Tuesday, May 7, 2013
But state will work on drainage, pump stations during summer
The state is postponing Route 35 reconstruction until after Labor Day, a welcome relief to local officials and business people who feared that the work would cause massive traffic delays all summer. "I'm very happy," said Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis. "This is more than enough of a change, even if they start the day after Labor Day." He and other Bay Head officials and business owners had also been concerned the state Department of Transportation (DOT) road work would kill parking spaces on Route 35, just as businesses are hoping a robust summer tourism season can help them recover from Superstorm Sandy. Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Vincent Barrella had more of a mixed reaction. "I'm pleased, but disappointed they didn't let me know," said …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Boardwalk to be done by Memorial Day weekend
Shortly after Point Beach announced it had not received a dime of FEMA money, FEMA announced it's sending the oceanfront town $2.1 million to help pay for the rebuilding of its Sandy-ravaged boardwalk. Eight days after Point Beach officials at a council meeting bemoaned the lack of cash flowing from FEMA, FEMA made its announcement. On Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez (both D-NJ) today announced that Point Pleasant Beach will receive more than $2.1 million to reimburse the town for the cost of repairing and rebuilding the boardwalk. The allocation reimburses the town for 75 percent of its written request to FEMA for the cost of the boardwalk repairs and rebuilding, said Point Beach Business …
Monday, April 29, 2013
What do you think of the governor's statements that are angering conservative critics?
Gov. Christie told MSNBC Monday morning "the President has kept his promises" regarding Sandy relief and that he has "no complaints." Christie, a Republican with likely presidential aspirations, also said on the "Morning Joe" program that he tells his conservative critics that he was just "doing his job" when he worked with Democrat Obama in the grim weeks and months following Superstorm Sandy. Christie continues to get heat from Republicans, especially their conservative members, for his statements about how he was being "responsible" welcoming Obama and working with him when he made his early November, post-Sandy and pre-election visit to the Garden State, as noted by Joe Scarborough, host of "Morning Joe" and a former Republican …
Many storm victims have become Sandy zombies
They are easy to spot. They don't smile much. They look tired. They are tired. They are numb. They are the Sandy zombies. They are fried emotionally and physically from half a year of battling to go home, if they still have a home to go to. I am a Sandy zombie. Is it possible it's been half a year since that horrific day and night when Superstorm Sandy blasted the Jersey Shore and changed some lives forever? Six months since we left our Bayville home with three terrified cats and made our way to family in Toms River? Six months since we've been living in a basement? We knew Sandy was going to be bad, even when we evacuated at noon on Oct. 29. Trees were already toppling in Pine Beach, taking down power lines. But we didn't know then we …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Alex's Inlet Bait and Tackle counting on fundraiser to stay open
For Marc Palazzolo, owner of Alex's Inlet Bait and Tackle in Point Pleasant Beach, the government's promise to help Sandy-ravaged businesses is just a fish tale. So he's relying on his friends and customers to help him keep his bait and tackle shop afloat on Inlet Drive, where Sandy sent the ocean barrelling into homes and businesses, leaving a soggy heap of debris and financial ruin in its wake. Five months later, Palazzolo, like so many other business owners at the Jersey Shore, is still struggling to open for good. Last week, he was finally operating on a limited basis, but the "open" sign on the door threatens to drop off the nail, like a fish wriggling off a hook. "I thought we would need $15,000 to $20,000 to clean out and re-open…
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Deadline extension applies for homeowner, renter and business registration with SBA
Residents impacted by Superstorm Sandy now have until May 1 to register for individual disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to a prepared statement from the governor's office. The deadline extension also applies for homeowner, renter, and business registration with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Disaster Loan Assistance. Businesses applying for SBA Economic Injury loans still have until July 31 to apply. The loans are for businesses that did not suffer any physical damage, but lost revenue in Sandy's aftermath. State and federal offiicials have urged all residents and businesses affected by the storm, whether it was through flooding, wind damage or loss of business revenue, …
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Borough, Pavilion reach agreement on terms of new lease for the boardwalk mainstay
It could give you whiplash. The Borough of Avon, after its governing body voted two weeks ago to suddenly revoke the lease of the Avon Pavilion and then defended that position with various and changing reasons despite pushback from Pavilion supporters, voted Monday to reinstate the lease for another 10 years at a heavily attended, standing-room only meeting. The vote of the three-member Board of Commissioners was 2-1 in favor and followed a 20-minute closed session at the top of the meeting. Commissioner Frank Gorman cast the lone vote against. Under threat of a lawsuit from Pavilion owner Robert Fishman, the two sides came to terms over the weekend and have settled their dispute. Under the terms of a new agreement, the Pavilion will …
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Dunes breached in a number of sections of the state park during Superstorm Sandy; sections of park slated to open sometime next week
Surf fisherman often trudged through the sand on Two-Bit Road at Island Beach State Park to make their way around the towering dunes, on their way to the beach and the waves. But there is little in the way of a cut now, since Superstorm Sandy swamped the park on Oct. 29. And in many sections of Island Beach, the carefully cultivated, cherished dunes - strengthened by beach grass and protected by snow fence - are no more. "There's a lot more devastation at this end of the beach," said Area Supervisor Ray Bukowski, as he steered his Ford F-250 down the nearly deserted beach in the park's Northern Natural Area. The beach is littered with pilings, crab pots, storm debris and even a roller coaster car from nearby Seaside Heights. The scene is …
Friday, January 4, 2013
Foundation awards six grants to organizations in Sandy-battered communities
OceanFirst Foundation’s Relief and Recovery Grant Program is awarding six new grants totaling $93,000 to organizations in Point Pleasant Beach, Toms River and Monmouth County. The recipients are: Ocean Fire Co. #1, Point Pleasant Beach; Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, Toms River; Children’s Home Society, Toms River; Homes for All, Toms River; O.C.E.A.N., Inc., Toms River and United Way of Monmouth County, Farmingdale. "The foundation's grant program assists the efforts of nonprofit organizations in the New Jersey shore market area that are helping local families and individuals affected by Hurricane Sandy," says a prepared statement issued by the foundation. The amount awarded to each of the organizations and details about their …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Students, staff and other members of the school community were given certificates of appreciation for volunteering and helping others in Hurricane Sandy relief.
The Wall Board of Education meeting began with Superintendent Daniel Simon’s recognition of certain students, staff members and other members of the school district who made “outstanding contributions” to the community in the past month. “It’s times like this in this past month in what we experienced and what we went through that that you really see the embodiment of community and what your community really values and what’s important to them,” Simon said before handing out certificates of appreciation. First up were ten Wall High School students— Brendan Brady, Ryan Sullivan, Russell Lorusso, Michael Cusack, Conor Nichols, Stephen Graves, Scott Van Glahn, Christopher Quinlan, Philip Shields and Bryan Cusack— who had spent time assisting …
Vince Barrella
1:46 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
This would not have happened without Mayor Curtis's support. Thanks Bill. more ›