Mantoloking

Verizon's plan to discontinue land-based phone service in Mantoloking and other areas that took the worst of Superstorm Sandy's damage finds no favor at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Clamor is rising for New Jersey regulators to examine Verizon's elimination of land-line service in Mantoloking. Shore-based Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (R-10) has thrown his support behind AARP's call for a probe by the Board of Public Utilities.

Hurricane Sandy ravaged Mantoloking receives a $1.75 million federal  grant to help with the demolition, loading, hauling, disposal and monitoring of private property debris removal.

Mantoloking's heavy lift to demolish houses destroyed in the Superstorm and haul away the remains just lightened up considerably.

Governor Chris Christie and President Barack Obama have each told residents and consumers across the country that the Jersey shore is open for business this summer, but that's not true everywhere along the coast.

This past Saturday, I took a drive down Route 35 from Brick to Seaside Heights. While I'm saddened by the degree of lingering damage, I was surprised by how many cars were pulling over to stop and take pictures.

Fears of a massive tax hike brought on by Superstorm Sandy might not come to pass in the Jersey shore town hardest hit by the storm.

During Prince Harry's trip to Seaside Heights and Mantoloking, security is expected to be far beyond the norm according to several Seaside Heights councilmen.

Twelve storm-dented towns, boroughs and municipal entities in Ocean and Monmouth Counties are dividing $34,000,000 in low-cost loans newly-issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

With anther monument to Sandy's devastation removed, the Department of Environmental Protections says boaters, beachgoers, and anglers should not worry too much about debris this summer.