Arctic cold grips New Jersey as storm exits

The low pressure system that brought over 6 inches of snow to many locations throughout southern New Jersey is exiting into the Atlantic.  Behind it, an Arctic air mass remains in control with temperatures in the single digits and teens for morning lows.
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Arctic cold start to the day, snow on the way!

There's a lot to cover this morning!  So let's get to it!

The area of precipitation that will impact the northern Atlantic this afternoon through this evening is currently developing over the Tennessee Valley and western Virginia under the influence of the strong Sub Tropical disturbance that is driving towards the Mid Atlantic coast.  The surface low meanwhile is driving into southwestern Georgia and will move towards the North Carolina coast by this evening.
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Monmouth County To Close Youth Detention Center

Posted via MoreMonmouthMusings

Finally.

Bob Jordan at the Asbury Park Press reports that the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders voted 3-2 along party lines to close the Youth Detention Center. The three Republican Freeholders voted for the closure, while the two Democrats voted against.

Monmouth will send its roughly 25 detained youth to Middlesex County's kiddy jail at a cost of $2.5 million per year. This will result in a $2 million per year savings.

Democratic Freeholder John D'Amico came up with a good idea in his remarks opposing the closure. He questioned why privatizing the Monmouth County Jail was not on the table as a cost cutting measure. He said the county could save between $4.7 and $9.4 million per year by turning the jail over to a private company, without jeopardizing public safety. Superb! Let's get that done!

And while we're on privatization, does anyone else think its crazy to spend over $100,000 per year per detainee for the youths? Saving $2,000,000 per year sounds pretty good, but to spend $2,500,000 per year to detain 25 kids sounds absolutely insane. Let's privatize the YTD rather than send the kids and the money to Middlesex.

I offer to do the job for $1,900,000 per year. If there is over 40 kids to be detained over the summer, that's OK, no extra charge. I'll keep the money and the kids in Monmouth County. I'll create jobs and pay taxes.

I'm not kidding. If the Freeholders want to save another $600K per year and really turn those kids' lives around, they know how to reach me.

Freehold’s Christian Garcia Scores 1000 Points

Freehold High School's star basketball player, Christian Garcia, has scored 1,000 points in his high school career.

Freehold Boro HS. Freehold Boro vs. Neptune. Freehold's Christian Garcia. Photo by Keith J. Woods

Garcia reached the 1,000-point mark midway through the third quarter of a game against Neptune earlier this month, when he scored a layup off an assist.

Another Robbery in Area: Tony’s Appliance in Marlboro

Police are searching for an armed robber who made off with about $100 from Tony's Appliance and Repair Shop on Route 79 in Marlboro on Wednesday, according to the News Transcript.

The shop, which lies just outside the Freehold Township border, was held up around 9:45 AM, according to the report.

The suspect is a black male around 6'2  with a "muscular build." He was last seen wearing a navy blue sweatshirt and light blue jeans with paint stains.

He was said to be wearing a black ski mask at the time of the robbery.

LAKEWOOD SOROPTIMISTS TO HOLD BASKETS ‘N’ BINGO FUNDRAISER

Soroptimist International of Lakewood will host its second annual Baskets ‘n’ Bags Bingo event on Sunday, March 21, 2010. The event will take place at the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore Program Activity Center on Yellowbrook Road in Farmingdale. Doors will open at 11 a.m. and bingo will begin at noon.

Advance tickets are $20 per person until March 14 and $25 after March 15. The club anticipates a “sell out” event and recommends purchasing tickets early. Food will be available for purchase during the event (no outside food permitted).

Prizes include Longaberger Baskets; Vera Bradley bags; and genuine Coach handbags. Several other “Fun-Raisers” will also take place.

Proceeds from Baskets ‘n’ Bags Bingo will help support local organizations including Providence House (a domestic violence shelter); Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore (serving girls in Ocean and Monmouth Counties); and the Food Bank of Monmouth/Ocean Counties.

Soroptimist International of Lakewood is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. The club meets monthly at Capone’s Restaurant in Toms River, and participates in many community service projects and programs, including the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards program which provides cash grants for women seeking to improve their lives with the help of additional education and training; and the Violet Richardson Award program, a recognition program for girls 14-17 engaged in volunteer action within their communities or schools.

Tickets may be purchased in person at Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore Council Shops in Toms River and Farmingdale; Manahawkin Magic Wash Car Wash in Manahawkin, and the Berry Law Firm on Hooper Ave., Toms River, or by email to crcoates@comcast.net. Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carolyn Coates
Business: 609-597-7837

Wachovia on Route 9 in Manalapan Robbed Wednesday

Police were searching for a man who they say robbed the Wachovia Bank branch at Craig Road and Route 9 South early Wednesday afternoon.

A surveillance photo shows the suspect passing a robbery note Wednesday afternoon at the Wachovia Bank in Manalapan.

The robber entered the bank alone shortly before 1:30 p.m. and passed a note to a teller demanding money and stating he had a gun, according to a prepared statement from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
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Freeholders Say ‘See Ya’ to Delinquents

The Board of Freeholders has voted to shut down the Youth Detention Center on Dutch Road in Freehold Township, according to today's APP.

http://www.app.com/article/20100128/NEWS/1280376/1004/NEWS01/Monmouth-County-freeholders-vote-to-close-youth-detention-center

In a party-line vote, the majority Republicans voted to close the facility by July and begin to share services with Middlesex County instead.

From the report:
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Arctic cold conditions expected through the weekend

In case you haven't realized from the gusty winds from last night, Arctic air has arrived for the New York City and Philadelphia metropolitan areas.  Temperatures this morning are in the single digits and teens over many interior locations and mid to upper 10's along the coast with a gusty northwesterly wind around 10 to 15 mph creating wind chills ranging from -5° F to 5° F.  In short, it is cold!
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Freehold Police Blotter Jan. 22 – Jan. 28

SHERIFF STREET: Borough man Jorge Gonzalez, 25 was charged Jan. 16 by Patrolman Nicholas Iozzi with obstructing the administration of justice and resisting arrest by force.

JACKSON STREET: Borough man John C. Bailey, 38 was charged Jan. 21 with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and loitering with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. A 23-year-old Manalapan woman was charged in the incident with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana. Patrolman James Richmond made the arrests.

Reggae, Pop, Opera at Black History Festival

Now here's an event that sounds so fun we just have to endorse it.

The Monmouth County Library will kick off Black History Month next week with an afternoon of musical performances spanning spiritual & gospel, opera & classical, jazz, and, in a genre all his own, the music of Michael Jackson.

On Saturday, February 6, narrator Darrell Willis will guide audience members through celebrated musical genres from Caribbean, African, and American traditions. Choirs, performance artists, and dancers from throughout the Monmouth County area will participate, including the New Agape Choir of Freehold.
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Newman Pushes for Citizen Service Act

Freehold Borough Council newbie John Newman will make the case for his proposed Citizen Service Act at next Monday's Council meeting, after it failed to get any other Council member to second its introduction at last week's workshop.

The proposed ordinance would force the Borough to have a more transparent process for appointing citizens to committees and boards in town by implementing advertised position openings, mandatory applications to be held on record, and an absentee policy that could remove chronically-absent appointees from their positions.

A similar law was passed for state positions by the New Jersey Legislature last October.

"We're going to discuss it at the next workshop," said Council President Jaye Sims. "It wasn't partisan politics at all, this is just the normal procedure for how we do things."
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Collecting Supplies For Haiti Relief

As I spent last Saturday afternoon helping the relief supplies collection efforts, along so many other community members and a non partisan contingent of our local elected officials, I used my Blackberry to capture the spontaneous images in this photo-essay.

When you view this "youtube" photo-essay,  listen to John Lennon's lyrics and remember there is a fund raiser for Haiti Relief this Sunday at Southgate. All Freehold Gives Hope!

January 23rd, 2010, County Hall of Records located in Freehold Borough

Detention Center Closing?

-Bob Jordan-

Monmouth County's youth detention center would be shut down as part of a shared services agreement with Middlesex County, under a plan scheduled to be voted on by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders at 7 p.m. today.

The plan was considered a year ago by a Democrat-controlled board but rejected in a party-line vote. Republicans hold the board majority this year.

A recreation area inside the youth detention center on Dutch Lane.

There have been no recent formal public discussions on the issue and a spokesman for county Democratic organization said Republicans are "trying to sneak through the closure'' of the center, located in Freehold Township.

Monmouth County would reap "a significant cost savings'' by closing its center and paying Middlesex $1.25 million to house up to 39 juvenile offenders this year, according to the resolution up for a vote.

Republican Freeholder John P. Curley has pegged the estimated overall savings at more than $2 million annually.

The vote is at the Hall of Records, 1 E. Main St.

Project Homelessness Connect Counts Freehold Area Homeless

Hundreds of Freehold residents came out to be counted among the homeless at Project Homelessness Connect yesterday at the New Beginnings Agape Christian Center on Throckmorton Street.

More than 200 people, an overwhelming majority of whom were Latino men, completed surveys detailing their housing situations for the Department of Social Services before receiving medical screenings, winter coats, blankets, and socks, and coffee and donuts.

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