The Gazette of Really Small News

A candlelight vigil at Neptune High School on Monday, April 3, will unite students and the community in a protest against distracted and drunk or drugged driving. Speakers will include members of the Neptune Board of Education, the Neptune Township Police Department, and Jersey Shore University Medical Center Trauma Center. The event sponsored by student leaders of Neptune High School and Poseidon Early College High School will start at 6 p.m. in front of the high school's Michael T. Lake Performing Arts Center, 55 Neptune Blvd Refreshments will be provided by the Neptune Municipal Alliance and the student council.

A flood watch will be in effect from noon today until 2 a.m. tomorrow, April 1. Heavy rain is expected to fall throughout the day and night, leaving amounts of between two and three inches, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Mount Holly said. A coastal flood advisory will start at 10 tonight and last until 4 in the morning. A 1.5-foot storm surge can cause minor flooding at high tide, the NWS said. Some roads along the coast may be closed.

Allaire Village, Inc. in Wall Township is seeking a business operations intern for the spring and summer. The spot is open to college- or graduate students in business and communications. Allaire Village is a living history museum that recreates James P. Allaire's Howell Iron Works during its heyday in 1836. The museum is located within Allaire State Park. Candidates should email their resume to jjohnson@allairevillage.org.

Roads in the Gables area of Neptune Township will be milled and paved on or about Monday, April 3. The affected roads are Fulham Place between Wakefield Road and Oxford Way; Harrow Court between Wakefield Road and Oxford Way; Fenchurch Way between Wakefield Road and Oxford Way; Berkeley Lane between Fulham Place and Eton Way, and Edgeware Place beween Berkeley Lane and Oxford Way. In an email to residents, the township engineering department cautioned against liquid tar that will be placed on the roadway as part of the paving process. "The material is very sticky; if you drive or walk on the tar, you will leave traces," the department said in the email. The department also advised residents to park their vehicles on side streets between 6 a.m and 5 p.m. on days their road is paved.

The Neptune Township School District is accepting applications for a school psychologist for the 2017-2018 school year. The position starts July 1. New Jersey School Psychologist certification is required. Applicants should apply online at www(dot)applitrack(dot)com/neptune/onlineapp.  posting 18-001. Applications must be submitted by Friday, April 7.

You know how weather reports sometimes include the words "with wind gusts higher along the coast?" It was breezy inland at dawn today, but "along the coast" the wind was enough to starch the Ocean Grove flags.

Work to install new drainage pipes along Central Avenue in Ocean Grove is underway. This is at the southwest corner of Central and Main.

Registration is still open for Monmouth County's Youth Horseback Riding Summer Camp at Sunnyside Equestrian Center. The camp will cover riding basics, safety, horse care, and general stable chores. The fee is $475 per person for five five-hour sessions: --July 10 through July 14; --July 17 through July 21; --July 24 through July 28; --Aug. 7 through Aug. 11; --Aug. 14 through Aug. 18. Hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day. To register, go online to www(dot)monmouthcountyparks(dot)com. For information, call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312.

The Monmouth County Park System offers Fashion Day camp this summer for kids entering grades 6 through 9. The five-day course will give campers a taste of the fashion industry from story boards to the runway. Participants must have a basic knowledge of sewing machines, and should bring three yards each of two coordinating fabrics. A list of notions will be provided. The camp will be held at the Thompson Park Visitors Center, Lincroft, July 10 to 14, and Aug. 14-18,  9 a.m. to 3 p.m every day. The fee is $210 per child. To register go online to www(dot)monmouthcountyparks(dot)com. For more information, call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312.

Spring is a time of renewal, and the Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Avon, is asking its altar servers to renew their skills before Holy Week and Easter Sunday. All the servers have been asked to take at least one of two refresher courses "in order to brush up on serving during Holy Mass as well as in preparation for the upcoming sacred liturgies," the parish administration said in its Sunday, March 26, bulletin, which is online at the church's web site, stelizabethavon(dot)com. The servers can choose between the session scheduled for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, or the session slated for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5. Each session is expected to run one hour. Servers have the option of attending both classes. Servers who need more information or who have questions are asked to email the parish office, stelizabeth@verizon(dot)net or to call Victor Pidermann at the rectory, 732-774-4089, ext. 201.

The ancient Roman Catholic Church service of Tenebrae will return to St. Catharine Church in Spring Lake on Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. The service, once a staple of Catholic Holy Week observances, disappeared in the late 20th century during the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Bishop David M. O'Connell, the head of the Diocese of Trenton, reinstituted Tenebrae in the diocese last year and celebrated the service at St. Catharine's, according to the March 23 edition of the Monitor, the official newspaper of the diocese. O'Connell will officiate again at the service this year. Tenebrae is meant to awaken a sense of awe and wonder at the mysteries of the Holy Week and Easter liturgies, Carolyn Norbut, of the diocesan Office of Worship, told the Monitor. According to the publication, which is available online at the web site of the diocese, the service  in Saint Catharine's was well-received. The pews, which provide seating for 300, were nearly filled to ca...

Three local Roman Catholic churches this week will welcome visitors as station churches in a special Lenten project introduced four years ago in the Diocese of Trenton. Station churches are based on an ancient custom in Rome, where the pope said Mass at different churches around the city during Lent, Monsignor Edward J. Arnister, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church, Belmar, noted earlier this month in the church bulletin. St. Rose is one of this week's station churches. Station churches first appeared over here in Lent 2013 to help mark the Year of Faith that ran from October 2012 to October 2013, according to a story published in the Diocesan newspaper, The Monitor, in March 2013 and that is on the Diocesan web site. In the modern version, visitors--said to be on pilgrimage as they visit each church--meet for Mass at each church at a specified date and time. Before Mass, they learn about the history of that church and its role in the community, and take a brief tour of the ch...

Tickets are now on sale for the Spring Lake Historical Society's 38th Annual House Tour on June 1. The price is $35 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Dorothy Lau at 732-974-1476.

If you live in Spring Lake and need to dispose of some large yard waste, your chance is Wednesday, March 29. That's when the borough will pick up hedges, tree limbs and shrubbery. The borough reminds residents that the items should be placed at the curb with butt ends facing in one direction. Pieces should be longer than four feet long and two inches around. Grass clippings will not be picked up. They should be composted or left on the lawn.

Belmar's annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the beachfront on Saturday, April 8, starting at 11 a.m. The event is open to borough children ages 1 through 9. There are different entrances for different age groups: Ages 1 to 3: Fourth Avenue beach entrance; Ages 4 to 7: Third Avenue beach entrance; Ages 8 and 9: Second Avenue beach entrance. According to the borough, more than 3,500 eggs will be buried in the sand on the Second Avenue beach. Two eggs in each age category will contain a ticket for a prize.

Neptune's Midtown Urban Rensaissance Corporation (MURC) is seeking school groups, troops and gardeners to help clean up and plant the Liberty Park Community Garden on Saturday, April 8. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tools, gloves, and lunch will be provided. To register, call MURC at 732-988-4400. For more information, call MURC at 732-988-4400 or 732-616-2940, or go online to www(dot)neptunemurc(dot)com.

Applications are being accepted for Marine Science Day Camp in Spring Lake this August. The camp will be held at Marucci Park and is scheduled for four sessions: 1. Monday, Aug. 7 through Friday, Aug. 11 2. Monday, Aug. 14 through Friday, Aug. 19 3. Monday, Aug. 21 through Friday, Aug. 25 4. Monday, Aug. 28 through Friday, Sept.  1 Hours are 9 a.m. to noon for all four sessions. The camp, to be taught by marine biologists and environmentalists, will focus on the preservation of the marine ecosystem. The curriculum includes seining, sharks, whales, oceans, plate tectonics, and continental drift. There will also be seining, and marine mammal rescue drills. Crab Critter Cams will give campers a glimpse of life under the water. Tuition is $235 per child, and includes a T-shirt. For more information, go to www(dot)marinesciencecamp(dot)com, or www(dot)springlakeboro(dot)org, or call 732-250-8124. Registration is online only, at https://register(dot)communitypass(dot)net...

How blustery and blah was dawn this morning? No one was out. It was just Tip and this fashionable Easter Bunny welcoming customers (and passersby) to the Beach House on Pitman Avenue in Ocean Grove.

Planting season will be here before you know it. If you're thinking of growing a garden or planting for produce, and you're not sure what to do, or if you  need some refreshers, then you might want to dash out to Freehold  on Saturday, March 25, for the Rutgers Master Gardeners' spring symposium. The symposium will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the county's Agricultural Center, 4000 Kozloski Road Parking and attendance are free, but you need to sign in. Registration is at 8:45 a.m.  Master gardeners with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County will give workshops on various topics, including organic vegetable gardening, container gardening, weed and insect control, native plants, ground covers, and pollinators. The master gardeners will also speak about common landscaping mistakes and how to avoid them. Tours will be available throughout the day. Sites include the master gardeners' Plant a Row for the Hungry Garden, which gives hands-on experie...

Growing without soil will be the focus of a county environmental roundtable set for Wednesday, March 29,  in Freehold. The event, which starts at 7 p.m. at the Monmouth County Agricultural Building, 4000 Kozloski Road,is sponsored  by the Monmouth County Environmental Council. Speakers will include council member Scott Thompson,  who works in the design and sales of greenhouse and hydroponic systems; local growers from Kula Farm in Asbury Park and Thompson Family Farm in Wall Township, and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service of Monmouth County. A question-and-answer session will follow. Soil-free growing, also called hydroponics, uses nutrients mixed in water to nourish plants instead of soil.  "Hydroponics may be a growing method that compliments existing operations," said Lillian G. Burry, director of the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders. The county's Grown in Monmouth program helps farms and related businesses to build, market, and diversify t...

The flags on the Ocean Grove boardwalk fly day and night, except in bad weather. The site is at the end of Main Avenue, so the flags are easy to see if you want to gauge the wind.

It's all about herbs and veggies Saturday, April 1, at Deep Cut Gardens Horticultural Center, Middletown. That's the day the Monmouth County Park System will teach gardeners how to grow gardens for herbs or vegetables. Vegetable Gardening 101 - Spring will meet from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. In this class, new gardeners will learn how to select, plant, and maintain a vegetable garden. Herbs and Their Uses will meet from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This class will cover  the selection, planting, growing, and harvesting of herbs. Both classes require pre-registration and a fee. To pre-register or for information, go to the park system's web site, www(dot)MonmouthCountyParks(dot)com, or call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312.

Take a Shot: Introduction to Archery will meet Wednesday, March 29, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft. The Monmouth County Park System program is for kids ages 10 to 17. Equipment will be provided. Pre-registration and a fee are required. For pre-registration or information, go online to www(dot)MonmouthCountyParks(dot)com, or call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312.

Get out and explore the new season in Freneau Woods Park with a Roving Naturalist of the Monmouth County Park System this Saturday, March 25. The walk will kick off at 9 a.m. from Parking Area 360, Monastery Lane, Aberdeen. No registration is required. The walk is free. For more information, go online to www(dot)MonmouthCountyParks(dot)com, or call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312.

Property owners in Monmouth County have a new tool for fighting property fraud. The Monmouth County Clerk's Office is launching Property Fraud Alert, a free subscription service that allows property owners to have their name and property monitored by the office's Recording Division. "Property fraud is considered a growing trend," said county clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon. "The new Property Fraud Alert will enable users in Monmouth County to proactively respond to potentially fraudulent activity involving their property." Subscribers will be notified when the name or address they provide to the alert system is used in any recording activities within the county clerk's office. Hanlon said the service is quick and easy to sign up for. Participants can receive notices by email or telephone. Property owners can subscribe by visiting the service's web site, PropertyFraudAlert(dot)com, or by calling 1-800-728-3858. Online, subscribers must selec...

Have a hankering for history? Ever wonder what the Shore was like a century or two ago? You can get an eyeful at no cost on the first weekend in May, when dozens of historic sites and museums around Monmouth County will waiver entrance fees for the annual Weekend in Old Monmouth. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 7. Lillian G. Burry, director of the county board of freeholders, called the weekend "a wonderful event for anyone interested in our rich history and unique architecture." A total of 48 sites are participating in the event, which is coordinated by the Monmouth County Historical Commission. Local sites include author Stephan Crane's  house in Asbury Park, which was built around 1878; the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, which was built in 1894; Historic Allaire Village, Wall Township, which in the 1830s was a thriving communal iron works; the Old Wall Historical Museum at the Allgor-Barkalow Homestead,...

Neptune Township is hiring an assistant engineer for the Land Use Department. The position is full-time and has an annual salary of $55,500. The assistant engineer will be under the direct supervision of the Director of Engineering and Planning. Requirements include a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering or a similar program. Courses or experience in construction management are a plus. Applicants must also have a working knowledge of grading, hydrology, drainage, design construction, the preparation of design documents and specifications, and experience in Word, Excel, HydroCad, and AutoCad. Applications are available at the township's web site, www(dot)neptunetownship(dot)org. Look under Quick Links in the right-hand column and click on "Job Openings." Deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, March 31. Applications may be mailed to Stephanie Oppegaard, Human Resources Director, 25 Neptune Blvd., Neptune NJ 07753, or emailed to soppegaard@neptunetownship(dot)org.

Manasquan is looking for volunteers to help spruce up the borough on Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration will be at Stockton Lake Partk, near the Little League fields. The areas targeted for cleaning are Stockton Lake Park, Tassini Park, and between the elementary school and State Highway 71. Only borough property is targeted. If you know of other bits of public property that need attention, email suggestions to the Manasquan Environmental Commission, ec@manasquan-nj(dot)com. The clean-up will not include the railroad tracks, which are the property of New Jersey Transit. If you volunteer, the environmental commission reminds you to dress appropriately and bring work gloves. Trash bags will be provided, and some litter pick-up sticks will be available. Light refreshments will also be provided. Also, please bring non-perishable food for donation to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Businesses who would like to donate materials or assistance ...

County teens have a chance to help their communities in the event of a disaster by joining the new Teen CERT Explorer Post #2. The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, which is forming the team, will hold an information session about the group on Thursday, April 6, at 7 p.m. at the county public safety center, 2500 Kozloski Road, Freehold. The sheriff's office will oversee the team, along with the county Office of Emergency Management. Membership is open to young adults ages 14 to 20 who live in Monmouth County. CERT is short for Community Emergency Response Team. Members will receive national standardized training in elements of disaster response. Reservations for the information session are required. To reserve a seat, email your name, telephone number and email address to Michael Oppegaard, Emergency Management Coordinator, at teencert@mcsonj(dot)org.

The Jersey Shore chapter of Surfrider Foundation will plant dune grass and sweep the beach in Spring Lake on Saturday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are welcome. The event will kick off at 410 Ocean Ave.

Between a few days of unseasonable warmth and a few more days of unseasonable cold and snow, the trees are confused. With spring only two days away, this one is starting to send little leaves into the world.

Neptune Township's annual Easter Egg Hunt is slated for Saturday, April 8, at Bert Willis Fields, Old Corlies Avenue. The event will start at 10 a.m. and is open to children who live in the township and are in elementary school up to Grade 5. Please BYOBOB -- Bring Your Own Bag or Basket! The rain (or snow) date is Sunday, April 9, at 1 p.m. For information if the hunt is postponed, call 732-869-1202.

The Manasquan Borough Council will discuss the municipal budget tomorrow, Saturday, March 18, at 9 a.m. in borough hall, 201 East Main Street. The agenda includes time for audience participation.

A wee bit of Christmas survived Winter Storm Stella and made it through to St. Patrick's Day. A few wreaths remain on benches like this one on the Ocean Grove boardwalk. Many of the benches contain little plaques in memory of deceased friends and family members.

There's a reason why you're looking at grass and pavement today instead of digging out or throwing down ice melt. It turns out that Winter Storm Stella was going to be less than advertised. Forecasters at the federal Weather Prediction Center knew, yet didn't share. Stella was originally predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the region, but meteorologists at the Maryland-based center didn't drop the predicted amounts for here or anywhere else when they realized the storm wasn't going to live up to expectations. Greg Carbin, chief of forecast operations for the center, which is part of the National Weather Service, told the Associated Press (AP) that they knew after a conference call on Monday afternoon that the amounts would be lower. They decided not to issue the lower amounts because people might not have viewed the storm as the threat it remained because of the potential to produce icy conditions. They stuck with the higher amounts "out of extreme...

Flooding caused by heavy rains from Winter Storm Stella has forced the closure of some Neptune Township roads, township police report. Those roads include portions of South Riverside Drive, the area of South Concourse, and the East End Bridge. They will remain closed until the waters recede, police said. Officials remind drivers not to drive on flooded roadways because water may be deeper than it looks.

Moderate coastal flooding is occurring in Manasquan, the borough office of emergency management tweets. Water levels are expected to rise over the next hour, or until 11 a.m. Residents are asked to stay off the roads.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has dropped the blizzard warning originally posted for 8 last night until 6 this evening. The region is now under a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. A coastal flood warning is in effect until 3 this afternoon. Although observers have reported seeing rain, the NWS on the forecast page for the Belmar-Farmingdale area says "unknown precip" and "fog/mist/windy." A northeast wind of 30 to 36 miles per hour is expected to shift north this afternoon. Gusts could reach 55 miles per hour.

If you live in Belmar, make sure you park your car off the street by midnight tonight. Drivers who fail to move their cars during a snow emergency are in violation of Ordinance 19-10 and subject to a $150 fine, borough officials said in a text message.

Tuesday trash collection in Belmar is cancelled. Trash will be picked up on the next regularly scheduled day, according to the borough web site.

With winds expected to gust up to 50 miles per hour during tomorrow's blizzard, don't be surprised if a power line or two is taken out. Here are numbers to call if you're left in the dark or if you see a downed wire. Customers of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) should call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877). For Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) customers, the number to call is 1-800-436-PSEG (1-800-436-7734). Remember: stay away from all downed wires, and walk around puddles into which a wire has fallen.

Tomorrow's trash and recycling pickups have been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 15, officials said in a statement on the township's web site. Residents are asked not to put trash or recycling cans at the curb tonight or tomorrow.

Trash in Brielle will not be collected tomorrow, the borough said on its web site. Trash will instead be collected on Saturday, March 18. Officials attributed the change to the blizzard forecast to affect the region tonight and tomorrow.

The approaching blizzard has prompted officials in Bradley Beach to suspend tomorrow's trash collection and to cancel the borough council meeting. The trash will be picked up on the next regularly scheduled collection date. The council  meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. A new trash and recycling schedule was to go into effect this week. The new schedule is available online at www(dot)bradleybeachnj(dot)gov/documents/2017RecyclingFlyer.pdf.

If you live in Spring Lake, you're going to have to spend a little more time with your trash. The borough has cancelled the Tuesday pickup because of the blizzard expected to hit the region tonight. Pickup has not been rescheduled. Also, the borough Reclamation Center will be closed tomorrow because of the weather, officials announced on the borough's web site.

If you live in Neptune Township or its Ocean Grove historic district and your trash or recycling is usually collected on Tuesday, don't put your cans out tonight. There will be no trash or recycling pickups tomorrow in either location because of the impending winter storm, the township said. Collections for both areas have been rescheduled. In Neptune, Tuesday trash and recycling will be collected on Wednesday, March 15. Ocean Grove's Tuesday trash pickup has been moved to Friday, March 17. The affected areas in Neptune are Zone B and Zone B2, which are east of Route 18 and north of Route 33. The Ocean Grove zone is north of Main Avenue. The township asks residents not to place cans at the curb on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has placed the region under a blizzard warning for 8 tonight until 6 p.m. Tuesday. Up to 5ive inches of snow is expected to fall tonight, with another 10 inches possible throughout the day tomorrow. Also, there is a possibility that the snow will change to rain and sleet for a period as the storm brings warmer temperatures from the ocean. A coastal flood watch is posted for tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Coastal flooding is possible at times of high tide.

The region will be under a winter storm watch from 8 tonight until 6 p.m. tomorrow. The National Weather Service at this time is calling for up to 12 inches of snow along most of coastal Monmouth County, with most of it falling throughout the day Tuesday. Blizzard conditions are possible in sustained winds of up to 36 miles per hour and gusts of up to 50 miles per hour. A high wind watch will be in effect Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There could also be coastal flooding at times of high tide. A coastal flood watch will be in effect Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Unidentified mummers dressed as pirates are a colorful contrast to spectators Sunday during the Asbury Park St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The Christmas lights still hang around Firemen's Park in Ocean Grove. With temperatures in the 20s and snow on the way, it feels more like Christmas than the week before spring.

Monmouth County's emergency management and medical services coordinators are among entities recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for emergency preparedness. Monmouth County OEM-EMS Coordinators received honorable mention for Outstanding Inclusive Initiatives in Emergency Management as part of the 2016 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. The awards are given for outstanding efforts by individuals, programs and organizations to prepare their communities for emergencies, FEMA said in a statement.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter storm watch for most of the state, including coastal Monmouth County. Periodic, sometimes heavy snow is predicted for between 8 p.m. Monday until 8 a.m. Wednesday. But how much snow is uncertain. The NWS at 5 a.m. issued graphics that say coastal Monmouth County should expect at least 0 inches as well as the potential for up to 15 inches. Yet another NWS graphic issued at the same time indicates the coast will "most likely" see between 8 and 12 inches of snow. The graphics are at www(dot)weather(dot)gov.media/phi/current_briefing(dot)pdf. NWS scheduled the next update for 5 p.m.

The Glimmer Glass bridge in Manasquan will be closed for maintenance on Monday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., borough officials said. The bridge traverses the Glimmer Glass inlet between Manasquan and Brielle.

Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 a.m. tomorrow, so before you go to bed tonight, don't forget to put your clocks one hour ahead. Sure, it might mean losing an hour of sleep. But there's that extra hour of light at the end of an obnoxious workday and during the commute home to make up for it. Eventually.

Neptune Cub Scout Pack 81 will collect clothes on Tuesday, March 14, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Shark River Hills Elementary School, 312 Brighton Ave., Neptune. Only clothes, towels, linens and shoes will be accepted. The items should be placed in clean garbage bags. Bags should not be left at the school if nobody is there to accept them. The truck will leave the school a little after 7 p.m.

Neptune Township customers of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) should expect a brief interruption of service early Saturday morning. The utility said upgrades to the system could result in an outage of about 15 minutes between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Customers most likely to be affected are in the Route 66 corridor from the Premium Outlets to the Asbury Circle, along side streets such as Green Grove and Waverly, and from the Asbury Circle along Route 35 to Sunset Avenue.

The Gazette of (Really) Small News  

If you live in Spring Lake and are a woman either enrolled in or accepted into college, you have until April 28 to apply for the Eleanor Twomey Exceptional Citzenship Scholarship. The scholarship is in memory of Eleanor Twomey, a research engineer, businesswoman and longtime Spring Lake resident who was active in the borough. She died at age 92 on May 1, 2014. Only female residents already in college or accepted into college are eligible to apply. Two winners will be selected. Each will receive $2,500. Applicants must show strong involvement in their community and the intent to continue that involvement after college. Finalists will be asked to submit a presentation in a medium of their choice and to attend an in-person interview. Applications are available from the borough's web site, springlakeboro(dot)org. Look under the "Bulletin Board" column on the right and click on the link "Eleanor Twomey Exceptional Citizenship Scholarship Application." For...

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is hiring for the summer. Positions include beachfront bathroom cleaners, parking lot attendants, badge checkers, beach cleaners, lifeguards, recreation coordinators, auditorium staff, retreat center housekeeping, and children's ministry workers. Application deadline is April 1. Applications can be downloaded at the association's web site, www(dot)oceangrove(dot)org/welcome/#/employment Completed applications may be emailed to information@oceangrove(dot)org or mailed to OGCMA, P.O. Box 248, 54 Pitman Ave., Ocean Grove, NJ 07756.

Snow knocks over a newly bloomed daffodil. After a spring-like day in the 60s, winter returned with icy precipitation and a forecast of temperatures in the teens.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the region until 2 p.m. Up to three inches of snow is expected after a rainy start, the NWS said. The changeover to snow will be quick, with snowfall heavy at times, especially inland and in higher elevations. Snow will taper off from west to east in the early afternoon. Some areas might see scattered snow showers or snow squalls through the afternoon and into the evening, the NWS said. Winds will be northwest at 10 to 15 miles per hours, with gusts of up to 22  miles per hour. Untreated surfaces are expected to freeze overnight as temperatures dip to a low of 19F.

The Manasquan Borough Council will meet to discuss the 2017 municipal budget on Saturday, March 11, at 9 a.m. in borough hall, 201 East Main Street. The meeting is open to the public.

Work to install new stormwater drainage pipes on Central Avenue in Ocean Grove will start on or around Wednesday, March 15. The work is expected to begin at the intersection of Central Avenue and Broadway and will take place between 8 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. daily. Residents are asked to move their cars from the street by 7:45 a.m. The project, by Lucas Construction, Morganville, also will include paving, and the installation of concrete curbs and sidewalks, according to a letter from the contractor. Residents with questions are asked to contact Steve Amos, project manager at Lucas Construction,  732-955-8300, the contractor said.

Parts of Ocean Grove can expect to be without water or sewer service today as National Water Utility replaces meters. An on-site representative of National Water Utility, Red Bank, said notices about the shut-offs were not given to property owners because the work is outside. Property owners and residents would have been informed of the shut-offs only if the work involved replacing meters inside the properties, the representative said. The shut-offs are temporary and last for as long as it takes for the meters to be replaced. National Water Utility is a subcontractor for New Jersey American Water, a major water utility in Monmouth County.

The wave crashing against the Ocean Grove jetty suggests a tiny volcanic eruption.

The dune fence at the Embury Avenue entrance to the beach in Ocean Grove might have been knocked over by high winds. Still, as the sign says, keep off the dunes (please)!

  A Stroll Down 19th Century Main Avenue on Sunday, March 12, will wind up the Chocolate Lovers' Festival in Ocean Grove. The walking tour, led by Tiny Tours of Ocean Grove, will start at 11 a.m. in front of Burbelmaier's, 69 Main Ave., and include sweet shops in the historic town. Reservations are required. For more information and reservations, call 732-305-8677 or visit www(dot)TinyToursOG(dot)com.

Looking for a summer job? Ocean Township has more than a dozen openings ranging from administrative to camp counselor and bus driver. Many of the positions are part-time seasonal, but there's also a call for a full-time sanitation worker and full-time recreation program coordinator. Other openings are morning recreation counselor, morning recreation supervisor, summer Project Extend counselor, summer Project Extend supervisor. Positions open in the Pool & Tennis facility include front office, maintenance, snack bar assistant manager, cook, and lifeguard. Job descriptions, requirements and applications are at the township's web site, www(dot)oceantwp(dot)org/jobs.

Ocean Grove's Chocolate Lovers' Festival kicks off tomorrow, March 7, with Winter Walk, a self-guided tour of the square-mile historic district known for its Victorian architecture. A questionnaire available at the Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce, 81 Main Ave., will guide participants on the tour while testing their knowledge of Ocean Grove trivia past and present. The walk will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. every day through Friday. On Friday, March 10, the Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the grand opening of its new home at 81 Main Ave. On Saturday, March 11, the Hunt For Hearts will take Festival-goers into local shops in a quest for hidden hearts, chocolatey surprises, and the prospect of little prizes. Events are free and require no registration. The Chamber suggests a $5 donation to help support its scholarship fund for summer camps run by Neptune Township Recreation. For information, call 732-774-1391, email info@OceanGroveChamber(dot)org...

Belmar's St. Patrick's Day parade steps off from Lake Como a little after noon today, but if you can't get there--or if you're reluctant to brave the single-digit wind chills--you can watch the annual celebration of Irish culture live on You Tube. This is the first year the parade is being streamed live on the popular outlet, the parade committee said. Viewing is free and no registration is required. All you have to do is click on the link at  www(dot)belmarparade(dot)com. Look for the You Tube icon. The parade starts at 12:30 p.m.

A Gathering of Friendship and Gratitude to help people displaced by the March 3 fire in Ocean Grove will take place in the Grove on Sunday, March 5, at 6 p.m., on Seaview Avenue between Beach and Central avenues. The venue is near the site of the wind-whipped, pre-dawn blaze which destroyed or damaged a total of seven buildings, including the La Pierre condominiums and the 140-year-old Warrington Hotel. The event, sponsored by the Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce, will begin with a moment of silence followed by a bagpipe tribute, Chamber president Rebecca Cavanaugh said in a press release. Donations for the displaced, who include families, will be collected afterwards. Checks should be made payable to The Angel Fund and include "fire" in the memo. The Angel Fund was created in 1998 after a fire in the Ocean Grove and is dedicated to helping members of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, and residents of Ocean Grove and neighboring communities who have suf...

Gables Community Garden in Neptune Township can use a few nurturing hands this season. If you live in the township, you can sow and reap the harvest of your own 40-square-foot plot or volunteer to farm common plots that will supply fresh vegetables to the local food pantry. Gables Community Garden is located at West Grove Church, on the corner of Walnut Street and Route 33. For information or to register for a garden plot, call 732-774-6748, or email office@westgrovememorial(dot)org.

The township is accepting applications for public safety officers. Pay is $17 per hour. Weekend shifts are required. Qualifications include a high school diploma or GED; a minimum of three years as an EMT with a 9-1-1- EMS agency; valid EMT and CPR certifications; proof of training in CEVO, HazMat awareness and operations, CBRNE awareness and operations, ICS 200, NIMS 700. Applicants must also have a current valid New Jersey driver's license. The application is available online at www(dot)neptunetownship(dot)org/articles/job-openings-township-neptune-businesses-county-and-state Applications may be mailed to Human Resources, P.O. Box 1125, Neptune, NJ 07754-1125. Deadline is 4 p.m. Monday, March 13.

Hopefuls have until 4 p.m. Friday, March 10, to submit applications for Neptune Township Customer Service Representative. Salary is $27,300 or placement on the AFSCME scale. Duties include handling requests, complaints and inquiries from the public; communicating effectively and courteously with the public, and general office work. The application is available online at www(dot)neptunetownship(dot)org/articles/job-openings-township-neptune-businesses-county-and-state Applications may be mailed to Human Resources, P.O. Box 1125, Neptune, NJ 07754-1125, or delivered by hand. Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on March 10.

Donors have contributed nearly $20,000 to help people who lost their homes and possessions in the blaze that ripped through Ocean Grove before dawn on Friday, March 3. Three homes and a condominium were destroyed when a fire officials believe started in the vacant Warrington Hotel was spread by the wind. Several other homes were heavily damaged. According to a tweet from Red Cross New Jersey (@NJRedCross), its volunteers provided compassionate care and emergency assistance for 23 people affected by the fire. As of Friday evening, $19,698 had been raised for six separate fundraising campaigns on Go Fund Me. Help Support Caitlin and Julian had $7,861, more than double the goal of $3,000. Help Support Cynthia and John also surpassed its goal, with $5,895 topping the original target of $5,000. Ocean Grove Fire - Stacey and Rebecca recorded $1,767 of a proposed $5,000. Supporting Wendy Smith had $1,815 of a proposed $2,500. Valerie and Dylan Starting Over showed $1,675...

Manasquan residents have until April 1 to apply for summer jobs in the borough. Some of the positions have age requirements. For example, the minimum age for parking attendants, beach patrol, and first aid is 18. First aid spots also require EMT certification. The application can be downloaded from the borough's web site, www(dot)manasquan-nj(dot)com/2017-Beach-Application(dot)pdf. Completed applications may be brought to borough hall or mailed to Borough of Manasquan, Attn: Walter Wall, Beach Department, 201 East Main, Manasquan, NJ 08736.

A breakfast fundraiser on Saturday, March 18 will benefit the building of a shed for Liberty Park Community Garden in Neptune. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at American Legion Post 346, 21 Gully Road, Neptune. Bacon, eggs, sausage, home fries, creamy grits, biscuits, fruits and pastries are on the menu. Price is $10/adults, $7/children 12 and under. You can eat in or take out. The breakfast is sponsored by Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation (MURC). For more information, call MURC at 732-988-9200 or 732-616-2940, or go online to www(dot)neptunemurc(dot)com.

Work to re-configure four First Avenue intersections for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will begin next week, a borough official said in a letter to property owners. Improvements include ADA ramps, new storm drains, and new street markings, according to the letter from borough administrator Thomas Flarity. The work will be done by Lucas Construction, Red Bank, on a bid of $297,792. Of that amount, $146,091 is funded by a community block grant, Flarity told The Gazette. The four intersections are at Whiting and First avenues, Pompano and First avenues, Stockton and First avenues, and Brielle Road and First Avenue. Also, a portion of Brielle Road west of First Avenue, and Stockton Avenue between First and Second avenues will be paved. The project is expected to be finished by June 17. Flarity in his letter said homeowners who are planning water or sewer work in the affected areas should do the work before the final paving. Putting it off until later could mean wait...

Registration is now open for Neptune Township's Alliance Summer Evening Program. The program is for children ages 9 to 15 who live in the township. It begins Wednesday, July 5, and will run until Thursday, July 27, Monday through Friday,  5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at a Neptune school to be announced. Participation is limited to 75. Registration forms are available online www (dot) neptunetownship (dot) org/departments/recreation Transportation to the program will be available from the Middle School; the intersection of Ridge and Ninth avenues; the intersection of Ridge and Asbury avenues; Neptune Boulevard at Stratford Avenue; Summerfield School, and Green Grove School. The program is sponsored by Neptune Recreation, the Neptune Municipal Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, and the Governor's Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse. For more information, call 732-869-1202.

College basketball may have March Madness, but Monmouth County has Mosquito Madness--Mosquito Tire Madness, that is. Between March 1 and April 3, the Monmouth County Mosquito Control will get a jump start on thwarting the seasonal bloodsuckers by picking up tires that are stored outside and are no longer used. The program is currently in effect only in the Squankum and Fernwood Acres sections of Howell.  If it sounds like a strange way to obliterate the summertime pest, think again. Tires stored outside collect rainwater, which provides a habitat for mosquitoes, the county said. Up to 10,000 tiny terrors can live happily in just one tire. For information or to schedule a pickup, call the Monmouth County Mosquito Control at 732-542-3630.

Monmouth University president Paul R. Brown is retiring after four years in the post. Former Monmouth University vice president and general counsel Grey J. Dimenna will serve as interim president until Brown is replaced. Brown's retirement and Dimenna's appointment were announced Feb. 27 by Henry D. Mercer, chairman of the university's board of trustees. While Brown is stepping down now, the official date of his retirement was unspecified in Mercer's statement. Brown in the statement did say, however, that he will be taking a sabbatical that will begin in March and end with his retirement. He said he would use the sabbatical to explore how melding the liberal arts and business disciplines can better prepare students to launch and pursue careers. Mercer said the university "made great strides" during Brown's tenure. Among Brown's accomplishments: enhanced academic programs, expanded facilities, and the school's reputation, which continues to...

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 7 p.m. for central and southern New Jersey, including Monmouth and Ocean counties. Heavy rain, hail, and wind gusts of more than 60 miles per hour are possible. The wind could be damaging, and the rain could cause localized flooding. Utilities and local offices of emergency management remind everyone not to drive though floodwaters, to stay away from downed wires, and to call their power company if they see downed wires or have an outage. JCP&L customers can report outages and downed wires by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877). For PSE&G customers, the outage/downed wire number is 1-888-436-PSEG (1-888-436-7734).

March 1 might be the first day of meteorological spring, but it's also March 1, and true to the old saying, March is coming in like a lion. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening as a squall line pushes through the region ahead of a strong cold front, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Mount Holly. Damaging winds, frequent lightning, and hail are possible, and heavy rains can produce localized flooding, the NWS said. Wind gusts could exceed 60 miles per hour. Expect scattered showers throughout the region this morning and early afternoon, the NWS said.

A lot of people hear "dunes" and they think of rolling hills of sand. That's what dunes of the Sahara might look like, but dunes here at the Jersey Shore are more likely to be berms of sand positioned in front of boardwalks, with grasses planted in them. The dunes here are also fenced off, and signs warn people that it's against the law to walk on them. They aren't ornamental parts of the landscape. They're barriers built to lessen beach erosion and to protect the boardwalk and everything beyond during storms the likes of hurricanes and nor'easters. Dunes covered by thick grass and other vegetation are also habitats for shore birds and migrating birds.

You  never know what you'll see while waiting for spring. /The Gazette of (Really) Small News