TRENTON — If you lined up every person who had been arrested on marijuana charges in the Garden State since 2000, according to a new report from the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, they would stretch the entire length of the New Jersey Turnpike — and into Maryland. The advocacy group found marijuana…
Monmouth County News
Dangerous clinging jellyfish found in N.J. river
The jellyfish with a dangerous sting that caused a scare on the Jersey Shore last summer, prompting the cancellation of several events, have reappeared in a Monmouth County river, researchers say. Clinging jellyfish – whose sting can cause “excruciating pain”, muscle weakness and serious medical problems, including kidney failure – were observed and recorded in New…
College student arraigned for allegedly killing man, dumping body
FREEHOLD – A 20-year-old Monmouth County woman was arraigned on multiple charges, included murder and robbery, in a Monmouth County courtroom on Monday morning for her alleged role in a February killing and attempted cover-up. Wearing a maroon, jail-issued uniform and with her hands shackled in front of her, Tinton Falls resident Raquel Garajau, 20, pleaded…
Weather Looking Good for This Weekend
New Jersey residents on Friday should be able to end their week with some pretty nice weather that should carry into Saturday. Friday should be mostly sunny with highs near 77. After 2 p.m., however, there is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Forecasters say highs will reach 79 in Vineland, Trenton and Newark. There…
Weekend Beach Outlook: 5 Shore Beaches Given Swim Advisories
A swimming advisory was issued for five ocean beaches in Monmouth County on Wednesday afternoon due to high levels of bacteria. The five beaches include: Broadway and Spray Avenue, in Neptune Township; Public Beach in Sea Bright Borough; and Brown Avenue and York Avenue in Spring Lake Borough. The statewide agency will check the beaches every…
Shore Couple Tied Up During Home Invasion
HOLMDEL — Two alleged robbers tied up a Holmdel couple Saturday night as they rummaged through their personal belongings for items to steal, authorities said. Two township residents, a 45-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man, came home around 10:54 p.m. to two individuals in their townhouse on Banyan Boulevard, said Donna Weaver, a spokeswoman for the…
Guadagno: Christie would make a good FBI director
NEWARK — Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno may be distancing herself from Gov. Chris Christie as she runs for the Republican nomination to succeed him, but she didn’t scoff Wednesday at the idea of Christie becoming the new head of the FBI. President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired James Comey as FBI director. Christie has a background…
Man Shot in Trailer Park Shooting in Jackson Township
Police are investigating a shooting in a Jackson Township trailer park where one man was treated in the hospital for a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Police said. just after midnight on May 4, 2017 Jackson Police Officers Kafton, Daniels and Mabey were conducting an investigation in the Luxury Mobile Home Community, located off Toms River Road (Rt 571). While there, the aforementioned officers heard a number of gunshots coming from an adjacent street, Coleman Way, in the community. After arriving on Colemen Way numerous residents were located outside. After speaking with the residents, a description of a male suspect and vehicle possibly involved was obtained.
A short time later, Community Medical Center contacted the Jackson Police Department and indicated they had a shooting victim in their Emergency Room. The victim was identified as a 22 year old male from Neptune NJ. The male was treated and later released with an abdominal wound.
While checking the Coleman Way area, officers located a number of .40cal shell casings on the ground. Officers also identified a mobile home, which was occupied, that had one round which penetrated the home’s exterior wall.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Jackson Police Detective John Rodriguez at 732-833-3008 or leave information on the Jackson Police Department’s Tip Line at 732-833-3032.
Freehold Borough school district to sue state over lack of school funding
FREEHOLD BOROUGH — The borough’s school district intends to sue the Department of Education over millions in state aid the district claims it’s not receiving. A resolution that sets the stage for litigation unanimously passed the Freehold Borough Board of Education at its meeting Monday evening. A lawsuit will be filed in about a week or…
Man, 25, killed during police pursuit in Howell, cops say
HOWELL — A 25-year-old Marlboro man died after he crashed his car early Sunday while trying to evade authorities, police said. Brian Fani was pronounced dead at the scene after he ran his 2009 Subaru Legacy off the road at a bend in the road on Southard Avenue near the Howell Golf Course, side-swiped a utility…
Domed Sports Facility Planned Near Six Flags Great Adventure
JACKSON-It’s being called Jackson Crossing 2 and includes a domed multipurpose sports facility. The project as submitted by Cardinale Enterprises of Jackson Township, developer of Jackson Crossing, consists of an indoor soccer dome, and multipurpose turf fields that include one full baseball field, 3 soccer fields and 4 baseball/softball diamonds.
A hearing at the township zoning board will be heard on April 19th at 7pm. A variance is needed to build the 50.5 ft high dome in a zone where there is a 35.5 foot limit.
The proposed facility will be built at the southeast corner of the exit 16 interchange of Route 195, just north of Six Flags Great Adventure.
According to tax records, the the property was purchased on March 29, 2016 for $1.15 million.
Private Beach Debate Boils Over as Proposed Parking Fees Could Aide Off-Limits Beach Clean Up
DEAL-A plan by the borough council is under fire by the New Jersey Chapter of the Surfrider Organization. The organization is claiming that beaches aren’t the only thing here that need cleaning, but so does a new ordinance that could allocate public funds to beaches that are off limits to the general public.
According to Andrew L. Chambarry, Esq., representing the public, “The Borough of Deal has proposed their most sinister parking plan to date. They want to charge the public for parking passes which would fund the purchase of a beach sweeping machine. The machine will be used to clean beaches that you can’t access.”
At a public meeting on April 5, 2017, the Borough of Deal introduced Ordinance #1143 which would require permit parking during the summer months on five streets (Monmouth Terrace, Monmouth Drive, Hathaway, Sydney and Neptune Ave) with two vital beach access points for a cost of $100 for the summer or $50 per month.
“Mayor Cohen also said, and this is a direct quote from the public hearing, that this ordinance is the lesser of two evils,” said Harry Chambarry. “So he admits that the ordinance is evil.”
A release by the organization read:
At the meeting, Mayor Cohen said it best, “If you want easier public access, you’re going to have to pay!” The Borough wants the public to pay $100 for a parking permit that won’t guarantee a space. They won’t restrict beachfront residents from purchasing permits and parking on the street to keep you away. They won’t admit that restricting parking is restricting access. They have no plan for ADA access or handicapped parking. They have no plan for increased traffic west of Ocean Ave. They want to push Ordinance #1143 through.
Worst of all is the Borough’s reasoning behind the Ordinance. They plan to purchase a $100,000 “beach sweep” machine to clean the beaches. Sounds great right? Wrong. Deal has notoriously horrible public access. Many of the street ends lead to dead-ends where access points should be. These street ends were vacated by the Borough in the 1980’s and early 1990’s to benefit adjacent homeowners and create private beaches. In essence, the Borough wants to charge you for a permit to fund beach cleaning equipment for beaches that you can’t enjoy.
The borough tried to pass similar ordinances in October 2015 and June 2016 restricting access. Those ordinances were tabled after they were met with fierce opposition. Ordinance #1143 is another slap in the face to local taxpayers, given that Deal’s beaches were recently the benefactor of a $40 million taxpayer-funded beach restoration project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
It’s clear to everyone that the Borough intends to keep surfers, fisherman and the general public away from what they consider to be “their” private beaches. We have a right to access and enjoy the shoreline under New Jersey law. We can’t allow the Borough of Deal to restrict access to beaches that we all paid for.
5 more people charged as scammers who stole nearly $300K in Sandy aid
TOMS RIVER — Five property owners were charged Thursday with bilking the federal government out of nearly $300,000 in federal Hurricane Sandy aid for allegedly lying on their applications to get money to rebuild homes at the Shore damaged by the 2012 storm. In four of the cases state Attorney General Christopher Porrino laid out, the…
7 Buildings Damaged in Ocean Grove Fire
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”94577,94578,94579,94580,94581,94582″ img_size=”800×450″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fire has damaged 7 buildings overnight in Ocean Grove. Visit https:// /neptuneoem to get details on this story.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center Receives the 2017 Women’s Choice Award® as one of America’s Best Breast Centers
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center has been named one of America’s Best Breast Centers by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in health care. The award signifies that Monmouth Medical Center is in the top 7 percent of 4,789 U.S. hospitals offering breast care … Read more
Shark River Dredging Project Complete
NEPTUNE, NJ – After facing years of setbacks and obstacles, the long-awaited dredging project at Shark River has been completed. Equipment from the project, which included removing sediment and reopening the navigation channels in the Shark River, is being removed.
“I’m pleased to report that with help of local and state partners, Shark River’s navigable channels have been restored to use,” said Monmouth County Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone. “The project’s two phases have restored the full length of the navigable channels.”
“The restoration of state channels to allow safe passage for recreational and commercial traffic is critically important to maintaining our vibrant shore economy,” NJDOT Commissioner Richard T. Hammer said. “I am proud of the efforts of the NJDOT Office of Maritime Resources, working with the county and local officials, to make the Shark River safer to navigate than it has been in decades.”
The dredging project hydraulically removed almost three decades of sediment from the Shark River making it possible for vessels to travel during low tide from the eastern side of the river in Neptune Township to the main channels on the western side in Neptune City and Belmar. Approximately 9,000 feet of navigable channels have been restored.
The sediment was hydraulically dredged and then piped via a secure welded pipeline to mechanical dewatering equipment located in the Belmar Marina parking lot. The dewatered material was then trucked to the Monmouth County Reclamation Center for beneficial use as cover material on the active landfill.
“Last summer this project was suspended by the shutdown of projects funded by the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF),” said Arnone. “I participated in negotiations with the State to restart this project and I plan to keep advocating for the State to maintain and improve this valuable environmental, recreational and economic resource for all County residents.
“Efforts to dredge the Shark River were a long time in the making and I am extremely pleased that our strong coalition of State, County and local leaders effectively advocated and committed funding to the dredging project,” said Arnone. “Twenty years ago, I was a councilman in Neptune City when I began advocating for keeping the Shark River a viable waterway. I kept up the pressure as mayor and finally, as a Monmouth County Freeholder, I am seeing results. Thank you to the NJDOT, the County Freeholders, Neptune City, Neptune Township, Wall, and Belmar.”
“I am pleased to have worked to secure funding for the Shark River dredging which was long overdue,” said Congressman Chris Smith. “The FEMA reimbursement of roughly one third of the project cost made the dredging possible, and will now make for safe navigation in the state channels. As someone who grew up boating and fishing on the Shark River, I know the importance of seeing this waterway improved.”
The dredging project was bid at $7.6 million, began in December 2015 and was performed by Mobile Dredging sand Pumping Co. of Chester, Pennsylvania. County and municipal commitments were as follows: Monmouth County $1.1 million; Neptune City $100,000; Neptune Township $450,000; and Wall Township $315,000. Belmar provided in-kind service for the dewatering process at the Belmar Marina.
“This is really a beginning; it certainly could not have been accomplished without the coordination of the surrounding municipalities, County, and the State to get it off the ground,” Senator Jennifer Beck said. Going forward we must conduct regular maintenance dredging to ensure the viability of this river.”
Freehold Township High School Wins Monmouth County Consumer Bowl
HOWELL, NJ – Freehold Township High School came up winners in the 2017 Monmouth County Consumer Bowl, a game-show-style competition for teams of high school students held Feb. 14 at the Monmouth County Fire Academy.
Students from seven high schools answered consumer-related questions in a multiple choice and open-ended format to test their knowledge of consumer issues, such as Internet fraud and buying and leasing automobiles.
The six-member team from Freehold Township High School successfully earned its 2017 Monmouth County Consumer Bowl title against students from Colts Neck, Freehold Borough, Howell, Manalapan and Raritan and Saint John Vianney High School.
“The best part about this program is that all of our participating young adults gained some knowledge about what it takes to help them be smarter consumers and possibly future consumer advocates,” said Freeholder Serena DiMaso, who was on hand to congratulate the winners. “It is also a great way to promote the County’s Consumer Affairs office, which enforces consumer laws and helps people who suspect they might be victims of unscrupulous business practices.”
In the final round, Freehold Twp. faced-off with Howell High School. Though the scores were close, the Freehold Township team was victorious and won the 2017 County Consumer Bowl for the seventh time in eight years. .
“It’s important that teens understand consumer and business concepts, like credit and identity theft, banking and fraud, marketing and advertising,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the County’s Division of Consumer Affairs. “Consumer Bowl participants are a step ahead of their peers with their knowledge of consumer issues and are well-prepared to tackle issues in the marketplace.”
Team members are Anna Landre (team captain), Matthew Bernstein, Jake LaFronz, Michael Galanaugh and Raiyan Hussain. Their advisor is Dan Cooper; school principal is Elizabeth Higley.
The Freehold Township team now moves on to the regional competition on April 6 with home field advantage because the competition will be held at the Monmouth County Fire Academy. The winner of the regional competition will go on to compete in the 2017 New Jersey State Consumer Bowl scheduled for May in Trenton.
The New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl is a program of the state Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs. It was established in 1997 to help students learn about consumer issues that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Since the County’s Division of Consumer Affairs was established in 1977, the department has handled more than 50,000 complaints and resolved disputes, resulting in savings to consumers of more than $22 million; $9 million has been resolved in the past five years.
Consumer Affairs is a law enforcement agency, created and funded by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. It protects against consumer fraud and dishonest and dishonest business practices by enforcing the state Consumer Fraud Act and many other regulations.
Additional information about fraud and other consumer affairs programs can be found on the County website at www.VisitMonmouth.com, by calling 732-431-7900 or email ConsumerAffairs@co.monmouth.nj.us. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Silent Kim Guadagno and Black Train Jack Ciattarelli Continue to Ignore Bail Reform Woes Plaguing New Jersey
The top two contending Republican candidates for the office of Governor in New Jersey, Kim Guadagno and Jack Ciattarelli continue to ignore the growing nightmare facing New Jersey, bail reform.
We’ve asked both campaigns repeatedly to let New Jersey know where they stand on bail reform, but so far, what we received was a new CD release from “Black Train Jack” Ciattarelli mocking Kim Guadagno and more silence from Guadagno who is quickly becoming deserving of her moniker, “Silent Kim”.
The two of them are shining examples of Trenton style politics independent Republicans across New Jersey are sick and tired of. One of them is busy producing music releases (who uses compact discs anyway?), the other making no noise at all.
Here’s what we know about bail reform so far…
Ocean County Senior Population at Risk Under NJ Bail Reform
TOMS RIVER-Let’s face it, most criminals and drug addicts don’t have long term financial planners and they live life payday to payday to survive. That’s not to say these criminals are not smart. In fact, they are very smart. They know how to get what they need, when they need and however they have to do it.
With changes in New Jersey’s bail reform, many who would be incarcerated until trial, you know those poor individuals who couldn’t make bail under the old system, are getting out of jail just hours after committing their crimes.
They committed those crimes out of necessity. According to local law enforcement authorities most of these criminals commit crimes out of necessity. The need for money to pay for drugs, or they need for money to pay rent. It’s what drives a large portion of the county’s criminals to commit the crimes they commit over and over again.
When they steal your jewelry, your stored away cash or electronics, they aren’t interested in having those items to improve their lives, they steal those items in the hopes of selling them for another heroin fix in most cases.
Criminals also know where to find the easy targets, Ocean County’s 125,000 strong senior population of 65 and overs. 27.7% of Ocean County’s total population are senior citizens.
Senior communities have long been the target of burglars looking for jewelry to pawn so they can get their daily heroin fix. They also know that seniors are a higher score for prescription medication.
In the old days, 2016, many of these criminals who act out of desperation would be held in jail on bail. It was to their benefit and the benefit of the law abiding community outside of jail.
Some say it’s not fair to hold these people in jail while they await trial, but today, the tables have turned. Now it’s not fair to the law abiding population that these individuals are immediately being returned to their communities to commit more crimes.
It has been proven very early on that bail reform isn’t working. Criminals and addicts so desperate for money are being released because a computer says so and because a judge receives a pinky promise from the defendant. That’s all that protects Ocean County’s senior citizens in 2013, a computerized grading system and a promise to not commit more crime and to return to court like a good citizen should.
Except, they’re not going to return to court. They’re not going to stop committing crimes, because in most cases, it’s beyond their own physical and mental control.
While Ocean County’s judges continue this revolving door, they’re only thinking about the rights of the criminals and not the rights of the county’s law abiding residents…especially the senior citizens who are the easy prey for these individuals.
Related stories:
https://shorenewsnetwork.com/2017/02/how-shore-area-legislators-voted-on-latest-bail-reform-funding-bill/
https://shorenewsnetwork.com/2017/02/ocean-county-freeholder-joe-vicari-throw-out-bail-reform-and-start-over/
Reader Poll: Is Governor Chris Christie's Recent Drug Addiction Stance Sincere?
After being governor for 7 years, Chris Christie recently embarked on a crusade to fight New Jersey’s growing opiate addiction problem, which has been growing for many years. Many are now questioning the governor’s motives and doubting his sincerity in the effort. What do you think?