Gaffney pens post about MHRC session last night

Courier Staff Writer Melissa Gaffney has penned a post about the Middletown Human Rights Commission session last night. As usual, she has crafted a fine post and she will be submitting a Web update for The Courier Online. Click on the headline to go to Sableminded, but also be sure to go to The Courier Online later today to check out the full story.

Latino news agency comes to Middletown

Cecilia Reynolds and Univision was here in Middletown to take on the issue of the governing body's proposed resolution against illegal aliens. Courier Staff Writer Melissa Gaffney got the interview and the YouTube about the story.

Click on the headline to go to a story about this at The Courier Online, by Ms. Gaffney.

Tobia discusses traffic protection trucks

Monmouth County Department of Public Works Director John Tobia discusses traffic protection trucks being used on ther job. This translates into both safety and economy.

Also in frame was Monmouth County Director of Public Information William Heine and Courier Staff Writer Melissa Gaffney. The interview was conducted today, at about 9:15 a.m. and is part of a larger story being written by Ms. Gaffney for next week.

John Tobia interview with The Courier

CAPTION: Monmouth County Dept. of Public Works Director John Tobia has been interviewed for next week's edition of The Courier.

I gave the John Tobia story to Courier Staff Writer Melissa Gaffney because she knew absolutely nothing about him and the background from last year. Consequently, she did learn about the controversy surrounding his appointment and his work beyond that. Frankly, it was startling.

Mr. Tobia has saved Monmouth County a lot of money -- into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. He gave a good interview, better than I thought he would. He was vey open and showed how he has saved taxpayers money. Mr. Tobia consented to YouTube filming, and I think he did incredibly well there. Frankly, I would have had no problem finding Mr. Tobia's faults as head of county public works and putting them out there as big as I could. But, there weren't any. He's good at what he does, and he is increibly competent. Monmouth County has been the better for his tenure thus far.

Melissa Gaffney will have the article next week in The Courier (we ran out of time and space in the paper) but will have the YouTubes posted and some commentary at her blog, Sable Minded. Click on the headline to go there.

Manoes gives interview about superintendent controversy

I accompanied Courier Staff Writer Melissa Gaffney to this evening's meeting of the Keansburg Board of Education. The central issue on many peoples' minds is the retirement package given to the outgoing schools superintendent. The retirement package is worth the better part of a million dollars and many critics, in the borough and around the state, are upset.

Ms. Gaffney asked BOE President William "Billy" Manoes if he would consent to a YouTube interview and he did. In all candor, Mr. Manoes and his school board colleagues were not the borough school board to adopt the contract, but are quite open about their position. This is a very difficult thing for anybody to do, and the transparency with which Mr. Manoes and this board are conducting themselves is, in my opinion, laudable.

Ms. Gaffney did an excellent job covering this issue and her story in this week's upcoming edition of the newspaper is going to be an excellent one.

There is also a story about this on NJ.com for some additional information.

Click on the headline to go to Ms. Gaffney's blog, Simply Sable, for more information.

Gaffney posts piece about FEMA flood maps

Courier Staff Writer Melissa Gaffney has posted numbers for contacting Sen. Bob Menendez and Sen. Frank Lautenberg about the FEMA flood map issue. Click on the headline to go to her blog, Simply Sable.

Where does Sens. Menendez and Lautenberg stand on FEMA flood maps?

CAPTION: Sen. Bob Menendez last year, during a Bayshore appearance at the Shore Casino, in Atlantic Highlands.

The question of where U.S. senators Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg stand on the FEMA flood map crisis is being asked by Courier Staff Writer Melissa Gaffney.

Basically, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-6, has crafted legislation which, if adopted, would place a moratorium on the FEMA flood maps. Both of these office holders have been popular in the Bayshore. I believe now is a time, though, when the Bayshore needs something to alleviate the concerns of thousands of residents.

What each senator's office responds with will be in the upcoming edition of The Courier next week.

Response to Deputy Mayor Brightbill about flood map series

At the Monday, April 21st meeting of the Middletown Committee, Deputy Mayor Pamela Brightbill made a passing reference to this newspaper’s current storyline about the new FEMA flood maps.

It was my choice to deal with every aspect of this issue’s relevance to the Middletown area, and among those aspects are partisan points of view — told equally.

At the meeting, Deputy Mayor Brightbill said she was “shocked and amazed” that a local paper would “…want to comment on a local level about the FEMA flood maps.” She went on to say that the flood maps are “…certainly not a political issue…”

Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger echoed these sentiments and also noted that the “forum” held by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, R-Monmouth, had addressed the matter adequately. So, I am left wondering, if it is his assertion that the assemblywoman’s forum was the whole thing, everything that anyone in Northern Monmouth County ever needs to know about the FEMA flood maps?

The fact is that this year’s election contest is a vital one in Northern Monmouth County, and this flood issue is an all-important one to area residents. These residents deserve to know what potential elected office holders plan to do about this issue, as flood insurance rates have wide-ranging effects on thousands of Middletown residents. Let’s not forget that the real-estate business could be better.

When the parties contribute to the discussion, and the facts of what is ongoing about this issue are presented alongside these positions, the hope is that residents benefit by knowing what is going on with their community, and the intent of those who are seeking or currently possess leadership in that community.

To say that the government, organized under anyone, is the final word about anything in the United States is a bold assumption that amounts to hubris. Metaphorically speaking, my belief is that government wakes up in the morning, has its coffee, and seldom fails to disappoint. In fact, government only seems to work appropriately when it is questioned, and this is especially true in Monmouth County: doubly so in Middletown.

Deputy Mayor Brightbill is a candidate this year, along with Anthony Fiore, for two seats on the Middletown Committee, representing the GOP. The candidates for the Middletown Committee from the Democratic Party are James Grenafege and Patricia Walsh. Since the flood map issue is going to impact more than 2,000 Middletown homes, I hope that all these folks have considered just what they would do about it should they get the voters’ nod to raise their right hand for an oath in January.

Middletown’s government has been deceptive, on many levels, in the past about many things. It’s a way of doing business in the township. Consequently, in benefit to all candidates concerned, it was the intention of this paper to survey the stand that various candidates have taken so as to give greater accessibility to the thought processes of the town’s leaders and proposed leaders.

Of course, this series will also deal with real-estate values, insurance companies, FEMA, neighboring Bayshore towns, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the opinions and thoughts of Bayshore residents and other municipal governments.

The idea of the series, being written by Staff Writer Melissa Gaffney, is to provide a total picture, as best as possible, for the everyday Bayshore resident. I believe that the forum was not all that helpful for many things where it involves residents.

Partisanship is a part of life in Monmouth County, like it or not. I think that Assemblywoman Handlin’s proposed policy, which as stated is essentially to blame Rep. Frank Pallone, D-Monmouth, falls short of helpful information. Meanwhile, I do hope that Rep. Pallone’s solution to this crisis is better than simply noting that Bayshore flood remediation efforts, which were put on this year’s Federal Budget and removed by the administration as a “Christmas tree item” -- and it was -- is better than just blaming President Bush. Let’s face it: To date, partisanship has marked this process.

However, I believe the most dynamic questions are going to relate to the disparity between the estimations of FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers’ assessments about the berms, which were removed.

In the meantime, politics is a part of this stew, and if someone is under the impression that politics is devoid from this issue it would be either incredibly egotistical or simply naïve.

The Middletown Committee is conferring with its paid Washington DC lobbyists. The township is putting out 1,800 leaflets to Bayshore residents. I suggest that politics is thick in Middletown, and what might best serve residents is simply getting all the facts straight from all sides of the matter.

If the candidates in Monmouth’s largest municipality have something to say about the real estate and insurance destinies of thousands of residents, I opine that now (when it is wanted) is a good time to let people know what they think.

‘Business as usual’ is not going to save one resident $1. Like it or not, there are points of view to be listened to about this matter. As for Courier commenting, I will explain for the benefit of Deputy Mayor Brightbill (who noted this during her comments): Editorials are things where individuals comment. What is going on right now is a series, written as news. There is no comment in news other than those offered by those interviewed. Actually, I, for one, have no position on this yet. Then again, I am not the one who is proposing to either hold office or is currently holding office, as the fine folks up at the dais in Middletown are.

Information about this issue needs to be broad and as comprehensive as possible. If Deputy Mayor Brightbill and Mr. Fiore do not wish to comment about this then that is their prerogative. But, to say that no one else should comment about this in their community is just ridiculous. If anyone wants to say anything about this issue, from any perspective, then Courier wants to print it.

Click on the headline to go to Ms. Gaffney's story.

Gaffney went to see Pope Benedict XVI

Courier Staff Writer Melissa Gaffney recently traveled to New York City to see the pope at St. Patrick's. Click on the headline and go to her blog to see a video shot by her.

Also, Ms. Gaffney will be publishing a report this week on the pope's visit and is impact on area Catholics. Pick up The Courier to see the story on Thursday, or go to The Courier Online at: www.bayshorenews.com.

Adult School in Union Beach is likely to close

The Adult School in Union Beach has been a county wide asset for more than three decades. It's likely the school is going to be a casualty budget this year, despite its record of providing a very valuable service to the larger community in Monmouth. Courier Correspondent Melissa Gaffney wrote a strong story about this. Click on the headline and go there.

'Simply Sable' launched by Gaffney

Courier correspondent Melissa Gaffney has launched a new blog, titled "Simply Sable." Melissa started things off by writing a piece about Eliot Spitzer that was funny, incisive and had a lot of truth in it. Click on the headline to go there.

In honor of the launch, I had to post a photo with absolutely no relevance whatsoever to the subject matter. But it is the St. Patrick's Day 'season.'

Kolibas to be interviewed about school board run

Courier Correspondent Melissa Gaffney will be writing a candidate story for the newspaper the week after next and for the Web site after a Thursday appointment. The subject of the interview is Hazlet school board candidate Will Kolibas, in Hazlet. The interview will be posted on our Web site in advance of the newspaper feature (we ought to have the Online article up by Friday). An interview on You Tube will also be posted by Friday.

Courier has not been very regular about the digital video products. But, we're going to be getting better at it. Like all things, there is a learning curve.

MELISSA GAFFNEY WILL BE REPORTING FOR COURIER

Melissa Gaffney

The Courier is welcoming a new correspondent to the line-up. Ms. Melissa Gaffney, Forked River, is going to be covering Union Beach, Keyport and the Hazlet school board for The Courier and The Courier Online. She will also be opening a blog in August, which will be dealing with news from the Bayshore.

Ms. Gaffney will be a Georgian Court University graduate in Dec. '08. She is a communications major at the university and the editor emeritus of The Georgian Court Report. Ms. Gaffney is a member of the Sigma Tau Delta English Society and she is very eager to begin governmental reporting.

To see Melissa's newspaper at GCU, you'll have to take the drive to Lakewood. But, you can see some of her work next week, when she interviews and YouTubes Hazlet school board candidate Will Kolibas. The YouTube will be up on Thursday, the Online story will be up on Friday, and the feature article will be in the following edition of the newspaper.

For all candidates out there, please remember it is your responsibility to call us for interviews because Courier reporters will not chase around candidates. To request interviews, call (732) 957-0070, ext. 6112, for our Associate Editor Chris Blaszczyk.

To contact Melissa by E-mail, she can be reached at: Ms.Melissa.Gaffney@Gmail.com.

Doing a story about young people and voting

Courier Intern Melissa Gaffney is working on an upcoming story about young people voting, and why they should be involved. The story will feature input from Monmouth County's public information officer, Bill Heine, and Freeholder Director Lillian Burry.

This election, perhaps more than any other in recent history, is setting a new course for our state and nation. Be sure to read next week's Courier for more on Decision 2008: The Youth.

To contribute to the story, call Melissa at 732-957-0070.