September 27th - October 10th , 2013 // VOL. 1 // ISSUE 11
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
TOMS RIVER
Bay Avenue Dedicated in Honor of Fallen U.S. Navy Seal by Phil Stilton TOMS RIVER - In High School, Denis Miranda enjoyed being in the water and his strong swimming abilities earned him a spot on the Toms River High School East swim team and a summer job as a lifeguard. His swimming coach, Brian Cerbone said that– and his determination to succeed was what helped Miranda become a U.S. Navy SEAL team member. Miranda graduated from Toms River High School East in 2003 and joined the Navy shortly after graduation. In 2007, he became a SEAL after years of hard work and was assigned to Patrol Squadron 8, based out of Jacksonville, Florida. On September 21, 2010, Miranda died in a helicopter crash while serving in Afghanistan. Five others died in that crash. “They don’t make kids like Denis anymore,” Cerbone said. ”He had compassion, determination and strength.” An audience of approximately one hundred crowded the intersection of Bay Avenue and Linden Road as the Township dedicated yet another road to a fallen service member. In past years, the township has dedicated roads in memory of fallen Marines Vincent Frassetto and James M. Weiss. Thomas Kelaher, mayor and former Lt. Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve led the ceremony, saying, “I hope this is the last time we have to do this.” Since Miranda’s passing, Mr. Cerbone has presented an award each year to members of his swim team who showed the same spirit as Miranda. This year, the award was given to Miranda’s two brothers, Kevin, a U.S. Marine and Alan, a member of the U.S. Navy. Councilman Maurice Hill, a former U.S. Navy admiral said, “When something happens, there three things they want to know…Where are the carriers? Where are the Marines? Where are the SEALS?” Mayor Kelaher, Councilman Hill and members of Miranda’s family unveiled the new sign which reads: PO [Petty Officer] 3 Denis. Miranda Memorial Highway. US NAVY SEAL. Killed in Action 21 September,[sic] 2010. Zabul Province, Afghanistan.
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High School East Marching Band performs the hymns of the five branches of the armed forces.
High School East chorus performs “God Bless America.”
Kevin Miranda, right salutes Drum Major Tom King of the Shamrock & Thistle Pipe & Drums.
Joel Perlmutter of Perlmart Family ShopRites presents Mayor Thomas Kelaher a check to the Wounded Warrior Project in honor of Denis Miranda.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Bad News for Ocean County’s Double Dippers Next Month
Members of the Toms River South Marching Indians, seen here in the 2011 Halloween parade. Phil Schmidt / Ocean Signal from Brick and double dip Longtime Toms River or Toms County Tradition in River and double dip in Comes to an End Jackson, it was something that was unique to Ocean County. by Phil Stilton Wait…No, we’re not TOMS RIVER - The time- talking about Ocean Counless tradition of double dip- ty politicians, we’re talking ping has come to an end in about trick-or-treat. This is where the political Toms River, at least for this establishment can breathe a year. For those who grew up in the town, double dip- sigh of relief, knowing their ping is nothing new and name isn’t going to be in the has been a widely accepted news again. For years, the Toms River practice for generations. Halloween Parade, one of Nobody cared if you took from one town and the next the largest in the country, day, went to another town has traditionally been held That and took. Whether you’re on October 31st.
meant trick-or-treat in Toms River was generally held on the 30th, barring any unforeseen superstorms. While parades aren’t for everyone, many children in Toms River would opt to trick or treat in neighboring towns of Brick or Manchester on parade day– after performing the ritual the night before in their own town. On the flip side, kids in surrounding towns would descend upon Toms River the night before to double dip the next night in their own town. This year, the Toms River Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 has decided to host the 75th annual Toms River Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 26th at 7pm, thus removing double dipping from this year’s equation. The double dipping on Halloween also provided for two consecutive mischief nights. Last year was supposed to be the 75th anniversary parade, but Superstorm Sandy derailed those plans just days before.
Downs Ford to Help Raise Money for American Legion Post 129 TOMS RIVER - Downs Ford and American Legion Post 129 are partnering to help raise up to $6,000 in support of American Legion Post 129 and Veterans Projects as part of Ford Motor Company’s Drive 4 UR Community program. Members of the Ocean County area commu-
nity will have the opportunity to raise money for the American Legion Post 129 by test-driving a Ford vehicle. For every person who test-drives a new Ford vehicle at this one-day event, Ford Motor Company and Downs Ford will donate $20, up to $6,000, to American Legion Post 129. These
much needed funds will help Post 129 support our Veterans, Active Duty, and local projects and charities. There will be food, music and fun all day long. This is a no pressure fundraising event. The event will be held Saturday, October 5th from 9am-4pm at their Route 37 location.
Toms River to Begin Issuing Violations to Sandy Victims
by Debbi Winogracki, Toms River Twp.
TOMS RIVER - Toms River Township is in the final stages of our Phase 1 Demolition/Private Property Debris Removal Program (PPDR) which is supported by FEMA funding. It included over 200 properties in the storm-damaged areas, submitted on a voluntary basis by property owners. The Township has been able to assist these property owners with debris removal and/or demolition of their structure and we are pleased with the outcome of this program thus far. We are now moving into “Phase 2” of this program which will involve properties in the storm-damaged areas that have not yet been addressed by property owners. In order to restore our community as expeditiously as possible and to ensure that the proper health, safety and quality of life standards are met, the Township is taking the following actions: Our Township Code Enforcement Officers began inspecting storm-damaged properties on 9/22/13 to determine if violations exist that must be addressed. Continued on Page 7 Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Ocean County Freeholder Facing Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Treasures from Heaven Consignment Shop Opens
and recklessness, [William Kolb] was serverely injured and died.”
Kelly Denies Fault
by Phil Stilton TOMS RIVER - On May 18, 2012, William Kolb, 24, of Barnegat Township was driving his motorcycle south on Route 9 in Eagleswood Township when the motorcycle he was driving collided with Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly’s 2005 Chrysler Pacifica. Kolb died from the injuries sustained in that crash. According to the complaint filed by Kolb’s parents Linda and Richard, the family is suing the freeholder for negligence which they claim was the reason for their son’s premature death. The Kolbs are being represented by Ronald E. Prusek, Esq of the firm Carluccio, Leone, Dimon, Doyle and Sacks of Toms River. “Defendant John P. Kelly negligently operated his motor vehicle so as to cause the same to travel directly into the path of
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Freeholder John P. “Jack” Kelly. Courtesy PolitckerNJ. the decedent’s motorcycle resulting in a collision,” the complaint, filed one year ago this month read. The complaint continues to detail Kelly’s left turn into the parking lot of the West Creek Deli, which he owns and operates. Although Kelly received no citations for the accident, according to the New Jersey State Police, Mr. Prusek contends the accident occurred in Kolb’s lane along the southbound shoulder of route 9. “John P. Kelly’s negligence consisted of failure to make the proper observation before making a left hand turn; failing to avoid traveling in the opposite lane of travel on Route 9 and failure to keep his vehicle under control, which caused the collision,” the complaint continued. “As a direct and proximate result of the aforesaid negligence, carelessness
In a legal response filed by Kelly’s attorney, Mary E., McLaughlin of the Law Office of Debra Hart, Kelly denied the allegations made by the Kolb family and demanded a dismissal of the complaint, instead laying the blame on Kolb, adding, “Any and all injuries and damages sustained were the result of a third party [Kolb] over whom this defendant has no control.” Kelly, an elected member of the Ocean County Board of Freeholders serves as the County’s direct of Law and Public Safety. He has held this elected position for 19 years. His term expires this year and he is currently running for re-election in the November general election.
by Christine Quigley TOMS RIVER - Treasures from Heaven, a new consignment shop in town, celebrated their grand opening
on Saturday, September 7th. Treasures From Heaven is a consignment shoppe that allows everyone to both sell and buy products while
helping to support two major causes, one of which supports residents devastated by Hurricane Sandy and the other an organization helping women and children in need who are in recovery from the pain and emotional/physical trauma of abuse. The store is the dream of Toms River resident Colleen Pisacreta. Colleen said, “The Consignment Connection grew out of a very important lesson that someone else’s giveaways can become someone else’s treasures”.
Continued on page 7
William Kolb.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Toms River Council Briefs by Carly Kilroy TOMS RIVER -The following are news and actions from the September 10th council meeting.
Eagle Scouts
Two Toms River Boy Scouts, Steve and Chris, were presented with proclamations honoring the achievement of reaching the rank of Eagle Scout. “It’s been my experience over the years that young men who achieve the rank of Eagle Scout have demonstrated at an early age that they are committed to accomplishment and dedication,” said Mayor Thomas Kelaher. “So many people in our society have gone from Eagle Scouts to do great things”. The boys have to demonstrate that they are outstanding members of their Boy Scout troop as well as in the community. One of the requirements for the boys to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout includes earning at least 21 merit badges within the areas of first aid, citizenship, physical fitness, and communication. The boys also have to orchestrate and lead a community project. Steve built benches for a retirement home in Queens, New York while Chris landscaped and power washed the grotto of Visitation Church on Mantoloking Road in Brick.
Post Sandy Grants
The township is applying for a grant provided the
TREASURES
Continued from page 7 The store has set their goal to be a high-end quality retail establishment in the community. “We accept only quality items, in style and in excellent condition. The consignment period is sixty days and all items are priced by the Treasures from Heaven staff and agreed upon with consignor,” said owner Colleen Piscareta. Colleen, along with her husband Joe, are also the owners of the very well established Italian restaurant IL Giardinello for over 25 years now and Treasures From Heaven is just four stores down from the restaurant in the same plaza. Colleen tells the story of when they were just newlyweds they did most of their shopping in thrift stores and garage sales to decorate what many share is a quaint and beautiful home. Many have noticed Colleen having a “keen eye for great treasures that tuned their house into a home in which any decorator would be pleased”. The Pascareti family are members of The Church of Grace and Peace and always participate in countless community causes and events. Colleen went on to add “as we participate together as residents of Ocean County in this project, you will be supporting the community now when they need it most after our recent destruction to the jersey shore. People can come and get affordable luxury to help rebuild their homes”.
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs [NJDCA]. Township Planner Jay Lynch explained that the grant will provide funding for studies on post Sandy impact on the barrier islands as well as the downtown section of Toms River. Some of those reports which must be done with outside consulting firms include a strategic recovery planning report, development of ordinances codes and standards for the barrier islands of Toms River, and a report of the Sandy impact in the downtown section of Toms River. Another post-Sandy grant already awarded was the municipal public access planning grant provided by the NJDCA, which provides $15,000 to the township for a study on public beach access. According to Mr. Lynch, all work for this project can be done in house. Later in the meeting, Councilman Jefferey Carr spoke of the importance of these two grants, which combined exceed over $200,000, and noted that since these projects would have to be done anyway, the grants will be taking some of the burden off of the township as well as the staff that has been working on these projects. “Not only do we have to rebuild, but we have to rebuild the right way,” he said.
Other actions made by the mayor and council included:
• A vote on the transfer of Samaritans Purse is a ministry of the Billy Graham Association that has been helping the residents in Ocean County since the start of Hurricane Sandy. Samaritan’s Purse initially sends a disaster team that helps residents pump out water, take down trees, and salvage items from their homes. The second organization supported from the shoppe is Harvest Home , in Holden, MO. This ministry is a refuge and restoration home nestled on a beautiful farm, which provides a safe and loving environment to help women and children whose scattered lives are transformed. Colleen said that during a women’s retreat, she had met the founder of the ministry Rhonda Calhoun and made the connection with this woman who later asked her to come to the center to help minister and cook for women going through the program. After seeing first hand the establishment and the work being done there and the heart therein Colleen knew this was a work much needed in the world and it became a vision to one day help support such a mission. “One of the goals here is to feature stories on our site from these ministries so that the community can see the people they are helping to support by participating in the Treasures from Heaven Connection,” she said. The store is open Tuesday and Wednesday 10am6pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am – 8pm. Closed on Sunday and Monday.
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an “in pocket” liquor license between Arcadia Group, Inc. and Simon Property Group, Inc. has been tabled until the councils next meeting on September 24th . Kim Pascarella ESQ, opposed the transfer through lawyer Terry Brady. • A proclamation was presented in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness month. One in five children are diagnosed with childhood cancer every year. • A proclamation was presented in recognition of Medicare education week. Community Medical Center receives the second largest number of Medicare patients in the country. The purpose of Medicare education week is to make those who use Medicare aware of the benefits they are entitled to. • Councilman Brian Kubiel commented on the low hanging wires and leaning poles around town and added that he, along with some members of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders, took a ride around town to survey the situation and get the matter resolved. • Councilwoman Maria Maruca commented about the 30 day dune replenishment project that is underway along the barrier islands. She said even though the project, which will run north to south, only affects those who signed easements for the project, there is enough sand for property owners who have not signed an easement to do so within those 30 days and participate in the project.
TOMS RIVER- SANDY VIOLATIONS Continued from page 7 If violations are found, a letter will be sent to the property owners of record, advising them of the corrective action that will be necessary in order to be in compliance with the Township property maintenance code. The Township completely understands that not all personal situations are the same and we are committed to working with property owners to work toward acceptable solutions, as long as a workable schedule can be developed. It is vitally important for property owners to respond if they receive a letter from the Township Code Enforcement Officer as soon as possible. Failure to respond will leave the Township little choice in enforcement, and is the least desired alternative. It is important to note, however, that if utilities are not available at a given location, a notice will be posted advising property owners that they cannot occupy the structure until utilities are available. This does not in any way preclude a property owner from working on the structure; however, under the Code, a property is not fit for occupancy if electricity, gas service, water and sewer service are unavailable. If you have any questions concerning this program, please contact our Code Enforcement Office at 732341-1000 ext. 8440.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
BEACHWOOD Photos by Erik Weber / Ocean Signal
Mayor Ron Roma along with officials from the fire company and first aid squad posed for a photograph behind the North Tower girder sections.
(From left) Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company Chief Robert Risk, along with long serving members Mike Maloney, George Symington, Don Wiesner and Roger Hull, observed the ceremonial proceedings.
Deacon George J. Swanson of St. Barnabas R.C. Church in Bayville spoke of the importance of remembering the 2001 terrorist attacks and how they relate to today and will relate to society for decades and centuries to come. Left - (From left) Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company member Kevin Davison and 1st Lieutenant Jim Smith removed the American flag covering the two girder sections that came from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
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World Trade Center North Tower Steel Dedicated by Erik Weber BEACHWOOD - At twilight on Wednesday, September 11th, members of the Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company and Beachwood Volunteer First Aid Squad were joined by Mayor Ron Roma, council members and residents to view and remember the terrorist attacks and loss of life from 12 years earlier by dedicating two small sections of steel girder provided to them through the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The borough fire company was authorized to receive the sections through the efforts of longtime members and past chiefs, Don Wiesner and Bill Hopson, who pursued them primarily as Beachwood had lost a resident to the attack. That resident, John Roger Fisher, 46, was employed as a security specialist for the Port Authority and according to a Star Ledger report was in a car heading for a meeting in New Jersey when the first hijacked airplane struck. First hired to help “oversee the operation of a $35 million high-tech security system installed after the World Trade Center was bombed in 1993,” he rushed into the basement command center to ensure the security system continued to operate in the other tower while overseeing evacuation efforts. It is believed he perished when one or both the towers fell. He left behind his wife, Gail, and seven children, all of Beachwood. After initial introductions and statements by fire company president, Mickey Symington and Mayor Roma - who thanked all who had come out to share in the memorial service and dedica-
tion ceremony - Mr. Hopson spoke of the efforts behind acquiring the steel sections. “Don is really the one who never gave up on the project,” he said. “It took us two-anda-half years to work through the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to be able to verify that our borough had lost a resident.” “Two years ago on the 10th anniversary, we went down to the waterfront and spoke about never forgetting,” the former chief and current assistant chief continued. “Out of that conversation that night, Don had asked if there was anything else in particular that we could do to strengthen our efforts. We were fortunate that we did. Without Don’s inspiration, I’m not sure that the company and the Port Authority would have gotten to the same area to be able to give us this.” He said he felt honored to receive the pieces in a trip up north along with Mr. Wiesner and Bob Tapp, another longtime fire company member, to meet with the Port Authority agents. Mr. Hopson noted that the Port Authority now has “so many requests, they’re running out of artifacts.” “We are going to make sure that we erect a proper and honorable artifact monument that can be enjoyed by everybody,” he closed, after thanking all involved. After a moment of silence requested by Mayor Roma, Deacon George J. Swanson of St. Barnabas R.C. Church in Bayville blessed the steel sections. “I thought about the most important parts of this event and I realized that evil caused the killing of 3,000 people and brought those towers
down, but the good that came out of it was the bringing together of the spirit of America,” he said, citing many examples of people engaging in more discussions and volunteer efforts in the wake of the attacks, as well as displaying more often the American flag from many different locations. “People just like yourselves ran selflessly into those buildings knowing most likely they would probably not come out, but that did not deter them, and it wasn’t always police, fire and EMT but [also] people who worked in the building and had the same spirit as you do.” “Some people can only destroy; we save and we live for a greater cause and I thank God for this country and for everyone like yourselves who are living to lay their lives down for their fellow man whether you know them or not,” the deacon continued. “These pieces of steel were ordinary pieces of steel and concrete; now they’ve been transformed to something sacred, something we can be reverent about. We will not throw this stuff around, we will not write on it, we will respect it as we do the people who have fallen and we give thanks to God for those people who gave their lives in the cause of freedom and peace.” After blessing the sections, he stated that “ And through the hands of craftsmen they’re going to be formed into something wonderful so that we do not forget, and we pass this on, along with all out good values to our children and their children so 100 years from now people will talk about you and what this represents.”
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Election Season Heats Up over Health Benefits for Brick Officials
by Phil Stilton BRICK - Elected officials’ health benefit costs became a topic of concern at this week’s Brick Township council meeting. At the meeting, Mayor Stephen Acropolis asked the township council to consider an ordinance barring elected officials from receiving health benefits as part of their overall compensation for their positions. “The majority on the Council gained office on the back of a promise to not take taxpayer funded healthcare to save taxpayers money. With the exception of one of them, they have broken that promise,” said Mayor Acropolis. “With a municipal election coming up, the people of
Brick Township deserve to know if the majority has any plans to come through with one of their biggest platforms. It is a matter of trust.” With a very important election coming up, Councilman John Ducey, who is running for mayor against Joseph Sangiovanni said the timing of the request has political undertones. “It’s blatantly a political move and politics should not be brought to our township council meetings,” Ducey said. ”The mayor has been a councilman and mayor for a very long time and the request comes just eight weeks prior to the election.” Ducey said if Acropolis and Republican councilmen Sangiovanni and Brando are concerned about
saving taxpayers the costs of health benefits, they should consider dropping their own benefits, which he claimed are all being paid for by Brick Township taxpayers. “The mayor gets his benefits paid for by the Brick Township taxpayers through his wife’s position as a teacher, Sangiovanni gets his paid for through his appointed position in the transportation department and Brando has his benefits paid for by taxpayers through his MUA position,” Ducey fired back. ”On top of that, for years the three of them had accepted $4,000 waive out from the township.” Mayor Acropolis asked the Township Council to put the item on the agenda at the September 10 council meeting. “A motion to put a resolution up for a vote was made by Councilman Joseph Sangiovanni and was seconded by Councilman Domenick Brando,” Acropolis said in a statement. ”The motion was ignored and the Council majority continues to refuse to consider the legislation.” Ducey claims the motion was nothing but election season politics. ”The fact that he’s using our council meetings for campaign season is wrong,” Ducey added. ”He should stick to township business and if he wants to debate health benefits as part of a campaign, I have no problem doing that
Ortley Home Destroyed by Sandy Among First Rebuilt from the Ground Up
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outside of the township meetings.” In Ducey’s election campaign, he told voters that he did not believe elected officials should get paid a salary and collect benefits. He opted for benefits instead of a salary for his elected position. Acropolis’ proposed ordinance will also prohibit elected officials from receiving the $4,000 incentive that is available to officials who waive benefits, an incentive Ducey claimed the Republican slate indulged in until recently. “The time is now to move this ordinance. I know Councilmen Joseph Sangiovanni and Domenick Brando support the ordinance. I urge the Council majority to stop obstructing it put it on the next agenda,” said Mayor Acropolis. Council members Ducey, Susan Lydecker and Bob Moore all work in the private sector. Acropolis holds an appointed position as the Director of the Toms River MUA where he earns a salary of $96,756 per year. Sangiovanni’s position with the Brick school district nets him $98,800 per year and Brando earns $69,816 at his Brick MUA job, where he collects full health benefits according to Ducey. Sangiovanni and Ducey are candidates in the 2013 Brick Township mayoral election. ORTLEY BEACH--One of the most hard hit towns in Ocean County is slowly showing signs of improvement. In Ortley Beach, a home on 6th Avenue, that was demolished after the hurricane has been completely rebuilt. It’s one of the first “stick built” homes to be completely rebuilt in the community and the work was done by a neighbor, Steve Romano of Oak Hill Hayden builders. While many homes have been restored, raised or replaced with modular homes, this home was among the first that was demolished and rebuilt in place and on site using traditional building methods. Romano and his sons were able to build the new home in just three months, demonstrating progress in the residential areas of the hard hit community.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Brick Remembers 9/11 Victims
by Phil Stilton BRICK - When terrorists crashed two airliners in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, eight Brick Township residents lost their lives. On the 12th anniversary of the attacks, Brick remembered John Badagliacca, Brett Bailey, Robert Devitt, Michael Diehl, John Perconti, James Sands, Thomas Sgroi and Christopher Traina. The ceremony and candlelight vigil took place at Wednesday evening at a new bronze monument dedicated to honor those fallen residents. “Every year we gather at Windward Beach to honor the memory of the men and women who were lost on September 11, 2001,” said Mayor Stephen Acropolis. “It is our obligation to their memory, as well as the sacrifices of the countless people who have taken up the fight against terrorism to not let this anniversary go unnoticed and we have no intention of letting that happen.” The remembrance ceremony and candlelight vigil will feature representatives from the Brick Township Clergy as well as Mayor Acropolis and Township Officials and will be held rain or shine. Residents are invited to come. The Township of Brick will supply the candles for the vigil. The Angel in Anguish monument was installed in 2002 for the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks. A new bronze monument was created to
Mayor Stephen Acropolis addresses the audience at the 2013 Brick memorial for 9-11 victims. Photo by Brick Twp. replace the original monument and was dedicated in 2010. The bronze monument was more durable and will be able to withstand the elements better than the original monument. The Angel in Anguish Monument was created by local sculptor Brian Hanlon. Mr. Hanlon has over 200 public statues to his credit including the Angel in Anguish and Spirit of Little League monument in the Ocean County Mall. The event began with a flag procession by the Knights of Columbus, Boy
Councilman John Ducey places a candle in memory of Brick Township 9-11 victims. Photo by Brick Twp.
Jackson: Westlake Blood Drive by Phil Stilton
The Westlake Golf and Country Club’s Men’s Club sponsored and hosted their annual community blood drive and fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at the community clubhouse last week. It’s one of the largest blood donor events held each year in Jackson Township. This year was the 10th anniversary for the event which started when the community came to help a single individual
Scouts and other groups. The entire audience in attendance, together, sung the National Anthem. Mayor Steve Acropolis then read the names of each of the eight victims and a bell was rung as each name was read. A candle vigil held in their memory ended the ceremony as most in attendance placed the candle in front of the monument. “It was a very nice ceremony and a great community turnout,” said Councilman John Ducey. “It’s important that we continue to remember.”
who had cancer. “It started when Chuck Boudreau came down with leukemia, we started a blood drive and Rob Cuthbert chaired the event for the first eight years,” said Bob Rivere, a board member of the Men’s Club “We’ve done very well over the years and we give away prizes to donors.” This year, Jackson Mayor Michael Reina was on hand to help the gated community promote their blood drive. Reina’s three year old granddaughter was diagnosed nearly one year
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ago with Leukemia. Reina shared the word of the event to his friends and followers on facebook. “The support people in Jackson give is tremendous to things like this,” the Mayor said. “I was shocked by the people who came in to give blood and it makes you realize the true character of a person when they show up here to give blood to help save another’s life.” Westlake Men’s Club Chairman Larry Hartman said he was pleased with the support from the community both within Westlake and beyond.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
JACKSON Community Raises Money to Help Firefighter Who Lost Home in Fire By Christine Quigley JACKSON - Last week, a fire broke out at a home on Round Hill Road here, prompting the response of the Cassville Volunteer Fire Company, Jackson Mills Fire Company, Millstone Fire Department, Jackson Mills Fire Company and Whitesville Fire Company. The home was owned by the family of Daniel Swift,a firefighter from the Jackson Mills Fire Company. It was completely destroyed. After the fire, Jennifer Hruschka, a friend of the Swift family sprung into action and started raising money for the family through GoFundMe. com, a “crowdfunding” website. “I had a friend who we did this for who was diagnosed with cancer and we raised a lot of money for them,” Hruschka said. “I thought it would be a good idea if we can do it for the Swift family.” Hruschka’s website helped raise $5,000 in public donations in the seven days after the fire. Hruschka said private donations have also been made, including a combined $3,000 from the Jackson Mills and Cassville fire companies. “Cassville reimbursed the vet bills which were $1,500 for treatment for the family’s two
pets,” she added. Crystal, a white American husky hid from the flames during the fire and was found two hours after firefighters were on scene. Feared dead, the dog needed treatment only for smoke inhalation. Their cat managed to escape the blaze and firefighters, but was found several days later outside. Local firefighters also paid for a storage unit for the family to store what was salvageable
from the fire. “What people have been doing for my family is very overwhelming,” Swift said. “It’s hard on us, we’re starting over. We have to start from scratch.” The Swifts are living with friends and neighbors and are in need of clothes, furniture and beds as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives. Visit http://www.gofundme. com/Swing-Family to learn more to assist the family.
Brooklyn Pizza Maker in Jackson: Good Pizza Has Nothing to do with the Water
By Ruth Schlatmann JACKSON - When Brooklyn Restaurateur Peter Grippo decided to open a pizzeria in Jackson, he knew the area came with a stigma. Jersey Shore area pizzerias have been hearing the story for decades. “You can’t make good pizza because of the water.” “Nonsense!” says Grippo who owns Peter Pizza in Bensonhurst, a 4-star rated restaurant on Yelp! Now living in Jackson, Grippo said the key to making good pizza is good ingredients. “It has nothing to do with the water,” he explained. Grippo opened his Jackson restaurant, Brooklyn Square Pizza on New Prospect Road
after seeing a business opportunity on Craigslist. After commuting to work from his home in Jackson six days a week, he said the restaurant was an opportunity for him to work closer to home and bring his Brooklyn style of pizza to his neighbors. Jackson has a large New York City transplant population. “The response has been great. People come in here for good food, and they’re happy,” he said. On weekends, there are now lines to sit in his restaurant dining room. “There’s a lot of former Brooklyn, North Jersey and Staten Island residents living here,” he said. “But locals also are taking well to our food. They come back.”
“The food here is just as good as my other store. The thing about the water here is a myth,” he said. “I use the best flour, everything is made here, it’s all fresh ingredients. When people here say it’s the water—it’s not the water— they just don’t know what they’re doing.” “I got customers from Brooklyn who moved to Westlake from Brooklyn who say everything tastes the same, it’s not the water, it’s the ingredients,” he said. Quality taste determine the ingredients Grippo uses. “I don’t care about cost. If I don’t like it, I don’t use it. If I won’t eat it, I won’t serve it to my customers.” Over the years, many New York restaurateurs would ship gallons of water from New York City to their New Jersey restaurants, claiming Jersey water can’t make good pizza. “It’s nonsense and a waste of time,” Grippo said. Grippo said the most popular pizza at his restaurant is his upside down square, made with cheese on the bottom and sauce on top and Nutella pizza, a desert pizza to enjoy after your pizza dinner. So, next time somebody tells you Jersey water is bad for pizza, tell them about Peter Grippo and Brooklyn Square Pizza.
Jackson Mourns Loss of Former Public Safety Director JACKSON - Samuel DePasquale, the head of the Jackson Township Police Department from 1995 to 2005, has passed away at Kimball Medical Center on Sunday, September 15th. DePasquale joined the Jackson Police Department in October of 1970 and served until his retirement 35 years later in 2006. When he became a Jackson Police Department, the force had just 17 officers. He was the township’s fourth public safety director. From
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1986 to 2008, Jackson was without a chief of police following the 1986 retirement of Chief Walter McCurdy. Depasquale was succeeded by Captain Christopher Dunton, who was then succeeded by Captain Matthew Kunz. Kunz became chief of the department in 2008 when the council voted to do away with the appointed public safety director position, returning a uniformed police officer to lead the department.
He was a member of The Helping Hands of Jackson, the Jackson Rotary Club and the Jackson Food Pantry. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sammy’s memory to Helping Hands of Jackson, 32 Thompson Bridge Rd., Jackson, NJ 08527, or to the Denise M. Flaherty Memorial Foundation, www.deniseflahertyfoundation.org.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
OCEAN GATE Councilman Mailot Resigns by Erik Weber OCEAN GATE - As reported in the last edition of the Ocean Signal, it was learned that Councilman Charles Mailot resigned his office effective 11:59 pm on September 11th, just hours after the borough council meeting. Following statements made at the August 14th meeting by East Bayview Avenue resident and 2013 Democratic candidate for council, Irene Merlin, who challenged Mr. Mailot’s eligibility to hold his seat as she stated he had registered to vote in Lacey Township after vacating the Hurricane Sandy-damaged rental property he leased on Newport Avenue, Mayor Paul Kennedy stated that he would look into the matter and later submitted a letter to Ms. Merlin and also provided to the Ocean Signal that accused Ms. Merlin of “false and misleading allegations” In a letter dated September 3rd sent to Mayor Kennedy and a copy provided to the Ocean Signal on September 19th, Ms. Merlin denied making any false or misleading allegations but said she had “documentation to support the facts I presented,” adding that Mr. Mailot’s wife had registered to vote in Lacey Township on January 3rd but Council President Brian Distefano, who she said also remains displaced by last October’s hurricane, was still registered to vote in Ocean Gate. “Referring to Superstorm Sandy is irrelevant as this situation stands,” she said, citing Mr. Distefano’s situation and confirming that documentation she held on Mr. Mailot’s Lacey Township registration was received by an Ocean County Board of Elections worker as voter information is of public record through information requests. “I am sorry that you confuse an attempt to inform you as to the laws of [New Jersey] regarding the legal residence required to serve as an elected official with a political agenda, though I can understand it, as you think everything that
you don’t understand or don’t agree with is ‘political.’ This is simply a matter of obeying state law.” She closed by adding she had alerted the state attorney general of the issue. In the e-mail sent to the Ocean Signal, also attached were two photographs of the rental property where Mr. Mailot and his family had previously dwelled that showed a “For Rent” sign out front. Early in the September 11th meeting, Mayor Kennedy stated that Mr. Mailot had a statement he wanted to read, which is as follows: “What I’ve learned about public service during my tenure here in Ocean Gate – the most important thing, the primary responsibility is to put the interest of the public, and the borough first, even if it is against your own interests,” he said. “I have been honored, and proud to serve a community that I love so dearly to the best of my ability. I’ve had the opportunity to learn, to grow as a person, and to work with great colleagues.” “We worked together as a team, under astute guidance and leadership to keep things running smoothly as possible under both normal circumstances, and even the most traumatic of times. It was this teamwork, and collective community consciousness that truly made Ocean Gate “Stronger than the Storm,’” the councilman continued. “In light of recent developments I’ve been called upon to resign my seat. I consulted with the Board of Elections today to see where I stand, and to examine my options. I want only to serve out my term to its conclusion.” “I found out at the board of elections today, as I said before I never knowingly changed my voter registration. It was something done through the postal office, mail was forwarded and in conferring with somebody today I found out we had closed the PO box, an unfortunate change of events, but it is what it is,” Mr. Mailot said. “As it turns out I can fight this in a long and
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drawn out manner which will more than likely outlive my tenure here as your representative. This is not in the best interest of the borough in my opinion. We’ve been through enough this past year. Ocean Gate should be above petty differences, of partisanship, and especially personal agendas.” “A representative must always put the borough first,” he added. “Byy campaigning against a person who is not even running in the election, serving your own personal agenda, you have behaved selfishly and desperately grandstanding, and furthermore, ‘granfallooning’ – granfalooning of all things, to advance your personal interest.” Granfalooning is a word introduced by author Kurt Vonnegut in his 1963 fiction novel, Cat’s Cradle, defined as a group of people who outwardly choose or claim to have a shared identity or purpose, but whose mutual association is actually meaningless. “This position is one of respect, one where you have to hold yourself to a higher standard, even at personal peril,” the councilman said. “You have proven yourself incapable even of that. In any event, consider this my resignation, effective as of 11:59 pm tonight, dated 11 September, 2013. You’ve called me out and I’ve answered. I was taught in my fraternal organization to replace myself with someone of equal or better character, and your actions have proven you as, shall we say, ‘not up to the task.’ And now I’m calling you out, in the interest of the borough, Mrs. Merlin, to renounce your candidacy. I think we will all be better off with a representative who focuses on real issues rather than trivial and meaningless minutiae to advance their agenda. I guess that’s it. Thank you everyone for your time here.” After a few moments of silence, Mayor Kennedy informed Mr. Mailot to return his borough keys to Ocean Gate Police Chief Reece J. Fisher (Continued on page 14)
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Workers continued the improvements and repairs to the Ocean Gate Market & Deli building this month, coating the restored century-old structure with a new coat of paint along all sides, including covering a mural on the northern side that was damaged during the fire on October 29th. Erik Weber / Ocean Signal
(Continued from page 13) when he was able. During the first open public portion of the meeting, Ms. Merlin responded. “I’m sorry Mr. Mailot feels that I am the author of his resignation,” she said. “Actually it is New Jersey state law [and] all individuals sworn in swear to uphold the laws of the State of New Jersey.” “Unfortunately these conspired against Mr. Mailot,” the East Bayview Avenue resident continued. “I have no personal agenda, I have no contact or connection with Mr. Mailot whatsoever.” “I do expect, however, that elected officials will obey the law whether they like it or not,” she added. Things became heated again during the reports of elected officials, when Councilman Dave Kendrick struck out at the 2013 Democratic council candidate, citing last October’s hurricane as having washed the mayor and all members of the town council temporarily from their homes but that they all continued to serve the borough “while our families struggled at home.” “I find that for someone to make a complaint about someone not living in their home in the wake of Superstorm Sandy shows that person has a complete lack of judgment and compassion for anything to do with human people,” he continued, thereafter calling Ms. Merlin out by name and calling her “despicable.” Ms. Merlin stated that she found that offensive, to which Mr. Kendrick replied, “I find you offensive.” After a few more minutes of argument, Mr. Kendrick closed by thanking Mr. Mailot “for all the service that he did, I know it wasn’t easy being out of your home and you worked diligently here.” Councilwoman Joella Nicastro thanked Mr. Mailot for his service and noted he was her running mate in the election two years ago. She also struck out against partisan politics entering public discourse in Ocean Gate. “I don’t care what your politics are - we can’t have that in this little town,” she said. “There aren’t enough of us, let’s put it that way, and we pulled together and it was a fantastic summer and we got back together and pulled this town together, and we’re moving forward and it’s only going to get better from here.” The next meeting of the Ocean Gate governing body will be on Wednesday, October 9th at 7 pm in borough hall on Ocean Gate Avenue. This was changed from a later date of October 16th due to a conflict with the state special election schedule.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
ISLAND HEIGHTS
Council Briefs
The following are news and items from the September 10th meeting of the borough mayor and council. by Erik Weber
Central Ave. Pavilion Pavers Update
Council President Jeff Silver reported that the 4 inch by 9 inch engraved custom pavers were installed at the half-circle “thumb” area to the north of the Central Avenue pavilion and that residents can begin paying $99 per paver to have engravings done on two lines of 13 characters per line. This is a change from an earlier plan to have three lines with 15 characters per line, which Mr. Silver said would not work as the lettering was too small. “What they’re going to do - we have a pallet of pavers at the public works garage and as orders come in [the engraver] will come out and engrave them,” he said, adding that the engravings would be done in batches of 25 as they are sold. “In turn, public works is going to pull out 25 pavers starting from the inside [near the center medallion] and working their way out.” Patrons will not be allowed to select a specific location for their paver. “They will then replace them with the engraved ones,” the council president continued. “We’ll always have an inventory of pavers for what comes out so we won’t have to purchase more.” Forms for the engraved pavers can be picked up and filled out at borough hall during normal operating hours.
New Librarian Introduced
Amanda Spino, the new librarian with the Island Heights Library, was present for the meeting and introduced herself to the governing body and residents. “I was from the Lakewood branch of the Ocean County Library [and] was there for about two-and-a-half years,” she said. “Now I’m at Island Heights and I’m very happy to be here - if you haven’t been to the library recently, I encourage you to come.” “We have a lot of great programs and in October we have a really great storytime series for children,” the librarian continued, referring to the new five-part series, “Stories Around Island Heights,” which invites preschoolers and their parents to “explore the beautiful town [by meeting] at a different location for stories, songs and activities. The series kicks off at the end of October and the schedule is as follows:
to call the library at (732) 270-6266 for more information or to register. Registration is also available on the county library website at www.theoceancountylibrary.org. Ms. Spino also wanted to remind participants that they would not meet at the library before each of the sessions. Mayor Jim Biggs thanked Ms. Spino and welcomed her to the borough, adding that he felt it was “impressive” that such a small library produces such high patronage numbers each month, currently estimated to “over 1,000.” “We have a great deal to be grateful for with the Ocean County Library but we also ought to be thankful and remember those who over the last 40 years, if not longer, struggled to bring that library into existence and then kept that up,” he said. “I think that’s a special commendation for the people in Island Heights who supported the library and who work as trustees.”
Other actions of the governing body included:
• adopting on second reading an ordinance amending annual salaries and wages for certain officers of the borough, including new annual salary limits of $75,000 for municipal clerk, $55,000 for tax collector and $82,000 for senior patrol officer. • approving on first reading an ordinance appropriating $250,000 for repairs to Simpson Avenue and the boardwalk sluice. Of that $250,000, $150,000 would be provided through a New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) grant, $95,000 would be attained through a municipal bond, and $5,000 would go towards a down payment on the capital improvement project from the borough capital improvement fund. • approved an agreement to renew membership in the Ocean County Municipal Joint Insurance fund. - approved purchase order requests for public works department vehicle repairs, including $2,658.61 to ERS Fleet Repair and two separate purchase orders for Tranz Connections totaling
$3,668.69. • approved a request to use the Central Avenue pavilion for a 5:30 pm wedding ceremony on September 21st by Denise Porter, noting that a certificate of insurance was provided. • Mr. Silver acknowledged there were still nine lights out and one fixture missing from the riverfront boardwalk area that was damaged in last October’s hurricane, and was working with John E. Camburn and Son, of this borough, to have them repaired and replaced, as they were not part of the original contract for riverfront repairs earlier this year. • At the recommendation of Island Heights Police Lt. Kevin Arnold, the council unanimously approved a resolution to purchase a new flag for under $300 for the Wanamaker Complex as the current one was getting visibly worn out. • Jersey Central Power & Light representative Maria Sessa approached the governing body and wished to inform residents of a new text message alert initiative and improved live outage map available through their website at www.firstenergycorp.com • Mayor Biggs noted that several residents had recently stopped him to thank the public works department for their efforts in beautifying the borough, including removing dead trees on public grounds • After closed executive session, Borough Attorney William T. Heiring, Jr. reported of a dispute between the owners of Cozy Cove Marina and the borough over the property at what is commonly referred to as “Boy Scout Island” on Holly Cove at the riverfront, stating that they were concerned a split rail fence due to be installed by the public works department would hinder access to property they own there, including the earthen boat ramp and other boat slips. Mr. Heiring stated that that was not the intention of the fence and that he would reach out to their attorney to further explain how access would not be limited by such a fence.
One borough youth enjoyed the slide on one of the inflatable rides set up for Sailfest earlier this month. Erik Weber / Ocean Signal
Central Avenue resident Barbara Rooberg browsed the selection at the annual Friends of the Island Heights Library book sale, held in council chambers at borough hall in the Wanamaker Complex last weekend. Erik Weber / Ocean Signal
The Toms River Rotary Club held another successful Sailfest fundraiser on River Avenue earlier this month, featuring many food and drink stands, crafters, specialty sellers, a car show, bands, inflatable rides and more. Erik Weber / Ocean Signal
Wednesday, October 30th at 10:30am – Ocean County Artists’ Guild Wednesday, November 6th at 10:30am – Island Heights Pavilion Wednesday, November 20th at 10:30am – Island Heights Volunteer Fire Co. Wednesday, December 4th at 10:30am – A New Corner Deli Wednesday, December 11th at 12:15pm – Shore Ballet School Those interested are asked Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Center: A view from adjacent the Farragut Avenue Kohrs Frozen Custard stand with its iconic blue roof looking north over the boardwalk devastation of destroyed gamestands, shops, eateries and arcades on September 21st. Erik Weber / Ocean Signal Top and Bottom: Scenes from the fire as it happened on September 12th. Phil Stilton / Ocean Signal
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
A Forest Fire in Buildings: Chief Fire Coordinator Brian Gabriel Looks Back
Ocean County Chief Fire Coordinator Brian Gabriel (left) explains the situation to Governor Chris Christie and New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Acting State Marshal William Kramer. Phil Stilton / Ocean Signal by Erik Weber SEASIDE PARK - As one of our area’s chief amusement centers and tourist attractions again lies in ruin as a result of a destructive event, first responders who battled the blaze that raged on, below and above the boardwalk here and in a blockand-a-half portion of Seaside Heights - while threatening much more there - now have a chance to reflect and recall the events of September 12th and 13th when faulty wiring triggered the mid-afternoon fire fed by 30-knot southerly winds that took away all of Seaside Park’s amusement game stands, shops and most eateries and arcades plus what remained of the hurricane-damaged Funtown Pier. Ocean County Chief Fire Coordinator Brian Gabriel, an Island Heights resident and longtime volunteer in local fire service, was one such responder. He sat down with the Ocean Signal in the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company’s hall a little over a week after returning home from the scene to provide a look into what went into helping knock down what he called “a forest fire in buildings” before it consumed far more of the Seaside Heights amusement area and possibly more inland residential and commercial areas of the two boroughs.
First Alert
I was at work - I was notified by one of my deputy fire coordinators who made me aware of the situation [and] I got there about approximately 45 minutes in from the initial call. En route over the bridge I was inquiring about where exactly the command post was because our role as fire coordinators is to assist the incident commander in acquiring additional resources over and above his normal mutual aid plans, which we knew we were going to be into here. Chief gets back on the radio and [said],” I have one of your deputies here - I would prefer that you sort of take care of the north end and come up with a game plan and organize a strategy to try to contain this fire.”
On the Scene
When I got there I put my gear on, walked out onto the boardwalk. I forget what street it was - I walked out on the boardwalk and just looked to my right to the south and basically saw a very large wall of fire coming at myself and the firefighters who were out there. I looked to my left, to the north, down the boardwalk,
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and I saw buildings beyond us already burning in the roofs. And when I looked down it looked like a jet furnace underneath the boardwalk. I had fire just blowing, ripping under the boardwalk beyond us. So we had to vacate that position [Chief Gabriel later stated that the area was in the area of the game stands and Freeman’s Carousel building]. There’s such a maze of buildings there. That was one of the other things that we first said to each other, because I did have some very capable department chiefs there from other towns - mutual aid chiefs. We basically said, “We gotta get outta here,” because [there is] potential for someone to get really hurt or worse because again, you had mazes of buildings and the smoke condition when the wind really pushed it down you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. We had to get out. They made a valiant attempt to try to knock the fire down but it was too far beyond them.
Strategy
It was essentially a forest fire in buildings. It had those kind of characteristics to it, so we dropped back. We set up a game plan [for a] defensive posture. We cut a trench in the boardwalk [at Porter Avenue], which is basically just removing a section of the boardwalk to allow the fire to come out of it and try to contain it there with large volumes of water; as much water as we could possibly get our hands on. The pictures tell the story. The amount of fire that came at the group of guys from multiple fire departments - it doesn’t matter where they were from because this was a team effort from the incident commander down to the fire police guys and the dispatcher. These guys got their butts kicked. The fire just came at us and the fire - the same thing it did earlier - it went over us because of the wind blowing out hot tar embers and pieces of debris that were on fire over us. The fire actually went over the Beachcomber [Bar & Grill, lo-
cated on the northern corner of Porter Avenue and Boardwalk] and caught the building to the north of it on fire. We had to get out of there. So we regrouped, got all our hoses off the boardwalk before the fire got onto us and we repositioned ourselves on Lincoln Avenue where we commandeered a trackhoe from Casino Pier - those guys, those private contractors, but their crew came up and based upon the orders of the group of fire chiefs and everybody that was in the north making the decisions, they tore apart that boardwalk and made another defensive line in the sand, so to say. That was an impressive operation, watching that guy with that trackhoe tear that boardwalk apart - it was a shame because it was one of the brand new sections, but we didn’t have a choice. We had to sacrifice some things, some sections of the boardwalk and some buildings that may have been not burning but other buildings were burning around it to save a lot. We did the same thing, again, at Lincoln Avenue. We established a draft point in Barnegat Bay [specific mechanism used to pull water for fire suppression from a nearby body of water], which came right up Lincoln Avenue, and which worked out extremely conveniently [and] gave us a little bit of extra water. And I have to tell you that was an impressive operation watching that guy with that trackhoe tear that boardwalk apart. And it was a shame because it was one of the brand new sections, but we didn’t have a choice. You know, we had to, we had to sacrifice some things, some sections of boardwalk and some buildings that may have been not burning but other buildings were burning around it to save a lot. And with that little bit of extra water and the guys hunkering down and just being really tough and holding their ground, we were able to slow it down and contain it there.
Spot Fires
All the while we had a fire in the condominiums four blocks north of there, on the other side of Ocean Terrace, which, when I took a step back and looked at it, was putting up quite the black column of smoke and fire and it didn’t look good. Fortunately, we had units up in that area that were coming in and some other predetermined units staged up there and they were able to get in there and those guys - I give them a ton of credit because they got up in there quick and knocked that fire down and kept it from getting inside those condos. If it had got inside those condominiums I don’t even want to know what would have happened to [them]. We would have had a whole other issue with fire just extending from there because of the wind. It was tough to take a step back and see those condos burning. These guys are getting their proverbial butts handed to them and these embers are just popping up new fires everywhere. There was a fire on the roof of Spicy’s [Cantina, located on the southern corner of Sumner Avenue and Boardwalk, four blocks north of Lincoln]. There was a fire along the fence line at Jimbo’s [Bar & Grill, located on the southern corner of Grant Avenue and Boardwalk]. The potential for it to be so much worse was unbelievable. If you walk up and down the boardwalk north of Lincoln Avenue, there are burn marks all the way up to the Casino Pier - I’m sure the town’s already been on it, replacing boards. That’s seven, almost eight blocks away. Fortunately, we had troops there to take care of it.
Water System
A lot of questions were raised about the water systems in towns. The water system worked. We didn’t run into one fire hydrant that didn’t work. The issue was the fire load [the amount of combustible matter in a given area] exceeded the water system, and it would have exceeded the water system in probably 99 percent of the towns in New Jersey or anywhere. The amount of water needed to extinguish and contain that fire, if you do the fire flow calculations, is astronomical. There’s not a water system that I know of around here that could have handled it. So the water system worked. We went to draft. That’s not uncommon. We draft all the time. A lot of departments around here practice drafting because a lot of our towns have big buildings and a lot of potential [combustible material] and the water system just can’t handle it. It’s not uncommon in any town - ask any chief. Most chiefs will practice drafting because of a specific reason and that’s why. We actually had a second draft point set up on Grant Avenue [six blocks north of Lincoln] - we left it dry because we just didn’t want to fill it up with water knowing we weren’t going to need it. If we needed it all the pump operator had to do was put the pump in gear and we would have water, so it would have been instantaneous. And we had ladders positioned north of Lincoln Avenue just in case.
you can’t fight that fire from the beach side because there’s no resources that you can get on. Those fire trucks aren’t four wheel drive - there’s only one or two that I know of that are four wheel drive. I heard [questions why we didn’t use] fire boats. Fire boats wouldn’t have worked. Too far from the ocean, too much wind to disperse their stream patterns. Helicopter air drops wouldn’t have been effective because you had the Tower of Fear [amusement ride] in the way and they’re dropping 300 gallons of water approximately a minute. We’re flowing 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 gallons a minute and weren’t putting a dent in it. And the fire was under the boardwalk and in the buildings, so I’m not sure how an air drop would suppress that type of fire. The troops on the ground, the teams on the ground at the south end, the middle and the north end - every possible option of extinguishing that fire was thought out long and hard. And the departments did there did the best they could with every drop of water that was available to them plus the draft point. For all the guys that were there - the estimates are 300, 350 to 400 - while I don’t know there were that many firefighters on location, we had that many firefighters covering other fire departments. However many were there: not one injury. Not one firefighter injury that required transportation to the hospital, so I think that’s a testament to the incident commander, the fire chiefs on the ground and the job they did to take care of the safety aspect, which is the most important aspect. The guys that were up in the tower ladders putting water down on the fire, they did their best job as well. Not only suppress the fire but also get water on the Sawmill [Cafe, which along with adjacent Stevie D’s Arcade, were largely spared internal damage] and get water on the Beachcomber to try and save those buildings, and all the other buildings that are still somewhat standing. They got water on those to protect them. All the while, when you get up toward Lincoln Avenue, it was required that we put water on the other side of Ocean Terrace, too, on the buildings because of radiant heat. So there’s a lot going on. Everybody had a job. Everybody did it. Nobody complained. None of our guys are playing Monday morning quarterback with what we did, and when I talked to the chiefs that were there, they would handle their tactics and their strategies probably the same
way they did then.
Watching Boardwalk Icons Destroyed
That’s tough, And the group that I was in consisted of guys from Seaside Heights, Point [Pleasant] Beach, Bayville, Island Heights and Bricktown, and there were others as well, but those were the main chiefs I was working with on the north end. It’s tough to watch, you know, the carousel arcade go up and Kohr’s. That’s just an old, historic section of the boardwalk - Jack & Bill’s [Bar] - how long has Jack and Bill’s been there? And Three Brothers Pizza. I mean, it stunk. I don’t like to use weather terms, but this was the perfect storm. You had a fire that started on the southernmost end of the boardwalk with a south to north 30-knot wind. If we had a 30-knot wind from north to south, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. It would have been a one- or two-alarm fire in the area of the origin and that would have been it. Here’s the bottom line and I think the focus of the media, rather than try to focus on someone, a fault of somebody - which I don’t find anyone at fault - or a fault on the town for not having the best water system in the world to handle this once-in-a-lifetime fire, the media ought to be focusing on what’s left over there. And there’s a lot left. Ask anybody who was there - the potential for this thing to be so much worse is just incredible, and not just on the boardwalk side. If those condos got away from us, there’s another condo complex right across the street, so with that wind, you could rest assured that there would have been a problem on all those ocean blocks from the Boulevard up to Ocean Terrace with that wind. I feel so bad for the business owners with everything that they went through after Sandy to try and get themselves back on their feet. I know some of those guys personally and they’re friends; I feel for them. But it could have been so much worse at the north end - Casino Pier, all the boardwalk up in that area. That was all in jeopardy.
Final Reflections
It was just a catastrophe that was controllable by no one initially. I’ve often thought about that fire, with a hard, even a hard east wind which would have blown everything right into town. Imagine that fire, with a head start, and imagine halfway through that fire the wind switched to an onshore breeze. I wouldn’t want to think about the consequences of that. But the south to north wind was a worst case scenario for where that fire started. Just like if the fire started at the north end of the boardwalk and we had a north to south wind; it would have been worst case scenario. My reflections are that the fire service in Ocean County and the surrounding counties that came in to help, they all came in, they all worked together as one cohesive unit and we got the job done.
Manpower
It was taxing on the guys - I thought that everybody did their absolute best they could, but there was just the bottom line is that there was just no stopping that fire because of the amount of fuel load and the wind, the wind-driven fire embers, a smoke column reducing visibility to zero. This fire we had to fight from the roadside;
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
AFTERMATH OF THE FIRE Photos by Erik Weber
Volunteer firefighters take a break outside the still-standing Sawmill Cafe on the morning following the fire.
A half-melted ‘Minion’ stuffed toy found on the sand near Funtown Pier a week after the fire.
The Funtown Pier entrance with destroyed gamestands, rides and shops surrounding it.
Ocean County Chief Fire Coordinator Brian Gabriel at the Gov. Christie press conference.
A view looking north towards Seaside Heights and over dozens of destroyed gamestands, shops, and eateries on the Seaside Park boardwalk.
A view south to the Sawmill Cafe.
The approximate area where the fire began when electrical wires damaged in Hurricane Sandy ignited.
Seaside Park council members (from left) Jean Contessa, Dave Nicola and Nancy Koury at the governor’s press conference on September 13th.
Above and right - the iconic blue roof of Kohrs Frozen Custard at Farragut Avenue, and the side entrance.
State and local officials and first responders stood behind Gov. Chris Christie at his morning press conference on Sept. 13th on Ocean Terrace.
Fire-damaged scrapbooks with old newspaper clippings from inside Kohr’s Frozen Custard.
A panoramic view showing Funtown Pier in the foreground and dozens of destroyed rides, gamestands, shops, eateries and more facing west. Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Seaside Heights Ready to Rebuild...Again
by Christine Quigley
Governor Christie’s Walk Along the Boardwalk: Local Officials Thankful for Support
by Phil Stilton SEASIDE HEIGHTS-The arrival of Governor Christie at the scene of the Seaside boardwalk fire came as a surprise to some officials at the command center, but to others, it was an expected response from a man who has spent more time in Ocean County than his recent predecessors. A man who has provided more hands on support to Ocean County than his recent predecessors. Governor Christie arrived on scene and immediately entered the mobile command center station between Porter Avenue and Farragut Avenue where he was briefed by local officials, including Seaside Heights Police Chief Thomas Boyd, Seaside Park Police Chief Francis Larkin and Ocean County fire officials.
Governor Chris Christie speaks to Seaside Park Mayor Robert W. Matthies. Top: Governor Christie walks along Ocean Terrace with Seaside Heights Mayor William Akers. Photos by Phil Stilton/the Ocean Signal. While some in the media criticized his involvement, critics were nowhere to be found from the scene of the fire. It was a gesture appreciated by Seaside Heights Mayor William Akers. “Right from the start, somebody had to stand up and take the lead,” said Seaside Heights Mayor William Akers. “He came in, set the tone and he did it. He has not wavered in his support of our town since the storm. I’m glad he came in during the fire, took the lead and assumed that role.”
A somber Christie exited the mobile command center a few minutes later and notified local officials that he would make available any resources available to assist with fighting the fire. One of those officials was Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy, whose department assisted local departments with on-scene security, traffic management and support said of the Governor, “He’s a man who has spent a lot of time to assist our beach communities since the storm.” “He always takes the time to listen to the people and he addresses their concerns,” Mastronardy said. “He should be
lauded for his efforts, not only with the fire, but for all he’s done in the shore communities in the past year.” He then made his way north along Ocean Terrace, no more than fifty feet from the burning buildings, surveying the damage, stopping to talk with business owners, local government officials and firefighters from the various responding county departments. It was a walk the governor has become all too familiar with in the past twelve months. It was the second time he came to Seaside to survey damage on the boardwalk. From the command post on Farragut, he walked with local officials as the boardwalk burned around them and firefighters fought desperately to contain the advance.
Governor Christie emerges from the Ocean County mobile command center after his first briefing with local officials. Photo by Phil Stilton/the Ocean Signal.
Beachcomber Bar and Grill Survived Boardwalk Fire By Just Auciello Newsworks /JSHN SEASIDE HEIGHTS-The Beachcomber Bar and Grill, a multi-level establishment located on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, will reopen soon after damage inflicted by last week's massive fire is fixed, according to a posting on the bar's facebook page. "We are ready to move forward and excited to serve you all again in the upcoming weeks. Phase one of the rebuild is complete meaning it is safe to start to picking up the pieces. The structure is sound, electri-
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cal inspection is complete, and water is restored to our building," the posting states. Jessica Infante, whose family lives on the barrier island north of Seaside Heights, said that the news is "a Seaside Heights miracle!" In a YouTube video posted last week, owner Michael Carbone said that his bar was filled with customers when the fire began to approach from the south Thursday afternoon. "Smoke started coming down the boardwalk. It got heavier and heavier. We asked the customers to
leave. I went out and seen the fire was about three blocks away. And it slowly got closer, closer, and closer at a very fast rate," he said. He then ran throughout the building with a backpack and started doing "the things that you do when you're getting ready for your building to get destroyed." Carbone didn't leave until the bitter end. "When the buildings on either side of me were on fire is when I decided that it wasn't safe for me to be in mine anymore." He returned a few hours later Thursday evening,
SEASIDE HEIGHTS-Seaside Heights is ready to rebuild. That was the message from Mayor Bill Akers this week as he and his town begins the process of rebuilding a portion of their boardwalk this offseason--again. This time, Akers said, it won’t be as bad as last year. “We’re in the process of securing funding from the state to begin the debris removal process,” Akers said. “We hope to see demolition start next week.” Akers said he hopes that all businesses meet with their insurance adjusters this week and he will be keeping a close eye to make sure the process isn’t held up by insurance companies. “One insurance adjuster playing games can hold us up and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he said. Open construction contracts with Epic Management Inc., and Sidd & Associates will allow the borough to rebuild without having to go through a formal bid process, but Akers cautioned, “We have the advantage now with the two open contracts, but if I don’t like the quotes we get from them, I will put the project out to bid.” While the fire once again dampened the spirits of local officials, Akers said the community will continue with business as usual and it will not derail the efforts and progress made to return people to their homes, businesses to the boardwalk and visitors to his town. Prior to the September 12th fire on the boardwalk, Seaside Heights was a community that was midstream in a rebuilding process after Hurricane Sandy devastated the community less than one year ago. The borough had a yearround population of just under 2,300 residents according Akers. This year, he said, the population was down to around 1,000 because many have not yet returned since Hurricane Sandy.
One of the few things that was complete this summer was the town’s newly rebuilt boardwalk, which is the financial anchor of the community. Although only a few blocks of boardwalk in Seaside Heights were damaged in the fire, it was something Akers and the town didn’t need as they planned to continue rebuilding this off season. “Our imaginations were running when we were watching it that night,” he said. “It was better than I was thinking it was going to be, but getting it contained at Lincoln Avenue with the firebreak saved a tremendous amount of property.” While the majority of affected businesses were in Seaside Park, Akers said approximately 10 business were affected in Seaside Heights. “This is something we can’t handle,” he said. “Unfortunately we have experience with this. Last year, we lost 16 blocks. This is only one block. We have a lot of work to do here, but this is minor compared to last year.” Akers said the state has committed to reimburse both private businesses and the town with the cost of demolition and debris removal. As for Seaside Heights, Akers said his goal is business as usual. “We can’t stop everything, we have to keep our scheduled events going and we’ve seen that with great turnouts at the New Heights Festival and Barbecue. We have great turnouts for both events and that’s important to everyone in town.” Akers doesn’t expect the reconstruction of the damaged portions of the Seaside Heights boardwalk to take too long. “We have businesses that depend on this work being done. Right now they are cut off because of the breach. It’s our job to restore access,” he said. “We can do it in our sleep this time. It’s nothing like last year for us.”
discovering smoke and water damage and some burnt areas in the second floor. An engineer deemed the building structurally sound. The downstairs was in good shape, he said. The building's sprinkler system, which had been installed during a recent upgrade, saved the structure, Carbone said. "It cost me a ton of money, but it was worth every single penny I paid for it." Used with permission, WHYY & Newsworks. Read more at www.newsworks.org. Photo by Beachcomber Bar & Grill.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
The Phoenix of Old is New Again: Boardwalk Fires by Steven J. Baeli It isn’t necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice. There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia - Frank Zappa For many the recent fire that consumed the southern end of the boardwalk in Seaside Park brought back memories of past blazes along the seashore and inland that once wreaked havoc upon the people of Ocean County. Throughout the years, fires along the shore villages and resort areas have been common and often dangerous to the surrounding structures within close proximity, especially since most of the older buildings were generally constructed of wood. It was therefore common knowledge that when conditions were right, and the principals of physics aligned just so, an entire village could be lost in an instant. While there are many examples of such fires to choose from, there are some that stand out in the shore’s history due to the ferocious and sometimes fatal nature. What follows is an excerpt on the history of famous fires along our shores. Boardwalk Fires – Much like village fires, boardwalk blazes have superior potential to get out of control and spread quickly throughout the village given the right conditions, but the location of a boardwalk and its piers is also unique in that it has no real protection from the wind or the sun. Boardwalks also have a distinct advantage given that the wooden boards are the perfect conduit for the flames to spread, although firefighters can use that same advantage against it by taking out the boardwalk and cutting off the route as was done in the recent 2013 Seaside Park fire. Like Atlantic City and Asbury Park, the Barnegat Peninsula [locally referred to as “the barrier island”] has since the turn of the 20th century been home to amusement park-style boardwalks in Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights, and Seaside Park, and although those other places have seen fires over the years, there have been far more severe blazes on our boardwalks in Ocean County. The boardwalks of the two “Seasides” are connected at Porter Avenue where Funtown Pier straddles both boroughs, while Seaside Heights boasts Casino Pier on the northern end of the amusement park. The building of the boardwalk and piers began in the late 1910s, which was followed by a large jump in the summer population as electrically driven thrill rides began to grace the
piers and attract large crowds to the ocean front resorts. Summer vacation resorts such as Seaside Park and Seaside Heights were unique in their character and affordable to the common people allowing almost anyone to indulge in one of life’s special treats. The advent of the railroad system in the late 1800s also encouraged growth in the resort towns because it allowed for a working man to take his family on day trips to the shore for a reasonable price. The following is a chronologically historic overview of fires that burned Ocean County’s amusement resorts. June 9, 1955 – While there were likely small fires in the early years, it was not until 1955 when the boardwalk experienced its first conflagration and saw the loss of four blocks of the amusement park when the fire engulfed the area between DuPont Avenue in Seaside Heights and Decatur Avenue in Seaside Park, taking with it seventy concession stands, three bars, a rollercoaster, the Ferris Wheel, and various other rides. Also lost were many wheel games and the bingo hall. “When they woke me I took one look out the window and I kissed it goodbye,” recalled then-Seaside Heights Mayor J. Stanley Tunney in a 1963 account. “The flames, feeding on hard pine were soaring in the air and the smoke was terrific. Fire engines were converging on the scene. Building after building and huge sections of the boardwalk were consumed. I’ve never seen anything like it and I never want to again, believe me.” The fire, which burned from about 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., was originally believed to have started in Case’s Hotdog Stand, where a defective neon light exploded and sparked the first flames, but was later found to have started at unnamed business “150 feet northeast.” As was the case in many of these types of fires, winds up to fifty miles per hour were kicking up, which fed the flames and pushed them across the boardwalk and prevented the firemen from getting close enough to fight the blaze. At that point emphasis was placed on containing the fire to keep it from “vaulting” across Ocean Terrace and spreading throughout the rest of the village. Aside from minor burns and smoke inhalation, there were no casualties in the fire with the exception of Frank F. Iovine, a fifty-nine year-old vacationer from Fort Lee, New Jersey who died of a heart attack while watching the blaze play out. Given the intensity of the fire, it was a miracle that no one was
hurt during the course of the event. Sadly, the original carousel was lost in the fire, but absolutely no time was wasted rebuilding the area as the next day Mayor Tunney ordered bulldozers to raze the still-hot and smoking timbers to make room for the new boardwalk, the materials of which had been ordered at 9 a.m. that morning. The mayor himself also hunted and later replaced the original carousel with one of comparable age and quality, which was later replaced with a newer fabricated one that melted down in the 2013 fire. July 5, 1958 – On the day after Independence Day another large fire broke out, although not nearly as destructive as its predecessor, it being better contained and burning only four attractions in comparison between Hamilton and Webster avenues in Seaside Heights, and shutting down electrical service in the area for two hours. Businesses that were lost included, “Jo-Jo’s Refreshment stand, Sonny Ricci’s [sic] Doughnut and Merchandise Stand, and Tony Carozza’s arcade.” That fire was believed to have been sparked by a defective neon sign, which broke out at about 10:45 am but was quickly brought under control by firefighters within ninety minutes of the first alarm. June 9, 1965 – Ten years to the day of the 1955 fire, an explosion at 12:30 am started a fire at Mike’s Auction House located on the corner of North Ocean and Farragut Avenues. A slight ten mile per hour wind was streaming through the area and fanned the flames, but firefighters from twenty fire companies were able to get the fire under control by 2:15 am. June 10, 1965 – On the day after the auction house fire another a fire alarm was sounded at 3:28 pm, this time at the Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, where several new rides from Europe had recently been imported, but none of which had been completely constructed for use. The fire originated between the Himalaya and European Dark Horse rides and was probably caused by a cigarette. Winds from the west fanned the flames helping to feed the fire, but the wind also served to push the fire away from town out toward the pier, which, as luck would have it, was not operating the rides at the time and was largely void of vacationers. At that time Casino Pier was owned and operated by Venice Amusement Corp., which reported that beyond the cost of the fire, estimated to be
about $1.5 million, it would also incur a loss from the sale of 10,000 tickets sold in advance
to “church and school groups” expected to visit over the summer. Many of rides were owned by Edward Meier, Sr., who resided from Switzerland, and his son, Edward Jr., who recalled the moment when he heard someone yell, “Fire!,” immediately after which he was surround by flames that he said went off “like a bomb.” By the time the smoke cleared and the ambers finally cooled, 600 feet of the pier was lost, including a recently added section built in April of that year. Aside from the Himalaya and the European Dark Horse rides, also lost were the Wild Mouse rollercoaster, the Ferris Wheel, the Rotor, Trabani, Dive Bomber, and the sky ride, the cable of which slashed Seaside Heights Police Chief Joseph McDevitt’s hand when it broke loose. April 15, 1976 – A little more than ten years later another fire smaller in scale in Seaside Heights took out both the Kohr’s Frozen Custard Stand and the Whistle Stop Restaurant on the boardwalk at Franklin Avenue. Reported first at 3:48 am, Seaside Heights volunteer firemen Kenneth Hersey reported seeing a “ball of fire 100 feet in the air,” seven blocks away from the scene upon his arrival to the firehouse. The explosion originated from the gas lines on both sides of the restaurant and continued to feed the flames as the firemen struggled to find the valve to cut off the fuel. The Whistle Stop Restaurant, which was not insured, took the most damage, it being gutted completely. The loss of the Kohr’s stand was also great for owner, Gerald Kohr, who had just installed $30,000 in new equipment, but in particular he lamented the loss of an “early-type ice cream-maker, which can not [sic] be re-
placed” that had supplied his other four stands. Aside from the custard stand and restaurant, the San Tropez clothing store and one of Lucky Leo’s record stands were damaged. Across town that same day two other fires were attended to in Ortley Beach, where a garbage pile caused a shed fire, and a stove burned out the kitchen of a bungalow. March 3, 1980 – Four years after the Whistle Stop/Kohr’s fire, another major conflagration cut a swath through a Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
block’s worth of the Seaside Heights boardwalk between DuPont and Porter Avenues,
lishment and did damage to some of the surrounding buildings, and another on Funtown Pier in Seaside Park on May 6, 1995 that was not nearly as severe as in the past given the quick turn around by the firefighters who was able to stop the blazed before it got out of control. It did, however, destroy twelve businesses in the process. In addition to its early village fire history, Point Pleasant has also had its share of boardwalk disastrous fires, one in April
taking out the Royal Arcade, Carousel Gift Shop, Maruca’s Tomato Pies, Smith Records, Trader Tom’s, and Surf Skillo. There were two accounts as to where the fire started, one being in the ceiling of the Royal Arcade, and the other an official statement that it began in Maruca’s pizza parlor, but was of unknown origin. As was the case in the Whistle Stop Restaurant fire, gas lines exploded, making the fire hotter and even harder to control until the supply was cut off at the main. The weather that day was extremely cold and brought with it a wind that only made matters worse, causing water to freeze in the hydrants, hoses, and puddles in the road, all of which inhibited the firefighting effort. An alarm had been sounded at 7:30 p.m. and the fire raged until 10:30 before firemen could safely say that it was under control. There were no major injuries despite the poor weather conditions that hampered firefighting efforts. An estimate of over $1 million was assessed on the damage. May 20, 1982 – Just two years later another fire seized Seaside Heights, this time destroying three stores and two apartments. The fire had originated in Ellie’s Sub Shop near Webster Avenue at about 11:45 a.m., quickly spreading to Judy’s Place clothing store and Beach Liquors. A “flash behind a soda machine” was later reported by two girls who had been in the sub shop at the time, confirming the place of origin and that it was not intentionally set. While no suspicion was drawn on the blaze, had there been no eyewitnesses officials may have wondered otherwise considering the string of arson fires set in nearby Toms River earlier that day. Although not as severe as the boardwalk fires, the potential for this event to spread was great, but skillfully contained by over 100 firefighters from surrounding towns. May 20, 1983 – Exactly one year to the day The Palace arcade and concession complex at Casino Pier caught fire at 7:30 p.m. caused by roofers tarring the roof using torches that probably started the blaze. The fire was quickly contained and most of the damage was done to the roof rafters, although water damage was high as well. The carousel located on the ground floor of the building was not damaged. There were two more large fires on the boardwalk, the first at Big Jim’s Pizza in Seaside Heights in 1988, which gutted the second floor of that estab-
of 1975 that burned down six buildings across 400 feet of boardwalk and Jack and Jill’s Amusements that was once the home of the carousel. On November 22, 1989, another fire visited the Point Pleasant boards, this time burning down Jenkinson’s Pavilion. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the old wooden structure, but were unable to save it from total destruction due to high winds and the added annoyance of first snowfall of the season. Had the fire happened two days before, the outcome of the fire may been much worse as a gale had blown through the area bringing 60 mile an hour winds in its wake. Jenkinson’s was and is still a well-known name, and at the time its pavilion floors were well-worn from the shoes of thousands of visitors over its then-60 year history. Inside summer vacationers would find concession stands, wheels of chance, an arcade and five bars at which to quench their thirst, but all of it was gone by the time the fire had finally receded. The fire that burned down Funtown Pier in 2013 is another in a long line of sad chapters in the history of Ocean County’s boardwalk resorts, but like those other disasters there has been a feeling that the pier and all that was lost would soon return. Perhaps that feeling is a holdover from the resolve brought on by Hurricane Sandy, which tore much of coastal Ocean County apart on October 29th last year, specifically in the Seasides, where most of the boardwalk and many businesses and homes were completely destroyed and washed out to sea. Or perhaps it was the knowledge that in the past everything had worked out in the end and that the boardwalk and piers did indeed return as promised giving everyone faith that the phoenix of old will be new again. For more on famous fires along the shore, head to ochistory.org. Steve Baeli is an historian who has written extensively on Ocean County history. He is the proprietor of the Ocean County Compendium of History (www. ochistory.org), the founder of the Ocean County Preservation Society, and is a Life Member of the Ocean County Historical Society. You can contact him via email at oceproject@hotmail.com. Photos by Harlan Conover, courtesy the Ocean County Compendium of History
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Postcards from the Past
A Collection of Postcards from the Funtown Pier
Thanks for the Memories Ocean Signal Readers Share their Funtown Pier Photos
Reader submitted photos from top to bottom: Photo sent in by Marianne Warnock. Warnock also sent the “Funtown Pier sign on the top of page; Denise Casazza photo on the Funtown Pier; Kari Buser sent in photos of her children enjoying a roller coaster ride on the pier; Kristen Belloti, children riding the state police car in the kid’s section of the pier; Lauren Farrell.
As Fire Closed In, Businesses Prepared for the Worst Case Scenario By Christine Quigley SEASIDE HEIGHTS-As the fire quickly made its way north from Seaside Park, businesses in Seaside Heights did whatever they could to protect their businesses. Many were on their rooftops with hoses dousing the roof with water and extinguishing burning embers as they landed. Clem Faruolo, owner of Steaks Unlimited pulled his cooks off the grill and began preparing for the inevitable. The fire was now just feet away from his restaurant and that of his brother Sal’s Seaside Original Steakhouse. For a moment the wind shifted from the south to the southeast, blowing smoke across the street, but luck would quickly shift it back, sparing both businesses. Across the street, Steve Whalen, owner of Lucky Leos was on the roof watering it down as the fire neared. “Our hearts are broken for our brothers today and Seaside family who've lost everything,”
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Whalen said. “Thanks to the courageous firefighters who fought tirelessly--you are true heroes.” While the Faruolos and Whalen escaped the fire without damage, the businesses of their direct neighbors were destroyed. “We watched our family and friends cry as they helplessly witnessed their businesses burn to the ground, most of them just getting back on their feet after Sandy,” Clem Faruolo said the next morning. “Makes you wonder how much a town can take and things are put back into perspective as you don't become enraged because Dunkin Donuts made your coffee wrong again.” “When your life has been completely torn apart you don't want to be inspired by people to be strong and survive, you want to be prayed for and hugged,” Clem Faruolo added. “We are heartbroken, again disaster took over but we didn't give up, we have faith and we'll be back,” said Sal Faruolo.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
SAYING GOODBYE... Photos by Erik Weber, Steve J. Baeli, Cameron Wuesthoff
Jack & Bill’s Bar, another boardwalk staple, served patrons and was a popular meeting place for locals and vacationers. An Irish Wake was held last week at the Aztec to mark its passing. The Funtown Amusement Pier sign, as it appeared before Hurricane Sandy and before the boardwalk fire.
A worker at Kohr’s Frozen Custard on September 7th prepares their popular treats.
Independent gamestands lined the boardwalk on both sides in Seaside Park, along with arcades and several eateries, including Maruca’s Tomato Pies, which was lost to the fire.
The Beachcomber Bar and Grill, bustling on Labor Day weekend both in its main area and second open deck. The main area is set to reopen this week but the second floor was considered a loss and requires reconstruction.
A young Alice Cooper fan outside Rock Star on Saturday night, Sept. 7th.
Big Hearted John’s and several other stands, including the well-known Shoot the Geek paintball gallery, were included in the fire damage.
Rock Star Headquarters, a source for band t-shirts, incense and other paraphenalia was a boardwalk staple for years.
The PorterAvenue location for Kohr’s Frozen Custard, seen here before Hurricane Sandy.
The carousel in Freeman’s Arcade met the same fate as one of its predecessors in the 1955 fire at the same location.
The Seaside Steak House and Clam Bar, located on Dupont Avenue, was reduced to a charred superstructure and twisted metal on September 12th-13th. Sand Tropez, est. 1976, along with most other businesses, vows to rebuild and return to the boardwalk.
Claudia and Jack Weber, 6 and 5, of Beachwood, enjoyed a last ride on the carousel in Freeman’s Arcade on Saturday, September 7th. It burned and melted to debris in the fire.
Several area police officers paused for a conversation alongside the Berkeley Sweet Shop at the Seaside Park/Seaside Heights border.
Park Seafood, famous for its fresh selection of ocean treats, was a local favorite for years. Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
A view of the bustling Seaside Park boardwalk in August of this year.
Many independent gamestand owners and operators were devastated by the September 12th fire, their buildings, stock and game wheels burned to ash.
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Though prizes and people change, the nature of the independent gamestands, shops and eateries area of the Seaside Park boardwalk was a consant unifying theme through the years. Seen here in 2004.
Guitar wheel game operator David Weber, seen here in 2004 with owner “Banjo” Bob Eilers, who has since passed away.
Ocean Signal editor Erik Weber in the American Music Shoppes guitar wheel game, where he worked for several years, among other stands and locations. Taken in 2004.
The Shoot-Out-the-Star game alongside the Crepe Hut, seen here this August.
A.J. DeAngelo and Taylor Livingston in the sports apparel wheel game in 2004.
Maruca’s Tomato Pies, seen here on Saturday night, September 7th.
A view looking north to Seaside Heights from Seaside Park, 2004.
Another gamestand in Bobby Chabok at the Shoot-Out-the-Star game Seaside Park, Sept. 7th. in 2004.
REBUILD SOON!!!
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Kohr’s Frozen Custard Loses All Stands During Fire
Kohr’s Frozen Custard on Farragut Avenue as it appeared on Labor Day weekend. Photo by Cameron Wuesthoff/Ocean Signal
Kohr’s Frozen Custard on Farragut Avenue, as it appeared after the fire. Taken September 21st by Erik Weber/Ocean Signal. by Christa Riddle SEASIDE PARK - As fire ravaged four blocks of boardwalk here and in Seaside Heights on September 12th, generations of family summer memories were reduced to charred timber and black ashes in a matter of hours. Fueled by 30-mile-perhour winds, the flames quickly damaged a total of almost 70 businesses, many of which had already suffered damage and loss less than a year ago when Hurricane Sandy pummeled the shore. Resilient and determined, many reopened for the summer season, only to face the devastation of the recent fire that resulted from the malfunction of electrical wires beneath Biscayne Candies, right next to Kohr’s Frozen Custard at the cross-street of Stockton Avenue. After investigating, authorities determined that the wires had been dam-
aged by sand and water during last October’s hurricane. The fire claimed all four Kohr’s Frozen Custard, Inc. locations owned by Bruce Kohr and his wife, Nancy, including their Stockton Avenue stand, adjacent to where the fire initiated; their main store at Farragut Avenue with the iconic blue roof, which was still open for business the day of the fire; their Porter Avenue stand; and their first Kohr’s Frozen Custard Seaside location at Dupont Avenue. When the fire broke out, Bruce Kohr was with his wife and eldest daughter shopping for supplies to winterize their stands. “When my manager called around 2:20 pm and said there was smoke, I initially thought about all of the other incidents that had occurred over the years and how 99 percent of the time, everything was fine,” said Mr. Kohr. “Even so, we
headed back right away. As soon as we got to the top of the bridge, we could see the thick clouds of smoke everywhere.” He added that he first thought of a fire in the mid1990s that “damaged 10 stores, not realizing what we were in for this time.” At one point, it appeared as though the main Farragut Avenue location, its landmark blue roof decorated with symbolic Kohr’s signs from their old Asbury Park location, might be spared along with the business office it housed. The outcome, however, was devastating for Mr. Kohr. “I lost my Stockton Avenue stand when the fire started, and the flames just kept going. I stayed at the scene until about 7:15 pm that night, when my final store fell,” he said. “I was in shock. There are just no words to describe it. I am still at a loss for words. The hardest part for me
was watching the Farragut Avenue location collapse. I grew up there as a kid. My great-grandfather had that location, dating back to the 1950s. He had built the current building in 1977. It was mind-blowing when it fell.” The frozen custard chain owner shared how his family has good moments and bad. His eldest daughter, with him when the fire started, had just become an official Kohr’s employee this past summer, finally old enough to wait on customers. “My kids were very interested in the business,” he said. “They loved hanging out at the stands in the summer. It was a part of our family. They cried when they saw pictures of the damage, but they have been strong.” The rich history of the Kohr family business dates back to the early part of the 20th century. Kohr shared how his great-grandfather, Elton D. Kohr, started Kohr Brothers back in 1918, along with his two brothers. Together, the brothers created a unique, soft-serve frozen dessert with a consistency more velvety, stiffer, and slower-melting than ice cream. After the brother’s frozen custard business grew, Elton split from his
brothers in 1923, forming Kohr’s Frozen Custard. His first location opened in Atlantic City in 1924; since then, Kohr’s Frozen Custard and its napkin-wrapped cones have become a tradition for generations at seaside towns throughout the Jersey Shore. Over the years, the family business kept splitting; eventually, Bruce became the owner of the Farragut Avenue and Dupont Avenue locations. The original frozen custard machine built by his great-grandfather was damaged in the fire; Kohr is hoping the steel piece of family history can be restored. Despite Hurricane Sandy, all four of Bruce Kohr’s locations were up and running this summer. The Stockton Avenue location had power restored right before Memorial Day weekend. The Farragut Avenue and Porter Avenue stores had sustained over seven feet of flooding during the storm and had lost electric as well, with Farragut Avenue needing all new electrical lines. “I want to thank my loyal customers and Kohr’s Frozen Custard fans who have posted their support on Facebook [web address is www.facebook.com/pages/Kohrs-Frozen-Custard-
Inc/145097885477]. Their comments and tremendous outpouring of support are getting us through. Their positive thoughts mean so much to us, and we will keep them posted of new developments on Facebook,” he stated, adding that he definitely plans to re-open his Farragut Avenue store, the only location where he directly owned the property. Business owners are waiting for insurance adjustors to come out and assess the damage. The four stands were Mr. Kohr’s only livelihood, and he thanked first responders who combated the blaze with great effort and dedication to try and save them and other businesses. He also expressed sympathy for his fellow business owners devastated by the fire. “We go back generations. We grew up together on this boardwalk as our families worked alongside one another. We were always there for each other. Seeing their businesses burn was like watching my family’s house burn down. My heart goes out to all of my neighbors, to all of the business owners and customers who hold family memories of summers in Seaside, heading back generations,” Mr. Kohr said.
Nicola: Despite Boardwalk Devastation, Seaside Park is Strong by Erik Weber SEASIDE PARK - As the fire on September 12th grew into an inferno that engulfed most of the Seaside Park boardwalk and the remaining Funtown Pier - already damaged and undergoing restoration following last October’s Hurricane Sandy - Councilman Dave Nicola watched as the exterior of the Sawmill Cafe, where he and his fiancée were due to have their wedding reception eight days later on the second floor, was damaged by heat and flames and its insides soaked by the fire suppression system. “For this to happen is just unbelievable, but things happen. That’s life,” he said during an interview on the night of the fire, as many local fire companies continued to try and knock down flare-ups that continued to blast out from beneath the wooden boards and combustible structures. “Hopefully in your life more good
things than bad things happen - it’s really not about the bad things, it’s about how you respond to them and what good you make of it.” The councilman stated that he and Liz, his brideto-be, were to get married at the M Street beachfront on Saturday, September 20th “because that’s where we lived before we were displaced [by Hurricane Sandy], and we love that street and figured it would be just right to get married on that same street.” “Then we were going to have the reception at the Sawmill - the new Sawmill with its new restaurant,” he continued, noting that the second floor had in recently years been redesigned away from the old controversial Green Room nightclub of the early 2000s to a space for weddings, ceremonies, parties and general catering needs. “We were going to have our wedding reception in Seaside Park because we support Sea-
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Mayor Robert W. Matthies stood at attention while the wedding party and guests organized themselves for the Nicolas’ ceremony, held on September 20th at the M Street beachfront and with the Funtown Pier and Seaside Park boardwalk, ruined in the previous week’s fire, in the background. Cameron Wuesthoff / Ocean Signal side Park business and want to see good things for all the businesses. It was going to be great.” Reflecting upon the turn of events at the boardwalk, Mr. Nicola stated that “whether it’s a hurricane or fire, Seaside Park will always stand and come back. It’s not how many times you get knocked down, it’s how many times you get up. I believe in this town, I believe in this community and so does my wife.” The Nicolas’ later held their reception at the East Dover Fire Company on Fischer Boulevard in
Toms River, itself a facility that was internally destroyed by the surge from Barnegat Bay as a result of Hurricane Sandy last October and later, with a great deal of volunteer effort and donations, restored. The Sawmill Cafe is currently undergoing a massive refurbishment effort in the wake of the fire that was planned several months ago by the owner, who is committed to reopening the space for patrons. Cleanup efforts have also started on the boardwalk and pier area.
Dave and Liz Nicola, seen here during the ceremony. Cameron Wuesthoff / Ocean Signal
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The Ocean Signal | September 27th - October 10th, 2013
Investigation Finds Fire Caused by Arcing Wires Under Boardwalk
by Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER - Investigators determined that the cause of the Seaside Heights boardwalk fire was accidental, and urged that if anyone had electrical systems exposed to water during Super Storm Sandy, they should have those systems inspected. Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said he was confident in bringing a sense of closure to the criminal portion of the investigation, debunking earlier reports that the cause had been arson. Investigators found no financial motives for such an act. Additionally, the fire's origin was found to be a spot under the boards that was inaccessible to people, which also helped rule out the fire being intentional. It was that location that led to another train of thought: that flood waters and waves from Sandy compromised the electrical system beneath the building that housed Biscayne Candies and the Kohr's Ice Cream stand, he said. The system degraded over time until finally giving way. The wiring could have failed on its own, he said. It had been there since the 1970s. But, given that the storm waters washed through there, Sandy has to be considered a potential contributing factor. "It's very clear that water and sand affected this area of the boardwalk," he said. Coronato led a press conference last week at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, attended by various investigators working on the incident. Thomas Haskell Jr., an arson investigator for
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the prosecutor's office, and Jessica Gotthold, senior special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, showed where the fire began and the techniques used to pinpoint this spot. "We look for areas of catastrophic failure," Gotthold said. "Metal contacts metal and blows the wiring apart." Since the wiring was inaccessible, reporters at the press conference asked whether it was the property owner's fault that the wiring had not been inspected. Coronato said property owners are responsible in this situation, but he did not draw the conclusion that they are negligent. "You'd have to tear down the entire building to get to that wire," he said. Coronato said the criminal investigation is over, and repeated several times that there was nothing criminal about the fire, but all the reports have not been compiled. "If you own property, and you think you're electrical wiring came in contact with water and sand, get it inspected," he said. "It's the responsibility of the owner to do so." There were 27 investigators and four accelerant detection K9 dogs from various agencies working together on this, including state police, fire marshal's office, the county sheriff's department and police from Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Toms River, Berkeley, Lavallette and Manchester, as well as the county's corrections, road and bridge departments. "The cooperation is tremendous. It's always been. We've had enough practice, God knows, with (hurri-
canes) Irene and Sandy," said Al Della Fave, press officer for the prosecutor's office. There was no hesitation on the part of Seaside Heights to call for emergency management help, and that call was answered, he said. William Malast, a detective with the county's office of emergency management, served as an overseer to the operation. Della Fave recalled Malast in Seaside collecting what resources were needed compared to what was coming in. He had to tell people they had enough of a crew already. By way of example, the state police offered eight officers per shift. But that doesn't mean it was easy. There's always a debrief after a situation like this, and there's always a review of what could be done better, Della Fave said. If cer-
tain areas need more help, staff will go through training. Dealing with traffic was "extremely difficult," he said. How do you keep people safe, and how do you keep them away from the investigation? Fire crews were running hoses from the bay to put out the blaze. People had to be kept away from there. A perimeter was secured. Then, the beach had been used to collect and preserve evidence, and police had to keep gawkers out. And, if you're sending people to take care of traffic, you need to bring more people on to take care of your normal responsibilities in town, he said. Just because there's an emergency, it doesn't mean that the day-to-day operations can take a break. Photos: Top, left to right: Chief T. Boyd, SSH; Al Dellafave, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office; Joe Coronato, Ocean County Prosecutor.
Tzu Chi Helps
by Phil Stilton SEASIDE HEIGHTS - After Hurricane Sandy the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, a worldwide disaster relief charity, came to the aid of Ocean County residents and disbursed money to residents who were displaced and living in shelters. In early December of last year, the group met with displaced Seaside Heights residents at Central Regional High School and provided them with debit cards to help them get by while they relocated after the storm. This week, Tzu Chi was back in Seaside Heights to once again lend a helping hand. The foundation set up in the Seaside Heights municipal court room and began helping those once again in need. Jackson Chen, Executive Vice President of the of the Tzu Chi Foundation, said he received a call Laura Brower of Laura B’s Games of Chance, and after learning of the fire, knew the foundation’s assistance was once again needed in the boroughs of Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. “We dealt with Tzu Chi
before and they called me to ask if we can help them help the business owners and Mayor Akers set it as a high priority,” said Mike Graichen, Seaside Heights Special Events Coordinator. “We knew we had to take care of our people and here we are.” “We feel these victims, who have been hit twice by disaster now, qualified for assistance,” Chen said. “We had done this for both towns after Hurricane Sandy. We got in touch with the borough through Mike Graichen and they organized this for us to distribute $300 debit cards to each owner affected by the fire.” The Tzu Chi Foundation was founded in 1966 by Dharma Master Cheng Yen in Taiwan and is funded by donations by millions of people worldwide. After Hurricane Sandy, the group gave $2.1 million to New Jersey hurricane victims. The foundation provided a $300 debit card to any business affected by the fire. Graichen said approximately 70% of those affected took advantage of the offering.
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Inside the Governor’s Meeting with Seaside Business Owners
by Phil Stilton SEASIDE HEIGHTS Governor Christie on Saturday, told a group of Seaside Heights and Seaside Park business owners that over the course of the past year, like them, has had enough of enduring disasters in these two Ocean County resort communities. Last year, the towns were both hit hard by Superstorm Sandy and after a year long rebuilding process that, in some places had not yet begun, this week’s fire at the boardwalk had dealt a second blow to the community and to the state of New Jersey. “I can see you’re all tired, I’m tired too,” the Governor told the group, which also included local officials from the boroughs and Ocean County. ”But my last choice is to surrender and we’re not going to surrender…you are not alone.” The Governor told the business owners at the conference, held inside the Seaside Heights municipal court, that his administration is being tasked to do whatever it can to once again help the communities rebuild, for a second consecutive off-season
after fire destroyed the boardwalk in Seaside Park and consumed and damaged portions of the newly rebuilt Seaside Heights boardwalk. Fifty businesses in the two towns were impacted, most with total destruction to their businesses and shops along the four plus blocks consumed by the fire. The Governor told the business owners, now is the time to move forward after a 48 hour mourning period. He also thanked the approximately 400 firefighters from county and regional fire companies across New Jersey. ”This could have been a lot worse if not for the response of all the firefighters and volunteers.” He also praised their efforts to contain the fire by way of a 25 foot breach in the boardwalk, which without could have consumed the entire boardwalk, he said. Christie reassured the business owners that unlike Superstorm Sandy, most of the recovery efforts of this latest disaster fall under state jurisdiction. “This has nothing to do with the National Flood Insurance Program,” he told the business owners. It was a comment unsurprisingly met with laughter
by an audience who has had their fair share of grief with the national flood program and other federal relief programs since Sandy, many having not been covered due to policy legalese and political red tape at the federal government level. Business owners were assured that this time there will be no red tape from Washington to hinder the rebuilding efforts and cautioned local officials to not bicker during the rebuilding process, adding that if need be, the state would exercise powers to override the recovery effort to ensure progress, but added, it’s not something he wants to do and said his administration will be available for both Mayor William Akers in Seaside Heights and Mayor Robert Matthies in Seaside Park. As of the time of the meeting, the boardwalk was still being treated as an investigation scene with several hot spots still smoldering, but the Governor promised the business owners that once the investigation is complete, the scene will be turned back over to them, their insurance companies and local officials, adding the demolition process could start as soon as insurance companies investigate the claims of loss. Christie vowed that his administration will also keep a close eye on those insurance companies to ensure claims are being handled properly and efficiently. During the off-season, the Department of Environmental Protection will conduct soil and water samples to make sure both the beach and sand in the vicinity of the fire is safe. “I’ve been through being the disaster recovery part
of being Governor,” he said. “We’ve been through blizzards, nor’easters, hurricanes and now a fire. I’ve had enough with that. Now, we’re going to make sure people here get the help they need to rebuild.” “All Thursday night did to me was seal my commitment to this place,” he added. ”I’ve had an emotional attachment to Seaside going since I was six years old.” In an open forum session, the Governor was questioned about the ongoing investigation and he said the investigation is a job best left for the investigators. “I used to be involved in investigations,” he said, referring to his tenure as a U.S. District Attorney in New Jersey. ”I used to hate when politicians got involved in my investigations, unless they were the target of my investigation, so I’m not going to interfere, but you all will know as soon as we know. There’s about thirty investigators out there right now, they don’t need me right now.” During the meeting, Christie unveiled a plan to allocate portions of the Stronger NJ business grant program to the recovery of the businesses affected by last week’s fire. The EDA will initially allocate $15 million of existing CDBG-DR resources and programs to revitalize and rebuild the neighborhoods most directly affected by this fire. They include the central business districts in both Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. Without the CDBG-DR assistance and in the wake of these exacerbating circumstances, full, post-storm recovery may be impossible for these communities.
Under the Stronger NJ Business Grant program, grants and forgivable loans of up to $50,000 per impacted location are available; businesses with multiple impacted locations may be eligible for an award of up to $250,000. Ten million dollars from the Stronger NJ Business Loan program, which offers loans of up to $5 million with no interest or principal payments for two years, will be allocated for fire-impacted businesses Five million dollars in funds from the Stronger NJ Neighborhood and Community Revitalization (NCR)
program will be available to help the fire-affected towns with demolition and debris removal of the damaged public and privately owned structures; rebuilding of the boardwalk and related public facilities to enhance resiliency; and creation of a redevelopment plan for the revitalization of the target areas. The New Jersey Division of Taxation will also allow affected businesses to apply for an extension on September’s sales and use tax filing due on September 20th. Photo by Tim Larsen, Governor’s Office.
Jackson Firefighters Pumped Much Needed Water from Bay
By Phil Stilton SEASIDE HEIGHTS - As the fire on the boardwalk progressed northward and more fire departments from around the region were called in to fight the fire, water supply became an issue. As the blaze spread, it became apparent that the water system of Seaside Heights had reached its capacity. At 2:25 pm, Ocean County dispatched a joint task force of Jackson Township fire companies which included equipment and personnel from each of Jackson’s 4 fire districts, including both volunteers and career firefighters from the Whitesville Fire Company, Cassville Fire Company, Jackson Mills Fire Company and Jackson Station 55. The task force crossed the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge over the Barnegat Bay after a nearly twenty mile drive. The fire was clearly visible, blanketing the barrier island with billowing black
smoke. “We knew we don’t get called to Seaside on an ordinary basis,” said Whitesville Fire Company Chief Scott Rauch. “We knew were going to work.” Rauch said the last time all four Jackson fire companies were dispatched together for an out of town fire was in 2007 for a 2,500 acre fire at the Warren Grove Gunnery Range in Stafford Township. Once the task force arrived they were given their assignment by the Ocean County fire coordinators. Their task was to stop the northwardly advancement of the fire near Lincoln Avenue and Ocean Terrace, to prevent the fire from crossing the 25 foot boardwalk breach created earlier. Station 57’s ladder truck was deployed on Ocean Terrace. “The water system was greatly taxed, so we laid a pipeline to the bay,” Rauch said. While the pipeline was being established, the Cassville engine began drawing water from the Barnegat Bay along with the Tuckerton Fire Department. Jackson Mills and Station 55 had run over 6,000 feet of hose to bring water from the bay to the boardwalk. It was nothing new for Jackson firefighters who are routinely tasked with fight-
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ing fires city without water as portions of Jackson Township to date, have no water services and homes utilize wells. It’s a process called drafting where water is pumped from a body of water for use by the apparatus’ fighting a fire. “We draft all the time. It’s very common in Jackson where we have no hydrants,” Rauch said. “A few days after the fire, we had a residential structure fire where we had to draft from a pond.” As the Jackson fire companies were establishing the new water source, other companies tried creative measures, including drafting water from swimming pools of nearby motels. A second drafting point north of the Jackson firefighters was established by fire companies from Monmouth County, but it was never utilized since the water provided by Jackson and Tuckerton units were suitable to assist firefighters on the boardwalk to eventually contain the fire. “We had people from all four fire districts and they came together as a team and worked well together.” Rauch said. Photo: Scott Rauch, Station 57, by Phil Stilton/the Ocean Signal.
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