Supporting Route 35 Businesses

The business community and residents themselves on what is commonly called the barrier island hope the old adage of bad things coming in three is true because they might not be able to deal with four. 

The area between South Seaside Park and Point Pleasant Beach is still trying to recover from Sandy and then of course came the Seaside boardwalk fire last September.   The latest headache is one they knew was coming but it’s not making it any easier to deal with.

A massive reconstruction project along Route 35 began just after Labor Day and is not expected to be completed until May of 2015.  The result has been a dramatic and ever-changing shifting of lanes, ramps, roads….you name it.

What makes navigating the situation even more of a challenge is the many damaged areas that still exist from Sandy, especially in and around Ortley Beach.  While it’s rough enough for residents it’s become a real obstacle for local businesses that don’t need any more negatives. With that said I encourage locals to patronize those businesses from restaurants to hardware stores when they can.they can sure use a shot in the arm.

Two of the Shore Conference’s perennial wrestling powers met last night at Brick Memorial and the Mustangs, ranked #1 in the Shore Sports Network top ten were too much for fourth ranked Jackson Memorial.  Pins by Nick Costa and Rob Ruggiero helped power the Stangs to a 33-19 Class A South victory. 

Brick Memorial improved to 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the division under first-year head coach Mike Denver.  The Class A South championship will be decided next Wednesday when Southern visits the Mustangs.

Little League Baseball is celebrating its 75^th anniversary and this weekend Ocean County District 18 will hold baseball and softball registration for boys and girls between the ages of 4-18.  12 of the local Little League’s will hold their spring registrations this Friday and Saturday and information on your local league can be found at playlittleleague.net.

This is also the weekend that St. Dominic’s in Brick holds its 25^th annual Middle School Boys Winter Basketball Classic.  7^th and 8^th grade teams from schools in Toms River, Brick, Jackson, Point Pleasant and others will compete in what is always a fun and competitive basketball event.