Contractor sought in $1.5M Sandy scam arrested in South Carolina, authorities said

Federal authorities on Thursday arrested a contractor accused of bilking victims of Hurricane Sandy out of more than $1.5 million by skipping out on repair jobs after taking their money. Jamie Lynn Lawson, 42, was arrested early Thursday morning at an extended stay hotel in Florence, SC, by U.S. Marshals in that area, said Michael Schroeder,… Read the rest of this entry »

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Beck: School Funding Should Be Fair and Transparent

Senator Jennifer Beck

By Senator Jennifer Beck

The biggest issue facing our state is property taxes.  And the biggest impact on that issue is school taxes.

Over the next several weeks, a new plan for school funding will be debated in Trenton.

There aren’t a lot of details being provided on this plan or its methodology, but estimates suggest that it could end up costing Monmouth County schools over $100 million in state school aid.

This plan, if estimates are true, isn’t a fair or equitable solution to our school funding crisis.

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NJ Democrat Operative Advocates Hunting Republicans

James Devine, a well known New Jersey Democrat operative and local newspaper publisher from Union County, responded to the shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise and three others yesterday by creating the hashtag #HuntRepublicans and #HuntRepublicanCongressmen on his social media accounts.  Devine declared that Democrats are “in a war” with Republicans.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, June 16-18, 2017

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, June 16

• Bryan Adams at PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel) – MORE INFO
• “Doodle” at Center Playhouse (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• SpringFest ’17 (Monmouth Beach) – MORE INFO
• “Lincroft Eats” Food Truck Fest & Car Show at BCC – MORE INFO
• The Little Mermaid Jr. at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Romeo and Juliet by Stone Church Players (Navesink) – MORE INFO
• The Ballad of Little Jo at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

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Kiley Connects High School Students and Seniors

Hazlet Mayor Sue Kiley

Hazlet, NJ- Mayor Sue Kiley announced a new community building program in her Mayor’s Update this week.

“Connect” is a program that Kiley has been developing to bring people, places and things together for the betterment of the community.  The inaugural Connect session was on June 7 when Raritan High School honor students, under the direction of teachers Ms. Melissa Trenton and Ms. Melissa Gardner, met with Hazlet Senior Citizens at the Cullen Center for a session on how to use modern technology.

“I’m leaning to use my not so smart phone,” one of the seniors joked.

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Christie nominates Massell and Luttrell for Monmouth County Tax Board

Stephen Massell

Governor Chris Christie this afternoon announced the nominations of Stephen Massell of Middletown and Renee Luttrell of Holmdel to serve five year terms on the Monmouth County Tax Board.   If confirmed by the New Jersey Senate, Massell will fill the Republican seat on the Board currently held by Kathleen Cody Bjelka who term has expired.  Luttrell will take the Democratic seat vacated by the death of Thomas J. Byrne of Spring Lake.

Given the legislative calendar, neither nominee is likely to be confirmed until the lame duck session which starts in November. The State Legislature typically takes the summer off after passing the State Budget which is due by June 30th.  Given that all 120 seats in the legislature are up for election this year, members of the legislature are likely to spend the fall campaigning and not legislating.

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Repairing the Asbury Park Press’ Conservative Insufficiency

By Tom DeSeno

The Asbury Park Press is the only daily paper targeting two New Jersey counties.  If that sounds small, consider those two counties have a larger population than eight U.S. states. They double the population of Washington DC. That makes the AP Press important not only as a courier of news, but considering its monopoly, as a sculptor of opinion in our great national debate.

Owned by media giant Gannett, the largest newspaper publisher in America and parent of USA Today, there exists available resources to publish a product that mirrors the Press’ considerable responsibility (if Gannett is willing to open the spigot on resources, that is).

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Jughandle Brewing Celebrates 1st Anniversary

Partners Mike Skudera, Chris Hanigan and Peter Artherholt celebrate the Grand Opening of their microbrewery. June 2016

It’s been a terrific first year for Chris Hanigan, Pete Artherholt, Mike Skudera, the founding partners of Jughandle Brewing Company in Tinton Falls.  Since opening their Asbury Ave microbrewery and taproom on June 18 last year, the beermeisters have their brew flowing in about 40 New Jersey adult beverage establishments.

Jughandle Brewing has doubled its beer taps, hired additional staff, extended its public tasting room hours, increased capacity by purchasing new fermenters, and continues to expand its wholesale market to new establishments throughout New Jersey.

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O’Scanlon forces Assembly vote on property tax cap effectiveness

Democrats punt on property tax reform

Trenton, NJ- Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, Jr. invoked a parliamentary rule on the floor of the Assembly on Thursday to force a vote on his bill that would remove the sunset provision on the arbitration cap of police and fireman salaries.

The arbitration cap was institution as part of the 2010 landmark property tax reform legislation that capped New Jersey property tax growth at 2% per year. The initial cap expired in 2014 and was renewed in 2014 with a sunset provision for the end of this year.  O’Scanlon’s bill, A-2123,would make the 2% arbitration cap permanent.

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Monmouth County To Auction Surplus Equipment Online

Monmouth County will hold an online auction to sell equipment from the County’s Fleet Services, Sheriff’s Office, Buildings and Grounds, Reclamation Center, Park System and seized and surplus property from the Prosecutor’s Office starting Saturday June 10 through Tuesday June, 13, according to an announcement from the Freeholder Board.

A total of 225 items are now listed for sale at USGovBid.com, including cars, trucks, heavy equipment, office equipment, jewelry and cell phones.

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