Woman accused of hiding Xanax in her vajayjay

KEANSBURG — A Piscataway woman who didn’t want Keansburg police to find prescription drugs on her hid them where she thought cops wouldn’t find them. Keansburg police said that when Erica Chapman, 34, was taken into custody for heroin and marijuana possession, she hid some Xanax pills in, according to police reports. Chapman was arrested on… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

John Bennett: Not the retiring type

By Art Gallagher

John Bennett

Oceanport Administrator John Bennett is applying to keep the job that he announced his retirement from in October.

Bennett’s retirement is effective December 31.  When I met him at Oceanport’s temporary Borough Hall today, there was no signs of him slowing down.  He was working with a borough employee on the town’s debt amortization schedule when I arrived. Over lunch he was excited about the future of Oceanport and proud of what he’s accomplished in his two years as administrator.  He was also well aware the that town needs to heal the divisions…that he is in the center of….that resulted in Mayor Michael Mahon going from being unopposed for reelection last month to being defeated by write-in candidate Jay Coffey.  “I promised I would give 110% until my last day,” for former Senate President and Acting Governor said.

Bennett is hopeful that his last day will come after December 31.   “I love being an administrator,” he said, “I wish I had done this earlier in my career. I submitted my application for the job.”

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Eatontown man just released from prison charged with burglary in retirement community

Robert Meloni

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP — An Eatontown man released from prison last week found himself behind bars yet again after he was charged Wednesday in connection with at least one burglary in a retirement community. Robert Meloni, 51, was arrested and charged with burglary, criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools after police identified him as a person… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Democrats spent $1.5 million to defeat Angelini and Casagrande

Assembly Members-elect Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey

Democratic Assembly Members-elect Joann Downey and Eric Houghtailing, and Independent Expenditure Committees supporting them spent $1,503,233 to defeat Republican incumbents Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande in the 11th legislative district election, according to an analysis of 2015 campaign spending published on PolitickerNJ.

Angelini and Casagrande spent $234,118 on their reelection effort.

For all of that spending, 700 additional Republican votes would have carried the day for Angelini and Casagrande. Those votes reside in Colts Neck, a Republican stronghold that had less than a 20% voter turnout and Freehold Township, another Republican stronghold in the district that did not turnout for the incumbents.  Casagrande and Angelini, while winning Freehold Township, did so with by a margin of less than 10%.

• Tweet

Angelini Concedes LD 11 Loss

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini released the following statement after the certification of the November 3rd elections: 

“The voters of the 11th District have spoken and I respect the choices that they have made. I congratulate Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling and wish them nothing but the best.

Serving in the Legislature for the past eight years has been an incredible experience that I will always cherish.

I am proud of my legislative accomplishments and especially, my efforts to shine a light on the issues affecting the more vulnerable segments of our society, including young people and individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental illness.

I am forever grateful for the many wonderful friends, colleagues and supporters who helped make my time in the Assembly such a tremendous experience. I thank the residents of the 11th District for giving me the opportunity to serve and I look forward to what the next chapter of my life will bring.”

• Tweet

Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, December 4-6, 2015

By Greg Kelly

Courtesy of Teddy Bears by the Shore

Friday, December 4

• Christ Church at Four Corners Lantern Tours (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO
• Scrooge at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO
• A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Miracle on 34th Street at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Time for a Miracle by Lighthouse Stage Productions (Monmouth Beach) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Murder Mystery Dinner Theater (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• Travis Tritt at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Emily Kinney from The Walking Dead (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Winter Solstice: A Seasonal Artisan Market (Belmar) – MORE INFO
• 12 Days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• A Little Shakespeare: Pericles at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Tree Lighting in the Park (Highlands) – MORE INFO

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Indictments issued in 2014 Long Branch Double Murder

Veronica Roach

Joan Colbert

Brian Farmer, 59, the registered sex offender arrested for the double strangulation murders of his cousin Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10 year old foster daughter Veronica Roach in August of 2014, was indicted on six charges by a Monmouth County Grand Jury on November 30th, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The grand jury charged Farmer with first degree Murder for causing the death of Colbert and Roach, one count of first degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child and two counts of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The Endangering charges are related to Farmer causing or permitting a child to engage in child pornography, for the manufacture of child pornography and for the possession of child pornography.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

White House to Christie: We’ll tell you when Syrian refugees settle in N.J.

WASHINGTON — The White House said Monday it will tell Gov. Chris Christie and other governors how many Syrian refugees are settling in their states. In a letter sent to Christie and obtained by NJ Advance Media, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said the information would be made available to any governor who requests… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Monmouth Tax Board: Towns Can Opt Out of Assessment Demonstration Program

Tax Commissioners Cliff Moore, James Stuart and Kathy Cody Bjelka

The Monmouth County Tax Board acted on Monday to allow municipalities to opt out of the controversial pilot program, the Assessment Demonstration Program. The program has resulted in the volatility of property assessments and spurred a grand jury investigation into alleged conflicts of interest among key players in the County’s complex property tax system.

By an unanimous vote Monday afternoon, the Tax Board approved a resolution offered by Commissioner Clifford J. Moore III to immediately allow municipalities to opt out of the program for the 2017 tax year.  Towns must notify the board that they are opting out by 11:59 p.m. on April 29, 2016.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

N.J. man who got $218K in relief aid admits to Sandy fraud

TRENTON — A Toms River man who received more than $218,000 in Hurricane Sandy relief aid has admitted to filing fraudulent applications for funding from government-run storm recovery programs, authorities said. Gregory Wagner, 63, pleaded guilty in state Superior Court on Monday to third-degree theft by deception, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. Wagner… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet