Monday, April 29, 2013
Six months after the storm devastated Sea Bright, some things have fallen for good and others built back up
It's been six months since the Shrewsbury River met the Atlantic Ocean and obliterated the small slice of the peninsula beach town of Sea Bright. The beach was in the street after the ocean had washed remnants of buildings, cars, personal belongings and even beach cabanas across the river and onto Rumson's shores and lawns. Sea Bright was shut down and nearly flattened. In the days that followed, Mayor Dina Long gathered residents at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School's Borden Stadium. It was there, on a now historic damp, dank day, that she gave what is now referred to as her "DO" speech. Long relived to bleachers full of weathered and weary Sandy victims how, feeling distraught and down, sitting in what was left of her office, she …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The governor will appear at Woody's Ocean Grille
Less than a month after the most recent of Gov. Chris Christie's many visits to Sea Bright post-Hurricane Sandy, he will be returning today. This time, he will be making a campaign announcement, according to a media advisory from his office. With no indication as to the specific nature of the announcement, the advisory said that Gov. Christie is scheduled to speak at 11:15 a.m. at Woody's Ocean Grille, Sea Bright. The governor and his wife Mary Pat have been very supportive of Sea Bright Rising, the charity for Sandy-afflicted headed by Woody's owner Chris Wood. There was no indication as to whether or not the announcement, taking place at Wood's restaurant, would involve him or Sea Bright Rising.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The founder of Sea Bright Rising is among the top 100 most powerful people in NJ business, named by NJBIZ.com.
It all started with some food and a hunger to help. Now, Woody's Ocean Grille owner and Sea Bright Rising founder Chris Wood is known as one of the most powerful people in New Jersey business in Hurricane Sandy's wake, according to NJBIZ.com. After Sandy left Sea Bright apocalyptic, Wood instinctively fired up a grill and started cooking for hundreds of displaced residents and business owners. His business surviving Sandy less scathed, he felt it was the least he could do. Little did Wood know that his random act of kindness would snowball into a firestorm of good will that went from flinging burgers to setting up camp for a U.S. Army National Guard-manned tent city and forming a nationally-recognized Sandy charity — Sea Bright Rising. "…
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Can you guess which stories were the most popular of the month?
The chill that January brought with it was heightened by the sting of some harsh moments and buffered by the warmth of some heartfelt happenings in the Rumson-Fair Haven area. Remember the stories on the following issues? They're what people were talking about most: • People were very peeved in Rumson when rumor surfaced in the wake of Hurricane Sandy that there was looting. Rumson police investigated the matter and ended up arresting teens on the charges, but stemming from a singluar incident on Buena Vista Avenue only. Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson wanted to clarify that the rumor of mass looting was unfounded. He gave the details of the arrest and talked to R-FH Patch about it. See what he had to say, who was charged and what those…
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Patrons were waiting outside the restaurant for doors to open.
Driving into Hurricane Sandy-ravaged Sea Bright on a freezing winter's night lately is like getting a harsh slap of sorrow square in the face. It's dark. It's quiet. It's what loss looks like — stark and sad. Eerie mountains of sand block the view of a lone beach replenishment barge equipped with a beacon that calls to visitors like the scary siren of an at-war sea. It's been that way for a while now, save for the few businesses that stay open into the night. But this night was different. There was another light and a spirit of warmth that emanated from a now re-opened Woody's Ocean Grille. Stepping out of the car and into an otherwise still Sea Bright, an ironic wave of sounds now engulfs. You can hear wind whistle, waves crashing, doors …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Word came to Woody's owner and Sea Bright Rising founder, Chris Wood, from Freeholder Director Thomas Arnone that the bridge will be open on weekends.
On the eve of his restaurant re-opening, faced with the oxymoronic joy of post-Hurricane Sandy progress and pain of a pending Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge closing, Woody's Ocean Grille's Chris Wood got some great news — he was told the compromise he'd rallied for in staggering the bridge's closing days was coming. And, as of Wednesday morning, when Wood said he got the confirmation call he had been waiting for from Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas Arnone, that compromise became a reality. That compromise, he said, looks like it's going to call for the bridge that funnels traffic in and out of Sea Bright to still close on weekdays starting "on or about Jan. 28," but to be open on weekends, or Friday nights through Sundays, and closed …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Woody's Ocean Grille is fifth business to open in Sea Bright; Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge closure pending for five days after opening.
As Chris Wood hustles to lighten and liven up a Hurricane Sandy-dimmed downtown Sea Bright with the re-opening of his restaurant, Woody's Ocean Grille, on Wednesday, his spirits have been daunted by the prospect of the looming Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge closure. With Monmouth County officials estimating that the bridge will be closed off to traffic for a few weeks starting "on or about Jan. 28," right after now-closed Oceanic Bridge is re-opened, it's like telling Wood that the lifeblood of a major artery in and out of town, to and from his and the only four other open Sea Bright businesses, is clotted. "This is killing me. It's knocking me and the other Sea Bright business that just got back on their feet down after reviving ourselves from …
Monday, January 14, 2013
Take a look back on people who made an impact in the Rumson-Fair Haven area in 2012. Who do you think should be the person of the year?
The year 2012 was a hectic one, though one filled with many special people who did some significant things, hit major milestones, or were just present in the community. Remember these people? Let's take a look back ... • Olympian Connor Jaeger, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School alumni and Fair Haven resident got the community revved up when he made it to the 2012 Summer Olympic Trials. We followed Jaeger through his Olympic journey, from finding all the signs of support around the area to cheering him on remotely as he swam his way into the Olympics and finally, to his homecoming parade. • Longtime Fair Haven resident Ken Lockwood turned 90, after having lived in the borough for more than 80 years. Ken had some special stories to …
Monday, December 17, 2012
Nonprofit's founder presented with $5,000 check
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Monday, December 17, 2012
Red Bank-based the Sawtooth Group recently presented Sea Bright Rising founder Chris Wood, of Fair Haven, with a check for $5,000 to aid the rebuilding effort in the storm-damaged borough. Wood, owner of Woody's Ocean Grille in Sea Bright and the architect of the "Food City" center for provisions, was on hand at the Downtown in Red Bank during Sawtooth's holiday party, which was dedicated as a fundraiser for the Sea Bright support group. Sawtooth Partner Kristi Bridges said, “We chose Sea Bright Rising because it has been a huge part of the lives of many of our employees. Many of them grew up going to the beach there and many of us have watched our kids grow up there. We also have an employee that lives there.” Sea Bright Rising is a …
Sandra
9:46 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
There use to be an unemployment website that had All the States data. I use to follow it every week and see which State went up or down. Also the unemployment information on the Tiers and EB. Since January of this year 2013 it is gone. I am not able to see or learn what the rate is for each week. I am wondering what the unemployment rate is in New Jersey only right now. Seems they hide it. Anyone… more ›