The tranquil conditions will continue into this evening as temperatures slowly fall through the 50's and into the 40's under clear skies and light winds.  With dew points in the teens throughout the Northeast and Mid Atlantic, temperatures will have no problem crashing in the early morning hours into the upper 20's to lower 30's over the northern interior and mid to upper 30's along the coast.  So expect a slightly chilly start to Thursday.

Otherwise, high pressure will remain in control with perfect Spring conditions through Friday and for much of the weekend.  In fact, high temperatures for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will easily push into the 60's even along the immediate coast and may touch 70 degrees away from the beaches, especially over the Delaware River Valley.  Clearly a far different weather weekend than last weekend or compared to the past several weeks.

A cold front will approach late on Sunday with increasing clouds and showers late in the evening.  Periods of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms can be expected through Monday afternoon with the potential for some flash flooding in areas already prone to flooding this afternoon.  Temperatures on Monday will likely linger in the 40's and 50's due to the rainfall.

High pressure will return on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with clearing skies and temperatures rebounding into the 50's and 60's once again.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

www.thebrookside.com

The 175 residents huddled in the facility's theater with generators and heaters from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday morning, but power is now back at the assisted living facility.

From the story:

The residents — whose average age is 88 — lost power from about 5:30 p.m. Saturday to 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. They initially were able to be in their rooms with staffers checking on them hourly.

But Sunday and Monday nights, they moved into the facility's theater, where additional generators and heaters were brought in. Approximately 15 residents went home with their families, Kushner said.

via Towns tally damage, hope for aid | APP.com | Asbury Park Press.

Police responded to a possible mountain lion sighting Tuesday, but no animal or paw prints were found.

A Duchess Court resident called police to say a brown animal with a long tail had been spotted near a tree line some 25 to 30 yards away.

Officers responded, but did not find any animals or paw prints in the mud, said Detective Sgt. Jerry Kiwit.

He said police also notified workers at nearby Durand Park, off Randolph Road, and those workers checked the area, but nothing was found.

Last week, a driver reported seeing an animal that may have been a mountain lion in the area where Taylors Mills Road in Manalapan turns into Lafayette Road in Marlboro.

Later that day, Marlboro's animal control officer also saw a large cat with a long tail near Milford Brook.

On Sunday, another driver reported a possible mountain lion sighting near Carchesio Farms on Tennent Road, said Manalapan Capt. Christopher Marsala.

Last week, police notified state officials. They also brought a road-kill deer into the woods as bait and set up a motion detection camera.

Today, Manalapan police said the only images of animals captured on the camera were that of a red fox.

Officials from the state Division of Fish and Wildlife said the animal seen by the local animal control officer and the drivers may have been a coyote suffering from mange.

Police also talked to some Marlboro residents who live near Routes 9 and 520 and who said they lost a Savannah cat about four or five years ago. They speculated that the lean animal, which weighs about 20 pounds and has a long tail, could still be in the area and mistaken for a mountain lion.

The bottom line, police said, is they still do not know exactly what kind of animal those drivers and the animal control officers saw.

Spring Lake Councilwoman Janice Venables will compete with Vincent Solomeno of Hazlet to be Freeholder John D'Amico's running mate in this year's Monmouth County Freeholder race.

Venables, a practicing attorney in Manasquan, has served on the Spring Lake council since being appointed to fill a vacancy in 1999. She was elected to a full term in 2000 and re-elected in 2003, 2006 and 2009.

Monmouth Democratic Chairman Vic Scudiery told MoreMonmouthMusings that he doesn't have a favorite in the race. "Janice and Vincent will work the room at the convention. The winner will be our nominee." Scudiery did say that he was impressed that Venables was re-elected in Spring Lake last November despite Chris Christie's overwhelming plurality in Monmouth County on the top of the ticket.

The Democrats will choose their nominees for Freeholder, Sheriff and Congress at a "mini-convention" on March 27 for 10 am-noon. Delegates to the convention are comprised of elected officials, municipal chairs and vice chairs, club presidents and vice presidents and at-large delegates determined by a percentage of primary voters in the previous election.

In the GOP, Neptune City Mayor Thomas Arnone, former Middletown Committeeman Thomas Wilkens and Spring Lake Councilman Gary Rich are competing to be Freeholder Rob Clifton's running mate.

Republicans will select their nominees on March 29. The selection committee is comprised of present and former elected officials at the county and state level, municipal chairs and former county chairs.

The webinar is co-sponsored by the Monmouth County League of Women Voters and the Monmouth County Library System, and is part of "Sunshine Week," an ongoing national nonpartisan initiative to engage in a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information.

The "Building Transparency" webinar will focus on transparency in the Obama administration – what has changed and what remains to be done. High-level government officials - including Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform, and Miriam Nisbet, Director of the new Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) - will discuss the Administration’s new initiatives and their effect on the public. Panelists will also take questions from the live and viewing audience.

Plan to join us at this webinar “Monmouth County viewing party!”
Contact 732-431-7220 for more information.

High pressure this morning is producing clear skies with temperatures in the mid 30's to lower 40's throughout the northern Mid Atlantic.  Clear skies can be expected through the day and into tonight with temperatures this afternoon expected to break into the lower to mid 60's throughout the region.  The only exception will be the immediate coast where the Atlantic Ocean will keep temperatures slightly cooler in the upper 50's.  A perfect day for St. Patrick's Day!

High pressure will remain in control through this coming weekend with similar conditions.  In fact, there is a real potential for some locations to push close to if not to 70 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.  So clearly this weekend is the time to get outside and enjoy the comfortable conditions, unless you are watching basketball that is!

The next threat for rain will return late on Sunday night through Monday as a slow moving cold front drives through the northern Mid Atlantic.  This cold front will produce periods of heavy rain along with embedded thunderstorms with a returning Polar air mass as the front exits on Monday evening.

High pressure will quickly become established throughout the northern Mid Atlantic on Tuesday and Wednesday with clearing skies and rapidly modifying temperatures, especially on Wednesday.  Overall, a much more tranquil period of weather than what has been experienced over the past several weeks.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

Freehold Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina

Most of the expenses came from rock salt purchases and overtime, Bellina told the Borough Council.

Those costs will be minimized thanks to the borough's "snow trust," where officials had put aside money for just such an emergency.

Overtime payouts will come from the borough's operating budget, but Bellina was confident the snowstorms would not have a severe impact on the budget.

"We should be fine," he said in a follow-up interview Tuesday.

As for the havoc wreaked by last weekend's rainstorm, Bellina said Tuesday it was too early to tell how much it had cost the borough.

The ability for this new air mass to warm could not be clearer and given that this air mass and the tranquil weather conditions are expected to remain over the northern Mid Atlantic through the end of this week and into the weekend, I have significantly bumped up expected high temperatures throughout the rest of this week.  I know think that this weekend has the potential to experience temperatures in the mid to upper 60's, especially over the Delaware River Valley.  I could even make a case for a 70 degree high somewhere around Philadelphia, but I think this will be a rather rare and isolated observation at most.

The next rain threat returns to the region on late Sunday night into Monday morning in the form of a slow moving cold front.  This cold front will be able to produce periods of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms.  The thunderstorms may approach severe levels if the air mass ahead of this cold front on Sunday afternoon becomes significant unstable, which is something to keep an eye on.  Otherwise, given the state of the area's rivers, the potential for heavy rain will enhance flash flooding concerns once again.

High pressure returns once again for Tuesday and Wednesday, but this time a Polar air mass will take hold with significantly cooler temperatures throughout the northern Mid Atlantic.  High temperatures will return to the 40's and 50's once again for Tuesday and Wednesday as a result.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

The footprint of the mysterious creature spotted around Manalapan--and now possibly Freehold--during the last week is believed to be feline.

Though the cat was most recently seen off Taylors Mills Road, Millford Brook, and Tennent Road, readers today reported that it crept to Durand Park in Freehold Township most recently.

Folks at the Township's Shade Tree department, including supervisor Joseph A. Aufiero, said they had not heard or seen anything unusual in the wildlife-filled, but would keep us posted to any out-of-the-ordinary creatures that might appear.

Reader Barney DiBenedetto offered that he also heard reports of the lion spotted on Robertsville Road last week, but reports could not be confirmed.

Email your lion sightings to colleen@injersey.com.

Casagrande took a moment to chat with us about the move as she made her way home from Governor Christie's budget address earlier today. "We wanted to have a visible presence in downtown Freehold," she explained. "The municipality really is the heart of our district."

The storefront space will feature a resource center, lounge, and meeting room open to area residents looking to start or organize service projects or talk to Casagrande and her staff about district issues. An invitation was also extended to Mayor Mike Wilson and Congressman Chris Smith to use the meeting room if they or the Borough Council would like to use it, she said.

"We really want the first floor of that space to be a community place. People can use it for service projects--which we'll need even more judging from the budget address!--or come in and have a cup of coffee and talk to us about what they would like to see in Freehold," Casagrande said.

In April, Casagrande will lead a women's leadership seminar for high school girls who will be charged with planning their own service projects; the girls will meet and organize out of the new office.

Upstairs, she said, will be the bill-writing and mail-answering domain for the staff.

"If anyone has an idea for a service project and wants to use the space," she said, "they can come to us. We want it to be the people's office."

www.courtstreetschool.com

For $35, attendees will receive masks and beads to go along with a four-course dinner at Knob Hill Country Club this coming Saturday, March 20, to help raise money for the historical center, which runs after school educational programming for area youth. Check out CourtStreetSchool.com for more info.

As of 1PM Tuesday, Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) workers held the pole in place while diverting traffic around its trucks. The pole was dislodged from the ground following torrential rains that moistened the ground and winds that pulled it out.

St. Rose of Lima school in Freehold Borough also lost power this weekend, and remained without power as of early today. The Brookside Assisted Living Facility in the Borough was without power from about 5:30 p.m. Saturday to 3:30 a.m. today.

Police arrested two township men who they say tried to rob another man during a prescription drug sale that went bad.

Robert Mason, 19, of Sodahouse Court, and Mark Chilton, 18, of Andrews Court, were arrested Friday.
Police said Mason and the victim, a 32-year-old township man, got into a tussle in the a parking lot of a condominium complex on Sodahouse Court around 11 a.m. Friday. Mason slashed the tires and smashed a window on the man's car, said Detective Sgt. Jerry Kiwit.
Both Mason and Chilton were arrested on an attempted robbery charge. Mason was also charged with weapons offenses, terroristic threats and criminal mischief.
Bail for Mason was set at $295,000, and bail for Chilton was set at $102,500.

This year’s theme is Pirates! Hooked on Books. A pair of swashbuckling buccaneers from Period Productions will cross swords and share tales of the pirate life. A variety of children’s books will be available for purchase, and pirate-themed books will be on display to borrow.

Readers of all ages can enjoy crafts, movies, pirate booty raffles and pirate activities such as walking the plank and throwing cannonballs at a pirate schooner. Children can meet a parrot, a wallaby and other rescued animals in “Parrots of the Caribbean,” presented by Eyes of the Wild.

The event is free and no prior registration is required. For more information, please call the Children’s Department at 732-431-7226.

The IR satellite picture basically tells the tale for today as clouds will continue to break up and skies will clear throughout the region.  The slow moving, rainfall record breaking low pressure system over the Atlantic is finally exiting stage right and will produce plenty of rain for mariners in the Atlantic.  High pressure will take hold through the day today as temperatures rebound into the 50's for many locations.

Through the rest of this week, high pressure will become the dominant weather feature for the northern Mid Atlantic.  The Pacific air mass that has built into the Philadelphia and New York City metropolitan area this morning will continue to moderate steadily with high temperatures approaching the 60's by the end of this week and breaking through the 60's over the Delaware River Valley by this weekend.

A strong cold front is expected to impact the northern Mid Atlantic by late on Sunday with increasing clouds in the afternoon followed by periods of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms.  The rainfall may end up being rather heavy at times with the threat of flash flooding once again throughout the region.  The cold front will exit on Monday morning, which will likely create havoc for the Monday morning rush hour.

High pressure returns for Tuesday and Wednesday with initially cool conditions on Tuesday afternoon with highs in the 40's however a rebound into the 50's is expected by Wednesday.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

Pressure rises are being observed throughout the northern Mid Atlantic ranging from 1 to 3 MB per hour and the center of the low pressure system has weakened by rough 2 MB in the past hour up to 998 MB as of 4 PM.  The upper and mid level low pressure systems are currently positioned off the Delaware Coast and slowly drifting south and east this afternoon.  In particular, the 700 and 850 MB low pressure system are driving deep Atlantic moisture right into southern New England down through Delaware, leading to the development of widespread showers.  These showers range in intensity from light rain and drizzle to a brief yet impressive heavy downpour.  Overall, it is just plain wet and raw out side with temperatures in the 40's and what seems to be no end in sight.

However, the pressure rises do tell us that the storm is ready to finally exit and as such the moisture advection off the Atlantic will slowly dissipate this evening and overnight.  As the showers come to an end after midnight, the threat for fog, locally very dense, will be possible throughout the region but especially along the coast.  The combination of light winds and plenty of low level moisture will support the potential for fog on Tuesday morning before drier air from the west can mix in.  Afterwards, skies will clear by Tuesday afternoon with much warmer conditions expected with highs in the 50's.

A quiet week is expected as high pressure remain in control through Saturday.  Along with the tranquil weather will come moderating temperatures with the potential for highs in the lower to mid 60's throughout the region.  The Delaware River Valley stands the best chance for these warm conditions as down sloping winds allow for temperatures to warm more significantly than along the coast.

Another cold front is expected on Sunday night with periods of rain, heavy at times, and embedded thunderstorms.  This cold front may pose the first true threat for isolated elevated severe thunderstorms capable of strong wind gusts and frequent lightning.  The cold front will exit on Monday morning followed by clearing skies and cooler temperatures, however overall conditions for the start of next week will be much better than what has been seen at the start of this week.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

Buses were called to collect students mid-morning, and driving students were allowed to take their cars home during the outage. As of now, school will be open tomorrow.

Mallet, second from left, spoke out against the proposed budget at last week's meeting.

From the report:

Democrat Amy A. Mallet during the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders meeting Thursday night said the County Library System tucked $82,000 into its budget request for employee travel and meetings and $43,000 for a new delivery van. Library officials later admitted they didn't really need the money for travel or for a van.

Mallet also said the park system has continued to publish and mail a 12-page, full-color glossy quarterly newsletter, which she said recently featured several pages promoting travel to Costa Rica.

via Freeholder rips budget requests | APP.com | Asbury Park Press.

Freehold InJersey is unique in hyperlocal websites: it has open registration and posting access, meaning you can sign up and post a story on anything you want, whenever you want. From weather to Girl Scout cookies to your political persuasion, you can share your corner of Freehold right here in this online community center.

Ideally, we'd love to have more than half of our content coming from Freehold residents-- pictures from tee-ball games, fundraisers, school events, or downed trees from out-of-control rainstorms. We'd also like to be a place for you to submit essays or photographs that help shed light on your life here in Freehold.

You can sign up at the top of this page and then have complete access to posting to our site. If you have questions, email colleen@injersey.com. We can't wait to hear from you!

The Shore Basketball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Games will take place at Freehold Township High School on March 24.

Freehold star #14 Christian Garcia shoots against Monmouth Regional earlier this season. Photo by Robert Ward 02/01/10 Tinton Falls.

The girls event will tap off at 6 p.m. The boys game will begin at 8 p.m.

Among the players in the North Girls All-Star division will be Freehold Township's Stephanie Cardamone, Manalapan's Amanda McBride, and Colts Neck's Emily Laurence. Coaches: Raritan's Ron Poll, Colts Neck's Jeanene Healy, Wall's Bob Ward.

For the North Boys All Stars, local players include Colts Neck's Chris Cassidy, Howell's Rob Handy,  andColts Neck's Kyle Mobbs,  Coach: Mater Dei's Bob Klatt.

And for the South Boys All-Stars, Freehold's Christian Garcia and Freehold's Lance McKenzie will play for Pinelands Regional's  coach John Tierney.

BY SUZY COULTER

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

How many times did we hear that as children or young adults? My answer was the same every time. I wanted to be a doctor. It was simple. I could help people, teach people, make people happy. Oh, how I wanted to do that.

My life and several careers later have brought me no closer to that goal. But I have reached a milestone, the place where I love what I do. There's no glass ceiling here. There's no ceiling at all. My limit is only the sky and my desire to do more.

Let me back up a little. Every job and every career has prepared me for what I do now. I worked for a finance company, a casket maker, on an assembly line for an electronics company and as a psychiatric technician then a registered nurse for a state hospital for 10 years. I moved to another state and worked in the auto industry, handling claims.

I worked for a small nonprofit who published a magazine, then for a major university in the dean's office. I moved again to another state. I worked for the county government then a school district for 10 years.

So what am I doing now? Nothing whatever to do with any of that, and I'm certainly not a doctor. I spent 10 years in the insurance industry, in many departments, with the bulk of that time in claims.

What do claims have to do with helping people? Absolutely everything. Apparently I was good at it, winning many awards and bonuses. The best part was knowing that I was walking someone through one of the worst times of their lives, wading through medical bills, car repair bills and rental bills, and hotel bills and even the attorney correspondence. Helping people. That's what I was doing.

I decided to retire due to family circumstances and time constraints, but my path changed again.

Retirement didn't suit me. My daughter moved to another state and suggested I buy her insurance brokerage, consisting of two full offices of clients. I thought about it, and thought about it and thought about it. Finally it seemed like a good idea. I brought it all home. I set up an office at home. It took a while to sort it all out.

Today it is the best of worlds. I can work when I want, and not work when I need to be somewhere else. I take care of my clients when they need me. The hours are whatever they need to be. I have time for volunteer activities and time to spend an afternoon at the movies with my husband. I can play with my grandchildren and still take care of my clients.

Years of experience taught me how to manage time, how to be scheduled, how to be productive and when to let it go. Yes, I'm not a doctor. But perhaps I'm a doctor of everyday problems for those people who need my help.

No glass ceiling. I have reached the sky.

Do you have an essay or story about your life you'd like to share on Freehold InJersey? Register at the top of the page, or email colleen@injersey.com.

According to the Freehold Township Emergency Management Coordinator Ray Piccolini, the rain led to power outages throughout town, including the Poet's Corner and Stonehurst sections of town. Power was restored to the majority of residents by mid-afternoon Sunday, but sporadic outages were still occuring as of 10AM this morning.

An influx of 911 calls on Saturday kept the Freehold Township Police busy as they answered more than 150 calls between 3PM and 11PM.  At one point during the storm, Kozloski Road, Willow Brook Road, Jackson Mills Road, and part of Route 9 were all closed due to downed trees and wires.

As of Monday morning at 10AM, Kozloski Road remained close because of a telephone pole that was uprooted from the ground and held tenuously in place by the power wires above it. Piccolini said he did not know when the road would reopen.

One home on Avon Drive was crushed beneath two fallen trees during the storm. A child that was inside the home sustained minor injuries. Public works officers at the site said that the deluge of rain moistened the soil enough that roots could slip right out in the heavy wind.

Freehold Borough's public works department did not immediately return phone calls, but there were reports of power outages and down trees from residents.

Another round of moderate to heavy rain is currently moving through southern New England and is expected to rotate through Connecticut, Long Island, the New York City metropolitan area, much of New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania.  The heaviest rain is expected to be focused along the immediate coast with additional rainfall amounts of up to a half to three-fourths of an inch of rain.  Winds will continue to back to the northwest through the evening around 5 to 15 mph.

This round of rainfall should be the last significant area of rainfall to impact the northern Mid Atlantic before this storm exits into the Atlantic.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

A 996 MB surface low roughly 200 miles southeast of Long Island is slowly exiting into the Atlantic.  However, the persistent northeasterly flow at almost all levels of the atmosphere continues to drive showers and periods of moderate rain into the coastal plain.  The heaviest rain is near an end as lifting will continue to weaken over the region, leading to the showers to become more scattered in nature and weaker overall.  The cool, damp conditions this morning will linger into the afternoon with temperatures remaining in the 40's through the day.

This storm finally exits the coast this evening with clearing skies.  A few isolated showers will still be possible into the early morning of Tuesday, however dry conditions can be expected by sun rise.  High pressure will begin to establish an influence on the region tomorrow afternoon through Saturday.  High pressure, centered over the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, will produce a drying west to northwesterly flow over the region.  This northwesterly wind will down slope off the Appalachian mountains through this week, which will allow temperatures to warm into the 50's and potentially lower to mid 60's as the week continues.

The next rain event will not be until Sunday afternoon as a very slow moving cold front with plenty of moisture ahead of the frontal passage will approach the Mid Atlantic.  This cold front will have the potential to produce widespread heavy rain and flash flooding Sunday evening through early Monday morning.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

The surface low and upper level structure of the storm have become vertically stacked.  What this means is the surface, 850 MB, 700 MB, and 500 MB low pressure systems are all on top of each other.  What this causes is a kind of joking off of the rising motion of the atmosphere, thus the surface low and other features begin to weaken as the strengthening and maintaining processes of the low pressure system comes to an end.

The result of this situation is that showers and the isolated yetstrong thunderstorms associated with this storm will continue to weaken over the next 24 hours.  The low pressure system will slowly exit to the east-northeast into the New England coastal waters and eventually into the north Atlantic by Monday evening.  In the meantime, the threat of showers and thunderstorms will continue.  Any additional rainfall will only enhance the current flash flooding that has developed over many of the rivers, streams, and urban locations throughout the Philadelphia and New York City metropolitan area.

The good news is that winds that have been from the east and northeast the past three days will now shift to the northwest, which will drive the coastal waters that have flooded by bays and roadways along the coast back into the Atlantic.

Once this storm exits on Monday morning, gradual improving conditions will take hold on Monday afternoon as high pressure gains control of the region.  High pressure will remain in control through the rest of the week and into next weekend with tranquil weather conditions and steadily modifying temperatures.  High temperatures on Friday and Saturday in fact could be in the lower to mid 60's over many locations just away from the coast, especially over the Delaware River Valley.

A strong Polar cold front will approach on Sunday into Monday with a return of widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms.  Although this cold front is not expected to produce nearly the amount of rainfall that this storm has produced in the large scale, any additional rainfall will lead to the threat of flash flooding.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

The low pressure system is currently drawing an area of showers and thunderstorms into the forecast area from the Atlantic.  These showers and thunderstorms are capable of heavy downpours, wind gusts over 40 mph, and even small hail.  Flash flooding will be enhanced by these showers and thunderstorms along with reducing visibility so use caution when driving this morning.

The primary areas of impact form these showers and thunderstorms is much of central and southern New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania, and the five boroughs of New York City.  These showers and thunderstorms will continue to progress to the west towards much of eastern Pennsylvania.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

That John Curley is shaking things up in Freehold should be no surprise to anyone. His tactics (detractors would say antics) are perfectly consistent with his past performance as a councilman in Red Bank and perfectly consistent with his performance on the campaign trail during the two previous elections. We got the Freeholder we nominated twice and elected on the second try. We didn’t get a collegial compromising team player. We got a maverick fighting Irishman. We got a loose cannon minority of one who doesn’t care whose toes he steps on or whose feelings he hurts.

Yet, even some of Curley’s strongest supporters are acting surprised, encouraging him to tone it down or making excuses for him.

“John is used to being in the minority, I need to talk to him,” one supporter said. He’s heard that before.

“I don’t disagree with what he’s trying to do, but I wish he’d tone it down and do it behind closed doors,” said another. Anyone who has seen Curley behind closed doors knows that the performances we are seeing in public is John toned down.

That is who we elected.

Curley may be crazy. Crazy like a fox. He knows he can’t negotiate the spending cuts he’s calling for behind closed doors.

Like the mavericks that preceded him on the Freeholder Board, Amy Handlin and Anna Little, Curley knows how to use the press and public opinion to forward his agenda.

Curley is always going to be outspoken and outrageous. That is who he is. He is not always going to be right, but in the case of the current county budget being considered, he is right.

We have more government than we can afford in New Jersey. Even in AAA rated Monmouth County. Even in Middletown, Highlands, Wall, Howell and insert the name of your town here.

Governor Christie is going to introduce a state budget next week that is likely to be shockingly painful in the cuts he calls for. I hope it is. We have more government than we can afford. We need to do the same in Monmouth County and in our hometowns. We can’t do more with less. We just need to do less. We need a cultural shift.

Taxpayers are already getting by with less, making painful choices and changing our lifestyles. We will accept less government services in exchange for more money to pay our mortgages and take care of our families.

Monmouth County and insert the name of your town and school board here must not raise property taxes this year. Even keeping taxes flat is too much.

Cut, cut, cut spending. Then cut it some more. A $10+ million or $7+ million tax increase on the county level is unacceptable. Anything other than a tax decrease is unacceptable.

A break in the heavy rainfall is expected for late this morning into the early afternoon hours as a new coastal low takes shape once again.  As a new area of strong lifting develops over eastern portions of North Carolina and over the coastal waters of the Mid Atlantic, an area of sinking air has developed over Delaware and Maryland, which will push north over the Philadelphia and New York City metropolitan area.  This break in the heavy rainfall will be marked by continued windy conditions, drizzle, and generally raw conditions with temperatures in the 40's to lower 50's.

As the new coastal low takes hold and intensifies this afternoon and evening, another round of heavy rain is expected with sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph along the coast with gusts over 50 mph, perhaps exceeding 60 mph over the coastal waters.  Further inland, winds will be weaker due to increased friction of the land, thus winds will range from 15 to 30 mph with gusts exceeding 40 mph at times.  The heavy rainfall combined with the strong winds will have a variety of impacts from coastal flooding to flash flooding, wind damage, low visibility, and significant driving difficulties.  Further, there is a potential for power outages and falling trees due to the duration of the strong winds over the area.  Rainfall amounts through tomorrow are expected to range from an additional 1 to 4 inches of rain with the heaviest rain expected over southern and central New Jersey, the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and southern Connecticut.  The worst conditions are expected from 3 PM this afternoon on through 6 AM Sunday morning.

The low pressure system will slowly lift north and east on Sunday with lingering showers, heavy at times, through the day and into the overnight hours.  Showers will linger into Monday morning followed by clearing conditions and a drying northwesterly wind.

The rest of next week and into next weekend is looking excellent with strong high pressure in control and temperatures returning to near to above normal levels in the 50's and 60's.  So consider this weekend as an excellent movie weekend and next weekend the a time to be outdoors and enjoying the great weather conditions!

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The radar this hour is clearly showing an area of very heavy rain just south of Cape May, New Jersey moving north towards the coast.  The rain currently over much of the forecast area will continue to drift north and west into the Hudson Valley and central New York as the new coastal low also drifts north.

The precipitation associated with the coastal low is producing DBZ well over 40DBZ, which is very heavy rainfall.  Estimated rainfall amounts of a quarter of an inch an hour is being observed via Doppler radar estimates as this rain movesnorth.

Meanwhile, winds are rapidly increasing in intensity as the pressure gradient tightens over much of the Mid Atlantic.  Observed winds are now ranging from 15 to 30 mph throughout the region with gusts exceeding 35 mph over many locations.

Travel conditions will be significant impacted tonight by this heavy rainfall and travel is not recommended.  I know it is Friday night and all, but if you do have to go out there, remember to drive slowly.  The combination of strong wind gusts with the heavy rainfall will significantly reduce visibility below a mile at times and the moderate to major ponding on the road ways will makehydroplaning a significant issue when attempting to slow down or stop.

This storm is expected to continue to intensify and slow down off the New Jersey coast.  As the upper low over the Mississippi Valley drives into the Tennessee Valley overnight, the surface low will stall off the New Jersey coast with heavy rain through tomorrow evening along with strong wind gusts.

The storm is expected to slowly exit on Sunday with lingering showers through Monday morning.  Next week however is looking better and better with each model run with dry conditions and temperatures pushing into the 50's and even 60's for highs.

For the best analysis and coverage of New Jersey weather, trust in NY NJ PA Weather!  Do you need an edge in getting the most detailed analysis on how weather conditions will impact your traveling, boating and fishing, or energy needs? Then you need NY NJ PA Weather Premium Membership!

Fran Redlich, 91, of Applewood Estates, has been playing the flute since she was 50.

“We think the acoustics sound pretty good so far,” says Marjorie Stine, 81, a resident and the center’s band and chorus leader as she taps the piano keys. Stine and five others—three with violins, one with a flute, and one on mandolin—are having their first rehearsal in the new resident music suite.

For some, they are still learning the new instruments; for others, it is a return to a long-forgotten hobby.

“I played the violin in high school,” says Lois Spence, 87, “but I was borrowing it from a man who moved away. My husband always wanted to buy me another one, but I haven’t played since back then.”

In the back of the room, Ambrose Levan, an Applewood resident dressed in a three-piece green suit, stands watching the rehearsal. He points to an adjoining room, where a large mahogany organ rests against a wall.

Marjorie Stine, 81, leads her orchestra in Applewood Estate's new resident music suite.

“I refinished that recently,” he says mildly, and then points towards Marjorie. “And the piano.”

Levan is 98 years old, and a retired engineer.

“Music can be very beneficial for the residents,” explains Director of Marketing Lori Singer. “It can help with depression; it can stimulate brain activity. It really keeps people young.”

Singer explains that the music suite was the brainchild of Applewood’s director of housekeeping, who noticed an influx of instruments donated to the facility when residents moved in or died. A two-bedroom suite in the building’s east wing was then transformed into a music studio, complete with piano, organ, seating for at least 30, and a space the group hopes to transform into a piano studio.

Together, the musical group rehearsing on Friday afternoon consists of five residents and two outside students working their way through sheet music at Stine’s urging.

“Let’s try it again,” she says, looking over everyone’s finger placement. “1,2,3,4.”

Two students from outside the facility come each week to learn from Stine, who taught music in schools throughout New Jersey since 1951. Virginia Sena, of Farmingdale, took up the violin when her daughter began taking lessons so that they could play together, and Rochell Castelano, of Holmdel, decided to take up violin at age 58 as a hobby.

Both read about Stine’s musical group in the paper and decided to contact her for lessons; at one point, Stine’s group had 19 members of all ages that they called the “Intergenerational Orchestra.”

Now, with the addition of the music suite, residents at Applewood can take up an instrument whenever they feel inspired, Stine says, without having to worry about being embarrassed at skill level or concerned about disturbing the neighbors.

“Many people here play instruments, but had to leave pianos at home when the moved in, or feel embarrassed to be practicing or singing in their rooms,” Levan agreed.

For Stine, who also played bass in the Monmouth County orchestra before moving to Applewood, she is just happy to have a space just for music.

“I’m just happy people will have a place to play,” she says. “It’s good for the brain and body.”