DISASTER DECLARATION FOR SIX NJ COUNTIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2007

CONTACTS:
Afshin Mohamadi (Menendez) 202-224-4744
Scott Mulhauser (Lautenberg) 202-224-3224

DISASTER DECLARATION FOR SIX NJ COUNTIES: SENS. MENENDEZ AND LAUTENBERG ENCOURAGED BUT URGE DECLARATION FOR ENTIRE STATE

Senators pleased that individuals in certain hard hit areas can now begin receiving assistance to help recover from storm damage, continue to seek funding for affected areas throughout state


WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) were encouraged by today’s signing of a federal disaster declaration for six New Jersey counties but also reiterated the need for a declaration for the rest of the state. Today’s declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to better help individuals in Bergen, Burlington, Essex, Passaic, Somerset and Union Counties recover from rampant flooding and other damage caused by last week’s Nor’easter that ravaged the state.

“This is a good and important step that should help thousands of our state’s hardest hit residents, but I’m hoping it is only a first step,” said Menendez. “Issuing a declaration for the entire state is the right move to make next, and I’m glad the Acting Governor has requested it. There are many across our state who badly need a lifebuoy. Thousands are still soaked and face a long recovery from the most rainfall here in more than a century. I have visited communities across the state, I have seen firsthand the wreckage caused by the damaging storm, and I know how badly the help is needed.”

"The damage done to New Jersey by last week's storm was devastating,” said Sen. Lautenberg. “FEMA’s decision is a first step to aid state and local recovery efforts already underway. Families and businesses in the counties declared a disaster will begin to receive the support they need to help rebuild their communities. We have witnessed the damage up close, however, and are disappointed that the President excluded affected counties across New Jersey sorely in need of these emergency funds. I urge President Bush to expand this declaration and include the entire state.”

The Senators, along with the New Jersey house delegation, sent letters to the President last week urging him to issue an official federal disaster declaration so that local governments would be eligible to receive federal grants to repair damage caused by storms. To see the letter sent on Monday, April 16, visit: http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=272453. To see the letter sent on Friday, April 20, visit: http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=272798&.

The flood, which left an estimated 3,000 evacuated from their homes and 40,000 people without power, was caused by the most rainfall in New Jersey since 1882. This week, Acting-Governor Richard Codey announced that New Jersey had suffered $180 million in damage to both public and private property.

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Middletown public information policy: Is it uniform?

A question is going to be posed to the Middletown Township public information officer, with regard to existing policy involving the protocol for access to elected and appointed officials (them answering questions directly). Specifically, the broad policy that has been expressed by the township is that all communications by all media will go directly through the public information officer. Subsequently, the public information officer will respond with appropriate responses and interviews may be arranged through that office. Direct communications with elected people is, by policy, not allowed without prior approval.

So, theoretically, editors and reporters from other publications or news agencies, aside from Courier, would not be directly in communication with the elected and appointed officials they are seeking in Middletown on the first call.

However, some anecdotal evidence has presented itself that is not the case and it is only confirmed in the case of one other newspaper that such procedures are being adhered to. The questions are going to be asked, not only to the township but also informally to other agencies about the status of this situation.

The answer will be interesting.

Overnight burglary at A&P on 4/16

Middletown Township Police responded to a 6 AM call from a Navesink A&P employee reporting an overnight burglary on Monday, April 16, 2007. Officers Thomas Russo, Ernest Volkland, and Gregory Buhowski, arrived at the supermarket on Route 36 to discover a broken front door, an ATM machine knocked over and pried into, and a dismantled coin machine. Further investigation of the supermarket led officers to discover that a safe had been accessed with the use of a blowtorch, which was lying near the scene of the burglarized safe. Damage to the store’s front office was documented by the police officers, with another safe showing signs of a failed break-in attempt.

A follow-up investigation is in progress by Detective First Class Richard Rast and Detective First Class Adam Finck. Early detective work led them to the Quick Lube Oil Change on Memorial Parkway in Atlantic Highlands, where they discovered another break-in. Acetylene torches were stolen from the Quick Lube Oil Change and used in the A&P burglary.

Undisclosed amounts of money were taken from the A&P ATM machine, the coin machine, and the store’s safe. Detectives Rast and Finck are conducting an ongoing investigation of all incidents.

Job fair will be held at Keyport High School

A job fair will be held at Keyport High School on May 1, between 6-9 p.m. The high school is located at 351 Broad Street. The event is being sponsored by the Spanish Club and the Keyport RTecreation Committee. Both full- and part-time positions will be presented to graduating seniors from a number of agencies, governmental and in the private sector.

For more information, contact Virginia or Carlos Maldonado at 732-620-5632.

Dems sponsor Blueclaws trip

The Lakewood Blueclaws

Vs.

The Delmarva Shorebirds

Monday, June 25^th 2007

Game time: 7:05pm

Ticket price: $ 9.00

Sponsored by the “Middletown Democratic Club”

Kids 12yrs. & under receive voucher for hot dog, chips & soda

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For more Information or to Order Tickets

Contact:

Mike Morris at: planetmike1@juno.com or call (732) 495-4581

(732) 687-0028

Mail Ticket Orders to: 174 Geary Dr. Middletown, NJ, 07748

Coda is pretty good this week

Good editorial from Greater Media Exec. Editor Greg Bean about Imus and Vice President Dick Cheney, respectively. Worth a read.

He's been on a roll lately.

Charity walk held on Sandy Hook

There's a great story about a charity walk on Sandy Hook in today's APP. It's definitely worth a read. Lots of miscellaneous activity happening in politics in the area, but the community stuff has been stronger as of late.

Middletown shows up to express sympathy about VT tragedy

The event on Friday night honoring the late Julia Pryde was very moving andsomething that gave the township a chance to show support and remember her,her family and her friends. Her death was a terrible thing, and this is a youngperson who will be very missed.

The national media covering this story, I believe, has made a mistake in giving the play it has to the person responsible for the deaths at Virginia Tech. There is a line. At some point there has to be. Giving the person responsible for these things the news status he has been awarded is something that does harm, I think, and ceases to just inform about relevent fact.

This week, there will be stories in the upcoming Courier by myself and Reporter Scott Shanley. The main story regarding the event will be written by Senior Reporter Matt McGrath.

Captions:

The Middletown High School North Lion

High School North and South students showed up at the event to demonstrate their support for the Pryde family, and express their sympathy for what happened at Virginia Tech last week.

Middletown Police Press Release

MIDDLETOWN TWP. POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE
Prepared by Det. Lt. Joseph C. Capriotti

At approximately 6:00AM on Monday April 16, 2007 Officer Thomas Russo, Officer Ernest Volkland and Officer Gregory Buhowski responded to the A & P Supermarket on Highway 36 in the Navesink section of the township for a burglary the occurred overnight.

Employees of the supermarket arrived for work and discovered the ATM machine had been knocked over and immediately called the police. The officers discovered the front door had been forcibly pried open and the ATM and coin machine located in the front of the store were ripped open. Further inspection of the interior of the store revealed a safe had been ripped open by using a blow torch that was found at the scene. Additional damage to equipment in the office was noted and an attempt to gain entry into a second safe was made but unsuccessful.

Detective First Class Richard Rast and Detective First Class Adam Finck responded to the store to begin a follow up investigation. Their investigation lead them to Quick Lube Oil Change on Memorial Parkway in Atlantic Highlands near the A & P where another burglary was discovered and acetelyn torches were stolen that matched the ones found in the store.

An unknown amount of money was taken from the ATM, coin machine and the safe. Detectives Rast and Finck are continuing the investigation.

Atlantic Artisans will exhibit works, April 28-May 19

Atlantic Highlands, NJ – Atlantic Artisans is exhibiting an art show of “Abstract Expressionism” a dual woman exhibit of local artists Lauren Feury and Jessica Chiaffitella, April 28^th –May 19^th. Come meet the artists at an opening reception April 28^th from 6-8pm at Atlantic Artisans, 68 First Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ.

Lauren Feury currently resides in Old Bridge, NJ and will graduate in May from Rowan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Her paintings are based on abstract expressionism and are inspired by artists such as; Jackson Pollack, Willem de Kooning and Anselm Kiefer. She overlaps oil paint to create a sense of depth. The colors chosen in her paintings give a contrasting push/pull effect. She uses color and brushstrokes to create the overall composition in her paintings.

Jessica Chiaffitella currently resides in Highlands, NJ and was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She left the USA when she was 19 years old, for 7 years, to work and travel around the world. Her travels, especially through the Himalayas and South East Asia, have influenced her paintings. She has a deep interest in philosophy, spirituality and all things creative. Painting is a meditation in action that comes from her soul. She views her paints as a way to evoke emotions and positive energy.

Atlantic Artisans is proud to represent two talented women in “Abstract Expressionism”. Atlantic Artisans is an art gallery that exhibits local and American artisans in all styles, all mediums, and not just wall art. Atlantic Artisans also has a custom framing departments with a talented design team and friendly service. Your invited to come and view the show and enjoy the experience of local, talented artisans. For more information please contact Atlantic Artisans, 732-291-0100, or on the web www.atlanticartisans.com.

Policy on candidate interviews for Primary

For the record, to candidates for election in the upcoming Primary, I strongly encourge them to contact The Courier and make arrangements to be interviewed by one of our reporters for the upcoming vote.

The Courier's policy has been and will remain that it does not run around after candidates to interview them for any contest. It is incumbent on those seeking election to pick up a telephone, put in a call and be on time for any meeting that is arranged with our staff.

All candidate profiles featured in Courier will include a brief biography and a description of a few goals. A photograph will be shot at the time of the interview and used with the feature discussed. Subsequently, that photo will be used throughout the campaign, should more photographs not be used by candidates.

Courier adopts this stand because press is something responsible candidates should be approaching in the interest of their own effort for office. Candidates are making their case to the public about why they should be elected. If they are not interested in putting their views out via our outlet, then that is a decision their campaign has made.

Courier will present features on any candidate, from any town in our coverage area, in the manner above. Parties or lack thereof have any bearing on what candidates will be presented.

I encourage all candidates in the Primary to contact the newspaper at their earliest convenience if they want to be interviewed. Restatement of this policy will happen on our Web site next week and in the newspaper the following week. Following the Primary, I guess I'll restate the same thing then about the General.

Area students named to Syracuse Dean's List

The following students enrolled in the Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communciations were named to the Dean's List for Fall 2006: Heater Imerman, Matawan, a junior majoring in television and radio; Kevin Parks, Middletown, a sophomore majoring in public relations; Jacquelyn Berlly, Red Bank, majoring in marketing and retail management; David Hayward, Lincroft, majoring in accounting and finance; George Dawson, Middletown, majoring in accounting and finance; and Christopher Horvath, Holmdel, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering.

Congratulations to the students and parents.

Ft. Dix: Part of the past but playing an invaluable role today

I ran across the Web site for Ft. Dix today and it really has changed from the Ft. Dix of old. New Jersey continues to be a very viable part of the military's ability to project power throughout the world. It's a good site and it is encouraging to see something positive being done with one of the state's great institutions -- Dix.

Click onto the headline and go there.

Above: NJ Guardsmen at the range getting tuned up for deployment, in 2003.

PoliticsNJ.com posts about 13th District race

There's an interesting post on PoliticsNJ.com about the 13th District race, where it involves the Democratic side of the aisle.

Greater Media highlights GOP sheriff candidate

Greater Media has a good profile on GOP sheriff's candidate Kim Guadagno. It's definitely worth a look.

Keyport High School Job Fair

THIS JUST IN...

Blogger's Note: Thanks to Joe Sheridan for sending this along. JP

EVENT: Please be advised the Keyport High School Job Fair has been approved by Dr. Hernandez. The Keyport Spanish American Club with the assistance from the Keyport Park & Recreation will host the Job Fair. We are asking for volunteers to organize this event. The tentative date is May 1, 2007 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Please contact me by e-mail or phone (732) 620-5634 as soon as possible. We need to move quickly as it is around the corner.

Thank you for your support.
Regards
Virginia Maldonado

Military continues to do an outstanding job; make great sacrifices

The United States military is the greatest in the world, making incredible sacrifices for our nation and other nations. Certainly, not one of our young people serving anywhere in the world should be forgotten.

Yahoo posted a story about the sacrifices our military is making and it is definitely worth a read. Regardless of how anyone feels about anything relating to the war, I beleive it is without question that everyone in the country can get behind our military.

In the same vein, it is important for every citizen to recognize the sacrifices these people are making and understand the contributions these people are making on the altar for our freedom.

Blogger's note: No derisive comments will be permitted to this post in any way.

Above: A photo of New Jersey Army National Guard soldiers I shot at Ft. Bragg, NC, in 2003, preparing to be deployed to Southwest Asia.

NJ Towns Post Little Public Information Online

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Contact:
Michael Skudera

NJ Towns Post Little Public Information Online

Tinton Falls Councilman Michael Skudera urges the NJ Assembly and Senate to expand the Public Records Act

Assemblyman Richard Merkt plans to introduce a bill to encourage municipalities to post more public information online.

(Tinton Falls, NJ) – At Tuesday's council meeting (April 10, 2007 ), Councilman Michael Skudera presented a 63 page report on ways to improve the town's website. This proposal included a proposed ordinance that outlines what information must be posted online including minutes, agendas, public notices, budget information, and ordinances approved for introduction.

While conducting research for this ordinance, Skudera studied 175 municipal websites in New Jersey and found that the majority of towns post very little public information on their websites.

"It is rare to have a municipal website that posts even the basic public information online in a timely manner such as budgets, public notices, and minutes of meetings", Skudera said. "By expanding and improving a town's website, important public information can be made readily available to residents and this will help lower administrative costs, improve the overall efficiency of town employees, reduce consumption of paper, and improve open government."

Councilman Skudera has created a standardized list of basic public information that all municipalities in New Jersey should post on their websites. Skudera is asking the State Assembly and Senate to encourage all municipalities in New Jersey to post this basic information on their websites. Skudera adds that if a State grant were offered to municipalities for doing this, it would encourage towns to provide more information on their sites.

Assemblyman Richard Merkt is planning to introduce a bill in the Assembly to encourage towns to adopt an ordinance similar what Skudera is proposing in Tinton Falls because Merkt “believes it will help make municipal websites be more informative and useful to the public.”

Below is a list of what is proposed for Tinton Falls and encouraged to be done in municipalities throughout New Jersey.

Proposal - Expanding the New Jersey Open Public Records Act

Homepage of Site
The homepage of the [municipality name] website shall include at least the following information which shall be clearly visible directly or accessed through a single link on the home page: preliminary and final budgets, yearly audits, requests for open records, master plan, telephone and e-mail directory of employees and officials, minutes and agendas, forms and documents, voter registration forms, citizens concerns and inquiries form, common permits/licenses, competitive bidding opportunities, municipal codebook, ordinances for introduction, and public notices.

Posting of Budget
The preliminary budget and final budget shall be posted on the [municipality name] website within 48 hours of approval by the governing body and shall remain on the [municipality name] website for a period of no less than five (5) years.

Posting of Public Notices
All notices required to be posted publicly and/or published by law shall be posted on the [municipality name] website simultaneously with the physical posting or publication in paper form of such notices and shall remain on the [municipality name] website for a period of no less than one (1) year.

Posting of Ordinances
All ordinances approved for introduction by the governing body shall be posted on the [municipality name] website within forty-eight (48) hours and shall remain on the website for a period of not less than one (1) year.

Posting of Agendas
All agendas of meetings conducted in accord with the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.) shall be posted on the [municipality name] website simultaneously with the physical posting or publication in paper form of such notices for a period of not less than five (5) years.

Posting of Minutes
All minutes of meetings conducted in accord with the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.) shall be posted on the [municipality name] website within 48 hours of approval by the governing body and shall remain on the [municipality name] website for a period of no less than five (5) years.

Posting of Forms and Documents
All forms and documents placed throughout the website shall also be placed and accessible on a designated web page reserved mainly for accessing, searching, and downloading all forms and documents on the [municipality name] website.

Posting of Bidding Opportunities
Current bidding opportunities shall be posted along with the following information, official bid notices, RFP#, description of service requested, bid opening date, official bid notices, winning bid amount, winning bid, appropriated amount, status of bid, sign-up form for bidders and shall remain on the [municipality name] website for a period of no less than one (1) year.

Posting of Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities for [municipality name] shall be posted on the [municipality name] website.

Posting of Vacancies
When there is a vacancy of any elected office or any committee, commission, board, or agency of [municipality name], within forty-eight (48) hours, a notice of vacancy shall be posted on the [municipality name] website along with duties and responsibilities of that position.

Posting of Department Information
Each department shall have its own dedicated web page consisting of appropriate content for that department, contact information and available forms and documents. Each department shall be responsible for providing and forwarding updated information to the webmaster of [municipality name] when it becomes available.

Requests for Public Records
The clerk’s response to requests for public information and documents shall include the use of e-mail, if so requested and provided that the requested information is in electronic format. The requesting entity shall provide the necessary e-mail address so that the request can be fulfilled. The requesting entity shall not be charged any monies for receiving public information and documents through email.

Planning and Zoning Information
Information concerning pending applications before the Planning and Zoning Board for Preliminary and Final Major Site Plans, Subdivisions, and variances under section 70 of the Municipal Land Use Law Use Variance. This information shall include the following:
a. The name and address of the applicant;
b. The address and location of the proposed development;
c. A description of the proposed development;
d. Name and address, where applicable, of the person preparing the plans and the attorney representing the applicant; and
e. The current status of applications.
f. Detailed colored architectural renderings for all proposed buildings

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Codey is in for Corzine

Sen. Dick Codey again fills in for a governor, this time Jon Corzine in the wake of his recent accident. PoliticsNJ.com has a good story. Click on the headline and go there.

Menendez releases statement about Corzine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 13, 2007

CONTACTS: Afshin Mohamadi (Menendez) 202-224-4744

SEN. MENENDEZ RELEASES STATEMENT
ON GOVERNOR CORZINE

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today released the following statement about Governor Jon Corzine following his car accident yesterday:

“My thoughts and prayers are with my friend Jon Corzine and his family as he recuperates. I am thankful that his injuries are not life-threatening and that he will make a full recovery. I look forward to his speedy return.

“During this difficult time for our state, I have spoken to and pledged to work with acting-Governor Codey and to lend my assistance whenever it is needed. I have full confidence in his ability to guide our state until Governor Corzine is ready to resume work.”