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SEA BRIGHT: CLEAN UP VOLUNTEERS WANTED

sea-bright-beach-1Press release from United Donations Organization

Hurricane Hermine brought pollution in lieu of disaster — and in honor of International Coastal Cleanup Day, United Donations Organization (uDo) is hosting a beach cleanup in Sea Bright this Saturday, September 17.

The uDo organization is working with the nationally recognized, Sandy Hook-based ocean  advocacy nonprofit Clean Ocean Action. COA has led one of the nation’s longest running beach cleanup efforts, the Beach Sweeps, which are hosted semi­annually and which allow the volunteers to become “citizen scientists” as they record the debris removed.

This effort serves as a leading example for how local businesses and charities can work with local government. The Borough of Sea Bright is showing great support by helping to facilitate the community initiative. By the end of the day on September 17, the beaches of Sea Bright will be cleaned and its dunes repaired.

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LICENSE MOVE RILES BEACH CLUB NEIGHBORS

james-paul-lobiondoJames and Paul LoBiondo, owners of Surfrider Beach Club, flank attorney Thomas Hirsch Tuesday night as the council deliberates approving a liquor license transfer to the club. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

A liquor license transfer from a defunct restaurant to a Sea Bright councilman’s family business reignited a long-simmering feud Tuesday night as the two sides exchanged barbs about greed and hatemongering.

In the end, Surfrider Beach Club, owned by Councilman James LoBiondo’s family, walked away with approval by the council — minus his own vote — to transfer the liquor license from Gaiters restaurant to the beach club. But the move raised fears among neighbors that it will cause an increase in traffic and, as one business owner and nearby resident said, “opens some very nasty doors.”

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