Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Harry, Christie survey the damage and have some fun
JERSEY SHORE -- Britain's Prince Harry did what most people would do on a sunny, spring day in Seaside Heights—take in the ocean views, then play some boardwalk games. Harry came to Seaside Heights with Gov. Chris Christie Tuesday morning after the two toured destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy in Mantoloking. The pair drove south on Route 35 and entered the boardwalk at Grant Avenue where crowds of people were waiting for their arrival. "Prince Harry, we love you," shouted one small girl who was holding a welcome sign. Standing next to her was an Elvis Presley impersonator, hoping to attract some attention of his own from the prince. Harry and Christie were greeted by local officials, who escorted the pair out to Casino Pier, the site …
Camp Osborn residents deliver a welcome message
Brick's Camp Osborn neighborhood has gotten more attention that ever before over the last six months – all of it because of the fire that destroyed the community. But today, residents are hopeful that a message of welcome will be enough to catch the eye of Prince Harry as he visits the Shore area. Harry will pass through Brick on his way to Seaside Heights from Mantoloking. About a week ago, Camp Osborn residents – true to the friendly reputation of the neighborhood – began planning the design of a welcome banner visible from Route 35, which passes through the Camp. The banner, which is accompanied by American and British flags, has a simple message of welcome from Camp residents. A few neighbors set up the display Monday morning. The …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Senate bill 2601 would also allow the county to exercise the power of eminent domain in order to erect dunes to protect lands, property and facilities near the beaches
Ocean County's freeholders are standing in opposition to a state Senate bill that, if approved, would permit counties to take over the operation of beaches within its jurisdiction. A resolution stating that Ocean County would be “actively impacted” by this legislation was unanimously passed at a Freeholders meeting May 1. “If Ocean County were to take over and maintain the 44 miles of just oceanfront beaches in Ocean County, it would not only be cost prohibitive but would also require taxpayers who don’t use the beaches to pay for them,” Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari said. The bill (S2601, A3891), sponsored by Sen. Bob Smith and Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer, would authorize any county of the fifth or six class — Atlantic, Monmouth, Ocean …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Security will be tight, however, report says
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Tuesday, May 7
Britain's Prince Harry will visit Mantoloking and Seaside Heights during a May 14 visit to New Jersey to survey damage from Superstorm Sandy, a report from The Associated Press said Monday. Mantoloking Mayor George Nebel said Gov. Christie will accompany the prince on a brief walk down Barnegat Lane – which runs along Barnegat Bay – and then head to Seaside Heights, according to the report. Security will be tight and local residents will most likely not be able to see the prince, the news organization reported. Christie's office told Patch Monday that the details of the prince's visit were being handled by the British consulate in New York City. Patch contacted and left a message with the consulate's press office on the matter. Christie, …
Reconstruction will take place after Labor Day, but DOT 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 local 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 …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Destroyed community hopes to rebuild its homes – and maintain its heritage
The official report on the fire that destroyed one of Brick's oldest neighborhoods was short, but the farthest thing from sweet. A witness who remained in the township's barrier island section told investigators that at 7:20 p.m. the night of Oct. 29, he saw electrical transformers explode in Camp Osborn, then a fire break out at one of the homes near the beachfront. A "blizzard of sparks and smoke" followed, according to the report, and strong winds brought on by the hurricane and, presumably, natural gas leaks, kept the blaze burning from ocean to bay. Firefighters attempted to reach the area, but a breach near the Mantoloking Bridge prevented them from doing so, and the impassable state of Route 35 prevented firefighters from accessing …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Intact home has been in the bay since Superstorm Sandy struck
The Mantoloking house that was swept, intact, into Barnegat Bay and has since been wedged against an island will be gone by Friday afternoon, demolition experts said Thursday. A crew from CrowderGulf, the contractor hired by the state Department of Environmental Protection to clear waterway debris from northern Barnegat Bay, began work to remove the two-story house Thursday. State and local officials held a ceremony to mark the occasion. The home, sitting in the water about 200 feet from the edge of the bay, is one of eight nearly intact homes that Sandy pushed into the water statewide. Two other virtually intact Mantoloking homes were swept into Barnegat Bay, while one home in Monmouth County's Union Beach was pushed into Raritan Bay. …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Beaches south of the Ocean Club condominium complex will remain closed; speed limits drop once again
Brick residents can head back to the beach Wednesday. Six months and two days since Superstorm Sandy ravaged the township, its three public beaches will open for the first time, and a curfew that affected the entire barrier island portion of the township has been lifted. "Our main concern has been the safety of the public," said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis, in a statement. "We had to do a lot of work on the beaches to make them as safe as possible before permitting people to go back. But this is the Jersey Shore and the beach is a large part of who we are." The mayor and Police Chief Nils R. Bergquist issued a joint announcement about the beach reopening Tuesday. "We have cleaned the beaches to the best of our ability," said Bergquist. "It …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Condemnation now on the table as dune deadline looms; In Brick, easement language changes
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Daniel Nee
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Wednesday, April 24
With only a few holdouts expected to decline signing easements that will allow a federal dune and beach replenishment project to move forward, Mantoloking has hired an attorney to deal with those who refuse to cooperate. Borough officials at a council meeting Tuesday said that eminent domain – the public taking of the easement parcels – will be on the table. Council President Steve Gillingham described the four to five holdouts as "selfish and short-sighted" and said the borough will begin to consider legal action and – like Long Beach Township – will publicly release the names of those who do not sign by the borough's deadline, which is Friday. The council voted in favor of hiring attorney Paul V. Fernicola, of Red Bank, to handle "…
Monday, April 22, 2013
Traffic lights no longer blinking on bulk of barrier island
It's one of those unique "Shore local" problems: when the traffic lights stop blinking each spring, one has to remember to come to a full and complete stop - and most importantly, wait for the light to turn green again. In a small sign of normalcy following Route 35's reopening after surrounding neighborhoods were hard hit by Superstorm Sandy at the end of October, traffic signals are no longer blinking amber and red. Last week, the lights in Brick, Toms River and Lavallette were all changed back over to their solid red-or-green modes. Since then, speed limits have risen in each of those towns from 25 m.p.h. – a limit imposed following Sandy – back to 45 m.p.h. in the southbound lanes and a mix of speeds between 30 and 45 m.p.h. in the …
Ed Minall
11:14 am on Thursday, May 16, 2013
I respect the Prince for his military service and his work with charities. However, he tours the shore area which probably cost the Shore Towns/State tens of thousands in OT for police etc. Goes to CT the next day and makes millions from US companies for his international charities at a Polo match. Then heads back to the UK the same day. Where is there an upside for his shore visit? I would have … more ›