I was surprised on Saturday morning as I headed south on Rt 35 in Ocean Township for the grand opening of Green Leaf Pet Resort and Hotel. There was a line of cars several blocks long down 35 to get into the place! The surprises kept coming when I pulled in. It was packed outside. Two radio stations were broadcasting from the front parking lot along side the bbq pit. The valets were directing traffic instead of parking cars for tips and there were hundreds of happy people and dogs coming and going.
This was no ordinary kennel opening. When did kennels start having grand openings? When are crowds of people happy and not competing for some imaginary prize at a highway location in New Jersey? Where did all of these well behaved dogs and people come from? I only heard one dog bark loudly during my visit and that was in the back parking lot. Who serves hamburgers at a kennel opening and why aren’t the dogs begging for the people food? Read the rest of this entry »
Former Municipal Court Judge Richard B. Thompson was admitted to the pre-trial intervention programs by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office–meaning he will not serve any prison time and the charges he pleaded guilty to will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for one year, according to a report at app.com.
Thompson will be eligible to have his criminal record expunged six months after successfully completing the program.
Congressman Frank Pallone broke from the bipartisan majority of the New Jersey delegation to vote against the federal omnibus spending bill which includes $540 million in funding for the Gateway project–the proposed new tunnel under the Hudson River–that has been touted as a critical infrastructure project for both the regional and national economy.
But you wouldn’t know that Phony Pallone voted against the bill if you visited his congressional website. There he touts as accomplishments pet projects of his that were included in the bill– a whole $1.5 million in brownfields funding to assist small communities, tribes, and rural or disadvantaged areas and special recognition for a Woodbridge site to become a park with 7000 feet of trails and a 800 foot boardwalk. Read the rest of this entry »
New Jersey’s municipalities are being left out in the cold again by a state budget that seeks to freeze aid to towns at 2010 levels, leaving municipal officials with little choice but to increase property taxes to avoid cutting services. Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed budget recommends no increase in aid to communities, keeping the level of… Read the rest of this entry »
Spring Job Fair at Brookdale Community College, April 2014. file photo by Art Gallagher
New Jersey area employers looking to fill positions still have time to recruit highly skilled Monmouth residents at the County’s Spring Job Fair to be held on April 13, 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. at Brookdale Community College’s Collins Arena.
“The County’s Spring Job Fair is an excellent opportunity for employers to connect with job seekers with all levels of skill and experience,” said Freeholder Patrick Impreveduto, liaison to the Monmouth County Division of Workforce Development. “We are seeking employers of all sizes that represent a variety of industries, and welcome those who have not participated in prior years.” Read the rest of this entry »
Martin N. Racioppi, 52, of Monmouth Beach, pleaded guilty in federal court in Trenton today to robbing the Navesink branch of Investor Saving Bank, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Racioppi entered the Navesink Investors branch on July 20, 2017 and demanded money from a teller. He fled with approximately $1,600. The FBI arrested him the following day in Eatontown.
This is Racioppi’s third bank robbery conviction. He was released from federal prison on March 26, 2014 for his 2007 conviction in the robbery of a Red Bank Sovereign Bank branch, according the the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He was on parole for a previous bank robbery conviction at the time of the Red Bank robbery, according to RedBankGreen.Read the rest of this entry »
Monmouth County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering is ready for the expected overnight snowfall, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone announced.
“County road crews have been spreading liquid salt brine on County roads since Monday afternoon in advance of the threat of snow,” said Arnone, liaison to the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. “The County’s snow room will open this evening and we will monitor the storm’s progress. Our process helps us manage the personnel needed at the County’s ten highway districts and dispatch crews as needed.”
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning starting on 6PM on Tuesday for both Eastern and Western Monmouth County. Mixed precipitation is expected Tuesday night followed by heavy snow fall on Wednesday. Unnecessary travel on Wednesday afternoon and evening is strongly discouraged. Read the rest of this entry »
Curley votes no. Offers no cuts and defends rejecting $800K savings from State program. Continues to soak taxpayers for health insurance
The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders adopted a $448 million budget on Monday, March 19. The final budget is $1,450,000 (.03%) lower than originally proposed last month and $2,750,000 (.06%) higher than the County’s 2017 budget.
Property taxpayers will see the County’s portion of the tax bill raise by $1.50 to $25.00 for the year as the tax levy increases by $1,525,000 (.05%) over 2017. The budget as originally proposed last month included a tax levy increase of $3,024,750. The 2018 County tax levy is $304 million. Read the rest of this entry »