Neighbors protest 'noise situation' from tent affairs in Beach Haven's residential areas

The public seating area at Beach Haven’s monthly council meeting, held at the Emergency Operations Center Tuesday, Oct. 14, was filled by local residents who had come out to voice their dissatisfaction with the number of tent affairs being held throughout the area’s residential neighborhoods.

Most of the residents in attendance voiced their concern with the events being held at 101 Centre St., a former bed and breakfast that is often rented out for wedding parties. The issues, including noise, disruption and parking matters, are affecting the surrounding neighbors’ quality of life, many of them claimed.

Photo via Google
Quality of life is being compromised for some
living in the Queen City of Long Beach Island.

Julian Chang, president of the Ocean Reach Condominium Association, which is located directly across from the property in contention, said he had a petition signed by 11 condo owners “who do not like the weddings happening.”

“I understand that permits are given for that facility to have them, but there is a huge problem, a huge problem, that requires your attention, and that is to deal with the noise situation,” Chang said. “I could sit up here probably for an hour easily and tell you about some of the instances I’ve had.”

A town ordinance prohibits sound levels from reaching beyond 50 decibels between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., or 40 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., when measured in the center of the room where the complaint originates, as well as beyond 60 decibels between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and 50 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 p.m. when measured outside the location of where the noise is generated. However, Chang said that in some instances he has logged the noise at 90 decibels from his property.

Many residents agreed that the noise does not quiet down after the 10 p.m. restriction and often gets louder after the police have been called.

“The police have been wonderful, but it’s not the police’s job, and it’s not my job to manage the event,” said Chang’s wife, Kathy, who claimed the pictures in their home are “vibrating all night long” during these instances.

“The noise,” she said, “it’s deafening to the point where we can’t have a conversation; we’re sitting right next to each other. We cannot watch movies.

“We definitely have buyer’s remorse,” she added. “I’ve called the Realtor a few times and said, ‘I’m ready to sell again.’”

Alex Fazelat, who lives next door to 101 Centre, said that although the weddings were supposed to bring revenue into the community, he believes it has “just done the opposite.” Due to issues from next door, he said he has lost two weeks’ worth of revenue from potential renters. His renters, he said, “spend the entire week in Beach Haven and spend all their money here.” In comparison, he said, the people who show up next door for the affairs on the weekends spend just a part of those days in the area and “don’t spend any money.”

Fazelat asked the council to reconsider the law by limiting the allowable tent permits to four.

Beach Haven’s tent ordinance currently allows a limit of eight permits per site per year. Additional permits are limited to seven per site, which are granted upon written approval.

Fazelat also urged the council to enforce noise control and perhaps disallow live music.

The noise is also an issue during the loading and unloading of party equipment from trucks. This also creates a parking problem, many said.

Megan McGonigal, who lives a couple of houses away from 101 Centre, said her relatives have to park blocks away from her home if they visit. This is especially concerning for young children and older adults, others agreed.

“We’re a residential neighborhood, and we can’t enjoy our own homes,” McGonigal emphasized.

Bonnie Lenhard said she has been facing similar noise issues at her residence at 115 Fairview Ave. Although she and her husband have spoken with the neighbors and police on multiple occasions, she said, the issues have not been resolved.

Bob Schlabach of 122 Second St., who said he is fortunate to live far enough away from venues with music, claimed he knows the owners of 101 Centre. Calling them “reasonable people” who have “given to the community,” he said he believed the matters could be resolved between the troubled parties. He asked the council to speak with the business community, to see what kind of impact the business has had on the area.

Councilman James White said the council members have tried to contact Eduardo and Belen Flores, the owners at 101 Centre, “numerous times.” He said the council will present the public with a possible solution plan at the next council meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.

“We are going to take a firm look at this,” he said. “We hear it, we understand it and we sympathize with you, and we’re going to tell you that by the next meeting, there will be a proposal presented to the public on what we’re going to do. We have discussed it due to your letters.

“To me, the quality of life is the most important thing that we can deal with, and that’s what’s being hindered here,” he added. “It’s not just having weddings, or businesses, or anything like that. Your quality of life is affected. We found that out through law enforcement. We’re going to get back to you by next month, and we hope that you’re all back here and you’re satisfied with what the council came up with.”

After the meeting, Mayor Robert Keeler told The SandPaper that the council will have to discuss the issues with legal counsel to ensure its decisions are appropriate and in accordance with law.

“We’ve been wrestling with this for a while,” he said.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Officials plan to reconstruct Beach Haven Borough Hall with partial state funding

Beach Haven Borough Manager Richard Crane announced at the monthly town council meeting Oct. 14 that the borough’s Neighborhood Preservation Program grant application has received “tentative approval” from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The grant, funded through the state, would be used to reconstruct Beach Haven’s borough hall, which has been vacated since suffering 4 feet of floodwater damage from Superstorm Sandy.

“One of the reasons for us waiting is that we had the opportunity to possibly secure some funding to, rather than just slap it together and move back into the building itself, possibly look at tearing the old building down and building something much more modern and appropriate for what we currently do,” Crane explained.

Photos by Ryan Morrill
The building has been closed for two years due
to floodwater damage from Superstorm Sandy.

The application is expected to reach Gov. Christie’s office next.

“If, in fact, he does sign off on this project, we will be able to go ahead and start the architectural plans to be drawn up to create a new borough hall,” said Crane.

The grant would cover 25 percent of the actual construction costs; the remaining 75 percent would be paid by the town via a low-interest loan spaced out over 30 years. Construction would probably be in the $3 to $4 million range, Crane said.

“Stretching it out over 30 years is going to be very affordable, and I think everybody will be pleased with what we finally get,” he added. “... It’s not a done deal yet, but the fact that we made it through the economic development authority this morning with positive results, we can only keep our fingers crossed that the governor looks positively upon that, and we can move ahead on this project.”

It was also announced that the town received four bids on Sept. 17 for the reconstruction of some ocean top streets that were compromised by Sandy. The low bidder was Johnson/Baran Corp. at $87,332.41. The work is expected to begin within the next 30 days.

The town also finally received approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection to go out to bid for the town’s new water plant. Local officials had hoped to get the project started last spring, but it was put off during the summer season. Crane said the bids will be received within the next 30 days. The existing plant is expected to be torn down shortly thereafter.

An ordinance to add two locations with no-parking provisions, including within 50 feet of the west end of the paved portion on both sides of Fifth Street as well as west of Delaware Avenue on both sides of Sixth Street, was adopted.

A code amendment to increase the charge for certified copies of public records from $12 to $15 was passed on first reading. Another code amendment, which disallows drones on the beach between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., was also passed on introduction.

An ordinance amendment to limit the use of crawl space or basement sump pumps, foundation or footing drains to 12 hours on and 12 hours off was passed on first reading.

An ordinance amendment for a collector’s beach badge and gift box, for $50 and $2 respectively, was also passed on introduction. If adopted, the new badge, featuring a unique and limited design to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Beach Haven, would be introduced for the 2015 season. A new design would be implemented probably every few years, Lauren Liquori, deputy borough clerk, told The SandPaper.

During the meeting, Crane revealed the final lifeguard report, which included a total of 331 rescues, 236 first aid calls, 239 preventive measures and 73 EMS responses throughout the 2014 summer season.

It was also mentioned that the new lifeguard headquarters building will be boarded up during the off-season. Other preventive measures to secure the building and to avoid any storm damage or vandalism will be taken care of by members of the public works department.

Also during the meeting, Councilman James White encouraged residents to join officials at Veterans Bicentennial Park for a Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11, at 10:45 a.m. He also urged residents to “exercise their right to vote” on the Nov. 4th election day.

Councilwoman Nancy Taggart Davis encouraged residents to pick up a bundle of dune grass at 815 North Atlantic Ave. She said the town received a shipment of about 240 bundles, which is a total of 24,000 blades of grass – a lot of which still needs to be planted.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Lighthouse International Film Festival jury and audience award-winning shorts to screen in Beach Haven

“Free 2 Be Me” and “Down in Flames: The True Story of Tony ‘Volcano’ Valenci,” two award-winning shorts from the 2014 Lighthouse International Film Festival, will screen during “The Best of the Fest” in Beach Haven. The evening of film, presented by the Lighthouse International Film Society, will be held at Island Baptist Church, located at 215 Third St., on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m.

Photo via LIFS
The two winning films received recognition at
this year's Lighthouse International Film Festival. 

“Independent films are visual anthropology,” said Christine Rooney, managing director of LIFF. “They share a slice of life, a moment, a story that would otherwise be untold. That is why I love independent films.”

A warmhearted documentary that follows a devoted troupe of dancers with Down syndrome, “Free 2 Be Me” honors artistic expression by recognizing the influence of music and dance to transform lives. It was awarded the “Audience Award for Best Short” at the 2014 LIFF and continues to be shown at film festivals across the nation.

“Before this project, I didn’t know anyone with Down syndrome,” Jeannette Godoy, the film’s director, wrote on the movie’s website. “My husband and I were treated to a surprise performance by this troupe before my daughter’s ballet recital. Afterwards, I knew I had to tell their story, so I followed the Free 2 Be Me Dancers for an entire season.”

“Down in Flames,” directed by William Joseph Stribling, captures a different kind of journey as professional fire-breather Tony “Volcano” Valenci goes out on a quest to set a world record. Valenci plans to shock the world by attempting the impossible: breathing fire while skydiving. Through testimonials from Valenci’s friends and colleagues, including the world’s fastest knife thrower, his ex-wife and skydiving coaches, viewers piece together Valenci’s journey as he works to get his name in the record books. The film received the LIFF “Jury Award for Best Short.”

“I strive to make films that show people things they’ve never seen before. And so I’m proud to say that I’ve never seen a movie quite like ‘Down in Flames,’” Stribling said in a statement. “I’ve been ridiculously lucky to work with most of the same crew on all of my films; the ‘usual suspects,’ I’ve come to call my team. I don’t think any of us really knew what we were getting ourselves into when we set out to make this film with Tony and his cohorts. But by the time my cinematographer, Alex Gallitano, and I were wearing parachutes and sitting in a plane with no doors to get a shot of the skydiving scene, I think we both knew that we had something special on our hands.

“I say this a lot, but I truly believe that if my films are any good, it’s because I’ve been able to surround myself with people who are better at their jobs than I am at mine. And on this film, that was even more true than usual.”

Tickets to view these films at “The Best of the Fest” cost $5. Admission is free for LIFS members and children.

For more information, visit lighthousefilmfestival.org.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Tuckerton Lumber Company's $2,000 donation to the 18 Mile Association is 'personal'

To give back to Long Beach Island’s volunteer fire companies and emergency medical services, the Tuckerton Lumber Company donated $2,000 to the 18 Mile Association during the group’s monthly meeting held at the Ship Bottom firehouse on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The funds were raised by TLC’s “Donation Station/Loot in the Boot” campaign from June through September. TLC customers donated a little over $720, which the local business matched and raised.

Photo by Jack Reynolds
The Island fire companies helped put out a fire at
the TLC's Surf City location after Superstorm Sandy.

The benefit was “more than an awareness campaign, or even a fundraiser,” Elizabeth Harrigle, owner of TLC, said. It was a way for the local business to show its support for the Island’s volunteer organizations, which were instrumental in putting out a fire that occurred at the business’ Surf City location after Superstorm Sandy, which could have been “devastating.”

“For us, this is personal. ... I will never forget getting the call, or seeing every fire truck known to man in our yard,” said Harrigle. “Not only were they able to put out the fire quickly and minimize the damage, but the compassion and support that we got that day made me thankful (again) that I live and work in a small community. There are just no words that accurately describe that feeling.”

The association was very grateful for the gesture.

“We are greatly appreciative of their caring and generous donation,” Tom Medel, president of the 18 Mile Association and Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co. secretary, said. “It’s really great that a business wanted to step up and give back for something. We do stuff like that all the time to help people, and it’s really nice when people are overly appreciative. It’s really nice that they continue to be thankful for us.

“It’s been a year and a half (since the fire), so it’s nice to know that they still think of us even after some time’s gone by – that they still appreciate what the Island fire companies and first aid squads have done and do.”

Since the fire, Harrigle explained, TLC has come up with a range of “weird and wonderful ways” to “show how we feel,“ such as volunteering during the renovation of the Ship Bottom firehouse led by “Restaurant Impossible,” as well as donating 5 percent of a weekend sale and other events.

The “Donation Station/Loot in the Boot” campaign is expected to become an annual event.

“We believe that this event (and ones like it) are important because our emergency services are all volunteer,” Harrigle said. “The costs of equipment, vehicles, fuel and the average ‘call’ are probably something that people rarely think about, but they are already incredibly high and show no signs of decreasing.

“Our communities rely on them to be there for us, and we (TLC) have made a commitment to be there for them. If this campaign raises awareness of the costs that our emergency services face, or offsets the purchase of much needed equipment, we will be thrilled,” she added.

–Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Hikes, meteor shower watch this month at Bass River State Forest

Fall is the perfect time to discover the great outdoors. Nature enthusiasts interested in exploring the local environment can take advantage of the many upcoming events at Bass River State Forest.

Photo via Shutter Stock
Dogs are welcome are on the special hike, too.

Individuals are invited to bring their pooch on a 3- to 5-mile walk during the “Fido in the Forest” dog hike Saturday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. Participants are not required to bring a dog to join the walk.

Hikers will meet at the Bass River State Forest office, located at 762 Stage Road in Little Egg Harbor. The hike is limited to 15 people.

The “Wednesday Walk in the Woods” series will continue with a free, guided hike on the Batona Trail Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 9 a.m. The 9-mile hike will include mostly flat terrain. Upcoming “Walk in the Woods” dates are Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.

Participants are asked to bring their own lunch and water on all hikes, which are led by volunteer master naturalist Kathy Gardiner.

Individuals interested in a dark location to view the Orionid meteor shower can join volunteer astronomy guide Wayne Vogel at the Lake Absegami beach on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Bring a blanket or reclining chair and a flashlight. Telescopes and binoculars are not necessary.

To register for the events, or for more information, call 609-296-1114 or visit njparksandforest.org.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

LBI family finds purpose through daughter's 'miraculous journey'

“I can’t believe this, but it’s happening again.” Those were the words Brant Beach residents Brian and Rachael Tretola received from a teary-eyed doctor when they found out they were expecting a baby girl in July 2013. Exactly one year before, the family had lost their first child, Jameson, to hydrops fetalis, a rare and deadly disease that, according to the National Institute of Health, occurs when abnormal amounts of fluid build up in two or more body areas of a fetus or newborn. Jameson passed away after 5½ months in utero.

Photo via Corinne Ruff
Brian and Rachael Tretola stroll their
daughter Harper,now almost 1 year old,
along the Causeway Bridge to LBI.

Despite the less than 1 percent chance of this happening again, the family’s second child, Harper, was facing the same fate. Through the ultrasound, fluid could be seen in multiple compartments of her body, including the lungs, heart, skull and skin tissues.

With only eight documented cases in the world of this ever occurring in consecutive pregnancies, the Tretolas were told Harper had a zero percent chance of survival.

But beating all odds, Harper, who is now almost 1 year old, crossed the Manahawkin Bay Bridge with her family in September as the fifth annual Causeway Bridge Walk’s designated “Hero.”

“We are now the ninth documented case in the world,” Brian Tretola told the crowd during the opening speech, held just before the start of the event.

“We all have a story. Although different, we all have one; and our story comes from our own personal journeys,” he said, fighting back tears. “Harper’s story comes from truly a miraculous journey, which has changed my family, and hopefully others, forever. ... If I can leave you with anything today, please know that God is real, and miracles do happen.”

Despite the devastating odds, the Tretolas fought long and hard for Harper’s life. Throughout the process, it was proven time and again that she is a survivor.

“We could have pulled the plug and took her off life support and let her pass. But we said, ‘As long as she’s fighting, we’re fighting,’” Brian told The SandPaper. “God kept revealing more and more things to us to just trust and believe without doubt. And here she is.

Photo by Brian Tretola
While in the NICU, Harper's body
continued to fill up with fluid.

“It’s hard to believe in something we don’t see. I get that, believe me. We’re all used to using our five senses; we’re human. But we did see it. There are no coincidences here – none, zero.”

Their only hope, the Tretolas were told, was at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. To help drain the fluid from around Harper’s lungs, which was quickly approaching her heart, doctors surgically placed two shunts in each side of her chest in utero. Harper was delivered via an emergency Cesarean section after one of the shunts slipped out and fluid again began filling up her body. She was born two months prematurely on Oct. 18, 2013.

“As Rachael was literally lying on the delivery table, one of the neonatologists came up to me and said very softly, ‘We’re going to try our best to stabilize your daughter. However, we don’t know if we’re going to be able to,’’’ Brian remembered.

Harper was immediately rushed into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and stabilized, but was sicker than anyone could have imagined. She was diagnosed with an absent thoracic duct, the main lymphatic pathway in the body.

“This is so extremely rare that we were told that there isn’t another Harper in the world to compare her to, and due to the lymphatic malformation, she could never eat nor thrive,” Brian said. “… As mind-blowing as it is, still in this day and age, there are still some things medically that cannot be treated, fixed or explained, and our daughter is one of them.”

When asked if there was any other place in the country or even the world to get Harper help, doctors simply said, “No.”

Photo via Brian Tretola
Harper is finally home with her parents.

“They looked right at us, and they said, ‘We are so sorry, but we are here. This is it,’” Brian remembered. “… The CHOP NICU deals with the sickest of the sick, or the worst of the worst. Their motto is ‘Hope lives here,’ so talk about feeling hopeless.

“It’s indescribable how those months were in the NICU,” he said. “We were told early on from our doctors that the NICU isn’t really day by day. At times it’s moment by moment. And our daughter was in fact one of, if not the sickest, babies in the NICU for a long period of time. It’s a battlefield.

“The hardest thing is it’s all babies; it’s not adults. It’s precious lives that are just born, that are struggling to fight,” he added. “Some of the babies are just so resilient, and they just fight through everything. What we witnessed Harper go through, I have to admit I couldn’t have gone through a quarter of what she went through. It was beyond anything I could ever imagine and really explain, just because it was that traumatic. There really is no other word to explain what we witnessed.”

While in the NICU, Harper coded three times, which meant her heart rate dropped to a level where doctors did not think she was going to make it. At times, her body retained IV nutrients, causing the fluid to overtake her body. Due to the amount of pain medications she was on, she even went through severe withdrawal.

“I cannot speak enough about what the neonatologists, nurses and doctors did to keep Harper stabilized and moving forward,” Brian said. “We are forever indebted to them; we love them like they are our family. But they didn’t do anything to treat her diagnosis or fix it because there wasn’t anything they could do.”

‘Crying out to God’

Unable to bear the heavy burden anymore, the Tretolas gave it up to God, “trusting and believing without doubt” that he would do what the doctors were saying was impossible: heal Harper.

It was then Harper started to turn an “impossible corner,” and the “miracle began to manifest.” After 5½ months of being on life support, she began to breathe on her own and tolerate feeds.

“The fluid began to disappear out of her body, just as we prayed that it would,” said Brian. “Along our nine-month journey at CHOP, God showed us numerous – and I mean numerous – signs that only he could do, assuring us that he was in this with us and to just trust him. So we stepped out with faith and did exactly that.”

After a particularly hard night, Brian said, he walked around the city, crying out to God and asking him for a sign that proved he was still “in this with us.” The following morning, a family member who was drawn to watching an episode of the “Today Show,” which featured Gloria Gaynor singing “I Will Survive,” noticed pink, “Pray For Harper” signs displayed in the crowd.

“I asked for a sign and literally got one,” Brian said of the instance.

While living at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, weeks after Harper was born, Brian received a picture from a friend on Long Beach Island that captured a beam of sunlight surrounding the Tretolas’ home. A similar instance occurred during Jameson’s funeral, surrounding his grave during a very overcast day the year before.

In the hospital, people even came up to the Tretolas to tell them that God was saying their daughter was going to be OK. One man, described as having tattoos all over his body, including his face, eyebrows and forehead, told Brian he needed to continue encouraging Harper to keep fighting. Lifting up his shirt, the man explained he had been shot 13 times and two of the bullets were still lodged in his chest. Although he had been pronounced dead on the scene, he said, his family continued to pray over him.

“He said, ‘When you stop believing, and when you stop telling her to fight, she will die.’ I asked him what his name was, and he said, ‘My name is Blessing.’ And he walked out, and I never saw him again,” Brian said through tears.

After that moment, Brian said, he focused on Harper’s eyes.

“Her big, beautiful brown eyes told us she was OK,” he remembered.

Meant to ‘give people hope’

Harper was discharged on July 14, about two months before the Bridge Walk. Her family said she is doing “amazingly well.”

“She’s surprising everyone, including our doctors,” said Brian. “My wife and I, we truly, truly know in our hearts that she was healed miraculously by God.

“We’ve been in the gray area for years, and we still are. They have no other explanation for it. And we know that it’s a miracle, that it’s to give people hope when they feel like they don’t have any.

“Our life has changed in so many ways,” he added. “Living through what we did with Harper, and what God has shown us through this journey, has changed our lives forever. For us to share Harper’s story with others I know now is our purpose of life. I always knew – and this is the truth, and I’m getting choked up – I always knew I was meant for something more. And this is a very personal thing. It was never to be rich, it was never to be famous, it was never even to be the chief of police where I work, or anything. I just never knew what it was. And now, after going through our journey with Harper, I know what it is now. And that’s to share the miracle of her.

“Our message is that we took a step of faith, when we were given a zero percent chance of our baby surviving,” he said. “It was at that point where I and my wife and my family literally couldn’t bear the burden anymore, and we took that step of faith, and we trusted, and we said, ‘Lord, this is now your burden to bear. We believe and trust in you without a doubt that you’re going to heal our baby.’ Once we did that, I could not be more sure of anything in my life; that’s when Harper turned a corner.

“Our message is that God is real, and his word is real, and he heals.”

Throughout the time in the NICU, Brian documented Harper’s progress with about 300 entries on CaringBridge, an online forum for people facing various medical conditions. The site allows family members and friends to receive private information and updates. To read the full entries, visit caringbridge.org/visit/harperpeliahtretola.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Discover Jersey Arts Quest leads participants on arts-based scavenger hunt throughout state

In conjunction with National Arts and Humanities Month, Gov. Christie has again officially proclaimed October as Discover Jersey Arts Month. The designation, supported by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, honors the importance of the arts culture in the Garden State, including the economic, educational and civic engagement values that the arts convey.

Photo via Jersey Arts
The Quest incorporates
29 different destinations.

“Governor Christie’s proclamation does more than merely acknowledge the arts in New Jersey,” Ann Marie Miller, executive director of ArtPride, stated in a release. “The declaration outlines how vital the arts are to our towns and cities; the unique role the arts play in the lives of our families, our communities and our state; and how the benefits of the arts reach every resident of the state.

“The arts enhance and enrich all of our lives and affect every aspect of those lives,” she added. “From helping our children excel in school to creating economic vitality, driving job creation to advancing creative problem-solving, the arts create healthy, thriving societies.”

Citizens are encouraged to join the month-long celebration by taking part in the different aspects of the arts offered throughout the state. A mobile-based scavenger hunt known as the Discover Jersey Arts Quest, implemented by ArtPride in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, sends participants across New Jersey to discover 29 different arts destinations, spread out over the 7,787 square miles of the state. Each site features a QR code that participants scan to “capture” the location through a mobile app. Whoever captures the most locations in the Quest will receive a $150 gift certificate to the participating arts venue of his or her choice.

“We were looking for a new way to celebrate October’s designation as Discover Jersey Arts Month,” said Jim Atkinson, director of programs and services for ArtPride. “A mobile-based scavenger hunt seemed like a fun way to get people out and discovering the riches our cultural community has to offer.”

Although the quest is free, Nick Paleologos, executive director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, said participants will certainly be interested in sticking around during visits.

“You won’t receive extra points for buying a ticket, but we’re sure that once you uncover some of these treasures, you’re going to want to come back,” he said.

“From sculpture gardens to glass museums, modern dance to classic ballet and Mozart to hip-hop, the Garden State has it all,” Miller added. “You don’t have to go far to find great arts in New Jersey.”

To download the Quest app, visit jerseyarts.com/quest.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Ocean County College receives Military Friendly School recognition again

Ocean County College has been named a 2015 Military Friendly School by Victory Media, a service-disabled, veteran-owned business that has been serving the military community since 2001. The local school, which supports veterans, active duty personnel and their families, received the honor last year as well.

Photo via Ocean County College
The school offers assistance to military members.

The designation is given to the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools across the United States that are “doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation,” a release states.

According to the report, Military Friendly provides service members with transparent, data-driven ratings about post-military education and career prospects. The designation process includes extensive research and a data-driven survey of nationwide schools approved for Post-9/11 GI Bill funding. The survey incorporates over 50 leading practices in supporting military students and is available for free to the more than 8,000 post-secondary schools approved for funding.

“The methodology used for making the Military Friendly Schools list has changed the student veteran landscape to one much more transparent, and has played a significant role over the past six years in capturing and advancing best practices to support military students across the country,” the release states.

Ocean County, which includes part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is home to the biggest veterans population in New Jersey. The joint base spans more than 20 miles from east to west and 42,000 contiguous acres across Ocean and Burlington counties, the two largest in New Jersey.

OCC’s Financial Aid Office helps military students and their families access educational funding with the particular benefits offered by each division of service.

Veterans, active-duty military members and dependents of deceased or disabled veterans may qualify for monthly educational assistance from the Veterans Administration while enrolled at OCC.

For more information, visit ocean.edu or call Robert Mather, OCC veterans coordinator, at 732-255-0400, extension 2330.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Long Beach Island firefighters teach students about fire safety

Photo by Jack Reynolds
Students use a fire hose to put out a
replica of a burning building.

In honor of Fire Prevention Week, the Surf City Volunteer Fire Co. and Emergency Medical Services hosted Fire Prevention Day at the Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School in Surf City on Oct. 7. The annual event is dedicated to teaching students the importance of working fire alarms, which can help save lives during fire emergencies. 

Mike Wolfschmidt, assistant fire chief, said free smoke detectors are available for anyone who cannot afford them.

Firefighters from the Surf City and Barnegat Light companies helped students manage a hose and extinguish a replica of a burning building. Harvey Cedars and Beach Haven fire companies showed off their ladder and water rescue trucks. One firefighter dressed in full gear to help students recognize a rescuer in such a scenario.

The Barnegat Light First Aid Squad also brought over an ambulance for the students check out.

–Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Long Beach Island resident competes for Denny's dish in TNT's 'On The Menu'

Passionate home cook Annette Palermo is heating things up in the professional kitchen. The Long Beach Township resident has taken her skills to national television and will star in the upcoming episode of TNT’s “On The Menu” Friday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. A new, revolutionary competition cooking show, which gives viewers the opportunity to taste the winning dish after every episode, it challenges competitors to create a new signature dish for well-known national restaurants. In Friday’s episode, Palermo, a mother and former Marine, takes part in a challenge with four other chefs to create a new breakfast dish for Denny’s.

Photo via TNTHome cook Annette Palermo talks food with Chef
Emeril Lagasse during an episode of ‘On the Menu.’

“My experience on ‘On The Menu’ was surreal, life-changing and simply awesome,” said Palermo. “It’s mind-blowing to go from being a fan of and only watching cooking shows to actually being on one. Overall it has given me the push I needed to pursue my passion for cooking in order to take it to the next level.”

“On the Menu” is hosted by Ty Pennington of “Trading Spaces” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” who leads competitors through different rounds of elimination challenges. Using his vast knowledge of cooking, branding and sales to help the contestants form their culinary creations, celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse offers his expertise as a seasoned chef and industry insider.

“Working with Chef Emeril Lagasse was a dream come true,” Palermo said. “To receive validation, guidance and mentoring from someone so accomplished is incredible. It was nice to be able to work with someone who has the same amount of passion for good food that I do and then to have him eat my food, excitingly nerve wracking.

“Ty Pennington kept me laughing the whole time, which is great in stressful situations. He is a perfect complement to Chef Emeril, like olive oil is to garlic,” she added.

Eateries participating in the show cover a wide variety of cuisines from traditional barbecue to modern fusion. The lineup for the rest of season 1 includes California Pizza Kitchen, Planet Hollywood, Emeril’s Restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory, Cabo Wabo/Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill, Outback Steakhouse, Buca di Beppo and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit.

For more information about the show, visit tntdrama.com/shows/on-the-menu.html.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

2014 Chowderfest includes 'Clamiccon' costume contest

The 26th annual Chowderfest in Beach Haven will honor the global comic book fan convention, Comiccon, by turning the Long Beach Island event into “Clamiccon.” Aside from a comic book-themed booth decoration contest, this year’s soup and shopping festival, to be held during the weekend of Oct. 4 and 5 at Panzone Park, located at Taylor Ave. and Ninth St., will feature a "Clamiccon" costume contest. The winner will receive a family-four pack to Frightfest at Six Flags Great Adventure. Interested participants can sign up on site Sunday, Oct. 5, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Photo via Twitter
This year's theme centers on Comiccon.

The festival will begin with Merchants Mart on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event features an end-of-season shopping blowout by dozens of local businesses. Live music, costumed characters and locally made specialty foods and beverages will also be offered.

The Chowderfest Cook Off Classic will take place on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., when local restaurants compete for best red and white chowders. Each restaurant will make 250 gallons of chowder, so all festival-goers can taste enough of the soup to cast their vote for the grand champions.

Those competing for best New England clam chowder include Arcadia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Allen's Clam Bar, The Chicken Or the Egg, Howard’s Restaurant, Phillips Seafood, Resorts Casino Hotel, Stockton Seaview Hotel and TGI Friday’s Manahawkin. The Black Whale Bar and Fish House, Cuisine on the Green, Lefty’s Tavern, Sea Oaks Country Club, Stefano’s Seafood and Pasta, Shore Fire Grille and Southern Smoke Cajun and Caribbean BBQ will compete for best Manhattan clam chowder.

Local music by Hawkins Road will be performed throughout the event. Specialty items to commemorate the day will also be available at the merchandise tent.

“The excitement of the 26th Chowderfest is testimony to the dedicated business community and loyal visitors of Southern Ocean County,” said Lori Pepenella, destination marketing director of Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the occasion. “This event brings thousands of families to our region at a time when local business needs the boost. They stay overnight or longer. They eat in our restaurants and shop in our stores. It generates interest in our area on an international scale, gives us an audience to promote activities to come back for throughout the year and introduces new visitors to the opportunity of falling in love with our destination.”

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The Forked River Gazette.

Beach Haven Fire Company's annual block party is Saturday

Chowderfest and Merchants Mart are not the only big events residents and visitors are looking forward to this weekend in Beach Haven. The 19th annual block party hosted by the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co., the oldest volunteer fire department in Ocean County, will be held Saturday, Oct. 4, from noon to 8 p.m. at the corner of Amber Street and South Bay Avenue.

Photo via Facebook
The annual event takes place the same
weekend as Chowderfest on LBI.

“It’s very successful,” said Fire Chief Matt Letts. “It’s grown over the years. It’s something people look forward to every year.”

Three local bands, including Garage Kept, Rock Lobsters and Short Stones – which includes members from both The Fredstones and Chef George and the Short Order – will perform throughout the day. Bounce houses and other kids’ activities will also be available. Sparky the Dog, the fire company’s mascot, will be in attendance, too.

Beverages as well as food cooked and served up by members of the fire company will be available for purchase. The menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, pork roll, chicken, bagels, popcorn, flavored water ice and more.

General admission is free. Individuals of drinking age who would like to purchase beer may buy a beer mug and four beer tickets for $20.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the fire company to offset the cost of equipment and other necessary supplies.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach Haven Board of Education member resigns, open vacancy submissions now being accepted

During the Beach Haven Board of Education meeting held Tuesday, Sept. 23, board President MaryLou Bellingeri announced the resignation of board member Amy Haig. The resignation letter stated that Haig needed more time with her family and that her “commute and full-time work are also very time-consuming.” The letter also mentioned that Haig missed the last two meetings due to “sailing-related travel with my daughters.”

The board accepted the resignation of Haig, who was elected last November and expected to serve until the 2016 term, Bellingeri told The SandPaper. During the meeting, it was stated that the county could fill the vacant seat if the board does not fill the spot within 65 days.

Photo via Asbury Park Press
Submissions for the open seat have been
advertised on the school's website.

“That’s not the position that I would advise any of my school districts to be in,” said Isabel Machado of Machado Law Group, who represents the board.

Whoever the board chooses to fill the seat most likely would maintain the position until next year’s election, Bellingeri said.

Adhering to current policy, submissions for the vacancy have been advertised on the school’s website and are now being accepted. Interested candidates must send a letter of interest to Lil Brendel, board secretary, 700 Beach Ave., Beach Haven, N.J. 08008. Interviews will be held and deliberated on by the board within the allotted 65 days.

The same process was conducted this past spring when former board member Dina Ranade resigned and Donna Kilcommons filled her spot, Bellingeri said.

During the meeting, the board also accepted the resignation of Tim Legendre, a physical education and health teacher as well as a part-time instructional aide. The group approved Mark Cummins, a recommendation by Superintendent EvaMarie Raleigh, to take his place.

Also during the meeting, Ship Bottom resident Stephanie Cecchini said Raleigh (who was absent from the meeting) asked her to attend to talk about her daughter, who is a School Choice student this year.

Cecchini thanked the board as well as the teachers and staff for “allowing my 11-year-old daughter to be a student here. She’s thriving beyond our wildest dreams.”

Cecchini said her daughter “experienced a lot of taunting and bullying at her former school,” causing her to suffer from weight loss and nightmares.

“We really appreciate the warm welcome you have all given her,” Cecchini stated.

During public comment, Long Beach Township resident Mary Claire Bunce said she received two letters from the board regarding her children’s eligibility to continue to attend the Beach Haven School as School Choice students. She said the issue has been open for more than a month and that she would like an answer.

Machado said the matter is not one the board could legally talk about at a public meeting but assured Bunce that they would discuss the matter.

After the meeting, Bellingeri told The SandPaper she would prefer not to talk about the issue since it is ongoing.

In other meeting news, it was announced that The Jetty Rock Foundation donated $5,000 to the school for iPads and Chromebooks.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Former Colonial Theater in Beach Haven highlighted in new 'Driving Jersey' episode

Steve Rogers, producer of the Emmy-nominated PBS series “Driving Jersey,” took a step back in time when he ventured to the old Colonial Theater building in Beach Haven in August to film part of a new episode dubbed “CinemaNJ.”

The last piece shot for the segment, which explores the historic aspects of film in the Garden State as well as the memories of cinema enthusiasts, delves into the past of the oldest theater building in Southern Ocean County, highlighting Roger’s brother, Christian, the local cinema’s former usher-turned-manager.

Photo by Steve Rogers
Revisiting the theater building brings back
great memories for Rogers' brother, Christian.

“My love of movies began with him,” said Rogers, who grew up in Manahawkin. “Closest to me in age, my brother and I were partners in crime as kids, going to the movies all the time. It’s what we shared most. Well, that and a bedroom growing up.

“When I think back to what got me into loving and making movies, it’s him; it’s our shared childhood love of the magic of film,” Rogers added. “So when I set out to do an episode about cinema in New Jersey, I wanted to include him as a clear, tangible human-roadmap into my route and my roots in movies.”

Replacing an older and smaller Colonial Theater on Third Street, which was still used in the wintertime when crowds were smaller, the Colonial opened in July 1922 as the New Colonial on the corner of Bay Avenue and Center Street, Rogers said, referencing Eighteen Miles of History on Long Beach Island by John Bailey Lloyd. The theater, a wooden structure constructed in the Firman Cranmer Lumber Yard across the street and hoisted up with pulleys, was opened by Harry Colmar and his partner Leon Cranmer. Though Colmar died in 1956, his family continued to run this and two other theaters until 1964, before selling. The theater was closed around 2000 and converted into Cranmer Hardware Store.

While getting into the old theater building for the filming was “tricky” since it is currently closed and up for sale, Rogers said, real estate agents at Sunset Harbour Realty in Beach Haven “made it happen.”

“The segment that includes the Colonial is very entertaining and nostalgic, and it will certainly move locals to laughter and maybe a bit of melancholy,” he added.

The episode, which premiered last week on NJTV, also explores Thomas Edison’s famed laboratory in West Orange, where the so-called Wizard of Menlo Park assisted in the development of moving pictures and “produced” some of the world’s first films. The sites of the original drive-in movie theaters in Pennsauken and Riverton, the first in the world, as well as The Delsea Drive-in in Vineland – the last drive-in still standing in the state that gave birth to the form – make appearances in the episode, too.

“Driving Jersey: CinemaNJ’ is a sweet look at the state’s place in the history of the silver screen and the memories of all the magic motion pictures have played in our lives,” Rogers stated in a press release.

The segment launched on Driving Jersey’s website on Wednesday, Oct. 1. To view the episode, visit drivingjersey.com.

The piece will also air again on NJTV as well as various PBS stations throughout the month. To find the NJTV channel for various cable providers in the New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania area, visit njtvonline.org/about/where-to-watch.

–Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.