Parts of the Jersey Shore are “unrecognizable,” Gov. Chris Christie said in Brick Friday afternoon. Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno toured parts of Ocean County, including Mantoloking and Bay Head Friday, before coming to a FEMA relief center set up at Emma Havens Young Elementary School in Brick to address the media. “The destruction the lieutenant governor and I have seen … is just unfathomable,” said Christie. “I’ve driven on Route 35 since I was coming to the shore with my parents as a young child. And you just can’t recognize the place. It is heartbreaking."  “It’s unrecognizable,” he…

Hurricane Sandy has turned many New Jersey residents' lives upside down. If you want to do your civic duty and vote in the 2012 election but aren't sure you will be able to make it to the polls on Tuesday, county clerks' offices will be holding weekend hours. Simply stop by the central and southern New Jersey election offices listed below for the county in which you reside and are registered to vote, and cast an election ballot. The Mercer County Clerk's Office will have walk-in voting at two locations: the Old Courthouse, 209 S. Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Trenton and the County Administration …

Retro Fitness, located at 706 Newman Springs Rd in Lincroft, has got its power back and has announced it is opening the doors to the Middletown area community.  "Our facility is open to all Retro Fitness Members and members of the community that need showers or electricity," said the manager. There is no charge.  The facility will stay open until 6 p.m. curfew. This weekend, the facility hours are 7:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday- Sunday. Next week, it will open at 5 a.m., with closing at 11 p.m., unless the 6 p.m. curfew remains.  "We support the community, in a time of need like this we're opening …

Best Market may have opened its doors to customers on Friday, but the Holmdel grocer was lending a hand to area residents in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Employees sorted through perishables and donated food that would have passed its expiration in a few days to Bolger Middle School in Keansburg, according to Lou Vaccaro, Best Market store manager. The middle school is being used to provide meals to storm victims being housed at Monmouth University. On Friday at 10 a.m., Best Market opened on generator power. It will remain open until the store runs out of fuel for the …

Sand covered the streets; the ocean breached the dunes; but the Long Branch Pier Village appears to have survived as the city recovers from the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company has set up two Mobile Claims Centers to help New Jersey residents in the aftermath of Sandy. These self-contained mobile claims offices are equipped with generators, satellite technology and high-speed internet connectivity so Allstate’s National Catastrophe Team can provide policyholders claim support in areas hardest hit by Sandy. By visiting a Mobile Claims Center, Allstate New Jersey customers will be able to start the claims process and ask questions about their claim. Hours of operation for all the Mobile Claims Centers are Monday through Friday, 8:…

NJ TRANSIT has announced that rail service to New York Penn Station has resumed on the Northeast Corridor Line, but service on all other rail lines remains suspended due to a power outage and damage from Hurricane Sandy. According to the NJ TRANSIT website, the Northeast Corridor is running trains between Trenton and New York Penn Station on a modified schedule. Visit NJTransit.com to view schedules. The River Line light rail and the majority of bus service in New Jersey have already resumed. All other rail service aside from the Northeast Corridor line remains suspended until further notice…

As of 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, Atlantic City is back in business. Gov. Chris Christie announced travel restrictions into the city were lifted and the casinos were reopened as of 10 a.m. Division of Gaming Enforcement investigators and personnel have been assigned to each property to ensure compliance with internal control issues and to complete a final authorization to commence operations, according to the Governor's Office. Division Director David Rebuck said a complete analysis of casino properties has been completed, according to Christie. This includes the casino floors, its equipment, …

Following Hurricane Sandy, it can be tough to reach all of your friends and family to let them know that you're OK. The American Red Cross has a "Safe and Well" registry that can help spread the word. You can go to the site and enter your information, and confirm that you're "safe and well." Then, friends and family can also go to the site and search for your name. Here are instructions from the Red Cross site: Register Yourself as “Safe and Well”Click on the “List Myself as Safe and Well” button to register yourself on the site. Search for Loved OnesConcerned family and friends can search …

Monmouth County officials announced the establishment of the Hurricane Sandy Hotline, a clearinghouse of information for residents affected by the storm. The phone number is 732-303-2882. “We have set up this phone center to assist residents in finding the information they need to cope with this devastating storm,” Freeholder Director John P. Curley said in a press release issued by the county. “A call to the Hurricane Hotline will give residents quick and easy access to phone numbers and information to help them rebuild.” The hotline will operate starting at 8 a.m. Friday and run from 7 a.m…

Gov. Chris Christie said thousands of added workers from across the country are set to arrive in New Jersey, after he pressed utility companies to speed up repairs.   Christie said he told chief executives of the state's largest utilities they must take extraordinary steps to step up restoration efforts.  "I made it clear to them that whatever playbooks they had were to be thrown out because we've never faced anything like this before," the governor said.  Governors from Ohio to Virginia dispatched repair crews to aid storm-ravaged New Jersey, Christie said at a briefing in Moonachie Thursday…

In an effort to accommodate NJ voters affected by Hurricane Sandy, the governor's office issued a directive Thursday evening easing voting restrictions and ordering election offices to remain open through the weekend. Per Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno's directive, the state has extended the deadline for mail-in ballot applications -- normally due no later than one week before election day -- to close of business Friday, to make voting more accessible. Additionally, the state has ordered that county clerks and all election offices remain open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Friday, Nov. 2 until …

When Beth Whitehead returned to her High Avenue home in Union Beach, the sight of the devastation made her cry.  Whitehead has lived in Union Beach for 41 years, on High Ave. for 13 years, but she had never seen experienced anything like it. The tide had pushed the Bay into the creek, and the creek had rushed her house. At one unthinkable moment during Hurricane Sandy, half the house had been submurged in nine feet of dirty, briny water.  "Nothing in salvagable," she said, standing outside a mountain of furniture that overwhelmed her yard. She had cleared the house of its contents. Inside the…

The following messages were posted on the Township website on Nov. 1, 2012.  Per JCP&L about 24 percent -- that’s  8,150 customers of township has been restored, 25,500 customer still remain without power . For anyone needing shelter, the Croydon Center Reception Center and Shelter at 900 Leonardville Road is now open and available. Please bring pillows, blankets, personal items such as medications.  Unfortunately, absolutely no pets can be accommodated. Monmouth County residents and small businesses are now eligible to apply for different types offederal assistance, including temporary …

Power outage numbers continued to drop slightly across the state Thursday. But many in Monmouth and Ocean counties still don't have it. In Ocean County overall, there were 170,303 who still have no power Thursday evening, and 108,265, or 39 percent, who had been restored, said Ron Morano, JCP&L spokesman. In Monmouth County, 234,208 were still without power Thursday evening and 41,323, or about 15 percent, had been restored, Morano said. JCP&L reported in a release on Wednesday that the majority of customers will be restored within the next seven days. However, it could take up to two weeks …

The Monmouth County Health Department has issued recommendations to those who have experienced flooding due to Hurricane Sandy. A heavy amount of coastal and inland flooding was experienced in Monmouth County and it may be unsafe and may contain sewage, gasoline, and oil. “The ocean surge and flood waters caused by the hurricane are impacting Monmouth County residents greatly,” Freeholder Director John P. Curley said. “This water has created special challenges with cleanup efforts; so be sure to take the proper precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones.”The Monmouth County Health …

Americans are used to watching telethons for desperate and needy people around the globe. On Friday, a one-hour live benefit telethon featuring superstar guests will raise money for an issue close to home: the victims of Superstorm Sandy. Christina Aguilera, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Sting headline the event. “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together" airs from 8-9 p.m. on NBCUniversal networks. The Huffington Post reports that money raised will go to the Red Cross to help surivors with the baiscs – medical care, shelter, food. The live telethon will be hosted by NBC “Today” …

“We’re fine, but the business is gone. It’s all gone,” said a teary Christina Dilorio, part owner of Sea Bright’s now destroyed DIVE! Dilorio and partner Steve Graniero just opened the bar and grill last year. It was one of the many Sea Bright businesses, not to mention homes, destroyed by the unrelenting wrath of Hurricane Sandy. Dilorio was one of hundreds of Sea Bright business owners and residents who packed the Borden Stadium on Thursday afternoon to get a briefing on where to go from here from the borough’s Mayor Dina Long. In addition to the fact that Long cautioned that no one should …

Monmouth County officials have lifted the curfew for some municipalities, however the 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. ban is still in effect for coastal communities. “A countywide curfew has been in effect since Tuesday to ensure the safety of our residents,” Sheriff Shaun Golden said in a press release issued by the county. “We are now confident that the ban can be lifted for some of the county and appreciate the public’s compliance in this important order.” The Sheriff explains that the curfew is still in effect for the coastal municipalities of Aberdeen, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Avon-…

Monmouth County has established a donation site for items to assist those affected by Hurricane Sandy. The site has been set up at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road (Route 520) in Lincroft, according to a press release issued by the county. The donation center is located at the service entrance of the park. It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to receive donated items. Items needed include: Bottled Water Non perishable food Pet food New clothing Blankets Personal hygiene items including baby items Thompson Park is a donation site only - no distribution will be made there. Items will be …