Week in News: Long Branch Boardwalk's New Fate

Video Diary of Sandy (Part 3): 'Hard Times Come Again No More'

Ocean City- John Thornton, a resident of the Ocean City Homes neighborhood on the south end of Ocean City and a teacher at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, recently completed a third segment of a film about the impact of Superstorm Sandy on his friends, neighbors and hometown.

The first 14-minute segment of the film starts on Saturday, Oct. 27, two days before Sandy makes landfall and continues through the storm. The second part of the film is about Sandy's impact on Ocean City. It starts the day after Sandy makes landfall as Thornton gets his first look at the storm's effects.

Read more on Ocean City Patch.

JCP&L Improvement Resolution Making The Rounds Across Local Towns

Eatontown- The JCP&L resolution crafted by Monmouth County mayors asking the utility company to improve its services is quickly being adopted by local towns.

The resolution stems from comments and suggestions made by various Monmouth mayors and officials at a regional summit held in Tinton Falls last month to discuss how JCP&L handled Hurricane Sandy.

Read more on Long Branch-Eatontown Patch.

National Guard Maintains A Large Presence in Sandy-Impacted Areas

It’s Sunday afternoon. A few hours ago guardsmen were stationed along the barrier island, huddled in the rain around makeshift fire pits or loaded up in Humvees touring the still-devastated landscape. Now, they’ve taken their positions in armchairs in front of the big screen to watch with mild interest as the Cowboys take on the Bengals.

More than a month ago the National Guard was deployed in New Jersey to help assist with evacuations prior to Hurricane Sandy. They remained for the immediate aftermath to assist with search and rescue. Finally, what was anticipated as only a three to five day deployment for observation and surveillance has turned into a two-month stay.

Read more on Toms River Patch.

Officials Critique Proposed Parkway Exit 105 Changes

Eatontown- The proposed changes to Garden State Parkway Exit 105 in Tinton Falls can be improved, most officials agree.

The changes include improvements to the Hope Road/Route 36 intersection, a new southbound connection to Wayside Road and the construction of a second northbound deceleration lane.

Read more on Long Branch-Eatontown Patch.

Long Branch Boardwalk Not Likely To Be Rebuilt As It Was Prior To Sandy

Long Branch- The Long Branch boardwalk will likely have a different look once it is rebuilt by the city.

Upcoming FEMA regulations and a desire for the boardwalk to not suffer the same fate from a future storm as it did from Hurricane Sandy may force the city's hand in building a new type of boardwalk, city officials discussed during Tuesday night's council meeting.

Read more on Long Branch Patch.

Long Branch Family Rebuilding Their Lives One Step at a Time Following Hurricane Sandy

Long Branch- "We lost everything, but we didn't lose our lives and how selfish would I be if I sat here and cried over materialistic things that I lost when people have just lost their lives and loved ones lost loved ones."

That is not an easy mindset to have when everything you own has been washed away by the biggest storm Long Branch has seen, but it is truly the way Wendy Smentkowski feels.

Read more on Long Branch Patch.