By JOE SAPIA

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP – In 2004, Jason Petillo Jr. of Neptune died at birth of congenital heart disease.

“This is something close to my heart,” said his father, Jason Sr.

So, Petillo Sr. organized the upcoming Shark River Row for Congenital Heart Disease Awareness.

It is scheduled for June 7 at 6 p.m. at the Shark River Hills Marina, South Riverside Drive, Neptune.

The inaugural event is to have two courses:
– A five-mile course for surf-skis and rowboats of all styles.
– A four-mile course for kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.

The idea of the event is simply “to raise awareness” of CHD, said Petillo, who is a Neptune police detective.

“I’m not looking for handouts, donations,” Petillo said. “It’s not really a fund-raiser, per se.”

The idea is for participants to wear shirts bringing awareness to CHD and to event sponsor, the Nicholas Leather Heart2Heart Foundation.

Nicholas of Avon died of CHD at 7-1/2-weeks-old in 2001.

The foundation raises awareness of CHD and raises funds for CHD causes. Donations can be made to the foundation, P.O. Box 113, Avon, 07717; telephone number is 732-298-3643; email is Heart2HeartNick@aol.com.

The Shark River Row is being funded by various sponsors.

More information on the event is available from telephone number 732-496-1172, email brodihead@gmail.com or website www.sharkriverrow.com. Life-preservers are recommended for participants, Petillo said.

Above – Sharkriverrow.com photo.

By DON STINE

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP – Residents living at the Winding Ridge townhouse complex in Neptune are concerned that they may be forced out of their homes due to upcoming rent increases.

The privately-owned complex consists of 99 two- and three-bedroom affordable townhouse apartments but rents are being raised by several hundred dollars for each unit.

Constance Holmes, head of the Winding Ridge Tenants Association, said the complex will soon no longer be affordable housing, with rents going up to $1,400 to $1,800 a unit.

At Monday’s Township Committee meeting, Holmes requested officials look into the increases and consider making the units rent controlled.

“We need your help to straighten this out,” she said.

Originally built as an affordable housing complex about 15 years ago, its owner, Pennrose Development and Property Management, received a 30-year federal tax credit for keeping the units as affordable housing.

However, after 15 years, the company has the option to lose the federal tax credits and, in turn, be released from its affordable housing obligation and turn the units into market-rate housing.

“There is the potential for long-time residents being displaced because of the higher rents,” Township Committeeman Randy Bishop said.

In order for this to happen, state law requires that Pennrose and the state Department of Community Affairs attempt to find a buyer who will maintain the complex as affordable housing before allowing the units to go to market rate.

But Bishop said he believes the DCA and Pennrose did little to advertise that the complex was for sale and that, after one year, the company has now been released from its affordable housing obligation.

Bishop said the DCA posted a very tiny notice about the potential sale of Winding Ridge on a website but he questions whether that was really a good faith effort to find a buyer.

“Even the Monmouth County Alliance For Affordable Housing, which is looking for properties like this, knew nothing about the sale. So one issue is whether or not it was advertised correctly,” he said.

Another issue of concern to Bishop is how the loss of affordable housing at Winding Ridge will affect the township’s number of units required by the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).

Bishop questions if the DCA followed the letter of the law in advertising the sale.

“Did they fulfill the spirit of the law by just posting a little ad on their website? If the county housing alliance did not know about this, then who did?” he said.

Township offcials said they are looking into the matter to see what options may be open to maintain Winding Ridge as affordable housing.

“The township will do all it can,” Mayor Eric Houghtaling said.

Monmouth County Alliance for Affordable Housing Chief Executive Officer Donna M. Blaze confirmed that her nonprofit agency did not know Winding Ridge was on the market until after the fact.

“This listing was posted on a web site that we don’t normally go to to look for properties. But, now that we know this is where they are posting such properties, we will be visiting the web site more often and take a closer look in the future,” she said.

Blaze said her organization would “absolutely” have looked into purchasing Winding Ridge if they had known about its availability.

“It has not been unusual in the past for an e-mail blast or letter to be sent out offering these types of properties. To lose a substantial number of affordable housing units is a real shame. If someone really wanted to find a buyer, then I believe people in the marketplace would be interested,” she said.

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP – Mary’s Place By The Sea in Ocean Grove, a temporary home for women fighting cancer, will be the recipient of funds raised from the 20th annual Neptune Mayor’s Ball scheduled for May 31.

Mary’s Place founder Michele Gannon said she was “ecstatic” when she learned her organization was to be this year’s recipient.

“We are very happy to be supported by Neptune. This is an amazing community, especially after what happened in the wake of Sandy, and we were very humbled when we received the telephone call telling us we would be this year’s recipient,” she said.

Gannon said all guests at Mary’s Place stay for free and funds from the Mayor’s Ball will be used to pay household expenses, like rent, food, and services for the women.

“We are very grateful for those who support us so we can keep these services free,” she said.

The ball will be held at the Jumping Brook Country Club. Hors d’oeuvres are from 7 to 8 p.m. with dinner at 8 p.m. There will be a two-hour open bar and dancing with “The Fever” until midnight.

The cost is $85 per person. For tickets call Sharon Rowe at 732-988-5200, extension 242, or visit the Neptune municipal complex.

An added feature at the ball will be an announcement listing previous mayors and the recipients of funds raised from the Mayor’s Ball over the past 20 years.

And Mayor Eric Houghtaling said Mary’s Place is a perfect recipient for this year’s funds.

“It’s a place where women broken and struggling in their battle with cancer can find comfort, love and kindness from those who understand what they are going through. To relax and maybe, for awhile, just forget their troubles as they enjoy the ocean air, the charm of historic Ocean Grove and just maybe reach back to a much happier time in their lives.

“We seek generosity for those that, through no fault of their own, are in a very difficult time, where the human spirit is tested to new limits and the comfort and support from others, with the greatest challenges that anyone could face, certainly provides strength at a time when it would be easy to be weak,” he said.

Gannon founded Mary’s Place By the Sea, at 15 Broadway, in 2009 as a resource for women undergoing treatment for cancer after herself recovering from a non-life-threatening illness earlier.

Since then, hundreds of women have benefited from the peaceful care, concern and support there. Mary’s Place is located in a three-story Victorian homes that faces Fletcher Lake and is just one block west of the Atlantic Ocean.

DEAL – A park on Roseld Avenue in Deal will be named in honor of Mayor Harry I. Franco, who died last year at age 79.

Borough Administrator James Rogers said improving the park, near the NJ Transit railroad tracks, has been on the table for years.

The borough plans to match up to $150,000 in state Open Space grant funding to now improve the park.

“I believe the mayor would be very happy to see the park, which has been discussed for many years, to finally be completed and dedicated in his name,” Rogers said.

The park will be expanded and include playground equipment, a seating area or adults, and a basketball/all-purpose court.

Rogers said park improvements have been delayed due to Superstorm Sandy but added he expects it be dedicated later this year.

“We have been pushing to renovate the park and it is a perfect place to memorialize Mayor Franco,” he said.

Also, Sen. Jennifer Beck presented the Franco family with a special proclamation from the State Legislature honoring Franco’s years of service at a meeting last week.

Franco served the people of Deal for nearly 34 years- as a Commissioner for 16 years and as Mayor for almost 18 years. He oversaw the expansion and improvements to Borough Hall; many improvements to the beach facilities, including the Deal Casino; and many road improvements and shared-service agreements with neighboring municipalities.

“Mayor Franco will be missed by all. He was a notable figure in Deal and throughout the county. He worked hard to find innovative ways to improve his town and make it a great place to live. Mayor Franco was a tieless advocate for the needs of his community and always put the interests of his residents first,” Beck said.

Beck said Franco had a “stellar reputation” in the county and always upheld the highest professional standards.

SPRING LAKE – Meet Miche (above)! This beautiful Pit mix is just 2-3 years old and is anxiously waiting for a loving home of her very own. Overlooked time and time again, this sweet girl would make an amazing companion, but hasn’t been given a chance to show off all she has to offer. Poor Miche has been with Rescue Ridge for over a year! Very affectionate, Miche loves to be rubbed and cuddled. She thoroughly enjoys the company of people and longs for the comfort of a family to keep her safe and sound. In turn, she will be loyal for years to come. Playing fetch with her beloved tennis ball is definitely at the top of her list. She really enjoys playtime, and is even content keeping herself occupied with her toys. She is a smart girl and already knows her basic commands. Miche is a great dog and would love to show you what a wonderful addition she would be in your life. She would do best in a home as an only dog and with no young children. Due to her strength, she should go home with older children only. Please check out Miche’s Facebook page: Help Miche Find a Home.

Aries

Aries is a wonderful, gentle and deaf 6-month-old Terrier mix that was adopted by his owner at 7 weeks old. Sadly, His owner is losing his home and cannot take Aries. Aries is wonderful with adults, children and other dogs and lives in a home with young children. He loves to go for walks and walks well on a leash. Aries goes to the dog park and gets along beautifully with other dogs. If you did not know better you would think that Aries is able to hear. Aries is deaf but that does not seem to effect him much. He has learned some hand signals and wants very much to please you. He is very smart and watches your every move. Aries takes and shares toys, treats and food gently with people and with other dogs. He is house trained, crate trained and is simply great. Please adopt Aries and give him the life he deserves.

Chango (below) – This gorgeously soft, one-and-a-half-year-old pit mix was an unclaimed stray. Chango is a quick learner, eager to please and easily motivated by praise and treats. He has lots of energy and loves to go for walks. He’s 100% housebroken and great on a leash. This lovable, smart and handsome dog has a bright future. We hope it includes you! Please check out Chango’s video here.

Rescue Ridge
Spring Lake, NJ
www.rescueridge.com
732-681-3450
rescueridgeshelter@gmail.com

Chango

OCEAN GROVE – Longstanding flooding issues along Broadway in historic Ocean Grove have apparently been resolved- but residents still have a wait-and-see attitude.

Resident Kennedy Buckley, who lives on Broadway, said at the May 13 Township Committee meeting that the street drainage improvements seem to be working.

“It rained severely over the weekend and the water went down very quickly and the problem seems to be greatly improved,” he said.

Buckley said that storm water seems to be draining much better and that many additional outlets to drain the water have been installed.

“Things seem to be flowing much better and there have been many places added for the water to go,” he said.

Residents have complained for some time about flooding along Broadway, particularly where it intersects with Beach Avenue.

Under a recent drainage improvement project, the township installed more drains and replaced some culverts.

Drainage improvements along Broadway include new pipes on the north side from Lawrence Avenue that make a connection with existing pipes at Pilgrim Pathway. Then a set of double drainage pipes installed from the northwest corner of Broadway and Central Avenue, which eventually flow into Fletcher Lake.

Mary Ellen Tellefsen, who co-owns the Sea Spray Inn, at the intersection of Beach Avenue and Broadway, said she and her husband, Eric, have been monitoring the situation since the improvements have been made.

The inn has experienced water damage during storms and periods of heavy rain in the past.

“So far, I would say that along Broadway looks pretty good. However, a very large volume of water still comes down Beach Avenue, almost over the curb. It does go around the corner to drain and the new drains are working really well – but sometimes the drains can’t handle the volume of water,” she said.

Tellesfen said she and her husband will take a “wait-and-see attitude.”

“We will see what happens during heavy downpours and see how the drains handle it,” she said.

Mayor Eric Houghtaling said it appears that everything is “working out great right now.”

“It seems to be performing fine with no standing water there,” he said.

Francis G. Klincewicz

OCEAN TOWNSHIP – Francis G. Klincewicz, a member of Boy Scout Troop 76 in the Wayside section of Ocean Township, will be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor to be held at Holy Innocents School, Neptune Sun., May 19 at 2 p.m.

Francis, 17, is a junior at Christian Brothers Academy in the Lincroft section of Middletown Township. He lives in Wayside.

For his required Eagle service project, Francis constructed a protective fence around the pre-school play area at Holy Innocents School, Neptune.

Francis started in scouts at the age of 6 as a Cub Scout in Pack 36 and progressed through the ranks as a Boy Scout. He earned 40 merit badges, and received the Ad Altare Dei Religious Emblem.

He is a member of the Order of the Arrow (Boy Scouting’s National Honor Society). He serves as secretary of the Na Tsi Hi Lodge 71, and is a past chairman of the Ceremonies Team.

Francis has served as a staff member for the BSA National Youth Leadership Training program. He took part in “Summit Corp,” a joint project of the Order of the Arrow and the National Park Service to improve trails in the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. He also serves on the Summer Camp Staff at Quail Hill Scout Reservation in Manalapan Township.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP – John Terlecsky, a teacher at Ocean Township High School, was nominated by his colleagues and selected as one of the 24 teachers chosen for the Teachers Who Rock Award.

This award is sponsored by the NJEA and promoted through 95.9 The WRAT. The teachers selected were honored at a banquet at the Clarion Hotel in Toms River on April 9.

Terlecsky is the 12th grade AP Literature teacher. He not only prepares students for the AP exam but also collegiate level writing. He also teaches a required 9th grade Introduction to a writing course and public speaking elective.

He balances his dedication as a teacher and his dedication to coaching. He has been an Assistant Varsity Soccer coach since 2001 at Ocean Township, his alma mater. And for the last 5 seasons, he has been the Varsity basketball coach, where along with his dedicated staff, he has helped re-define the Spartan basketball program, which has captured 17 wins in each of the past two seasons and wins in both the Shore Conference and State tournament. Before the 2012 season, that feat was not accomplished at Ocean since the 1989-90 season, and now, Ocean has achieved it in successive seasons.

He was also named Star Ledger Monmouth County Coach of the Year for the 2012 season.

By DON STINE

ASBURY PARK – The Forward Asbury Park political campaign has criticized opponent Amy Quinn of wanting to give out-of-town visitors free parking and beach access – an idea that Quinn says has never been proposed by her political ticket.

In a large, color flyer mailed to city residents late this week, the Forward Asbury Park campaign said making the beaches and parking free would result in the loss of $2.8 million in revenue.

Quinn, who is a member of the One Asbury ticket, said the information is false.

The flyer says that local property taxes will increase of $655 a year for a home assessed at $100,000 and up to $2,621 a year for a home assessed at $400,000 if such a move were implemented based on past beach and parking revenues.

“This is just outrageous,” Quinn said. “It goes in line with the rest of the incumbent-led ticket’s misleading and inaccurate flyers. These mailers are further proof that The Forward Asbury Park’s ticket is more concerned with saving themselves than they are with saving our city. Their campaign is being run the same way they run the City of Asbury Park; it is no wonder why 17 people are challenging their seats.”

Forward Asbury Park consists of Deputy Mayor John Loffredo and Council members Susan Henderson and Kevin G. Sanders. Newcomers Gregory Hopson Sr., a former school board president, and William D. Potter are also on the ticket.

The One Asbury ticket consists of Quinn, West Side activist Myra L. Campbell, Joe Woerner, former public works employee John B. Moor and Talesha A. Crank.

“Free beaches and parking have never been part of One Asbury’s campaign platform and I don’t know where they got their information from. Our platform has never said that,” Quinn said.

Forward Asbury Park Campaign Manager Jocelyn Toledo said that her campaign stands by the accusation.

“We stand by our piece as an accurate description of Ms. Quinn’s long-standing and well-established views. Now that we have explained the impact of free beaches on the Asbury Park taxpayers, it may be that Ms. Quinn has changed her position in the last 24 hours.

Loffredo said he was told that Quinn came to someone’s house and made this statement and that the issue has been brought up on the One Asbury’s Facebook page.

“People should not make statements they are not willing to defend. It is my understanding she made this statements to others,” he said.

The nonpartisan election for five, four-year City Council seats is Tuesday, May 14.

Asbury Park voters will go to the polls Tues., May 14 to vote for five City Council members. In this all-important race where residents will decide who will continue to lead this city by the sea into the 21st century there are 22 candidates. We endorse the five we believe best suited to serve the residents, business owners and taxpayers through their proven dedication, their leadership skills, their history with the city and their willingness to listen. But perhaps, more importantly, we believe these five, although on different tickets, can and will work together for the city’s future.

John Loffredo, who currently serves as deputy mayor, has been a council member for 12 years. He was part of the dream team put together in 2001 by Councilman Jim Bruno, who is not seeking reelection. Loffredo and his council members guided the city through a tunnel of neglect into the thriving city we see today. He and his colleagues established the Recreation Committee in the city which now offers a variety of programs for all city children. He is the founding president of the Asbury Park Homeowners Association and is a member of the Planning Board. Loffredo has worked hard for the city during his dozen years on council and deserves another term.

Sue Henderson, who is seeking her second full term, has spent many years as a volunteer in the city during the two decades she has lived there. She is co-founder of the Asbury Park Homeowners Association and is a member of both the Wesley Lake and Deal Lake Commissions. She has always made time to talk to residents about issues and concerns. She is not afraid of working hard and has shown her dedication to the city. We believe she should be returned to office.

John Moor, a city resident for more than 35 years, is a retired deputy director of public maintenance for the city with 31 years of service. He served 12 years on the Asbury Park Board of Education and currently is vice chairman of the city’s Housing Authority. He is also a trustee of the Asbury Park Historical Society. He knows the city inside and out. He is smart and knowledgeable about how the city is run and he will bring no special interests baggage to the table. He will be an asset to the city and should be elected.

Myra L. Campbell, who is seeking her first elected term, is a well-known community leader advocating for improvements and better living conditions for the city’s West Side. She served as president of the West Side Neighborhood Block Watch and is a former commissioner on the city’s Housing Authority. She was a member of the first Urban Enterprise Zone in the city and currently lends a hand at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Asbury Park. Campbell is a no-nonsense woman who always has her facts lined up before she speaks. Over the years she has shown her concern for residents by her relentless attention to issues. She is a go-getter and knows the meaning of follow-through. She should be elected.

Amy Quinn, a city resident for 12 years, is an attorney in forensic psychology. She is vice-chairman of the city’s Environmental Commission and an attorney with the community health law project. She volunteers in the Reading Buddies program at the Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Quinn is not afraid of hard work as shown by her volunteerism. She knows how to work with people and, more importantly, will listen. We support her for council.