosecutor to investigate
Middletown Committeeman Gerry Scharfenberger cuts the ribbon at Sorrentino’s tanning salon last March. photo via facebook
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino was arrested in Middletown this afternoon after Township Police broke up a fight between the reality TV star schmuck and his brother Frank.
Detective Lt. Steve Dollinger told MMM that a call came into to the Middletown PD shortly after 2PM reporting a fight at the tanning salon owned by Sorrentino. The actor was arrested, charged with simple assault and released on $500 bail at around 5:15. Dollinger declined to comment further, but other sources told MMM that Frank Sorrentino had a black eye and that Mike’s hand was bandaged as a result of the fisticuffs.
The story of Sorrentino’s arrest was first reported by TMZ, the entertainment gossip website. Last week TMZ, which is located in Marina del Rey, California, broke the story that employees of the tanning salon filed complaints with the Middletown Police that their $100-$200 paychecks had bounced.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: June 17th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Jersey Shore, Middletown, Monmouth County, Tony Fiore | Tags: Charles Webster, Det Lt Steve Dollinger, Frank Sorrentino, Gerry Scharfenberger, Jersey Shore, Mayor Stephanie Murray, Middletown, Mike Sorrentino, Mike The Situation Sorrentino, Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Tanning Salon, The Situation, Tony Fiore | 3 Comments »
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.
Posted: May 8th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: John Bennett, Monmouth GOP, Shaun Golden | Tags: Gerry Scharfenberger, John Bennett, John O. Bennett III, Kevin Settembrino, Middletown GOP, Monmouth GOP Chairman's race, Peter Carton, Shaun Golden, Stephanie Murray, Steve Massell, Tony Fiore | 23 Comments »
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino of MTV’s Jersey Shore fame, and his family opened a tanning salon in Middletown yesterday.
MMM is not in the habit of giving free advertising to people who drive Lamborghinis, and the company did not respond to our ad pitch, so we did not cover the ribbon cutting.
But NJ.com and USA Today-Monmouth/Ocean edition couldn’t resist the spectacle.
Gerry Scharfenberger is the only member of Middletown’s Township Committee of non-Italian American descent. Gerry did the honors at the ribbon cutting and said the right things.
“The goal is always to fill vacant storefronts, so whenever that happens it is a positive thing,” he said. “And if the star power they have is able to help them and the other businesses here, that’s even better.”
But the expressions on Gerry’s face in the pictures at NJ.com tell another story, which prompted MMM to look further into the situation.
Why wasn’t Mayor Stephanie Murray presiding on the high profile ribbon cutting? She finds the situation offensive.
“While I wish the business success for the sake of the existing businesses in the shopping center, I don’t personally support Mr. Sorrentino as his insensitivity and disrespect toward women (calling women “grenades” for example), is appalling and offensive, Murray said, “Additionally, as an Italian-American who loves and lives at the Jersey shore, the image Mr. Sorrentino projects is equally offensive.”
Committeeman Tony Fiore is also not happy with the situation.
“While Mr. Sorrentino has the right to open a business anywhere he chooses, Mr. Sorrentino has done nothing to help promote a positive image of the Jersey shore or Italians who live or visit the Jersey shore,” Fiore said, “In my view no self respecting Italian who grew up in NJ, lives at or loves the Jersey shore would help promote his business. While I wish him like any other business in Middletown success, he shouldn’t expect Middletown to embrace the circus that he is bringing to the Middletown.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: March 2nd, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Middletown | Tags: Gerry Scharfenberger, Jersey Shore, Middletown, Mike Sorrentino, Stephanie Murray, Tanning Salon, The Situation, Tony Fiore | 6 Comments »
Susan O’Neal. Photo courtesy of Middletown Patch.
The Middletown Library Board of Trustees will consider hiring a part time executive director to replace Susan O’Neal.
O’Neal submitted her resignation to the board last evening as part of a negotiated termination. Board President Brock Siebert declined to comment on O’Neal resignation, citing a confidentiality agreement. The termination won’t be official until approved by the Middletown Township Committee. Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger also declined to comment.
O’Neal’s salary is $119,816, according to Data Universe.
O’Neal’s continued employment became untenable when her emails with Linda Baum, a Democratic candidate for Township Committee revealed that she was colluding with the Middletown Democratic Party to undermine the authority of the Board of Trustees. The emails were released as a result of an Open Public Records Act request on the part of Committeeman Tony Fiore. Fiore became suspicious that O’Neal and Baum were colluding when Baum shared confidential information she should not have been privy to at a public meeting. Baum unsuccessfully sued to block the release of the emails.
Brock said the board’s personnel committee will meet next week to discuss a search for O’Neal’s replacement. Hiring a part time executive director is one option he wants to committee to consider.
Posted: September 19th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Gerry Scharfenberger, Middletown, Middletown Democrats, Middletown Library | Tags: Brock Siebert, Gerry Scharfenberger, Linda Baum, Middletown, Middletown Democrats, Middletown Library, Susan O'Neal, Tony Fiore | Comments Off on Middletown Library Will Consider Part Time Executive Director
~ Declan O’Scanlon
With remarkable teamwork on the part of the candidates, county and municipal leaders and key members of the legislative delegation outside of the 13th legislative district, the Monmouth County Republican Organization earned the resounding endorsement of a Republican electorate that has proven over the years that performance and integrity matter far more to them than party loyalty.
Big egos checked, big leaders pulled together to support each other. A real team emerged.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: June 5th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 13th Legislative District, LD 13, Monmouth County, Monmouth GOP | Tags: Amy Handlin, An Amazing Moment, Caroline Casagrande, Christine Hanlon, Dave Rible, Declan O'Scanlon, Gerry Scharfenberger, Jennifer Beck, Joe Kyrillos, John Bennett, Mary Pat Angelini, Monmouth GOP, Peter Carton, phone banks, Tony Fiore, volunteers | 3 Comments »
Could John Bennett be heading back to Trenton?
…Senator Joe Kyillos?
By virtue of his long term friendship with Governor Christie and his campaign for U.S. Senate last year, State Senator Joe Kyrillos is on every Christie mind reader’s short list of possible U.S. Senators to replace the late Frank Lautenberg.
Assuming Kyrillos defeats Leigh-Ann Bellew in the primary today, his move to the U.S. Senate would create a vacancy for the nomination for State Senate in LD 13. If either Assemblywoman Amy Handlin or Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon move up to the Senate slot, as would be expected, there will be an Assembly nomination vacancy.
Neither Handlin nor O’Scanlon will say if they want the State Senate seat, which probably means they both want it. Even so, I would expect that they would work that out amongst themselves rather than have a convention fight.
A nominating convention for the resulting Assembly vacancy would bring out a wealth of Republican talent.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: June 4th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2013 Election, 2013 Gubernatorial Politics, 2014 U.S. Senate race | Tags: Amy Handlin, Anna Little, Anthony Ammiano, Barbara McMorrow, Charlie Cocuzza, Christine Hanlon, Declan O'Scanlon, Gerry Scharfenberger, Jennifer Beck, Joe Kyrillos, John Bennett, John Curley, Kim Gaudagno, Serena DiMaso, Tony Fiore, U.S. Senate vacancy | 4 Comments »
Middletown Township’s has the best municipal website in the State of New Jersey by a Monmouth University study performed by the school’s Polling Institute and its Graduate Program in Public Policy.
The project assessed 540 municipal websites in New Jersey for content, ease of use and citizen interaction.
Red Bank’s site earned an Honorable Mention, coming in 22nd on the list of 540. Five other Monmouth County sites were in the top 100, barely. Spring Lake’s site is ranked #82, Manasquan #89, Tinton Falls #91, Belmar #93 and Marlboro #95.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: March 21st, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Middletown, Monmouth University Poll | Tags: Anthony Mercantante, Belmar, Gerry Scharfenberger, Manasquan, Marlboro, Middletown, Middletown Marvin, Monmouth University, New Jersey's Best Municipal Websites, NJ, Red Bank, Spring Lake, Tinton Falls | Comments Off on Middletown’s Website Named Best In New Jersey By Monmouth University Study
By Art Gallagher
Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik told NJ.com that Governor Chris Christie is playing politics by not supporting Marlboro’s decision to post armed police officers at each of their schools as a reaction to the Newtown, CT massacre.
“Unfortunately, I believe that if Governor Christie was not contemplating running for President or was not running for re-election, he would be firmly behind [Marlboro’s actions], but politics has had its influence on him,” said Hornik. “Politics can’t come into play when you’re talking about children’s safety. We need gun control in this country, and we need to get rid of assault weapons and multi-bullet clips. I don’t see a need for them, while recognizing the Second Amendment, at all. But the reality is that guns are out there, right now.”
Since the day after the Newtown shooting, Christie has said that he does not think cops at schools are conductive to the learning environment nor are such deployments the answer answer to mass shootings.
At the press conference for the Belmar boardwalk groundbreaking this week, the governor said that he would not take action to stop communities that decide to have police at their schools.
Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger told MoreMonmouthMusings that Hornik’s comments sound political. “Maybe Jon’s running for governor,” said Scharfenberger, “his comments sound just plain silly. I don’t hear anything political in what Christie said. He is sharing his philosophy and a lot of people agree with him.”
Hornik told MMM that he’s not running for anything this year. “I doing my job as mayor. No other office excites me. You never know what will come your way, but I am not pursuing anything politically.”
Posted: January 11th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2013 Gubernatorial Politics, Art Gallagher, Chris Christie, Connecticut Murders, Gerry Scharfenberger, Jon Hornik, Marlboro, Newtown CT, Sandy Hook Elementary School | Tags: Art Gallagher, cops in school program, Cops is schools, Gerry Scharfenberger, Gerry Scharfenberger Middletown NJ, Jon Hornik, Marlboro, Marlboro NJ, Marlboro Schools | 14 Comments »