Thursday, June 30, 2011

F'ing Shame

It was five weeks ago that I announced in this segment my plan to do all I could to
curtail the use of the “F” word at our broadcast facility here in Bayville. I was applauded by many listeners who are offended and disturbed about the growing use of the obscenity in everyday conversation. The problem is many no longer view the word as an obscenity, instead thinking it’s just something you use when trying to make a point. I admitted at that time that I also have found myself using the “F” word when I shouldn’t so taking action was partly self-motivating.

Anyway when I addressed this subject in late May I vowed as a manager here to institute a fine system, which I did. After a brief transition period use of the “F” word in the office would cost you a dollar and we made up a fine jar. There were some mulligans and even exceptions but my intent was to clean up the office and get people to expand their vocabulary. The key was that everyone, or least a strong majority, needed to buy into this as a good thing which would make us all better. They would also need to police one another because I can’t be all places at all times. Well I am here to tell you my mission has failed and is being aborted.

For the first week or so it seemed to be working and the fine jar was receiving regular donations. However in recent weeks my policy has been basically ignored and even laughed at on a daily basis. About the only one who has put money in the fine jar lately has been myself because when I slip up I pay. I did not institute the policy to empty my pockets, especially if others are not going to follow.

So as we head into the 4th of July holiday I give up. I’ve been worn down and beat up by a society that has become more vulgar and who knows how much worse it’s going to get. The problem is that we have accepted it and now can’t stop it because most simply don’t think there is anything wrong with it. One last thing fellow workers….I will do what I want with the fine money. If you don’t like it…take it up with the Vice President of Quality Control. That’s me by the way!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

U.S. Army All Shore Gridiron Classic

We are just a couple of weeks away from the U.S. Army All Shore Gridiron Classic which is either the final football game of last season or the first game of next season. The annual mid-summer classic matches recently graduated seniors from Ocean County against their rivals from Monmouth County. The game will be played for the first time on a Thursday night, July 14th at Toms River High School North. Lacey’s Lou Vircillo will coach the Ocean team with Shane Fallon of Rumson heading up the Monmouth staff. We will be broadcasting that game on the Shore Sports Network with details to follow.

Barnegat High School football standout Ryan Morris can enjoy his senior year without having to worry about the burden of college recruiting. That’s because the 6’6, 250 pound tight end has verbally committed to Purdue University after making a recent unofficial visit to the campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. Morris said he liked everything about his visit and “it just felt right and was the right decision for me.” He chose Purdue over more than a dozen other schools including Syracuse, Duke and Central Florida.

It took a little longer than expected but Rob Dahl was officially hired last week as the new head football coach at Brick Township High School. A Brick graduate, Dahl was the offensive coordinator at Jackson Memorial last season. He replaces Patrick Dowling, who endured two tumultuous seasons as the replacement for Warren Wolf but was not re-hired. Dowling is now an assistant at Monsignor Donovan under Dan Duddy.

Free agent to be Jose Reyes is putting together a remarkable season for the New York Mets who after getting off to a horrible start are now over .500 for the first time since April 6th. Reyes went 4-4 with his major league-leading 15th triple last night in a rout of the Tigers which boosted his league-leading batting average to .349. The shortstop also leads the National League in hits and runs and is second in stolen bases. Reyes’ timing could not be better as he’s having a breakout season in the final year of his contract and having just turned 28 he is in the prime of his career. The Mets will have to find a way to sign him after the season or suffer a public relations nightmare that could set the franchise back even farther.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Beachwood Fireworks

You might remember a time when it seemed like just about every town had some kind of fireworks display on the 4th of July. In most cases it was handled by the town itself but over time what was once a regular occurrence has become a rarity.
The financial burden and responsibility has simply become too great for local governments and one by one towns have ceased shooting off fireworks to celebrate our nation’s birthday. There are still some towns that overcome the obstacles and continue the tradition and WOBM is delighted to be part of what will take place again in Beachwood on Monday.

For the 71st year the borough I call home will host young and old for a truly spectacular fireworks extravaganza. It’s a joint effort between the town, sponsors and donations from residents and others that all add up to make the 4th of July a tradition in Beachwood like no other. Many will plan their entire holiday around being in position to watch the fireworks go off around 9pm. That position could be at Beachwood Beach or anywhere on the Toms River in towns like Ocean Gate, Pine Beach, South Toms River, Toms River and Island Heights. Not to be forgotten is the thousands who will view the show from boats in the river itself.
Most of those doing the “oohing and ahhing” have no idea who pays for the show and unfortunately most don’t care either…they have just come to expect it.
However what will take place Monday is the culmination of a year-long effort fueled by Beachwood officials, volunteers and both the Public Works and Police Departments who do an outstanding job.

I first got involved around fifteen years ago when the late Bill Hornidge, the longtime Mayor of Beachwood established a Fireworks Committee. Bill, who was a “one of a kind” and a real character has since passed on but others have carried on what he started including Hal Morris, Jerry LaCrosse and Bev Clayton.

Of course the bottom line here is money and generous sponsorships from Comcast, TD Bank, Spirits Unlimited and WOBM…along with donations continue to fund the cost of the fireworks. However the only way to guarantee that a tradition that dates back to the 1930’s will continue is for support from the public. So if you are planning to catch the show on Monday send a donation (no matter how small) to
“Fireworks on the Toms River,” 1600 Pinewald Road, Beachwood. For more you can visit wobm.com.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Monday Before The 4th

With the exception of Memorial Day weekend it has been fairly quiet at the Jersey Shore but expect that to change beginning this week…at least local merchants are hope so. With July 4th weekend right around the corner and gas prices actually dropping a bit things should pick up. Despite mostly sunny skies and terrific beach weather I did not find it all that crowded this weekend as I made my way to the 2nd Avenue Beach in Seaside Park. Not that I’m complaining because I know if it’s nice that will all change this coming weekend.

Of course July 4th is a week from today and many people will end their holiday by watching the annual fireworks extravaganza hosted by the borough of Beachwood.
At a time when many towns have had to cancel fireworks the tradition continues along the Toms River thanks to the generosity of sponsors, including Comcast, TD Bank, Spirits Unlimited and WOBM. However just as important are the donations from local residents who keep the show going. I’ll talk more about this tomorrow but if you are planning to watch the fireworks than help out by sending anything you can to “Beachwood Fireworks on the Toms River”, 1600 Pinewald Road, Beachwood, 08722.

The Road to Williamsport begins today for Little League teams dreaming of making it to the World Series in Pennsylvania later this summer. While Little League Baseball offers tournaments in several age groups it’s the one for mostly 12-year olds that garners the most attention and of course there is some history in this area. Lakewood captured the World Series in 1975 and Toms River East American made three trips to Williamsport in a five-year period and won it all in 1998. Other Ocean County teams have been quite successful as well and it all starts with the District 18 tournament which gets underway tonight when pool play begins with six games. We will try and keep you updated through the tournament which culminates with the District final on July 16th.

I will be at Oceanaire Golf & Country Club in Waretown later today as that’s where 21 Plus Foundation is holding their 5th annual golf classic. Looks like a great day for the event and tonight I will MC the dinner and awards program.
Proceeds will help the foundation support 21 Plus, which aims to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities and has been doing so since 1979.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Bob Levy Honored By NJBA



In our business if you say something nice about someone you work with others might feel you are just basically patting yourself or your radio station on the back for no real good reason. However what took place at Caesars in Atlantic City Wednesday is clearly worth mentioning as our own Bob Levy received quite an honor during the New Jersey Broadcasters Association’s 64th Annual Conference.
Bob, best known for his more than 30 years as a Sunday morning fixture on WOBM received just the second lifetime achievement award from the organization which represents radio and TV stations in the state. He has been with this station since before it went on the air in March of 1968 and has served in a variety of capacities but it’s his “Topic A” program each Sunday from 7-11am that has earned him almost icon status. In accepting the award from Pinky Kravitz, who is known as “Mr. Atlantic City” and was honored last year, Bob told the hundreds of broadcasters in the room that hosting a show like “Topic A” carries with it an obligation to do good things. No doubt while entertaining and informing Bob and his listeners have helped many causes and organizations over the years and yesterday’s honor was well-deserved and appropriate. In a business that is very competitive and at times pretty cut-throat Bob Levy received a standing ovation from those he works with and those who often work against him. That in itself is quite an accomplishment.

Congratulations are also in order for Eric Scott and the Millennium Radio News team as the monthly “Ask the Governor” show was honored as the winner of the Best Public Affairs program. This week’s conference also marked the end of Bill Saurer’s term as Chairman of the NJBA. Our company President/CEO was saluted for his work on behalf of all radio stations in New Jersey where he often put the interests of the industry ahead of what might be considered best for our own company.

The conference is pretty much a 24-hour event over two days and a good chance to catch up with those you used to work with who now work for others. When you’re in the business for as long as I have, catching up with all of them takes quite a while.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Beneath The Dune

(The Hometown View will next appear on Thursday, June 23)

Walt Ramsay has been a teacher at Central Regional High School for many years
who I’ve known mainly from his time coaching multiple sports, including football and basketball. A couple of his sons were good athletes who themselves have gone on to coach including Ryan who is the head basketball coach at Manchester and Patrick who is an assistant at Central. I tell you this because I was quite surprised a week ago when I got an email from Walt telling me that his first novel had been published and he wanted to know if I would be interested in reading it. As I’ve said before my favorite hobby which I rarely have time for is reading books so I jumped at the opportunity. To be honest I had no idea Walt had an interest in writing and certainly did not know what to expect from the 226 page soft cover novel, “Beneath the Dune.” The story is set in central Florida and evolves Tucker Lee Anderson, a less than successful writer for a local newspaper who sort of stumbles on a big story that he is actually part of. It’s a mystery that has plenty of twists and turns and I have to say it’s a real page turner and an easy summer read which I basically knocked off in one day on the beach. Ramsay who lives in Pine Beach and Florida as much as he can is already working on his second novel, “Coastal Access” which will be out next year. You can visit his web site to find out where you can purchase “Beneath the Dune” at walterramsay.com.

The 2nd Annual RE/MAX Real Estate, LTD., Charity Golf Outing to support the Children’s Miracle Network/Children’s Specialized Hospitals is set for next Tuesday (June 28) at Woodlake Country Club in Lakewood. Not only will the day feature golf but there will be a gala dinner afterwards with prizes, a live band and much more. Last year’s inaugural event raised over $18,000 for Children’s Specialized Hospital in Toms River. For information you can stop in to RE/MAX Real Estate, LTD on Drum Point Road in Brick or call Dana Mauro at (732) 920-1900, ext 327.

Monday, June 20, 2011

The Silver Fox Steps Down

As was reported over the weekend Warren Wolf’s long and distinguished coaching career has come to an end. The soon-to-be 84 year old informed Lakewood High School officials Friday that he would not be returning to coach the Piners football team for a second season this fall even though that was his plan until very recently. Just a couple of weeks ago Wolf had stepped down as a member of the Brick Township Board of Education.

The “Silver Fox” is best known for his 51 years as head coach of the Brick “Green Dragons” where he built one of New Jersey’s top programs and helped put Shore Conference football on the map. The championship flags that fly at Keller Memorial Field are a testament to Wolf’s greatness where he often won without the biggest and fastest but always the best-prepared. However one of his greatest coaching jobs might have been at Lakewood last year where he took a downtrodden program that knew nothing but losing and brought some respect and pride back to a school that badly needed it. The Piners not only broke a 33-game losing streak but won three of last four games and beat rival Toms River South on Thanksgiving Day. That was career victory #364 for Wolf and as it turns out his last….it was a great way to end a great ride.

Have you ever been at a baseball game when an adult beats out a child for a foul ball? Well last week David DeConde of Toms River was at FirstEnergy Park for a BlueClaws game along with his family. As a foul ball was hit into the stands David watched as a man in his 40’s ran to the ball and just beat out a little girl, who was about 5 years old. Those who witnessed the event clearly wanted the adult to give the ball to the child but the man decided to keep the ball for himself. When the little girl started crying David came to the rescue and gave her a ball that he had. A fan sitting nearby was so impressed that she contacted BlueClaws management at the game and they brought over a baseball signed by All-Star Anthony Hewitt. Later the girlfriend of BlueClaws slugger Jim Murphy (his favorite player) came over and said she would get the entire team to sign the ball.

What makes this story even more special is David DeConde is just 6 years old…actually tomorrow is his 7th birthday. He attends Cedar Grove Elementary School and plays baseball, soccer and ice hockey. Reports are that he’s a pretty good athlete and we already know he has great manners and a big heart.

The Silver Fox Steps Down

As was reported over the weekend Warren Wolf’s long and distinguished coaching career has come to an end. The soon-to-be 84 year old informed Lakewood High School officials Friday that he would not be returning to coach the Piners football team for a second season this fall even though that was his plan until very recently. Just a couple of weeks ago Wolf had stepped down as a member of the Brick Township Board of Education.

The “Silver Fox” is best known for his 51 years as head coach of the Brick “Green Dragons” where he built one of New Jersey’s top programs and helped put Shore Conference football on the map. The championship flags that fly at Keller Memorial Field are a testament to Wolf’s greatness where he often won without the biggest and fastest but always the best-prepared. However one of his greatest coaching jobs might have been at Lakewood last year where he took a downtrodden program that knew nothing but losing and brought some respect and pride back to a school that badly needed it. The Piners not only broke a 33-game losing streak but won three of last four games and beat rival Toms River South on Thanksgiving Day. That was career victory #364 for Wolf and as it turns out his last….it was a great way to end a great ride.

Have you ever been at a baseball game when an adult beats out a child for a foul ball? Well last week David DeConde of Toms River was at FirstEnergy Park for a BlueClaws game along with his family. As a foul ball was hit into the stands David watched as a man in his 40’s ran to the ball and just beat out a little girl, who was about 5 years old. Those who witnessed the event clearly wanted the adult to give the ball to the child but the man decided to keep the ball for himself. When the little girl started crying David came to the rescue and gave her a ball that he had. A fan sitting nearby was so impressed that she contacted BlueClaws management at the game and they brought over a baseball signed by All-Star Anthony Hewitt. Later the girlfriend of BlueClaws slugger Jim Murphy (his favorite player) came over and said she would get the entire team to sign the ball.

What makes this story even more special is David DeConde is just 6 years old…actually tomorrow is his 7th birthday. He attends Cedar Grove Elementary School and plays baseball, soccer and ice hockey. Reports are that he’s a pretty good athlete and we already know he has great manners and a big heart.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Weiner's Rise & Fall

I will admit to not knowing all that much about the bitter fight between union members and New Jersey lawmakers over pension and benefit changes but I do know this. Union leaders here and everywhere need to understand that the public is not very sympathetic to their plight…that is the non-union public. Unions clearly serve a purpose and just because I’m not in one does not mean I don’t appreciate that they have value. However we are living in unprecedented times and nobody knows what lies ahead in the future. However we do know that the current course will result in a dead-end so changes have to be made and those changes are not going to be pleasant.

The fall was faster than the rise for New York Congressman Anthony Wiener who resigned Thursday just three weeks after he accidentally tweeted a picture of his crotch. At a bizarre news conference yesterday the 46-year old professional politician admitted that recent developments made it impossible for him to continue as he went from a top candidate for Mayor of New York to a national joke and embarrassment. The fact that is own Democratic Party leaders wanted Wiener out and were ready to consider sanctions against him was probably the nail in the coffin. Unlike many others who had successful careers before entering politics, Wiener has never really done anything else and his future is not bright unless he becomes a hot dog spokesman.

The defending champion Jersey Shore team faces the Tri-Cape All Stars in the quarterfinals of the Carpenter Cup Baseball Classic this afternoon at Coca Cola Park, which is the home of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Jersey Shore won their tournament opener Monday in the prestigious 16-team baseball tournament for high school players that is named after the former owners of the Phillies. Manchester’s John Musolf is the head coach of the Jersey Shore team which features standouts like Connor Kaden of Toms River South, Matt Meleo of Jackson Memorial, Brick’s Nick Vitale, Pat Sheldrick of Central and Manchester’s Jon Roszel. Should Jersey Shore win today than they would advance to Monday’s semifinals at Citizens Bank Park.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

School's Out For Summer

For thousands of people their daily routine changes today and before this week is out that number will grow. Yes for many school is out for summer and in addition to no more pencils, no more books and no more teachers’ dirty looks it also means no getting up early in the morning. That’s not just for students and teacher but in some cases parents as well as they don’t have to worry about getting the kids up and out each weekday morning.

I have to admit that I felt a bit nostalgic as I drove by Toms River High School South last night on my way to the BlueClaws game. It was just after 5pm and during the time of their graduation ceremonies on the football field. It was a year ago that my daughter Alex graduated from High School South but unfortunately she did not get to experience the tradition of the commencement at Detweiler Stadium. That’s because it was so hot they had to move the ceremony into the gymnasium which was not exactly cool but a lot safer for all involved. Anyway as I drove by last night I couldn’t help but think of how fast this year has gone and how many parents will feel the same way a year from now. You need to enjoy these special moments like graduations because before you snap your fingers your little ones are no longer little.

Vancouver, British Columbia might be the most depressed place in the world right now. The Canadian city was expecting to celebrate winning hockey’s ultimate prize last night…the Stanley Cup. However their beloved Canucks were blown out by Boston 4-0 in the 7th and deciding game of the Stanley Cup Finals and it’s the Bruins who get to drink out of sport’s most famous trophy. Saying the loss was not received well would be a grand understatement as crowds took to the streets for a night of rioting which included overturning and burning cars, damaging stores, smashing windows and throwing bottles at police and others. I guess it makes you wonder what would have happened if they won. Fortunately they did not.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Ocean County College's Grand Slam

Even though Ocean County College provides an outstanding education for a very affordable cost there are still many students who need help when it comes to tuition, books and other expenses. For that reason one of the main goals of the OCC Foundation is to raise money that in turn is given to students in the form of scholarships, awards and loans. Each summer the foundation holds a gala that is among their major fundraisers and last night a Kick-Off Reception was held at the Toms River home of Barbara and Harvey York. I was among the three dozen or so on hand as event Chairman Stephan Leone welcomed those who have been great supporters of the college foundation and its mission.

This year’s “Grand Slam” Summer Celebration will be held on Saturday, August 27th and will honor retired New Jersey Superior Court Judge Robert Fall as Humanitarian of the Year. Fall is a member of the foundation and a longtime supporter of the college. I will serve as Master of Ceremonies for that event which is already off to a great start thanks to Investors Savings Bank who will serve as the major sponsor for the second straight year. Kevin Cummings, President and CEO was on hand last night to present a $50,000 donation to Ocean County College President Dr. Jon Larson and Foundation Chairman Joe Coronato. Special thanks were given to the York’s for hosting the event….Harvey has been on the Board of Trustees since 1984. He also has a tremendous wine collection, which I sampled.

Ocean County College holds a very special place in this community and I am among the many who were helped along the way by the school. It has changed dramatically since my days as a student in the mid-70’s but the mission remains the same. More than ever in these difficult times students and their families are counting on the school to provide a cost-effective education and it does just that. Add in their growing partnership with Kean University and it’s a very strong option for many students who can stay at home and still earn a degree. What is often overlooked are the contributions of those like members of the OCC Foundation, who give their time, energy and money.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Charity Begins At Home

Maybe it’s time for the United States to adopt “charity begins at home” as an official policy. I have been thinking more and more about this in recent weeks as it seems like there’s a never ending list of heartbreaking stories that’s impacting our own neighbors. In these troubled times good people are daily victims of a system
that often fails those that need it the most. Many don’t even have the basic necessities in order to survive and it seems like there are countless stories of families being torn apart. The worst part is many have or are losing hope which sometimes is the final straw because without hope the desire to continue on is often dashed. Giving up is becoming an option that too many are willing to now accept.

What is most troublesome is that while our own neighbors go hungry we seem to always find an extra buck or two to help those in other countries. The amount of money the U.S. gives to others in the form of relief is staggering and during good times nobody really questions our generosity. However these clearly are not
good times and not even the best financial experts in the world can come to a consensus on if and when “happy days will be here again.”

So it seems like we need to get our house in order before we build others. Now is the time to pull in the reigns and use all our resources to help each other. Maybe I missed something but I have not noticed a ton of relief coming from other countries for those ravaged by recent tornados in Alabama and Missouri. How many checks can from overseas to help people who in many cases lost everything? Yet we are always the first to send supplies and money elsewhere when in truth those same supplies would and could be used right in our 50 states on a daily basis.

Look it’s not easy to accept that we can’t be the world’s good guys but the truth is if we don’t clean up our own act there might be a day when the rest of the world is holding a telethon to save the United States. If it comes to that don’t expect all the phone lines to ring at once because the fact is those that have gladly accepted our charity for decades will be the first to turn their backs.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Busy Weekend

A little of this and a little of that as we head into the final week for most public schools:

My wife and I were among the 11,000 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall Saturday night to see Michael Buble in concert. Clearly he is much more popular with women than men and I can’t say I’m a fan but I did enjoy the show. The 35-year old Canadian has great stage presence and knows how to win over a crowd. I’ve always been a believer that when you go to a concert you want to see a performer, not just a singer and Buble knows how to put on a good show. By the way he is a big Vancouver Canucks fan, having grown up in British Columbia. The Canucks can clinch their first Stanley Cup with a win in Boston tonight. Ironically Buble has a concert in nearby Providence which is Bruins territory and should make for an interesting evening.

We also got to the movies this weekend and saw “Bridesmaids” which I would describe as sort of a female version of “The Hangover.” It’s raunchy, vulgar, gross, nasty and absolutely hysterical. Not for the prim and proper and not for kids
but one which will leave most in stitches.

The NBA season ended last night with the good guys winning. The Dallas Mavericks won their first-ever championship thanks to a game 6 win in Miami.
I was disappointed that Playoff MVP Dirk Nowitzki ran off the court without shaking hands as the game ended which he said afterwards had to do with dealing with his emotions. Sorry but I’m not buying it….it just sends the wrong message.
As for Lebron James and the Heat…well let’s just say most NBA fans are happy this morning.

Congratulations to Monmouth University pitcher Andrew McGee, who recently was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team. The former Toms River South standout earned five wins and six saves as a reliever for the Hawks to earn a spot on the team which was selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. McGee was one of 19 relief pitchers saluted across the country and he is the 7th Monmouth player to earn Freshman All-American honors in the last decade.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Congratulations Patrick Kearns

A little of this and little of that as the first heat wave of the summer comes to an end….wait a second, its still spring. Anyway…you know what I mean:

Next week Patrick Kearns will graduate from Brick Township High School and despite being an honor roll student he is not heading right to college. Kearns is one of New Jersey’s premier ice hockey players so his immediate plans have him playing some junior hockey before heading to a four-year college or university.

He is planning on taking some courses while pursuing his hockey dreams and he’ll have an extra $1000 to help with those classes. Kearns was randomly selected from a group of 36 weekly winners as this year’s recipient of the WOBM/Gateway Toyota-Scion Student of the Week scholarship. The soon-to-be Green Dragon graduate is a shining example of what a student-athlete should be. He ranked in the top 10% of his senior class, is a Bloustein Distinguished Scholar, Boys State delegate recipient of the Art of Leadership award and a member of the National Honor Society and Interact Club. Kearns earned just about every hockey honor you can, including the Star Ledger’s Shore Conference Player of the Year. He also had the thrill of playing for his grandfather, legendary Brick coach Bob Auriemma while his teammates included a few cousins and his younger brother. Kearns plans on majoring in Education and of course playing hockey in the future. Congratulations to all our Student of the Week winners and we’re looking forward to partnering with Gateway Toyota-Scion again and bringing this program back for a 16th year in the fall.

Another frustrating night, or should I say morning for the Yankees as the Red Sox continue to beat up on them. Boston completed a second straight series sweep in the Bronx with an 8-3 victory and has won 8 of 9 meetings between the teams this season. Last night’s game was delayed nearly 3 ½ hours by rain and storms and did not end until 1:43 this morning. But then Yankee Stadium was pretty much empty and almost morgue-like.

So the first and unfortunately probably not last swimmer of the season is missing and presumed drowned. Searchers will be out again this morning looking for a 15-year old Neptune boy who was last seen swimming with friends Thursday in Bradley Beach. We say it time and time again but nobody should be swimming in the ocean when lifeguards are not on duty but unfortunately these tragedies keep occurring.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Student Of The Week Scholarship

Of all the things I’ve been involved in over my more than thirty years at WOBM without doubt our Student of the Week program is one of my favorites. For the past 36 weeks we have been honoring an Ocean County high school senior every Monday who was selected by their school and I’ve told you a little something about them. Most are outstanding students, heavily involved in their schools and communities, leaders and in some cases gifted athletes, talented musicians and posses other attributes as well. The 15th annual WOBM/Gateway Toyota Student of the Week program wraps up this morning when Gateway’s Ed Sunday selects one of our weekly honorees at random for a $1000 college scholarship. The eligible students are:

Barnegat: Jasmine Faldu, Brittany Saxton
Brick Memorial: Christopher, Godshall Elliot Chester
Brick Township: Jennifer Renee Person, Patrick Kearns
Central: Heather Tice, Marc Calleo
Jackson Liberty: Greg O’Connor, Alexa Saltzman
Jackson Memorial: Kimberly Clemmer, Brandon Russo
Lacey: Christine McMahon, Thomas Murray
Manchester: Amy Higgins, Megan DiMaiolo
MATES: Kevin Dillon, Joe Convery
Msgr. Donovan: Connor Delaney, Daniel Suskevich
New Egypt: Dylan Willis, Elizabeth Campbell
Pinelands: Matthew Cardillo, Katelyn Shockley
Point Beach: Jacqueline Taylor, Taylor Sardoni
Point Boro: Kristina Corso, Susan Walsh
Southern: Morgan Snyder, Nicole Piscopo
TR East: Kathleen Sharp, Isabella Moraes
TR North: Josh Lewis, Cornelia Szymanski
TR South: Scott Cairns, Nicole Kiraly

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Whining & Winning

Let the complaining begin. Today as temperatures soar into the 90’s combined with increased humidity it will clearly be uncomfortable for most and we will be whining and complaining. We being the same people who vowed during a snowy winter they we would not moan and groan when summer-like weather sent the mercury rising. Of course we tend to have short-term memories. By now you know that many schools will be operating on shortened-days today, especially those with buildings and classrooms that do not have air conditioning. Central Regional High School will mark the end of its school year with graduation ceremonies tonight at 6pm. Central is finishing up a week earlier then most of the other public schools because they had a shortened spring recess and did not take some of the smaller holidays off. The motivation behind that was to save on money on energy costs, which skyrocket once air conditioning use increases which it certainly will over the next several days.

Brick beat Jackson Memorial 10-7 in the championship game of the Ocean County Baseball Tournament last night at Toms River East. Green Dragon senior Tim Carney capped a tremendous season by homering twice and pitching a complete game for his 10th win. Brick jumped out to a 7-0 lead over a Jaguars team that had lost in the finals of the Shore Conference Tournament just 24 hours earlier. Jackson rallied to make things interesting before Dylan McDonnell belted a two-run homer in the top of the 7th to give Brick some breathing room. The OCT title was the fifth for the Green Dragons, who finish a 22-6 season which also saw them claim a shore of the Class B South title. Meanwhile an emotional season ends for the A South champion Jaguars, who were rolling along on top of the world until an auto accident in mid-May claimed the life of senior James Volpe. Teammates rallied in his memory and every game was a tribute to Volpe but you have to wonder about the toll it took as Jackson came up short in all the late-season tournaments. However these young men learned the hard way that it’s not always about winning.

The Southern Regional Boys Volleyball team is just a win away from their third consecutive NJSIAA Championship after outlasting St. Joseph-Metuchen in three games in last night’s semifinals. 6’5 freshman Mike Gesicki, who had an impressive basketball season, keyed the Rams effort and helped Southern advance to tomorrow’s final against Fair Lawn at South Brunswick High School.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

End Of The Season

The high school baseball season officially ends for Ocean County teams tonight when Jackson Memorial faces Brick in the finals of the Ocean County Tournament at Toms River High School East. The Jaguars will need to bounce back quickly from last night’s 2-1 loss to Red Bank Catholic in the finals of the Shore Conference Tournament at FirstEnergy Park.

As the score indicates it was a pitcher’s duel with both winning pitcher Brendan McGann and loser Brandon Holup throwing complete-game 5-hitters at the home of the BlueClaws. McGann struck out 5 and did not allow an earned run as the Caseys finish the season with a school-record 26 wins and claim their first-ever Shore Conference Tournament title.

Jackson came up short in its third straight SCT Final, winning in 2009 and losing last year to Toms River South. Now coach Frank Malta’s group will try and win the OCT for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1972 when they face the Green Dragons tonight at High School East.

Some random notes and thoughts:

It’s not a good time for New York Congressman Anthony Weiner but as his political career unravels he might get offers to appear in some of those movies that show up late at night on pay channels. As Weiner has painfully learned it’s not the action but the denial that always gets you at the end.

I would imagine there will be a pro-Chris Christie crowd on hand to greet the governor today during a town hall meeting at the National Guard Armory in Toms River. The event is expected to start at 3 o’clock with doors to open at 2 and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

All during this school year we have been honoring some of Ocean County’s top seniors. Every Monday 92.7 WOBM has saluted a WOBM/Gateway Toyota Scion Student of the Week and there have been 38 weekly winners. This Thursday at 8:20am Ed Sunday from Gateway Toyota will be here to conduct a random drawing with one of the 38 to receive a $1000 college scholarship.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Honoring Student Athletes





Two decades ago the Ocean County Athletic Directors got together and decided that wanted to do something about a growing problem. They recognized that
in many cases the emphasis on what high school sports should be about was heading in the wrong direction and it was spilling over onto the field and court.
It didn’t matter what rules you put in you needed athletes to follow them and lead by example. So as the school year came to a close in 1993 the AD’s held a breakfast to honor those student-athletes who best understood and carried out the ideals of sportsmanship. It didn’t matter whether they were the best on their team or frankly just a role player. A young man and woman from each school would be saluted for understanding that sports are more than just winning a losing.

I was the Master of Ceremonies for that first sportsmanship awards breakfast in 1993 and I’ve done every one but one since. The 19th annual took place yesterday at the Quality Inn of Toms River and saw 34 student-athletes honored. Because I think it’s important I want to tell you who they are:

Barnegat High School- Sharyn Moran Christopher Nueva
Brick Memorial- Brianna Gaspich Jihaad Howard
Brick Township- Rachel Marino Patrick Kearns
Central Regional- Julia Dickhaus Parker Oris
Jackson Liberty- Mary Foley Greg O’Connor
Jackson Memorial- Elizabeth Rozek Fred Scheer
Lacey High School- Gianna DiMicco Jarrod Molzon
Lakewood- Vivien Kok Willie Hawkins
Manchester Township- Amanda DeMauro Ronnie Spicer
Monsignor Donovan- Christine Eiserle Patrick Rista
Pinelands Regional- Jenn LaFalce Matt Cardillo
Point Pleasant Beach- Cora Wallace Taylor Fioretti
Point Pleasant Borough- Molly Hoffmaster Dave Halliday
Southern Regional- Maggie Kaszuba Brian Swenson
Toms River East- Kathleen Sharp Jimmy Moran
Toms River North- Juli Carbone Dominic Cifelli
Toms River South- Maureen MacIntosh Steven Petrosino

Also saluted was Kim DeGraw-Cole, who recently retired from Southern Regional as the Athletic Director of the Year…she now works for the NJISAA. The first-ever Service Award was given to June Molnar, who will retire next month after 25 years as Athletic Department secretary at Lacey Township High School.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Chopper Gate

Governor Christie certainly won’t be attending any of his son’s future baseball games via state police helicopter. The Governor hopes he put an end to what became a rather big controversy by reimbursing the state $2150 for the use of the copter to catch his son play a couple of recent high school baseball games. Truthfully I don’t think it’s that big of a deal but for a Governor whose message since being elected has been about “sacrificing” it just didn’t look very good.

In writing the checks Thursday Christie used the occasion to lash out against those who criticized his transportation choice saying they were “political hacks” and he singled out one Democratic assemblywoman as a “jerk.” Love him or hate him one thing you have to agree on about the Governor and that is he is never subtle.

Jackson Memorial will face Red Bank Catholic in the championship game of the Shore Conference Tournament Monday night at FirstEnergy Park. The Class “A South” champion Jaguars earned their spot with an 8-6 win over Brick yesterday as Joe Ogren hit a three-run homer and Matt Maleo added three hits and two RBI’s.
Tim Carney homered twice for the Green Dragons, who saw their 16-game winning streak come to an end. Brick has little time to regroup as they host Middletown South this afternoon in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 final.

The Ocean County Athletic Directors Association will honor 34 senior student-athletes Sunday morning at the Quality Inn of Toms River. It’s the annual Sportsmanship Awards Breakfast which salutes a male and female from each of the county high schools and once again I will serve as Master of Ceremonies for what is a really worthwhile program.

This is a really special time of year as seniors and their families are experiencing their final days as high school students. Schools are holding awards programs and other events to recognize their soon-to-be graduates and in most cases families get to share in these special occasions. In just a couple of weeks their little children will be wearing caps and gowns and ending a big part of their lives.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Tournament Time

The baseball teams from Brick and Jackson Memorial are the last two Ocean County teams still playing and yesterday they met in the semifinals of the Shore Conference Tournament. Depending on where you live you might have heard thunder and saw lightning late in the afternoon and that was certainly the case at Larry D’Zio Field in Jackson. The game was stopped by the umpires three times for safety reasons and finally postponed in the bottom of the 3rd inning. In a game that featured five home runs the visiting Green Dragons led 6-4 but when they get together again today in Jackson they’ll start from the beginning like yesterday never happened. The winner will face Red Bank Catholic in the Shore Conference Finals Monday night at FirstEnergy Park as the Caseys knocked off top-seeded Manalapan 7-5.

Not only will Brick and Jackson face one another again today but they are to play in the finals of the Ocean County Tournament with that game to be played sometime next week. The Green Dragons, who have had a tremendous spring under coach Jason Groschel, host Middletown South Friday in the Central Jersey Group 3 Championship game as they look for their first sectional title since 1980.
Led by Tim Carney, Nick Vitale and Sean Henry, Brick has won 16 in-a-row.

There is no question that Scott Goodale has turned around the wrestling fortunes at Rutgers University in his four seasons as head coach. The former Jackson Memorial wrestler and head coach was rewarded for those efforts Wednesday when he received a new 5-year contract to lead the Scarlet Knights program. Since coming to Rutgers, Goodale has raised awareness and interest, drawn bigger crowds and managed to recruit many of the state’s top wrestlers. Rutgers finished 9th in the nation this past season and sent 8 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships.
Goodale lives in Toms River with his wife Lisa and two children.

The Southern Regional High School Boys Volleyball team has never lost a state tournament game at home and if they streak continues the Rams will claim the NJSIAA South Jersey Tournament title. After rolling past Eastern in last night’s semifinals all that stands in Southern’s path to a championship is a date tomorrow with Cherry Hill East in Manahawkin. The Rams have reached the 30-win mark for a fifth straight season.

The Beachwood Soccer Club will hold registration for the fall season this Saturday and Sunday from 9:30-11am at the soccer complex on Berkeley Avenue. For details visit www.beachwoodsoccer.com

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Atlantic City Flap-per

I listened with interest to one of our sister stations Tuesday as they discussed the latest developments in a story involving an Atlantic City casino and nine former cocktail waitresses. The women have hired high-powered feminist attorney Gloria Allred who yesterday filed a lawsuit in Atlantic County Superior Court against Resorts Casino Hotel.

For those of you who have not followed the story it is certainly not a first and won’t be the last although I’m sure that’s what Allred would like. Resorts was purchased by a new owner late last year whose goal was to re-brand what was Atlantic City’s first casino-hotel, opening in 1978. They are going with a theme inspired by the hit HBO miniseries “Boardwalk Empire” and as part of that cocktail waitresses will wear short, sexy flapper dresses. That’s where the problem started because a couple of months ago Resorts fired 15 women who did not fit the younger, slimmer, sexier image that the casino was trying to portray.

In the lawsuit filed yesterday it’s alleged that the older waitresses were forced to audition for their jobs by wearing the new costumes, some of which were the wrong size and had to pose for awkward and unflattering pictures. They also claim that they had to train the women who would replace them and once that was completed then they were given the pink slip. The nine longtime employees who are part of the suit claim they had exceptional job-performance ratings and are seeking back pay as well as damages.

To cut to the chase this is a rather simple case although with major ramifications.
The fired women include a grandmother in her late 50’s and others pretty close to that in age. I am sure when they started peddling drinks in the casino they were quite attractive if not stunning. In all honesty they were probably hired for their appearance and not their ability to carry a tray. Now like everything else time has caught up with them and while it is pretty cruel they no longer fit the image that Resorts and probably most other casinos would want. Right or wrong men want to look at younger and sexier cocktail waitresses, not grandmothers approaching 60.

Whether Resorts could have handled this in a better way is certainly up for debate. They insist the fired servers were offered other positions in the company and some accepted but the 9 represented by Ms. Allred are seeking a bigger pay day. Sounds to me like an out-of-court settlement somewhere down the road.