Candidates wanted: First come, first serve!

I spoke with a few candidates today in Ocean Grove, and think I want to reiterate policy again: Courier does stories on any and every candidate who comes forward and wants one done, calls and schedules a time to come to our building. We do not go after people, because the main job of a candidate is to explain their positions. I guarantee most of these campaigns have more staff than Courier.

Appointments can be made by calling me, at (732) 957-0070, ext. 6116. Leave a day and time when you can come down and we'll make it happen.

As an aside, what I really want to ask every candidate is a simple question: How are you going to reduce my taxes and make government smaller and less expensive? Don't want to hear about 'holding any lines,' want to know how taxes get smaller, business gets encouraged and a long term plan about dealing with debt (e.g. generating revenue outside taxation).

SCHIP Program was something important, left undone

The SCHIP Program is not a frill. It's about the basics of health care for U.S. children. I keep hearing about how this party or that party understands money, but the reality is that the Federal Government is being run by two parties, neither of which have a real sense of priorities where it involves spending.

SCHIP is about childrens' health care, which is the most significant responsibility this nation has (right alongside Medicare and Social Security). When did this program became disposable?

Click on the headline. The APP has a good editorial about it today.

Clean Elections Program: Is it still a joke?

The Clean Elections Program has traditionally, in my opinion, been a joke. When it was practiced here in Monmouth two years ago, in the 13th District, it was the most ill thought-out program I have seen relative to campaign finance thus far.

That is no reason to give up, though. At the end of the day, if elections were free of special interest money, there would be a greatly reduced presence of special interest in government. APP Reporter Jason Method has penned a nice piece about the new Clean Campaigns program out there. Click on the headline and go there.

A word about Courier's Web site

Courier's Web site has not been updated for a few weeks because our editor, Ms. Somdatta Sengupta, has proven that she is truly indispensable. Right now, Ms. Sengupta is on a very well-earned vacation, and she will be returning next week. Then everyone here can work her so hard she'll need another vacation.

I am sorry for the inconvenience this has created for our Online readership. But it's one of the perils of having a relatively small staff. One of these days we may even get that function cross trained. But for right now, I'll have to leave it off with the apology.

Some of what is in this week's Courier...

In this week's Courier, there is a story about Democrat for Monmouth Clerk Amod Choudhary, which I wrote. He is a very educated, interesting gentleman whose background and campaign focuses are highlighted in the feature.

There's also a good story about the AH harbor skate park, written by Senior Staff Writer Alyssa Passeggio. Meanwhile, Courier Staff Writer Alexis Nulle wrote a fine story about some Locust (Middletown) kids who got together and did something to help the March of Dimes.

There is also a new addition to the writing staff here at Courier, who wrote her very first story. Ms. Katelin Wilson, an undergraduate intern from Georgian Court University, filed a feature about the town-wide yard sale in Union Beach.

Lastly, but by no means least, Courier Copy Editor Christopher Blaszczyk wrote the story about the Courier-Georgian Court University partnership up. He'll also be sending a version of it to INPRINT, the in-house newspaper for the NJPA, for their consideration.

Merla brother admits to money laundering

Greater Media Staff Writer Karen Bowes wrote a strong piece about Joseph Merla in last week's Independent. Click on the headline to go to their Web site and see the story.

Ms. Bowes is a veteran reporter who has obviously done the work on this. Congrats on a good story.

And no -- nobody arrived to court via horse-drawn wagon. I just liked the picture. Actually the photo is from a Colonial Williamsburg vacation I took this past summer. Great experience.

Click on the headline and go there.

Volpe, Prado Roberts hit nail on the head

The APP's Gregory Volpe and James Prado Roberts have a great article Online today about Pay to Play. Nothing fluffy about it, this piece lays out how elected officials, candidates and their parties are getting around Pay To Play laws. Personally, I think political party affiliations are more about who makes what than what anyone believes in.

I really do not see an actual difference between reformers of either political party, who are generally trying to clean things up, or their "mainstream" counterparts (who are basically looking for jobs or payoffs). Either people want to get something done for their community or they want to get something done for themselves.

Click on the headline and go there.

Olympian admits to blood doping

Marion Jones is an icon for many athletes. This is very regrettable. But, it should be remembered she did the right thing in admitting to this. Nevertheless, it is a let down for many.

Click on the headline and go to the AP story.

OPRA needs to be over-hauled

The APP is spot on about OPRA. In my opinion, access to public records is still relatively easily manipulated by the municipalities and the county, and OPRA's provisions are regularly abused by government to hide and manipulate, rather than actually just turn over documents to citizens.

When there is no other way to hide a document, government will simply ask a petitioner to give the form number and exact date of an action. Of course, very often the only folks who would have an exact date or form number would be government itself. So there are many "Catch 22s" that are, as of yet, unaddressed.

Click on the headline and go there.

Guardsmen may be assuming new mission on border

N.J. Guardsmen may have a new mission within the nation's borders. Click on the headline and go to the Yahoo News! story by the AP.

Government should invest in childrens' healthcare

There really isn't a reason not to invest in health care for children. This is a real issue in the U.S. Things are not always black and white. But this one is. Click on the headline and go to Yahoo News!

Work Out World and its BBB rap sheet

Since my previous problem with Work Out World, I took the time to go to the Better Business Bureau's Web site, something I should have done before I enrolled as a member. What I learned were a few things I should have known before.

The Brick location is the company's corporate headquarters in Central Jersey at least. Click on the headline and go to the BBB Online page. I am going to be writing about this in a few weeks, after I have some more particulars about this company (in my editorial space).

While business is always a good thing, no one needs businesses that operate on the border of good conduct.

The Courier partners with Georgian Court University

During an informal ceremony held today at Georgian Court University, Lakewood, The Courier newspaper officially partnered with the university. GCU Provost Dr. John Gower hosted the event, along with University College Director Dr. Joseph Molitoris. Ret. NJ Sen. Joseph Azzolina Sr., owner of The Courier, spoke at the event, along with Courier Senior Staff Writer Alyssa Passeggio.

As part of the partnership, Courier staffers will assist faculty in learning events geared toward the journalism, media and English departments. Meanwhile, Courier will be accepting GCU interns, along with graduates to paid staff positions at the newspaper, as they become available. GCU is a Catholic university, fulfilling the needs of more than 3,000 students. The Courier newspaper is a 15,000-edition weekly, which covers the Bayshore, Northern Monmouth County.

Courier Senior Copy Editor Christopher Blasczyck will be turning in the story for this week's edition, which will be on sale Thursday.

Corruption in the Garden State

The APP has a great story in it today about corruption and Trenton. It's a good story, worth a read. Click on the headline and go there.

NY Mets collapse as team turns from champs to chumps

The NY Post has the obituary for the Mets' 2007 season. Click on the headline and go there. Despite losing their playoff berth, it was, after all, a good season. There was high drama, more than a little to talk about around the water cooler, and it ended in a big finish. Isn't that what sports is supposed to be about?

Courier profiles county, local candidates

In this week's upcoming issue of The Courier, the newspaper will profile Monmouth County Democratic Clerk Candidate Amod Choudhary, Hazlet Democratic Candidate Gerard Jaume and Atlantic Highlands Mayoral incumbent Peter Donaghue.

I do not think taxpayers could do worse with change

The "Trenton Democrats" are quite popular in campaign literature by the GOP. But, frankly, I'm a lot more concerned about the "Monmouth Democrats" and "Monmouth Republicans" where it involves my tax money.

While state lawmakers steal my tax money from afar, I do not believe I have a hope of curing that at the ballot box until I can find an elected official in Monmouth County who will stop robbing me of my pay check, as frequently as someone might go to an ATM.

Asking has not worked, apparently. In fact, the GOP seems quite upset that people here would like them to stop stealing their money for wasteful nonsense. I am not saying that Democrats would be much better, but there is the virtue of them not having a proven record of doing it for more than two decades. So where is all this reform I hear about?

I do not believe there is any reform in this GOP woodpile (as it is configured). Change is necessary for tax relief. The spotlight is on this ruling party now, and it cannot behave itself. It is not a trustworthy organization, in my opinion, because the "reform" rhetoric seems to be just that. As a Monmouth taxpayer, I do not believe I could do any worse with change than I am without it.

Candidates wanted for campaign features

Candidates wanted for campaign features

Here it is: I have been writing about Democrats so much in the past week that I can barely keep up with it. I want to restate it very clearly: The Courier will not be reaching out to candidates for profiles. We have relatively few writers and many things to do. Campaign seasons are time when candidates interview for jobs with the public. If any candidate from either party wants a feature in the newspaper, they are obliged to pick up a phone and use it: 732-957-0070, ext. 6116.

This coming week is entirely taken, to the point where a few pages are already called for the following week's edition. While this is a 'first come, first serve' situation, I would personally like to see more Republican profiles. So call and leave a message and contact information for those interested.

A candidate's job is to get their point of view out there. There are publications who have the resources to go running around after elusive candidates, and The Courier is not one.

Guadagno campaign gets it wrong about Hill

This campaign press release issue from GOP candidate for sheriff Kim Guadagno is really disappointing. It's what is wrong with this political thing. Either a candidate has their facts or they don't. If they do, then they got out and make something of it. If they're wrong, then they are supposed to make it clear a mistake was made, and go on. Gosh forbid people actually apologize for being wrong anymore.

This is really more of the same when it comes to campaigns: In this case, Republicans make a big deal about a Democratic PAC problem where there wasn't a problem (while some of Niemann's GOP PACs are still open). The circus act drama really gets old.

The GOP's 'spin meisters' got something else wrong...again.

How about a campaign about issues, and plans about how government isn't going to blow tax money on pie-in-the-sky programs? In the sheriff's race, how about a little talk about the budget and keeping people safe? I don't know, maybe that's just too out of the box.

Click on the headline to see the latest sideshow routine.

Jack Hill is a class candidate. He hasn't stooped to the level of throwing around nonsense. He's stayed focused on talking about what he is going to do for Monmouth County. Congrats to Jack.

Middletown Lions lend hand to Mississippi Katrina victims

Middletown Lions lend hand to Mississippi Katrina victims

By JIM PURCELL

In Middletown, the Lion’s Club is making a difference in the life of Mississippi residents by helping to rebuild the homes of some of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Though the Katrina took place in September, 2005, the impacts of the storm were far-reaching and exist until this day.

“The Middletown Lion’s Club gave $5,000 to the Biloxi Lion’s Club,” said Al Siano, the public relations officer for the Middletown club.

According to Siano, the Middletown Lions conducted a fundraiser at Caraabba’s restaurant, Route 35 in the township, on Sunday, Sept. 16.

Siano said the group raised the funds and sent a delegation of Middletown Lions officers and members to the region.

The members included: Beverly Bova Scarano, Bill Bechtodlt and John Giordano. The three presented the check to the members of the Biloxi club on Monday, Sept. 24th during a brief ceremony.

“The Lions are 1.4 million members strong across the globe, in 194 countries. The group has a traditional focus on preventing blindness and serving the blind. However, the Lions are there to face the needs of society at-large, based upon the perils presented by natural catastrophes and the like,” Siano said.

During Hurricane Katrina, a category-5 storm, hit the Gulf Coast region, approximately 1,800 people were killed as a consequence to the storm. In addition, about $80 million of damage to business and residential concerns were visited upon the area. The storm, which gained worldwide attention, is considered to be the worst in U.S. history.

The Middletown Lions delegation departed New Jersey last weekend, and will be in the Gulf Coast region until about Oct. 6th. Siano said a press conference is scheduled for the Oct. 9th, at 7 p.m. at the New Jersey Blind Citizen’s Association, Burlington Avenue, in Leonardo.

For more information about the event, or to get more information about the Lions’ efforts to help Gulf Coast victims, call Siano at (732) 671-0589.