Local Woman May Be NJ’s Oldest Resident At 107

Surf City Fire Company Rebuilds A er Fire Hits Home

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Classifieds Pages 18

By Stephanie Faughnan

LITTLE EGG HARBOR – A local woman and her family dare to differ with the old saying that you should never ask a lady her age.

The recent celebration of Lucia DeClerck’s 107th birthday may well make her New Jersey’s oldest resident. However, that’s not the only thing that’s noteworthy when it comes to

DeClerck’s advanced age.

She’s also the proud matriarch of a family that spans over five living generations – another mark attributable to DeClerck’s longevity.

It wasn’t until she fell at home and needed in-patient rehab that DeClerck relinquished some of her independence at age 100. After (Resident - See Page 4)

New Urgent Care Facility Opening In Barnegat

By Stephanie Faughnan

BARNEGAT – A new health care practice coming to town may be just what the doctor ordered.

Locals who either don’t have regular doctors or can’t get in to see them will soon have a new option. AtlantiCare plans to open a new Urgent Care facility in Barnegat within the next few months.

The new center will operate seven days a week as its Barnegat Village Square location, commonly referred to as the Acme shopping center. Look for signs to be added to the marquee outside on 912 West Bay Avenue.

Plans are to merge the two end units on the western end of the shopping center to create the new facility. Previously, a small circuit gym and sub shop sat in the space that has been vacant for a number of years.

Albert “Al” Bille, a Barnegat Township committeeman and planning board member said he was pleased yet another major medical provider had decided to offer more local services in the community.

“This is the first urgent care facility in Barnegat,” reminded Bille.

“Our residents will no longer need to travel to Manahawkin or Lacey for on-demand treatment of non-life threatening illnesses and injuries.”

Manahawkin attorney Eric Leboeuf recent-

By Stephanie Faughnan

SURF CITY – ly appeared before the planning board on behalf of AtlantiCare to respond to questions pertaining to the project. One of the issues reviewed by the board was if there are enough parking spaces once the facility is up and running. Medical offices face specific requirements regarding (Facility - See Page 5) (Fire - See Page 5)

The preservation of life and property comes fi rst when it comes to any emergency management services. And, when a fi re hits home – it’s even more personal.

The Ocean County Fire Marshall determined that an electrical malfunction caused the fire at the Surf City Firehouse just days before Christmas on December 22. Although one fi refighter was hurt, his injury was minor and treated at the scene.

Reports indicate that the fi re occurred in the apparatus bay of the Firehouse. Authorities credited one of their own firefighters with noticing the company’s fi re siren was sending out a steady blast.

The programmed alert served as an indicator that the firehouse’s own fire alarm system had gone off.

When the investigating fi refighter left home to check why the alarm had gone off, he came

Resident:

Continued From Page 1 living alone in the Bay Apartments in Manahawkin for ten years, DeClerck agreed to stay on at Mystic Meadows Rehab and Nursing Center in Little Egg Harbor.

“My mother lived with us when my wife and I moved down to Greenbriar (in Waretown,)” shared Henry Laws. “She decided to take the apartment in Manahawkin because she said it was too quiet by us.”

Though she’s tired these days and not mobile for the last year, DeClerck remains lucid and responds to questions on her own time. DeClerck rested during most of her 107th birthday party while Henry, his wife Lillie and their daughter, Denise Jackson shared some of her stories.

Born on January 25, 1916, in Hawaii, DeClerck has always been a devout Catholic and started her early education in a local convent. In addition to her deep faith, DeClerck reportedly credits a special concoction to preserving her health.

Nine gin-soaked raisins a day may well be the recipe for a long life.

Henry, who’s the oldest in the next generation at 87, easily relates his mother’s advanced age to moments in history. She lived through two world wars, two pandemics – and also outlived three husbands.

“Two were named Henry and had the same birthday,” smiled the devoted son.

According to Henry, his mother was lucky enough to avoid infection with the Spanish Flu when it struck in 1918. However, the day after she received her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, DeClerck tested positive for the virus.

It just happened to be DeClerck’s 105th birthday and whether it was prayers, gin-soaked raisins, or plan old tenacity, she came out a survivor. Governor Phil Murphy included DeClerck’s recovery during one of his regular COVID-19 news briefi ngs.

While the John F. Kennedy assassination and the 911 tragedies mark time for many Americans, Henry recalled another event that caused great despair for his mother.

“I was seven years old and we were living in California when World War II was going on,” Henry shared. “My mom knew that Honolulu had been attacked, and she was worried about her family in Hawaii.”

Lillie, who had been listening to Henry, left the room for a few minutes to “pretty up” her mother-in-law before she was wheeled in for her grand entrance to her party. Lillie draped a beautiful handmade sweater atop of DeClerck and a knit beret, ultimately complimented with a tiara.

Jackson drove from Baltimore to join her parents in honoring DeClerck for her birthday celebration. Other family members are scattered throughout the country, including the west coast.

At 57, Jackson is the oldest of DeClerck’s granddaughters and has many fond recollections of time she spent with her grandmother.

“I remember when my grandmother and her mom were living in Oahu,” shared Jackson. “They taught me how to fish when we’d go out on the piers together.

“They were too old to go surfi ng, but we had cousins there,” Jackson continued. “My cousin Dean and grandmother would take me over to the other side of the island and I had so much fun going surfi ng.”

Birthday balloons, a Sweet Memories cake made of cupcakes, all reminded partygoers that DeClerck’s celebration was particularly special. A local school sent over a handmade card and staff members brought in flowers.

However, the family themselves appeared momentarily taken back to their own place in time with the woman who is the oldest living member of their legacy.

As she looked at her grandmother, Jackson’s eyes lit up with a gleam of nostalgia brought to the present.

“Back then, I didn’t even realize how special everything was (when she visited Hawaii), because I was just going to see family,” Jackson said. “Now, I really appreciate it. I really do.”

Fire:

Continued From Page 1 upon heavy smoke and flames inside the apparatus bay. The call to 911 resulted in a response team from members of the local fi re company.

“The fi re was right next to our primary engine,” said Peter Hartney, Surf City Volunteer Company and EMS president. “We got the fi re knocked out with fi re extinguishers and were able to get the engine out and turn it on and pump it.” inside the building needed to be cleaned. A vehicle marked Disaster Recovery Team had already made it to the scene to start the work by Christmas Eve.

The good news is the only harm to the fi re company’s equipment and ambulances resulted from soot. Fortunately, there are no costs or concerns regarding vehicle replacements.

The next step will be to restore the building, which sustained damage as a result of the fi re.

“It’s a cinderblock building,” said Hartney. “We’re talking about rebuilding the ceilings and the electric system.” ing through its Emergency Management office. The trailer has already been set up with tables and chairs so that it can be used as interim office space.

The Surf City Fire Company remains on call to respond to fi res, although they’ve moved their apparatus to other locations on Long Beach Island. One of the trucks is at the Ship Bottom Firehouse, which also has agreed to store the local company’s gear.

Donations to assist the volunteer fi re company and EMS services began coming in immediately after notice of the blaze. As part of a collaboration with Jetty-Life, the department released a Surf City Strong shirt and sweatshirt. The online store for orders closed on January 20 with orders expected for fulfi llment on February 10.

Those wishing to make fi nancial donations to assist the volunteers in their efforts may do so by using their Venmo account @station49.

Facility:

Continued From Page 1

Hartney said that the building was literally belching smoke and any equipment parking availability based on the square footage of their offices.

Leboeuf said he personally visited the shopping center on a weekday at 2 o’clock and stayed for an hour. He noted there were approximately 150 empty parking spots, with about 100 overall spaces lo-

According to Hartney, Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy arranged for a trailer next to the fi re company’s build- cated on the side where the facility plans to open.

“The benefit on that end of the development is you have a separate exit lane adjacent to the service lane to the Burger King,” added Fred Rubenstein, a planning board member. “That will do a lot to alleviate traffic concerns. We don’t have that in Barnegat 67 – this is a good thing for the town.”

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