Reasons to Vote Democrat

Well, you know it’s election season when the town council stops publishing their council minutes. The last published minutes were for June 21st. Can’t say I’m surprised. The town council probably didn’t want to revisit Silver Oak’s $100,000 slush fund, funneled through CME to the democrat’s reelection campaign, so close to the election. Or, that if the transit village ever did get off the ground, all the tax money would go into a PILOT program allowing the council to spend money like a drunken sailor without “raising” taxes.

Still, it’s been quite a sleepy season. Not too much campaigning on either side. They don’t even have websites listing the candidates. (No, I couldn’t name them all, either.)

So, it all goes back to party politics. If you like the Democrats retaining monolithic one-party rule for over a decade, vote Democrat.

If you like the pay-to-play, the crowded schools, and the new residential developments, vote Democrat.

If you’re pleased with the progress at the transit village, Anchor Glass, Aberdeen Forge, and the shore, vote Democrat.
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Remembering 9/11

There are moments, terrible moments, in our nation’s history that become part of our collective memory. Pearl Harbor. JFK. 9/11. And it becomes each generation’s responsibility to ensure the next generation never forgets. But it is also a personal responsibility, from parent to child, to share the memories and the pain and explain its relevance to today.

I was in Lower Manhattan that day. My then-girlfriend (now wife) worked across the street from the World Trade Center but chose to call in sick that day so we could spend the day together. I remember the call, remember the towers collapsing, remember people streaming along South Street covered in dust, and remember the outpouring of grief, charity, and determination across our great country.

However, the parts I remember the most were the pictures - a plane steering into the South Tower and people holding hands as they jumped from a hundred floors high to escape the flames. And knowing our nation would never be the same again.

May God bless America and comfort those in need. >>> Read more!

Found Money

After successfully passing its first tax increase in a decade, the Matawan-Aberdeen School District was delighted to learn it was the proud recipient of an additional $584,217 in state aid.

The district’s senior administrators quickly huddled to determine how to best spend the money. After all, the thinking goes, why should the money go to waste as tax relief during a labor and housing crisis when the school district could put it to good use.

And what was their master plan? Buying books. Lots and lots of books. Why? Because studies show that the mere presence of books in a room magically improves literacy rates among youngsters.

How does that work? I’m glad you asked. You see, according to this theory, kids are tired of watching TV, playing video games, chatting online or texting friends, and surfing the web. No, what children really want to do is curl up in bed with a good read. But they can’t because the school library doesn’t have any good books and Mommy and Daddy won’t take them to the public library. So, against their better judgment, kids have no alternative to social networking and mind numbing entertainment.

According to this theory, given the choice between Grand Theft Auto and Lord of the Flies, children will naturally be drawn to the latter.
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Here Comes Hurricane Irene

Just wanted to wish everyone best wishes in riding out the storm.

Don't forget to clear the yard. If possible, gas your car and bring it into the garage. (It's a radio and electric charger. I always kept a car charger that converts ac/dc to power all my devices.)

There's a good chance you can lose electricity and maybe even water, so prepare. Storms hitting Saturday night and continuing through Sunday night. Roads and electric could be havoc for the next day or two. If you're on medication, make sure you have enough.

Library books, Kindles, romantic candles, and classic tunes on the radio are a lovely way to pass the time. Just be careful you don't burn the house down.

For updates, you can register online with the township's Code Red alert system at http://aberdeennj.org/

Please, only call police for actual emergencies. They'll be having their hands full.

Thanks in advance to the Police, our volunteer firefighters and EMT's, shelters, and all emergency responders. It's times like these that remind us we're surrounded by good friends and neighbors.

Below are some additional tips for emergency preparedness.
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A Classic Case of Pay-To-Play

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into Town Hall, the council has launched a classic case of pay-to-play just in time for election season.

RESOLUTION NO. 2011-97
RESOLUTION EXTENDING DESIGNATION OF SILVER OAK PROPERTIES, INC. AS REDEVELOPER FOR
THE PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE
ABERDEEN COMMERCE & TRANSPORTATION
CENTER REDEVELOPMENT AREA FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MIXED USE PROJECT

To capture the full breadth of outrageousness, let’s walk through all the steps.

First, a town council with a well-deserved reputation for pay-to-play designates a felon, who spent prison-time for flagrantly attempting to bribe an IRS auditor, as the lead developer for the town’s most prominent project, the proposed transit village.

Next, the town council gives a brief history and seeks to justify the shameful appointment.
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