BAYSHORE Merla Down, but Not out Bucking for Beach Bucks
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BAYSHORE Independent’s f o o t b a l l A l l - S t a r s SERVING ABERDEEN,HAZLET, KEYPORT AND MATAWAN Page 56 DECEMBER 7, 1994 40 CENTS VOLUME 24, NUMBER 49 Bucking for beach bucks BY PAUL GENTILE Staff Writer n an attempt to secure monies from the state’s Green Acres and Shore Protection funds for I sand replenishment and beach beautification, state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina, and members of the Aberdeen Township Council took officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection for a walk on the beach. “We have the best-kept secret in northern Monmouth County. There’s great fishing here and there is a nice park. The beach is underutilized,” said Deputy Mayor Richard Goldberg. The beach, located in Cliffwood Beach just off Lakeshore Drive, has not received any state replenishment funds in 20 years. The Township Council is hoping to build up the sand to protect Stacy Christopher leads on trumpet as members of the Perna Dance Center high step as toy soldiers in Hazlet’s holi the beach front. day parade, Saturday. (Photo by Rich Schultz) Recently, the Aberdeen Environmental Board planted approximately 6,000 dune grass plants to help build up the sand on the beach. The grass prevents erosion and acts as a fence, catching sand Merla down, but not out and building it up. “The state’s successful Green Acres program and the establishment of the Shore Protection BY LAUREN JAEGER ument the colorful moments Elks Lodge 2030, the Fund allow towns the opportunity to undertake during his mayoral reign. Bayshore Conference of Staff Writer some of the very projects we are looking to insti There’s the prominent Mayors, the Keyport tute here in Cliffwood Beach,” Kyrillos said. photograph hanging above Partnership Inc., and several ven as his term comes Councilman Wayne Smith was on hand to tour his desk, taken in a Freehold others. to an end, Keyport the area and to push for a boat ramp at the beach. courtroom during Merla’s An autographed photo Mayor John J. Merla “We have one of the only beach fronts that E trial in which he was graph of Gov. Christie Todd looks ahead with optimism. doesn’t have a boat launch,” Smith said. brought up on bribery Whitman decorates one cor On Jan. 1, after serving Kyrillos agreed that the beach could use a charges for a sewer hookup ner, and another photograph four years as mayor. Merla launching ramp. two years ago. Pictured is of former president George w ill yield the position to “There are so many boats coming out of the the joyous moment as his Bush and Vice President Kevin Graham, the Leonardo launches, that having a ramp in wife, Kelly, hugs him after Dan Quayle hangs above. Democratic councilman who Cliffwood beach might ease the traffic there, and the words ‘not guilty” were A photograph of Merla defeated him in this year’s give local residents another launch option,” announced. clutching the Academy election. Kyrillos said. Then there are the Award, with the written However, the mayor said Goldberg believes Aberdeen needs to aggres images that recall sadder words, “My dream come he may turn up again in other sively go after the funds needed to replenish the reflections, as seen in the true” is plastered on the elections. beachfront. photographs of two termi back of the door. “It’s not a secret,” Merla John J. Merla Azzolina also endorsed the plans of the nally ill Keyport children, Already, 10 crates of said. “I want to run for higher Aberdeen Township officials. Melissa Gaudian and Claire paper have been packed and office when there is the just have to clean out the “I believe if Cliffwood Beach can implement Henning. Both of the young sent home. opportunity. office.” some of these plans, they can make the beach and sters have since passed As he reflected upon his “Right now there’s no While much of his files surrounding area a place not only for locals, but away. term on the council, which opportunity,” he said, during have been cleaned out, the also for area residents as well,” Azzolina said. Then there are the many began at age 23 as council an interview in his small but walls of the office are still If Aberdeen officials are successful in obtain plaques of appreciation — man and five years later, as congested Borough Hall plastered top to bottom with ing the necessary funding, preliminary plans from the Neighborhood mayor, there were just a few office on Friday afternoon. photographs, newspaper would include replenishment of the beach sand. articles and awards that doc Preservation Project, the And first things first. “I Continued on page 9 Continued on page 8 Greater Media Newspapers' Holiday Gift Guide inside this issue. 2 DECEMBER 7, 1994, THE INDEPENDENT b r o c k c'$?sy\ m CijStoL sJ>ob / PRESENTS Stttenfautntetit ja B £ £ & L SAT., DEC., 11TH & SUN., DEC. 12TH 3 SHOWS 1:00, 2:30 & 4:00 HOLIDAY HOURS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE "The SUN. thru TUES. 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(Photo by Rich Schultz) • Calendar Page 34 • Classifieds Page 61 • Editorials Page 32 • Letters Page 32 Some upset with $100M plan • Dining Page 51 • Obituaries Page 54 jack said. Trojack also expressed a con Board seeks m ore Information Committee, who described • Sports Page 16 cern, if the plan is accepted, about having some of the schools as being unhealthy • Police Beat Page 53 public input to bus children from one of the proposed and unsafe for students — citing poor • Real Estate Page 55 closed neighborhood schools to another ventilation, leaky roofs, and large cracks at Dec. 8 m eeting school on the other side of the district. in walls and floors. • Yesteryear Page 49 Merluzzi assured residents at a League of Merluzzi and the Board of Education BY PAUL GENTILE Women Voters’ forum last month that stu are encouraging public input on the ref dents would be bused to the closest possi erendum. Staff W riter ble school and would most likely know a “We’ve been trying to get public input. lot of students in their new school. Phone numbers: MIDDLETOWN — A former We’ve gotten a lot of suggestions and we Tojack further noted that he could not continue to make changes,” Merluzzi said. Middletown Board of Education member E d ito ria l remember hearing the criteria for how the Merluzzi and the board were disap has raised some concerns about the pro 254-7000 Ext. 226 five proposed schools were selected. pointed with the lack of publicity the in posed plan to close five of the district's FAX 254-0486 Merluzzi’s plan has been endorsed by formation meetings on the issue were get neighborhood schools and renovate and Circulation Patti Oliver, co-chairwoman of the Parent ting.