New Liquor License Laws Will Empower Towns, Small Businesses

ATLANTIC CITY – Speaking at the New Jersey Conference of Mayors 58th Annual Spring Conference in Atlantic City, Governor Phil Murphy announced the formation of a bipartisan coalition of mayors from across New Jersey who support the Murphy Administration’s comprehensive plan to reform and modernize New Jersey’s antiquated, Prohibition-era liquor license laws.

The coalition – “Mayors for Liquor License Reform” – includes 90 charter members who represent urban, suburban, and rural towns across a vast swath of New Jersey, all of which would benefit from the economic development generated by modernizing the State’s liquor license laws to make them more affordable, equitable, and accessible.

In lending their support and advocating for reform, all 90 charter members of the mayors’ coalition signed an open letter noting, “Given the exorbitant costs for a license, coupled with the lack of availability and the existing population cap for municipalities, the present system favors the economically advantaged while hampering mom-and-pop businesses and town with smaller populations.”

Governor Murphy first announced his goal of reforming New Jersey’s liquor license laws during his State of the State address in January, citing the exorbitant costs – sometimes as high as seven figures – and the lack of availability created by outdated population caps, all of which hinder small, diverse, and mom-and-pop establishments from flourishing. The Governor then unveiled a comprehensive proposal in February, that has since been introduced in the Legislature by Senator Gordon Johnson and Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, which would:

Gradually phase out the existing population cap on licenses over five years until it is permanently eliminated;

Maintain local control;

Establish progressive prices and associated fees based upon business size and a cap on the annual renewal fee not to exceed $2,500; Repatriate inactive licenses to boost availability;

Eliminate the secondary market that currently makes licenses unaffordable for small business owners; Permanently ease the restrictions that have hampered breweries; and Provide a mechanism to support existing license holders.

Since then, numerous chefs, restaurant owners, brewery owners, and now mayors have voiced their support for reforms to create a more equitable playing field with the potential to generate massive economic opportunities for small businesses and communities statewide.

“These mayors come from counties across the state. They represent more than one million residents of historic small towns, growing townships, and mid-sized cities,” said Governor Murphy. “But most important, they represent hundreds of small restaurants whose owners are being left out – and whose investments in their establishments are being left at-risk – because they do not have access to the liquor license that can allow them to better compete and stay in business. They understand the patent unfairness of our current liquor law regime and the significant local economic benefits that our proposed reforms would bring.”

From quaint Woodbine in southern Cape May County, to historic Clinton in northwest Hunterdon County, to the shore region of Bay Head, and the booming northern urban center of Newark, the growing list of mayors echoed Governor Murphy’s sentiment that liquor license reform will not only “create greater equity across the board, it will also serve as a major catalyst to spur economic development and strengthen and revitalize downtowns throughout New Jersey.”

The Murphy Administration continues to engage stakeholders and advocate for equitable reforms and looks forward to working with lawmakers to finalize a comprehensive plan that will eliminate the existing roadblocks and unlock New Jersey’s economic development potential.

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Summerfest:

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“Dogs are allowed in township parks as long as they’re leashed and their owners clean up after them as needed,” said Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic. “However, the bandshell area at Windward Beach is considered a beach area where dogs are not allowed.”

Over the years, responsible dog owners have expressed dismay at not being allowed to bring their dogs to the Farmer’s Market, and the township staff requested the committee consider this exemption, she said.

“We are doing this by resolution so we can see how it goes this season, and if all goes well we’ll continue the practice, and hopefully all will go well,” Zapcic said.

In other news, final plans are in place for Summerfest 2023 when bid awards for food truck vendors, fireworks exhibitions and the beer and wine garden were announced.

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MAY 4 SHEN YUN AT NJ PAK $229/pp

Includes lunch at Don Pepe & Orchestra Seat.

MAY 5 WIND CREEK CASINO $54/pp

Includes $30 Slot Play & 5 Hour Stay.

MAY 10 GREASE MUSICAL $155/pp

Join us for the day at Toby”s Dinner Theater in Columbia, MD. Includes Buffet lunch & Show.

MAY 23-27 5 DAY GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS ADVENTURE $1098/pp Dbl. Occ.

Package Includes 2 Nights stay Dolly Parton Resort, 1 night in each direction,2 Live Shows, 4 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners, Step on Guide, Moonshine Distillery Tour, Hollywood Car Museum and more

MAY 28 ELVIS MUSICAL $144/pp

Join us for the day at the Dutch Apple Theater in Lancaster, PA Includes Buffet Lunch & Show.

MAY 30-31 2 DAY TRIBUTE TO FRANKIE VALLI & FOUR SEASONS @ RESORTS WORLD CATSKILLS $232/pp Dbl.Occ.

Join us at the Resorts Catskills Resort in the Beautiful Catskill mountain region for one night and see A Tribute To Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Package Includes Day 1-$25 Slot Play & $20 Food Voucher. DAY 2-$25 Slot Play, Lunch and Show Ticket.

JUNE 4-6 3 DAY 1000 ISLAND & BOLDT CASTLE

$739/pp Dbl.Occ.

Package Includes 2 Nights Lodging at 1000 Island Hotel, Boldt Castle, Boat Tour 2 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners, Antique Boat Musuem, Local Winery for Tasting.

JUNE 11-14 4 DAY NIAGARA FALLS & SAFARI

$939/pp Dbl.Occ.

Package Includes 3 nights stay at the 5 star Hilton Fallsview Hotel with a Falls View Room, 3 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners, Step on Guided Tours, Lion Safari Adventure, Hornblower ‘’ride to the falls” & more

JUNE 25-28 4 DAY CAPE COD & MARTHA’S VINEYARD

$817/pp Dbl.Occ.

Package Includes 3 Nights Lodging Fairfield Inn & Suites, Step on Guide Tours, Martha’s Vineyard, 3 Dinners, 3 Breakfasts. Whale Watching Cruise and more.

JUNE 28 MJ MICHAEL JACKSON MUSICAL $224/pp

Includes Lunch Before Show & Orch Seat.

AUG. 9 NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL $224/pp

Includes Lunch before show & Orch Seat.

AUG. 9 FUNNY GIRL MUSICAL $276/pp

Includes Lunch before show & Orch Seat.

AUG. 12 SOME LIKE IT HOT MUSICAL $224/pp

Includes Lunch before show & Orch Seat.

AUG. 19 YANKEE VS. RED SOX’S $189/pp

Includes covered seating, Hot Dog, Drink.

AUG. 28-30 3 DAY LAKE GEORGE & SARATOGA SPRINGS $659/pp Dbl.Occ.

Package Includes 2 nights lodging at the Hampton Inn & Suites, Lake George, Saratoga Race Museum, Step on Guided Tour, 2 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinners, Tiki Show, Boat cruise on Lake George & more

SEPT. 12 MOSES AT SIGHT & SOUND $144/pp

Lunch Included at Shady Maple & a center Orchestra Seat.

JAN. 7-27,2024 11 DAY EASTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE ONBOARD THE NORWEGIAN GETAWAY FROM NEW YORK CITY

Please call for details.

Always Included Bottled Water & Snacks, Company Escort, All Gratuities

Bus Departures Toms River (Exit 81 West Water Street NJT Station) • Brick Target (Route 70)

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Food truck vendors include hot food, sausage sandwiches and cheesesteaks, grilled fried items, ice cream, funnel cakes, fried Oreos, butterfly fries, Italian mozzarella donuts, Italian nachos, fettuccine bread pockets and surf & turf.

Bid notices were provided to 106 prospective bidders. Of those, 14 picked up bid packages, 10 bids were received, and awards went to the highest bidders in each category.

Schaefer Pyrotechics of Ronks, Pa. will be paid $26,040 to provide fireworks exhibitions for the Summerfest concert series and for the Fallfest. Bid notices were provided to 12 prospective vendors. Six of those picked up packages and one bid was received.

Windward Tavern will once again run the beer and wine garden concession for Summerfest, for which they will pay $9,100. Bid notices were sent to 25 prospective bidders. Three submitted bids, and Windward Tavern provided the highest responsible bid.

And finally, construction will begin on Cedar Bridge Manor Park after a $465,412 bid was awarded to Robbie Lane Enterprises of Towaco, NJ, one of six bids that were submitted. Bids ranged from a high of $572,385 to the lowest winning bid.

Permits for the project were delayed since the .91-acre waterfront park on Manor Drive was located in a geographic area of high sensitivity where Native American artifacts might be found.

An archaeological survey was conducted and no historical artifacts were identified.

“The township has all the necessary permits to proceed with this project,” said Councilwoman Zapcic. “The project includes shoreline restoration - specifically riprap stabilization edge with vegetation mulch, much like we did at Bay Harbor Beach.”

The project also includes playground equipment, exercise equipment, a kayak launch, a walkway and a bike rack, she said.

The next council meeting will be on Tuesday April 25, 2023 at 7 p.m.

Fire Camp

BRICK – The Brick Township Fire Department has announced Fire Camp, July 10 to 14. Open to kids ages 12 to 16. Must be a Brick Township resident. Email bureau@ brickfire.org for an application. Applications must be submitted by May 12. Only 25 spots available! Call 732-458-4100 for more questions.

In The Blink Of An Eye

Blinking is an unconscious action, although we often “forget” to blink when focusing intently on something, such as the phone, tablet, or television. Blinking is essential for keeping eyes moist and healthy, and for the most part we don’t even notice when we do it. If blinking is accompanied by pain, however, it could mean your eyes need attention. You may have dry eye, which means you aren’t producing enough tears to create lubrication between your eyes and eyelids. Conjunctivitis (pinkeye) can also cause pain when blinking, although it is more common in children than adults. It is also possible that you have a foreign object under your lid that is causing friction when you blink.

A likely cause of eye pain when blinking hard is corneal abrasion. The term corneal abrasion is used to describe scrapes and scratches sustained on the cornea – the transparent surface part of the eye. Over-use of contact lenses and wearing ill-fitted contacts are some of the predisposing factors for corneal abrasion. Children and adults who also work in dusty environments are also at higher risk of getting corneal abrasion. For your eye health, please schedule an appointment with SIGHTMD NEW JERSEY SUSSKIND & ALMALLAH EYE ASSOCIATES at 732-349-5622. We offer evening hours most nights of the week.

P.S. When trying to remove debris from your eye, be sure your hands are clean and rinse your eyes with clean water. Do not use your fingers or other devices to try and remove debris.