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A big thank-you
before a big game

PETER ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A gigantic flag is unfurled during a patriotic celebration prior to the Toms River North at Middletown South football game
on Friday night. As fans cheered, police and first responders were honored for their bravery.

N.J. first responders honored under

the Friday night lights in Middletown

See HONOR, Page 4A

PETER ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Linden Police Officer Angel Padilla receives an award for

his service in helping to capture bombing suspect Ahmad
Khan Rahimi.

Doherty missing meetings amid run

Monmouth County freeholder candidate and Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty has missed most borough
council meetings since June, a lapse that his local opponents say is linked to the impact of campaign contributions and the boroughs tough pay-to-play ordinance.
So far in 2016, Doherty missed at least eight meetings, twice as many as his previous five years combined, according to council minutes. Since June, hes
attended two meetings, one of which he left early.
Doherty said the missed meetings were caused
largely by work or family commitments but said it
has not impacted the governing of the town. He said
the council meetings are a fraction of his responsibilities as mayor.

Multiple waves of online

attacks blocked many major
websites Friday. STORY, 4B

Bridget Anne Kelly, the former deputy to Gov. Chris

Christie accused of choking access to the George Washington Bridge to punish a Democratic mayor, said Friday that she spoke with Christie twice about the 2013
lane closures before and after she sent the infamous
Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee email.
After nearly three years of silence besides a brief
news conference following her indictment Kelly
took the witness stand in her own criminal trial and told
her long-anticipated side of the story regarding what
happened before and during the week of gridlock. She
described her role in the administration as a sort of
stagehand, responsible for making sure the governors
public events were properly organized and his social
events were catered to his liking. And Kelly tearfully
told the jury that she was scared of Christie after receiving profane put-downs and, in one instance, being
hit by a water bottle he threw in a fit of pique.
Kellys testimony came in the fifth week of the trial
in which she and Bill Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority, are charged with
nine counts related to the lane closures. They are accused of working with Baronis deputy, David Wildstein, who has pleaded guilty, to reducing access lanes
to the bridge to retaliate against Fort Lees Democratic
mayor, Mark Sokolich, for not endorsing Christies reelection.
The involvement of those three associates in the lane
closures has hounded Christie since he cruised to a second term and, he has acknowledged, played at least
some part in dragging down his once-promising bid for
the presidency. But Christie, who has not been charged,
has steadfastly denied having knowledge of the lane
See TRIAL, Page 2A

SUSANNE CERVENKA @SCERVENKA

ADVICE
CLASSIFIED
COMICS
LOCAL
MOVIES

Kelly says she

told Christie of
lane closures
before email
DUSTIN RACIOPPI @DRACIOPPI
AND PAUL BERGER @PDBERGER

ANDREW FORD @ANDREWFORDNEWS

MIDDLETOWN Carmine Babino, 43, brought his

two young sons to the crowded stands of a football game
at Middletown High School South Friday night, but he
didnt come to watch the highly touted game between
the Jersey Shores top two teams.
He came for a star-spangled celebration of police
and first responders.
You know what? Theres too much violence going
on, said Babino, whose brother-in-law is a K-9 officer
for Middletown police.
I didnt grow up in that and I dont want them to
grow up in that, he said of his young sons, age 4 and 18
months.
Babinos mother-in-law, Rosemary Mazza, agreed. I
think its wonderful. Its encouraging to honor the first
responders, especially the police, since Im a police
mom.
Friday, before the long-anticipated clash between
Middletown South and Toms River North, hundreds of
first responders from across the state marched across
the field to the sound of bagpipes. Football players

SATURDAY 10.22.16

6D
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A council meeting is maybe two hours a month. I

spend well over 20 hours a week being the mayor of
Belmar. So for two hours a month if Im not available,
that has zero impact on the ability to perform my
function as the mayor of the town, he said. I get the
politics of it. Do I think that in any way takes away
from the outstanding job Ive done as mayor? Not at
all. I think I continue to do a good job as mayor.
Katrina Clapsis, a Belmar resident who has challenged Doherty on a myriad of borough issues, said
the missed meetings do impact the mayors job.
What good is having a mayor if you cant vote on
anything? she said.
Clapsis say Doherty is trying to cover for the fact
he would have to recuse himself from many of the
See MAYOR, Page 2A

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