OceanFirst Foundation’s Relief and Recovery Grant Program is awarding six new grants totaling $93,000 to organizations in Point Pleasant Beach, Toms River and Monmouth County. The recipients are: Ocean Fire Co. #1, Point Pleasant Beach; Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, Toms River; Children’s Home Society, Toms River; Homes for All, Toms River; O.C.E.A.N., Inc., Toms River and United Way of Monmouth County, Farmingdale. "The foundation's grant program assists the efforts of nonprofit organizations in the New Jersey shore market area that are helping local families and individuals …

Climate change is a reality, experts say. Following Hurricane Sandy's impact on the Jersey Shore, property owners will have to make some tough decisions about how and if they should rebuild.  For those willing to stick it out, the only option is to build smarter and build up, some say. Here, two professionals, one an architect, one a hazard mitigation specialist, talk about the reality of climate change, and the future of building along the coast.

Gov. Chris Christie is placing blame for the lengthy delay in approval of a Hurricane Sandy Relief bill squarely on the shoulders of combative U.S. House of Representative Republicans, specifically Speaker John Boehner. Christie offered a scathing rebuke of Boehner and waffling Republicans during a press conference in Trenton Wednesday afternoon, saying Congress has failed in its primary purpose, to protect its own citizens. Residents of New York and New Jersey are being used as pawns in a game of politics, he said, and that's why this country's citizens "hate" Washington D.C. "Last night, …

Gov. Chris Christie and President Barack Obama each released statements Wednesday expressing disappointment over the failure of the House of Representatives to vote on the $60.4 billion Hurricane Sandy Aid Package and urged Congress to make the bill a priority when it reconvenes Thursday.  Though the U.S. Senate approved the bill Friday, Congress failed to act on the bill, at different times criticizing the allocation of some of its funding, considering splitting the aid package into separate bills, and putting it off until a deal was reached on the impending "fiscal cliff."  Eventually, the …

Officials from states hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy blasted Congressional Republicans on Wednesday for not passing a bill that would fund $60 billion toward recovery efforts. In a release, Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg said the move denies aid to "families, communities and businesses that were devastated by one of the worst storms to ever hit the United States. “Denying emergency aid to Superstorm Sandy victims is a new low for House Republicans,” Lautenberg said. Lautenberg said Congress should put partisan politics aside, as it does for other disaster recovery efforts, and "extend a …

The photo of the Princess Cottage carved nearly in half by surging flood waters has become one of the most enduring images from Hurricane Sandy.  Located along the Raritan Bay in Union Beach, the yellow brick home stood for 150 years before Sandy caused damage beyond repair. On Friday, Jon Zois and his family watched as the historic building was demolished, finishing the job the storm started.  It's not the way he wanted to make history, Zois said, but he believes that the image of the building, still standing even after being cut in half, stands as a symbol of New Jersey's resiliency in the …

Beyond New Jersey’s borders, Gov. Chris Christie’s post-Hurricane Sandy motives have been a topic of debate. His embrace of President Barack Obama following his arrival in New Jersey after the storm drew jeers from hardline Republicans concerned with the image it would present so close to the election. Some on the left have even intimated that the handshake, delivered soon after New Jersey was hit by the most devastating storm in its history, and as millions of residents remained without power, was a calculated move on Christie’s part that could lead to him throwing his hat in the ring for …

Manufactured mobile homes, many of them three-bedroom units, will be placed at commercial mobile home parks at the Jersey Shore to aid families who have been forced out of their homes from Hurricane Sandy. FEMA is looking for appropriate parks to place them. "By law, they cannot be placed in high-risk flood zones," said FEMA Public Information Officer Chris McKniff. "These units will provide long-term, temporary housing where families can live for up to 18 months," said McKniff.

In the back of the room, past the crane games and around the corner from the slot machines spitting out plastic tokens with every pull, the sandbags are still lined up against the glass doors that once served as the boardwalk entrance to the Seaside Heights institution Lucky Leo’s. On Monday, Seaside began allowing public access to the shore town for the first time since Oct. 29, the day Hurricane Sandy arrived on the Jersey Shore. The roads are still littered with debris, most of it pulled out of water-damaged properties, some of it carried there by surging ocean water. In place of the …

The 20th annual Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey, held in Seaside Heights for the last six years, has been moved to Long Branch, officials have announced. This event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 23. The decision to move the event was made in the weeks following Hurricane Sandy, as the magnitude of devastation to the area became apparent, officials said. “This iconic shore town has welcomed us for the past six years, but now they need to focus solely on restoration efforts,” said Marc Edenzon, president of Special Olympics New Jersey. “While Sandy wreaked havoc on …

Residents who turned down the opportunity of FEMA housing assistance have another chance to receive temporary aid. Sandy victims who elected not to relocate while repairs were made at their homes became ineligible for FEMA assistance. If that decision proved to be unwise, residents can apply for aid by: Calling 800-621-3362 to apply for temporary housing assistance if it's been less than 30 days since receiving a FEMA determination letter; Writing a letter to FEMA if it's been more than 30 days since the determination letter. Explain that you want to change your earlier response, explain how …

The mass destruction of Hurricane Sandy presented life altering challenges not only for residents throughout the state, but also for first responders who needed to keep the populace informed. The storm forced law enforcement agencies to re-evaluate the way they disseminate information to the public when faced with widespread power outages during emergency situations. On Tuesday morning, 65 representatives from law enforcement agencies throughout seven different counties in New Jersey gathered at the Monmouth Junction Firehouse in South Brunswick to discuss communication in times of crisis. "…

It wasn't the last great storm. But, over the past five decades, and before Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, it was probably the biggest. On December 11, 1992, an intense nor’easter came ashore along New Jersey's coastline and remained there for three days. Strong winds hit upward to 80 miles per hour, and massive amounts of snow overwhelmed businesses and schools.  Flooding ravaged coastal towns. Toms River schools were closed a week due to the snowfall. Much of Long Beach Island, and nearly all of Sea Bright, was under water. Losing a car in the storm wasn't a freak accident; for some, it was …

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are urging seniors impacted by Superstorm Sandy to apply for disaster assisatnce, the agency announced Tuesday morning, Dec. 11. Disaster assistance is not counted as income, and it is not taxed, FEMA officials said. It covers expenses resulting from a disaster, such as Sandy, which struck land in Atlantic City on Oct. 29. Those who receive social security or other government benefits may be eligible for FEMA aid, even if their losses aren't covered by insurance, officials said. Those seeking disaster assistance can register online at …

JCP&L has revised its payment plan options for customers who may need help paying their electric bills in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. “Hurricane Sandy was a devastating storm and continues to be a financial hardship for many of our customers,” said Ronald Green, vice president of FirstEnergy. Payment plans can be more flexible than the current installment plan arrangements and revised plans will remain in effect through March 15, 2013. “Whether it be lengthening the payback period or reducing the down payment amount, our goal is to tailor the payment plan options to better assist …

Boating, fishing and crabbing are now allowed in the upper Barnegat Bay and Sandy Hook Bay. The Department of Environmental Protection is lifting the public health advisory for recreational use in these bays, as well as the Hudson River, Passaic River, Hackensack River, Newark Bay, Kill Van Kull and Arthur Kill. Recreational and commercial shellfish harvest, however, remains prohibited in these waters, the DEP says. The wastewater treatment facilities that had been damaged by Hurricane Sandy have now been restored, and testing has indicated that these bodies of water meet the recreational …

After a year of contentious elections at the local, state and national level Republicans and Democrats from around Monmouth County will come together to help the area recover from the damage done by Hurricane Sandy.  The New Leaders Council, made up of members of both parties, announced that a concert will be held on December 30 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park which will include several top local bands. "Monmouth United" is being sponsored by the New Leaders Council — New Jersey as well as the Monmouth County Republicans, Monmouth County Democrats, New Jersey Young …

When water crept five blocks into Port Monmouth and filled Alise Pipitone's house, basement and garage, it not only wrecked her home but also threatened to snuff the life out of the C&G Electrical contracting business. Ten inches of water ruined the home-based business's equipment and killed the phone, fax line and the Internet service. Painting contractor Bob Crane of Voorhees & Crane Painting, also in Port Monmouth, has a similar story. He said he lost $10,000 worth of equipment in the flooded basement of his home-based business, and insurance won't pay.  Both joined about 40 others …

Navigating her way through the piles of paperwork, through meetings with contractors and the near never-ending stream of advice coming at her from every direction is a new experience for Jacqueline Capestro. Then again, so was watching ocean water surge down the street and into her home. For the 22 years she’s lived there, Capestro had never once seen her Bradley Beach home flood. When she returned following Hurricane Sandy to assess the damage she found her floorboards buckled, the furniture destroyed, and a flood line on the wall three feet from the floor. After initial shock slowly shifted…

As Colts Neck continues the cleanup and repairs after Hurricane Sandy, officials have begun to look at neighboring towns to offer assistance. Colts Neck Mayor Jarrett Engel announced on Wednesday that the township has adopted Union Beach and created a longterm partnership between each township's like organizations. The townships have paired local organizations; those as large as police and to sports organizations and PTO groups. Engel said this enabled Union Beach to stay organized as donations and help comes through, and will allow Union Beach officials to enjoy a continued shared services …