A little of this and a little of that on the first day of December:
It’s easy to pick on anything associated with government but Friday I was once again reminded on the improvements made when it comes to the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles. My daughter took her road test (which I’m happy to say she passed with flying colors) at the Robert J. Miller Airpark in Berkeley Township and then it was on to the motor vehicle office in Toms River to obtain her first driver’s license. Knowing that it was the last weekday of the month and the day after a holiday we expected it to be crowded and it was. But everyone working there treated people like customers, which was not the case many years ago. They were friendly, helpful and made the experience painless…a real upgrade from the way things used to be.
The movie “Australia” has been pretty much panned by the critics but my wife and I both enjoyed it although at three hours it’s a tad long. Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman star….he’s very good in his role while she seemed out of place a bit. The movie wavers at times but is big and bold…sort of an old-style epic which we found entertaining.
I guess the Jets Super Bowl talk can stop a bit…I mean if you can’t beat Denver in November at home how can you expect to win on the road in January? The Giants meanwhile look better and better and as long as they don’t shoot themselves in the foot are on the Super Bowl fast-track. That was a bad attempt at humor as is Plaxico Burress pleading “not guilty” to charges of criminal possession of a weapon today. I mean how do you accidentally shoot yourself in the thigh if you don’t have the gun illegally in a nightclub? It appears Plaxico’s Giants career is over and don’t underestimate what he means to the team on the field where he drew constant double-coverage and made it easier for others. Off the field however he has become a public relations nightmare and a divorce is likely.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
A Little This, A Little That
The six shore teams that will play for state sectional football championships will all do so on Saturday, December 6th. Surprising SOUTHERN will visit highly-ranked Mainland in the South Jersey Group 4 final at 1pm while Rutgers University will be the site of a quadrupelheader feature shore teams.
At 10am ASBURY PARK faces Metuchen, MANASQUAN will face A.L. Johnson at 1pm, FREEHOLD meets MIDDLETOWN SOUTH in an all-shore sectional final at 4pm and BRICK MEMORIAL ends the day with a 7pm game against Sayreville. While those teams should be gearing up for the state sectional finals they all have to play on Thanksgiving Day first and several of them face stern tests from tough rivals. Brick Memorial visits Brick, Middletown South has Middletown North, Manasquan tangles with Wall, Asbury takes on Neptune in one of the state’s longest running rivalries, Freehold visits Colts Neck and Southern is home against Barnegat.
Congratulations to former Brick Memorial Mustang GARRETT GRAHAM, a junior tight end at the University of Wisconsin. Graham earned first-team
All Big Ten honors by members of the media and was a 2nd team choice on the team picked by the conference coaches. Graham led the Badgers with 37 receptions and 5 touchdowns.
Former Toms River North running back DARIAN BARNES played for his 7th NFL team last night when he wore the uniform of the New Orleans Saints. The 28-year old started the season with Buffalo before being released and then spent a couple of weeks with the Detroit Lions before signing with the Saints where he started at fullback last night. Barnes made a couple of tackles on special team in the Saints victory. The 7-year pro previously played for the Jets, Dolphins, Cowboys and Buccaneers where he earned a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season.
The 25th Annual WOBM Christmas Classic begins in just 3 ½ weeks and the schedule for the tournament is now available by visiting shoresportsnetwork.com. Just click on the basketball banner and it will take you to the schedule. The team pairings will not be released until December 9th.
At 10am ASBURY PARK faces Metuchen, MANASQUAN will face A.L. Johnson at 1pm, FREEHOLD meets MIDDLETOWN SOUTH in an all-shore sectional final at 4pm and BRICK MEMORIAL ends the day with a 7pm game against Sayreville. While those teams should be gearing up for the state sectional finals they all have to play on Thanksgiving Day first and several of them face stern tests from tough rivals. Brick Memorial visits Brick, Middletown South has Middletown North, Manasquan tangles with Wall, Asbury takes on Neptune in one of the state’s longest running rivalries, Freehold visits Colts Neck and Southern is home against Barnegat.
Congratulations to former Brick Memorial Mustang GARRETT GRAHAM, a junior tight end at the University of Wisconsin. Graham earned first-team
All Big Ten honors by members of the media and was a 2nd team choice on the team picked by the conference coaches. Graham led the Badgers with 37 receptions and 5 touchdowns.
Former Toms River North running back DARIAN BARNES played for his 7th NFL team last night when he wore the uniform of the New Orleans Saints. The 28-year old started the season with Buffalo before being released and then spent a couple of weeks with the Detroit Lions before signing with the Saints where he started at fullback last night. Barnes made a couple of tackles on special team in the Saints victory. The 7-year pro previously played for the Jets, Dolphins, Cowboys and Buccaneers where he earned a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season.
The 25th Annual WOBM Christmas Classic begins in just 3 ½ weeks and the schedule for the tournament is now available by visiting shoresportsnetwork.com. Just click on the basketball banner and it will take you to the schedule. The team pairings will not be released until December 9th.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Back On The Job
Good to be back this morning after missing most of last week due to arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in my right knee. Dr. Greg Foos performed the procedure on Tuesday and I spent the next few days on the couch keeping the knee iced and getting plenty of rest.
It’s still quite sore and stiff but I’m told that’s not unexpected. Special thanks to my friends at Community Medical Center for helping me out with a last-minute EKG and most importantly to my wife Jane, who took three days off from work and was a great nurse and cook while I recovered at home.
Some 600 people participated Sunday in the Steven Sprague Memorial 5K Run/Walk at Toms River High School East and organizers say about $13,000 was raised for a scholarship fund that’s been established for his 7-month old daughter Abigail. The 28-year old Sprague was killed while working on the New Jersey Turnpike last month and Sunday’s event was put together by the East Girls Cross Country team whose members include his sister Taylor Madden. Most of Sprague’s family is connected to the Toms River School District, including his wife Nikki who teaches at the Citta School and all were greatly appreciative of those who supported Sunday’s event.
Tis’ the season for holiday events many of which are organized to benefit those in need. Richie’s Repair Center’s 3rd Annual Christmas Toy Drive and Holiday Party will take place on Friday, December 5th from 6pm to midnight at the Pine Beach Fire House. Admission is $25 per person plus an unwrapped new toy and the evening will feature food, drink and live music by Superband. Most importantly it will support Beachwood/Pine Beach Local PBA 253 and their efforts to help local families in need during the holiday season. For information and tickets you can call Richie Engelhardt at (732) 341-2829.
Joe Finn and Irish music went together like peanut butter and jelly…you couldn’t imagine one without the other. The Jersey Shore lost a beloved entertainer over the weekend when the 66-year old Avon resident died months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Finn spent most of his adult life playing Irish music and singing and was a fixture at the Crab’s Claw Inn in Lavallette in recent years. He leaves behind 8 children, 18 grandchildren and a countless number of friends and fans.
It’s still quite sore and stiff but I’m told that’s not unexpected. Special thanks to my friends at Community Medical Center for helping me out with a last-minute EKG and most importantly to my wife Jane, who took three days off from work and was a great nurse and cook while I recovered at home.
Some 600 people participated Sunday in the Steven Sprague Memorial 5K Run/Walk at Toms River High School East and organizers say about $13,000 was raised for a scholarship fund that’s been established for his 7-month old daughter Abigail. The 28-year old Sprague was killed while working on the New Jersey Turnpike last month and Sunday’s event was put together by the East Girls Cross Country team whose members include his sister Taylor Madden. Most of Sprague’s family is connected to the Toms River School District, including his wife Nikki who teaches at the Citta School and all were greatly appreciative of those who supported Sunday’s event.
Tis’ the season for holiday events many of which are organized to benefit those in need. Richie’s Repair Center’s 3rd Annual Christmas Toy Drive and Holiday Party will take place on Friday, December 5th from 6pm to midnight at the Pine Beach Fire House. Admission is $25 per person plus an unwrapped new toy and the evening will feature food, drink and live music by Superband. Most importantly it will support Beachwood/Pine Beach Local PBA 253 and their efforts to help local families in need during the holiday season. For information and tickets you can call Richie Engelhardt at (732) 341-2829.
Joe Finn and Irish music went together like peanut butter and jelly…you couldn’t imagine one without the other. The Jersey Shore lost a beloved entertainer over the weekend when the 66-year old Avon resident died months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Finn spent most of his adult life playing Irish music and singing and was a fixture at the Crab’s Claw Inn in Lavallette in recent years. He leaves behind 8 children, 18 grandchildren and a countless number of friends and fans.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Good News For Community Medical Center
(The Hometown View returns Monday, November 24)
Community Medical Center got some long-awaited good news last week when they were granted permission to begin offering elective Angioplasty, something they could previously do only on an emergency basis. Community was among 12 hospitals in New Jersey chosen to take part in a clinical study to determine the success rate of angioplasty performed at hospitals without a cardiac surgery unit. It’s not surprising Community Medical was among them when you consider they treat more adults diagnosed with heart disease than any other hospital in the state and more Ocean County residents are treated for heart attacks as well.
Angioplasty is a surgical procedure in which a small balloon is inserted to open a blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart. Community has been doing them on an emergency basis for two years but prior to this recent announcement patients having the procedure done on an elective basis had to go to other facilities. Mark Pilla, Executive Director of Community Medical Center said he was gratified with the recent announcement and elective angioplasty will be available “as soon as possible” as the process to begin the service is already underway. Pilla in a release also said he was thrilled that Community recently earned the highest possible ratings for the treatment of heart attack and heart failure from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent health care ratings company.
With apologies to the Toms River North football program and their fans, you had to be somewhat happy that Southern beat the Mariners in a first-round state playoff game over the weekend. The Rams have had success the past couple of years but always came up short when they played North and it cost them the American Division title the last two years and it was the Mariners who also bounced them from the state playoffs in 2007. However Southern made the big plays when they had to and came away with the biggest victory in the 11 years Chuck Donohue has been the coach in Manahawkin. Donohue, a true gentleman and class coach will now take his Rams to Cherokee with a huge monkey off their back.
For what it’s worth I will have knee surgery tomorrow and be out the rest of the week. The Hometown View returns next Monday.
Community Medical Center got some long-awaited good news last week when they were granted permission to begin offering elective Angioplasty, something they could previously do only on an emergency basis. Community was among 12 hospitals in New Jersey chosen to take part in a clinical study to determine the success rate of angioplasty performed at hospitals without a cardiac surgery unit. It’s not surprising Community Medical was among them when you consider they treat more adults diagnosed with heart disease than any other hospital in the state and more Ocean County residents are treated for heart attacks as well.
Angioplasty is a surgical procedure in which a small balloon is inserted to open a blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart. Community has been doing them on an emergency basis for two years but prior to this recent announcement patients having the procedure done on an elective basis had to go to other facilities. Mark Pilla, Executive Director of Community Medical Center said he was gratified with the recent announcement and elective angioplasty will be available “as soon as possible” as the process to begin the service is already underway. Pilla in a release also said he was thrilled that Community recently earned the highest possible ratings for the treatment of heart attack and heart failure from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent health care ratings company.
With apologies to the Toms River North football program and their fans, you had to be somewhat happy that Southern beat the Mariners in a first-round state playoff game over the weekend. The Rams have had success the past couple of years but always came up short when they played North and it cost them the American Division title the last two years and it was the Mariners who also bounced them from the state playoffs in 2007. However Southern made the big plays when they had to and came away with the biggest victory in the 11 years Chuck Donohue has been the coach in Manahawkin. Donohue, a true gentleman and class coach will now take his Rams to Cherokee with a huge monkey off their back.
For what it’s worth I will have knee surgery tomorrow and be out the rest of the week. The Hometown View returns next Monday.
Friday, November 14, 2008
NJSIAA Football Playoffs Begin
The NJSIAA Football Playoffs begin tonight with 17 Shore Conference schools among the nearly 160 who have a chance to claim a state sectional championships the first weekend of December. It’s a terrible playoff system which leaves us with 20 schools claiming state titles based on geography and school size. Even that’s questionable as you have Pennsauken, which is near Camden competing in the same 8-team Central Jersey bracket with schools like Colts Neck, Brick Memorial and Middletown North. Anyone studying New Jersey in school would also question Burlington Township traveling 51 miles to play Point Pleasant Borough but they are in the same group.
However like college football’s imperfect BCS system what he have in New Jersey is what we have and it will stay that way until archaic minds accept that it’s time to do away with Thanksgiving Day games which prevent any real playoff. But you do the best you can with what you have and to coaches and players the ultimate remains calling yourself a state sectional champion so that’s what they’ll aim for.
Toms River North and Asbury Park are the only two shore schools with a chance of defending their championships and they will have very different paths. The Mariners will not only have to get past rival Southern tonight but would likely have to beat top ten state powers Cherokee and Mainland on the road to win in South Jersey Group 4. Asbury Park’s Blue Bishops on the other hand are expected to cruise through the Central Jersey Group 1 bracket where they could face Shore Regional in the final.
No team comes into the playoffs hotter than Point Pleasant Borough and even though the Panthers are seeded third in Central Jersey Group 2 they might be the team to beat. Boro has won all 7 of their games via shutout and allowed their only points of the season in a 3-0 loss to Manasquan in week two…the two rivals could face each other in the sectional final.
The Shore Sports Network will broadcast tonight’s Southern-Toms River North game from Gernerd Field. It’s the fourth time the Rams and Mariners have faced each other over the last two seasons with North winning the previous three meetings. Tonight’s game can be heard on 1160 WOBM AM, Fox Sports 1310 and at www.shoresportsnetwork.com
However like college football’s imperfect BCS system what he have in New Jersey is what we have and it will stay that way until archaic minds accept that it’s time to do away with Thanksgiving Day games which prevent any real playoff. But you do the best you can with what you have and to coaches and players the ultimate remains calling yourself a state sectional champion so that’s what they’ll aim for.
Toms River North and Asbury Park are the only two shore schools with a chance of defending their championships and they will have very different paths. The Mariners will not only have to get past rival Southern tonight but would likely have to beat top ten state powers Cherokee and Mainland on the road to win in South Jersey Group 4. Asbury Park’s Blue Bishops on the other hand are expected to cruise through the Central Jersey Group 1 bracket where they could face Shore Regional in the final.
No team comes into the playoffs hotter than Point Pleasant Borough and even though the Panthers are seeded third in Central Jersey Group 2 they might be the team to beat. Boro has won all 7 of their games via shutout and allowed their only points of the season in a 3-0 loss to Manasquan in week two…the two rivals could face each other in the sectional final.
The Shore Sports Network will broadcast tonight’s Southern-Toms River North game from Gernerd Field. It’s the fourth time the Rams and Mariners have faced each other over the last two seasons with North winning the previous three meetings. Tonight’s game can be heard on 1160 WOBM AM, Fox Sports 1310 and at www.shoresportsnetwork.com
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday This & That
A little bit of this and a little bit of that:
The Jets have taken a back seat to the Giants throughout most of their history, especially after they moved to New Jersey in 1984 and became co-tenants of a building that’s called Giants Stadium. Much of that is due to the fact that the Jets have not exactly been an overwhelming success on the field, winning the Super Bowl in 1969 and not returning to the big game since. In that time the Giants have made four appearances in the Super Bowl, winning it three times. While sports fans in this area regularly talk about a Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets you rarely hear talk of a possible Giants-Jets Super Bowl because it’s not too often the two teams are good at the same time.
With that said the Jets visit New England tonight with the winner to take over sole possession of first place in the AFC East. “Gang Green” made a trade this summer to acquire future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre to win games like this and if they do Jets fans can’t be blamed for thinking about a February 1st date in Tampa with the team they share a building with.
Have you ever stopped to think about what creatures of habit we are? You know you have a routine when you approach the drive-thru of your Dunkin Donuts and upon saying your first words the guy at the other end says “I got it boss” before you even place your order. By the way, it’s large coffee with cream and splenda.
The common thread you have heard from people this fall over the economy here and abroad has been…”well if this is rock bottom then I think we’ll be okay.” Problem is we might not have hit rock bottom yet which is a scary thought.
One of the few good things about the onset of colder weather is being outside and taking in the scent of your neighbor’s fireplace while it’s burning.
The Jets have taken a back seat to the Giants throughout most of their history, especially after they moved to New Jersey in 1984 and became co-tenants of a building that’s called Giants Stadium. Much of that is due to the fact that the Jets have not exactly been an overwhelming success on the field, winning the Super Bowl in 1969 and not returning to the big game since. In that time the Giants have made four appearances in the Super Bowl, winning it three times. While sports fans in this area regularly talk about a Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets you rarely hear talk of a possible Giants-Jets Super Bowl because it’s not too often the two teams are good at the same time.
With that said the Jets visit New England tonight with the winner to take over sole possession of first place in the AFC East. “Gang Green” made a trade this summer to acquire future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre to win games like this and if they do Jets fans can’t be blamed for thinking about a February 1st date in Tampa with the team they share a building with.
Have you ever stopped to think about what creatures of habit we are? You know you have a routine when you approach the drive-thru of your Dunkin Donuts and upon saying your first words the guy at the other end says “I got it boss” before you even place your order. By the way, it’s large coffee with cream and splenda.
The common thread you have heard from people this fall over the economy here and abroad has been…”well if this is rock bottom then I think we’ll be okay.” Problem is we might not have hit rock bottom yet which is a scary thought.
One of the few good things about the onset of colder weather is being outside and taking in the scent of your neighbor’s fireplace while it’s burning.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Thanks For Giving Gala
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County will hold their annual “Thanks for Giving Gala” on Friday, December 5th at Crystal Point Yacht Club in Point Pleasant. The event is a major fundraiser for the youth mentoring organization and also a way to say thanks to those who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of so many young people.
Honorees that evening include Paul Barlo of Barlo and Associates who will receive the prestigious President’s Award, Billy Nash and the Lakewood BlueClaws who will both receive the For Kid’s Sake Award, the Ocean County YMCA, recipients of the Community Service Award and artist Francis McGinley, winner of the Legacy Award. In addition Bill Schwinn of Community Adult Medical Programs will be saluted as the Big of the Year.
I will once again have the pleasure of serving as Master of Ceremonies for the gala, which will feature live and silent auctions. Special invited guests are former sports greats Tony Siragusa, Ken Daneyko, Mark Leiter and Joe Klecko along with TV personality Jack Ford.
For those interested in purchasing tickets or finding our more about the December 5th “Thanks for Giving Gala” you can call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County at (732) 905-5349.
Belated congratulations to the Ocean County College Women’s Soccer team who finished second in the national tournament last weekend in Dallas, Texas. The Vikings fell to Broome Community College of New York 2-1
in the final to complete an 18-3 season for Coach Karen Trump.
Honorees that evening include Paul Barlo of Barlo and Associates who will receive the prestigious President’s Award, Billy Nash and the Lakewood BlueClaws who will both receive the For Kid’s Sake Award, the Ocean County YMCA, recipients of the Community Service Award and artist Francis McGinley, winner of the Legacy Award. In addition Bill Schwinn of Community Adult Medical Programs will be saluted as the Big of the Year.
I will once again have the pleasure of serving as Master of Ceremonies for the gala, which will feature live and silent auctions. Special invited guests are former sports greats Tony Siragusa, Ken Daneyko, Mark Leiter and Joe Klecko along with TV personality Jack Ford.
For those interested in purchasing tickets or finding our more about the December 5th “Thanks for Giving Gala” you can call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County at (732) 905-5349.
Belated congratulations to the Ocean County College Women’s Soccer team who finished second in the national tournament last weekend in Dallas, Texas. The Vikings fell to Broome Community College of New York 2-1
in the final to complete an 18-3 season for Coach Karen Trump.
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