By Boat, EPA Collects Water Samples for Monitoring Barnegat Bay

The EPA will continue its numerous testing of the Barnegat Bay as part of Gov. Chris Christie's 10-point Action Plan

At 8 a.m. several days a month, staff of the Environmental Protection Agency  sets out for the Barnegat Bay by boat. Leaving from Southwinds Marina in Forked River, the group sets sail on this overcast morning to pull water samples as part of Gov. Chris Christie's 10-point plan to clean up the bay. “We are a part of the larger effect that is led by NJDEP,” Braun said. “The bay is being impacted by development on shore. There is a lot of runoff flowing into the Bay from fertilizer and other chemicals.” Three groups were sent to take samples of the water in the Barnegat Bay on Monday morning. The groups had 13 spots to pull samples from, and all had to be collected between 8 and 10 a.m. so they could see how the entire Bay looked during that…

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Joseph Herbert

10:34 am on Monday, August 13, 2012

The biggest problem our bay has is us! Everything from poorly discarded waste materials, petroleum products and improperly used, high nitrate fertilizers ends up in it. We add to that by capping vast acres of land with buildings and petroleum based tars that seep oils for years and deny the bay the benefit of ground filtered runoff. We need much larger catch basins and we need to insure that …   more ›

County Still Without Permanent Schools Superintendent

Nearly a year after former Executive County Superintendent of Schools Bruce Greenfield was let go by the Christie administration, a permanent replacement has yet to be named

Ocean County has not had a permanent Executive County Superintendent of Schools since January, and it does not appear as if the role will be filled in the immediate future. Former county Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bruce Greenfield was one of seven county superintendents in New Jersey whose contracts were not renewed by Gov. Chris Christie in January. Christie press secretary Michael Drewniak previously told reporters the former supers were "holdovers from the prior administration.” In New Jersey, county school superintendents are politically appointed. The governor’s office, however, has yet to move to replace Greenfield. Allison Kobus with the State Department of Education indicated the department was not aware of any pending …

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Gov. Christie Coming to Seaside Heights This Afternoon

One of several stops focusing on tourism and environment

One of several stops at Jersey Shore beaches, Gov. Chris Christie will be in Seaside Heights this afternoon for a press conference and to walk the boards and beach of the resort town. According to the governor’s office: “Governor Chris Christie will continue his weeklong beach and boardwalk tour with stops in Manasquan and Seaside Heights to reaffirm the Christie Administration’s commitment to protecting and promoting New Jersey’s beaches and waterways.” The event is at Seaside Heights Boardwalk at Dupont Avenue, at 3:45 p.m. Christie is expected to make a similar appearance in Manasquan near the inlet at 2 p.m. today and head immediately to Seaside Heights. He was in Belmar yesterday as part of the tour, talking up the Barnegat Bay 10-…

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suz

10:37 am on Friday, August 12, 2011

I suppose you are perfect?   more ›

Christie: State Is On the Upswing

Governor's town hall message emphasizes reforms to spending, taxation, education and pensions

New Jersey is beginning to turn a corner. Gov. Chris Christie opened his 19th town hall of 2011 in Toms River today with a half-hour speech that began with that sentiment, as he outlined a familiar "reform agenda" that emphasized the steps he felt were necessary to repair an underfunded pension system, troubled education results and taxpayers' property tax burden. "New Jersey is beginning to turn a corner. I can feel it, hope you can feel it too. In 2009, when I was elected, we were going through some of the toughest times we had seen in this state," Christie said. He said those tough times were a result of a poor economy, but also poor decisions. There was a 322 percent increase in state spending from 1990 to 2010, Christie said. "That's …

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Gov. Chris Christie is Coming to Toms River on Tuesday

19th town hall meeting for Christie. This one's in Armory on Whitesville Road

Gov. Chris Christie will be in Toms River on Tuesday, hosting his 19th town hall event this year. The town hall will be held at Toms River National Guard Armory, 1200 Whitesville Road. That's near the Winding River Park on Whitesville. Doors are at 2 p.m., the event begins at 3 p.m. The event is open to the public and seating is first-come, first-serve. Registration? Go to the event's facebook page. This isn't the first town hall Christie held in the Toms River area; the last one was in November. He was also recently in Toms River for a fundraiser for Ocean County Freeholder Joseph Vicari, who is seeking re-election. The town halls, where queries from the public are taken in addition to the governor's statements, are often packed events …

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bayway mike

3:35 pm on Sunday, June 5, 2011

Maybe he'll use the NJSP helicopter to arrive, it's better than causing a massaive traffic jam in town.. And if someone calls him a BUM, let's see what happens..   more ›

'Pay to Fish' Averted in New Jersey

Christie signs bill creating free fishing registry

Anglers will not have to pay to fish in 2011, but they will have to register with the state. A week before New Jersey's striped bass season begins March 1, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law a bill designed to create a free registry of the state's recreational anglers. The bill provides for the state to create a registry system to account for recreational anglers, which brings New Jersey into compliance with federal law. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which regulates fisheries management policies on the federal level, all recreational anglers must be registered with either the federal government or a state agency in order for scientists to keep better records of catch data. States with fishing licenses use their licensing regimes as …

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Lisa Frankenfeld

5:52 pm on Friday, April 8, 2011

I am glad people who enjoy fishing won't have to pay to do so. It seems like you have to pay for everything that is remotely enjoyable here in NJ. For example, you must pay to be near most bodies of water, be it the ocean, an inlet, a river, or a pool. Next thing you know we will be charged a fee for letting our kids run through the sprinklers.   more ›

DOE: Tie Teacher Tenure to Performance

Acting commissioner outlines reform proposals, including call to base educators' raises on evaluations

The acting education commissioner unveiled a plan on Wednesday afternoon that would revamp tenure for teachers, requiring them to meet a set of performance standards. In a speech at the Lewis Library at Princeton University, Christopher Cerf called for “demonstrated student learning” to be part of the tenure process, along with yearly evaluations and a plan to strip tenure from teachers who are not meeting requirements. Under the proposal, teachers rated effective or highly effective for three consecutive years would be granted tenure. Teachers would lose tenure if they failed to meet requirements for two consecutive years. Tenure is a set of legal protections that can be offered to teachers after three years and one day of service, …

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Fishing Friday

Time for Christie to Show His Cards on Free Fishing Registry

New Jersey anglers shouldn't have to pay to fish in 2011

If there are any lawyers out there looking for work, you might want to contact the governor. His legal office seems pretty backlogged. A couple weeks ago, during a press conference, I asked Governor Chris Christie if he planned to sign pending legislation to create a free registry of the state’s anglers. He told me that if the bill made it to his desk, his legal team would review it before he made a decision as to whether or not he wanted to sign it into law. Well, two days after that press conference – and two weeks ago – it was sent to the Guv’s desk. I guess they’re still reviewing it. If Hizzoner doesn’t sign the bill, it could cost you $15 to fish this year. The federal government is requiring all anglers nationwide to register before…

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Could Barnegat Bay Plan Boost Local Economy?

Restoring the Bay could Provide Boost for Point Pleasant, Brick and Barnegat Fishing Industries, Says Senator

A Christie administration plan to help the fishing industries in Point Pleasant, Brick, Barnegat, Lacey and other communities that touch the Barnegat Bay has bipartisan support. Senator Bob Smith [D-Middlesex], the chair of the Senate's committee that handles environmental issues, praised the plan recently put forth by the Gov. Chris Christie. Smith has said that the bay's fishing and tourism industries provide millions to the local economy. Neglecting the bay's habitats could negatively impact the region for decades, he said. "The current condition of Barnegat Bay is simply unacceptable and immediate steps must be taken to correct it," said Smith. "The proposed action plan is a good first step and I appreciate Governor Christie having …

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