The Arnone Report: Shop Local, Tourism Grant, Fleet Shared Services prepping County and Towns for winter

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

Freeholder Tom Arone

With the holidays upon us, please keep in mind The Made in Monmouth Holiday Shopping Guide is ready. It is available on the county’s website by going to www.visitmonmouth.com. The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders encourages people to shop local for their holiday gifts. Additionally, as liaison to the Department of Economic Development, I am very proud to announce that Made in Monmouth is expanding. There will be two mini-Made in Monmouth events for the holiday season. The first one is scheduled for December 13^th at the Manalapan Community Center on Route 33. This event is being hosted by the Board of Chosen Freeholders, Manalapan Township mayor and committee and the Manalapan Economic Development Committee. The second mini-Made in Monmouth is being hosted by the Freeholders and Cream Ridge Winery. It will be held December 20^th at the winery in Cream Ridge.  Both of these events give our small businesses the opportunity to expand their customer base and give more shoppers the opportunity to support local business.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, December 5-7, 2014

By Greg Kelly

Courtesy of Teddy Bears by the Shore

Friday, December 5

• A Christmas Carol at Allaire Village – MORE INFO
• Scrooge at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO
• Historic Four Corners Lantern Tours (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO
• In-Laws, Outlaws and Other People at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• Poricy Park Holiday Craft Show (Middletown) – MORE INFO
• Time for a Miracle, a Lighthouse Stage Production (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• The 1940s Radio Hour at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Martina McBride at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Tree Lighting in Highlands – MORE INFO
• Manasquan Tree Lighting & Candy Cane Hunt – MORE INFO
• Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop (Middletown) – MORE INFO

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Sweeney coming to Red Bank to raise campaign cash for Murphy and Dupont

DiSomma says Dems fear losing control. Signals hard hitting campaign to come

Senate President Steve Sweeney. file photo by Art Gallagher

Senate President Steve Sweeney, a contender the 2017 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, is coming to Red Bank on December 17 as the headliner for a $175 per head fundraiser for Red Bank Councilmen Arthur Murphy’s and Michael Dupont’s reelection campaign.

The soiree is being hosted by Mayor Pat Menna and former Mayor Ed McKenna at Buona Sera.

The invitation includes a questionnaire to assure compliance with the borough’s “pay to play” ordinance.  Contractors that do business with the borough, developers and “Alcoholic Licensees” must disclose their attendance and in certain circumstances limit their campaign contributions to $400.

Who would have guessed that Red Bank issues licenses to alcoholics?

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Red Bank Dems rushing $2.2 million bond ordinance to detect leaking toilets

When Red Bank Councilwoman-elect Linda Schwabenbauer, a Republican, takes the oath of office in January, the Red Bank Democrats may no longer have enough votes on the council to borrow money at will.

Councilwoman Cindy Burnham, now the lone Republican on the six member council, told RedBankGreen  that the Democrats are rushing to pass a $2.2 million bond ordinance that has not been vetted before Schwabenbauer takes office.  The funds are to be used to replace water meters for the borough’s 4000 homes and buildings.

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Brookdale Art Exhibit ‘100 Days of Silence’ Displayed in Washington, DC

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) hosted “100 Days of Silence,” a one-of-a-kind art exhibition on Tues. Dec. 2, 2014, coordinated by the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide Education (Chhange) at Brookdale Community College to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.

The collection brings together works created by over 450 New Jersey students and includes more than 60 life-size human forms which illustrate students’ artistic responses to learning about the genocide, the silence of the world, and the importance of becoming involved, concerned citizens.

“These are powerful expressions by young people who are concerned about a genocide that unfolded while the world watched,” said Smith, a longtime human rights advocate in Congress and chairman of the House Africa and global human rights subcommittee. “The pieces in this exhibition remind us that each of the hundreds of thousands of victims in Rwanda was an individual, worthy of dignity, whose precious life was cut short, who the world should have done more to save. If we cannot do more to prevent genocides in the future, ‘Never again’ will only be lip service. When so many innocent lives are at stake, we must do more. While remembering a genocide often invokes feelings of horror, this exhibition reminds us that hope is also crucial. We must have the hope that we can defeat the evil that is at the root of genocides and we must follow it with the will to act.”

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Highlands Man Pleads Guilty To Possession Of Child Pornography

Layne Bracht, screen shot

Layne Bracht, 32 of Highlands, pleaded guilty in federal court in Camden today to one count as possession of child pornography, according to a statement by U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.

Bracht admitted that on Oct. 28, 2013, he knowingly placed images and videos depicting child sexual abuse into shared folders that others could access via a peer-to-peer network. Special agents of the FBI executed a search warrant at his residence in Highlands on Jan. 15, 2014 and seized digital evidence that contained numerous videos and images depicting child sexual abuse, including material involving prepubescent minors and sadistic or masochistic conduct. The digital evidence seized included three files previously downloaded from Bracht by law enforcement agents working in an undercover capacity on the peer-to-peer network.

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Tis the season to make a difference

By Greg Kelly and Art Gallagher

Courtesy of Teddy Bears by the Shore

‘Tis the season to be jolly—and generous.

A MMM reader asked Art to publish an article on ways to volunteer during the holidays.  Art asked Greg to make a list and check it twice, with a Monmouth County focus, and to include charities and non-profits that need volunteers and financial support.

The following 100+ charitable/volunteer organizations based in Monmouth County go the extra mile every day to help those less fortunate or for causes that really matter to humanity. You can help them to help others this holiday season.

Feel free to add to the list in the comments.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this Thanksgiving Weekend, November 26-30, 2014

By Greg Kelly

Wednesday, November 26

• A Marvelous Night: The Music of Van Morrison at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Camelot at Two River Theater (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• John Eddie at The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• River City Extension at The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Railroads: All Aboard! at Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) – MORE INFO
• WUF-Wearable, Usable, Functional Holiday Boutique (Belmar) – MORE INFO
• Des & the Swagmatics at The Saint (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

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Thursday, November 27  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  FAMILY, FOOD AND FOOTBALL.  Don’t go shopping.

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The holidays are coming

Holiday Events in Monmouth County

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Caden’s Christmas; To Benefit the Zane Family

Matt and Jill Zane are two loved and selfless educators in the Wall Township, New Jersey school district. After battling fertility issues for several years, Jill became pregnant with twins through IVF. Eight weeks into the pregnancy, one of the eggs split, giving Matt and Jill triplets in August, 2010.

One of their three children, Caden, is a medically complex, chronically ill disabled little boy. Every day is a serious struggle for Caden, vomiting constantly and often crying through sleepless nights. These are just a few of the many difficulties Caden endures. With very little understanding of Caden’s condition, the Zane family has struggled to get him the help he needs.

Most recently, Jill has been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that has metastasized to her bones and two organs.

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