Lucas admits more mistakes

Andrew Lucas, center, then the Republican mayor of Manalapan, with then Freeholder John D’Amico and Amy Mallet, both Democrats, in September of 2010, seven months after Lucas purchased Burke Farm.

Former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas is not disputing the facts that the federal government is presenting against him before a jury in Trenton.

Rather, Lucas is claiming the he made mistakes and lacked the training and expertise to accurately prepare the documents he submitted to obtain his financing for the purchase of the 97 acre Burke Farm in Manalapan, according to the Asbury Park Press’s coverage of his trial.

Lucas is defending against 11 felony charges including wire fraud, loan application fraud, illegal monetary transaction, false statements to the IRS,  aggravated identity theft, obstruction of a grand jury investigation and falsification of records in a federal investigation.

If convicted on all 11 counts against him, Lucas, 37, could be sentenced to more than 60 years in federal prison.

Closing arguments are expected to be made today.

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Lucas proceedings start this week

Andrew Lucas, center, then the Republican mayor of Manalapan, with then Freeholder John D’Amico and Amy Mallet, both Democrats, in September of 2010, seven months after Lucas purchased Burke Farm.

Jury selection is scheduled to start tomorrow in the case of the United States of America vs Andrew Lucas, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.  The trial is scheduled to start on Monday, September 8.

The former Manalapan mayor was indicted in February on fraud charges for allegedly falsifying documents to obtain financing for the purchase of a 97 acre farm in the township. He later sold the development rights to that farm to New Jersey’s farmland preservation program for $1,158 million. After an exhaustive investigation, no charges were filed concerning the farmland preservation transaction, but the investigation led to alleged irregularities in Lucas’s financial records and documents provided to a lender and an investor in his acquisition of the land.

Lucas is looking forward to his trail.  His attorney, Mario F. Gallucci, told the app, “Andrew Lucas has been looking forward to this day. He finds it unfortunate that he has to defend what he believes were legal actions that he took, and he can’t wait for his day in court.”

If convicted on all 11 counts against him, Lucas, 37, could be sentenced to more than 60 years in federal prison.

Lucas has been subject to home detention and electronic monitoring since posting $500,000 bail in February.

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The Arnone Report

Freeholder Tom Arone

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

At the last meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Board authorized an award of bid for an asphalt recycler for the Department of Public Works and Engineering. This equipment will allow the Divisions of Bridge and Highway to take waste asphalt from construction projects throughout the year and turn it into high quality hot mix, re-using it for road repairs. This will reduce our disposal and operating costs, along with being environmentally friendly. The cost of the recycled material is 75% less than the cost for new material.

Last year the county spent over $150,000.00 for cold mix, base material and disposal of waste material. As an added benefit, every ton of asphalt the county recycles will benefit Freehold Township in the amount received from the State of New Jersey in their tonnage grant.

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Manalapan Elected Officials Stand With Bennett

The four of the five members of Manalapan’s Township Committee, all Republicans, endorsed Monmouth County Republican Chairman John O. Bennett III for a second term as Chairman yesterday.

In a statement released by Bennett which can be found here, the Mayor Jordan Maskowitz, Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe, and Committee Members Mary Ann Musich and Susan Cohen, the MCGOP Vice Chairwoman, said:

It is a great honor to stand with John O. Bennett in his campaign to seek a second term as Chairman and Vice-Chairwoman, respectively. The bottom line is that John Bennett has kept all of his campaign promises from two years ago, and the Monmouth County Republican Party is stronger today than it was then.
John’s first promise when running two years ago was to implement a new set of by-laws and move to a convention system when selecting candidates in order to make the entire process more democratic. John has done this, and now County Committee members select our organization’s candidates, not political bosses in the back room.

Manalapan Township Committee Members Mary Ann Musich, Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe, Mayor Jordan Maskowitz, Susan Cohen and Ryan Green

John also pledged to put in place a Board of Directors to meet and advise the Chairman, and he has met this promise as well. Now, Republican representatives from all over the county have a direct say in the County Party. He also promised to keep our County Party headquarters open and staffed full time, and has done this. The County Party headquarters has been an invaluable resource for Manalapan Township. Last year at the headquarters, our campaign volunteers made phone calls into Manalapan every Monday night on behalf of Governor Christie, our County candidates, and our local Township Committee candidates.

We encourage County Committee members not just of Manalapan, but all of Monmouth County to vote for JohnO. Bennett, a proven leader and party builder, at the June 10th Chairman’s Convention. Thank you.

The fifth Republican on the Township Committee, Ryan Green, has ostracized himself from his colleagues because he wasn’t selected to be Mayor. Maskowtiz has called for Green’s resignation and Manalapan GOP Chairman Steve McEnery likened Green to Edward Snowden while calling him a petulant pipsqueak. 

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Manalapan and Freehold Township GOP Chairs Raise Ethical Questions About Golden Serving As Sheriff and GOP County Chairman Simultaniously

Golden welcomes Ethics Debate with Bennett

Freehold Township GOP Chairman Anthony Graziano

The municipal Republican Chairmen of Manalapan and Freehold have raise ethical questions about the prospect of Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden serving as both Sheriff an d as the Chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

In a letter addressed to County Committee Members and sent to MMM, Steve McEnery, Chair of the Manalapan GOP and Anthony Graziano, Chair of the Freehold Township Republicans, raise questions about Golden’s ability to comply with New Jersey’s Local Governments Ethics Law, NJ 40A:9-22.5, unless he has received an advisory opinion from the Local Finance Board in the Department of Community Affairs.  The letter can be viewed here.

The chairmen challenged Golden to release the advisory opinion demonstrating the permissibility of him serving in both offices or explain to County Committee Members why he did not engage in simple due diligence if he did not receive such an opinion.

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Celebrate NJ 350th

Just when you thought you had it all planned and mapped out for this weekend Along comes that BizEturtle finding you more interesting and fun events to attend. Here are 2 for this weekend and more

Celebrate New Jersey’s 350th Anniversary at the Monmouth County Library

Great author talks and family fun programs as the Monmouth County Library marks New Jersey’s 350th Anniversary.

NJ Historical Commission Panel
New Jersey: A History of The Garden State
Saturday May 17 at 2 PM
Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan 07726
732-431-7220 x7222
The New Jersey Historical Commission, in Partnership with the
Monmouth County Library, is pleased to present a panel featuring the authors of the recent book, New Jersey: A History of the Garden State.
Join some of New Jersey’s leading archaeologists, political, social, and economic historians as they provide new perspectives on how the
Garden State evolved. New Jersey: A History of the Garden State
presents a fresh, comprehensive overview of New Jersey’s history from the prehistoric era to the present.
Featured speakers include Maxine Lurie (professor emerita of history at Seton Hall University), Paul Israel (director of The Edison Papers, Rutgers University), Larry Greene (professor of history at Seton Hall University), and Brian Greenberg (the Jules Plangere Jr. Chair in American Social History at MonmouthUniversity).
This program is free and open to all but registration is strongly recommended. Register online, over the phone at 732-431-7220 Ext 7222, or in-person at the Reference Desk.

Family Fun Saturday – Happy Birthday New Jersey!
11 AM to 2:30 PM
Saturday, May 17
Eastern Branch, 1001 Route 35, Shrewsbury 07702
1-866-941-8188
Join us in celebrating our state’s 350th birthday. For all ages!
11 AM – 11:45 AM – Storyteller Gerald Fierst will take you on an enjoyable “time machine” journey from when the early Lenape people lived here to present day New Jersey
12 PM – Enjoy a piece of birthday cake! Please let us know if your child has any allergies.
12:30 – 2:15 PM – Come create a Lenape coil clay pot with Debbie Hadley of WILD Jersey. Please register at library or call 1-866-941-8188 for this program. Choose one time:
Session one: 12:30 – 1:15 PM. OR
Session two: 1:30 – 2:15 PM.

Telling HerStories: Bridge Builder in Petticoats
Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 PM
Howell Township Library, 318 Old Tavern Road, Howell 07731
732-938-2300
Come learn about Emily Warren Roebling and her role in building the BrooklynBridge at a special Howell Township Library family program. Carol Levin of Telling HerStories will appear in costume as Emily Warren Roebling and tell her story. The presentation will include a lantern slide show.

The Jewish Newport on the Jersey Shore:
The History of the German Jews of Monmouth County
Wednesday, May 28 at 2 PM
Eastern Branch, 1001 Route 35, Shrewsbury 07702
1-866-941-8188
Presented by the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County.
The first permanent Jewish communities in Monmouth County were established by German-Jewish immigrants arriving in the mid-1800s.
By the end of the Civil War, sizeable numbers of these businessmen and their families were well established in and around Keyport, Red Bank, Long Branch and Freehold. Jewish hoteliers and other tradesmen catering to summer visitors were also a visible presence along the Atlantic coastline.

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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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Manalapan man found stuck in United Water pipe indicted for criminal trespass

Manalapan man found stuck in United Water pipe indicted for criminal trespass (via NJ.com)

FREEHOLD – The 27-year-old Manalapan man who was found stuck in a 20-inch pipe at a United Water facility in January has been indicted for criminal trespass. On Tuesday, a Monmouth County Grand Jury indicted Asaf Mohammad, 27, of Emily Road in Manalapan…

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Monday, April 1-Sneak Preview of PBS Civil War Series which highlights New Jersey Regiments

The New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association will co-host with
Great Divide Pictures and theMonmouth County Library, a Sneak Preview screening of the upcoming PBS mini-series Civil War: The Untold Story, tonight at 6:30 PM at the Monmouth County Library Main Branch,
125 Symmes Drive in Manalapan.

The Untold Story covers the often overlooked battles of the western
theater of the Civil War.  Subjects covered include the control of the Mississippi River, the Battle of Shiloh, General  Grant’s siege of Vicksburg,
the Battle of Chickamauga, and the occupation of Atlanta, General Sherman’s March to the Sea and the eventual surrender of the Army of Tennessee in North Carolina. New Jersey units, including the 13th, 33rd
and 35th New Jersey Infantry Regiments and the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry, were actively engaged in the fighting in the west in 1864 and 1865. Chris Wheeler, the film’s producer, will be on-hand to add
commentary, conduct a question, and answer session after the
presentation. This event is free to the public.
For further information, see Great Divide’s web site

Information Brought to you by
Lynn Humphrey, Administrator/Owner
BizEturtle:Events in Monmouth
contact me at [email protected] or 732-759-0485

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Sunday, March 30–Music on a Sunday Afternoon

Today, you have three marvelous choices to enjoy
some refreshing music on this on and off rainy afternoon.

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