Friday, June 29, 2007

Summer Suggestions

This is the final weekend of June and summer really gets into full swing with many getting ready for vacation. Next week of course features Independence Day which falls on a Wednesday, probably the most confusing day for our nation’s birthday. Most of us will be off on July 4th and I’m sure many will take the Monday and Tuesday before OR Thursday and Friday after to make for a long holiday break.

As I often remind you the summer weeks go all too fast and we really should try and maximize our enjoyment of these next couple of months. “Esquire”
Magazine has come out with a list of things we should try and do before Labor Day. These are really geared for active men and not practical for everyone but I think you’ll get the picture.

· Walk a path in the woods that has no other footprints. (They don’t
Mention to look out for ticks but I will).
· Go bodysurfing in cold water.
· See a drive-in movie. (Not very easy any longer…they were fun
when I was younger).
· Visit a completely useless roadside museum.
· Discover the best burger in town.
· Save room for dessert.
· Join your fellow gluttons at a food festival.
· Eat cotton candy in a strong breeze.
· Drink a cold beer behind the backstop after a softball game or a gin and tonic on the veranda as the nightingales sing in the lilacs. (Are
they kidding with this one?)
· On the 4th of July, drive down a road from which you can see the
Fireworks displays from several towns as you pass them.
· Spend more than two hours of a single day in a hammock.

It would really be interesting to try and do all those things over the course of a few days. Bottom line here…don’t let these days go by without having fun.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Kevin's Father

On April 30th while I was attending an awards ceremony in North Carolina my father was in the emergency room at Community Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. For the past two months our family has had to deal with what many have gone through and that is determining what’s best for an aging parent and with the help of many my Dad is now a resident of Saint Barnabas Assisted Living at Lakewood.

Through this entire process what I’ve found more than anything is that there’s a lot of help out there and caring and understanding people who will go that extra step. It’s those people who basically came to our rescue.

Our ordeal started after my father had fallen while living in his Ortley Beach apartment and needed assistance from Toms River Township Police. It was determined that he would need medical attention which led to the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad transporting him to the very busy emergency room at Community Medical Center. Once it was determined he had suffered a heart attack he was fortunate that Dr. Jay Stone was available and he received terrific care from him and those in the cardiac unit. Several days later he was off to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for a procedure, which went very well. With assistance from both hospitals we made arrangements for him to then move to the Laurelton Village Care Center in Brick for rehab and continuing care. He needs a walker to get around and the heart attack only compounded his mobility issues. During the six-plus weeks he was at Laurelton Village he came in contact with so many wonderful people that I know I’d miss quite a few if I tried to name them all. But from the Administrator to the Receptionist when he got more than anything was attention…special thanks to the two “Pats”, Madeline, and Heather. They were all wonderful and made the best out of what are very difficult circumstances.

During this period my brother, sister and I came to the conclusion that it was not in my father’s best interests to return home and we set about the task of finding an assisted living facility. Frank Gelormini, a friend and Vice President at Community Medical Center suggested the Saint Barnabas facility in Lakewood…one I did not even know about. After meeting Alexis Commodore, the administrator, and touring the place I was convinced it was the perfect next step for my father. He moved in Tuesday and despite plenty of trepidation seems to be making the transition.

I would be remiss if I did not give a special thanks to Jane Maloney and the many I came in contact with at the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.
They have guided us through every step from day one and provided information and resources which have led us to being able to help our ex-Marine father when he needed it the most. Jackie, Linda and Maria answered our many questions and helped steer us in the right direction.

While the last couple of months have been filled with concern, stress, challenges and frustration the bottom line is we should all sleep better at night thanks to many who not only helped us but do this every day. Underappreciated and probably grossly underpaid…to us they are heroes.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Sure Sign Of Summer

A sure sign that summer is here as tonight the Festival of the Atlantic concert series begins its 19th season under the stars and on the beach in Point Pleasant Beach. The Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea, under the direction of Father Alphonse Stephenson, will put on these free performances every Wednesday (except July 4th) with the finale on Labor Day. The concerts begin at 7:30 and are held on the Inlet Beach near Jenkinson’s at the northern end of the boardwalk. You can bring beach chairs and blankets and set up early for the shows which are very popular and always well attended.

The concert series is sponsored by Jenkinson’s, Diane Turton Realtors, OceanFirst Foundation, Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, Commerce Bank, Paul Zito Foundation and other local businesses.

While the concerts are free donations are accepted and over two decades the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea has raised nearly $3 million for schools, colleges and other social service organizations.

The Lavallette office of Diane Turton Realtors does run a couple of busses to the weekly shows…you can call there for details.

A big change in the Ocean County Prosecutors Office as Thomas Kelaher leaves after 5 ½ years as Prosecutor and is replaced by Marlene Lynch Ford. Kelahar, who will return to his private law practice did a terrific job during his tenure and drew praise from many in law enforcement. I used to bump into the ex-Marine on Thursdays at a Toms River diner where he enjoyed split pea soup and hearty conversation. Ford has an outstanding resume to take over the Prosecutors Office and a solid and an experienced staff to work with which should make for a smooth transition.

Dan Klein is the new head football coach at Ocean Township High School after spending the last four seasons as a Spartans assistant. He replaces Sal Spampanato who earlier this month took over the program at Monmouth Regional High School. The 28-year old Klein played at Shore Regional and later Franklin & Marshall and takes over one of the top programs in the shore area…the Spartans were 8-2 last season.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

What A Difference A Century Makes

The other day I was reading the obituary of a woman who had just died at the age of 103 and the first thought that came to my mind were the changes she had witnessed in her lifetime. So I went back and looked at something I had in my files titled….”The Year was 1904.” Just listen to some numbers and statistics from a little more than a century ago:

· Only 14% of homes in the US had a bathtub.
· Only 8% had a telephone.
· A 3-minute call from Denver to New York cost $11.
· There were only 8,000 cars in the US and 144 miles of paved roads
for them to travel on.
· The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 MPH.
· Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.
· The population of Las Vegas was 30.
· The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
· The average wage in the US was 22 cents an hour and the average worker made between $200-400 per year.
· More than 95% of all births took place at home.
· 90% of all American physicians had no college education but instead attended medical schools, many of which were criticized by the government and press as being “substandard.”
· Sugar cost 4 cents per pound…eggs were 14 cents a dozen.
· Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
· Only 6% of all Americans had graduated high school.
· There were only 230 reported murders in the entire country.
· The five leading causes of death were Pneumonia and Influenza,
Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, Heart Disease and Stroke.
· Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the
counter at drugstores.

That was 1904….can you imagine what life will be like 103 years from now?

Monday, June 25, 2007

Beginnings & Endings

Random notes on a Monday morning following what was a spectacular weekend at the shore:

Friday morning I participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the Marquee Cinemas on Route 37 West in Toms River and was so impressed that I came back in the evening to catch a movie. There are ten auditoriums in the cinema and all of them feature stadium seating with high-back rocking chairs. Marquee Cinemas is a West Virginia-based company and the Toms River location is their 18th and first in New Jersey.
By the way my wife and I not only enjoyed the comfort of the theatre but the movie “Knocked Up” which features Grey’s Anatomy start Katherine Heigl.

Not only was Saturday one of the nicest beach days you will ever enjoy at but the ocean was like a postcard that could have been from any exotic location around the world. I don’t know about everywhere else but in Seaside Park we were looking at blue-green colors that reminded people of the beaches in Mexico or the Caribbean.

An era has come to an end with Tony Baiamonte closing his restaurant known for years as The Pizza King and later Mugsy’s on the corner of Hooper Avenue and Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. Tony will actually be building a “Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza” on the location which will open later this year. The Pizza King was where I ate many meals while a student at Ocean County College in the mid 70’s and I was among the hundreds who engraved their names in the big wooden tables. In 1998 Mugsy’s was the place to be if you wanted to watch the Toms River East All-Stars games on television as they went on to win the Little League World Series…WOBM hosted a couple of tailgate parties before the games.
Tony has contributed much to the area, has been a huge supporter of Vocational Education and for years has helped me personally by providing food to the WOBM Christmas Classic.
I’ll miss him and his pizza.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Summer Solstice

Today is not a holiday, although it’s noted on most calendars. There are no gifts associated with it and as far as I know there’s not a Hallmark card for the occasion either. At the same time today is one of my favorite days of the year and one I lament as well.

Welcome to the first official day of summer…the three-month period I and many others live for which goes a lot faster than any other three months of the year. Summer at the shore may have some drawbacks but it’s why we put up with winter at the shore. The next 13 weeks have plenty of special events, like the Toms River Rotary Club’s 2nd annual Family Beach Party on Saturday at Shelter Cove, the 67th Annual 4th of July Fireworks in Beachwood, the AVP Pro Volleyball Tour stop in Seaside Heights and a host of fairs and festivals. However all we really need over the next couple of months is sunshine.

I can think of nothing better than curling my toes into the white sands of the 2nd Avenue beach in Seaside Park with a good book to read and my mission this year is to get their more often than last year. Summer is when cooking is done on the grill…if at all. It’s a good excuse to eat out or grab something on the boardwalk and it’s a great time to enjoy ice cream, which somehow tastes some much better now than in the winter. For those of us over 21, sitting out on your deck at the end of the day with an ice cold beer is something to savor.

I know there is a downside to this for many…heat and humidity. Sure it can get a bit sticky but I for one rarely complain because I remember winter all too well. Actually the ones with a right to complain are those who have to work in the heat…roofers, landscapers, road department guys…yet the biggest moaners are those who spend most of the day in air conditioned comfort. Another big benefit of summer….bikinis and flimsy clothes…enough said on that.

At the beginning I said today is one I lament as well as celebrate. That’s because sunset is 8:29PM and it’s the longest day and shortest night of the year. We’ve been gaining daylight for months but starting tomorrow the pendulum swings the other way. Before you can snap your fingers it will be September 23rd, the first day of autumn. My advice…don’t snap them and enjoy every moment of summer.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Good Turn Award

This area has always been blessed with plenty of people who truly believe that it’s better to give than receive. Among them is Paul Barlo, who I’ve gotten to know a bit while working on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County, an organization in which Paul now serves as President.

This Sunday the Jersey Shore Boy Scouts will honor him with their “Good Turn Award” at their 14th Annual Garden Party reception in Manasquan. By day Paul deals with his architectural company, Barlo & Associates as well as Abatare Builders of which he is founder and owner. However he spends a lot of his time giving time and effort to a myriad of organizations, serving on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts Jersey Shore Council, President of
Dottie’s House, Vice President of Homes Now, Vice President of the Monmouth Ocean Development Council and is a member of the Brick Environmental Beautification Committee. That’s only a few of the organizations he is active with and with the exception of the Notre Dame Club of New Jersey they are all worthwhile causes.

For information on Sunday’s Garden Party which honors Paul you can call the Boys Scouts at (732) 349-1037. Proceeds will benefit their Scout Camp scholarship programs.

If events like this are your cup of tea than circle Saturday, July 14th on the calendar as Dave and Roberta Wintrode host “Artists Under the Sun” at their Toms River home. The late afternoon event is a fundraiser for the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties’ Hungry Heart Catering Program and will feature an art exhibition, gourmet food, cocktails and music. Additional information is available by visiting the web site, www.foodbankmoc.org. The FoodBank collects and distributes food to 270 charities in the two-county area and in Ocean County alone some 30,000 different people are served each year.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Summertime Blues

It’s always amazing to me that with the end of the school year comes a complete change of lifestyle for many but certainly that is not the case for all of us. Let me use my own family as an example. My son has been home from college since mid-May and he of course is on a schedule that changes constantly. We often try and remind him that the rest of the family has work and school and he needs to keep that in mind when he comes home in the middle of the night and begins searching the kitchen for something to eat.

However I am now the only one who has to get up in the morning as my wife, a high school guidance counselor and daughter are on full summer recess mode. That means when the alarm goes off at about 2:30AM I need to quietly and carefully go about the morning routine of showering and getting dressed. I even take my clothes out the night before so I don’t wake up my wife by rifling through the closet.

This is only a small part of how I feel like the odd man out. The best is when someone will call me during the day and ask “what I’m doing?”….of course they are calling me in the middle of day at work. At times I’m made to feel that by working I may be inconveniencing others because I’m not available to do things on the spur of the moment.

Truth be told I’m jealous. What could possibly be better than to have 10 weeks or so in which you don’t set an alarm clock, can exercise when you want, go to the beach, stay up and watch late-night television? I guess the answer to that question is retirement which is not even on the horizon. However summer vacation is and I have a lot of time coming and will be taking it between now and Labor Day. I feel like more than ever I need time off, even if it’s just for a change in the daily routine which can get to you after a while. So before you burn out…get out or as they say in Canada…go on holiday!

Monday, June 18, 2007

Monday Randomness

Random thoughts as we begin the week which officially welcomes in summer:

I can think of no better way to start a morning then with a walk on the Seaside boardwalk and after doing that the past two days I’m going to make that part of my weekend routine. Saturday I was by myself but during the first half-mile I ran into (or should I say walked into) nearly a dozen people I know, including boardwalk regulars Bob Scott, Jim Ruhnke and Everett Applegate along with Toms River East baseball coach Bill Frank and his wife Loretta. While walking takes time it’s just a great way to start your day and the boardwalk provides sites and sounds that make the time and distance move quickly. My wife joined me Sunday for a 4 plus mile stroll and I had trouble keeping up with her but I felt better when she paid for breakfast. Now if I can only find the time on weekdays to head over to the boardwalk.

The summer season gets into full swing next weekend as by then all the schools in the New Jersey and New York will be out for summer recess.
Most of the Ocean County schools finished up last week although a few are still in session and it seems most of the schools in North Jersey are in class this week…they had a few snow days to make up. By next weekend I’m sure we’ll get the full effects of summer at the shore.

Tiger Woods did not win this year’s US Open but it’s a testament to his greatness that everyone expected he would prevail in a spot where one individual rarely dominates. Woods trailed by two shots going into Sunday’s final round but the more you read and listened you would have thought he had the lead. Another thought on Tiger…has anyone ever looked better in golf clothes? The man is an Adonis and fits those Nike shirts just right.

The first half of the South Atlantic League season is over and the BlueClaws were able to finish above .500 with three straight wins. For Lakewood to have a chance to defend their SAL title they will have to win the second half race, which begins Thursday as the teams have a few days off for the All-Star break. Lakewood opens the second half with six games at home, beginning Thursday, which is Soccer Night at FirstEnergy Park.

Friday, June 15, 2007

June Pennant Races

I would like to remind you that when you call someone a sports fan, you are calling them a sports fanatic. What’s happened with the local major league baseball teams of late is further proof that these fanatics are also crazy.
Two weeks ago the Yankees were sinking faster than the Titanic and even die-hard fans were bailing on the team and season. They said it was time for Joe Torre to go and were disgusted with the players brought in by General Manager Brian Cashman. 14 ½ games behind the hated Red Sox, Yankee fans were turning their attention to the upcoming football season.

At the same time the Mets were rolling along with the best record in the National League and many of their fans proclaiming them as New York’s best team…I have to admit to being in this category. Jose Reyes looked like an MVP candidate and a trip to the World Series seemed imminent.

That was just a couple of weeks ago but my of my how things have changed. As they get set the play this weekend in the Bronx the Yanks are sizzling, having won 9 in-a-row and 12 of 14. At the same time Boston is losing so that 14 ½ game lead is down to 7 ½. As for the Mets, they’ve dropped their last 5 and are 2-10 in June thanks to shaky pitching and little hitting. Their lead in the NL East is just two games over the surging Phillies….a team that was woeful at the start of the season and had their fans calling for the head of manager Charlie Manuel.

The real kick here is Yankee fans are back on the bandwagon and all swear they were never off….Met fans want players traded, Willie Randolph fired and are expecting to be swept by the Yanks this weekend and sink further into the abyss. As for Philly fans….they’re just waiting for the expected bad things that always go with being a Philly fan.

Remember…..Fanatics!

Sunday is Fathers Day and one of my most lasting memories of this day actually has nothing to do with my father. As an 8-year old I remember watching Jim Bunning on TV throw a perfect game for the Philies against the Mets on Fathers Day in 1964. Just one of those things I’ll never forget.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Pomp And Circumstance

It’s already been played a couple of times this week and over the next few days it will be a very popular song. Upon hearing it some will smile, others will cry and most will reflect. The song of course is “Pomp and Circumstance, March #1” which is best known as the graduation song and was first played at Yale University in 1905. It is perfectly suited for a ceremony that marks the end of one stage of life and the beginning of another and that is what a high school graduation is all about.

For some students it means that school is not only out for summer…but forever. They will move right into the work force or possibly the military and hopefully find a career paved with success. Most however are headed to college where the real journey begins…a period when they become more independent than ever and travel a road which often defines their futures.

This is a very exciting time, especially for parents who will watch their oldest child receive their diploma. They are experiencing this for the first time and will probably think back to when their sons and daughters entered kindergarten or first grade and wonder where all those years went. They’ve grown up and you grew older, thanks in large part of the stress of raising a teen-ager. Don’t think it’s over yet, in many cases its just beginning.

However this is a time of joy and one that families should share and celebrate together. Those little kids are not little any longer and you should take pride in getting them to where they are today. All those trips back and forth to school… sports, plays, concerts and other activities, back to school nights, progress reports, report cards and more.

Yes those days are over and you are no longer the parents of a high school student…but a high school graduate. Those tears your shedding may not be tears of joy…first college tuition payment is due in August.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Dale Jr "Controversy"

I really had nothing specific to bring to the table today until WOBM newscaster Tripp Rogers poked his head in my office this morning and announced “this Dale Earnhardt story is going to be huge.” For those of you who don’t know Dale Jr. is a NASCAR driver who is expected to officially announce later today that beginning next year he’ll join Hendrick Motorsports stable of drivers, a group that already includes Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Casey Mears. Again giving you a little background, it was just a few weeks ago that Earnhardt announced he would not stay with DEI, his late father’s company after this season. That led to his courting by the other major players in the sport of which Hendrick has been the most successful.

I want to go back to Tripp’s comment about how big this story is. I responded with “it’s big to those who care about NASCAR” and it set off a mild debate as he believes it has far-reaching ramifications. I being older and wiser get the final word because the bottom line is there are many people who don’t and never will care about NASCAR, like many other individual sports. With few exceptions, i.e. Tiger Woods, most sports fans follow team sports and that will never change.

While NASCAR has done as good a marketing job as any sport in this country you can’t compare it to football or baseball. It’s like comparing apples to broccoli….or something like that. With that said the Earnhardt story is a big one…if you care about NASCAR.

The Jersey Shore team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Carpenter Cup Baseball Tournament without playing a game. Their scheduled game with Delaware South was rained out Tuesday at the University of Pennsylvania and because that team is not available to make it up then the team of Ocean and Monmouth County players moves on.

The Beachwood Soccer Club is holding open registrations for the fall season tonight and Thursday night from 5:30-7pm at the soccer complex. For more information you can visit www.beachwoodsoccer.com

(Tuesday) Going To Bat For Brian

FirstEnergy Park will play host to a very special baseball doubleheader
Wednesday night and neither game will involve the BlueClaws, who are currently on the road. Fans from the shore area will get to see a host of high school seniors play their final high school game as well as some other players who used to shine return to the diamond. What’s most important about the doubleheader is all proceeds will benefit “Going to Bat for Brian” and the “Light Up Manchester Fund Drive.”

Brian Malast is a former star athlete at Manchester Township High School
who later played football at Virginia Military Institute. He was a rookie New Jersey State Trooper who was involved in an auto accident while working in September of 2005…that accident left him paralyzed. Just a year ago a baseball game at FirstEnergy Park raised thousands of dollars to help with his long-term recovery and care. The other beneficiary of the game is to complete the lighting project on the football field at Manchester, a grass-roots effort that started because of Craig Leppert, a soon-to-be junior. The Hawks linebacker has a very rare disease that makes it difficult and dangerous for him to be exposed to sunlight and with lights he’ll be able to enjoy mostly night games. The community has rallied behind the project and Manchester will play its first night game to open the season on September 7th against Wall.

Back to the baseball doubleheader. The Shore Baseball Coaches Association will play their annual Ocean versus Monmouth County game beginning at 5pm. This game features top seniors, including Pat Biserta (Point Boro), Joe Talerico (TR South), Keith Weinkofsky (Ocean) and Anthony Ranaudo (St. Rose)…all of whom are on the Jersey Shore team now competing in the Carpenter Cup at the University of Pennsylvania.
Wednesday’s second game (7:30) will match former shore players like Charlie Frazier, JM Gold, Marc Fink and Travis Musolf against a group of State Troopers.

Tickets cost $10, although kids 12 and under wearing a Little League shirt will be admitted free. This is certainly an event in which the final score will not be what’s shown on the scoreboard but rather the impact it has on the lives of others.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Sopranos: Love It Or Hate It?

It was a battle of the Tony’s Sunday night:

I had no interest in the Tony Awards and very little in Tony Parker leading San Antonio to an easy win over Cleveland in the NBA Finals. However like millions of others I was glued to my chair until 10:03 to learn the fate of Tony Soprano.

Now I know many are already ripping the finale of The Sopranos…my wife and son both were disappointed in the ending which left it up to your imagination. However I think it was very well done and most of the viewers who are upset are those who wanted a blood bath with a clear picture of who, if anyone was left standing. The only significant whacking in the 86th and final episode saw rival mob boss Phil Leotardo crushed and that’s an understatement.

However while series creator David Chase leaves it up to us to draw our own conclusions he did give us final images of the main characters, who all appear to be heading in a good direction. Tony has legal issues to deal with but not Phil any longer and he’s made some peace with Uncle Junior while insuring his sister is taken care of. Carmela stayed by Tony’s side but certainly has had enough of listening to him complain about his childhood and may continue to dabble in real estate. AJ has turned the corner and his depression seems to be over…the new girlfriend doesn’t hurt. Meadow is headed to law school, a nice job and marriage.

However where Chase was masterful was the final scene in which the family has gathered at a local diner and we viewers are thinking somebody is certainly going to be killed. Tony is the first to arrive and he’s scanning the juke box and viewing titles like “I’m Still Alive” and “Magic Man” before selecting “Don’t Stop Believing.” While waiting for the rest of the family suspicious-looking characters are shown coming in the door, which jingles every time it’s opened. Carmela arrives and moments later AJ follows and we see Meadow having trouble parking her car. Just then a man sitting at the counter heads to the bathroom and I’m thinking this is going to be like “The Godfather” and he’ll return with a gun and start firing. But that doesn’t happen…at least we don’t see it. Meadow finally gets to the door, opens it and the screen goes black. You finally realize it’s not a problem with your cable but the end of the most talked-about show in TV history.

You might be disappointed…I’m happy Tony lives on. Unless those onion rings at the diner were poisoned.

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Friday's Thoughts

Todd Frazier is a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox…or should I say was.
The 21-year old will still be sporting red socks but now the team he roots for and will soon work for is the Cincinnati Reds. Frazier was the 34th overall player taken in Baseball’s First-Year Player draft, a day he celebrated with family and friends at his Toms River home. His agent will likely begin contract negotiations as early as today and if things go smoothly Todd could begin his pro career in either Sarasota, Florida or Billings, Montana where the Reds rookie league teams reside and begin their seasons in less than two weeks. Frazier’s baseball talents will get him a nice contract…the 34th player taken last year received $900,000.

After much speculation Superior Court Judge Marlene Lynch Ford was nominated Thursday by Governor Corzine to become Ocean County’s first woman prosecutor. Ford will replace Thomas Kelaher whose five plus-year tenure has drawn praise from many in law enforcement. Kelaher is a hard-working, no-nonsense official who’s innovative, visible and willing to let others do their job. Ford is a former Assemblywoman and Municipal Prosecutor and appears well qualified to do an outstanding job once she takes over.

Its last call for the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce’s 14th Annual Golf Outing. The event will be held Monday at Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson with a buffet luncheon before the 1pm shot gun start. I will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the dinner and awards program after golfers have finished their rounds. For last minute registration information you can call the Chamber office at (732) 349-0220.

Can you imagine the audience for Sunday’s finale of The Sopranos? Fans of the show are waiting to see how the HBO series will end and here’s one vote for Tony and his family heading into the sunset together…and alive.


Have you noticed how many of those small signs that stick in the grass are present on local roadways these days? Its bad enough you have to deal with them during election season but now it seems like many businesses and others use local, county and state property to promote their companies and events. I don’t like them, they look bad and they should be removed

Friday's Thoughts

Todd Frazier is a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox…or should I say was.
The 21-year old will still be sporting red socks but now the team he roots for and will soon work for is the Cincinnati Reds. Frazier was the 34th overall player taken in Baseball’s First-Year Player draft, a day he celebrated with family and friends at his Toms River home. His agent will likely begin contract negotiations as early as today and if things go smoothly Todd could begin his pro career in either Sarasota, Florida or Billings, Montana where the Reds rookie league teams reside and begin their seasons in less than two weeks. Frazier’s baseball talents will get him a nice contract…the 34th player taken last year received $900,000.

After much speculation Superior Court Judge Marlene Lynch Ford was nominated Thursday by Governor Corzine to become Ocean County’s first woman prosecutor. Ford will replace Thomas Kelaher whose five plus-year tenure has drawn praise from many in law enforcement. Kelaher is a hard-working, no-nonsense official who’s innovative, visible and willing to let others do their job. Ford is a former Assemblywoman and Municipal Prosecutor and appears well qualified to do an outstanding job once she takes over.

Its last call for the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce’s 14th Annual Golf Outing. The event will be held Monday at Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson with a buffet luncheon before the 1pm shot gun start. I will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the dinner and awards program after golfers have finished their rounds. For last minute registration information you can call the Chamber office at (732) 349-0220.

Can you imagine the audience for Sunday’s finale of The Sopranos? Fans of the show are waiting to see how the HBO series will end and here’s one vote for Tony and his family heading into the sunset together…and alive.


Have you noticed how many of those small signs that stick in the grass are present on local roadways these days? Its bad enough you have to deal with them during election season but now it seems like many businesses and others use local, county and state property to promote their companies and events. I don’t like them, they look bad and they should be removed

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Toms River East Little Leaguer Makes Good

I first met Todd Frazier in the summer of 1995 when I followed the Toms River East American All-Stars to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where his brother Jeff was one of the stars of that team. Todd was 9 and already making a name for himself in a family of three boys who would all have storied athletic careers. He looked a bit like Huck Finn and what I remember most about him that August was how he and my son would slide down the hills in the outfield on cardboard boxes…a Williamsport tradition. Ironically that also began a friendship between the two which continues today…a day that’s been circled on the calendar for some time in the Frazier home.

Baseball will hold its First-Year Player Draft at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex in Florida with the first round to be televised live on ESPN2 at 2pm. It’s possible that before the opening round is concluded Todd Frazier’s name will be called but if not…it won’t be too long after that.

That 9-year old with the toothy grin has grown into one of the nation’s best players and he told me yesterday he’s excited about beginning his pro career. This is nothing new to the Frazier Family as oldest son Charlie was drafted by the Marlins organization out of high school and Jeff was taken by the Tigers following his junior year at Rutgers. Charlie is now out of baseball and working and coaching in the Toms River School district while Jeff is playing Double-A for the Seattle Mariners.

However many felt all along that Todd was the one with the greatest major league potential and his path to today has been littered with gold. By the time he was 12 he had already led his Toms River East American All-Stars to the Little League World Series Championship with a win over Japan which set off a wild celebration in Ocean County. But that was not as he quarterbacked his Pop Warner team to a national championship, won the national Punt, Pass and Kick Competition in his age group and was a standout basketball player.

Success continued at Toms River South where he helped the Indians win a pair of State Baseball Championships and scored over a 1,000 points on the basketball court. Three great seasons followed at Rutgers where he was an All-American shortstop this spring, the Big East Player of the Year and among 20 finalists for the National Player of the Year.

That leads us to today where Todd is likely to be taken in what’s called the Supplemental First Round. A lifelong Red Sox fan he told me his agent has heard quite a bit from both San Diego and Cincinnati….the Reds have the 34th and 53rd overall picks while the Padres have 5 picks between 40-64.

Most of the players drafted today will never make it out of the minor leagues. However don’t bet against Todd Frazier unless you don’t mind paying up in a few years.

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

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.

Monday, June 4, 2007

Sportsmanship Awards Breakfast

The Ocean County Directors of Athletics held their 15th Annual Sportsmanship Awards Breakfast Sunday at the Quality Inn of Toms River, an event that saw 32 student-athletes saluted for the quality of their character every bit as much as their ability to perform on the field. As I have every year but one, I had the distinct pleasure of serving as Master of Ceremonies for the breakfast, which brought together 30 soon-to-be graduated seniors as well as a pair of juniors from Barnegat High School.

The honored athletes were selected by their schools and all 32 were on hand Sunday with their families and in some cases high school coaches. Sponsored in part by the Pine Belt Auto Group, the recipients posses the qualities of sportsmanship and fair play that make them ambassadors for their sport and school. Among those saluted was Lakewood’s Shavon Greaves, who had quite a weekend at the NJSIAA Group 3 Track championships. The senior sprinter won the 100, 200 and 400 and set a total of three records in the process. However like the others honored she is a shining example of what a student-athlete is all about. Shavon is ranked in the top 10% of her class, a member of the National Honor Society, a lieutenant in the Junior ROTC and captain of the track team. Headed to Penn State on a full scholarship, she hopes to become a physical therapist. Greaves said to her sportsmanship is “always doing the right thing, even when the chance to do the wrong thing is always open and staring you dead in the face.”

Will Sunderman of Pinelands Regional is the President of the County AD’s group and helped present awards to Nancy Sweeney of Lakewood and Jim Christiano of Toms River South as the Ocean County Athletic Directors of the Year. Both longtime educations are retiring after each served their districts for more than 30 years.

Four of this years honorees were randomly selected to receive $500 scholarships courtesy of the Athletic Directors group and they were Stephanie Kissam of Brick Township High School, Kelsey Bongiovanni of Manchester, James D’Aloia of Lakewood and John Gray of Southern Regional.

The Sportsmanship Awards program is one I enthusiastically support and I hope continues for many years.