Christie’s Union Beach Visit Moved To Boro Hall

Governor Chris Christie will visit Union Beach this afternoon for an announcement regarding a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Flood Control Project.

The event is scheduled to  start at 2:30 PM in the Council Chambers of Borough Hall, 650 Poole Ave.

Previous announcements and media reports said the event would be held Veteran’s Park

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Bon Jovi opening community kitchen in Monmouth County, plans another in Ocean

UNION BEACH — A community kitchen that served up meals in the Hurricane Sandy-ravaged borough of Union Beach until closing down over the summer plans to reopen today thanks to Jon Bon Jovi. An arm of the New Jersey rocker’s nonprofit organization is sponsoring “Spoon Full of Hope,” a program run by Gateway Church of Christ… Read the rest of this entry »

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Union Beach Fireworks Postponed Till Saturday

The Borough of Union Beach announced that the Independence Day Fireworks celebration on the beachfront, originally scheduled for tonight, July 3, has been postponed until Saturday night, July 5th, due to expected inclement weather.

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Christie orders flags at half-staff in honor of fallen Union Beach firefighter

Christie orders flags at half-staff in honor of fallen Union Beach firefighter (via NJ.com)

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie has ordered flags at half-staff in honor of the Union Beach firefighter who died Sunday night while battling a four-alarm fire in the borough. Volunteer firefighter Robert “Hawk” Meyer, 54, collapsed outside the fire…

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Firefighter dies battling fire at Union Beach commercial building, official says

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Restored Doughboy Statue Helps Sandy Recovery at Union Beach

Restored Doughboy Statue Helps Sandy Recovery at Union Beach (via NJSpotlight)

A much-loved memorial to Union Beach’s war dead was hoisted back into place on Monday, some 19 months after it was displaced and dismembered by superstorm Sandy. The doughboy, a 6-foot granite statue of a World War I soldier, had stood on its plinth…

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Union Beach Man Charged With Setting Fire To Hazlet First Aid Building

Ronald Schroeder,  43 of Union Beach, was charged with second degree Aggravated Arson today for allegedly setting fire inside the lounge of Hazlet First Aid Unit 1 Building at 33 Leocadia Court on Sunday, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The fire was reported at 5:07 pm on Sunday.  Firefighters from the West Keansburg and North Centerville Fire Departments extinguished the blaze with assistance from Union Beach and Matawan firefighters.  An investigation determined that the fire was set intentionally, that Schroeder was the only person in building and that he was seen fleeing the building.  He returned while firefighters were still on the scene.

Schroeder is a probationary member of the First Aid Squad, having volunteered a short time ago.  He was arrested by the Hazlet Police and is in custody at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold.  His bail is $100,000 with not 10% option and is prohibited from returning to the building if his bail is posted.

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Hurricane Sandy victims make do in trailers as they wait to rebuild

Hurricane Sandy victims make do in trailers as they wait to rebuild (via NJ.com)

Tina Napalo lived in a bungalow-style house on Fourth Street in Union Beach for more than 20 years. “I didn’t have everything,” said the 40-year-old mother of four, but, “it took me a long time to get what I had.” Then Hurricane Sandy hit.…

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Guadagno Denies Zimmer’s Allegations

This morning in Union Beach, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno strongly denied Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s allegations that Sandy relief funds for the city were contingent upon the approval of a proposed Rockefeller Group development.  Zimmer made her allegations Saturday morning on MSNBC’s Up with Steve Kornacki.

Speaking at the Union Beach Firehouse on Poole Ave, at an event commemorating Martin Luther King Jr Day, Guadagno prefaced her remarks by saying she would not be taking  questions at the end of her statement. “As you know, there are ongoing investigations. I’m sure all the fact will come out at the appropriate time.”

Guadagno said:

“Mayor Zimmer’s version of our conversation in May or 2013 is not only false, but is illogical and does not withstand scrutiny when all of the facts are examined.  Any suggestion that Sandy funds were tied to the approval of any project in New Jersey is completely false.

Standing in Union Beach, as we are today, with some of the mayors whose towns were devastated by Sandy, and also, being a Sandy victim myself, makes the mayor’s allegations particularly offensive to me.

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Jimmy Carter Coming To Union Beach To Volunteer In Re-building

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Roslyn will be part of the crew of volunteers fixing up 13 homes and building two new ones in Union Beach on October 12, according to a story first reported on Holmdel-Hazlet Patch.

“We’re ecstatic the Carters are coming,” said Ray Gabler, the director of operations for Habit for Humanity Monmouth County, based in Long Branch. “This is bringing attention to Sandy victims of low and moderate income all along the Jersey shore. We’re really excited.”

The goal is to repair 13 homes and construct two new ones in the Raritan Bay borough of Union Beach, where 270 homes have been demolished since Sandy. The small town was battered by winds and swamped by surging tidal water in the Oct. 29 storm.

Habitat for Humanity has identified the homes destined for repair, and is finalizing plans with two families for new construction. The new homes are being made possible by funding from the Carter’s organization, and Wells Fargo, said Gabler.

Union Beach Mayor Paul J. Smith has been keeping the news close to his vest for months, he said, and Secret Service officers have already visited. Smith said he is thrilled to welcome Jimmy Carter, 88, and Rosalynn Carter, 86. “I think it’s a big boost,” he said. “We still have some people hurting, but we have had so many beautiful volunteers come forward.”

In addition to Union Beach, Habitat for Humanity is also helping residents of Keansburg, Port Monmouth, Belford, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright rebuild their Superstorm Sandy ravaged homes.  The organization is accepting applications from both homeowners needing help and volunteers at their website.

Volunteers can contact the Laura Lella-Smith, the Development Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County at  [email protected]  or call the office at (732) 728-0441.

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