Prosecutor: Be on alert for online and phone scams targeting Monmouth County residents

(FREEHOLD) Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni is asking residents to remain on guard for three common phone scams that continue to work their way across the country and within Monmouth County.

“The criminals associated with telephone and online scams are getting more sophisticated and approach consumers with enough legitimate-sounding information to seem credible, even to a savvy consumer. It’s important for the public to be aware of these newest ploys so that they can be on guard to protect their identity and their bank accounts,” Gramiccioni said.

IRS SCAM

It is tax season and one of the most common scams involves a caller posing as an Internal Revenue Service agent claiming that back taxes are owed.  If you are concerned you may owe the IRS back taxes, never provide any information to anyone over the phone.  First, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to ask about your current tax status. The IRS will send you a letter in the mail, if you owe back taxes. They never make cold calls, and certainly never demand cash or threaten immediate police actions.

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FEMA will contribute $2 million, 90% of cost to repair County Bridge in Middletown

Funding approved for replacement of bridge over Pews Creek

Middletown Committeman Tony Fiore, Congressman Chris Smith and Middletown Mayor Stephanie Murray inspect the Bay Ave Bridge on the second anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, October 29, 2014.  MMM file photo

MIDDLETOWN, NJ – Monmouth County was informed that it would be receiving a $2 million reimbursement from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the replacement of Bray Avenue Bridge (MT-2) over Pews Creek in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown.

The $2,006,208 allocation represents a 90 percent reimbursement for the rebuilding of the bridge that has been closed since the tidal surge created by Superstorm Sandy overtopped the bridge and advanced the deteriorating condition of the bridge significantly.

“Residents and commuters in the Port Monmouth area will be glad to hear this news,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone. “With the financing in place, the County’s Public Works and Engineering staff can now shift gears and move the Bray Avenue Bridge replacement project forward.”

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Smith to Host NJ Congressional Delegation Briefing to Address Underpayments to Sandy Victims

Calls on Federal Flood Insurance Program head to work with Jersey Delegation to establish retrospective claims process

Congressman Chris Smith and Monmouth County Shaun Golden prepare to survey Hurricane Sandy damage. November, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, announced today that he will be hosting a meeting with Brad Kieserman, Deputy Associate Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which oversees the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), in order to establish a new, workable process for revisiting and resolving all flood insurance claims brought by Sandy-affected homeowners. Kieserman agreed to the meeting to which Smith will invite the entire NJ congressional delegation.

“After a lengthy and productive phone conference with Mr. Kieserman, I look forward to hosting the meeting with the NJ delegation and getting to the bottom of these widespread and outrageous practices that are defrauding and cheating NJ Sandy victims, who are federal flood insurance policy holders,” Smith said. “I am pleased that FEMA has agreed with my and others’ request to review any and all potential underpayments to Sandy victims. We can now work together to establish a new, credible process moving forward.

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DiMaso: Stender should resign

Monmouth County Deputy Freeholder Director Serena DiMaso

Monmouth County Deputy Freeholder Director Serena Dimaso today called upon the Democratic leadership of the State Legislature to force Assemblywoman  Linda Stender out of office.

According to numerous published reports, Stender and her husband Richard concocted a scheme to  have their vacation bungalow in Manasquan demolished  and replaced with a half million dollar 5 bedroom home with charitable and government funds dedicated to help Monmouth County residents who lost their homes and possessions to Superstorm Sandy rebuild.  The charity Coastal Habitat for Humanity claims the Stenders have not repaid the $11,000 the organization spent to demolish the bungalow, as they promised they would.

“SHAME ON HER,” exclaimed DisMaso, “There are thousands of people not back in their homes yet and hundreds of people working hard to find resources to take care of those people.  For an elected official to unscrupulously attempt to gain the system is a disgrace.”

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Residents Urged To Keep Fire Hydrants Clear Of Snow

FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County officials are urging residents to clear away snow from fire hydrants so that the hydrants are easily accessible in case of an emergency.

It is very important for fire hydrants to be kept clear of snow so they are visible and accessible from the street.

“If you’re out shoveling snow, please take some time to help clear a nearby fire hydrant,” said Freeholder John P. Curley, liaison to the County Fire Marshal’s Office. “Every second counts if a fire breaks out, so a cleared fire hydrant can make a significant difference in helping out firefighters and saving property in your neighborhood.”

A three-foot radius around a hydrant is best. With freezing overnight temperatures, snow can turn into ice, which could freeze the hydrant making it useless when firefighters need it most.

“When a lot of snow has fallen, it may be tempting to move snow from around your car or sidewalk to any available open space; but it is important to keep fire hydrants clear,” said Fire Marshal Henry Stryker III. “Our firefighters thank you in advance!”

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Monmouth County Government Ready For Snowmageddon

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Intermittent lane closures near West Front St. Bridge

Motorist should expect delays between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Detours will be posted 

photo via visitmonmouth.com

MIDDLETOWN, NJ – Beginning today, there will be intermittent lane closures between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Hubbard Avenue and other roads on the Middletown side of the West Front Street Bridge.

The work being is done by the County in preparation of the Jan. 2 closure of the West Front Street Bridge.

“This work needs to be done in advance of the closure so that the local roads can adequately handle the detours that will be put into place during the prolonged closure,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Department of Public Works and Engineering.

On Jan. 2, work will begin to connect the new bridge to the Middletown and Red Bank shorelines. This work will take approximately four months to complete.

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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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Election Results 2014: “In With the New!” 20-Year-Old Vincent Accettola Becomes Youngest Person Ever to Win A Board of Education Seat in New Jersey’s Largest Regional High School District

COLTS NECK, N.J., Nov. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Twenty year old Vincent Accettola became the youngest person ever to win a seat on the Board of Education for the Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD). Accettola, a Colts Neck native and a product of New Jersey public schools, is a 2012 graduate of Biotechnology High School (BTHS) where he graduated at the top of his class. BTHS is ranked as the #1 public high school in NJ and #11 in the nation by US News & World Report. Accettola is currently a junior at Yale University majoring in psychology and neuroscience.

Accettola believes that his age will serve as an advantage by offering the Board a unique perspective as someone who recently experienced the educational system first hand. Said Accettola: “These past few years have allowed my ideas and opinions to germinate, especially on the topic of how to effectively prepare students for college in the modern age.”

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Freeholders Address Marlboro Traffic

Freeholder Tom Arnone, Director Lillian Burry, Deputy Director Gary Rich and Freeholder Serena DiMaso. file photo

MARLBORO, NJ – Monmouth County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering is working to address traffic concerns on Newman Springs Road (CR 520), at the intersections of State Route 79 and Wyncrest Road.

“The intersection of Route 79 and CR 520 is operated by the State, but since CR 520 is a County road, I have asked the County’s engineering staff to study the traffic at the State controlled intersection,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr. “The County Engineer has sent a letter to the State detailing the results of their studies and suggested improvements.”

The letter requests that the NJ DOT perform an evaluation of current traffic conditions and implement measures to improve traffic flow and safety at the intersection.

“Currently, there is no lead left turn signal onto CR 520,” said Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Department of Public Works and Engineering. “This causes traffic delays during peak travel times as drivers attempt to turn left onto CR 520 from State Route 79. We are seeking relief for our motorists.”

A second intersection in Marlboro currently being reviewed by the County is CR 520 at Wyncrest Road.

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