UPDATE! Monday Briefs From WOBM News

News from Ocean & Monmouth counties and around New Jersey.

SEA BRIGHT - Officials and residents of Sea Bright are mouring the death of former Mayor Maria Fernandes, who died after battling a chronic illness. Reports say the 59-year-old died Sunday. She served as Mayor from 2008 till last year. Funeral arrangements are pending.

TRENTON - More warnings about drinking raw milk again this morning. A total of 78 bacterial infections have been linked to the family cow dairy in Pennsylvania. Two people from New Mersey were sickened, five in maryland and three in West Virginia. The situation is under investigation.

TRENTON – The warm winter has brought out southern pine beetles early this year. The bugs kill pine trees by burrowing into trunks and leaving behind a fungus. State environmental officials say about 7,000 acres were destroyed last year.

EDISON – Sky-rocketing gas prices and ways to combat them will be at the top of Shore Congressman Frank Pallone’s list today. He’ll visit EOS Energy’s storage facility in Edison to drum up support for an all of the above approach to domestic energy production.

TRENTON (AP) — A state Senate committee is considering a bill that would end several perks for commissioners and staff at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The bill would end free tolls and sports tickets, curb expense allowances and end rental subsidies and reimbursements for personal vehicle travel.

WHITING - A Whiting woman is ok after she backed her car out of her driveway, smashing through the garage door directly across the street into another vehicle parked inside. Police say 86-year-old Antoinette Cerulli was not injured in the Friday afternoon incident.

WEST LONG BRANCH – Paul Gaffney ends his 10-year term as Monmouth University’s President June 30. Trustees are organizing a committee for a nationwide search to fill the post. Notable achievements during his tenure include the fully-funded, $57,000,000 Multipurpose Activity Center, the University’s first Doctoral program, and broad community outreach.

ATLANTIC CITY – Atlantic City Electric is asking the state Board Of Public Utilities to adjust several pass through charges that appear on customer’s bills. The fees were incurred due to the cost of long term power purchase contracts and social benefit programs. The power provider wants them spread out over 4 years.

ASBURY PARK – Three recent shootings in Asbury Park have the public working on ways to stop the violence. Reports say a group of 50 residents met at the West Side Community Center with ideas how to make the city safer. They will take their recommendations to the Mayor.

JERSEY CITY - Production of the new Snooki and J Woww Jersey Shore spin-off show has begun. The two were seen walking around Jersey City over the weekend looking at apartments where they’ll live for the next six weeks.