Wesley Lake Will Be Dredged; Retaining Wall Repaired
By DON STINE If the water in Wesley Lake looks very low at the western end, it is all for a good reason – the lake will be dredged soon. “Everything is taken care of (for the project),” said Neptune Township Committeeman Michael Brantley, who also chairs the Wesley Lake Commission. Under the proposal, both Wesley Lake, between Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, and Fletcher Lake, between Ocean Grove and Bradley Beach, will be dredged under a $1.4 million project. About 400 linear feet of retaining wall along the southerly side of Wesley Lake will be replaced and an…
New Operating Officer at Ocean Grove Camp Meeting
By BONNIE GRAHAM Ocean Grove residents and homeowners were introduced to the new operating officer of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association at a meeting Sat., Jan. 25. J.P. Gradone, who assumed the post of Camp Meeting Association Chief Operating Officer on Nov. 5, told homeowners he grew up in Wanamassa and is a 1976 graduate of Ocean Township High School. He met his wife, Cheryl, while attending college and worked for 23 years in corporate positions in Florida and Kentucky. During the last decade, Gradone was an executive pastor in large churches in Sarasota, Florida, Birmingham, Alabama, and…
Alleged “Ocean Grove” burglar caught
By Don Stine Neptune police arrested an alleged burglar Thursday night that they believe has been a major source in a rash of recent break-ins in Ocean Grove. Police report that Neptune resident Thomas Lockhart, 54, was arrested around 8 p.m. Thursday night after leading police on a foot chase to apprehend him. In addition to suspicion of burglary, Lockhart was also arrested on other active warrants and is now also charged with resisting arrest and receiving stolen property. Property found by police in Lockhart’s possession has been traced to a recent burglary in Ocean Grove. He has been…
Police Investigating 30 Burglaries in Ocean Grove
More than 30 break-ins and burglaries have been reported in Ocean Grove in the last three and a-half months and while police are actively looking for the perpetrators, they urge residents to use due diligence in protecting their properties. “Everybody is working on this. It is not something where we are just sitting back and taking reports on break-ins. We are on this,” said Neptune’s Chief Financial Officer Michael Bascom, who is also the township’s acting-police director. Bascom also said residents should be mindful not to provide criminals with opportunities to commit crimes. “These are crimes of opportunity with…
Ocean Grove Wins Boardwalk Appeal
By DON STINE Ocean Grove officials announced this week that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has overturned a previous ruling and has now determined that the historic district is eligible for federal funding to repair its boardwalk, which was damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. “We are delighted and grateful to have just recently learned that FEMA has determined that the (Ocean Grove) Camp Meeting Association is eligible for assistance in funding of the boardwalk restoration. Although this eligibility determination does not guarantee us full funding from FEMA, it does allow us to proceed further in the process,” said…
Colorful Ocean Grove Resident to Reveal Secrets
By DON STINE Herb Herbst may have retired from his longtime job but he has certainly never retired from helping improve his community and now everyone can spend an evening with the well-known and ever-engaging Ocean Grove resident Sat., Nov. 16. “An Evening with Herb” will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Jersey Shore Arts Center- an institution that would never have existed without Herbst. “The secrets and history to restoring the arts center shall be revealed and they are both dramatic and humorous,” he said about his upcoming performance. During “An Evening with Herb,” this man on…
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Selects New Executive Director
The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association has named J. P. Gradone of Tennessee as its new chief operating officer and executive director. Dr. Dale Whilden, president of the association, said the selection marks the culmination of a lengthy, in depth search. “Our new COO exhibits an authentic commitment to Christ and brings an impressive record of combining business world savvy and ministry skills,” Whilden said. Gradone has had 20 years of extensive experience in the business world prior to serving for 10 years in Executive Pastor positions. He comes to the Camp Meeting from an executive pastor role in…
Investigation Sought on Alleged Forgeries in Neptune
By DON STINE Allegations of fraud were raised this week over a petition seeking to overturn Neptune’s recent decision to establish rent control on buildings with more than four units. A 1,408-signature petition seeking to place a new rent control ordinance on a public ballot has been found to have many invalid and forged signatures, said residents who never signed the petition. The Neptune Committee to Repeal Rent Control recently submitted the petition requesting that the rent control issue be offered to voters in a referendum. However, after investigation, the petition was found to contain many forged signatures and…
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting to Hire New Chief Operating Officer
By BONNIE GRAHAM Several hundred year-round and summer residents, as well as residents from neighboring communities, filled the Youth Temple in Ocean Grove over the weekend for the annual meeting hosted by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. CMA President Dale Whilden held up the 2013 Ocean Grove summer events booklet and said, ‘This is almost a book of remembrances. “ He spoke of the super storm Sandy, which struck the Jersey Shore on October 29, 2012, calling it a “devastating experience.” However, Whilden said he was thrilled to see the community pull together and was grateful to see…
Summer Ball Raises $55,000 for Ocean Grove Beachfront
More than 500 attended the Summer Ball held recently at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa to raise money to restore the Ocean Grove beachfront. Summer Ball chairs Martha and Rick Cuttrell said they were amazed at the turnout. “While we’ve been involved in previous Balls for the Grove,” said Martha, “never have we felt the energy generated by this one!” Both said they were humbled by the outpouring of support with offers of help and donations. Volunteers included Kristen and Judy Isaksen who were responsible for setting up the display of silent auction items donated by local businesses…
