BERKELEY – Central Regional TV Productions students won county and state contests and film festival awards for their video productions surrounding the events of Hurricane Sandy.

Senior Austin Steinbrick recently took the award for Best Documentary in the Ocean County Library Film Festival held at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library.  Over 140 entries were received from around the world and only 43 were chosen for submission.  Austin’s video told the story of Hurricane Sandy using footage recorded by students and staff from the Central Regional High School which included eye witness accounts of the devastating events on the day of the storm.

In addition, Austin received an Honorable Mention along with senior Nicholas Castrovilly for the New Jersey State Attorney General’s PSA Contest Proms and Alcohol Don’t Mix Contest.

High school junior, Marc Wittig, won a Certificate of Excellence at the Ocean County Teen Arts Festival for his Hurricane Sandy video.  The Ocean County Teen Arts Festival is a showcase and competition held at Ocean County College.  Student works are judged and critiqued where the best in show receive a Certificate of Excellence.  The Central Regional High School TV Program has received an Award of Excellence eight times over the last twelve years.

Student works are available for viewing at the school district website at www.centralreg.k12.nj.us by linking to the “video on demand” tab.  All of our students’ Hurricane Sandy videos can be watched on Channel 21.

Community Calendar

Council Meeting

The Mayor and Council will hold their next meeting on Wednesday, May 8^th at 1 pm.  Meetings are held in the main council room at the municipal building and are open to the public.  From time to time, a portion of the meetings may be closed to the public to discuss personnel, contracts and/or matters of litigation.

Berkeley Branch Library

Calendar of Events

Art of Bonsai Workshop

Celebrate World Bonsai Day on Monday, May 7^th at 6 pm and learn the art of creating your own bonsai.  Members of the Deep Cut Bonsai Club will provide students with a plant to work on.  This program is recommended for ages 13 – 18.  Registration is required.

The Yarn Dolls

On Mondays, May 6^th, 13^th and 20^th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm join in and knit or crochet with the Yarn Dolls.  This group meets once a week to brush up on an old skill, meet new people and have a few laughs.  You are welcome to bring your unfinished projects with you.

Cuddle Up for 1’s and 2’s!

Cuddle up with your little one on Wednesday, May 8^th at 10:30 am and share stories, rhymes, songs and finger-plays.  This program is for children ages 12 to 36 months.  Please register, as class size is limited.

Music and Movement

Preschoolers, ages 1 to 5, and their parents are welcome to enjoy rhythm activities and music with Joan Seele-Goold on Thursday, May 9^th at 10:30 am.  Class size is limited for this program.  Registration is required.

Children’s Book Character Scavenger Hunt

Stop in the library anytime between Monday, May 13^th and Saturday, May 18^th and see if you can find pictures of your favorite children’s book characters, and then claim a small prize.  No registration is required.

Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Meeting

On Tuesday, May 14^th at 6 pm, stop in the library and chat with your peers and the teen librarian about the library.  This is a fun way to meet other teens in the neighborhood, earn community service hours and work on library programs.  Recommended for ages 13 – 18.  New members are always welcome.

Dancing & Bumping the ‘Chute

Go to the library for an action packed session of dance and parachute activities on Wednesday, May 15^th at 2 pm.  This is a fun activity for the parents and children ages 2 – 4.  Please register.

Woof Tales:  Read to a Dog

On Thursday, May 16^th at 4 pm, all young readers are welcome to take turns reading to the therapy dogs.  Please register.

Please call (732) 269-2144 to register or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org

Read more about the cause: http://thinkingofyouthursdays.blogspot.com/

Here are the dates for the Jeans Days:
Middle School – Friday, April 19.
High School – Friday, April 26.

Central staff members will also wear green ribbons on their respective “Jeans Day” since it is one of Sandy Hook Elementary’s school colors.

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP -The Central Regional High School Guidance Department has incorporated the robust, interactive college search engine offered by College Board called “BigFuture” as a link on our high school guidance webpage to assist students and families with their college decision-making process.
College Board is a not-for-profit membership organization committed to excellence and equity in education whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity.
The goal of the program is to assist Central Regional students in finding the right college in order to succeed in today’s world. In support of the College Board goal of having 55 percent of Americans with a college degree by 2025, they have launched BigFuture, the new, free, comprehensive website that improves the college planning process for students, families, and educators.
Once you link to Big Future from our high school guidance webpage, the program will guide the student through the college planning process, making it easier and less overwhelming. The step-by-step approach demystifies college planning, particularly for those students who are the first generation in their families to attend college.
Students using BigFuture answer questions and make choices about their own needs and preferences. Easy-to-use search tools and informative videos guide them through the process. The large collection of videos contains real-world advice from college students and expert educators.
“We know the best source of insight into the college planning process is from those who have experienced it,” said Roy Ben-Yoseph, the College Board’s executive director of digital products. “That’s why we asked students to collaborate with us on the site design and interactive tools that guide students as they find, afford and enroll in a college that is right for them.”
BigFuture has a robust college search tool that helps students find the schools that are best for their needs and compare their advantages. Because great education occurs in thousands of colleges and universities, BigFuture can find college options for any high school graduate.
The resource also has a scholarship search tool and extensive information about ways students can pay for college. “College is more accessible than many people think,” Ben-Yoseph said. “Families using the resource learn ways others have paid for college: securing scholarships, enrolling at a community college, saving for college and finding grants and loans. They also will see that most families do not pay the full sticker price for college.”
Students using BigFuture develop a customizable action plan that tells them exactly what to do and when.
The high school guidance supervisor, Darryl Heale, adds, “Since our counselors and teachers have a great influence on the students’ college planning, we have incorporated the best tool available that can be also used by our staff as a resource for information.”
During a time when college planning and application has grown increasingly complex, BigFuture’s step-by-step approach makes college planning easier to navigate. Visit our website today at www.centralreg.k12.nj.us and start to make inroads into college planning.

In particular, the new School Performance Reports seek to:

• Focus attention on metrics that are indicative of college and career readiness.
• Benchmark a school’s performance against other peer schools that are educating similar students, against statewide outcomes, and against state targets to illuminate and build upon a school’s strengths and identify areas for improvement.
• Improve educational outcomes for students by providing both longitudinal and growth data so that progress can be measured as part of an individual school’s efforts to engage in continuous improvement.

TOMS RIVER REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

BEACHWOOD ELEM
CEDAR GROVE ELEM
EAST DOVER ELEM
HOOPER AVE ELEM
JOSEPH A CITTA ELEM
NORTH DOVER ELEM
PINE BEACH ELEM
SILVER BAY ELEMENTARY
SOUTH TOMS RIVER ELEM
TOMS RIVER HIGH EAST
TOMS RIVER HIGH NORTH
TOMS RIVER HIGH SOUTH
TOMS RIVER INTERMEDIATE E
TOMS RIVER INTERMEDIATE N
TOMS RIVER INTERMEDIATE S
WALNUT STREET ELEM
WASHINGTON ST ELEM
WEST DOVER ELEM

JACKSON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

CARL W GOETZ MIDDLE SCH
CHRISTA MCAULIFFE MID SCH
CRAWFORD RODRIGUEZ ELEM
ELMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HOWARD C JOHNSON ELEM
JACKSON LIBERTY HIGH
JACKSON MEMORIAL HIGH
LUCY N HOLMAN ELEM
SWITLIK ELEM
SYLVIA ROSENAUER ELEM

BRICK TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

BRICK COMM PRIM LEARN CTR
BRICK TWP HIGH
BRICK TWP MEMORIAL HIGH
DRUM POINT ROAD ELEM
EMMA HAVENS YOUNG ELEM
HERBERTSVILLE ELEM
LAKE RIVIERA MIDDLE
LANES MILL ELEM
MIDSTREAMS ELEM
OSBORNVILLE ELEM
VETERANS MEM ELEM
VETERANS MEM MIDDLE SCH

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

BAYVILLE ELEM
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP ES
CLARA B WORTH ELEM
H & M POTTER ELEM

CENTRAL REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

CENTRAL REGIONAL HIGH
CENTRAL REGIONAL MIDDLE

BEACHWOOD – When Hurricane Sandy served a direct blow to our area on October 29th and 30th, the barrier island and eastern bay communities were severely impacted, but its effects were also felt farther upriver in this community on the southern bank of the Toms River.
On the morning of October 30th, residents and officials awoke to not only downed trees and powerlines borough-wide, but also a totally submerged beachfront and marina area.
As spectators gathered atop the bluff and lower ridges over the beachfront and at the height of the inclines on Compass Avenue and Brigantine Street looking down at the marina that morning, it was yet unclear the full extent of damage. The Beachwood Community Center appeared as if an island, parts of the marina boardwalk had floated across the street and the northern edge of western T-dock was seen peeking above the waterline at a strange angle. At the beachfront, waves lapped over the entire parking lot and against the block wall below the letters that spelled out BEACHWOOD behind the flagpole, and only the top halves of the two shelters and playground slide were visible.
When the river receded, it was learned that while appearing possibly unharmed, the community center indeed took on damaging water to its lower subfloor area; the marina’s T-dock, lightpoles, electric utilities and boardwalk were damaged or destroyed up to where it met the higher boardwalk that runs alongside the shoreline from the foot of Beachwood Boulevard east to the entrance to Beachwood Beach; the eastern T-dock on the beachfront lifted up and floated all the way across the western marina cove area before coming to rest behind the community center, and sand had eroded down from a small section of the Windy Cove bluff onto the adjacent lower paver walkway.
Also damaged beyond repair was a brand new video security system that a contractor had mostly installed along the marina and waterfront, which would need to be replaced.
In the months that followed, Borough Engineer Jim Oris has repeatedly met with the borough’s insurance company and representatives for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to go over repair costs that the borough expects will be 75 to 90 percent covered by federal aid when not covered outright by insurance.
At the early February council meeting, the engineer stated that while keeping in mind the fast approaching summer season and traditional opening of the beachfront and marina area, he was working very hard to try and get the boat slips back and available to patrons. Earlier this week, Borough Clerk Elizabeth “Bette” Mastropasqua stated the town hoped to have it rebuilt and opened by Memorial Day weekend or June 1st.
Currently the community center remains closed as mold remediation efforts continue and the groups that used it for programs, meetings and events – including the monthly dances of the borough municipal alliance, now taking place at the firehouse far inland – have had to find other locations.
Mr. Oris stated that the hall now stood in the velocity zone of FEMA’s Advisory Base Flood Elevation [ABFE] maps released late last year and approved by the governor. Borough officials at the early February meeting debated the costs associated with either repairing the community center as-is and moving utility services to a higher level, raising the community center to above the base flood elevation, or demolishing the community center and rebuilding at an elevation higher than the ABFE zone. It was not then known whether the damages sustained on the structure were greater than 50% and thus made it necessary to do any more than make repairs and raise the utilities.
All the wood from the marina boardwalk was carted away several months after the hurricane, and today sits closed off to the public by plastic orange netting and poles. The gate at the entrance to the beachfront is also closed, as the electric utilities there were destroyed and need repair along with the T-dock there.
Councilwoman Beverly Clayton thanked Mrs. Mastropasqua, Mr. Oris, Treasurer Elizabeth Sarantinoudis and Lt. Tapp for performing under the strain of multiple meetings and a constant flow of ever-changing information relating to storm recovery since late October.
Earlier this winter, an already-planned and approved project to install a groin to the east of the beach T-dock was carried out, and today extends off the nearby playground area to curtail and stop the beach erosion that has eaten away at the once wide span of beachfront present in earlier decades of the 20th century.

In other recent activities of the mayor and council:

• the council unanimously approved a resolution urging the president and federal government to approve a 90 percent reimbursement rate from the cost of post-Hurricane Sandy repairs through FEMA.
• a resolution was also unanimously passed opposing a state bill promoted by northern legislators demanding free beach access and comfort facilities to the public in exchange for financial aid for storm repairs, as it would place an undue hardship on all shore municipalities without funding beachfront safety, maintenance and operations.
• efforts have begun by Mrs. Clayton to form a proactive committee interested in planning a yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the borough in 2017. Anyone interested in serving on such a committee is invited to call borough hall.
• Councilman Ed Zakar attended the installation dinner of the Beachwood First Aid Squad in late January and was presented a plaque thanking the borough for its support which he then passed on to the mayor and council at their early February meeting.
• a suggestion was made by Mr. Zakar to have the borough start a practice of honoring volunteers when they reach milestones of service, such as 10, 15 and 20 years with the first aid squad and fire company, that can be presented by town officials at their annual installation dinners.
• Councilman Steve Komsa applied for a $500 grant through the Ocean County Tourism Department to produce promotional materials for the annual Beachwood 5K and One Mile Fun Run, this year entering its second year and held in the fall.
• Councilman Gerald W. “Jerry” LaCrosse, who had been involved with water quality testing and stormwater management along the riverfront and specifically beach area, stated that as a result of the hurricane it was questionable as to the local effects in the waters off the beach but that he would seek to continue his work with the Ocean County Health Department through this year where possible.
• Regarding the ABFE maps from FEMA, Mr. Oris stated that possibly as many as 20 homes could be affected by the new base flood elevations, but Mr. LaCrosse pointed out that these appeared to include homes far above the riverfront on the bluff areas of town and farther inland than would ever be impacted. Mrs. Clayton pointed out that these homes were as much as 40 or 50 feet above the river.

(From left) Ocean Gate Police Reece J. Fisher, Councilman and Public Safety Committee Chairman Dave Kendrick, Mayor Paul Kennedy and Office of Emergency Coordinator Tom Fitzgerald met in the OEM office at generator-powered borough hall on Saturday afternoon, November 3rd, to discuss still-flooded areas, restoration of power, debris removal, maintenance of generators to the water and sewerage systems, nearby shelters and food and goods distribution sites, public safety and more. At the time, it was the seventh straight day the emergency office was open for officials to meet and tackle the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Erik Weber / Ocean Signal

In the early morning hours of October 30th, 2012 things went somewhere I’d never been before. Sandy was already upon us, evacuations had been ordered 48 hours prior, and yet some decided to stick it out. Water was coming into the tiny little Borough of Ocean Gate – only a half square mile in size – and it was coming from both the Toms River and Barnegat Bay. It didn’t stop for hours. When the water finally started to recede many, many hours (and in some places days) later, the reality of devastation was very evident. Over the next few days people attempted to get to their homes to see what was left, and as in many places throughout the Jersey Shore, it was truly unbelievable. Peoples’ whole lives were out on their front lawns, their driveways, the street. In some cases entire generations of family belongings were gone, some from as far back as the early 20th century when Ocean Gate was, for many years then, a seasonal town where people came in on the train from Philadelphia to spend the summer months together. A summer town that later became a borough and this coming August will celebrate its 95th birthday.
After seeing all of this devastation I felt compelled to act and act quickly. I knew deep down there was no way the borough nor its private sanitation hauler would be able to remove the mounds and mounds of debris. By the Saturday after the storm, the debris hauler was in town and working. Approximately 10 days later the debris was off the streets, off residents’ lawns, out of their driveways; all of their personal belongings and memories just sitting in a huge pile on the borough ball field, gone from their damaged homes and days later gone to the landfill.
Soon after, people were comforted by the American Red Cross, local church groups, local volunteer groups and the like. The outpouring of kindness and support that so very many people and organizations gave to my residents was quite overwhelming. People came from all over New Jersey; some even came from North Carolina and Florida. And they all came to help. The cleanup help was tremendous and for the most part all went well, and once most had cleaned out what they could, the big question was, “Where do we go from here?”
To help them find that answer, I called an informative meeting for all residents on a Sunday afternoon to explain to them what help was available to them and how the borough was proceeding with the restoring and rebuilding process. The meeting room had never been so crowded, and I believe most left with some relief. Still, none felt anywhere near normal; that will take quite some time.

Large debris piles of household items and interior fixtures became a common sight along borough streets as residents removed items unsalvageable from the flood waters of the Toms River and Barnegat Bay as a result of storm surges from Hurricane Sandy. Pictured here is Angelsea Avenue, facing north, on November 5th. Erik Weber / Ocean Signal

Throughout all of this devastation, I had to deal with my own personal home and loss as well, but still do what was needed to make sure that the residents of Ocean Gate were safe, comforted, and on their way to getting back into their homes. I took a leave of absence from my full time job for approximately two weeks, without pay, to deal with all of it. My family had been out of our home for nearly two weeks – not all that bad when I look at the big picture – but trying to explain this to my 13-year-old daughter wasn’t easy. But now we are back home, more fortunate then some, but still trying to get to the way it was. In dealing with FEMA, insurance companies and the like it has been and still is a tiresome project. Hopefully someday life will return to the simple, day to day routine it was.
While home sick with the flu during the 12/12/12 Hurricane Sandy fundraiser concert held in Madison Square Garden, I saw lots of local Ocean County people “live” on this national broadcast, and hearing of the $52 million being raised already, I felt obligated again to try and get some of this grant money to help my residents of Ocean Gate. That night I looked up the Robin Hood Foundation and contacted them via email. When I didn’t initially hear back, I sent several more emails over the next two weeks until FINALLY!!! I received an email back and then a questionnaire to fill out and send in a request. On this paperwork it stated clearly that not all applications were accepted, as it’s a huge organization, and many different areas were devastated by Sandy.
A short time later I received a phone call from the foundation and from then on it was weekly emails, conference calls and information given to them about what Ocean Gate really needed. Then the site visit where the Robin Hood Foundation fell in love with our little community of 2,000 residents. They knew that they could make a difference, and several weeks ago I received a call on a late Friday afternoon that the foundation awarded a grant of $300,000 to be used to primarily get residents back in their homes.
There are very strict requirements that have to be followed for people to be helped. One very big thing that came up in this process was to have a non-profit organization help with the applications, research, and distribute the grant money. I chose the local non-profit Hometown Heroes based out of Toms River, and they agreed to handle everything for this project. The main objective is to do whatever it may take in so many different situations, whether it’s repairing a furnace so there is heat, replacing a hot water heater, paying a utility bill, and on and on. An important point is that ALL of the funding goes to Hometown Heroes and then on to the proper contractor, utility company, etc.; NOT to a homeowner. Homeowners will not receive any of this funding directly. All those affected can apply at njhometownheroes.org or by calling (732) 473-9400. The Borough of Ocean Gate has nothing to do with the funding and its process at all.
In just over four months things are on their way back and I truly believe the residents of Ocean Gate will be back stronger than ever, with many thanks to ALL those who have helped, especially the Robin Hood Foundation and Hometown Heroes.

Mayor Paul J. Kennedy
Ocean Gate

4th Annual Alumni Night

The 4th Annual Alumni night will take place on Friday, March 22nd between 6 and 11:30 pm at the Sawmill Restaurant & Tavern on Ocean Avenue in Seaside Park. Tickets are $26 and include a drink special and all-you-can-eat pizza, wings and salad. DJ entertainment provided.
Tickets can be purchased by sending a self-addressed stamped envelop with a check to:

CRAA
P.O. Box 150
Bayville, N.J. 08721

In the Memo line of the check, please write AAN and include your phone number.
Tickets may also be purchased online via Paypal by going to the association website at www.centralregionalalumniassociationbayvillenj.org and clicking the Donate tab.
For questions or inquiries to pick up tickets, please contact the chairpersons Eileen at emgiffoniello@yahoo.com or Joella at joellaogbeach@yahoo.com – as this event often sells out quickly, those interested are encouraged to order early.

6th Annual Golf Outing

The 6th Annual Golf Outing will take place on Thursday, May 23rd at the Cedar Creek Golf Course with a luncheon immediately following at Yesterday’s Restaurant, Bayville. The tournament is open to the public.
Tickets are $85 each and can be purchased by sending a check and SASE to the address listed above or stopping by Altieri Chiropractic at 738 Route 9 in Bayville. Anyone with questions can write Cheryl at iadjustdc@netzero.net.

Big 50/50 Raffle

The Central Regional Alumni Association is currently selling their Big 50/50 tickets. The cost of one ticket is $100; there is a limit of 100 tickets sold. In previous years, the raffle has sold out and the winner taken home $5,000.
Tickets can be purchased by sending a check and SASE to the same address listed above, stopping by Altieri Chiropractic or going to the main office at Central Regional High School. Any questions, please write info@craa1956.org.
The drawing will take place at Yesterday’s Restaurant in Bayville on Thursday, May 23rd at 3 pm.