Week in News: Communities Join to Rebuild and Recover

A Day in the Life of the Post-Sandy Barrier Island

Brick- It's about 11:30 a.m. There's some traffic in Mantoloking, heading south to Brick's neighborhoods on the Barnegat Peninsula.

Nobody is heading to the beach.

There aren't a lot of cars on the island; only emergency personnel, and cleanup and construction crews are allowed over the Mantoloking Bridge. The small bottleneck entering the island isn't caused by volume, just circumstance.

Read more on Brick Patch.

Love of LBI Brings Community Together To Repair Destruction From Sandy

Barnegat/Manahawkin- Todd Stone, native to Marlton, spends his summer, most of fall and winter as well, on 7th Street in Beach Haven.

A lifelong lifeguard for Long Beach Township in Holgate, Stone was away at Midwestern University-College of Dental Medicine at Illinois, when Hurricane Sandy made landfall on Long Beach Island.

After an overcaffeinated study session on bicuspids and molars, Stone's concentration faltered. Seeing his home in the middle of a devastating natural disaster was more than disheartening.

Read more on Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch.

Sandy Leaves Behind 'Monstrous' Financial Burden

Monmouth/Ocean Counties- Homeowners who have reduced property values due to damage from Sandy will likely apply for tax relief this year, meaning that the brunt of the existing taxes - and others that may arise from the costs involved in cleaning up after the storm - may shift to others living in that town, according to several people interviewed by Patch yesterday.

Local taxes are based upon the property's value on Oct. 1 of the preceding year, but a property that suffers material depreciation after Oct. 1 but before Jan. 1, must be revalued by the town's assessor, as long as they are notified by the homeowner.

Read more on Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch.

Stockton Student Senate to Send Letter of Resolution Asking Chick-fil-A to Leave Campus

Galloway- The Richard Stockton College of New JerseyStudent Senate will ask the college president to consider dismissing Chick-fil-A from its campus.

The 27-member Senate voted 14-10, with two abstensions to send a letter of resolution to Stockton College President Herman J. Saatkamp asking Chick-fil-A to leave the campus in Atlantic County's Galloway Township. The Senate needed 14 votes for approval. Senate President AJ Vervoort abstains unless his vote is needed to break a tie.

Read more on Galloway Patch.

Mayors Gathers to Discuss and Critique JCP&L Storm Response

Officials from Monmouth County towns gathered at Tinton Falls Borough Hall on Monday afternoon to discuss and critique Jersey Central Power and Light's (JCP&L) service and communication during Hurricane Sandy. 

Most officials in attendance agreed that JCP&L did not effectively communicate with their towns during the hurricane and that many were left without the information they needed to get out to residents.

Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore, a co-host, outlined some ideas that he had come up with that he felt could improve JCP&L's communication with towns.

• JCP&L's update calls with mayors should be regional and not statewide;
• How outages are reported needs to be addressed;
• A need for better communication between JCP&L and Verizon

Read more on Middletown-NJ Patch

'Beacon of Hope' Distribution Center Opens in Vacant Childrens Wear Store

The Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, working in partnership with RAINE Foundation and Chamber businesses, has established the Beacon of Hope Distribution Center to assist the residents of the Bayshore towns impacted by the Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy.  

The NMCC Beacon of Hope Distribution Center began accepting donations of food and clothing on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 3106 Route 35, in the former Childrens Wear store at the Staples shopping center in Hazlet, NJ. Their Facebook page has contact information and updates about what they need. 

Volunteers are needed to come sort. The center is open to all in need. 

Read more on Holmdel-Hazlet Patch