Week in News: Boardwalk Repairs, Beach Replenishment, Bay Cleanup

Christie: 'Belmar Is Leading The Way To Recovery'

Belmar — Gov. Chris Christie and a host of elected officials stood amid a still recovering Ocean Avenue in Belmar Wednesday to kick off the rebuilding of the borough’s boardwalk 73 days after Hurricane Sandy.

Flanked by Mayor Matthew Doherty and U.S. Reps. Chris Smith and Frank Pallone, Christie gave a decidedly upbeat speech to a crowd of more than 200 assembled in front of a massive pile driver as construction on the $6.6 million boardwalk commenced.

Read more on Manasquan-Belmar Patch.

A Sign of Recovery, Bennett Bubble Reopens

Toms River — In the center of the complex student athletes mill about, waiting as they do between the lengthy delays typical to track and field meets. They’re unaware, as they should be, of one particular seam in the corner of the Toms River facility affectionately known as the Bennett Bubble. It’s darker than the others and stretches midway up the wall.

Those who understand the importance of the indoor athletic complex not only to the community and its businesses, but to the state’s young athletes, are likely to recognize this one seam, a bit darker than all the others, as a scar left by Hurricane Sandy.

Read more on Toms River Patch.

Seastreak Crash Sends Little Silver Woman to Hospital

Little Silver — Lauren Dwyer-Mihlon of Little Silver says that Wednesday was just like any other day of the work week as she rode the 8 a.m. Seastreak ferry out of Highlands, much as she has for the last two years.

As her commuter ferry neared Pier 11 in Downtown Manhattan, she began to move to the front of the boat as usual to have quick access to the exit and, hopefully, a cab to take her to her office in Midtown.

Read more on Little Silver-Oceanport Patch.

Mantoloking May Not Repopulate Until Summer

Mantoloking — Mantoloking, home of a 20-foot-deep inlet that formed after the ocean met Barnegat Bay during Superstorm Sandy, should have its utilities restored in February but may not repopulate until the summer, officials said.

The breach where the inlet formed has been repaired, Route 35 has been rebuilt and repairs to sewer lines have been completed, said Borough Engineer Lawrence Plevier.

Water system repairs have also been completed and the water is safe to drink, he said.

Read more on Brick Patch.

Pallone Says Beach Replenishment Could be Coming For Long Branch

Long Branch — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-6) said Long Branch and other coastal towns could have their beaches replenished in the near future, thanks to funding from the Hurricane Sandy aid bill.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure Friday afternoon allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to borrow $9.7 billion to pay insurance claims made by victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Congress is expected to vote on two additional bills authorizing more than $50 billion in Sandy aid on Jan. 15.

Read more on Long Branch-Eatontown Patch.

Super: 'We're Losing Kids' to Lacey's Drug Problem

Lacey — Approximately 67 percent of high school students participate in athletic activities, all who could potentially be subjected to a random drug test in the fall of 2013.

Twenty-five parents and school employees participated in a community forum Tuesday night on a random drug testing program that the district is considering implementing. The purpose of the meeting was to generate questions the administration will answer in a fact sheet posted on the district website.

Read more on Lacey Patch.

Rible: No Public Release Of Handgun Owners' Names

Jersey Shore — State Assemblyman David Rible says he wants to prevent the public release of handgun permit holders' personal information and plans to introduce a bill that would do just that, according to a release.

Rible, R-Monmouth, said Monday that he plans to introduce a bill barring from the public the names of New Jersey residents who hold a handgun permits after a New York newspaper published the names and addresses of tens of thousands of permit holders about two weeks ago.

Read more on Wall Patch.

Barnegat Bay Cleanup A State Priority, Freeholder Says

Jersey Shore — Getting Barnegat Bay cleaned up from Hurricane Sandy may take longer than Memorial Day, but the state and Gov. Christie have made it clear that getting it ready for tourist season is a priority, Ocean County officials said this week.

Freeholder Director John P. Kelly on Wednesday said he and County Administrator Carl Block had a conference call with DEP Commissioner Bob Martin and some of Martin's staff last Friday, and received assurances that the state sees the cleanup of the bay — including the removal of sand washed in from the ocean — as its responsibility.

Read more on Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch.

KaBoom Unlikely to Return Again This Summer

Red Bank — The prospect of seeing fireworks return to Red Bank this summer is grim. And it’s not necessarily because of what officials are saying, but rather what they’re not saying.

At Wednesday's council meeting, after giving the go-ahead to Flavour to host a two-day weekend event at the end of June, just a few days shy of the Fourth of July and Red Bank’s annual July 3rdfireworks show, Mayor Pat Menna said there have been no discussions whatsoever about bringing KaBoom! Fireworks on the Navesink back to the borough.

Read more on Red Bank-Shrewsbury Patch.

Christie Talks Sandy, Bipartisan Politics in State of the State Address

It’s been a consistent refrain from Gov. Chris Christie’s office following Hurricane Sandy’s landing on New Jersey’s shores. Make no mistake about it, he told the assembled crowd of lawmakers at the Statehouse Tuesday afternoon, New Jersey will be back.

As expected, much of Christie’s State of the State address focused on Sandy’s impact on New Jersey and the ongoing effort to restore the areas most devastated by the storm as quickly as possible.

Read more on Brick Patch.

Rumson's Permit Waiver Extended

Rumson — Rumson officials said they would do it and they have. They've extended the permit waiver for those rebuilding in Hurricane Sandy's wake from the end of 2012 to early this summer.

Now, residents seeking to replace what Sandy ravaged of their homes have until June 30 to rebuild existing structures that were destroyed without paying the normally associated permit fees.

Read more on Rumson-Fair Haven Patch.

Former Point Boro Council President Arrested in Alleged Assault on Man, Police Say

Point Pleasant Borough — Susan Rogers, the former Point Borough Council President who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2010, is facing a charge of simple assault for allegedly injuring a man in her home on River Road, police said.

Rogers, 44, was released on $1,000 bail, no 10 percent option, at the Borough Police Department on Bridge Avenue on Dec. 29, the day she was charged with one count of simple assault, said Captain Richard Larsen.

Read more on Point Pleasant Patch.

Trinity Hall Girls HS Names Head of School, Assistant Head of School

Middletown — Trinity Hall, the newly established all-girls high school starting up in Middletown's Croydon Hall campus this fall, has named Mary Mahon Sciarrillo as Head of School, and James Palmieri as Assistant Head of School. 

Both are currently employed at all-girls schools in New Jersey. Sciarrillo is the Upper School principal at the Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit and holds graduate degrees in nursing and educational leadership. She is also an alumna of Red Bank Catholic.

Read more on Middletown Patch.

Parents Plead Guilty In Heroin Death Of 11-Month-Old Teething Son

Ocean County — The parents of an 11-month-old boy pleaded guilty this week to administering heroin to their baby son, who died in September 2008.

The pleas ended a four-year investigation into the unexplained death of "Baby JM," Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said.

Denise Manco, 35, and Rondell Moore, 37, each pleaded guilty in Ocean County Superior Court before Judge Rochell Gizinski on Jan. 7 to one charge of second degree manslaughter in connection with the death of their infant son.

Read more on Berkeley Patch.