Rebuilding The Boardwalk Again

Putting out the boardwalk fire in Seaside Park and Seaside Heights last week was a challenge but the bigger challenge might be to plot a course for rebuilding. 

Many of the operators of the ruined businesses were renters who have to wait and see if owners plan to rebuild because the cost will be significant under today’s codes and standards.  You also have the issue of the Funtown Pier which did not open at all this past summer because of damage from Superstorm Sandy.

All in all a type of boardwalk master plan might be needed which is not easy when so many individual owners and operators are involved.   Meanwhile gawkers from near and far visited this weekend and while they couldn’t get too close to the scene it did not stop them from snapping pictures even from blocks away.

Just a little observation I have made from recent developments in which local towns make national news.  It’s funny how accommodating certain officials are when the big boy news networks move into town.  If you have NBC, ABC or CBS attached to your name the red carpet gets rolled out.  A reminder…they leave when the story is over and the locals stay.

The first full weekend of the high school football season did not produce any significant upsets but there were some impressive performances.  Toms River South rolled up more than 500 yards of offense in its win over Central Regional with Otis Kearney running for 190 yards and 2 touchdowns in a game we broadcast on the Shore Sports Network.  Despite the loss the Golden Eagles displayed an exciting passing combo in Marquis Drumright and Isaiah Akers.

Brick beat cross-town rival Brick Memorial in a thriller and gave notice that the Green Dragons plan to be a major factor in the highly-competitive Class A South division.

It was a nice homecoming for former Middletown South running back Knowshon Moreno who helped the Broncos beat the Giants at MetLife stadium.  In his first game in his native state since his high school days Moreno rushed for 93 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 20 & 25 yards.  He sort of got lost in all the Manning Bowl talk.

This past weekend was the final full weekend of summer and at least we went out on a high note.  Here’s hoping for some very nice fall weekends before winter settles in.