Hurricane Sandy

Minutes From Seaside Heights, Sandy's Destruction Still Apparent

Buildings still in tatters, empty lots where homes once stood

The kick-off ceremonies may be taking place. But many are far from starting over at the Jersey Shore this Memorial Day weekend. As the Shore on Friday celebrated the rebirth of the Seaside Heights boardwalk following its destruction in Hurricane Sandy, the situation remained grim just minutes away on Ocean County's northern barrier island. In Mantoloking, the epicenter of a massive ocean breach during the Oct. 29, 2012 storm, homes remained off their foundations, awaiting the arrival of demolition crews. Oceanfront lots that once contained houses are empty, and the entire town remained exposed to Mother Nature with its duneline destroyed. In Brick Township, the charred remains of homes from the Camp Osborn neighborhood greeted motorists …

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DOT Postpones Route 35 Reconstruction

But state will work on drainage, pump stations during summer

  The state is postponing Route 35 reconstruction until after Labor Day, a welcome relief to local officials and business people who feared that the work would cause massive traffic delays all summer. "I'm very happy," said Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis. "This is more than enough of a change, even if they start the day after Labor Day." He and other Bay Head officials and business owners had also been concerned the state Department of Transportation (DOT) road work would kill parking spaces on Route 35, just as businesses are hoping a robust summer tourism season can help them recover from Superstorm Sandy. Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Vincent Barrella had more of a mixed reaction. "I'm pleased, but disappointed they didn't let me know," said …

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Lakewood Man Arrested in Point Boro Robbery

Held at Ocean County jail on $200,000 bail

  A Lakewood man has been arrested and charged in the April 8 armed robbery of the Walgreen's pharmacy, 1501 Richmond Ave. (Route 35 South), Point Pleasant Borough. John W. Praznic, 29, was arrested without incident on Friday April 26, in Lakewood by Point Pleasant Detectives Edward Miller and Joseph Hynes and Detective Lt. Adam Picca after an extensive investigation, according to Borough police. Praznic was charged with first degree armed robbery, third degree terroristic threats and third degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, police said in a prepared statement issued Monday morning. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail set by Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson.  Praznic's photo is from …

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UPDATE: Route 35 Bridge is Passable Again

But state DOT may be doing work again Thurs. or Fri.

  The Route 35 bridge, between Point Pleasant Beach and Brielle, is now passable again, but might be up again tomorrow. Contractors for the state Department of Transportation (DOT) have finished work for the day, but may need to do additional work Thursday, possibly even Friday, said Timothy Greeley, a DOT spokesperson. If there is more work to be done, necessitating keeping the bridge in the raised position, it will be done only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Greeley said. The bridge was kept in the raised position for hours earlier today, causing a major traffic-back up this morning. On Wednesday afternoon, Greeley, in response to Patch's questions about the bridge, wrote in an email: "Our guys are doing some maintenance testing of the Route…

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Point Boro Police Looking for Suspect in Walgreen's Robbery

Man demanded pills at drug store on Route 35 South Monday night

  A white, bearded man wearing a hooded sweatshirt is being sought by police in connection with robbing Walgreen's, Route 35, Point Borough, on Monday night, police said. At 5:53 p.m. Monday, police received a 911 call from a pharmacist at Walgreen's reporting that a man who had demanded oxycodone pills had just left the store, said Point Borough Police Captain Richard Larsen. The man had handed the pharmacist a note demanding pills and saying that he had a gun and the pharmacist then turned over the pain killers, Larsen said. He added that police are not disclosing the number of pills disbursed and that the pharmacist never saw a gun. The suspect was last seen leaving on foot. If apprehended, he will be charged with armed robbery and …

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Hurricane Sandy

$75.9 Million in Federal Aid to Rebuild Route 35

The funding will be used to rebuild 12 miles of Route 35 in Ocean County.

New Jersey will receive more than $75.9 million in federal funding to repair and reconstruct more than 12 miles of State Route 35 in Ocean County seriously damaged by Hurricane Sandy, U.S. Democratic Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez announced Friday.  The funding - exactly $75,935,520 - is provided by the Department of Transportation's Emergency Relief program, which is administered through the Federal Highway Administration. In New Jersey, the ER funding is used to rebuild and repair the State's infrastructure, which suffered road washouts, sign and signal damage, and also resulted in massive debris cleanup efforts. “Superstorm Sandy badly damaged highways and roads throughout New Jersey, and this federal funding will help us…

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UPDATE: Route 35 in Mantoloking is Re-opened

An ocean breach had forced a closure from Herbert Street to the Bay Head/Mantoloking border.

  Route 35, from Herbert Street to the Bay Head/Mantoloking border, is re-opened, according to the Mantoloking police department. That section of the state highway that had been compromised by an ocean breach in the wee hours of Thursday morning opened up around 11:05 or 11:10 a.m. today, police said. The Ocean County Road Department and the municipality's emergency contractor, RWV Land & Livestock, will haul sand all day from the state Department of Transportation site in Wall, according to the Mantoloking Office of Emergency Management's Facebook page. "Please use caution when driving around town as sections of East Avenue and Barnegat Lane are still covered with sand and debris," the Facebook post says. The town remains open to …

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Hurricane Sandy

UPDATE: Route 35 Will Be Completely Rebuilt, Christie Administration Says

The $215 million project, which will include installing a new and improved drainage system, is expected to be completed by the summer of 2015

Governor Christie announced Tuesday that Route 35, from Point Pleasant Beach to South Seaside Park in Berkeley, will be completely rebuilt. The $215 million project, which will include installing a new and improved drainage system, is expected to be completed by the summer of 2015. Funding will come from federal sources, Christie said. The governor announced the project at a press conference held with Ocean County officials at the Lavallette Fire Company building, a block away from the state highway that is the focus of the reconstruction project. The new highway will be 24 inches thick, including asphalt pavement and the stabilizing sub-base materials. The Christie administration said it will do its best to minimize summer disruptions, …

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36 Tickets, 7 Arrests in Mantoloking Since Route 35 Reopened

Several tickets for 'unwanted tourism,' officials say

Police in Mantoloking have issued 36 summonses and made seven arrests since the full reopening of Route 35 through the storm-damaged borough. Chris Nelson, special counsel for the borough's recovery effort, said at a borough council meeting Tuesday that the summonses include 12 issued for "unwanted tourism" and four for "scrapping." The borough is defining unwanted tourism as motorists stopping their vehicles to take pictures of the destruction from Superstorm Sandy. Scrapping refers to motorists who enter the borough to illegally take away pieces of scrap metal. "For the first time in my life, I saw a woman in her Mercedes driving 50 m.p.h. along Route 35 filming the length of the borough of Mantoloking," said Nelson. A 25 m.p.h. speed …

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William Hammski

6:01 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013

Resident > My response was to the SSH winter renter post to say it was not in SSH and not a winter renter. Two on the barrier island NOT IN SSH, and one west of Toms River. And TWO internet connections, Cablevision on the barrier and Comcast in the west. And NO connections in SSH.   more ›

Route 35 to Reopen in Mantoloking, With Limitations

Vehicles will be subject to random security checks

The stretch of Route 35 in Mantoloking will reopen to motorists Feb. 1 at 7:30 a.m. Since Superstorm Sandy struck, the portion of the state highway in the small borough has been closed off, even as others towns opened their sections of the roadway. Until Feb. 1, motorists will still need a borough resident pass to access the highway north of Herbert Street, the turnoff which leads to the Mantoloking Bridge in neighboring Brick Township. But traffic will be allowed 24 hours a day after the official reopening time. The reopening of the highway will come with some restrictions. Motorists will be prohibited from accessing side streets within Mantoloking, as well as the borough's beachfront. Likewise, motorists will be barred from parking on …

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proudnot2bliberal

9:32 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

anthony GTFU many of the homes in mantoloking have been in the family for generations I know of several friends who HAD homes in Matoloking for 3+gererations going back 40+ years. Get off you butt & gov assistance & you too can get a hoem & stop living in moms basement. Mantoloking was hit as hard as ortely was .Id say about 90%+ of the homes on the beach are gone. SO where is the town going to …   more ›