The Jaffe Briefing - August 8, 2019

WESTFIELD – Who the heck would buy the “Watcher” house? Apparently, someone looking for a great bargain, someone from waaayy out of town, or someone who hasn’t read any news in the past few years or so. Congrats to the couple who have been finally able to unload it, taking a $400,000 loss on this freakish place that has been famously stalked by a local wacko. The names of the people who bought the house are already public, so expect reporters to soon coming knocking and ask: “Uh, what are you thinking”? The house sold for $959,360, the previous owners (suckers) had bought it for $1,355,557. Hey, it’s always nice to get a bargain, but the devil is in the details.

NEWARK – There have been low — and not so low — rumblings among climate-change activists over the Murphy administration’s draft energy master plan; specifically, its lack of a moratorium on all fossil-fuel projects. NJ Spotlight reports that a hearing yesterday in Newark brought out a strong showing of ticked-off environmentalists. It seems you could power a small town on the frustration they voiced over the moratorium’s omission. Are some environmentalists now becoming disillusioned with the governor, questioning his commitment to deliver on well-worn promises to focus on clean energy?

LAVALLETTE — Do your spin-off somewhere else. That’s basically what this oceanfront resort just told Snooki, J-Woww and their oily entourage of Jersey Shore castmates. This is the latest town, behind Wildwood and Brick, to reject requests from 495 Productions to be a beachy backdrop for this summer’s moronic incarnation of “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.” Mayor Walter LaCicero tells Shorebeat this frightening “reality show” just isn’t compatible with Lavallette’s squeaky-clean, family fun image. The locals agree, many showing up and speaking out earlier this week.

SECAUCUS – So, you think you are a real Sopranos fan? Fuhgetaboutit. You are nuthin’ compared to all those mooks who will be flocking to “SopranosCon” in the Meadowlands on Nov. 23-24, when organizers are promising an “interactive, street festival themed fan experience.” It is the ideal time for all these exhibits, grip-and-grins with cast members, trivia, costume contests, etc., as the highly-hyped upcoming prequel is now in the making. Twenty years after Sopranos first hit the screen, there’s still a thirst to meet Sal “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero and “Paulie Walnuts.” Bring a brown bag of cash.

CHERRY HILL – Get ready to say “Awww” for 101-year-old amateur artist Mindel Kaufman who just won first place in Camden County’s annual Senior Citizens Juried Art Contest. Her painting, “Flower Power,” topped 54 other entries from other over-60 crew of artists. Kaufman tells CBS News she rubbed petals from her most recent birthday bouquet on a blank canvas and, “it looked to me like some ladies,” so that’s what she painted. Kaufman, who began to paint at the ripe-young age of 65, now moves onto a statewide senior art contest, where the competition will get a bit more fierce. Contestants: Don’t even think about hiding any extra acrylics or oil paints in your walkers.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

UP IN THE AIR – People named “Green” will soon be saving lots of green if they happen to travel by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 20. Bless all those clever marketers at Frontier Airlines, who have devised a campaign of free flights for passengers lucky enough to have the last name of “Green” or “Greene.” Frontier has found a unique way to celebrate “Green Week,” trying to convince us through this give-away that it is the most eco-friendly airline in the friendly skies. So, there will be free flights, valued up to $400, while supplies last. Meanwhile, people with the last name “Red,” are seeing red, while people with the last name “Blue” are feeling….well, you know.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 2010 that JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater become a folk hero, dramatically quitting his job by grabbing a couple of beers, sliding down the plane’s emergency-escape chute at JFK Airport and heading home to Queens. Slater says he just didn’t want to deal any longer with rude passengers, likely named “Red.”

WORD OF THE DAY