Community News

Freeholder Kelly: Political Appointment in Limbo

Freeholder Jack Kelly said this week that his political appointment by Governor Chris Christie is in limbo.

Kelly is banking on the job at the parole board which pays members between $75,000 and $150,000 per year.

“When I was a little boy they talked about limbo,” Kelly said. “Limbo was a place that wasn’t quite heaven but certainly wasn’t hell. It’s sort of where I’m at right now.”

Kelly came under fire from New Jersey State Senator Ray Lesniak, discrediting Kelly’s experience in the field, citing no official law enforcement or criminal justice experience. Kelly does not have a college degree, Lesniak said.

“Kelly’s judgment as to an inmate’s release would be useless,” he added.

Kelly insists that his 23 years as a freeholder as the Director of Law and Public Safety makes him qualified for the job.

The freeholder once held a patronage job position at the Atlantic City International Airport, but it was short lived, working as an airport analyst.  He started in 1999. He left that job in 2004.

“I’m a winner either way,” he said.

The Asbury Park Press has in-depth coverage of Kelly’s nomination process.

 

 

PETA Takes Aim At Toms River's Beaver Trap & Kill Program

Toms River’s program to curb its beaver population has caught the attention of PETA, who calls the campaign a “Beaver Massacre”.

PETA objected to the township’s use of Conibear traps which snap the neck of the animals.

Coniber“The Township of Toms River reportedly plans to kill beavers living in Lake Placid, and Conibear traps—the devices most commonly used for this purpose—cause terrified victims to suffer horribly as they are slowly crushed or drowned, which for beavers can take more than 15 agonizing minutes,” PETA said.  “And when caught by their limbs while on land, victims can succumb to dehydration, starvation, or shock. These sadistic kill traps also threaten “nontarget” species, including protected wildlife and even companion animals. Finally, killing is ineffective because surviving beavers will be prompted to breed at accelerated rates while inevitable newcomers arrive for the still-available resources. What results will be an endless killing cycle at taxpayers’ expense.”

“[We] apprised township officials of the aforementioned information and provided effective and humane beaver-control advice but to no apparent avail,”the organization said.

The rise came after the township announced it will begin trapping and killing beavers around Lake Placid, a series of lakes east of the Ocean County Mall.

“Due to the destructive presence of beavers in Toms River, particularly in the Lake Placid area, it is recognized that the Township must address ongoing beaver activity proactively. Left unaddressed, this problem threatens the quality of life of the area’s homeowners,” the township said in a statement.  “Beaver dams present numerous problems. They alter waterways which destroy forests and threaten homes and roads. Cut or felled trees may topple other trees or utility poles, or cause precarious overhangs that could fall onto public pathways and roadways. Flood water can cause substantial property damage to homes and has already started to impact the yards of residents living in the area. The flood water poses a serious health risk to residents with well water or septic tanks behind their homes.”

ImagesThe township release continued, “Due to potential damage, residents have repeatedly contacted the Township and appeared before the Council requesting that action be taken as soon as possible. Since 2011, the Township has taken a number of steps to address the beaver dam problem. In total, the Township’s Engineering Department has spent $66,900 in emergency lake drainage, bypass pumping, restoration and other materials at the Lake Placid outfall to alleviate flooding problems.

“The Township has also had crews visit the area twice a week to clear the dams and address flooding concerns. The dams have been removed, but the beavers rebuild them. The Township had also previously installed fencing and other guards around pipes. Moving the beavers is not an option. State regulation prohibits the relocation of beavers, according to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Despite these efforts, a string of beaver dams has increased in the Lake Placid area.

Img_1766“Consequently, the Township is constrained to proceed with beaver trapping, which, to be effective, must coincide with beaver hunting season in New Jersey (December 26- February 9). Trapping is the only viable, long-term solution to provide a practical and financial means of responding to the presence of beavers on Town owned and managed lands. Trapping ensures that property damage and human health and safety risks are minimized and that quality of life is preserved for residents.

“According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, beavers may be taken only by properly licensed trappers in possession of a special beaver trapping permit valid for an entire management zone, or a special site-specific beaver permit valid as designated on the permit. The trappers enlisted by the Township are so licensed. Toms River’s beaver management policy follows methods approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The Township will cooperate with other levels of government agencies in order to best address future beaver management issues.”

On December 30th, protesters marched on town hall to ask the township to relocated the beavers humanely to the Unexpected Wildlife Refuge near Buena Vista Township.

Township officials said their hands are tied because New Jersey Fish and Wildlife rules do not allow for the trapping and relocation of beavers in New Jersey.

An online petition to “Save the Beavers” has generated over 2,250 signatures to date.

A request for a short-term moratorium on the trapping and killing was denied by the township.

Christmas Trees to be Used for Dune Building in Ortley Beach

Toms River Township is asking residents to bring their Christmas trees to Ortley Beach to help rebuild the sand dunes there.

Between now and February 1, 2016, Christmas trees may be brought by residents to the Lord House lifeguard station, located between 3rd and 4th Ave. in Ortley Beach, and placed inside the fence. These trees will then be placed on the dunes by Township personnel, in order to promote dune growth. Do not place trees directly on the beach. If you wish to participate, please ensure that all ornaments, lights, tinsel, garland etc. have been removed from the trees.

Matt O'Ree, New Bon Jovi Guitarist Gives Words of Encouragement to Aspiring New Jersey Musicians

 

For years, Matt O’Ree could be found at Surf Taco in Jackson entertaining diners with his weekly acoustic set.  This past fall, O’ree, of Holmdel could be found on stage with Bon Jovi after he was chosen to replace 10 year Bon Jovi veteran Bobby Bandiera as the band’s rhythm guitarist.    O’Ree, who formed the blues based Matt O’Ree band, another regular around Ocean County over the years, accompanied Bon Jovi on their 2015 fall world tour.A Letter of Encouragement for Aspiring Musicians in the Jersey Area:

To start things off in the interview with Matt O’Ree, Guitarist for Bon Jovi, and New Jersey Resident, I asked him to give aspiring musicians something they could sink their teeth into while they built their career.

DownloadMatt’s Response:

One of the things that I could say for the benefit of upcoming players is the value of teaching their instrument to other students. The guy I studied from encouraged me to teach more, and that’s what really got me started. A lot of the value came in the freedom of making my own schedule, which gave me the time and resources necessary to pursue other gigs and opportunities. At the same time, a teacher is sharing their art and ability with other musicians, essentially offering them to help them along the way.

Through teaching a younger musician a classic, they get to be involved with music that they didn’t grow up with. The teachers refine their skills, and the students learn the techniques of previous masters, you know… Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Hendrix; those guys.

Tom Rexdale (Toms River), who was my voice teacher, has provided a humbling experience for me, working with him over the last 10 years. I could never pay him back for all for the help that he’s given me. He’s the one who gave me the inspiration of being a lifetime student.

I’ve learned there’s always something to learn from everybody. I’ve learned through teaching my students, I’ve learned through Tom, and I continue to learn. Tom told me once, “If my teacher was still alive, I’d still be going to him.”

Music is just one example of how to be a lifetime student — it’s never a process that ends, because there’s always something else to learn. The freedom of teaching provides income, sharing your art, and you have more time to balance those two out.

In getting hired to play with Bon Jovi, Matt has achieved a milestone in his life. Having the opportunity to talk with him, I wanted to pick his brain for his perspective on the industry, so musicians who hadn’t quite achieved the same level of success might find their way. First, I wanted to discuss the role of Social Media for today’s Musician.

Matt’s Response:

I’d like to think that I got to the next level that I was trying to achieve, and the levels never really end. Once you’re where you wanted to go, you find there’s always more work to be done.

About Social Media and Musicians, it’s both fortunate, and unfortunate. There is so much work that gets thrust onto musicians, and it’s possible to really get sucked into it, and not be able to create art. The widespread acceptance of Illegal downloading, and the freedom of the internet has increased the work load of independent musicians. Self-promoting is a big deal, and you have to do it, but unfortunately, it becomes a lot more work that a musician needs to manage. On the positive side, musicians now have more control over promotional strategies, and what sort of content gets released; it’s a double edged sword.

When you think about making it in the industry in the 60’s, the bottom line is how much work gets put in your instrument and your craft, and how good are you at playing music — Nothing’s changed about the fundamentals — You need a great song, and a great image. Our responsibilities have increased, as well as our freedom; that is the only change. I have more promotion work to do now, than the practice time that I used to be able to have. I’ve had to find a balance, just like everyone else.

It’s not an easy thing to practice, improve your craft, and promote yourself. I will say something that gives me a lot of hope is Adele, It blew me away how many records she sold after her recent release. 14 Mil copies for a national record, I was shocked.

Next, I wanted to dive in a bit deeper about the financial side of things, so we navigated the topics of Illegal Downloading, Live Performances, and Crowdfunding, trying to find how Musicians can Adapt to current conditions.

Matt’s Response:

The best way to adapt… Hmm.

Illegal downloading really puts a damper on a machine. The Artist, the Record Label, the Promotion — they’re all affected; and that affects live performances, as far as attendance is concerned. In the music industry, prices changed from $17 a record, to a $10 record, and a $50 concert to a $150 per concert. I just paid $300 to see Eric Clapton. The show was great, but realistically, whose got $300 to go to a concert?

Concerts are important through. The one thing that the internet can’t replace is seeing the artist in person. People are still getting illegal downloads, but hopefully they can minimize what they take. There’s a whole generation online that have no concept of thinking that pirating music is wrong, because they grew up with the internet; they think that’s normal. The first example that comes to mind is a Plumber. Just think — The next time a plumber comes over to fix your sink — Are you going to pay them?

For Musicians, hopefully your art is a service that helps make a positive impact on people’s lives. The internet can’t replace the live show, and that’s great. I really think the person to person experience is where the future of music is going to be. It’s a tough balance, but the industry is still thriving. Getting people to come to your show is the new focus for the Industry. People still care about the music, they want you to sign their record at the end of the show and that sort of thing. Smaller Venues are great, because you can meet people afterward and talk. Once you start playing stadiums, you don’t really have an opportunity to connect one on one.

Interaction is a big part of art these days. A lot of artists are doing a crowdfunding type of thing to finance a cost of their record. — There is a difference between a CD and a record. You can do a CD at your house, and a record has a difference in quality, and it costs a lot of money to produce a record in a commercial studio. The amount of money is high whether you’re buying the right equipment at home, or just putting something together in a studio. A lot of people are turning to Crowd-Funding to finance production costs.

With Crowd-Funding, you can interact with your audience as a means of saying, “Thanks, for your support.”

In return, your fans are going to get signed copies, a personal letter, or a few t-shirts. High end sponsors can get a free show in their backyard, or have executive credits listed on the record, which helps to recognize their contribution to the project.

The point is to provide an opportunity for your fans to support you creating something special, which can then be shared with the rest of the group. In return, you want to make a personal connection with them, just to say, “Thank you.” Unfortunately, that does cost money, but the connection is worth it.

Having spoken to Tom Rexdale, Matt’s Vocal coach previously, I heard that Matt was playing music for a Charity Benefit, and I wanted him to have an opportunity to share what motivates him to play for a cause.

Matt’s Response:

There’s always a handful of benefits that we participate in during the year. The “Light of Day” is a concert series that raises money to end Parkinson’s disease. I contribute because it’s a great cause, and a terrible disease.

The concert will go on, Thursday, Friday Saturday, if you buy a pass, you can get access through all of the different venues. All of the music will be at Asbury Park, New Jersey.

At the end of our interview, I opened up the floor for any closing comments. He could have said anything, but these are his closing statements:

Matt’s Response:

I can’t thank everybody enough for all of the support that I’ve received after joining Bon Jovi. I’m absolutely overwhelmed with all of the support. People have said, ”It couldn’t have happened to a nicer, or more qualified person,” and that felt great.

A lot of people won’t know how many years I worked and worked to get to the next level. What was amazing to me was the amount of support I received throughout those years. I can’t thank folks enough in return for continuing to believe in me. Someone told me, “All of the hard work does pay off,” and it really did.

Even though the industry has changed a bit, success is about how much work that you put into it. Not everybody gets the ultimate success at the end of the rainbow, but if you work hard, and you never give up, you will succeed. You will achieve your goals. I can honestly say that I’m living proof of that.

Never give up. That’s the best advice that I can give to anybody. Its a nice thing to know that hard work will pay off.
You can go see Matt play with Bon Jovi, and help fight Parkinson’s at the same time!

Find more information about his benefit concert below:

Light of Day Winterfest 2016 dates for New Jersey/New York: Jan 10-18.
Light of Day Foundation.
lightofday.org

 

Prosecutor's Office Claims Contractor Operating with Expired License

TOMS RIVER-On Monday (1/4/16), Seaside Heights residents, Mary and Nick Ditta, responded to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to report a theft by contractor Thomas Carlevale, 29, of Thomas Carlevale Construction in Toms River. The Ditta’s reported they contracted Mr. Carlevale’s company to lift and renovate their home in Seaside Heights, but that the work has been left incomplete.

The investigation by OCPO Special Investigations Unit alleges that the Ditta’s provided approximately $22,000 to Mr. Carlevale for the requested services and that Thomas Carlevale spent approximately $4,500 on the job before abandoning the work and leaving the residence damaged and incomplete. In addition the investigation found Carlevale was not registered with the State as a home improvement contractor at the time the contract was drafted.

An arrest warrant for THEFT BY FAILURE TO MAKE REQUIRED DISPOSITION AND FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR was applied for and granted by Judge Daniels, with bail set at $50,000 no 10%. On Wednesday (1/6/16) at approximately 1 pm, members of OCPO Special Investigations Unit located and arrested Carlevale after a motor vehicle stop on Washington Street in Toms River.

Anyone experiencing issues with Thomas Carlevale’s Construction Company can contact OCPO Special Investigations Unit Det. Brad Frank at 732-929-2027 Ext. 3689.

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that these defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Veteran Brick police officer dies after battle with cancer

BRICK — A 12-year veteran patrolman died Saturday after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Officer Kristopher DeMarco, 38, had just been diagnosed in early November. But, at the time of his diagnosis, the cancer had already spread throughout his body, said Brick Mayor John Ducey. “He was a really great officer,” Ducey said. “… He’s…