Gulf Coast could be bracing for another one

The Gulf Coast might be expecting another Katrina-like event, according to the AP. Certainly, this is something of great concern, given what happened there before. Click on the headline to go to YahooNews! and read the story.

PBS: A look at Palin in Alaska

PBS did a story awhile ago about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who is now Sen. and GOP Presidential candidate John McCain's runningmate. It's an interesting insight.

Great story of hope, courage in Howell

The APP has a great story about hope and determination. There's a story in today's paper about U.S. Army 1Lt. Brian Brennan, 23, from Howell, who was injured in Afghanistan. Despite some tough breaks, this young man is working very hard to recover. Click on the headline to go to the story.

Keyport's Second Annual 5K to be run on Sept. 20

Press Release

KeyportFest 5K – The Keyport Borough Recreation Commission and the Spanish America Club are proud to present the Second Annual KeyportFest 5K. The major sponsors for this event are IHOP of Keyport, Chick-fil-A and Broadway Bagels of Keyport. The KeyportFest 5K is being held on Saturday, September 20, 2008.

The KeyportFest 5K is scheduled for 8:30 AM and the free Children’s Races get underway at 9:30 AM. The fast and scenic rolling 5K course is USATF Certified accurate and ready for championship records as well as beautiful bayside sight-seeing. All pre-entrants for the 5K are guaranteed a stunning commemorative Race T-Shirt. Pre-entry deadline is September 8, 2008, so you can enter the event early to take advantage of the great low price! Post entries will be taken right up until race time. Sign-ups for the Children’s Races are only taken on race day.

For an application, please visit www.keyportonline.com or www.jsrc.org. For additional information, please call the Race Hotline at 732-739-5145 or e-mail JoeSheridan@keyportonline.com. We’ll see you at the KeyportFest!

NJ.com: McCain set to reveal VP choice

John McCain is set to announce who his pick for VP will be. There seems to be a lot of popular support out there for Mitt Romney. Of course, Tom Ridge is another popular pick, among others.

Click on the headline to go to the story at NJ.com.

Morehead pens piece about young people

Bayshore Young Democrats Chairman Matthew Morehead has written a column about young people and their growing involvement in the Democratic Party.

Matthew is a very involved person who has organized a growing group of Young Dems in Northern Monmouth.

Click on the headline to go to his column at The Courier Online.

Obama accepts nomination; Pelosi closes out convention

Illinois U.S. Sen. Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for president of the United States at Mile High Stadium yesterday. It was a great speech. The convention concluded on a strong note, with Nancy Pelosi encouraging Democrats around the country to work hard for victory.

Clinton hits home run in convention address

Former President William Jefferson Clinton had a big night last night, when he gave a speech at the Democratic Convention. In his address, President Clinton lauded Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama. I saw it, and the speech was a hit.

Passeggio will take center stage editorially

For the next several weeks, Courier Senior Staff Writer Alyssa Passeggio will be writing the editorial in this space.

This is the first time since April 1998, when I started editing the newspaper, that I have done this.

The philosophy of the Editorial Department at the newspaper is that The Courier is usually our reporters’ first steps in journalism, and their first stop along the way, but certainly not their last. Consequently, a great deal of attention is paid to their development as writers, with the idea that after a couple years they will be moving onto writing for daily newspapers, editing weekly newspapers or public relations, as they feel so drawn.

Alyssa joined the staff here at The Courier in May 2007 fresh out of graduation from Georgian Court University, in Lakewood. During her tenure here at The Courier, she has proved truly exceptional in her work ethic, dedication to her coverage area, and development as a news writer.

Alyssa’s coverage of the Highlands bridge, among other storylines, allowed the public to understand that very complex project in a way that was thorough and detailed.

This is the kind of information that voters and residents need to know in order to make informed decisions about their community.

Writing editorials every week is not as easy as it looks. Some weeks, a writer may not have anything at all that they feel all that strongly about. But, taking a stand on issues and saying what one truly thinks is what an editorial should be. Sure, there should be facts and information, but having an opinion is implicit to the editorial: Something is good or it is bad.

When I was a reporter, around the time dinosaurs roamed the world (a.k.a. the 1990s), making public comment was straightforward: I wrote about events insofar as who did what when, and where they did it and why in five paragraphs with short ledes. This is the basic mission of reporters and people that do not enjoy that should probably not be reporters.

Writing editorials is more personal and speaks to the belief structures that people have. In my opinion, it is a great exercise for young reporters, who have had some seasoning, to try their hands at this practice. When everything else is in place with a reporter’s skill set, development of this kind of writing can be an asset. I think this is exactly the case where it involves Alyssa.

Reporters know their areas like the back of their hands. They know the people, the issues and the emerging issues that often take the spotlight in the news. Yet, each of us are residents of a larger community, and reside within a county and a state as well as just a town. Consequently, crafting informed editorials could stretch the skills of a writer in a way that is forward-looking in this industry.

I look forward to Alyssa’s tenure as an editorial voice of the newspaper. I certainly hope that our readers do also.

Inside Clamdigger will integrate new voices

Writers at the Courier have personal blogs, which are intended to give some news and information, insights and opinions about issues and what's happening. The Inside Clamdigger was the second of the personal blogs associated with any writers at The Courier, as it was started by me and I maintained it. Of course, the Bayshore Journalista, Jackie Corley, was the first. Blogs are a way to generate traffic to the main newspaper site (click on the headline to go to The Courier Online), and blogs are a new way to get information out there, relatively speaking.

Some of the ways that blogging can be useful have been identified through this experience, and there certainly has been a lot of activity surrounding area blogs. But all things come to an end. The Inside Clamdigger will continue to operate, giving news, information and opinion. I just may not be the one posting here anymore in a little while, though.

There is a period of transition that will take place, wherein some new voices are going to start being heard at The Inside Clamdigger. In a little while (as soon as we can work the bugs out), I'll stop posting here because it is time. Blogging is a very interesting concept. It's got a lot wrong with it, and a lot right with it. It's a great experiment that I am gratefully turning over to the reporters and interns at Courier.

I'll be sticking around for a couple weeks (in a cyber sense) before I fully turn over the site to these great young people. There'll be more about this before I stop posting altogether. I'll be sure to post a parting message before that happens.

I do appreciate the support this blog has received, and encourage readers to keep on coming back. In my opinion, it will only get better with the fresh blood. The Inside Clamdigger is a nice outlet for news, opinion and information about Northern Monmouth County.

Thanks for stopping by.

Booker will run for second term as Newark's hizzoner

According to NJ.com, Newark Mayor Cory Booker said he will definitely be running for a second term as the city's mayor and affirmed he would not accept a job in the Obama Administration, should the Illinois U.S. senator garner victory at the polls in November.

Click on the headline to go to the story at NJ.com.

CR 537 is undergoing work

CR 537 is a main artery between Western and Northern Monmouth. There is a lot of work going on. The Courier Online has the story. Click on the headline to go there.

Clinton gives unity address at national convention

I stayed up a little later than usual last night to catch a great speech by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Democratic National Convention. It was a great speech. Here is one part of it.

Atlantic Artisans hosts "Tri-Fest" on Sept. 9

Atlantic Highlands, NJ – If you, a friend, or family member have ever been touched by cancer or you would like to support cancer survivors then you definitely want to join us Tuesday, September 9th,, 2008 for “TRI-FEST” to eat, shop, educate.

Atlantic Artisans, Always Elegant Gift Baskets and Posh on First of 68 First Ave. mini-mall are hosting an event to raise money for “Team Survivor” a non-profit organization that provides free exercise and health education and support programs for women affected by cancer.

“Tri-Fest” will take place at 68 First Ave. Atlantic Highlands, NJ on Tuesday September 9th from 6:30pm-9:00pm. A $10 donation is asked and you will receive a goodie bag filled with more then ten dollars with of goodies. You will be entertained by live music donated by Sherilyn and Frankie, a local duo that perform around the area and are about to release their first album. Delightful treats by Chef Raymond Prezelomski will provide the energy need to enjoy “Tri-Fest.

A chance to win donated items from Belinni shoes, IM=X Pilates, Sherman and Sons Jeweler and many other merchants in the area. But, that is not all you get for your $10, there will be a presentation by Team Survivor and Dr. Julie Page of Page Chiropractic on nutrition and exercise for a healthy you.

Plus, 10% of all purchases during “Tri-Fest” will go to Team Survivor and this will also help Nance S. Ciasca of Atlantic Artisans raise money for “Team Survivor” as she competes in the Danskin Triathlon. That’s a huge amount of food, fun and goodies for your ten dollar donation so, please come on out for a night of fun and help us support a good cause.

If you can not make it and still would like to support the cause you can send checks made out to Team Survivor/BCRF to Atlantic Artisans 68 First Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716. So SWIM, BIKE or RUN to “Tri-Fest” September 9th from 6:30pm-9pm. For more information call 732-291-0100 or www.atlanticartisans.com. Please note there are a limited amount of goodie bags so come early.

Are pigs pets...in AH or anywhere else?

Courier Senior Staff Writer Alyssa Passeggio has a good story about an Atlantic Highlands pet controversy at The Courier Online. The question is pretty straightforward: Can potbellied pigs be pets that are permitted under the law in town?

There are good sides of this argument on both sides, in my opinion, but at the end of the day a decision has to be made. I won't spoil the ending on this one. Click on the headline to go to the story.

Velasquez gives lowdown for 2008 Rutgers season

Star Ledger reporter Vin Velasquez has shot a great video that includes interviews with Scarlet Knights Kenny Britt, Capt. and QB Mike Teel and San San Te, among others. The players talk about their expectations for the 2008 season.

Traffic lights on Highlands bridge

Courier Senior Staff Writer Alyssa Passeggio has a great story about lights on the Highlands bridge during construction. Certainly, the bridge hasn't gotten any safer due to the ongoing improvements. Click on the headline to go to Read All About It, by Alyssa Passeggio.

Courier TV is added to website

The Courier Online has added a new feature to its lineup--Courier TV. As well as presenting videos on YouTube, The Courier Online now has the ability to show its own digital features. This is good for a lot of reasons, among them is the length of features can be expanded (YouTube is sort of a problem after 3 minutes) and, very shortly, commercials can be sold on this medium. We're working the bugs out, but this is an exciting innovation for us here. Start looking for additions to this part of the site in the next week. Click on the headline to go there.

Minard visited by Bush, given key to city at home

Courier Editor Somdatta Sengupta penned a great piece about Union Beach resident Michael Minard, an injured veteran from Iraq. Sgt. Minard was visited by President George Bush during his rehabilitation. He has also been given the key to the city by Union Beach Mayor Paul Smith. This is a wonderful story about hope overcoming adversity. Click on the headline to go to The Courier Online.

Have a great weekend!

As the summer is starting to wrap up, I really suggest trying to grab as much of it as is left. Taking that advice myself, I'll be back blogging away on Monday. In the meantime, here is Louis Armstrong's classic "What a Wonderful World." Thanks for coming by and have a wonderful weekend.