Wednesday Randomness

A few random notes and thoughts to pass along after missing a day to attend the New Jersey Broadcasters Association Convention in Atlantic City.

As expected the turnout for yesterday’s Primary Election was light with just over 7% of Ocean County’s more than 346,000 registered voters heading to the polls. There were only a few contested races, including a bitter Republican Primary in Toms River that garnered a lot of media attention but not a lot of voter interest. Mayoral candidate Greg McGuckin, the current Council President and his running mates endorsed by the Regular Republican Organization, turned back the challenge of Robert Silva and his group. That sets up an intriguing race in November to succeed Paul Brush as Mayor of Ocean County’s largest municipality. McGuckin not only has to battle Democrat Richard Strada but take on current GOP councilman Carmine Inteso, who is running as part of an Independent ticket.
For all the attention Toms River politics has received only about 4200 people voted in Tuesday’s primary.

The Toms River East Softball team can complete a dream season with two more wins. The Raiders of Coach Debbie Schwartz have reached the State Group 4 Championship game after beating Rancocas Valley Tuesday and they won’t have to travel far when they play Clifton Saturday. The game will be played at Toms River North, as the Toms River Schools once again host NJSIAA Baseball and Softball Championship games. The 31-1 Raiders meet St. John Vianney this afternoon in the Shore Conference Tournament Finals at Wall High School.

The Southern Regional Boys Volleyball team puts its perfect 40-0 record on the line tonight when the Rams battle East Brunswick in the finals of the NJSIAA South Sectional Tournament. Southern has handed the Bears their only two losses of the season and these teams seem to be the best two in the state. Coach Eric Maxwell has helped build Southern into a powerhouse and they are the first school in New Jersey to win 40 matches in a season.

Point Pleasant Borough High School held its 27th Annual Senior Awards program last night and I presented a $1000 check to Christopher Matter as the winner of this year’s scholarship from the WOBM/Gateway Toyota Student of the Week program. Chris will pursue at Doctorate of Pharmacy at Rutgers University and I’m sure the $1000 will come in handy. More than $180,000 in scholarships were handed out to the soon to be graduates.