~ Notes Around Town ~

Chris Kelly The Green Wave Football Association’s Bob Ippolito presents Long Branch High School senior Michael Schwartz with a memento for his participation as a member of the Green Wave football team Friday as football coach Dan George looks on.

Don Epstein, the developer of four houses in Ocean Township, has requested a review of a ruling directing it to construct a concrete sidewalk along the northeast corner of Deal Road and Whale Pond Road. The developer said he was excused from doing so by the Planning Board. According to City Manager David Kochel, local code requires sidewalks on all public roads, and no exception was granted in this case. Kochel said that although an exception to the sidewalk code was discussed during a Planning Board meeting, review of audio recordings reveals that no resolution on the matter was actually passed.

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Dumpster fees in Ocean Township may soon increase for businesses. Though the rates have remained the same for over five years, the township cited recent increases in landfill fees as the reason for the change in order to avoid a tax effect. Township businesses currently get 3 cubic yards of trash emptied once a week without cost and must pay for any additional refuse. The town may lower the included limit to 2 cubic yards per week, equal to about eight 32-gallon cans, which is the maximum for residential trash collection.

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Chris Kelly Paul Dillon, of the Heavyweight Brewing Co., Ocean Township, pours a sample of one of the ales available from the brewing company at the 2002 Food for Thought food- and wine-tasting benefit, held at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel and Conference Center on April 30.

Taxpayers in Ocean Township will have to watch the calendar more closely. According to a directive from the state, municipalities are no longer allowed to extend their 10-day grace period for quarterly tax payments. Past practice allowed taxpayers an extra day or so if the grace period ended on a weekend or holiday. Now the payment must be received within the specified time, regardless. Unlike federal taxes, payments must be received, not just postmarked, by the end of the grace period. Officials point out that there is already a drop box for payments that would satisfy the receipt-date requirement.

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The Ocean Township Environmental Commission will hold a spring nature walk May 5 at 1:30 p.m. starting at Joe Palaia Park. During the tour, spring plants and flowers will be examined as well as identifying birds and wildlife. The walk will last approximately one hour, and the League of Women Voters will provide refreshments to the participants after the walk.

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The Historical Museum in Ocean Township is looking for photos and artifacts depicting the township’s past, such as riding stables, that existed many years ago as well as old toys and games.

In addition, the museum is in search of old pictures of the Woolley House, and members are looking for a volunteer who would be interested in creating a model of the home. For more information, call the museum at (732) 531-2136.

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Volunteer drivers are needed for Meals on Wheels in Ocean Township. The program assists homebound seniors within the township. For more information, call Bob at Human Services at (732) 222-7737.

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The Ocean Township Historical Museum is continuing its fund-raising with memorial bricks. The bricks will be used to construct the new pathways on the grounds of the new museum. The bricks are priced at $100 each. For information, call the museum at (732)531-2136 or the bricks committee chairman (732) 531-9187.

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In Ocean Township, summer employment applications are now being accepted at the Department of Public Works, building division, division of sanitation, clean communities office and at the Recreation office.

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The city of Long Branch is inviting the public to attend its third annual "special events program" to be held at the N.J. Repertory Theater at 179 Broadway Wednesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. During the event the Sizzling Summer 2002 program will be unveiled. Call to RSVP by May 3 if you plan to attend at (732) 923-2043.

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The Regional Director for Surfers’ Environmental Alliance, Brian Unger, recently sent a letter to Mayor Adam Schneider requesting that city officials take a look at some construction debris that has been blown onto the beach and into the ocean, and enforce stricter restriction on developers and possibly amend city ordinances. Unger noted over the weekend during a Clean Ocean Action beach sweep campaign that building materials, construction debris and fast-food containers thrown onto the beach came from adjacent construction site of town homes and condos of the oceanside Renaissance project. He also noted that similar debris was found south of Lake Takanasse at the demolition of a house on Ocean Avenue.

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The first Sunday of the month is when the guest chefs will be cooking up breakfast at the home of the Long Branch Council 335 Knights of Columbus. Guest chef Rich Ward will be assisted by Rich Cuccinello, Charles Widdis, Ed Maloney and Joe Giddeo May 5. They will be serving breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon. Everyone is welcome. Adults pay $4 and children under 12 are $2. The address is 670 Highway 36 across from Conte’s Car Wash.

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In memory of Firefighter Robert "Bullet Bob" Feeney who died Jan. 16 and left behind a wife and four children, members of the fire department have organized a fund which will assist the Feeney children with their college tuition. If you wish to donate to this fund, send a check to Children of Bob Feeney Educational Fund, PO Box 563 Long Branch, NJ 07740.

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Time for spring cleaning. A citywide yard sale the weekend of May 18 and May 19 will be the perfect time to let go of those items that are no longer treasures.

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The next City Council meeting scheduled for May 14 has been rescheduled for May 16 because of the municipal election that will be held May 14. The council workshop will be at the same time (6 p.m.) followed by a public meeting at 8 p.m. Both the workshop and the public meeting will be open to the public.

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The Green Wave Football Association Carnival will be held through May 5 at the Atlantic Avenue Park. Come on out for rides, games and food. The association honored the seniors on this year’s team at their annual awards banquet at Tuzzio’s, Morris Avenue, Long Branch, on Friday with Anthony Mischia receiving the organization’s $2,000 college scholarship. Other members of the team honored were: James Burkimsher, Joseph Cilurzo, Tim Fitzpatrick, Chris Galatis, Berkeley Hutchinson, Derell Sapp, Kent Thorton, Raheim Frye, Michael Huff, Mario Nelson, Michael Schwartz and Chris Callano.

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The Historical Association has a limited number of spaces available for its annual Art in the Park show and sale. The sale will be held in the West End Park May 25 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Entry fee is $20 and cash prizes will be awarded. For information contact Jo Ann Levin at (732) 229-9258 or Barry Stein (732) 923-2044.

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The Greater Ocean Township Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce will hold their 14th annual business and retail expo May 29 from 5-8 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, Eatontown. For more information call (732) 228-7888 or (732)-222-0400.

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About 20 volunteers showed up for the Earth Day cleanup in Eatontown and collected six pickup truckloads of garbage from properties along Route 35 and elsewhere in the borough, according to Brian M. Denegar, a part-time fire and zoning inspector for the borough who headed the sprucing up effort. Denegar told the Borough Council April 24 that the six truckloads amounted to 600 to 700 pounds of debris that was removed. Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo said that was good considering that the weather didn’t cooperate.

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When Gov. James E. McGreevey came to Monmouth University in West Long Branch to hold a town meeting Monday, he made a point of introducing and thanking Susan Doctorian, the college’s associate vice president of public affairs. "Joe Kyrillos clearly married up," he quipped, referring to Doctorian’s husband, who is a state senator from Monmouth County and state Republican chairman. Kyrillos oversaw the GOP campaign in last year’s gubernatorial race which Democrat McGreevey won.

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Registration for Eatontown’s new all-day kindergarten will be held May 6 and 7, at the school the child will attend. Monday is for children whose last name begins with A to K and Tuesday is for children whose last name begins with L to Z. Registration will take place between 9:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. Children must be 5 years old by Oct. 31, but beginning in 2003 they must be 5 by Oct. 1. Both breakfast and lunch programs will be available for the kindergartners.

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Charles and Trudy Parton will be honored for their tireless dedication and commitment to Monmouth University at the 2002 Scholarship Ball to be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in historic Woodrow Wilson Hall on the college’s West Long Branch campus. Charles Parton is the immediate past chairman of the Board of Trustees and remains a board member. Trudy Parton has spent many years volunteering her time to the university. As a token of their appreciation, the Partons have underwritten 20 Monmouth University scholarship recipients to attend the ball as their guests. To inquire about tickets for the ball, which cost $195 each, call the university’s office of special events at (732) 571-3509. Proceeds from the event will fund scholarships.

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Eatontown Councilwoman Joyce A. Englehart reported at the Borough Council’s April 24 meeting that 140 paving blocks for the Walk of Memories at the new Veterans Plaza being built in Wampum Lake Park have been sold so far, and the committee in charge of selling them was anxious to sell more. The committee hopes to sell 600 pavers at $50 apiece to raise $30,000 to pay for the walk and the 800 square-foot gazebo to which it leads. Pavers sold by April 22 will be in place for the dedication of the Veterans Plaza May 27.

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A good part of the April 24 Eatontown council meeting went to the dogs. Councilman John J. Collins kicked off the theme with his report that Tinton Falls’ border collie, used to chase away Canada geese, would not be available for a demonstration in Eatontown at Wampum Lake Park as he had hoped. He explained that Mark Shaffery of the Tinton Falls Public Works Department had told him his dog was trained for athletic fields, not for use around a lake. "He didn’t think his dog would fit the bill," Collins said.

John Bucciero, director of public works for Tinton Falls, later explained their dog, Mirk, is used for parks and playgrounds. He said they couldn’t bring him to Wampum Lake Park without two handlers and a rescue kayak because of the size of the lake, its spillway with waterfall, and closeness to Route 35 with all its traffic. Shaffery said Mirk is not a strong swimmer.

Eatontown Councilman Charles E. DaVis continued on the same theme a short time later when he reported that the borough’s K-9 team of Xena and Patrolman Thomas Ferrugia had placed second overall in a regional police dog competition and qualified for the national finals.

Collins and Councilman William M. Kinney immediately bit on that one. "Does she like geese?" Collins asked. "Does she like water?" Kinney chimed in . Without skipping a beat, DaVis, a retired police officer, replied, "There are so many geese, I don’t know if she could ‘Mirandize’ them all."

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Various vehicles along with computer parts and office equipment will be offered for sale at a joint auction being held Saturday by Eatontown, Tinton Falls, Sea Bright and Shrewsbury Township at the Tinton Falls Public Works headquarters at 556 Tinton Ave. The auction begins at 10 a.m. The items may be previewed at 9 a.m. Items Eatontown will put up for auction include four police cars, 13 impounded vehicles, several computer monitors and printers, office chairs, file cabinets, a computer desk and a copying machine desk.

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The family of fallen Long Branch firefighter Robert W. Feeney was presented a proclamation by Gov. Jim McGreevey recognizing his life and service to the community at a town meeting the governor held Monday at Monmouth University. McGreevey remarked how it was a "difficult" proclamation to present and asked Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), whose home is Long Branch, to join him giving it to Feeney’s wife, Jayne, and father, Henry.

The younger Feeney collapsed and died of what was believed to be cardiac arrest Jan. 16 shortly after arriving at the scene of a fire on Liberty Street. The governor noted how he was a third-generation firefighter, who joined the city’s fire department at the age of 16, and was a member of the Phil Daly Hose Co. No. 2. He also pointed out Feeney had founded the Long Branch Fire Department Explorers which provides young people 14-20 career education. Most of all, McGreevey said, he was a loving husband and father.

The elder Feeney accepted the proclamation and started to say thank-you on behalf of the family, but choked up and turned around with his back to the audience. Feeney’s wife then picked up where he left off and gave thanks. McGreevey had paid a call on the family at the funeral home during the wake.