Tuesday, May 21, 2013
In Lavallette Monday, Governor said he wants to highlight that the Jersey Shore is recovering
Gov. Chris Christie was in Lavallette Monday to help the borough celebrate the reconstruction of its boardwalk and promote tourism as Memorial Day Weekend nears. Like many Jersey Shore towns, Lavallette's boardwalk was ravaged by Superstorm Sandy. The governor traveled to the borough to spread the word that New Jersey continues to recover. "This is the first symbol, for us, of making sure this week that everybody across the state, across the region, and across America knows that the Jersey Shore is open for the summer and ready to receive our customers," Christie said in remarks there Monday. The ceremonial "last board" in Lavallette was nailed down by borough officials. Numerous local business owners contributed attended the event, …
Monday, May 20, 2013
Planning a vacation or just a day trip? Patch has all the information on the Shore's best beaches
More than six months after Superstorm Sandy caused unprecedented damage to the Jersey Shore region, the beaches will be open for Memorial Day Weekend and the summer. While certain access points and facilities might be closed as municipalities continue to work on restoration, for the most part, the beaches will be operational. The only beach that remains off limits to the public is Mantoloking. The borough was home to a breach that split Ocean County's northern barrier island in half and was one of the hardest hit communities in New Jersey during the storm. So as you prepare to stick your toes in the sand, are you wondering what will be accessible after Sandy? Need to know how much it will cost to buy badges to your favorite beach? Curious …
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Cost of removing the homes will be reimbursed by FEMA
Toms River's program to demolish homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy is set to begin on Saturday morning in Ortley Beach, Mayor Thomas Kelaher announced. More than 100 homes are expected to be demolished through the township's Private Property Debris Removal Program. The removal of the homes will be reimbursed by FEMA, according to the township. "Our residents are eager to start the rebuilding process," Kelaher said in a statement. A $6,674,520 contract was awarded in March to Hudson Valley Environmental for the demolition. Demolition Saturday will begin in Ortley Beach at a Seagull Lane home and move on to homes on Beier and Nichols Avenue, according to Public Works Director Lou Amoruso. Once the first round of Ortley homes are removed, …
The state urges customers to consult the database before buying a car
The State Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) are urging all customers to consult their database of flood and salvage-titled vehicles before purchasing a car. That database now provides information on 31,000 such vehicles, the State MVC announced on Wednesday. It isn't illegal to sell vehicles with flood or salvaged titles. However, there are specific requirements that ensure potential purchasers are aware of the status of such vehicles, according to the MVC. “Damage sustained by vehicles must be disclosed to prospective buyers,” Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said. “We will hold car dealers accountable for violating our Consumer Fraud Act if they fail to make such disclosures.” The database was …
Friday, May 17, 2013
Home buyouts in areas prone to flooding expected to start soon, though participation remains voluntary.
Buyouts of properties in flood prone areas are expected to begin within a matter of weeks, beginning in Middlesex County and working south into the summer months as residents and their respective town officials make the difficult decision to abandon entire neighborhoods for good. Though buyout specifics have been limited, Bob Martin, commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, said between eight and 10 towns along the coast have inquired about participating in the State’s Blue Acres program, which purchases severe repetitive loss homes in flood areas and converts the land into open space. Martin said he wanted to be cautious about naming the municipalities that have inquired about the property buyouts as many have …
Hosted by NJTV at Monmouth University, the town hall featured panels in both New Jersey and New York with a range of experts and officials.
As needs have shifted so too has the conversation. Recovery remains underway in varying degrees following Hurricane Sandy's arrival on New Jersey's shores in late October. And while meeting immediate needs of storm survivors was a challenge at times, the direction was always clear: a return to some semblance of normalcy. Long term recovery, however, is a concept still up for debate. The only thing that's clear now is just how unclear it really all is. At Monmouth University Thursday night, a live panel comprised of experts and officials joined a second panel broadcast live from New York City to discuss the ongoing issues related to recovery following Sandy. Hosted by NJTV, the two-hour televised event called Superstorm Sandy: A Live Town…
Thursday, May 16, 2013
NJ Hope and Healing has had more than 14,000 face-to-face contacts since November as they help locals recover from the emotional impact of Superstorm Sandy
The mood has changed. A log from NJ Hope and Healing shows that people impacted by Hurricane Sandy have gone from feeling shocked, sad and tired with a loss of appetite to angry, hopeless and unable to make decisions. “People are having a natural reaction to abnormal circumstances,” said Carol Benevy, Project Lead for NJ Hope and Healing. NJ Hope and Healing is a project sponsored by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Disaster and Terrorism Branch, through a FEMA grant. In partnership with Barnabas Health Institute for Prevention, NJ Hope and Healing offers support to communities in the aftermath of Sandy. “We coordinate statewide efforts to help individuals and communities manage the emotional impact of the …
NJHOPELINE received approximately 300 calls in its first days
Although New Jersey has the second-lowest suicide rate in the nation, a new hotline has received approximately 300 calls since it was launched May 1, according to Philly.com. New Jersey’s suicide rate for people ages 35 to 64 increased 31 percent from 1999 to 2010, and as a result the New Jersey Department of Human Services spent $648,981 to create NJHOPELINE, Philly.com reported. Officials have expressed concerns of the emotional impact the stress related to damage and losses from Hurricane Sandy has had and will continue to have, according to Philly.com. Operated by University Behavioral HealthCare at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, the hotline only uses New Jersey-based trained volunteers and professional counselors. The …
County will apply for loan through CDBG to boost ratable base
Adoption of the county budget was once again postponed, as the county recently became aware of possible funding that could boost its ratable base, which was drastically cut due to Superstorm Sandy. The Ocean County Freeholders approved a resolution at its regular meeting Wednesday allowing the county to apply for funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Actually, it’s good news,” Freeholder Director John P. Kelly said. The funding would come from CDBG, separate from the grants the county receives annually through the program. The money is for communities whose ratable base diminished by more than 5 percent because of the superstorm, county Business Administrator Carl Block said. “We may be able to incorporate…
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
A Toms River family was forced to leave their Sandy-battered home and is now living in an RV parked in their driveway.
You can’t even imagine what it’s like to take a shower in your own home, she said while seated at a table that folds up for easy storage. When the new hot water heater was installed in her home and the bathroom made available for showers for the first time in six months, it’s things like that, she said, that make you appreciate what you’ve really got. Jennifer Russell’s life currently is very much about the small victories. Her family gets to eat dinner together every night. She’s been able to reconnect with friends from high school she hasn’t spoken to, in some cases, for more than two decades. And her parents’ home, despite having been gutted is on its way to being rebuilt. She remains hopeful, said her family remains hopeful, even after…
proud
2:06 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
During the last day I sadly watched the news reporting of the devastation in Oklahoma. Our hearts and prayers (if you do such a thing) should go out to these fellow Americans given their tragic circumstances. I must say that when I listened to our President,I felt no confidence in his assurance that the people of Oklahoma will get everything they need both in the long and short term. I did notice… more ›