Hurricane Sandy

UPDATE: Crew Starting to Move House from Bay: Route 35 South Backed Up

A state DEP crew is starting to work on the house swept into the bay by Sandy

  If you can possibly avoid driving on Route 35 south through the Bay Head-Mantoloking area this morning, it would probably be a good idea. A crew is starting to work on a house that needs to be demolished and moved out of Barnegat Bay. Traffic continues to be heavy on the state highway and it's not yet known when it will clear up, Mantoloking police said on Thursday morning. "Two road jobs" and the state work on the house press are contributing to the congestion, police said. The state Department of Transportation is holding a press conference about the state's plan to begin dismantling a house that Superstorm Sandy flung into Barnegat Bay. A press release issued on Wednesday states: "Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner …

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Hurricane Sandy

Point Beach, Point Boro Get Fed Funds for Sandy-Struck Schools

US Dept. Ed. funds $1.25 million to districts in NJ

  Point Beach and Point Borough school districts are among the Sandy-impacted districts receiving funds through a $1.25 million grant from the US Department of Education, according to an announcement made Tuesday afternoon by the state Department of Education and the governor's office. Point Beach schools are receiving $16,001 and Point Borough is receiving $7,820, according to a prepared statement from the governor's office. The big winners are Keansburg receiving $322,527 and then Brick receiving $211,891 (see chart below). Based on the number of applicants, funds requested, and available funding, all districts received 45% of their requested eligible expenses, the statement says. "The state announced grant awards to assist school …

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Hurricane Sandy

State Insurance at Mobile Stop in Manasquan Today

Visit or call if dissatisfied with your private homeowners insurance company

  Those with homes damaged or flooded by Sandy who are finding their private homeowners insurance or flood insuranc carriers are not cooperating can visit state insurance department officials today in Manasquan or call them. "To continue assisting New Jerseyans who have suffered property loss as a result of Superstorm Sandy, the Christie Administration will host a mobile office at the municipal building in Manasquan on Tuesday, March 19, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to handle consumers’ questions and assist them in filing insurance claims related to damages caused by the storm," says a prepared statement from the state Department of Banking and Insurance. "The Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) senior staff and consumer …

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Hurricane Sandy

Friday Deadline for Point Beach Hazard Mitigation Grant Applications

Applications must go to town which submits to Ocean County

  Any Sandy-flooded residents in Point Beach who want to apply for a Hazard Mitigation Grant have to submit applications by Friday. The funding is to help residents afford the cost of elevating their homes to heights called for in the Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in December, said Lori Thompson, grants manager at T & M Associates, the town's engineering firm, at Tuesday night's Point Beach Council meeting. Friday is the deadline for residents and property owners in Point Beach to submit their applications to Thompson, who is accepting them for the town. The town then has a March 22 deadline to submit them to Ocean County. The county will submit applications to the state Office …

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Antrim School Competes in State Problem-Solving Competition

First time Antrim competing on state level of Future Problem Solvers competition

  A group of students from G. Harold Antrim Elementary School in Point Beach will compete in a problem-solving competition on March 16  at Montclair State University. The students are in fourth, fifth and sixth grades and this is the first time a group from a Point Beach school has advanced to the state level in the national program, said Glenn Paesano, whose son is among the competitors. For more information about the competition, click here.

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Point Beach Garnet Gull Vies for Title of Nation's Best H.S. Mascot

Point Beach is 1 of 5 NJ schools competing for nation's best high school mascot.

  Are you a Garnet Gull fan who would love to see the mascot and Point Pleasant Beach High School win a national contest? Then you better move fast because voting in the statewide round of a USA Today contest ends at 3 p.m. March 5. The Garnet Gull, the mascot for Point Beach High School, is one of five high school mascots in N.J., and one of 255 schools across the U.S., competing for the title of "Best High School Mascot" in a national contest. There are five high schools from each state and the District of Columbia up for the title of "Best High School Mascot" in a USA Today contest that began Monday. Anyone at least 13 years of age is eligible to vote as many times they like. Click here to vote for the Garnet Gull. First comes the state…

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State Urges Preparations for Major Coastal Storm to Impact New Jersey

Tonight's commute will be "treacherous," says state Police and Emergency Management

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, in coordination with the National Weather Service, is monitoring a major coastal storm expected to impact the state today and tomorrow.   State emergency management officials anticipate coastal flooding, high wind conditions, snow, sleet, and even blizzard conditions in the northeast corner of the state, according to a prepared statement from state Emergency Management.   The State Emergency Operations Center in West Trenton will be activated at 7 a.m. today, and will remain open as long as necessary to meet anticipated challenging conditions. "This is a dangerous storm; and we ask motorists to be careful while driving. There is also the potential for downed trees and wires because of wind …

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Lt. Gov. Offers Help to Point Beach Businesses

Grants and referrals for Sandy-battered businesses

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno liked it when Point Beach shop owner Marla Lengle walked up to greet her at her store, but she liked it even better when she walked away. That's because Lengle walked away to make a sale at her women's clothing store, Lola's Boutique, on Bay Avenue in Point Beach. "I have to go take money," said Lengle, rushing off, to ring up a customer waiting at the cash register. "Great, great," Guadagno said, laughing, as Lengle strode away. Helping businesses in Point Beach and throughout the Sandy-battered Jersey Shore to make money was at the crux of Guadagno's visit to the downtown shopping area on Tuesday afternoon. So every time customers came into the store, and especially when they ponied up for a new blouse, jacket or …

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Vince Barrella

11:37 am on Monday, January 21, 2013

I appreciate your views. I will be forming two committees at the next council meeting to consider flood mitigation and zoning changes in light of the new FEMA flood maps. When you examine the contents of this article, and then the direction and tenor of some of the anonymous posts, I hope people will understand why I post. For example, the suggestion that Chris Riehl would not tell the truth …   more ›

Route 88 Bridge to be Closed Mon. Night Until Tues. A.M.

Closure from 10 p.m. Mon. until 5 a.m. Tues.

  The Route 88 Bridge over the Point Pleasant Canal in Point Pleasant Borough is scheduled to be closed to traffic from 10 p.m. Monday through 5 a.m. Tuesday. The state Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is closing the bridge overnight to allow for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform necessary underwater work in the Canal at this location. A prepared statement from NJDOT says: "NJDOT will utilize variable message signs on Route 88 to alert motorists of the bridge closures and detour. The following detours will be in place during the closures: •        Route 88 eastbound motorists will take Beaver Dam Road (CR 630) to Bridge Avenue east over the Lovelandtown Bridge to Bay Avenue to Route 88 eastbound. •        Route 88 westbound …

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Point Beach Mayor Could Drop Earlier Bar Closings if Lawsuits Dropped First

Barrella said he'd be willing to pull ordinance if all lawsuits were first withdrawn

Point Beach Mayor Vincent Barrella said at Tuesday night's council meeting that he would be willing to repeal the proposed earlier bar closing ordinance if all lawsuits against that and the District 4 parking plan were first dropped. During his committee report, Barrella brought up the topic of the controversial earlier bar closing proposal that was temporarily "stayed" by the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and still being fought in litigation filed by Jenkinson's and Martell's. "If the lawsuits were dropped, I'd have no problem dropping the midnight bar closing ordinance," he said. "But you can't withdraw an ordinance while litigation is pending." He said after the meeting, "I was told that the bars have been trying to quiet…

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