Monmouth County Is Refocusing Its Resources To Be More Responsive To The Needs Of The Business Community

The county unveiled its new BizConnect series Wednesday.

About 100 people heard from county and state experts during a morning session at the library in Manalapan.

“We are looking to connect business people and resources through the sharing of information in order to help maximize business retention, expansion and attraction opportunities,” said John Ciufo, Administrative Department Director for Planning, Economic Development and Regulatory Affairs.

“We need to find solutions to the challenges that Monmouth County businesses are facing in this difficult economic climate,” said Freeholder Deputy Director John D’Amico.


By: Janet Fried

New Jersey's Roadway Infrastructure Projects Escape the Governor's Budget Ax

By: Rosetta Key

Of all the state projects that have met the Governor's budget ax roadway infrastructure improvement isn't one of them. In fact, State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Erin Phalon says infrastructure improvement spending is on the rise. Phalon says the DOT has allotted $2.6 million dollars so roving maintenance crews can repair approximately 169-thousand potholes through out the state until June. She says that's a $100,000 dollar increase over last year's.

Phalon says in addition to pothole repairs, "We're also spending $5.8 million dollars on pavement repair, as well as $70 million on resurfacing and over $2.5 million on sealing cracks in the pavement."

Phalon says, "Roadway safety is our highest priority and we'll continue to fill potholes in spite of our economic challenges." She also says they're urging motorist to report potholes as they see them. She says DOT crews will respond to those reports and fix potholes as soon as they hear about them.

Phalon adds that easy-to-use reporting forms can be found on their site on the www.nj.gov website.

Shore State Lawmakers Hit The Phones

Aiming for the largest possible group of 12th-District taxpayers in the most efficient method, State Senator Jennifer Beck and her Assembly mates Caroline Casagrande and Declan O'Scanlon take part in a telephone town-hall-style meeting tonight.

The conference call is gaining popularity among federal and state lawmakers interested in staying current with voter concerns. Congressmen Rush Holt and Frank Pallone are among those who have used the format effectively in the past year.

Prior to the 7:20 pm start time, dial 877-229-8493 and enter PIN 14563. If you want to ask a question or offer a comment, enter #1 when prompted.

New Jerseyans Have Been Heading Down The Shore To Cool Off During The Recent Hot Spell

The boardwalk is still being repaired and the snack bar isn't open but people have been working on their tans the past several days in Ocean Grove.

"I just finished with my college finals, so I wanted to come down and enjoy the weather," said a North Jersey college student on the beach Monday.

Residents said its great not having to pay to go on the beach or fight for a parking spot but the water is still too cold to go swimming.

By: Janet Fried

Jersey Tourism Officials Are Gearing Up For The Summer Season

Memorial Day is right around the corner but some experts say many people won't be taking vacations this year because of the recession.

Jeanne De Young Tourism Representative for Monmouth County disagrees. She says we are in a tough economic time right now but people still need time away with their families.

De Young does think gas prices will impact the summer tourism season. She says the price of gas will be much lower this year and that's good news.

De Young says overall they're looking forward to a very good summer tourism season. She says people know what they have to spend and they will try to find the best deals and if they have to cut their vacation time they will but they will still take vacations.

De Young says the weather will affect the summer tourism season more than gas prices and the recession.

By: Janet Fried

Monmouth Freeholders Propose New Passenger Train Routes

In an attempt to get a Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex passenger rail line moving full steam ahead, the Monmouth County Freeholders are proposing two new less costly routes.

One is a Monmouth Junction route with a platform station connection, the other is a South Amboy route that would follow the same alignment as the Monmouth Junction until Jamesburg, then continue on the existing Amboy Secondary Freight Line right- of- way and connect with the North Jersey Coast Line.

"We really need to get off the dime here and get this project going, discussions about it started when I was on the Board of Freeholders in the mid-eighties," says Monmouth County Freeholder Deputy Director John D'Amico.

D'amico says the two routes would spur economic development in the vicinity of the new station stops and enhance property values in the areas that have easy access to the rail line.

By: Janet Fried

In Celebration Of Earth Day Coastal Education Signs Are Unveiled In Monmouth County

Five new interpretive coastal education signs were unveiled in Neptune Township's Shark River area Wednesday.

The signs are the result of a partnership between the Neptune Environmental Commission, the Shark River Cleanup Coalition and the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium/ New Jersey Sea Grant.

One sign explains how the Shark River got its name, another provides information about birds that live in the area.

“We hope the signs will help people understand how important the Shark River Watershed is and all the animals and plants that live in the area and are affected by pollution,” says Jenny McCormick, with the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium/New Jersey Sea Grant.

Bradley Beach and Belmar also have educational signs.


By: Janet Fried

A Panel Of Experts Weighs In On The Impact Of Oil And Gas Exploration Off The Jersey Shore

The Monmouth County League of Women Voters and the History and Political Science Association at Brookdale Community College sponsored a forum Tuesday in Lincroft.

"Bringing energy sources to the area would be one of the positives and one of the biggest negatives is potential loss of habitat", says Ken Able, Director of the Rutgers University Marine Field Station.

Three liquified natural gas facilities are proposed off the Jersey Shore.

By: Janet Fried

New Technology Helps Stroke and Brain Injury Patients Regain Some of Their Mobility

By: Rosetta Key

Two shore area rehabilitation hospitals are using breakthrough technology that's giving new hope for mobility to multiple sclerosis, brain injury and stroke patients.

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals in Toms River and Tinton Falls are offering electrode stimulating devices called the NESS H200 and the NESS L300 distributed by Bioness Incorporated.

Toms River Physical Therapist Emma Magierski says the NESS L300 device has been helping them treat patients suffering from "Foot Drop Syndrome", a disorder which causes the inability to raise ankles and toes when walking, for a year.

In a press release, hospital officials say a neuroprosthesis consists of a simple splint that slips over the patients forearm and hand or leg. Embedded in the device are five surface electrodes that stimulate muscles.









Magierski says, "There are Electrodes that are applied below the knee, right where your nerve comes from and then that will give your leg a little tingling sensation when the machine is on and that will pick up your foot as you walk."

Magierski says at their Tinton Falls facility, they've been offering patients a similar device that works with the upper extremity. She says the NESS H200 helps patients recover hand function to grasp and release objects.

Company officials say the devices cost around $6-thousand dollars and aren't covered by Medicaid. You can get more information on the devices from the company's web site at http://www.bioness.com/.

Magierski says she can be reached at 732-505-5037 for more information

School Board Elections Today

Voters at the shore and around the Garden State today decide who will tend their school districts - and what they expect to pay for education. School board elections run 'til 9 p.m. statewide. Opening times vary. In Ocean County, Brick and Jackson begin at 11 a-m. Long Beach Island, stafford and Plumsted get under way at 1:00. Toms River and 17 other towns start at 2pm. Manchester, Bay Head, Lacey, Waretown and Mantoloking open between 2:30 and 4:00.

In Monmouth County, Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Loch Arbour and Ocean Township begin at 7am. Asbury Park and Marlboro start at noon. Aberdeen and Matawan at 1:00. Monmouth's 43 other towns have start times between 2pm and 5pm.

6.1 Million Dollars In Funding To Toms River Schools

by Jason Allentoff

As part of the $32.3 million dollars coming to Ocean County schools in Federal Economic Stimulus Funding, the Toms River School Regional School District was presented with a check for about $6.1 million dollars during an assembly Monday morning.

The event took place at the Hooper Avenue Elementary School and brought out 3rd District Congressman John Adler. Superintendent Mike Ritacco was on hand to accept the check from Adler while students from first, third and fourth grade watched in the gymnasium.

The money is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to Congressman Adler, the school district is receiving the sizeable amount because "they were very progressive in their thinking - looking to keep expenses down, to work for a better enviornment with the installation of solar panels and really caring about the education and the students in the classroom."

The announcement comes a week after NJBiz announced the district as an NJBiz Green Leadership Award finalist in the category of alternative-energy use. The award recognizes businesses in the state for environmental achievements and initiatives. Adler says they will be putting the money to good use and he was very happy to be present.

Superintendent Ritacco says the district will look into what provisions are attached to the money before they make any decisions on where to spend it. He says "we're gonna think real long and hard about this funding and make sure that whatever it is spent on will benefit the children and the taxpayers." Ritacco says the money will help prevent tax increases and also prevent teacher and staff layoffs.

Other school districts in the county receiving stimulus funds include Barnegat, $900,232; Bay Head, $23,505; Beach Haven, $13,303; Berkeley, $618,197; Brick, $3,322,790; Central Regional, $652,147; Eagleswood, $38,139; Island Heights, $24,049; Jackson, $2,249,913; Lacey, $1,388,579; Lakehurst, $206,974; Lakewood, $10,709,535; Lavallette, $46,356; Little Egg Harbor, $672,986; Long Beach Island Consolidated, $68,173; Manchester, $957,560; Mantoloking, $828; Ocean County Vocational, $267,577; Ocean Gate, $74,425; Waretown, $262,087; Pinelands, $569,290; Point Pleasant Beach, $195,673; Seaside Heights, $152,400; Seaside Park, $27,640; Southern Regional, $698,014; Stafford, $764,823; and Tuckerton, $109,578.

Monmouth Child Abuse Victims Can Now Go To One Building To Have Their Cases Handled

Right now child abuse victims have to go to the different agencies located throughout the county and tell their story numerous times to many different people.

The Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center is a child-friendly facility where all of the multi-disciplinary professional who responds to child abuse victims will coordinate their investigation and provide follow-up services under one roof.

"It's proven that when you have a coordinated effort when it comes to a child abuse case it does help not only the victim to heal that much more quickly, but also to help with the prosecution of the people who have committed the crime," says Terrence Loftus with the Friends of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was Monday in Freehold.

By: Janet Fried

Soldier Calls Home Through WOBM News

by Jason Allentoff

A New Egypt resident fighting in the war on terror over in Iraq sends an audio postcard home to his family.

Captain Kevin Welsh with the New Jersey Army National Guard's 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is overseas as we speak and stationed at Camp Bucca in the Middle East. For the past 18 years, Captain Welsh has served his country proud on a variety of missions. From Grenada in 1983 to his current deployment, Welsh says he has learned a lot from his military experiences and he is grateful to all who have stood by him during difficult times. When he is home, he works as a corrections officer for the state police department. He's been married for the past 21 years and has four children. When he returns home, he would like to teach history or science and go back to get a Master's Degree. He says he misses his wife and kids very much and can't wait to see them again. When he arrives home, he wants to return to active duty with the First Army at Fort Dix.

The Spring Beach Sweeps Are Next Weekend

Several thousand volunteers will participate in Clean Ocean Action's Spring Beach Sweeps Saturday April 25th from 9 am until 12:30 p-m.

Carl Guastaferro, Clean Ocean Action's Citizen Action & Activities Coordinator, says the sweeps will take place rain or shine and volunteers should bring gloves, dress for the weather, apply sunscreen and wear closed-toed, hard-soled shoes.

He says volunteers participating in the 24th annual sweeps will not only remove trash but they will also keep a log of what they collect.

Guastaferro says the information collected on the data cards helps identify pollution problems, aids legislators in enacting laws to protect our marine environment and informs local and international efforts to combat marine pollution.

"The Beach Sweeps is an opportunity for citizens and visitors to give back to their local marine environment," says Guastaferro.

Since the beach sweeps began in 1985, over 70,000 volunteers have removed and cataloged over three-million pieces of debris from the Jersey Shore.

By: Janet Fried

Speak Your Mind to Your State Lawmakers In Your Own Living Room

By Tom Mongelli

New Jersey's shore-based 12th-District state legislators become the latest in a growing number of elected officials using the phone to meet with taxpayers. State Senator Jennifer Beck and Assembly members Declan O'Scanlon and Carolyn Casagrande hit the phones on April 28th.

“We’ve always fought for more transparency in government, ” O'Scanlon says, noting that the phone accessibility "makes us more accountable to our constituents.”

It's scheduled to start at 7:20 pm on the 28th, and last an hour. Dial 877-229-8493 and enter PIN number 14563, followed by a 1 at the prompt.

One Ocean County Board Of Taxation Member

by Jason Allentoff

Here's a riddle for you. How do you take ten thousand tax appeals and assign one person to handling it all? The answer? You don't!

At present, the seven-member Ocean County Board of Taxation only has one acting member, something Freeholder Director John Bartlett calls an "intolerable situation." He has sent two letters to Governor Jon Corzine to find out why both he and the state's Judiciary

Committee have failed to make the necessary appointments. Bartlett says this is totally avoidable if the Governor would act and appoint membership. He says "why this hasn't happened is beyond me. If the Board of Freeholders could fix it, if we could make the appointments, I can assure you it would be done. I can't apologize for this situation because I can't fix it. It's not within our juridisction."

Right now, the board is literally crippled with piles and piles of tax appeals and complaints collecting dust in Downtown Toms River. Bartlett says "with only one member, the board is unable to make determinations in tax appeals." He adds "its absolutely impossible for one individual to handle all of the claims and contact the residents back."

At present, Governor Corzine has failed to respond to Freeholder Bartlett's inquiries. However, Bartlett did hear from State Senator Paul Sarlo from Bergen County who also received a mailing. Sarlo heads the state's Judiciary Committee. In an April 7th response, Sarlo told Bartlett he would investigate the matter and a special meeting would be convened April 27th to consider all pending tax board nominees across the state.

The one problem --- according to Sarlo, they have one other possible candidate. Bartlett says this is totally unacceptable and says "that's just one. If you appoint one more, there is still five missing!" He concludes by saying "it is a disgraceful situation - until the Governor moves and the State Senate moves, it will remain this way. All we can do, unfortunately, is to plead with the administration to get on with it."

Earth Day Celebration In Point Pleasant Boro

by Jason Allentoff
Since 1969, Earth Day has been celebrated world-wide on April 22nd in an effort to inspire awareness and appreciation for the planet and the environment. For the past six years, the Point Pleasant Environmental Commission has honored the event with a family fun celebration. Although Earth Day isn't until next Wednesday, the local event takes place tomorrow - Saturday, April 18th.

This year, the theme "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" is the key focus and commission chairwoman Sheryl Burke says they entertain as well as inform. "It has been going on for six years now, and we have a great turnout - it is mostly a family event. It is a real fun day." She adds "we have a petting zoo, we have rides for the kiddies and also educational booths for people age one all the way up to seniors so they can learn so much." The Ed Austin Band entertains with their own special brand of music.

The Environmental Commission sponsors and organizes an Earth Day fair each year to showcase local efforts, vendors of green products, environmental organizations and local businesses. Various local community groups including Clean Ocean Action and Save Barnegat Bay will feature booths on how to improve our planet's conditions.

The event runs from noon till four p.m. at the Community Park on Bridge Avenue in Point Pleasant Boro. Meteorologist Alan Kasper is calling for a beautiful day ahead with sunshine and highs in the upper 70's!

For more information, call 732-899-7240

No One Injured In Toms River Home Fire

Toms River Police responded to a structural fire just after 4 a.m. Thursday morning at 22 Admiral Avenue. The Howe family was home with their two daughters and three other family members one of which woke up to the smell of smoke. She began to alert other family members of a fire in the basement and they began to exit the house when their smoke detectors went off.

Toms River Fire Companies 1 & 2 , East Dover and island Heights Fire Company responded and extinguished the Smokey fire.

There were no injuries as a result of the fire that is being investigated by Officer Andrew Chencharik and Bureau of Fire Prevention inspector John Novak.

It appears a lit candle may have been what started the blaze.

The Grand Opening Of The Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center Is Monday.

Right now child abuse victims have to go to the different agencies located throughout the county and tell their story numerous times to many different people.

The Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center will be a child-friendly facility where all of the multi-disciplinary professional who responds to child abuse victims will coordinate their investigation and provide follow-up services.

“It’s proven that when you have a coordinated effort when it comes to a child abuse case it does help not only the victim to heal that much more quickly, but also to help with the prosecution of the people who have committed the crime,” says Terrence Loftus with the Friends of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center.

The grand opening of phase one of the center is 10 AM Monday at the facility on Kozloski Road in Freehold.

By: Janet Fried

Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone Says Legislation Creating Healthcare Reform That Would Cover Every American May Be Introduced Soon

Pallone, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, says the problem right now is that health insurance costs too much.

"The reason why people can't afford it is because they can't buy an affordable policy. If you have these large group plans, both private and public, through the Federal government, costs would be maybe half of what they are now," says Pallone

Pallone and members of the Health Care for America Now Coalition held a news conference Thursday at the in Trenton.

Pallone says a lot of the groups that have opposed this type of plan in the past are on board this time around because they believe if we continue with the system that we have it will get even more expensive and more people will not be able to afford healthcare.

By: Janet Fried

Video Captures Toms River Bank Robbery Suspect

By Tom Mongelli

Surveillance video yields a striking view of a bank robbery at a Toms River bank just after opening Thursday morning.

According to township Police Chief Mike Mastronardy, the suspect showed no weapon and hurt neither the six tellers or one customer inside the T-D Bank brand on eastbound Route 37 in Ortley Beach just after 9:30. He demanded cash and fled with it on foot across the highway.

He's described as white, about 25 years old, standing about 5'7

"and weighing about 160 pounds. Witnesses say he wore a dark zippered jacket and blue jeans, with camouflage fleece covering his face.

Toms River Officer Thomas DiMichele, Detective Charles Dallago and Captain Michael Dorrick are investigating, along with Ocean County Sheriff’s officers and members of the FBI in Red Bank.

Latino Alliance Endorses Obama's Immigration Reform Plans

by Jason Allentoff

With roughly 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, President Barack Obama feels immigration reform needs to happen and soon. Here in the Garden State, the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey has officially announced its support of a plan by the Obama Administration to take a hard look at the system and make some changes. Representatives of the group feel the system is broken and in major need of an overhaul.

The Alliance thinks a greater emphasis needs to be put on becoming a legal resident and a comprehensive plan to do so should be in place. They applaud the work of the new commander in chief because it shows an amazing political courage due to the fact it is a hot-button issue that is often met with controversy. The Alliance backs strong efforts to protect the civil rights of immigrants in the United States in the immediate future and in the long term. During the forthcoming legislative debate over immigration, the group advocates for an end to home and workplace raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Martin Perez is the president of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey. He says "For too long, we have lived with a broken system - one that can't be fixed by inaction and neglect. We congratulate President Obama for taking on this complex and polarizing issue.

We realize the debate will be a long and arduous one but it is time that we take the first steps to create a rational immigration policy." Perez went on to say that "the United States must always be a beacon of home and light for immigrants not oppressive state that forces them to hide in the shadows and work in substandard conditions for substandard wages and for the last decade, immigrants have been wrongfully blamed for all of the ills of society. This must change."

Frank Argote-Freyre with the Alliance goes on to say that the immigrant workforce in the U.S. continues to grow. He says "with such an important workforce, there's an economic motive behind insuring that the immigrants are woven into the fabric of our society."

At present, there is no word on when President Obama will turn his focus on the immigration reform because he is working on fixing the troubled economy. However, the Alliance isn't sitting still.

On April 25th in Elizabeth, they will join a slew of community leaders and organizations for "Families United," a special event that will work to record testimonials from immigrants adversely effected by the current immigration policy. Senator Robert Menendez and Congressmen Luis Gutierrez and Albio Sires will be present at the event to be held at 201-223 Spring Street at 11:00 a.m.

Monmouth County Residents Are Gossiping About The Alleged Bruce Springsteen Affair

West Long Branch resident Arthur Kelly has accused his wife Ann in divorce papers of having an affair with Bruce Springsteen.

"It could be true, otherwise he's opening himself up for a lawsuit," says one Belmar resident.

"I don't know if its true or if the husband just wants to make himself look better," says one Monmouth County woman.

A judge this week denied a request by an attorney for Ann Kelly to seal the divorce proceedings to protect the couple's two daughters.

Springsteen has been married to singer and songwriter Patti Scialfa for 17 years. They have homes in Colts Neck and Rumson.


By: Janet Fried

A State Measure Would Take Away The MVC's Power to Raise Fees

By: Rosetta Key



Republican State Lawmakers are attempting to prevent the Corzine Administration from using the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission as a cash cow to shore up the state's coffers.

10th District Assemblyman Jim Holzapfel says the M.V.C was recently given authority to increase its fees but he says in some instances the agency is proposing hiking some fees by 300 to 600 percent.

Holzapfel says one particular concern is the agency's proposal to raise motorcycle registration fees from $10 to $65 dollars.

He says, "this is a death by a thousand cuts. It's bad enough we've got the highest taxes in the nation ... now what they're going to do is come back and through fees."

According to his legislative office press release, the fee increases are expected to cost New Jersey residents an additional $40 to $60 million annually.

Holzapfel says he's co-sponsor of a measure A-3850 that would place all motor vehicle fees back under the authority of the Legislature.

Hundreds Attend Health Fair In Berkeley Township

by Jason Allentoff

The Health Care Institute of New Jersey sponsored a health and wellness fair in Berkeley Township Monday. Hundreds of people attended the session where the main focus was on healthier living and new medical advances that can improve the quality of life. The event brought out people from all age groups from the very young to seniors - to the healthy and to those ailing with debilitating and incurable diseases. However, despite the outlook for some, everyone's spirits remained high during the four hour fair. Residents from as far away as Little Egg Harbor and even parts of Burlington County came out to see what the forum was all about.

Attendees took complete advantage of the various screenings which included cholesterol, body mass index readings, sugar level testing and blood pressure. Topics discussed included cholesterol and glucose health and ways diet and exercise can not only help with weight loss but change the way you feel throughout the day. Energy levels that were once dwindling can be increased with even ten to twenty minutes of slow-paced walking. More than a dozen vendors and health care providers and agencies had tables set up with pamphlets and literature visitors could take with them for more information.

A slew of special guests attended including 3rd District Congressman John Adler, Berkeley Township Mayor Jason Varano, Bob Franks who heads the Health Care Institute of New Jersey and Jane Maloney of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.

3rd District Congressman John Adler spoke to the crowd and vowed to continue to fight for senior rights here at home and in Washington D.C. Adler says he wants everyone to know that the economic situation we are all feeling is having an effect on health care but they are working to make things better at a local and national level. Adler says "we have the chance to reform the nation's health care system - to get better results and more affordable costs for businesses and individuals and I think this year we will make tremendous strides at working towards an improved system." Adler says costs have been on the rise for quite sometime and they need to "slow the costs so the people who are being slammed right now with high rates can catch a break. People shouldn't have to chose between eating and health care."

Hollie Gilroy, a spokesperson with The Health Care Institute of New Jersey, says the goal is to bring professional expertise directly to local residents and a lot of advances in the medical field have changed things for the better. She says "technology, better medicine is helping people live longer, better lives and the senior population in particular is very astute when it comes to learning about new ways of treating ailments." Gilroy says they were pleased with the turnout and throughout the day, more and more people dropped in to pick up information, get screened for various health conditions and just have a place to talk to officials who could lend a helping hand and provide plenty of free advice.

Jane Maloney with the Ocean County Office of Senior Services says arming yourself with the knowledge that if you're diagnosed with an illness, there are treatment options available and help can be just a phone call away. She adds "often times, people who contact her office are worried about their living situation. People are frightened because they want to stay in their homes for as long as possible. The number one issue is to try and get to these people early on so they're not faced with nursing home placement." Maloney says anyone who needs information should log on to their web site at http://www.ocean.nj.us/SeniorServicesMainPage.aspx

President of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey Bob Franks was one of the guest speakers. He says there is a real need for these types of programs so residents can know what options they have open to them. He adds "seniors in particular are interested in learning about the resources. In some cases, these people are afflicted with a disease or they are a caregiver to someone else who needs assistance." Franks says this will not be the last seminar. They hope to have another one later in the year.

The Ocean County Prosecutors Office Teams Up With Georgian Court University In Identifying Youth Mentoring Programs That Work

By: Rosetta Key



The Ocean County Prosecutors Office is methodically going about its gang prevention efforts and have recruited the assistance of Georgian Court University students.

Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford says G.C.U. students are participating in a research project aimed at identifying the resources already in place in Ocean County's 33 communities designed to thwart gang attraction and recruitment activities.

The University says the research, which began on February 18th, is being conducted by faculty and students in the sociology, anthropology, criminal justice and social work departments.

Prosecutor Lynch Ford says, "what we intend to do with that information is then report it back to the community and to try and identify successful programs that are worthy of having funding and resources directed to them."

She adds "there might well be a program out there that's struggling and if we can try and identify that program as a successful program then we would like to also lobby to make sure they get resources so that they can survive."

According to a University press release, 82 surveys were completed by school officials. These results, along with survey results from athletic leaders, social service providers, criminal justice agencies and other individuals from the municipalities, will be presented at a gang prevention conference being held at G.C.U on Friday May 1st.

Lynch Ford says the study will also help identify the programs that aren't working very well and will examine the reasons for their success or failures.

The conference is being sponsored by the OceanFirst Foundation and is open to the public. Reservations are required. Register online at www.georgian.edu/advancement/initiative.htm or call Maja Meighan at 732-987-2105 or Ross Basen at 732-987-2280.

NOAA Still Believes Not Moving A Group Of Jersey Shore Dolphins Was The Right Decision

In the past week a dolphin carcass was found in the Shrewsbury River and a second in the Navasink. It's too soon to tell if they are from the group of 16 dolphins that lived in the rivers last year. Animal rescuers wanted to move the mammals back to sea but federal officials decided not to.

"Our decision was to let these wild free swimming animals behave as naturally as possible and we certainly acknowledged all along that we couldn't guarantee that all of them would live," says Teri Frady, Spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The carcasses of both dolphins are too decomposed to make an accurate match with the photo-id catalogue to see if they were part of the group of 16. Dorsal fins and body markings are usually used to identify and track dolphins. Experts are trying to use teeth and tissue samples to determine the age, sex, population stock and possible cause of death of the two dolphins.


By: Janet Fried

Toms River Hepatitis-B Cluster Sparks State Legislation

by Tom Mongelli

The Hepatitis-B cluster that cost a Toms River doctor his practice 'til further notice sparks remecial legislation in Trenton. Shore-based state Senator Robert Singer (R-30) is crafting a measure that would require intravenous-therapy doctors to register with the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services, and to submit to annual routine inspections by county health officers.

Singer says that the problem with state regulations is a lack of sufficient oversight.

"Doctors' offices are not under the kind of inspection that people believe they are," says Singer, "whether it's infusions, bone marrow biopsies, transfusions or anything along those lines."

The Senate Health Committee member says his bill addresses not only consumer protection, but also the evolving roles of doctors in healthcare coverage.

"Many insurance carriers have turned to doctors' offices because it's less expensive than in a hospital," the Senator says. "That's fine. But someone has to be inspected to make sure those offices meet the criteria."

All inspections and ramifications would be performed under state health department guidelines. But Singer cautions that his aim is protection, not penalties.

"You could be assured," says Singer,"that at least once a year, somebody is coming through the door to check on it."

Earle Controversy Nears Climax

by Tom Mongelli

Plans to place civilians in about 300 homes at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County appear nearly complete - but New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith is trying to convince Pentagon officials to consider a buyout.

Finalization of an environmental impact statement within a matter of weeks is all that remains before the for-rent signs can go up.

"This is no time to play 'chicken'," says the Fourth-District Republican about the longstanding agreeement that allows property owner Terry Fisher to place the mostly-unused housing on the market. Naval officials want to end years of paying for upkeep that has run into millions of dollars.

Smith contends that the Navy's plan to separate homes from sensitive base operations by a fence is risky in the post-9/11 era, and he has concerns about the potential tax bite area homeowners face to educate a larger number of children from families who move to the Laurelwood project. Municipalities can tax the buildings, but not the federally-owned land.

In a meeting at the Pentagon with acting Navy Secretary B.J. Penn, Smith says he brought up the fact that Ms. Fisher is willing to enter into buyout talks - and Penn was unaware of it.

"I asked Secretary Penn...has there been any effort to reach out to Terry Fisher, and the answer was 'no,'" Smith says. "I said, well, I'm asking you...reach out to her. They're willing to start the negotiations."

Smith says he wants a full cost estimate - including security expenses for the Navy, roadbuilding costs for Fisher, and associated local school expenditures - before any action is taken.

Please send questions or comments to wobmnews@wobm.com.

Health Fair Scheduled For Monday

by Jason Allentoff

The Healthcare Institute of New Jersey brings the community together for a special wellness fair this Monday, April 13th in Berkeley Township where a wide variety of issues will be discussed.

A slew of special guests will be in attendance including 3rd District Congressman John Adler, Berkeley Township Mayor Jason Varano and Jane Maloney of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.

Hollie Gilroy, a spokesperson with The Healthcare Institute of New Jersey, says the goal is to bring professional expertise directly to local residents and a lot of advances in the medical field have changed things for the better. She says "technology, better medicine is helping people live longer, better lives and the senior population in particular is very astute when it comes to learning about new ways of treating ailments."

Attendees will be able to learn more about cholesterol health, glucose, blood pressure and ways they can extend their lives through diet and exercise. A variety of screenings will also take place including body mass index readings and sugar levels.

During the discussion on ways to live longer, officials will talk about changing you behaviors and attitudes on certain subjects - for example, smoking. Gilroy says sometimes health and medical situations force you to change your habits. Gilroy says "the experts say that it takes on average about three weeks to adopt a new behavior, so it's not as painful as you think."

To date, about 150 people have pre-registered for the program. Reserve your seat by calling 908-212-0333. The fair takes place at the Holiday City at Berkeley Clubhouse 2 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Chris Christie sits down with residents for 'Kitchen Table Tax Talk'

A white house with blue shutters and a white picket fence. Joe Schmitt, a former Wall Street executive, has lived at the home in Bayville, Berkeley Township for the past ten years. He has a wife and two sons. Joe opened his home up to Republican Gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie for some candid discussion on fiscal and budgetary issues.

Three residents were invited to the roundtable panel: Tara Askew, a Bayville resident and mother; John MacMoyle, a crane operator from Bayville; and Jeanne Weiner, a senior from Manchester. Top concern on all of their minds? Taxes. Taxes. Taxes.

Christie listened to their concerns and offered solutions as based in his 51 Point Plan to Fix NJ, which is published on his website. His top priorities if elected are to cut income taxes, change the way the state budget is done, and reduce the corporate business tax rate.

As host, Joe said he was impressed with Christie's ideas and said that it was time for a change. "Just like the nation was sick of all the Republicans running it, I'm sick of the Democrats running New Jersey."

To read more on Chris Christie's 51 Point Plan to Fix NJ, go to www.christiefornj.com

Jackson Skate Park Re-Opens

by Jason Allentoff

The community of Jackson Township unities to rebuild a skate park after several incidents of vandalism took place and overall neglect forced the closure about a month ago. Several residents jumped on board offering many forms of support to help get the kids back into the park.

Before the park was built skaters could be found behind shopping centers, in township parking lots and generally in places where landowners and business people would see a problem with it. During the month-long closure, the scenario for the kids was unsafe because they went back into the streets for their recreation. That has now changed once again with the park open every day from dawn to dusk.

Council President Mike Kafton was one of the people behind the initiative to re-open the park. At his request, the township went in and cleaned up the park and made minor repairs. Much of the equipment that was removed will now be repaired or replaced through funding provided by the Community Development Block Grant.

At a recent council meeting, Kafton said "if the government won't do it, then we'll take it to the people to get things done and that's exactly what happened. We reached out to all residents and asked world BMX champ Scotty Cranmer and his mother - who own Incline Club in Lakewood - to help us get this done and now the park is open."

A special meeting will be held on April 16th at Town Hall to discuss fundraising and upgrade and improvement plans. It starts at 7 p.m.

Thousands of Ocean County Cancer Patients Must Now Scramble to Find New Doctors

By: Rosetta Key

Nearly 3,000 shore-area cancer patients have to find new doctors after the state decides to suspend a Toms River Oncologist's medical license indefinitely. State Consumer Affairs spokesman Jeff Lamm says Doctor Parvez Dara is required to provide his patients with their medical records. "We want them to have continuity in care so that if they need to go to another physician they do have the ability to get their medical records and to have those records transferred to the physician they select."

The State Board of Medical Examiners office affirmed a decision by its subcommittee last Friday to temporarily suspend Dr. Dara's license. Lam says "the suspension can not be lifted until the board takes a specific action to do that." He says the move was prompted when five of his patients were diagnosed with the blood-bourne Hepatitis-B virus. In response, the board sent its field investigators to visit Dr. Dara's offices and discovered a host of conditions they describe as unsanitary.

Lamm says patients having trouble getting their medical records from Dara's offices can report it to the Medical Examiners at (609) 826-7100.

The Ocean County Health Department is also providing patients with information at (800) 342-9738. Area hospitals are assisting with patient referrals.

The 24-hour physician referral number provided by the Saint Barnabas Health Care System that operates Community Medical Center in Toms River and Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood is 1-888-SBHS-123 or 1-888-724-7123.

40 Down, 20 To Go

By Tom Mongelli

The Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant in Lacey, at age 40 among the oldest active commercial reactors in America, is now cleared to try for another 20 years of operation. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on April 8 issued the license extension that parent company Exelon - and two prior corporate incarnations - had sought in a five-year process.

The move drew quick and sharp response from opponents who had taken their challenge to unprecedented levels, including two Ocean County hearings by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan says that the renewal follows April inspections meant to determine that operators are adhering to aging-management systems stipulated as conditions for approval. But he cautions that a license extension isn't a blank check.

"If we at any point see evidence that there's any sort of degradation of the plant that could pose any sort of safety concerns," says Sheehan, "then we won't hesitate to take the appropriate steps."

Between now and an annual public assessment hearing tentatively set for May 28th in Ocean County, members of the multi-group coalition against relicensing will try to determine their next course of action. Janet Tauro of Grandmothers, Mothers and More for Energy Safety calls the relicensing premature, claiming that corrosion still threatens the steel liner around the reactor.

"They have not completed the 3-D analysis according to standards and recommendations that were set forth by their own advisory committee," Tauro says. "We know that the steel containment of the reactor is corroding. But we still don't know how extensive the corrosion is."

Richard Webster of the Eastern Environmental Law Center, who has tended their legal issues, has indicated that they can either re-file their appeal or bring their case to federal court.

Jersey Shore Nuclear Watch founder Edith Gbur hopes to refocus public attention on the issue with a film the group will screen April 11 at the Ocean County Library in Toms River. "Everything You Wanted To Know About Nuclear, But Were Afraid To Ask" features a discussion by director David Weissman.

Please send questions or comments to wobmnews@wobm.com.

Wind Power Symposium At Ocean County College

For the past few years, we have heard about the various technologies available to better the environment. Almost over night, the term "going green" has spread like wildfire throughout the world. Recently, hundreds of millions of people in over 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries turned out the lights for Earth Hour and saved plenty of power which reduced carbon dioxide output. Here at the Jersey Shore, there has long been debate about the viability of wind power and whether or not wind turbines along the coast would hurt tourism. Experts don't believe so.

Just a day after the economic recovery summit at Ocean County College, I returned to the Toms River campus for a wind energy symposium. Attendees of the second annual summit heard from experts on the subject of wind power and why its a good renewable resource. The Garden State is making tremendous strides when it comes to green technologies. Various organizations and utilities gathered in conference room's A and B where a wide variety of issues was discussed including how the technology can advance, how you can get more information and all the pros and cons. The turnout was light and very few members of the public showed up.

The symposium comes a day after Governor Jon Corzine attended a meeting sponsored by the United States Department of the Interior on off-shore energy plans. President Barack Obama has a lot of strategies in the works and the session held in Atlantic City brought Governor Jon Corzine face to face with U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Topics included oil and gas drilling, the need for wind turbines along the shore and ways to reduce the carbon foot print. The meeting at O-C-C took the concept and brought it to a local level.

Scott Hunter is with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities' Office of Clean Energy. He spoke during the forum and told me the importance of wind power. He explained wind energy is valuable but a little more expensive to launch at first. He says "it couldn't pay for itself solely in the electricity savings so we need to give it a little more extra subsidy and the federal government provides that through tax credits." Hunter adds the benefits to the environment and the savings to the pocketbook and wallet will outweigh the initial expenses.

Hunter says some of the possibilities for going green are very exciting to discuss. He says "solar, wind and bio-mass have also been recognized by the state of New Jersey as being key technologies." He adds "there is no silver bullet when it comes to renewable energy. A whole portfolio of technologies will be needed to be put onto the table."

According to data provided in a brochure given out at the event, windmills off the east coast could generate enough electricity to replace most, if not all, the coal-fired power plants in the country. The location is also important. Hunter says where you decide to put the turbines can make or break the investment and "Obstructions really cause havoc with the wind resource. All the turbulence would reduce the productivity of the wind so you really need to find an un-obstructed area in the direction of the prevailing winds."

For more information, you can check out http://www.njcleanenergy.com

by Jason Allentoff

Ocean County Freeholders adopt $357 million County Budget

No tax increase, no furloughs, and no cuts in services or programs. A public hearing was held Tuesday on the $357 million 2009 Ocean County Budget, which includes a $5.5 million dollar pension obligation to the state of New Jersey.

Freeholder Director John Bartlett says they were prepared to weather the economic storm during tough times and are fiscally responsible to make that payment. Bartlett says on the revenue side, the pension will be paid for using $1.5 million in pension reserve funds, $1 million from surplus, and $500,000 from the Ocean County Library for their share of the pension costs.

On the expense side of the budget, they reduced capital purchases by $2 million, and then went through the spending plan line by line shaving costs to reduce the total by half a million dollars.

Bartlett says it was difficult, but they worked together to make it happen with no added tax increase on the residents of Ocean County. He says, "It's been a long, hard process..they've cut back on overtime and they are expecting every department head to reduce expenses by 10 to 15 percent."

Freeholder Gerry Little adds, "It is a very conservative budget that cuts spending, one of the first times in the history of any county in the state of New Jersey, and continues to provide the services and programs that Ocean County residents expect."

Berkeley Township Elementary - Jets City For A Day

By Tom Mongelli

Diet and exercise may be two words we're all used to hearing as the keys to good health - but for students at Berkeley Township Elementary, they're the magic formula that wins them a visit from New York Jets linebacker Marques Murrell.

He appears April 8th as a reward for their achievement in the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's statewide "Eat Right, Move More" competition. Ag officials and team executives partner each year in a program that places a positive spin on the serious business of healthy life choices.

Berkeley Township Elementary joins schools in Wayne, Highland Park, North Plainfield and Sayreville in scoring highest among all the entrants this year.

Principal James Roselli says the youngsters now see visible reward in those healthy lunchroom snacks - and, combined with a stepped-up phys-ed program, will benefit them for their lives.

"Every Friday, students and staff participate in a walking program," says Roselli. "For the first time in many years, we have the kids doing the President's Physical Fitness Challenge."

Roselli says that Murrell will see a sea of Jets' green-and-white when he arrives. Students, staff and even the hallways will sport the colors, while the school's award-winning cheerleaders and band lead the reception.

Please send questions/comments to wobmnews@wobm.com

Economic Recovery On The Way But We're Not Out Of The Woods Yet

Close to a hundred Ocean and Monmouth County stakeholders braved the torrential rain Monday for a summit on economic recovery. The event kicked off at 8:30 a.m. and ran till 1:00 inside the gymnasium on the main campus at Ocean County College in Toms River. Several guest speakers and panels discussed a wide variety of topics and all in all, it was an informative day. However, the outlook for many sectors of the economy seem to not be undergoing a recovery and we may have to wait a little longer for things to improve. The goal was to assess the status of available assistance, review the impact on the various sectors and work together with associates to develop workable strategies.

One of the key components discussed is the fact that the government must intervene to jump-start the economy by convincing consumers to make large-scale purchases such as cars and homes. Promotion of energy efficiency and lending is also important for things to get better. Some at the summit were hoping to hear some good news but reaction from around the room was generally mixed.

Dr. James Hughes is the Dean of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers. You know him as a Rutgers Economist both on WOBM and on the Millennium Radio News Network. Hughes addressed the crowd during the national and state perspective panel.

Although Wall Street saw positive gains last week, it doesn't serve as a good gauge in regards to local economies. Hughes says "unemployment is a better way at judging the state of the economy and with very unflattering numbers released in the last few days, things are likely to get worse before they get better." He adds "we maybe seeing some slowing down in the rate of decline, so the new good news is that things are getting worse at a slower pace."

Dave Wolfe, who serves as the assistant to Ocean County President Jon Larson, was one of the principal organizers of the event. He is hopeful that things will change and we will all be able to weather the storm. He says "this is a country that has seen its share of difficulties before - especially economically - and there is a light at the end of the tunnel."

That light, according to Dr. Hughes, will probably shine through sometime later in 2009 but things will probably never return to the way they used to be. Hughes stresses the fact that people must realize these are different times and the way spending was done in the past can no longer happen that way. He says "we went through the greatest spending binge in the history of our planet and now we're paying the price for it." His advice for the public is simple - "be conservative, hang on - eventually, things will turn but don't be too optimistic all too soon as it will take time to fix."

During the small business and tourism perspective panel, Ocean County Freeholder Joe Vicari spoke since he serves as the tourism liaison. He also took time to address energy concepts. Solar energy projects in Ocean County received a total of $738,000 thanks to the federal economic stimulus package but Vicari wants to know what happens to the other sectors who need aid. Vicari says the total they received isn't enough and "five million dollars would be a better total because it would allow them to do new projects and create jobs."

Each panel stressed the importance of job creation as being the most valuable asset when it comes to economic recovery. Moderator David Wintrode told me that the panel plans to meet once again in the not-too-distant future to discuss the key components once again and make a master plan of attack.

by Jason Allentoff