Newly Elected School Board Member Resigns

At last weeks Middletown Board of Education meeting, newly elected board member Bob Banta, announce that he was resigning from the Middletown Board of Education after sitting on the board for just one meeting.

Banta was elected to the Middletown BOE this past April 27th, along with his running mate Gerry Wexelberg. Banta received the second highest number of vote garnering over 2600 votes.

Banta's reason for stepping down from the BOE was said to be health related.

For anyone interested in seeking to replace Bob Banta on the Middletown Board of Education you have until June 10th to submit an application and resume to the school board.

NY Times: Gov. Christie Abandons a Good Idea

The following editorial was published yesterday in the NY Times, people should read it before falling for his claim to be an advocate for the environment:

Running for governor in 2009, Chris Christie vowed to become “New Jersey’s No. 1 clean-energy advocate.” That was a hollow promise. As governor, Mr. Christie proceeded to cut all the money for the Office of Climate and Energy. He raided $158 million from the clean energy fund, meant for alternative energy investments, and spent it on general programs. He withdrew the state from an important lawsuit against electric utilities to reduce emissions.

On Thursday, he took the worst step of all: He abandoned the 10-state initiative in the Northeast that uses a cap-and-trade system to lower carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants. The program has been remarkably successful, a model of vision and fortitude. Lacking that, Mr. Christie has given in to the corporate and Tea Party interests that revile all forms of cap and trade, letting down the other nine states trying to fight climate change.

The system works by requiring utilities to either lower their emissions or buy allowances to pollute. Money from the allowances goes to states for clean-energy programs. Since it began in 2008, the system has created more than $700 million for these programs; New Jersey has spent some of its share on helping cities become more energy-efficient. Greenhouse emissions from power plants in the region went down about 12 percent from 2008 to 2010 for many reasons, including lower natural gas prices. Programs like the regional initiative are estimated to have produced more than 10 percent of that decline.

Mr. Christie has already demonstrated his disdain for the program’s goals by spending $65 million of the state’s $100 million share from the allowances to pay down New Jersey’s deficit. He claimed this week that the program was not working, a notion that was quickly refuted by five other governors. “Governor Christie is simply wrong when he claims that these efforts are a failure,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland. He said they had an equivalent effect of taking 3,500 cars off the road in his state.

For now, at least, the far right has killed cap and trade nationally, but the idea is far from dead. Several Western states are gearing up for a cap-and-trade program; California has been particularly aggressive. The Northeast state compact will survive Mr. Christie’s exit. It is New Jersey that will be the poorer, with less to invest in smarter energy programs, more carbon dioxide and a leadership vacancy at its helm.

Crime scene Middletown: A Busy Memorial Day Weekend

PREPARED BY DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT STEPHEN DOLLINGER

On May 26, 2011 at approximately 3:30 pm Corporal Bernie Chenoweth responded to a residence on Bray Avenue in reference to an unknown subject standing in a wooden doll house in the backyard. Upon arrival Officer Chenoweth located the subject, identified as Timothy McDougall, age 37, from Route 36 in West Keansburg, NJ, standing inside the doll house.

Corporal Chenoweth continued his investigation and determined that McDougall had showered and slept in a camper on the property and when it became too hot inside the camper he moved to the doll house where he went back to sleep.

McDougall was placed under arrest and was transported to police headquarters where he was charged with Burglary and Criminal Trespass. He was processed and held on $12,500.00 bail.

On May 27, 2011 at approximately 6:40 pm Sergeant Paul Bailey and Patrolman Donald Coates were assigned to a Cops in Shops detail at the Port Monmouth Foodtown when they observed a male subject, identified as Lukas Touder, age 22, from Illinois Avenue in Port Monmouth, NJ, attempt to purchase alcohol for three 15 year old females.

The officers conducted an investigation which resulted in all four subjects being arrested. Touder was charged with Attempting to purchase alcohol for someone under the legal age to possess it. He was processed and released on a summons pending a court date. The three females were charged with Attempting to have an adult purchase alcohol for them. They were processed and released to their parents or guardians pending a court date.

On May 27, 2011 at approximately 6:40 pm Patrolman Raymond Sofield and Patrolman Richard Fulham were on patrol in the area of Ocean Avenue when they observed a subject, identified as Harold Johnson, age 29, from Harbor Way in Middletown, operating a vehicle. The officers were aware that there was an active Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Keansburg Municipal Court for Johnson’s arrest.

The officers stopped the vehicle and placed Johnson under arrest. The officers searched him incident to the arrest and located a pipe used to smoke Marijuana and a small quantity of Marijuana in his pockets.

Johnson was transported to police headquarters where he was charged with Contempt of Court, Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia. He was processed and held on bail.


On May 27, 2011 at approximately 7:20 pm Sgt. William Colangelo and Corporal Douglas Wiatrak were assigned to a “Cops in Shops” detail at the Bottle King store when they observed, Sarah Glickman, age 21, from Borden Road in Middletown, purchase alcohol for Shannon Playter, age 20, from Palmer Avenue in Middletown.

Both subjects were placed under arrest and were transported to police headquarters. Glickman was charged with Purchasing alcohol for someone under the age of 21 and Playter was charged with Having an adult purchase alcohol for her. Both subjects were processed and released pending a court date.

On May 27, 2011 at approximately 9:55 pm Corporal James Keenan responded to the area of Ocean Avenue in reference to a dispute taking place in the street. Upon arrival Officer Keenan determined that the dispute was between two neighbors over a parking problem.

Corporal Keenan conducted an investigation which resulted in Peter Palumbo, age 50, from Ocean Avenue in Middletown being arrested for Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief. Palumbo had punched the neighbor’s mailbox causing damage to it. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 27, 2011 at approximately 10:50 Patrolman Raymond Sofield and Patrolman Richard Fulham were on patrol in the area of Highway 36 when they observed a vehicle being operated at a high rate of speed and recklessly changing lanes. The officers stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, identified as Robert Oakley, age 18, from Caldwell Avenue in Belford.

The officers conducted an investigation which resulted in Oakley being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. The officers continued their investigation and determined that a 16 year old female passenger was in Possession of alcohol underage. Both subjects were transported to police headquarters for processing.

Oakley was charged with the additional offense of Reckless Driving and was released pending a court date. The 16 year old female was processed and released to her mother pending a court date.

On May 28, 2011 at approximately 6:50 pm Sgt. William Colangelo and Patrolman Frank Mazza were assigned to a “Cops in Shops” detail at the Bottle King Store when they observed Stephen Cronin, age 22, from Buchanan Boulevard in Middletown, purchase alcohol for John Cronin, age 18, also from Buchanan Boulevard in Middletown.

The officers conducted an investigation which resulted in Stephen Cronin being arrested for Purchasing Alcohol for a person under the legal age and John Cronin being charged with Having an adult purchase alcohol for him. Both subjects were transported to police headquarters where they were processed and released pending a court date.

On May 28, 2011 at approximately 10:15 pm Sgt. Sean Sweeney and Corporal Douglas Wiatrak were assigned to a “Cops in Shops” detail at Junction Bar and Liquors when they observed Morgan Brittain, age 19, from Washington Avenue in Leonardo and Christele Beam, age 18, from Kenneth Terrace East in Middletown, attempt to purchase alcohol underage.

Both subjects were issued summonses and released pending a court date.

On May 29, 2011 at approximately 2:10 am Patrolman Albert Scott was assigned to a DWI check point in the area of Highway 35 and Navesink River Road when a vehicle driven by Shawn Kelly, age 37, from Center Avenue in Leonardo drove into the check point. Officer Scott approached the vehicle at which point he detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Kelly’s breath.

Officer Scott continued his investigation which resulted in Kelly being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and Open Alcohol in a motor vehicle. Kelly was searched incident to the arrest at which point Patrolman Scott located a baggie containing Marijuana in Kelly’s pants pocket.

Kelly was transported to police headquarters where he was charged with the additional offense of Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana. He was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 29, 2011 at approximately 2:40 am Corporal James Keenan was on patrol in the area of Ocean Avenue and Port Monmouth Road when he observed a vehicle commit a stop sign violation. Officer Keenan stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, identified as Shawn Schmidt, age 38, from Magnolia Avenue in Hazlet, NJ. The officer detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Schmidt’s breath.

Officer Keenan conducted an investigation which resulted in Schmidt being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters where he was charged with the additional offenses of Failing to stop at a stop sign, and Failing to produce a valid insurance card. He was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 29, 2011 6:00 pm Sgt. William Colangelo responded to the area of Highway 36 and 9th Street in reference to a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival Sgt. Colangelo spoke with the driver, identified as James Goodbody, age 32, from Union Place in Middletown and detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.

Sgt. Colangelo conducted an investigation which resulted in Goodbody being arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Refusal to submit to breath tests and Reckless Driving. He was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 30, 2011 at approximately 1:00 pm Sgt. William Colangelo was on patrol in the area of Highway 36 near Thousand Oaks drive when he observed a vehicle being operated by a driver who was not wearing his seatbelt. Sgt. Colangelo stopped the vehicle and approached the driver. While doing so he observed the rear seat passenger, identified as Brihanna Cuttone, age 18, from Troy Drive in Springfield, NJ, attempt to hide a small baggie.

Sgt. Colangelo conducted an investigation which resulted in Cuttone being arrested for Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana. She was transported to police headquarters where she was processed and released pending a court date.


The Middletown Police Department arrested the following subjects on warrants:

Samuel Torres, age 22, from Raymond Court in Hazlet, NJ, arrested on May 29, 2011 by Patrolman Frank Mazza on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Anadale Municipal Court. He was released after posting $89.00 bail.

Royal Clark, age 46, from 5th Street in Highlands, NJ, arrested on May 26, 2011 by Patrolman Richard Belmonte on a Contempt of Court warrant.

Nelson Baptista, age 19, from Garrison Street in Newark, NJ, arrested on May 27, 2011 by Patrolman Michael Pintilie on a Contempt of Court warrant. He was released after posting $2,500 bail.

Barbara Werner, age 62, from Main Street in Keansburg, NJ, arrested on May 27, 2011 by Patrolman Michael Pintilie on numerous Contempt of Court warrants issued by a variety of municipal courts. She was released after posting $2,900 bail.
Mayra Gomez-Vallejo, age 43, from Pacific Avenue in Los Angeles, CA, arrested on May 27, 2011 by Patrolman Adam Vendetti on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. She was released after posting $500.00 bail.

Lori Gallagher, age 51, from Tatum Drive in Middletown, arrested on May 27, 2011 by Patrolman Ian May on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Summit City Municipal court. She was released after posting bail.

Russell Dunn, age 23, from Highland Avenue in Leonardo, NJ, arrested on May 30, 2011 by Patrolman Ian May on a Failure to Appear warrant issued by the Atlantic County Superior Court. He was held with a no bail stipulation at the Monmouth County Correctional Facility.

Megan Gingerelli, age 22, from Kimberly Court in Red Bank, NJ, arrested on May 31, 2011 by Patrolman Richard Belmonte on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. She was held on $1,000.00 bail.

A special state budget update from NJPP President Deborah Howlett

In his budget address three months ago, Governor Christie outlined his view of the "new normal" in New Jersey. It went something like this:

• Rich people get tax breaks.
• The middle class pays more.
• We all make do with less.

Most states, instead of relying solely on cuts to services - cuts that threaten jobs and economic recovery and hurt struggling families - have adopted a balanced approach that includes revenues. But the plan laid out by the governor was cuts-only. It would close state facilities for the profoundly disabled; continue last year's devastating cuts to schools; and require deep reductions in health insurance coverage for people with no place else to turn.

Over the next month or so, lawmakers and the governor will work in Trenton toward agreement on a state spending plan for the coming fiscal year.

NJPP will be in the thick of things.

As we have for 14 years, NJPP is fighting for the return of fair and progressive fiscal policies that until recently provided opportunities for all New Jerseyans and prosperity that was broadly shared across the Garden State. In a series of emails over the next couple of weeks I'll give you more details, but here are a few highlights of the work that NJPP is doing to make a difference.

• Senior Analyst Ray Castro is a leading voice in the independent and critical analysis of how cuts to NJ Family Care, the state Earned Income Tax Credit, and Medicaid will make it harder for poor and working families to get by.
• A study by NJPP and the national group Demos showed that a bill to deregulate telecommunications in New Jersey would cost consumers, especially the poor and the elderly. Using the findings in the report, NJ Citizen Action and AARP went to work on lawmakers and in a grassroots effort that included more than 10,000 phone calls to legislative offices they succeeded in getting the measure tabled.
• NJPP's report on the proliferation of corporate subsidies is the foundation for ongoing efforts by the Better Choices coalition, of which we're a member, to restore badly needed revenue. Made up of more than 70 nonprofits -- including human services, education, religious, and labor groups - Better Choices is a vocal advocate for a proposal developed by NJPP to raise taxes on the wealthiest among us, those with income (not net worth, but income) over $1 million a year.

We're proud to be a leading voice for common sense in New Jersey, and to strongly and clearly advocate for those who have the smallest voices in the public arena - the middle class, working families, the disabled and the most vulnerable in our society.

That work was spotlighted in a story published recently by the Asbury Park Press, which caught the attention of one of its hometown readers, rock icon Bruce Springsteen. Speaking of NJPP and our partners, Springsteen wrote in a letter to the editor, "These are voices that in our current climate are having a hard time being heard, not just in New Jersey, but nationally."

Like you, and The Boss, we refuse to accept the idea that there's a "new normal."

Not here in New Jersey.

Not this year.

More to come...

Deborah Howlett, President

_____________________________________________________

Update: I want to clarify a point made in our earlier email "Special State Budget Update," which may have left the impression that as a policy matter NJPP is opposed to the closing of state institutions for people with developmental disabilities. We absolutely are not. Further, we understand it is important that the effort to close these institutions be fully funded by the state so that people with disabilities can live in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.

Sincerely,

Deborah Howlett, President

New York's 26th Not Alone; ALERT BASED ON A NEW NATIONAL SURVEY

Democracy Corps
Greenberg,Quinlan,Rosner Reasearch

Republican leaders and conservative pundits have spun Democrat Kathy Hochul’s upset win in New York’s 26th Congressional District as exceptional – with peculiar ballot lines, Tea Party independents, quality of the candidates, and Democratic message discipline. We concede: yard signs in Upstate New York did read “Save Medicare: Vote Hochul.” But our national poll completed on Wednesday shows that New York’s 26th is not alone. It is an advance indicator of a sharp pull back from Republicans, particularly those in the House.

Disapproval of the Republicans in the House of Representatives has surged from 46 percent in February to 55 percent in April to a striking 59 percent now. Disapproval outnumbers approval two-to-one; intense disapproval by three-to-one. For the first time in more than a year, the Democrats are clearly even in the named Congressional ballot – an 8-point swing from the election – and Obama has made a marked gain in his job approval and vote against Mitt Romney – with the President now leading by 4 points. This period captured the introduction of the Republican budget plan and vote by the House – and voters do not like what they see.

Perhaps most notably, this survey flags a major retreat from the Republican approach to deficits and spending, the economy, and jobs. As the Republicans have unveiled their plans and approach during this four-month debate on the deficit, priorities and the economy, they have pushed many voters away.

On Wednesday, Democracy Corps will release a major multi-study report on the economy and economic messaging, but we wanted to release these political findings before the holiday weekend.

The memo and frequency questionnaire can be found at:
Democracy Corps.

Shore Democratic Clubs Support Freeholder Amy Mallet on June 2nd

Join the:

Belmar, Lake Como, Manasquan,

Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall

Democrats

As they support

Freeholder Amy Mallet

With a Pre-primary celebration

June 2, 2011

7-9PM

Bar A

16th Avenue

Lake Como, NJ

Tickets: $60

Please make checks payable to "Friends of Freeholder Amy Mallet"

Please contact Councilwoman Janice Venables for more information at

janicevenables@hotmail.com or

(732) 996-8767

Crime Scene Middletown: Middletown Police Report Recent Activity 5/21 - 5/25

PREPARED BY DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT STEPHEN DOLLINGER

On May 21, 2011 at approximately 1:25 am Patrolman Richard Fulham was on patrol in the area of Thorne School when he observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the parking lot and a package of Budweiser beer sitting on the ground near the driver’s side door.

Officer Fulham approached the vehicle and conducted an investigation which resulted in Matthew Griffith, age 19, from Pacific Boulevard in Cliffwood Beach, NJ, being arrested for Possession of Alcohol Underage. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 21, 2011 at approximately 5:03 am Patrolman Stephen Greenwood and Patrolman Ian May responded to the area of Kings Highway in reference to a report of a subject lying in the middle of the street next to a bicycle. Upon arrival the officers located the subject, identified as Sean Gillespie, age 22, from Libby place in Middletown walking in the area.

The officers approached Gillespie to check on his well-being. Gillespie was extremely intoxicated and began acting in an aggressive manner towards the officers. The officers continued their investigation which resulted in Gillespie being arrested for Disorderly Conduct.

He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 22, 2011 at approximately 1:47 am Sgt. Paul Bailey responded to the area of Swimming River Road in reference to a report of a fight in progress. Upon arrival Sgt. Bailey observed several subjects fleeing the area. The officer then located three subjects in the area who were under the influence of alcohol.

Sgt. Bailey conducted an investigation which resulted in the arrest of Andrew Suarez, age 18, from Brandywine Way in Middletown, NJ, and two sixteen year old Middletown juveniles being arrested and charged with Underage Possession of Alcohol. Suarez was processed and released pending a court date and the two juveniles were processed and released to their parents.

On May 22, 2011 at approximately 6:00 pm Patrolman Keith Hirschbein was on patrol in the area of McMahon Park when he observed a suspicious subject sitting on the ground. Officer Hirschbein approached the subject, identified as Justin Hunt, age 18, from Seabreeze Avenue in Middletown, to check on his well-being when he observed him attempt to hide something behind his back.

Officer Hirschbein continued his investigation which resulted in Hunt being arrested for Possession of Under 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 23, 2011 at approximately 1:10 pm Lieutenant John Kaiser was on patrol in the area of Puslch Street when he observed two subjects inside the Middletown Skate Park which was closed at the time. Lieutenant Kaiser approached the two subjects and determined that they had climbed the six foot high fence in order to gain access to the park.

Lieutenant Kaiser continued his investigation which resulted in Jesse Carroll, age 18, from Neptune Place in Middletown and Joshua Lindner, age 18, from Kimberly Court in Red Bank, being charged with Defiant Trespass. Both subjects were issued a summons and released on scene pending a court date.

On May 24, 2011 at approximately 9:50 pm Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia was working a traffic detail on Middletown Lincroft Road when a vehicle approached his location. The rear seat passenger in the vehicle, identified as James Fitzgerald, age 18, from Lusan Lane in Middletown, began screaming profanities at the officer.

Officer Fenezia was able to stop the vehicle and conducted an investigation which resulted in Fitzgerald being charged with Disorderly Conduct. He was issued a summons and released on scene pending a court date.

On May 25, 2011 at 3:27 am Patrolman Charles Higgins responded to the area of Belmont Avenue in reference to a report of a vehicle that struck a fence and then fled the scene. Upon arrival the officer conducted an investigation and then began checking surrounding streets for the vehicle.

Patrolman Higgins located the vehicle parked at a residence on Maxum Court. He continued his investigation which resulted in Marissa Tanne, age 19, from Maxum Court being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

Tanne was transported to police headquarters for processing. She was charged with the additional offenses of Reckless driving, Failure to maintain lane, Failure to report an accident, Leaving the scene of an accident, Provisional license violation and Open alcohol in a motor vehicle and released pending a court date.

On May 25, 2011 at approximately 10:00 pm Patrolman Keith Hirschbein was on patrol in the area of McMahon Park when he observed four suspicious subjects in the dugout area near the hockey rink. The officer approached the subjects and conducted an investigation which resulted in a seventeen year old juvenile being arrested for Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana.

The juvenile was transported to police headquarters for processing and was released pending a court date.

The Middletown Police Department arrested the following subjects on warrants:

Kevin Allen, age 27, from Powell Avenue in Atlantic Highlands arrested on May 24, 2011 by Patrolman Thomas Russo on four Contempt of Court warrants issued by various municipal courts. He was held on $4250.00 bail.

Stephen Casper, age 48, from Leonardville Road in Belford arrested on May 23, 2011 by Patrolman Jason Caruso on a Contempt of Court warrant out of Bradley Beach Municipal Court. He was held on $801.00 bail.

Kenneth Szepesy, age 54, from Bonnie Drive in Middletown arrested on May 23, 2011 by Patrolman Michael Nolan on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Facility in Freehold.

Carissa Sabo, age 26, age 26, from Weehawkin Avenue in Middletown arrested on May 23, 2011 by Patrolman Michael Nolan on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Oakhurst Municipal Court. She was released on $200.00 bail.

Arthur Bossert, age 58, from Wood End Road in Middletown arrested on May 24, 2011 by Lieutenant John Kaiser on two Contempt of Court warrants issued by the West Long Branch Municipal Court. He was released after posting bail.

Bridget Dorsa, age 24, from Reta Lane in Middletown arrested on May 24, 2011 by Patrolman Antonio Ciccone on two Contempt of Court Warrants out of Middletown Municipal Court. She was processed and released.

Remembering The Faces of the Fallen This Memorial Day

Faces of the Fallen is a collection of information about each U.S. service member who died in Iraq and Afghanistan during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

This information is updated at least twice monthly from military releases, news service reports and local newspaper stories. The photographs come from news services, local newspapers and family members and published online @ Washingtonpost.com

The Marble Of Our Heroes' Headstones

Have you ever wondered where all the marble comes from that makes the headstones for so many of the fallen heroes that rest in our National Cemeteries? Serena Altschul from the CBS Sunday Morning Show, traveled to the mountains in Danby, Vermont to find out in order to commemorate our country's war dead this Memorial Day.

Featured in the story are Cpl Frank W.Buckles (Feb 1901 - Feb 2011) -who was last known survivor of World War I and 1st LT Daren M. Hidalgo (Mar 4 1986 - Feb 20 2011) - who died while serving and protecting our country in Afghanistan. Each have recently received their headstones made from marble quarried from the Danby mountains.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Sam the Eagle Stars & Stripes FOREVER!

OK, so this Saturday Morning Cartoon isn't exactly a cartoon, it's still fun to watch and has a patriotic theme heading into Memorial Day.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend and remember those that went before us and who gave their lives, so that we may all enjoy the freedoms that most of us take for granted.

President Obama's Weekly Address 5/28/11: Vice-President Biden on the American Auto Comeback

Vice President Joe Biden delivers the Weekly Address, celebrating the success of the American auto industry in the wake of Chrysler paying back their loans.

Clarification on Main Library Parking Lot Engineering; Main Library Parking Facts

I received the following from Middletown Library Director Susan O'Neal, who after reading comments about the Library left on this blog, felt it necessary to clarify a few points about the the Main library's parking lot expansion project.

For several years, I have been informing the library Board of Trustees that the growth in library usage was creating a shortage of parking. My observations were that a shortage could pop up almost any day and time, and I recommended a parking capacity and usage study to be put into the Board's capital projects plan. By last fall, it was at the top of the list of things that we needed to do. As with all of our capital projects, the library intended to use its reserves, not to ask the Township for funding.

In the Summer of 2010 I was authorized by the Board to send out RFP's, Requests for Proposal, to engineering firms for an assessment of a number of parking lot matters. They included:

a study of parking lot use and capacity,
addition of more handicapped parking stalls,
safety of pedestrian crossing the lot,
the possibility of a drop off lane near the entry,
short term parking,
widening the parking stalls, and the
possibility of adding a drive up pick-up window.

Multiple proposals were received, and two firms were selected to be interviewed by the full Board. These firms represented the two lowest proposals in terms of cost. They were DW Smith and Maser Consulting. DW Smith had been the engineer who designed and carried out the water remediation project at the back corner of Main in 2009. Mayor Scharfenberger was present for the DW Smith presentation, but had to leave before the Maser presentation. The contract was awarded to Maser Consulting, in the approximate amount of $29,000. [I'm writing this from home so I only remember the approximate amount]

Maser conducted a comprehensive traffic and use study in AUgust and September 2010; I met with them several times to discuss library needs, etc. and they made and revised plans for a few months. In January, 2011, three proposals were reviewed by the Board at their meeting. Frankly, this presentation did not go well. The Maser team followed Mr. Settembrino's layout of his four point plan for library finance, which had everyone on the board stunned. The main problem, though, was that additional parking in 2 of the 3 proposals would cover additional land with pavement and would generate storm management and environmental approvals that skyrocketed the costs. I asked Maser for a 4th plan that would avoid these issues and costs and get the maximum parking out of it that we could.

The 4th plan was reviewed by me, Tony Mercantante, Ted Maloney and one of the Maser engineers. Tony mentioned that including this project in the Town's 2012 Capital Improvements Projects might get the library better pricing. This is the germination of the inclusion of this project in the Transfer of Library reserves to the Township settlement. At this time it was obvious that refinement of the last design, specifications for bidding, and the permissions and tests needed would require additional engineering work. Maser asked if they should prepare a proposal for these next steps, and I said yes.

The proposal came in on May 13, several days before the library board meeting. We were all informed by Committeeman Settembrino that all further engineering work on on the library parking lot would be conducted by the Township Engineer of record, that is T&M. The Board briefly discussed this at their meeting.

The next engineering work to be done will build on the Maser study, not duplicate it, as some have asserted incorrectly.

The Middletown Library will be expected to use the services of T&M if the project is in the Township's CIP list for next year [and presuming T&M is the Township engineer in 2012]

The Library will be expected to pay all hard [construction] and soft [design, project supervision, permits, testing] that the Township engineer dictates is required.

And ultimately, maybe this is all moot. The library faces a huge cut in its operating budget next year, unless the TC is willing to provide more than the minimum funding level, and thus support the library at close to the 2011 level. A close analysis of our fiscal position is forthcoming. It is my personal belief as the Administrator of the Library, that the library should not undertake debt financing for this project, but rather maintain it's prior practice of saving until enough cash reserves are available, and then proceeding. This will be the Library Trustees' decision. I believe the problem of not enough parking will continue to grow, as library business is on a significant upswing. It is unclear to me whether the TC will provide permission for the library to proceed with any capital improvement project in the future unless it is totally under their control, except, of course, for the payment.

Lastly, I hope that in the length and detail of this explanation, it is not lost on the reader that the library's plans included addressing numerous safety issues, not just additional parking. We DO need more handicapped parking, we DO need to eliminate the double parking in the lot for pickups and dropoffs, we DO need to add more safety measures for pedestrians who have to cross a traffic lane to enter the building!!

We have nearly 2,000 visitors per day at the library. Their safety is of keen importance to us.

Susan O'Neal, Library Director

Socialism is all around us

Lawrence O'Donnell on last night's The Last Word points out how Bill O'Reilly is a "Socialist" like the rest of us.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tony Fiore Respondes to Latest Robo-Call

Over on his "new" blog provided by Middletown-Patch, Middletown's acting mayor Tony Fiore, has addressed the latest robo-call that was sent out by the group Concerned Citizens Of Middletown, that talked about the amount of debt the Township is carrying. If you ask me, Fiore's response just lends credence to the message that went out last Friday.

His answer is the same stock answer that has been given many times before but only this time he providers a true debt number of $72million that so many before him have been reluctant to confirm!

And how is it that Mr. Fiore is so sure who is responsible for these robo-calls when so many (myself included) do not? He blames the Middletown Democrats for placing them, which if that was the case, I think I would know about it. It seems to me that these robo-calls have struck a nerve and seem to be factual based by his response to them.

Also I believe, the point of how much debt the town can borrow itself into, is a silly one; who cares what a towns' or persons' credit card limit is when it is already difficult to meet the minimum payments on the balance!

Middletown hasn't had it debt rating updated in several years, It has been shown recently that credit rating agencies like Moody's and Standard & Poor aren't worth much. After the financial meltdown of the past few years, many of the investments that caused the near collapse of the economy were rated A, AA, or AAA from both of these institutions. Knowing that why would anyone want to tout how special they are? They're not.

On the final point about the blocking of a return phone number, I don't know what Fiore is talking about, unless he wants to incite others into believing that these messages have no integrity, which I'm sure is his intent, he is living up to him nick-name of the "Fibber". Every call that I have received by Concerned Citizens of Middletown, including Friday's, had a return number left on my caller-id.

True it wasn't a Middletown phone number or one from the immediate area (I think it was Dunellen), but there was in fact a phone number associated with the call.

On a side note - I don't know how Fiore's blog on Middletown-Patch works, but this posting was dated Tuesday May 24 at 12:58 PM, right in the middle of a busy work day. Doesn't Tony have a job that he needs to attend to at 1pm in the afternoon? True, he may have been on his lunch hour but I think not. Working on Township business (which this clearly is), on company time is a No-No as everyone knows.

I wonder what his employer would think????

Obama Can Challenge Meaning Of 'Irish-American'

This past Monday President Obama made a historic visit to the country of Ireland, while there he addressed a crowed estimated to be 58,000 strong and spoke of his own Irish heritage.

My friend Sean Dunne, who some may remember ran for the NJ Assembly 2010, wrote the following article about Obama's visit to Ireland and what it means to be "Irish American". The article was posted on line on the Irish news website the Independent

By Sean Dunne
Monday May 23 2011

PRIOR to his visit, Barack Obama's Irish heritage has been largely, and perhaps unsurprisingly, ignored by the American public.

But his time here can't only open up the ways in which he is perceived by other Americans, it can also challenge the narrow definitions often employed when we discuss what it means to be Irish-American.

It is impossible to ignore the significance of his speech to the Irish public, where he will address an audience within close proximity to the statue of the great 'liberator', Daniel O'Connell. An American president, with Irish and African heritage, is in many ways a vindication of many of O'Connell's arguments against racial oppression in the US. Obama can today build off of those arguments.

In 1963, John F Kennedy began what has become a tradition among American presidents when he made the first presidential trip to Ireland.

Kennedy's visit was significant for Irish-Americans and Ireland, as his Irish Catholic identity was a significant element in both the support and criticism he received.

He won the presidential election less than 100 years after some states granted Irish-Americans the right to vote, and his election was viewed as a symbol of achievement and hope.

Now Obama also has the potential to make significant contributions to the discussion of what it means to be Irish-American.

The identity of Obama has been subject to challenges during his political career. Many questioned whether he was even a US-born citizen. This frenzy resulted in the president releasing his long-form birth certificate last month.

It is instructive to place the questions surrounding Obama's identity in the context of how an American has been defined.

Noah Webster's dictionary in 1828 defined an American as "a native of America; originally applied to the aboriginals, or copper-coloured races, found here by the Europeans, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America".

The opportunity to become "real" Americans was extended to the large numbers of Irish immigrants in the 19th Century, when the Democratic Party recruited them.

The Democrats reached out to the Irish community and promised that they would be treated similarly to other Europeans. In return, they were asked to support Democratic politicians and the racial discrimination that aided their party. O'Connell implored the Irish in the US to reject this arrangement. Many ignored O'Connell's pleas, but not all of them did.

In the 1870 Federal Census, it was reported that 12pc of the African-American community in New York City defined themselves as Irish-African-American.

This level of intermarriage between the Irish and African-American communities portrays how diverse the Irish diaspora had become. However, this statistic should also reflect how the Irish heritage of large numbers of Irish-Americans is ignored, as many are simply defined as "black".

For Obama and his mantra of "change we can believe in", this is a change he can accomplish.

Sean Dunne of Holmdel NJ, is an author and academic, is a member of the US Democrats living abroad in Ireland. This article was published prior to President Obama's historic visit to Ireland online @ Independent.ie

As a Matter Of Fact...State losing out on 9-1 match;NJ would save $45 million a year if it invested $7.5 million in family planning

May 23rd, 2011 | Published in NJPP Blog: As a Matter of Fact …

At a time when New Jersey doesn’t have a penny to spare, the state is leaving money on the table – perhaps millions of dollars a year in federal funds that could provide family planning services to poor, uninsured women.

Not only has Governor Christie refused to continue the program that provides state grants to family planning clinics across the state (he vetoed a $7.5 million appropriation sponsored by Sen. Weinberg), the state has withdrawn its application for a Medicaid waiver that would have provided a 9-to-1 federal match of state funds that paid family planning expenses for women at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. To put it in simpler terms, under the waiver known as the Family Planning State Option the federal government would provide $9 million for every $1 million that New Jersey spent.

According to estimates from the widely-respected Guttmacher Institute, the Family Planning State Option would save New Jersey $3 million in the first year alone. After the first year, it would:

• Save the state $45 million every year.
• Provide basic medical care to over 80,000 people every year, including not just family planning but other preventive care such as cancer screenings.

• Help thousands of low income women who want to avoid pregnancy do just that – averting 4,000 abortions and 6,000 births every year.

See the full report here.

Twenty-eight states currently receive matching funds and all have seen substantial cost savings. According to estimates by the National Academy of Health Safety Policy, the savings over five years range from $75 million in Arkansas to more than $2 billion in California.

See the full report here.

The governor has said his opposition to the family planning clinic grants has nothing to do with politics, but is based in his desire to be a responsible fiscal steward of the state’s scarce resources.

He should live up to that standard.

Clearly, the numbers show the tremendous benefit that accrues by funding these grants. In addition to providing poor and working women broad and consistent access to family planning services, the Medicaid waiver allows the state to receive the 9-to-1 federal match in funding.

The fiscally responsible thing to do would be to invest a little of the state’s resources in family planning and reap the rewards of increased federal funding as well as cost savings to deal with avoidable pregnancies.

To do anything else seems to be a waste of time and money.

Don't Say Gay, Say "Takei" Instead

Last week, leading up to the Tennessee Legislature anticipated passage of Senate Bill 49 , better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which will make it a crime for teachers to mention homosexuality in the classroom once signed into law, Star Trek alum George Takei (Mr. Sulu), is asking people to support gay right's by not saying "gay".

Instead, George asks that everyone say "Takei" whenever speaking or referring to G.L.B.T groups or individuals.

Towards the end of the video Takei hawks a line of T-shirts and other items that say "It's OK to be Takei", to wear and display with pride and to show Tennessee and the world that you're against censorship and bigotry....

All the proceeds from the sales of these items will be donated to charity. Have a TAKEI old time!

New Robo Call From Concerned Citizens Of Middletown Received Over The Weekend

A new robo call was issued over the weekend by the group calling themselves Concerned Citizens of Middletown. I received the call Friday when I check my messages on the answering machine.

This latest call talks about whether or not you fell stressed because you can't make ends meet and have to live within a budget, something that the Middletown Township Committee has a hard time doing. The Township is currently $73 million in debt according to the message and will have to borrow more money to pay for tax appeals.

Listen to it and please comment, I am interested in seeing what readers think of this latest call that went out to residents. If you have a hard time hearing the audio (I tapped it off the answering machine), I transcribed the message below.



Hello, I am a middletown resident, stressed like you, and needing to cut my budget.

Have you heard the Township Committee cannot live within its budget?

They raise taxes, then borrow more money to cover poor planning.

Our debt level, currently at 73 million will have at least an additional 6 million to cover the tax appeals from the last re-evaluation.

Can your budget survive this kind of borrowing? Mine can't.

Paid for by Concerned Citizens of Middletown.

Join Congressman Jared Polis in Asbury Park on May 26th

U.S. Congressman Jared Polis

invites you to join the 11th District Democratic Team

Ray Santiago for SENATE
Marilyn Schlossbach for ASSEMBLY
Vin Gopal for ASSEMBLY

Co-Hosted by:
Chairman John McCarthy, Hon.Babs Casbar Siperstein, Chairman Jeff Gardner, Ed Potosnak, Chairwoman Amy Quinn, Hon. Randy Bishop, Hon. Edward Zipprich, Jay Lassiter, Chairwoman Ann Baker, Tim Horn, Tom Mannix, Joe Woerner, Harriet Bernstein, Luisa Paster, Rod Siberine, David Pascale

The Berkeley Hotel
1401 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ

Thursday, May 26th 2011
7:00pm to 9:00pm

Friend of Equality: $50
Supporter of Equality: $100
Defender of Equality: $250

* An American entrepreneur and philanthropist, Congressman Jared Polis is the first openly gay man to be elected as a member of the United States Congress. He will help the District 11 Democrats formally launch their GLBT outreach *

* Senator Jennifer Beck is the new representative for District 11. She voted against marriage equality - help us defeat her by electing three pro-equality legislators in the 11th District. *

Please make checks payable to any of these four accounts:

'District 11 Election Fund' - 'Santiago for Senate' - 'Schlossbach for Assembly' 'Gopal for Assembly'

RSVP to vin.gopal.2008@gmail.com or 732-299-5625

**Your donation will help elect THREE Pro-Equality Legislators in Monmouth County**

Crime Scene Middletown: Prescription Fraud, False 911 Calls, Shoplifting, Theft and Other Recent Activity Reported

PREPARED BY DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT STEPHEN DOLLINGER

On May 16, 2011 Detective Daniel Sullivan charged Peter Hanvey, age 51, from West Side Avenue in Jersey City, NJ, with Forgery and Obtaining a Controlled Dangerous Substance by Fraud. Hanvey was charged as a result of information provided by Detective Jeff Malone of the Ocean Township Police Department.

Detective Malone had conducted an investigation into a fraudulent prescription that was presented to the C.V.S Pharmacy in Ocean Township. Det. Malone developed information that Hanvey had also passed a fraudulent prescription in the C.V.S Pharmacy located in the Navesink section of Middletown.

Detective Sullivan conducted a follow up investigation which resulted in Hanvey being charged. Hanvey was released on his own recognizance pending a court date.

On May 16, 2011 at approximately 5:35 am Patrolman Brady Carr and Patrolman Keith Hirschbein investigated a report of damage committed to numerous vehicles that occurred at the Eddie Coffey and Sons Construction Company located on Highway 36 in Middletown. The vehicles windows were smashed and tires slashed.

Patrolman Hirschbein conducted an investigation and identified Donald Neri, age 45, from Shoreland Terrace in Middletown as the subject who damaged the vehicles. Neri was arrested and was transported to police headquarters where he was charged with Criminal Mischief. He was held on $50,000 bail.

On May 16, 2011 Detective Sullivan was assigned to investigate the theft of a ladder from a residence on Wilson Avenue in Middletown. Detective Sullivan conducted an investigation which resulted in Terrance McQuillan, age 29, from Wilson Avenue in Middletown being charged with Theft.

McQuillan was processed and held on bail.

On May 17, 2011 at approximately 11:20 pm Patrolman Raymond Sofield responded to the area of the New Monmouth Diner, located on Highway 35 in Middletown in reference to an intoxicated subject who had called 9-1-1 numerous times. Officer Sofield located the subject, identified as Stephen Acquaviva, age 34, from Bonnie Drive in Middletown.

Patrolman Sofield determined that Acquaviva did not have an actual emergency and was repeatedly calling 9-1-1 because he was intoxicated. As a result of Officer Sofield’s investigation Acquaviva was arrested for Making False Public Alarms. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released on a summons pending a court date.

On May 18, 2011 at approximately 9:50 am Patrolman Keith Hirschbein was on patrol in the area of the McMahon Park hockey rink when he observed a subject, identified as David Matheny, age 49, from Seaside Avenue in Keansburg, NJ, urinating in the dugout area of the rink.

Officer Hirschbein conducted an investigation which resulted in Matheny being arrested for Criminal Mischief. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released on a summons pending a court date.

On May 18, 2011 at approximately 3:55 pm Patrolman Anthony Dellatacoma responded to the Sears Store on Highway 35 in reference to a shoplifting. Upon arrival store security advised the officer that they had observed Danielle Boyce, age 35, from Port Monmouth Road in Middletown, leave the store with $287.67 of unpaid merchandise. Security stopped Boyce in the parking lot and detained her until police arrived.

Officer Dellatacoma arrested Boyce and transported her to police headquarters where she was charged with Shoplifting. She was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 18, 2011 at approximately 5:50 am Patrolman John Soltysik and Patrolman Felipe Benedit responded to the area of Twin brooks Drive and Highway 35 in reference to a report of a white box truck that had been involved in the attempted burglary of a vehicle that had occurred in the parking lot of the Sears store.

The officers located the vehicle and conducted an investigation which resulted in the arrest of Bernard Kusakavitch, age 45, from Osborne Drive in Pittston, PA, being charged with Attempted Theft, Conspiracy, Obstruction and Hindering Apprehension. Police determined that Kusakavitch had attempted to steal Diesel fuel from a tractor trailer that was parked in the parking lot.

He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and held on $40,000 bail. Detective William Strohkirch assisted with the investigation.

On May 19, 2011 at approximately 2:55 am Patrolman Brian McGrogan was on patrol in the area of Highway 35 when he observed a vehicle being driven without headlights. Officer McGrogan stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, identified as Christopher Haspilaire, age 21, from Portland Road in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, and detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.

Officer McGrogan conducted an investigation which resulted in Hispilaire being arrested for Driving While intoxicated. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 20, 2011 at approximately 3:35 am Corporal Richard Fusella responded to the area of Locust Point Road near the Rumson Bridge in reference to a driver of a vehicle asleep behind the wheel.

Upon arrival Corporal Fusella located the vehicle and approached the driver, identified as Alexander Heagney, age 18, from Clay Court in the Locust section of Middletown.

While speaking with Heagney, Officer Fusella observed a baggie of Marijuana in the vehicle. Heagney was placed under arrest and was transported to police headquarters where he was charged with Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana. He was processed and released pending a court date.


The Middletown Police Department arrested the following subjects on warrants:

Lisa Ardic, age 43, from Shore Boulevard in Keansburg, NJ, arrested on May 17, 2011 by Detective Sullivan on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Keansburg Municipal Court. She was released after posting $575.00 bail.

Anthony Jones, age 26, from Veeder Avenue in Toms River, arrested on May 18, 2011 by Patrolman Michael Nolan on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was held on $500.00 bail.

Jeffrey Dressler, age 33, from Locust Road in Hazlet, NJ, arrested on May 18, 2011 arrested by James Beirne on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was released after posting $500.00 bail.

Amanda Rivera, age 30, from Kanes Lane in Middletown, NJ, arrested on May 18, 2011 by Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Tinton Falls Municipal Court.

Dominic Moffitt, age 29, from Kimberly Court in Middletown, NJ arrested on May 19, 2011 by Patrolman James Beirne on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Eatontown Municipal court. He was released after posting $89.00 bail.

Nicholas Grimsley, age 24, from Apple Farm Road, Middletown, NJ, arrested on May 19, 2011 by Patrolman Anthony Gigante on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was released after posting $500.00 bail.

Jonathan Pecyna, age 22, from Manor Drive in Red Bank, NJ, arrested on May 19, 2011 by Patrolman John Mele on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Monmouth Beach Municipal Court. He was released after posting $100.00 bail.

Saturday Morning Cartoons -Special End Of the World Edition: Koko's Earth Control

If today really does turn out to be "Judgment Day" and your not one of the lucky chosen, then you might as well sit back and relax, eat a bowl of Fruit Loops and watch a cartoon before the world comes to an end!

President Obama's Weekly Address 5/21/11: Congress Should Reform No Child Left Behind This Year

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama praised the progress that schools like Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis have made, and he called on Congress to fix No Child Left Behind this year. To strengthen education in this country, we need to encourage reforms not driven by Washington, but by principals and parents so schools can determine what is best for their kids. And that is why it is so important that Congress replace No Child Left Behind this year, so that schools have that flexibility. Reform just cannot wait.

Are You Ready....

(click to enlarge, hat tip to Pajama Pundit)

The Middletown Library "Unfinished Business": The latest on the $500K transfer, the lot construction, the Lincroft Branch, and other issues.

by guest blogger Linda Baum

Mike mentioned in a 5/17/11 post that a number of ongoing issues were slated to be discussed at this Wednesday’s 5/18/11 meeting of the Middletown Library Board, which I attended.

One issue concerned the parking lot expansion project. As Mike said, the Board had been told by the town that T&M Engineering would be the engineer for this work. The Board was given no other option or opportunity to compare costs, but will be responsible for paying the bill for these services.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the trustees voiced concern about the use of T&M, pointing out that the Board had not been satisfied with T&M’s services on a prior project. They were told that T&M is the town’s engineer for capital projects for 2011, so to the extent that the lot construction is designated as one of the town’s capital projects this year, T&M will be the engineer. So says the town.

Maser Consulting had been hired by the Library to do initial design work for the lot prior to the town’s taking of funds. That work is complete except for coordination with the engineer of choice.

It wasn’t clear if a decision had been made about who would pay for the actual construction, the Town or the Library. While the lot expansion was “included” in the $500K transfer agreement between the Library and the Township, the question of who would pay was left unanswered. Committman Settembrino’s comment at Wednesday’s meeting that the library would be responsible for “soft costs” (such as the engineering costs) seemed to imply that the library would not be responsible for the “hard costs” for actual construction.

The Library Board is making no assumptions – they are more likely to be on the hook than not. In fact, they haven’t decided to go ahead with any of the work. The Board feels they may not have sufficient funds.

There are still a number of steps and hurdles before the $500K transfer can be made. First, focus groups must be completed and a strategic plan finalized, and a package of materials including those pieces submitted to the State Librarian for approval. Committeman Settembrino said that Town personnel were under the impression that the package would be submitted to the state by the end of May, but Ms. O’Neal pointed out that the Board couldn’t submit the package to the state until the Board passes a resolution that it has filled all the requirements, where 4 out of 5 pieces require the Board’s approval. A decision was made to finalize review of the strategic plan at the Board’s June 15th meeting, in line with Committeeman Settembrino’s request that discussion take place before the Town’s regular meeting on June 20th.

An important point is that there is no guarantee the State Library will give its approval. Ms. O’Neal commented that the State could take issue with the reserve figure in the Library’s audit, where the reserve includes funds from municipal and other sources.

Some other topics discussed at the meeting:

The Lincroft branch is believed to have lead-based paint and asbestos in the walls given the age of the structure. The paint isn’t peeling, and therefore poses no danger. A concern about the asbestos is that it may be in the walls of the front entryway, which has termite damage. So there are costs involved for the inspection and abatement plan in addition to the repair work. An architect will be presenting on this topic at the Board’s June 15th meeting.

There was discussion about the need for either curbs or reflectors or boulders to prevent people from parking on the grass in certain sections of the library’s lot. (I bet you didn’t know that the fancy boulders in the lot aren’t just there for looks. Nope, they’re there to assist you in stopping.) The Board concluded that posts with reflectors would get the job done at a reasonable cost.

Kudos to Eagle Scout Andrew Bloy, who will be allowed to place a collection jar at the Library’s front desk because he has demonstrated considerable community benefit. Allowing the collection effort represents an exception by the Board to Library policy. The Board was impressed with Mr. Bloy’s request letter and community involvement. In fact, they mentioned that after Mr. Bloy learned that planting a medicinal herb garden at a local medical office would not earn him scouting credit, he did it anyway.

The Board discussed a software donation offer by a local company called Comprise Technologies. The software, offered free for six months, is designed to process payments made by credit card. The Board noted that credit cards are being used with increasing frequency for the payment of library fines. Comprise Technologies will be presenting at the Library Board meeting on July 20th. There are ongoing expenditures to be considered, including fees for the software and service, and costs for integration with other library systems. There was also discussion of implementing a charge for credit card payments, but the Board instead opted to request a donation when credit cards are used. The thinking is that folks probably wouldn’t mind rounding up their payment to the next dollar, at least.

This Is What I was Talking About: ARTHUR Z. KAMIN: Bring out the brooms at Brookdale

Just the other day I posted, Cantalupo's Resignation From Brookdale Exposes Shady Ties To Lillian Burry and County. The post was about the ties between former Freeholder Director Lillian Burry and Brookdale Community College lawyer John Cantalupo, who finally resigned from the college's Board of Trustees last Friday in the weak of the Peter Burnham scandal.

In today's Asbury Park Press the commentary written by Arthur Z. Kamin states pretty much exactly what I had stated in my earlier post. It's all there almost verbatim, how Cantalupo was Lillian Burry's campaign treasurer, how Cantalupo helped negotiate Burnham's generous employment contract and how Lillian Burry sits on the college board of school estimates which is responsible for approving contracts and budgets for the college.

I'm glad to see that someone else picked up on it and has connected the dots. I think the next one to step down after Jacob S. Elkes, the Vice -chairman of the College Board of Trustees, as Mr. Kamin has called for would be Lillian Burry herself.

Burry should step down from her position as a Monmouth County Freeholder and not seek re-election this November. Too many disturbing and questionable ethical revelations about Burry have been surfacing over the past few months that need closer examination from county residents.

Below is what Arthur Kamin wrote in today's APP:

It’s been almost one weekly bombshell after another in the aftermath of the Brookdale Community College scandal that forced the school’s president, Peter F. Burnham, to resign in disgrace amid allegations of improper spending habits.

It raised anew serious questions about whether its board of trustees was doing an effective job of oversight or just sleepily rubber-stamping for payment Burnham’s excessive vouchers. The county prosecutor’s office is now investigating how the money was spent. There is no word yet from that office on when the probe will be completed.

So far, under strong pressure to quit, the high-level Brookdale resignation casualties, in separate actions, have been the board of trustees chairman Howard C. Birdsall, a 23-year veteran of the board, and the board’s multi-faceted attorney, John M. Cantalupo, who served for two years. Cantalupo took new heat last week when it was reported in the Asbury Park Press that he had been serving as Republican Freeholder Lillian G. Burry’s campaign treasurer.

But wait. Could that be right? Freeholder Burry’s campaign treasurer, a political position?

Didn’t Cantalupo serve as the attorney representing the Brookdale board of trustees and as general counsel for the college? And didn’t Cantalupo help negotiate the generous contract with Burnham that included lavish pay and perks at the same time the board was weighing an 8.2 percent tuition increase?

And don’t the freeholders, of which Burry is the former board director, appoint most of the Brookdale trustees? Don’t the trustees, in turn, appoint the attorney? Doesn’t Burry sit on the board of school estimate that votes on budgets that include the contracts of the president and the attorney? Wasn’t Burry a strong supporter of Burnham?

Is there anything wrong here? Is this a potential conflict of interest for Burry? Doesn’t it raise ethical concerns for Burry to have the Brookdale attorney as her campaign treasurer, often said to be her spokesman, at political fundraisers?

Cantalupo, in the May 14 issue of the Press, said he resigned as Burry’s campaign treasurer because he didn’t want to serve as a “political distraction for the most outstanding freeholder in Monmouth County.”

Interestingly, I asked Burry before the resignation if Cantalupo was serving as her campaign treasurer. She and her chief administrative assistant never replied to my e-mails. Neither did Cantalupo, who I also queried about the treasurer role and what it entailed. Bill Bucco, who described himself as Burry’s campaign spokesman, asked that any questions relating to her campaign be directed to him. But he did not reply to my questions about the Cantalupo campaign post. So much for transparency.

To their credit, Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Curley, a Republican, and Freeholder Amy A. Mallet, a Democrat, repeatedly called for Cantalupo to resign as Brookdale attorney. Curley said he was “very concerned” that Cantalupo was working for Burry as her campaign treasurer. Mallet questioned whether it was ethical for Burry to sit at the board of school estimate table deciding on the attorney’s fees.

There is no question that the freeholders now will have to grapple with the way Burry handled this matter — especially the fact that she would not disclose the Cantalupo link and kept the other freeholders in the dark on the issue. It was poor judgment on her part.

But now it’s time for another bombshell to drop. This one should come with the resignation of Jacob S. Elkes, the former board vice chairman who is serving as its interim chairman. He is a 16-year veteran of the board.

Elkes, like Birdsall, was part of the institution’s leadership vacuum that permitted the Burnham mess to take place. It’s time for him to go. The rest of this sleepy board should make plans to depart in an orderly fashion.

On his way out, Elkes should take with him the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer that gave Brookdale Cantalupo. It’s time for a complete culture change at the college and a new law firm, without any freeholder connections. There is no shortage of good law firms to choose from in Monmouth County.

GREAT STRIDES Walk for Cystic Fibrosis This Sunday May 22nd

My good friend and childhood buddy Joel MacLean has a daughter who was born with Cystic Fribrosis. This Sunday May 22nd, he will be taking part in the GREAT STRIDES walk for Cystic Fibrosis from 11am to 2pm down in Point Pleasant, corner of Arnold and Baltimore Aves at the Bandshell.

He is looking for sponsor's and other individuals that could donate or would like to join him in walking to raise money to find a cure for this devastating genetic disease. His personal goal is to raise $1500, with a little bit of help from others he can meet it.

GREAT STRIDES is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fundraising event. This year, I'm walking in the GREAT STRIDES walk at the 2011 Point Pleasant - Bandshell, Corner of Arnold and Baltimore Avenues walk on 05/22/2011. Please help me meet my fundraising goal of $1,500.00 by sponsoring me. Your generous gift will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education....

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects tens of thousands of children and young adults in the United States. Research and care supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is making a huge difference in extending the quality of life for those with CF. However, we continue to lose precious lives to CF every day. That's why your help is needed now more than ever to ensure that a cure is found sooner - rather than later. To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those with CF! Thank you for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation and GREAT STRIDES! - Joel

If you would like to donate, sponsor or join Joel in his walk against Cystic Fibrosis you can do so by clicking >>> Here

APP: Pallone gets fed money to start beach projects

It's good to see Congressman Frank Pallone working to bring home the bacon for his constituents. The $7.5 million that he has secured for beach replenishment and other much needed projects along the Northern Monmouth bayshore area, as well as other parts of his district, will go a long way towards keeping Jersey shore and the communities that boarder it safe from flooding and economically vibrant for the small businesses that rely on it for their livelihoods.


From today's Asbury Park Press

Monmouth County beaches got a boost when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allocated $7.5 million in replenishment funds that was requested by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., for Monmouth Beach and northern Long Branch.

Pallone made the announcement Wednesday of the allocation of $7.5 million in beach funding, plus the approval of Army Corps funding for Shark River dredging and for two engineering and feasibility studies in the Shore area.

The $7.5 million will go to fund beach replenishment in Monmouth Beach and possibly parts of northern Long Branch. That federal money will be added to about $2.5 million in federal funds on hand and added to state funds to provide a total of $12 million to $14 million that will allow the Army Corps to begin the projects later this year.

“This funding is vitally important for the Shore and I commend the Army Corps of Engineers for responding to my funding request for these projects,” Pallone said in a release.

The funds were approved as part of the fiscal year 2011 continuing resolution approved in April that funded the government through the end of the year.

The Army Corps also approved funding for three additional projects. The South River Flood Control Project received $250,000 to continue with the engineering and design phase. The Corps allocated $496,650 to the Shark River maintenance dredging project to dredge the river's inlet this year. A $207,000 allocation will allow completion of a feasibility study for the Raritan and Sandy Hook Bay, Highlands project.

Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipperich Shares His Story "Behind The Shadows"

In April Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipperich recorded an interview on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network's "Behind the Shadows" with Susan Finelli.

After last fall's tragic suicides of LGBT youth around the country, Zipperich got involved with the It Gets Better Project to help prevent suicides.

Councilman Zipperich has been vocal on the topic at council meetings and at public forums like the Two River Theater "Coffee House" for the RFH High School's gay/straight alliance last Thanksgiving, the opportunity to talk about bullying and suicide to a broader audience presented itself through the invitiation he recieved from Susan Finelli at Behind the Shadows.

The show 30 minute interview is scheduled to air in NYC cable stations next month, but you can watch it now below.

No parent should ever have to bury their child.

As A Matter Of Fact...Taking the family out of NJ FamilyCare

May 17th, 2011 | Published in NJPP Blog: As a Matter of Fact …

In defense of his plan to cut the state's federally subsidized health insurance program for working poor families, Governor Christie recently asserted that New Jersey provides more access to Medicaid than any state except New York.

That's simply not true.

In fact, if the governor has his way, New Jersey would have one of the nation's most restrictive policies when it comes to the Medicaid program that provides affordable health insurance to working poor families who have no other options.

It is accurate to say that when it comes to children New Jersey is second only to New York in providing health coverage through Medicaid/ NJ FamilyCare. However, when it comes to providing affordable coverage to the rest of the family, Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare lags behind nine other states and is racing toward the bottom of that list.

Last year, the state cut the NJ FamilyCare eligibility level for parents in New Jersey from 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 133 percent of FPL. For a family of three, that meant a maximum yearly income of $25,000 instead of $36,000.

The state plans even further reductions this year by reducing that eligibility threshold to just 29 percent of FPL. That's a yearly income of about $5,300 for a family of three. That's also the same eligibility level for the welfare program, WorkFirst NJ. The irony there is that taking away the option of NJ FamilyCare creates an incentive for parents to stop working full time and rely on welfare in order to have health insurance.

If those proposed cuts are enacted, New Jersey would have one of the lowest eligibility levels for parents in the nation. Only Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas would have lower eligibility levels.

More important, however, is that research in New Jersey and nationally has shown that reducing the eligibility level for parents will reduce the number of children enrolled in NJ FamilyCare. That will only increase the financial pressures on emergency rooms and hospitals as it drives up the number of uninsured New Jerseyans.

Read more about family health insurance here.

View the press event with Senators Joseph Vitale and Loretta Weinberg and advocates on this issue along with the governor's response.