Business NewsFood & Dining

COVID-19 Casualty: Brick Quaker Steak and Lube Closes Permanently

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

BRICK, NJ – Employees of the Brick Township Quaker Steak and Lube are reporting today that the restaurant chain has closed the restaurant for good.   The restaurant brand is owned by Doherty Enterprises which also operates Applebee’s, Chevy’s Fresh Mex, Panera Bread, Spuntino Wine Bar, and The Shannon Rose Irish Pub. The restaurant becomes the first major casualty in Ocean County’s COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.  On April 1st, the restaurant announced it would close the location during the pandemic and not continue through the event with takeout service.

The company has created a fund to help employees affected by the closure. “During this unprecedented time, we had to make the very difficult decision to temporarily close our QSL locations. We have created a SPOTFUND campaign to alleviate the financial burden that COVID-19 has put on our team members. We hope you can be there for our QSL family as no contribution is too small! If you wish to make a contribution, please visit: http://spot.fund/DohertyEnterprises”.

 

 

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Politics

While Republicans Celebrate Park Openings, Millions Still Can’t Pay their Bills in New Jersey

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

TRENTON, NJ – On Wednesday, freedom in New Jersey was given a feel-good victory as Governor Phil Murphy blessed the populous of his kingdom with the privilege of being allowed to go outside and spend your days waiting for unemployment to kick in at your local park.    Republicans from the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean, from High Point to Cape May rejoiced in their hard-fought victory to leave our homes and walk, jog and cycle in public view.

While the patted each other on the back through well crafted press releases after a hard-fought battle, millions of New Jerseyans woke up this morning not to the taste of victory, but to the smell of unpaid bills, unemployment, figuring out how to pay for this week’s groceries and what time the food bank opens.

Republicans in New Jersey have been so desperate for a victory after riding ‘b—c’ on the Democrat’s motorcycle for the past several years that the reopening of public parks was the trophy they needed to start filling up their trophy case that is currently full of participation trophies, but it wasn’t even their victory.   Phil Murphy, in an endless game of chicken with Senate President Steve Sweeney simply was the first to blink.   Once Sweeney crossed the line to support the reopening of parks, Murphy realized the car was coming right at him and wasn’t moving.

It had nothing to do with the Republican fight, or the resolve of the people, it was because the battle to reopen parks had ceased to become a partisan battle Murphy could hang his hat on for his socialist followers.

Murphy’s in a great spot. He is essentially the supreme leader of New Jersey and he knows it. Republicans can chirp, gripe and moan all they want but it has no effect.  Murphy knows the GOP can’t win an election in New Jersey to save its own life.   He laughs at them.   He knows no Republican in New Jersey will get too far out of line to challenge him, not the GOP Chairman, not the Assembly or Senate leaders and definitely not the swap creatures that occupy seats in our legislative houses.

So while the GOP spikes the football after Supreme Leader Murphy shaved off a crumb of freedom to appease the masses, the fact remains that New Jersey is in bad shape and no amount of GOP twitter posts, Facebook posts or memes are going to make it any better any time soon unless the party kicks it up and begins engaging Murphy and the Democrats head-on.   It all starts with figuring out how to win elections in the face of a Democrat Party who is working overtime to destroy the constitution of the United States and the erode the freedoms of Americans nationwide.  The ball is in your court and New Jersey depends on you.

So, make your victory lap quick today, but at some point, think about the millions of others in New Jersey who are struggling to survive real world problems, many of whom can’t even get their unemployment checks…small businesses shut down by the Governor, but rejected for federal aid and those who will soon be losing their health benefits, jobs, houses and more.

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Ocean County News

Lakewood Parks Reopening Today!

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Lakewood Township Mayor Ray Coles is reopening township parks later today. The announcement comes shortly after Governor Phil Murphy announced the reopening of state parks on Saturday and Ocean County Freeholder Ginny Haines, 85, announced she will open both of the county parks in Lakewood this weekend. Pine Park, which is being used for food distribution during the week will open be open on Saturday and Sunday. Coles reminded residents to practice safe social distancing while using the township’s parks.

““It’s very important that we keep the disease curve on the downward trend. In order to do that, we have to keep staying six (6) feet apart from each other; wear masks if possible; try not to touch your face – all the things that should have become second nature to you by now,” Coles said. “With the nice weather coming, hopefully, we’ll all be able to get out and wave to each other from across the street! So again – enjoy the parks; but, please, maintain your distance, wear a mask if at all possible, and stay safe. I just can’t wait for us all to get back to normal.”

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Ocean County News

Ocean County To Reopen a Just a Few Parks this Weekend, Including Two in Lakewood

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Shortly after Governor Phil Murphy recognized that the closure of parks during the COVID-19 pandemic could open a pandora’s box of alternative mental and physical health issues, Ocean County’s park czar, Ginny Haines, 75, decided to follow Murphy’s lead.   Haines closed Ocean County’s parks in March after she received reports of Orthodox Jews congregating in a Brick Township park.   Ocean County was among the first government agencies to shut down parks during the 2020 COVID-19 virus season.

Days later, she closed all the parks, setting a trend across the state of New Jersey.  On Wednesday, Haines said she’s going to reopen the parks she closed.

 

Here’s what Haines decided to open for now:

Ocean County Park, Lakewood
Lake Shenandoah County Park, Lakewood
Atlantis Golf Course, Little Egg Harbor
Forge Pond Golf Course, Brick
Barnegat Branch Trail, Ocean County
Wells Mills County Park, Waretown
John C. Bartlett Jr. County Park, Berkeley
Jakes Branch County Park, Beachwood
Patriot’s Park, Jackson * recently added.

 

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Community NewsGovernment NewsPoliticsSchools

Rutgers Gender Study Professor Coronarages: F— Each and Every Trump Supporter

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – A Rutgers University professor this week went on a racist laden tirade against white people and supporters of President Donald J. Trump.  Brittney Cooper, an associate professor in the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Department of the state university is blaming Trump supporters for the Chinese borne COVID-19 coronavirus.

“I am saying some obvious things this morning because as a country we are too good at skipping over the audience and we might as well say this to people as often as we can. Fuck each and every Trump supporter. You all absolutely did this. You are to blame. F— each and every Trump supporter. You absolutely did this. You are to blame,” she said. “I feel like most Black people are clear that this utterly absurd to push to re-open the country is all about a gross necropolitical calculation that it is Black people who are dying disproportionately from COVID.”

Cooper was also the author of a weekly column in Salon.com, her writings have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Cosmo.com, and many others. In 2013 and 2014, she was named to the Root.com’s Root 100, an annual list of Top Black Influencers.

Cooper continued her racist tirade calling white people, white supremacists, “Not only do white conservatives not care about Black life, but my most cynical negative read of the white supremacists among them is that they welcome this massive winnowing of Black folks in order to slow demographic shifts and shore up political power.”

She continued her rant throughout the day on Tuesday.

“They are literally willing to die from this clusterf—ed COVID response rather than admit absolutely anybody other than him [President Trump] would have been a better president,” she tweeted. “And when whiteness has a death wish, we are all in for a serious problem. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives with hypertension, diabetes, and asthma matter. Fat Black Lives matter. All Black Lives matter.”

Cooper is the author of several books including

Beyond Respectability: The Intellectual Thought of Race Women (Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History)

Beyond Respectability charts the development of African American women as public intellectuals and the evolution of their thought from the end of the 1800s through the Black Power era of the 1970s. Eschewing the Great Race Man paradigm so prominent in contemporary discourse, Brittney C. Cooper looks at the far-reaching intellectual achievements of female thinkers and activists like Anna Julia Cooper, Mary Church Terrell, Fannie Barrier Williams, Pauli Murray, and Toni Cade Bambara. Cooper delves into the processes that transformed these women and others into racial leadership figures, including long-overdue discussions of their theoretical output and personal experiences. As Cooper shows, their body of work critically reshaped our understandings of race and gender discourse. It also confronted entrenched ideas of how–and who–produced racial knowledge.

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower

So what if it’s true that Black women are mad as hell? They have the right to be. In the Black feminist tradition of Audre Lorde, Brittney Cooper reminds us that anger is a powerful source of energy that can give us the strength to keep on fighting.

Far too often, Black women’s anger has been caricatured into an ugly and destructive force that threatens the civility and social fabric of American democracy. But Cooper shows us that there is more to the story than that. Black women’s eloquent rage is what makes Serena Williams such a powerful tennis player. It’s what makes Beyoncé’s girl power anthems resonate so hard. It’s what makes Michelle Obama an icon. Eloquent rage keeps us all honest and accountable. It reminds women that they don’t have to settle for less.

When Cooper learned of her grandmother’s eloquent rage about love, sex, and marriage in an epic and hilarious front-porch confrontation, her life was changed. And it took another intervention, this time staged by one of her homegirls, to turn Brittney into the fierce feminist she is today. In Brittney Cooper’s world, neither mean girls nor f–kboys ever win. But homegirls emerge as heroes. This audiobook argues that ultimately feminism, friendship, and faith in one’s own superpowers are all we really need to turn things right side up again.

The Crunk Feminist Collection

For the Crunk Feminist Collective, their academic day jobs were lacking in conversations they actually wanted—relevant, real conversations about how race and gender politics intersect with pop culture and current events. To address this void, they started a blog. Now with an annual readership of nearly one million, their posts foster dialogue about activist methods, intersectionality, and sisterhood. And the writers’ personal identities—as black women; as sisters, daughters, and lovers; and as television watchers, sports fans, and music lovers—are never far from the discussion at hand.

These essays explore “Sex and Power in the Black Church,” discuss how “Clair Huxtable is Dead,” list “Five Ways Talib Kweli Can Become a Better Ally to Women in Hip Hop,” and dwell on “Dating with a Doctorate (She Got a Big Ego?).” Self-described as “critical homegirls,” the authors tackle life stuck between loving hip hop and ratchet culture while hating patriarchy, misogyny, and sexism.

 

 

 

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Business NewsOcean County News

Support the Shore: Manasquan Bakery Offering Curbside Pickup and Takeout During Stay-At-Home Order #SupportTheShore

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

MANASQUAN, NJ – 502 Bakery in Manasquan is working hard to provide for the township’s sweet tooth during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. They are open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm.   The Bakery is part of Wingman Planning’s #SupportTheShore effort to promote small businesses in need of a little nudge during this time.   The bakery this month made a generous donation of baked goods to Hackensack Meridian Health’s front line medical workers. 502 bakery is a scratch bakery featuring pies, scones, cookies, cakes, cupcakes as well as vegan and gluten-free selections and they are famous for award-winning Key Lime Pie.

Check out their webpage to place an order.

https://www.facebook.com/StopPhilMurphy/videos/277372843430216/

About #SupportTheShore

Support the Shore was started by Wingman Planning CEO Tom Mirabella whose company is a full-service marketing firm located in Manasquan to offer free video services to help local businesses get the word out about their status to the public.  In return for the video, Wingman Planning asks that those businesses make a small donation to local fire, police, EMS or frontline emergency workers.

“The pandemic hit, and our full-service marketing agency moved from working as a team of 12 in Manasquan to working from home,” Mirabella said. “I didn’t want to furlough or let anyone go, even though our clients have been impacted which in turn impacts us. I was watching companies all around us struggle and turn to layoffs and realized that we could help these businesses spread the word about what services they were offering to their customers.”

Check out Wingman Planning to learn more about their #SupportTheShore initiative.

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Monmouth County News

Monmouth County Parks to Reopen May 2nd

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders have announced that the county park system will reopen on May 2nd, following the lead of Governor Phil Murphy’s executive order that will reopen state parks on the same day.

 

All parks will reopen for posted hours this Saturday, May 2, with reduced parking and strict social distancing requirements. Restrooms and buildings will remain closed, along with some facilities. Additional details will be posted here and on our website by Friday, May 1.

This comes just hours after the Board Of Chosen Freeholders challenged the Governor to rescind his draconian order to close parks after the closure of the Henry Hudson Transit Trail.

“When the Governor ordered the closure of all state and county parks on April 7, the Henry Hudson Transit Trail was not included as the Monmouth County Park System maintains that it is a transit way not a recreational trail. Meaning, many patrons use them to get from one place to another to perform essential functions, such as going to the grocery store, pharmacy, to get to their place of employment as essential personnel or to access public transportation,” the county said. 
By design, since there are no open lawns or recreational amenities, patrons have little opportunity to congregate and Monmouth County park rangers and local police have been monitoring the trail to respond as necessary to any reports of gathering.
“It is no secret that we are opposed to the closure of our county parks, which serve as a resource for the mental health and wellbeing of our residents, but the closure of the Henry Hudson Transit Trail is even more significant as it deals directly with the safety of our residents,” the freeholders said. “The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders truly hopes that the New Jersey Attorney General will reconsider this closure as we are sure he would agree that the last thing we want to do during this global pandemic is put more lives at risk. Further, we strongly urge Governor Murphy to reconsider the closure of all County parks.”
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Business News

Starbucks Sales Down 10%, Company Says It Will be Stronger Than Before

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

SEATTLE, WA –  Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) today reported financial results for its 13-week fiscal second quarter ended March 29, 2020.  GAAP results in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 include items which are excluded from non-GAAP results.  Please refer to the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures at the end of this release for more information.

“People around the world are united around a common cause as we navigate the COVID-19 situation globally.  We are very grateful for the heroic efforts of medical personnel, first responders, government officials and volunteers who are working tirelessly in the service of others.  I am exceptionally proud of the thousands of Starbucks partners around the world who are safely serving customers and playing a positive role in every community we serve,” said Kevin Johnson, president and ceo.

Global comparable store sales declined 10%, driven by a 13% decrease in comparable transactions, partially offset by a 4% increase in average ticket

  • Americas and U.S. comparable store sales declined 3%, driven by a 7% decrease in comparable transactions, partially offset by a 5% increase in average ticket
  • International comparable store sales were down 31%, driven by a 32% decline in comparable transactions, slightly offset by a 1% increase in average ticket; China comparable store sales were down 50%, with comparable transactions down 53%

“Since the beginning of this global crisis, Starbucks has made decisions that prioritize the well-being of our partners and customers, support health and government officials, and responsibly serve our communities.  This principled approach is showing steady business improvement in China where today, substantially all existing Starbucks® stores have reopened with modified operations, new store locations are being added and customer engagement continues to grow with each passing week.  We are leveraging our experience in China to inform our actions in other markets, including the U.S., where we are now entering the “monitor and adapt” phase to reopen many more stores with best-in-class safety protocols.  We continue to navigate this dynamic situation — which we believe is temporary — and are confident that Starbucks will emerge from this global crisis even stronger than before,” concluded Johnson.

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All NewsCommunity NewsGovernment NewsPolitics

Dan Rodrick Exposes Town Hall Leak, Possible Political Corruption in Toms River

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River Councilman Daniel Rodrick made a startling revelation at Tuesday’s township council meeting, he has solved the mystery of the information leak in town hall and potentially has saved residents from a lengthy, costly and unnecessary legal investigation.    Rodrick claimed last night that New Jersey Assemblyman Gregory McGuckin was the leaker of information in town hall and not any of his councilmen, as the entire premise of the investigation implied.

“Information has come to my attention regarding the ongoing investigation into the alleged leaking of executive session discussions that occurred at our February 11th meeting,” Rodrick said. “A commissioner at the municipal utilities authority told me that Assemblyman Greg McGucking had taken him out to breakfast on February 5th, 6 days before our February 11th meeting -to discuss Commissioner health benefits and the MUA director position that was being vacated by Bob Dibiase.”

McGuckin, who has become an interim power broker in county politics until former Chairman George Gilmore takes his throne back in the next county chairman election has been brokering political deals across the county to enrich his own firm and to reward his political allies.   McGuckin had made power moves in Jackson, Manchester and Lacey this year, expanding his firm’s annual political pay to play income well over an estimated $2 MILLION annually in the past six months.

Rodrick asserted the McGuckin’s interactions were a precursor for him to gain power with the Municipal Utilities Authority to influence the appointment of a new director so his firm can be appointed legal counsel there.

“This Commissioner said that Greg McGuckin asked him not to reappoint the Executive Director position until he got word from McGuckin,” Rodrick continued. “Given that the assemblyman is not the township attorney  Mr. McGuckin had no legal basis to be negotiating who would lead the MUA or what kind of benefit packages commissioners would receive.  Given that the director’s position is appointed by the commissioners, and given that the Assemblyman also discussed commissioner health benefits at that same breakfast. I can’t help but wonder whether or not the assemblyman was threatening the commissioners to gain control of the MUA?”

Not all of McGuckin’s power moves have been financially successful for his law firm. In Toms River, McGuckin and his close political partner in crime, Mayor Maurice Hill attempted a coup of the Toms River Republican Club.  Their effort was thwarted by rank and file Republicans.  Hill quit the Republican club earlier this year and has not rejoined.

“I want to know why the Assemblyman is so interested in influencing who is being hired to direct the Toms River MUA?  Could it be because the MUA is a contract rich authority with millions in work every year,” Rodrick asked.  “Now that we know who the real leak is, do we really need to spend $300 an hour to investigate this?   Or, should we be asking the authorities to investigate Mr. McGuckin’s meeting? Especially if the  Assemblyman was telling commissioners of an independent authority – when and – who to hire as a director, – while simultaneously discussing the commissioner’s health benefits package.”

Rodrick also was skeptical of Mo Hills’ choice of attorney hired to investigate the leaks.  Hill chose Howard Mankoff, who was actually hired by McGuckin in Jackson Township to represent the town in a federal civil rights lawsuit.   McGuckin who now has Jackson Mayor Michael Reina under his umbrella of control was hired by Reina in January.  Mankoff is now the lead attorney representing the township against civil rights violation lawsuits.

“We’re going to have to bring in an independent agency to sort all of this out, because it turns out that the man hired to investigate this leak, “Mr. Mancoff”, just so happens to have a conflict with Assemblyman McGuckin,” Rodrick said.

Rodrick went on to blow the lid off the township council’s actions during executive session meetings, claiming that topics that are not to be legally discussed out of public view are routinely discussed in those closed-door meetings in violaton of New Jersey’s Sunshine Laws.

“I also believe that many of the conversations that have been occurring in executive session lately, do not meet the confidentiality requirements set forth by statute, and I believe they are a clear violation of the Sunshine Law,” Rodrick added. “So I am also going to be asking the Department of Community Affairs to investigate as well. We’re not supposed to be setting policy behind closed door!”

At several points during Rodrick’s testimony last night, Council President Maria Maruca banged her gavel to silence Rodrick while board Democrats Terrance Turnbach and Laurie Haryk made repeated requests to shut off Rodrick’s microphone.

 

 

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Community NewsGovernment NewsOcean County News

Jackson Township Property Owners Now Have Until June 1st to Pay Their Property Tax Bill

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

JACKSON, NJ –  You don’t see a press release about it.  There probably will not be a highlighted council meeting video clip published to promote it, but Jackson Township residents now have an extra 21 days to pay their second-quarter tax bills.    This comes after Governor Phil Murphy extended the grace period for late payments through June 1st for all of New Jersey.  You can let that money sit in the account, accruing interest until the end of the month if you want to.   The plan implemented by Governor Murphy extends the penalty-free grace period from May 10th to June 1st.

 

Shortly after this announcement, Jackson publicly acknowledged this story:

The Mayor and Council have extended the Grace Period on the May 1, 2020 tax quarter to June 1, 2020. Payments for the May tax quarter must be received in the Tax Collectors office on or before June 1, 2020 to avoid interest. For more information please feel free to contact the Tax Collector’s office at 732-928-1200 ext 1174.

 

 

 

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Community News

Letter: If you were charged for using a park during unconstitutional closure, charges should be dropped

by Your News
By: Your News

I have been reading the news over the past few weeks and I am appaled how people in New Jersey have been treated as common criminals for using public parks and practising safe social distancing.  This crackdown against the people came as legitimate criminals across the state were being released from prison, but law abiding citizens were being treated as criminals for simple activities such as walking through a park, sitting on an empty beach or just out breathing fresh air.  I would like to see Governor Murphy include in his next executive order a measure to pardon those who face charges and large fines for violating his unconstitutional and un-American order.

Signed,
Jeff L., Long Branch

 

Photo by Ignacio Brosa on Unsplash

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Government News

Murphy Just Reopened Parks in New Jersey

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

TRENTON, NJ – Governor Murphy just announced the reopening of all state parks, golf course and county parks as of May 2nd.  Although his authority will automatically open the state park facilities, the decision to reopen county parks will be in the hands of county authorities.  Enter Ocean County Freeholder Virginia Haines, 85, who arbitrarily closed Ocean County’s vast park system last month after Orthodox Jews were reported congregating at the Mantoloking Bay Bridge Park in Brick.

Haines decided days after closing that park to close all parks across the board.   The fight to reopen parks was led by the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance and a bi-partisan effort in Trenton.  Shore News Network has also promoted the reopening of parks since the day they were closed. This morning New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney backed the reopening of parks in New Jersey, which could have been the political trigger needed by Murphy to succumb to the pressure mounting against him.

“The NJOA and our members and supporters thank Senate President Sweeney for showing leadership on this issue and joining our calls to re-open the state’s parks and forests without delay.” said NJOA spokesman Cody McLaughlin, “As much as I’m sure Governor Murphy would like to write it off, this is not a partisan issue and we are not going away. We’ll continue fighting for outdoor recreation access in this state.”

The reopening of municipal parks will be at the discretion of local mayors and township authorities.

Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash

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Community NewsGovernment NewsOcean County News

In Toms River You Now Have Until June 1st to Pay Your Property Tax Bill Penalty Free

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

TOMS RIVER, NJ – There’s great news for Toms River residents, the mayor and council last night approved a 21 day extension to pay your second quarter tax bill, so you can hang on to that money now until the end of May!  Taxes are due May 1st, but if you pay by June 1st, there will be no penalties incurred.

“Mayor and Council have approved a resolution that directs the Tax Collector to extend the grace period to pay the May 1st taxes until June 1st, 2020. The grace period by state statue is only allowed until the 10th day of each tax quarter,” the township said.

Yesterday, the Governor of New Jersey issued executive order no. 130 giving municipalities the option to allow by resolution an extension of the grace period.

The executive order does not change the due date of May 1st, changing the grace period allows the owner to make payment to the tax collector’s office on or before June 1st without interest due on the May tax quarter. Payment received after June 1st will have interest due going back to the May 1st date as require by state statue.

Currently the Tax Office is closed to the public, property owners may submit payments by:

➢ Mailing the payment to the township (either using the address on the May quarter tax stub or to PO Box 607 Toms River NJ 08754)
➢ Using the tax payment drop off box located at the entrance of town hall facing the parking garage (to the left if you walk up the handicap ramp)
➢ Using your on-line banking software (please use your property tax account number on your bill when setting up the vendor information)
➢ Going to the township website at www.tomsrivertownship.com and clicking on the Online Payment option

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

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Community NewsGovernment News

Governor Murphy Halts Homestead Rebate, Amato Says That Relief Needed During COVID-19

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ –  Mayor Carmen Amato, of Berkeley Township today said he wants to see Governor Murphy reinstate the homestead rebate plan in New Jersey.  The program provides property tax relief in the form of a credit to eligible homeowners  and in 2017, 60,906 residents in Ocean County qualified for the Homestead Program, which provided an average of a $221 credit for the May 1st second quarter property tax payment.

In his town, which has a high senior citizen population, Amato said  he has 8,700 residents that qualify for the Homestead Program, which is the highest number of residents in the state.

The State of New Jersey has announced it has temporarily frozen almost one billion in spending due to COVID-19 and of the programs it is freezing is the Homestead Program.

“This action is untimely and unconscionable, given the number of residents affected by COVID-19 related layoffs and furloughs of New Jersey residents who will now be unable to make their property tax payments,” Amato said.  “We urge Governor Murphy to direct the Treasurer to find other sources of funding to temporarily freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reinstate the Homestead Program to provide property tax relief to qualified residents who require such relief, especially during these times of economic uncertainty.”

As for Berkeley Township, Amato said after learning Murphy has extended the late penalty window for property taxes, he and the township council will host an emergency meeting to discuss implementing that new payment window in Berkeley Township.

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Government News

We’re Pretty Sure Andrew Cuomo is Now Acting Governor Of New Jersey

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

TRENTON, NJ –  New Jersey will not open for business until New York does.  New Jersey plays a small role in a bigger community.  If the numbers in New Jersey improve, but New York doesn’t, it’s irresponsible to open New Jersey.  Let’s see what happens across the bridge.  If a bar in New Jersey opens before a bar in New York, then New Yorkers will come to New Jersey, and we can’t have that.

It’s been an underlying theme in recent weeks, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has his eyes on some other prize as he takes advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and is now using it as a socialist bully pulpit to enforce his ideology on the people of New Jersey, but in recent weeks, Murphy has spoken in complete unison with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and if you watch Cuomo’s daily COVID-19 briefing, watching Murphy’s is nothing more than a rerun.

“We’ve committed to working with our regional partners throughout this crisis to align our policies when and where appropriate,” said Governor Murphy.“A unified approach is the most effective way to alleviate confusion for the residents of our states during the ongoing public health emergency.”

“Throughout this pandemic, we’ve worked closely with our friends in neighboring states to implement a uniform regional approach to reducing the spread of the virus,” Governor Cuomo said. “Aligning our policies in this area is another example of that strong partnership, and will help ensure there is no confusion or ‘state shopping’ when it comes to marinas and boatyards.”

So, now, against our will, New Jersey is inexplicably attached to the hip with New York when it comes to our pandemic response.

For some odd reason, New Jersey elected Phil Murphy. Maybe we had Chris Christie fatigue syndrome or maybe people just didn’t think he was serious about the damage he wanted to do to New Jersey.    He promised to support illegals.  He promised to free criminals.  He promised to raise taxes and now that he has supreme power in the Garden State, he’s promising that we don’t make a move without Andrew Cuomo and New York.

Murphy was dangerous before COVID-19, and now he’s more dangerous than ever and our legislators in Trenton are empowering him.

When it came time for marinas to reopen, Murphy waited for Cuomo to give the green light.

Mr. Murphy you unfortunately are our Governor, not Andrew Cuomo.  If you wanted to pick a mentor during COVID-19, you picked the wrong one.

Photo from Andrew Cuomo’s Official Facebook Page.

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Community NewsOcean County News

Jackson Township Will Be Paving 5 Roads This Month

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

JACKSON, NJ – Jackson Township has announced it will continue with a previously approved schedule to re-pave 5 roads in the town.  Here’s the list.

Jackson Township Pavement Improvement
1. Pitney Ln on or about 4/29 to 5/1
a. Milling on Wednesday 4/29
b. Paving 1,536 Tons on Thursday 4/30 & Friday 5/1
2. Nature Blvd on or about 4/29 to 5/4
a. Milling on Wednesday 4/29 & Thursday 4/30
b. Paving 966 Tons on Friday 5/1 & Monday 5/4
3. New Castle Ct & Westminster Dr on or about 4/30 to 5/5
a. Milling on Thursday 4/30 & Friday 5/1
b. Paving on Monday 5/4 & Tuesday 5/5
4. Chelsea Rd & Liverpool Ct on or about 5/4 to 5/7
a. Milling on Monday 5/4 & Tuesday 5/5
b. Paving on Wednesday 5/6 & Thursday 5/7
5. Iris Dr, Steuben Ln, Oak Dr, & Melody Ln on or about 5/6 to 5/11
a. Milling on Wednesday 5/6 & Thursday 5/7
b. Paving on Friday 5/8 & Monday 5/11
Above time frames are contingent upon weather conditions. We will have two crews (one milling & one paving) working on these roads.
Schedule will be revised weekly as any changes are required.

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Community News

With All Parks Closed in Ocean County Kids Now Playing in Parking Lots and Streets

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Last month, Ocean County Freeholder Virginia Haines, 83,  unilaterally made the decision to close Ocean County’s huge public park system because Orthodox Jews were reported visiting the county’s Mantoloking Bay Bridge Park.   That decision ended up closing virtually vacant parks across the county.   Now, one month later, a quick drive through towns like Toms River where open space for children is limited, many have begun hanging out and riding their bikes in parking lots.

Governor Murphy has shut down all state parks.  Haines has shut down all county parks and Mayor Hill has shut down parks in Toms River, but all of them recommend people continue to get their daily exercise and fresh air.   While Mayor Mo Hill might live on a posh tree-lined street with sidewalks in North Dover among friends with plenty of space to play in cul-de-sacs, that’s not the life everyone in town enjoys.  Many people live in townhomes, apartments, on major roads and on roads that are not conducive to children being on them.  In fact, these days, cul-de-sacs are the best game in town and residents who live on them are starting to grow tired of kids from other neighborhoods being dropped off on their street to play, ride bikes and go for jogs.

Another bi-product of the park and trail closures is more people are jogging and cycling in the street, instead of on trails, tracks and park paths.   Veterans Park on North Bay Avenue is a very popular spot for daily walks, as is Winding River Park, both are closed.

We asked our readers what they thought about this growing problem and here’s what they had to say.

“Would make so much more sense to open parks. Safety for one thing…crowded streets will soon be an issue. People NEED to be out. And let’s not ignore health benefits of outside….sunlight fresh air and exercise lead to increased immunity. Look up any study about vitamin D and respiratory immunity,” said Kristyn Rommel.

“I got yelled at by Tom’s river cops for being on little beach by my house everyone was way far apart. So sad you cant even enjoy your own little neighborhood,” said Jennifer Gauthier.

“Saw this on the streets in Monmouth County today.. people walking and would not move out of the way of car traffic.. that is nice that you are going for a walk.. I didnt make the choice of being an essential worker and trying to get home to shower. Move out of the road,” said Amy Costello.

“I got a parking ticket in Island Heights because it’s against the law for a Toms River resident to visit another town for recreation. I was walking,” said Jennifer Ann.

“I was thinking the same thing while doing laps around the mall. Would be so much better to run around the lake in the park. Saw some kids on bikes there too,” said John Sommo who now has to run around the vacant parking lot at the mall.

Michael Arcuri said, “When the weather is nice people are crammed on the streets and sidewalks of Seaside and Point Pleasant. Why not open the boardwalks so they’d be spread out? Or does that make too much sense?”

“I have people driving to my street and unloading their kids to ride bikes and crap. Wtf is wrong with your own damn street,” said Joe Junior.

 

 

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Business NewsCape May County NewsFood & Dining

Wildwood Allows Boardwalk Restaurants to Open for Takeout

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

WILDWOOD, NJ – Nothing makes sense about how local governments are responding to Governor Phil Murphy’s especially in seaside towns with boardwalks where restaurants on one side of the road can open for takeout, but boardwalk restaurants just feet away are forced to close.

After realizing the absurdity of that, Wildwood is now allowing boardwalk restaurants to reopen for curbside and takeout pickups.

“It wasn’t meant to encourage folks to come down to generate business,” Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron told NJ.Com “Other  businesses in Wildwood were allowed to be open, so we got some phone calls from boardwalk people. They said ‘In all fairness, if you’re going to allow those other businesses throughout the town to be open, then it’s only fair we should be allowed to be open as well.’ Frankly, I can’t argue with that logic.”

Sam’s Pizza Palace on the boardwalk in Wildwood is now open for takeout Friday through Sunday.

“We want to remind everyone to continue to exercise recommended safety precautions. Wear a mask and remain 6 feet apart when picking up your orders,” Sam’s Pizza Palace said. Sam’s Pizza Palace was recently featured in our Top 10 Pizzerias to Visit After Quarantine, but now, you can get before!

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Police BlotterUS and World News

Speedy Gonzalez Not Fast Enough to Escape Justice, Arrested in Georgia

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – Earlier this year, a theft and forgery case was assigned to a detective. The images of the suspect were released to the public and he was immediately identified as Speedy Gonzalez (age 35, Buford).  After spending a couple of months on the run, he was captured during a traffic stop this past Saturday and booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.

According to the arrest report, Speedy also has outstanding warrants through the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.  Update #2, 03/10/2020, 1:30pm:  Speedy Gonzalez (age 35, Buford) has been charged with 1 count of Forgery, 2 counts of Identity Fraud, and 3 counts of Theft by Deception.  His current whereabouts are unknown.  We urge Speedy to turn himself in to the Gwinnett County Jail.

Tipsters with information about his whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.

Here’s what happened:

After checks were stolen from the mailbox at a Suwanee home, the victim found more than $3,000 in forgeries.

In late January, a man reported that he had some checks stolen from his mailbox on Lake Haven Way on January 21. The checks were supposed to be picked up by the USPS and mailed to their intended recipients.

The following day, January 22, an unknown suspect visited the Home Depot on Stone Mountain Highway and made a purchase of over $3,000.  Following the purchase, the suspect(s), returned the purchased items for cash.

The lead detective assigned to the case is hoping someone in the community recognizes the suspect and calls in with tips.

If anyone has any information to share in this case, please contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.  Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.  Case Number:  20-008850

According to the USPS, to protect against identity theft, they suggest placing outgoing mail in a USPS collection box or hand-delivering it at your local POST Office.

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Business News

Gannett Slashes Jobs Nationwide

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

One of America’s largest newspaper corporations, Gannett is being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic as advertising revenue dries up and costs continue to mount for the struggling enterprise.  In New Jersey, Gannett owns and operates the Asbury Park Press, Daily Record, Daily Journal, The Record, Herald News, The New Jersey Herald, Courrier-Post, Burlington County Times and the Pocono Record.

In March, the company notified its employees that it would be making the job cuts and forcing executive pay cuts to high paid company officers.  In the newspaper business, advertising has essentially disappeared during COVID-19 as businesses across the state have been forced to shut their doors have in turn, shut down their advertising campaigns.

One of Gannett’s larger revenue streams, public notices have also begun to diminish as courts are closed and many towns have postponed planning board and zoning board meetings.  With courts closed, eventually foreclosure notices and sheriff’s sales will also start drying up, cutting the newspaper company of a vital source of public revenue which is required by state law.

According to the New York post, “Seven editorial staffers were laid off at The Record in northern NJ, according to sources. Among them, according to an insider, was a woman who is nine months pregnant and a staffer who’s been out on disability.”

So far, according to reports online via employee social media posts, some of the layoffs were sports and editorial staff at this point.

The company stated in a press release that these cuts and a string of recent furloughs has nothing to do with the COVID-19 crisis, but a shaking out from last year’s billion-dollar acquisition by GateHouse Media.   That’s bad news for employees who made this week’s cuts as an indication of more to come.

Photo by Rachel Barkdoll on Unsplash

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Sports

Trump Medical Advisor: No Sports in 2020, How Does That Affect Your High School Season?

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sports fans and player alike are not taking kindly to the comments made today by President Donald  J. Trump’s top medical advisor during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci after he made some grim comments about team sports in America.

“Safety, for the players and for the fans, trumps everything,” Fauci told the New York Times. “If you can’t guarantee safety, then, unfortunately, you’re going to have to bite the bullet and say, ‘We may have to go without this sport for this season.’”

Many professional sports are now making plans to resume activities as Fauci made the statement, including the NBA and Major League Baseball.  Around the country youth sports and high school sports associations are also trying to figure out how to make their seasons happen safely during the tail end of the pandemic.

In New Jersey, last week, the NJSIAA which regulates high school sports in the state postponed their meeting where the organization was to decide on the future of the 2020 spring season, “Per the NJSIAA Bylaws, the Annual Business meeting is supposed to be held on the first Monday in May – this year, May 4th.  However, given the unprecedented circumstances and lack of any emergent legislation that would impact the start of the 2020-2021 school year, the officers feel it is best to postpone at this time.  The postponement will hopefully allow for Sectional meetings and the Annual Business meeting to be held in person, as opposed to virtually, which is logistically more efficient for a meeting of a large body at which votes must be cast.  The NJSIAA will post the updated date, time and location as soon as the information is available.”

The NJSIAA is the authority that will make the final determination regarding high school sports.

The organization has previously said it’s drop dead window to resume the spring season is May 25th.

“The return-to-school date and related public health guidelines will continue to determine the viability of a spring sports season. As noted, NJSIAA is committed to doing whatever is possible to provide New Jersey’s student-athletes with some type of spring season. We have models in place that allow for competition starting as late as May 25, but given the late start date, tournament play may not be viable.  Our commitment to conclude the spring season, no later than June 30 stands.  As the governor noted, we remain hopeful.”

“I would love to be able to have all sports back,” Fauci said in the Times report. “But as a health official and a physician and a scientist, I have to say, right now, when you look at the country, we’re not ready for that yet.”

Based on a report by the New York Times.

Photo by Rachel Barkdoll on Unsplash

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Health and Wellness

Report Claims Dr. Fauci Backed Wuhan Virus Lab with Millions in Research Funding

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

WASHINGTON, DC – A new report this week claims Donald Trump’s chief medical advisor during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci gave $3.7 million to fund research at the controversial Wuhan virus lab some are saying is responsible for this pandemic. “In 2019, with the backing of NIAID, the National Institutes of Health committed $3.7 million over six years for research that included some gain-of-function work. The program followed another $3.7 million, 5-year project for collecting and studying bat coronaviruses, which ended in 2019, bringing the total to $7.4 million,” Newsweek reported.

 

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Business NewsPolice Blotter

Pole Dancer Suing Zoom After Unwanted Men Showed Up For Meeting

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

Stacey Simmons, a pole dancing teacher in California is suing the online meeting company Zoom after unwanted men started showing up unexpectedly in her pole dancing instruction classes.  According to the lawsuit, Simmons is suing the company because she feels it did not provide the level of security promised in its advertising.

Simmons, a customer of Zoom teaches burlesque and pole dancing online to earn money during the COVID-19 shut down in California.  She alleges that those security breaches are the fault of the company and resulted in her losing clients and having a lower attendance as women who aspired to become pole dancers were scared away by the creepy men breaking into their meetings.

“The level of encryption Zoom provides is far less robust than what it promised,” she said in her complaint. “And a wide variety of security failings have jeopardized Zoom-users’ privacy. These failings have enabled bad actors to join meetings without permission, to access web cameras surreptitiously, and to access many thousands of recorded Zoom meetings stored online.”

Photo by Mahir Uysal on Unsplash

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Business News

After Murphy Shutdown Drive Through Event, NJ Tulip Farm Alive, Well and Thriving

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

MILLSTONE, NJ – Earlier this month, Governor Phil Murphy threatened two tulip farm owners to shut down their drive through tulip farm experience, but that hasn’t stopped Holland Ridge Farms in Cream Ridge from getting themselves through the season.    The governor allowed drive-up sales to continue, declaring the in-car drive through around the farm a violation of safe social distancing.

This week, they put out a video to show customers what to expect when they arrive to buy their tulips.

“Here’s a little behind the scenes of our tulip pickup process. Shot this morning Saturday, April 25th. Even though you can’t walk amongst the tulips you can still see plenty of them on your way through the farm! We’re open from 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week all the way up until Mother’s Day,” the company said.

Tulip purchases happen daily through May 11th.  Visit their Facebook page to learn more.

 

https://www.facebook.com/hollandridgefarms/videos/1084069345313393/

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Community NewsHealth and WellnessNew Jersey News

CDC Issues Social Distancing Guidelines for Pets After Two Cats Contract Coronavirus

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

Washington, D.C. – The CDC is now warning Americans to practice safe social distancing with pets after two cats in New York City have come down with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) today announced the first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in two pet cats. These are the first pets in the United States to test positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The cats live in two separate areas of New York state. Both had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery. SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported in very few animals worldwide, mostly in those that had close contact with a person with COVID-19.

At this time, routine testing of animals is not recommended. Should other animals be confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the United States, USDA will post the findingsexternal icon. State animal health and public health officials will take the lead in making determinations about whether animals should be tested for SARS-CoV-2.

In the NY cases announced today, a veterinarian tested the first cat after it showed mild respiratory signs. No individuals in the household were confirmed to be ill with COVID-19. The virus may have been transmitted to this cat by mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected person outside its home.

Samples from the second cat were taken after it showed signs of respiratory illness. The owner of the cat tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the cat showing signs. Another cat in the household has shown no signs of illness.

Both cats tested presumptive positive for SARS-CoV-2 at a private veterinary laboratory, which then reported the results to state and federal officials. The confirmatory testing was conducted at NVSL and included collection of additional samples. NVSL serves as an international reference laboratory and provides expertise and guidance on diagnostic techniques, as well as confirmatory testing for foreign and emerging animal diseases. Such testing is required for certain animal diseases in the U.S. in order to comply with national and international reporting procedures. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) considers SARS-CoV-2 an emerging disease, and therefore USDA must report confirmed U.S. animal infections to the OIE.

Public health officials are still learning about SARS-CoV-2, but there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading the virus in the United States. Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals that may compromise their welfare. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals, including pets, could be affected.

Until we know more, CDC recommends the following:

  • Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household.
  • Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people.
  • Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals.
  • Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather.

If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would around other people.

  • When possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick.
  • Avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food or bedding.
  • If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them.

While additional animals may test positive as infections continue in people, it is important to note that performing this animal testing does not reduce the availability of tests for humans. The U.S. government remains committed to increasing nationwide COVID-19 testing for Americans. In fact, the United States has conducted more than four million COVID-19 tests for humans, which is more tests than the following nations combined: France, the UK, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, India, Austria, Australia, Sweden, and Canada.

For more information on animals and COVID-19, see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html

For more information about testing in animals, see: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/one_health/downloads/faq-public-on-companion-animal-testing.pdfexternal icon

Stock Photo by Nathalie Jolie on Unsplash

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