Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Motor vehicle stop in Seaside Park leads to drug-related charges for Ibnballha Pitman, 34, of Newark
A Newark man was arrested and charged after police seized 1,000 bags of heroin in an investigation into drug activity in the Ocean County area, according to a news release from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Ibnballha Pitman, 34, of Newark was arrested on April 15 after a cooperative investigation into his alleged drug distribution activities. Detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop on April 15 in which Pitman was the occupant of a 2001 White Honda Accord. The stop took place in the area of O Street and Central Avenue in Seaside Park. The officers obtained and executed a search warrant for the car, ultimately seizing approximately 1,000 bags of heroin with the approximate street value of $5,000, the news release said. Pitman was …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Right Coast Surf Shop was flooded with three feet of water during the storm
Mike Colombo's warm and easy going personality makes it hard for those greeted by the Right Coast Surf Shop owner to realize that just five months ago Superstorm Sandy dealt devastating blows to his home and business. The barrier island native and father of two is still dealing with the aftermath of the destruction Sandy brought to the business he has owned for over 14 years. "I still had shoes stocked on the floor and everything," he said about how little he prepared for water damage to the store. "I figured because we were centrally located between the bay and the ocean that it would be cool. I was wrong." Colombo said the store had never seen any flooding before Sandy. Even though the store looks great now, he is still paying for the $…
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Officials hoping project will begin this summer from Manasquan to Barnegat inlets
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Daniel Nee
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Thursday, March 14
Oceanfront homeowners between Manasquan and Barnegat inlets are being urged to sign easements necessary for a beach renourishment project to get off the ground by May 1, officials said Thursday. U.S. Rep Jon Runyan (R-3) wrote to the mayors of a number of northern Ocean County municipalities this week urging them to secure all necessary easements for the massive dune and beach project by May 1, the date the Army Corps of Engineers must submit a work plan to Congress. The project's design – which would include the construction of approximately 25-foot high dunes, 75 foot wide berms and 175 acres of dune grass in the project area – was completed in 2007, but has languished after some oceanfront homeowners refused to sign easements that would…
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Racially-charged lawsuit named more than 50 borough employees
Seaside Park has settled a lawsuit brought against the borough by the former owner of a boardwalk bar. The $2.5 million settlement marks an end to the racially-charged claim against the borough, which named as defendants more than 50 borough employees and former employees, including a number of police officers and elected officials. Stephen D’Onofrio, the former owner of the Sawmill Cafe - located on the boardwalk near the borough's border with Seaside Heights - charged in a 160 page court filing that borough officials and police conspired to run him out of town after his establishment hosted a 2004 concert by rapper Method Man. The lawsuit claimed the plan to drive the bar away even had a name: "The Program." "The Program was a living …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Curfews still in effect, mayor says
While Berkeley Township police will continue patrolling the streets of South Seaside Park and Pelican Island, the police checkpoints on Route 35 have been removed, Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said. "Many resident have repopulated these areas and have started the rebuilding process," Amato said today. "It is time to get back to some level of normalcy." Residents began a slow trickle back into their homes shortly before Christmas. But the two sections were closed to the general public, except for contractors during the daytime. Residential stickers and work entry permits are no longer needed to gain access to both areas, the mayor said. However, the 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew remains in effect and ocean beaches and bayfront areas will remain …
Residents only mandate lifted as of Thursday
Checkpoints in Seaside Park have now ended. The borough announced on its website that as of Thursday, checkpoints and roadblocks would no longer be in place. The borough repopulated in December, but since then only residents with credentials were allowed access to local streets as well as Route 35. "All traffic devices located on the roadway along Porter Avenue with the purpose of detouring traffic will be removed," the announcement said, and the re-entry passes are no longer required. Some restrictions do remain in place, however. A pedestrian curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. remains in place, and the beaches, boardwalk, marina and bay areas are still off-limits to the public. Police are also urging people to report any suspicious activity to…
Sunday, December 23, 2012
South Seaside Park resident Courtney Chibarro and a host of volunteers spread some holiday joy on the barrier island
Dec. 23, 2012 will go down in Courtney Chibarro's memory as one of the best days of her life. "It was amazing," a tired, but happy Chibarro said Sunday night. Chibarro's family home in South Seaside Park was high enough to escape the flood waters from Superstorm Sandy. But she couldn't stop thinking about neighbors and residents on the barrier island who weren't as lucky. That's how "Christmas on the Island" was born. Chibarro and a group of volunteers wanted to bring some happiness to those who are still reeling from the storm, even the first responders who have stood guard over the island in the cold and darkness. The Christmas caravan started off with a little party at Salon Allure in Toms River, where the donations had been dropped off…
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Mayor Hoping County, State Will Approve Repopulation Plan for South Seaside Park, Pelican Island
Keep your fingers crossed. Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. is hoping that residents of South Seaside Park, Pelican Island and neighboring Seaside Park will be able to return to their homes by Dec. 20, if all goes well. "My goal is to get our residents home before Christmas," Amato said. Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele is drafting a repopulation plan for the two sections that will have to be submitted "through the chain of command," the mayor said. The plan must first be approved by the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management, then the State Office of Emergency Management, and finally by Gov. Chris Christie, he said. "We have had our engineering department review the infrastructure and they have deemed the roads safe," Amato said. "Our …
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Residents will have access to their homes today
Residents in both South Seaside Park and Seaside Park will be able to access their homes today, now that New Jersey Natural Gas has finished pressurizing the gas lines. "Another step closer," Berkeley Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said. "All went well. Now onto meter rebuilds, which should be done by Wednesday the latest, weather permitting." When the meter rebuilds are completed, natural gas will be reintroduced to the meter, the mayor has said. The gas will be shut off at the meter's shut-off valve and a tag attached to the valve. The tag will state "Before opening this valve, you must properly test and inspect the piping beyond the valve as well as any natural gas equipment. You may also need to have approval by your local code official. …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Work on gas lines will hopefully be completed today, mayor says
Seaside Park and South Seaside Park residents will have to wait a little bit longer to get into their homes. New Jersey Natural Gas workers have finished pressurizing gas lines in Seaside Heights and Pelican Island and have moved onto to Seaside Park and South Seaside Park today, Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said. "The bridge is open and Pelican Island and Seaside Heights are open," Amato said. "The gas company is in Seaside Park and South Seaside Park repressurizing the gas lines. For safety precautions, both areas are closed today. We are hopeful they have 18 crews in the area and barring any unforeseen anomalies, they should finish today." Once the lines are pressurized, NJNG employees will do meter rebuilds. When the …
mrbaw
7:19 am on Saturday, April 20, 2013
We all have rights but, more so they privileges in the USA. If you choose to loose your privilege that is your choice. Freedom of choice is your right. What you choose to do with it is up to you. In this mans case, he will still be tried with respect to his crime. more ›