Broadway Arts tries to steady finances
Foreclosure action filed by lender against developer
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Broadway Arts Center (BAC) is reorganizing financing after a foreclosure action was filed against the Long Branch developer by a lender.
Todd Katz, a principal in Broadway Arts, confirmed the reorganization and said the shuffle made necessary by the filing of the foreclosure action would not hinder the project's future.
Katz said last week that BAC is working to "correct" the foreclosure problem and that it shouldn't hinder the developer from moving forward with the lower Broadway project.
"It is something we need to address," Katz said. "Short term won't be a problem. If we don't correct it, then it would become a problem in a year or two.
"We are working diligently through the process," Katz added.
The foreclosure action was filed Aug. 10 in state Superior Court in Freehold by the Community Loan Fund of New Jersey, a nonprofit corporation that made loans totaling some $2.2 million to Broadway Arts. Community Loan Fund initially provided $1.1 million in financing for the Broadway Arts Center project, a centerpiece of the city's redevelopment plan, in May 2006. The lender subsequently entered into a note and mortgage modification agreement with BAC that brought that amount to $2.2 million in December 2006.
According to the court document filed, "the land and premises … for which possession is sought" include some 27 properties in the Broadway Arts Center redevelopment zone.
A spokesman for Community Loan Fund declined to comment on the foreclosure action.
Katz said that the down economy has affected development, but things look to be improving.
"We are starting to recover from the bad economy," he said.
When asked how BAC's financial troubles would impact the future redevelopment of the downtown Broadway district, Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said he did not have the answer yet.
Schneider said that BAC is currently up to date on tax payments as of last week.
"If the taxes get paid and they manage to get organized, then our dealings will be with BAC," Schneider added.
The agenda for the City Council meeting of Sept. 22 listed Broadway Arts as a topic to be discussed during a closed session of the council.
Principals in the Broadway Arts zone are the Katz and Siperstein families.
Plans for the downtown Broadway Arts Center zone call for BAC to develop the Broadway corridor, which is the first 9 acres of the entire Broadway redevelopment zone.
The corridor extends two blocks from Second Avenue to Memorial Avenue and from Union Avenue to the north and BelmontAvenue to the south.
Plans for the project call for the properties to be razed and replaced with a mixeduse
arts and theater district. BAC would consist of commercial space, residential and live/work units, office space and parking garages.
BAC is one of six zones in the city slated for redevelopment. Also labeled as redevelopment zones are Beachfront South, Pier Village, Hotel Campus, Broadway-Gateway
and MTOTSA.
BAC is the latest project in the city to come under financial stress.
Last year the city filed a lawsuit against the developers of Ocean Place Resort and Spa in the Hotel Campus redevelopment zone for failure to make a $1.4 million payment to the city.
The city recently reached an agreement with residents of the MTOTSA beachfront neighborhood, ending litigation that challenged the city's right to take their properties through eminent domain to clear the way for an upscale condominium development.
A lawsuit has been filed against the city by property owners in the Broadway-Gateway zone, seeking compensatory and punitive damages stemming from the city's designation of the zone and all other zones as blighted and subject to eminent domain taking.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Long Branch plans for H1N1 vaccinations
Long Branch plans for H1N1 vaccinations
City receives $90K in state funds for vaccinations
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The city has received $90,486 in grant funding from the state Department of Health and Senior Services for the upcoming flu season.
The City Council voted 4-0 at the Sept. 22 meeting to approve the resolution that accepted the funding for flu shots. Councilman Anthony Giordano was absent for the vote.
At the workshop meeting that preceded the vote, Long Branch Director of Health David Roach addressed the council about flu season and the grant money.
"This will offset some of the cost associated with our activities," Roach said. "That will able us to offset expenses and do some hiring of part-time people."
Roach said that at this time it is not clear how much additional cost the health department will incur this season because of the H1N1 vaccines, but he expects the grant money will cover most of it.
He said last week the flu shots, including for the H1N1 strain, will be available free of charge at several locations where the vaccinations will be administered by nurses.
The current schedule for seasonal flu inoculations is: Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. at the Long Branch Middle School; Oct. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at City Hall on Broadway; and Oct. 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Senior Center on Second Avenue.
Roach said that the health department is setting up clinics for the seasonal flu inoculations for early October, which is earlier than most years because of the anticipated cases of H1N1.
"We basically moved up those inoculations," he said.
"The biggest issue is how the H1N1 influences the situation," Roach added. "That has been getting a lot of our attention the last several weeks and will continue to do so throughout the whole flu season."
Roach said the H1N1 vaccine is expected to become available sometime in October.
"It's taking a lot of time, a lot of effort," he said. "It's not in stone yet. We are all working together to deliver the vaccine when it becomes available."
He said one concern is that there will be a limited number of doses of the H1N1 vaccine, and the Health Department is still trying to figure out the best way to distribute the vaccine.
"Since it is a limited number of doses, we are all going to manage where it goes and try to work with those individuals that need it," he said. "So we are planning clinics, we are planning H1N1 regional and local clinics, we are working with the schools to deliver the vaccine."
The Health Department is also disseminating
information on the H1N1 flu.
"On our own website, www.visitlongbranch.com, we are delivering information and we are working with other organizations about what's going to be available and when it's available,"
Roach said.
Roach also said that there are certain age groups that
are at greater risk for H1N1 than others, including children, people suffering from chronic illnesses, and pregnant women, who are considered high-risk groups.
"We are going to follow the state and CDC [Centers for Disease Control] guidelines in terms of the high-risk groups," he said.
According to Roach, children are the highest risk group for the H1N1.
"Children are one of the high-risk group from 6 months to 24 [months]," he said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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City receives $90K in state funds for vaccinations
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The city has received $90,486 in grant funding from the state Department of Health and Senior Services for the upcoming flu season.
The City Council voted 4-0 at the Sept. 22 meeting to approve the resolution that accepted the funding for flu shots. Councilman Anthony Giordano was absent for the vote.
At the workshop meeting that preceded the vote, Long Branch Director of Health David Roach addressed the council about flu season and the grant money.
"This will offset some of the cost associated with our activities," Roach said. "That will able us to offset expenses and do some hiring of part-time people."
Roach said that at this time it is not clear how much additional cost the health department will incur this season because of the H1N1 vaccines, but he expects the grant money will cover most of it.
He said last week the flu shots, including for the H1N1 strain, will be available free of charge at several locations where the vaccinations will be administered by nurses.
The current schedule for seasonal flu inoculations is: Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. at the Long Branch Middle School; Oct. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at City Hall on Broadway; and Oct. 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Senior Center on Second Avenue.
Roach said that the health department is setting up clinics for the seasonal flu inoculations for early October, which is earlier than most years because of the anticipated cases of H1N1.
"We basically moved up those inoculations," he said.
"The biggest issue is how the H1N1 influences the situation," Roach added. "That has been getting a lot of our attention the last several weeks and will continue to do so throughout the whole flu season."
Roach said the H1N1 vaccine is expected to become available sometime in October.
"It's taking a lot of time, a lot of effort," he said. "It's not in stone yet. We are all working together to deliver the vaccine when it becomes available."
He said one concern is that there will be a limited number of doses of the H1N1 vaccine, and the Health Department is still trying to figure out the best way to distribute the vaccine.
"Since it is a limited number of doses, we are all going to manage where it goes and try to work with those individuals that need it," he said. "So we are planning clinics, we are planning H1N1 regional and local clinics, we are working with the schools to deliver the vaccine."
The Health Department is also disseminating
information on the H1N1 flu.
"On our own website, www.visitlongbranch.com, we are delivering information and we are working with other organizations about what's going to be available and when it's available,"
Roach said.
Roach also said that there are certain age groups that
are at greater risk for H1N1 than others, including children, people suffering from chronic illnesses, and pregnant women, who are considered high-risk groups.
"We are going to follow the state and CDC [Centers for Disease Control] guidelines in terms of the high-risk groups," he said.
According to Roach, children are the highest risk group for the H1N1.
"Children are one of the high-risk group from 6 months to 24 [months]," he said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Monmouth Regional district charged with discrimination
Monmouth Regional district charged with discrimination
Former superintendent also named in suits brought by three female employees
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Lawsuits filed on behalf of three female employees of Monmouth Regional High School charge the regional school district and several administrators with discrimination based on age, sex and race.
The suits were filed in U.S. District Court in Trenton by Mahwah-based lawyer Lydia Cotz on behalf of Monmouth Regional employees Diana Davis, Patricia Domanich and Tamara White.
Davis' suit was filed in February and is separate from the legal action filed on behalf of Domanich and White, which was filed in August. Cotz said last week that she may file a motion to consolidate the two lawsuits.
The suit filed on behalf of Davis, 56, who is African American, names former Monmouth Regional School District Superintendent James Cleary, who retired in June, and the school district as defendants.
The suit brought for Domanich names Cleary, MRHS Vice Principal Scott Larkin, MRHS Business Administrator Maria Parry and the school district as defendants.
The legal action in which White is the plaintiff names Cleary, the school district and Anthony D'Orio, currently the MRHS athletic director as defendants.
All three are currently employed at Monmouth Regional High School.
Cotz weighed in on the legal actions in an email last week.
"Superintendent Cleary's intentional harassment and conduct toward these women resulted in a gender-based hostile working environment," she said. "His motive was to make life unpleasant for them because they are women.
"All three women complained of his behavior to no avail and the district took no steps to stop it," she added.
Cotz said she is confident that evidence will be presented that will place blame on Cleary.
"The evidence will show that the incidents the plaintiffs complained about were pervasive and not just isolated," she said. "According to others that have also come forward, Cleary's sexist behavior was well known.
"These lawsuits were brought on behalf of these women because they believe that Superintendent Cleary has subjected them to an unbearable and hostile workplace, their recourse was to see that justice was done," she added.
Cotz also addressed the reason the suits are being brought forward now.
"The lawsuit is being brought now because the plaintiffs strongly believe that their rights have been violated within the workplace," she said.
Manasquan-based attorney Peter Spaeth, who is representing all of the defendants, did not return calls seeking comment.
According to the complaint, Davis was hired in 2002 to supervise the Social Studies Department and the media center. She remains as supervisor of the two departments, as well as the ESL Department.
"Plaintiff has been subjected to discrimination by defendants on the basis of her race and/or her gender and/or her age over the past several years, and has been retaliated against by defendants for voicing her complaints about this discrimination," the suit claims.
The complaint also states that when Davis took over the third department in 2005, she did not receive additional compensation for the extra duties, which was contrary to the common practice of the district.
T
he suit claims that a younger, Caucasian
male was given compensation for taking over an additional department.
In the complaint, Davis claims that she asked for the additional compensation in 2007 but was denied and was told that someone younger could replace her. She was then given a one-time stipend, the suit states.
She was then removed as supervisor of the media center in 2007 following her frequent demands for additional pay.
Davis is seeking punitive and compensatory damages.
The suit filed on behalf of Domanich claims discrimination based on age and gender.
Domanich has been employed at the school as a truant officer since 1993 and is claiming that the defendants have created a work environment that is hostile to women.
"Female employees who voice opinions, assert their rights as employees or as citizens, who disagree within proper channels about official policies and directives, or express concerns that policies, laws and directives are not being followed and obeyed are routinely demeaned, harassed and driven from employment," the suit claims.
Most of Domanich's complaints stem from an unresolved issue with a subordinate that she claims the defendants worsened in 2007.
The complaint filed on behalf of White, who was hired in 1995 as a social studies teacher and varsity cheerleading coach, describes sexual harassment that was tolerated by the administration from the time she was hired.
According to the suit, White complained throughout her tenure and in 2005 was terminated as cheerleader coach in an alleged retaliation for the complaints.
She reinterviewed for the position in 2006 but was ultimately turned down for someone with less experience, the suit states.
White also claims harassment and discrimination by the high school administration.
"Female employees are frequently and routinely harassed with petty administrative issues that were tolerated, or at least overlooked with the younger staff," the suit claims.
Charles Ford was named to succeed Cleary, and Cotz said she is hopeful that the new administration will adhere to the school district's policy barring discrimination against employees.
"The new superintendent and the BOE should be aware of the district's workplace anti-discrimination policy and seek to enforce it at all costs," she said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Former superintendent also named in suits brought by three female employees
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Lawsuits filed on behalf of three female employees of Monmouth Regional High School charge the regional school district and several administrators with discrimination based on age, sex and race.
The suits were filed in U.S. District Court in Trenton by Mahwah-based lawyer Lydia Cotz on behalf of Monmouth Regional employees Diana Davis, Patricia Domanich and Tamara White.
Davis' suit was filed in February and is separate from the legal action filed on behalf of Domanich and White, which was filed in August. Cotz said last week that she may file a motion to consolidate the two lawsuits.
The suit filed on behalf of Davis, 56, who is African American, names former Monmouth Regional School District Superintendent James Cleary, who retired in June, and the school district as defendants.
The suit brought for Domanich names Cleary, MRHS Vice Principal Scott Larkin, MRHS Business Administrator Maria Parry and the school district as defendants.
The legal action in which White is the plaintiff names Cleary, the school district and Anthony D'Orio, currently the MRHS athletic director as defendants.
All three are currently employed at Monmouth Regional High School.
Cotz weighed in on the legal actions in an email last week.
"Superintendent Cleary's intentional harassment and conduct toward these women resulted in a gender-based hostile working environment," she said. "His motive was to make life unpleasant for them because they are women.
"All three women complained of his behavior to no avail and the district took no steps to stop it," she added.
Cotz said she is confident that evidence will be presented that will place blame on Cleary.
"The evidence will show that the incidents the plaintiffs complained about were pervasive and not just isolated," she said. "According to others that have also come forward, Cleary's sexist behavior was well known.
"These lawsuits were brought on behalf of these women because they believe that Superintendent Cleary has subjected them to an unbearable and hostile workplace, their recourse was to see that justice was done," she added.
Cotz also addressed the reason the suits are being brought forward now.
"The lawsuit is being brought now because the plaintiffs strongly believe that their rights have been violated within the workplace," she said.
Manasquan-based attorney Peter Spaeth, who is representing all of the defendants, did not return calls seeking comment.
According to the complaint, Davis was hired in 2002 to supervise the Social Studies Department and the media center. She remains as supervisor of the two departments, as well as the ESL Department.
"Plaintiff has been subjected to discrimination by defendants on the basis of her race and/or her gender and/or her age over the past several years, and has been retaliated against by defendants for voicing her complaints about this discrimination," the suit claims.
The complaint also states that when Davis took over the third department in 2005, she did not receive additional compensation for the extra duties, which was contrary to the common practice of the district.
T
he suit claims that a younger, Caucasian
male was given compensation for taking over an additional department.
In the complaint, Davis claims that she asked for the additional compensation in 2007 but was denied and was told that someone younger could replace her. She was then given a one-time stipend, the suit states.
She was then removed as supervisor of the media center in 2007 following her frequent demands for additional pay.
Davis is seeking punitive and compensatory damages.
The suit filed on behalf of Domanich claims discrimination based on age and gender.
Domanich has been employed at the school as a truant officer since 1993 and is claiming that the defendants have created a work environment that is hostile to women.
"Female employees who voice opinions, assert their rights as employees or as citizens, who disagree within proper channels about official policies and directives, or express concerns that policies, laws and directives are not being followed and obeyed are routinely demeaned, harassed and driven from employment," the suit claims.
Most of Domanich's complaints stem from an unresolved issue with a subordinate that she claims the defendants worsened in 2007.
The complaint filed on behalf of White, who was hired in 1995 as a social studies teacher and varsity cheerleading coach, describes sexual harassment that was tolerated by the administration from the time she was hired.
According to the suit, White complained throughout her tenure and in 2005 was terminated as cheerleader coach in an alleged retaliation for the complaints.
She reinterviewed for the position in 2006 but was ultimately turned down for someone with less experience, the suit states.
White also claims harassment and discrimination by the high school administration.
"Female employees are frequently and routinely harassed with petty administrative issues that were tolerated, or at least overlooked with the younger staff," the suit claims.
Charles Ford was named to succeed Cleary, and Cotz said she is hopeful that the new administration will adhere to the school district's policy barring discrimination against employees.
"The new superintendent and the BOE should be aware of the district's workplace anti-discrimination policy and seek to enforce it at all costs," she said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Sunday, December 20, 2009
Boro, Pop Warner at odds over funding
Boro, Pop Warner at odds over funding
Parents protest targeting of grant for soccer complex
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Pop Warner parents and children packed the Tinton Falls council room last week to discuss how potential open space grant money should be used.
The meeting took place at the Sept. 15 Borough Council meeting and was kicked off by a presentation by Borough Engineer David Marks, of T & M Associates.
Marks said the borough is planning to apply for grant funds by the Sept. 23 deadline from the Monmouth County Open Space Grant program.
The county will match funds with the borough up to $250,000 if the plan that Marks submits is approved.
"The project we have here tonight is for the West Park Avenue recreation area, also known as Liberty Park II," Marks said.
According to Marks, the park is currently 37 acres and contains football and softball fields, a dog park, two basketball courts, nature and jogging trails and a concession stand as well as parking.
Marks explained what his initial plan seeks to accomplish.
"What we'd like to do under this project is expand the existing recreation uses and essentially keep it within the confines of our property," he said.
One of the projects included in the plans is a tot-lot, or a playground designed specifically for younger children.
The new playground would be located in the area immediately adjacent to the concession stand and a picnic area would be constructed above it.
"The picnic area would provide an area for people to enjoy their lunch," Marks said.
According to Marks, the grant money would also be used to correct some existing parking issues.
"One of the main problems we've had is the parking problem," he said. "In an effort to try to correct some of those problems, we are looking at maintaining the existing driveway, but also expanding upon it and adding a new access drive and some additional parking.
"This is approximately a 40-percent increase of what's there now," he added.
Marks said a survey crew would be asked to go out to the park to map out the wetlands lines.
He also said plans call for installing a new sidewalk throughout the park, as well as new lighting in the parking lots and for creating rain gardens.
"Rain gardens collect the water as it runs off the parking lot, and it runs through a multitude of moisture tolerant plants," he said.
Marks acknowledged that the borough could not carry out all of the projects in one year, which is why he will plan projects in phases in order to maximize grant money.
One of the projects that would be considered for the future is building a pavilion building on site.
"We could have a fairly large open space here on site that is covered," Marks said. "We could have family reunions, barbeques, picnics, things like that.
"It is something we'd like to do, but we would consider that in a separate phase."
Many of the Pop Warner parents attended the meeting to request that the funds be used for lighting for the football fields.
Marks unsuccessfully tried to diffuse those questions before they were even asked.
"Yes, we considered lighting," he said. "The way we look at this is we'd like to max out the grant total."
Marks said that the estimate for the current project is around $500,000, and adding lighting would push the project past that amount.
"Right now, we are at about $500,000," he said. "If we were to add lighting, it might be another $200,000 to $300,000. We'd lose the bang for our buck and we would out pace the grant," he said.
Marks went on to say that lighting for football is in the future plans.
"I think it's an excellent project," he said. "I just think it's a subsequent phase. And we could go after the county funding again and they could fund 50 percent of that project."
However the largely pro-Pop Warner crowd pleaded with the council to jumpstart the project this year.
Monmouth Falcons Pop Warner serves Tinton Falls, Eatontown, Shrewsbury Township, Fort Monmouth and Earle Naval Weapons Station. Vice President John Cahill tried to explain the position Pop Warner is in.
"I think some of the problems we've had in the past with that park have been the fact that Eatontown is not sharing some of the burden of cost and that Eatontown children play on there," Cahill said, adding that another issue is the surface area of the parking lot.
"The initial reason why we are coming to this meeting is because I was under the impression we are going to improve the parking lot by putting in pavement," he said. "Right now when it's dry it's like a sandstorm, when it gets wet it's a mud pit."
Cahill said he would also like to see improvements made on the field.
"Look at what the children are playing on in practice," he said. "The field itself needs some improvement, as far as dirt and better drainage."
Cahill also charged that Pop Warner is treated worse than other sports, specifically citing soccer.
"We've paid for a lot of the items we have as far as an organization," he said. "I just think we have to look at what the whole site is.
"I think football is being put at on very, very long list of to-dos," he added.
Tinton Falls Administrator Bryan Dempsey responded to the criticism.
"The last round of funding that this borough has put in was for Pop Warner," he said. "It was for bleachers and the concession stand. We've really pushed forward and gotten things that you wanted," he said.
Dempsey also said that the situation with the soccer complex is different from this one.
"The soccer complex was built with an off-track improvement from the developer," he said. "And then the borough went out and got funding for those lights. It's not like the borough has spent $2 million on the soccer complex."
Also critical of the plan was resident Robert Caizza.
"We are looking for lighting," Caizza said. "We don't want the tot park where parking is.
"The cars are coming in and out, it's dangerous to them," he added. "The tot park should be on the other side of the park where the baseball field is."
Caizza said he would like to see any improvements possible to the football situation.
"Whether we are getting grants from the county, whether we are getting grants from the state, the football field has been established here," he said. "It's not a football field without lights.
"The kids need the lights here," he added. "Whether it's coming from the open space grant, whether we put in a referendum to the town and ask them whether or not we need lighting here."
However Marks said the county would not approve the funding unless the project could serve multiple functions.
"We need to have a balance with the needs," he said. "I can't come in and create a parking lot instead of a recreational use. I can submit it, but they'd never approve it," he added.
At the end of the half-hour-plus public discussion, Council President Duane Morrill promised to try to work with Pop Warner to reach a middle ground.
"We know what you're looking for and we're going to work with you," he said.
Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor confirmed last week that a meeting between the borough and representatives of the Pop Warner organization took place Sept. 16 and a revised plan will be submitted this week.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com
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Parents protest targeting of grant for soccer complex
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Pop Warner parents and children packed the Tinton Falls council room last week to discuss how potential open space grant money should be used.
The meeting took place at the Sept. 15 Borough Council meeting and was kicked off by a presentation by Borough Engineer David Marks, of T & M Associates.
Marks said the borough is planning to apply for grant funds by the Sept. 23 deadline from the Monmouth County Open Space Grant program.
The county will match funds with the borough up to $250,000 if the plan that Marks submits is approved.
"The project we have here tonight is for the West Park Avenue recreation area, also known as Liberty Park II," Marks said.
According to Marks, the park is currently 37 acres and contains football and softball fields, a dog park, two basketball courts, nature and jogging trails and a concession stand as well as parking.
Marks explained what his initial plan seeks to accomplish.
"What we'd like to do under this project is expand the existing recreation uses and essentially keep it within the confines of our property," he said.
One of the projects included in the plans is a tot-lot, or a playground designed specifically for younger children.
The new playground would be located in the area immediately adjacent to the concession stand and a picnic area would be constructed above it.
"The picnic area would provide an area for people to enjoy their lunch," Marks said.
According to Marks, the grant money would also be used to correct some existing parking issues.
"One of the main problems we've had is the parking problem," he said. "In an effort to try to correct some of those problems, we are looking at maintaining the existing driveway, but also expanding upon it and adding a new access drive and some additional parking.
"This is approximately a 40-percent increase of what's there now," he added.
Marks said a survey crew would be asked to go out to the park to map out the wetlands lines.
He also said plans call for installing a new sidewalk throughout the park, as well as new lighting in the parking lots and for creating rain gardens.
"Rain gardens collect the water as it runs off the parking lot, and it runs through a multitude of moisture tolerant plants," he said.
Marks acknowledged that the borough could not carry out all of the projects in one year, which is why he will plan projects in phases in order to maximize grant money.
One of the projects that would be considered for the future is building a pavilion building on site.
"We could have a fairly large open space here on site that is covered," Marks said. "We could have family reunions, barbeques, picnics, things like that.
"It is something we'd like to do, but we would consider that in a separate phase."
Many of the Pop Warner parents attended the meeting to request that the funds be used for lighting for the football fields.
Marks unsuccessfully tried to diffuse those questions before they were even asked.
"Yes, we considered lighting," he said. "The way we look at this is we'd like to max out the grant total."
Marks said that the estimate for the current project is around $500,000, and adding lighting would push the project past that amount.
"Right now, we are at about $500,000," he said. "If we were to add lighting, it might be another $200,000 to $300,000. We'd lose the bang for our buck and we would out pace the grant," he said.
Marks went on to say that lighting for football is in the future plans.
"I think it's an excellent project," he said. "I just think it's a subsequent phase. And we could go after the county funding again and they could fund 50 percent of that project."
However the largely pro-Pop Warner crowd pleaded with the council to jumpstart the project this year.
Monmouth Falcons Pop Warner serves Tinton Falls, Eatontown, Shrewsbury Township, Fort Monmouth and Earle Naval Weapons Station. Vice President John Cahill tried to explain the position Pop Warner is in.
"I think some of the problems we've had in the past with that park have been the fact that Eatontown is not sharing some of the burden of cost and that Eatontown children play on there," Cahill said, adding that another issue is the surface area of the parking lot.
"The initial reason why we are coming to this meeting is because I was under the impression we are going to improve the parking lot by putting in pavement," he said. "Right now when it's dry it's like a sandstorm, when it gets wet it's a mud pit."
Cahill said he would also like to see improvements made on the field.
"Look at what the children are playing on in practice," he said. "The field itself needs some improvement, as far as dirt and better drainage."
Cahill also charged that Pop Warner is treated worse than other sports, specifically citing soccer.
"We've paid for a lot of the items we have as far as an organization," he said. "I just think we have to look at what the whole site is.
"I think football is being put at on very, very long list of to-dos," he added.
Tinton Falls Administrator Bryan Dempsey responded to the criticism.
"The last round of funding that this borough has put in was for Pop Warner," he said. "It was for bleachers and the concession stand. We've really pushed forward and gotten things that you wanted," he said.
Dempsey also said that the situation with the soccer complex is different from this one.
"The soccer complex was built with an off-track improvement from the developer," he said. "And then the borough went out and got funding for those lights. It's not like the borough has spent $2 million on the soccer complex."
Also critical of the plan was resident Robert Caizza.
"We are looking for lighting," Caizza said. "We don't want the tot park where parking is.
"The cars are coming in and out, it's dangerous to them," he added. "The tot park should be on the other side of the park where the baseball field is."
Caizza said he would like to see any improvements possible to the football situation.
"Whether we are getting grants from the county, whether we are getting grants from the state, the football field has been established here," he said. "It's not a football field without lights.
"The kids need the lights here," he added. "Whether it's coming from the open space grant, whether we put in a referendum to the town and ask them whether or not we need lighting here."
However Marks said the county would not approve the funding unless the project could serve multiple functions.
"We need to have a balance with the needs," he said. "I can't come in and create a parking lot instead of a recreational use. I can submit it, but they'd never approve it," he added.
At the end of the half-hour-plus public discussion, Council President Duane Morrill promised to try to work with Pop Warner to reach a middle ground.
"We know what you're looking for and we're going to work with you," he said.
Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor confirmed last week that a meeting between the borough and representatives of the Pop Warner organization took place Sept. 16 and a revised plan will be submitted this week.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com
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Saturday, December 19, 2009
City, MTOTSA find common ground
City, MTOTSA find common ground
Owners of three properties refuse to sign settlement
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
After more than nine months of mediation, the city of Long Branch reached an agreement to preserve a beachfront neighborhood that all involved agreed is imperfect but, nonetheless, a workable compromise.
FILE PHOTOS MTOTSA activists Denise Hoagland (l) and daughter Violet sit on their porch with Lori Ann Vendetti in 2005.
All but six property owners in the MTOTSA (Marine and Ocean terraces and Seaview Avenue) neighborhood reached a settlement in their longstanding battle over the city's condemnation of their homes, which was formalized on Sept. 15 at the county Hall of Records in front of Superior Court Judge Thomas Cavanaugh Jr.
"I've always said that I wanted to keep the house and get eminent domain off the table. We had to fight, we weren't going to just give up the houses," said Lori Anne Vendetti, one of the MTOTSA residents who fought to save their homes from condemnation and who signed on to an agreement with the city that will permit her to keep her family home. She said the goal had been reached.
"We've had our ups and downs, but the goal was to keep our houses and live in peace without eminent domain," she added.
MTOTSA residents and their supporters held rallies to draw attention to their fight to save their homes from being taken by eminent domain.
Vendetti explained that the 16 owners of MTOTSA properties who signed the agreement didn't get everything they wanted.
"It's a settlement; obviously, you don't get everything you want," she said. "We wanted sidewalks and new curbs.
"I would have preferred eminent domain off the table citywide," she added.
Cavanaugh himself noted that the parties had come a long way since talks began in January.
"When I first got involved, there seemed to be some trepidation on the part of all concerned," Cavanaugh said, addressing those in the room. "There were very emotional feelings on the part of all parties.
"It didn't come easily," he added. "In the end, I think we have a product that everyone has found acceptable."
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said the agreement was exactly that — a settlement.
"I'm glad it's resolved," he said after the session at the Hall of Records. "I think we moved steadily toward a resolution, but that doesn't mean it was easy.
"The property owners didn't have one point of view," he added. "The city didn't get everything it wanted, we had to compromise."
Denise Hoagland, one of the MTOTSA property owners who did not sign the agreement with the city, said she was doing so on moral grounds.
At a special City Council meeting later that evening, she explained her family's position.
"It is with a clear conscience that the Hoaglands did not agree to all terms of the settlement," she said while addressing the council.
"We strongly felt that in signing, we would be saying that what the city did was OK, and clearly it was and is not."
Nearly 20 MTOTSA residents as well as their attorneys showed up at the Hall or Records, where attorneys signed the consent order of settlement.
MTOTSA attorneys included Peter H. Wegener, of Bathgate Wegener and Wolf, Lakewood; Scott Bullock, senior attorney with the public interest law firm Institute for Justice, Arlington, Va.; and William J. Ward, of Carlin and Ward, Florham Park.
The city was represented by City Attorney James Aaron, Mayor Adam Schneider and Business Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. Also at the courthouse were attorneys for the developer MM-Beachfront North II, which was slated to redevelop the modest, three-street beachfront neighborhood as luxury condominiums.
MTOTSA is one of six zones slated for redevelopment and is located in the city's Beachfront North Phase II redevelopment zone. Also labeled as redevelopment zones are Beachfront South, Pier Village, Hotel Campus, Broadway-Gateway and Broadway-Corridor.
The settlement pre-empts a legal battle in which MTOTSA attorneys challenged the city's blight designation of the neighborhood, enabling the city to use eminent domain to take the homes.
The two sides were scheduled to meet in state Superior Court before Judge Lawrence Lawson, who scheduled the case to be heard in his courtroomJune 8 if negotiations between the two parties failed.
In June 2006, Lawson ruled in favor of the city's right to use eminent domain in MTOTSA, but attorneys for MTOTSA appealed the decision and the appellate court remanded the case back to Lawson to give the city the opportunity to expand the record in an attempt to prove that its redevelopment plan met the heightened blight standard.
Both MTOTSA and the city petitioned the state Supreme Court to hear the case, but the court denied both requests.
A few hours after the signing of the agreement, the City Council held a special meeting to adopt two resolutions authorizing the settlement order and amending the redevelopment agreement for the Beachfront North Phase II redevelopment zone.
One of the major sticking points in the settlement was the stipulation that residents who signed on agreed to waive their right to sue the city for compensatory damages.
In return, city officials agreed to take eminent domain off the table in the neighborhood and to allow property owners the right to improve their homes.
Also part of the 14-point deal is that the city will pay $435,000 in legal fees for MTOTSA; will have the developer demolish all boardedup houses in the neighborhood; and within two years will pave the roads and fix the lighting conditions in the area. Another benefit to the property owners is that they are now eligible for five-year tax abatements.
One point of contention that bothVendetti and Schneider said almost ended the talks were the 17 houses in the neighborhood that were acquired by the developer and boarded up. Those houses have been a haven for crime in recent months.
"We felt very strongly about it, and that was a non-negotiable point," Vendetti said. "We weren't going to budge on it; we felt it was making the neighborhood unsafe."
"That became a real issue of contention," Schneider said after the Hall of Records session. "That was probably as close as this came to being derailed."
Wegener summed up the settlement as simply the city's desire to free itself from possible litigation.
"Most of the defendants gave up their right to damages in order to facilitate the reconstruction of the neighborhood," he said. "It sounded like we're getting everything, so what's the city getting?
"Well the city is getting releases," he said.
Bullock explained that the six MTOTSA property owners who didn't sign on to the settlement are still able to improve their homes and not live under the threat of eminent domain. However, they are not eligible for tax abatements.
"I understand the reasons [for not signing]," he said. "I think it is more a matter of principle as opposed to being compensatory.
"They can decide what if any actions [they will take] in the future," he added.
At the special meeting that evening, Hoagland read a statement explaining her family's refusal to sign the agreement.
"For one, we are not developers, and we felt that if we agreed to becoming a developer for our property, then we would be accepting the term of blight for our property, which we do not.
"In this aspect, it is not a financial gain to receive the tax abatements for us, as we will not be redeveloping our property," she added.
Hoagland implied that the family may seek redress through litigation against the city.
"We also choose not to release the city of damages because we still strongly feel that what the mayor and council did was inherently wrong and had they listened to us eight years ago, personal suffering, financial loss to residents and the city would not have existed," she said.
"We are uncertain as to if we will act upon this action, but on moral grounds we could not commit to signing," she added.
Others criticized the settlement, among them Councilman Brian Unger, who voted via speakerphone not to approve the agreement.
"Since this measure will pass, there needs to be at least one symbolic 'no' vote as a … check on the errors and arrogance that led this administration to refuse to settle with MTOTSA six years and 2 [million] or 3 million dollars ago," Unger said.
"This was a shameless waste of taxpayer money," he added.
After the public discussion, Aaron addressed the meeting, explaining that the Beachfront North developer decided not to acquire more properties in the neighborhood, and the city was faced with a decision.
"The city had a choice where they could move forward with their own money without a redeveloper," he said. "The city decided they didn'twant to do that. The city also had a choice to abandon eminent domain and walk away and leave property owners where they were.
"The city in a good faith effort reached out to property owners nine months ago," he continued. "The city had to work in conjunction with the property owners to rezone this property."
Aaron answered criticism that the city has incurred high legal fees in its effort to take the homes in MTOTSA through eminent domain.
"No legal fees have been paid by the city for over a year and a half on this project," he said. "The $195,000 paid by the developers will pay the legal fees and professional fees that have been incurred by the city.
"In all of [Beachfront North], all the legal fees and design fees have been paid by the developers," he added.
With the settlement now signed, Vendetti, whose father, Carmen, died while negotiations were ongoing, said she has a sense of cautious optimism.
"Overall, I'm happy. I'm sad my father couldn't be around to see it," she said. "I'm still a little skeptical, not 100 percent trusting of our administration."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Owners of three properties refuse to sign settlement
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
After more than nine months of mediation, the city of Long Branch reached an agreement to preserve a beachfront neighborhood that all involved agreed is imperfect but, nonetheless, a workable compromise.
FILE PHOTOS MTOTSA activists Denise Hoagland (l) and daughter Violet sit on their porch with Lori Ann Vendetti in 2005.
All but six property owners in the MTOTSA (Marine and Ocean terraces and Seaview Avenue) neighborhood reached a settlement in their longstanding battle over the city's condemnation of their homes, which was formalized on Sept. 15 at the county Hall of Records in front of Superior Court Judge Thomas Cavanaugh Jr.
"I've always said that I wanted to keep the house and get eminent domain off the table. We had to fight, we weren't going to just give up the houses," said Lori Anne Vendetti, one of the MTOTSA residents who fought to save their homes from condemnation and who signed on to an agreement with the city that will permit her to keep her family home. She said the goal had been reached.
"We've had our ups and downs, but the goal was to keep our houses and live in peace without eminent domain," she added.
MTOTSA residents and their supporters held rallies to draw attention to their fight to save their homes from being taken by eminent domain.
Vendetti explained that the 16 owners of MTOTSA properties who signed the agreement didn't get everything they wanted.
"It's a settlement; obviously, you don't get everything you want," she said. "We wanted sidewalks and new curbs.
"I would have preferred eminent domain off the table citywide," she added.
Cavanaugh himself noted that the parties had come a long way since talks began in January.
"When I first got involved, there seemed to be some trepidation on the part of all concerned," Cavanaugh said, addressing those in the room. "There were very emotional feelings on the part of all parties.
"It didn't come easily," he added. "In the end, I think we have a product that everyone has found acceptable."
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said the agreement was exactly that — a settlement.
"I'm glad it's resolved," he said after the session at the Hall of Records. "I think we moved steadily toward a resolution, but that doesn't mean it was easy.
"The property owners didn't have one point of view," he added. "The city didn't get everything it wanted, we had to compromise."
Denise Hoagland, one of the MTOTSA property owners who did not sign the agreement with the city, said she was doing so on moral grounds.
At a special City Council meeting later that evening, she explained her family's position.
"It is with a clear conscience that the Hoaglands did not agree to all terms of the settlement," she said while addressing the council.
"We strongly felt that in signing, we would be saying that what the city did was OK, and clearly it was and is not."
Nearly 20 MTOTSA residents as well as their attorneys showed up at the Hall or Records, where attorneys signed the consent order of settlement.
MTOTSA attorneys included Peter H. Wegener, of Bathgate Wegener and Wolf, Lakewood; Scott Bullock, senior attorney with the public interest law firm Institute for Justice, Arlington, Va.; and William J. Ward, of Carlin and Ward, Florham Park.
The city was represented by City Attorney James Aaron, Mayor Adam Schneider and Business Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. Also at the courthouse were attorneys for the developer MM-Beachfront North II, which was slated to redevelop the modest, three-street beachfront neighborhood as luxury condominiums.
MTOTSA is one of six zones slated for redevelopment and is located in the city's Beachfront North Phase II redevelopment zone. Also labeled as redevelopment zones are Beachfront South, Pier Village, Hotel Campus, Broadway-Gateway and Broadway-Corridor.
The settlement pre-empts a legal battle in which MTOTSA attorneys challenged the city's blight designation of the neighborhood, enabling the city to use eminent domain to take the homes.
The two sides were scheduled to meet in state Superior Court before Judge Lawrence Lawson, who scheduled the case to be heard in his courtroomJune 8 if negotiations between the two parties failed.
In June 2006, Lawson ruled in favor of the city's right to use eminent domain in MTOTSA, but attorneys for MTOTSA appealed the decision and the appellate court remanded the case back to Lawson to give the city the opportunity to expand the record in an attempt to prove that its redevelopment plan met the heightened blight standard.
Both MTOTSA and the city petitioned the state Supreme Court to hear the case, but the court denied both requests.
A few hours after the signing of the agreement, the City Council held a special meeting to adopt two resolutions authorizing the settlement order and amending the redevelopment agreement for the Beachfront North Phase II redevelopment zone.
One of the major sticking points in the settlement was the stipulation that residents who signed on agreed to waive their right to sue the city for compensatory damages.
In return, city officials agreed to take eminent domain off the table in the neighborhood and to allow property owners the right to improve their homes.
Also part of the 14-point deal is that the city will pay $435,000 in legal fees for MTOTSA; will have the developer demolish all boardedup houses in the neighborhood; and within two years will pave the roads and fix the lighting conditions in the area. Another benefit to the property owners is that they are now eligible for five-year tax abatements.
One point of contention that bothVendetti and Schneider said almost ended the talks were the 17 houses in the neighborhood that were acquired by the developer and boarded up. Those houses have been a haven for crime in recent months.
"We felt very strongly about it, and that was a non-negotiable point," Vendetti said. "We weren't going to budge on it; we felt it was making the neighborhood unsafe."
"That became a real issue of contention," Schneider said after the Hall of Records session. "That was probably as close as this came to being derailed."
Wegener summed up the settlement as simply the city's desire to free itself from possible litigation.
"Most of the defendants gave up their right to damages in order to facilitate the reconstruction of the neighborhood," he said. "It sounded like we're getting everything, so what's the city getting?
"Well the city is getting releases," he said.
Bullock explained that the six MTOTSA property owners who didn't sign on to the settlement are still able to improve their homes and not live under the threat of eminent domain. However, they are not eligible for tax abatements.
"I understand the reasons [for not signing]," he said. "I think it is more a matter of principle as opposed to being compensatory.
"They can decide what if any actions [they will take] in the future," he added.
At the special meeting that evening, Hoagland read a statement explaining her family's refusal to sign the agreement.
"For one, we are not developers, and we felt that if we agreed to becoming a developer for our property, then we would be accepting the term of blight for our property, which we do not.
"In this aspect, it is not a financial gain to receive the tax abatements for us, as we will not be redeveloping our property," she added.
Hoagland implied that the family may seek redress through litigation against the city.
"We also choose not to release the city of damages because we still strongly feel that what the mayor and council did was inherently wrong and had they listened to us eight years ago, personal suffering, financial loss to residents and the city would not have existed," she said.
"We are uncertain as to if we will act upon this action, but on moral grounds we could not commit to signing," she added.
Others criticized the settlement, among them Councilman Brian Unger, who voted via speakerphone not to approve the agreement.
"Since this measure will pass, there needs to be at least one symbolic 'no' vote as a … check on the errors and arrogance that led this administration to refuse to settle with MTOTSA six years and 2 [million] or 3 million dollars ago," Unger said.
"This was a shameless waste of taxpayer money," he added.
After the public discussion, Aaron addressed the meeting, explaining that the Beachfront North developer decided not to acquire more properties in the neighborhood, and the city was faced with a decision.
"The city had a choice where they could move forward with their own money without a redeveloper," he said. "The city decided they didn'twant to do that. The city also had a choice to abandon eminent domain and walk away and leave property owners where they were.
"The city in a good faith effort reached out to property owners nine months ago," he continued. "The city had to work in conjunction with the property owners to rezone this property."
Aaron answered criticism that the city has incurred high legal fees in its effort to take the homes in MTOTSA through eminent domain.
"No legal fees have been paid by the city for over a year and a half on this project," he said. "The $195,000 paid by the developers will pay the legal fees and professional fees that have been incurred by the city.
"In all of [Beachfront North], all the legal fees and design fees have been paid by the developers," he added.
With the settlement now signed, Vendetti, whose father, Carmen, died while negotiations were ongoing, said she has a sense of cautious optimism.
"Overall, I'm happy. I'm sad my father couldn't be around to see it," she said. "I'm still a little skeptical, not 100 percent trusting of our administration."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Monday, December 14, 2009
T.F introduces noise restriction ordinance
T.F. introduces noise restriction ordinance
Specific time limits would be set
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Borough Council voted unanimously Sept. 1 to introduce an ordinance limiting noise in the borough during certain hours.
The council voted 5-0 after discussing the possible ordinance at two previous summer workshop meetings.
Councilwoman NancyAnne Fama originally suggested the ordinance at the July 7 workshop meeting.
What the ordinance sets time limits and clears up some vague definitions in the original noise ordinance.
"I think it just has a time now," Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor explained last week.
"Before, we just had a general noise ordinance. Now it's between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m."
The ordinance seeks to control "Sound that is plainly audible from off the premises, adjoining properties or public spaces between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8 a.m."
The borough currently has a noise ordinance that was drafted in the 1980s that is considered outdated by the borough administration.
"Now the enforcement agency has something that says if someone is making very loud noises and disturbing the neighborhood at 11:05 p.m., they now have something in writing," she added.
Mount-Taylor also said that noise was better defined in the proposed ordinance.
"Some things were defined better, meaning prohibited noises," she said.
The ordinance also adds some restrictions on some new-age noise-making devices, such as sound-amplifying devices.
Also included in the fourpage ordinance are clarifications involving animals, construction, advertising and personal noise, such as yelling
and singing loudly, garbage
collection and landscaping.
When the noise ordinance was discussed in workshop, there was mention of setting a decibel limit, but the ordinance, as introduced, has no mention of a decibel limit.
Tinton Falls Police Chief Gerald Turning told the council that there are many complaints throughout the town about noise.
Mount-Taylor was happy with the proposed ordinance, saying, "Before, it was too general."
A public hearing on the ordinance is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 6.
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Specific time limits would be set
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Borough Council voted unanimously Sept. 1 to introduce an ordinance limiting noise in the borough during certain hours.
The council voted 5-0 after discussing the possible ordinance at two previous summer workshop meetings.
Councilwoman NancyAnne Fama originally suggested the ordinance at the July 7 workshop meeting.
What the ordinance sets time limits and clears up some vague definitions in the original noise ordinance.
"I think it just has a time now," Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor explained last week.
"Before, we just had a general noise ordinance. Now it's between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m."
The ordinance seeks to control "Sound that is plainly audible from off the premises, adjoining properties or public spaces between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8 a.m."
The borough currently has a noise ordinance that was drafted in the 1980s that is considered outdated by the borough administration.
"Now the enforcement agency has something that says if someone is making very loud noises and disturbing the neighborhood at 11:05 p.m., they now have something in writing," she added.
Mount-Taylor also said that noise was better defined in the proposed ordinance.
"Some things were defined better, meaning prohibited noises," she said.
The ordinance also adds some restrictions on some new-age noise-making devices, such as sound-amplifying devices.
Also included in the fourpage ordinance are clarifications involving animals, construction, advertising and personal noise, such as yelling
and singing loudly, garbage
collection and landscaping.
When the noise ordinance was discussed in workshop, there was mention of setting a decibel limit, but the ordinance, as introduced, has no mention of a decibel limit.
Tinton Falls Police Chief Gerald Turning told the council that there are many complaints throughout the town about noise.
Mount-Taylor was happy with the proposed ordinance, saying, "Before, it was too general."
A public hearing on the ordinance is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 6.
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Sunday, December 13, 2009
New diner opens in Casey Jones location
New diner opens in Casey Jones location
Long Branch Diner opens with new name, new look
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — A local favorite for decades, the Casey Jones Diner shut its doors more than four years ago but has reopened with new management and a new look.M
anny Minhas took over the spot at 185 Morris Ave. about a month ago and he has changed the name to the Long Branch Diner.
Minhas quickly prepared the diner to open Aug. 20 and he said recently that it's been a struggle to get the word out.
"The hardest part has been telling people that we are open after four years," he said.M
inhas said it's been especially difficult to let customers know a new diner is open at the Casey Jones location because previous management reopened the diner briefly six months ago.
The former eatery's space has been completely renovated and now boasts a few specialty rooms, he said.
"There is a banquet hall upstairs," Minhas said. "We can hold about 100 up there for parties.
Minhas also said he is looking into obtaining a liquor license for the diner, but for now it is BYOB.
Also new are rooms that look like oldfashioned train cars and one that looks like a caboose, which will be used for children's parties.
"Somebody told me that it was a replica of the train cars and caboose when the Casey Jones first opened," Minhas said.T
he diner also contains train-themed memorabilia, including an original clock from New York's Penn Station.
The rest of the seating area has been redone from four years ago.
"Everything is new," Minhas said. "New bar, new booths and new seating areas."
One thing that has not changed much is the menu.
"We have a regular diner menu," Minhas said. "We have breakfast, lunch and dinner."
The diner is also offering a 10-percent discount to senior citizens, Monmouth Medical Center workers, transit workers and Monmouth University students.
The Long Branch Diner is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Long Branch Diner opens with new name, new look
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — A local favorite for decades, the Casey Jones Diner shut its doors more than four years ago but has reopened with new management and a new look.M
anny Minhas took over the spot at 185 Morris Ave. about a month ago and he has changed the name to the Long Branch Diner.
Minhas quickly prepared the diner to open Aug. 20 and he said recently that it's been a struggle to get the word out.
"The hardest part has been telling people that we are open after four years," he said.M
inhas said it's been especially difficult to let customers know a new diner is open at the Casey Jones location because previous management reopened the diner briefly six months ago.
The former eatery's space has been completely renovated and now boasts a few specialty rooms, he said.
"There is a banquet hall upstairs," Minhas said. "We can hold about 100 up there for parties.
Minhas also said he is looking into obtaining a liquor license for the diner, but for now it is BYOB.
Also new are rooms that look like oldfashioned train cars and one that looks like a caboose, which will be used for children's parties.
"Somebody told me that it was a replica of the train cars and caboose when the Casey Jones first opened," Minhas said.T
he diner also contains train-themed memorabilia, including an original clock from New York's Penn Station.
The rest of the seating area has been redone from four years ago.
"Everything is new," Minhas said. "New bar, new booths and new seating areas."
One thing that has not changed much is the menu.
"We have a regular diner menu," Minhas said. "We have breakfast, lunch and dinner."
The diner is also offering a 10-percent discount to senior citizens, Monmouth Medical Center workers, transit workers and Monmouth University students.
The Long Branch Diner is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Click here to enlarge
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