Community News

Chadwick Island Bridge to be Replaced

Originally built in the 1950s, the Chadwick Beach Island Bridge has served the residents of the island well providing access from their homes to Route 35. It even weathered Superstorm Sandy in October 2012.

But age has taken its toll on the timber span and Ocean County will now oversee a study to determine the best course of action for rehabilitating or replacing bridge located on the northern barrier island in Toms River Township. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Board of Trustees approved $325,000 in federal funds for the study at its March meeting.

Funding for the study is provided through the Local Concept Development Phase of the NJTPA’s Fiscal Year 2018 Local Capital Project Delivery Program. The Local Capital Project Delivery Program awards grants to NJTPA member counties and cities to investigate all aspects of a project, including environmental, right of way access, design and feasibility issues. The NJTPA Board approved a combined $2.76 million for studies in FY 2018 and FY 2019 at its March 13 meeting in Newark.

Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari extended his appreciation to the NJTPA for providing the funds for the study.

He noted the Chadwick Beach Island Bridge is used by many bicyclists and pedestrians especially in the summer months.

The two-lane bridge on Strickland Boulevard crosses the Barnegat Bay, connecting Chadwick Beach Island and its 300 homes to Route 35.

In 1985, new deck boards, pile caps and railings were installed. The timber bulkheads and load-bearing piles are deteriorating and need to be replaced. The bridge’s width and sidewalk do not meet current standards.

According to the NJTPA, Local Concept Development is the first phase of the Local Capital Project Delivery Program, which guides projects from initial concepts all the way to construction.

During the initial phase, the County will identify and compare reasonable alternatives and strategies and select a preferred alternative. Projects that complete this initial investigative work may be eligible for eventual construction with federal funds. More information on the program can be found at www.njtpa.org.

N.J.'s largest hospital chain and Aetna may split, spurring patient bills to soar

TRENTON — Aetna, the second-largest health insurance company in New Jersey, notified 45,000 policy holders this month that unless contract negotiations improve soon with the state’s largest hospital network, patients will have to pay a lot more to use these facilities. The two-year contract between RWJBarnabas Health and Aetna will expire April 22, according to the…

Five Best Baseball Movies to Usher in a New Season

This year’s baseball season officially kicks off April 2, but excitement is already in the air. The sport, of course, is as synonymous with America as apple pie and July 4th. The cracking of a baseball against a bat marks the impending season summer — and sunshine. Baseball teams carry with them a level of loyalty…

Should Kids Have a Sleepover at a Recovering Addict's Home?

A sleepover is a great opportunity for kids to bond with one another. It enables a child to practice good manners, learn social boundaries and — perhaps most important — make new friends. There are many reasons why a parent should say “yes” to sleepovers. But how should you respond if your child asks to sleep…

Officials Expect Low Turnout for Saturday's Trump MAGA March in Seaside Heights

SEASIDE HEIGHTS-County and local officials estimate only about 400 to 800 people will be attending this weekend’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) March being held on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights.  According to those officials, the rally could be a bust with a very low turnout.

Warm weather is expected with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 50’s to mid 60’s are expected.

Traffic in Seaside Heights is still limited to a single lane on the Route 37 bridge leading to the barrier island peninsula.  From the north, marchers can use Route 35.

The march starts a 1pm and ends at 5pm.

You can get more details about the event here.

 

 

Great Events in April at Jackson's Great Adventure

Opening Weekend ­­– April 1 & 2

Six Flags Great Adventure celebrates 2017’s opening weekend April 1 and 2. Guests can enjoy their favorite attractions such as Kingda Ka, El Toro, Nitro and Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom. On the Safari Off Road Adventure, guests can see the park’s three adorable baby giraffes for the first time. Xena, Charly and Eddie roam the Afrikka section with their mothers, weather permitting.

 

Spring Break – April 8 to 17

Six Flags Great Adventure welcomes guests for 10 consecutive days to celebrate Spring Break. Each day, extreme thrill seekers can enjoy their favorite world-class roller coasters, and junior thrill seekers can take a spin on more than two dozen family and kids rides. Plus, guests can journey through six continents of exotic animals on Safari Off Road Adventure, watch playful California sea lions swim in the SeaFari Theater and see small exotic animals up close on the Wild Walkway.

 

Easter Weekend presented by PEEPS® – Egg Hunt April 15

On Saturday, April 15, Six Flags hosts a special Easter Celebration giving guests the chance to search for eggs filled with PEEPS®. The morning event also includes onsite entertainment, games and giveaways. The first 250 guests (toddlers to age 12) to arrive by 9:30 a.m. receive a PEEPS® Egg Hunt Participant Wristband and up to three spectator wristbands for friends and family members to join in the celebration. All participants and spectators must have valid park admission and must be present at check-in to receive their event wristband. The event takes place at 10 a.m., prior to park opening.

 

Fast Tracks and Food Trucks Festival – April 22 & 23

Six Flags Great Adventure fuels foodies at this fourth annual festival. Guests can enjoy a variety of cuisines ranging from barbeque and tacos to hibachi and sliders, plus sweets including gourmet waffles and cupcakes. More than 15 trucks are available from 12 to 7 p.m., and several award-winning New Jersey wineries are also on hand from 1 to 5 p.m. The festival is included with theme park admission; food requires an additional fee and wine sampling requires a ticket and proof of age. Online discounted theme park tickets are available each day by using the promo code “TRUCK”.

 

Academic Adventures: Safari Off Road Education – April 18, 19, 25, & 26

Incorporating the Safari Off Road Adventure, Six Flags offers schools with students grades K through six a journey in learning. Experienced tour guides lead students through 1,200 animals from six continents on the 350-acre wildlife preserve. This program takes place on non-operating days when the theme park is not open and is limited to 400 students per day.

 

Academic Adventures: Biology Day – April 21

Six Flags is proud to bring biology students up close and personal with 1,200 large, exotic animals in the 350-acre wildlife preserve, and California sea lions, pygmy goats, Vietnamese potbellied pigs and more in the theme park. Experienced safari tour guides and animal care experts lead the day. This event takes place on exclusive education days when the theme park is only open for schools and educational groups.
General Park Information

For more information, guests can call 732/928-2000 or visit www.sixflags.com/greatadventure

Cattus Island Environmental Center Reopened Today

Press Release from Ocean County

TOMS RIVER – Ocean County officials celebrated the first days of spring with a grand reopening of the Cooper Environmental Center at Cattus Island County Park, here.

The Cooper Environmental Center which houses displays of wildlife and vegetation indigenous to the area and the Barnegat Bay watershed and provides a workshop area was flooded during Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012.

The work included installing all new windows and replacing all the outside siding with a fiber and cement product to eliminate the potential for mold. The tile and carpet that was once inside the building was replaced with an epoxy-based floor.

High pressure laminate walls were installed and all the heating units were relocated to the attic and the air conditioning was raised.

When enjoying the renovated center, visitors are now greeted with a host of new inside displays including an Interactive Habitat Tree, a large climb-in Osprey nest with informational touch screen, live viewing camera of Ospreys on the marsh, touch tank and live animal tanks, a kids’ corner with educational and interactive game books, owl identification show case display, a shell sorting and identification table, a Wentz microscope for scientific investigation and a living green wall.

In addition, the renovation work also included upgrading the facility to meet all Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. And, the center’s program room was expanded to accommodate larger groups.

Lois Schoeck, chairperson of the Cattus Island Advisory Council, extended the council’s appreciation to the park staff and the volunteers.

“The staff put their heart and soul into bringing this center back from the storm,” she said. “I deeply appreciate all they did to get us here today.”

Gavan General Contracting Inc., the original contractor for the environmental center, was also the contractor for the renovation.

Ocean County is anticipating federal funding reimbursement, in part, for the work, since the building was damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

“Now that the work is done, the building is once again the centerpiece for the park and as it stands now it is much more resilient and can withstand future storms,” Bartlett said.

Cattus Island County Park has been reopened since the storm with most of its trails cleared and repaired.
A celebratory open house for the center has also been planned from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 25. The event is free and open to the public.

Photo: Handout photo by Ocean County.