How Much Has Sandy Cost Bernards?

Some reimbursement has arrived, more expected, Township Administrator says after 2013 municipal budget introduction.

"Superstorm" Sandy was more than just a devastating weather event that shut down the Somerset Hills for a week, or more in some spots. It also was a major expense for local towns with costs even now showing up in municipal budgets being introduced in Bernards Township and nearby. Bernards Township Administrator Bruce McArthur has several times estimated that Sandy and its aftermath cost the municipality about $600,000. He repeated that figure on Tuesday night, when the Township Committee voted to introduce a $35.14-million budget for this year that is scheduled to come up for a final vote and public hearing on May 14. In the immediate aftermath of the storm's arrival on Oct. 29, Bernards Township declared a $250,000 emergency, McArthur …

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Verizon Employees Work on Sandy-Damaged School at NJ Shore

Volunteers from Verizon in Basking Ridge bussed down to pitch in to help repair elementary school in Seaside Heights.

Nearly 160 Verizon employees from Basking Ridge spent most of last Thursday, March 28, volunteering time to help restore the Hugh J. Boyd Jr. Elementary School in Seaside Heights at the Jersey Shore and get it ready to welcome students back in the fall. The majority of these Verizon employees, from the Verizon Leadership Development Program (VLDP), along with senior leaders from Verizon, painted classrooms, weeded and planted flowers, built new picnic tables and benches, and more as part of a day of volunteer work at the school organized by Jersey Cares. “Hurricane Sandy affected everyone in New Jersey in some way, and this project gives our employees a great chance to contribute their time to getting this school back into shape,” said …

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FEMA and Small Biz Deadlines for Sandy Help on April 1

Last chance to apply for variety of sources of aid or reimbursement from losses from last fall's Sandy Superstorm.

The deadline may have been extended several times, but April 1 now seems to be the final day for applying for federal aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for damages and losses suffered from last October's Superstorm Sandy. The registration for possible aid, initially set at Dec. 31, 2012, was later extended to Jan. 30, and again to March 1. There have been no further extensions announced after April 1. To register, visit www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA. The April 1 extension was announced by Somerset County, and other governmental agencies. Bernardsville Borough's website has made note of the extensions and approaching deadline. The website previously…

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FEMA Deadline Extended to April 1 to File for Sandy Aid

Another extension of deadline for New Jersey residents to seek federal aid for damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.

The deadline for those seeking federal aid for damage and losses incurred during last October 29's Sandy Storm again has been extended, with the new deadline set at April 1. The registration for possible aid, which was supposed to end Wednesday, Jan. 30, was extended before to March 1. To register, isit www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA. The latest extension was announced by Somerset County, and other governmental agencies. Bernardsville Borough's website also made note of the extension, adding, "We strongly recommend registering even if you are covered by insurance.  FEMA offers disaster assistance for individuals and families, which can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses …

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Bernards Indian Community Holds Sandy Fundraiser for Diwali

Blogger reports that Bernards Township Indian community held Sandy assistance fundraiser as Diwalli project.

Moms Talk: New Year, New World

It seems a long, long time ago that it was fall and we were awaiting Thanksgiving and planning for the December holidays.

It's hard to believe it's been less than three weeks since a enigmatic 20-year-old shot up an elementary school in Newtown, Ct., killing 20 children and six adults. Adam Lanza reportedly had at some point attended the Sandy Hook Elementary School. That news came just as we were all still picking up the pieces after Hurricane Sandy. Those of us who live here can't say we were surprised by another power outage in the Somerset Hills in 2012, following two lengthy outages tipped off by the October snowstorm and Irene in 2011. But were most of us really expecting Sandy to pack the kind of winds we more often see in news clips from storms down South? Did we think we would see giant trees stretched across major roadways for days on end? And then…

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Growing Piles of Logs, Brush from Sandy in Bernardsville

The borough has pledged to collect storm-damaged trees and brush even from private properties, and the piles keep growing.

$600K Sandy Bill Reimbursement Sought in Bernards

Township to meet with federal emergency management agency representative in early January, administrator says.

Bernards Township already has filed an application with the Federal Emergency Management Agency seeking reimbursement for extra manpower and cleanup following Sandy's strike on Oct. 29, and eventually expects about 75 percent of that cost to come back, Township Administrator Bruce McArthur said. McArthur again said the township already has spent or is committed to spending in the neighborhood of about $600,000 for overtime costs related to the storm, department of public works cleanup measures, the costs of keeping the Pill Hill reycling center open extra days to accept storm debris, the cost of hiring outside tree crews and debris haulers and debris disposal. Last week, the Township Committee adopted the $250,000 emergency appropriation …

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Donations for Belmar Schools Due Thursday

Ridge High school student government collecting donations at school.

The Ridge High School student government has set the deadline for dropping off donations for the Belmar school district by 2:30 p.m. this Thursday. All supplies can be dropped off at the counseling office, according to advisers Linda Cuccaro and Jackie Treanor. The school's student government is heading efforts to support the Belmar School District which has suffered devastating losses due to Hurricane Sandy. "Many students are still displaced and some members of the community are still unaccounted for," the school website says. "We have been in contact with their storm relief committee, and they have requested supplies in support of their relief effort," the website says. The advisers said that requested items are:

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