Former Mayor Named Neptune Senior Center Director
By DON STINE Former Neptune mayor and Township Committeeman Randy Bishop was appointed this week as the new executive director of the township’s Senior Center. Bishop will begin his new job July 1. He is leaving his position with the Monmouth County Superintendent of Elections, where he has been for the last two years. “(The new job) really gives me the ability to come home again and serve the people- and that means a great deal to me. And I am honored they selected me,” he said. His appointment comes on the heels of the controversial removal of the previous…
Ocean Considering Purchase of School Site
By DON STINE Ocean Township officials are considering spending $2.5 million to purchase a controversial school site on Logan Road that has been approved for a college-age yeshiva. But first, officials want to get some feedback from as many of the township’s 30,000 residents as possible since the purchase would likely result in a tax increase of little more than $260 in total, or about $26 a year for the average $448,000 property, to repay the 10-year bond. “Nothing is set in stone. There are a lot of options here and we are just in preliminary discussions,” Mayor Christopher…
Memorial Day Weekend a Mix of Sun and Storms
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI and DON STINE The summer season started strong with a hot and sunny Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, however, everything changed. The rain, wind and cooler temperatures kept people away from the beaches. Peter Mantas, manager at Langosta Lounge and Pop’s Garage on the Asbury Park beachfront said, “It was a wonderful, busy weekend. But we have had 60 percent of what we should have had.” Mantas said Friday and Saturday were busy but many people left on Saturday afternoon. “It would have been tremendous,” he said. But Mantas was happy with what he saw and predicts a successful summer. “Its going to be the…
Neptune Tables 3-Hour Parking Limit on Ocean Grove’s Main Avenue
By DON STINE An ordinance that would have imposed limited three-hour parking on Main Avenue in Ocean Grove’s business district was tabled by the Neptune Township Committee at last week’s meeting. “I am not against it but I just want more research,” Committeeman Michael Brantley said. The governing body was scheduled to vote on an ordinance imposing limited three-hour parking on Main Avenue, between Central and New York Avenues, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. It would be in effect from May 15 through Sept. 15 every year. The parking restriction would have been for a three-month trial period. Brantley said he would…
New Home for Dream Center in Neptune
By DON STINE The Jersey Shore Dream Center now has a new location thanks to a little help from its friends. A New Year’s Eve fire at the original Dream Center headquarters, at the Shore Christian Church at 1301 Corlies Ave., Neptune forced the organization to move out for renovations, storing many items at Dream Center Founder Pastor Isaac Friedel’s home in Wall Township. “It was crazy. There was not a ton of damage to the property but the entire place was in shambles. We had to move all of our stuff out,” he said. Friedel said he was…
Summer Kick-Off
By JOANNE PAPAIANNI and DON STINE Shore residents have had enough of the dreary rain and cold temperatures and are ready for some fun in the sun. But it may not happen. The forecast for the three-day Memorial Day weekend is not the best with possible rain Sunday and Monday. But towns and businesses are still prepared for all scenarios. Asbury Park Asbury Park Beach Utilities Manager Gary Giberson said the city is ready for the first holiday weekend of the summer season. He said new signage is being “tweaked” to make them more accurate. He also said accessibility mats have been…
Fate of 100-Year-Old Neptune House Discussed
By DON STINE The fate of the old Wardell-Welsh dairy house on Old Corlies Avenue in Neptune is still up in the air but things do not look too bright for the future of the old building. Once again, the fate of the more than 100-year-old house was discussed at the Township Committee’s workshop this week, but this time more financial estimates were available that will probably determine the building’s future. Previous suggestions to use the building, at 703 Old Corlies Ave., for a museum or a recreation center have been discussed but rehabilitating the house would probably be…
Ocean Grove 3-Hour Parking Limit Planned
By DON STINE Limited three-hour parking on Main Avenue and more parking spaces on Central Avenue will be created in Ocean Grove under two ordinances introduced by the Township Committee this week. Public hearings on both ordinances will be held May 24. Under the ordinances. limited three-hour parking will be imposed on Main Avenue, between Central and New York Avenues, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. It will be in effect from May 15 through Sept. 15 every year but, if approved, it will not begin until around June 15 this year. Deputy Mayor Carol Rizzo said the ordinance is designed to create more parking turnover…
Possible Parking Restrictions in Ocean Grove
By DON STINE Imposing three-hour parking limits along Main Avenue in Ocean Grove during the summer is a discussion expected at the next Neptune Township Committee workshop. The Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce urges members to attend the May 14 meeting. The limited three-hour parking would be on Main Avenue, between Central and New York Avenues, and in effect between June 15 and September 15. Also under consideration is three 15-minute parking spots for both banks and the hardware store on Main Avenue, to be in effect from May 15 to September 15. Township Business Administrator Vito Gadaleta said the matter will be…
Multi-Million Dollar Tennis Center Readied for Opening in Ocean
By DON STINE An eight-court tennis center under construction on West Park Avenue in Ocean Township, a product of both private and public funding, is scheduled to open this spring. “We are almost there and I think we will be open in the late spring Hopefully, we will also have the outdoor courts ready for the summer. This is a great project and wonderful for the community,” Mayor Christopher Siciliano said. A deal was signed to build close to a $3 million Park Avenue Tennis Center in front of the existing township pool complex on W est Park Avenue.…
