OCEAN COUNTY – All area residents are invited to attend the annual meeting of Save Barnegat Bay, being held tonight night, July 8th, at 7 pm in the Lavallette First Aid Building.

Several brief speakers and topics discussed will include Senator Bob Smith, on Barnegat Bay legislation; Clean Ocean Action’s Tavia Danch, with a Barnegat Bay Buddy update; Peter Weeks with an update on Traders’ Cove in Brick Township; Jen O’Reilly with a student grant update; Willie deCamp with an issues update; and Dr. Mike Kennish of Rutgers University with an ecological update.

The Lavallette First Aid Building is located on the corner of Bay Boulevard and Washington Avenue, across from the gazebo and near the water tower.

New members and interested individuals are welcome, and information will be available on how to get involved. It will be informative and open to the public, and patrons are invited to bring friends.

For more information, please visit Save Barnegat Bay’s official website at www.savebarnegatbay.org.

Lavallette First Aid Building, the site of the meeting, as it appears at the corner of Bay Boulevard and Washington Avenue.

An Official Press Release of the Ocean County Health Department

OCEAN COUNTY – Area residents and visitors, whether planning a big barbecue or a small dinner off the grill, should practice safe food practices this summer.

“It’s important to follow food safety guidelines to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing food-borne illness,” stated Ocean County Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison to the Ocean County Board of Health, and referred to a series of guidelines from the Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) for grilling food safely:

• Buy cold food such as meat and poultry last, right before checking out.

• Keep poultry away from other food; grab one of the plastic bags that are handy by the meat and poultry section and put it in there.

• Avoid raw meat or poultry juices dripping on other food.

• Always refrigerate perishable food within two hours, or if the temperature is above 90 degrees, within one hour.

• Once home, place in the refrigerator immediately.

• Freeze poultry and ground meat that won’t be used in one or two days.

“Meat and poultry should be completely thawed before grilling so it cooks evenly,” added Leslie Terjesen, public information officer for the health department. “Use the refrigerator for slow, safe thawing or thaw sealed packages in cold water. You can microwave to defrost if the food will be placed on the grill right away. If you plan on marinating your meat, do this in the refrigerator, not on the counter. If you plan on using the marinade that was used for the meat, make sure it comes to a full boil first to kill any harmful bacteria.”

In addition, the OCHD advises people keep meat and poultry in the
refrigerator until ready to use. If you are keeping meat in a cooler, keep it out of the direct sun and avoid opening the lid too often. Pack beverages in one cooler and perishables in a separate cooler.

Daniel Regenye, the health department’s assistant public health coordinator, pointed out the necessity of keeping everything, including your hands, clean to avoid getting sick.

“Bacteria on raw meat and poultry can be easily spread to other foods by juices dripping from packages, hands and utensils, which is called cross-contamination,” he said. “To prevent food-borne illness, don’t use
the same platter and utensils for raw and cooked meat and poultry. If you are planning on eating outside, but away from your home, such as at a picnic, find out if there is a source of clean water. If not, bring water for preparation and cleaning or pack clean cloths and wet towelettes for cleaning surfaces and hands.”

To cook safely for yourself and family:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds prior to food preparation.

• Use separate cutting boards to keep raw meat, chicken and fish apart from vegetables.

• Use a food thermometer to check meat, fish and chicken after it is cooked. Fish, beef and pork should be cooked to at least 145 degrees, ground meat to 155 degrees and chicken to 165 degrees.

• Chill food and leftovers in the refrigerator as soon as you finish eating.

• Always wash fruits and vegetables under running water before cutting or eating them.

• Keep eggs in the refrigerator; cook eggs until the yolk is firm.

• Defrost frozen food in the microwave or refrigerator, not the counter.

• Mayonannaise-based foods need to be kept cold. Mayonnaise alone is too acidic for bacteria to grow in it, however, when it is mixed with other foods, bacteria can grow if kept too warm.

• Cut melons need to be kept cold. Bacteria, such as salmonella and shigella, are often present on the rind. Wash melons thoroughly before cutting. Refrigerate and cut pieces.

• Serve hot foods steaming hot and cold foods cold.

• Check expiration dates. Throw food out if it smells bad or if you are not sure it is safe to eat.

For more information, please visit the Ocean County Health Department’s website at OCHD.org.

Summit Avenue Beach, Island Heights.

Includes public bathing beaches along Toms River, Barnegat Bay

An Official Ocean County Health Department Press Release

OCEAN COUNTY – Ocean County, according to Freeholder Gerry P. Little, is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

“We want our residents and guests to enjoy our beaches and certainly would like our visitors to enjoy all that Ocean County has to offer,” he said recently. The freeholder is also the Liaison to the Ocean County Board of Health (OCHD) and “works with the Health Department to ensure the health and safety of those enjoying our beaches.”

The Ocean County Health Department (OCHD), from mid-May through Labor Day, monitors the water quality at public bathing beaches throughout Ocean County. The 82 sites, including ocean, bay, river, lake and creek beaches are tested every week.

Station Avenue Beach, Pine Beach.

Among the sites in or near the five boroughs along the Toms River, those monitored include Central Avenue and Summit Avenue Beach in Island Heights; Angelsea Avenue and Wildwood Avenue beachfronts in Ocean Gate; Station Avenue Beach and Avon Road Beach in Pine Beach, Beachwood Beach in Beachwood, Money Island in Toms River; and Berkeley Island in Berkeley Township.

OCHD Environmental Director Ken Wenrich described the water sampling procedure:

“Samples from salt water beaches are tested for enterococcus, which is a bacterium that is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. The standard for the amount of enterococcus that is allowed in a sample of salt water is 104 colony forming units per ml of water. Fresh water areas are sampled for fecal coliform, which is also a bacterium found in the intestines of warm- blooded animals. The standard for the amount of fecal coliform that is allowed in a sample of fresh water is 200 colony forming units per ml of water. If a sample exceeds the standard, the beach is re-sampled immediately and the township is notified. If the re-sample is within the standard, the beach may remain open but if it exceeds the standard, the owners of the beach area are notified and the beach is closed immediately. Re-sampling will continue daily until an acceptable level is obtained and a Satisfactory Sanitary Survey is completed by an inspector at which point the beach will be reopened for public use. Water samples are analyzed at the Ocean County Utilities Authority.”

“The Ocean County Health Department also recommends against swimming for at least 24 hours after a rainfall event at all bay, lake, river and creek bathing beaches. You can check with the local municipality for up-to-the minute beach closures after a rainfall,” he added.

Ocean Gate waterfront.

“The Ocean County Health Department posts water quality reports and beach closures on its website at www.ochd.org and also offers a hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for up to the minute reports,” added Mr. Little. “There is also a wealth of information on the website available to residents.”

Archived reports on beach monitoring results can be found on the Ocean County Health Department website at http://www.ochd.org/waterSamples.aspx.

To check on a status of a bathing beach, call the Ocean County Health Department Water Quality Hotline at 732-341-9700, ext. 7776 or at 1-800-342-9738, ext. 7776.

OCEAN COUNTY – Riffing on the recent popularity of such shows as “Life After People”, we decided to give you a look at “Ocean County College: Life After Students”. Enjoy!

Main Campus, from second floor of the Fine Arts Building.

Student Center Cafeteria, darkened.

Clocktower and campus.

Russell Hall, usually a popular gathering spot for students.

Hallway, Fine Arts Building.

The Student Center.

Fine Arts Center campus steps.

Dugout water fountain, OCC baseball field.

Baseball infield.

Mid-campus.

Bartlett Hall.

Instructional Building and path.

Campus steps from the clocktower reading room.

OCEAN COUNTY – Last Sunday, the Lacey Rail Trail celebrated the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day by inviting the public down to hike, bike and walk the thus far completed three mile portion of the Barnegat Branch Rail Trail in Barnegat.

This linear county park, when completed, will stretch 15.6 miles along the former Central Railroad of New Jersey’s Barnegat Branch, beginning in Barnegat and running through Barnegat, Waretown, Lacey Township, Berkeley Township, Beachwood, and South Toms River before terminating in downtown Toms River.

Following are photos from Sunday’s event.

An Official Ocean County Health Department Press Release

OCEAN COUNTY – The Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) continues to warn Ocean County residents against handling, feeding or providing assistance to stray animals.

A resident from the Manchester area was bitten by a kitten she was caring for in addition to another kitten. Both kittens have tested positive for rabies and the resident is beginning rabies treatment.

According to Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison to the Ocean County Health Department, “Any strange-acting animal could have rabies. There have been several reported cases of rabid animals, including raccoons, skunks, bats and cats throughout Ocean County. Anyone that finds a wild or homeless animal acting strangely should avoid contact with the animal and notify the local animal control officer, describing the animal and its location. Residents can call local police or municipal clerks to get the phone number of that specific community’s animal control Ella Boyd, VMD, Ocean County Health Department Public Health Coordinator, said that rabies is a year-round concern in Ocean County. Boyd states, “Rabies is a virus that is present mainly in the saliva of rabid animals. In Ocean County, it is most prevalent in raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats although rabies has also been detected in feral cats.”

Leslie Terjesen, Ocean County Health Department Public Information Officer, pointed out the importance of getting your family pets vaccinated against rabies.

“Even if your pets do not go outdoors, it might accidently get out the door unexpectedly or a rabid animal could gain entrance into your home,” she said.

Other tips from the Ocean County Health Department on limiting family and pet exposure to rabies are:

• Animal-proof your house and yard. Make sure all garbage is stored in animal- resistant containers.

• Screen off vents to attics and other areas that could provide shelter for bats.

• Vaccinate your cat or dog against rabies. Unvaccinated animals can contract rabies from wild animals and transmit the infection to humans. There are safe and effective vaccines to protect dogs, cats, horse, cattle and sheep against the disease.

Dr. Boyd offers this advice if you are bitten by an animal:

• Learn as much as you can about the animal. If the animal is with an owner, get the owner’s name and address. If it’s a stray or wild animal, try to remember the location where you last saw the animal and any identifying features on the animal for the animal control officer to use in tracking it later. If possible and without danger to you and others, try capturing and confining the animal.

• Wash your wound immediately with plenty of soap and water.

• Contact your physician, health care provider or hospital emergency department for wound care and consultation regarding the need for rabies preventative treatment.

• Report the incident to the Ocean County Health Department at 732-341-9700, ext. 7502.

For information on free rabies vaccinations for your pets, please call the Ocean County Health Department at 732-341-9700, ext. 7502 or visit the OCHD website “Events Calendar” at www.ochd.org.

For additional information on rabies, please visit the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Web site at www.state.nj.us/health/cd/.

ALONG THE TOMS RIVER – Recently, cards were mailed to area residents by the Beachwood-based Fireworks on the Toms River Committee requesting donations for the annual event.

For photos of last year’s fireworks display, click HERE.

An Official Ocean County Press Release

Train at Beachwood Depot, 1915.

Events Slated for Ocean County’s Barnegat Branch Trail

OCEAN COUNTY – With just more than 3 miles completed, Ocean County’s Barnegat Branch Trail is already providing residents and visitors with a unique view of the natural side of Ocean County.

The trail, which winds through wooded areas and natural lands starting in Barnegat Township and traveling through Waretown so far will be highlighted on National Trails Day, June 5.

“We are encouraging our residents from throughout Ocean County to visit us at the southern start of the Barnegat Branch trail on Saturday, June 5,” said Freeholder Director James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the trail. “Wear your sneakers, ride your bike, just take a break and enjoy what nature has to offer right here in your own backyard.”

Since 1993, National Trails Day has inspired thousands of individuals and community groups to take part in activities that promote healthy living and mental well being, protect green space, educate youth and adults on the importance of trails and instill excitement for the outdoors, according to the American Hiking Society, the founder of National Trails Day.

The theme for this year is “Find Your Happy Place.”

Representatives from Ocean County’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the designers of the Barnegat Branch Rail Trail and the Board of Chosen Freeholders will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Burr Street parking area in Barnegat Township to offer information about the trail and other related county programs and services.

“I want to encourage everyone to join us and not only learn about our trail but experience it,” Mr. Lacey said.

The Beachwood Historical Alliance has been collecting photographs of that borough's train depot, shown here shortly before its demolition in the early 1960s, in an effort to bring it back to life as a comfort station on the trail to potentially aid the borough's ailing downtown district.

The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders has been constructing the Barnegat Branch trail in phases with the first two sections completed.

Construction is expected to start in early summer on the third phase of the trail and be completed by the fall.

“This section will travel through a beautiful area of the Pinelands in Ocean County with Cedar Creek being a centerpiece,” the freeholder director added.

The trail, when completed will be a 15.6-mile linear park that runs from Barnegat Township to Toms River Township.

“This park is unique to Ocean County and features areas that residents and visitors may not have been able to experience since they are deep in our natural woods. Each time we add to it, the park grows in popularity, ” he continued.

The Barnegat Branch trail follows the existing right of way of the former Barnegat Branch Division of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.

Over the last 20 years, abandoned railroad lines like the Barnegat Branch Division of the Central Railroad of New Jersey that once ran through a portion of Ocean County have been transformed into trail parks in nearly every state in the country.

“Under the county’s plan, this abandoned rail line is being improved to link Barnegat Township to Toms River Township, and in the process will offer residents and visitors a new type of recreational trail experience,” stated Mr. Lacey.

Upon completion, the Barnegat Branch Trail will join the list of 43 existing and proposed rail trail projects across New Jersey.

The rail right of way, today a bike path, that runs along Railroad Avenue in Beachwood Borough.

To get the trail under way, in October 2002, Ocean County purchased 8.8 miles of the old railroad in three towns – Berkeley, Ocean and Barnegat townships. This purchase was supplemented in 2004 when Lacey Township granted to Ocean County an easement over its 4.8-mile trail segment. Coupled with the existing bike path in Beachwood and the incorporation of a dedicated bike lane along Flint Road in South Toms River, the completed trail will span 15.6 miles from Barnegat Township to Toms River Township.

“The design of the Barnegat Branch Trail is sensitive to the changing landscape of central Ocean County,” the freeholder continued. “Trail visitors will experience wooded areas in Barnegat and Waretown’s southern reach before transitioning into an active-use corridor that parallels Route 9 north of Waretown.

“Residential and commercial neighbors border much of the trail through Lacey Township before it returns to forest and then sand mining in Berkeley Township,” he added.

The primary surface finish of the trail is a stone dust surface. As work progresses, the trail will feature a number of trail facilities including community centers, comfort stations, trail signage and historical exhibits.

The facilities are being built in a style reminiscent of passenger and freight stations that once served Barnegat Township, the Forked River section of Lacey Township, the Pinewald section of Berkeley Township and Toms River.

Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation, noted that several Ocean County parks and county natural land areas are located within walking or bicycling distance of the Barnegat Branch Trail including Lochiel Creek in Barnegat Township, Berkeley Island County Park, Wells Mills County Park in Waretown and Enos Pond County Park in Lacey Township.

“This trail not only offers the user the opportunity to see nature at it’s best in Ocean County, it offers access to Ocean County’s premiere park sites,” Mr. Bartlett said. “It’s a perfect combination.”

From archival photo caption: "The Jersey Central's Barnegat Branch left the Southern Division at Lakehurst and extended 22.1 miles to its namesake community. On May 1, 1967, the westbound Barnegat local freight rolls through Beachwood about one mile south of Toms River, the seat of Ocean County."

For more information on the Barnegat Branch rail trail, please visit:

http://www.planning.co.ocean.nj.us/transp-railtrail.htm

For more information on the Beachwood aspect of the rail trail, how rail trails boost local economy and the borough in general, please visit:

http://beachwoodhistoricalalliance.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/rail-trails-provide-local-economic-engine/

Central Avenue, Island Heights, on a recent afternoon.

An Official Ocean County Press Release

Engineering, Education, Enforcement Emphasized

OCEAN COUNTY – Safety first. It’s a theme Ocean County officials are driving home especially when it comes to warm weather and safety on the roads.

“We subscribe to the three Es of traffic safety,” said Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. “Engineering, education and enforcement are what we look at to make sure our roads are safely designed and motorists are using them properly.”

With the summer quickly approaching, Ocean County kicks into high gear with implementing traffic safety educational programs and enforcement.

“We look at traffic safety year round,” Mr. Kelly said. “But as a tourism county our year-round population doubles in the summer months and with that comes a substantial increase of cars on our roadways.

“It’s extremely important we stress safety,” he continued. “We do all we can to make sure all of the county’s road improvement projects come with safety enhancements. When it comes to the driver behind the wheel we can educate about safety but the onus is on the driver to drive responsibly.”

The freeholder noted this summer will be the first to have the new pedestrian crossing law in effect. As of April 1, motorists who see pedestrians in a crosswalk must stop and stay stopped allowing the pedestrian to safely cross the street.

In order to raise awareness of this new law, the county has designed an educational campaign to make residents and seasonal visitors aware of the new law.

The campaign will start on Long Beach Island as the county rolls out up to a dozen trailer message boards and variable message signs at strategic locations.

“We are coordinating our efforts with local police departments and the state Department of Transportation,” stated Mr. Kelly. “The safety campaign will move throughout the county as the summer season progresses.”

He noted the county will do as much as it can to encourage safety on its roadways, however, he noted pedestrians and motorists alike need to be responsible for their actions as well.

“People need to be alert to their surroundings,” the freeholder continued. “Distractions like cell phones, text messaging and simply not paying attention results in accidents. These are things that easily can be avoided.”

He added that Ocean County works closely with law enforcement agencies throughout the county. Those efforts are ramped up during the summer months.

Programs like Click It or Ticket, which promotes the importance of wearing seatbelts and the 101 Days of Summer, which promotes driving safety, are just two of the initiatives Ocean County supports.

Mr. Kelly recognized the work of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in particular the increased DUI (driving under the influence) safety campaign stops during the summer months.

“As we kick off the summer season this weekend, law enforcement will be participating in enhanced traffic safety measures, including safe driving road blocks,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford. “We ask the driving public for their understanding and patience, since these traffic details really cause people to think twice before they get behind the wheel of a car after they have been drinking.”

Prosecutor Ford noted that the Board of Freeholders in the county’s 2010 budget, not withstanding the difficult fiscal times, still provided money in the Prosecutor’s Programs allocations for the DUI Task Force, which conducts the road block traffic stops.

“The money is used to compensate the local police for their overtime,” she said. “It is money well spent, since the road blocks, although an annoyance to many, really have a deterrent effect on drunk driving. About $37,000 is allocated to this purpose.”

Mr. Kelly said Ocean County continues to be proactive in implementing safety features on its roadways.

Safety enhancements throughout the county include audible pedestrian pushbuttons, pedestrian countdown heads, radar signs, solar powered flashers, wet reflective paint, high friction surface treatments, and color-coated surface treatments.

“Many of these enhancements add a new dimension of awareness for pedestrians and motorists,” said Freeholder Director James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the county’s Road Department. “We maintain 2,000 lane miles in Ocean County – one of the largest county road networks in the state. It’s a combination of our efforts, the efforts of law enforcement and the responsibility of the driver and the pedestrian that help make roads safe.”

An Official Ocean County Press Release

Veterans Service Bureau Provides Programs and Help

OCEAN COUNTY – With more than 63,000 veterans calling Ocean County home, the county Veterans Services Bureau is prepared to help in a variety of ways.

“Each Memorial Day we take time to remember our veterans and the ultimate sacrifice made by so many of them,” said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Veterans Services Bureau. “Since the Revolutionary War, more than 42 million men and women have served in America’s military. More than 600,000 died in combat while fighting for freedom.

“Here in Ocean County we recognize and honor all of our veterans,” he continued. “We work hard to provide them with services and programs that will help to improve their quality of life.”

Among it’s many services, the Ocean County Veterans Services Bureau, located at 1027 Hooper Ave., here, provides help to veterans who need assistance with filing claims for compensation and pensions.

Mr. Little noted that with the support of the Board of Freeholders, the county Veterans Service Bureau is participating in a claims submittal pilot project with the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Newark, which is helping to expedite some decisions on claims in less than 60 days.

“Veterans Services Bureau Director John Dorrity has been asked by the VA to be a member of an ad hoc subcommittee that will discuss methods and implement strategies in order to reduce the backlog of claims even further,” he said. “This Board is providing positive support to help our veterans.”

In addition, the bureau works with the county’s transportation service, Ocean Ride, in helping to provide transportation to various Veterans Administration clinics and hospitals. More than 2,500 trips were provided last year.

Ocean County also contracts with VetGroup Inc. to provide assistance for Ocean County’s veterans, which includes help with transportation, housing needs, and emergency food assistance.

“This partnership provides a host of benefits and services to many of our veterans, who are frail and elderly, and in need of assistance and outreach,” stated the freeholder.

The Ocean County Veterans Services Bureau also helps veterans and their families during the holidays helping to provide toys and food baskets.

“For the Memorial Day weekend, the office distributes more than 10,000 American flags to the various veterans service organizations for distribution and placement at cemeteries throughout the county,” said Mr. Little. “This is our way of saluting all of the men and women who have proudly served in the military and have gone to their final resting place.”

He also encouraged county residents and visitors to attend Memorial Day services this weekend.

“Most towns in Ocean County, along with many veterans organizations will be holding ceremonies honoring our fallen soldiers,” stated the freeholder. “I encourage everyone to attend and thank a veteran for protecting what we cherish – our freedom.”