2010: Record Beach Debris Collected, Even the Kitchen Sink

Details: Category: Monmouth County; Published: 19 April 2011

Citizens Called to Action for April 30, 2011

Sandy Hook, NJ----Clean Ocean Action (COA) released the 2010 Beach Sweeps Report today, highlighting the Dirty Dozen, Roster of the Ridiculous, and the totals for over 95 items of marine debris collected by volunteers in 2010. The results smash all records for participation and debris and a few items increased dramatically.

2010 marked Clean Ocean Action’s 25^th Anniversary of Beach Sweeps, which celebrated a generation of citizen action against beach litter. The Beach Sweeps has become New Jersey’s largest environmental event with thousands of citizens combing nearly all 127 miles of coastline. The spring event coincides with Earth Month to provide citizens with an educational, hands-on, meaningful, and rewarding activity to make a real difference.

“The Beach Sweeps is a beachy opportunity for the tall and the small to give back to their ocean, take a stand against litter, and rid the shores of marine debris. During these 25 years, citizens have also created a legacy of information that we can use to fight for better anti-litter programs and educate people about the harms caused by marine debris to the economy and wildlife,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action.

AP Half Marathon Results

Details: Category: Monmouth County; Published: 17 April 2011

ASBURY PARK, NJ - More than 2200 road racers comprised of 452 teams made up mainly of five members each, some had fewer, and the twelve single competitors of the Ironman/Ironwoman Category, that had just one racer, competed in the 14th annual Jersey Shore Relay from Seaside Heights to Asbury Park. The event, now entitled RunAPalooza which includes the Asbury Park Half Marathon and a 2-mile walk, is organized by the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC) to benefit Special Olympics of New Jersey (SONJ) and was held on an overcast east-northeast, gale-like, windy morning of Saturday, April 16.

With staggered starting times, organized by SONJ director Jeri Hickey, beginning at 8 a.m. for the slower teams, thru 9:40 a.m., the Relay’s 26.2 mile (marathon distance), ocean-hugging, northbound course, that this year was confronted with an east-northeast, gale-like wind, begins at the Aztec Hotel in Seaside Heights. It has five legs ranging from 6 plus to 3 plus miles each, goes through 16 Shore area towns, of which the racers pass off their colored (determined by starting times) batons at Brick Beach, Point Pleasant Beach, Gee Gee’s in Manasquan, the fishing pier in Belmar, and finishes on the Asbury Park boardwalk next to Convention Hall which also serves as the award-presentation area and refreshment location.

jsrc_ap_half_2011_start

MTC at 2:13:42 (2 hours, 13 minutes and 42 seconds) was the winning team, representing the Open Men’s category, a two-person team with Victor Vientos running legs one and four and Sean Swift, Team Captain, running legs two, three and five, as their 3^rd team member was not able to compete.

Pothole Killer Machines Deployed Statewide for Fast Repairs

Details: Category: Monmouth County; Published: 16 April 2011

Trenton, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Transportation has deployed six pothole-filling machines to assist maintenance crews as they transition from fighting snow to attacking this spring’s abundant crop of potholes.

Since January, NJDOT crews have filled approximately 121,500 potholes, including nearly 12,000 with six pothole-filling machines that have been in use since early March.

“The harsh winter weather really took a toll on our roads, so we have added Pothole Killer machines to our toolbox as we work to make our roads smooth and safe for New Jersey residents and visitors,” said NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson. “The machines help us stretch our forces and fill more potholes in less time because they require fewer people to do the work of a typical five-person crew.”

In FY 10, NJDOT crews filled approximately 147,230 potholes at a cost of about $1.9 million. By the end of FY 11 on June 30, the Department expects to have filled about 190,000, including about 56,000 potholes filled by the machines, at a cost of about $2.1 million.

Women in Government Mentor High School Juniors

Details: Category: Monmouth County; Published: 16 April 2011

RED BANK, NJ - On April 29, 2011, 60 students from 12 area high schools will come together at Monmouth Regional High School to participate in a program designed to encourage them to become leaders in their communities and beyond. The students will interact with – and learn from – nineteen women who currently serve in elective office or who provide executive support for elected officials. This year marks the fifth anniversary since Running and Winning, was initiated by the Greater Red Bank Area League of Women Voters (GRBA-LWV) in 2007. Each year the League of Women Voters has been joined by three other sponsors, the AAUW –Northern Monmouth County Branch, the Junior League of Monmouth County and the Red Bank Chapter of Hadassah in planning and executing the day long workshop (from 8 am to 1:45 pm.)

Running and Winning introduces high school junior girls to the political process by providing them with access to women who currently serve as elected officials. During the day-long event, student participants have an opportunity to interview the women in government and to learn directly from their experiences. Following these interviews the students are guided by trained facilitators in a mock campaign exercise where they assume the roles of candidate, campaign manager, legislative aide or publicist. The day culminates with a presentation by each candidate to the full group of participants. Because a free press is essential in a democracy, this year the program has been expanded to include four student journalists who will cover the day for their communities.

Murray and Fiore to Run on GOP ticket for Middletown Township Committee

Details: Category: News; Published: 11 April 2011

Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill Not Running for Reelection After Six Years of Dedicated Service to the Township

MIDDLETOWN—Middletown Township Mayor Tony Fiore and Zoning Board Member/Housing Authority Commissioner Stephanie Murray today filed petitions seeking the Republican nomination for Middletown Township Committee for 2011.

“I know Stephanie Murray will serve the taxpayers of Middletown well based on her record of service on the Zoning Board and as a Commissioner on the Housing Authority,” said Mayor Fiore. “Stephanie is not only a tireless member of our community, but also a dedicated wife and mother to three children whose family has lived in Middletown for 10 years.”

“While my commitment to public service is no less now than it was six years ago, I feel that it is the right time to pass the baton to another active member of our community, which is why I am pleased to support Stephanie Murray for Township Committee,” said Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill. “I know that Stephanie will make an excellent addition to the Committee and help preserve the quality of life we all enjoy in Middletown.”

“It is an honor to have received a tremendous amount of support to continue my public service to Middletown by seeking to serve as a member of the Township Committee,” said Stephanie Murray. “I am looking forward to the challenges ahead to help maintain the quality of life we all enjoy while keeping taxes low in one of the largest municipalities in New Jersey.”

In addition to serving as a member of the Zoning Board and a Commissioner on the Middletown Housing Authority, Mrs. Murray has also served as a member of the Township’s Parks and Recreation Advisory and Open Space Committees. Stephanie is also the founder of a community group known as “Middletown Mornings” which is an open forum for residents of Middletown to meet with their local public officials. Murray holds a B.A. from Fordham University and runs a small publishing company.