Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The American people are waiting in exasperation and terror as members of Congress sit on their hands rather than pass nationwide gun safety legislation.” – Governor Murphy responding to the Texas school shooting
TOP STORY: CD-5 Flashpoint: Pallotta v. De Gregorio Debate
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 2,031,890 cases and 30,577 confirmed fatalities (and 333,766 probable cases and 3,063 probable fatalities) as of Tuesday (an increase of 4,417 confirmed cases, 1,492 probable cases, 21 lab-confirmed fatalities, and 10 hospital-reported fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is 1.16. There are 891 total hospitalizations, with 109 in intensive care units, and 168 discharges in the past day. There are 6,904,644 people fully vaccinated.
Following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, law enforcement presence will be increased at schools throughout the state.
Disability advocates are fighting to improve Pinelands’ parks, according to Burlington County Times.
Atlantic County Prosecutor nominee Reynolds wants to build trust in the office, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
An alleged assault by an investigator is leading to questions about the Bergen County Sherriff’s appointments, according to the Bergen Record.
Camden County’s health hub has begun administering COVID-19 boosters to children ages 5-11.
Mercer County Community College introduced a AI training program for professionals.
Former Ocean County GOP Chairman Gilmore raised questions about the Sheriff’s SUV use, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Not everyone is happy about Passaic County Tech’s $25M expansion, according to NorthJersey.com.
A ransomware attack disabled Somerset County’s email system, according to TAPinto.
Amazon is looking to reduce warehouse space in the state, according to ROI-NJ.
ICYMI: Murphy announced appointments to AAPI Commission; Murphy announced proposed statewide police licensing program; Murphy declared emergency over baby formula shortage
Former Senator Weinberg formed a PAC to support progressive initiatives, organizations, and candidates.
Former Ocean County GOP Chairman Gilmore is running again for chair, challenging Sheriff Mastronardy, saying ‘we need to make Ocean County great again’, according to the Asbury Park Press.
The Hunterdon County GOP selected Raritan Committeeman Kuhl to fill the vacancy left by former Commissioner Holt.
In CD3, GOP primary candidate Bob Healey was endorsed by the NJSPBA.
In CD5, GOP primary candidates Nick DeGregorio and Frank Pallotta faced off at a debate, with both candidates taking aim at Rep. Gottheimer and President Biden.
In CD7, Republicans are competing for the chance to unseat Rep. Malinowski, according to NJ Hills.
ICYMI: Christie, Chiesa, Porrino joined MAD advisory board; Pallotta released text message series slamming BCRO leaders; AOC popped up in Morris GOP commissioner race; In CD7, Malinowski demands; Kean denounce Stefanik endorsement; in CD5, Zisa slammed Rep. Gottheimer’s GOP primary mailer; in CD11, Anderson announced several endorsements; Flora took aim at Kean as he attempts to position himself ‘conservative choice’; 32BJ released endorsements; in CD3, GOP primary pits Healey against Smith
The Republican budget plan calls for updated tax brackets, according to NJ Monitor.
The NJMVC won an international award for its partnership with the First Lady’s Office in bringing services to underserved communities.
The LD10 legislators introduced legislation requiring public schools to post all resources in libraries to their website for parental transparency.
The NJBIA expressed opposition to legislation setting price controls on pharmaceutical companies.
The NJ Clean Energy Coalition urged Governor Murphy to equitably invest federal infrastructure and jobs funding.
ICYMI: Senate GOP slammed ANCHOR program; Coughlin wants ‘largest tax relief program in state history‘; Murphy to nominate Schuster as DOC Ombudsman; Schepisi expressed concern about Roe
In Hillside, Acting AG Platkin announced charges against a police officer for allegedly conspiring with a gang member to commit official misconduct.
In Long Branch, Mayor Pallone responded to illegal pop-up parties, saying those responsible ‘will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law’, as the town braces for another illegal beach party, according to NJ101.5.
In Asbury Park, a police officer filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Atlantic City, the Police Department is beefing up staffing ahead of summer, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Bernardsville, the council addressed the transparency of downtown redevelopment plans, according to TAPinto.
In Chatham, nearly 1k feet of waterlines will be replaced, according to NJ Hills.
In Dover, Democrats will see primary challenges in all four wards, according to NJ Hills.
In Edison, Mayor Joshi’s first budget stabilizes taxes and begins major revitalization projects, according to TAPinto.
In Hoboken, three Ward 5 residents filed a notice of intent to recall Councilman Cohen, according to Hudson County View.
In Lebanon, the town streamlined a path for EV charging and parking, according to NJ Hills.
In Linden, the lawsuit between Senate President Scutari and the town over ‘serial absenteeism’ as prosecutor was settled, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Jersey City, the Women’s Advisory Committee is taking shape, according to TAPinto.
In Metuchen, the town is eyeing a new EMS center, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Ocean City, guarded beaches were announced for Memorial Day weekend, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Paterson, the state censured Judge Guzman, saying she was ineligible to serve, according to Paterson Press.
In Rutherford, the town will host its first Pride Fest on June 4th, according to the Bergen Record.
In Saddle River, the town says an official pushed a ‘personal agenda’ in the affordable housing fight, according to the Bergen Record.
In South Orange, health officer John Festa will retire, according to TAPinto.
In Trenton, the feds are probing the environmental health department in a time fraud case, according to the Trentonian.
In Warren Township, the Warren County GOP chair commented on the municipal party rift, according to NJ Hills.
ICYMI: In Newark, Fontoura endorsed Silva; in Morristown, hundreds gathered for Roe rally; in Morris, Mancuso faces primary challenge; in Newark, Onyema ready for runoff against Kelly, Bankston welcomes showdown in runoff election
AROUND THE WEB:
First month of adult-use cannabis sales in N.J. brings in $24 million
Sophie Nieto Munoz, NJ Monitor
‘Our nation grieves with them’: NJ officials react to deadly Texas school shooting
USA TODAY Atlantic Digital Team
Those who live in shadow of Turnpike extension speak out against $4.7 billion widening project
Larry Higgs, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Mayor Baraka: There is ‘no excuse’ for the county board of election’s incompetence | Opinion
Ras Baraka
Abuse of disabled people in N.J. group homes persists as accountability lags, watchdog says
Susan K. Livio, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Tom Cotton endorses De Gregorio in NJ-05
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
Democrats playing 3-D chess in Republican primaries? | Mulshine
Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger
Watchdog urges N.J. to expand care for residents with developmental or intellectual disabilities
Dana DiFilippo, NJ Monitor
Hey, N.J.: Find some money and fix dangerous, ugly Route 139 in Jersey City | Quigley
Joan Quigley, For The Jersey Journal
Morristown police assist federal probe of alleged Dominican money laundering scheme
Morristown Green
NJ hiring managers are getting creative to find bus drivers amid shortage. Here’s how
Colleen Wilson, NorthJersey.com
Princeton board fires professor in sexual misconduct investigation
Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post
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Early in Monday night’s Town Council meeting, Mayor Alex Roman read into the record a proclamation declaring June 3 to be Gun Violence Awareness Day in Verona. It was a proclamation that has been made by previous Verona Councils for the past six or seven years. The Council then heard from Peg Zitko, the Essex County lead for Moms Demand Action, a national group working on public safety measures to prevent gun violence. She asked that light its municipal building in orange over the weekend of June 3 to June 5.
Councilman Christopher Tamburro was late to Monday’s meeting, which was held online, and was not present for the proclamation or the request. But about two hours later, when Deputy Mayor Christine McGrath returned to the question of lighting Town Hall orange and Mayor Roman asked for the Council’s consensus on that, Tamburro objected.
“There are a lot of residents in town who find the proclamation and inclusion of this to be very ideological in nature,” Tamburro said, “and I do not think that we should be lighting up our township facility for something ideological. I understand it’s veiled as gun safety, and that’s what that proclamation said and so on. But the same organizations that support this are also very much trying to limit gun rights and so on. And I think a good portion, based on the number of gun permits that we have out in Verona, of residents do not support that and doing anything public like that will alienate a portion of our municipality. So I’m opposed to lighting the building orange for that purpose.” Proclamations, which used to carry only the mayor’s signature, are now prepared with the signature of all Council members; Tamburro did not sign the document.
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McGrath said that she was “deeply disappointed” by Tamburro’s position. “Responsible gun owners, which are the majority of gun owners in this country, are very supportive of gun violence prevention efforts,” she said.
“Gun violence has become the number one killer of children,” McGrath continued. “And as we heard in the proclamation, two-thirds of those deaths are suicides and that can happen in any community, including ours. And every day I just pray that something won’t happen here.” A Verona gas station attendant, Daniel Pritchard, was shot to death in a robbery in February 2009; Essex County prosecutors have been unable to get a conviction in the case.
Tamburro persisted in his objection. “I think we’ve come to the point that in so much of what we’re doing as far as proclamations and and things like that, that we’re starting to focus on things that are much outside of Verona,” he said. “I think we need to in general as discussed after having six proclamations last time around, start to focus our staff time and our council meeting time on issues that are clearly facing our town. So while I appreciate Councilwoman McGrath’s points, I think we need to start using the lights in our town to bring the town together.”
You can watch the Town Council meeting in full in the video below.
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TRENTON – Assembly Republicans want to cut income taxes as part of the new state budget, part of a four-pronged plan for responding to an unprecedented surge in state revenues and surplus.
Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio, R-Warren, said the tax brackets haven’t been adjusted in nearly a quarter-century – and that given inflation rates and the state’s multi-billion surplus, now is the time.
“It’s going to give long-term, sustainable relief to many, many New Jerseyans, particularly those on the lower end of the scale,” DiMaio said.
Taxes would be reduced on income under $128,455 for a single taxpayer and $256,910 for a married couple. Savings would amount to $1,600 for a married couple earning $110,000 or $1,000 for a single taxpayer with income of $70,000, DiMaio said.
The 1.75% tax bracket that currently starts at $20,000 of income for a single-filer taxpayer would be applied starting at $34,255, according to the proposal. The 3.5% rate would start at $59,946, rather than $35,000; the 5.525% rate at $68,510, rather than $40,000; and the 6.37% rate at $128,455, rather than $75,000.
For married couples filing jointly, all those income thresholds are doubled. The plan also eliminates a 2.45% bracket that currently applies to married couples on their income between $50,000 and $70,000, described by critics as a marriage penalty in the tax code.
Assembly Republicans say they want the budget to include the largest rebates possible to residents to help them deal with inflation, restore aid to municipalities that gets diverted to the state and reverse reductions in school aid planned for about one-third of school districts.
“This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we haven’t seen ever to take action to save people money versus finding ways to spend their money,” DiMaio said.
The Legislature and governor have about five weeks left to settle on a state budget. Republicans remain the minority party in the Legislature though have gained seats in the last few election cycles.
Assemblyman Hal Wirths, R-Sussex, said that while the state needs to hold onto some of its surplus – projected at around $10 billion – the rest must be returned to taxpayers. He said at budget hearings, Democratic lawmakers often pressed Cabinet officers on whether they could use more money for staff.
“Being on the budget committee for these couple of years, I don’t have faith in them not spending the money,” Wirths said. “If it’s sitting there, they spend it.”
Michael Symons is the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at michael.symons@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
UPDATED 4/10: A current list of county fairs happening across the Garden State for 2022. From rides, food, animals, and hot air balloons, each county fair has something unique to offer.
(Fairs are listed in geographical order from South NJ to North NJ)
The streets are a little bit safer today thanks to a multi-agency investigation led by New Jersey State Police which led to 17-people being placed in handcuffs.
Over the course of two days this month, 17-fugitives, many who were wanted for violent crimes were arrested in Mercer County, according to a Tuesday announcement by New Jersey State Police.
It was the NJSP Fugitive Unit who led the investigative efforts along with detectives from the NJSP Crime Suppression Central Unit, K-9 Central Unit, Real Time Crime Center Central Unit, Gangs & Organized Crime Central Unit, and Cyber Crimes Unit, the United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, the New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Operations Group, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Trenton Police Department who teamed up in the two day Mobile Deployment Initiative, which also led to the discovery of five firearms.
New Jersey State Police said that the specific 17 were identified through a number of investigative efforts and agencies to identify and find those who were wanted for crimes including weapons/firearms offenses, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, and various drug offenses.
Following the arrests, all 17 people were brought to, and detained at the Mercer County Jail.
“By working together to locate and apprehend dangerous fugitives we help reduce crime and make our communities safer,” Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a written statement. “I commend the New Jersey State Police and our federal, state, county, and local partners for their work in this proactive crime suppression effort.”
“The New Jersey State Police works closely with our law enforcement partners, and we are committed to keeping our communities safe,” Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said in a written statement. “We target these violent offenders to get them off our streets and make sure they are swiftly brought to justice.”
MILLBURN, NJ — New Jersey’s Primary Election Day is June 7. Locally, three Democratic candidates are facing off that day to become the two nominees to run for two seats on the Millburn Township Committee in November. They will then face two Republicans for the open seats.
Patch sent out questionnaires to local candidates and will be running the profiles of those in contested primary elections.
The three running as Democrats for the two seats are Annette Romano, Michael H. Cohen, and Jeffrey Feld.
Office sought Millburn Township Committee
Party affiliation Democrat
Education University of Pennsylvania (summa cum laude, phi beta kappa); Cornell Law School; NYU Law School (LLM in Taxation); public finance/bankruptcy law associate; family destination businesses in Orange
Occupation attorney (1983-); family owned businesses in Orange, NJ (1995-2020);
Family Katherine who I met in first year property class at Cornell Law. Katherine is a senior SEC attorney and very active with Cornell Law and Johnson Business Schools. Our children Deborah and James both went through the Millburn school and recreation systems.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? Yes, my wife Katherine is a senior SEC attorney.
Age 64
Previous public office, appointive or elective None. But I sat on certain volunteer Millburn Downtown Parking Garage and Orange Downtown Volunteer Committees.
Why are you seeking this office? I began to attend “dysfunctional” Millburn TC meetings in Sept 2020 and based upon what I discovered and observed, I feel compelled to restore civil robust informed civic participation and trust and confidence in our local government.
Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it. complying with Millburn’s constitutional affordable housing obligations in an open transparent process without diminishing our stellar school system and suburban nature
What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? My education, municipal law and main street small business qualifications and track record. I discovered and reported public wrongdoing in neighboring Essex County urban municipalities. I had to make weekly payroll. The State looked to me for assistance in drafting multifamily housing rules and regulations. Since my regular attendance at TC meetings in Sept. 2020, I caused the local governing body to post its agenda packet and bill list at least 48 hours prior to each meeting. I discovered a $2,000,000 overpayment to our municipal attorney without any court orders. I caused the local governing body to amend their rules and procedures to allow public comments on all agenda action items prior to consideration and official action. I caused two Superior Court Judges to rebuke Millburn and its retained professionals for denying virtual public access to public court proceedings.
If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community? I am not challenging any incumbent. My two primary opponents are party insiders responsible for screening, vetting and electing the current local governing body.
What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? Flood mitigation. Modernizing and updating Millburn’s current form of local government. Increasing financial transparency. Embracing technology to increase robust civil informed civic participation. Granting citizens a second public comment opportunity to address and to correct non-agenda item statements by the local governing body. Requiring a continuing municipal education requirement on the local governing body.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? The federal indictments and guilty pleas in Orange. The failure to pay long term tax exemption revenues to the County admissions contained in various municipal audits. The November 2018 shift in State urban renewal entity formation oversight. The long term tax exemption handbook issued by the State in November 2020.
What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? Remain humble. Admit your mistakes, cure your mistakes and move on.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I seek to be a bridge between generations. When we moved to Millburn 30 years ago, you could put your head on the pillow knowing that local public officials would act nonpartisan and in the best interests of the entire community. In the past few years, our local governing has lost this sense of purpose.
Hey there — want a news roundup in Millburn/Short Hills every day at 6 a.m.? OR breaking news alerts when warranted? Subscribe your local Patch alerts or morning newsletter.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Springtime bear sightings have begun to be reported in Essex County again, with black bears recently spotted in Montclair and the Caldwells.
A Montclair animal control officer said the male bear was thought to be about a year and half old and from 140 to 160 pounds. Another officer guessed that the bear was chased out of his home by an older bear, and that he’d most likely be taken to a less congested county with more open space, Montclair Local reported.
Another bear sighting was reported in the Caldwells on Sunday, authorities said. The West Caldwell Police Department issued the following advisory at 12:35 p.m.:
“West Caldwell residents please be advised of a bear sighting in the area of Deerfield Road and Beechwood Road. Please use caution if you are outdoors. Contact police headquarters if you are in need of any assistance. Thank you.”
Their peers in Caldwell also issued a bear advisory on Sunday at 2:24 p.m. The CPD said:
“We are aware and are tracking a bear that has been observed in West Caldwell and now recently by the Essex Fells border by Caldwell University. We will continue to monitor the bear’s location. Animal control is also aware of the bear in our area.”
“Do not approach the bear,” Caldwell police added.
Essex County is no stranger to black bears. In recent years, bear sightings have been reported in Montclair, Verona, Livingston, North Caldwell, West Orange, Bloomfield, Irvington, Maplewood, Roseland and Millburn, among other places.
Recent New Jersey bear encounters have caused some people to take another look at Gov. Phil Murphy’s decision to end the state’s controversial bear hunt. But last week, an administration spokesperson told Patch that they haven’t reversed their position on the hunt, and will continue to pursue non-lethal mitigation strategies. Read more: NJ Bear Attacks Won’t Prompt Gov. Murphy To Restore Hunt
Most of the recent encounters haven’t resulted in reported attacks on humans or pets, but that’s not always the case. Earlier this year, separate bear attacks killed two dogs last January in Sparta and injured 81-year-old woman in the same township.
A bear attacked a woman checking her mail May 18 in Lafayette, Sussex County. She was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries to her right arm and buttock, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Environmental officials set a trap for the bear, with plans to euthanize it under state policy.
LIVING ALONGSIDE BEARS: WHAT TO KNOW
According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, black bears are the largest land mammal in New Jersey. They are an integral part of the state’s natural heritage and a vital component of healthy ecosystems.
Since the 1980s the Garden State’s black bear population has been increasing and expanding its range both southward and eastward from the forested areas of northwestern New Jersey. Within the most densely populated state in the nation, black bears are thriving and there are now confirmed bear sightings in all 21 of New Jersey’s counties, the NJDFW states on its website.
“The most common bear problem New Jersey’s residents experience is black bears getting into their garbage,” state officials say. “Bears are attracted to neighborhoods by garbage odors, so properly securing your garbage is one of the best ways to prevent bears from becoming a nuisance in your community.”
NJDEP wildlife experts emphasize that a black bear passing through an area and not causing a specific problem, such as breaking into trash or otherwise trying to access food sources on people’s properties or posing a safety threat, should be left alone.
“People should leave the area and allow the bear to continue on its way,” officials said. “When frightened, bears may seek refuge by climbing trees. If the bear does go up a tree, clear the area and give the bear time to climb down and escape.”
Residents can report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the Wildlife Control Unit of the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife at (908) 735-8793. During evenings and weekends, residents should call their local police department or the DEP Hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337).
According to the NJDEP, black bears have been sighted in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties, but the population is densest in the northwestern counties of Sussex, Warren, Passaic and Morris.
BEAR SAFETY TIPS
The NJDEP provided the following tips to help people “minimize their encounters” with bears.
What should you do if you run into a black bear? According to the NJDEP:
This article contains reporting from Josh Bakan, Patch staff
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and resuming a tradition that began on a yearly basis in 2013, “Free Toll Friday” will return to the Atlantic City Expressway as the Memorial Day Weekend getaway begins.
Philadelphia-area sports bar chain Chickie’s & Pete’s will pick up the tab for all cars traveling through the eastbound Egg Harbor toll plaza exit on Friday from 5 to 6 p.m.
Costs will be covered for both cash and E-ZPass customers during that one hour, accounting for a fraction of the 285,000 motorists who traditionally use the Expressway during this holiday weekend, according to the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Chickie’s & Pete’s also plans to give away free orders of Crabfries at the Frank S. Farley Plaza between 12 and 5 p.m., with Starbucks, Hershey’s Ice Cream, 7-Eleven, and Fresh Attractions from Apple Green, the plaza’s food service operator, also offering free food and drink, according to a release.
Coca-Cola will give away Monster energy drinks.
The release also said Farley Plaza will host face painting, the animal rescue sanctuary The Funny Farm, a dog search and rescue demonstration from the New Jersey State Police, and a display of fire and rescue equipment brought over from Atlantic City International Airport.
The Patriot Fund, which provides support to military veterans returning from active duty, is another one of the promotion’s partners.
Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
These are the nominees for the 2022 class of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. They come from all walks of live, spanning generations back to the colonial era. The nominees cover the categories of Arts & Letters, Enterprise, Performing Arts & Entertainment, Public Service and Sports.
These are the most popular TV shows ever on Netflix, based on hours viewed in their first 28 days on streaming.
There can be no doubt that former Ventnor City, New Jersey Mayor Michael Bagnell believes the old expression that a dog is “Man’s Best Friend.”
This is an incredible real life story that we have just learned about regarding Bagnell.
By choice, Bagnell is the immediate past one term Mayor of Ventnor. He chose not to seek a second term.
Instead, Bagnell supported another ticket, Beth Maccagnano Holtzman, Tim Kriebel & Lance Landgraf, who have now each won two terms as Ventnor City Commissioners.
Bagnell was popular and he could have won a second term had he decided to run for reelection.
Serving only one term is in keeping with Bagnell’s character. He was never a career politician. He was a career professional firefighter by trade.
With this brief background, now on to a truly remarkable story.
Bagnell is very fortunate to be alive today. He’s a modest man, but, he took to his Facebook account to reveal publicly what recently happened to him. It’s just extraordinary.
There’s no better way to tell this story then in Bagnell’s own words as follows:
To my FAMILY and FRIENDS; I hesitate to post this.
I am not looking for sympathy, or well wishes. I am
alright. However, I recently experienced a near
death experience. I have a bad electrical system in
my heart, but the plumbing is fine.
Two weeks ago, my heart went into a fatal rhythm
which caused me to drop. My cardiologist and
primary doctor, in their combined 60+ years in
practice never heard of anyone surviving it.
Fortunately God has further plans for me.
The way I fell; {my hump and my beagle puppy saved me.} I landed flat on my hump [those who know … know what hump I mean] and just as I hit the floor, my Charlie Girl pounced on my chest; which acted like a Pre-Cardial Thump and put my heart into a normal rhythm.
They put a pace-maker/AED in my chest, which will
prevent that from happening again. I am FINE!!!!!
Hope that I broke the Bagnell curse.
Love you all, wrote Bagnell.
If you know Bagnell … he’s as humble as they come and he rarely talks about himself.
It’s obvious that he decided to make an exception in this case and he opened up about it, because he realizes that it is a miracle that he is still alive.
He is appropriately grateful for his new lease on life and you can just tell that he plans to not waste a moment of it.
With so many horrific things going on these days in our country … This is such a feel good story.
Congratulations Mayor.
PS: In case you’re wondering where the expression a dog is “Man’s Best Friend” came from. It dates back to 1870 and a case that was heard before The United States Supreme Court.
A lawyer named George Graham Vest defended a man
who deeply loved his hound dog named Old Drum.
Vest argued before the highest court in America “that when a neighbor killed Old Drum for trespassing, the neighbor took the life of more than just a pet … he killed an important family member.”
Vest famously stated, “The one absolute, unselfish
friend that man can have in this selfish world … the
one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous …
it is his dog,” said Vest.
Bagnell takes no exception to this expression. He’s now lived it through a life and death, moment of truth.
SOURCES: Michael Bagnell & Rover.com
Cherry Zamudio, of Warren County, says without help from the United Way of Northern New Jersey’s United in Care program, either she or her husband would’ve had to stay home to care for their sons. “Without this help, there’s no way we would’ve been able to afford the high costs of childcare here,” she says. “One of us wouldn’t have been able to work.” Amanda Brown | For NJ Advance Me
Cherry Zamudio was ready to give up. She spent weeks looking for daycare for her sons, Mateo, 3, and 10-month-old baby, Julian, in Warren County with no luck.
When she did find a spot, she couldn’t afford it. Care for both children would’ve cost her and her husband nearly $4,000 a month. Yes, $4,000!, which, according to financial services company Bank Rate, is more than double the average monthly mortgage payment in the state.
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MIDDLETOWN — A 10-week-old cockapoo has been returned to The Pet Shoppe, located in this Monmouth County municipality, and the township’s mayor reports there has been an arrest.
But little else is known about the resolution to Thursday afternoon’s theft of the puppy, for whose return a $2,000 reward had been issued, according to the store’s Facebook account.
That page also shared surveillance video of the dog being taken on Thursday, depicting a suspect whom police had described in detail last week.
On Saturday afternoon, The Pet Shoppe said the puppy had been returned and “the theft is under investigation.”
Middletown Mayor Tony Perry said on his public Facebook page that an arrest had been made.
Middletown police did not immediately respond to a request for further information.
Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
These are the nominees for the 2022 class of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. They come from all walks of live, spanning generations back to the colonial era. The nominees cover the categories of Arts & Letters, Enterprise, Performing Arts & Entertainment, Public Service and Sports.
These are the most popular TV shows ever on Netflix, based on hours viewed in their first 28 days on streaming.