The Arnone Report: Locals’ summer follows a great season, Hire locally for county work

By Thomas A. Arnone, Monmouth County Freeholder

Freeholder Tom Arone

I can’t believe I am saying this, but summer has slipped away before our eyes. While the calendar does not officially declare autumn until September 23, the unofficial end of the season is Labor Day, when our beaches officially close, lifeguard towers are put away and the school doors open.  As most of us locals know, some of the best beach and park days are still ahead of us, as September and October provide us with the perfect weather to continue to enjoy these gems we are lucky enough to call home.

The 2015 summer tourism season went extremely well, as we were blessed with great weather – modest temperatures and very little rain; in addition both the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays provided us with an extra two weeks of the season.

I am extremely happy to hear that most beach towns are providing initial reports that badge sales were up over last year, with some reporting the 2015 season as a record year.  Asbury Park has already reported that beach badge sales were up 21% over last year and Belmar has already exceeded their final total number from 2014. Spring Lake officials have reported that beaches have been crowded all season and the shops on 3^rd Avenue are doing record business.  Long Branch not only reported record crowds at Ocean Fest, but has continued to experience a packed beach and boardwalk all summer, with all Pier Village shops and restaurants doing very well.

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The Arnone Report: History made in Monmouth and $45 million in infrastructure grants

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

NHL Star Trevor VanRiemsdyk, a CBA graduate, brought the Stanley Club to Middletown on July 30th

What an exciting few weeks for Monmouth County! We are making history and people around the region are taking notice. The weather has been incredible – which means our beaches, restaurants and attractions are packed and in turn, economic rewards for the community.

We even got a visit from the Stanley Cup. Trevor VanRiemsdyk, a defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks and Middletown native, attended a ceremony in his honor at Middletown Arts Center on July 30. Hundreds of fans from the area turned out for this exciting event, where Mayor Stephanie Murray awarded Trevor a key to the city, and myself, along with my fellow Freeholders, dedicated the day in his honor, marking Thursday, July 30, 2015, as Trevor VanRiemsdyk Day.

And let’s not forget history making at the William Haskell Invitational.  With a record setting crowd at Monmouth Racetrack, nearly 61,000 people came out to see triple crown winner, American Pharaoh.  Officials said that is was the largest crowd in the 145-year-old racetrack’s history, with the previous single day attendance record, 53,638, set at the Haskell in 2013. We can now say that Monmouth Park, rich in its own traditions, is part of national horse racing history as well.

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The Arnone Report: Progress on Shark River Dredging and Two River Bike Path

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

Freeholder Tom Arone

Summer is in full swing and I hope everyone is out there enjoying the beautiful weather we’ve been having. An annual tradition here in Monmouth County is the County Fair. The 41^st Monmouth County Fair was a huge success with thousands of residents attending over the five days it was held at the East Freehold Fairgrounds on Kozloski Road.

Monmouth County is the gateway to the Jersey Shore, and you will find more than 50 miles of beaches, revolutionary history sites, nationally recognized parks and golf courses, outdoor dining experiences for all tastes and plenty of places to spend the night.  The Monmouth Park System offers over 30 park areas to explore, please go out and enjoy all our beautiful county has to offer.

While we are on the topic of outdoor activities you can enjoy throughout our County, I would like to take a moment to address several concerns within different regions, including the Shark River dredging and the two-river area bike path.

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The Arnone Report: Share the roads with cyclists and pedestrians

Setting  the record straight on proposed Two Rivers bike lanes

By Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Freeholder

Freeholder Tom Arone

Now that summer is here, the kids are out of school and the beaches are open. We know a few things are certain while living in our beautiful Monmouth County – sand will find its way into the house, barbeques will be plentiful and many of us will give in to ice cream cravings on the boardwalk. As residents we will also witness a significant increase to our population as our tourism season gets into full swing.  With this population surge, we will also see an increase in cyclists and pedestrians sharing the roads with motorists throughout the county.

I urge you to be aware of the statewide “rules of the road” and other specific rules in your municipality for whatever mode of transportation you choose. This is especially important when traveling on primary and secondary roads that are highly used, like those without designated bike lanes or sidewalks.  It is extremely important for all of us to be diligent when sharing roads so they are safe for all users– pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists – as safe travel for all is of the utmost importance.

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The Arnone Report: You need to get out & vote!

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual–or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country. ” – Samuel Adams

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

Freeholder Tom Arone

The primary election is over and I want to extend my sincerest congratulations to all the candidates that won. Now as you prepare for November, I look forward to seeing positive campaigning over the next couple of months – let’s keep the focus on the issues concerning our constituents.

Voter turnout in Monmouth County was 2.9%, based on the number of eligible voters in the county. We need to improve this number! Your vote is your voice as an American citizen – you need to show up at the polls to have that voice heard. If you are unhappy with how things are being run in your municipality, our county and throughout the state of New Jersey, it is your duty to make a difference by voting.  Our right to vote in the United States is a privilege that was granted to us hundreds of years ago by the founders of our great country.  If we do not exercise our civic duty to vote, then we fail to create a government that epitomizes the voice of the people, and therefore we will not have representatives that reflect our opinions. So each vote is important, each vote counts.

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The Arnone Report: Ready for Summer!

Freeholder Tom Arone

It’s “unofficially” here and personally, I could not be happier – the boots are replaced with flip flops, t-shirts to wear instead of parkas, and the big snow shovels have been stored and replaced with sand shovels!

This past weekend we celebrated Memorial Day, the unofficial kick-off to summer. I hope that while you were celebrating and barbequing with family and friends, you took a moment to reflect on the true reason for this holiday – those soldiers who lost their lives fighting for our freedom. On Memorial Day, we remember those that came before us and fought for the freedoms and protection we enjoy each and every day. Thank you to all those who served in the past, those that protect us in the present and those who will continue the legacy in the future.

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Reminder: Oceanic Bridge Closes May 26

The Oceanic Bridge (S-31), the span that connects Rumson and Middletown over the Navesink River, will close for repairs at 6:00 am on Tuesday morning May 26 and remain closed until the estimated completion date of June 12, according to Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone, liason to the Department of Public Works and Engineering.

The current repair project of the bridge was stated on February 9th and was scheduled to be completed by April 15th.  However, in late April, Arnone announced that while work was being done it was discovered that two of the bridge’s four main bearings need to be repaired. The bearings are part of the mechanism that supports the bascule and flanking spans on the bridge approaches.  The bearings were inaccessible at the beginning of the project.

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Howell Bridge Collapses

photo via facebook

The Monmouth County bridge that crosses Havens Bridge Road in Howell Township collapsed on Saturday, May 9.   The bridge had been closed for weeks prior to the failure due to damage discovered during an inspection by employees of the County Public Works and Engineering Department.

News of the collapse was first reported on the Our Howell NJ facebook community page.

“Thank God we closed the bridge before this happened and no one got hurt,” said Freeholder Tom Arnone, liaison to the Public Works Department, when confirming the collapse.

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Despite Indictment, New Jersey Rates Menendez Higher than Christie

Gov Chris Christie and Sen Bob Menendez kibitz at the reopening of the Belmar boardwalk as Freeholder Tom Arnone reads the names on the boards,  NJ.com photo

Despite the facts that U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was indicted by federal prosecutors last month and Chris Christie says he’s in the clear after he wasn’t indicted in the Bridgegate scandal, Menendez has a higher job approval rating the Christie, according to Monmouth University Poll releases.

In a poll release issued this morning, Menendez’s job approval rating is 42% positive to 38% negative and 20% unsure among registered voters.

In a release last week based upon the same 500 person survey, Christie’s approval rating is 35% approve, 56% disapprove, and 9% unsure among voters.

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The Arnone Report: Shop Local

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

Freeholder Tom Arone

Want to make a difference in your community? Shop local! Keep the money within our own community.  It’s a proven fact that independent and locally-owned businesses recirculate more revenue locally compared to absentee-owned businesses. In other words, going local creates more local wealth and jobs. The spending done by a business locally to operate, including inventory, utilities, equipment and pay to employees directly impacts the economy within its community. In addition, the indirect impact happens as dollars the local business spent at other area businesses re-circulate and the additional consumer spending that happens as employees, business owners and others spend their income in the local economy.

Not convinced? How about helping the environment? In addition to the economic impact, there is also a positive impact on the environment that occurs when shopping locally. When you choose to buy from local or independent makers, you are cutting down on processing, packaging and transportation waste.

Our 4^th annual Made in Monmouth event was recently held to help support local business as well.  Made in Monmouth was created by the Grow Monmouth Team within the County’s Division of Economic Development in 2012,  to help small Monmouth County businesses expand their customer base and find new partnerships. In addition to the annual event held at Monmouth University, Made in Monmouth expanded last year and was a part of the Monmouth County Fair in July and held two “Mini Made in Monmouth” events in Manalapan and Cream Ridge last December.

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