Mayor & Council explore raising donations for Pyanoe Plaza skate rink

An ice skating rink in Pyanoe Plaza? The Mayor & Council heard a presentation at their December 2, 2009 meeting from Bob Valvano of Marturano Recreation about an affordable new ice rink product developed by Scansis, a Norwegian company, that could soon turn Pyanoe Plaza into Belmar’s own Rockefeller Center. This new rink design avoids the compressor noise and high-energy and maintenance costs of a traditional refrigerated rink by using a synthetic plastic ice surface called Scan-ICE. The rink surface comes in inter-locking plastic sections that can be quickly assembled using only mallets, and installed on any flat surface. The Scansis rink can be used in any weather conditions, including the warm weather months.

Click here to see a video of the Scansis rink in action

Councilman Matt Doherty learned about the Scansis rink system at the League of Municipalities Exhibition in November, and thought it would provide a much-needed form of winter recreation for Belmar’s children, while also helping to bring business to our downtown during the long winter season. He invited a representative of the company to make a presentation to the Mayor and Council on December 2nd. Based on the Council’s positive reception to the idea, and with the understanding that no taxpayer funds would be used to purchase the rink, he subsequently contacted Old Bridge Township, which used the Scansis rink on a trial basis last summer.

According to Tom Badcock, Old Bridge’s Recreation Director, Old Bridge already owns an in-door refrigerated rink which operates six months during the year. They tried the Scansis rink last summer so that youth hockey teams could practice during the off-season. He said he could not have been more pleased with the results of the trial, and described it as “overwhelmingly successful.” He said that the Scan-ICE panels fit tightly together and there are there no seams. Indeed, it is so easy to disassemble and reassemble a Scansis rink that the sample rink used in Old Bridge was packed up, shipped to the west coast and recently installed in the Jay Leno Show Studio where it was used for a 5-minute segment featuring NHL hall-of-famer Luc Robitaille.

Last week, Mayor Pringle, Councilman Doherty and DPW Superintendent Andy Meuerle met with Bob Valvano at Pyanoe Plaza to inspect the site. They calculated that an approximately 3,000 square foot rink, measuring 50 by 60, could be installed on either the east or west side of the Christmas tree in the plaza, leaving ample walkway area for the public and customers of the shops and restaurants in the Plaza. If the rink proves to be as successful as hoped, it would be no problem to purchase additional sections in the future to increase the size of the rink. In fact, one of the many advantages of a Scansis rink is that it could even be installed around the Pyanoe Plaza Christmas Tree.

Preliminary fundraising plans are already underway in hopes of purchasing the rink in time for skating this winter. Those interested in making a donation or serving on the fundraising Committee can contact Mayor Pringle at mayor@belmar.com

Now Showing at the Belmar Arts Council Gallery

Metaphors, an abstract art show benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is now showing at the Belmar Arts Council, located at 608 River Road (at 7th Ave. and the railroad tracks).  The gallery is open Wednesday – Sunday from 1:00-5:00 pm.  Admission is free and open to the public.  Art pieces are for sale, so please stop by the Arts Council and view this beautiful show!  For more information, please call (732) 749-3360 or visit us at BelmarArts.org.

Belmar Surf Artist Jay Alders Exhibits in Asbury Park

Belmar’s internationally acclaimed fine artist, Jay Alders, will have a private exhibition of his work at the Langosta Lounge and Lightly Salted in Asbury Park on Friday, July 24, starting at Noon and continuing throughout the day.  For more information, visit JayAlders.com

New Belmar skate park getting lots of action

The new Belmar Skate Park has only been open for a week, and it’s already a huge hit with skateboarders of all ages. From 9 a.m. each day until the park is closed at dusk, there are a dozen or more skaters using the park’s ramps to work on their latest moves. The new $71,000 park was built by the American Ramp Company, and includes a half-pipe ramp at one end of the park, a quarter-pipe ramp at the other, and a pyramid with euro gap and grind rail in the center. The park is located in Dempsey Park on Sixteenth Avenue, east of the railroad.

The new skate park is the fruit of a 3-year fundraising effort led by former Councilman William Merkler. In addition to generous donations from a number of Belmar residents and local businesses, numerous community fundraisers were held over the years, and the proceeds of the 2007 Mayor’s Ball were also contributed to the cause. In addition to Mr. Merkler and the Department of Public Works, special thanks go to Bob Losito, the owner of the Proskateboard Shop, at 1108 Main Street in Belmar, who provided invaluable assistance during the design phase of the effort, and to Borough Administrator Robbin Kirk, who has spent countless hours over the past several years handling the financial, bidding and insurance issues related to the project.

Official rules of the park:

1. Be respectful to others.
2. Helmets are required at all times while inside the skate park area. (Anyone without a helmet will be required to leave the park. Repeat juvenile offenders may have their skateboards confiscated; adult offenders will be issued summonses). Elbow pads, knee pads and wrist guards are recommended.
3. No additional attractions may be constructed or used within the skate park.
4. No glass containers or alcohol beverages.
5. No loud or offensive music.
6. No bicycles or scooters are to be used on the skate park attractions.
7. Any disruptive gathering will necessitate removal of persons and/or closure of the skate park by order of the Police Chief or his designee.
8. Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult when using the facility.
9. The Borough of Belmar is not liable for unsupervised children, individuals who utilize the skate park after posted hours of operation, and individuals who are not wearing the appropriate safety equipment.
10. In case of an emergency call 9-1-1.

HOURS OF OPERATION

9 A.M. TO DUSK

Belmar featured in PBS “Green Builders” Documentary

Belmar is receiving national exposure in the NJN Public Television Special, A Green Revolution Takes Root in the Garden State , which premiered on PBS stations beginning on Sunday, April 19. The documentary was filmed in Hi-Def format, and includes several stunning clips of Belmar, whose green building efforts are highlighted in the documentary.

“A quiet green revolution in the building world is evolving, and a first wave of innovative green design projects large and small have already hit the ground. NJN’s one-hour high definition special Green Builders profiles a cast of green building pioneers who have taken the leap into making their part of the ‘built environment’ a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly place,” according ot the NJN advance about the documentary.

Funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, with support from the Cape Branch Foundation, Green Builders makes an excellent case for green building, and manages to include a vast array of approaches and viewpoints in the 60-minute broadcast. The documentary’s central thesis is one I believe strongly in, namely, that there is “no single way to build green.”

As the NJN advance describes the program: “Green Builders takes a wide-ranging look at a variety of approaches and levels of commitment, and at the individuals who have helped turn green building theory into reality. These individuals are not just builders and designers; they’re teachers and homeowners, corporate leaders and academic specialists, leaders of institutions and universities as well as renegade inventors. From The Willow School to PNC Bank to the first solar-hydrogen home called The Hopewell Project, people talk about why they made the move to go green, what the challenges were, and how their project has fared. In most cases, one finds that a green building project has more to do with smart planning and a mindset change about energy use than expensive technologies or consumer sacrifice. Innovation helps, and there are plenty of innovations included in Green Builders that are making green technology effective and affordable. Geothermal storage, wind farms and extensive solar array systems are examined in the program. As the stories in the documentary demonstrate, it is crucial for us to change our perspective on how we build, recognizing the wasteful impacts of the traditional mode of building and operating our structures, and realizing the environmental and economic benefits of building green. Only then will the green building movement be successful.”

The documentary also emphasizes a point that I consider essential to the long-term success of green efforts in the United States — the need to develop green techniques, policies and technologies that improve the environment without the need to sacrifice. As the NJN website explains, “The individuals in Green Builders have made the move to building green without suffering, sacrificing, or experimenting with a wispy might-happen. These are real projects on the ground, working businesses and college campuses that prove you can change your carbon footprint once you change your way of looking at how a structure operates. Collectively, the green builders are building the foundation for a more widespread movement toward making America’s built environment less harmful to the dwindling supply of healthy natural resources and even less expensive to operate. Their homes and offices are the proving grounds for green building, and their personal experiences reveal that building greener is less complicated and expensive than you probably thought, and more rewarding in the long run.”

Green Builders was produced by NJN’s very talented writer-producer Bob Szuter, who also produced The Highlands Rediscovered and Turning the Tide . To see an online stream of the documentary, click here . The segment about Belmar starts at about 35:20 into the video. The interview with Mayor Ken Pringle, and those of a number of others who appear in the documentary were, taped at a well-known, 100-year old Belmar landmark. Can anyone tell from the background?

Winners of “Belmar’s Blooming” Poster Contest Honored

At the April 22, 2009 Borough Council meeting, Councilwoman Claire Deicke (at the far left in the photo) presented two talented Belmar students with certificates of commendation from the Belmar Beautification Committee for their winning entries in the Belmar’s Blooming Poster Contest. The girls are pictured here next to their winning posters, which are on display in the lobby of Borough Hall. Katherine Fitzgerald (to the right of Mrs. Deicke) is a 7th grader at Belmar Elementary School. She is accompanied by her art teacher, Mary Decotiis, and Belmar Elementary School Principal Paul Shappirio. Standing at the easel on the right is Victoria Renner, who is an 8th grader at St. Rose Grammar School. Victoria will be attending St. Rose High School in the fall. Joining her is St. Rose art teacher Jane Magovern and assistant principal Barry Glickman.

In addition to commending Katherine and Victoria for their excellent posters, Mrs. Deicke thanked Mary DeCotiis and Jane Magovern for all of their help and cooperation in making the Belmar’s Blooming Poster Contest a great success. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders from both schools participated in the contest. The non-winning posters are on all display throughout town in store windows.

Join Belmar’s Blooming! Help make Belmar more beautiful.

The Belmar Beautification Committee is inviting all Belmar residents and business owners to help make Belmar even more beautiful this year by participating in their Blossom Extravaganza, which is part of the Belmar’s Blooming campaign.

You can join in by planting flowers in your front yard, or in front of your business! The event will run from beginning of May until the end of August.

Categories for entry include:
□ Patriotic garden
□ Flowers of one color with different hues
□ Children’s garden
□ Nationality garden
□ Native plant garden
□ Patio-porch-balcony-window box displays (all one category)
□ Stores and restaurants

Belmar’s Blooming is not a contest….. Outstanding gardens in each category will receive special recognition from The Belmar Mayor & Council after the summer. Entry forms are available at Borough Hall or by clicking here. Belmar’s Blooming Registration Form

For more information, contact Councilwoman Claire Deicke at ctd@verizon.net.

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