Prosecutor seeks additional victims of Middletown con man

Christopher D. Biello. photo via facebook

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is concerned that a Middletown con man may have fleeced far more people than they already have identified.

Christopher D. Biello, 43, of Coe Place in the Port Monmouth section of the township, was arrested last week and charged with 14 crimes including Theft by Deception, Impersonation, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Forgery and Falsifying Records following a year-long investigation.

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Bobby Bandiera to salute Roy Orbison at Count Basie Theatre concert

Bobby Bandiera’s fans know he has an uncanny ability to sound like Roy Orbison, and he will put that talent to good use on April 23, when he will present a tribute to the late Orbison with his Jersey Shore Rock ‘n’ Soul Revue at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. Tickets are… Read the rest of this entry »

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Year in review: November 2015

Jonelle Melton

Three Asbury Park Men were charged with the 2009 murder of Jonelle Melton, a 33 year old Red Bank Middle School teacher.

Democrats Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey defeated Republican Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande in the 11th Legislative District.  A Democratic SuperPac funded largely by the NJEA spent $1.5 million in the race, including television commercials implying that Angelini is inappropriately profiting from the drug abuse prevention non-profit that she leads.

For all the special interest money spent on behalf of the Democrats, Angelini lost to Downey by only 253 votes and the top vote getter, Houghtaling had only 713 votes more than the low vote getter, Casagrande.  Low voter turnout in Republican strongholds Freehold Township and Colts Neck was the difference in the election.

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Jon Bon Jovi, Bobby Bandiera and Friends present a night of Hope in Red Bank (Video)

The eighth Hope Concerts, organized by Bobby Bandiera, took place at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Wednesday night. I’ve heard Jon Bon Jovi sing “Bad Medicine” in concert countless times over the last 30 years. But I felt like I was hearing it for the first time Wednesday night at the Count Basie Theatre… Read the rest of this entry »

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Holiday season is also Holiday Express season

Holiday Express, in a concert setting. This holiday season, Holiday Express will bring high-spirited holiday music to 81 homeless shelters, psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers and other places where live music is seldom heard. And it won’t charge the facilities a penny. About 150 musicians donate their services to make those 81 shows happen – about 50… Read the rest of this entry »

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Guadagno to shop Red Bank on Small Business Saturday

Lt Governor Kim Guadagno. Photo credit: Tim Larsen/Governor’s office

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno will be visiting three Red Bank business on Saturday morning, Small Business Saturday.

Guadagno is scheduled to arrive on White Street at 10am with stops at Rook Coffee and ToyMasters.  She will wrap up her visit by stopping at Poor Cat Designs at 69 Broad Street.

The Lt. Governor will continue her support on small businesses tomorrow afternoon in Westwood in Bergen County where she will visit Songo Coffee, Conrad’s Confectionery and Society Men.

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DuPont Concedes Red Bank Election

Red Bank Councilman Michael DuPont

Red Bank Councilman Michael DuPont told MoreMonmouthMusings that he will not contest the results of the election that has him losing to his Republican challenger Michael Whelan.   Whelan increased his margin of victory from 2 to 3 votes as a result of an Election Recount and Recheck this morning that DuPont had requested.

“After consulting with my representatives who were present at the recount this morning, I have decided to accept the result and wish the new council members well in doing what is best for Red Bank, ” DuPont said.

“You haven’t heard the last of me,” the three term Democrat continued,”but for now it is best for Red Bank that we move forward.”

Whelan and his running mate Mark Taylor, the top vote getter in the four way race for two seats on the Council, will be sworn into office in early January,giving the Republican Party control of the Borough’s government for the first time time in two decades.  Republicans will have a 4-2 majority.

“I hope the new councilmen do what is best for Red Bank and that they are not beholden to Party bosses,” DuPont said.

Red Bank Republican Chairman Sean DiSomma issued the following statement:

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Republican Michael Whelan prevails over Michael DuPont in Red Bank recount

Bruce Padula, Esq, attorney for the Red Bank Republicans, Joseph Libutti, Monmouth Dem Exec Director, Rajvir S. Goomer, Esq, attorney for Michael DuPont and Bertha Sumick, Special Deputy Clerk of Elections prepare for the recount of Red Bank ballots.

FREEHOLD-Republican Councilman-elect Michael Whelan increased his lead over incumbent Democratic Councilman Michael DuPont after the ballots were recounted this morning by the Monmouth County Board of Elections.  Whelan now leads DuPont by 3 votes, a net pick up of one vote from the unofficial count on November 9 when the provisional ballots were counted by the Board.

All four candidates for the two Red Bank Council seats picked up votes as a result of the hand counting of Vote-By-Mail and Provisional Ballots, which prior to today have been tabulated electronically by a scanner.  The results, which are expected to be certified my Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon today are:  Michael Ballard- 937, Michael Dupont 968, Mark Taylor 1038, Michael Whelan,971.  Republicans Taylor and Whelan have thus far maintained their victory and are on track to join Republican Councilwomen Cindy Burnham and Linda Schwabenbauer in partisan control of Red Bank’s local government for the first time in two decades.

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2 charged in teacher’s mistaken-identity killing plead not guilty

FREEHOLD — Two of the three men accused of beating a beloved Red Bank schoolteacher to death in a case of mistaken identity appeared Thursday in court where they proclaimed their innocence. One of the suspects, James Fair, 27, boldly declared himself not guilty of the seven charges lodged against him on Wednesday when he and… Read the rest of this entry »

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Three Asbury Park Men Charged in Red Bank Teacher’s Murder

Freehold,NJ- Three Asbury Park men, all currently incarcerated on unrelated crimes, have been charged in the 2009 murder of Jonelle Melton, a 33 year old Red Bank Middle School teacher who resided in Brighton Arms apartment complex in Neptune City.

James Fair, 27, Ebenezer Byrd, 35 and Gregory Jean-Baptiste, 26, were each charged with first degree Felony Murder, first degree Robbery, and other second degree charges.   Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced the charges during a press conference at Freehold office this morning.  Melton’s husband, mother and other family members and friends were present for the announcement.

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