Spring 2012

Pine Beach Municipal Alliance for Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Prevention Newsletter

This past December, Pine Beach Police Chief John M. Sgro was proud to announce that Patrolman Christian Longhitano would be awarded the Kimberly Smith Ames DWI Prevention Award for stopping and arresting 26 individuals found driving under

the influence on roadways on or adjacent to the borough in 2010, including Christopher T. Merz, a convicted killer on parole for the aggravated vehicular manslaughter of Kimberly Smith Ames, a pregnant 23-year-old newlywed

This past February, while many in the borough were wondering where all the winter weather went, Sally Kalksman, a Pine Beach resident and past municipal alliance coordinator, was charging against gravity and her body’s limits in a race to the heavens for the 2012 Empire State Building Run Up.The event, “powered” by the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) in partnership with the New York Road Runners, seated 100 special MMRF runners in the competition stretching 86 floors, or 1,576 steps, each of whom committed to raise $2,500 in pursuit of a cure to the organization’s namesake disease.

Before you begin your annual spring lawn care, be aware of the new state fertilizer law in effect, reminded the Pine Beach Environmental Commission via a statement to residents this month.“As you know, nutrient runoff is of particular concern in the Barnegat Bay watershed,” the statement read. “Homeowners who use fertilizer should do their best to

ensure it stays where intended. Since the stormdrains in Pine Beach lead directly to the Toms River, anything that washes off lawns, driveways and stre ets ends up in the river.”More information can be found online at http://snyderfarm.rutgers.edu/quickfacts.html

Ptl. Longhitano Earns Anti-DWI Award

NJ Fertilizer Law in EffectPine Beach Environmental Commission Reminds Residents:

1,576 Steps SkywardKALKSMA IN EMPIRE RUN UP FOR CURE

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Pine Beach resident and past municipal alliance coordinator, Sally Kalksma, seen here at the awards party in the Empire Room following the race on February 8th.

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Pine Beach Connections is a publication of the Municipal Alliance Against Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco Abuse. lt is funded by a state grand from the DEDR (Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction) fund, sponsor ads, contributions from residents, organizations, and the business community.

Mayor Lawrence CuneoCouncil Members:Mathew Abatemarco Robert Budesa Andrew Keczkemethy Richard Polhemus Susan Coletti Barry WieckPine Beach Municipal Alliance:Thea Kratochvil, CoordinatorErik Weber, Newsletter Editor

Councilman Andrew Keczkemethy Committee ChairpersonCharlene Camey Pine Beach Local Court SystemNora D’Alonzo TR Substance Abuse CoordinatorMichael Jedziniak Toms River Board of EducationChief John Sgro Pine Beach Police DepartmentMaureen Mika Teachers Bargaining UnitPatrice Baranker PTO PresidentBarry Wieck Pine Beach Fire DepartmentTricia Moran-Tutzauer Principal, PB Elementary SchoolTracey Brooks Public RepresentativeJudy Carpenter Public RepresentativeChuck Tegano Public RepresentativeJoanie Tegano Public RepresentativeLynn Hargrove Public RepresentativeMark Duers Public RepresentativeGina Duers Public RepresentativeLois Yuhasz Public RepresentativeReverend Dr. John Bowering Member Emeritus

The Pine Beach governing body kicked off 2012 at noon on Sunday, January 1st with the annual reorganization meeting that this year saw long-serving councilman and mayor Christopher J. Boyle say goodbye after 17 years on the dais, with incoming Mayor Lawrence

Cuneo, also a council member for nearly two decades, stepping in his place.Re-elected to his council seat was Richard “Ritty” Polhemus, who was later named council president for the new year, a role previously held by Mayor Cuneo. Radnor Avenue resident Susan Coletti was sworn into her first term as a governing body member, and after thanking residents for

believing in her, stated she would “do a good job [to] the best of my ability and will try to make this the great town that it is.”Mayor Cuneo and all members of the council stressed that they are not able to do their jobs without the input and help of residents, and thanked all who attended the reorganization meeting, adding that they hoped residents would continue to participate in their town government.

New Year, New Mayor!

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Time to Change Smoke Alarm

Batteries!

Mrs. Kalksma stated that she and her team were able to more than double that goal amount, to $5,848, and added that the overall race contributed to over half a million dollars to the cause.“The entire event, start to finish, was a great experience,” she said, adding that she also had an unknown “guardian angel” who ran the race with her and helped her get to the top, as “the race itself was beyond difficult - it took everything I had physically and mentally to get through it.”Her time was 19:35, giving her fifth place of the women on the MMRF team and third in her age group.The former munciipal alliance coordinator said that when she found out she was to be part of

the race team last November, many people asked her why she would want to run up the famous landmark.Mrs. Kalksma said that her response was different from most runners who just seek the challenge.“I wanted to do it for three reasons: one, when my husband passed away two-and-a-half years ago, I went back to work full time to support my three children. At that time I started to train on the stairs where I work - every day at lunch I put on my sneakers and run up and down the five flights of the county building for thirty minutes,” she said. “Two, I love to tell my oncologist, Dr. Edward Staptmauer, at the University of [Pennsylvania], all the crazy things I do when I see him at my check-ups; and three, I have multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells.”

The borough resident noted that the MMRF was changing the way cancer research is conducted by allowing patience to live twice as long as their earlier life expectancy.“I have Multiple Myeloma; it doesn’t have me. I realize that cancer may take years from my life, but I am not going to let it take the life out of my years,” she said. “I dedicated this race to all of those close to me that I lost to cancer and to those fighting it. On my left hand I had a star for each person I lost to cancer, including my husband, father and close friend. On my right hand I had a star for those fighting it, including my mother, who is my biggest fan.”After about a week of research, the name Mrs. Kalksma’s guardian angel was learned and they now have plans to run the race together again later this year.

EMPIRE RUN UP, FROM FRONT

Last month, members of the Pine Beach Department of Public Works spruced up the front of the water treatment plant on Pennsylvania Avenue using recycled and repurposed items from throughout the town.

Mike Sedlak stated that items used included “ship anchors from Admiral Farragut [Academy] as

Fieldhouse walkway is now a path into the water treatment plant, and mulch was made from residents’ recycled brush.

Any borough residents interested in learning where their drinking water comes from and to see the treatment equipment inside the plant may call Mike at 732-349-6425 to schedule a personal tour.

well as the building nameplates recovered from the academy’s Shepard Hall - they were removed during the Farragut property cleanup.”

Wood recovered from the dock resotration project on at Avon Road Beach was repainted and used to create a boxed-in plater area, leftover pavers from the Vista Park

Water Plant Gets Green Facelift

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The Pine Beach Municipal Alliance thanks our volunteers for their work in making sure our borough youths had a “frightful” evening last October! Including Tracey Brooks, Mark & Gina Duers, Tom McCue, Justin McMillan, Barry & Rose Wieck, Judy Carpenter, Anita Holland, Jim & Ivette Manton and Jennifer Dyan.

Thank you to all volunteers and residents who helped make our annual tree lighting and horse buggy events a success, including Chuck and Joanie Tegano, Lillian Crichton, Charlene Carney, Justin McMillan, Ryan Garey, Ron Risden, Christine Cabrera, Judy Carpenter, Anita Holland.Special congratulations to the Accardi family of Riverside Drive for winning our annual holiday house contest, and a great thanks to Applegate Farm Market for donating the contest prize.

Pine Beach Holidays - Late 2011Halloween Dance

Christmas

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This past winter, fog was a regular visitor, the Avon Road Beach got a boost in sand, Radford Hall came down (and some alumni chose to witness it), borough resident Jacky Hagenbach offered some delicious jams and jellies at the winter craft show in the Pine Beach Yacht Club, and councilman and scout leader Barry Wieck helped run Pack 114’s annual Pinewood Derby Races at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Beachwood.

Winter 2011-12

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The Pine Beach Recreational Basketball league held its first annual March Madness champion tournament and police vs. coaches game at Intermediate South on March 10th.

• Monday, May 28th - 61st Annual Pine Beach Memorial Day Service, - Check borough hall boards for details as date approaches

• NOTICE: Residents are asked to participate in the planning and execution of the borough’s annual July 4th Celebration - theme and grand marshal suggestions needed. Please submit letters to borough hall c/o Councilman Barry Wieck.

WANTED: Hometown Heroes!The Pine Beach Municipal Alliance would like to invite residents who know of or have seen others performing for a good cause or otherwise succeeding to let us know so we can note their accomplishments in future issues.Hometown Hero names with a note about their work can be dropped off at borough hall or sent to PineBeachConnections@gmail.com

• Thursday, April 12th - Move Today, Borough Hall, 9 am

• Sunday, April 22nd - Pine Beach Yacht Club Open House, 1 to 4 pm, Riverside Drive at Midland Avenue

• Saturday and Sunday, May 19th & 20th - Town-wide Yard Sale, 9 am to 3 pm

1st Annual March Madness!

Spring Events

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Beachwood resident, in 1998.Mr. Merz, upon violation of his parole on the day of his arrest in August 2010 was reincarcerated in state prison and will not be eligible for parole until November 2013, and has a current maximum release date of October 2014.“We will never know for sure, but perhaps Ptl. Longhitano was able to save a life that evening by stopping this individual,” said Chief Sgro in a report to the borough council about the award.Mayor Lawrence Cuneo stated that

the award “just goes to show the dedication of our officers, that they are out there and actively patrolling our area and trying to keep it safe for us.”The patrolman stated that he had become interested in law enforcement after having volunteered on EMS squads through high school and recommended youths interested in law enforcement “start early with community involvement, any type of public safety experience - volunteer firefighter, volunteer EMS, or any type of job where you’re dealing with people and the public.”

Pine Beach Volunteer Fire CompanySPRING 2012 DONATION

VOUCHERAny and all contributions are greatly appreciated.NAME___________________________ADDRESS________________________DONATION__________Please Mail to: P.O. Box 386, Pine Beach, N.J. 08741

Beachwood Volunteer First Aid SquadSPRING 2012 DONATION

VOUCHERAny and all contributions are greatly appreciated.NAME___________________________ADDRESS________________________DONATION__________Please Mail to: 4 Beachwood Boulevard, Beachwood, N.J. 08722

LONGHITANO RECEIVESAWARD, FROM FRONT

Fire Company Dispatch

2012 OfficersPresident - Jay SonnenfeldVice-President - Kevin SimonSecretary - John SerpicaTreasurer - Robert Brown

Chief - Robert WentelerAsst. Chief - Jay SonnenfeldCaptain - Steve SillerLieutenant - Vacant

REMEMBER! This is now the time to change your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

A new Pine Beach Volunteer Fire Company website is in the works and can be viewed here -

www.pb38fc.com

NEW MEMBERS WANTEDAnyone interested in serving the community can always join the fire company - new members welcome and interested parties may stop by the fire house any Thursday between 6 and 9 pm, or call 732-349-5639 and leave a message.We encourage the community to stop by and visit the firefighters and learn about our equipment and what we do for the town and surrounding communities.

Senior Holiday Breakfast

Lois Yuhasz, Judy Carpenter, Anita Holland, Ritty Polhemus and Sharon Compana from Dayton Florist, who gave a demonstration on holiday flower arranging; materials donated by Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, and Sand Castle Diner in Beachwood provided breakfast.

The 2011 Senior Holiday Breakfast, held at borough hall, was a wonderful event for both seniors and students of Pine Beach Elementary, the latter of whom sang holiday songs under direction of Mrs. Campobasso.Special thanks to volunteers Chuck & Joanie Tegano, Charlene Carney, Lynn Hargrove, Tracey Brooks,

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Business Directory