Good news comes in threes for L.B. library
Virtual career center will be state model
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The Long Branch Public Library has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the New Jersey State Library.
The grant was given to the library on June 9 to implement, strengthen and expand the capability of library staff in the areas of job seeking, unemployment and related services to library customers.
These services will include a model career center computer lab, a virtual career center and in-person as well as virtual training in the use of online resources.
Long Branch Library Director Ingrid Bruck said that the grant money is one of three pieces of good news the library received in June.
"We had three pieces of good news recently," Bruck said. "We got the grant money, but we also found out that New Jersey Natural Gas [NJNG] will be purchasing some computers for $10,000 and that the state will use our virtual career center as a model on the statewide level."
Bruck explained that the grant funds will help people qualify for jobs in the community.
T
he money will ultimately be used to
fund a teacher and state-of-the-art computers to help with the training class.
"The state library funded a teacher so we can have classes for people without jobs," Bruck said. "We got the grant so we can use it on a teacher and equipment."
Bruck said a teacher has not been officially named yet.
The class will begin in the middle of July and run 16 weeks. There will be 12 people attending the class, according to Bruck, and the goal of the class is to get people re-employed.
"The focus of the class will be helping people getting back to work," Bruck said.
The 15 new computers will be purchased using the grant money to replace the computers purchased by NJNG.
Bruck said replacing the computers was very necessary.
"The computers were seven years old and inadequate," Bruck said. "They didn't have USB ports and couldn't burn CDs. Things we really needed.
"Now we will have state-of-the-art computers to assist people," she added.
While the grant money and the career center news was somewhat expected, according to Bruck, the news about NJNG was a surprise to her.
"New Jersey Natural Gas taking our computers for $10,000 was a surprise," Bruck said. "We didn't expect that to happen at all."
The news of the grant and the upcoming class go hand in hand with the news about the virtual career center being used as a statewide model.
"Anyone in the state can use our virtual career center," Bruck said.
Bruck explained the focus of the career center.
"We take resources and bring them to the Long Branch level," Bruck said. "We make some of these resources accessible to the community."
What the career center does is link job seekers to various helpful resources in the community, such as places to apply for jobs and links to the local universities.
"We have about a 100 links up there," Bruck said. "We make everything local.
"You go on and apply for a job at Kmart because Kmart is a store in our community," Bruck said. "We took a big haystack and made it navigable.
"We have links to classes at Monmouth and Brookdale because those are the universities in our community." One of the aspects of the career center that Bruck is most proud of is the work that Diversity and Literacy Coordinator Tanya Badillo has done.
According to Bruck, Badillo has done a lot of work with the career center especially helping out with making it accessible for minorities.
"For Latinos in the community it may be harder for them to find jobs," Bruck said.
Also, the library is a place where ex-offenders come and look for opportunities.
"Ex-offenders come to the library a lot with no jobs and no money," Bruck said.
With the economy being down, the library has seen a boom in popularity.
"We have about 2,500 users each month use the computers," Bruck said.
She noted that the career center was not a reaction to the down economy.
"We were ready in August before everything crashed," Bruck said. "No one expected it to be as bad as it's been.
"We hope to get people back to work."
The library has worked with the Long Branch Concordance, as well as Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth University in forming a committee to help people during the economic downturn.
More information about the library and the career center can be found at http://www.lmxac.org/longbranch/.
Contact Kenny Walter at
Kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Saturday, August 15, 2009
MTOTSA loses a strong advocate
MTOTSA loses a strong advocate
Carmen Venditti
LONG BRANCH - Carmen Venditti, who passed away June 12, never gave up on his resolve to remain in the beachfront home the city of Long Branch was attempting to take through eminent domain, his daughter said last week.
"I don't think my father ever really thought we were ever going to lose our home," said his daughter Lori Ann Venditti last week. "In his mind we weren't ever going to lose the house.
"Your house shouldn't be taken," she added.
One of the staunch opponents of the city's attempt to take the homes in his small neighborhood — dubbed MTOTSA for Marine Terrace, Ocean Terrace and Seaview Avenue - Carmen Venditti passed away at the age of 82.
He died at the Monmouth Medical Center Hospice Unit after a battle with leiomyosarcoma, a tumor in one of his lungs.
Venditti was a tractor-trailer driver and shop steward at Tose- Fowler Trucking Company, Bridgeport, Pa., for 45 years, retiring in 1989.
Residents of Newark, Carmen and his wife Josephine began spending summers in the brick home on Ocean Terrace in 1960.
When redevelopment plans called for the condemnation of properties in MTOTSA,
Carmen and Josephine Venditti joined the fight against the use of eminent domain in the modest beachfront neighborhood.
"He fought just like all of us fought," Lori Ann Venditti said. "We were all fighting to save our homes."
Carmen was the latest of several MTOTSA advocates who have passed on, but whose determined resistance helped to block the taking of their homes through eminent domain. Currently, the city and attorneys for MTOTSA are involved in talks aimed at reaching an agreement that will result in the city abandoning its attempt to take the homes in the beachfront neighborhood.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Carmen Venditti
LONG BRANCH - Carmen Venditti, who passed away June 12, never gave up on his resolve to remain in the beachfront home the city of Long Branch was attempting to take through eminent domain, his daughter said last week.
"I don't think my father ever really thought we were ever going to lose our home," said his daughter Lori Ann Venditti last week. "In his mind we weren't ever going to lose the house.
"Your house shouldn't be taken," she added.
One of the staunch opponents of the city's attempt to take the homes in his small neighborhood — dubbed MTOTSA for Marine Terrace, Ocean Terrace and Seaview Avenue - Carmen Venditti passed away at the age of 82.
He died at the Monmouth Medical Center Hospice Unit after a battle with leiomyosarcoma, a tumor in one of his lungs.
Venditti was a tractor-trailer driver and shop steward at Tose- Fowler Trucking Company, Bridgeport, Pa., for 45 years, retiring in 1989.
Residents of Newark, Carmen and his wife Josephine began spending summers in the brick home on Ocean Terrace in 1960.
When redevelopment plans called for the condemnation of properties in MTOTSA,
Carmen and Josephine Venditti joined the fight against the use of eminent domain in the modest beachfront neighborhood.
"He fought just like all of us fought," Lori Ann Venditti said. "We were all fighting to save our homes."
Carmen was the latest of several MTOTSA advocates who have passed on, but whose determined resistance helped to block the taking of their homes through eminent domain. Currently, the city and attorneys for MTOTSA are involved in talks aimed at reaching an agreement that will result in the city abandoning its attempt to take the homes in the beachfront neighborhood.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Jersey Fusion off to a strong start
Jersey Fusion off to a strong start
Locals on roster of women's semi-pro basketball team
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The Jersey Fusion, a first-year women's semi-pro basketball team, has gotten off to a fast start.
The Jersey Fusion
The 3-1 Fusion play at the Red Bank Salvation Army as a first-year team for the Women's Blue Chip Basketball League.
The Fusion are coached and owned by former Monmouth University player Audrey Taylor.
Taylor explained what semi-pro actually means.
"These are pro-level athletes at lower skill levels," Taylor said. "There are some players who used to — and still do — play overseas, as well as some former WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association] players."
Taylor is currently in her fourth year as the assistant coach of the Cardinal McCarrick High School Lady Eagles in South Amboy. Prior to coaching at Cardinal McCarrick, she spent time as an assistant coach at Monmouth University and coached and trained youths at recreational facilities in Virginia.
Taylor's longtime friend and partner, Rodney Harris, serves as the Fusion's director of basketball operations.
"I coordinate gym time, transportation, and help the girls with fundraising," Harris said. "I also act as a scrimmage player against the girls."
Harris was a standout basketball player at South River High School from 1983 to 1987 and has amassed a 147-18 record coaching youth basketball for 10 years.
Harris has also served full time with the 108th Air Refuel Wing at McGuire Air Force Base for the past 13 years.
Harris and Taylor have another business, called Millennium Ballers, which specializes in youth basketball training.
So far, the two have enjoyed their fast start but differ on what the expectations were when they were going in.
"No, we didn't expect the early success," Taylor said. "Being a new team, with the reputation the league has, we didn't expect to be this good this quick."
"Honestly, I thought we'd be 4-0," Harris said. "But you've got to understand, we are a new team and haven't gotten to see a lot of the teams play."
According to Taylor, players' pay varies widely.
"It really varies a lot throughout the league," she said. "Some players get $150 or so per game and some only get compensation for travel."
While the team operates on a low budget, this is an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills on the court.
"Hopefully, we get some scouts from the WNBA or overseas [to] come out and see some of the girls play," Harris said. "These girls can really [play]."
The team is composed mostly of local women, including Felecia Harris, Geneva Livingston and Tomora Young, who all hail from Red Bank.
"It's been fun and exciting so far," Livingston said last week. "We have really started to click."
Livingston has been a friend and summer league teammate of Taylor for the past two years, but said the coach-player relationship has been a smooth transition.
"It hasn't been difficult at all," Livingston said. "She believes in me and I take what she says as constructive criticism."
The roster includes former college players from Monmouth, Rutgers, Delaware, St. Peter's College and Rider University among others.
Five-foot-9 former Western Michigan Bronco Carrie Moore leads the team. Moore is averaging 23.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Moore led the nation in scoring at Western Michigan during the 2006-07 season by averaging 25.4 points per game.
Moore also briefly appeared in the WNBA.
"Carrie Moore is our role model," Taylor said. "She has played in the WNBA and overseas."
Also putting up big numbers is the 5- foot-10 guard Livingston, who is averaging 16.0 points and 6.7 rebounds, and 6-foot-1 Wagner College alumna Leeah Thomas, who is averaging nine points, 8.5 rebounds and one block per game.
"Geneva is our on-court leader," Taylor said. "She is our 'silent assassin.' She is a great shooter and very calm out there on the court."
One weakness thus far for the team has been their lack of size and their rebounding deficiencies.
"Rebounding has been a problem so far," Taylor said. "We are believing in each other, and our chemistry is going to be very solid."
"Rebounding has been a problem," Harris agreed. "We are not really big.
"Well, we have some bigger girls, but no true post player," Harris added. "Everyone wants to be a guard."
"We need to be more consistent on both ends of the court," said Livingston, who spends time as both a small and power forward. "A lot of what we have discussed after the games has been missing defensive assignments and things like that.
"Once we get a little more consistent, we will be very tough to beat," she added.
While the Fusion may not have the size, they have built their early start with speed.
"We play an up-tempo, fundamentally sound style," Taylor said, "a mix of old school and new school.
"We have some flashy new-school players," Taylor added, "but we are fundamental. We box out, run plays and set screens."
The Fusion's speed also translates on the defensive side of the court, as they play a very active zone to go along with a fullcourt press.
"We play two types of defense mostly," Taylor said. "We play a 3-2 match-up zone as well as a full-court man-to-man press."
One of the challenges of the season is that the teams operate out-of-pocket from the owners.
"Fundraising has been difficult as a firstyear team," Taylor said. "Getting word out and getting people to come to the games has been difficult."
"Being the only women's semi-pro team in New Jersey, it's been hard to get people to go to the games," Livingston said. "It's been hard to get support, but I think it's starting to grow because we are winning."
Another challenge for the low-budget team is travel. Teams in the same division include teams from Massachusetts, Delaware, New York City, Long Island, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
According to Taylor, travel has yet to be a problem, and the team takes vans to away games.
"Travel has not been too bad," Taylor said. "They put a four- to five-hour limit on how far a team travels."
"We got up to New Hampshire in four or five hours," Taylor added. "We made it down to Virginia in about three and a half hours."
So far, the experience has been viewed as a positive one for both Taylor and Harris.
"It's been really exciting so far," Harris said, adding, "I'm glad I'm a part of this."
"It's been great so far," Taylor agreed.
The Fusion swept through a home-andhome series with the Massachusetts Marvels, as well as defeating the Delaware Lady Destroyers and losing by 15 to the DC Bluestreakz.
The Fusion will host the 1-1 Whitehall Lazers on June 20 at 2 p.m. at the Red Bank Salvation Army in the fifth of the 11-game schedule.
Tickets may be purchased online at the Fusion's website, http://www.jerseyfusion. com, or may be purchased on-site.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Locals on roster of women's semi-pro basketball team
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The Jersey Fusion, a first-year women's semi-pro basketball team, has gotten off to a fast start.
The Jersey Fusion
The 3-1 Fusion play at the Red Bank Salvation Army as a first-year team for the Women's Blue Chip Basketball League.
The Fusion are coached and owned by former Monmouth University player Audrey Taylor.
Taylor explained what semi-pro actually means.
"These are pro-level athletes at lower skill levels," Taylor said. "There are some players who used to — and still do — play overseas, as well as some former WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association] players."
Taylor is currently in her fourth year as the assistant coach of the Cardinal McCarrick High School Lady Eagles in South Amboy. Prior to coaching at Cardinal McCarrick, she spent time as an assistant coach at Monmouth University and coached and trained youths at recreational facilities in Virginia.
Taylor's longtime friend and partner, Rodney Harris, serves as the Fusion's director of basketball operations.
"I coordinate gym time, transportation, and help the girls with fundraising," Harris said. "I also act as a scrimmage player against the girls."
Harris was a standout basketball player at South River High School from 1983 to 1987 and has amassed a 147-18 record coaching youth basketball for 10 years.
Harris has also served full time with the 108th Air Refuel Wing at McGuire Air Force Base for the past 13 years.
Harris and Taylor have another business, called Millennium Ballers, which specializes in youth basketball training.
So far, the two have enjoyed their fast start but differ on what the expectations were when they were going in.
"No, we didn't expect the early success," Taylor said. "Being a new team, with the reputation the league has, we didn't expect to be this good this quick."
"Honestly, I thought we'd be 4-0," Harris said. "But you've got to understand, we are a new team and haven't gotten to see a lot of the teams play."
According to Taylor, players' pay varies widely.
"It really varies a lot throughout the league," she said. "Some players get $150 or so per game and some only get compensation for travel."
While the team operates on a low budget, this is an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills on the court.
"Hopefully, we get some scouts from the WNBA or overseas [to] come out and see some of the girls play," Harris said. "These girls can really [play]."
The team is composed mostly of local women, including Felecia Harris, Geneva Livingston and Tomora Young, who all hail from Red Bank.
"It's been fun and exciting so far," Livingston said last week. "We have really started to click."
Livingston has been a friend and summer league teammate of Taylor for the past two years, but said the coach-player relationship has been a smooth transition.
"It hasn't been difficult at all," Livingston said. "She believes in me and I take what she says as constructive criticism."
The roster includes former college players from Monmouth, Rutgers, Delaware, St. Peter's College and Rider University among others.
Five-foot-9 former Western Michigan Bronco Carrie Moore leads the team. Moore is averaging 23.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Moore led the nation in scoring at Western Michigan during the 2006-07 season by averaging 25.4 points per game.
Moore also briefly appeared in the WNBA.
"Carrie Moore is our role model," Taylor said. "She has played in the WNBA and overseas."
Also putting up big numbers is the 5- foot-10 guard Livingston, who is averaging 16.0 points and 6.7 rebounds, and 6-foot-1 Wagner College alumna Leeah Thomas, who is averaging nine points, 8.5 rebounds and one block per game.
"Geneva is our on-court leader," Taylor said. "She is our 'silent assassin.' She is a great shooter and very calm out there on the court."
One weakness thus far for the team has been their lack of size and their rebounding deficiencies.
"Rebounding has been a problem so far," Taylor said. "We are believing in each other, and our chemistry is going to be very solid."
"Rebounding has been a problem," Harris agreed. "We are not really big.
"Well, we have some bigger girls, but no true post player," Harris added. "Everyone wants to be a guard."
"We need to be more consistent on both ends of the court," said Livingston, who spends time as both a small and power forward. "A lot of what we have discussed after the games has been missing defensive assignments and things like that.
"Once we get a little more consistent, we will be very tough to beat," she added.
While the Fusion may not have the size, they have built their early start with speed.
"We play an up-tempo, fundamentally sound style," Taylor said, "a mix of old school and new school.
"We have some flashy new-school players," Taylor added, "but we are fundamental. We box out, run plays and set screens."
The Fusion's speed also translates on the defensive side of the court, as they play a very active zone to go along with a fullcourt press.
"We play two types of defense mostly," Taylor said. "We play a 3-2 match-up zone as well as a full-court man-to-man press."
One of the challenges of the season is that the teams operate out-of-pocket from the owners.
"Fundraising has been difficult as a firstyear team," Taylor said. "Getting word out and getting people to come to the games has been difficult."
"Being the only women's semi-pro team in New Jersey, it's been hard to get people to go to the games," Livingston said. "It's been hard to get support, but I think it's starting to grow because we are winning."
Another challenge for the low-budget team is travel. Teams in the same division include teams from Massachusetts, Delaware, New York City, Long Island, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
According to Taylor, travel has yet to be a problem, and the team takes vans to away games.
"Travel has not been too bad," Taylor said. "They put a four- to five-hour limit on how far a team travels."
"We got up to New Hampshire in four or five hours," Taylor added. "We made it down to Virginia in about three and a half hours."
So far, the experience has been viewed as a positive one for both Taylor and Harris.
"It's been really exciting so far," Harris said, adding, "I'm glad I'm a part of this."
"It's been great so far," Taylor agreed.
The Fusion swept through a home-andhome series with the Massachusetts Marvels, as well as defeating the Delaware Lady Destroyers and losing by 15 to the DC Bluestreakz.
The Fusion will host the 1-1 Whitehall Lazers on June 20 at 2 p.m. at the Red Bank Salvation Army in the fifth of the 11-game schedule.
Tickets may be purchased online at the Fusion's website, http://www.jerseyfusion. com, or may be purchased on-site.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Oceanport's Ibex will not seek re-election
Oceanport's Ibex will not seek re-election
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
John "Ted" Ibex
OCEANPORT — The prospect of another drawn-out political campaign season was appealing for an Oceanport councilman.
John "Ted" Ibex said last week that he will end his political career rather than go through it all one more time.
"I'm not a political person," Ibex said. "I'm not interested in campaigning."
Ibex said he bounced around the idea of running unopposed, which is something he was interested in, but once the ticket became too crowded, he decided to step back.
"I would have done it," Ibex said. "Like I said, I'm not a political person."
Ibex, a Democrat, will end his tenure on the Oceanport Borough Council after a four-year term.
"When my term expires, I will have served Oceanport for 21 years," Ibex said, "17 years on the Board of Education and four on the council."
Oceanport Borough Clerk/Administrator Kimberly Jungfer confirmed that current council President William Johnson and Gerald
Bertekap will run on the Republican ticket for two council seats up for election, while write-in candidate Lester "Tom" Cox will run on the Democratic side in the Nov. 3 general election.
Although he is leaving the council, Ibex left open the possibility of serving the borough in some capacity. He said he is open to joining a committee if nominated for a position.
"I've enjoyed serving Oceanport," Ibex said. "I would like to continue.
"I have 40 years of business experience as a CPA. I think my experience in finance is excellent. I could contribute significantly in a financial way."
According to Ibex, Oceanport faces some big issues in the future, but none are likely to have the impact that the impending closing of Fort Monmouth will have.
"We need to manage our future the best we can," Ibex said. "In terms of impact, Fort Monmouth closing is important to Oceanport."
But Ibex does not believe that Oceanport will be overwhelmed by the fort's closing.
"I think we are prepared when it eventually closes," Ibex said. "We have been actively involved in all aspects of it, especially the planning. We hired our own planner when Fort Monmouth became an issue.
"We have a vision on what the impact will be," Ibex said. "We need to keep our eye on the ball that way.
"We have accomplished a lot in managing Fort Monmouth."
While there are some serious issues facing the borough, Ibex believes the right people are in place to get the job done.
"We have had a lean budget, a very good public works department, and an excellent police department," Ibex said.
"We have people in place interested in growth and keeping the budget under control."
While it sometimes may be difficult to cross party lines within a council, it has not been a problem recently in Oceanport, according to Ibex.
"We are in control and have a unified view of the situation," Ibex said. "We have collectively worked well together as a council.
"We worked well together regardless of whether there is a D or an R in front of our names."
While Ibex will no longer be running for political office, he has no desire to leave Oceanport.
"I've lived in Oceanport for 40 years, since I got out of the Army in 1969, and I have no intention of leaving."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
John "Ted" Ibex
OCEANPORT — The prospect of another drawn-out political campaign season was appealing for an Oceanport councilman.
John "Ted" Ibex said last week that he will end his political career rather than go through it all one more time.
"I'm not a political person," Ibex said. "I'm not interested in campaigning."
Ibex said he bounced around the idea of running unopposed, which is something he was interested in, but once the ticket became too crowded, he decided to step back.
"I would have done it," Ibex said. "Like I said, I'm not a political person."
Ibex, a Democrat, will end his tenure on the Oceanport Borough Council after a four-year term.
"When my term expires, I will have served Oceanport for 21 years," Ibex said, "17 years on the Board of Education and four on the council."
Oceanport Borough Clerk/Administrator Kimberly Jungfer confirmed that current council President William Johnson and Gerald
Bertekap will run on the Republican ticket for two council seats up for election, while write-in candidate Lester "Tom" Cox will run on the Democratic side in the Nov. 3 general election.
Although he is leaving the council, Ibex left open the possibility of serving the borough in some capacity. He said he is open to joining a committee if nominated for a position.
"I've enjoyed serving Oceanport," Ibex said. "I would like to continue.
"I have 40 years of business experience as a CPA. I think my experience in finance is excellent. I could contribute significantly in a financial way."
According to Ibex, Oceanport faces some big issues in the future, but none are likely to have the impact that the impending closing of Fort Monmouth will have.
"We need to manage our future the best we can," Ibex said. "In terms of impact, Fort Monmouth closing is important to Oceanport."
But Ibex does not believe that Oceanport will be overwhelmed by the fort's closing.
"I think we are prepared when it eventually closes," Ibex said. "We have been actively involved in all aspects of it, especially the planning. We hired our own planner when Fort Monmouth became an issue.
"We have a vision on what the impact will be," Ibex said. "We need to keep our eye on the ball that way.
"We have accomplished a lot in managing Fort Monmouth."
While there are some serious issues facing the borough, Ibex believes the right people are in place to get the job done.
"We have had a lean budget, a very good public works department, and an excellent police department," Ibex said.
"We have people in place interested in growth and keeping the budget under control."
While it sometimes may be difficult to cross party lines within a council, it has not been a problem recently in Oceanport, according to Ibex.
"We are in control and have a unified view of the situation," Ibex said. "We have collectively worked well together as a council.
"We worked well together regardless of whether there is a D or an R in front of our names."
While Ibex will no longer be running for political office, he has no desire to leave Oceanport.
"I've lived in Oceanport for 40 years, since I got out of the Army in 1969, and I have no intention of leaving."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
Arc's Work Opportunity Center funding cut
Arc's Work Opportunity Center funding cut
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY staff Mary Jane Torrez, one of The Arc clients who went to Trenton to protest funding cuts to the Work Opportunity Center, packs an order on June 15.
LONG BRANCH — Too old for school but too young to retire.
That's the situation faced by individuals served by The Arc of Monmouth's Work Opportunity Center (WOC) in Long Branch.
The WOC in Long Branch is one of many work centers that have had their funding cut due to the state's current economy slowdown.
Funding for the center's $750,000 budget has been cut by $73,000, and $440,000 has been cut from its transportation funding.
"Seventy-three thousand dollars is a lot of money to get cut," WOC Director of Vocational Services Linda Porter said last week. "All of the 160 people who attend this program do not drive. Over the 22 years that I have worked in this program, we have only had a handful of people served that could drive."
Porter said funding for WOC and similar centers across the state comes from the Division of Developmental Disabilities and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services of the N.J. Department of Human Services.
According to Porter, $1.8 million has been cut from employment centers across the state.
On April 30, six members of WOC's Self- Advocacy Group, a group made up of individuals served by The Arc, traveled to Trenton to attend a rally held to protest the cuts in funding.
Mary Jane Torrez and Joe Carbin were members of the group who attended the rally with Porter.
"We yelled out 'Save our jobs," Torrez, 23, said.
"A lot of people were rallying," said Carbin, 25, who is currently employed three days a week at Fort Monmouth. "Some speakers were talking about cutbacks."
Porter said the reaction to the rally was positive. Although Gov. Jon Corzine was not present during the rally, David J. Socolow, commissioner of the New Jersey Labor and Workforce Department, was.
"The governor wasn't there," Porter said, "but everyone was sympathetic to our situation.
"These are young, healthy people," Porter added. "They want to work; they have the right to work."
The Arc of Monmouth is a nonprofit organization providing services and support for individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and for their families, according to the website.
In 2007, The Arc of Monmouth served 1,015 persons with cognitive disabilities, 54 with cerebral palsy, two with epilepsy and 71 with autism. The Arc's recreation department provided services to 710 people, 382 received transportation, 148 received supported employment services, and 437 received medically related services, the site continues.
The WOC provides diagnostic services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
A written report is generated that highlights areas of strength as well as areas that may need additional training. Community job samplings are conducted in this service.
This training assists individuals with developmental disabilities to develop the vocational skills and social behaviors necessary for successful employment. Areas of concern that are identified in the vocational evaluation are addressed through counseling, vocational training and additional job samplings, according to The Arc website.
Porter said the WOC, which serves approximately 160 adults daily, allows businesses to subcontract certain jobs including hand assembly, hand packaging, shrink wrapping, heat sealing, bulk mailing, mail preparation, and delivery to the post office.
In addition, WOC workers assemble and deliver customized health care kits to hospitals and state correctional facilities in New Jersey. WOC also services New York City and the surrounding boroughs as well as Philadelphia and the surrounding towns.
WOC Contract Packaging and Fulfillment provides businesses with timesaving production assembly, freeing the businesses' employees to perform other tasks and help meet customer deadlines.
But since the economic downturn, the work has been coming in at a lower volume.
"Our orders are down," Porter said. "There is not enough extra work. We are not getting our regular orders anymore."
"We haven't had a lot of work in the summer," Carbin said. "Things have been kind of slow."
While the orders coming into the WOC have slowed down, Porter and the advocates have tried other ways to keep busy during the day.
The group has led informative sessions on a range of topics, including swine flu, bullying, interview skills, and other day-to-day skills.
"For the last four months, we have had little or no work," Porter said. "We try to use the time to train them in other skills, like using public transportation, using vending machines and using the phone."
"We have talked about swine flu," Carbin said. "Washing your hands and keeping yourself clean.
"We talked about what to do when a bully comes up to you," Carbin said, "how to react when someone comes and pushes you around.
"Should you walk away?" Carbin added. "What should you do?"
One of the more practical lessons was the job sampling and practice interviews.
Porter said that some of the advocates were able to work with local businesses for a day to get a feel for the work world.
The interview practice paid off for Torrez, who interviewed for a position with McDonald's a few weeks earlier.
"I just looked him in the eyes and talked loudly," said Torrez, who has yet to hear whether she got the job. "It made me feel more comfortable."
With the cuts being in effect July 1, there is some worry about what is going to happen at WOC.
"I don't expect us to close our building," Porter said.
While Porter dismissed the notion of closing the WOC full time, she did say that employees will be given furloughs and will work fewer hours.
"I have cut the hours of staff by a half-hour daily, [which accounts] for 1.33 days per month," Porter said in an interview. "Less staff means reduced attention to each person served to meet their vocational goals."
Another option may be to close the building for a week at a time.
WOC currently employs 22 full-time employees, but that number was 25.
"I have two positions that I cannot fill," Porter said. "The money simply isn't there.
"I am looking to hire a part-time secretary," Porter said, adding, "That was once a full-time position."
Porter said the WOC gives young men and women an opportunity and a chance to mature. She does not view the WOC as a permanent place for anyone.
Carbin and Torrez agree and see themselves elsewhere 10 years from now.
"Maybe one day I'd try to have my own business," Carbin said. "No, I don't want to be here all my life. I can get out in the community and go out on my own."
"I want to be married with children," Torrez said. "Maybe work for a day care center."
The WOC is located at 395 Warburton Place in Long Branch and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. More information about TheArc or WOC can be found on the website http://www.arcofmonmouth.org.
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BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY staff Mary Jane Torrez, one of The Arc clients who went to Trenton to protest funding cuts to the Work Opportunity Center, packs an order on June 15.
LONG BRANCH — Too old for school but too young to retire.
That's the situation faced by individuals served by The Arc of Monmouth's Work Opportunity Center (WOC) in Long Branch.
The WOC in Long Branch is one of many work centers that have had their funding cut due to the state's current economy slowdown.
Funding for the center's $750,000 budget has been cut by $73,000, and $440,000 has been cut from its transportation funding.
"Seventy-three thousand dollars is a lot of money to get cut," WOC Director of Vocational Services Linda Porter said last week. "All of the 160 people who attend this program do not drive. Over the 22 years that I have worked in this program, we have only had a handful of people served that could drive."
Porter said funding for WOC and similar centers across the state comes from the Division of Developmental Disabilities and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services of the N.J. Department of Human Services.
According to Porter, $1.8 million has been cut from employment centers across the state.
On April 30, six members of WOC's Self- Advocacy Group, a group made up of individuals served by The Arc, traveled to Trenton to attend a rally held to protest the cuts in funding.
Mary Jane Torrez and Joe Carbin were members of the group who attended the rally with Porter.
"We yelled out 'Save our jobs," Torrez, 23, said.
"A lot of people were rallying," said Carbin, 25, who is currently employed three days a week at Fort Monmouth. "Some speakers were talking about cutbacks."
Porter said the reaction to the rally was positive. Although Gov. Jon Corzine was not present during the rally, David J. Socolow, commissioner of the New Jersey Labor and Workforce Department, was.
"The governor wasn't there," Porter said, "but everyone was sympathetic to our situation.
"These are young, healthy people," Porter added. "They want to work; they have the right to work."
The Arc of Monmouth is a nonprofit organization providing services and support for individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and for their families, according to the website.
In 2007, The Arc of Monmouth served 1,015 persons with cognitive disabilities, 54 with cerebral palsy, two with epilepsy and 71 with autism. The Arc's recreation department provided services to 710 people, 382 received transportation, 148 received supported employment services, and 437 received medically related services, the site continues.
The WOC provides diagnostic services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
A written report is generated that highlights areas of strength as well as areas that may need additional training. Community job samplings are conducted in this service.
This training assists individuals with developmental disabilities to develop the vocational skills and social behaviors necessary for successful employment. Areas of concern that are identified in the vocational evaluation are addressed through counseling, vocational training and additional job samplings, according to The Arc website.
Porter said the WOC, which serves approximately 160 adults daily, allows businesses to subcontract certain jobs including hand assembly, hand packaging, shrink wrapping, heat sealing, bulk mailing, mail preparation, and delivery to the post office.
In addition, WOC workers assemble and deliver customized health care kits to hospitals and state correctional facilities in New Jersey. WOC also services New York City and the surrounding boroughs as well as Philadelphia and the surrounding towns.
WOC Contract Packaging and Fulfillment provides businesses with timesaving production assembly, freeing the businesses' employees to perform other tasks and help meet customer deadlines.
But since the economic downturn, the work has been coming in at a lower volume.
"Our orders are down," Porter said. "There is not enough extra work. We are not getting our regular orders anymore."
"We haven't had a lot of work in the summer," Carbin said. "Things have been kind of slow."
While the orders coming into the WOC have slowed down, Porter and the advocates have tried other ways to keep busy during the day.
The group has led informative sessions on a range of topics, including swine flu, bullying, interview skills, and other day-to-day skills.
"For the last four months, we have had little or no work," Porter said. "We try to use the time to train them in other skills, like using public transportation, using vending machines and using the phone."
"We have talked about swine flu," Carbin said. "Washing your hands and keeping yourself clean.
"We talked about what to do when a bully comes up to you," Carbin said, "how to react when someone comes and pushes you around.
"Should you walk away?" Carbin added. "What should you do?"
One of the more practical lessons was the job sampling and practice interviews.
Porter said that some of the advocates were able to work with local businesses for a day to get a feel for the work world.
The interview practice paid off for Torrez, who interviewed for a position with McDonald's a few weeks earlier.
"I just looked him in the eyes and talked loudly," said Torrez, who has yet to hear whether she got the job. "It made me feel more comfortable."
With the cuts being in effect July 1, there is some worry about what is going to happen at WOC.
"I don't expect us to close our building," Porter said.
While Porter dismissed the notion of closing the WOC full time, she did say that employees will be given furloughs and will work fewer hours.
"I have cut the hours of staff by a half-hour daily, [which accounts] for 1.33 days per month," Porter said in an interview. "Less staff means reduced attention to each person served to meet their vocational goals."
Another option may be to close the building for a week at a time.
WOC currently employs 22 full-time employees, but that number was 25.
"I have two positions that I cannot fill," Porter said. "The money simply isn't there.
"I am looking to hire a part-time secretary," Porter said, adding, "That was once a full-time position."
Porter said the WOC gives young men and women an opportunity and a chance to mature. She does not view the WOC as a permanent place for anyone.
Carbin and Torrez agree and see themselves elsewhere 10 years from now.
"Maybe one day I'd try to have my own business," Carbin said. "No, I don't want to be here all my life. I can get out in the community and go out on my own."
"I want to be married with children," Torrez said. "Maybe work for a day care center."
The WOC is located at 395 Warburton Place in Long Branch and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. More information about TheArc or WOC can be found on the website http://www.arcofmonmouth.org.
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City responds to Fuschia Triangle suit
City responds to Fuschia Triangle suit
Suit challenges blight designation, seeks damages
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The city of Long Branch has asked the Superior Court of New Jersey to dismiss a lawsuit charging the city with unconstitutionally labeling a Broadway Gateway property as a redevelopment zone.
City Attorney James Aaron, of Ansell, Zaro, Grimm & Aaron in Ocean Township, filed the response on May 13.
Aaron declined to comment last week on the specifics of the suit but did say that the allegations levied against the city were baseless.
"The allegations are false," Aaron said. "They don't truly reflect how the city acted.
"We will show that we worked with the property owner and allowed the property owner to move forward in the attempt to develop his land," Aaron said during an interview last week.
While Aaron did not comment on specifics in the city's response, he did say that if the suit goes to trial, it will not be in the immediate future.
"There will be between 180 days and 360 days to allow for discovery for both the city and the prosecution," Aaron said. "We are looking at two years before the suit goes to trial."
The 12-page response rebuts every claim made in the lawsuit, responding to most by "denying the allegations" or stating that the defendants "are without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations."
Princeton attorney R. William Potter, of Potter and Dickson, filed the suit on behalf of Long Branch business owner Kevin Fister and his wife Adele, Fuchsia Triangle Corp. and Coach Corp.
The suit filed in state Superior Court in Freehold on April 8 names the city of Long Branch and the City Council as defendants.
The suit seeks to overturn what it alleges is the city's "unconstitutional designation of private property as blighted" and asks for "damages and injunctive relief against the mayor and the council of the city of Long Branch."
Among the allegations in the complaint is the charge that the plaintiffs have been denied "their lawful right to own, use, enjoy, develop, redevelop or sell their property" in what amounts to the "loss of their property" due to the city's "de facto" condemnation of the commercial properties made up of five contiguous lots bounded by North and South Broadway, Long Branch Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.
"Their property remains 'frozen,' private in name but 'de facto' condemned for future use and without just, or indeed, any compensation," reads the complaint, which asks for a jury trial.
Potter said at the time of filing, "One, we are filing that the original designation of the property was unconstitutional. Two, we are arguing that the longstanding failure for the city to use eminent domain [resulted] in a significant to almost complete loss of value of the property," which "has remained frozen for more than a decade."
"They have been trying for years to develop the land in a manner [that] the city would embrace," he said. "We are hoping that this is a wake-up
call to the city. Not only do we want the city to lift the cloud of the blight designation, now they must compensate for the loss of value." According to the complaint, the city's unconstitutional actions date to the mid- 1980s with initial efforts to redevelop, leading to a preliminary investigation by the Long Branch Planning Board into whether large sections of the city, including the Fuschia Triangle, were blighted under the 1992 Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (LRHL).
The suit claims the city used the terms "area in need of redevelopment" and "redevelopment area" while actually applying standards of "blighted" property or area, which were rejected by the New Jersey Supreme Court in a 2007 case, Gallenthin Realty v. Borough of Paulsboro, which Potter successfully argued.
According to the complaint, the city designated the Fuschia Triangle as "in need of redevelopment," making the property and surrounding area subject to the LRHL, using the law to prevent the plaintiffs from developing their own property, to designate another redeveloper, and to acquire the property through eminent domain.
The complaint alleges that the unconstitutional process of designating the Fuschia Triangle a redevelopment area dates to August 1995, when the City Council directed the Planning Board to investigate whether the Broadway-Gateway area and other areas met the criteria for designation as redevelopment areas.
The lawsuit seeks to overturn the blight designation of the Fuschia Triangle and asks for compensatory and punitive damages for the "taking" of the Fuschia Triangle property.
As an alternative, the suit asks the court to order the city to purchase the Fuschia Triangle property "and end the "legal limbo which has prevented the Fisters from making profitable use of their property for more than a decade."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Suit challenges blight designation, seeks damages
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The city of Long Branch has asked the Superior Court of New Jersey to dismiss a lawsuit charging the city with unconstitutionally labeling a Broadway Gateway property as a redevelopment zone.
City Attorney James Aaron, of Ansell, Zaro, Grimm & Aaron in Ocean Township, filed the response on May 13.
Aaron declined to comment last week on the specifics of the suit but did say that the allegations levied against the city were baseless.
"The allegations are false," Aaron said. "They don't truly reflect how the city acted.
"We will show that we worked with the property owner and allowed the property owner to move forward in the attempt to develop his land," Aaron said during an interview last week.
While Aaron did not comment on specifics in the city's response, he did say that if the suit goes to trial, it will not be in the immediate future.
"There will be between 180 days and 360 days to allow for discovery for both the city and the prosecution," Aaron said. "We are looking at two years before the suit goes to trial."
The 12-page response rebuts every claim made in the lawsuit, responding to most by "denying the allegations" or stating that the defendants "are without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations."
Princeton attorney R. William Potter, of Potter and Dickson, filed the suit on behalf of Long Branch business owner Kevin Fister and his wife Adele, Fuchsia Triangle Corp. and Coach Corp.
The suit filed in state Superior Court in Freehold on April 8 names the city of Long Branch and the City Council as defendants.
The suit seeks to overturn what it alleges is the city's "unconstitutional designation of private property as blighted" and asks for "damages and injunctive relief against the mayor and the council of the city of Long Branch."
Among the allegations in the complaint is the charge that the plaintiffs have been denied "their lawful right to own, use, enjoy, develop, redevelop or sell their property" in what amounts to the "loss of their property" due to the city's "de facto" condemnation of the commercial properties made up of five contiguous lots bounded by North and South Broadway, Long Branch Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.
"Their property remains 'frozen,' private in name but 'de facto' condemned for future use and without just, or indeed, any compensation," reads the complaint, which asks for a jury trial.
Potter said at the time of filing, "One, we are filing that the original designation of the property was unconstitutional. Two, we are arguing that the longstanding failure for the city to use eminent domain [resulted] in a significant to almost complete loss of value of the property," which "has remained frozen for more than a decade."
"They have been trying for years to develop the land in a manner [that] the city would embrace," he said. "We are hoping that this is a wake-up
call to the city. Not only do we want the city to lift the cloud of the blight designation, now they must compensate for the loss of value." According to the complaint, the city's unconstitutional actions date to the mid- 1980s with initial efforts to redevelop, leading to a preliminary investigation by the Long Branch Planning Board into whether large sections of the city, including the Fuschia Triangle, were blighted under the 1992 Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (LRHL).
The suit claims the city used the terms "area in need of redevelopment" and "redevelopment area" while actually applying standards of "blighted" property or area, which were rejected by the New Jersey Supreme Court in a 2007 case, Gallenthin Realty v. Borough of Paulsboro, which Potter successfully argued.
According to the complaint, the city designated the Fuschia Triangle as "in need of redevelopment," making the property and surrounding area subject to the LRHL, using the law to prevent the plaintiffs from developing their own property, to designate another redeveloper, and to acquire the property through eminent domain.
The complaint alleges that the unconstitutional process of designating the Fuschia Triangle a redevelopment area dates to August 1995, when the City Council directed the Planning Board to investigate whether the Broadway-Gateway area and other areas met the criteria for designation as redevelopment areas.
The lawsuit seeks to overturn the blight designation of the Fuschia Triangle and asks for compensatory and punitive damages for the "taking" of the Fuschia Triangle property.
As an alternative, the suit asks the court to order the city to purchase the Fuschia Triangle property "and end the "legal limbo which has prevented the Fisters from making profitable use of their property for more than a decade."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Friday, August 7, 2009
Coastal evacuation plan coordinates exodus
Coastal evacuation plan coordinates exodus
Plan will give county tools in event of natural disaster
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Monmouth County has unveiled a draft plan for coastal evacuation that takes a comprehensive look at the facilities necessary to move residents safely away from coastal areas.
The yearlong study of coastal evacuation routes prepared for the Monmouth County Planning Board channels residents of coastal communities west, away from coastal areas that would be flooded in the event of a major storm.
The study, conducted by Jacobs Engineering Inc. in cooperation with Reichman Frankle Inc. and Techniquest Engineering, was unveiled at an open house meeting June 2 at the Brookdale Higher Education Learning Center on Broadway in Long Branch.
The purpose of the Coastal Evacuation Routes Study is to evaluate transportation facilities used for evacuation along the New Jersey coastal region east of the Garden State Parkway, to recommend improvements to existing facilities, and to develop new ones where appropriate, according to the study.
"One of Monmouth County's finest assets — its 26 miles of bay coastline — is also a potential liability as low- lying coastal areas are subject to flooding from wave action and weather, particularly during hurricane events," the study states.
The information can also be used when existing state and local plans are reviewed and updated, such as the county Office of Emergency Management's Emergency Operations Plan.
As outlined on the project website, monmouthcers. com, key objectives of the plan include:
• Collect transportation facility, operations and service network data for 12 critical infrastructure and emergency travel routes (portal facilities) in and around Monmouth County's coastal communities.
• Evaluate the inter-relationship of transportation routes and services and their capacity/ performance limitations, especially during peak seasonal periods.
• Group communities with common transportation routes and encourage them to work collaboratively to identify specific needs, issues and concerns.
• Evaluate potential physical/operational improvements to routes, including a range of transportation technologies.
The listed goals of the study include: to improve coastal routes; identify and address limitations to evacuation routes to ensure their efficiency during emergency situations; and promote awareness of evacuation routes and the evacuation process among residents, tourists, stakeholders and the general public.
Roadway widening, a network of shelters, backup power for traffic signals, evacuation route signs and new bridges are among the $150 million-plus in measures recommended in the study aimed at upgrading the county's plans for evacuation of coastal areas.
The study area includes 41 municipalities located east of the Garden State Parkway and divides the coastal area into three regions: northern, central and southern.
The northern region includes Aberdeen, Keyport, Hazlet, Union Beach, Keansburg, Holmdel, Matawan, Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Middletown.
The central region includes Red Bank, Fair Haven, Sea Bright, Rumson, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Eatontown, Tinton Falls, West Long Branch, Long Branch, Ocean Grove, Deal,
Interlaken, Allenhurst and Loch Arbor. The southern region encompasses Asbury Park, Avon- by- the- Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Belmar, Lake Como, Manasquan, Neptune, Neptune City, Sea Girl, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall. The study identifies 12 "portal" routes leading west from the
coastal region.
The process involved stakeholders and each region was represented by a group with members from each municipality to give feedback on each local need.
A Technical Advisory Committee was also formed to work with the project team members. The TAC included the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Engineers Lakshan Wickramarachchi and Bob Brakman were available to answer questions during the June 2 open house.
"It was a one- year study where we picked routes based on how many people are in the area," Brakman said, adding, "There are three times as many people living here in the summer, so we could see where the worst locations are in the summer."
"We worked extensively with getting information from population studies," Wickramarachchi said. "We recommended physical improvements based on how many people live in the area. I think we were successful."
Information made available at the open house included evacuation routes, suggested road improvements, an estimated cost for each improvement and the lead agency to take on such a job.
For example, the study suggests the widening of Route 520 to create a full shoulder, which would be taken on by the county with an estimated cost of $16.5 million.
Also suggested is an upgrade of signals for wireless controls on Route 36 traffic lights, which would be taken on by the state at a cost of $322,000.
The study also suggests that the state widen Route 36 at the Broad Street intersection, which would cost an estimated $4 million.
The study broke down suggestions into long- , intermediate- and short- term projects and actions to be taken during emergencies.
For example, the suggested widening of Route 520 shoulder is a long- term project, while adding no parking placards is a short- term project.
The draft plan also suggests evacuation routes for coastal residents.
The engineers suggest that travelers in the Northern region take CR-39, CR-56/7, CR-50/576, SR-36 or CR-8A/12/12A when evacuating and take Routes 520 or 36 or Park Avenue when in the Central zone. Wickramarachchi explained the goal of the plan.
"This is not an everyday event," Wickramarachchi said. "We wanted a practical plan to get people out to use the resources we have available.
"These are the best ways out that we identified," Wickramarachchi continued. "These roads lead into other main roads in the area."
He added that in evacuating, the suggestion is to work from the coastline out.
"We developed a broad picture plan and hope to expand upon it," Wickramarachchi said. "We try to get to areas along the coasts first, like Sea Bright. We have to have the best option to lead people to safety."
According to Brakman, people are alerted 36 hours prior to an evacuation, but the advance warning often does little good.
"We have discovered that even if we give people 36 hour warnings they still wait until the last minute," Brakman said.
Another issue is the added traffic during the evacuation.
"Also, it is not just a family leaving in their cars," Brakman said. "It's families leaving in two or three cars. Nobody wants to leave a car there."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com
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Plan will give county tools in event of natural disaster
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Monmouth County has unveiled a draft plan for coastal evacuation that takes a comprehensive look at the facilities necessary to move residents safely away from coastal areas.
The yearlong study of coastal evacuation routes prepared for the Monmouth County Planning Board channels residents of coastal communities west, away from coastal areas that would be flooded in the event of a major storm.
The study, conducted by Jacobs Engineering Inc. in cooperation with Reichman Frankle Inc. and Techniquest Engineering, was unveiled at an open house meeting June 2 at the Brookdale Higher Education Learning Center on Broadway in Long Branch.
The purpose of the Coastal Evacuation Routes Study is to evaluate transportation facilities used for evacuation along the New Jersey coastal region east of the Garden State Parkway, to recommend improvements to existing facilities, and to develop new ones where appropriate, according to the study.
"One of Monmouth County's finest assets — its 26 miles of bay coastline — is also a potential liability as low- lying coastal areas are subject to flooding from wave action and weather, particularly during hurricane events," the study states.
The information can also be used when existing state and local plans are reviewed and updated, such as the county Office of Emergency Management's Emergency Operations Plan.
As outlined on the project website, monmouthcers. com, key objectives of the plan include:
• Collect transportation facility, operations and service network data for 12 critical infrastructure and emergency travel routes (portal facilities) in and around Monmouth County's coastal communities.
• Evaluate the inter-relationship of transportation routes and services and their capacity/ performance limitations, especially during peak seasonal periods.
• Group communities with common transportation routes and encourage them to work collaboratively to identify specific needs, issues and concerns.
• Evaluate potential physical/operational improvements to routes, including a range of transportation technologies.
The listed goals of the study include: to improve coastal routes; identify and address limitations to evacuation routes to ensure their efficiency during emergency situations; and promote awareness of evacuation routes and the evacuation process among residents, tourists, stakeholders and the general public.
Roadway widening, a network of shelters, backup power for traffic signals, evacuation route signs and new bridges are among the $150 million-plus in measures recommended in the study aimed at upgrading the county's plans for evacuation of coastal areas.
The study area includes 41 municipalities located east of the Garden State Parkway and divides the coastal area into three regions: northern, central and southern.
The northern region includes Aberdeen, Keyport, Hazlet, Union Beach, Keansburg, Holmdel, Matawan, Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Middletown.
The central region includes Red Bank, Fair Haven, Sea Bright, Rumson, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Eatontown, Tinton Falls, West Long Branch, Long Branch, Ocean Grove, Deal,
Interlaken, Allenhurst and Loch Arbor. The southern region encompasses Asbury Park, Avon- by- the- Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Belmar, Lake Como, Manasquan, Neptune, Neptune City, Sea Girl, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall. The study identifies 12 "portal" routes leading west from the
coastal region.
The process involved stakeholders and each region was represented by a group with members from each municipality to give feedback on each local need.
A Technical Advisory Committee was also formed to work with the project team members. The TAC included the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Engineers Lakshan Wickramarachchi and Bob Brakman were available to answer questions during the June 2 open house.
"It was a one- year study where we picked routes based on how many people are in the area," Brakman said, adding, "There are three times as many people living here in the summer, so we could see where the worst locations are in the summer."
"We worked extensively with getting information from population studies," Wickramarachchi said. "We recommended physical improvements based on how many people live in the area. I think we were successful."
Information made available at the open house included evacuation routes, suggested road improvements, an estimated cost for each improvement and the lead agency to take on such a job.
For example, the study suggests the widening of Route 520 to create a full shoulder, which would be taken on by the county with an estimated cost of $16.5 million.
Also suggested is an upgrade of signals for wireless controls on Route 36 traffic lights, which would be taken on by the state at a cost of $322,000.
The study also suggests that the state widen Route 36 at the Broad Street intersection, which would cost an estimated $4 million.
The study broke down suggestions into long- , intermediate- and short- term projects and actions to be taken during emergencies.
For example, the suggested widening of Route 520 shoulder is a long- term project, while adding no parking placards is a short- term project.
The draft plan also suggests evacuation routes for coastal residents.
The engineers suggest that travelers in the Northern region take CR-39, CR-56/7, CR-50/576, SR-36 or CR-8A/12/12A when evacuating and take Routes 520 or 36 or Park Avenue when in the Central zone. Wickramarachchi explained the goal of the plan.
"This is not an everyday event," Wickramarachchi said. "We wanted a practical plan to get people out to use the resources we have available.
"These are the best ways out that we identified," Wickramarachchi continued. "These roads lead into other main roads in the area."
He added that in evacuating, the suggestion is to work from the coastline out.
"We developed a broad picture plan and hope to expand upon it," Wickramarachchi said. "We try to get to areas along the coasts first, like Sea Bright. We have to have the best option to lead people to safety."
According to Brakman, people are alerted 36 hours prior to an evacuation, but the advance warning often does little good.
"We have discovered that even if we give people 36 hour warnings they still wait until the last minute," Brakman said.
Another issue is the added traffic during the evacuation.
"Also, it is not just a family leaving in their cars," Brakman said. "It's families leaving in two or three cars. Nobody wants to leave a car there."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com
Click here to enlarge
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