Badge Sales Double As Beaches Ready For Summer

By Judy Smestad-Nunn

BRICK - Township beaches have been up and fully running now as a result of efforts that began on May 1 when long-time beach captain Donovan Brown and five lifeguards began an initial cleanup.

“From Labor Day until May 1, the beaches really are not touched that much,” said Director of Recreation Dan Santaniello from his office last week. “There is a lot of prep work - for example, there are a lot of beach buggy tracks, so we have to go out with machines and level all that out.” May 20 and 21 were certification days when all 67 lifeguards came in and completed 21 hours of advanced first aid training led by paid township (Beaches - See Page 4)

47 New Officers Graduate From Academy

Alyssa Riccardi

Who Is Running For Brick Township Mayor?

law enforcement representatives gathered for a graduation ceremony at Georgian Court University to honor those who successfully completed months of intensive training.

“This graduation (Officers - See Page 5)

Alyssa Riccardi

6 primary election for Brick, meaning their names will appear on the ballot in November. No independent candidates registered to run for any office yet.

Back in February, former Mayor John Ducey (Mayor - See Page 5)

Beaches

: Continued From Page 1

EMT staff, who work hand-in-hand with the beach staff all summer long.

There was a lot of lifeguard attrition since many of the older guards graduated from college and are working internships, Santaniello said.

28 of the lifeguards are new this year and were hired from a pool of 35 who had tried out for the job. All but two are high school students in town. Last year only eight tried out from which six were hired.

Santaniello attributes the high turn out of lifeguard applicants to the senior beach staff, who are all Brick high school teachers and swim coaches, who were able to recruit from the student body. They include Robbie Brown, Angelina Graham and John Prado.

Lifeguard pay starts at $16 an hour, which is the standard at the Jersey Shore, he said.

Some areas of township beaches are in need of replenishment, Santaniello said. Brick Beach 3, south to 6th Avenue is much narrower than Brick Beach 3, north to Curtis Point, which is about three times wider.

“The water is actually scouring the dunes now in that narrow area,” he said. “When we get these astronomical full moon high tides - if it was a beautiful Saturday, I don’t know where we’d put all the people.”

The new dunes were built where the old beach was about 10 years ago, Santaniello said. “I think this is going to be a battle for a while until the Army Corps of Engineers can figure out why those areas are eroding so fast.”

Planned beach replenishment has been pushed back from last spring to last fall and now until fall of this year. The federal government will fund most of the work, with local municipalities on the hook for a smaller portion.

In January of this year, the Ocean County Commissioners announced the county would fund the entire cost of the local share for each municipality.

“Toms River needs some replenishment, Mantoloking has a few spots, Lavallette, Seaside…they’re all in the same position as us,” Santaniello said.

Beach badge sales so far are about double what they were last year at this time: 6,836 season badges have been sold, 2,642 regular parking passes have been sold and 1,303 senior parking passes, also double the numbers over last year.

Santaniello said many purchased beach badges before May 15 when beach badges cost $30. After May 15 they went up to $45. Over 600 season badges were sold on May 14 alone, he said.

The township beaches have three jet skis and four all-terrain vehicles. The department also purchased a new tractor for beach raking, which is done every morning.

Brick beaches are now open full-time, seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. until Labor Day.

Ribbon Cutting And Open House For The Arc

BRICK – The Arc, Ocean County Chapter cordially invites all of Ocean County to a ribbon cutting and open house on June 22, to celebrate the newly renovated administrative office and state of the art vocational program space located on Mantoloking Road in Brick.

The night will commence with a ribbon cutting ceremony and speeches, followed by a meet and great with the Arc Ocean department directors and program staff. Building tours of the newly renovated space and light refreshments will be available curtesy of the Journeys and Discovery Adult Training Center. Arc Ocean spirit wear merchandise and annual memberships will also be available for purchase.

To end the celebration, Executive Director Laura Williams and the Board of Directors will hold the annual membership meeting to update the state of affairs and prepare for the next fiscal year.

RSVP online at arcocean.org/get-involved/ events/open-house-ribbon-cutting.html to join the celebration and please consider becoming a member of The Arc to join our group of advocates and allies for people with disabilities in our community.

Officers: Continued From Page 1 marks a new beginning as you make your way into our communities and neighborhoods as peace officers,” said Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, in addressing the graduates on behalf of the Board of Commissioners. “Today, as you graduate the Ocean County Police Academy you enter into a noble profession but one that is inherently dangerous and growing more difficult all the time.

At the ceremony, Haines was joined by several law enforcement representatives including Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Stafford Police Chief Thomas Dellane, who is also President of the New Jersey Chiefs of Police Association, the Rev. James Occhipinti, and Ocean County Undersheriff Brian Klimakowski. Barnegat Police Chief

Mayor:

Continued From Page 1 left the position he held for nearly nine years to serve as a Superior Court judge. Mayor Lisa Crate, who was appointed in his stead, will be representing the Democrats.

On the opposing side, current State Assemblyman and former council member John

Keith Germain, who is also President of the Ocean County Chiefs of Police Association, gave the keynote address.

Recruits receiving awards during the ceremony were: Charles J. Hanson, Jackson, James J. Tracey Leadership Award; Royce J. Tucker, Point Pleasant Beach and Dylan M. Wisniewski, Seaside Heights, the PTC Merit Award Winners; Matthew W. Parke, Manalapan, High Academic Award; Hunter R. Simeon, Seaside Heights, High Overall Award and High Physical Fitness Award; Matthew C. Hamilton, Little Egg Harbor, High Marksmanship Award.

Attaining a perfect score in one or more of the three qualifying firearms rounds were Zachary Fritz, Michael Gajewski, Baylin Hall, Matthew Hamilton, James Komsa, Jonathan McLaughlin, Sean Phillips and Thomas Pietrulewicz.

“All of our recruits work hard to receive the badge of their respective police department,” Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy said. “We are very proud

Catalano will lead the Republican ticket. Over the past 10 years, Republicans have not held the mayor’s office as well as a council majority. With this in mind, this year’s election could potentially cause a shift for politics in Brick Township. The candidate who is voted in as mayor will serve out the remainder of Ducey’s term, which will end in 2025, and then they can run again for a full, four-year term in office. Along with mayor, four seats on the council of each of these new officers. We know they will serve the community and the County well.”

“We deeply appreciate the work of all of our academy instructors. They bring years of experience to the classroom,” he added.

Instructors recognized with the Instructor Award during the ceremony were Charles Webster, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department and Mark Fabbricatore, Bayonne Police Department.

The graduates and their respective police departments are: Ali T. Aziz, Nicholas J. Bilinski, Logan J. Carter, Orrin D. Falby, Zachary Fritz, Michael R. Gajewski, Brian P. Henry, Danek E. Namiotka, Thomas L. Pietrulewicz, Samuel G. Pradarits, Jesse M. Rund, Steven M. Schmitz, Keegan J. Shevlin, Royce J. Tucker, all Point Pleasant Beach Police Department; Hope D. Barina, Jorge I. Beltran Betancourt, Pierce J. Biczis, Charles H. Kremer, Tyler J. Lehr, Alex X. Rosario, Hunter R. Simeon, Saul are on the table in November. The current roster of Council members consists of: Council President Heather DeJong, Council Vice President Andrea Zapcic, and council members Vincent Minichino, Perry Albanese, Derrick T. Ambrosino, Marianna Pontoriero, and Melissa Travers. Albanese is the lone Republican on the governing body.

The Democrat slate includes three incumbents and one newcomer. Travers and Ambrosino are currently holding appointed seats, filling in for the resignation of Crate when she was appointed mayor, as well as the resignation of former council member Art Halloran who moved out of town. Additionally, Minichino is seeking a second term on council and Steve Feinman is seeking his first term.

Vargas, Dylan M. Wisniewski, all Seaside Heights Police Department.

Michael C. Bruno, Ryan M. Dean, Baylin J. Hall, James M. Komsa, Joseph L. Martinez, Johnathan K. McLaughlin, Andrew T. Mortensen, James T. Orozco, Katerina A. Tsarnas, all Seaside Park Police Department. Ryan R. Cheslock and Jared R. Prendeville, Mantoloking Police Department. Anthony J. D’Amico, Austin H. Goins, Victoria R. Spahr, Timothy J. Suppa, Cody A. Tchir, Joseph J. Vanderveen, all Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.

Nicholas M. Dellaquila, Brick Township Police Department; Jacob R. Forlenza, Stafford Township Police Department; Matthew C. Hamilton, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department; Charles J. Hanson, Jackson Township Police Department; Matthew W. Parke, Manalapan Township Police Department; Sean M. Phillips, Lavallette Police Department, and Robert M. Stowe, Point Pleasant Police Department.

Representing Republicans alongside Catalano is Mary Buckley, Theresa Gallagher, James Palmisano and Rocco Palmieri.