On Thursday, May 23, at 12:30 p.m., Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin will join officials from the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism and the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium to provide an update on Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts at the shore.
The update will be part of the Sea Grant Consortium’s 11th Annual State of the Shore event near the newly re-opened boardwalk in Belmar. The event is held each year just prior to Memorial Day weekend to kick off the unofficial start of the summer season.
Commissioner Martin will provide an update on beaches, water quality, debris removal work and shore protection. Officials from the Sea Grant Consortium will provide an overview of the physical condition of beaches and coastal communities. Winners of the top beaches photo contest will be announced and the 2013-2014 Making More Shore Memories Calendar will be unveiled.
Location: D’Jais Bar and Restaurant, 1803 Ocean Avenue, 07715. From Interstate 195 east, take Route 138 east toward Belmar. Merge onto Route 35 north. After one mile, turn slight right on 12th Avenue. Go 1 mile, and turn right on Ocean Avenue. D’Jais Bar and Restaurant is on the right.
The DEP’s on-scene contact will be Bob Considine, (609) 789-8170. Sea Grant on-site contacts will be Lianna Bass (732) 691-1497 and Rory Joyce (732) 580-7101.
The boardwalk in Belmar where Martin will address the crowd and media will be opening after 8 million dollars was spent to get it ready for Memorial Day. This comes after the Lavalette Boardwalk opened to the tune of 3.1 million dollars, the Jet Star rollercoaster in Seaside was removed and even Prince Harry has joined the likes of ocean-going Governor Christie in supervising and witnessing the reconstruction of the shore prior to the kick off holiday.
In fact, Governor Christie and his family are starring in television commercials that are part of a publicly funded $25 million tourism campaign to encourage people to visit the Jersey Shore after Superstorm Sandy.
