It is rare in our business when one radio station mentions another but of course we at Millennium Radio are just one big happy (and by the way dysfunctional) family.
So I am comfortable in talking about what our sister station 105.7 The Hawk has been doing this week for the benefit of Ocean of Love, a local organization that assists families dealing with childhood cancer. Since 5pm Monday on air personality Andy Chase has been living on top of a billboard in the parking lot by
Target and Loewe’s on Hooper Avenue in Toms River. This is the first time the annual event has been held in Toms River as in the past it was done from Route 88
in Brick.
Each year the radio station has helped reached the goal of $105,700 thanks to the generosity of corporate sponsors, private donations and things like “coin wars” involving local schools. I stopped over late yesterday afternoon and it’s truly gratifying to watch people of all ages bringing their donations….large and small. Going into today they are over $66,000 and as always the final 10 hours or so are frantic and I encourage anyone who can to make a donation. Ocean of Love is a tremendous organization that helps families in need during their most difficult hours with financial assistance for everything from transportation for hospital visits to paying utility bills. If you would like to support the cause you have until 5pm today to stop by the billboard location on Hooper Avenue, call Ocean of Love at (732) 270-3500. For more information you can also visit www.1057thehawk.com. Good luck to Andy in his final hours of living on the billboard.
Sam Hammer is a well known name is surfing circles around New Jersey in addition to the fact that his family owns the Crabs Claw Inn. The former Point Pleasant Beach High School wrestler sought to defend his title in the Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match which features the top surfers in the state. However Sam came up just short Thursday in the ocean off Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, losing to Zach Humphreys of Margate in the finals. Hammer, a 3-time Grudge Match champion had beaten Humphreys in last year’s semifinals but this time around the 21-year year old topped the veteran and collected first prize of $3500
and the championship belt.
High School football tonight on the Shore Sports Network as we’ll be at Point Boro High School for the Panthers game with Raritan.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
A little of this and a little of that because really I have nothing else:
Both might be considered slight underdogs tonight but if Toms River South and Toms River North manage to win their semifinal games in Neptune they will meet in the finals of the Shore Conference Boys Soccer Tournament. The 4th seeded Indians, coming off a quarterfinal win over Toms River East, face top-seeded CBA at 7pm while in the first game at 5 o’clock the 7th ranked Mariners will battle 3rd seeded Howell. Tonight’s games will be played on turf so the rain of the last couple of days will not be a problem.
We kick off the 8th weekend of the High School Football season with tonight’s edition of the Saint Barnabas Healthcare High School Football Show on 105.7 FM and Shoresportsnetwork.com beginning at 7pm. Guests include interim Point Boro coach Sean Henry, Neptune coach Don Sofilkanich, Manasquan running back Tariq Turner and longtime Shore coaching figures Al Saner and Ron Signornino.
The weekly show is broadcast live from Boston’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Toms River.
The 3rd Annual Steven Sprague Memorial Run will be held on Sunday, November 21st at Toms River High School East and will include a mile fun run and a 5K run and walk. The event honors the memory of Steve Sprague who was tragically killed while doing construction work on the New Jersey Turnpike in October of 2008. All proceeds go towards a scholarship fund that was created for his young daughter Abigail. For information you can visit the events official website at
www.stevenspraguememorialrun.com
I mentioned earlier this week that I felt for some reason or reasons Halloween does not seem to be as big this year as in the past. Well I’ve discussed this with several people over the last few days and they all agree and cite the economy as the biggest reason. While the weather has been very un-Halloween like all week it does look like Sunday will be a perfect day for Trick or Treaters.
Both might be considered slight underdogs tonight but if Toms River South and Toms River North manage to win their semifinal games in Neptune they will meet in the finals of the Shore Conference Boys Soccer Tournament. The 4th seeded Indians, coming off a quarterfinal win over Toms River East, face top-seeded CBA at 7pm while in the first game at 5 o’clock the 7th ranked Mariners will battle 3rd seeded Howell. Tonight’s games will be played on turf so the rain of the last couple of days will not be a problem.
We kick off the 8th weekend of the High School Football season with tonight’s edition of the Saint Barnabas Healthcare High School Football Show on 105.7 FM and Shoresportsnetwork.com beginning at 7pm. Guests include interim Point Boro coach Sean Henry, Neptune coach Don Sofilkanich, Manasquan running back Tariq Turner and longtime Shore coaching figures Al Saner and Ron Signornino.
The weekly show is broadcast live from Boston’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Toms River.
The 3rd Annual Steven Sprague Memorial Run will be held on Sunday, November 21st at Toms River High School East and will include a mile fun run and a 5K run and walk. The event honors the memory of Steve Sprague who was tragically killed while doing construction work on the New Jersey Turnpike in October of 2008. All proceeds go towards a scholarship fund that was created for his young daughter Abigail. For information you can visit the events official website at
www.stevenspraguememorialrun.com
I mentioned earlier this week that I felt for some reason or reasons Halloween does not seem to be as big this year as in the past. Well I’ve discussed this with several people over the last few days and they all agree and cite the economy as the biggest reason. While the weather has been very un-Halloween like all week it does look like Sunday will be a perfect day for Trick or Treaters.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
As parents we sometimes grunt and groan over the seemingly endless tasks that come with having children. It’s not that we’re complaining but it just seems like it never ends and rarely is there time to just sit back, especially during the course of the school year. By now you have probably heard me talk about not having any children at home as our youngest is a college freshman. For the first time in
what seems to be forever this fall we did not have a back-to-school night and there’s no athletic events to watch our son or daughter compete it. This morning as I was leaving I mentioned to my wife that this will be the first Halloween in 25 years that we did not have at least one child to dress up. I thought back to when the kids were small and we dictated their costumes. My son was a mouse, Donald Duck and a waiter…my daughter was a sunflower, cowgirl and a witch. Of course as they got older the costumes tended to be more of their doing and often last-minute projects. Often we were scrambling and the house was chaotic, trying to coordinate everything to also make sure someone was home for trick or treaters.
I’ll say it again and remind those of you who insist you can’t wait until the kids are gone and so is the chaos, stress, anxiety and sense that you can never relax.
The quiet is deafening and I for one miss the noise.
Raise your hand if you were aware that the pro basketball season began last night?
I don’t see too many out there. Maybe that’s because the three games that were played did not feature any of the local teams. However the Nets, Knicks and 76ers
all play their season-openers tonight so raise your hand if you’re going to watch a game featuring at least one of them. Let’s see…there’s a hand in Toms River, one in Brick and yes I think there’s one in Lacey. So glad the NBA season is here.
Nothing new on the Fox/Cablevision dispute except inflammatory rhetoric coming from both sides. Bottom line is if you have Cablevision and want to watch the World Series which begins tonight then it’s a friend’s house or your favorite sports bar. Thank goodness it’s not the Yankees and Phillies.
what seems to be forever this fall we did not have a back-to-school night and there’s no athletic events to watch our son or daughter compete it. This morning as I was leaving I mentioned to my wife that this will be the first Halloween in 25 years that we did not have at least one child to dress up. I thought back to when the kids were small and we dictated their costumes. My son was a mouse, Donald Duck and a waiter…my daughter was a sunflower, cowgirl and a witch. Of course as they got older the costumes tended to be more of their doing and often last-minute projects. Often we were scrambling and the house was chaotic, trying to coordinate everything to also make sure someone was home for trick or treaters.
I’ll say it again and remind those of you who insist you can’t wait until the kids are gone and so is the chaos, stress, anxiety and sense that you can never relax.
The quiet is deafening and I for one miss the noise.
Raise your hand if you were aware that the pro basketball season began last night?
I don’t see too many out there. Maybe that’s because the three games that were played did not feature any of the local teams. However the Nets, Knicks and 76ers
all play their season-openers tonight so raise your hand if you’re going to watch a game featuring at least one of them. Let’s see…there’s a hand in Toms River, one in Brick and yes I think there’s one in Lacey. So glad the NBA season is here.
Nothing new on the Fox/Cablevision dispute except inflammatory rhetoric coming from both sides. Bottom line is if you have Cablevision and want to watch the World Series which begins tonight then it’s a friend’s house or your favorite sports bar. Thank goodness it’s not the Yankees and Phillies.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Coach Cal
One of the things I enjoyed most about broadcasting a Point Pleasant Borough football game in recent years was talking with Panthers head coach Calvin Thompson. “Coach Cal” was indeed a unique individual and a couple of years ago several of us in the media voted him the best coach to interview because you really never knew what he was going to say. The one thing you could be sure of was he would not give you the standard answers and he often left you shaking your head or at the very least with a smile on your face. As colorful as Thompson could be he obviously knew a bit about coaching as he guided the Panthers to three Division titles, five playoff appearances, and a state sectional championship while compiling a record of 65 wins and 28 losses. However a little more than halfway into his 9th season Thompson Monday resigned for what he said are personal reasons and in the best interest of his family and the Panthers football program.
Last night the Board of Education named assistant Sean Henry interim coach for the remainder of the season. Thompson was not with the team last weekend when they beat Lakewood and there have been reports he was suspended for that game. He is not a teacher but rather has operated his own speed training and conditioning business for many years and while he won’t comment about recent developments has told others he would like to coach again.
The Panthers are currently 3-3 and battling for a spot in the state playoffs. Ironically we will broadcast their game this Friday night against Raritan at Al Saner Field on the Shore Sports Network.
I have said many times that it bothers me that so often people want to talk about men and women like they are the same because in truth we are very different.
I came across a recent survey which revealed the fears women and men have when it comes to aging and as you might expect there are differences.
The top five women’s fears were losing sex appeal, being left alone, going broke, cancer and being dependent on someone else to take care of them. As for men well #1 was sexual performance followed by losing physical strength, retirement, not being able to drive and forgetfulness or early dementia.
Time and other factors will not allow me to comment plus I forgot what I was going to say.
Last night the Board of Education named assistant Sean Henry interim coach for the remainder of the season. Thompson was not with the team last weekend when they beat Lakewood and there have been reports he was suspended for that game. He is not a teacher but rather has operated his own speed training and conditioning business for many years and while he won’t comment about recent developments has told others he would like to coach again.
The Panthers are currently 3-3 and battling for a spot in the state playoffs. Ironically we will broadcast their game this Friday night against Raritan at Al Saner Field on the Shore Sports Network.
I have said many times that it bothers me that so often people want to talk about men and women like they are the same because in truth we are very different.
I came across a recent survey which revealed the fears women and men have when it comes to aging and as you might expect there are differences.
The top five women’s fears were losing sex appeal, being left alone, going broke, cancer and being dependent on someone else to take care of them. As for men well #1 was sexual performance followed by losing physical strength, retirement, not being able to drive and forgetfulness or early dementia.
Time and other factors will not allow me to comment plus I forgot what I was going to say.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Random thoughts heading into the final week of October even though it feels more like the final week of September:
Sunday is Halloween but for some reason it just doesn’t feel like it’s as big this year as usual. Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the economy or maybe it’s because Halloween stuff has been out since August and I’m already sick of it.
A funny thing happened on the way to a Yankees-Phillies World Series rematch…the Rangers and Giants got in the way. Instead of thousands of people in this area interested in the “Fall Classic” there are now 9 who care about Texas and San Francisco. Just think of how much more sleep you’ll get over the next couple of weeks. By the way TV ratings for the League Championship Series were nearly identical to a year ago but I would imagine the World Series might be down a bit.
If you have not watched “The Good Wife” with Julianna Margulies you are missing TV’s best drama.
Kudos to Central Regional school officials for the work they have done on their football complex, including the installation of new bleachers and a press box. Joseph J. Boyd Memorial Field has never looked better and they might have the best concession stand around. I don’t know how much credit he deserves but Superintendent Tommy Parliapanedes grew up making food at his father’s place on the Seaside boardwalk.
By now most of you have heard about Eric LeGrand, the Rutgers football player paralyzed from the neck down in a game more than a week ago. Shirts are being sold for $15 with all proceeds going to the Eric LeGrand Believe Fund. They are available at the Scarlet Fever store in New Brunswick and through the store’s website at www.rutgersfever.com. Click on the websites t-shirt section.
What’s worse…not having coffee in the morning or getting a bad cup? It’s a toss up.
Sunday is Halloween but for some reason it just doesn’t feel like it’s as big this year as usual. Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the economy or maybe it’s because Halloween stuff has been out since August and I’m already sick of it.
A funny thing happened on the way to a Yankees-Phillies World Series rematch…the Rangers and Giants got in the way. Instead of thousands of people in this area interested in the “Fall Classic” there are now 9 who care about Texas and San Francisco. Just think of how much more sleep you’ll get over the next couple of weeks. By the way TV ratings for the League Championship Series were nearly identical to a year ago but I would imagine the World Series might be down a bit.
If you have not watched “The Good Wife” with Julianna Margulies you are missing TV’s best drama.
Kudos to Central Regional school officials for the work they have done on their football complex, including the installation of new bleachers and a press box. Joseph J. Boyd Memorial Field has never looked better and they might have the best concession stand around. I don’t know how much credit he deserves but Superintendent Tommy Parliapanedes grew up making food at his father’s place on the Seaside boardwalk.
By now most of you have heard about Eric LeGrand, the Rutgers football player paralyzed from the neck down in a game more than a week ago. Shirts are being sold for $15 with all proceeds going to the Eric LeGrand Believe Fund. They are available at the Scarlet Fever store in New Brunswick and through the store’s website at www.rutgersfever.com. Click on the websites t-shirt section.
What’s worse…not having coffee in the morning or getting a bad cup? It’s a toss up.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Outside of Little League baseball it seems when Toms River makes the news in a big fashion it’s always something bad. Ocean County’s largest town has survived the negative publicity surrounding the infamous Marshall murder in the 80’s, the cancer cluster after that and now a public corruption scheme involving its longtime Superintendent of Schools Michael Ritacco. I will leave it for others to pass judgement on Ritacco, someone who I’ve known for more than 25 years and consider a friend. The charges are staggering and in good time we will know the full extent of the insurance scheme. However this morning I’m going to talk about the fact that the district and the town do need to move on.
Ritacco’s sudden retirement last night officially ends his 40-year relationship with the school district and allows the Board of Education to begin picking up the pieces and move forward. At a special meeting last night they were the recipients of criticism from the public for not “minding the mint” and allowing things to occur under their watch. Board Attorney Thomas Monahan did point out the federal indictment against Ritacco cited that all activities took place without the knowledge of the Board of Education. That’s not good enough for some, who have been vocal critics for years and now have something of substance to hang on to. Again there are plenty of others who will offer their opinions on the matter and
have a field day doing so but this needs to be a time when focusing on the future is even more important than dwelling on the past.
With that said the school board did name Frank Roselli as acting superintendent and he is the right choice to lead the day-to-day operations of New Jersey’s fourth largest district. Roselli started as a school psychologist three decades ago and served as a building principal before being named an assistant superitndent in 2002.
He has the respect of administrators, teachers and support staff and I believe will be able to rally the troops during what will be a tough transition period. Roselli will stay in the position until a national search leads to the hiring of a new superintendent and likely that will be at the end of this school year. He will have challenges and among his first orders of business is to settle a contract with the district’s teachers association who have been working without one. That will probably be a lot easier to achieve than restoring public confidence which is going to take time. For the sake of 17,000 students and more than 2,000 employees the district needs to pull together starting now.
Ritacco’s sudden retirement last night officially ends his 40-year relationship with the school district and allows the Board of Education to begin picking up the pieces and move forward. At a special meeting last night they were the recipients of criticism from the public for not “minding the mint” and allowing things to occur under their watch. Board Attorney Thomas Monahan did point out the federal indictment against Ritacco cited that all activities took place without the knowledge of the Board of Education. That’s not good enough for some, who have been vocal critics for years and now have something of substance to hang on to. Again there are plenty of others who will offer their opinions on the matter and
have a field day doing so but this needs to be a time when focusing on the future is even more important than dwelling on the past.
With that said the school board did name Frank Roselli as acting superintendent and he is the right choice to lead the day-to-day operations of New Jersey’s fourth largest district. Roselli started as a school psychologist three decades ago and served as a building principal before being named an assistant superitndent in 2002.
He has the respect of administrators, teachers and support staff and I believe will be able to rally the troops during what will be a tough transition period. Roselli will stay in the position until a national search leads to the hiring of a new superintendent and likely that will be at the end of this school year. He will have challenges and among his first orders of business is to settle a contract with the district’s teachers association who have been working without one. That will probably be a lot easier to achieve than restoring public confidence which is going to take time. For the sake of 17,000 students and more than 2,000 employees the district needs to pull together starting now.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Bell Rung
He had his “bell rung” was a common expression to describe an athlete taking a blow to the head which often would follow with him staggering around and having to be helped off the field. If it was a football game you came to the sidelines where you might resemble someone who’s had way too much to drink. Teammates would laugh and slap you on your back and a coach might place an ammonia cap under your nose which would often stir you from a lethargic state. Usually you would return to the game a few minutes later because begging off would be a sign you were not very tough. That was 30, 40 and 50 years ago and what we didn’t know then was that athlete probably had suffered a concussion. Who knows how many of them had repeated instances of getting their “bell rung” which we now know were probably additional concussions. Some might have suffered later in life from a variety of problem that can be traced back to their teen age years.
Fortunately times have changed and we recognize concussions for what they are…blows to the head that are never insignificant. Football accounts for about 60% of the concussions suffered by high school males with soccer second. As for girls, soccer is by far the leading sport for what is also called a mild traumatic brain injury. There has been much attention paid of concussions in recent months, especially because of the number of high-profile football players knocked out of action by these blows to the head. This includes high school athletes who now must abide by new safety rules established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Any athlete suffering a concussion must be symptom-free for 7 consecutive days before he or she can return to action and they must pass several tests to determine if they are ready to play again. What happened in the old days will not happen again and for that every parent should be happy.
Dr. Mark Meredith of Community Medical Center said regardless of age parents should always err on the side of caution when it comes to concussions. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, memory problems and mood swings and sometimes they don’t occur until days later. However if you think your child may have suffered a concussion they should immediately stop playing and seek medical attention. What is truly scary about this type of injury is once you suffer one you become much more likely to sustain a second and there are serious long-term consequences. Dr. Meredith will be a guest on tonight’s Saint Barnabas Healthcare High School Football Show which airs from 7-9pm on 105.7FM and 1310AM.
Fortunately times have changed and we recognize concussions for what they are…blows to the head that are never insignificant. Football accounts for about 60% of the concussions suffered by high school males with soccer second. As for girls, soccer is by far the leading sport for what is also called a mild traumatic brain injury. There has been much attention paid of concussions in recent months, especially because of the number of high-profile football players knocked out of action by these blows to the head. This includes high school athletes who now must abide by new safety rules established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Any athlete suffering a concussion must be symptom-free for 7 consecutive days before he or she can return to action and they must pass several tests to determine if they are ready to play again. What happened in the old days will not happen again and for that every parent should be happy.
Dr. Mark Meredith of Community Medical Center said regardless of age parents should always err on the side of caution when it comes to concussions. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, memory problems and mood swings and sometimes they don’t occur until days later. However if you think your child may have suffered a concussion they should immediately stop playing and seek medical attention. What is truly scary about this type of injury is once you suffer one you become much more likely to sustain a second and there are serious long-term consequences. Dr. Meredith will be a guest on tonight’s Saint Barnabas Healthcare High School Football Show which airs from 7-9pm on 105.7FM and 1310AM.
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