Long Branch native reflects on changes
Iam a Long Branch native. My grandfather was a fire chief, and Anastasia School was named for my great-uncle. My mother graduated from Long Branch High and was a nurse at Monmouth Medical for many yeas. My father recently retired from the Long Branch post office. My family has been a part of this great city for over 60 years. I love this place.

There are legitimate points to debate regarding the recent development in Long Branch. It has become some sport to argue about the architecture, the eminent domain abuse, parking, beach access and a host of other reasonable issues that have been a part of the transformation of our oceanfront. Ever since the fire of 1987, those of us who love this city have wondered, watched and dealt with an influx of money, ideas and a new, mostly respectful crowd.

Some of this crowd, however, is directing their ire at the wrong people.

The relocation of a true Long Branch icon like Strollo's Lighthouse has become the subject of some finger-waving, headnodding and emotions. Along with Max's, Windmill, Inkwell and a handful of other native establishments, Strollo's is a part of the fabric of this city. Any kid who grew up in Long Branch knows this. This isn't some New York chain moving in. This isn't some North Jersey millionaire looking to intrude on our town. This is a Long Branch family business, the kind that encompasses the true spirit of this development. It blends the old with the new, the family traditions with the need for growth.

Smarter people than I will rule on this issue. But it seems simple. The area is zoned for a business like this. And this is how it will be used.

I encourage the mostly reasonable people who oppose this project to direct their energy to the proper place: their real estate agents who didn't tell them what that area was zoned for. And if the residents knew all along, then shame on them for trying to change the rules in the middle of the game.

Doug Bollinger

Long Branch