The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County Celebrates 65th Years of Providing Vital Free Programs and Services to Monmouth County Residents

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Shrewsbury, NJ:  On Thursday, September 24^th the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County (MHA) will host a 65^th Birthday Party at Taka, 660 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ.  Guests will enjoy an Asian themed buffet and live music by Dawg Whistle with Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Vini Lopez, Paul Whistler, and Jon Sebastion Brice.  The party begins at 6:30pm and tickets are $95 each.

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Burry and Hammond To Receive History Awards

Freeholder Lillian G. Burry

MANALAPAN, NJ – Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon is pleased to announce that Freeholder Lillian G. Burry has been selected to receive the inaugural M. Claire French Award for Leadership in Historic Preservation and Joseph W. Hammond has been selected to receive the 2015 Jane G. Clayton Award at Archives and History Day.

Both awards will be presented at Monmouth County Archives and History Day on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters.

“Both of these recipients are very deserving of recognition,” Hanlon said. “There is no public servant more deserving of the inaugural M. Claire French award than Lillian Burry. Lillian has been an advocate, champion and enthusiast of historic preservation in Monmouth County as a citizen and throughout her entire career as a public servant and elected official.”

Freeholder Burry has made many notable contributions to historical preservation throughout her career, including heading Matawan’s Historic Preservation Program while serving on the Matawan Council, during which time the group purchased and restored the borough’s most historic 1700’s era mansion. She also founded and chairs the Colts Neck Historical Preservation Committee.

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Monmouth Poll: Clinton’s National Lead Shrinks

Non-candidate Biden makes gains

West Long Branch, NJ – Hillary Clinton’s lead in the Democratic field has shrunk over the past month, mainly due to increased support for a candidate who isn’t even in the race.  The latest national Monmouth University Poll of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters shows Joe Biden’s support rising as speculation swirls around his potential entry into the race.  The poll also found that the prospect of a Biden-Elizabeth Warren ticket appeals to many Bernie Sanders voters.

Hillary Clinton currently has the support of 42% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters nationwide, which is down from 52% just one month ago.  Joe Biden (22%) and Bernie Sanders (20%) are practically tied for second.  This represents an increase of 10 points in Biden’s support since August and a 4 point rise for Sanders over the same span.

In addition to the 22% who currently back Biden for the nomination, another 7% of Democrats say they would be very likely to consider voting for him if he does get into the race and a further 34% would be somewhat likely.  The total of 63% who either back Biden now or would support him if he ran is up from 56% who said the same in July.  Majorities of current Clinton (56%) and Sanders (56%) voters say they would be at least somewhat likely to consider switching their support to Biden if he jumps into the race.

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Monmouth Poll: Trump Holds National Lead, Carson 2nd

Trump tops all but Carson head-to-head

West Long Branch, NJ – Donald Trump has increased his GOP vote share since last month’s debate.  The latest Monmouth University Poll of Republican voters nationwide also finds Ben Carson moving into second place, Jeb Bush slipping to third, and Scott Walker fading into the background.  The poll also tested Trump directly against nine opponents in head-to-head match-ups and found that only Carson is able to get the better of him.

When Republicans and Republican-leaning voters are asked who they would support for the GOP nomination for president, Donald Trump leads the pack at 30%, which is up 4 points from early August before the first debate.  Ben Carson (18%) has increased his vote share by 13 points and now holds second place.  Jeb Bush (8%) has dropped by 4 points and now stands in a tie for third with Ted Cruz (8%).  Following behind are Marco Rubio (5%), Carly Fiorina (4%), and Mike Huckabee (4%).

Scott Walker (3%), who held third place in Monmouth’s August poll, has dropped 8 points since then.  Chris Christie, John Kasich, and Rand Paul each get 2%.  The remaining six candidates included in the poll score no higher than 1% each.

“None of the establishment candidates is having any success in getting an anti-Trump vote to coalesce around them.  In fact, any attempt to take on Trump directly only seems to make him stronger,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, NJ.

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New award to honor former County Clerk M. Claire French

Clerks: Christine Giordano Hanlon and her predecessor M. Claire French

FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon has announced the creation of the annual “M. Claire French Award for Leadership in Historic Preservation.”

French, Hanlon’s predecessor, was County Clerk from 1997 until her retirement on April 1, 2015. During French’s 18-year tenure, she oversaw the modernization of the Clerk’s Office, including digitizing county records and the electronic reporting of election results, as well as the expansion of the Office’s services with Monmouth County Connection Office in Neptune Township.

“Claire was an outstanding leader and public servant for more than 30 years, 18 years as Clerk. We want to recognize and remember her long time dedication to the County of Monmouth,” Hanlon said.  “Importantly, as County Clerk, Claire supervised the Monmouth County Archives and worked to improve the ability to preserve our historic records and make them accessible to the public.”

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Monmouth County 4H members to participate in State goat show

FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County 4-H goat club members Nicole Cary and Rebecca Carmeli-Peslak, of Millstone, will represent Monmouth County at the New Jersey State 4-H Goat Show on Aug. 20 at the Hunterdon County 4-H and Agricultural Fairgrounds in Ringoes.

The Monmouth Livestock Club 4-H members will join nearly fifty New Jersey 4-H members and exhibiting 137 goats in Meat Goat, Dairy Goat, Fiber Goat and Showmanship Classes.

“The State 4-H Goat Show is an annual event that offers 4-H’ers an opportunity to compete at an advanced level and meet other 4-H goat project members from around the state, “ said Roberta Hunter, County 4-H Agent. “This educational and competitive event promotes the 4-H goat project and sportsmanship among the participants.”

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Investigators Closing In On Red Bank Murderer

Significant Developments in 2009 Murder of Jonelle Melton

$10,000 reward still available

Jonelle Melton

(FREEHOLD) Investigators are closing in on the person responsible for the brutal 2009 murder of Jonelle Melton, a beloved Red Bank teacher who was found beaten to death inside her West Sylvania Avenue apartment. Monmouth County CrimeStoppers wants to make sure the public is aware a chance still remains for anyone with information about the case to come forward and possibly collect the $10,000 in reward money being offered, announced Kevin J. Burke, Jr., Chairman of CrimeStoppers of Monmouth County.

“Our Office has worked tirelessly to solve this vicious crime and have recently developed new leads that make us confident that those responsible for this senseless crime will be brought to justice. We believe that there are people who have information about this murder who have not yet come forward.  Jonelle Melton deserves justice and those who knew and loved her deserve answers.” said Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

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BECK, ANGELINI, CASAGRANDE, ARNONE & BISHOP SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON SHARK RIVER DREDGING

Press Release

photo via facebook.com/sharkrivernewjersey

Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone, and Neptune Township Committeeman Randy Bishop offered the following statement Monday to update residents on the progress being made in the effort to dredge Shark River state navigation channels:

“This project is closer to reality than ever before. This is a result of years of work coordinating with the many agencies that have authority over this project. This project focuses on what we can do, dredge the state navigation channels of the river” Arnone explained, a former Neptune City Mayor. “A project like this has to have full cooperation from the federal, state, county, and municipal governments. It has been a long process, but one that is moving forward”.

There are two permits necessary to move forward with the project: one from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the second from the US Army Corps of Engineers. NJ DOT has submitted applications for both permits. The State hopes to bid this project in time for a late-summer project award.  If a responsive bid is received, and the selected contractor chooses, dredging could potentially begin later this year.  The contractor may be given the option to conduct the work over two dredging seasons if necessary.

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Investigators Seek Public’s Help With Locating The Mother Of Dead Baby Dumped in Farmingdale

West Trenton, N.J. – Detectives from the New Jersey State Police and Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office are hopeful a composite sketch of a full-term, newborn infant, whose remains were discovered among trash at a recycling center in Farmingdale, Monmouth County, will help identify her mother.

The baby, who was named Emma Grace by the Ardena Baptist Church in Howell, N.J., was 21.5 inches, 7 pounds, and five ounces, when she was discovered more than five months ago by an employee of the ReCommunity Recycling facility on Railroad Avenue, in Farmingdale, N.J. The baby’s remains have been released to the church, which will hold a funeral for her on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 3:30 p.m.

The headless body of Emma Grace was discovered at approximately 1:30 p.m., on Tuesday, November 11, 2014, prompting an exhaustive search of the surrounding trash. Investigators uncovered the infant’s head, two blood-stained blouses, and a bag from a retail store area in Orange, N.J.  The old blouses had no tags, but their size could be characterized as petite to medium.  Both the clothing and the bag are believed to be connected with the mother of the infant.

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SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN THE FOREFRONT AS AUTISM AWARNESS MONTH GETS UNDERWAY

Freehold: Sheriff Shaun Golden is committed to having law enforcement remain in the forefront when it comes to autism awareness. He was pleased to welcome Fran Hines, an autism awareness trainer with the New Jersey Department of Health, and, a parent of an autistic child, to the Monmouth County Police Academy, on April 1, which marks the beginning of Autism Awareness Month.  Hines held a training session for the 43 recruits from the 88^th Basic Course for Police Officers on autism awareness.

“As we recognize April as Autism Awareness Month, it’s vital to note that the law enforcement community is dedicated to acknowledging this disorder throughout the year,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden, a trustee of the Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children. “Through attentive training, it’s vital that law enforcement officers become equipped with information and understand the problems associated with autism to effectively assist an individual who needs help.”

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