ORTLEY BEACH-After losing nearly 75% of the community’s dune and sand berm protection in this week’s passing nor’easter, the township announced replenishment efforts will begin on Thursday.
“Our Engineering Department says Cardinal Construction will be importing sand starting this Thursday to shore up the dunes in Ortley Beach and Normandy Beach,” the department said in a release.
by Toms River Township
TOMS RIVER-A “POW/MIA Chair of Honor” was dedicated today in a ceremony at Toms River Town Hall.
Mayor Thomas Kelaher, Bob Smyth from Congressman Tom MacArthur’s office, members of the Toms River Veterans Commission, American Legion Post 129 and Rolling Thunder NJ Chapter 2 were among those in attendance.
POW/MIA Chair of Honor Program is intended to support POW/MIAChairofHonor.org’s main mission by bringing daily reminders of the POW/MIA issue to towns across the nation. A POW/MIA chair in any location is to remain perpetually empty to help people remember that even though our soldiers are not here, there is still a space for them.
Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher stated, “This empty seat will serve as a constant reminder of all the sacrifices made for our country by soldiers who were held prisoner of war or were listed as Missing in Action and whose remains have not been recovered.”
Since World War I, more than 91,000 service members are unaccounted for. The chair and related items were donated by the Rolling Thunder NJ Chapter 2 and are now on display in the main lobby of Town Hall.
Once again, Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s MATES program wins the annual Ocean County Mock Trial Championship. The school also won in 2013 and finished 2nd in 2015.
The finals were held on Wednesday, January 18th at the Ocean County Courthouse.
https://twitter.com/MayorDucey/status/823194352751144960
Students at Brick Township High School raised money to help a student in need with a heart ailment. Sophomore Jacob Basilotto, 16, was born with a congenital heart defect, HLHS. He is currently on a waiting list for a heart transplant.
Mayor John Ducey thanked the school basketball program for their efforts.
If you would like to contribute, please email mgawronski@brickschools.org.
https://twitter.com/MayorDucey/status/822543739805634560
BERKELEY TWP-They saved South Seaside Park from the brunt of the Atlantic Ocean’s surge during Superstorm Sandy and the recent nor’easter that passed through the state Sunday and Monday were no match for them either.
The dune system in South Seaside Park did their job this week. They protected the coastal residents in this small oceanfront community between Seaside Park and Island Beach State Park.
While some areas, including Ortley beach suffered as much as 75% loss of their dune berm system during the storm, the South Seaside Park system fared well.
“Thanks to our public works, parks department and beach staff, I’m pleased our dune system once again provided protection for our residents in South Seaside Park,” said Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato.
BERKELEY-Berkeley Township, according to many published reports this week had nearly 3 inches of rain during the recent passing Nor’easter. It was the highest total rainfall amount of any town in New Jersey, according to the National Weather Service.
High winds brought down trees across the municipality over the two day storm, but today, Mayor Carmen Amato announced that by noon Monday, all of the roads had been cleared by township workers.
“As of noon, Monday we had some minor flooding in the back bay areas,” Amato said. “Three trees were knocked down and our parks and recreation department had quickly cleared them.”
Amato also thanked the township’s police officers, first responders and OEM services for their efforts during the storm.
by Chief Michael DiBella, LaceyPD
LACEY-On Tuesday evening, January 17, 2017, the Lacey Township Board of Education honored Police Officers Anthony Sarno and Christopher Meyler, along with Forked River Firefighter Edward Barker, Jr., for saving an elderly woman from her burning home November 25, 2016. During the Lacey School Board meeting, High School Principal Greg Brandis spoke about the incident and honored all three alumni for their actions, providing each with a certificate. Several officers from the Lacey Township Police Department, along with members of the Forked River Fire Department, Mayor Peter Curatolo and Committeeman Gary Quinn were present. Officer Sarno graduated in 2003, Officer Meyler in 2007, and Edward Barker, Jr in 2010.
The incident occurred on Friday, November 25, 2016, at 12:09 a.m. Officers Christopher Meyler, Anthony Sarno, and Julie Barcalow responded to the 1800 block of Serpentine Drive in Forked River, in regard to a fire alarm. The fire alarm notification was followed by a second call, from a neighbor reporting heavy smoke coming from the residence. Upon Officer Meyler’s arrival, he observed a large concentration of flames coming from the rear of the ranch-style home. Officer Meyler located two adult female occupants (visitors from Massachusetts), who advised that they were able to exit from the fire, however, the 81-year-old female homeowner was still inside. Officer Meyler soon discovered the woman was trapped inside the attached garage. Officer Meyler broke an exterior garage window and entered inside in an attempt to reach the homeowner. Officers Julie Barcalow, Anthony Sarno, and Scott Keefe arrived on scene to assist. Officer Sarno entered the garage, along with two Forked River Volunteer Firemen, Rob Anderson and Edward Barker, Jr. The four of them were able to successfully transfer the woman homeowner outside through the garage window. The homeowner, and the two female visitors from Massachusetts, ages 64 and 35, were transported to Community Medical Center for smoke inhalation. Officers Meyler and Sarno were also taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries.
In addition to Officers Anthony Sarno and Christopher Meyler, both Officers Julie Barcalow and Scott Keefe were recognized on December 9, 2016, by Chief Michael C. DiBella for their actions involving the November 25, 2016 fire. In addition, I would like to acknowledge that Forked River Firefighter Rob Anderson was as instrumental as all in saving the woman’s life. Furthermore, I need to acknowledge Forked River Fire Chief Raymond Brandmahl for his actions November 25, 2016.
I would like to thank the Lacey Township Board of Education for taking the time to honor the involved police officers and firefighters. Additionally, I would like to once again honor all of the involved police officers and firefighters who helped save this woman’s life back on November 25, 2016. In addition to our officers, our Emergency Services Personnel are truly an asset to Lacey Township and I thank them.
The below photos depict the certificates provided by the Lacey Township High School to Officers Anthony Sarno and Christopher Meyler.
LACEY-RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention (IFP)’s DART Prevention Coalition recently honored local individuals for their significant contributions in substance abuse prevention throughout Ocean County. Awards/Honorees include:
Township officials lauded the efforts of the Lacey Township Municipal Alliance, the department of recreation, the Lacey Township Police Department and the Lacey Township School District.
The IFP named Lacey Township a “Town of Excellence” in its efforts to curtail underage drinking and the use of illegal marijuana, drugs and tobacco, during the DART Prevention Coalition’s Year-End Celebration. Lacey Township was the only Municipality in New Jersey to receive this award in 2016.
The Lacey Township Police Department’s efforts have included but are not limited to the 5x Sticker-Shock program that was presented in all three of our local liquor stores on September 1st, 2016, including Spirits Unlimited, Lacey Liquors, and Jr’s Liquors.
The 5x campaign is premised on the research that kids are 5x more likely to develop an alcohol problem if they start drinking before the age of 15.
“Sticker Shock”, a component of the 5x campaign, is designed to reach adults who might purchase alcohol legally and provide it to minors.
During the Sticker Shock program, bright red stickers warning about the penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors were placed by school students on alcohol products, including beer and wine coolers, which might appeal to underage drinkers.
Additional efforts include Lieutenant Paul Sullivan, Jr., presenting the “Parents who Host Lose the Most” alcohol prevention campaign program during both the Lacey Township High School Freshman Orientation and the Lacey Township Middle School Back to School Night in 2016. The “Parents who Host Lose the Most” program is a public awareness program educating communities and parents about health and safety risks of serving alcohol at teenage parties. The program concentrates on celebratory times for youth, including, but not limited to, homecoming, prom and graduation and other times when underage drinking is prevalent. The program encourages parents and the community to send a unified message that teen alcohol consumption is unhealthy, unsafe and not acceptable.
Furthermore, Lacey Township Police was one of the first police department’s to supply a medicine drop-box in the lobby of police headquarters. The drop-box is used for the proper disposal of unwanted medications, however, does not include liquids or syringes. To date the Lacey Township Police Department has received and disposed of thousands of pounds of unwanted medications and will continue to do so into the future. The program is anonymous and no record will be made of individual identities related to the discarded medications. Residents simply need to respond to the Lacey Township Police Department, enter the main lobby, and drop the medications in the designated drop-box and leave. At no time do you need to check in with the Police Dispatch Center or speak with any officers. The Medicine drop-box is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
In 2017, Lacey Township will continue to focus on the above initiatives. In addition, the Lacey Township Police Department is in the initial stages of providing the “LEADS” program, also known as “Law Enforcement Against Drugs” to the school children of Lacey Township.
“I will continue to bring drug and alcohol prevention and education programs to our community,” said Lacey Township Police Chief Michael DiBella. “In addition, I would like to personally thank the DART Coalition, the Lacey Township Committee, the Lacey Township Board of Education, the Municipal Alliance, the members of the Lacey Township Police Department, and all other assisting agencies, for their support and dedication leading to this award.”
A news release has been published by the Township of Toms River. It reads:
The Township Department of Public Works and Engineering have been monitoring conditions at our beaches following last night’s nor’easter. Unfortunately, we estimate about 75 percent of our dunes were lost in this storm. Several walkovers were also damaged. Our Parks, Buildings and Grounds department has closed access points to the beaches in these locations. Fortunately, there were no breaches of ocean breaking through to the streets.
The Township has an emergency contract in place with Cardinal Construction to import sand as soon as possible. We hope to be moving sand in the next day or so, working first in Ortley Beach then moving to Normandy Beach. Mayor Kelaher has been in contact with the state Department of Environmental Protection to request some assistance from the state for this nor’easter.
Until the federal dune replenishment project begins this spring, the Township remains committed to protecting private property and businesses from storms and flooding.
photos provided by Toms River Township.
