'Superheroes' Save LV Residents From Sandy

Long Valley homeowner says without local help, house would still be in disarray.

The massive tree, like so many others, came crashing down and into the house, causing instant devastation. And the power hadn’t even gone out yet. That’s how Hurricane Sandy treated the Sullivan family of Long Valley, who live in the southern portion of the township. Susan Sullivan was in Massachusetts at the time, and received a phone call from her daughter, crying, explaining what had just happened. Sullivan’s husband, daughter and daughter’s fiancé were all in the home at the time. “So I called four people right away,” Sullivan said. “My insurance company, a tree company, my pastor, and Kirk Ogden, who had put shingles on our roof in the past. The first thing Kirk said was, ‘do you want me to go get them.’” Sullivan, who said she’s …

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FEMA Aids Just 17% of Long Valley Applicants

36 of 209 applicants seeking help after Hurricane Sandy get an average of $2,801 in aid, agency says.

Just 36 out of 209 Long Valley residents who filed for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance will be receiving help of any kind after suffering damages to their home or property during Hurricane Sandy. According to a spreadsheet from the government agency, 193 homeowners in the ZIP code of 07853 applied for assistance, while 16 renters sought aid after the historic storm. The average amount of assessed damage, according to the sheet, is $2,801 for residences in the 07853 ZIP code. There were 34 homes assessed in the $0 to $10,000 range; one in the $20,000 to $30,000 range; and one in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. Of the 16 rental applications submitted, none were approved for any aid, the sheet showed. The rental category …

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Storm Prep Changes a Must, Fire Chief Says

While volunteer fire fighters did what they could, communications still problematic, official says.

What has become a recurring theme in the post-Hurricane Sandy world of hindsight, the Washington Township Fire Department aired its grievances about the issue of communications during the clean-up face of the devastating storm. At the December Washington Township Committee work session meeting, Fairmount Fire Chief Dave Steinel gave a presentation to the governing body on behalf of the township’s three companies, pointing out what the volunteer force accomplished during the two week aftermath period. Along with the presentation, Steinel sought answers as to why communications deteriorated so quickly at the onset of the storm. “Dispatch became delayed, and then were non-existent,” Steinel said. “It got to a point where the dispatch center …

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Girl Scouts Seek Blankets for Sandy Relief

Drop-off bins located at area businesses.

One of Long Valley's Girl Scout groups is doing what it does best and helping serve the community. This time, it's not for the local neighborhood, rather, our friends in need at the Jersey Shore. Troop #518 has placed drop-off bins at various businesses around town, seeking donations of new blankets, pillows, scarves, hats, gloves, socks, and other items to aid the relief efforts of Hurricane Sandy. The troop is working with Blankets for Brigantine & Beyond, which will distribute the donations to various shore communities impacted by the storm.  Drop-off locations are at the following businesses:    

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Shore Relief Aided by Long Valley Teen, Friends

Community effort leads to two SUVs packed with donated goods.

Nick Leloia is only in eighth grade, but he set out to make a difference in his grandparent’s hometown of Bay Head, New Jersey, which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. What happened after the Long Valley Middle School student kicked off his drive to collect donated goods was nothing short of yet another amazing community effort in Washington Township, and one that will undoubtedly help the residents of Bay Head. Leloia set up collection drop-off spots at the school and his own home, requesting cleaning supplies and pet goods, along with monetary donations that would all be funneled through the National Guard which has set up a station in Bay Head while conducting relief efforts. The efforts by Leloia led to two SUVs full of donations, …

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Teens Brighten Holidays by Restoring the Shore

Hackettstown High School seniors collecting donations with hopes of filling 18-wheeler to bring to Central Regional High School in Bayville.

'Jersey Strong' Shirt Sales to Aid Sandy Relief

Long Valley's David D. Hammar Foundation raised $3,000 from sale of various items.

The devastating impacts of Super Storm Sandy have been seen far and wide, and for former New Jersey residents, there is a sense of helplessness when trying to aid past friends and neighbors. Members of Long Valley’s David D. Hammar Foundation, which stands to bring the importance of bicycle safety to riders, have stepped up to help those in need. The foundation, which launched in 2007 after its namesake was tragically killed by injuries sustained when he was hit by a car while riding his bike, has branched out from its mission and expanded on the service of helping others. Once the water receded and the storm’s devastation became apparent, the foundation stepped into action and designed a tee shirt that could be sold, with proceeds …

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Make-Up Days Extend Calendar for Twp. Schools

District revises schedule after loss of eight school days from Superstorm Sandy.

Following in the footsteps of the West Morris Regional High School District's school year extenstion to make up for inclement weather days used, the Washington Township School District has moved its final day of school to June 24. The board of education decided to extend the original final school day, scheduled for June 21, to the 24. If the two remaining emergency days are used, Superintendent Jeff Mohre said, the final day of the year will be moved to Wednesday, June 26. The need to extend the school year is a result of Super Storm Sandy wiping out eight school days from the district. The district already revised its calendar once, and will now hold classes on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January and the two scheduled days off for …

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Mayor Asks Residents for Feedback on Sandy

Ken Short to host communication discussion Dec. 12.

While township officials have discussed and strategized ways to be more effective in communicating with each other during any natural disasters in the future, Mayor Ken Short is now asking for residents to weigh in. An area of major concern from the residents after Hurricane Sandy was communication, and Short will host a meeting to receive feedback on how to best provide strong communication avenues to the public. Short is asking for volunteers to review the township's communication efforts throughout the weeks following the storm.  "The intent is to provide better and more reliable communication channels between the township and residents," Short said in an email to Patch. "All residents that are genuinely interested and can provide …

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Kevin Nedd

8:07 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012

It's more likely you were staring in a mirror when you wrote it.   more ›

High School Graduation Bumped for Make-Up Days

Board of Education votes to add two school days added to end of calendar year.

From the day they step foot into high school as freshmen, students’ minds are geared toward graduation some four years away. And for the class of 2013 at West Morris Central and Mendham High Schools, the biggest day of their educational careers is now two school days later than originally scheduled. During a special meeting of the West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education Monday night, the group voted to bump both high school’s graduation ceremonies from Friday, June 21 to Tuesday, June 25. The idea wasn’t met with the best reception, either. Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast said since the last board meeting, when the group discussed a variety of options to make up inclement weather days used during the aftermath of …

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