December 6th - 19th , 2013 // VOL. 1 // ISSUE 16
TOMS RIVER AREA • JACKSON • BRICK
• COASTAL BAR RIER ISLAND
Roller Girls in Toms River
Santa Claus Comes to Brick! FREE! Take up to two copies. $2.00 each additional copy.
Toms River Yacht Club’s Turkey Bowl
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
O CEAN COUNTY
County Drug Overdose Death Toll Surpasses 100
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TOMS RIVER – Passions flew high at this month's Ocean County Opiate Task Force [OCOTF] town hall meeting in Lakewood as audience members voiced concerns over what's being done about the rising heroin epidemic plaguing the county. Though opinions about current prevention and treatment practices were questioned, one indisputable fact stood clear – at least 102 Ocean County residents here have died this year alone due to opiate related drug over doses and without the inclusion of two pending toxicology reports that's almost double the amount from last year. “We're just trying to make a dent here and get a hold of this problem,” said Dr. Rajiv Juneja, an adult psychologist and addictive medicine specialist who serves on OCOTF. Agreeing with those in the audience who spoke up about the currently flawed system put in place for addicts seeking help, he later added, “We're here to find solutions.” This is the third town hall meeting the task force has held at Preferred Behavioral Health in Lakewood where medical professionals, substance abuse counselors, and representatives of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office join the public in an open discussion about how the community as whole can tackle opiate addiction. Some members of the task force know firsthand the importance of attacking such a prevalent problem as opiate dependence, having dealt with addiction in their own families. The meetings, held on the first Monday of
Photo Courtesy U.S. D.E.A.
every month, are open to anybody and everyone is encouraged to share their personal stories, opinions, and concerns about opiate addiction. “The town hall meetings are a collaboration of people from all different aspects of the community as well as people who are in active recovery,” Detective Renee Nauyok, a member of the OCOTF said.
going to take to combat this epidemic that were having,” Detective Nauyok added. At this month's meeting, the task force revealed a proposed idea that is still in the early phases of planning and development: a mobile distribution center that would provide medications to addicts going through withdraw in hopes of eventually getting them into a treatment facility. This
Drug Deaths by Age 17-25
18
26-35
30
36-45
20
46-55
20
55-65
9
65+
5
Source: Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office as of December 3, 2013. Recovering addicts are invited to meetings in order to shed some light on their experiences in an attempt to tackle the problem at an alternative angle. In some instances, those who are currently participating in intensive Outpatient Programs [IOP] that attend the task force meetings are able to receive IOP credits that go toward the completion of their program. “We're trying to get everyone together because everyone has a different perspective on what it is
would also serve as a solution to keep addicts seeking prescription opiates out of emergency rooms and prevent them from overdosing. It was also announced that in February, Sunrise Detox, a new 38-bed detoxification facility located on Whitesville Road in Toms River is expected to open up beds to addicts in need. Those interested can attend the next town hall meeting at Preferred Behavioral Health located at 725 Airport Road, Lakewood on January 6th at 6 pm.
Drug Deaths by Municipality
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The Ocean Signal | November 8th - 21st, 2013
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
T OMS RIVER
Refunding Bond Ordinance Passed
Chankalian Named Municipal Engineer of the Year by Daniel Malebranche TOMS RIVER – At the November 26th meeting of the governing body, Mayor Thomas Kelaher joined the council to recognize the achievements and hard work of municipal engineer Bob Chankalian with an honorary proclamation. Mr. Chankalian, who was named “Municipal Engineer of the Year” at the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers’ annual awards ceremony in Atlantic City on November 20th, was instrumental in helping the township recover from Hurricane Sandy. In addition to being part of the major decisions that had to be made for the township’s reconstruction in the wake of the storm - in particular the reestablishment of the Ortley Beach section's infrastructure and installation of dunes 18 feet above sea-level there - Mr. Chankalian was also under a considerable workload overseeing numerous pre-
viously scheduled projects, officials said, including construction of a new municipal animal shelter and a new record storage facility, as well as expanding the courthouse building and supervising various paving projects. Council members added thanks for his advisory role in bringing Toms River back from Sandy’s devastation and securing aid from Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] in the hurricane’s wake. “Bob’s the kind of guy where if I have a homeowners meeting coming up he’ll have a report for me, and if I have a question before or after the meeting, whether it’s Saturday or Sunday, he doesn’t mind," said Council Vice President Maria Maruca. "I can give him a text or I can give him a call, and he’s always there to answer it, and I really appreciate all of your work and dedication, and that of your staff.” Photo by Erik Weber
Mo On the Hill?
The council revisited a refunding bond ordinance that had been tabled from the prior council meeting on November 12th. Municipal Clerk J. Mark Mutter reported that the measure had been approved by the State of New Jersey Division of Local Government Services and was now ready to be voted upon. The ordinance passed with the votes of all of the council members who were present for the meeting (Councilman John Sevastakis was absent from the November 26th meeting due to a scheduling conflict). The cost saving measure canceled $1,620,000 of the township’s debt left unspent from an ordinance from 2012 which authorized the bonding of $6.9 million.
Council Endorses Jeff Carr for FEMA Advisory Council
The council passed a resolution endorsing the appointment of Councilman Jeffery Carr to FEMA’s Advisory Council. The council was established in 2006 in the political wake of Hurricane Katrina and exists to advise the FEMA administrator on preparation for, response to, and recovery from all disasters natural and man made. Council Vice President Maruca congratulated Councilman Carr on the endorsement and stressed the importance of the position, particularly to local residents. “FEMA was a word that we just heard every now and then, but for the past few years it’s probably been on the tip of everybody’s tongue in this area because of the impact that this organization has had on everybody’s lives," she said "And it’s nice to see that we’re going to have somebody with Jeff’s expertise and caliber working with them and representing the people of Toms River.” Council President George Wittman emphasized that the resolution simply recommended Mr. Carr’s appointment to the advisory council, but that he had not yet been selected for it.
Clarifying the Elevation Requirement for Damaged Homes
Councilman Announces Congressional Run by Daniel Malebranche
ON THE COVER
Jersey Shore Roller Girls Junior League girls compete at the Pine Belt Arena. Photo by Erik Weber. Child meets with Santa Claus at Brick Township’s annual Christmas tree lighting. Photo by Keith Rella, Brick Township. Jackson Memorial Marching Band members perform at Christmas tree lighting. Photo by Phil Stilton.
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TOMS RIVER – Councilman Maurice “Mo” Hill announced his candidacy for New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional district. The councilman will seek to fill the vacancy that will be left by Republican Representative Jon Runyan, who announced in November that he would not be seeking reelection in 2014. Mr. Hill, who has served Toms River as a member of the township’s council since 2003, joined the Naval Reserve’s dental program in 1970 and re-
mained with the Navy in various capacities until retiring in 2005 with the rank of Rear Admiral. He still maintains a private dental practice in Brick. The councilman is confident that his life experience has left him well equipped to operate in the current federal political climate. “I think with my military background and my background in the healthcare field that I will be able to represent this district and do a good job in D.C.,” he said. Photo by Phil Stilton.
During the portion of the council meeting reserved for public comments, Ortley Beach resident Pat Lazlo asked the council what consequences would be faced by residents if they did not comply with FEMA’s requirement that people with substantially damaged homes must have their homes elevated above the minimum base flood elevation as shown on FEMA’s floodplain maps within four years. Mr. Wittman explained that those households that failed to comply would no longer qualify for flood insurance, and that while the municipality of Toms River would not issue fines to those households, FEMA might. Mrs. Maruca added that the values of the homes themselves would decrease greatly.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
Jewish War Veterans Fill Empty Flag Pole at Pre-School
World War II Veteran Shares Flag History with Children by Phil Stilton TOMS RIVER – Al Perdeck spent his early years on board the USS Bunker Hill during World War II in the Pacific Ocean, but today, he represents the Jewish War Veterans POST 657 and spends his time teaching children across New Jersey about the importance and history of the flag of the United States. Students at the Goddard School listened to Mr. Perdeck’s stories about World
Students and mentors from the Toms River High School South Mentoring Program pose with their weapons during a briefing at the Blackbeard's Cave paintball facility in Berkeley Township. The students and faculty mentors participated in a paintball outing last month. The goal of the trip was to foster bonding, promote teamwork and introduce the students to the basic tenets of firearms safety. Submitted by Mark Sullivan/Toms River High School South.
War II and the role the flag has played in America’s history. He was joined by members of the New Jersey National Guard based out Freehold. Perdeck, a Manchester resident was introduced by Mayor Thomas Kelaher, a retired United States Marine Corps Reserve Lieutenant Colonel. Afterwards, children asked Perdeck questions about the flag and each child received their own flag to take home.
Construction Debris Flattens 13 Tires on Parkway by Phil Stilton
Above: Retired Navy veteran Al Perdeck addresses children at the Toms River Goddard School on Route 70. Top: Soldiers from the New Jersey National Guard raise the American flag at the Goddard School. Photos by Phil Stilton.
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TOMS RIVER – A piece of metal sticking through the road surface on the temporary bridge along the Garden State Parkway over Old Freehold road caused flat tires to thirteen motorists on Monday. The incident happened between 8am and 8:15 am during the morning commute near mile marker 85.5. The incident left vehicles stranded on the side of the road through to exit
90 waiting for tow trucks to remove them from the road, according to Thomas Feeney, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority which also oversees the Garden State Parkway. Feeney said early on, his office estimated 15 disabled vehicles, but said by Thursday, that number became firm at 13 once drivers were identified and claims filed. “We now know the exact number because the reports are in from the
towing companies that provided the roadside assistance,” Feeney said. “We have a list of the drivers who were affected” The Turnpike Authority, he said, assumed responsibility for the incident and victims are already having claims processed. “Those drivers were asked to fill out Notice of Claim forms,” he added. “The forms are being processed by our third-party claims administrator.”
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
Pleasant Plains Fire Department Hosts 61st Flap Jack Breakfast The Pleasant Plains Fire Department hosted their 61st annual “All You Can Eat Flap Jack Breakfast” on Sunday, November 24th. The event is to help the department raise money for needed supplies to pay for the upkeep of the department and to help keep taxes down. If you are interested in donating, you can write to Pleasant Plains Fire Department, 40 Clayton Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08724.
YACHT CLUB HOSTS 2013 TURKEY BOWL
Sailors from across the region converged at the Toms River Yacht Club on November 30th for morning of sailing tech dingys in the 11th Annual Turkey Bowl Regatta, with Lavallette Yacht Club’s Carl Horrocks taking the top spot.
Forgotten by Time For many who grew up in Toms River, Camp Albocondo represents a childhood of summer camp memories. For others, the site is prime real estate for development. Today, the camp continues its slow deterioration after 10 years of being closed. We’re looking for people to share their stories and photos. Please email news@ocsignal.com.
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Christmas Fire Spurs Creation of Fire Department in 1895 It was Christmas week of 1895, according to an October 1933 account in the Courier newspaper when a fatal fire broke out in Toms River. Former township historian, Polly Miller wrote, “A disastrous fatal fire at Christmas time in 1895, when men stood in line and passed 200 galvanized iron buckets of water to extinguish the blaze, unsuccessfully.” The incident prompted the creation of
Toms River Fire Company No. 1 a few days later, on January 6, 1896. The company purchased their first hook and ladder truck for $600 on July 3, 1856. They purchased a lot on Robbins Street and built a two story firehouse which is still in use today. File Photo by Toms River Fire Department. Mutual aid residential structure fire in Brick Township on April 19, 2011.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
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The following account was written in 1991 by longtime Ocean County Historian Pauline Miller. I remember it well, that infamous day fifty years ago, December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. A block of time still stands out in my mind as I recall exactly what I was doing and where I stood when I heard the news. I was removing my seven month old son's blue knitted legging suit when the news came over the radio. Then my thoughts dashed to my concern because we had taken almost all of our savings out of the bank that week (about $400 worth) to buy our first car, a 1936 used Pontiac. I wanted to get rid of the car and put the money back into the bank, but we never did. We soon had to learn how to cope with rationing books. A Ration Board had been established to which each household had to apply for stamps to buy scarce commodities, such as gasoline, sugar, flour, meat and other staples. There was a ration book for gasoline and one for food. Gas rationing was one of the biggest inconveniences. We were issued a book of stamps each month, each stamp represented so many gallons of gas. When you used up your stamps you left the car in the garage until new stamps were issued the next month. Needless to say we walked to church and to the grocery store, me pushing a baby carriage with bags of groceries surrounding a child. Fortunately, the shopping center was in downtown Toms River where you could buy everything you needed. This helped to hoard a few gas stamps so that we could take a short holiday drive out of town. (Not more than 40 miles) That is when I began studying local history so that I would make our trips more interesting to my sons. Of course, by the time they became teen-
agers they said "no more historic places mom." As the war wore on cotton goods become scarce. One day I was in Dunham's Department Store in Trenton and saw that they had sheets and towels which was something that we did not often see in the stores. I did not have enough money with me to purchase sheets. That is the day I made my first application for a credit card so that I would not get caught in a similar situation when the opportunity came again to supply our household needs when scarce commodities become available. Another scarce item was those baggy rayon hose (not pantyhose) we held up with garters or garter belts. Most of us wore bobby socks, except to go to church, way into the 1950's, until nylon hose came into existence. Civil Defense units were established in Toms River. One citizen in a block would be appointed the Civil Defense Leader who wore an arm band to identify his authority to see that all blackened window shades were pulled so that house lights did not light up the sky and expose us to a possible enemy attack. A Civil Defense tower was erected on the Toms River High School football field for Civil Defense Watchers to look for enemy planes. Men were trained to spot the difference between American and enemy planes so that enemy planes could be reported to the proper authorities. Street lights were painted black on the top and east side of the globe to deflect the light from lighting up the sky, but giving the pedestrian some light from the west side of the globe. This was also done along the barrier islands. There large black shades were hung on the beach side of the boardwalks to keep the boardwalk business booths from shedding too much light out to sea. Our greatest danger was ships coming close to shore to spy on coastal defenses. Submarines and tankers were sunk off shore causing oil spills to wash upon the beach. As a result you could not walk on the sand or swim without tar balls sticking to you. Even the boardwalk was full of tar from people bringing it up from the beach on their feet. You had to stay off the boards and sand unless you were
willing to use turpentine to remove the tar from the soles of your feet or your shoes. The Coast Guard Patrol walked the beaches at night with their German-Shepherd dogs looking for foreign spies who could come ashore from an off shore boat. Navy blimps and dirigibles from the Lakehurst Naval Air Station were constantly flying overhead as they followed the Toms River to the shore for coastal patrol of the beaches from the New York Harbor to the Chesapeake Bay. They were used mostly for spotting foreign submarines off shore. Two new Hangers were built at Lakehurst in the early 1940's for new blimps, balloons and parachute equipment. Airplane traffic was heavy too from the activities at McGuire Air Force Base and Ft. Dix as well as the Navy planes from Lakehurst. With the increase of Army and Navy personnel needed at the Bases, a housing shortage soon manifested itself as every house,room or apartment for rent between Toms River and Lakewood ere filled. Even some summer cottages were winterized and rented, others were rented with central heat. There was a shortage of building, plumbing and electrical supplies so not much new housing could be undertaken until the airplane factories could be converted back to commercial uses. The social life in Toms River began to change too with the increased population from the military based personnel. Membership in the churches began to expand. As director of the Toms River Community Adult School, I had set up a dance class at the Dance Studio on Main Street. I had so many young school teachers apply for the class but only a few men, not enough to make couples, so I contacted the Naval Air Station to see if some young officers would like to enroll in the course. We had 21 officers enroll so it was a happy dance class. One of the young lieutenants met one of the young Toms River School teachers in that class and were later married. They settled in Toms River where he has his law practice today and is a prominent citizen in our community.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
B RICK
Court Jesters Bring Laughs To Local Children
by Carly Kilroy BRICK – For the first time in eight years, the Court Jesters Comedy Basketball Team took on the Brick Recreation Coaches to help kick off the 2013-2014 recreational basketball season. “They play all of our volunteer basketball coaches,” said Dan Santaniello, Deputy Director of Recreation. “It's a fund raiser to keep our costs down for the league.” With over 950 kids ranging from grades kindergarten to 12th participating in this year's season, he said recreation basketball is one of the largest recreation sports in town. It only costs about $65 for each child to participate in the season, which includes two practices per week, 12 regular season games and playoff games due to the help from sponsorships and fund raisers.
This particular fund raiser wasn't just any ordinary game of basketball, and the Court Jesters aimed to please and surprise by having almost everybody in the gym participate in their show. “We get the audience more involved in our shows,” explained Andrew Eckman, who founded the basketball group 14 years ago and believed having the kids relate to the Jesters is an important element of the show, so while he has about 15 players on his roster, he only takes about five or six of them at a time to any given game. “That way the kids can identify with them,” he said. The Jesters appeared to go out of their way to ensure all the children had a good time and felt included in the show as they pulled all the kids into the court during half time for a little dancing before they signed autographs and shot the ball around with them. By incorporating the fun of the sport into it, the Jesters tackle important social issues affecting kids in school - such as bullying - at the start of their show and without bringing down the mood. “Most of our guys work in programs that involve kids anyway, so besides doing this they do after school
programs some coach kids,” said Mr. Eckman. The Court Jesters play over 100 games each year, traveling to cities and countries all around the world and pride themselves in being able to engage audiences members of all ages with their gasp-provoking basketball skills and comedy routine. “It's great because it is a family show. It's great to see the parents and the kids both enjoy the show at the same time,” Mr. Eckman said. “There's very few event's where both the parents and the kids can enjoy themselves.” Shane Woney acts like the team's head Jester and puts on an unforgettable show as he heckles his opponents while pulling audience members onto the court mid-game for a little extra fun.
A Westchester College graduate, Mr. Woney started playing comedy basketball in 1989, but has played basketball since he was 7-years-old. He has worked with the Court Jesters since their inception, but is also the vice president of the street ball organization Ball For Life. “The best part for me is the traveling and putting smiles on kids faces and just seeing them happy,” he said. Even though he is called “The Dribble Machine,” Mr. Woney said he doesn't actually have any special moves that the audience should be looking out for on the court. “I'm a person who doesn't believe in signature moves because I never know what I'm going to do,” said Mr. Woney. “It's all reaction.”
Sammy’s the Spaniel’s Abuser Appeals Jail Sentence filed an appeal of her sentenced, according to court documents. Morgan and her husband Keith Morgan, 56, abandoned “Buddy” the cocker spaniel in a plastic bag on the side of the road in Wall Township in March. Near death, Sammy was revived to health by the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital and has since been adopted by Christine Quigley into a new home. Mrs. Morgan, in NovemBRICK - Shauna Ewing ber plead guilty to two Morgan, 43, the woman counts of animal cruelty who was sentenced to six and received a six month months in jail on various jail sentence. animal abuse charges, has
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
Residents Donate Material from Demolished Home
by Carly Kilroy BRICK - When lifelong township residents Brad and Jennifer Clayton purchased the childhood home of a friend, here, they knew they wanted to make some major changes. After moving in, however, it was clear that a full demolition was needed, but they didn't want to just throw out the existing house. “What we've got here is a beautiful, well maintained, house,” Mr. Clayton said. “It was kind of killing us to look at these beautiful mahogany floors and nice fire place – [I thought] what can we do to not just throw all of this stuff in a landfill?” Having already fallen in love with the neighborhood, which they saw as the ideal place to raise their three kids so they could grow up playing games in the yard and riding bikes along the streets, the Claytons were torn about destroying their new home and wanted to see if there was a way to do it in a way beneficial to the environment and commu-
nity at large. “I started doing some research and I found out that in many areas, but not ours, they have this process that they call deconstruction,” Mr. Clayton said. He decided to work with The Re-Use People of America [TRP], a non-profit environmental organization based out of Oakland, California that has been deconstructions homes since 1993. According to their website, “deconstruction is an environmentally-friendly alternative to demolition. Trained deconstruction crews carefully deconstruct the building to salvage as many of the reusable materials as possible, diverting them from local landfills.” Any homeowner interested in the deconstruction process is provide with an independent IRS qualified appraiser to determine the estimate value of the donated home before the homeowner makes any obligations. If they choose to proceed, the home owner then hires their own appraiser to conduct a full evaluation while a TRP-Certified Deconstruction contractor submits a bid. The homeowner agrees to donate all of the
physical contents of the house to TRP in exchange for documentation that verifies the donation is tax deductible. In most instances the tax donation value completely covers the cost of the deconstruction. “We gave them the physical house and all of the contents,” Mr. Clayton said. “They come in with a crew, about twelve guys on the job, and these guys swarm the house and just really dissect it.” The crew that worked on the Clayton's home came from Humanim, a Baltimore based non-profit dedicated to skills training and job creation for those in need of steady work. In this case, 12 men certified in deconstruction through Humanim came and housed
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ity or sent to TRP retail warehouses to be sold to the public at a discounted price. From start to finish the deconstruction took about two weeks to complete. Mr. Clayton said it was a fascinating process to watch and see how much care the men put into making sure none of the salvageable materials were damaged during the deconstruction. “It's like watching a house get built backwards,” he added. Although destruction is much more involved than a traditional demolition project and requires more money to be paid up front, Mr. Clayton believed that in the long run deconstruction is all around a much more beneficial process. “It's job creation, it's better for the landfills, it's better for the home owner, and it's better for the people who get to use the products at a cheaper price later,” Mr. Clayton said.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
Tis’ The Season in Brick Township by Phil Stilton Mayor-Elect John Ducey and the Brick Township Council welcomed the Christmas season choir performance and Christmas tree lighting ceremony at town hall on Tuesday, November 26th. The event, Ducey said, was organized by the Brick Township Parks and Recreation Department. Girl Scout Cadette troop 1270 opened the ceremony by leading in the Pledge of Allegiance. Brick Township High School Choir, led by Mr. Paul Bibelheimer sang
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Christmas favorites to the audience. Mayor-Elect Ducey thanked Brownie Troop 716 and Junior Girl Scout Troop 1830 for “making Santa’s favorite cookies” and Senior troop 1266 for providing hot cocoa. Afterwards, Santa Claus entered the room to applause, ringing his bell, shouting his trademark “Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas”. After lighting the Christmas tree, children had a chance to sit on Santa’s lap with some one on one time. Photos by Keith Rella, Brick Township.
Annual Menorah Lighting
by Carly Kilroy BRICK – As Rabbi Robert Rubin went through the essential facts about the history of Hanukkah, the eager little hands of his Beth Or Temple students flew up in the air every time they had something to add to the story about the festival of lights. The pint sized children knew everything about the holiday, from why it is celebrated over the span of eight days to how olive oil was used to light the first menorah during the second century B.C. This year Rabbi Rubin, along with members of Beth Or Temple, spent the sixth day of Hanukkah celebrating Brick's annual menorah lighting with government officials at the township's municipal building on Chambers Bridge Road. "We want to celebrate Hanukkah with the entire community," he said. The rabbi spoke about why the holiday is such an important moment every year in Jewish culture. "The word Hanukkah itself means dedication – we rededicate ourselves every year with the celebration
of Hanukkah,” he said before walking everybody through the significance of certain traditional novelties as latkes and dreidels, but without forgetting the true meaning of what the holiday is all about. "It's the miracle of being able to establish Jewish independence and also the miracle to have religious freedom which we sometimes take for granted," Rabbi Rubin said, added that celebrating this freedom is especially important in the United States since it is a nation founded on the premise of freedom of religion for all. Toms River resident Leah Glina said she believes Hanukkah serves as a metaphor of freedom for all people, not just those of Jewish faith. "Every candle that you light represents a symbol of freedom,” said Mrs. Glina. “I always say, a freedom for all nations of the world because we all need the freedom and we all need the goodness that the light will shine on everybody." Although this is her first year at Beth Or Temple, Mrs. Glina taught at synagogues for over 27 years. She said and noted that the meaning of Hanukkah represents an ideology that can be celebrated by people of all religions and beliefs. "It's a holiday for everybody,” she explained. “It's a holiday of light.”
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
E DUCATION
Ocean County Schools to Receive $25 Million in Facilities Funding
by Phil Stilton TRENTON - Some of Ocean County’s aging public schools will get much needed financial support in the form of a $25 million Regular Operating District (ROD) grant approved today by Governor Christie’s office. The grants are part of $507.7 million being distributed statewide across 331 school districts. “Ocean County students, teachers and school administrators will benefit from this infusion of more than half a billion dollars in state funding,” said Governor Christie. “These grants will allow for efficient, state-ofthe-art school facilities that will help foster an improved learning environment for our children.” In Jackson Township, the Jackson School Board applied for ROD grants to improve school security and to finally install an HVAC unit at Jackson Memorial High School which had been rejected by voters in past election referendum votes. The project will consist of upgraded security measures at all schools, including panic buttons that immediately District
alert the Jackson Township Police Department in case of emergencies. Total project costs in the district were estimated at $13.4 million. The district would receive $5.3 million in grants to offset those costs. The district will also purchase generators according to a 2013 facilities report published Brick Township Schools applied for and received a $3.8 million grant to complete $9.6 million in facilities related projects. The district said that the projects will be discussed at the next Board of Education meeting. Missing from the grant funding was Ocean County’s largest school district, Toms River. According to Rich Vespucci of the New Jersey Department of Education, Toms River submitted 14 project grant applications, but all were rejected. “Twelve were for technology upgrades and two were for lighting upgrades which were all considered level two projects,” Vespucci said. ”This round of school facilities grants only funded level 1 projects.” Under the grant guide-
lines, level one projects are identified as those which are most critical, including replacement of roofs, boilers, security upgrades, windows and doors, along with projects that are being proposed for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities act, such as making bathrooms more compliant to the disabled. “None of Toms River’s proposed projects were in this category,” he added. It doesn’t mean Toms River will not get the money for those projects at some point, according to Mike Yapple, a spokesperson for the NJ DOE but, “The state is required to fund level one before it can go to level two or three.” “It is certainly disappointing news that we did not receive any funding,” said School Board President Ben Giovine. “It underlines the point that districts need to remain creative and self-reliant in our current economic times. The Board will continue to work to improve our facilities and ensure we are providing the best and safest educational environment for our children.”
Project Total
Grant Amount
Bay Head
$1,202,920
$481,168
Brick
$9,665,586
$3,866,234
Central Regional
$1,426,738
$570,695
$13,402,890
$5,361,156
Lakehurst
$3,707,126
$2,764,015
Little Egg Harbor
$1,250,000
$500,000
Long Beach Island
$1,331,483
$532,593
Manchester
$14,861,725
$5,944,690
Ocean Gate
$1,095,810
$460,898
Jackson
Ocean Township
$785,000
$314,000
Plumsted
$1,480,773
$736,421
Southern Regional
$8,170,275
$3,268,110
Stafford
$3,707,954
$1,483,182
$508,251
$203,300
Ocean County Vo-Tech
State Pension Board Strips Ritacco of $155k Yearly Pension
by Phil Stilton TRENTON - The New Jersey Teacher’s Pension and Annuity Fund Board of Trustees on Thursday, ruled that former Toms River Regional Schools Superintendent Michael Ritacco was not eligible to receive his $155,040 per year pension. The decision was a welcomed one with School Board President Ben Giovine. “I personally agree with the decision,” Giovine said.
The taxpayers should not be forced to fork over another dime to Superintendent Ritacco after the way he betrayed the public trust.” Ritacco is serving an 11 year sentence after admitting to corruption and tax evasion in 2012, when he accepted nearly $2,000,000 in bribes and kickbacks from Federal Hill Risk Management, a Maryland based insurance broker. In April of 2010, the FBI raided Ritacco’s Seaside Park home and district offices, arresting the former
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district boss. “He milked the school district for millions, and today was right to say no more,” Giovine added. “I am certain if we leave no stone unturned that this district will receive the restitution it is owed.” Photos: Michael Ritacco accepts a $6,101,000 check from the late Senator John Adler (L). Ritacco speaks to former New Jersey Governor, John Corzine (R). Photos by Toms River School District.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
J ACKSON
Application Seeks to Turn Just Plain Jane’s into Housing Development by Phil Stilton
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JACKSON - In 1987, Elizabeth Taylor and billionaire Malcom Forbes made local headlines at Just Plain Jane’s, a small bar on East Veterans Highway, when they stopped at a motorcycle rally held there. Today, the bar remains closed and an application to develop the land has been submitted to the township zoning board by local land use attorney Ray Shea. Although zoned for 3 acre lots, Larsen Associates, Inc., the applicant, has applied for a variance to build homes on 1.09 acre lots instead. The property which borders the western edge of the Presidential Estates development is owned by Jane McCracken according to Ocean County tax records. Carol J. Larsen, records show, is the mortgage holder on the property. Larsen and Associates, no
relation to Carol J. Larsen, is being represented by attorney Ray Shea of Levin, Shea & Pfeffer of Jackson Township. According to the public notice: Larsen Associates, Inc., contract purchaser, has applied to the Jackson Township Zoning Board of Adjustment for a special reasons variance on Lots 13 & 14 in Block 19701 located on East Veterans Highway consisting of 14.3 acres in the R-1 zoning district. The R-1 zoning district permits detached single family dwellings on one acre but requires the new lots to be connected to public sewer for houses to be built on one acre. Otherwise, the requirement is one house for every 3 acres. Applicant is proposing 10 one acre building lots for a gross density of 1.09 per acre and the installation of treatment septic systems in lieu of public sewer. Said ap-
plication requests variance relief under 40:55D-70? for lot area on all lots; lot width for 5 lots; lot depth on all lots; front yard setback on 9 lots and side yards setback on 3 lots. Said application shall include a request for any and all other variances and/or waivers as may be required by submission and discussion of the plans. The aforesaid has been scheduled for a hearing before the Jackson Township Zoning Board , at the Jackson Township Municipal Building, 95 West Veterans Highway, Jackson, New Jersey on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible. The application, maps and supporting documents are on file in the Jackson Township Zoning Board in the municipal building and are available for public inspection during normal business hours for a period of 10 days prior to the date of hearing.
Hearing for Orthodox Girls High School Moved to February 5th by Christine Quigley JACKSON - The Jackson Township Zoning Board has rescheduled the next hearing on the Oros Bais Yaakov all-girls private high school proposed to be built on Cross Street to the February 5th meeting. The change was made at the request of Red Bank attorney Ron Gasiorows-
ki who is representing a homeowner fighting the non-conforming zoning request. The meeting will take place once again at the Jackson Memorial High School Fine Arts Center and is scheduled to begin at 7pm. The auditorium was near maximum capacity with over 1,000 in attendance
at the last meeting held on November 21st. At that meeting the board carried testimony to the February 19th meeting. Testimony is expected to continue and the public, according to the board, will continue to be allowed to speak in the public portion session of the meeting.
Developer Sought to Increase Housing Density at Site of Former Jewish Artifact Dumping Ground Lakewood Rabbi Chaim Abadi has Withdrawn Request to Build More Homes on Frank Applegate Road by Phil Stilton JACKSON - Hard Maple Realty, Inc. and Lakewood Rabbi Chaim Abadi, the owner of 24.8 acres of land in Jackson Township on Frank Applegate Road, once
used as a dumping ground for Jewish religious items had submitted an application to the township’s zoning board of adjustment. Represented by Ray Shea of Levin, Shea & Pfeffer, of Jackson Township, Hard Maple Reality was seeking preliminary approval for a major subdivision of the property, which resides in a R-3 residential zone. The applicant sought to create 9 building lots on the property where only 6.5 are allowed by township zoning regulations, increasing the proposed development by 3 lots. In a public notice published in November, the law
firm requested, “to create 9 new residential lots together with one storm water basin lot and one preservation lot pursuant to the cluster provisions of the R-3 Zone applicable to tracts of land 10 acres of more.” The application required a density variance to be in compliance with the conservation overlay zone. The hearing never happened as Abadi and Hard Maple Realty withdrew their request prior to the scheduled meeting on December 4th.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
Jackson Band Parent Wins National Booster Award
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Christine Leonard, President of the Jackson Memorial High School Jaguar Band Parents Association was recently selected as the U.S. Bands Association’s “Booster of the Year” for her volunteer work with the Jackson Memorial Band. In 2013, the 190 member band was crowned National Champions. Board of Education President Barbara Fiero and Band Director Bud McCormick thanked Mrs. Leonard for her hard work with the band over the years. Mrs. Fiero presented the certificate to Drum Majors Ed Delesky and Nora Hughes. Pictured (L to R): Assistant Band Director Jason Diaz, Bud McCormick, Christine Leonard, Nora Hughes and Ed Delesky.
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Don Connor Cup Stays at Jackson Memorial High School
Don Connor, Jr., the son of Don Connor, the late Jackson Township School District athletic director presents the Jackson Memorial Jaguars with the Don Connor Cup, given to the winner of the annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry game between Jackson Liberty and Jackson Memorial high schools. For the sixth time since its inception, the Jaguars won the cup. This year, they defeated the Lions 34-0 at home.
Rotary Club Donates Dictionaries to Jackson Third Graders
As part of the annual “The Dictionary Project”, the Jackson Rotary Club presented all third graders in the Jackson School District with their own dictionaries. The program is held each year and part of a worldwide effort to encourage children to “Learn to Read and Read to Learn”. In 2012, 2.4 million dictionaries were given out. To date, the project has delivered dictionaries to 18.25 million children. Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
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BEACHWOOD The Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company held their annual Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, December 1st, with company members flipping, frying, steaming and serving up a treat for hundreds of borough families, friends and visitors at their hall on Beachwood Boulevard. The Ladies Auxiliary also sold baked goods and holiday-themed decorations and knick-knacks on a table near where Old Saint Nick entertained and took photos with children (some more reluctantly than others). That day also kicked off the fire company’s annual Christmas tree sale fundraiser, open until just before Christmas or when all the trees are sold out. The fire company again played an important role in the borough’s annual tree lighting ceremony that night at borough hall on Pinewald Road when Santa again made an appearance, escorted inside a pumper truck, to dozens of expectant children who thereafter went inside the hall for hot cocoa, cookies and a second chance to expand their Christmas lists. Later this month Santa will make a third and final appearance before the big day when the fire company again takes him atop one of their pumper trucks along all borough streets, waving and tossing candy canes to the children who come out to greet him.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
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Borough Council Briefs by Erik Weber BEACHWOOD - The following are news and actions of the mayor and council, here, from their November governing body meetings. • Councilman Steve Komsa, liaison to the Recreation Commission, presented several awards to correct timing errors made by the company contracted for the Beachwood 5K race earlier this fall. He noted that the runners would also receive free admission to next year’s race and that the company apologized and paid for the replacement medals. • The governing body passed on second reading an ordinance that regulates the opening of any borough street within three years of its repaving except in extraordinary circumstances in order to limit the amount of excavation damage caused on the new roadways. Anchor Avenue resident and local builder David Lipton, who owns various undeveloped properites here, argued that the borough council should reconsider the ordinance until more investigation could be made into the matter and how it would affect the Beachwood Sewerage Authority, an autonomous agency that regulates the sewage systems in town, New Jersey Natural Gas and other utility firms that have differing rules on excavation for service connections. Borough Engineer Jim Oris stated that the three
year moratorium was less than the state roadway standard of five years and that the provisions allowing for emergent circumstances would allow the borough to allow newer roads opened in special circumstances as long as the higher grade of infrared patchwork was applied when resealing the roadway. • Council President Ed Zakar reported with regret
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that former Councilman Walter G. “Bud” Erickson, who was a current member of the sewerage authority, passed away on November 3rd at the age of 85. • The deadline to enter the holiday house decorating contest is this coming Wednesday, December 11th, with awards being presented at the following council meeting on December 18th at 7 pm.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
I SLAND HEIGHTS Community Calendar
Island Heights Library The final date of the special five-part storytime series, “Stories Around Island Heights,” concludes with stories, songs and activities at the Shore Ballet School for preschoolers and their parents on Wednesday, December 11th at 12:15 pm. Those interested are asked to call the library or visit the website for more information or to register. More programs available. (Central and Summit avenues; open Monday 1-9 pm, Tuesday & Thursday 10 am - 5 pm, Wednesday & Saturday 10 am - 1 pm, Friday 1 -5 pm; theoceancountylibrary. org; (732) 270-6266.)
Santa Visits Island Heights! Jolly Old Saint Nick will be making his annual rounds with the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company on Sunday, December 22nd starting at 3 pm. Cottage Museum Last chance for visitors to enjoy the exhibits, historic objects and archives of the Island Heights Cultural and Heritage Association at their 1880s Carpenter Gothic two-story Victorian summer cottage in 2013 - beginning at the end of December it will be closed until April. Free to the public, groups welcome. (105 Simpson Avenue; open Saturdays 1 - 4 pm or Wednes
days by appointment; (732) 929-2646.) John F. Peto Studio Museum Appearing through December 31st is a National Juried Trompe l’oiel Exhibition, inviting artists working in the that style to participate with a declared purpose of showcasing contemporary artwork that “fools the eye” and demonstrates the innovative ways in which artists continue to express themselves through trompe l’oiel. Adults $10, Children $5. (102 Cedar Avenue; open Saturdays and Sundays, 1 - 4 pm; petomuseum.org; (732) 929-4949.) Fire Company Fundraiser The Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company continues its energy-savings fundraiser effort, asking residents to join Stream Energy’s Power Up! program for competitive gas and electric utility rates that will provide regular donations to the fire company. For more information, go online to islandheightsvfc. streampowerup.biz, call (732) 929-4683 or e-mail powerupihvfc@aol.com. Ocean County Artists’ Guild Holiday trees decorated with handmade ornaments plus small holiday and non-holiday merchandise, all the work of guild members, will be available for view and purchase by vis-
by Erik Weber
Council Briefs
OCEAN GATE - The following are news and actions ofthe Ocean Gate governing body from their November meeting: • Mayor Paul Kennedy was not present for the meeting but submitted his report to be read by Council President DiStefano. Items reported on as such included: a delay in the beach berm project had occurred until later that month due to the necessary sampling and testing of the sand in a laboratory to ensure it was proper for the project; the bulkhead project was in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s [NJDEP] “hands” but they had been contacted numerous times and a permit was soon expected; the seawall project for the beachfront was being handled through the state’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program though there was no projection for when the borough could go out to bid on it; the investigation of the sewage system using video technology was complete and awaiting final approval by the borough engineer; the
Monmouth Avenue drainage project through the New Jersey Department of Transportation [NJDOT] was well underway with milling and paving possible before the season’s end but if not it would be done in the spring; a 2014 NJDOT project was being applied for to complete Monmouth Avenue and do “a couple” blocks of Asbury Avenue; the mayor reported that he was working with a local boy scout troop interested in community service projects around the borough; there was a recent water main break on Monmouth and East Arverne avenues that was repaired within three hours of calling the contractor with the Ocean County Road Department repaving the site at no cost to the town; the hot water heater at the firehouse had begun leaking and was replaced by using a local plumber who only charged for parts and not labor; Ocean Gate Volunteer Fire Company Chief Larry Murray’s new vehicle had been lettered and the majority of equipment installed; the doors ordered and installed by the contractor for the firehouse and Adrian Hall
Reflections on the Wildwood Avenue beachfront, showing the Comfort Station and pavilion on a recent still autumn night. ERIK WEBER/OCEAN SIGNAL
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were the incorrect doors, which the contractor stated he would correct; a gas leak was reported and the utilities marked out at the property in question by the temporary public works employee within 30 minutes of the call; Mayor Kennedy stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] seemed to be having a hard time making up its mind as to what documents it wanted filed for the Hurricane Sandy-related claims; the Ocean Gate boardwalk was stated by that agency to not be as large a priority as the Seaside Heights/Seaside Park or Belmar boardwalks, and the mayor noted that though Ocean Gate was the first municipality to contract for post-Sandy debris removal, other towns seemed to be getting reimbursed much faster; the Ocean County Department of Corrections had been sending inmates out to work on projects at the mayor’s inquiry for several years and Mayor Kennedy stated that upcoming projects for them would be installing shelving and moving many boxes within the archives room; the two comfort stations and sprinkler systems across municipal properties were winterized; to date, all known non-working fire hydrants were replaced; Mayor Kennedy was awaiting word on a possible grant program to install a new playground in town; and the last two governing body meetings of 2013 would be on Wednesday, December 11th at 1 pm in order for students from the Ocean Gate School to attend and learn about local
The Island Heights Post Office all lit up on a moonlit night, taken earlier this year. ERIK WEBER / OCEAN SIGNAL itors to Gallery 1. The second gallery will offer 5”x7” works - paintings, greeting cards, photos, mini-quilts all framed or not - from which 40 percent of all proceeds will directly benefit the organization. Through December 23rd. Annual Victorian Tea on December 15th, 2 to 4 pm. Christmas music sing-along concert on December 20th with gathered musicians. Classes for adults and children always available. (Ocean and Chestnut avenues, open Tuesday through Sunday, 1 to 4 pm, ocartistsguild.org, (732) 270-3111.) Pavilion Paver Sales The riverfront paver project in front of the Central Avenue pavilion is underway for anyone interested in purchasing an engraved paver that will be set for all to see and read. Cost is $99 per paver and includes two lines at 13 characters per line, including spaces. For more information, contact borough hall. (open Monday through Friday 9 am - 3 pm; islandheightsboro.com; (732) 2706415.)
Council Briefs by Erik Weber ISLAND HEIGHTS - The following are news and actions of the Island Heights mayor and council from their November 26th meeting: • Council President Jeff Silver reported that the backwash and sanitizing of the new water sphere had begun though there is not tentative date for when it would be operational as readings must be taken to ensure water safety as the process moves forward. He added that the older water standpipe beside it would be removed next year as there would not be enough time to make the changeover in the remaining weeks of 2013. • Garden Place resident Richard Beck approached the governing body with a complaint about a nearby property owner who does not keep their yard up to code, adding that it looked
like a “dump” and a “junkyard” and that the poor quality had been going for many years and numerous adminstrations of the borough council, but that he saw no relief in sight. Councilman John Bendel stated that since Mr. Beck had already spoken with Code Enforcer Ken Anderson about it, he would further approach the borough attorney for more direction. Councilman Peter Kier asked if there was anybody living on the property, which Mr. Beck confirmed though he noted that “the people are decent people it’s just out of hand.” • Tennis court and beach badge prices were approved to remain the same in 2014. • Permission was granted to Ocean County Vocational Technical School to utilize the borough hall chambers for its annual mock courtroom on the afternoon of January 10th.
O CEAN GATE
Bill Daly’s Anchor Inn, seen here in 1937, was the precursor to today’s Golda’s Anchor Inn, on the same corner it’s always been on Ocean Gate Avenue. The Golda’s recently installed a sign in the same location as the one pictured here, so we thought we’d salute them for their over 50 years of great food, drinks and entertainment. Image courtesy the Ocean Gate Historical Society and digitized by the Ocean County Compendium of History. government, and Monday, December 30th at 7 pm. • Borough Attorney James Gluck reported that the environmental study at Mike Bona’s car garage on Ocean Gate Avenue was continuing with Phil Brilliant of Brilliant Environmental Services; the borough was still waiting on members of the O’Neill family to sign the maps to subdivide the former borough hall property at the beachfront; he received word that one of the cellphone providers with equipment on the water tower was seeking to possibly lease more space for a new generator; and the Seaside Park lawsuit against Central Regional School District would possibly be heard before the state superior court in the near future. • Chief Financial Officer Paulette Konopka reported ongoing difficulties with various post-Sandy claims
with FEMA; she signed off on an insurance reimbursement to the borough for wind damage from the storm in the amount of $56,313 that was expected to arrive soon; and the dental insurance for borough employees would not increase n 2014. • Mr. DiStefano reported that problems with the television channel now exist entirely on Comcast’s side as they are using outdated, aging technology that breaks down or functions extremely slowly yet are unwilling to upgrade; the borough website is back and further protection is expected to prevent it from being hacked again; and the budget committee was going to start setting up workshops soon. • Councilman Jim McGrath added that several residents in town wanted to work toward installing a new playground for the
children to enjoy and would be working on that project and fundraising for it in the coming months. • Councilman Dave Kendrick stated that the fire company recently held a drill at a house slated to be torn down on the east side of town, and that the drill reminded him of all that the volunteer emergency responders in town do for the community. • Councilwoman Joella Nicastro stated that she was looking into having the borough make an arrangement to pick up the discarded older CRT model televisions that so many people are throwing out illegally or leaving on the side of the road around town due to the surging popularity of the newer flat-screen models. She added that Berkeley Township accepts such TVs.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
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(Above and top right) Santa Claus, who is very good friends with Councilman Barry Wieck, delighted dozens of youngsters at the borough’s annual tree lighting event on Sunday afternoon, December 1st. Many were in attendance this year, and the borough fire company provided Santa a “lift” to the tree grounds. ERIK WEBER/OCEAN SIGNAL
by Erik Weber
Council Briefs
PINE BEACH - The following are news and actions of the governing body, here, at their November meetings: • Borough Engineer Jack Mallon was present for the early November work meeting and described at length the projects soon to begin along the river, including bulkhead replacement, the removal of the old Admiral Farragut Academy docks and installtion of a new, attractive pier and parking area for residents to enjoy, the extension of the Riverwalk boardwalk as part of the project, the reconstruction of the Henley Avenue Pier, the repaving of Radnor Avenue from Hillside to Tudor avenues and the funding for each. Projects are generally set to start going out to bid in the near future and get underway. • An ordinance was discussed for adoption and then introduced on first reading that would allow residents on undersized lots to be permitted to install a shed on their property without having to go before
the land use board if the only violations are in their setbacks, which occur due to the undersized lot. Property owners who would violate the lot coverage limit would still need to go before the board if adopted on second reading. • The 2014 reorganization meeting of the borough council is scheduled for New Year’s Day at noon. Councilman Barry Wieck will be returning to the dais and newcomer Raymond Newman will be sworn in for the first time. Both terms are for three years. • Mayor Lawrence Cuneo reported that “the geese are back on the field,” and asked that public works reapply the environmentally friendly material that kept them off Vista Park field earlier this year as it appeared to have worked for a time. • The mayor and Council President Richard “Ritty” Polhemus reported to have met with the Pine Beach Volunteer Fire Company, which is in increasingly poor financial straits, and are seeking options to
possibly sell some of their properties, join and become a substation of Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company, or sell their current buildings and construct a new, energy-efficient one. Mayor Cuneo and Mr. Polhemus were going to contine to talk with fire company members to see if they could help them locate some sort of grant funding or other ways to aid their finances. • Chief John M. Sgro reported that one of the police vehicles was about to come off lease and he was looking to start a new lease on an Interceptor in the new year. • Councilman Robert Budesa reviewed Mr. Wieck’s proposed landlord/tenant ordinance and stated he would like to reword some things and bring it back for review in the new year. • Mr. Wieck read the letter of Alex King, a Boy Scout with Troop 114 who is seeking to replace dog waste stations around the borough as his Eagle Scout project through the winter.
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Down this path once roared the mighty engines and cars of the Pennsylvania Railroad, on their way to Ocean Gate, Barnegat Pier (currently site of the Water’s Edge restaurant), Seaside Park and north. Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
S OUTH TOMS RIVER
Workers set about installing new granite slabs at the firemen’s memorial at Veteran’s Park earlier this autumn as volunteers from various Berkeley Township fire companies, including the Manitou Park Fire Company, looked on. Fundraising efforts continue to complete the memorial. For more information, visit the official website at www.btvfm.org. ERIK WEBER / OCEAN SIGNAL
Residents Angered Over Scrap Yard Noise; Demand Action by Erik Weber SOUTH TOMS RIVER Lakeview Drive resident Janet Ford approached the governing body during their November 18th meeting with sharp complaints over the ongoing noise pollution emanating from the Tri-State Recycling, Inc. scrap metal yard across Flint Road and very near her home. She stated that she had contacted borough officials multiple times about the problem and had taken “a lot of video of what it
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sounds like in my backyard - I specifically invited you” - Mayor Champagne - “over to come hang out and listen and you declined and said you believed me yet nothing has changed.” Ms. Ford then provided a list of the times that the recycling yard had remained operating late or started early, violating borough noise ordinances. “The did plant trees [as a] sound barrier,” she continued. “That did nothing. I can’t tolerate it.” The Lakeview Drive resident then stated she was
informed there was not a site plan when the company took over the site. “This question would be appropriately answered by the zoning officer, regarding the site plan, but to answer your [other] questions I did go to the site and speak with the owner,” said Mayor Champagne. “We had a meeting about a week ago with the clerk, we sat and spoke to them direction about the various complaints we received not only from you but other residents [and] also had the residents in our office
to discuss what could be the measures that could be taken.” Ms. Ford stated that the code official, Jim Richardson, had been attempting to have a meeting with the mayor but that “you have ignored his request.” “I meet with him every week,” replied Mayor Champagne. Ms. Ford then stated that she was told by the mayor that he would fine them in earlier in the year if they had not met an earlier deadline to comply to the noise ordinance. “This is up to Jim Richardson - he may give warnings but I cannot force him to fine anyone,” Mayor Champagne replied. The pair then disagreed over what was previously said by the mayor, and Ms. Ford further argued her side against the ongoing noise. “We are right across the street - I’m four houses in,” she said. “If you go home sick from work, you can’t sleep - you don’t have peace of mind in your own house
and yard. In the house with the windows shut it sounds like bombs going off.” “How it was approved is beyond any comprehension I have,” the Lakeview Drive resident continued, adding that they should relocate their processing side of the business to a more appropriate place away from a residential area and, if they desired, keep their present site for collection. “Why do I as a taxpayer for 23 years have to deal with that - why is their revenue more important than mine? It’s not.” “You’re correct, ma’am, it’s not,” agreed Mayor Champagne. Ms. Ford noted that virtually all native animals and “wildlife” completely vacated her area when the plant began operation. “The egrets in the trees, the herrings - not at all,” she said. “Not anymore.” Mayor Champagne said he understood and took her comments “to heart.” “Everybody tells me they understand the severity but nothing changes!” she remarked.
“I can tell you right now that we’re working on the issue and already Mr. Richardson has drafted a letter giving them guidelines and making sure he follows them,” the mayor continued. “If he does not comply we’re going to have to take some serious actions at that point.” “As far as I know, Jim has spoken to him numerous times as well as you,” said Ms. Ford, adding that the business owner complies for several weeks and then slips back into old habits. Lori Phillips, also a Lakeview Drive resident, came forward to support Ms. Ford’s statements. “I’ve lived there 29 years and it’s always been a peaceful, friendly block,” she said. “I’m home all day and now I hear it all day long. We haven’t had a window or door open all year - I can’t go outside. I can’t stand it and it’s not fair.” Mayor Champagne said that he and the borough were working to correct the matter.
Miller Yacht Basin and a lit cabin cruiser during a late winter night earlier this year. ERIK WEBER / OCEAN SIGNAL
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
S EASIDE PARK by Erik Weber
Council Briefs
SEASIDE PARK - The following are news and actions of the borough mayor and council from their November 25th meeting: • A capital improvement ordinance in the amount of $500,000 was unanimously approved by all governing body members to be used for “boardwalk reconstruction and acquisition of replacement equipment due to the boardwalk fire.” Council President Michael Tierney stated that “what the ordinance will do, if we need to, is we will reconstruct to build the boardwalk at the time we want to reconstruct the boardwalk.” He added that the money was provided from the borough’s joint insurance carrier “for the damage so it allows us to put it on the books for reconstruction.” In the interim since this meeting, a report was published by the Asbury Park Press that incorrectly stated that the borough would reconstruct a boardwalk from their town to connect to Seaside Heights by next summer. Borough Administrator Bob Martucci responded to that incorrect report. “To date, there is no movement to rebuild the Seaside Park boardwalk for the 2014 summer season. Without any information
regarding the rebuild of the boardwalk area and Funtown Pier property [which is] all private property, the borough would be remiss in rebuilding a boardwalk that may conflict with new building plans of the property owners.” “We will continue to reach out to the property owners to discuss their future plans to include a boardwalk layout,” he closed. • A resolution was adopted to accept a $115,000 grant from the state to immediately construct a beach berm along the cleared Funtown Pier beachfront area as a preventative measure against upcoming nor’easters. Mr. Tierney noted that Seaside Heights received the same grant for the same amount for their side of the demolished area. • Resolutions accepted as part of the consent agenda included authorizing the transfer of 2013 municipal budget appropriations; authorizing salaries within the ranges previously established by ordinance for designated borough employees for 2013; authorizing a USDA grant agreement for the sewer portion of the second phase of the project; approving the payment of the annual clothing allowance to eligible members of the Seaside Park Volunteer Fire Company No. 1; ap-
proving a change order for Bird Construction to the marina work that decreases the price by $27,752.50 for a total amount of $557,653.50; approving a change order for Remington and Vernick for contract services on the 14th Avenue Pier Reconstruction Project by $17,750 as the original alloted budget of $12,250 was depleted; awarding a contract in the amount of $20,000 for engineering, design, construction management and inspection services for the reconstruction of the Seaside Park Lifeguard Station at the bathhouse; approving a purchase order in the amount of $30,000 to Remington and Vernick for engineering, design, construction management and inspection services for the reconstruction of the public works facility; approved the cancelation of remaining balances for capital improvement projects for a total amount of $238,926.05; approved the cancelation of outstanding balances for various capital improvement projects; and canceling various balances with the borough engineering firm for change of scope for various capital improvement projects. • Chief Francis “Murph” Larkin reported that delays involving the removal of the fencing on Ocean Avenue
were over and the fencing would be removed, which it since has in conjunction with the new traffic pattern due to the Route 35 reconstruction project; there had been marijuana arrests and warrants in the town plus a little bit of heroin “creeping in more now than the last couple of months - we’re keeping an eye on that but there’s no specific patterns as far as break-ins go or anything of that nature.” The police department, he continued, was still acquiring military surplus equipment to supplement their activities where needed through a special program, and he referred to the Hummer vehicle they had recently acquired as one example of that plus “15 new Mustang survival suits [worth] $500 each and each brand new in the bag” that would be distributed to some members of the fire company, public works plus the police department. Another acquisition was a “brand new Snap-On tool-
kit box - [worth] anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 if all the tools are intact.” • Chief Larkin also asked residents to participate in the toy drive going on until December 20th with the Division of Child Protection, asking that those interested drop off new unwrapped toys to borough hall or the front window of the police station. • Mr. Tierney reported that in the ongoing Central Regional School District lawsuit, the attorney with the school was requesting numerous documents from the borough related to the Community Disaster Loan Program, which he “found interesting that Central wants to know this.” “That’s an interesting thing - an annoying thing is that we pay 15 percent of this guy’s fees,” he continued, adding that he was going to call the district to ask what it was all about and the borough would seek an interpretation and advice from their own special legal
counsel on the matter. • Councilwoman Jean Contessa reported that the borough fire company would soon receive the fire trucks previously arranged to be acquired by Toms River Township which, she noted, “were used but they’re in better condition than what we have in our firehouse at this time.” The councilwoman added that the recreation department was going to look into building up a program schedule for the coming warm season that would be attractive to families in order to better draw them into town. “We’re trying to come up with ideas and we’re going to sit down and work together,” she said. “They’re going to get a group and have a meeting possibly with the business owners.” Mayor Robert W. Matthies noted, among other things, Public Works Supervisor Eric Wojciechowski’s excellent continued job in organizing dune grass plantings.
Many surf fishermen have been coming out to Seaside Park and the shore area during a late fall blitz of keeper-sized bass. ERIK WEBER/OCEAN SIGNAL
Tower of Fear Toppled
The Tower of Fear was yanked down on November 29th by demolition crews. ERIK WEBER/ OCEAN SIGNAL by Erik Weber SEASIDE PARK – The Tower of Fear, a 225-foot tall ride that launched patrons to the near-pinnacle of its height before slowly bringing them back down, was pulled down today by demolition equipment after having been damaged first in Hurricane Sandy last October, which saw the destruction of most of the pier amusement area, and later the September 12th boardwalk fire that destroyed almost all game, amusement and eatery stands and facilities to its west. The ride was first installed and in use in 2000 and was seen as part of the Seaside Park/Heights skyline from as far away as mainland Toms River, Berkeley Township and Ocean Gate since that time. The remainder of the Funtown Pier area is now a graded beach with sand berm
spanning the Seaside Park section save the Sawmill Cafe and Stevie D’s Arcade, which survived the autumn fire but were damaged. To view a video of the tower’s take-down, click over to the Ocean Signal’s Ocean County Police Blotter page on Facebook.
A starkly different scene greets visitors of the Seaside Park boardwalk area, as the damaged Sawmill Cafe and Stevie D’s arcade stand virtually alone among a wide stretch of open beachfront following the September boardwalk fire and subsequent cleanup. ERIK WEBER/OCEAN SIGNAL
Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
S PORTS
Photo by Bill Normile Sports Photography
Finding a New Home: Jersey Shore Roller Girls Roar into Toms River
Photos by Ben Ruset
Brick Dragons 2013 State Champs by Scott Stump Shore Sports Network EWING - At a program where tradition is everything, Brick paid the ultimate tribute to its championship teams of the past with a fourth-quarter drive for the ages to bring home the team’s first state title since 1994 on Saturday at The College of New Jersey. “It means the world,” said head coach Rob Dahl, who played under legendary coach Warren Wolf at Brick. “That was the goal three years ago when I took the job. The amount of alumni guys over here got me real emotional at the beginning of the game, and I basically just stressed the point that we can’t let these guys down. We’ve got to get this seventh title
and we did. “When you get look at all the old scores in the Brick championship games, they weren’t blowouts. They were 9-7, 7-6, 21-20 vs. Camden (in 1974). They were all close games that took place with a long drive at the end, and it was a staple of all those championship years.” From an emotional pre-game speech by the 86-year-old Wolf, whose 364 wins are second in state history, to 2,000-plus fans in green-and-white to a host of alumni dusting off their varsity jackets from the 1970s to show their support, the reminders of Brick’s glorious past were everywhere. Its championship present was embodied by players like Fattaruso, who also had a stellar game
at linebacker, and a player who wasn’t even at the school last year. Junior quarterback Carmen Sclafani, a Toms River North transfer, ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and threw for 101 yards out of the Green Dragons’ spread set, which is directed by his uncle, offensive coordinator and former Toms River North head coach Chip LaBarca Jr. Brick ran for 200 yards as a team to finish with 301 total yards against a Cougars’ defense that entered giving up 11 points per game. “I’ve grown up wanting to win a state championship, and I guess it was meant to be here,” Sclafani said. “I learned what it meant to bleed green today.
TR South Victim of Second Half Comeback in State Semifinal
by Bob Badders Shore Sports Network EWING - Through one half of football on Saturday afternoon, November 23rd, at Detwiler Stadium, Toms River South was nearly flawless. The Indi-
1998. And then it it all vanished. Shawnee scored 28 points in the second half for a 28-24 victory against the Indians. “When it got to 24-14 you could feel it slipping away,” said Indians head coach Ron Signorino Jr. “It wasn’t anything different scheme-wise. They overpowered us in the Photo by Erik Weber second half.” “We’re hurting now, but this is a character lesson,” ans had a three-score lead on visiting Shawnee in Signorino said. “We passed the NJSIAA South Jersey a lot of tests this year and Group IV semifinals. They this is just one more we’ll out-gained the Renegades learn from. Credit Shaw201-58 and ran nearly 30 nee. That’s what we want more offensive plays. Just to be. But I’m so proud of two quarters separated the my guys. It was a hell of a Indians from their first trip ride.” to a sectional final since
TR South Girls Soccer Honored The Toms River High School South Girls Varsity Soccer team was praised for their strong season this year at the TR South/Shawnee game on November 23rd after being defeated by Northern Highlands that morning in a 2-0 loss. Crowds gathered cheered the girls and the Toms River High School South Marching Band performed Indian Tom in their honor.
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by Carly Kilroy TOMS RIVER - The Right Coast Rollers claimed the golden skate Saturday night at the Jersey Shore Roller Girl’s [JSRG] annual season championship, held for the first time at their new venue, the Pine Belt Arena at Toms River High School North. The all-women roller derby league, which is made up of three intra-league teams and two travel teams, had been competing at the Asbury Park Convention Hall since their inception in 2007, but due to complications caused by Hurricane Sandy, the league had to move this year’s event to a new venue. “After the hurricane they had some structural issues, so they closed it down,” said Kim ‘Bash N. Onya’ Hartman, who has been with the league since 2008.
team in the league,” Mrs. Hartman explained. Flat-track roller derby is an alternative contact sport which involves two five member teams attempting to score points by pushing their “jammer” through the “pack” consisting of girl from both teams trying to deter the other teams jammer. Basically, points are earned for every time a team’s jammer can successfully make their way around the track and break through the pack without being knocked out of bounds. “It does get a little rough and bodies do go flying, but it’s fun,” said Mrs. Hartman. JSRG is always encouraging new members to join their league, even those with little to no previous skating experience. “Some people come for the first time and see it and say ‘I want try that’ and we’re all
Every year, JSRG holds an intra-league competition in which two of the three home teams compete against each other for that year’s title. This year it came down to the Right Coast Rollers versus the Anchor Assassins. “The winner of tonight’s event gets bragging rights for the next year as the best
about that,” Mrs. Hartman said. Newcomers go through an intensive 10 to 12 week training program in order to develop essential skills and techniques such as skating, stopping, failing and properly taking a hit in order to safely play the game. “Once you get through the
skating program, you start skating with everybody else,” she said. JSRG follows strict guidelines monitored by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association [WFTDA] which outline the skills a player must possess in order to be eligible for a team. Mrs. Hartman explained that some girls go through the training program multiple times before they become eligible to play. Once girls do become eligible to play, they are then placed on one of the home teams. “We have what we call a draft. Everyone has their own special talents – like some skaters are really fast and some are really heavy hitters – so we try to look at the existing teams structure and see what they are lacking in,” said Mrs. Hartman. “We try to keep the teams as even as possible because we don’t want huge blow outs when we play our games.” Those girls who exceed the expectations of the WFTDA guidelines have the opportunity to try out for one of the two travel teams who compete for JSRG all over the east coast. JSRG also started up a juniors program recently for girls between the ages of 8 and 17. Mrs. Hartman said the best part of the program is watching the evolution of new girls coming in and developing a sense of confidence. “You know, you could have kids that are really shy and then all of a sudden they get into a sport like this and they start to feel good about themselves and they build this whole new confidence that they didn’t think they had – next thing you know they’re shouting orders,” she said.
Girls from the Jersey Shore Roller Girls’ Junior League, ages 8 to 17 perform at the 2013 championship held at the Pine Belt Arena in Toms River. THE SHORE SPORTS NETWORK Ocean Signal Sports is powered by THE SHORE SPORTS NETWORK. Get daily Shore Conference high school sports news daily at www.shoresportsnetwork.com.
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
Monsignor Donovan Girls Tennis & Boys Soccer Teams B-South Champions
The Jackson Gunners U11 girls soccer team were finalists at the 2013 US Youth Soccer’s New Jersey State Cup Tournament
The Jackson Journey finished their 2013 season by finishing first at the MOSA Cup Tournament. The also finished in first place in their MOSA U13 National 1 travel league.
GET YOUR TEAM IN THE SIGNAL! Send your youth sports news and photos to news@ocsignal.com today. Read the Ocean Signal online: www.oceancountysignal.com
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The Ocean Signal | December 6th - 19th, 2013
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