Middletown Withdraws from Unfair Affordable Housing Proceedings

MIDDLETOWN, NJ – Last week the Middletown Township Committee directed its attorneys to withdraw from court proceedings that commenced in July 2015 to address unrealistic affordable housing obligations imposed upon municipalities throughout New Jersey by the Supreme Court.  On Wednesday, July 17, 2019, the Township Attorney applied for an Order of Dismissal, which was entered by the Hon. Jamie S. Perri on July 19, 2019.

As a result of the demise of the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (“COAH”), municipalities have been subjected to proceedings in Superior Court to address ongoing and ever-increasing demands by the Fair Share Housing Center (“FSHC”) to develop more high density affordable housing. Read the rest of this entry »

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Highlands Clamfest Celebrates 25 Years

HIGHLANDS, N.J. – Food and Music lovers will fill the streets at the Highlands Business Partnership’s 25th Annual Clam Fest from August 1st to August 4th at Huddy Park on Bay & Waterwitch Avenues. The famous Clam Fest is a four-day spectacular event featuring a 120’ seafood court serving the freshest food from many of Highlands’ restaurants and establishments including Lusty Lobster and Chilangos. Other festival favorites include the Lions Club Funnel Cakes, and the Highlands Fire Department BBQ tent. Admission and parking is free, and the event takes place rain or shine.

The 25th Annual Clam Fest will feature a Beer, Wine and Sangria Garden on the corner of Waterwitch and Bay Avenues. Big Mark’s Action Park Amusements will set up the midway with portions of Waterwitch and Bay Avenues closed to street traffic to accommodate the rides, games of chance, specialty vendors and the succulent food court. Every night is “Pay-One-Price Bracelet Night,” when visitors can enjoy the amusement rides all night for $30. Read the rest of this entry »

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Chris Smith’s Lyme Disease Amendment Passes House, Tells DOD IG to Investigate ‘Weaponization’ of Ticks

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The full House of Representatives passed an amendment offered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) which directs the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Defense to investigate the “possible involvement of DOD biowarfare labs in the weaponization of Lyme disease in ticks and other insects”  from 1950-1975.

According to Smith, he was “inspired to write the amendment”—now part of the House-passed 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—by “a number of books and articles suggesting that significant research had been done at U.S. government facilities including Fort Detrick, Maryland and Plum Island, New York to turn ticks and other insects into bioweapons.”

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Int’l Assembly Adopts Smith Resolution to Educate Children on Human Trafficking Threat

1 in 4 Trafficking Victims Are Children

Teaching children to recognize, resist and report any attempt to recruit or coerce them into human trafficking

WASHINGTON, DC—An international parliamentary assembly of leading lawmakers from 54 countries today unanimously adopted an anti-human trafficking initiative authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) to further protect children by teaching them about the risks of human trafficking.

   Smith offered his “Educating Schoolchildren to Avoid Human Trafficking” resolution at the 28th Annual Session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCEPA) held in Luxemburg July 4-9th and attended by more than 250 international, voting lawmakers including a bipartisan delegation of 17 representing the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon Calls For Judge Troiano’s Resignation

Senator Declan O’Scanlon

Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) is calling for the resignation of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge James Troiano, who recently ruled that a 16-year-old rape survivor was not truly raped since she was not held at gunpoint. Judge Troiano also reportedly urged the survivor to consider that her attacker came from a “good family” before “ruining his life” with assault charges.

“Judge Troiano’s comments are truly abhorrent and clearly highlight the fact that he needs to be removed immediately by the Supreme Court,” O’Scanlon said. “We simply cannot stand by and allow a sitting judge to tell a 16-year-old sexual assault survivor that she doesn’t deserve justice because her attacker might get into a ‘good college.’” Read the rest of this entry »

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Sheriff Golden Warns of Fireworks Danger

Sheriff Shaun Golden wants all to celebrate their patriotism with backyard barbecues, family gatherings as well as professional fireworks displays that will be taking place in Monmouth County, to mark the Fourth of July holiday.

During this celebration, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is reminding people that fireworks are dangerous and illegal, with the exception of certain sparkling devices and novelty items, and should only be handled by the professionals. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, on average, 180 people go to the emergency room each day with fireworks related injuries in the month around the July 4^th holiday.

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Investors Foundation Donates $5K To Legal Aid

Mark T. Apostolou, Jr., Esq. President of the Legal Aid Society, Peter Leyman Investors Bank Vice President Professional Services, Christopher M. Curcia Investors Bank Red Bank Branch Manager, and Valerie Hemhauser, Esq. Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society

OCEAN TOWNSHIP- The Legal Aid Society of Monmouth County received a $5,000 grant from Investors Foundation to support the Society’s mission to act as a conduit between the indigent residents of Monmouth County and Pro Bono attorneys willing to accept the assignment.

This $5,000 grant was presented to Mark T. Apostolou, Jr., Esq., President of the Legal Aid Society and Valerie Hemhauser, Esq., Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society, by Peter Leyman, Investors Bank Vice President Professional Services and Christopher M. Curcia Investors Bank Branch Manager. Read the rest of this entry »

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YOUNG DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS JOIN FORCES FOR SHORE PROTECTION

Young Professionals join together to support the Jersey Shore Partnership June 10 Summer Celebration at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook, the annual fundraiser to support the Partnership’s advocacy efforts for beach protection and preservation. Co-chairs Kinn Badger (front row middle) and Jason Sena (back row, 3rd from left) are pictured with committee members.

Sandy Hook, NJ—The Jersey Shore Partnership Foundation (Partnership) will kick off its 22^nd Annual Summer Celebration on Monday, June 10, 2019 at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.  The Monmouth County Young Democrats and Republicans are heading up the Summer Celebration Young Professionals Committee, bringing together business associates ages 21-35 to support the Partnership’s mission to ensure that our 127 mile beachfront from Sandy Hook to Cape May is preserved and protected.

Committee chairs are Kinn Badger, Executive Director, Monmouth County Democrats, and Jason Sena, Esq., an associate with Cutolo Barros LLC and Treasurer of the Monmouth County Young Republicans.  Kinn states, “It is important to get young professionals involved in the environmental concerns facing our coast in light of sea level rise, climate change, and the prospect of increased storms that all cause beach erosion and infrastructure damage.”   Jason commented, “Preserving our coastline is vital to our local economy and is an issue that we can all get behind.  Kinn and I are pleased with the tremendous support we have received from our members.”

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Einstein Invites Jewish Community to Grassroots Activist Training

Hoboken – NJ GOP State Committeeman Joshua Sotomayor Einstein invites the Jewish community to join fellow conservatives, libertarians, and Republicans to learn the fundamental tools needed to hold your elected leaders accountable at NJ’s premier Grassroots Activist Workshop. On Sunday, Mach 31, from 11am–5pm, at the beautiful Barsky Gallery (49 Harrison St) in Hoboken, smaller government and tax reform inclined citizens will learn how to get involved and make a difference in local elections and governance. The training will bring together Jews, Christians, Atheists, and people of many backgrounds from across New Jersey who want to build better communication, messaging, advocacy, and leadership skills. Parking is available free of charge; kosher lunch will be provided. Read the rest of this entry »

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Congressman Smith Announces Service Academy Info Night On April 18

Class of 2022 Service Academy Students from CD-4 were recognized by Rep Chris Smith and Capt. Pierre A. Fuller in a ceremony in Neptune last June

WASHINGTON, D.C.— High school and college students from the Fourth Congressional District who are interested in attending a United States Service Academy are invited to Congressman Chris Smith’s Service Academy Information Night, to be held Thursday, April 18, 2019.

The event will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Naval Weapons Station Earle, 201 Highway 34 in Colts Neck, NJ. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Students, as well as parents, counselors and educators, who wish to learn about competing for a nomination to one of the Service Academies, are invited to attend. Read the rest of this entry »

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