The BRICK Times
Vol. 20 - No. 34
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
The History Of The Mantoloking Bridges – All 3 Of Them
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Dear Joel Page 13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Dear Pharmacist Page 15
Inside The Law Page 17
─Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn This is how the Mantoloking Bridge looks now. You can still see remnants of the 1938 bridge which is used as a fishing pier. By Judy Smestad-Nunn tially, it was reported BRICK - The coun- that the bridge had susty-owned Mantoloking tained heavy damage, Bridge was only a few but engineers said that years old in 2012 when aside from some repairs a new inlet formed and needed at the base of slammed its eastern the bridge, it was still end, as a result of Su- structurally sound. perstorm Sandy. IniThe bridge was the
─Photo courtesy Ocean County Historical Society The first bridge was built in the late 1800s, and helped pave the way for tourism and summer homes. t h i r d M a nt olok i ng Bridge built near the same location. Before that, the only way to get from Brick to Mantoloking was by boat, at a time when there wasn’t even a road between Mantoloking and
Bay Head, which was then still part of Brick. Captain John Arnold is responsible for building the first Mantoloking Bridge in 1884. He is also the person responsible for making (Bridge - See Page 10)
County Leader Gerry Little To Retire
By Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY – Gerry Little was sworn in as a Freeholder but will retire as a Commissioner. The 72-year-old announced that he will not seek re-election in 2021. Freeholder was a term for the five elected officials who oversee county operations. State law
changed this title to “commissioner” for 2021. Little, of Surf City, was appointed in 2003 to fill the term of the late James Mancini. He has held the seat ever since. Multiple attempts at reaching Little for this article have been unsuccessful. All five County Com-
missioners are Republican. That party always endorses the incumbent during election time. This November, there will have to be a new name on the ballot. A few prominent Republicans are circling the seat. Berkeley Councilman John Bacchione has already stepped up and put his name in the
running. The New Jersey Globe reported that Little Egg Harbor Mayor Barbara Jo Crea has thrown her hat in the ring as well. County Republican Chairman Frank Holman said that four or five have expressed interest, but they won’t know who the serious candidates are until January 16, the dead-
line to send resumes. The screening committee will interview candidates on February 6. Generally speaking, the GOP will endorse a candidate, and they will have the party line in the primary election in the summer. According to his bio on the county’s website, Little worked as Chief (Retire - See Page 12)
January 9, 2021
COVID Test Site Had Scheduling Issues
By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - There were some problems reported with a COVID-19 testing site that was set up on Brick Beach 3 in December where township residents could get free testing at a self-contained mobile unit. Mayor John G. Ducey announced the free testing for Brick residents for six dates in December, which was reduced to five dates when the December 17th date was cancelled due to a nor’easter. Ridgewood Diagnostic Laboratories gave the township some misinformation about several issues, the mayor said during the December 22 council meeting. “There were definitely some problems that the lab did not tell us about going into it,” he said. “For example, reservations weren’t real reservations - it’s kind of like the “Seinfeld” episode where they know how to take the reservation but they don’t know how to keep the reservation.” (COVID - See Page 12)
Lakewood Hospital Begins Staff Vaccinations
By Bob Vosseller LAKEWOOD – The first round of vaccinations began at local hospitals. Dr. Sandeepa Utpat was the first to receive her inoculation at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus. Utpat, 50, of Freehold wasn’t shy about having the vaccination that was administered by Nurse Kris Ruscil. She is as front line as one can be - heading the hospital’s department of Infectious Diseases. Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Marketing and Public Relations Manager Laurie Zalepka said, “We had 48 on the schedule today and we have the supply (of vaccine) that was intended for us. There (Hospital - See Page 21)
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