Veterans Day Celebration

The Borough of Belmar is very happy to announce that we are receiving positive feedback from the community and some businesses about our banquet for veterans. As a result, we will be up-scaling the event and changing the date from November 8th at Taylor Pavilion to November 11th, Veterans Day at the Barclay. The owners of the Barclay, along with the members Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh have made this possible. There will be music from at least two live bands. We are planning on a DJ. The food will be donated by local businesses.

We are looking for loans of memorabilia to help bring back memories for those who served, and to help others understand what it was like. We are also looking for food establishments to donate a platter or two with your business cards. There will be no charge to the Veterans, who will also be allowed to bring limited guests. There will be a cash bar for those who wish to take part. I am still looking for volunteers to help pull things together. The event will hold 275 people and tickets will be provided upon request at a later date. MARK YOUR CALENDARS Veterans Day,  November 11 at the Barclay.  Local Community members will be encouraged to come out and thank these brave men and women for their service. 

Since we did the Wounded Warrior Fishing trip last year for our current heroes, this event is aimed to thank all those Brave Men and Women who served prior to the current war. As long as the tickets last, any Veteran who served our Country honorably is invited. Tell your Grandparents, Parents, and friends, it is time to say Thank You before we lose the chance. WWII – Korean-  Vietnam – Cold War- Gulf war and any other Veteran that I may have missed. Please mark your calendar and let us serve you for one night.

recreation@belmar.com

New plantings and gazebo beautify 8th and Main lot

As part of continuing plans to improve the lot at the corner of 8th Avenue and Main Street, Public Works this week planted a small grove of trees and grasses around the gazebo installed in June.  The entire lot will be edged in similar plantings in the coming weeks, offering a more attractive, welcoming vista until the lot is developed.   Native flowers and shrubs will be used on the lot, following a design created by members of Belmar’s Green Team.

The gazebo was purchased through funds provided from contributions received by the Belmar Improvement Fund, a non-profit organization. The landscaping was paid for by funds provided by the DiFeo family, the owners of the property, pursuant to an agreement in which the family also agreed to lease the lot to the Borough for $1 per year as a municipal parking lot, until the property is developed. When the property is ready to be developed, the gazebo and landscaping will be removed and used to beautify other areas in the Borough. The Borough’s agreement with the DiFeo family to use the lot for public parking requires the DiFeo family to continue to pay property taxes on the property.

Triathlon/Duathlon for Autism Results

Close to 400 people turned out for the Triathlon/Duathlon for Autism hosted by Belmar, Lake Como and Spring Lake, held early this past Sunday, August 2nd.  The sprint distance race consisted of a 1/4 mile ocean swim off of Belmar’s beach, a looping 10 mile bike ride and a 5K run down and back up Ocean Avenue.  The Duathlon version eliminated the swim portion and substituted a 2 mile run.

Race results are posted here.  Congratulations to all participants!

Sing along to Belmar Summer Theater’s production of Over The Boardwalk

The Belmar Summer Theater will be presenting the New Jersey premier of the musical Over The Boardwalk the weekend of August 13th.  Over The Boardwalk tells the story of three generations of women struggling to maintain their family-owned boardwalk at the Jersey Shore even as a wily businessman draws up plans to demolish their family legacy and replace it with condominiums.  Reviewers are calling this locally-cast production, which takes place in 1963, a combination of Grease and Happy Days, with a unique Jersey Shore flavor.

The Belmar Summer Theater is located at 1101 Main Street at Belmar Elementary School.   Attendees of the August 13th premier will have the chance to meet cast members, the playwright and the composers.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening shows begin at 8pm.  There will be matinees Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 3pm. Adult tickets are $20, while children and students with ID pay a reduced price of $15.  Proceeds will benefit the St. Vincent DePaul Society, which provides emergency assistance to needy shore area residents.  For more information about Over The Boardwalk, including ticket sales and audio/video clips, click here or call (703) 609-7753.

Friday Night concerts underway

A host of musicians are scheduled to play Belmar’s Pyanoe Plaza, on 9th Avenue and Main Street, during the Belmar Tourism Commission’s Friday Night Concert Series.

Concerts will be held every Friday evening during the months of July and August, from 7 to 10 p.m., weather permitting. Attendees are asked to bring their lawn chairs and enjoy a night of great entertainment for the entire family.

The concert series schedule is as follows:

• July 24, Danny White; July 31, R&B Express; Aug. 7, Tom Brennan; Aug. 14, Pat Roddy Band; Aug. 21, Round The House; and Aug. 28, Fred Lehotay’s Ragtimers.

More Belmar news, plus full coverage of southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, can be found at starnewsgroup.com.

BAC to celebrate ‘Belmar Stories’

There are thousands of stories to be told about Belmar since its official naming in 1889. Both longtime Belmar residents and summer visitors have many stories that paint Belmar with bright and vibrant colors, creating a remarkable canvas of the seaside town. In June, the Belmar Historical Society and Councilwoman Claire Deicke invited Belmar’s citizens to gather at Taylor Pavilion to share “Seaside Memories” of the past. The event brought many folks to join in, sharing fond memories and historical facts about the town. The Belmar Arts Council was on hand to film individuals at the June event and they have continued to record stories about the community for their August exhibition at the Boatworks entitled “Belmar Stories.” The show will be a visual and performing arts exhibition, and include audio and musical presentations. All are invited to participate and participants do not need to be a member of the arts council. Art submissions can be constructions, collages, paintings, photos and/or DVDs of musical and performing “stories,” any work that is inspired by Belmar. BAC members have been busy collecting old photos, songs, poems and items to exhibit and display. Intake for the show is Saturday Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Boatworks, 608 River Road, Belmar. Only one submission per artist will be accepted, and all will be displayed in the exhibition. Details about submission or additional information can be found at www.belmararts.org or by calling 732-749-3360. The opening reception of “Belmar Stories” will be Aug. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Boatworks, formerly the old Connelly Boatworks building, 608 River Road, along the railroad tracks. The evening will give an opportunity for individuals to share in the story telling by offering an “open mic,” a time for folks to read poems or sing songs, and to tell their unique memory over a live microphone. Also during the evening, the BAC will premiere their film “Belmar Stories,” a collection of photos and videos of times past. The programs of the Belmar Arts Council are funded by dues, donations and grants. BAC’s events are made possible in part by the Monmouth County Arts Council through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, through the County Historical Commission, and the New Jersey Stats Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment of the Arts. More Belmar news, plus full coverage of southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, can be found at starnewsgroup.com.

Turtles, iguanas and snakes invade Belmar Public Library

By Zach Levine

In any other instance, the sight of geckos, iguanas and 12-foot pythons roaming the children’s section of the Belmar Free Public Library would be cause for concern and send patrons fleeing towards the exits.

With trained handlers keeping close watch over the reptiles, however, many local children got the chance to have a rare experience to interact with the exotic animals.

The program, Creature Feature Party, was held at the library on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. It was hosted by Carlo DeGrazzio of Mike’s Pet Center on Route 35 in Neptune City.

Rainy weather forced the event indoors, but none of the children seemed to mind as they sat on the floor of the library and marveled at the site of all the different animals.

Children and parents alike jumped at the site of one of the biggest animals which Mr. DeGrazzio showcased, a borneo blood python.

Mr. DeGrazzio pointed out that the animal is called a blood python because of red colorations throughout its body, and the snake is about five to six feet long and thicker than most people’s legs.

He explained to those in attendance that the more that is known about the animals, the less likely people will be afraid of them.

“You have to know about the animals in order to respect them,” Mr. DeGrazzio said.

Another animal which he displayed for the crowd was a spiny tailed iguana, which Mr. DeGrazzio held close as he noted the iguana can be one ornery creature.

He took the time to point out that even though it has a gruff exterior, the animal was still special in its own way and should be treated as such.

“Even though this animal may be aggressive, it is beautiful and needs to be cared for,” he said.

One curious child asked why the iguana kept sticking its tongue in the air, and Mr. DeGrazzio informed the youth that by waving its tongue, the iguana brings air closer to its nose and it can breath better.

One of the biggest jaw-dropping moments of the afternoon came when Mr. DeGrazzio brought out a 16-foot albino Burmese python for everyone to view.

Seven members of Mike’s Pet Center had to work together just to lift the animal out of its case, and they held it down on a table while the children lined up and had the opportunity to rub their hands over the snake’s stomach.

One child asked how the pet shop received such a big animal, if they found it, bought it, or are holding it for someone else.

Mr. DeGrazzio informed the attendees that a man currently serving in the military dropped off his snake at the store for them to take care of while he is stationed overseas.

“So while he’s protecting our country, we’re protecting his snake,” he stated proudly.

Carl Rivera, 12, of Middletown, came to Belmar for the day specifically for the event, and he said that he loved the experience.

“It’s great to see all the different types of animals,” Carl said.

Cory Klisch, 12, of Wall Township, echoed his friend’s sentiments, saying that he also loved seeing the exotic creatures.

“I’m surprised how big some of them can get,” Cory remarked.

Jennifer Majoros of Point Pleasant noted that the event was a lot of fun for all the children in attendance, and that some of the youths, unlike their older counterparts, looked to be fearless in regards to petting some of the reptiles.

“I really think the parents might be more scared than the kids,” Ms. Majoros laughed.

At the end of the program, Mr. DeGrazzio noted that he was happy to bring out the animals for the children to view, and that he hoped that this experience would lead to a better understanding of the animals.

“I just want the kids to know that they don’t have to be scared of the animals as long as they respect them,” he said.

Natalie Losana, head librarian at the Belmar Library, said that she was ecstatic with how the event turned out and looked forward to planning a similar event sometime in the fall.

“This turned out phenomenal and something the kids really enjoyed,” Ms. Losana said.

More Belmar news, plus full coverage of southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, can be found at starnewsgroup.com.

Over 100 compete in Belmar Run-Swim-Run

By Zach Levine

For a brief moment on Sunday morning, the skies over Belmar stayed clear of all clouds, and the sixth annual Belmar Run-Swim-Run presented by the Belmar Beach Patrol was able to go off without a hitch.

Over 100 competitors completed the course, which consisted of a quarter mile sand run, a 500 yard swim, and another quarter mile run. Medals were awarded to the first, second and third place finishers in each of the various age groups.

This year’s first place trophies were presented to Matt Nunnelly in the men’s open category, and Julia Del Nero in the female open category.

Out of the six years of the competition, Mr. Nunnelly has won five times. The only time he did not win was last year when he was competing abroad.

No female has ever repeated as champion of the race.

Proceeds from the competition will fund a $1,000 scholarship in the name of Adam O’Donnell, a former Belmar lifeguard who died in 1998 of an aneurism.

This year’s scholarship recipient is John Mahoney, a Belmar Junior Guard counselor who will be attending Clemson University in the fall.

One entire family, the MacDonalds, seemed to dominate the male side of the race, as five different members of the clan placed in the top 25 finishers for the race.

Keith MacDonald, 20, came in second; Greg MacDonald, 17, came in fifth; Mike MacDonald, 22, came in ninth; Kirt MacDonald, 13, came in 10th place and the family’s patriarch, Mik MacDonald, 50, came in 21st place.

The male winners of the event are as follows:

• Kirt MacDonald finished in first place in the 14 and under age category.

• Greg MacDonald finished in first place in the 15-19 year old age category.

• Keith MacDonald finished in first place in the 20-29 year old age category.

• Matt Nunnelly finished in first place in the 30-39 year old age category.

• Pat Ciriello finished in first place in the 40-49 year old age category.

• Mik MacDonald finished in first place in the 50-59 year old age category.

• Graham Wisdom finished in first place for the 60 years and over category.

The female winners of the event are as follows:

• Brenna Strollo finished in first place in the 14 and under age category.

• Julia Del Nero finished in first place in the 15-19 year old age category.

• Carrie Rider finished in first place in the 20-29 year old age category.

• Traci Richert finished in first place in the 30-39 year old age category.

• Rossane Del Nero finished in first place in the 40-49 year old age category.

More Belmar news, plus full coverage of southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, can be found at starnewsgroup.com.

Belmar chosen to participate in water conservation program

Belmar is one of five towns chosen to participate in the Water Conservation Pilot Program for New Jersey, a major endeavor coordinated by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program and funded by grants from the NJDEP and the US EPA.  The program aims to reduce water usage by 10% in the five pilot municipalities– Belmar, Egg Harbor, Livingston, Rahway and East Greenwich– through three measures:  Water Conservation in the Classroom; Landscaping for Water Conservation; and Retrofitting Public Buildings for Water Conservation.

Though New Jersey receives 44 inches of rainfall each year, population density and a marked jump in the use of potable water for activities like landscaping mean that our state is always at risk of experiencing a water shortage.   Lessons learned from the pilot program will be compiled and distributed to other municipalities throughout the state.

Click here to read more about Rutgers’ Water Resources Program.

Click here to read why Inside New Jersey cited Belmar as a top green town in New Jersey.

10th Ave. Burrito’s patio is a warm-weather oasis

Hidden behind Belmar favorite 10th Ave. Burrito (located at 702 10th Avenue) is a newly restored oasis of a patio, replete with colorful, original art, a compact stage for acoustic performances and a garden.  The outdoor space doubles the seating at the small restaurant– which until this summer had only a few indoor tables and sidewalk seating– and offers diners a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown Belmar in it’s most popular months.

10th Avenue burrito serves fresh, healthy and original burritos, tacos, quesadillas and more for all three of the day’s meals.   If you’re ordering in, come armed with cash and be sure to check out the specials board.  If you’re interested in delivery, 10th Avenue is ultra-accommodating; they’ll even deliver to the beach.

Visit 10th Ave. Burrito’s website for a menu and other information.

LOCATION	702 10th Avenue, Belmar
HOURS	Closed Monday Tues – Fri: 11AM-9PM Saturday: 11AM-9/10PM Sunday: 11AM-8/9PM
CONTACT	(732) 280-1515

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