Long Beach Island police departments encourage use of bike registration program

With warmer weather right around the corner, Long Beach Island police departments are promoting their free bike registration programs. The purpose of the program is to document an owner’s bicycle information in an effort to protect property as well as to assist law enforcement agencies in locating and returning lost, stolen or recovered bicycles to their owners.

Photo via mbcoudal
Summer is the perfect time to pedal around LBI.

“We really want people to be aware of it as a tool that’s going to help them if their bike gets lost and help us if we find the bike. We really want to be able to get these things back to their rightful owner,” said Sarah Collins, a patrolwoman at the Surf City Police Department, who has helped revamp the borough of Surf City’s registration program.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to obtain a registration form from their town’s police department or website. Upon completion of the form, the information will be added to the police database, and a registration sticker will be issued and affixed to the corresponding bicycle. Individual forms are required for each bike.

“As long as the bike is the same, the sticker is good, and we’ll keep it on file until they tell us they got rid of the bike,” said Collins. “Basically, if the bike is found by us, we take it into our possession, and if it has a sticker on it, we’re actually able to locate the owner and make sure that it gets back to them,” she added.

The registration also makes it easier for other law enforcement agents or individuals who happen upon the property to contact the correct borough. It works as a visual deterrent for bike theft as well, said Collins.

“Sometimes in the summer people’s bikes do go missing. Sometimes people pick them up by accident. Sometimes people just pick them up, and they’ll ride off with them and dump them elsewhere on the Island or down the street," she explained.

The registration program is especially helpful during the spring and summer months, when the Island is more densely populated with summer visitors. Bicycle theft is especially high during that time, said Beach Haven Police Chief Kevin Kohler.

“We have numerous bikes stolen every summer. We encourage everyone to lock their bikes up, but unfortunately some people don’t, and a lot of people at night would rather ride home instead of walk. It gets crazy down here,” he explained.

Bicycle owners are advised to keep their bikes locked up at all times, whether in town or at home, and even if left unattended for just a few minutes.

“We really don’t want people to leave their bike unattended because that’s when someone will walk by and pick it up and ride off with it. That’s usually where we see the issues,” Collins explained.

It is best to lock a bike to a sturdy, fixed object; beware of “sucker poles” that are loosely bolted down and can be easily removed. Locking the bike through the frame and the wheel is recommended.

To prevent the loss of accessories such as lights, baskets and bags, items should be removed when the bike is left alone. Owners are also encouraged to take pictures of their property and to stow away the photos along with a recording of their bike’s identifying information.

The Surf City Police Department has developed a form for individuals to document important identifying information specific to their bike, including brand, make, model and serial number. The form is for personal use only and can be found online or picked up at the department, at 813 Long Beach Blvd.

Every person riding a bicycle on a roadway is subject to the same rights and responsibilities as a motor vehicle driver. Bicyclists should obey all traffic signs and signals and ride on the right side of the road with traffic. Front and rear lights, as well as a noisemaker, are also recommended. Wear bright, visible clothing and a helmet. New Jersey state law requires anyone younger than 17 to wear a safety helmet when riding a bike, even as a passenger.

–Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Funding available to Superstorm Sandy-impacted residents who require a modular ramp

Funding is available through the N.J. Department of Human Services’ Division of Disability Services to replace, repair or build modular ramps for individuals who require one at their Superstorm Sandy-impacted primary residences. Funding for this project is provided by a $2.89 million Social Services Block Grant.

Photo via Norco Inc.
The ramps are designed to suit each home's needs.

The Sandy Relief Modular Ramp Program offers ramps that have no permanent footings, making them easy to install, remove and relocate as necessary. Design options are customized for each home and for each applicant’s needs. The ramps may be made of wood, aluminum, steel or fiberglass.

The program is considering applications from individuals with a ramp that was damaged due to the storm and needs to be repaired or replaced, is needed in a home or apartment because a person with a disability has permanently or temporarily relocated as a result of the storm, and/or is no longer useful because a home has to be elevated to comply with new building codes.

The DDS focuses on serving people who have become disabled as adults via a late-onset disability, whether through illness or injury. It is estimated that one in five people, about 1.75 million New Jerseyans, has a disability that may limit physical or cognitive function.

Program applicants must reside in New Jersey and have a permanent disability that necessitates a ramp. Applicants are required to show physician certification of a disability and need as well as proof of homeownership or written permission from a landlord. Proof of loss as a result of damage from Sandy and demonstration that all other sources of payment are unavailable or exhausted, including insurance, FEMA and Red Cross funds, are also mandatory.

To fill out an application, or for more information, call the DDS at 609-631-2450 and press 9.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach Haven proclaims 2014 year to support LBI volunteer emergency services

On Monday, March 10, the borough of Beach Haven proclaimed 2014 as the year to support the Long Beach Island volunteer emergency services, including Beach Haven, Surf City and Barnegat Light first aid squads, as well as Beach Haven, Ship Bottom, Surf City, High Point and Barnegat Light fire companies.

Photo via BHVFC
Members of the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co.
are always on-call to help residents in need.

The small group of dedicated volunteers, “who are needed to keep the people of Long Beach Island safe, and to attend fire and first aid emergencies,” answer 2,000 annual Island-wide service calls.

The agencies are in need of new members, 16 years of age and older, to hold essential positions. Firemen, emergency medical technicians, fire police and vehicle drivers as well as auxiliary members for help with fundraising and administrative support and vehicle and grounds maintenance are wanted.

“Whereas volunteers are needed to keep the strong tradition of volunteer services as a viable option, for a small contribution from a large number of committed individuals makes a significant impact,” the proclamation read. “Whereas volunteerism provides the necessary membership enrollment for these agencies to flourish, as well as the ability to meet response demands from residents when assistance is needed. Volunteerism also creates a sense of personal accomplishment to the volunteer by giving back to their community.”

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Garden Club of Long Beach Island receives horticultural award for Edith Duff Gwinn Garden

The Garden Club of Long Beach Island received a Community Greening Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for the Edith Duff Gwinn Garden, situated on the property of the Barnegat Light Museum. The garden was recognized as an outstanding public planting that improves the quality of life through horticulture. The garden club has maintained the local Eden since 1958.

Photo via GCLBI
Betty Frey attends the reception at
the Pennslvania governor's residence.

Beverly Reitinger, president of the garden club, and Betty Frey, co-chairwoman of the Edith Duff Gwinn Garden, attended a reception and accepted the award at the Pennsylvania governor’s residence in Harrisburg, Pa., in December. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett’s wife, First Lady Susan Corbett, presented the award.

“We were so excited that we were chosen for one of the awards given out from so many gardens in Pennsylvania and New Jersey,” said Frey. “It was Christmas time, and the residence was all decorated, and there was a wonderful reception with wonderful food.”

Members of PHS visited the Edith Duff Gwinn Garden in July to survey the property.

“We did not apply for the award; I presume someone told them about our wonderful garden,” said Frey.

The types of flowers and trees in the garden and the ease of walking through the vegetation as well as available water for the birds were just some of the PHS’ many noted observations, Frey explained.

“They even liked being able to sit at the picnic table where you can look out into the garden. It is quiet except for the singing birds,” she added.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Free tree seedlings available for Beach Haven residents and property owners

As part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign, free tree seedlings will be available to Beach Haven residents and property owners beginning Wednesday, March 26. The program, which helps communities replace trees damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy, is a joint effort among the Beach Haven Public Works Department; New Jersey State Forestry Services’ Community Forestry Program; State Forest Nursery; New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts; Sustainable Jersey; and the Arbor Day Foundation. The goal of the program is to distribute more than 500,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents during the course of the next five years.

Photo via BuyLBI
Many trees on Long Beach Island have been
destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

“It’s going to help replace a lot of landscape that was destroyed by Sandy,” said George Gilbert, superintendent of the Beach Haven Public Works Department. “There’s a limited amount of trees on the barrier island, as it is, and a lot of it did get wiped out. So this will help reestablish some plants.”

When appropriately planted and cared for, trees can add a positive feature to any community, Gilbert explained. They advance the image of a region, enhance property values, condense home cooling expenses, eliminate air contaminants and supply wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.

Beach Haven is expected to receive 1,000 seedlings, ranging in size from 2  to 7 feet high. The shipment should incorporate varying species, including bayberry, beach plum, black gum, chestnut oak, hackberry, loblolly pine, improved pitch pine, pitch pine, short leaf pine, swamp white oak, sycamore, tulip poplar, white ash, white oak and willow oak.

“I’m hoping to get at least 200 people interested so I don’t wind up with a pile of trees to plant myself,” Gilbert said with a laugh.

Residents will be able to pick up the seedlings, available on a first-come, first-served basis, at the borough emergency operation center, located at 420 Pelham Ave. Hours are Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., from Wednesday, March 26, through Thursday, April 17. Instructions on how to store, care for and plant the seedlings will be provided. The guide will also help individuals choose the correct spot for planting. To prevent the roots from drying out, residents are encouraged to plant the seedlings within two days after pickup.

To reserve seedlings, or for more information, contact the Beach Haven Public Works Department at 609-492-2525 or publicworks@beachhaven-nj.gov.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Ocean County’s free document shredding program to take effect April through October

Want to clear out paper clutter without exposing sensitive information and risking identity theft? The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders will kick off its free residential document shredding program at the Eagleswood Township municipal building on April 5 from noon to 5 p.m. The program will run through October. The work is being carried out by Autoshred of Toms River at no charge to the county.

“Under the direction of Freeholder Jim Lacey, our liaison to recycling, this program is not only popular with our residents but provides them a layer of safety against identity theft,” Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari said.

Photo via MerchantCircle
The truck has the capacity to hold 8,000 
pounds of paper shreds.

The program is only open to county residents, who can attend any open site. Commercial documents, x-rays, CDs, floppy disks, microfilm and file folders will not be accepted. The program is for all paper documents and paper forms only. Paperclips and staples do not have to be removed. Residents can bring six boxes or bags each day. No registration is required.

The shredding unit features an automatic feeding and dumping system, which eliminates the need for human contact with a resident’s documents, Lacey assured.

All collection dates will run the complete scheduled time or until the truck, which has the capacity to hold 8,000 pounds, is full.

The dates, times and locations of the program from April through June are: April 5, noon to 2 p.m., Eagleswood Township Municipal Complex, 146 Division St.; April 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Berkeley Township Recycling Center, 630 Pinewald Keswick Rd.; May 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Little Egg Harbor Township Community Center, 319 West Calabreeze Way; May 10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Plumsted Township, Lakeview Dr. by the pedestrian bridge; June 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jackson Township Rear Municipal Building Parking Lot, 95 West Veterans Highway; and June 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Seaside Heights Borough Recycling Center, Bay Boulevard and Sherman Avenue.

The program logistics for July through October are: July 19, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Ship Bottom Borough Hall, back parking lot, 1621 Long Beach Blvd.; July 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Toms River Township, Riverwood Park, 250 Riverwood Dr.; Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Manchester Township Public Works Yard, 1360 Route 70; Aug. 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brick Township Public works Yard, 836 Ridge Rd.; Aug. 16, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lacey Township Public Works Yard, 820 Municipal Lane; Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lakewood Township Public Works Yard, 1 America Ave.; Sept. 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Stafford Township, Southern Ocean County Recycling Center, 379 Haywood Rd.; Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Toms River Township, Riverwood Park, 250 Riverwood Dr.; Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lakehurst Borough Public Works Yard, 800 Myrtle St.; Oct. 4, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Point Pleasant Beach Public Works Yard, 301 Cooks Rd.; Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Beachwood Municipal Complex, 1600 Pinewald Rd.

For more information, contact the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management at 732-506-5047 or visit www.co.ocean.nj.us.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Zumbathon for Dawn Russo to be held at Surf City Firehouse

Photo via Wikipedia
The zumbathon is set to help raise money for
a local woman battling leukemia.

Dance, donate or just watch at the ALL for Dawn Zumbathon, led by freelance instructor Theresa Brown, on Saturday, March 22, from 11 a.m to noon. The event, held at the Ship Bottom Firehouse, located at 2006 Central Ave., will benefit Scojo’s Restaurant manager Dawn Russo, who was diagnosed with acute lymphomoblastic leukemia in October.

“Each and every event has been a great success. Dawn and her family are very appreciative,” said Mary Alice Basile, a long-time friend of Russo, who helped coordinate the fundraiser.

A suggested $10 donation is requested. Checks may be made payable to “David’s Dream and Believe for Dawn Russo.”

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach Haven Council introduces 2014 municipal budget, plans to pay Superstorm Sandy-related expenses

The Beach Haven Borough Council introduced the municipal budget for calendar year 2014 during its monthly meeting on Monday, March 10. The introduction is considered early compared to previous years; last year’s budget was not introduced until June due to a state holdup regarding a community development loan.

The total appropriation for this year is $11,470,515.10, an increase of $568,993.73 over 2013.

Photo via Caller
The borough of Beach Haven plans to begin making
payments for Superstorm Sandy-related expenses.

The average assessed value of a home in Beach Haven is $660,603. The local portion of the tax bill for this home will be $2,549.93, an increase of $264.24 over last year.

Normal operating expenses are, in most respects, lower than in recent budgets, at $176,003. Salaries and wages went up $56,000, about 1.4 percent. Debt service expenses went up $33,310, and insurance expenses went up $87,688.

“I think this is the first time in recent memory where insurance expenses haven’t been in the triple digits,” said Richard Crane, borough manager.

Despite the relatively low increases, this year’s budget is “rather unusual,” said Crane.

“We have spent a lot of time looking not just at this budget, but at the budgets of what the next couple of years are going to be,” he explained. “While I could have put blinders on and recommended to the council that we simply put together a normal budget and move ahead with business as normal, that would not have been a wise move because there is a great deal of money that we are going to be owing in the coming years.”

Nearly 16 months after Superstorm Sandy, it is essential for the town to begin paying off related expenses, starting this year, Crane explained. The town’s FEMA share and storm debt is $392,990.

Specific details regarding the proposed payments will be announced during the public hearing, set for Monday, April 14, at 7 p.m., at the borough emergency operations center, located at Pelham Avenue. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to ask questions and to gain a better understanding of the planned budget.

Contractors, residents and members of the general public interested in a proposed ordinance restricting construction vehicles from parking on public streets are invited to attend an open discussion with the council on Wednesday, March 19, at 1 p.m.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, Tuckerton Seaport support Rain Barrel Art and Top Ten Beaches projects

The Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and Tuckerton Seaport are among a number of individual sponsors for the 2014 Rain Barrel Art Project coordinated by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and Rutgers Water Resources Program. The project, which will showcase artists’ original designs celebrating the Jersey Shore using rain barrels as an innovative canvas, is a tie-in to the NJSGC’s and the Stockton College Coastal Research Center’s 2014 NJ Top Ten Beaches Project, which celebrates the Jersey Shore every year through an online vote for the state’s most popular beach destinations. The sponsorships help support the rain barrel project as well as other NJSGC education and outreach programs.

Photo via Plow Hearth
Rain barrels collect precious rainwater that can
be used to water gardens or indoor plants.

Dozens of New Jersey artists applied for a chance to paint the recycled containers, repurposed to catch and reuse rain water, and turn them into functional works of art. The artists were selected by a committee of representatives from Rutgers Water Resources, NJSGC and the Monmouth County Arts Council.

“Because we received such a high volume of applications, and so many designs were excellent and fit the criteria we set forth, in the end it was impossible to limit the selection to just 10 barrels. As a result, we were moved to add two additional barrels to the line-up that will be used as marketing and educational tools for this project and rain barrels in general,” Norma Wokas, the project’s artist group coordinator, said in a press release.

The barrels will be showcased at the 12th annual State of the Shore Media Event on Thursday, May 22, when the Top Ten beaches are also announced. The public will be invited to vote online for their favorite barrel for people’s choice after they are unveiled at the event. The barrels will then roll out on tour around the state throughout the summer for display at selected New Jersey beach communities and special events.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Free St. Patrick's Day event at Stockton College's Manahawkin Instructional Site

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Monday, March 17, with a special bagpipe presentation and lunch at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey’s Manahawkin Instructional Site, located at 712 East Bay Ave.

“The Times of Joy,” led by Richard O’Meara, an instructor in the college’s School of General Studies, will precede the event. The enactment is one man’s story of surviving the disastrous failure of Ireland’s potato crop in 1845. The crop failure in successive years is said to have been caused by late blight due to a water mold. The resulting famine left about 1 million people dead and forced an estimated 2 million people to emigrate to America and elsewhere.

The free public event celebrating Irish heritage begins at 11:30 a.m. 

Later in the week, on Wednesday, March 19, a "Bottoms Up for Colorectal Screening” workshop will be led by Raina Gazurian of AtlantiCare. The update on colorectal cancer screening is free and open to the public. The program begins at noon and includes lunch. To register, call 609-626-3883.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach Haven Historic Preservation Advisory Commission seeks federal funding for rehabilitation projects

During the Beach Haven Historic Preservation Advisory Commission’s more than 10 years of service, the group has managed to acquire local and state identification for Beach Haven’s historic homes. The HPAC, which monitors alterations and new construction of 384 properties in the Beach Haven historic district, has now made formal application for the district to be registered in the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. The registration enhances the ability of the district’s homeowners to receive funding for restoration of their properties. It involves no restrictions on what a homeowner may do to his or her property, which is controlled at the local level, explained June MacFarlane, one of HPAC’s seven commissioners.

Photo via Williams Cottage Inn
The Williams Cottage Inn, Located in Beach
Haven's historic district, is listed in the state
and national historic registers.

“Presently there’s no money at all, either in the federal government or the state government or the local government, to rehab any of these places. But in the future there will be,” said Jeanette Lloyd, chairwoman of HPAC. “A lot of these federal grants for restoration and rehabilitation you can’t get without a federal number. So we wanted to make sure that we gave the option to our people. Do they have to use it? No, but it will be there if they want to,” she explained.

In honor of the nomination, Sara Andre, a representative from the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office, presented a slideshow after HPAC’s monthly meeting, held Tuesday, Feb. 25. The slideshow explained the benefits of being listed on the two registers. A display of graphics from the application and explanations of the building details of certain sites was also shown.

The registration application was professionally prepared by Westfield Preservation Architects and Consultants of Haddon Heights and contains descriptions of each property, a specially created plot map of the district classifying each property, the borough history and a selection of pictures. The process, which included photography of the entire district, began in June 2011, but was delayed a year by Superstorm Sandy.

“We would have had this done a year and a half ago if Sandy hadn’t interfered, so this was backtracked and held up,” said Lloyd.

The district is somewhat smaller than the local historic district since its borders were decided by the state of New Jersey, said MacFarlane. The proposed National Historic District goes from Chatsworth Avenue to Fifth Street and from Atlantic Avenue to just before Bay Avenue. Veterans Bicentennial Park is considered the center of the historic district.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Ocean County police receive Narcan training to help prevent fatal drug overdoses

To help combat the growing number of fatal heroin overdoses within Ocean County, members of the area’s local police departments attended a hands-on Narcan training exercise, held at the Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center in Waretown. The county’s police departments are among a small number of the country’s law enforcement agencies that will be able to administer the nasal-spray heroin neutralizer.

“Up to this point, and until we actually implement it, we have to wait for paramedics, and it’s frustrating, as you can imagine. Now there’s an easier delivery system,” said Barnegat Township Police Sgt. Jason Carroll, who attended the two-hour training session on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Photo via Press of AC
A Narcan kit will soon be in every active
patrol vehicle in Ocean County.

Many people who call in to report an overdose and have drug paraphernalia on them are unaware that they are protected by law from being arrested. While taking time to hide the drug gear, they waste precious, life-saving moments, Carroll explained.

After the call has been made, police officers are usually the first on the scene of a drug overdose.

“It takes us a minute or two to get there, and then the person’s not breathing, but they still have a heartbeat. There’s a critical window there – two, four, maybe six minutes, tops – before their heart’s going to actually stop beating. So it just makes sense for us to have this,” said Carroll.

Kenneth Lavelle, medical director of Emergency Training and Consulting and an emergency room physician at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, both in Pennsylvania, led the officers through the training process, which included performing a patient evaluation and determining unresponsiveness as well as the absence of breathing and/or a pulse. Narcan will not help revive a person who is deceased and is not recommended for use on anyone younger than 12.

The antidote is administered through the nasal passages, with one milligram shot into each nostril.

“It looks like a syringe, and it’s got a little foam bumper on it,” Carroll explained. When the medication is administered, “hopefully the person will snap right out of it if they’re overdosing from heroin or some kind of opiate like a prescription drug,” he added.

Although there are no potentially dangerous or long-term side effects from the use of Narcan, it does not reverse bodily harm, such as brain or heart damage, from a drug overdose.

Photo via Press of AC
Kenneth Lavelle shows a Narcan applicator
during a training session for members of
the county's law enforcement agencies.

According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the county had 112 fatal overdoses last year, which was up from 53 in 2012. There have been 13 drug overdose deaths, 10 heroin-related, in 2014.

Thankfully there have not been any fatal overdoses this year in Barnegat Township, said Police Chief Arthur Drexler. The officers in his department are eager to have the antidote and are willing to help keep overdose deaths from occurring, he added.

“We’re in the business to save lives, whether it’s a serious car accident or a heart attack or a drug overdose,” said Drexler. “It’s part of our duty to save lives, and if it just means carrying a dose of this (Narcan) to expedite the process before paramedics get there, then that’s what we’re doing. We can’t just say, ‘Well, they’re drug addicts; it’s illegal to do,’ and turn a cold shoulder to it. We don’t differentiate between things like that. When we handle a serious car accident, we don’t look to see if the guy has a record. We just help people,” he explained.

Once the Narcan kits are received, Carroll expects to perform a 30-minute training for the rest of his department, which includes 46 officers. A small number of them are EMT-certified, which under law means they are unable to administer the drug. They will not be permitted to administer Narcan until waivers are issued, which, according to the prosecutor’s office, are expected soon.

The police departments do not know how many kits they will receive but were told they will have enough to supply every car on the road. Little Egg Harbor Township Police Chief Richard Buzby has asked for 11.

“I hope we don’t ever use that many, but I’m afraid that we’re going to use several,” he said. “I think it’s important to get this tool in the hands of our people and to try to begin saving lives because we’re in the middle of a very serious situation.”

Little Egg Harbor has had one fatal heroin overdose this year.

Little Egg Harbor Patrolmen Joel Mahr and Ed McNally attended the Narcan training on Friday, Feb. 28.

Some of the department’s officers have expressed concern about administering the medication since it is unusual for them to do, said Buzby.

“However, we’re dealing with a situation that is far from normal,” he added.

Each municipality is expected to write its own Narcan policy, based on the county sample. The prosecutor’s office is expected to pay for the police departments’ first round of the inhalant, which costs about $25 per dose, with drug forfeiture money. If needed, Buzby hopes to increase his department’s budget to pay for extra supplies. He anticipates federal funding will help pick up the tab if the program proves successful.

All those who live with a drug addict are encouraged to ask their doctor to write them a prescription for the opiate neutralizer.

“If it saves one person, to me that’s a success,” said Drexler. “If it eases the pain on the family a little bit, it’s really nice to be able to give the person a second chance, so to speak. Is it going to solve their addiction? No, not at all. But maybe somebody can reach out and help them survive, and maybe the family doesn’t have to go through that.”

“I think anything we can get into the hands of families that are going through this with a loved one is something that we should do as a society,” added Buzby.

He has praised Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato’s persistence to help diminish the county’s heroin crisis, such as increasing the public’s awareness of the problem and pushing for penalties against pushers and distributors to be based on the number of doses of an illegal substance, rather than on its total weight.

“Frankly, I think he’s the most proactive prosecutor in the state, and I’m thankful that he’s there because we’re in the middle of a mess, and we need somebody to help the region,” said Buzby. “It’s not Little Egg Harbor; it’s not Ocean County. It’s the entire region, and it’s nationwide.”

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach Haven School District plans for future education

If there’s one thing local organizations can take away from the unexpected divergence from everyday life following Superstorm Sandy, it’s that it’s always best to have a plan. The Beach Haven School District has invited staff members, parents, students, community leaders and other interested members of the general public to join together to help construct the school’s strategic plan, likely the first of its kind for the institution. The preparation is expected to help create a vision of the future and identify the goals and strategies necessary for the district to meet the challenges of the 21st century, including state and federal mandates.

Photo by Ryan Morrill
To better plan for the coming years, staff members
of the Beach Haven School meet with the public to
discuss the school's advantages and pitfalls.

“It’s not only about the school, but it’s about the future of education and how it’s going to be placed upon us,” said EvaMarie Raleigh, superintendent of the Beach Haven School.

During the first of the three planned meetings, held Monday, Feb. 3, participants identified the strengths and challenges of the district. The school’s small student body is both an asset and a disadvantage, said Raleigh.

“It’s a strength in that there’s a small student-to-staff ratio, but it’s tough when you’re doing collaboration with the students because it’s nice for them to have different partners at times,” she explained. “People have different skills working on different activities, so when your (school is) tiny, it’s kind of hard to do a lot of that because you’re always wo
rking with the same people. That’s a challenge, but it’s also a plus because it’s great that everyone knows every kid.”

Raleigh will present the complete findings to the committee during the next meeting, set for Tuesday, March 11, at 7 p.m., in the school’s art room. Participants will break into groups to work on the different ideas and help formulate long-term, five- to seven-year goals for the school, based on its defined strengths and challenges.

The last meeting, on Tuesday, April 8, will address the action plan for those specific goals.

“It’s dreaming big; it’s the future. It’s about now and moving forward,” said Raleigh. “It’s kind of something that you do, and then you visit it every year, and you tweak the plan. You take everything, and you look at what you’re good at, what the plans are. You kind of just put a road map down. You try to stick to it, but a lot of times you have to adjust it as the year goes by because you never know what might be on the horizon if you’re not thinking about it until it comes.”

Last year’s move to the Eagleswood Township Elementary School, following Sandy damage to the Beach Haven School, is a prime example of some of those unexpected deviations from the original plan, said Raleigh.

“You could never have planned for last year and then coming back here, but our goal is looking at our staff, looking at our curriculum, looking at our programs, even looking at our after-school activities,  anything that kind of comes up.”

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Local sea glass and natural gemstone jewelry offers positive vibes

Like most 20-year-olds juggling work and financial stability, Brie Fagan of Manahawkin found the sea glass and natural crystal and gemstone jewelry she loved to wear was simply out of her price range. But her thrifty nature and passion for all things handmade, fueled as a child by her grandmother’s

Photo by Dave Ambrose
Brie Fagan's beach-inspired jewelry mimics
the beauty and wonders of the ocean.

artistic flair, has beckoned her to begin crafting the jewelry herself. She opened her own Etsy shop in August, called The Wandering Gypsea, where she sells most of her wares.

Inspired by the beaches of Fagan’s hometown near Long Beach Island, the handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, rings, pendants, flower crowns and body jewelry offer a beautiful, coastal vibe perfect for any time of year. The accessories are made with mostly natural components, including sea glass from her father’s personal collection, found during scuba diving trips along the East Coast. Shark teeth obtained by local fishermen at Viking Village have also found their way into some of the handmade pieces.

Most of the jewelry also incorporates quartz crystals and gemstones mined from around the world, which are known to invoke spiritual energies. The crystals and stones are mostly purchased from other artists through Etsy, though Fagan recently acquired new inventory from Charmed in Company, located in Waretown.

Although Fagan did not initially believe crystals or gemstones could possess natural energies, she said she was introduced to the idea during a visit with friends in Asheville, N.C. Instead of flowers, many of the local residents offer healing stones as gifts, she explained.

Photo by Brie Fagan
A handmade flower crown is the perfect
accessory for a beach-side wedding.

“They’re so pretty, and I just think they make interesting jewelry,” said Fagan. “I can’t say, ‘Take this stone, and your life’s going to be better, and you’re going to feel sunshine and happiness.’ But I think it’s like someone’s lucky hat. It might not actually be lucky, but if you have that in your head, and you have that extra confidence wearing a crystal stone, I feel like it really does make a difference. It just makes you feel good. Even just the weight of some of them feels good; it feels right,” she explained.

Citrine quartz, which Fagan described as a stone of “manifestation, imagination and personal will,” is just one of the different stones she uses for her jewelry.

“Carrying the power of the sun, it’s warm, comforting and energizing,” she emphasized.

Rose quartz, “a very feminine and loving stone” offering compassion and peace, is another one of the artist’s favorites.

“If someone’s mother has passed, it gives them self-love,” she said.

Druzy quartz, comprised of tiny quartz crystals that form on or inside other stones, is said to dissipate negative thoughts and emotions and is used for calming purposes, Fagan explained.

Photo by Brie Fagan
Magnesium- and titanium-coated
druzy is fashionable and practical.

“It’s such a pretty color. It reminds me of the ocean,” she said. “It makes me want to go swimming. It’s just soothing.”

Two different stones can offer combined energy and help charge each other, she added.

Most of Fagan’s jewelry is wrapped with silver-coated wire, but she plans to introduce another line made with real silver. She is currently taking a silversmithing class at Michele Grady Designs Teaching Studio in Medford.

“The wire-wrapped jewelry is affordable for people my age who waitress and are making their own living but still want to have jewelry that’s pretty and beachy,” said Fagan. “That’s how the whole thing kind of started for me, so I want to have both for people who can afford to buy the stones set in silver, and for girls in high school who just want something pretty to wear that’s different.

“I really do like the wire-wrap, but there are some things that I definitely would never wire-wrap. Some stones are just so pretty, and they deserve to be set in silver,” she explained.

The unique jewelry has quickly caught on with Fagan’s friends and family and other local customers. It can now be found at Viking Outfitters in Barnegat Light as well as Retro Fitness and Extreme Tanning in Manahawkin.

Fagan also takes custom orders so customers can get “exactly what they want.” Found sea glass or stones can be sent in for jewelry with a personal touch.

“That way it’s not just a rock sitting in a drawer. Now it’s something you can wear every day. I prefer to do that sometimes because it means something to them,” said Fagan.

Anyone interested in purchasing jewelry through the local resident’s Etsy shop will receive a 15 percent discount on the order when using “SandPaper” as the coupon code.

–Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Ocean County Prosecutor's Office to discuss Internet safety with LBI students, parents

In conjunction with the Beach Haven Police Department, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit will lead an Internet safety seminar at the Beach Haven School, during school hours, on Tuesday, March 11. Members will be speaking with the Beach Haven and Ethel A. Jacobsen elementary school’s fifth- and sixth-grade students, regarding the do’s and don’ts of online activity, from “sexting, texting, Facebook and cyber bullying,” said Joseph Boehler, Beach Haven patrolman.

Photo via Wikispaces
Online safety is the focus of
the Beach Haven School's
student and parent seminar.

“I know we’ve had a few issues that relate to this, and that’s why I wanted to reach out to them (the prosecutor’s office) and see if they could come out here and just provide some information to everyone, so we can make it safer for all the kids out here,” he added.

Though Boehler could not give details about any specific issues, he said the seminar is a great way to educate students on overall Internet safety.

“It’s really a proactive approach to teaching the kids how to be safe and that what happens online isn’t just out there in space; it is real, and it can come back to bite you,” he said.

The schools’ parents have also been invited to attend the seminar, which will offer tips on how to more safely and effectively monitor a child’s online activity.

Unit members conduct many Internet safety lectures throughout the year for school-age children, professional and community groups, educators and administrators. This is likely the first for the local area.

–Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.