Kevin Williams' WOBM Hometown View

Men & Cooking

2011-11-03T10:32:00.000-04:00

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Effective Friday, November 4 the Hometown View will no longer be posted on this Blogger page. Please check WOBM.com for the latest Hometown View.

I have read and been told that women find men who cook attractive…even sexy.
That certainly doesn’t do me any good because as my wife will tell you I am useless in the kitchen unless you count picking up the phone and ordering take out useful. This month’s segment of “The Above-Average Guy” in Men’s Health magazine deals with men and cooking. Some results that you might find interesting.

• 82% of men say they savor their time spent cooking in the kitchen.
• 46% say a grill is their favorite cooking tool…I agree.
• 37% say even when the temperature outside is below freezing they will still cook on the grill.
• 35% of men say their cooking style is primarily “plan and simple.”
• 71% say they have no problem pouring themselves a bowl of cereal for dinner…I feel the same way about a peanut butter & jelly sandwich.
• With Thanksgiving coming up it’s interesting to note than 20% of men take over the cooking on this holiday.
• 33% of men also say they carve the turkey.
• By the way, the average guy gains between 3-5 pounds during the holiday season.
• 50% of men secretly think their moms are better cooks than their partners…I am not among them. My wife is a tremendous cook and baker.

Of course food shows have become very popular and I am among the 62% who regularly watch them. In our house the Food Network is the fallback channel to watch then there is nothing special on. Even though I don’t cook I am fascinated by shows like Iron Chef America, The Next Food Network Star, Diners, Drive Ins and Dives and many others.

• 30% of guys who watch food shows say they do so for the females who do the cooking. Topping that list is Giada De Laurentis, whose Giada at Home is quite popular in part because the 41-year old is as hot as her food.

Couple of other numbers to keep in mind. Nearly half of the men surveyed say they have seduced a woman with their kitchen prowess and over 17,000 men injure themselves with kitchen gear each year. I don’t know if these last two are related in any way.

A Column About Nothing

2011-11-02T10:36:00.003-04:00

I really have nothing to offer today. I’d like to believe it’s just a one-day thing
due to a variety of factors, not the least of which is stress, burn-out and fatigue.
I live with those things (like many of you) all the time but usually am able to block them out and come up with two minutes of something here each morning. However as I sat at my computer screen this morning I just could not find anything
that was compelling enough for me to discuss, analyze or comment about.

There are a couple of somewhat interesting political items I thought about, including the mayoral races in Toms River and Berkeley. Maybe I’ll do that later in the week. I usually don’t get into world affairs because I never feel like I know enough and frankly there are plenty of others who can offer more than me. As for New Jersey “stuff”….there’s nothing really there, at least not today.

Of course I could always fall back on sports but I try and leave that for when I have a very strong opinion on something that is somewhat controversial. Most of you really have no interest in what’s going on with the Big East Conference but I can tell you the name makes no sense if schools like Boise State, Air Force and Houston are about to join. Maybe they can steal of the name of that bar in Mantoloking and call it the “Used to be Conference” as in used to be teams that actually were in the east. Nothing more exciting than a Rutgers-SMU basketball game on the schedule.

As for entertainment stuff….well I mentioned Kim Kardashian yesterday (and I guess again today) and now can’t for another couple of months because of a self-imposed limit on mentions of people who frankly have no reason to be mentioned in the first place. Are you into “Boardwalk Empire”, “Homeland”, and “The Good Wife”….the three best shows on TV? I think I did that a couple of weeks ago.

Well I’m sorry but for today you are going to have to give me a mulligan as I just have nothing. So please excuse me…I’ll try and come back tomorrow.

Random Thoughts To Start The Month

2011-11-01T12:01:00.001-04:00

Just a few random thoughts on this first day of November:

It’s always funny to me about how professional athletes downplay or even ignore the money aspect when they sign a contract. Monday CC Sabathia agreed to a new deal with the Yankees rather than opt out from his current contract and test the free agent market. I’m sure there are many Yankee fans breathing a sigh of relief that the team’s best pitcher is staying in pinstripes. When asked about remaining in New York Sabathia said “my son loves it here. All my kids love it here. My wife loves it here, obviously, and I do too. I love pitching for the Yankee fans and everything, so it was the easy choice.” What this noble 31-year old failed to make much of was the fact he had the Yankees over a barrel so they ponied up at least another $30 million to keep him. The new contract will pay him $122 million over the next five years…for that kind of money he should like New York very much.
By the way Sabathia lives in Alpine, New Jersey.

After less than three months of marriage Kim Kardashian and pro basketball player Kris Humphries are calling it quits. Actually she is calling it quits as the New Jersey Net basically had no say in the matter. Kardashian released a statement Monday saying “After careful consideration I have decided to end my marriage.”She went on to add that it was not an easy decision as she had hoped the marriage would last forever. 72 days after a $10 million wedding it’s over which is bad news for Humphries who signed a pre-nup and doesn’t even have the NBA to go back to unless the two sides settle their labor problems. By the way insiders say the marriage ended over where the couple would live….she of course wanted to be in Los Angeles while he wanted to settle down in Minnesota. Yeah right!

On a more subdued matter. The Ocean County College Athletic Hall of Fame will induct four new members at a dinner ceremony on Wednesday, November 16th in the college’s Health & Human Performance Center. The newest induction class includes former athletes Lynda Friggle and Rene Martinez and coaches Len Anen and Peggy Matthews. I will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event and for ticket information you can call (732) 255-0400 x2380.

Halloween Double Dip

2011-10-31T10:34:00.000-04:00

So trick or treat has come and gone for some of us while for others today is the day kids and would-be kids will be out seeking goodies. Of course only in this area can costumed characters double dip and many do. Out of towners were out in full force in Toms River and surrounding towns Sunday and then today will be back in their own neighborhoods seeking more candy.

Again for those fairly new to this area Halloween itself is marked by a parade in downtown Toms River which means trick or treating is the day before. No truth to the rumor that plans are in the works for a parade on Christmas Day with all other Christmas celebrations to be now held on December 24th.

We were away visiting my daughter this weekend and did not get home until late in the afternoon but that was plenty of time for a couple of hundred trick or treaters to stop by. Most were cute, adorable and well-behaved but it only takes a few to ruin the atmosphere. There are those who run on the grass, don’t say “thank you”,
and express displeasure at the candy you are giving out. In some cases their parents witness the poor behavior and do nothing which really ticks me off. Then there are the teen-agers who can’t be bothered to dress up and just show up with a pillow cases. I really wanted to refuse to give them anything but it wasn’t worth the hassle and problems it would cause so I just made sarcastic comments and gave them their treat. However I would be in all favor of a law that restricted trick or treating to only those in costumes.

All in all most of the kids and their parents are great but it’s amazing what a couple of bad ones can do to spoil your spirit.

Meanwhile in quite a few areas of New Jersey there might be no Halloween trick or treating. That’s because many are still without power from Saturday’s storm and with the temperatures dropping into the 20’s they left their homes to stay with family and friends elsewhere. My brother ended up at a hotel in New York and might not get power back in this Morris Township home until the middle of the week.

Does this surprise storm me anything in terms of the upcoming winter? Probably not although it might make it seem even longer.

Ocean Of Love Billboard Radiothon

2011-10-27T10:43:00.001-04:00

Many of you are not aware that 92.7 WOBM is part of Townsquare Media, a large company that has 11 radio stations in New Jersey and four here in the Ocean and Monmouth County area. Our shore group of stations are not afraid to promote one another especially when it comes to events that benefit the community. A shining example of that is 105.7 The Hawk’s 11th Annual Ocean of Love Billboard Radiothon. Since 5pm on Monday on air personality Andy Chase has been living in a tent on top of a scaffold in the Lowes/Target parking lot on Hooper Avenue in Toms River.

Chase broadcasts, eats and sleeps from his temporary accommodations 30 feet off the ground. Ably assisted by the entire on-air and support staff of the Hawk, Andy is seeking to raise $105,700 for Ocean of Love, an organization that supports the daily needs of families dealing with childhood cancer. What is so wonderful about this event is that it’s a real grass-roots fundraiser in which people of all ages participate. From little kids bringing their piggy-banks, to schools raising money, to support from the business community hundreds rally behind a cause that is noble, worthy and unfortunately needed at the Jersey Shore.

With all of this said I urge you to support The Hawk and Ocean of Love. You can drop off a donation on location and say hello to Andy, go on line at www.1057thehawk.com or call 877-hawk-1057.

I will be away this weekend visiting my daughter at school and while I’m excited to see her I’m disappointed that I will miss Shawn & Sue’s 3rd annual Spooktacular at the Pine Belt Arena on the campus of Toms River High School North. This is truly a great family event and I thoroughly enjoyed attending the first two and watching all the kids in costumes. There is plenty to do from 5-8pm and admission is just $10 for the family with proceeds going to the Ocean County Cancer Coalition. Details are available at wobm.com.

Good luck to a pair of teams from the Beachwood Soccer Club who have advanced to the final four in the NJYS State Cup on Saturday at the Wall Soccer Complex. The Girls U13 Beachwood Dragonflies will play a team from Palmyra while the Boys U11Beachwood Pirates take on a team from Medford. The winners advance to the championship games on Sunday to complete the tournament which began in mid-September.

Tournament Time

2011-10-26T10:02:00.000-04:00

It is tournament time in the Shore Conference with the Boys & Girls Soccer Tournaments and the Field Hockey tournament all reaching the semifinal round.

However only when it comes to Boys Soccer does Ocean County have representation in the final four where everyone is chasing top-seed and defending champion CBA. The Colts ended Point Boro’s surprising run with a 6-2 victory
Tuesday and will next meet 4th seed Toms River North, who advanced to the semi’s with a dramatic win over Freehold Township in a penalty kick shootout.

The Mariners tied the game on a second-half goal by Taylor Sica and then prevailed 6-5 in PK’s to earn a date with undefeated CBA tomorrow night in Neptune. Those two teams met in the finals last year with the Colts winning 3-0.
On the other side of the bracket 7th seeded Lacey got a late goal from Chris Thompson to surprise #2 Toms River East 1-0 and move into the semifinals for the first time in ten years. The 17-2-1 Lions will meet Holmdel who ousted 3rd seed Howell in penalty kicks. Lacey will face Holmdel in tomorrow’s first semifinal at 5pm at the Summerfield School before North collides with CBA.

The latest Big East development figures to have a major impact on Rutgers who could be left on the outside looking in. Tuesday it was reported that the Big 12 has decided to add West Virginia as a replacement for Missouri when the Tigers leave the conference for the SEC. The Mountaineers departure from the Big East is a major blow as they have the conference’s best football program along with a very good basketball program. WVU also leaving could make schools like Boise State say no to head east and it’s possible the football version of the Big East could fall apart. Where would that leave Rutgers? It seems the Scarlet Knights hopes rest with an invitation to join the Big Ten or ACC and if that doesn’t happen in the near future then they could be a school that has no choice but to play in a lesser conference that will lower and not raise their program and profile.

Catching Z's

2011-10-25T11:03:00.001-04:00

When you work the early-morning shift in radio sleep is precious and often hard to come by and after more than 32 years I still can’t figure out how to balance it all.
Most mornings I get up right around 3am although if I have to shave than I’ll set the alarm clock a few minutes earlier than that. Medical experts tell us we should get 8 hours sleep which would mean I would have to go to bed at 7pm which I have never done before. Most days I don’t get home from work until around 5pm so there is no way I’m going to bed at 7 and often I have work-related events that keep me out until after 9 o’clock or even later.

Of course I could go right to sleep at night without watching television but I’m a sports fan and there is usually something that garners my interest. I also watch about 6-10 prime-time shows on a regular basis many of which I DVR which my wife and I will watch around dinnertime and in the early evening. Our regular routine will then find her going to bed and me hitting the couch for a game or show and eventually I fall asleep on the couch. Last night I fell asleep in the 3rd inning of the World Series game and woke up at 12:45 in the morning. At that point I got off the couch and crawled in bed where I could not fall back asleep so by 1:15 I was back on the couch watching Sportscenter. Finally at 2:15 I got back into bed where I fell into a wonderful sleep….for 48 minutes.

I know most of my early-morning colleagues take a nap during the day or go to sleep earlier but unfortunately I don’t get to nap during the day although I have been known to doze off in my office or during a boring meeting. While I have no immediate plans to change I recently came across a list of some of the things caused by lack of sleep and it’s not pretty.

Chronic sleep loss is simply bad for your health and puts you at greater risk for heart disease (including heart attacks), high blood pressure, strokes and diabetes.
If that’s not enough it impairs your critical thinking, ages your skin, leads to depression, makes you forgetful, impairs judgment, makes you gain weight and last but not least may increase your risk of death.

Of course a smart person would take this into consideration but tonight I’m hosting a radio show and won’t get home until well after 9pm and I haven’t yet watched Homeland from Sunday. Oh well….there’s always the weekend.

Halloween On The Shore

2011-10-24T09:35:00.000-04:00

If you have just moved into the area in and around Toms River be advised that Halloween is a bit different around here. Everywhere in the United State you trick or treat on Halloween except in Toms River and some of the surrounding communities where an annual parade is bigger than the holiday itself. So while the calendar tells you that Halloween is next Monday, October 31st be prepared for trick or treaters this Sunday because that’s the day they will be out in force.
If you are not sure what exactly your town does you should contact their Borough Hall where hopefully you will get someone on the phone who knows the answer themselves. Of course maybe one day someone will actually take my suggestion seriously that the parade should always be held on a Saturday night which would make things easier for everyone. Nah…it makes too much sense.

Based on what I saw and heard you would have thought the Jets won the Super Bowl Sunday after they came from behind to beat the Chargers. Let’s face it here…San Diego is not that good and had to make the long trip East which is always difficult. It wasn’t like the Jets played this epic football game and people are going crazy over Plaxico Burress’ three touchdown catches. Really…they were 3, 4 and 3 yard receptions. I guess fans are just looking for a silver lining.

Sometimes the greatest pleasures come from the simplest things. Yesterday morning my wife needed to do something in downtown Point Pleasant Beach and rather than wait in the car I grabbed a cup of coffee at a place called Green Planet
Coffee Company on Arnold Avenue. Actually it was a vanilla latte and after getting my cup I sat outside in one of these big green Adirondack chairs they have.
Well it was at a time in the morning that the sun was right in my face and I got into this completely relaxed state in which I could have stayed there for hours. Unfortunately a half an hour later it was time to go but I have to try that again.

The death over the weekend of longtime Ocean County Undersheriff Wayne Rupert is not only a tragedy for his family and friends but a real loss to Ocean County. He was an outstanding public servant and especially valuable during weather emergencies. Rupert will be greatly missed.

Friday, October 21, 2010

2011-10-21T22:00:00.000-04:00

Southern Regional High School has been playing football since 1958 and tonight they can do something that’s never happened in the more than 50 years of the program…win an outright division title. Southern is 5-1 and they are heavy favorites over a 1-4 Toms River East team that comes into Goldberger Memorial Field looking to spoil what could be a party in Manahawkin.

The Rams clinched at least a share of the Class A South title last week when they rolled over rival Toms River North and that in itself was noteworthy because you have to go back to 1972 to find when they last won even a share of a division title. Now tonight on what should be a perfect evening for football all the stars are aligned for an outright championship. Veteran coach Chuck Donohue has assembled a solid group of players led by running back T.J. Bellissimo, who scored a school-record 6 touchdowns last week with much of the credit due to a solid offensive line. Quarterback Dan Higgins, receiver and safety Alec Morris, two-way standout Matt Kelly and linebacker Kevin Fitzpatrick are all major contributors to what’s been a special season for Ram fans. Tonight’s game will be broadcast on our sister station 105.7FM (and also 1160AM) with kickoff at 7pm.

This 7th weekend of the season also features two big games in the wild Class B South Division where Central, Brick and Barnegat all have just one loss.
One of those teams will be eliminated tonight when the Bengals host the Green Dragons in Barnegat. If Brick win’s it will clinch at least a share of the division title for first-year head coach Rob Dahl. Central which has experienced a football renaissance this fall, can do no worse than tie for the championship with a win over arch-rival Lacey tomorrow afternoon. The Lions have won 21 of the previous 28 meetings between the schools including the last 8 but this time they are the underdogs against Kalyph Hardy and company.

To a non-football item….congratulations to Lavallette’s Sam Hammer, who added to his reputation as New Jersey’s premier surfer by winning the Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match Thursday at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights. The 31-year old former Point Pleasant Beach High School wrestler scored perfect 10 rides in both the semifinals and finals to put away his last two competitors in the head to head competition. It was the 4th time Hammer claimed the championship in the nine-year history of the event. When he is not bartending at his family’s Crabs Claw Inn or running his own surf camps Hammer proved again Thursday that when it comes to New Jersey surfing…he is still on top.

This & That

2011-10-21T21:50:00.001-04:00

Southern Regional High School has been playing football since 1958 and tonight they can do something that’s never happened in the more than 50 years of the program…win an outright division title. Southern is 5-1 and they are heavy favorites over a 1-4 Toms River East team that comes into Goldberger Memorial Field looking to spoil what could be a party in Manahawkin. The Rams clinched at least a share of the Class A South title last week when they rolled over rival Toms River North and that in itself was noteworthy because you have to go back to 1972 to find when they last won even a share of a division title. Now tonight on what should be a perfect evening for football all the stars are aligned for an outright championship. Veteran coach Chuck Donohue has assembled a solid group of players led by running back T.J. Bellissimo, who scored a school-record 6 touchdowns last week with much of the credit due to a solid offensive line. Quarterback Dan Higgins, receiver and safety Alec Morris, two-way standout Matt Kelly and linebacker Kevin Fitzpatrick are all major contributors to what’s been a special season for Ram fans. Tonight’s game will be broadcast on our sister station 105.7FM (and also 1160AM) with kickoff at 7pm.

This 7th weekend of the season also features two big games in the wild Class B South Division where Central, Brick and Barnegat all have just one loss.
One of those teams will be eliminated tonight when the Bengals host the Green Dragons in Barnegat. If Brick win’s it will clinch at least a share of the division title for first-year head coach Rob Dahl. Central which has experienced a football renaissance this fall, can do no worse than tie for the championship with a win over arch-rival Lacey tomorrow afternoon. The Lions have won 21 of the previous 28 meetings between the schools including the last 8 but this time they are the underdogs against Kalyph Hardy and company.

To a non-football item….congratulations to Lavallette’s Sam Hammer, who added to his reputation as New Jersey’s premier surfer by winning the Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match Thursday at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights. The 31-year old former Point Pleasant Beach High School wrestler scored perfect 10 rides in both the semifinals and finals to put away his last two competitors in the head to head competition. It was the 4th time Hammer claimed the championship in the nine-year history of the event. When he is not bartending at his family’s Crabs Claw Inn or running his own surf camps Hammer proved again Thursday that when it comes to New Jersey surfing…he is still on top.

Thursday This 'n That

2011-10-20T20:59:00.001-04:00

Just a little of this and a little of that:

Raise your hand if you watched Game #1 of the World Series last night. Now raise your hand if you would have watched if the Yankees, Phillies or Mets were playing. That’s the problem with baseball…it’s become more of a regional game than ever before and I imagine the TV ratings will reflect that. Those in St. Louis and other parts of the Midwest along with Texas will follow the series but the rest of the country will be much more interested in their favorite prime-time TV shows.

Saturday looks like an ideal day for motorcycle enthusiasts to take a Ride for Hope and help children with cancer. It’s a 60-mile poker run through central and south Jersey with registration from 9-11am at Tommy’s Coal Fired Pizza on Route 70 in Brick. The cost to participate is $25 with all proceeds to benefit the Ashley Lauren Foundation, an organization that helps New Jersey children and their families facing pediatric cancer. For tickets and more information visit www.ashleylaurenfoundation.org and look under “events.”

For those of you who enjoy and appreciate the talents of high school bands then Saturday evenings “Music Under the Stars” is for you. Sponsored by the Manchester Marching Hawks it’s a battle of the marching bands featuring those from Central Regional, Freehold, Jackson Liberty, Jackson Memorial, Lakewood, Long Branch, Monmouth Regional, Shore Regional, Toms River East and host Manchester. The event will take place on the football field at Manchester Township High School beginning at 5pm. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors.

Tonight’s Barnabas Health High School Football Show on our sister station 105.7FM will feature first-year Brick Green Dragon coach Rob Dahl and his outstanding senior linebacker Tom Winters. Also appearing at Boston’s in Toms River during the live broadcast from 7-9pm will be Monsignor Donovan quarterback R.J. D ‘Anton and assistant coach Paul Barna.

"Good" Sportsmanship

2011-10-19T09:44:00.001-04:00

Sportsmanship or lack thereof has been in the spotlight this week in the wake of a rather bizarre incident that occurred after last Sunday’s hotly-contested NFL game in which the visiting San Francisco 49ers handed the Detroit Lions their first loss of the season. Normally after a game the two head coaches meet around midfield, shake hands and exchange in brief pleasantries under the heading of “good game coach.” Obviously if the two have a relationship the meeting can last longer and appear friendly and genuine. That was not the case Sunday when rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers sprinted across the field in obvious jubilation, vigorously shook the hand of Detroit’s Jim Schwartz, backslapped him and then took off to continue the celebration. That exchange which may have included an obscenity did not sit well with Schwartz who ran after and confronted Harbaugh, bumping him a few times before being separated by players and others.

That incident between two young, cocky and even arrogant coaches has brought up the issue of sportsmanship and like everything else it will spill down to the younger ranks. Football is the only major pro sport in which not only coaches but players shake hands after a game. When a baseball game ends everyone heads back to their dugout. In hockey they only shake after the final game of a playoff series and when there is an NBA there is no formal post-game greeting. However football, the most violent and amped-up game ends with coaches shaking hands and often features opposing players joining one another in prayer.

In recent years high school athletics has routinely featured post-game handshakes although last year in a weird and to me unnecessary act the NJSIAA mandated during the basketball playoffs that teams shake hands before and not after the game. That was designed to avoid what occurred in a 2010 game in which a brawl broke out in the post-game handshake line when a female basketball player attacked another. I’m actually surprised there’s not more of that because I can tell you from experience that the losing team does not really want to shake hands with the team that just beat them and that often starts with the coaches. Heck can you imagine if opposing parents had to shake hands after a youth or high school sporting event? That would be entertaining…the local police department would be on speed dial.

Random Thoughts

2011-10-18T08:57:00.000-04:00

Just a few random thoughts to share with you:

I know many want to portray this “Occupation Wall Street” movement as just a bunch of unemployed weirdo’s with nothing better to do. Yes there probably are some who just joined-in because it seemed like a cool way to kill some time but the majority appears to be rational thinking men and women who are motivated by frustration and desperation. It’s a sure sign that the masses are starting to give up hope that our elected officials will find a way to get us out of this mess and that is a scary fact. Don’t expect the protests to end any time soon….as a matter of fact they might continue to grow.

“Boardwalk Empire” is not for everyone but it’s clearly one of the best done shows on TV which is no surprise because HBO knows how to produce a show. The characters are gritty, raw, flawed and brilliantly portrayed by a cast headed up by Steve Buscemi and Michael Shannon, who often steals the show as Agent Nelson Van Alden. What makes “Boardwalk Empire” so great is that it takes you back to the days of prohibition in Atlantic City and as a viewer you really feel part of that period.

No surprise that the TV ratings for baseball’s League Championship Series were down 20 and 43% from last year. Milwaukee, St. Louis and Detroit are not New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco so the paltry numbers are not really a surprise. The World Series begins tomorrow night with the Texas Rangers solid favorites to beat the St. Louis Cardinals…the question is will anyone be watching.

Forget about coaching….Southern Regional’s Chuck Donohue is one of the most gracious gentlemen you will ever meet. Last week’s win over Toms River North allowed the visiting Rams to clinch at least a share of their first football divisional title since 1972. We broadcast that game on the Shore Sports Network and long after it was over Donohue came over where we breaking down our equipment to seek out sideline reporter Ed Sarluca. He told Ed that when we broadcast games in his early years as Southern coach it would bother him that it was always the other coach featured in the post-game interview because that team had won. He vowed that one day Sarluca would seek him out because it was the Rams who would prevail and indeed that has occurred more and more in recent years. We’ll be in Manahawkin Friday night where a victory over Toms River East would give Southern its first-ever outright championship.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

2011-10-17T09:19:00.001-04:00

The numbers from yesterday’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Point Pleasant Beach were simply overwhelming. A record 17,000 walkers helped the American Cancer Society raise more than $1.1 million in the battle against the disease with the money used to help people stay well, get well and fight back as well as ongoing research. However what makes the event so great is that it’s really hundreds of smaller groups who are all walking for a reason. Some are there as a tribute to a loved one or friend lost, others walk for survivors and many walk in the hope that one day breast cancer will become old news. The groups are as small as a couple to as large as The Brady Bunch, who had so many that they waited a half an hour after the start to begin their trek.

As most of you probably know by now my wife Jane is a breast cancer survivor and since 2004 she has organized a group of family, friends and co-workers from Manchester Township High School. As they usually do “Team Booberang” gathered early in the parking lot at Arnold and Ocean Avenues that is used as the staging point for the walk and had bagels, muffins and mimosas. Then their group, which included young, old and even a dog hit the streets. I stayed behind and found a good vantage point to watch the massive start…it actually took more than half an hour for everyone to get past the starting point. It is an awesome sight as are some of the outfits with pink the color of the day and many shirts featuring inspiring messages. Many companies had teams, including Bank of America who lost a co-worker to breast cancer just a few weeks ago. Schools were represented with soccer and field hockey teams walking in groups and there were even cheerleaders to greet the participants as they finished. On what was a perfect day for such a journey everyone who took part had a reason to be proud that they contributed to an overwhelming success not just because they helped raise a lot of money but because they raised just as much hope.

There were more than 800 survivors among Sunday’s walkers….we can only hope that number will continue to increase each and every year.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

2011-10-14T10:26:00.000-04:00

Sunday looks like a perfect day for the American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Point Pleasant Beach. Registration begins at 8am at the corner of Arnold & Ocean Avenues and some 10,000 walkers are expected to begin their journey at 10am. I will be on hand to show my support for “Team Booberang” which will be a couple of dozen strong. Organized by my wife Jane who is a breast cancer survivor, the group features family, friends and co-workers from Manchester Township High School.

Longtime Manchester school administrator Kevin Burger and his wife Peggy were among those honored by the Ocean County Women’s Connection during their 4th Annual Banquet last night at the Holiday Inn of Toms River. The Burgers are the founders, organizers and heart and soul of “Kevin’s Kids,” a unique holiday drive that brings Christmas to needy kids and families in Manchester. It started as a small effort to help a few students and now it’s grown to a monumental one which last year saw more than 400 children benefit from the kindness and generosity of teachers, school staff, volunteers and members of the community. Kevin Burger is the Director of Student and Administrative Services in the school district while Peggy retired a couple of years ago after more than 30 years as a teacher and educator.
Also honored at last night’s dinner were Mary Jane Flammer, who serves in the US Air Force Reserves and is active with the USO…realtor Ann Schuld who has donated time and effort to the Relay for Life among other things and Louise Zuber, who describes herself as an ordinary woman but has shown an extraordinary heart and compassion for others. Congratulations to all the honorees.

If you read the sports section of the Asbury Park Press please notice today’s “Pick Six +1” which features the high school football predictions of six Press sports writers and yours truly. While I may be listed last I have been coming on in recent weeks and am just a game behind Penn State alum Rob Ziegler for the most correct picks this season. This weekend I have predicted several upsets, including Monsignor Donovan over Point Boro and Brick to top Ocean. In the biggest game of the weekend I called for Southern to beat Toms River North although last night on our weekly high school football show I went with the Mariners. In other words I think it’s a toss-up. Either way you can hear the Rams battle the Mariners tonight on our Shore Sports Network as a Southern win would give them at least a share of a division title for the first time since 1972.

New Jersey Hall Of Fame Nominees

2011-10-13T11:21:00.000-04:00

I guess there was some buzz earlier this week over the announcement of the 50 nominees for the 2012 class of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. I for one just can’t get excited over the Hall of Fame which was probably created so we could show the rest of the country that they have the wrong image and perception of New Jersey.

The first four induction ceremonies certainly featured plenty of prominent individuals including Yogi Berra, Malcolm Forbes, Thomas Edison, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Walt Whitman, Count Basie and many others. Unfortunately some of the bigger names were no-shows at the spring induction ceremony which I guess we should have expected since more people seem to leave the state then come here. The list of nominees for the fifth class is quite impressive even though many you don’t associate with New Jersey including actor Michael Douglas who I figured was singled out because he once drove the Garden State Parkway. Actually I learned he was born in New Brunswick which I guess met the criteria.

Thank goodness there are still enough quality candidates that Snooki and her low-life friends have not yet been included but there will probably be a day when the Jersey Shore cast gets to walk the red carpet.

Truthfully the Hall of Fame is a pretty good idea…I’m just upset I haven’t been asked to MC the induction ceremony. If you would like to vote on this year’s class you can do so at www.njhalloffame.org

I know most of you have little or no interest in high school football but for those who do tonight and every Thursday night I host The Barnabas Health High School Football Show from 7-9pm on The Shore Sports Network. Along with Ed Sarluca and Matt Harmon we do the show live from Boston’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Toms River from 7-9pm. Tonight’s on-site guests will be coach Chip LaBarca Jr. and quarterback Scott Buxbaum from Toms River North and first-year Point Pleasant Beach coach John Wagner and senior Mark Jurkowski. Also appearing on the show will be Rumson coach Shane Fallon, Monmouth University coach Kevin Callahan, Asbury Park Press football writer Steve Falk and Scott Stump, who provides stories and more for our web site….shoresportsnetwork.com. The show airs live on our sister station 105.7 FM.

Golden Years

2011-10-12T10:51:00.001-04:00

We like to lump just about everything into categories and that includes people.
Whether it be by sex, race, religion, profession…you name it and we put them into this one large group. Age is no different, especially when it comes to the young and the old as some will say “teen-agers” or “senior citizens” like they are ALL the same and usually do so in the negative.

Yesterday our sister station WOBM-AM (Bob & Marianne ) hosted an expo at the Quality Inn of Toms River which was attended largely by Senior Citizens. By the way for the record a senior citizen is usually someone over the age of 65 although some places refer to 60 as the age at which you become a “senior.” Either way it’s likely that a senior citizen is someone retired or hopefully heading into their “golden years.”

Anyway there were a lot of them in attendance at this event and as I usually do when it’s over I realize that seniors are often as different as night and day. Yes quite a few are thrifty or even cheap which is somewhat understandable because they grew up during the depression era and know what it’s like to get by with little.
Of course many of them (like others of all ages) are struggling to get by each day and regardless of age are worried about what the next day will bring. There are those who complain about everything and even though yesterday’s event was free and featured plenty of giveaways and perks wanted more and were not afraid to tell you that. I learned that saying “while supplies last” means nothing….as a matter of fact I was told that it was our obligation to get more supplies.

However I found just as many who were charming, fun-loving, understanding, appreciative, generous and more. Many asked about my family, saying they have been listening to me for years and have basically watched my children grow up while listening to stories on the radio. They enjoyed the event, were happy if they won something and just plain fun to be around.

Bottom line is that seniors and no different than teen-agers in that the age does not necessarily define them. There are 17-year olds who are very different and it’s the same with 70-year olds. So let’s not put them all into the same category although one thing is for sure….if we live long enough we’ll all be senior citizens one day.

Life's Unanswered Questions

2011-10-11T09:30:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while I go back into the archives for a radio version of a re-run and today is one of those. Feeling a desire and need to bring a smile to your face…at least I hope so here are some things to ponder:

1. If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
2. If people from Poland are called “Poles,” why aren’t those from Holland called “Holes?
3. Ever wonder about those who spend $2.00 on a little bottle of Evian water?
Do you know what you get when you spell Evian backwards? NAÏVE.
4. Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren’t they just stale bread to begin with?
5. If FedEx and UPS were to merge would they called it Fed Up?
6. If the commercial is right and 4 out of 5 people suffer from Diarrhea does that mean one person actually enjoys it?
7. Do those who work for Lipton Tea take coffee breaks?
8. Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?
9. What hair color do they put on the drivers licenses of bald men?
10. Did you ever notice when you put “The” and “IRS” together it spells…”THEIRS?”
11. Why do they put pictures of criminals in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don’t they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?
12. If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn’t it follow that electricians can be de-lighted, musicians de-noted, cowboys de-ranged, models de-posed, tree surgeons de-barked and dry cleaners de-pressed?
13. If most mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks does that mean Chinese mothers use toothpicks?
14. Did you ever notice that you never really learn to swear until you learn to drive?
15. Do you think more and more people read the Bible as they get older because it’s like cramming for a final exam?

I hope you smiled at least once….if not then you are in for a rough day.

Summer's Return

2011-10-10T10:27:00.000-04:00

A little of this and a little of that after the most sensational October weekend I can ever remember at the shore.

As a matter of fact it was so nice I had to get my wife’s beach chair out of storage so she could go yesterday to the beach in Seaside Park. I had other things to do but Jane went with a couple of friends and said it was hot and crowded and the water was incredibly warm. The mild weather was a real boost to the Columbus weekend festivities in Seaside Heights as the traffic at times looked like a summer weekend. The October “heat wave” will break tomorrow and in a few days we’ll be pretty much in the 60’s which is more like it. The warm weather has been a dilemma for those who put away all their summer clothes but yours truly was not caught off guard…I have shorts on today.

Some 150 people were on hand Saturday night for a “Retirement Roast” of Denny D’Andrea at the Brick PAL building. D’Andrea recently retired from teaching at Brick Memorial High School and during much of his career he was a highly successful head and assistant wrestling coach. The tight-knit wrestling community was on to hand to pay tribute to him Saturday including many of his former wrestlers, among them state champs Bob Martin of Brick Memorial and Cary Broad of Manalapan. The diminutive D’Andrea was head coach at Freehold Boro for 5 years and then 5 at Manalapan before spending two decades at Memorial.
While no longer coaching he remains involved in the sport and is a goodwill ambassador. The retirement roast was organized by former Memorial head coach Tony Caravella.

I’ve broadcast a lot of high school football games over the years but few can match the excitement of Central’s dramatic come-from-behind 21-20 victory over Manchester Friday night which we carried on our Shore Sports Network. The visiting Hawks jumped out to a 20-0 lead behind the play of running back Joe Johnson and quarterback Tim Rogers and it looked like they would spoil Hall of Fame night at Joseph J. Boyd Field. However that was when Kalyph Hardy took over and put on a show few there will forget. He scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner from 8-yards out with 32 seconds left. Hardy, who might be the best athlete in the shore finished with 222 yards rushing…ten more than Johnson. The two met at midfield after the game and exchanged handshakes knowing that while the scoreboard didn’t say so…both were winners.

Friday, October 8

2011-10-08T08:43:00.001-04:00

The High School Football weekend got off to an early start as last night Toms River North improved to 4-1 with a 35-28 win over visiting Colts Neck. Senior quarter Scott Buxbaum ran for 103 yards and a touchdown and threw a pair of touchdown passes, including the game-winner to Joey Fields in the 4th quarter.
Mariner senior Jesse Tate scored touchdowns on a pass reception and fumble return. In what would have to be considered a surprise, Middletown North knocked off Howell 21-13 last night while the shore’s top-ranked team Red Bank Catholic ran all over Freehold 45-0 and Wall just got past Ocean 14-7.

Tonight the Shore Sports Network will be at Central Regional where the Golden Eagles host a banged-up Manchester team in a key Class B South matchup featuring two of the shore’s too players in running backs Kalyph Hardy and Joe Johnson. A win tonight could put Central in position to win its first division title since 1994. Hardy has already topped the 1,000 yard rushing mark after just four games and is coming off a 415-yard rushing performance against Brick a week ago. The game will be broadcast on 105.7FM and 1160AM with kickoff at 7pm.

The Toms River Student Loan Fund honored Superintendent of Schools Frank Roselli along with 19 teachers at last night’s annual recognition dinner at the Quality Inn of Toms River. Roselli was saluted for his lifetime of commitment to the district and its students and praised the staff and community for their support.
The dinner also paid tribute to the reigning teachers of the year in the 19 schools who were joined by family and friends. I had the pleasure of serving as Master of Ceremonies and am a trustee of the student loan fund which assists Toms River High School graduates. Special thanks to the Quality Inn for their usual outstanding job.

Speaking of outstanding, kudos to everyone at Klee’s Bar & Grill who hosted their 20th fundraising golf outing this week at Gambler Ridge for Ocean of Love. The incredibly well-run event raised around $17,000 and as always featured plenty of sunshine and smiling faces, especially from the winning foursome of Ted Schelmay, Bill Frank, Mike Citta and Charlie Frazier. With the support of owners Sue Brosnan and Butch Anderson and under the direction of Glenn McCarthy and Joe Cary the staff at Klee’s has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Ocean of Love, who assists families dealing with childhood cancer. Well done!!!!

Steve Jobs: 1955 - 2011

2011-10-06T08:58:00.001-04:00

On the surface I would seem to be the last guy to pay tribute to Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple and former CEO who died Wednesday at age 56 some seven years after first being diagnosed with cancer. I’m technically-challenged and at this point have never owned an iPhone or iPad….I do have an iPod but frankly I don’t know how to operate it very well and it keeps playing the same Dave Matthews songs. However Jobs’ genius to me is summed up in the 2005 commencement address he gave at Stanford University of which I have a copy which I keep in my office. It chronicled his ups and downs, from being born to a young, unwed college graduate student who put him up for adoption. He blew much of his parent’s savings before dropping out of Reed College but he didn’t leave the school. Instead he started taking classes at the same school in subjects that interested him, including calligraphy which ironically helped him a decade later during the resign of the first Macintosh computer. But let me go back a bit because at this time he didn’t have a dorm room because he really wasn’t enrolled in college. Jobs slept on the floor of some friend’s rooms and returned Coke bottles to get some money for food and every Sunday walked 7 miles across town for a free meal at a Hare Krishna temple. And in his speech he told the Stanford grads that while they may not sound great…he was happy because he was doing what he wanted to do.

He also went on to recount the story that at age 30 he lost a battle with the co-founder of Apple and was out of a job when the Board of Directors sided with the other guy. But he went on to start another company which eventually was bought out by Apple who then returned Jobs to the top position. It was during this time that he met the love of his life and while it was not easy to accept Jobs shared with the graduates that his original firing was actually the best thing that could have happened.

This speech was only about a year after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at which time his doctor told him he would last only six months. He kept waiting to die during this period but things actually got better and he thought he had beaten the disease. But it didn’t matter because he learned during this time that Death is very likely the single best invention of Life as it clears out the old to make way for the new. He told the students that right now they are the new but they would gradually become the old. He added “your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life and have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

In A Hurry

2011-10-05T11:40:00.001-04:00

In most cases I think you can break drivers into two main categories….those in a hurry and those who are not. I know that’s rather simple but I really believe when you look closely at those behind the wheel it comes down to that and can in some cases be the root cause of road rage.

I admit that most times I fall into the category of being in a hurry as it always seems like I am racing against the clock to get somewhere. Most of the time it’s my fault as I did not leave enough time to get from point A to point B. Often though outside factors like traffic put you behind and then result in sometimes desperate measures to make up that time and get to where you need to be. That is when you seem to run into the driver who seems to be out for a joy ride and is in no rush to go anywhere. You get behind him or her and your blood pressure starts building as they are cruising or limping along at 5 or 10 miles below the speed limit. Let’s face it they are not doing anything wrong but you (or me) start screaming at them to pull over or get off the road as you keep looking at the clock and realize there is simply no way you are getting to your destination on time.

Of course this can lead to a full-blown road rage incident and sometimes does because you are now blaming the slower driver for what’s really your problem. It’s not as bad as when you get cut off or have to jam on your breaks because the driver in front of you does not use a turn signal but there is no question the slower driver at the very least causes stress in others. Listen this really comes down to the fact that most of us are time-challenged and if it takes 20 minutes to get somewhere we plan on 20…or maybe even 18. So when you get behind that slow driver in a non-passing area you quickly make them out to be the bad guy or even bad driver. In truth even if they are doing the speed limit we want them off the road for people like us who have places to go and things to do. I would imagine that is much more prevalent in an area like ours where there are so many elderly drivers on the road….many of whom should no longer be behind the wheel. However as long as they are we need to co-exist and maybe at the end of the day the simple solution is respect and courtesy. Of course I could make a case that’s the solution to most of our problems but I’ll leave that for another day.

With a somewhat hurried Hometown View, I’m Kevin Williams.

Homeland Fills The 24 Void

2011-10-04T09:37:00.000-04:00

Maybe it’s because it seems like there’s so much bad news and we need laughs but it looks like the TV comedy is back. Sitcoms of course were the rage for years but prime-time TV has been dominated by reality shows and dramas in recent times.
However early returns have been favorable for programs like “Two And A Half Men”, “2 Broke Girls,” “Modern Family,” “How I Met Your Mother” and “The Big Bang Theory” which have all been ranked in the Nielsen ratings top ten. Among the new shows the early indications are that “The Playboy Club” and “Charlie’s Angels” are in trouble and could be the first ones to be cancelled. We DVR so many shows during the week I didn’t think I could commit to another but yesterday a co-worker implored me to watch a new drama on Showtime starring Claire Danes. So I did and “Homeland” is very good and I’m hooked…it’s a little bit like “24” and if you liked that show I think you’ll get into this one very quickly.

During the past baseball season you might have heard promos on this radio station for a program called “Home Runs for Heroes” which is a partnership between OceanFirst Foundation, the Lakewood BlueClaws and WOBM FM/AM. Basically the way it worked is that the OceanFirst Foundation gave $1000 to a military-based charity each time a BlueClaws player hit a home run during a home game. The charities were randomly tied to innings and the results are in with a total of $26,000 awarded to nine local charities that serve members of the military and their families. The big winner was VetGroup which received $7000 followed by the New Jersey National Guard State Family Readiness Council which was awarded $4000. All nine of the charities received at least $1000 and over the three years the OceanFirst Foundation has given $80,000 to these outstanding organizations…now that’s a grand slam.

Hawaii is about to become the first state in the nation to make Surfing an official high school sport. Of course Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing so it being the first to take this step is not a great surprise. State officials believe by making surfing a school sport it will open doors for kids to represent their school just like those who play football, basketball and other sports. Hawaii has the only statewide public school district in the country which makes this a bit easier to launch as every school will have to offer surfing to its student-athletes. Championships will be awarded to boys and girls as well as teams, similar to golf.

Andy Rooney Signs Off 60 Minutes

2011-10-03T11:02:00.002-04:00

Andy Rooney said goodbye last night….sort of in his 1,097th weekly commentary that aired on “60 Minutes.” The 92-year old admitted curmudgeon has had the last word on the hit CBS newsmagazine show for 33 years and dreaded the day when it would come to an end….Sunday was that day. Rooney said “I wish I could do this forever. I can’t though.” He insisted he was not retiring because he’s a writer and a writer never stops being a writer. If you watched last night you learned that he grew up in Albany, New York and began writing while in the Army during World War II for Stars and Stripes. Shortly after that he joined CBS where he wrote for Arthur Godfrey’s Radio & TV Show and later he was the writer and producer for newsman Harry Reasoner. Rooney’s now-famous closing piece on “60 Minutes” actually began as a summer replacement but proved to be some popular it was a regular feature by the fall of 1978. He made a career out of talking about things that bothered him and most of us but he never liked the limelight and as you might have learned last night refuses to give autographs, rarely answers fan mail and hates it when people shout his name. But he admitted to living a lucky life and was appreciative that so many enjoyed his commentaries. In what was a fitting conclusion to his swan-song Rooney said if you see him in a restaurant, “please, just let me eat my dinner.”

Honestly the best compliments I have ever received while doing this segment are those that have compared me to Rooney. There are many differences though, even more so than fame and fortune. He only had to do one piece a week and the 1,097 he aired pales in comparison to the approximate 3,150 ‘Hometown Views” I have broadcast over some 14 plus years. Plus, I trim my eyebrows when necessary and if you see me in a restaurant I’ll gladly talk to you if you pick up the tab.

For the most part the sports teams I root for have not had great success in recent years…or decades. So that means much of my energy often comes rooting against those I don’t like. With that said yesterday was a great day….the Giants win and the Eagles, Jets, Cowboys, Yankees and Phillies all lose. It won’t last long but for one day I felt like a winner.

Will He Or Won't He?

2011-09-29T12:05:00.001-04:00

Will he or won’t he run for President? That is the million dollar question that just everyone is asking New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who continues to say he is not seeking occupancy in the White House but rather trying to cure the problems in Trenton. It seems that the more Christie insists he is not throwing his hat into the ring the more political followers say he may be still be testing the waters. We are at the point where commentators are trying to find subtle hints in his speeches or reading his body language to determine if the governor has indeed closed the door on a 2012 Presidential bid. It does seem that what Christie is likely doing is building a base for a run in 2016 when the race will probably be wide open, assuming President Obama is re-elected. By then his stature…pardon the pun, as a state leader and national figure will have grown and so might a war-chest of cash to make a real run at the biggest office in the land.

Of course what also has to weigh-in (again pardon the pun) is whether or not Christie can win because losers often become old news very quickly. He is portrayed by some as the man who could save the Republican Party from the religious zealots who have tried to take over. Of course one does wonder if a Republican could emerge victorious without the support of those who have made religion such a big issue. Certainly Christie is a far cry from many of the current Republicans seeking the Oval Office who are just as likely to talk about what’s in the bible then President Obama’s health care reform. Christie may not play well in the traditional bible-belt states where he will be portrayed as another one of those brash and big-talkers from the northeast which many seem to despise. Even if he could get past Romney, Perry and the other candidates to earn his party’s nomination beating a sitting President would be no walk in the park. Of course if things continue as they are by next year Obama could be very weak but even then winning…which is what this is all about…will be difficult.

Like him or not our Governor is an interesting figure and it would be entertaining to see how he would do on a national stage. In a state that now has strict guidelines against bullying in our schools; he is to some the ultimate bully and I would love to see how his act played in Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas and all across the nation. My guess is we’ll have to wait four years to find out.

Toms River Standouts

2011-09-28T09:52:00.001-04:00

Count me among the few who made it through last night’s 13 inning Mets game which I watched only because Toms River’s Todd Frazier played the entire game
for the visiting Reds, who finally prevailed 5-4 at Citifield. The Cincinnati rookie struck out his first two at-bats before finishing 1-6 with his lone hit a 12th inning single. Frazier did make a sensational play at third base in the 6th inning as he robbed David Wright of what probably would have been a double. That play merited a crowd shot of the Frazier family and entourage on SNY. Todd, who was promoted to the majors in July, has appeared in 41 games and belted 6 home runs while showing he can play several positions. Hopefully it’s just the beginning of things to come for the 25-year old Toms River High School South graduate.

The Monmouth University football team was not expected to challenge for the Northeast Conference title this season but after a 24-12 win over pre-season favorite Central Connecticut State last Saturday it appears the Hawks might be better than most experts expected. Monmouth got a big boost from former Toms River North standout Steve Barroso, who was named NEC Defensive Player of the Week for his play against the Blue Devils as the sophomore linebacker made a career-high 12 tackles. Barroso and the rest of the Hawks will take on defending NEC Champion Robert Morris on Saturday at noon which will also mark my return as PA Announcer at Kessler Field.

The Monsignor Donovan Boys & Girls Varsity Soccer teams will hold a pair of memorial soccer games over the next two weeks. The boys’ team will host Barnegat this coming Monday (Oct 3) in the 4th Annual Evelyn Gere Memorial Game which is in honor of the late wife of school Principal Dr. Edward Gere. Evelyn lost her battle with pancreatic cancer 3 ½ years ago and proceeds from the game will benefit the Robert Fine Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. On Wednesday, October 12th the Griffins Girls squad will host Wall in the 5th Annual Lori Long Memorial Game which is held in memory of the former Donovan player killed in an auto accident in 1988 during her senior year. The money raised from that game will go towards an annual scholarship in her name given to a Mon Don senior.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-09-27T09:57:00.003-04:00

You will be hearing and reading a lot these next few weeks about breast cancer as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This may or may not mean much to you although it’s likely that just everyone at least knows of someone who has been diagnosed with a disease that claims a life somewhere in the world every 69 seconds. It has special significance in our family as my wife Jane is a breast cancer survivor and each year she assembles a team of family, friends and co-workers to walk in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraiser in Point Pleasant Beach with this year’s event set for Sunday, October 16th.

Our son Brandon (pictured above) was a high school senior when his mother underwent major surgery and he witnessed first-hand her recuperation. Last year both he and our daughter Alex surprised us by showing up to walk with their mother but when the opportunity came to do even more he jumped at it. Brandon works for Edelman, a world-wide public relations firm, in their New York office. Months ago the company announced they were looking for employees to represent them in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure in Washington DC, a three-day 60 mile walk which is one of 14 held nationally during the year. Brandon had to write an essay about why he should be among those selected and he of course talked about his mother and how this would be a tribute to her. He was chosen along with 23 others from several Edelman offices, including New York, Washington and Atlanta. Next was fundraising and he met his quota by reaching out to family and friends as well as collecting tips as a special bartender at a place in Hoboken that is owned by a friend.

Anyway the walk took place this past weekend and it began Friday morning in a torrential downpour which never really let up. He managed just fine although quite of few of the 2500 walkers who started never made it past that first day. Jane and I headed down to Washington to show our support and we spent several hours’ right by the Washington Monument on Sunday watching walkers finish…many in tears as their journey was a tribute to someone who did not beat the disease. Around 3pm Brandon and his Edelman crew crossed the line in their pink shirts and Jane could not wait to hug him. During an emotional closing ceremony we would learn that the Washington 3-Day raised $7 million and later found out that Edelman’s $88,000 was the largest of any single group. He had some great stories to tell and wants to do another “3 Day” in the future in a different city. Wherever he goes his mother will be at the finish line and that my friends is the moral of this story.

Rain, Rain Go Away

2011-09-23T09:40:00.000-04:00

The second week of the 2010 high school football season was disrupted by rain with many games postponed a day or even two. One year later it’s the third week of the season during which Mother Nature has decided to wreak havoc. The forecast calls for plenty of rain, especially today with a flood watch in effect until 6pm Saturday. The forecast alone resulted in officials moving tonight’s game between Manchester and Brick to Saturday night at the home of the Green Dragons. That could be the first of many changes in the schedule but the problem is the entire weekend looks wet as we might not even see a trace of the sun until Monday. Of course purists like yours truly believe that football should be played in all conditions as long as the safety of the players is not in jeopardy. Others believe that for the sake of fans and groups like the marching band school officials should postpone games and seek the best possible conditions. I’ll leave that up to others to decide but there is one factor tonight that could make it easy when it comes to a decision and that is lightning. State Athletic rules call for games to be halted for at least 30 minutes each time a bolt of lightning is visible.

The Shore Sports Network is scheduled to broadcast tonight’s Point Boro and Jackson Liberty contest with kickoff scheduled for 7pm from the home of the Lions. Ironically we were supposed to do a game from Jackson Liberty in week two last Fall that was postponed. Other games that hopefully will be played tonight find Jackson Memorial at Toms River North, Barnegat at Central, Manasquan at Monsignor Donovan, Lakewood at Wall and Lacey at Pinelands. All those games will be played on grass or should I say muddy fields with the exception of the Jaguars-Mariners game at high school north.

The weather is going to be a problem for my son Brandon, who is among the many walking this weekend in Washington DC as part of the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure. They began the 60-mile walk at 5:30 this morning which is scheduled to end Sunday afternoon near the Washington Monument. Camping out at night sure will be a challenge as rain is expected all day today and tomorrow in the DC area.
Brandon works for the world-wide public relations firm Edelman and was chosen with others to represent their New York office in the walk. He did a great job raising money and we are hoping to be there when he finishes Sunday.

Citizen Of The Year

2011-09-22T20:19:00.001-04:00

In the 27 years I have lived in Beachwood I have probably attended only a half dozen council meetings and that includes last night. Truthfully I wasn’t quite sure why I invited to the meeting by councilwoman Bev Clayton but it had something to do with being honored along with former Mayor Hal Morris for our work on the committee that puts on the 4th of July Fireworks each year. I really wasn’t looking forward to going but figured our little part would be in the beginning of the meeting and I could then leave before important borough business was discussed.
What should have told me something was “up” was when my wife Jane said she would go with me and then we could grab something to eat.

So we arrived at the William Hornidge Municipal Complex a couple of minutes before 7pm and after seeing a lot of familiar faces we sat down and the meeting began with the hiring of a new police officer and the promotion of another. Nice stuff and plenty of family and friends on hand for that good news. At that point longtime Borough Clerk Bette Mastropasqua said it was time to announce Beachwood’s “Citizen of the Year” and she would do so by reading this little “ditty” that would provide clues. About a minute or two it I realized she was talking about me or someone who has done a great job mimicking my career.

Well sure enough as eyes glanced in my direction I realized that I had been hoodwinked, fooled, deceived, shocked, surprised and frankly embarrassed.
My wife had somehow kept it from me with her biggest concerning being that at the last minute I would change my mind and not even attend the meeting.

I of course was asked to make some comments and was presented with some borough goodies from Bev Clayton and a woman we affectionally have called “Mama Mashedpotato” for years. Never at a loss for words I admitted to being humbled by the honor and expressed concern that Beachwood was running out of candidates for the award to the point they had to lower themselves and honor yours truly. However it is a great honor and I truly love the little town I call home and the great neighbors I have and friends we have made. I’ve enjoyed being involved in the Beachwood Soccer Club, Municipal Alliance and Fireworks Committee.

So thank you to the Mayor and Council and especially Bette & Bev…this almost hometown boy truly appreciates it.

Pet Peeves

2011-09-21T10:05:00.001-04:00

We all have pet peeves and it doesn’t matter whether they are big or small because they just get under our skin and tick us off. Like…..

• You are in a hurry at a food or department store and you get behind someone
checking out who has no place to go. Not only do they engage the clerk in
conversation but they don’t have their money ready to pay and they insist on
digging through their purse for exact change.

• Just as bad is the clerk who engages the customer in conversation and suddenly stops ringing up items to tell a story, which by the way is sometimes personal and not for anyone else to hear.

• Why do people with complicated transactions insist on using the drive-thru
at a bank and why doesn’t the teller inform that person they must come inside so they don’t hold up those waiting for a simple deposit or withdrawal? You know you are in trouble when they canister keeps going back and forth and the customer is asking questions.

• Is there anything more frustrating when you are behind someone at a Dunkin Donuts’ ordering coolatta’s and iced lattes and then they decide to get a dozen donuts and turn to others in their car for input? All you want is a cup of coffee and they are ordering one donut at a time and taking their time.

• I’ll tell you what’s worse. The person who gets to the menu board at a drive-thru and when they are asked for their order says, “Give me a minute.”
For what…to review today’s specials because there aren’t any…it’s the same menu that was there yesterday, the week before, the month before.
Know what you want or get out of the car and go inside.

• Oh and I have another one. Does anyone understand what “lightly butter”
means? Do we have an overabundance of butter in this country because it
sure seems like they spread and pack it on bagels and rolls like there is no tomorrow. Of course you could wipe some of it off later but they
never give you a napkin…have I told you that’s another pet peeve?

The College Football Shuffle

2011-09-20T09:32:00.000-04:00

The future of Rutgers Athletics will find the Scarlet Knights competing in the Big East…or the ACC…or the Big Ten….or a newly-established conference that does not even exist today. The college sports landscape is changing on an hour-by-hour basis and the state university of New Jersey is one of the schools that really does not know where they will end up.

For those that don’t follow this stuff there has been a lot of movement the last year or so as schools align themselves with conferences based on one thing and one thing only…money. Much of that will come in the form of TV revenue as conferences with bigger TV markets result in member schools getting more cash as well. While we may think of college basketball as a big-time sport the recent moves and others being talked about really evolve around football which is the sport that drives revenue.

This all hit the fan over the weekend when out of nowhere Syracuse and Pittsburgh announced they were leaving the Big East for the ACC. Syracuse was one of the founding Big East members and Pitt came along just a few years later.
Before you point a finger at athletic officials for lack of loyalty you need to know that it’s college presidents who are often the villains and liars. They are the ones, along with trustees who are making moves that are not necessarily beneficial to their coaches, student-athletes, alumni or fans but rather will help the bottom-line which is their biggest concern. In today’s world a college president is not an educator but a CEO and fundraiser and the bigger the school the bigger the money involved.

Now back to Rutgers. Their main concern is finding an option that is best for their football program and it just might be following Pitt and Syracuse to the ACC where they would join the likes of North Carolina, Maryland, Duke, Boston College and Virginia Tech. Actually the Scarlet Knights would be very interested in hooking up with the Big Ten and schools like Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. Or they could stay in a Big East conference that would merge with Big 12 leftovers like Kansas and Missouri because it appears Texas and Oklahoma are on their way to the Pac 12. Remember when geography played a part in your conference….not any more. Oh and what about the Big East schools that don’t play football including Seton Hall, St. John’s and Georgetown? Good luck, you’re on your own!

Weekend Drama

2011-09-19T15:35:00.001-04:00

A little of this and a little of that following the final weekend of summer:

Count me among those who bounced back and forth last night between the Eagles-Falcons game and the Emmy Awards and both provided some drama. The Eagles could not hold a 10-point lead in the 4th quarter and lost to the Falcons in Michael Vick’s much talked about return to Atlanta. He suffered a concussion in the 3rd quarter when he was knocked into a teammate and did not return.

The big Emmys winner was “Modern Family” which took home the award for best comedy series and also produced winners in Supporting Actor Ty Burrell and Supporting Actress Julie Bowen who play husband and wife on the show. As expected “Mad Men” was named Best Drama series again but Kyle Chandler was a surprise winner for Best Actor in a Drama for his portrayal of Coach Taylor in “Friday Night Lights.” Some had to be nervous when Charlie Sheen took the stage but he actually took the high road with nothing but nice words to say about his old show “Two and a Half Men” before presenting an award.

FirstEnergy Park is best known as the home of the Lakewood BlueClaws but the facility has hosted numerous other events including boat shows, expos, concerts and even yard sales. However a first took place over the weekend when BlueClaws fans Aimee and Frank Mitchell of Point Pleasant got married on the field. With more than 100 family members and friends on hand Saturday the couple exchanged vows right behind home plate on the BlueClaws logo as guests sat in the stadium seats. They didn’t have too far to travel for the reception as it was held on the concourse with a cocktail hour followed by a buffet dinner. Aimee and Frank and their guests then danced the night away on a dance floor brought in for the occasion with music playing over the PA system. The Mitchells have a 15-game ticket plan and not only did they get married in the ballpark but they had the rehearsal dinner in the Upstairs Bar on Friday night. All the food was prepared by BlueClaws Executive Chef Sandy Cohen and from all accounts the weekend was a home run. No truth to the rumor Aimee and Frank were headed to Philadelphia for their honeymoon.

Who would have thought that after two weeks of the high school football season that Central and Manchester would be 2-0 and Lacey and Middletown South would be 0-2?

Friday Night Lights

2011-09-16T13:42:00.001-04:00

Just a few years ago it would seem unthinkable to call a football game between Manchester and Barnegat a big one but no doubt tonight’s Class B South meeting is among the biggest games of this second weekend of the season. The Hawks are coming off a 2010 season in which they earned just their second appearance in the NJSIAA Playoffs and last week opened with a 35-14 victory over South Brunswick. In his fifth season Manchester’s head coach Gerard O’Donnell has a team led by all-everything running back Joe Johnson and quarterback Tim Rogers. Johnson has garnered interest from many schools, including Monmouth University who has already extended a scholarship offer.

Barnegat is only in its sixth season of varsity football and last year’s 6-5 record, included a first-ever playoff victory. Gone is quarterback Nick SanGiacomo but back is Purdue-bound tight end Ryan Morris and running back Davis Smithman, who last week ran for 193 yards as the Bengals nearly stunned highly-ranked Rumson. Barnegat led 16-6 in the 4th quarter before turnovers did them in as they fell 21-16 in a non-division game.

Tonight the Hawks head south to take on the Bengals in a game we will broadcast on the Shore Sports Network, including 105.7FM and 1160AM. The winner figures to emerge as the top threat to defending champion Lacey, who will host Brick on Saturday in another key Class B South matchup.

Another game to watch this weekend will take place tomorrow night when defending Class A South champion Brick Memorial hosts Jackson Memorial. Both teams won their openers last week but this is the first division matchup of the season for both the Mustangs and Jaguars.

I don’t know how long it’s been since Central started a season 2-0 but I know it’s been a while. The Golden Eagles stunned Red Bank last week and tonight at Joseph J. Boyd Field will come in as a heavy favorite against a young Pinelands team. Central led by running back Kalyph Hardy, who could put up big numbers in their home opener. Likewise Monsignor Donovan could be headed for a 2-0 start but the Griffins can’t take visiting Lakewood for granted when the teams meet tonight in Toms River. Mon Don put 56 points on the board in their opener but the Piners allowed only 7, despite losing last week against Holmdel.

Swimming At Your Own Risk

2011-09-15T11:00:00.001-04:00

Call it ironic, a coincidence or maybe a strange premonition but yesterday we ran a news story about those who swim in the ocean at this time of year even though there are no lifeguards on duty and signs warn them to stay out of the water. Well at basically the same time that story was on the air a 27-year old man was being pulled out of the ocean after drowning near the Casino Pier in Seaside Heights.

Over the past couple of weeks there have been several rescues on Ocean County beaches without working lifeguards and in all of those cases lives were saved…unfortunately that was not the case Wednesday. The unidentified man, who was with other friends at the time, got caught in a rip-tide even though he was only in waist-deep water. Eventually he was pulled under the pier and by the time emergency personnel got to him it was too late.

This will once again raise a question that does not have a simple answer. Since we know people are going to ignore signs like “swim at your own risk” and even ones alerting them to dangerous conditions do towns have a greater responsibility? We talk about how September is often the nicest month of the year as the water is warm and like the last few days the weather makes for great beach days. Should towns like Seaside Heights, knowing there will be plenty of beach-goers, find a way to have lifeguards on duty? There are two problems with one being the cost and the other being finding lifeguards to work. Most are students back in school or teachers and others back to work. Plus you could never protect all the beaches and forcing swimmers to just use a couple of blocks to swim won’t work. As we heard in the news story yesterday people will always take risks plus when it comes to swimming many think they are good at it when in truth the best they can do is float in a pool. As we also know even adequate and good swimmers are no match for ocean rip-tides and yesterday a young man learned that lesson…the hard way.

However my good friend Joe Gomulka, the captain of the Seaside Park Patrol brought up a good point last night when we talked. He said swimmers ignore you when you tell them that conditions are rough and dangerous but if anyone mentions the work “shark” they bolt out of the water. Gomulka says maybe after Labor Day they should post signs that read “shark-infested waters.” Not a bad idea but don’t let the mayor of Amity Island see them.

PS- That was the fictional town in the movie “Jaws.”

Toms River Student Loan Fund

2011-09-14T11:25:00.001-04:00

The Toms River Student Loan Fund was established in 1937 by a group of local business officials as a way to help graduates of what was then Toms River High School further their education. 74 years later there are three high schools in the district and this unique organization still exists with the same purpose and pretty much the same mission statement. Thousands of students from South, North and East have borrowed money to help with their undergraduate and graduate studies and then paid their loans which was in turn used to provide new loans….it’s a never-ending cycle or at least we hope so. I say “we” because I’m among the 19 trustees who donate their time to the cause as the Toms River Student Loan Fund is made up strictly of volunteers. While loan repayment is our primary source of income we also receive donations and trusts and each year hold one major event and that is coming up on Thursday, October 6th at the Quality Inn of Toms River.

On that evening the Toms River Student Loan Fund will honor Superintendent of Schools Frank Roselli and 19 teachers from the school district. Roselli has dedicated his career to students and education and has helped unify the district through some trying times. He would be the first to tell you that teachers are the strength of what is New Jersey’s fourth-largest school district and the October 6th recognition dinner will salute those who have been chosen by their peers as Teachers of the Year in the three high schools, three intermediate schools and 13 elementary schools.

Tickets for the annual recognition reception and dinner are $50 and available through Tom Totaro at (732) 341-1773.

On a totally unrelated note…..

If February 16th is your birthday or anniversary and you play the New Jersey Lottery’s Pick 3 game there’s a pretty good chance you are smiling today.
That’s because 2-1-6 was the winning number in both Monday & Tuesday night’s drawings…can you imagine if it hit again today? Of course the odds of 2-1-6 coming in today are the exact same as any other three digit number…1 in 1000.

A Little Of This 'n That

2011-09-13T09:37:00.000-04:00

Just a little of this and a little of that for no apparent reason:

Major League Baseball really struck out for not allowing the Mets to wear special hats on Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Like they did ten years ago the Mets wanted to wear hats of first responders like the NYPD and FDNY on Sunday. They did in batting practice and during a pre-game ceremony but at the urging of management wore their regular hats when the game began. MLB officials had told the Mets they must adhere to the uniform policy in place which is this case was simply dumb. I will tell you that the same policy was in place ten years ago but that group of players ignored it and wore the hats. These guys should have as well.

Certainly nobody with decent eye sight would call Jets coach Rex Ryan handsome but in comparison to his twin brother Rex is a hunk. Rob, a Cowboys assistant coach simply looks like a slob in need of a good cleaning. His first name is actually Remus and it fits.

The first of what are my regular fall TV shows returns tonight with the third season premiere of “Parenthood” on NBC. I will have to spend some time this week programming the DVR and make decisions on what new shows are worth taping.
Actually I guess “taping” is the wrong word.

Congratulations to Walt Krystopik of Jackson Memorial and Jay Price of Manasquan for collecting victories in their head coaching debuts with their alma maters on the opening weekend of the high school football season. John Wagner’s debut at Point Beach also went well with the Garnett Gulls rolling to victory.

Sports and 9/11

2011-09-12T11:07:00.000-04:00

We often say that SPORTS should be kept in its proper perspective but in truth we only say that after something happens which forces us to take a closer look at things. However if ever there was a day that we needed to realize how true that statement is then yesterday was it…the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our nation and way of life. It seems ironic that the anniversary should come on the opening Sunday of the National Football League because pro football can be the sport that brings out the worst in us….on and off the field. Sunday though the NFL and the rest of the sports world handled things in a truly exemplary fashion
as we paid tribute to the lives that were lost and the family members who live with the horror of 9/11 every day.

On a day in which I found myself wiping tears on a regular basis there was no more touching tribute then what took place before a meaningless baseball game between the Cubs and Mets at Citifield. You might remember that the first professional sporting event played in New York after the attacks was a baseball game between the Mets and Braves on September 21, 2001. I remember that game like it was yesterday and will never forget when Mike Piazza hit an 8th inning home run which was the game-winning hit. Shea Stadium went wild and for a brief moment it was like 9/11 never happened. Piazza last night fought a losing battle with tears as he talked about that night and then took part in a pre-game ceremony which featured the families of many who died in the Twin Towers.
One of his comments really struck me and that was then every time he hears bag pipes he thinks of that horrible day in New York. How many funerals, especially those of firemen and police officers did we watch in the days after with bag pipers prominently featured? Obviously the answer is way too many.

If you think about it yesterday pretty much summed up the American way of life, good or bad. We paid solemn tribute to those no longer with us and did so with tears in our eyes and lumps in our throats. And then, whether in stadium seats or our favorite lay-z-boys we cheered guys in uniforms with numbers and names on their backs. Many gave us thrills but the real heroes of this day were those who have and do wear a different uniform. The names and in some cases numbers are on the front and it’s their contributions that allow us to enjoy sports. Let’s try and keep that in mind because sports are an outlet….not life and death and we should all know that by now.

High School Football Begins A New Season

2011-09-09T08:31:00.000-04:00

The High School Football season kicks off this weekend with 26 games involving Shore Conference schools and the biggest turnover in head coaches anyone can remember. Twelve of the shore’s 43 schools have guys calling the shots for the first time or in a new place and you can be sure they along with many others did not sleep too well last night.

Rob Dahl is just the third coach in Brick High School history and tonight he’ll make his debut at Keller Memorial Field. It’s a place he is familiar with having played there and later serving as an assistant under the legendary Warren Wolf.
Dahl has embraced the Green Dragons tradition and will probably have a lump in his throat when he runs onto the field and then watches as Wolf takes care of the pre-game coin toss. Brick hosts their cross-town rivals from Brick Memorial…a school that has become one of the elite programs in the shore under Walt Currie.
We will broadcast the game on the Shore Sports Network, including 105.7FM and 1160AM.

Ron Signorino Jr. knows all about the tradition of Toms River South because it was his father who built “Indian Nation” into a powerhouse during the 60’s. Junior learned a lot when he coached under his father during a second tenure at South and now the two have switched roles with the elder serving as an assistant when the Indians begin a new era tonight at Toms River East. South is coming off a disastrous 0-10 season but there is excitement and some optimism in the air and while wins won’t come easy it appears the pride just may be back.

One of the big games of the opening weekend finds Manasquan visiting Point Boro where last year at this time both head coaches were assistants. Jay Price takes over at Squan where Pete Cahill is now a school administrator but don’t expect much to change as he has a veteran staff and of course is a former Warrior player. Same at the Boro where Sean Henry replaced Calvin Thompson on an interim basis at mid-season but is now the man in charge at his alma mater.

Also making their head coaching debuts this weekend will be Walt Krystopik at Jackson Memorial and LJ Clark at Lakewood with both former assistants assuming the top spots at their alma maters.

For predictions on this weekend’s games go to shoresportsnetwork.com, click on daily features at the top and then Forecast Friday.

New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Law

2011-09-07T13:11:00.001-04:00

Most people would agree that bullying in public schools is a problem but it’s questionable whether that problem was big enough here in New Jersey that we needed what’s being called the most stringent anti-bullying law in the country.
As the new school year begins schools and students have the deal with the new law which requires that all public schools adopt strict policies and guidelines. On the surface it seems like a good thing but as is usually the case this one might go a bit overboard and lead adults to take action in cases that are just part of growing up.

Of course laws like this are usually motivated by a tragedy and you only have to look at what happened just a year ago when an 18-year old Rutgers student committed suicide after being harassed by two students because he was gay. This new law, signed by Governor Christie in January, is at least partly a reaction or should I say overreaction to that and related incidents. Clearly bullying is a problem in public schools, even though there was a law already on the books which I guessed was not enforced enough. As for the new Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights well let’s take a look.

Every school must appoint an anti-bullying specialist which sounds worse than having lunch duty. This lucky individual must investigate every complaint and do so within 24 hours of the alleged incident. The school Principal then must turn in a report to State Education officials in Trenton who will actually post grades on their web site as to how each school handles matters. This all sounds noble but the law requires and forces schools to report anything that vaguely resembles bullying, even instances that most would agree is just part of childhood. So if a teacher is walking in the hallway and hears one student say to the other, “If you don’t give me back the notes I gave you for the test I’m going to smack you in the head” I guess that would require the teacher to report what most could consider a harmless matter. Worst yet if the teacher does not they could be in hot water even if they truly believe it’s not a case of bullying.

Oh and how about this. As part of the law the Department of Education must create a special fund to pay for training sessions but nobody knows where the money is coming from. So in true New Jersey and political fashion we have created a law which ultimately could cause more problems than it solves. No truth to the rumor that when the Governor was asked about that he replied, “if you don’t like it I’ll kick your…….”

Back To Work

2011-09-06T10:55:00.000-04:00

Some random notes and thoughts the day after Labor Day which marks the unofficial end to summer. Let’s start there because as I walked off the 2nd Avenue Beach in Seaside Park Sunday I realized it was probably the last time I would do that for quite a while. With the exception of a bad August stretch this was a great summer for the beach with many picture-perfect days. The water seemed to warm-up early and was pretty much clear and calm for most of July & August. Of course there is no reason why many can’t enjoy a few more weeks of great beach conditions but for this lover its goodbye for the most part because football season is here and weekends are now occupied.

Speaking of which it all starts this week on our Shore Sports Network with a jam packed first week of the high school football season starting with the season premiere of The Barnabas Health High School Football Show Thursday night and then a weekend doubleheader with Brick Memorial at Brick Friday night and then Howell at Toms River North on Saturday. More to come on this later in the week.

Do you remember the Oliver Stone movie “Any Given Sunday” that starred Al Pacino and Jamie Foxx? One of the things that struck me was the hideous uniforms they used for the football teams portrayed in the film. I found something just as ugly last night when I turned on the Maryland-Miami game. Have you seen Maryland’s new uniforms which were designed by Under Armour? They might have set a new standard for ugly, especially the helmets which were black and gold on one side and red and white on the other. The uni’s are modeled after the state flag which now that I know what it looks like should probably be burned. All kidding aside, you can have Maryland’s uniform….I’ll take Penn State.

So Rolling Stone last week asked its readers to vote for the worst song of the 90’s and the results are on with the winner or loser being “Barbie Girl” which was written and recorded by that well-known Danish group Aqua. Who can forget those great lyrics, “I’m a Barbie girl in a Barbie World?” Second on the worst list was “Macarena” which did spent 14 weeks at #1, sparked a nauseating dance craze and its still played at every wedding, #3 on the list and a major candidate for the top spot was Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” which is just an awful song for any decade. Others that deserved to be on the list included Hanson’s” MMM Bop”, “Who Let the Dogs Out” and “I’m Too Sexy.” However “Ice Ice Baby” should have made it…people just never understood the great talent that Vanilla Ice was or is.

Summer's Over

2011-09-02T08:46:00.001-04:00

For many this really is the final weekend of summer even though the calendar says there will be two more before autumn arrives. We of course know that September is truly the nicest month of the year and if you are retired or just plain fortunate then you can take advantage of wide open beaches, plenty of parking and warm water. However for the masses this is just about it as once the kids go back to school the routine changes dramatically. Weekends can be dominated by activities that are more likely to find you at a football or soccer field then on the white sands. For that reason many will try and squeeze a day or two at the beach this weekend even if the weather forecast does not call for perfect conditions.

I will have to try and spend a little bit of time preparing for next Tuesday’s LFL Fantasy Football Draft. As many women know, some of us guys love playing in fantasy football leagues and the draft is the highlight of the season as we load up our rosters and potato skins. Our league is named after founder and longtime commissioner Ed “Luch” Sarluca, who has given up the leadership position but is still a franchise owner. He needs more time to prepare for the high school football season where he is a valued member of the Shore Sports Network broadcast team.

It was nice to see Rutgers open its college football season with an easy victory over North Carolina Central last night with Jackson Township freshman Savon Huggins scoring a pair of touchdowns in his much-anticipated debut. We’ll find out a little more about the Scarlet Knights in their next game at the University of North Carolina. My beloved Penn State Nittany Lions open the season tomorrow at home against Indiana State at noon. Former Southern Regional standout Glenn Carson will be the starting middle linebacker and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Have you heard about Tropical Storm Katia? Nah, why talk about this storm in the Atlantic Ocean when there are still people without power from Irene.

Back To School

2011-09-01T11:23:00.001-04:00

A welcome back this morning to those that might not have been with us for the last ten weeks or so. Yes school is back, at least for teachers and other staff members as many have professional days today in preparation for the start of another school year. Most public school students return to the classroom on Tuesday, September 6th so they have a few more days left of summer vacation.

It seems only fair that after losing last weekend to Hurricane Irene we should at least get a spectacular Labor Day weekend but it does not appear that’s going to be the case. Today will be the fourth straight beautiful day since Irene left us and tomorrow and Saturday should make it 6 in-a-row before clouds and showers take over Sunday & Monday. You also have to wonder if storm-related problems throughout New Jersey will result in many less travelers to the shore than usual over what is the final holiday weekend of the summer. Local businesses could really use a big weekend after getting shut out for the most part last week.

One of the few good things about September is the return of your favorite TV shows and some new ones look very interesting as well. I did enjoy a few summer shows the best of which I thought was Combat Hospital. The show is about a military hospital in a war zone of Southern Afghanistan and is based on a real-life Canadian-led NATO hospital. The final episode will air next Tuesday.

Did you ever get a phone call and tell the caller that you will look into something and then call them right back? I did that yesterday but can’t remember who the person is I’m supposed to call back. Starting to get a bit scary.

Rutgers opens its college football season tonight against North Carolina Central at their newly-named High Point Solutions Stadium. Many are picking the Scarlet Knights to finish at the bottom of the Big East standings which is where they were last year. One reason to be optimistic is freshman running back Savon Huggins of Jackson who played his high school football at St. Peter’s Prep and might be the biggest recruit Rutgers has landed. Huggins could even start tonight in his first game as a true freshman.

Where Did August Go?

2011-08-31T10:43:00.000-04:00

I need a little help this morning because something is missing and I’m hoping one of you might be able to help me find it. I’m looking for the month of August which according to the calendar is ending today. How can something end when it didn’t even begin…I don’t even vaguely recall August. I’m not denying its existence and truthfully I do remember a day or two but that’s about it. I have memories of July and even June but August was faster that Jose Reyes running the bases. If today is the last day of the month that means summer is all but over.
Next thing you’re going to tell me is that the college football season starts this weekend. It does, doesn’t it? Okay than Labor Day must be right around the corner…you’re kidding me….it’s Monday! Ah come on this is like a bad dream.
Maybe when I wake up it will be July 4th and we’ll have a whole summer to look forward to.

Tuesday was a sad night for many because the Lakewood BlueClaws closed out their home schedule by splitting a doubleheader against the Hickory Crawdads.
Some 9,000 people made their way into FirstEnergy Park and many were regulars who were quite sad to see the season come to an end. It’s part of their spring and summer ritual and they were spoiled the last couple of years when the BlueClaws won the South Atlantic League Championship which meant the season continued through mid-September. That won’t be the case this year so last night was a chance to say good-bye, especially to members of the BlueClaws staff who have become friends over the years. I chatted with Community Relations Director Jim DeAngelis who has been with the team since their inaugural season in 2001. He said the depression of knowing the season is over doesn’t hit yet because the team is finishing the season on the road. DeAngelis said when you realize they are not coming home…that’s when you know the season is truly over. Don’t fret Jim…it’s only about 214 days till opening day, 2012.

Congratulations to a pair of BlueClaws who earned spots on the South Atlantic League All-Star team…designated hitter Jim Murphy and pitcher Jesse Biddle.
The team has today off and then finishes the season with five games in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Hurricane-Free Zone

2011-08-30T09:28:00.001-04:00

Let’s make this segment free of any hurricane talk…not even the University of Miami:

Tonight is your very last chance to see the Lakewood BlueClaws as they close out their home schedule with a doubleheader against the Hickory Crawdads beginning at 5pm. The BlueClaws quest for a third straight South Atlantic League title will apparently come to an end after being swept by the Crawdads last night in the first of back-to-back doubleheaders at FirstEnergy Park. With those two losses Lakewood falls into 4th place and is 4 games out of first with just 7 games left to play. Tonight is Fan Appreciation Night with all kinds of giveaways and specials and a perfect night to spend at the ballpark.

Whether you like him or not you have to admit that Michael Vick’s comeback is quite remarkable and yesterday he got his big reward. The Eagles and Vick have agreed on a six-year $100 million contract that makes him the third highest-paid
Quarterback in the NFL behind only Tom Brady & Peyton Manning. It was just two years ago that Vick was looking for a team to give him a chance following his 18-month federal prison term on dogfighting charges. The Eagles and their fans are glad they were the team that offered the 31-year old an opportunity and he has clearly made the most of it.

Former Manchester Township High School and Rutgers University standout Kevin Malast was among nine players waived by the Tennessee Titans Monday. It’s the third straight year that Malast has been cut during the pre-season.

Dayton’s Dream Team Fundraiser this past Sunday at the Forked River House to benefit Autism Speaks was postponed because of the storm and it’s been re-scheduled for this Saturday from noon-4pm. The event includes a buffet lunch, live entertainment and a gift auction and tickets are $25 with all proceeds going to Autism Speaks. Again it will be this Saturday starting at noon at the Forked River House on Route 9.

Monmouth University kicks off its football season on Saturday when they host Lehigh at Kessler Field and once again all the Hawks games can be heard on WOBM AM 1160 & 1310 this fall. Next Tuesday night at 7pm the Kevin Callahan Coaches Show will debut on the station which will be co-hosted by Matt Harmon and Coach Callahan.

Goodnight, Irene

2011-08-29T15:54:00.001-04:00

You can call them second-guessers or Monday morning quarterbacks…I would prefer idiots, morons and I could go even stronger. My wrath is directed at those who are overly critical of the preparations and evacuations that took place before the arrival of Hurricane Irene. Yes for the most part the storm was not as powerful as many had thought and thank goodness for that. But those who are taking shots at Governor Christie as well as local officials are so far off base you really have to wonder what their agendas are.

First I would point out that predicting the weather never has and probably never will be an exact science. However based on what we knew it was quite probable that the Jersey Shore was in line for a direct hit and the responsibility of rational-thinking officials was to do all they could to protect lives and property. All you have to do is remember the pictures of those on roof tops praying to be rescued after Hurricane Katrina. Those were people who did not leave when they were told to and many died because of that.

I laugh at the old-timers who today will be going around saying “I told you so.” They will tell old war stories of all the other storms they rode out and insist this was nothing compared to them. I again say “thank goodness” and you’re lucky…if not necessarily very smart. It turns out the much of Ocean County escaped with only minor problems as the storm ended up saving its biggest punches for certain inland sections of New Jersey. However if you think this was nothing than ask those who have been flooded out with more water on the way. Then there are those still without power who are trying to figure out what to do as it may be a while before everyone is fully restored. Then there is the family of a Salem County woman who was found dead in her submerged car.

No this was not a conspiracy to drive sales of flash lights, batteries, generators, bread, milk and eggs. It was the right course of action to take based on the information that was available and if and when this happens again we should do the same thing. I applaud the efforts of all whose top priority was to protect their fellow man, especially the volunteers who left their own families to look out for others.

Welcome Townsquare Media

2011-08-25T11:15:00.000-04:00

For the last few days you have heard something somewhat unfamiliar on this radio station and that is our association with Townsquare Media who acquired this station and ten others in New Jersey from Millennium Radio Group late last week.
Of course developments like this tend to result in many questions being asked with the obvious being “what does that mean to the radio station?” The answer in this case is nothing and quite a bit.

To the average listener the change in ownership won’t impact what they like about WOBM as the personalities and features will remain pretty much the same. Townsquare’s interest in the Millennium properties was largely based on the things that have made us New Jersey’s premiere radio company and market leaders when it comes to news, talk, music and entertainment content. However Townsquare has proven in a short time that they have a strategic plan to make their radio stations better than ever for both listeners and advertisers, the two groups we serve on a daily basis. In less than two years this dynamic company has acquired 176 radio stations and related websites in 38 small and mid-sized markets, making it the fourth largest owner of radio stations in the country and that number is expected to top 200 in the very near future.

Townsquare’s goal is to provide content to our listeners in a variety of ways using the technology available today and in the future. Not only does that mean the best on-air products possible but enhanced web sites and other digital applications that will make put radio stations ahead of the curve in this market and around the country.

On behalf of those of us who work out of the WOBM building I welcome Zoe Burdine-Fly who will oversee our shore group of stations as well as the New Jersey operation. She comes to us from Flint, Michigan and loves the Jersey Shore and our beaches. The only negative I can find is she’s a Michigan Wolverine fan but the good news for her is they don’t play Penn State this fall which will save her some embarrassment.

Shake, Rattle & Roll

2011-08-24T10:53:00.000-04:00

I would imagine Californians think yesterday’s coverage of the East Coast earthquake was the most overblown news story of all-time. I mean they continue shaving when a 5.8 strikes. It’s like telling people in Buffalo that you got hit with a six inch snow storm…they would view that as flurries. However the truth is earthquakes are way down on our list of worries when it comes to Mother Nature so the fact our ground shook yesterday afternoon was a big deal.

I was in my office working on my computer when my chair starting vibrating…kind of felt like one of those beds you put quarters in. Anyway I got up and ran into the hallway where a co-worker screamed “did you feel that?” First thing I did was run outside and look up at our tower thinking it might have had something to do with what we felt. Of course within moments were knew it was an earthquake as the phones started ringing off the hook. My wife, who was on the beach in Seaside Park at the time, told me later that lifeguards immediately called swimmers out of the ocean and it fueled speculation that there was a shark in the water. All in all it was quite an interesting afternoon. By the way you may have noticed problems trying to use cell phones immediately after the earthquake as many reached out to loved phones to make sure they were okay and it just slammed the cell systems. However even though you might not have been able to call someone you could still text them which is a good thing to know for the future.

Now that we’ve survived the earthquake we turn our attention to Hurricane Irene with the threat increasing along the New Jersey coast based on the latest path. Sunday looks like the day we should be braced for the powerful storm.

Hopefully the weather will not be a problem for Saturday’s “Grand Slam” Summer Celebration that will be hosted by the Ocean County College Foundation in the school’s Health & Human Performance Center. The event is a major fundraiser for the foundation’s scholarship fund and will include live entertainment, a gourmet buffet, and both live and silent auctions. Being honored as Humanitarian of the Year at Saturday’s event is retired New Jersey Superior Court Judge Robert Fall.
It all gets underway at 6pm and for ticket information you can still call the OCC Foundation at (732) 255-0492.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

2011-08-24T10:52:00.001-04:00

Kevin Malast and Glenn Carson have a couple of things in common. They both played high school football in Ocean County and are middle linebackers bidding to make their marks on a higher level this fall. However their paths to where they are now are quite different.

While he was a three-sport standout at Manchester Township High School Malast flew under the radar a bit playing for a program that struggled for respect. His talents took him to Rutgers University where he was a two-year starter and team captain as a senior when he was one of the leading tacklers in the Big East. Malast signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears in the spring of 2009 and was waived just before the season opener. The Bears later signed him to their practice squad and another free agent contract but again he was waived a week before the 2010 season was to begin. However the youngest of three football-playing brothers did not give up on his dream of playing in the NFL and this past January Malast was signed by the Tennessee Titans. He is listed as the third-string middle linebacker and has made five tackles in their first two pre-season games. While he might be a long shot to make the team the 25-year old still has time to prove that he belongs in the pros.

Carson was a celebrated athlete at Southern Regional High School where he keyed a football revival and also won a state wrestling championship. Highly recruited he eventually chose Penn State and its reputation as “Linebacker U” over Rutgers
and after some early bumps in the road the path has gotten a lot smoother. Carson saw action last season as a red-shirt freshman, mostly on special teams but this spring and summer has really raised his level of play. The ex-Ram progressed so quickly that the Nittany Lions moved starting middle linebacker Mike Mauti to the outside in order to open up the inside for Carson. As things stand now #40 will be in the starting lineup when Penn State opens its season on September 3rd against Indiana State. With three years of eligibility remaining the Manahawkin resident has a golden opportunity to add to the school’s reputation for producing linebackers and he might become the second family member to play in the NFL.
Carson’s grandfather Tom Higgins was an offensive lineman who spent three seasons with the Eagles & Chicago Cardinals in the mid 50’s.

Kevin Malast and Glenn Carson have both achieved great success on the football field and here’s hoping for both that the best still lies ahead.

Back To Happy Valley

2011-08-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

I’m back this morning after what will have to suffice as my major vacation of the year which did include a couple of very nice beach days and most importantly the ability sleep past 3am. However the focus was getting our daughter ready for her sophomore year at Penn State which begins today. My wife and Alex did quite a bit of running around last week which was highlighted by our now traditional final night dinner at The Crabs Claw Inn where Alex worked for the third straight summer. She looked forward all week to munching on King Crab Legs which she claimed would be her last good meal until she comes home for Thanksgiving.

Anyway our fully-loaded van departed at 3am Saturday for the trip to Penn State which was a pleasure with little traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Despite two stops for gas and coffee we arrived in State College in less than 4 ½ hours. We were told move-ins could begin at 10am but on a hunch we went straight to Alex’s dorm complex and within 10 minutes had her room key and began the task of moving in bins and bins of clothes and stuff. Then came the first of several trips to Target and Wal-Mart and when we returned to the dorm it was a different story as the masses had arrived. All in all things went well as we got her room ready…I even managed to assemble a desk chair and organizer…jobs that would have taken the average person about 20 minutes while I needed more than an hour. I’m telling you the pictures in the directions just don’t match up. Her roommate Nicole arrived early in the afternoon and I was happy when her handyman father took care of assembling the futon which I would probably still be working on.

Jane and I went out to a late dinner by ourselves because Alex and her Kappa Delta sisters already had plans for their first night back on campus and those plans did not include us. We did meet for a nice breakfast Sunday and then it was off for some last-minute needs and yet another trip to Wal-Mart and some final touches on the dorm room just around the time a massive thunderstorm hit….a storm we would pretty much follow from Happy Valley all the way home. I was not very happy with the six-hours it took to get home because of rain and traffic but it’s great to know that Alex is at a school and place she loves with great friends. Here’s to a sensational sophomore year….and spot on the Dean’s List!

On an unrelated note, professional soccer player Carolyn Blank will be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans tonight at Modell’s Sporting Goods in Toms River from 5-6pm. The former Toms River East and West Virginia standout is in her first season with Sky Blue FC in New Jersey after playing last year for St. Louis and Atlanta.

Happy Birthday HQ!

2011-08-12T15:37:00.001-04:00

(The next Hometown View will appear Monday, August 22)

This Tuesday will mark the 36th Anniversary of the police headquarters on Oak Avenue that is home to the Toms River Police Department.

Of course on August 16, 1975 it was the Dover Township Police Department and it was a smaller department and smaller town than it is now. The number 36 is not usually anything special to celebrate or commemorate but then again this will not be your typical building anniversary. On that day in 1975 the Police Chief was Richard Clement, who had joined the department in 1946 the day after he was discharged from the US Army Air Corp. Clement watched and listened as Chairman and Master of Ceremonies Tom Kelaher helped dedicate the new police headquarters, a building Rick would work out of until his retirement in 1979 after a 33-year career.

He was a highly-respected law enforcement leader, not only locally but across the globe. During Clement’s tenure he served as president of the Ocean County Chiefs of Police Association, was an executive board member of the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association and was elected to the prestigious position of President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

I mention all of this because next Tuesday at 4pm now Mayor Tom Kelaher will stand on the same Oak Avenue site as Chairman of the Committee to dedicate the township’s police headquarters as The Chief Richard C. Clement Law Enforcement Center. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who was born and raised in Toms River and no matter where his travels took him always referred to TR as his home.

Couple of random notes and thoughts:

“Dayton’s Dream Team” is hosting a benefit luncheon and gift auction at the Forked River House on Sunday, August 28th from noon-4pm. Proceeds will benefit Autism Speaks and the $25 ticket includes a buffet lunch, live entertainment and gift auction tickets. Dayton is the son of Jerry Frulio, a teacher and former baseball coach at Central Regional High School who coached at St. Rose the past four seasons.

The St. Joseph’s Endowment Fund for Catholic Education will honor Timothy E. Ryan at their 14th annual Fall Dinner on Saturday, September 24th at Crystal Point Yacht Club in Point Pleasant. Ryan is the founder and owner of several funeral homes in the area and has been honored on numerous occasions for his charitable endeavors.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

2011-08-12T15:34:00.000-04:00

During a recent string of hot and humid days health officials in New Jersey urged people to take proper precautions to deal with the weather conditions. There was the usual call for staying out of the sun and inside air conditioned buildings and drinking plenty of water. One of the other suggestions was to wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothing and it’s obvious the New Jersey State Police as well as other police departments don’t heed that advice. We were talking the other day about how State Troopers really need a better summer uniform, even if it makes them look a little less intimidating. Have you seen what they have to wear…even on a 100 degree day? It’s something that works well when it’s 50 outside but not when the mercury rises like it does in July & August. I mean the long blue sleeves with neck-tie and navy pants. You can’t tell me its comfortable patrolling in that uniform. Sure you can crank-up the AC while driving but when you’re outside the car your body just has to be as hot as you know what. Look I understand and appreciate the whole honor, duty, fidelity thing but isn’t it likely that wearing that uniform does not allow you to perform at 100% efficiency?

Why couldn’t troopers wear a white shirt with short-sleeves and is a tie really necessary in the summer? Those I know in the State Police say the uniform does carry a certain amount of tradition along with being imposing and yes even intimidating. Supposedly they were modeled after German army uniforms and when you come face to face with a trooper in full uniform and hat you might start to twitch a bit. However in the summer there’s also a pretty good chance he’ll be sweating even worse than you.

By the way it seems to me that generally speaking women do a better job of dressing for hot weather then men…at least when it comes to the workplace.
I’ll never understand the need for men to wear full suits on the hottest days yet there they are in blue, black and grey walking around and often looking worn and wrinkled. If you have to wear a suit at least take off the jacket when you can.

J.R. Smith Golf Classic

2011-08-10T13:11:00.000-04:00

J.R. Smith has spent the past seven years playing in the NBA but well before that he was a star basketball player at Lakewood High School where he would dazzle teammates and opponents with his long-range shooting and highlight-reel dunks. The Denver Nugget standout is returning to Lakewood later this month but you’ll find him on the golf course and not the basketball court. He is hosting his Fifth Annual Golf Classic to benefit the J.R. Smith Youth Foundation on Thursday, August 25th at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. The event will limited to 80 golfers and Smith will be on hand to meet and greet those who play to support his non-profit foundation which was organized to provide opportunities and support for young people through education, sports, the arts and other beneficial activities. The foundation provides scholarships and grants while establishing programs designed to help today’s youth reach their goals. Smith played a couple of seasons for the Piners before transferring to St. Benedict’s Prep as a senior and then turned down the opportunity to attend the University of North Carolina for a career in the NBA.
The 6’6 swingman has averaged 12.5 points per game in his career and spent the past 5 seasons with the Nuggets. For information on the golf outing or the J.R. Smith Youth Foundation you can call (732) 682-6940.

Here is your somewhat daily update on Cincinnati Reds rookie Todd Frazier of Toms River. He was 1-4 last night while playing third base in a 3-2 loss to Colorado. The 25-year old Frazier, who struck out twice, is now hitting .238 in 16 games and 42 at-bats. For those not aware Frazier helped Toms River East American win the 1998 Little League World Series and later had record-setting careers at both Toms River High School South and Rutgers University. His older brother Jeff, who turns 29 today, is having his best stretch of the season for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. Jeff has batted .378 over the last ten games to boost his season average to .213 for the Washington Nationals minor league team.

To Shave Or Not To Shave

2011-08-09T11:26:00.000-04:00

I will admit to being fascinated at times by tattoos and not because I like or even understand them because I don’t. What fascinates me are two things. One, what is that person going to look like when they are much older because I think in many cases it won’t be pretty. Two, can’t it hurt someone in terms of their career because I would imagine quite a few employers don’t want their people all “tatted up.” Of course at the rate we are going maybe in 20 years or so everyone will have these so-called works of art adorned on their bodies so it won’t make a difference.

On a somewhat related note I stumbled across something in the recent edition of Men’s Health. The magazine asked hiring managers and experts in nine different career fields if certain facial-hair choices would play a role in the applicant’s chances of getting a job. The nine categories were food service, teacher, office worker, retail, creative media, white collar, construction, barber and IT.

In all nine a clean-shaven applicant was a plus and it was the same for someone with a short beard. Eight of the nine job categories were okay with someone who has a full goatee or full mustache with only white collar managers against that facial hair. Only 5 gave the thumbs-up to a job seeker with long sideburns and less than half…4 said it was acceptable for a man to have a pencil mustache, full beard or soul patch which is a small patch of hair just above the chin and below the lower lip. While women may find the “5 o’clock shadow” very appealing it probably won’t help you chances of landing a job as the only fields that found it okay were construction, barber and creative media. Chin scruff was even worse, unless you are in creative media or construction and unless you are looking to bang nails forget about a fu Manchu or ZZ top. Of course if you work for yourself none of this really matters but in today’s very competitive job market clean-shaven and smooth just might be the way to go. By the way, according to the magazine women prefer guys with a day’s scruff when it comes to flirting but would rather kiss a guy who just shaved.

Busy Sunday

2011-08-08T10:18:00.000-04:00

Started my Sunday morning yesterday with a brisk 2-mile walk through the borough of Lavallette. My wife and I were certainly not alone as we headed north on Grand Central Avenue for a mile and then south on the boardwalk. More than 800 others were with us for what’s become a nice tradition on the first Sunday of August…the Lavallette Breast Cancer Walk. It’s hosted by The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe which was the starting and finishing point for the walk
and this was the 8th year they have organized the event which benefits the American Cancer Society and other organizations like Community Medical Center’s Brest Cancer Program.

Yesterday’s walk was expected to bring in at least $25,000 which makes the total over $175,000 since the first event. It’s just a nice local effort which brought together so many residents and summer visitors, many of whom are survivors like my wife or have lost loved ones to this dreaded disease. The people at The Music Man did a tremendous job and even gave walkers a cup of ice cream afterwards. I passed…choosing to re-fuel after that 2-mile walk with breakfast on the patio at The Crabs Claw Inn.

Todd Frazier’s biggest day as a major leaguer came at a perfect time for the Toms River resident and Cincinnati Reds rookie. Frazier’s batting average had dropped to .233 following an 0-3 performance on Saturday against the Cubs but things certainly turned around in a hurry yesterday at Wrigley Field. The 25-year old third baseman belted a two-run homer in the 4th inning, his third round tripper in 14 major league games. Then with the Reds trailing 7-6 in the 8th Frazier tied the game with a one-out RBI double and later in the inning scored what turned out to be the winning run. The former Toms River South & Rutgers standout is now batting .265 and I’m sure feeling a lot better this morning.

Ocean County beat their rivals from Monmouth 5-3 Sunday night in the 14th Annual Shore High School All Star Hockey game at the Red Bank Armory. It was just the second time in the last ten years that Ocean came out on top in the game which is presented by Jim Dowd’s Shoot For the Stars Foundation and was a fundraiser for the FoodBank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties. Goalie Eddie Rafferty of Brick and forward Jay Malone of Toms River South were the co-MVP’s for the winning team.

Summer: Good To The Last Drop

2011-08-06T07:07:00.000-04:00

It is really hard to believe that this is the first weekend of August, which in some ways marks the home stretch for summer. Signs that summer may be winding down are evident as back-to-school shopping is well underway and just two weeks from today we’ll be taking our daughter back to Penn State to begin her sophomore year. However it’s not time to moan and groan yet about the end of the best time of year but rather take advantage of what’s left and squeeze every drop of summer while we can.

My wife and I are planning to take part Sunday in the 8th Annual Lavallette Breast Cancer Walk which we first discovered last year while having breakfast at The Crabs Claw Inn. We watched hundreds of people walk by us and late learned it’s an annual two-mile walk held the first Sunday in August to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strikes Against Breast Cancer and local cancer organizations. Registration takes place at The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe on Route 35 North which is also the starting point for the walk at 8:30am.
The cost to walk is $25 and you get a free tee shirt, water bottle and scoop of ice cream when you cross the finish line which is perfect when you consider the theme of the event is “Together, We Can Lick This.” You can register before Sunday at The Music Man between 7am and midnight or on walk day from 8-8:20am and for information you can call (732) 854-2779.

Jim Dowd’s hockey-playing days are over, at least professionally but the former NHL player continues to host a summer game to benefit local organizations and individuals. Dowd’s “Shoot for the Stars Foundation” will hold its 14th Annual Shore High School All Star game Sunday night at the Red Bank Armory starting at 5:30. The game features many of the shore’s top players, including recent graduates Patrick Kearns of Brick and Jay Malone of Toms River South. They will lace up the skates for the Ocean County squad that has lost 8 of the last 9 meetings against Monmouth County’s best. Regardless of who prevails Sunday the big winner will be the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties as all proceeds will go to that organization. Dowd is a former Brick High School star who played for 10 NHL teams during a 17-year career which was highlighted by his game-winning goal during the 1995 Stanley Cup finals which helped the Devils win their first-ever cup. He now lives in Point Pleasant with his wife and children and has been very active on behalf of charitable causes.

Out Of The Doghouse

2011-08-04T11:17:00.002-04:00

Following an incredible athletic career at Southern Regional High School Glenn Carson has had his share of ups and downs at Penn State but it looks like things are certainly heading in the right direction for the former Ram All-State linebacker and state wrestling champ. Carson got into the doghouse of legendary football coach Joe Paterno during the summer before his freshman year and returned to his home in Manahawkin before enrolling in January of 2010. As a freshman last season he played in every game, mostly on special teams but he also saw action at linebacker.

But it’s what’s happened from the end of last season to now that has drawn the praise of Penn State coaches. Carson stood out during winter workouts and capped a great spring practice period by making the most tackles in the Blue-White game
and by all accounts has continued those positives through the summer. The Nittany Lions begin practice today with Carson listed as the #2 inside linebacker right behind Michael Mauti and the 6’3, 240 pounder is expected to be a major contributor to the defense. Majoring in advertising and public relations, Carson has done very well in the classroom and is a potential Academic All-Big Ten candidate. Penn State opens its season at home on September 3rd against Indiana State.

If the polls are correct it could be tough seasons for the football teams at Rutgers and Monmouth University. The Scarlet Knights, who begin practice tomorrow, have been picked to finish last in the Big East according to a media poll released this week. Rutgers was 4-8 last season and finished in the conference basement and most don’t expect much better this fall. Monmouth is coming off a disappointing 3-8 season and when the Northeast Conference released its preseason coaches’ poll Wednesday the Hawks were ranked 6th among the nine teams. Monmouth opens practice Sunday in preparation for their season opener on September 3rd at home against Lehigh. All Hawks games can be heard on WOBM AM again this season.

Toms River’s Todd Frazier hit his second major league home run in four days last night but it was not enough as the Cincinnati Reds lost in Houston 5-4. Frazier started at third base and was 1-2 with the solo blast before being replaced by a pinch-hitter in the 9th. The former Toms River South standout is batting .280 and figures to stick with the Reds for a while now that Scott Rolen will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks following shoulder surgery.

Catching Up From A Long Weekend

2011-08-03T10:50:00.001-04:00

(There was no Hometown View on Monday, 8/1 or Tuesday, 8/2)

Random notes and thoughts following a long weekend in which I made my first-ever visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Saratoga Racetrack:

As a follow up to a story I did last week, 20 students, five teachers and an assistant principal from Toms River High School East have arrived in California for tomorrow’s Hurley Walk the Walk National Championship. The world’s largest high school fashion competition is run in conjunction with the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach and High School East will battle four other schools for the $25,000 first prize. The high-energy fashion show can be viewed tomorrow beginning at 7pm on TV21 for those of you who get the Toms River TV Channel on Comcast or you can watch on line at www.hurley.com/wtw. Online voting takes place immediately following the last school’s performance and it would be great to see many support the efforts of Toms River East. Good luck to the Raiders!

The Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce is holding their 18th Annual Golf Outing & Networking Dinner on Monday, August 15th at Pine Barrens in Jackson. Always a great outing, you can call (732) 349-0220 for more information and to register to play. Also, the Brick chapter of UNICO National will hold their 3rd Annual Golf Outing at Woodlake County Club on Monday, August 22nd to raise money for their scholarship program and other charities.
For information on that event you can call Anthony at (732) 779-1567.

So I mentioned in my opening that I’m just back from a little junket to New York. It was part of an annual “Bucket List” adventure that started four years ago with a group of longtime friends who attended Ocean County College together in the mid-70’s. After baseball trips to Chicago, Boston and spring training in Florida we did a 40-hour adventure by bus that included quick stops in Saratoga, Cooperstown and a Mets game at Citifield. Not nearly enough time but the company was great with friends coming from Kansas City and Mississippi to join in. The Saratoga part of the itinerary was a tribute to Joe “The Horse” Perrone, one of the original “bucket listers” who passed away unexpectedly this spring. There was a toast or two to Joe who may be gone but will never be forgotten.

Random Thoughts On A Summer Friday

2011-07-29T15:18:00.001-04:00

Random thoughts and notes heading into the final weekend of July:

The drowning death this week of a 9-year old Morris County girl in a hotel pool while on vacation in Seaside Heights is a stark reminder in just a matter of minutes a tragedy like this can occur. What makes it so shocking is that girl’s mother was at the pool and did not even realize the child had sunk to the bottom.

In recent years women have made progress when it comes to careers in law enforcement and further proof of that will come Monday morning when Karin DiMichele is sworn in as the Chief of Police in Berkeley Township. The 40-year old will not only be the first female police chief in township history but the first to hold the spot of “top cop” with any police department in Ocean County. A lifelong Berkeley resident and Central Regional High School graduate, DiMichele will be one of just 5 women to hold the rank of police chief in New Jersey when she succeeds the retired John Weinlein. Her husband Thomas is a police officer in Toms River and the couple has twin 6-year old daughters.

Sunday’s running of the $1 million Resorts Casino-Hotel Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park may not have the type of anticipation of recent years but it still brings together two of the three Triple Crown winners. “Shackleford”, winner of the Preakness Stakes is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the field of 8 while Belmont Stakes winner “Ruler On Ice” is co-third choice at 4-1. Ruler On Ice is based at Monmouth Park as is stable mate “Pants On Fire”, who is also 4-1…both horses are trained by Kelly Breen of Farmingdale. Sunday’s race will be televised live during a one-hour broadcast on ABC from 5-6pm.

Toms River’s Todd Frazier made his third start with the Cincinnati Reds Thursday, going 1-3 with a double and two runs scored in a loss to the Mets. The 25-year old has played both third and first base since being called up from the minor leagues a week ago and is looking more and more comfortable at the plate with each opportunity. The big question is how long he’ll stay with the Reds as he’s up because of an injury to Scott Rolen. Bottom line is this…if Todd hits they’ll find a place for him.

Toms River East Heads West

2011-07-28T09:55:00.001-04:00

Every once in a while I get to mention something that is just plain cool and exciting and this falls into that category:

For the second straight year Toms River High School East is heading to California to compete in the Hurley Walk the Walk National Championship, the world’s largest high school fashion competition. It will take place next Thursday in Huntington Beach at the U.S. Open of Surfing with Toms River East to battle Kellam of Virginia Beach, Grossmont of San Diego, Peterborough from Ontario, Canada and defending champion Corona del Mar of Southern California in the finals with the winner to bring home $25,000 to their school.

Toms River East qualified for the finals based on their performance during the preliminary round where competing schools created and submitted online videos that were judged by Hurley executives and voted upon online. For the last two months 20 students and 5 teachers have been creating a 5-minute runway performance complete with musical soundtrack, choreography, props and fashion design which will be featured during the event next week. In doing some research on the event I have seen a few comments describing it as “Friday Night Lights” meets “Project Runway” and some 10,000 people are expected to witness the finals. Hurley, which is a youth lifestyle brand connected with surfing, skate and music pays all major expenses including airfare, hotel accommodations and even some meals. Assistant Principal Pat Thomas, 5 teachers, including Diane Morrissey and 20 students will leave next Tuesday for a “once in a lifetime experiences” that’s actually happening for the second straight year.

For those of you in the Toms River area that get TV21, the channel will stream footage of the Walk the Walk finals live on Thursday, August 4th beginning at 7pm our time and it can also be viewed at www.hurley.com/wtw. Once the competition is over you can vote for Toms River East on that site. Here’s wishing the students all the best as what they’ve done is truly worth recognizing.

On an unrelated note the new football coach at Lakewood High School is a former Piner who has spent the last six years as an assistant. L.J. Clark succeeds Warren Wolf who retired last month after serving as Lakewood coach for one season following 51 years at Brick.

A Night At The Ballpark

2011-07-27T18:28:00.001-04:00

The success of the Lakewood BlueClaws is truly amazing and shows no signs of slowing down in their 11th season. Last night our shore group of radio stations occupied a good portion of the third base picnic area during our annual family outing. On a perfect July evening we enjoyed baseball and burgers and each other’s company and of course we were not alone. Just over 6,800 others decided to do the same thing on a Tuesday night and at this time of year as long as the weather cooperates FirstEnergy Park is usually pretty filled up. Lakewood has led the 14-team South Atlantic League in attendance in each of their first 10 years and they’re on their way to making it a perfect 11 for 11. The BlueClaws have drawn 284,239 fans through 48 dates, averaging just over 5900 per game which is about 200 fans more per game than the second-place Greensboro Grasshoppers. The BlueClaws numbers are made more impressive by the fact that the weather has not exactly been great for them this season with five rainouts and a handful of games played in extreme heat.

On the field the BlueClaws have won three South Atlantic League championships
in the last five years and that includes back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. It did not look like this team had any chance of making it a “three peat” as they got off to a slow start and have had trouble scoring runs. Lakewood finished last in the Northern Division’s first half race and probably the only way they can make the playoffs is to win the second half. With last night’s 4-3 victory over Augusta the BlueClaws moved into second place and are just two games back of Hickory so they remain very much alive in the playoff race.

Of course to most of those at last night’s game the BlueClaws are not just a baseball team but an experience and it’s what’s made the Class A affiliate of the Phillies such a great success story. From little kids throwing out opening pitches, to eyeball races and special promotions a night at FirstEnergy Park is chock full of events. While some are watching Jim Murphy at-bats others are watching their children play in the Kids Zone or waiting in line for funnel cake. And they keep coming…night after night and season after season.

The Lakewood BlueClaws are no longer new…but they are always relevant and looking for new ideas that make a night at the ballpark a truly great part of summer at the Jersey Shore.

Todd Frazier Back In The Big Leagues

2011-07-26T11:41:00.002-04:00

(Note: There was no Hometown View on Monday, July 25)

It’s been an exciting few days for Toms River’s Todd Frazier, who was called up by the Cincinnati Reds on Friday and made his second major league start Monday night against the Mets at Great American Ballpark. The 25-year old former Toms River South and Rutgers University standout was at first base last night and went 1-4, beating out an infield single against Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Frazier
started at third base Saturday for the Reds and delivered a three-run double in a win over the Braves…just missing a grand slam. Since coming up this weekend he is 3-9 in his second major league stint of the season and with a couple of regulars suffering from injuries it looks like Frazier will get more opportunities to contribute. He has also been mentioned as a player the Reds could use in a trade for a pitcher before the July 31st deadline.

Football fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that there is labor peace and it’s back to business in the NFL. This will be a wild week or two with training camps opening and teams deciding what to do with their free agent players as well as the hundreds of others that are now available. As to which side prevailed in the long, drawn-out labor dispute…does it really matter? Not to me and most fans who are just happy that the game has returned.

Will the Holbrook Little League of Jackson be the latest from Ocean County to advance to Bristol, Connecticut and possibly even Williamsport, Pennsylvania? We will find out beginning later this week when the District 18 and Section 3 champs begin play in the New Jersey State Tournament in Monroe Township. Holbrook will play Livingston American Friday night at 8pm following a game between Paramus and Erial. The survivor in the double-elimination tournament represents New Jersey in the Mid-Atlantic Regional’s next month in Bristol.
This is the first trip ever for the Holbrook 12-year olds to the state tournament.

We have terrific neighbors and last night several of them surprised my wife Jane and me by joining us for dinner at The Crab’s Claw Inn in Lavallette. We were planning on a quiet 30th anniversary dinner before basically being hijacked and it turned out to be a very enjoyable evening with our daughter Alex waiting on us. Food and service were both great as are our neighbors.

32 Years At WOBM

2011-07-22T16:08:00.000-04:00

A little of this and a little of that on the hottest day of the year!

I’m not exactly sure of the date but I believe tomorrow is my 32nd anniversary at WOBM. Things certainly have changed from that July day when I walked into the Bayville building as a 23-year old expecting this would be a mere pit stop on my way to fame and fortune. Obviously my crew did not do a great job because I’m still stuck on pit row but I guess the good news is my car is still running. Like anything else there have been highs and lows, positives and negatives, good times and bad. I’ve seen hundreds of people come and go…some I was glad to say good bye to and others whose departure was a sad occasion. I’ve gone through ownership changes, including one right now but my key still gets me in the building and my office each day. Most importantly, through it all I still really like what I do and maybe, just maybe I’ll be here for year #33 next July.

The Holbrook Little League All-Stars have reached the championship round of the Section 3 Tournament in Tinton Falls. The 12-year olds from Jackson beat North Howell 5-1 Thursday night behind the four-hit pitching effort of Andrew Trent.
Holbrook, who won their first District 18 title just last week move into the championship game Saturday night against the winner of tonight’s loser’s bracket final between North Howell and Woodbridge American. Should Holbrook win the sectional they would go on to the state tournament in Monroe Township.

The BlueClaws are in the midst of a nice home stand and tomorrow night they will honor fallen Lakewood police officer Christopher Matlosz and host a fundraiser in his name. The 27-year old Matlosz was killed in the line of duty in January and before tomorrow night’s 7:05 game against Augusta he will be honored during a pre-game ceremony plus BlueClaws players will wear Lakewood Police Department hats during the game. In addition $3 from every ticket sold will go to “Holding Onto Hope,” a foundation set up by Matlosz’s fiancée Kelly Walsifer. Special tee-shirts will also be sold at the game.

Excessive Snow Or Excessive Heat?

2011-07-21T10:51:00.003-04:00

Before you step outside today I would like you to flash back to December 26, the day after Christmas. Snow began falling in our area during the late morning hours and by the afternoon we were in the midst of a blizzard that would dump as much as 30 inches in some parts. Some were stranded for days waiting for their streets to be plowed and for the better part of a week others were greatly inconvenienced by the impact of the snowstorm. At that time we promised not to complain ever again about hot weather in the summer. (A listener photo from Point Pleasant following that storm is posted above)

I remind you of this nearly 7 months later as we deal with an official heat wave that could bring us triple digit numbers over the next 48 hours or so. There will be no way to escape the heat outside and if you’re heading to the beach you need to pray for a breeze coming off the ocean. I’m sure our power supplies will be pushed, air conditioners will break, cars will overheat and patience will be tested. But no matter what you won’t have to bundle up and go outside for hours digging out your car and clearing your driveway. I for one will take the heat.

By the way there are some common sense ways to deal with the hot weather, including wearing light color and loose fitting clothing. Drink plenty of water, don’t push yourself (especially during the middle of the day) and keep the AC running. Speaking of running, even if you’re in good shape going for a 5-mile run in the afternoon hours is just plain stupid. Head out early in the morning or later at night if you must…same advice for any sports teams. Finally remember December 26th because the effects of this heat wave will disappear much quicker than it took for the snow to melt.

Couple of quick hitters:

Jay Price is the new football coach at Manasquan High School as he was hired this week to replace Pete Cahill, who gave up the position to become a Vice Principal. Price, who played for the Warriors under the late Vic Kubu, has been a longtime defensive assistant coach under both Kubu & Cahill.

A pair of former Ocean County High School football standouts now at Monmouth University have been named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Northeast Conference teams. Among the six Hawks selected to the squad were junior offensive lineman Mike Murphy out of Toms River East and Manchester sophomore defensive tackle Jimmy Lawson.

Lunch Dilemma

2011-07-20T11:48:00.000-04:00

I guess we all have quirks when it comes to food but I am starting to get the feeling that mine when it deals with lunch might separate me from many of my co-workers. At least a few times a week there will be discussion in the office about what to do for lunch, which we might get delivered or have someone run out to pick up. I never leave the office for lunch and often will settle for a yogurt or something small. However when the discussion centers around what to do I always respond with “you tell me where you’re going and I’ll find something.” That something though has to be cold because I simply can’t understand how anyone can eat a hot meal for lunch, especially in the summer. Things like Chinese food or soup or any kind of full meal just don’t work. As a matter of fact when it comes to soup I have a 50-degree rule…if it’s over 50 outside than soup is not coming inside. Give me a sandwich, wrap, Panini…even a salad but if it’s hot then it’s got to wait for dinner. Of course there is one exception…pizza is good 24/7.

Yesterday we got into this discussion in which I got the impression that everyone else thought I was weird because just about every food item that was brought up I rejected before I finally settled for a tuna fish sandwich. By the way part of why they all seem to think I’m wacked has to do with the fact I get up by 3am so lunch for me would be like dinner time for many. As a matter of fact some of my early-morning co-workers think nothing of eating lunch or dinner items in the AM because of their body clocks. Just does not work for me, regardless of when I get up. If you’re getting the sense this is a real “soft” topic for the day…you’re right.

Couple of totally unrelated notes:

Fresh off its District 18 championship the Holbrook Little League All-Stars scored four runs in the 6th inning and beat Nottingham 5-2 in their Section 3 Tournament opener Tuesday in Tinton Falls. Doubles by Tyler Babin and Dan Barker keyed the comeback for Holbrook, who will next play North Howell Thursday night.

Congratulations to Jim Hauenstein, who last night was named an Assistant Superintendent in the Toms River Regional School District. Hauenstein has been the principal at Toms River High School North and by all accounts has done a terrific job in the district’s largest high school. I have worked with him on several projects and he is always been very cooperative and usually the first to respond.
I’m sure he will be a great asset to Superintendent Frank Roselli in his new position.

Swimming Without A Lifeguard

2011-07-19T11:38:00.001-04:00

It was not the ideal night for a lifeguard tournament with strong winds and rather cold water but it did not hurt the performance of the beach patrol from Surf City as they claimed the annual Seaside Park Lifeguard Tournament. Captain Mark DiLeo led his group past nine others as Surf City finished with 45 points, ten more than runner-up and host Seaside Park. Defending champion Ortley Beach had to settle for a third place finish and Island Beach came in fourth. The event was sponsored by Seaside Park Service Center, Surf Taco, B&B Department Store and the Sawmill Café. As I usually do I served as a lane judge working with the group from my home beach Seaside Park who had to be very pleased with their second-place finish. All in all a good night of competition and camaraderie by men and women who know and respect the ocean.

It was interesting to me that even while the lifeguard tournament was being held there were several after-hours swimmers nearby as hot weather has been and will result in many staying late on the beach this week. An article in today’s Asbury Park Press addresses the dilemma this presents for towns and their lifeguards as in most cases tragedies result when beaches are not protected. Especially on hot weekends it’s not unusual to see hundreds of people in the ocean before and after lifeguards leave for the day and in most cases we are talking about bathers who don’t swim well and know little about rip currents and water conditions. While signs and even announcements may tell them they are swimming at their own risk
to them it’s a small price to pay for a cool dip on a hot day. The dilemma is whether or not resort towns have an obligation to take extra measures to protect these swimmers by keeping some lifeguards on duty, especially if water conditions are rough and dangerous. Of course like most everything else it all comes down to money and budgets….that is until a drowning takes place.

The Agony Of Defeat

2011-07-18T11:02:00.001-04:00

Note: There was no Hometown View on Friday, July 15.

It was certainly not the script that was expected to be written, at least not after the dramatic way in which the United States reached the final of the Women’s World Cup in Germany. However on Sunday a very resilient group of Japanese women twice battled back from one goal deficits and then stunned the U.S. in penalty kicks to become the first Asian team to win the World Cup. Even more remarkable was that it was the first time Japan had beaten the American women in 26 tries. Much like the Saints winning the Super Bowl a couple of years ago was great for the city of New Orleans, the victory is meaningful to a country recovering from the tragedy of that earthquake and tsunami months ago.

Certainly for some of those in Point Pleasant & Manasquan the loss is even tougher to accept. That’s because the captain of the U.S. team and America’s premier “soccer mom” in 36-year old Christie Rampone, a former high school star at Point Boro and now resident of the community just north . Rampone is not done yet wearing the red, white and blue as she’ll stay with the team through next summer’s Olympics in London before retiring.

Final thought on this event and to me one of the reason’s soccer is tough for most traditional sports fans to accept in this country. How can you settle the biggest prize in the sport on penalty kicks? Can you imagine a home run derby to decide the 7th game of the World Series, or a free-throw contest in the NBA Finals. When it comes to THE final game for the biggest prize settling it on PK’s is lame.

Congratulations to the Holbrook Little League as they beat Brick 7-4 Sunday to claim the District 18 Little League Championship and will represent the district in the sectionals which start this week. Holbrook becomes the latest Ocean County team with dreams of Williamsport, Pennsylvania in late August.

Over the weekend it was announced that WOBM AM will be the radio home for Monmouth University Men’s Basketball beginning this winter. The school and Millennium Radio reached agreement on a three-year contract to broadcast all the Hawks games as part of our Shore Sports Network. First-year head coach King Rice said the radio deal will help promote not only the basketball program and athletics department but the University was well. WOBM AM is getting ready for its third season of Monmouth football so know we have the Hawks two major programs on our station. Eddy Occhipinti and our own Matt Harmon will be the voices of Hawks basketball…they also handle the football broadcasts.

An "Honor" For The Shore

2011-07-14T09:25:00.001-04:00

GQ magazine is out with its list of the 40 worst-dressed cities in America and included in that list is a place that’s not a city but very much close to home. Coming in at #19 is Jersey Shore which is tucked in between San Francisco and Austin, Texas. Actually the reference is to the MTV show and the fashion lifestyle that has been displayed by DJ Pauly D, Vinny, Ronnie and The Situation. Of course you don’t have to watch the show or even go to Seaside Heights to see what the magazine editors are talking about because it’s evident in a good part of New Jersey. I do love this part…”your shorts are past your ankles, which makes them well, pants. Except they got enough rhinestones on them to make them, well a tiara. Except you’re not a 4-year old girl playing princess, you’re a 24-year guy named Vito who just did 70 diamond-hand pushups in the bathroom of da club.”
Come on…you have to love this. By the way Asbury Park was #33…made the list because of the Springsteen poor fashion influence.

It was not a tremendous ratings success and there’s a pretty good chance you never watched it. However I for one will be sorry to say goodbye to “Friday Night Lights” which airs its final episode tomorrow night on NBC. It was a show based on a movie which was based on a book and really captured the grip high school football has on the state of Texas. Its characters all had flaws which was part of why the show was so good although it did tend to go a bit too far at times. Regardless it’s been a fixture in my home and I’m sorry to see Coach Eric Taylor, his family and players leave the football field for good.

Speaking of which it will be “Thursday Night Lights” tonight at Toms River High School North. That’s the site of the U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic with Ocean County taking on Monmouth County in the 34th annual summer all star football game. Lacey and Brick Memorial, who both won division titles last fall, have a combined 15 players on the Ocean County roster including recently-graduated Lions Craig Cicardo, Jake Dabal and Jared Molzon and former Mustangs like Will Wowkanyan and Mike Acquaviva. Game time is 7pm and an hour before that Toms River North will face Howell in the finals of 7-on-7 Shore Conference tournament. Tonight’s game will be broadcast on the Shore Sports Network’s 105.7FM with Matt Harmon, Ed Sarluca and I calling the action.

10 Beach Commandments

2011-07-12T09:26:00.001-04:00

I mentioned yesterday that it might be time for me to bring out my rules of beach etiquette and today is indeed the day. My 10 beach commandments really should be posted throughout the Jersey Shore and while much of this is common sense we know there is a genuine lack of that everywhere and the white sands are no exception. Locals and visitors alike should live by my beach commandments and feel free to quote me on these:

1. This is not Coney Island or Jones Beach in New York so seek space between yourself and those nearby. Its one thing to “love thy neighbor”…it’s another to sit right on top of them.
2. I’m an expert on the tides and plan accordingly. If you don’t bother to check
out the times of high and low tide then be advised there’s a good chance you
are getting wiped out and that is not the time for you to drag you wet blanket right on top of me.
3. The beach is certainly a family place but when your unattended children
walk over my blanket and knock down by cup of coffee can you do more than just smile?
4. That long lounge chair that looks great in your backyard really looks lame and stupid on the beach.
5. Wear the bathing suit that fits your body. This is for both men and women
as some obviously don’t have mirrors in their home or rental. There is a reason why half your body is hanging out so wear a bathing suit in which you can at least tuck it in.
6. I’ve never been able to figure out the digging thing, especially with fathers and sons. However if you want to spend hours digging holes can you at least fill them in when you leave so nobody falls in one.
7. Please place disposable diapers in a bag and then throw them in the garbage promptly.
8. Don’t argue with the lifeguards…they probably know the water conditions just a bit better than you. Plus when they do jump in and rescue you don’t lie to them and say you’re a great swimmer and you just wanted to get a better look at the shoreline from far away.
9. For some reason guys who never play football bring them to the beach and insist on tossing them around in the middle of big crowds…I think they feel it’s attractive to women. Well unless your last name is Manning try and do this in open space.
10. If these rules don’t meet with your approval then please send your next beach day at Coney Island or Jones Beach…you’ll be right at home.

A Spectacular Weekend

2011-07-11T11:15:00.001-04:00

A little of this and a little of that after a spectacular beach weekend at the Jersey Shore:

It was a simply magnificent weekend after quite a bit of rain Friday night for most of us. The ocean was quite rough on Saturday with dangerous rip tides which kept lifeguards quite busy. However things quieted down by Sunday which was as nice a beach day as we’ve had all summer with ideal water conditions as well. My daughter and I went over to our favorite spot in Seaside Park very early and within an hour of so had a group sit no more than 5 feet away from us when there was plenty of room. I bit my tongue and did not say anything but later moved…I must be getting soft in my old age. I think later this week we’ll bring back my beach rules reminder.

While you might not have World Cup fever you have to admit that the way the U.S. women beat Brazil Sunday was nothing short of miraculous. Playing shorthanded for a good part of the game they scored in the final moments of injury time on a great play to send the game to penalty kicks where the Americans prevailed 5-3. Next up is a semifinal date with France on Wednesday. The captain of the U.S. team is 36-year old Christie Rampone, a former Point Pleasant Borough and Monmouth University standout who now lives in Manasquan.

Brick and Toms River American won a pair of games in the District 18 Little League Tournament over the weekend and have put themselves in the best position to represent the Ocean County area on the road to Williamsport. In the semifinals yesterday, Brick topped Holbrook 13-5 and Toms River American beat Jackson 11-3 and the two winners will face one another tomorrow night in Berkeley. Holbrook and Jackson are still alive in the tournament and will also play tomorrow night with the loser bowing out of the tournament. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday.

Don’t you have to believe the guy who caught the Derek Jeter home run and 3,000th hit baseball Saturday is now having second thoughts? 23-year old Christian Lopez traded in the ball for season tickets for the rest of the year and some autographed items and said asking for money never entered his mind. However now that he’s probably been told the ball was worth at least $250,000 and maybe a lot more you have to wonder.

A New Name

2011-07-08T10:17:00.000-04:00

It is no longer the Poland Spring Arena that occupies the western part of the Toms River High School North campus. No they are not doing anything to the building with the exception of some signage to indicate a name change. That’s because the Toms River Regional School District has sold the naming rights of the arena to the Pine Belt Auto Group. The five-year, $500,000 agreement will help fund technology improvements for all students in the district. Pine Belt officials expressed excitement over the partnership, saying their business values education and the community and this allows them to be involved in both. The newly-named Pine Belt Arena opened in June of 2003 and while used by Toms River North students on a daily basis is also home to sporting events, concerts, shows and more,
including the WOBM Christmas Classic basketball tournament.

Recently-retired football coach Warren Wolf will throw out the first pitch at tonight’s Lakewood BlueClaws game. Wolf, a diehard Chicago Cubs fan, announced a couple of weeks ago that he would not return for a second season as football coach at Lakewood High School. Of course he is best known for the 51 years he walked the sidelines at Brick Township High School.

Practice begins tomorrow for the U.S. Army All Shore Gridiron Classic with the 34th annual meeting between Ocean and Monmouth County football players set for this coming Thursday night at Toms River North. The Ocean County team will practice at Lacey High School while the Monmouth County All-Stars will work at Rumson Fair-Haven. The teams will work out on a daily basis through Wednesday.

Former Toms River South soccer standout Sheree Gray made her debut with the Sky Blue FC this week in Philadelphia and tomorrow night will play her first home game for the Women’s Professional Soccer League team from New Jersey. Gray, who led the South Indians to a state championship moved on to Penn State University where she graduated in 2009 after a solid career. She has played for various U.S. National teams and was training with Sky Blue before they signed her late last week. The team also includes former Toms River East and West Virginia standout Carolyn Blank. Gray and Blank will be in action tomorrow night at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University when they host magicJack SC.

In Defense Of Seaside Heights

2011-07-07T11:56:00.001-04:00

Having pretty much grown up in Seaside Heights I admit to always being a bit sensitive over the way the town is often portrayed although it is certainly very much different from the place I called home from the time I was in 6th grade until my mid 20’s. As is usually the case Seaside Heights only gets headlines when something bad or controversial takes place with the latest being the flurry of fights after the 4th of July fireworks that led to police chief Thomas Boyd shutting down the boardwalk. 62 people, including three juveniles were arrested in connection with those fights which brought in neighboring police departments to assist the borough’s force.

Seaside Heights is a place that certainly has had its share of problems when it comes to rowdy behavior and it’s resulted in a less than favorable perception of the resort town, especially among those of us who live in the area. While people in other parts of this state and others might tend to view it as a beach town with plenty of bars and good times, locals think of it more as a sleazy place that they avoid in the summer. In truth it’s probably a little of both. Having worked for my father on the boardwalk for many years when I was younger I certainly witnessed my share of incidents. Even then the spring and early part of summer was always a tough time with mostly teen-agers and young people filling the area. However once you got past the 4th of July the number of strollers would increase as families made their way down the boardwalk. I’m told that is still true today although clearly the makeup of visitors is not the same as it was in the 60’s, 70’s and even 80’s.

Some will want to blame all of the problems on borough officials but I’m not among them. Seaside Heights attempts to do all it can to draw families but frankly they are a victim of changing times and location. For many the one-mile long town is the closest one that offers the good times they are seeking. Unfortunately their definition of a good time often involves alcohol and when you are on a packed boardwalk that can be a bad combination. I do think the rolling out the red carpet for the TV show “Jersey Shore” has been short-sighted by some officials. It may have put a few extra bucks in some pockets but has done nothing for the town’s image although it certainly has made Seaside Heights better known around the country.

Seaside Heights still has a lot to offer with clean beaches, an entertaining boardwalk, amusement rides, a water park and an array of food that will challenge any diet. Those same features also draw those you wish would stay home.

The Casey Anthony Verdict

2011-07-06T10:18:00.001-04:00

It was like a flashback to October 3, 1995. There I was yesterday afternoon at 2:15 with five others packed into my small office all glued to CNN awaiting the verdict in the trial of Casey Anthony. I have to admit that I paid little attention to the trial in Orlando, Florida which many had followed like a daily soap opera. However as things heated-up the last few days I had more than a casual interest in the verdict as a jury of seven women and five men decided if the 25-year old Anthony killed her two-year old daughter Caylee just over three years ago.

Moments before the decision was read there were various comments made from those gathered in my office watching the proceedings from Courtroom 23. All of them had to do with the foregone conclusion that Anthony was guilty and would likely face the death penalty. Nobody seemed to feel anything but hatred for a woman who has been portrayed as someone who wanted to be able to party hard and not worry about the burdens of motherhood. The fact that she was caught in numerous lies during the trial made it seem like a slam-dunk for the prosecution.

However just before the verdict was read I did think back to nearly 16 years ago when about 30 of us packed our news room here at WOBM to watch what was going on in a Los Angeles courtroom. After just four hours of deliberations, the more than four-month murder trial of former football star O.J SIMPSON was about to end. All but one of us who were in the room that day expected that Simpson would be found guilty of murdering his ex-wife and her friend. There was really little doubt and the fact the jury needed only four hours to reach a decision seemed to be the clincher. Well we know what happened that day and to many 16 years later history has repeated itself.

It would be foolish really for any one of us to claim we know what really happened and it’s hard to be critical of the jury in Florida because they reached a unanimous verdict in a rather short time. Remember that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution and there is that “beyond a reasonable doubt” thing which is pretty powerful. Bottom line is like with OJ before it would appear the prosecution was not able to overcome that.

Of course if Casey Anthony did not murder her daughter than that would mean a child killer is still free. I guess they’ll find that person around the same time they come up with who killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

Back From A Long Weekend

2011-07-05T09:57:00.001-04:00

A little of this and a little of that after a long holiday weekend for many which featured one spectacular day, one lousy day and one pretty good day. Stealing from the song by Meat Loaf, “two out of three ain’t bad.”

The lousy day was Sunday and it might have featured some of the most intense lightning strikes and torrential rain I have ever witnessed but depending on where you live it was not a big deal. We were at a friend’s house on Dayton Avenue in Toms River for a barbeque that was obviously moved inside. However outside the water ran down the street live a river and lightning bolts made for some anxious moments. Some with homes in low levels experienced some real problems with flooded basements and other related problems.

The weather did clear yesterday although frankly the beach brought a mixed bag.
High tide late in the morning was indeed very high and the 2nd Avenue beach in Seaside Park was covered with salps which are similar to jelly fish in appearance but are not. While they don’t sting or pose any apparent threat they are pretty gross in the water and on the sand. It just wasn’t a day for swimming and it was pretty hot on the beach so by noon we bailed. Quite a contrast from Saturday when we enjoyed 7 plus hours on a glorious beach day.

The 8,000 plus fans who attended last night’s BlueClaws game at FirstEnergy Park got a bonus. During the day the BlueClaws announced that Phillies reliever Brad Lidge would make his first appearance of the season and start for Lakewood. Lidge gave up a couple of hits but pitched a scoreless first inning as he rehabs from rotator cuff problems that have sidelined him all season…he could see action for the BlueClaws later in the weekend.

Manchester, Toms River East National and Toms River National made it through pool play with perfect 4-0 records in the District 18 Little League Tournament which has now reached the quarterfinal round. Those single-elimination games will be played Friday and also include Brick, Holbrook, Jackson, Lakewood and Toms River American. The winner of the District tournament heads to the sectionals later this month on the Road to Williamsport.

Once again the Borough of Beachwood did an outstanding job in hosting the annual “Fireworks on the Toms River” extravaganza. Kudos to all for doing their part in what is a great culmination to America’s birthday.

Honors & Change

2011-07-01T11:50:00.000-04:00

One of the shore’s storied high school football programs will have a new head coach this fall. Pete Cahill will not return for a fifth season at Manasquan after being named a Vice Principal at the high school earlier this week by the Board of Education. Cahill told me yesterday that he always figured he would return to administration and that now was the right time. He has been part of the coaching staff since 1985 except for a couple of years about a decade ago when he was a Vice Principal. He then returned to teaching and football as an assistant to Vic Kubu and then took over as head coach after Kubu lost his battle with cancer prior to the 2007 season. In Cahill’s four years the Big Blue Warriors went 34-11, won three division titles and Central Jersey Group 2 crown. There seems little doubt his replacement will come from the current coaching staff which includes offensive coordinator Rich Read and defensive assistant Jay Price.

Former Ocean County College Athletic Director John Stauff was recently inducted into the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators Hall of Fame. Stauff was one of four inductees during the organization’s annual convention in Orlando, Florida. The former dean of health, physical education and athletics started at OCC in 1966 and stayed there until his retirement in 2001
and was among the first class of inductees into the Alumni Association’s Athletic Hall of Fame at the college. Stauff was largely responsible for the establishment of the WOBM Christmas Classic in 1984 as it was hosted by OCC before moving to the Poland Spring Arena. He and his wife Regina now live in Florida.

The Lakewood BlueClaws are holding a “Nine & Dine” Golf Outing to benefit BlueClaws Charities on Tuesday, July 19th at Woodlake Country Club in Lakewood. The day will feature a nine hole scramble golf outing, a meet and greet with BlueClaws players on the course and a post-golf reception. BlueClaws charities contributed more than $150,000 to area organizations and non-profits in 2010. For information on the outing you can call the BlueClaws at (732) 901-7000, extension 188.

I hope you enjoy a safe holiday weekend!!!!

F'ing Shame

2011-06-30T13:20:00.000-04:00

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!!!!!!!!!!!

U.S. Army All Shore Gridiron Classic

2011-06-29T10:01:00.001-04:00

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.

Beachwood Fireworks

2011-06-28T09:17:00.000-04:00

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 Before The 4th

2011-06-27T12:59:00.000-04:00

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.

Bob Levy Honored By NJBA

2011-06-23T09:39:00.001-04:00

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.

Beneath The Dune

2011-06-21T09:52:00.002-04:00

(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.

The Silver Fox Steps Down

2011-06-20T11:04:00.001-04:00

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

2011-06-20T11:04:00.000-04:00

Weiner's Rise & Fall

2011-06-17T12:18:00.001-04:00

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.

School's Out For Summer

2011-06-16T16:03:00.000-04:00

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.

Ocean County College's Grand Slam

2011-06-15T10:23:00.000-04:00

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.

Charity Begins At Home

2011-06-14T09:52:00.001-04:00

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.

Busy Weekend

2011-06-13T11:18:00.000-04:00

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.

Congratulations Patrick Kearns

2011-06-10T15:29:00.002-04:00

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.

Student Of The Week Scholarship

2011-06-09T09:22:00.004-04:00

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

Whining & Winning

2011-06-08T09:19:00.000-04:00

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.

End Of The Season

2011-06-07T09:11:00.001-04:00

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.

Honoring Student Athletes

2011-06-06T12:17:00.001-04:00

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.

Chopper Gate

2011-06-03T09:57:00.001-04:00

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.

Tournament Time

2011-06-02T09:48:00.000-04:00

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

Atlantic City Flap-per

2011-06-01T10:38:00.000-04:00

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.

Memorial Day Weekend Memories

2011-05-31T07:57:00.000-04:00

You could not draw up a better holiday weekend then what we just experienced
and it was certainly a badly-needed shot in the arm for Jersey Shore businesses that rely on visitors. Three days of sunshine and warm weather following a long winter and often dreary spring sent record crowds in some cases to beach towns where finding a parking spot this weekend was often challenging. Yesterday started with heavy rain in many places and some decided to head back home early but those that stayed were rewarded with another day in which it was much more comfortable at the beach than inland. For many businesses Memorial Day weekend is the busiest of the season and it certainly has many feeling good about the upcoming summer.

I do find it somewhat ironic that so many people, even those on the radio, were wishing others a Happy Memorial Day. Truthfully it’s not that kind of holiday and actually should be more solemn than celebratory. I guess too many it’s just the day that marks the unofficial start of summer. Interestingly enough things will really quiet down for the next couple of weeks or until school gets out for summer.

How many times have we pushed it when it came to a dwindling gas tank? Knowing when empty really means empty is something many of us have dealt with in the past and sometimes we’ve been burned. That’s what happened to NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. over the weekend as he ran out of gas on the final lap which cost him a win at the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte. Earlier in the day at the Indy 500 Danica Patrick had to stop for gas with ten laps left and it cost her the lead and eventually she had to settle for a 10th place finish. Just goes to show you that men often gamble with fuel….women tend to be more conservative and fill up.

For those of you who don’t know or care the Stanley Cup Finals begin Wednesday with the Boston Bruins facing the Vancouver Canucks for the most storied trophy in all of sports. This matchup was not good news for Boston Pizza, which has 340 restaurants in Canada, including 62 of them in the province of British Columbia where Vancouver is the largest city. The company could not expect Canuck fans to order pizza from a place named after the city of their opponent so they simply changed their name…temporarily. The 62 restaurants in British Columbia have been re-branded as “Vancouver Pizza” until the series is over.

The Snooki Roll

2011-05-27T10:05:00.001-04:00

The Office Restaurant & Lounge in Toms River is well known for its sushi and my favorites are the rolls of which there were 41 of them at last count. Many of them are named after people, some who work there and there is even a Yankee Roll named after a certain baseball team which of course I refuse to try. The list of roll choices has actually reached 42 and I guess this is the first named after a celebrity. You can now order “The Snooki Roll” which is a tribute to the Jersey Shore reality TV show star and her love of pickles. The roll is a Tempura Pickle on the inside with White Tuna and Avocado with Chili Sauce on top. I guess I’ll have to give it a try.

If you are a Phillies fan then you’ll probably be interested in knowing that Shane Victorino will be playing with the BlueClaws Saturday & Sunday at FirstEnergy Park. The speedy centerfielder has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and his rehab assignment sends him to Lakewood for a pair of games this weekend. Both
games are against Greensboro and start at 7:05 with fireworks afterwards. Victorino wore a BlueClaws uniform for one game during the 2007 season as he was recovering from an injury.

As expected the Jackson Board of Education has named Aaron Gottesman the head wrestling coach at Jackson Memorial High School where he succeeds Doug Withstandley, who went 81-14 in four seasons before stepping down for personal reasons. Gottesman was an assistant under Withstandley during those four years and prior to that was the head coach at Lakewood. He has big shoes to fill as the Jaguars program is among the best in the state and winning is expected.

Memorial Day weekend is here and while to most it’s the unofficial start of summer and maybe the first chance to get to the beach we should at the very least take a moment on Monday to remember what the day is about. Memorial Day is our national tribute to all who have sacrificed…it is when we thank those in the military who gave all their tomorrows so we could have ours. As a well-known cartoon says, “Thanksgiving is a day when we pause to give thanks for the things we have. Memorial Day is a day when we pause to give thanks for the people who fought for the things we have.”

The Enforcer

2011-05-26T08:41:00.001-04:00

Most of you probably have no idea that part of my job title here at WOBM is Vice President of Quality Control.

I won’t try and explain exactly what that means and I think there are some who believe I’m the Head Janitor or Groundskeeper because at times I’m obsessed with seemingly trivial things that drive me crazy. Well I raised some eyebrows when I sent out an email addressing what I perceive as a growing problem for not just us but society…the use of the “F word.”
Now I don’t want you to think we are a bunch of gutter-talking Neanderthals who throw vulgar words around in every conversation because we are not. However as one of the elders I have noticed that the use of the “F word” has certainly increased over the years and because we work in relatively close quarters it’s heard far too often in the office. I admit to being among the violators and since I have the authority and yes power to do something about it I am.

Last week I sent out an email to everyone who works in our Bayville office addressing what I perceive as a concern more than a major problem. I also felt that just asking people to watch their language wasn’t good enough…there had to be a penalty to fit the crime. So I instituted a fine that would be assessed every time someone uttered what was at one time was a word never used and now has become to some just another adjective or verb. This week only it will cost you a quarter if you slip and drop what’s known as an “F bomb” and we have customized a large plastic jar in which violators are to drop their fines in. However that’s just for this week which I have called a transition period because once we return after the holiday weekend the fine is going up to a dollar for a vulgar holler.

Enforcement clearly is going to be a problem because I can’t hear everything that takes place in this building. I have asked that we all monitor one another but I’m getting the sense that some don’t think I’m serious…which I am. I have watched over the years as society has become more accepting of foul language which now doesn’t even shock anyone and can be heard on regular TV on a daily basis. However I think there is a line which should not be crossed and I am drawing a line in the sand with the “F word.” I’m trying to sell people, especially those that are younger that this is also for their benefit because what’s happening is many just use a bad word when they can’t come up with anything to express their frustration or anger. Well they better expand their vocabulary because at a buck a throw it’s going to get expensive around here for frequent violators. My name is Kevin Williams and I am the Vice President of Quality Control…don’t push me.

The King Of "A Day Late & A Dollar Short"

2011-05-25T09:46:00.000-04:00

The last two days I have talked about Toms River’s Todd Frazier and the developments that led to him reaching the major leagues at the age of 25 this week. This morning’s segment is how professional sports can truly be a cruel business while at the same time crowning myself the king of “a day late and a dollar short.”

As I said yesterday I was planning to watch Todd and the Cincinnati Reds last night as they played the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. My son Brandon is a close friend and had to work some magic with his job for a public relations firm in New York because he vowed that no matter when and where when his former Toms River South classmate and teammate made it to the majors he would be there.

I then worked some magic on my end to secure tickets for not only us and two
of Todd’s other friends but my daughter and two of her friends. Everything was in place and just as we were getting ready to leave my daughter gets a text that the Reds have sent Frazier back to the minor leagues. I of course dismiss this with a chuckle as a very bad rumor. However she gets more information via another text and this time it includes the name of the player who is coming up from the minor leagues to replace Todd. Now I’m starting to get a bit curious and immediately call my son who just boarded his bus in New York. Moments later he calls me back to say it’s true but the bus has left and he can’t get off. This my friends is turning out to be one giant cluster______.

Within a few minutes we have determined that amazingly Todd Frazier’s first major league call-up has lasted less than 24 hours. We decide to go to the game anyway, in large part because my son is on a bus heading that way and I have the tickets. I won’t bore you with the details as there is nothing worse than being at a game in which you have no rooting interest as because of the way Frazier was treated I kind of hate both teams. I left in the 6th inning and my son ended up staying in the city with friends and is actually going to tonight’s game because he had tickets and was meeting up with other friends. Todd while disappointed will take the high road, spend a couple of days at home in Toms River and then re-join the Triple A Louisville Bats. He’s now in the Baseball Encyclopedia, having played one game and struck out in his one at-bat. His chance will come again and we’ll be there.

On a somewhat related note. Congratulations to Tommy Ruscitti, who threw a perfect game in the Berkeley Little League Tuesday night as his Yankees beat the Red Sox. Ruscitti needed just 68 pitches to retire all 18 batters he faced.

Todd Frazier Gets To Bat

2011-05-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

I know to most of you it meant nothing but to some of us Todd Frazier making his major league debut last night was a big deal and it brought a certain amount of pride to see “one of our own” make it where so few have.

As first reported here Monday the Toms River native was called up from the minors by the Cincinnati Reds and last night wearing #21 there he was on the field at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. It had been a whirlwind 24 hours or so for the 25-year old Frazier who spent most of Sunday night calling family and friends when he learned that he was being promoted from Triple A Louisville to the big club. Many asked about tickets which of course first went to family members, including parents Charles and Joan and older brother Charlie. Every game in Philly is a tough ticket as they’ve officially sold out their last 149 at Citizens Bank Park but Monday was even more difficult because All-Star Chase Utley was making his season debut and it was dollar hot dog night. As it turns out 45,841 squeezed into the park…the largest regular-season crowed in its eight-year history. About 100 of them were there to see Frazier’s major league debut and in the 6th inning he was told to grab a bat and he made his way to the on-deck circle.

Lefthander Cole Hamels was struggling a bit for the Phillies and it seemed like a good matchup for the former Toms River South and Rutgers star but the inning ended just before Frazier’s turn to bat. However he would lead off the 7th as a pinch-hitter and one can only imagine the butterflies that he felt; although this is a moment he’s prepared for since his days as a little league star. The Phillies brought in hard-throwing righty Michael Stutes and Frazier’s first swing on the first pitch was memorable as the bat slipped out of his hands and landed near the photo pit behind the Reds dugout pretty close to fans. He would end up striking out and while disappointed those who came to see him were at least rewarded for their efforts.

Tonight I will be among those making the trip to Philly to see Todd and once again you can expect a large group of family and friends on hand to witness what’s been years in the making. For thousands of baseball players their best days come as a little leaguer or maybe a high school player. Frazier was as big a star as you can be as a 12-year old and through his teen-age years but unlike most of them his memories don’t end there…as a matter of fact they may just be starting.