Drop off Donations for Oklahoma Tornado Victims at Cinderella Bridals, All About Fun

Operation Jersey Shore Santa plans to drive a truck full of donations down to Oklahoma.

Matawan businesses Cinderella Bridals and All About Fun will serve as a donation collection center for the people of Oklahoma who were devastated by a two-mile wide Tornado. The collection is being orchestrated by Operation Jersey Shore Santa (OJSS), a charitable organization that was launched by Brick resident Jackie O'Leary to collect toys and clothes for families who lost everything during Hurricane Sandy. They will accept donations through Sunday and plan to pack a moving truck full of donations on Monday, according to the OJSS Facebook. They suggest donating: Cinderella Bridals is located in The Marketplace at 443 Route 34 in Matawan. Items can be dropped off during the following hours: All About Fun is located in Park Plaza at 343 …

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proud

9:15 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Can't hurt.   more ›

This Inspiring Story Brought to You by Grape-Nuts

'Oh Sandy' Anthology Uses Humor to Examine Seriousness of Historic Storm

A Matawan man with close ties to Union Beach was one of several Sandy survivors to be published in the collection titled "Oh Sandy: An Anthology of Humorous Stories for a Serious Cause."

Hurricane Sandy was no laughing matter for those people displaced from their flooded homes, for those throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of food after losing power or for those who lost their homes entirely.   However, they say laughter is the best medicine. "When you are gutting people's houses, you either start laughing or start crying and don't stop," said James Butler, a former Union Beach resident who continues to coach youth soccer there. "When you are dealing with tragedy there is at first shock and then you kind of move on to the gallows of humor." Each day after the storm, Butler, now a Matawan resident, visited Union Beach to help his parents, his childhood friends and his soccer players' families clean up and rebuild.  He …

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Give the Gift of Warmth to Needy Kids

Coat collection for Dottie's House

  The Point Borough Police and Community Watch are sponsoring a “Gift of Warmth” for children and other residents at Dottie’s House in Brick. "We are looking for folks willing to sponsor a child to provide a new coat and boots during the holiday season," said an email from Mary Furmato, a Community Watch official. The group is also collecting gently-used coats for women, cash donations to help offset Dottie House's heating expenses, and food store gift cards. Donations can be dropped off at the Borough Police Department on Bridge Avenue. If you are interested in sponsoring a specific child, email Mary Furmato at maryfurmato@comcast.net. Dottie's House is a transitional housing facility designed to aid women and children who have survived …

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Hurricane Sandy

"I Only:" It Means A Lot More Than You Think

What you think isn't much means the world to those struggling in the wake of Sandy

While friends and family at the Jersey Shore were still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Sandy, they sprang into action. Volunteers from across the nation started collecting items to help people devastated by the storm. People without homes. People they'd never even met. Often, they heard the phrase, "I only." But as Debbie Nelson, one of those who rallied friends and communities to help those of us here will tell you, "Every 'I only' is like a penny: put a bunch of them together and they add up." *** Debbie Nelson watched the reports about Hurricane Sandy with concern. The mother from Dallas had one son living in the Belford section of Middletown, and the grandfather of her older children lived in Barnegat. She had been struggling …

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Point Beach Dive Team to Do Demos in Brick on Sat.

Demos and marine life in touch tanks will be shown on Molly Lane

Divers will do demonstrations and display marine life in touch tanks for families in Brick on Saturday. The Point Pleasant First Aid and Emergency Squad's Dive Team, located on Laurel Avenue in Point Beach, will offer educational demonstrations at Grandparents Day at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at 1 Molly Lane, Brick. Molly Lane intersects with Brick Boulevard (see map to lower right of this page). The first aid squad and dive team primarily serve Point Beach, Mantoloking and Bay Head. The volunteers were invited to be part of Grandparents' Day festivities at the Pavilion. "We will give a demonstration of our diving abilities, educating young children about local ocean creatures and offering them a chance to handle some of them in our touch tanks…

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Coast Guard Not Identifying Diver Who Died

Man was on Sea Lion based in Brielle

The Coast Guard is not releasing the name, age, hometown or any other information about a middle-aged man who died when he was out scuba diving on Sunday morning. All information is being withheld at least until the conclusion of an ongoing investigation and it is not yet known how long that investigation will take, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Cynthia Oldham of Coast Guard Public Affairs. The man had been diving from The Sea Lion, a commercial diving vessel based at Union Landing Marina, Union Lane, Brielle, and was about three mlles offshore when he was reported in distress, according to the Coast Guard. Owners of the Sea Lion could not immediately be reached for comment. Coast Guard watchstanders at Station Manasquan Inlet received a …

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Denise Di Stephan

8:14 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012

This is the Coast Guard's standing policy they always use with the media, as they have told us a number of other times with past incidents. Oldham said that at some point, when the investigation is concluded, they may (not guaranteed) release the name if we file a FOIA request (a written request for information), so we'll stay on it as best we can. Meanwhile, if anyone has any information on the …   more ›

Volunteerism Encouraged During 'Season of Service'

Christie Administration signs up to volunteer, and is urging residents to do so, too

It’s a season of service. That’s what the governor’s office is hoping the coming weeks will be remembered as. In addition to celebrating the winter holidays, Gov. Chris Christie is urging residents to lend a hand to volunteer organizations and help serve their communities. “Season of Service” was announced by Governor and First Lady Christie onThanksgiving Eve. The idea, according to the governor’s office, was inspired by 8-year-old Aidan McManus of Burlington Township. Aidan volunteers every Wednesday at the Ladle of Love soup kitchen at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, and for his efforts were recognized by First Lady Pat Christie as a New Jersey Hero. The Christies pitched in to help cook Thanksgiving meals last Wednesday, and yesterday …

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Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey Supports Seniors

The non-profit’s therapy dog program makes it unique

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey is an organization devoted to supporting and assisting Senior Citizens, and providing a wide range of other services.  Unique to this agency, which has offices in Toms River and Whiting, is its therapy dog program. Caregiver Canines, the organization’s therapy dog program started in 2009 to offer a heartwarming experiencing for seniors, according to Lynette Whiteman, CVCJ’s executive director. For over 17 years, the agency has been providing services to make a meaningful difference in the lives of seniors and the volunteers who help them, according to this non profits website. “Most therapy dog programs visit people in institutionalized setting such as hospitals and nursing homes. Our therapy dogs and…

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Animal Shelter Volunteers Dismissed After Lethal Dog Fight

Shelter reviewing policies and procedures after pit bull broke from cage, attacking and killing another dog

The Toms River Animal Shelter last month dismissed its volunteer staff while it reevaluates procedures after a July incident resulted in the death of seven dogs, according to officials. The volunteers were dismissed Sept. 26, more than two months after a pit bull broke free from its cage, attacking and eventually killing another pit bull, Assistant Township Attorney Anthony Merlino said. The attacking dog was euthanized later that day, July 12, at the township animal hospital, and the following day five more pit bulls deemed aggressive by the shelter’s director Jim Bowen were also euthanized, according to a report filed two weeks later by Paul Schlossbach, a state SPCA agent. The 14 volunteers have been temporarily suspended while the …

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Brick Volunteers Serve Up Thanksgiving Meals to Ocean County

Hundreds of turkey dinners have been distributed to Ocean County seniors by volunteers at Epiphany Church in the Herbertsville section.

It was an early Thanksgiving morning for Brick resident Sue Hermida. With 185 turkeys to cook, and 665 meals that had to be delivered, an early start helps, she said. Hermida, a parishioner at Epiphany Church on Thiele Road, began organizing the church's annual Thanksgiving feast - open to the public - 17 years ago. Six years ago she expanded the tradition and partnered with Ocean County Meals on Wheels to deliver Thanksgiving dinners to homebound seniors who normally would not receive a meal on a holiday. The meals include turkey and all the usual trimming, plus dessert, said Hermida. "We work closely with Ocean County Meals on Wheels and Meridian Home Care, plus this year we partnered with Original Leisure Village to deliver 130 meals …

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