N.J. Senate, Assembly leaders negotiating on road funding

TRENTON — With an important deadline for New Jersey transportation funding looming, Senate President Stephen Sweeney said he and the Democratic Assembly speaker are “getting closer” on a plan to raise money for roads and bridges. Midway through 2016, the Transportation Trust Fund will run out of money for new projects. Senate Democrats want a $2… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Year in review: June 2015

Tamara Wilson-Seidle  was shot and killed in Asbury Park by her ex-husband, Neptune Township Police Sgt Philip Seidle.  Philip is awaiting trial on the murder and faces life in prison.  Tami’s Legacies is a facebook community set up to look after the nine Seidle children.

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni announced that his office would conduct an internal affairs inquiry into the Seidle shooting and the the response of the Asbury Park and Neptune Township police departments.

The United States Supreme Court ruled that same sex couples can marry in all 50 states.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Owner of iconic Jersey Shore hot dog stand will rebuild destroyed blades

LONG BRANCH — The owner of a chain of iconic hot dog restaurants along the Jersey Shore pledged on Tuesday to rebuild a replica windmill destroyed Monday evening. The blades perched atop Windmill restaurant on Ocean Boulevard were just replaced in October after Hurricane Sandy destroyed the originals. But on Monday night, those new blades suffered… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Rabies Alert in Middletown

MIDDLETOWN – The Middletown Township Health Department has received laboratory confirmation of a raccoon testing positive for Rabies. The animal had contact with a dog on December 24th, which required testing. The incident occurred in the area of Flomar Ave and Leonardville Road.

Residents should not be interacting with wildlife. If you come across a sick or injured animal, keep your distance and please contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097 immediately or contact the Police Department after hours and on weekends. Please make sure all domestic animals (dogs, cats, and livestock) are currently vaccinated with a Rabies shot. Do not let your pets run free off leash, even in the woods, to ensure they do not come in contact with wildlife that may be rabid. Remember, Rabies is a fatal disease. The best course of defense is the vaccination of your pets and not handling or interacting with wildlife.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

200 Club of Monmouth County: Supporting First Responders’ Families

There is an important organization that we missed in our year end giving guide, the 200 Club of Monmouth County.

Led by former Monmouth County Clerk M.Claire French, the President, and former Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye, the Executive Director, the 200 Club is made up of leaders of business, industry, labor, public service, education and other professions including all of the Chiefs of Police of Monmouth County. Their goal is to provide financial assistance and comfort to families of law enforcement and first responders who are killed or disabled in the line of duty, as well as baccalaureate scholarships for their children.

In 2015, the 200 Club of Monmouth County gave scholarships to 107 children of law enforcement officers and first responders. Additionally, the club contributed generously to the Seidle family; the nine children of Tamara Wilson-Seidle who was killed by her ex-husband, Neptune Township Police Sgt Philip Seidle, in June. Kaye told MMM that the club paid the property taxes on the children’s home and gave them a $12,000 no strings attached check this month.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Year in review: May 2015

Christine Giordano Hanlon dropped the “Acting” from her title and became Monmouth County Clerk when the NJ Senate unanimously confirmed her nomination to replace M.Claire French.  Hanlon was elected to her own five year term on November 3.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman cleared Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno in the allegations lodged at her by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. Zimmer alleged that Guadagno delivered a message from Governor Chris Christie threatening to withhold Sandy relief funds if Hoboken did not approve a development application by the Rockefeller Group.

Former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas was sentenced to five years in federal prison for his convictions related to his acquisition of Burke Farm.

David Wildstein pleaded guilty in the Bridgegate scandal, claiming that the George Washington Bridge lane closures in September of 2013 were political retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for failing to endorse Governor Chris Christie’s reelection. Bridget Ann Kelly and Bill Baroni were indicted in the matter. Wildstein’s attorney claimed that Christie knew about the lane closures while they were occurring. Christie claimed that U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman’s indictment announcement cleared the governor of any wrong doing in the matter.

• Tweet

Year in review: April 2015

Governor Chris Christie pardoned Shaneen Allen, the single mother from Philadelphia who was arrested on gun possession charges in Atlantic County in 2013.

Senator Bob Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges. Menendez stepped down as ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

State Senator Joe Kyrillos endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.

Brookdale Community College President Maureen Murphy applied for the top job at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas.  She didn’t get it.

The year in review: 2015

• Tweet

Year in Review: March 2015

Victor “Buddy” Amato photo via dogsdeservebetter,org

The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders voted to sell the two county owned nursing homes.

FEMA announced it would review every Hurricane Sandy related flood insurance claim.

SPCA Chief Buddy Amato retired six months earlier than planned after being sued for sending sexist and racist text to agency employees.  MMM reported that Amato’s accuser, Suzanne DesMarias, has a long history of suing her employers for harassment and work related injuries.

MMM reported that the Monmouth Democrats would consolidate their resources in the 11th Legislative District in an attempt to unseat Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande.

A federal jury in Trenton cleared the Monmouth County Correctional Institution of any wrongdoing in the death of a 22 year inmate who became violent after being refused the use of a cell phone.

The year in review: 2015

• Tweet

Keansburg Man Convicted Of Armed Robbery, Kidnapping While Impersonating A Cop

Steven P. Rinck

Steven P. Rinck, 49, of Seabreeze Way in Keansburg has spent the past four Christmases in jail.  Given his conviction returned by a Monmouth County jury this week, he is likely to spend the next twenty Christmases locked up as well.

On October 21, 2012 Rinck gained entry to a to a Seeley Ave home by claiming he was a NJ State Police Trooper armed with a handgun and a search warrant.  He stole cash and drugs from the male resident and a friend with bad timing who arrived during the robbery.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Jon Bon Jovi, Bobby Bandiera and Friends present a night of Hope in Red Bank (Video)

The eighth Hope Concerts, organized by Bobby Bandiera, took place at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Wednesday night. I’ve heard Jon Bon Jovi sing “Bad Medicine” in concert countless times over the last 30 years. But I felt like I was hearing it for the first time Wednesday night at the Count Basie Theatre… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet