This Inspiring Story Brought to You by Grape-Nuts

'Oh Sandy' Anthology Uses Humor to Examine Seriousness of Historic Storm

A Matawan man with close ties to Union Beach was one of several Sandy survivors to be published in the collection titled "Oh Sandy: An Anthology of Humorous Stories for a Serious Cause."

Hurricane Sandy was no laughing matter for those people displaced from their flooded homes, for those throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of food after losing power or for those who lost their homes entirely.   However, they say laughter is the best medicine. "When you are gutting people's houses, you either start laughing or start crying and don't stop," said James Butler, a former Union Beach resident who continues to coach youth soccer there. "When you are dealing with tragedy there is at first shock and then you kind of move on to the gallows of humor." Each day after the storm, Butler, now a Matawan resident, visited Union Beach to help his parents, his childhood friends and his soccer players' families clean up and rebuild.  He …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

Hurricane Sandy

VIDEO: Sandy Victims Walk for Hope

An estimated crowd of about 1,000 walked in support of recovery in Union Beach Saturday.

Towns all along New Jersey's coast were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Boardwalks were pulled back into the sea by surging waves, homes were knocked off of their foundations and residents left homeless. Despite the disaster, there's still hope. In Union Beach Saturday, and estimated crowd of about 1,000 people walked through the Sandy-ravaged town to show their support for recovery and each other. With little notice about the event other than a posting online, word of mouth spread throughout the week, resulting in a large and somewhat unexpected turnout. Many of those walking count themselves among those left homeless or living in significantly damaged structures.  As long as there's hope, they said, they'll survive. 

•  5 Comments
• Videos (1)

Mobile Cabinet Brings Answers Directly to Residents

Mobile cabinets bring high-ranking officials with various state agencies to towns to answer questions posed by residents.

Questions. Answers. Between the two is an ever-growing divide for residents looking to rebuild after being devastated by Hurricane Sandy. At a mobile cabinet meeting in Union Beach Tuesday, state officials with various agencies and departments attempted to bridge the gap by offering residents the opportunity to ask them questions, face-to-face, and hear answers that have so often eluded them since the late October storm. The idea, developed by Gov. Chris Christie’s administration and an extension of the governor’s early promise to cut through red tape, calls on high-ranking officials to serve the public at a local level. Held in Union Beach Fire Hose Company 1’s meeting room, residents were able to take their numerous questions directly to…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

RBR Spreads Holiday Cheer to Displaced Union Beach Families

School community distributes proceeds of benefit drives at Union Beach Fire House

The Red Bank Regional community recently extended the Christmas spirit to more than 70 Union Beach families who had been displaced by superstorm Sandy. Struggling familes enjoyed a holiday dinner and presents Dec. 21 at the Union Beach Fire House, where representatives of RBR handed out holiday donations culled from a recent benefit drive. “This was wonderful, because I told my daughter that Christmas gifts were just not a priority this year," said Union Beach resident Jeanne Cavallo, who is temporarily living in an apartment while her family waits for electricity to be connected to the trailer they purchased after their home was damaged. RBR sought to lessen the burden of those in their school district displaced by Sandy and established a…

• Photos (2)

Hurricane Sandy

Union Beach Home, Iconic Image of Sandy's Destruction, Torn Down [VIDEO]

The yellow brick home along the Raritan Bay, known as the Princess Cottage, was torn down Friday morning.

The photo of the Princess Cottage carved nearly in half by surging flood waters has become one of the most enduring images from Hurricane Sandy.  Located along the Raritan Bay in Union Beach, the yellow brick home stood for 150 years before Sandy caused damage beyond repair. On Friday, Jon Zois and his family watched as the historic building was demolished, finishing the job the storm started.  It's not the way he wanted to make history, Zois said, but he believes that the image of the building, still standing even after being cut in half, stands as a symbol of New Jersey's resiliency in the face of disaster. Though the home is gone and along with it the associated history, Zois said his father, the owner of the property, plans on …

•  8 Comments
• Videos (1)

How to Help Union Beach Students

RBR's "Restore the Shore" is collecting musical instruments for Union Beach students who lost theirs during Superstorm Sandy.

When Red Bank Regional staff first ventured into Union Beach following Superstorm Sandy, they brought counselors to meet with families of the 108 students enrolled at the high school from the town for moral support. What they quickly realized, though, was what those displaced really needed was the basics: food, blankets and clothing. The school community quickly mobilized and have organized cleanup crews and a clothing and supply drive through the relief effort dubbed RBR Helps "Restore the Shore," and headed by teachers Andrew Forrest and Mandy Galante. Now they are asking for folks to dig through their attics and crawl spaces to donate musical instruments to replace those lost to Sandy. According to RBR Vocal teacher Kris Zook, the …

• Photos (2)