Advanced Knee Pain Treatment in Neptune, NJ

Photo Credit: Alissa Deleo

By Alissa Deleo

PublishedMay 29, 2023 at 7:19 PM

NEPTUNE CITY, NJ — Annette Scott of Neptune is on a mission to help the formerly incarcerated understand their voting rights as they re-enter society, ensuring that those who wish to may cast their ballots in the June 6 statewide primary election.

Each Wednesday Scott, a League of Women Voters of Southern Monmouth County (LWVSMC) board member, conducts a one-hour course at NJ Reentry's office, 72 Morris Ave., Neptune City, where those on parole or probation in New Jersey are given the opportunity to register to vote and decide if they would like to become poll workers.

"I inform them of their voting rights," Scott said, adding, "I explain how understanding their voting rights in New Jersey can help them, their community and their families."

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During the weekly classes, Scott assisted by Donna Lembo helps formerly incarcerated citizens in their registration process by reviewing and mailing each application.

In March 2018, Scott formed a partnership between the LWVSMC and the Monmouth County chapter of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation to launch the Reenter-Register-Vote (RRV) initiative, which makes the voter registration process a regular part of a citizen's reentry into society once their sentence is complete.

Scott's program has now helped over 5,000 citizens vote and has successfully “planted seeds of interest that she hopes will grow into full participation in our democracy."

Twice a year before the primaries in June and the general election in November, Scott offers voter registration to those in parole facilities in Cumberland, Passaic, Camden and Mercer counties.

"When I tell them they can cast their vote and I see the look on their face and how they want to fill out the voter application — I'm happy," she said.

Scott also visits Morris and Camden jails to complete voter registration with detainees who have not been sentenced. She hopes to soon be offering this service in Monmouth County.

Scott said she is passionate about educating individuals on the importance of voting in all elections, not just presidential ones.

"Too many think that their vote doesn't count or that they can only vote for the president," Scott explained. "I educate them on the history of voting rights and encourage them to exercise their right to vote in local elections, such as for the mayor of their town, council members, state senators, and board of education."

The New Jersey Reentry Corporation is a nonprofit agency with a social mission to remove all barriers to employment for citizens returning from jail or prison. Former Gov. Jim McGreevey is chairman of the nonprofit's board.

The League of Women Voters is a 102-year-old nationwide, nonpartisan organization that originally encouraged women's suffrage and assisted women with the voting process.

The league's goal today is to keep voters informed and to "empower voters by defending democracy."

The Neptune Public Library has announced its schedule of programs taking place the week of March 3, 2024. Photo Credit: Neptune Public Library

By Alissa Deleo

PublishedMarch 3, 2024 at 6:46 AM

Last UpdatedMarch 3, 2024 at 6:46 AM

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, NJ — The Neptune Public Library, located at 25 Neptune Blvd, has announced its schedule of programming planned for the week of March 3, 2024.

Monday, March 4

An open tech lab will take place from 10 a.m. to noon.

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The library will present a Reading to A Therapy Dog program from 4 to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5

The Teen Advisory Board will meet from 3 to 4 p.m. This program offers teens an opportunity to earn volunteer hours.

Learn and practice the basics of Google accounts in a hands-on class taking place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Participants will learn about all of the features of a free Google account including email services, document creation and photo storage. All laptop equipment will be provided. Please bring your current Google account login information or your smartphone for new account setup.

Wednesday, March 6

A free walk-in AARP Tax Prep is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The library’s Toddlers & Wobblers Sensory Time will take place from 10 to 11 a.m.

The Craft Club will meet from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.

Thursday, March 7

A free walk-in AARP Tax Prep is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The library’s teen study group will meet from 2 to 4 p.m.

"The Bingeable Book Club" will meet at 6 p.m. Those interested in joining can do so by emailing Nicole: ndykeman@neptunepubliclibrary.org.

Friday, March 8

The library is offering a learning Italian course from 10 to 11 a.m.

Morning Story Time will take place at 11 a.m.

Friday afternoon Story Time will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

NEPTUNE, NJ — Good news if you like Jersey Mike's: A Jersey Mike's will open Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 2305 Rt. 66 in Neptune/Ocean Township, in between the Applebee's and the Dollar Tree, in the Starbucks plaza.

The franchise owner is Kyle Melone. The Neptune Jersey Mike's will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. Contact this location directly at 732-982-2060. Or, place your order in-store or for pickup through the website or through the Jersey Mike’s app. Delivery is available in most areas through the Jersey Mike’s app or through third-party delivery partners.

From Nov. 15 - Nov. 19, he will hold a grand opening fundraiser to support nearby Wanamassa Elementary School and Fulfill Food Bank. Customers who received a special fundraising coupon prior to the opening can make a minimum $2 contribution to Wanamassa Elementary and Fulfill in exchange for a regular sub. Customers must have a coupon to be eligible.

The new location is also hiring: If you want to work there, apply at joinourteam@jmgives.com.

Ethan Bruno has seen many twists and turns since becoming an artist. And that’s just to get things started on his masterpieces.

Bruno, 35, makes art out of the popular Rubik’s Cube puzzle from the 1980s.

Each mosaic ranges from 550 to 750 full-sized Rubik’s Cubes, and when the project is complete, it doesn’t look like a puzzle.

It looks like a work of art.

And it’s something that came together during a trip overseas a few years back.

“It really dates back to when I was traveling in 2021, I was in Spain at their version of the Museum of Modern Art,” said Bruno, a Neptune resident who is originally from the White Plains area. “They had one on display, it was a simplified display. I knew how to do the Rubik's Cube, I thought ‘I can do this.’ It took me a year and a half, I kind of let it go, and I thought ‘let me take a stab at it.’

“I had to get a thousand cubes. Searched for suppliers overseas. Went through a few until I was happy with the quality of the product and shipping speed. Finally settled on one, got custom cubes made. Then it’s about the design process, which is all digital. That’s where I start. That is a mixed bag of how long it can take.

“Some designs are fast. Others take me weeks or more.”

It’s not an easy process.

Heck, just doing the puzzle takes about a minute a cube, which sounds incredibly fast, but when you’re doing 500 of them, that’s a long day at the office.

Then it’s about picking the right subject.

While a lover of the arts, Bruno’s first stab at his art was when he created a piece on music producer Skrillex.

Bruno picked him because he’s also a huge fan of his musical work.

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“I used to make music back in the day, 10 years ago, he was a big inspiration. He’s a music producer and carved out his own niche in 2010s. Really cool because it’s all merit-based. Totally based on music. Great for guys breaking into the music industry. So I started with him, and it took me much longer than any of the ones I’m doing now because I had to learn.

“First time, I didn’t have a good system down, it wasn’t my favorite or best work, but I got to the end of it thinking ‘Wow, this is really cool.’ If I can improve speed and workflow and make it easier, I can put a bunch together. Then I did a Taylor Swift one, that was a little bit better, with a much-improved workflow.”

Like anything, the more practice Bruno gets, the better it becomes.

And now his projects are starting to have a Jersey Shore fell to it. He did that to boost recognition and at the same time, pay homage to his home.

The one he put on his social media pages is a great one of the skip, Tony Soprano. Later designs were of Little Steven Van Zandt, and of course, Asbury Park’s favorite son Bruce Springsteen.

That one will be a hot seller.

“I met with an art gallery in Long Branch, and showed him one of my works,” Bruno said. “He said ‘the Springsteen one would go in a second. Someone over the summer will buy it in a heartbeat.’ That’s the thinking of the Stevie Van Zant. I have a design for Stone Pony. It’s more to pay respects to the locals around here, the Shore area, and Jersey in general.

“When I did the Tony Soprano one, once I put that on social media about a week ago, it’s gotten some views. It’s nice to get them because I need people to know about it. But it’s also to honor the Jersey Shore.”

While this isn’t his full-time job yet – he’s worked in the food industry managing restaurants and he’s also worked in marketing and is now very busy with a new baby born five weeks ago – he’s hoping someday his art becomes his career.

His works usually cost between $ 4,500 to $6,500, and his work comes fully framed. He said he’s happy to do custom pieces, and advises the best way to order is through his website.

So far, it’s been nothing but compliments. He said he’s excited to see where this takes him.

“It’s really fun, that’s why I did it, I wanted to see if I liked it and enjoyed it,” Bruno said. “It’s therapeutic, I put on music and step away from electronics, the world for a number of hours at a time while I’m building them.

“I just have to sit down. First you do the Rubik’s Cube, that is the easier part. I can do it in about a minute. It’s not a great accomplishment, some do it in 8 seconds. But that’s the easy part. It’s the designing process. That’s harder, more challenging to figure out. But it’s also a lot of fun.

“It’s not rocket science, but there’s a variety of steps that’s not very clear and visual even if you’re a graphic designer. That’s the fun part, figuring it out. Then when you see it, yeah, it’s great.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been heartbreaks.

After making some of his finest work, after admiring it, if they’re not sold, they’re taken down.

“It is heartbreaking at times, it’s hard,” he said. “I build them, took photos and then it’s deconstruction. It does hurt, but until I have a huge art gallery, it’s hard to keep them all in my house.”

Charles Daye

NEPTUNE - Township, county and state officials have been meeting to determine how best to help and support residents of a growing tent city behind the ShopRite along Route 66.

The encampment is located behind the parking lots of ShopRite and the Zen Leaf dispensary and borders residential homes on Cardinal Road. Unhoused individuals have made their homes in the woods for the better part of the last decade, and the number of people living there has grown to several dozen.

At the March 27 Township Committee meeting, Business Administrator Gina LaPlaca spoke about the township's recent private meeting with the owner of the property and government officials.

"The township hosted a meeting on March 17 with the DC office of homeless prevention, the owner of the property where the encampment is located and all representatives of all the relevant township departments having oversight of the issues occurring at the camp," LaPlaca said.

The landowner has agreed to grant access to the property to state, county and township personnel, and the township has formally requested technical assistance from the state, LaPlaca said.

She added the township is now in the data collection stage of the technical assistance process to identify who is living in the encampment, what resources are available to them based on their need, and opportunities for relocation, LaPlaca said.

She added that the goal is "finding appropriate relocation for these folks."

The next in-person meeting between township, county and state officials is tentatively scheduled for next month.

During the public comment portion of the March 27 meeting, resident Gary Brown thanked the governing body for the update and said since the last meeting "no trespassing" signs have been put up.

"How and when are they enforced and by whom? There have been more tents put up on the side of the ShopRite, and with that I appreciate what you're trying to do with helping them find new homes or help but in regard to the trash I really haven't seen much movement with that," Brown said.

"It does blow into our yards, and we would appreciate any movement with that," Brown added.

He told the committee that he also understood that last week one of the people living in the tent city was assaulted.

"So with all this nice stuff that is going on at a slower pace, just realize there are things going on there at a much faster pace," Brown said.

Charles Daye is the metro reporter for Asbury Park and Neptune, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. @CharlesDayeAPP Contact him: CDaye@gannettnj.com