AM1160 WOBM's Hometown View With Kevin Williams

Kevin is currently in his 30th year with WOBM and serves as the station's Sports and Community Relations Director. His daily The Hometown View which airs every weekday morning at 7:20AM . This popular feature has been honored in 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2004 by the New Jersey Broadcasters Association for 'Best Public Service'. An eight-time New Jersey sportscaster of the year, Kevin also coordinates high school sports broadcasts on our sister stations WOBM-AM and Fox Sports 1310.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

7-year old Elizabeth Burns was born a healthy, happy baby and all seemed normal until she had her one-year old checkup. Doctors found her kidneys to be abnormal and were worried about her liver and instructed her parents to take Elizabeth to the hospital. It turned out they visited many hospitals and doctors, even going to Germany but could not get an accurate diagnosis and cause as her condition worsened. Eventually she required daily dialysis and her mother Lali had to become her nurse 24/7. In 2004 Elizabeth received her first kidney transplant and the surgery seemed successful but she requires 11 daily medications and monthly visits to the hospital. In the meantime doctors finally diagnosed her condition as Tubulo-Interstital Nephritis and Hepatic Fibrosis. I don’t know if I’m pronouncing it correctly but the bottom line is Elizabeth’s liver function continues to deteriorate and she will need a combined liver and kidney transplant in the very near future to save her life. She remains on the emergency waiting list for pediatric organ donations.

I tell you this because on Friday, July 10th UNICO will sponsor a dinner-dance to raise money to help the family with the staggering costs associated with Elizabeth’s illness. The event will be held at the East Dover Firehouse on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River beginning at 7pm. UNICO is an Italian-American service organization that raises money to help those in the community who need it the most.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $40 each and on sale at Trattoria Giovanni, the Four Seasons Diner and Joey’s Men’s Fine Fashions….all on Fischer Boulevard. In addition they can be purchased at Capone’s Restaurant in downtown Toms River and Honda of Toms River on Route 37 East.

100% of the proceeds from the dinner-dance will go directly to the Burns Family and if you cannot attend but would like to make a donation you can purchase a booster at any of the advance ticket locations I just mentioned. You can also call Tracey at (732) 814-0312 for more information.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

On the surface it might seem puzzling as to why John Truhan would leave Colts Neck High School where he taught math and coached girl’s basketball for the same positions at Central Regional High School. Maybe there’s not much difference in the teaching part but there’s a huge gap on the basketball court. Colts Neck was 29-4 this past winter, won the Group 4 state title and went all the way to the Tournament of Champions final. Even more impressive is the fact that their entire starting lineup returns next season and some expect the Cougars to be nationally ranked. However they will have a new coach because Truhan is returning to his coaching roots in Ocean County and the reason is quite simple….family.

The 41-year old Toms River North graduate was officially introduced last night by Central Regional Superintendent Tommy Parlapanides and Athletic Director Vince Casale to his new players and parents in the gym which he will now call home and it truly is a case of coming home. Truhan lives in Berkeley Township with his wife Kim, 8-year old daughter Kristy and 4-year old son John Jr. and will now have less than a five minute commute to work. In the end that might have been the biggest factor in leaving a state power for a team that went 10-14 last year and has only won a couple of division titles in the last 25 years. His children are at an age where he wants to be able to see and participate in their activities and that was just not possible with the grueling in-season schedule and travel to Colts Neck each day. He said something last night which really left an impression. Every parent whose daughter you coach wants what’s best for their child but often coaches forget that with their own children. He is now in a position to do what’s best for his and he could not turn that down.

Truhan did a great job at Colts Neck, going 131-37 in six season but even more impressive was the 91 games he won before that in five years at Toms River South, including an appearance in the Group 3 final in 2001. Central Regional is not only getting an outstanding coach but a dedicated and passionate math teacher. Last thing…hats off to Parlapanides who in a very short time as Superintendent has shown to be a man of action, not words. He made it clear again last night that he and the Board of Education want the bar raised at Central and this latest move is another example of that.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Finally a weekend to head to the beach, soak up the sun and cool off in the ocean. It took all of June but we finally got a summer weekend at the shore and I’m among the many that have the color to prove it this morning…even
if that color is a bit red. We can only hope it’s a sign of things to come as we head into the 4th of July weekend and the true start of the vacation season for locals and visitors alike.

You would expect this Mets fan to be upset, depressed and frustrated after having been swept by the dreaded Yankees at CitiField this weekend. However to be honest I have pretty much written off this season with the Mets putting out a punch less lineup each day which more closely resembles a minor league team than a division contender. Sure I know injuries are part of the game but you can’t expect a baseball team to compete without three of their top four offensive weapons, two starting pitchers and a key reliever.
Throw in the fact that they are fundamentally unsound and baseball stupid at times and you have a team that will be lucky to finish with a .500 record.

Five recent Ocean County high school graduates will be playing in tonight’s 31st Annual North-South All-Star Football Classic at Kean University. The South roster features Toms River North’s Evan Regas, Tom Rickmers of Lacey, Jeff Keffer of Point Boro, Toms River South’s Aaron Terry and Dan Cintron of Barnegat. All but the Temple University-bound Regas are also on the Ocean County roster for the US Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic which will be played at Brick Township High School on July 17th.

Billy Mays had become so popular as a TV pitchman that it was just a couple of weeks ago he was in New York to judge a Billy Mays lookalike contest. Sunday morning the spokesman for OxiClean, Mighty Putty and many other products was found dead by his wife in their Tampa, Florida home. The 50-year old, who was featured on the Discovery Channel reality show “Pitchmen”, was on a US Airways flight Saturday that had a rough landing in which he hit his head. It’s not known at this time if that had anything to do with Mays’ death.

Friday, June 26, 2009

It’s strange how what is considered the big news story of the day can get knocked out of the top spot when something bigger comes out of nowhere.
Take for example Thursday when we learned early in the day the passing of actress Farrah Fawcett at the age of 62 after a long battle with cancer.
I was deeply saddened by her death as I was among the 12 million who had one time had that famous poster of her on my bedroom wall…heck I even had a picture of her in my wallet. You knew that this would probably be the lead story on the network evening news as their staffs put together reflective pieces on Farrah, who burst onto the scene in 1976 on the show “Charlie’s Angels.”

However the news of her death, as sad as it was, quickly moved out of the top spot when late in the afternoon a story broke about the health of Michael Jackson. Details were sketchy but about 5:50pm TMZ was the first to report that the 50-year old King of Pop had died of cardiac arrest. News outlets were cautious at first, many still saying he was in very critical condition at a Los Angeles hospital before it became somewhat official while TV stations in the East were in the middle of their local newscast. As the Network news came on it was all Jackson, all the time. At times it was almost comical because there was really no official announcement and you had reporters on location at the hospital and where Jackson was living with not much to say. They would talk about gathering crowds and try to interview neighbors…anything to probably get a jump on the other networks that were doing the same. The reality is the death of Farrah Fawcett got bumped because Jackson was not only a bigger name but of course died suddenly.

His death is the end of maybe the most bizarre life that any of us have ever witnessed. He went from adorable child sensation, to a mega star bigger than any in the world, to a shamed recluse who made headlines for strange and somewhat sick behavior. While Jackson was working on a comeback tour for many people he will best be known as the weird guy who changed his face and hung around with young boys. The Michael Jackson of the late 70’s and 80’s was arguably the greatest talent the world has even seen and his music will live forever.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

A little of this and a little of that as we’re about to experience our first summer-like weather:

Congratulations to Jackson’s Anthony Ranaudo, who helped lead LSU to its sixth College Baseball World Series title. The sophomore pitched into the 6th inning of last night’s 11-4 win over Texas in the third and deciding game of the final in Omaha, Nebraska. Ranaudo finishes the year with a 12-3 pitching record for LSU. He is a 2007 graduate of St. Rose High School where he was both an outstanding baseball and basketball player for the Purple Roses.

Many of the best just-graduated senior football players from Ocean and Monmouth Counties will meet in the US Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic on Friday, July 17th at Brick Township High School. Sponsored by the Shore Football Coaches Foundation, the game was originally scheduled at Middletown South but had to be moved after some difficulty with approvals. The rosters have been set and the head coaches will be Southern’s Chuck Donahue and Mark Ciccotelli of Freehold Boro. Millennium Radio’s Shore Sports Network will broadcast the game live from Keller Memorial Field.

The Lakewood BlueClaws open the second half of the season with a 9-game home stand beginning tonight at FirstEnergy Park. The BlueClaws won the Northern Division first-half championship of the South Atlantic League and will be in the playoffs no matter what happens the rest of the season. They will play the winner of the second-half in a best-of-3 series that will start September 9th. If the BlueClaws also win the 70-game second half then they would take on the team with the second best overall record in the Northern Division. This is the first time Lakewood has ever won the first half title…of course in 2006 they did win the South Atlantic League Championship.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

In the words of Alice Cooper “school’s out for summer” at least for a majority of those in our area and for many that means a complete change in their daily routine. No longer do parents have to wake up early to get the kids off to school and for many teachers, bus drivers and others the alarm clock will be silenced for a couple of months.

The last week or so has featured graduation ceremonies for area high schools and a couple of more will take place this week. Students have marched to the tune of “pomp and circumstance” and received their diploma which marks both an end and a beginning. For some it does mean the end of school as they’ll move right into the job market or possibility the military. For them the lyrics, “no more pencils, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks.” However most graduates are headed to college with some staying close to home and others traveling many miles away where Mon can no longer do the laundry or make dinner on demand.

It’s a bittersweet time for parents who talk about how they can’t wait for their children to leave and then will have this empty feeling when they go,
especially if it’s an only child or the last one still at home. As for the kids…well some are itching to get away while others are in no hurry to give up the safety and security of their current address.

Of course for now it should be a time to enjoy the accomplishments of finishing high school and making the best of this summer. And for those of you who will be sleeping late and missing the Hometown View….well hopefully we’ll see you in September. Or you can always read in on the website. I sure hope it’s not a case of
“out for summer, out till fall….we might not go back at all.”

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Just a few random thoughts on this third day of summer and none involve the weather:

Golf purists may scoff at the behavior of New York area fans but I think it
added to the US Open which ended Monday with a surprising victory by virtual-unknown Lucas Glover. At times the fans might get a bit rowdy but for most part their enthusiasm added to the event and it seems like the majority of golfers enjoyed it. The one thing that does drive me crazy and is heard at all golf events is the constant screaming of “in the hole” after just about every shot, even when there is no chance that could happen.

Not quite as competitive was the 16th Annual Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament which was held Monday at Pine Barrens in Jackson. I served as Master of Ceremonies for the Awards Ceremony afterwards which included first-place finishes by Lou Gallipoli II and Nina Anuario, who just happened to be the co-chairman of the event. As always Luce Greene and the Chamber staff did a great job securing prizes for the event, several of which were won by Michael P. Ritacco.
The staff at Pine Barrens, including Barbara Iasillo was wonderful as usual in helping put the event together.

I have to admit that while watching the Mets game last night I switched a few times to “John & Kate Plus 8” to catch the latest developments regarding America’s most overexposed family. No surprise in that their 10-year marriage is coming to an end as John was tired of being bossed around and seems to be excited about being free…as free as you can be with eight young children to take care of. TLC’s top-rated show will continue and the Gosselin family just goes through the transition millions of others do…of course in their case on National television. Somebody should tell John that the earrings look pretty stupid…maybe Kate will let him know.

Monday, June 22, 2009

While summer recess has begun for some the remainder of the Ocean County schools will be finishing up this week. For students and most staff members it means the last days before summer recess but for many throughout our area it marks the end of a long journey as they will not be returning in September because they’re about to join the ranks of the retired.

When their careers began they could not imagine this day would come and I’m sure along the way some questioned if this was really the right thing to do with their lives. Yes teaching and education has plenty of positives but before you say that it’s easy try and imagine dealing with kids each day who are not your own. Whether it’s two dozen in an elementary school classroom, more than a hundred as a high school English teacher or the thousand plus you’re responsible for as a Principal each day brings challenges that us “outsiders” can’t imagine. Making things more difficult is the change in the make-up of the traditional family as well as the lack of support received from the home. Parents who used to be eager to get involved in their child’s education are just as likely today to question why they’re being bothered when it’s the school’s job to educate.

Despite this there are many who have dedicated their professional lives to education and helping prepare young people for the next step in their lives. Among them is Karen Tramontano who today walks in and out of the classroom for the final time in her 27-year career. It was about fifteen years ago that I received an invitation to be a “celebrity reader” for her 5th grade class at Clara B. Elementary School in Bayville. I was really impressed with the experience and told her afterwards….”call me again.” Well she has…every year since, the last few at the recently-opened Berkeley Township Elementary School. I knew when I walked in that classroom I would be greeted by children who were enthusiastic and well-behaved which was a credit to her as a teacher. But Mrs. Tramontano has decided to focus in on the growth of one child in particular so come September when her daughter, a kindergarten teacher, goes back to work she’ll be helping watch her new granddaughter Allison Faith.

I wish I had the time to salute all of those soon-to-be retirees but I don’t so you’ll have to share my thanks, congratulations and best wishes.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Father’s Day is Sunday and while not to minimize it’s standing it’s a far cry from Mother’s Day to me. That’s because as I’ve gotten older it’s become more and more apparent that mothers are the ones in most cases who make the family work. It’s also a day that for many is a reminder of what they don’t have in their lives any longer. I’m lucky in that my father is still with me although my father-in-law left us all way too soon so no matter what Sunday will be bittersweet.

I really have only two lasting memories of Father’s Day and ironically they both involve baseball. For some reason I remember quite well being an 8-year old in 1964 and watching the Phillies Jim Bunning pitch a perfect game against the Mets. However the one I most remember was in 1998 when on Father’s Day my son’s team was playing in their Little League Championship game. We had run out of pitchers that week and Brandon was called on to pitch in the final game of the season even though I don’t think he started a game all season long as he usually played the infield. Anyway as he took the mound for the Cardinals his coach just told him to throw strikes because we knew he wasn’t going to blow anyone away with his speed. I honestly think it was the most nervous I had even been as a parent and Brandon pitched his heart out and got a couple of hits. His team lost a close game and all the kids were really disappointed as some of them had played together for three years. The coaches tried to pick up their spirits afterwards and since it was the final day of the season they also had to make the announcement of the players who had made the league’s 12-year old All Star team.

Well as bad as it was losing that game is was even more heartbreaking when Brandon learned he was not named to the All-Star team. His coach was very upset, told him he should have been selected, and genuinely felt terrible.
Meanwhile we have everyone coming back to our house for a Father’s Day BBQ and my son does not want to leave his room. He eventually did and of course overcame the disappointment of the snub…although to be honest I’m still ticked to this day and I was not heartbroken when the team got knocked out of the tournament early.

So that’s Father’s Day. Hope you enjoy yours!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Let’s discuss the upside of the weather pattern we’re in. You have not heard any mention of the word “drought”, your lawn looks about as good as possible and kids who attend schools that don’t have air conditioning are not complaining about hot classrooms. I’m sure there are other plusses but frankly the negatives far outweigh them and since Sunday is the first official day of summer it would be nice if we could get some summer-like weather.
This has to be the worst June in recent memory and honestly many of us are tired of look at clouds and dogging rain drops. We live for this time of year
and each day without sunshine is one less day of what summer should be like at the shore. If you glance at some extended forecasts you’ll find that rain and thundershowers will pretty much be a given for the next week or so.

Next to family there is nothing more important than your friends and there is nothing I like more than seeing good things happen to those friends who are special to me. That’s why I was especially thrilled when Joe Arminio was named District Athletic Director for the Toms River Regional School District at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. A Toms River South graduate, Arminio has served in just about every capacity during his career, most of it at High School East. He’s been a teacher, assistant coach and successful head coach of both the Raider football and girls basketball teams.
Most recently he was the Athletic Coordinator at East, Assistant District Athletic Director and for the last year and-a-half was an Assistant Principal.
Arminio was the ideal choice to replace Walt Peto, who retires at the end of this month, to supervise the athletic programs of the three high schools and three intermediate schools in one of the state’s largest school districts.
He also overlooks the operation of the Ritacco Center, which is the site for many championship sporting events during the winter season.
Because he is a good friend you might expect my opinions to be biased and maybe they are. However I have worked with him on a number of projects and know Joe to be a total professional who has a unique ability to get along with everyone, no matter what their title is. He treats everyone fairly which is why people like to work with and for him. The Board of Education recognized this and I’m among many who are happy for Joe and his family.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

It was almost a year ago that comedian George Carlin died suddenly at the age of 71. More than just a stand-up comic Carlin was often right on the money with his descriptions of every day life or at least the way he saw it.
One of his diatribes dealt with how life is not as difficult as many make it out to be as long as you have a good set of rules.

* Relax and take it easy. Don’t get caught up in hollow conceits such
as “doing something with your life.”
* Whatever it is you pursue, try to do it just well enough to remain in
the middle third of the field.
* Size people up quickly and develop rigid attitudes based on your
first impression. If you try to delve deeper and get to know people
you are asking for trouble.
* Don’t fall for that superstitious nonsense about treating people the
way you would like to be treated.
* Surround yourself with inferiors and losers. Not only will you look
good by comparison, but they will look up to you and that will make
you feel better.
* Don’t buy into the sentimental notion that everyone has shortcomings;
it’s the surest way of undermining yourself. Remember, the really
best people have no defects.
* Beware of intuition and gut instincts, they are completely unreliable.
Instead develop preconceived notions and don’t waver unless
someone tells you to.
* Never give up on an idea simply because it is bad and doesn’t work.
Cling to it even when it’s hopeless. Anyone can cut and run but it
takes a special person to stay with something that is stupid and harmful.
* Always remember that today doesn’t count. Trying to make something out of today only robs you of precious time that could be spent day dreaming or resting up.
* Try to dwell on the past. Think of all the mistakes you’ve made and
how much better it would be if you hadn’t made them.
* If by chance you make a fresh mistake, try to repeat it a few times so
you can become familiar with it and can do it easily in the future.
* Finally, enjoy yourself all the time and do whatever you want. Don’t
be seduced by the mindless chatter going around about “responsibility.” That’s exactly the sort of thing that can ruin your life.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

If you combine recent college graduates with those who are graduating high school and not continuing their education and you throw in all the unemployed there are a lot of people in the market for jobs. With that in mind sometimes it’s the little things that can make the difference in who gets hired and who doesn’t and a good place to seize an advantage is in the attire job seekers wear on interviews. Unfortunately it seems more and more people lose any hope of landing a job because the expression “dress for success” is one they never heard.

The job interview is no doubt a stressful situation, especially if you’ve been out of work for a while and are somewhat desperate. It’s also your first chance to impress a potential employer. Often men and women don’t have much information during this stage about the company they are interviewing with and that includes the dress code. The rule of thumb here is its better to overdress a little than under-dress. Of course there is a difference between seeking a job pumping gas and working for a Fortune 500 company but nobody losses a job because they were dressed too formally while many are knocked out of the running by dressing like they did in school. Most Human Resource officials expect you to wear business attire and preferably a suit.
They want the job seeker to look like are serious and feel if you don’t wear your best business attire to an interview it makes the employer question how important the job really is. Plus it’s hard to take someone seriously wearing flip-flogs, an out-of-season sweater and a wrinkled puffy skirt.

The problem is especially for the younger generation they have grown up during what I call “the casualness of America.” There was a time when everyone got dressed up for school, church, going out for dinner…look at old newsreels and you’ll see even in the 1960’s men wearing ties at baseball games. That’s been replaced with wardrobes that often include ripped jeans and shirts two sizes to big plus hats worn backwards. Getting dressed up for some simply means wearing a shirt with a collar and any pair of pants besides jeans.

That may be fine and dandy when you’re a teen-ager or young adult but when looking for a job you’d be wise to follow this cliché….dress for the position you want, not the one you have.

Monday, June 15, 2009

A little of this and a little of that on a Monday morning smack in the middle of the month:

Since just about everyone has made a comment about Luis Castillo’s dropped pop-up that cost the Mets Friday night’s game against the Yankees here is mine. First as a Met fan you come to expect things like this because it comes with the territory but it could be worse…you could have been born a Cubs fan. Second it’s true that you have to credit Mark Teixeira for running hard on the play to score the winning run although that’s what guys are supposed to do. And third it’s funny how everyone is all over Castillo for not using two hands to catch the ball. Most major leaguer don’t and despite what happened that’s not going to change.

While on the subject of baseball things are going very well for Toms River’s Todd Frazier in his second full season of professional ball. The 23-year old leftfielder is hitting .329 with the Carolina Mudcats, the Cincinnati Reds double-A team in Zebulon, North Carolina. Frazier is 5th in the Southern League in batting with a league-leading 25 doubles and has 5 homers and 35 RBI’s in 59 games. The former Toms River South and Rutgers University standout is progressing very nicely as an outfielder in the Reds organization.

And many expect him to be in the majors by 2010 or 2011. Meanwhile older brother Jeff is at Triple-A Toledo in the Tigers organization and batting .279 with six doubles, a home run and 13 RBI’s in 32 games for the Mud Hens. Jeff moved up to Triple-A after hitting .322 in the first 23 games for the Double-A Erie Seawolves. This is a big season for the 27-year old to show the Tigers that he can play at the major league level.

Manchester Township High School’s inaugural “Relay for Life” was an overwhelming success and even received the cooperation of Mother Nature. The American Cancer Society fundraiser started Friday at 3pm just after a downpour and dealt with a little rain in the beginning but things went smoothly after that. Administration, faculty, students and community volunteers pulled together to make for a very successful fundraiser but just as important was the celebration of those who have survived cancer and the memories of those who did not. All are to be congratulated for their effort and enthusiasm.

Friday, June 12 ,2009
(no Hometown View on 6/11/09)

Random notes and thoughts heading into the weekend:

Rain, rain go away…please. We are going through a miserable stretch of weather with another wet day today and even the weekend looks kind of iffy. There is no question that lack of sunshine results in lack of smiles or simply put bad weather often means bad moods. All the rain might be good for the grass and water supply but that’s about it. We need sunshine.

According to research some 3 million Americans have not made the switch to digital which means no television after today which is when broadcasters switch off their analog signals. That’s how many received their service through an antenna but after today you’ll only be able to watch TV with an analog to digital converter box or a digital set itself. The federal government is still issuing coupons to help with the purchase of converter boxes through the end of July.

The Yankees and Mets both coming limping into the first half of their 2009 Subway Series which starts tonight in the Bronx. The Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of the Yanks last night and have won all eight meetings between the two rivals this season. Meanwhile the Mets lost 2-of-3 at home to their NL East rivals from Philadelphia. The two New York teams play a night game tonight, and then meet Saturday at 4pm and finally Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock. The scene shits to Citifield for three more games in two weeks.

St. Barnabas Assisted Living at Lakewood celebrated its 10th anniversary with a party last night for residents and their families as well as their very dedicated staff. 30th District State Senator and Lakewood Mayor Robert Singer presented a proclamation from the State Senate to mark the occasion.
Administrator Alexis Commodore accepted the proclamation and also honored residents and staff who have been at the facility on Williams Street
since it opened in August of 1999. Kudos to all who made it an enjoyable evening for all involved.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

This is a big weekend for the Special Olympics New Jersey as their Summer Games are held at The College of New Jersey beginning with the opening ceremonies Friday night in Ewing. As part of the event some 3,000 Law Enforcement officers will take part in the annual Torch Run, a 28-leg journey that will bring the “Flame of Hope” nearly 900 miles through 387 communities. The runners will start as early as 4:45 in the morning and then ignite the cauldron to open the Summer Games at 7:30 that evening.

Locally some 200 runners are expected to carry the torch 60 miles from Island Beach State Park up Route 35 to Perth Amboy. Another leg will start at the ShopRite on Route 9 in Lakewood with 50 runners traveling 25 miles to Manalapan. There will also be a group of runners carrying the torch some 20 miles through Long Beach Island. Of course this is all being done with the idea of attracting sponsorships and dollars. The first effort in 1984 raised $7000 and was done on a much smaller basis. Each year since it has grown and the number of volunteers has increased to the point where the torch run now raises some $2 million for the Special Olympics.

So on Friday be on the lookout throughout New Jersey as cops do their part to make things better for others.

Manchester Township High School is the latest group to hold a Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. The school’s inaugural event is this weekend with ceremonies beginning at 3pm Friday and then concluding at sunrise Saturday. Relay for Life is held across the country to celebrate the lives of survivors, remember loved ones who lost their lives to cancer, and raise money so one day we can win the fight against this dreaded disease. Teams of people will be walking around the track at Manchester this weekend to do their part and at the same time bond with family, friends, co-workers and even strangers.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

This is a rather interesting time of year….one that really doesn’t have a true identity. We’re a couple of weeks away from the official start of summer although for some the summer season is well underway. Parochial schools have all pretty much finished for the year so for those students the vacation has already begun. Public schools have at least another week to go and some don’t finish until late June because of snow days and other postponements.

Memorial Day has become the unofficial start of the summer tourist season but except for weekends you would not know that and really won’t for a few more weeks. When the weather cooperates locals can pretty much enjoy semi-private beaches during the week and even the weekends won’t be packed until later in the month. Popular restaurants in beach areas that are normally jammed in July and August are easy to get in right now…at least during the week so it’s a good time to head over the bridge. After eating you can even stroll a fairly empty boardwalk and burn off the calories.

This all will end fairly soon and people will settle into a summer routine. For many that means taking the kids and heading to the beach or pool or making sure older ones get to their jobs. Some will spend part of their summer at camp which gives Mom a badly-needed break. After spending the past nine or ten months just driving kids from one place to another the summer allows for a somewhat slower pace. Of course that’s not the case for all but usually there is a change in the routine and sometimes that’s all you really want.

I’ve always said the best time of year around here can be the middle part of June and then the first couple of weeks after Labor Day. You get to enjoy the perks of life at the shore without the downside of all the people and traffic. So enjoy because July 4th is only 25 days away.

Monday, June 8, 2009

The Ocean County Directors of Athletics held their 17th annual Ocean County Sportsmanship Awards Breakfast yesterday at the Quality Inn of Toms River. Each of the county high schools had a male and female senior student-athlete honored for their citizenship, fairness, ethics and general qualities of sportsmanship. As I have for 16 of the 17 years this has been held I served as Master of Ceremonies and once again applaud the Athletic Directors for recognizing these outstanding ambassadors for their schools.

Also honored was Point Pleasant Boro’s Bill Larkin as the county Athletic Director of the Year, a well-deserved honor for a man who has devoted his entire career to students first as a teacher and coach and most recently as the AD and Supervisor of Health & Physical Education at both the middle and high schools. I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday’s breakfast and enjoyed sitting with the family of Brick Memorial honoree Brian Staub, a three-sport athlete who will play football at Springfield College in the fall.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that yesterday’s event was the last for Walt Peto, the District Athletic Director for the Toms River Regional School District. Walt will retire at the end of this month and recently he was honored at a surprise retirement party which unfortunately I could not attend. He has spent the bulk of his professional career in Toms River and was a teacher and coach before becoming the Athletic Coordinator at High School North and then the District Athletic Director the past couple of years.
He is known for his calm manner and ability to get along with others and is truly one of the good people I have been able to work with over the years.
Walt has earned his retirement and will enjoy spending time with his wife Janet and their grandchildren.

It was quite a Sunday for good friends and sports legends Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. Woods rallied from four shots back to win Jack Nicklaus’
Memorial Golf Tournament for the fourth time with a brilliant final round 7-under pat 65. Across the ocean in Paris, Federer finally won the French Open Tennis Championship and tied Pete Sampras’ record of 14 major singles titles. The two struck up a friendship after filming a TV commercial a few years ago.

Friday, June 5

Sportsmanship is defined in a variety of ways including:

Fairness in following the rules of the game; the behavior in playing sports; a conformance of the rules, spirit and etiquette of sport; an attitude that strives for fair play, courtesy toward teammates and opponents, ethical behavior and integrity and grace in losing.

Some athletes get it and some don’t. Thirty four who truly understand what sportsmanship is all about will be honored Sunday morning at the Quality Inn of Toms River during a breakfast hosted by the Ocean County Athletic Directors Association. I will once again serve as Master of Ceremonies at an event that celebrates what’s good about high school sports.

The soon-to-be high school graduates who will be honored are:

Barnegat- Nicole McCrann Teddy Ray
Brick Memorial- Corine Dafeldecker Brian Staub
Brick Twp.- Maggie Murtagh Matthew Dornacker
Central Regional- Jamie Skibee Logan Dudas
Jackson Liberty- Olivia Rotundo Colin Gorman
Jackson Mem- Kellie Rose Derrik Russell
Lacey- Alyssa Morris Steve Torre
Lakewood- Jasmine Turner Jorge Flores
Manchester- Meghan Jirkovsky Craig Leppert
Msgr Donovan- Cayla Linfante Jonathan Curtin
Pinelands- Jes Talerico Peter Cardillo
Point Beach- Justina Daley Daniel Enoch
Point Boro- Brianna Blank Jeff Keffer
Southern- Erin Reagan Steve Sibona
TR East- Taylor Madden Vinnie Dellefave
TR North- Nicole Testa Pat Szukics
TR South- Erin Applegate Kevin Bowden

Congratulations on being selected as representatives of your school and
I’ll see you Sunday.

Thursday, June 4

Congratulations to the Jackson Memorial High School baseball team for winning the Shore Conference Tournament for just the second time in school history and first since 1984.  Pete Kelich threw a five-hitter and struck out 7
as the Jaguars collected a 2-0 win over CBA in the championship game Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Park.  Kevin Needham and Dave Kalash singed in runs for Jackson, who finishes the season with a 22-3 record and both the Class A South and Shore Conference Tournament titles under fifth year head coach Frank Malta.

The Southern Regional High School Boys Volleyball team looks to complete a championship season tonight when they face St. Peter’s Prep in the state tournament final at South Brunswick High School.  The Rams won the South Jersey title earlier this week and now meet the North Jersey champs…a team they edged a month ago in three exciting games.  Tonight marks the final game for five senior starters….Nick Nichols, Tyler Callahan, Rob Kraft, Shaw Keller and Austin Geary.   Rams head coach Eric Maxwell has had quite a year…he guided the girls team to a state group championship in the fall.

While today might not feel like a summer day you can kick-off the summer season by attending a barbeque and business after hours networking event sponsored by the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and Jersey Coast Appliance.  The event will take place from 5-7pm at the Jersey Coast Appliance location on Route 37 in Toms River near the Crystal Diner.
The cost is $10 for chamber members and $20 for non-members and will include steak, shrimp, hamburgers, hot dogs, beer & wine.  Dynamic Cooking Systems will bring their mobil outdoor kitchen and grill the food
on location.

The Berkeley Soccer Association will be holding registration for the fall season tonight from 5-8pm and Saturday from 2-6pm at their soccer complex on Eastern Boulevard in Bayville.  For more information you can check out the club’s website at www.berkeleysoccer.com

The Beachwood Soccer Club will hold its final scheduled registration for the fall season Saturday from 4-6pm at the soccer complex on Berkeley Avenue.  For more information you can visit www.beachwoodsoccer.com

Wednesday, June 3

They are valedictorians, class Presidents, Bloustein Scholars, All-State athletes, Eagle Scouts, school newspaper editors, Math League champions, prom kings and peer leaders.   They play in the band, sing in the chorus, act in school plays, volunteer in many ways from tutoring to organizing food drives, and play three varsity sports.  They often juggle incredible schedules that make you wonder how they do it all in 24 hours and still make the High Honor Roll and earn selection to the National Honor Society.

They are the 21 males and 17 females who have been honored this school year as a WOBM/Gateway Toyota-Scion Student of the Week.  The 13th consecutive year of this program concludes this morning at 8:20am when one of the 38 high school seniors is randomly selected by Ed Sunday of Gateway Toyota-Scion to receive a $1000 college scholarship from the Toms River car dealer and Millennium Radio.  (Ed will do the drawing live on 92.7 WOBM).

The weekly honorees were selected by their schools and every Monday we have aired a feature on their accomplishments.  Just to be in this rather select list of 38 high school seniors is quite an honor.  They are:

Teddy Ray & Sean Dangelmajer from Barnegat High School
Melanie Caruso & Brian Staub from Brick Memorial
Collin Crilley & Chelsea Greenstein from Brick Township High School
Matthew Solomon & Alyssa Mayo from Central Regional
Chris Griffin & Jillian Anzalone from Jackson Liberty
Michael Carletta & Kevin Matthews from Jackson Memorial
Julianne Whitleigh & Patrick MaGuire from Lacey Township High School
Michelle Lopez & Ian Vogler from Lakewood
David Boeger & Emberle Lawson from Manchester Township
Leonard Weg & Sarah Stefanelli from Monsignor Donovan
Anthony Wahler & Dan Sepp from New Egypt High School
Nathan Boyd & Steven Hartman from Pinelands Regional
Meghan Sosnowski & Cameron Dering from Point Pleasant Beach
Jackie Ball & Jacqueline Christenson from Point Pleasant Borough
Barbara DellaValle & Jeff Boye from Southern Regional High School
Vin DellaFave & Christopher Shore from Toms River East
Suresh Parakash & Tina Sankhla from Toms River North
Rae Drach & Eric Wengrowski from Toms River South
Joe Griggs & Monica Smetts from the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

Tuesday, June 2

As the weather warms up and school days come to a close you are likely to see more children and adults riding bicycles through neighborhoods and of course resort towns and boardwalks. As days get longer many look to take advantage and early in the evening it’s a common site to see families out riding. I am reminded by a listener by the name of Paul that there are rules of the road and failure to follow them could have negative consequences.
Among those rules:

1. Always wear a helmet
2. Always ride on the right side of the road and travel in the same
direction as vehicular traffic.
3. Use hand signals for turns and stopping.
4. If you ride at night, use a light and reflectors and wear bright
colors or even a reflective vest.


While riders have to be aware of cars and other vehicles, drivers also have to keep their eyes open for those riding bicycles and also recognize that they have rights as well. The same goes for pedestrians and again with longer days and kids outside navigating local roadways calls for more attention by those behind the wheel. Drivers needs to be alert and think ahead so put the cell phone down and watch for kids and bikes darting in and out of traffic.

The summer is a great time of year but nothing can ruin it faster than a tragedy…especially one that can be avoided.

Monday, June 1, 2009

This is a bittersweet time for high school seniors as the days until graduation wind down.  They and their families are going through things which had become routine for the final time and included in that for many are their days as a competitive athletes.  Over the past couple of weeks just about each day a high school team’s season ended with a loss and as of today only a few are still playing, including the baseball teams from Toms River North and Jackson Memorial.  The Mariners, who won their second straight South Jersey Group 4 Championship, will face powerful Hunterdon Central in the Group 4 semifinals tomorrow.  Meanwhile the Jackson Jaguars have a Wednesday night date with CBA in the championship game of the Shore Conference Tournament at FirstEnergy Park.

Another group looking for a championship is the Southern Regional Boys Volleyball team.  The Rams face defending champion St. Joseph of Metuchen in the South Jersey Sectional Final tomorrow night at South Brunswick High School after finally getting some revenge on East Brunswick in the semifinals.  Nick Nichols led the Rams against an East Brunswick team that had knocked them out of the tournament two straight years.  Coach Eric Maxwell’s team takes a 36-5 record into the section final.

With Toms River East bowing out of the state and Shore Conference Tournaments the season is over for all of the Ocean County softball teams.

A sad footnote to a historic tragedy:

The last remaining survivor of the Titanic disaster died over the weekend in the same city her family was trying to leave behind when the unsinkable ship sunk on its maiden voyage.  97-year old Millvina Dean died in her sleep in a nursing home in Southampton, England.  She was just two months old when the Titanic hit an iceberg on April 14, 1912 and along with her mother and 2-year old brother were among the 706 survivors.  Dean’s father, who was moving the family to Kansas City, died along with more than 1500 others.   After the disaster her family returned to England…Dean was not told she was a passenger on the ship until she was 8 years old.  She never married and spent the last three years of her life in a nursing home.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Consolidation and mergers….it’s a clear sign of the times.  In just the last couple of days OceanFirst Bank announces it will merge with Central Jersey Bank with OceanFirst to become an even bigger banking force in the shore area.  Most of their 23 branches are in Ocean County while 12 of Central Jersey’s 13 branches are in Monmouth County.  Then comes news Meridian Health is going forward with plans to merge with Southern Ocean Health System in Manahawkin.  Meridian already owns Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune.  And at the same time struggling high-end toy retailer FAO Schwartz has been bought and bailed out by Toys R Us.  Like I said….a sign of the times.

The Monmouth University baseball team opens play tonight in the NCAA Division 1 Championships against the University of Mississippi, the #8 ranked team in the nation.  The Hawks, who won the Northeast Conference Championship last week are in Oxford, Mississippi for the game against the Rebels.  The 64-team tournament opens at 16 sites around the country with Monmouth and Ole Miss being joined by Missouri and Western Kentucky.  Junior Brad Brach will start tonight for Monmouth with another junior Ryan Buch to pitch tomorrow in the double-elimination tournament.

The Jackson Memorial High School Athletic Department will hold their Spring Sports Awards Night on Monday at 6:30pm in the Fine Arts Auditorium.  The evening will include the induction of Greg Archer into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.  A 1971 graduate, Archer was a standout in both basketball and baseball, earning 4 varsity letters in each sport.  He led the basketball team to a division title as a senior where he was a 2nd team All-Shore selection.   In the spring he was named the Ocean County Coaches Baseball Player of the Year.  After playing basketball and tennis at-then Glassboro State College, Archer returned to Jackson Memorial as a teacher and coach until retiring five years ago.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Returning to my roots a bit today I pass along some local sports news:

Jackson Memorial and CBA advanced to the championship game of the Shore Conference Baseball Tournament with semifinal wins yesterday.
The top-seeded Jaguars beat St. Rose 5-1 behind the pitching of Pete Kelich and a two-run homer from Brandon Adams.  Meanwhile second-seeded CBA ousted Toms River North 4-1 to set up the championship showdown with Jackson next Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Park. The Mariners still have quite a bit to play for as they host Cherokee tomorrow in the South Jersey Group 4 finals. Point Pleasant Beach will also aim for a state sectional baseball crown when they visit Brearly Friday.

The softball teams from Toms River East and Central have reached state sectional finals after collecting victories Wednesday.  Freshman Corey Schwartz drove in four runs and Lyndsey PeQueen tossed a 5-hitter as the Raiders blanked Cherokee 8-0 to move into the South Jersey Group 4 title game at top-seed Williamstown tomorrow afternoon.   Meanwhile Central’s
Katelyn Pepper allowed just one hit as the Golden Eagles beat Kingsway 4-1
and will now host Delsea tomorrow in the South Jersey Group 3 final.

Rumson-Fair Haven won the team title at the Shore Conference Girls Golf Championship at Fort Monmouth but Ocean County golfers took the top three individual spots.  Toms River North’s Sung Song shot an 87 to win the title by three shots over Kelsi Kavanagh of Point Boro and Manchester’s Alex Pomar.

Onto the tennis courts where Toms River North edged Toms River South to win the Ocean County Boys Tournament for the third straight year.  The Mariners got individual titles from Connor Lisco at first singles and the second doubles team of Nick Thistle and Matt Haimowitz.

A couple of high school football coaching vacancies were filled this week.  Longtime Point Pleasant Beach wrestling Coach Steve Sasse will now double as the Garnett Gulls football coach as well.   At Holmdel Frank Papalia is promoted from assistant to head coach where he replaces Andy Carlstrom, who was one of several non-tenured teachers laid off.  Papalia previously coached at Central Regional, his alma mater.

Wednesday, May 27

Simon and Garfunkel once asked in a song, “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio”?  I ask today, “Where have you gone manners and respect”?  It’s a question that should be posed to a younger generation that far too often shows little or no respect for their elders.  Case in point, my 80 plus year-old mother is walking on a sidewalk when she approaches a group of teen-agers who are hanging out.  They have done nothing wrong but are taking up the entire walkway as my mother approaches.  Simple etiquette would be for the group to move to allow the older person (or any person for that matter) to continue walking on the sidewalk.  However they don’t consider moving and expect my mother to walk around them which she does with complete disdain.

I would like to believe if that were many years ago and I was among the teenagers gathered we would have automatically moved and let an elder walk through.  I would also like to believe my children would do the same but many teens today have little or no respect for those who have been around longer than they have.  It’s not just with actions like I just described but also how they speak.  I was reminded yesterday by someone in my age group how we always addressed an elder with Mr. or Mrs.  or Miss….whatever was appropriate.  Even though I am in my 50’s there are still those who I refer to in that manner even when they insist I call them by their first name.  It’s a sign of respect that was commonplace but seems to have been lost in our very informal society.   This is not a life or death issue but rather more one I would describe as right and wrong.  Young people should automatically have a certain amount of respect for their elders, especially if those people hold authority positions like a teacher or police officer.  Yet today more and more young people not only disrespect authority figures but have no fear over any ramifications.

So who is to blame for this growing trend?  It has to fall on the shoulders of parents who too often have not instilled respect in their children at a young age as a given, not an option.  Maybe if they did my mother would have been able to continue walking on the sidewalk instead of around a group that probably never even gave a thought to moving.

Tuesday, May 26

This Memorial Day weekend came with a bonus….better than expected weather.  With the exception of some late Sunday night thunderstorms for some in Ocean County it was a pretty nice start to the summer season and one which allowed for any planned outdoor activities.  Yesterday was probably the nicest day and kept visitors at the shore which of course led to the usual late Sunday traffic jams heading north.  For many that’s a small price to pay for getting to walk on the beach for the first time and dip your toes in the very cool Atlantic Ocean.    That always brings to mind one of my favorite “true” stories from many years ago when two young boys pointing in the direction of the ocean ask a lifeguard if that’s the Atlantic or Pacific.  When the lifeguard responds with the obvious answer one boy proudly says to the other, “I told you that was the Atlantic Ocean….the Pacific is all the way down by Wildwood.” 
Some things you just can’t make up.

If you’ve watched any of the NBA Playoff series between the Lakers and Nuggets you’re probably well aware of Denver’s J.R. Smith, who scored 24 points last night as the Nuggets evened the Western Conference Finals at two games apiece.  The 23-year old Smith played high school basketball and football at Lakewood High School before transferring to St. Benedict’s Prep.  A dynamic offensive player at times he averaged a career-high 15 points per game this season.  I broadcast several of his high school games and used to say that he started shooting when he got off the bus.  J.R. went right from high school to the NBA and has had his share of off-the-court issues.

He’s been dubbed “Mr. Ocean County” for his years of service and Thursday night he will be honored by the Rotary Club of Toms River at the Legend Lounge in Toms River. Jack Lamping’s list of contributions reads like a book and he was among the citizens who helped create the Ocean County Historical Society in 1950.  Congratulations Jack!

Friday, May 23, 2009

(Hometown View returns on Tuesday, May 26)

While it won’t be nearly as nice this Memorial Day as it was last year hopefully the weekend will provide a major jumpstart to the summer season at the Jersey Shore. This appears to be a year when nobody really knows what to expect as far as tourism is concerned. Will the shaky economy mean more people will stay close to home and visit our beaches instead of going to places far away? Or will that same economy result in people simply staying home and not heading anywhere? Nobody seems to know although some real estate agents fear it could be a miserable summer for rentals which would have major ramifications on a lot of businesses. Those who rent for a week or more spend money in many different places and spread dollars around. However if it’s a summer filled with day-trippers it means they’ll not only wait for a nice day to make a trip but probably will do all they can to limit their spending.

If past form holds up though this should be a very good weekend for many
businesses and merchants. In many cases Memorial Day is the biggest weekend of the year as out-of-towners flock to beach towns, boardwalks and amusement areas. This year does bring a bit of a bonus…the longest possible summer. Memorial Day is as early as it can be and Labor Day is as late as possible so there are 16 weekends during the season. Here’s hoping most of them are filled with sunshine and visitors because we could sure use plenty of both.

On a somewhat related note. While this weekend is mostly dominated by good things like the beach, barbeques and the like we should pause for a moment to think of those who made the ultimate sacrifice which allows us to have a good time. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving our nation and they should not be forgotten.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

A little of this and a little of that on a Thursday morning and let’s start with my brilliant prediction that Kris Allen would win American Idol.  It simply comes down to knowing who voters across the country are likely to favor
and I nailed this one….adult women carried Kris to victory.  Of course if past history is correct the future might be brighter for runner-up Adam Lambert as winning does not guarantee a long successful career.

Last week I spoke with an expert on oil pricing and he told me that he thought the price of gasoline at the pumps was close to where it would max out…at least for this year.   Tom Kloza of the Oil Price Information Service in Wall said its possible prices will even decrease over the summer and predictions of $3.00 per gallon prices are simply unfounded.  The average price of gas at the shore is $2.19 per gallon which is quite a bit lower than the $3.66 we were paying at this time a year ago. 

What baseball fans sometimes forget is that the season is a long one and just about all teams will go through peaks and valleys.  Take for example the Yankees and Mets.  A little more than a week ago Yankee fans were down in the dumps over their team which was under .500 and looking very lethargic.  Alex Rodriguez returns to the lineup and all of a sudden the Yanks have won 8 in-a-row and look like a different team.  The Mets meanwhile were riding high as a 7-game winning streak moved them into first place in the NL East.  But injuries and poor play have them losing 4 straight and now their fans are seeking psychiatric help.  Remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

The semifinals of the Shore Conference Baseball Tournament are set with top-seeded Jackson Memorial to face St. Rose and #2 seed C.B.A. to face Toms River North next week.   The championship game is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3rd at FirstEnergy Park, the home of the Lakewood BlueClaws. 

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Odds makers have installed Adam Lambert as the 1-3 favorite to be named the next “American Idol” tonight and if you wanted to make a wager on Kris Allen to win you would get odds of 3-1. This of course would be in places where gambling is legal, like Las Vegas and London and if were in either place I’d drop a couple of bucks on Allen to win in an upset.

For those of you who do not watch “Idol” the two finalists are as different as night and day (borrowing a line from the Patty Duke Show). Lambert is a
26-year old from Hollywood, California who has jet black hair and at times is pretty much over the top in appearance. No question he is a terrific singer
but to some he’s a bit dark and eerie, although he’s a favorite of young girls.
Allen is a 23-year old from Conway, Arizona who is more the kind of guy a mother would want her daughter to bring home. He was not expected to be in the final group but his ability to not only sing but play the piano and guitar has impressed many over the final stretch of this five-month competition.

I’m one who really only watched “American Idol” in the past during the early audition portion because I found it to be amusing. Once it got down to the serious singers I did not pay much attention but for some reason have joined the millions who pretty much devote two nights a week to the show especially in April & May. I have not nor will I ever cast a vote by phone or text message but if I did I would vote for Kris…he’s just more likeable.

However here is why I think he will be the surprise winner later tonight. While everyone assumes its teen-age girls who watch and vote I think it’s more likely their mothers who will decide the winner and moms like Kris more, including my wife who has touted him from the beginning. Plus I’ve got to figure in the more conservative mid-west Adam will not play well…too much weirdness.

So in an upset I’m going with Kris Allen which based on my past predictions is good news for those who like Adam…I don’t get these right too often. Here is one thing I can guarantee….judge Paula Abdul will cry no matter who wins and proclaim the greatest Idol ever. That one you can take to the bank.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Most of Monday was not a very productive day here in the office for a rather simple reason…we had no access to the Internet.  I don’t know all the details except the problem had to do with our Internet Service Provider or ISP for those who know the language…I don’t but somebody told me.  Anyway from early in the morning until early in the afternoon we could not get on the internet and in some cases that caused a tremendous inconvenience.

I tell you this to simply make a point as to how dependent we are on computer technology and how a business can be brought to their knees when they can’t get what we now take for granted.  I used to kid around about being the last person to use a typewriter here but that pretty much worked all the time and when one broke for some reason you could use another.  Now whenever there is any computer issue it causes chaos in the office to the point where people leave to go work at home because there is nothing they can do without their computer and access to things like the internet.

This also applies to individuals and can especially be troublesome for those who are regular procrastinators.  Say you have a project due in the morning that you waited to complete the night before.  You try and log onto your computer and quickly realize there is a problem.  It doesn’t really matter whether it’s your provider or even an issue with your computer…all you know is you are looking at a blank screen and the clock is ticking.  It’s too late to do anything but hope and pray that soon you will be able to do what you need to but you know longer control the situation.

For that reason I have decided that I should write my Hometown Views in advance instead of what I do most of the time….wait until the last possible second and race to make a deadline and get them on the air.  Truth is it sounds good but who has time and after all we’re not due for another problem for………….well you get the picture.

Monday, May 18, 2009

I could not tell you how many times I’ve served as a Master of Ceremonies
or Guest Speaker over nearly thirty years but it’s got to be well over several hundred. I can tell you that one of my favorite invitations was to speak at the ceremonies welcoming in the new members of the National Honor Society at Toms River High School South a few years ago. I remember kidding that I don’t often get asked to speak at events that celebrate achievements in the classroom but rather usually ones that celebrate who did well on the football field or basketball court. Well tonight I’ll be back at High School South when they induct the newest members into the Indian Chapter of the NHS. However I won’t be speaking but listening as my daughter Alex is one of the students being honored tonight and I’m looking forward to applauding her efforts along with those of her fellow classmates.

I participated in East Dover Elementary School’s 11th Annual Career Day this past Friday and tomorrow will be a presenter at Forked River Elementary School’s 4th Annual Career Day. While I’ve never yet met an elementary school student who wanted to work in radio I do enjoy listening to an 8 or 11 year olds take on jobs and careers. Professional athletes, Veterinarians, singers and actors, artists and police officers are among the popular choices.

Belated congratulations to Toms River South baseball coach Ken Frank on winning his 700th career game on Friday when the Indians won the Ocean County Baseball Tournament for a record 11th time. It got me thinking that Ocean County is home to three incredibly successful high school coaches.

Recently-retired Brick Township football coach Warren Wolf and current Green Dragons Ice Hockey coach Bob Auriemma are the winningest coaches in New Jersey history in their respective sports. Frank, who won his 701st game on Saturday is third on the all-time list among state baseball coaches and at age 62 shows no signs of letting up.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Nearly 200 people gathered at The View Restaurant at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Lakewood last night for the 46th Annual Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce Gala.  The event serves as the installation of new officers on the Board of Directors while also honoring outstanding individuals and organizations for their contributions to the area. 

The Distinguished Citizen of the Year is retired Assignment Judge of the Ocean County Superior Court Eugene Serpentelli.  The longtime Brick resident delivered an acceptance speech that poked fun at his alleged old age as he was forced to retire from the bench nearly two years ago when he reached the age of 70.  He is currently a partner in Benchmark Resolution Services which provides mediation, arbitration and case management services to members of the Bar and public.  Gene also spoke about citizenship and its importance and the eloquence of his words made you quickly understand why he was held is such high regard as a judge by fellow attorneys as well as others in his courtroom.

The Presbyterian Church of Toms River was honored as this year’s Organization of the Year and accepting on their behalf was Rev. Dr. David Joynt.  More than just a church they have contributed much to the community including the building of the House of Hope, a project that saw them donate the land, finance the construction costs and pay the mortgage.
The facility provides expertise and guidance to individuals navigating the social service network.  Dr. Joynt spoke about the great team he has at the church and its active membership which supports many causes and takes pride in its place in the community.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Random thoughts on a Thursday morning which is somewhat significant for me because tonight is the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce 46th Annual Gala at Eagle Ridge Golf Club.  It will make my swansong as Chairman as I will pass to gavel to Patricia Blake-Flum of Sylvan Learning Center.  I’m sure you’ll hear more on this tomorrow.

The Ocean Road School PTO will hold a fundraiser tonight for their “Project 5th Grade” at Ferrara’s in Point Pleasant Beach.  The evening will feature a
three-course meal plus comedy entertainment and there are still tickets for the event which runs from 7-10pm.  Call (732) 714-1786.

Its cops versus cops to help a young girl in Jackson Friday night.  The Jackson Township Police and the New Jersey State Police will square off in a flag football game to benefit Chelsey Thomas who was critically injured in a car accident.  The game will be played at the Jackson Pop Warner Holman Field on Manhattan Street with the event beginning at 6pm and the game itself starting at 7:30.  There will be food, door prizes and a DJ with a $10 admission for adults and either $7 or $5 for children.

The Beachwood Soccer Club is now holding registration for the fall season and the next sign-up will be Sunday from 9:30-11:30 at the soccer complex on Berkeley Avenue.  Children born before September 30th, 2005 can register and for more information visit www.beachwoodsoccer.com.

The more things change the more they remain the same.  Toms River North and Toms River South will meet in the finals of the Ocean County Baseball Tournament Friday night at Toms River High School East.  While Jackson Memorial has been the dominant team at the shore this spring it’s the Mariners and defending champion Indians meeting for the title.  South has won the OCT a record ten times under Coach Ken Frank.

Wednesday, May 12, 2009

It is a story that will not have a happy ending….regardless of the outcome.
From all appearances the Brick Township Board of Education will soon hire Patrick Dowling as a teacher and the successor to Warren Wolf as head football coach of the Green Dragons. That move could come at a special meeting tomorrow night. Last night the Township Council cut nearly a half-million dollars from the defeated school budget at a meeting which saw Wolf and about 100 of his supporters question the decision to hire someone from outside the Brick community as just the second coach in school history.

The 81-year old legend retired after 51 seasons and publically and privately requested that his replacement be a “Brick boy.” Despite that Superintendent Walter Hrycenko selected Dowling to take over the storied football program although he has not been officially hired. Dowling was the head coach at Allentown last season and before that coached at Monroe and would also fill an opening in the Special Education department.

As word has leaked out over the past few weeks Wolf and his supporters have been vocal critics of the superintendent and school board for not giving the job to longtime assistant coach Len Zdanowicz, who is already established as a teacher and coach in the high school. Wolf has gone as far as rescinding his retirement and saying he would return to the sidelines, a move that received no comment at the most recent Board meeting. As a longtime fan and admirer of Coach Wolf I would hope that move was made to simply drive home a point because I do think he retired at the right time.

Last night’s Council meeting did not include any school officials and was simply an opportunity for the pro-Wolf side to show their support once again. The Council did unanimously approve a resolution urging the school board to hire from within when it is practical but that is more a statement then a mandate.

It is disappointing that this story has gotten to this point because again no matter what it will not end on a happy note. If and when Dowling is named it will likely mean Wolf goes into hibernation where as a Brick boy getting the job would have kept him around as the “grand old man.” Meanwhile Dowling deserves a better fate….its tough enough to replace a legend but to do so under these circumstances is more than anyone should be asked. Stay tuned…more in future reports.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Tis the season for proms and graduations…a time that his exciting and fun and filled with pride and accomplishment.  It is also a time that especially for parents brings about concern and fear.  Does it not seem that just about every year at this time we read or hear about a tragedy associated with a prom or graduation?  It’s just a matter of the location but there will be a story (or more) about a fatal car crash that involved students or one about
a party that ended on a sad note.  The odds are pretty good that it will not be in this area but to be honest if not this year there will be a time that it will be right here.   While nobody ever likes to think it will affect them why won’t it be your son or my daughter?

We as parents tell our teen-agers time and time again to be careful and of course they always assure us they will.  But we also know all too well that decision-making often becomes cloudy during times like proms and graduations when alcohol often enters the picture.  It does not matter who they hear it from there are a percentage of teen-agers who will feel to need to associate these exciting times with drinking.  Again we parents would like to believe it won’t be our children but there is no guarantee because we can’t be with them all the time.  All we can hope is that we’ve instilled in them the belief that sound decision-making is more important than peer pressure.

Part of being a teen-ager is making mistakes and learning from them and as adults we’ve been there before and have made some of the mistakes our children do.  But we not only want to limit those mistakes we want them to simply be associated with growing up.  Somewhere over these next few weeks you will hear about a story in which the youngsters involved do not get a second chance and you will feel terrible for their families and wonder how they will deal with the pain.  That’s why when the kids go out the door we’ll say “be careful” and pray they take those words to heart.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Random thoughts and notes on a Monday morning:

If Valentine’s Day is the biggest holiday for florists than Mother’s Day has to be the biggest for florists AND garden centers. It seemed like every garden center is the area was jammed on Sunday with brisk sales of flowers, hanging baskets, plants…you name it. My wife got a gift certificate from her favorite place for Mother’s Day and we returned yesterday to pick out what she wanted and then it was home for an afternoon of planting. Let me be clear….she does the planting. I watched the Mets win their 7th in-a-row.

It’s been a while since we checked up on the progress of Toms River’s Frazier Brothers as they try and make it to the Major Leagues. Todd is with the Cincinnati Reds Double-A team in Zebulon, North Carolina…the Carolina Mudcats. Now playing in the outfield, the 23-year old is batting .284 with 12 doubles and 13 RBI’s in 29 games. Todd recently hit his first home run of the season and remains a very highly regarded prospect who could be in Cincinnati late this season when the rosters expand and is ticketed for regular duty in the majors in 2010 or 2011. As for Jeff it’s been an up-and-down spring that is now very up. The 26-year old outfielder had a strong 2008 at Triple-A Toledo (Tigers) but started this season at the Double-A level in Erie. After batting .322 thought he was promoted to Toledo late last week and in his first two games had five hits in eight at-bats. That good news made for a good Mother’s Day for Joan Frazier, who while missing the two boys knows this is a crucial time for both of them.

After all that rain last week when the nice weather finally came it brought pollen a plenty. Piles and piles of the stuff which makes it very difficult for some who suffer this time of year and can’t wait for when the stuff is all gone. It is welcome news for the car wash industry because it seems to keep your car clean you have to wash it just about every day.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

There comes a defining moment in your career which really sums up just about everything and for me it might have come last night.  I was at the Crab’s Claw Inn in Lavallette to judge the finals of their Karaoke Contest, which has been going on every Wednesday for the last several months.

At a point early in the evening I was introduced to one of the other judges in the following manner….”this is Kevin Williams and he is our celebrity judge tonight” to which the women I was meeting responded with “what makes you a celebrity?”   If that doesn’t let you know that you belong in Lavallette on a Wednesday night what else will.

All kidding aside last night was about the contestants who frequent the popular restaurant and bar every Wednesday and take the stage in all shapes and sizes and levels of talent.  I always pretty much thought of Karaoke as really bad singers who got up only after several drinks or because their friends forced them into it.  Not at the Crabs Claw where the regulars put a lot of time and effort into not only singing but having outfits to match their songs and even dance.

I was recruited as a judge by Aileen & Becky who explained to me that what I was looking for was a combination of singing, stage presence and audience participation.  Dave from Karaoke on Fire warmed the crowd up by singing but it doesn’t take long before people get up on stage and belt out their favorites.  Last night featured performances by pretty much the top eight or so from the last few months and then it was time for host Cindy Dotoli to introduce the final three who we would be judging.  There was Judy Mekles and Greg Walls of Lavallette and Kim Spinelli from Toms River and they all had plenty of supporters.  Both ladies were very good and in truth had better voices than Greg but he put on a show that could not be overlooked.  Wearing a white Travolta-like suit from “Saturday Night Fever” he belted out Lionel Ritchie’s “All Night Long” and was simply sensational.  The packed crowed went crazy as he sang, danced and strutted.  I don’t think anyone was surprised later when it was announced that the 30-year old was the winner of the $1000 first prize.   Kim was the runner up and collected $250 and Judy got $100 for her efforts.  Today they go back to their regular lives but as Dave the DJ said “we’re here every Wednesday until the end of time….or I get fired.”

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Several weeks ago one of our Account Executives asked me if I would consider Pilates and then do commercials for the exercise program on the radio.  Of course two things came to my mind….what exactly is Pilates and what if I hated them or it?  The answer to the first part is it’s a program of exercise and movement that will stretch, strengthen and balance your entire body.  The name itself comes from Joseph Pilates who originally created the concept during World War I to rehabilitate injured soldiers.  As for the second part….well that’s not an easy answer. 

Pilates By The Bay is a 1,500 square foot studio in Downtown Toms River
and is not to be confused with a gym.  The place is private and peaceful and filled with all kinds of equipment that to be very honest was completely foreign to me.  Having no idea what to expect I met Dana who is the Director and Senior Instructor.  My first 60-minute session was as much an introduction as anything else to not just the equipment but the concept and I quickly found out my body was being asked to do things it had not done in a long time….if ever.  Pilates is not an aerobic workout but is very challenging.  After my first session I was non-committal about the entire thing…I just wasn’t sure.   Well each time I have gone back I’ve enjoyed it….if you can enjoy having your body stretched and twisted and pushed in many different ways.  Dana and Patty have both been extremely patient although I think they enjoy having a 53-year old man to beat up as most of their clients are women. 

On that subject.  Since I have been doing commercials for Pilates By The Bay many people have commented by saying they can’t believe I am actually doing this.  I reply with something like, do you know what the Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Bucs and Milwaukee Brewers all have in common?  No, not just that they are professional sports teams but they all use Pilates as part of their strength and conditioning programs.  See, real men do Pilates and I am a real man….sort of.

On an unrelated note I will be one of the judges for tonight’s finale of the Crabs Claw Inn’s $1000 Karaoke contest.  Greg Walls (Lavallette), Judy Mekles (Lavallette) and Kim Spinelli (Toms River) are competing for the top prize.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

It’s been a while since I’ve discussed the findings of “The Average Guy” a monthly segment in Men’s Health magazine which reveals the thoughts of men on a variety of topics. This month’s was about our criminal misconduct over the years although that’s a bit of a stretch. Anyway here goes:

• 1 in 5 men will have a roadside discussion with a police office this
year and those that cop an attitude are most likely to get a ticket
instead of a warning.
• 70% of us admit to having spray-painted, egged or toilet papered
property when we were juveniles and among them about 40%
got nailed for the vandalism. 60% of us also said we have shop-
lifted on at least one occasion in our lifetime.
• The average guy says Bank Robbery is the crime he would commit
if he knew he could get away with it followed by speeding.
• 1 in 2 men said they have seen flashing lights in their rearview
mirror and briefly thought about trying to make a run for it.
• For every woman who gets a ticket for not wearing her seat belt,
three men are cited for the same violation.
• About 50% of us dreamed of being cops when we were kids.
• 5 in 6 men said they would lie to the police to protect their family.
• About 30% said they have spent a night in jail.
• 50% said they steal Wi-Fi Internet access from someone in their
neighborhood.
• The most common first names among boys who commit crimes
are Luke, Walter & Preston and those with the name Michael are
least likely to be juvenile offenders.
* Among the TV cops the average guy would want to be his arresting
officer are Heather Locklear (TJ Hooker), Mariska Hargitay (Law
& Order, SVU) and Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer). I guess the
average guy is too you young to remember Angie Dicksinson in
Police Woman.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Here’s the latest development on a story that I’ve talked about a few times in recent weeks.

Reports say about 70 supporters of Brick Township High School football turned out at last night’s Board Meeting to express their displeasure over the situation regarding a new football coach.  Those people and others in attendance were told by Superintendent Walter Hrycenko that it was his recommendation that Patrick Dowling be the next head coach and the replacement for Warren Wolf who retired at the end of his 51st season as the only coach in school history.  While no official action has been taken because of the failed school budget, Hrycenko said he and not the school board made the decision to recommend Dowling who coached at Allentown last season and Monroe before that.  Wolf was not only at last night’s meeting but spoke and is quoted as saying “You’re doing this either because you hate Brick Township football or you hate Warren Wolf.”  The longtime Green Dragon coaching icon wanted the job to go to someone with a connection to the program and the other finalists for the position included current assistant Len Zdanowicz and former player and assistant coach Tim Osborne, who is now the head coach at Jackson Liberty.  To make his feelings clear Wolf announced last night he would like to rescind his resignation to retire.

Here is my take on the situation which has taken way too long to resolve and has become an albatross for the Superintendent and school board.  When Joe Paterno retires at Penn State you can bet your life his replacement will be someone who bleeds blue and white.  Brick should have and can still do the same only the colors are green and white.  This is not about Dowling who has the credentials and has handled this touchy situation with class.  This is about honoring Wolf’s only request that the job go to a Brick boy.  Traditions don’t die easy…and they shouldn’t.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Tuesday night’s meeting of the Toms River Board of Education featured the swearing-in of new members Jack Reuther and Gus Kakavas as well as the honoring of many students in the district for outstanding achievements in many different capacities.  I had the pleasure of representing WOBM and Millennium Radio Group and presenting a $7500 donation to Superintendent Michael J. Ritacco and the school board from the 25th annual WOBM Christmas Classic.  We are partners with the school district in the Boys & Girls basketball tournament which is held at the Ritacco Center over a 7-day period in late December.  Millennium Radio President/CEO Bill Saurer was out of town and could not attend the meeting and join in the presentation but
said he looks forward to working with Superintendent Ritacco and the school district for years to come.

If rumors were correct than tonight’s Board of Education meeting in Brick was to be a wild affair but that may no longer be the case.   The Board was expected to take action on the hiring of a new football coach at Brick Township High School but that was been put on hold because the school budget was voted down last week and no hirings will take place until a budget is in place.  I had reported a couple of weeks ago that the next coach would be Patrick Dowling, who is currently at Allentown and before that coached at Monroe.  Since that time I have received numerous calls from parents and others who said they would attend the meeting tonight to express their displeasure over the board not selecting someone with ties to former coach Warren Wolf and the Brick program.  The agenda for tonight’s meeting at Lake Riviera Middle School makes no mention of a hiring but I would imagine there will be those from the public who will want to speak on the issue of the next coach for the Green Dragons.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

A bunch of quick hitters on a Tuesday morning that’s supposed the mark the end of an unusual early season heat wave:

Steve D’Onofrio certainly knows the meaning of the word “challenging” as it sums up his last few years as owner of the Sawmill Café on the boardwalk in Seaside Park.  The landmark bar and restaurant suffered what’s being called “moderate” damage during a fire Sunday night and D’Onofrio is already wor