Tuesday, April 30, 2013
'It is ridiculous to be paying this much in taxes and nobody cares,' said W.L. Bill Allen Jr.
Montclair resident W.L. Bill Allen Jr. is reminded daily of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy every time he looks at his backyard. Six months after the superstorm ripped through Montclair, wreaking havoc along the East Coast, a large tree branch reaching as tall as the home's second-story windows still rests on the roof of a sun room in Allen's backyard. Littered around the large limb are myriad tree stumps — some weighing more than 100 pounds. Allen’s backyard is adjacent to the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve in Upper Montclair. Pointing to a jagged tree only a few steps away from his property line in the wildlife preserve last week, Allen said the tree limb on his home fell during Hurricane Sandy and is the township’s property…
Thursday, March 21, 2013
NJ Spotlight provides this handy interactive map detailing storm damage and costs in New Jersey.
The vast majority of those impacted by super storm Sandy last October was businesses. NJ Spotlight recently released an interactive map detailing storm damage and cost estimates broken down by municipality. In Montclair there were 2,300 businesses impacted compared to only 28 homes. Of the homes that were damaged in town, 15 had minor damage costing up to $8,000, 12 had major damage costing up to $28,800 and one had severe damage costing more than $28,800, according to the report. There was additionally one rental unit that sustained minor damage. Nearly 87,000 housing units were damaged statewide, of which about 12,500 sustained major damage or were destroyed. NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical …
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Montclair resident Tony Zaza suggests what should be in place to prevent or minimize the effects of the next Sandy.
Hurricane Sandy caused unprecedented loss, private and public. But it was not the first storm to hit New Jersey or Montclair. It is not the first time individuals and entire towns lost power. It is not the first time Americans became homeless. It is not the first time life was lost. It is not the first time power utilities, landlords and government failed to prepare for disaster or provide essential services thereafter. We have no municipal, state or federal umbrella. Government has a fiduciary and moral responsibility to provide an umbrella, otherwise there is no justification for taxes and even less need for their leadership. Elected officials are stewards of the public welfare. It is government’s responsibility to design and …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Montclair Business Manager Marc Dashield said the new estimates of overtime, cleanup and repairs from the super storm will be higher than previously predicted.
The new estimated costs of cleaning up Montclair after Hurricane Sandy are much higher than originally expected. “Quite frankly, it’s a little shocking,” said Business Manager Marc Dashield. The total cost to the township from the super storm is about $1 million, said Dashield at the township council conference on Tuesday. The price tag is more than double the original estimate announced in November. The following storm costs were given to the council on Tuesday: In addition, the township had to dispose of more than 10,500 cubic feet worth of debris -- including stumps, tree branches and tree trunks. Disposal of storm debris is ongoing. In order to pay for the emergency expenditure, the township will roll over approximately $370,…
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Former New York Giants running back, Tiki Barber, and former NFL quarterback, Jay Fiedler, lend a hand at Temple B'nai Jeshurun in Short Hills.
Two former NFL players, Tiki Barber and Jay Fiedler, helped raise about $3,500 for Superstorm Sandy victims at this year's Temple B'nai Jeshurun annual Chanukah party on Sunday in Short Hills. Barber, former New York Giants running back, and Fiedler, former NFL quarterback, were on hand at the party to sign autographs and take pictures with congregants. A few lucky kids even got to catch passes from the former quarterback in the youth lounge. "It was a phenomenal day," co-president Temple B'nai Jeshurun Brotherhood, Jeff Schneider, said. "Jay and Tiki were so incredibly generous with their time, their enthusiasm and their energy." Over 360 congregants showed up to enjoy doughnuts, latkes, and chicken, while playing Chanukah games for …
Saturday, December 1, 2012
The township will host Shore Aid this Sunday starting at noon in the municipal building to raise funds for the hardest hit areas along the New Jersey shore during Hurricane Sandy.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
-
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Join the Jersey Shore recovery effort during Montclair’s Shore Aid benefit this Sunday. Montclair TV34 is teaming up with the Montclair Police Benevolent Association Local 53 and local musicians to raise money for some of the hardest hit areas along the shore during Hurricane Sandy. The event will feature musical acts, performances and an auction. The benefit will begin at noon on Sunday in the municipal building, at 205 Claremont Ave. The fundraiser will also be broadcast live on the township’s television channel, TV34. Cash and check donations will be accepted at the event. Checks should be made out to: Montclair PBA-Civic Association. All proceeds will be donated to help the shore towns of: Seaside Heights; Normandy Beach; Ocean …
Legislators get tour of Shore destruction
Members of New Jersey's General Assembly toured Ocean County communities devastated by Superstorm Sandy Thursday. The tour, led by State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes, along with local officials, gave lawmakers and members of the press an up-close look at what Sandy left behind – including the remnants of the Seaside Heights boardwalk and the now-iconic Jet Star roller coaster, which dropped from Casino Pier to the ocean during the storm. Casino Pier will be repaired in what is estimated to be a $45 million project, Seaside Heights Police Chief Thomas Boyd said, and the roller coaster will be removed from the ocean floor. However it is unlikely that Funtown Pier in neighborhing Seaside Park will be rebuilt. Though there was …
Friday, November 30, 2012
More than 30 members of the State General Assembly took a bus tour through Ocean County's barrier island towns.
The bed is still made. A wicker shelf stands in the corner of the room, its shelves covered with untouched knickknacks, shore memories. A framed print of a lighthouse and white-capped waves hangs on the wall, just a tad askew. The bedroom’s French doors open to the brisk air and an ocean view previously obstructed by the other half of the house that’s no longer there. The devastation unleashed on the New Jersey shore a month ago by Hurricane Sandy has been captured in countless images and videos, spread throughout the world through news reports and social media, but it’s access, being able to see it first hand, the burned out husks of an entire block of summer cottages, the toppled boardwalk, the homes torn away from their foundations …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Essex Fells PTA and Essex Fells Foundation for Educational Excellence will donate 50% of proceeds from Dec. 11 fundraiser to help rebuilding schools affected by storm.
The Essex Fells PTA and the Essex Fells Foundation for Educational Excellence have announced that 50 percent of proceeds from the upcoming Holiday Home Tour and Boutique will be donated to New Jersey schools impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The second annual Holiday Home Tour and Boutique will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 11. The self-guided house tour, open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offers a rare opportunity to peek inside eight exclusive Essex Fells' homes. The smallest community in Essex County has just over 700 homes with an average age of 59 years and a median home value of $1.6 million. Tickets can be purchased in advance ($45) or on the day of the tour ($50) at the Essex Fells Country Club, 219 Devon Road, Essex Fells. The Holiday …
Sunday, November 25, 2012
The storm is expected to cost the township more than $400,000.
Montclair is bracing to pay out more than $400,000 for overtime and cleanup costs associated with Hurricane Sandy, according to early estimates. Montclair Police, Fire and Public Works departments were heavily taxed in the aftermath of the October storm which left many in town without power for nearly two weeks, said Business Manager Marc Dashield. Overtime numbers are “significantly higher than we’ve had in the past,” said Dashield. “The ... response from police and fire [departments] has never been this long -- at least since I’ve been here.” According to the township, early estimates for overtime include: The price tag for the storm will significantly grow as the township now focuses on removing the debris, said Dashield. The …
lorloff@worldcares.org
11:08 am on Sunday, May 5, 2013
I agree, perhaps this is the way a women would have handled it in the first place :) more ›