Week in News: Christie Comes to Bradley Beach

Couples Left Devastated by Sandy Will Have Dream Weddings After All

Brick- Becky Grodzki and Matthew Budreck, both of Brick, had planned their June wedding at the waterfront Martell's Waters Edge venue, in Bayville. But when Sandy blew in, portions of the couple's venue were reduced to rubble, and they were told the venue probably wouldn't be ready in time for their wedding.

Read more on Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch.

Christie: Strong Dunes Save Lives, Rebuilding Them Will Employ New Jerseyans

Bradley Beach- With the whir of front loaders and bulldozers pushing sand on the beachfront behind him, Gov. Chris Christie pointed to rebuilding an aggressive dune system as perhaps the most important step in restoring and safeguarding tourism, property and residents' lives along the Jersey Shore.

Read more on Manasquan Patch. 

Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Disaster Aid Questions

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the following Q&A on Monday as New York's deadline for disaster assistance applications approaches. But the same resources apply to New Jersey.

For additional Q&As, go to www.fema.gov/SandyNY.

Read these questions on Ocean City Patch.

Early February Date Announced for Ortley Beach Repopulation

Toms River - Some Ortley Beach residents will be allowed to move back to their homes in early February under a plan announced Tuesday by Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher.

The township has prepared and submitted a letter to the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management requesting that the state of emergency declared for Hurricane Sandy be lifted and Ortley residents with all utilities in service at their properties be allowed to return home at 8 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 4. 

Signs of Sea Bright Rising Above Sandy

Sea Bright - It may still look dark and dismal in Sea Bright when night falls on the downtown strip of the small Hurricane Sandy-ravaged town, but there's a bright spirit that prevails.

Of the some 30 businesses by the ocean, there are only four open: Dunkin' Donuts, Bain's Hardware, Harry's Lobster House and the newAma Ristorante at Driftwood Beach Club, which, a bit apart from the downtown strip, was the first to re-open.

Read more on Little Silver Patch.

Fight Over Belmar Boardwalk Wood Not Worth Risking Memorial Day Reopening

Belmar- Belmar was motivated by a ticking clock and not environmentalists when it chose to drop rainforest timber as its boardwalk decking, Mayor Matt Doherty said.

The Sierra Club was prepared to fight over the use of ipe rainforest timber, saying the wood is harvested, causing great damage to rainforest ecosystems. Doherty said the borough was using timber that was certified as more environmentally sound, and that the company that harvested ipe was also reforesting the species there.

Read more on Manasquan Patch. 

Point Boro Fights Fema Flood Map

Point Borough- The Point Borough Mayor, Council and Sandy-flooded residents are objecting to sections of a FEMA advisory map that puts them in a "V Zone" that calls for more stringent building requirements and higher flood insurance rates.

Mayor William Schroeder and council members told a room of about 100 people, most of whom have homes flooded by Sandy, at Tuesday night's meeting, that they are fighting the designation of sections of  Bay Head Shores, which is on Barnegat Bay, and a few other sections of town as being in the "V Zone."

Read more on Point Pleasant Patch.

Accused Bed Bath & Beyond Attacker Appears in Court

Middletown- A Keansburg woman was pushing a child in a stroller as she shopped in the Middletown Bed Bath & Beyond when she was stabbed 12 times, according to authorities. The victim did not know 19-year-old Tyrik S. Haynes, the Middletown man accused of trying to kill her Thursday afternoon, a Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson said. 

Tyrik S. Haynes, 19, faces one count each of first degree attempted murder, third degree endangering the welfare of a child, third degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth degree unlawful possession of a weapon. 

Read more on the Middletown-NJ Patch.