The Gazette of Really Small News

It's Election Day. Polls in New Jersey are open from 6 am to 8 pm but not for voting as usual.  General Election 2020 in New Jersey has been mostly by mail on order of Governor Phil Murphy, as one of his steps in battling the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged the state since winter. The polls will be open for several purposes: as drop-off sites for mail-in ballots that could not be mailed in time, to provide provisional ballots for voters who for whatever reason did not receive their ballots in the mail, and to accommodate voters with disabilities. Voting machines will be available only for disabled voters.   Mail-in ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. If you have a mail-in ballot but haven't mailed it in, the Monmouth County Clerk's Office recommends doing one of the following: - Bringing the ballot to the County Board of Elections, 300 Halls Mill Road, Freehold. - Bringing the ballot to one of the official drop boxes posted in your municipality. The drop box in Asb...

Election Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 3, which means it's too late to actually mail in that mail-in ballot. With ballots returnable by 8pm tomorrow, the Monmouth County Clerk's Office recommends doing one of the following: - Bring your ballot to the County Board of Elections, 300 Halls Mill Road, Freehold. - Bring your ballot to one of the official drop boxes posted in your municipality. The drop box in Asbury Park is at the City Council Chambers in City Hall; use the Bangs Avenue entrance. The Neptune Township drop box is at the library entrance to the Neptune Township Municipal Building, 25 Neptune Blvd.  - Bring your ballot to your assigned polling location. Limited polls will be open only for provisional ballots, the county clerk's office said. Voting machines will be available for only disabled voters.  Click here for a list of polling places.   Have questions? You can contact the Monmouth County Clerk's Office by phone, 732-431-7324, or email, countyclerk@co.mon...

  A squirrel with its teeth to a pumpkin on Main Avenue in Ocean Grove is either looking for a snack or creating a work of art. Gev Sweeney/The Gazette of Really Small News

This view of Wesley Lake early Monday morning presages the intense heat to come later today, when the heat index could reach 102. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the area until 8pm. Excessive heat can lead to heat exhaustion or its more fatal upgrade, heat stroke. Whatever you're doing, slow down, stay out of the sun, and drink plenty of water, wear loose-fitting clothing, and check on family, friends and neighbors, especially if they're elderly and don't have air  conditioning.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating; weakness; cool, pale clammy skin; nausea; fainting; rapid pulse. Move the person to a cooler place, apply cool, wet cloths, offer sips of water. Call 9-1-1 if the person vomits. Signs of heat stroke include altered mental state; confusion; dizziness; skin that's hot, red, or dry, and loss of consciousness. Move the person to a cooler environment and ...

Tropical Storm Fay produced monster clouds over Asbury Park as it made landfall 84 miles south, in Brigantine, on Friday, July 8. Staff photo/The Gazette of Really Small News

Early morning clouds presage the chance of thunderstorms later, mostly between 1pm and 10pm, according to the National Weather Service. Expect a high around 83, and if you go to the beach, listen for thunder. It doesn't matter how far away you think the storm is. Thunder always means there's the potential for lightning to strike nearby. Go indoors and stay safe. Staff photo/The Gazette of Really Small News

Sure, it's the long Fourth of July weekend, and you're in the mood to celebrate. Before you fire off those Roman candles in your yard after midnight, remember: you can't hide what you're doing. Those displays of pyrotechnic prettiness will attract a lot of attention. And irritated neighbors will be the least of your worries. Do it in Neptune, and you'll have to answer to the Neptune Township Police Department (NTPD). Police will be enforcing  fireworks and noise ordinances to the fullest extent possible, the department said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.  "While we know many [people] are disappointed that most local 4th of July fireworks shows have been canceled due to COVID-19, this is not an excuse to wake your neighbors or risk causing a major fire by holding your own private show in the yard," the department said. According to the  Fireworks Consumer Brief   from the state Division of Consumer Affairs, the only fireworks you can set off wi...

Asbury Park and its landmark buildings stand in silhouette as the sun rises over Wesley Lake on the last day of June. Staff/The Gazette of Really Small News

Clouds over the Casino Arcade on the Asbury Park boardwalk after sunrise Tuesday look like fireworks going off. Staff/The Gazette of Really Small News

A massive shelf cloud covers Ocean Grove Monday evening, bringing rain but not the thunderstorm that rattled Brooklyn, New York an hour before. B.A. Sweeney/The Gazette of Really Small News

Early morning sunlight reddens the Casino Arcade and the Carousel Building on the Asbury Park boardwalk. Photo: Staff/the Gazette of Really Small News

Sunrise off Asbury Park, June 29.

Hold the mayo. And the mustard, and every dish on the menu. Governor Phil Murphy has put the brakes on the return to indoor dining, which would have begun with reduced capacity this Thursday, July 2. The delay is indefinite, Governor Murphy said Monday during his daily COVID-19 briefing and in a statement posted to social media. He attributed the delay to COVID-19 spikes caused by the return of indoor dining in other states, and to overcrowding and lack of social distancing in establishments around New Jersey. "We have been cautious in every step of our restart," Governor Murphy tweeted. "We've always said that we would not hesitate to hit pause if needed to safeguard public health. This is one of those times." The delay was announced hours after malls around the state were opened for the first time since the lockdown began in March. Those openings included Convention Hall's Grand Arcade, the site of small eateries and retail boutiques.

A sign at the south end of Asbury Park's Convention Hall provides guidelines for visitors entering the Grand Arcade. The boardwalk landmark opened this morning after being closed to the public since March as part of the state's COVID-19 suppression measures. Most of the eateries remain closed except for The Anchor's Bend and the Asbury Park Roastery, but more may open soon. Stay tuned.

Outdoor Zumba for adults and teens returns to Neptune Township next week. Classes will be at the Gables Tennis Courts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:15pm to 7:15pm, and on Saturdays, from 9am to 10am. The fee is $5 per class. For more information, call 732-869-1202.

As the Shore slowly returns from the pandemic lockdown, eateries are looking for help with everything from hosts to servers to bussers to back of house. Here's a list of current quests for staff: Asbury Ale House  , 531 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, is looking for more cooks. Applicants may apply in person or email at apevents@asburyalehouse.com Del Ponte's Coal-Fired Pizza  , 600 Main Street, Bradley Beach, needs full-time, year-round servers. Must have six months of serving experience, work well with others, be a team player, and have reliable transportation. A minimum of three shifts a week must be maintained. One shift must be on the weekend. Applicants must be willing to train, learn quickly, and work in a fast-paced environment. Hiring ASAP. Email resume to delpontespizza@gmail.com. Iron Whale  , one of Tim McLoone's restaurants on the Asbury Park boardwalk, has openings for a variety of positions, including FOH Assistant, bartenders, servers, hostess, a...

Second Life Bikes  , 21 Main Street, Asbury Park, is open for business Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 5:30pm.  Customers must wear masks and will be allowed in if the shop is not at capacity, the nonprofit said today on its Facebook page. Also, repairs that are dropped off will be ready in two to two-and-a-half weeks. At present, there isn't a big selection of bikes for sale, nor are there any beach cruisers, the shop said. Bicycle donations may be left in the bike rack in front of the shop or brought inside. "We will not be answering the phone and will not be able to return every voicemail," the shop said in its Facebook post.

A kildeer briefly stops running in the road near the Asbury Park Carousel building. All About Birds (www.allaboutbirds.org) calls kildeer, which are shore birds, "graceful plovers common to lawns, golf courses,  athletic fields, and parking lots." This one is part of a family that moves around parking lots on Cookman Avenue and at the beachfront.

Party boats out of the Shark River Inlet head north close to shore this morning. Despite the sparkly start, the National Weather Service forecast calls for clouds and a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm and before 10pm.

A bunny reacts to a human passing by Ocean Grove's Great Auditorium this morning. Staff/The Gazette of Really Small News

Ocean Grove Area Dish will distribute free meals at the south entrance of the Jersey Shore Arts Center today from 2:30pm to 3:30pm. First come, first served.  The arts center is at 66 Main Street, at the north entrance to Ocean Grove. "Meals are provided to anyone in need," according to the Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce. No qualifying documentation is required. The meals are prepared by Ocean Grove eateries: All Star Bagel, SeaGrass, Ocean Grove Bake Shoppe, Burbelmaiers, Starving Artist, Tino's Artisan Pizza Co. For more information or to donate, visit the Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce  website .

The Old Wall Historical Society's annual flea market will take place this Saturday, June 27, from 8am to 4pm at 1701 New Bedford Road in Wall. More than 30 vendors are expected, according to the Society's Facebook page. COVID-19 protocols will be observed.

A charter fishing boat runs close to shore off Ocean Grove this morning. The National Weather Service calls for partial sunshine with a high around 79F, and a 40-percent chance of scattered thunderstorms tonight.

Restaurants can resume indoor seating July 2, but only at up to 25-percent of capacity, Governor Phil Murphy announced today. The announcement came a week after eateries were given the okay to serve out-of-doors only, and then as long as there was enough space between tables to allow for social distancing. New Jersey continues to rebound from the COVID-19 outbreak. To date, 169,142 cases have been reported in the state, with 12,870 deaths, according to the state's COVID-19 information hub . Monmouth County has recorded 8,942 positive cases and 695 deaths.

Monmouth County officials on Sunday announced  10 new cases of COVID-19  in the county, bringing the total to 9,084. No new cases were reported in Asbury Park, where the total of positive cases remained at 304. The total number of cases in Neptune Township was reported at 604.

A sign in the middle of Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park reminds people riding bikes, skateboards , and scooters to "walk their wheels" and not ride on the sidewalks in  the pedestrian zone. Cookman and Mattison avenues were closed to vehicular traffic this weekend so restaurants could offer outside seating with  social distancing between tables. Public health officials say the best way to stop the COVID-19 coronavirus from spreading is through the combination of social distancing and the use of face coverings in public. Monmouth County officials on Sunday announced 10 new COVID-19 cases in the county, bringing the county total to 9,084. No new cases were reported in Asbury Park. Staff/The Gazette of Really Small News. 

Monmouth County Freeholders yesterday announced 66 new cases of COVID-19 in the county, bringing the total number of reported cases in the county to 9,074. The total the day before - June 19 -was 48. Asbury Park had 304 positive cases, up two from June 19, according to the freeholders'  statement . But Neptune Township had 599 positive cases, down from the 604  reported on June 19 . The reason for the discrepancy is unknown at this time.

Dust from a sand storm in the Sahara desert could produce especially colorful sunsets and sunrises this week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The plume can be seen this June 17 image from NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services (NESDIS). The dust is expected to reach the southeast first, then spread out. (Photo courtesy NOAA).

"No Bikes" sign stenciled on Lake Avenue sidewalk in Asbury Park reminds bicyclists to ride in the street, were state and city laws require them to follow the same traffic laws for motor vehicles. Chapter 3, section 38, paragraph i of the city's police regulations states, "No person shall ride a bicycle on a sidewalk." Only toy bicycles and children's tricycles are allowed on the sidewalk. Offenders can be fined up to $50 for the first violation to up to $100 and confiscation of the bicycle for subsequent violations. (Staff/Gazette of Really Small News)

Can't get to the beach? Then stop and smell the roses, which are in full bloom at Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Road Middletown. The gardens are part of the Monmouth County Park System and are open every day from 8am to dusk. For more information, call 732-671-6050 or visit the Deep Cut Gardens  website . (Photo courtesy of Monmouth County Government)

The application process for New Jersey's COVID-19  Emergency Rental Assistance Program (CVERAP) opens July 6 at 9am. The program will provide temporary rental assistance to low- and moderate-income households that have lost income or employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said State Senator Vin Gopal. Applicants may be eligible for up to six months of rental assistance that will be capped at the Department of Community Affair's fair market rent standard or the total of the rent, whichever is lower, Senator Gopal said. Recipients will be selected through an online lottery, according to the information on Senator Gopal's  website . Applicants do not have to be diagnosed with COVID-19 in order to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or a formally emancipated minor and meet CVERAP income and eligibility requirements. Only one pre-application per household will be accepted. Applicants must also be New Jersey residents with a valid lease, signed by the...

Monmouth County Freeholders announced another 48 cases of COVID-19 recorded in the county yesterday,  bringing the total number of cases in the county to 9,008. There were 47 new cases yesterday and 10 the day before - June 17. On June 16 there were 58 new cases, and 27 on June 15. Locally, there were four new cases in Asbury Park, which went from 298 cases yesterday to 302 today, and another eight cases in Neptune Township, which went from 596 cases to 604.

Juneteenth is another name for June 19, 1865, the day that the enslaved Black people in the Gulf coast city of Galveston, Texas learned what most of the nation had known for more than two years: they were free and had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation issued in January 1863 at the height of the Civil War. Reportedly, the Black people of Galveston were the last slaves to be freed. This is a milestone year for Juneteenth: 155 years, and Google is marking the occasion with a special doodle that features the work of artist Loveis Wise. "When people see this doodle, I hope that they can see themselves, even someone who doesn't share this history," Ms. Wise says in the mini-documentary on the making of the doodle. "I hope that they learn from it. I hope that they feel empowered by it. I hope that they understand African-Americans in this country and what we've been through." So watch the doodle, which includes the voice of LeVar Burton, then wat...

Someone earlier this month made sure Ocean Grove's Ellwood Stokes statue was pandemic-appropriate and wore a face mask in public. No word on who scaled the larger-than-life-size sculpture - or how. The mask has been removed. Stokes, who died in 1897, was the first president of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. The statue faces east on Ocean Pathway, across the street from the historic district's Great Auditorium. Staff/The Gazette of Really Small News.

Cookman Avenue at the heart of the Asbury Park business district was closed to traffic Thursday evening to allow restaurants to provide outdoor dining with at least 6-feet social distance between tables. Cookman and  surrounding streets will be closed to traffic through the weekend. Staff/The Gazette of Really Small News.

The Monmouth County Park System will host a two-day Freshwater Fishing Derby this weekend. The derby starts Saturday, June 20, at the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell. From 12:30pm to 1:30pm a hands-on fishing clinic will teach novice anglers how to cast and rig. The derby will take place from 2pm to 5pm. Sunday, June 21, the derby moves to Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold, with the cast-and-rig clinic from 12:30pm to 1:30pm and the derby from 2pm to 5pm. Awards will be given in three categories. Registration is $8 per person per day and includes a container of worms. Space is limited. Pre-registration online is recommended. Registration on-site must be with cash or check only. The derby is open to beginners and experienced anglers, and anglers may bring their own poles. Poles may be rented for $5 per pole. Supply is limited. To reserve a pole, call the park system at 732-842-4000, ext. 1, between 8am and 4:30pm Friday. Don't forget to bring a face covering. Face coverings ar...

Neptune township police don't want you jumping into the Shark River Inlet from the train and Highway 35 bridges. "We don't wish to stop anyone from having fun, however, we think most would agree the dangers posed outweigh the fun," officials said Thursday in a post on the department's Facebook page. Among those dangers are strong tidal currents, submerged rocks, boat traffic, and vehicles on the bridge moving too fast to stop for pedestrians. There's legal danger, too: as the bridges and surrounding property belong to NJ Transit, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and assorted private owners, the divers are trespassing, officials said.  And as if the personal danger and law-breaking were not enough, officials said a water rescue call "immediately triggers a large-scale emergency response" that involves surrounding police departments, the US Coast Guard and/or the New Jersey State Police, New Jersey Transit police, the Area Networ...

Bradley Beach canceled the fireworks display originally scheduled for July 3. The borough's office of emergency management in a statement cited what it called "public safety concerns surrounding COVID-19." As of June 17, there were 10 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Monmouth County, bringing the total of recorded cases in the county to 8,915, according to a statement from the Monmouth County Freeholders. Of that total, 56 cases have been recorded in Bradley Beach, 296 in Asbury Park, and 595 in Neptune Township, which includes the Ocean Grove historic district. The county's death toll from the virus is 688, according to the state's  COVID-19 Information Hub .

Iron Whale, one of Tim McLoone's restaurants on the Asbury Park boardwalk, has openings for a variety of positions: *FOH Assistant *bartenders *servers *hostess *BOH positions To apply or for more information, contact Iron Whale at ironwhale@mcloones.com

Free meals are available for Neptune Township residents age 60 and over every Saturday and Sunday in June. The meals may be picked up at the Liberty Firehouse, 1518 Monroe Ave., between 4:30pm and 5:30pm. For home delivery, call 732-567-8051 or 732-616-2940. Leave your name, address, and phone number by Thursday. The meals are part of COVID-19 support for seniors. Sponsors are the First Pentecostal Church, Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation (MURC), and Fulfill, the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, in collaboration with Neptune Senior Center and Neptune Township Fire District #1 Board of Fire Commissioners.

The tasting room at  Asbury Park Distilling Co.  opens tomorrow after being closed as part of the statewide Covid-19 lockdown. Hours tomorrow are 2pm to 10pm. Summer hours at the establishment are 2pm to 10pm Thursday, and noon to 10pm Friday and Saturday. The room will open at 2pm Sunday and Monday, and will be closed Tuesdays. Asbury Park Distilling Co. is located at 527 Lake Ave., Asbury Park, tel. 732-455-3934.

Like Playa Bowls? And would you like to work on the Asbury Park boardwalk? Playa Bowls is hiring for its AP boardwalk location. Call 917-270-5854.

The Bradley Beach fireworks display is on for July 3. If you go on-site or down to a local boardwalk to watch from afar, please remember to keep your social distance, especially if you don't wear a face mask. The coronavirus pandemic isn't over. Health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Department of Health, recommend face masks or coverings when in public.

Wonder Bar's toothsome Tillie is reflected in a door at the Paramount Theater on the Asbury Park boardwalk. Wonder Bar is across the street, on Ocean Avenue.

An aerator casts a rainbow in Wesley Lake.

Scaffolding awaits workers at Ocean Grove's Great Auditorium Wednesday, June 17.

There's a moderate risk for rip currents today and tonight, according to the National Weather Service. Be cautious if you go in the water. Lifeguards in Ocean Grove won't be on duty until the weekend. If lifeguards are present, watch for the yellow flag, which would indicate the moderate risk of rip currents. If you go in the water, stay within view of the lifeguards.

Badges for the Ocean Grove beaches may be bought and picked up at the Great Auditorium Box Office Friday, June 19,  from 4pm to 7pm. As of Saturday, June 20, badges may be picked up between 9am and 3pm Monday through Saturday, and between noon and 3pm Sunday.

The list of names for this year's hurricanes, that is. Here they are, care of the National Hurricane Center: Arthur Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gonzalo Hanna Isaias Josephine Kyle Laura Marco Nana Omar Paulette Rene Sally Teddy Vicky Wilfred