Matthew J. Doherty

Support Tom Volker

Submitted by JOANNE CASSEY

I am voting for Tom Volker for Belmar Council on Election Day, and I hope everyone else votes for him, too.

Recently, I held a meet-and-greet for Tom at my condo with many of my fellow residents, and he was great. He really listens to people and told us, “If I am elected, please let me know if I can help you with anything.” Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But this is exactly what we need: elected officials who listen to us and will help when we need it. That’s the personal touch we expect in a small town like ours.

Soon after our get-together, Tom called and spoke with some of my neighbors regarding information they had requested. This busy man didn’t forget he had promised to get back to them. Just as he gives his all to the many committees he serves on in Belmar, he will continue to do so for us as a member of our council.

Now, I know you cannot take politics out of elections, but if you could, and just looked at the person, you would see that Tom is by far the best candidate running this year. He knows how far our town has come since the 1980s, and what we need to do to improve our Main Street.

Please join me and support Tom Volker on Election Day.

JOANNE CASSEY
River Road, Belmar

Volker Is The Type of Person Belmar’s Council Needs

Submitted by JANIS KEOWN-BLACKBURN

I believe that Tom Volker, candidate for Belmar town council, is the type of person this town needs. He is a doer. When he says he will be there to work on a project, he’s there and ready to pitch in and do his part. He works hard and is not afraid to give his ideas and suggestions.

Being a council member requires a lot of tough decisions, and Tom is not afraid to do what is best for our town. He believes in doing what is the right thing, even if it is not always the most popular. He looks at what is best for Belmar for both today and in the future.

Tom has proved his enthusiasm for Belmar by volunteering in various Belmar organizations: the arts council, harbor commission and beautification committee. He’s not just a member, but a working member.

As an owner of one of the inns in town, Tom understands that Belmar is a town that needs our summer guests to visit here and return to visit here again. He knows that the families who visit and spend money in our town help to keep our businesses alive and assist in keeping our taxes as low as possible. He understands the importance of a good balance between visitors and residents.

Tom Volker is the type of person Belmar’s town council needs.

JANIS KEOWN-BLACKBURN
River Court, Belmar

Tom Volker Has Been Found!

Submitted by DONNA VOLKER

I am writing to ask voters to support Tom Volker for Belmar Council in this Tuesday’s election. After reading a letter in The Coast Star by a resident asking, “Where is Tom?” [Terry Pierce's "Where Has He Been?" Oct. 23] I feel compelled to answer her.

You can find my father in many different places in Belmar. He is at the beautification committee, working to make our downtown and other areas of town more attractive with no cost to taxpayers. He is at the harbor commission, working hard to improve the harbor so the town can generate more revenue to offset our property tax bills. Just drive through the harbor and witness the changes that have occurred.

He is at the chamber of commerce participating and hosting meetings to help all of the business owners in Belmar. He is at the Belmar Arts Council, volunteering, painting floors, patching roofs to help see that non-profit organization prosper. He is clearing trash around the lake and at his adopt-a-spot. He is changing a display case at borough hall for the historical council, and never misses a chance to sing the praises of the wealth of volunteers we have in Belmar.

In addition to all of this, he also operates a cozy and beautiful bed and breakfast, which brings nice people into town. These visitors praise our restaurants, shops and scenery. Some have loved our town so much they purchased homes in Belmar.

In addition, he also makes time to attend school functions for my children [his grandchildren] here in Belmar. You can also find him at one of our ballparks cheering them on.

He has been active at council meetings, but not all of them, and I think most people understand why.

Finally, I know the type of man my father is: intelligent, caring, involved and loyal, with a great sense of humor, and we in Belmar will be fortunate to have him serve on the council.

DONNA VOLKER
11th Avenue, Belmar

ELECTION 2008

By Kelly Skellinger

The Coast Star

Belmar residents will select the candidate they believe is the best man for the job next Tuesday, Nov. 4, during the borough’s general election.

Richard Wright, Republican candidate for council, and Thomas Volker, Democratic candidate for council, will vie for the single, three-year term on the council currently held by Councilman William Merkler.

Councilman Merkler, whose term is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, is currently the only Republican seated at the dais of Belmar’s governing body.

While Councilman Merkler was backed by the Belmar Republican Committee and ran uncontested for the Republican nomination in the June GOP Primary, the councilman decided not to seek re-election two weeks ago, citing the increased time demanded by his business.

In turn, Mr. Wright was nominated by the Belmar Republican Committee to take his place as the Republican nominee.

Mr. Volker, 67, lives with his wife, Rosemary, on 4th Avenue. The couple own and run The Inn At The Shore, a bed and breakfast there.

The Volkers have three children, Donna, who lives in Belmar; Chuck, who lives in Fair Haven; and Brian, who lives in Rumson. They also have 11 grandchildren.

Mr. Volker is a member of the Belmar Harbor Commission and the Belmar Chamber of Commerce. He is also a trustee of the Belmar Historical Council, Belmar Arts Council, Belmar Beautification Committee and Belmar Adopt-A-Spot program.

Mr. Volker is a former president of the Preferred Inns of New Jersey, as well.

Having moved to Belmar in 1993 with his wife, Mr. Volker took early retirement in 1998 from JC Penney, where he was the manager of their Ridgefield warehouse distribution facility.

When asked what he hopes to accomplish, if elected, Mr. Volker stated he would like to see redevelopment “get off the ground” in Belmar.

Mr. Volker also stated that he plans on stressing the importance of “sensible fiscal management” being applied to all aspects of municipal government.

“If we don’t have the money, don’t spend it,” he said.

Mr. Volker explained that he would also like to see the borough’s recreation department continue to host programs for families, seniors, children and teens.

“I would like to see Belmar continue to be a safe, friendly place to live,” he added.

Mr. Wright, 57, a retiree, resides on Inlet Terrace with his wife, Linda. Together they have two grown children, Sean and Bridget.

Mr. Wright has a bachelor of science degree in physics from Bates College, a master’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Wright started his career at Coopers and Lybrand, in New York City. After leaving Coopers and Lybrand, Mr. Wright worked as the executive vice president and chief financial officer at Drexel Burnham Lambert.

Upon leaving Drexel Burnham Lambert, he held the position of chief executive officer of DP Investment. His next career move landed him in the position of chief executive officer of Great Gorge/Vernon Valley.

After leaving Great Gorge/Vernon Valley, Mr. Wright worked as the chief financial officer of MaxLink.

He retired from MaxLink in 2001.

Mr. Wright, President of the Belmar Republican Party, has served as treasurer of the Inlet Terrace Association and was a trustee of The Friends of The Belmar Harbor.

Mr. Wright is a member of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, where he served as trustee and treasurer for six years, and a member of the Belmar Homeowner’s Association [BHA].

“I enjoy being part of the Belmar community and participating in its activities and organizations,” Mr. Wright recently explained. “I see my candidacy as an opportunity to use my financial and management background to improve the community and make it a better and more affordable place to live.”

If elected, Mr. Wright seeks to bring an “objective voice” to the council.

“It is important that there be checks and balances on the borough council and I am committed to bring an objective voice on the council,” Mr. Wright said.

“There is a sense of divisiveness in the community, according to a recent community survey, which I believe is straining segments of the borough,” Mr. Wright added. “I will work to strengthen our sense of community by insisting that our leaders respect each other and respect all of our residents.”

Voters can cast their votes for their candidate of choice on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There are four polling locations in Belmar.

District One and District Five voters can vote at the Goodwill Firehouse, located at 610 7th Avenue, in Belmar. District Two voters can vote at the Union Firehouse, located at 9th Avenue and E Street, in Belmar.

District Three voters can vote at the Volunteer Hook and Ladder House, located on 11th Avenue, in Belmar. District Four voters can vote at the Borough Public Works building, located at 800 13th Avenue, in Belmar.

http://starnewsgroup.com/weekly/2008/10.30.08/wright,_volk_10.30.08_53603.html

Fellow Harbor Commission Member Endorses Volker

Tom Volker, who is running for an open Belmar Council seat, is not only competent, but he is also caring and responsible.

I served on the Belmar Harbor Commission with Tom, and watched how he pushed for the right things. He was well-versed on the need to improve signage and parking conditions for the harbor customers. He pushed and pushed until these two customer service improvements were in place.

Tom is the right person for our council. He gets it; he is a local businessperson in tune with what customer service is, and is willing to give up a portion of his personal life for the good of Belmar. Vote Volker!

BILL YOUNG
9th Avenue, Belmar

October 22, 2008

Belmar candidates squabble over tax increases, services

By FRAIDY REISS
ASBURY PARK PRESS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

Borough employees work hard to adhere to the budgets the mayor and Borough Council lay out for them, the Democratic candidate for council said Tuesday night.

“Sometimes, if all you hear is campaign rhetoric, you might think we have people working in our town who do nothing but spend money randomly,” said Thomas Volker, 67. “That’s simply not true.”

The proof of that lies in the municipal tax rate, which has risen at a slower rate than the county and school portions of the tax bill, he said.

But comparing municipal tax increases to those of the county and school district is not the right way to assess whether taxes are too high, countered Richard J. Wright, the Republican candidate for council.

“All families in town are having to do more with less,” said Wright, 57. “I think Belmar is going to have to do more with less.”

He pointed to regionalization of municipal services as the only way to save taxpayers real money.

The candidates’ disagreement came during the fifth annual Meet the Candidates Night, a debate hosted by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Belmar Homeowners Association and attended by some 100 people. The borough tax rate was one of several issues on which the two political newcomers disagreed.

“The first thing we need for the downtown is a plan,” Wright said when asked about the stalled redevelopment process. Belmar’s lack of a definite plan poses a problem for downtown property owners who do not know whether to invest in improving their buildings, he said.

Volker, though, said the master plan for redevelopment “has to wait until the economy improves.”

“That’s pretty obvious,” he said.

When borough resident Richard Hunt, 55, asked each man to explain why he would be the best person to fill the three-year term available on the five-member governing body, Wright spoke of his background in management and finance.

“I have a lot of experience, I think, in issues the town is going to be facing,” he said.

Additionally, Wright said, he would be the lone Republican voice on the council and would provide a “check and balance” for a governing body that for most of the last 18 years consisted solely of Democrats.

Volker responded to the same question by calling himself a “team player.”

“I love Belmar and working to help Belmar,” he said.

Both candidates did well in the debate, borough resident Joe Keosseian said later, but Wright was the winner, he said.

“It’s getting to be one-sided,” Keosseian, 44, said of the council. “We need some Republican representation on there to balance out all the ideas.”

ASBURY PARK PRESS

BELMAR - The two men vying for the one available Borough Council seat next month are set to debate each other at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Democrat Thomas Volker and GOP hopeful Richard J. Wright will face off during the Belmar Homeowners Association’s fifth annual Meet the Candidates Night at the Taylor Pavilion on Ocean and Fifth avenues.

Last year’s debate drew some 250 residents, said Douglas Sweeny, co-president of the association.

“It’s our version of the presidential debates,” he said.

Fraidy Reiss

October 17, 2008

Council seat at stake in Belmar race
By FRAIDY REISS
ASBURY PARK PRESS

COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

When voters head to the polls in November to choose a new Borough Council member, they should not focus on the national media attention Mayor Kenneth E. Pringle brought to the borough this summer with his local newsletter, at least one Belmar resident said.

“It shouldn’t, in my view, have any bearing on” the election, said Dennis McGill, 73, of Third Avenue. “It was blown out of proportion.”

But whether they should or not, voters probably will be thinking about that newsletter when they pull the lever, said Thomas Volker, the Democratic candidate and a political newcomer. He predicted, though, that voters will accept that the Democratic mayor was trying to help Belmar with his description of the “guidos” and “Staten Island girls” who visit the borough during the summer and flout its rules.

“He admits he went overboard and he apologized,” said Volker, 67. “I think it won’t hurt me at all.”

His Republican opponent, political newcomer Richard J. Wright, said he could not guess how memories of the newsletter will affect the election.

“I think the mayor was probably well-intended, but it has caused a great deal of embarrassment for the town and for the people in the town,” said Wright, 57. Still, he added, voters might not punish Volker for that embarrassment just because he hails from the same political party as the mayor.

Pringle said he doubted voters would make that connection.

“I don’t think people will hold my newsletter against Tom Volker,” the mayor said. “He had nothing to do with (it).”

From 1990 until 2005, all four borough council seats and the mayor’s seat were filled with Democrats. Then, in 2005, William Merkler snagged a spot as the lone Republican council member.

Merkler, 41, won the primary election in June but later announced he would not seek a second three-year term because he needed to focus on his landscaping business. He withdrew from the race, and Wright took his place as the Republican candidate.

So when voters head to the polls in November to choose a new council member, they will be looking for “another voice” to help govern the borough, local resident Pat Melango said.

“It’s always the same people voting the same way,” she said. “It’s good to have another voice and another point of view.”

Wright agreed. For too long, the council simply followed the mayor’s lead and never dissented on any issue, he said.

“An important part of my candidacy is to have an independent voice on the council that can make sure issues are addressed,” Wright said.

Volker countered that a mixed-party council is not necessarily in the best interest of the town.

“It depends if they can work together harmoniously,” he said. “If there’s going to be fighting all the time and that one opposing voice is going to be against everything that’s proposed, good or bad, then it’s not a good thing.”

Another issue on voter’s minds this election season is the borough’s stalled plan to redevelop the downtown, Wright said. The process has been dragging on for too long, leaving property owners unsure of whether to invest in upgrading their storefronts or to wait for their buildings to be torn down, he said.

“The first thing (we need) is a clear statement of where the redevelopment stands, so that people can begin to plan for the future,” Wright said.

But Volker said voters are not thinking about the downtown right now.

“Redevelopment is on hold until the economy improves, so I don’t see it being an issue,” Volker said. “We’re just going to have to wait until things get better.”

Letters to the Editor, Oct. 16, 2008

Volker Deserves Your Vote

Submitted by THOMAS BRENNAN

Let me tell you what I know to be true about Tom Volker, Belmar council candidate. As a teacher and coach, I have had many chances to see Tom supporting his family at different events. He is always there for them, cheering them on. The example he sets of positive support for all of us is inspiring. Of course, he doesn’t see it that way. He’s just doing what a good grandpa does.

Tom brings the same commitment to his involvement in the Belmar Arts Council, Harbor Commission and Historical Society. I have seen him put in time on difficult projects for the BAC, following through on the details that are the difference between success and failure. Tom wouldn’t think of that as anything special, just doing what has to be done. Again, his example is inspiring.

Tom deserves your vote on Nov. 4th. He will bring the same dedication and selfless commitment to elected office that he already gives to his community and his family. Belmar will be lucky to have him on our borough council.

THOMAS BRENNAN
11th Avenue, Belmar

Volker Enhances Belmar’s Small-Town Feel

Submitted by NEIL SCHECK

Tom Volker is the right choice for Belmar Borough Council. From his work on the harbor commission and the historical council, to his tireless contributions on behalf of the Belmar Arts Council, to his hard labor on the beautification committee and the Adopt-a-Spot program, no one does more to make Belmar great than Tom.

When he’s not busy with civic betterment projects, he can be found running the lovely Inn at the Shore bed and breakfast with his wife, Rosemary, or taking the neighborhood kids Christmas caroling. If there were a “Norman Rockwell Award” for preserving and enhancing all the things we love about living in a small town like Belmar, the winner, hands down, would be this most neighborly man of quiet dignity, competence, experience, and integrity, Tom Volker.

NEIL SCHECK
Fourth Avenue, Belmar

Vote Tom Volker For Belmar Council

Submitted by DOUGLAS DEICKE

As a former Belmar councilman, and presently married to a Belmar councilwoman, I have a thorough understanding as to what is involved in representing the residents of our community.

Tom Volker has what it takes to serve the wonderful people of our shore town. Tom holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, and has an impressive background in business. He held a position in management with JCPenney for many years, and presently owns the Inn at the Shore bed and breakfast in town. Couple this business acumen with an individual who possesses a strong sense of community, and you have an ideal candidate.

Tom is a trustee of the Belmar Historical Council, a member of the chamber of commerce, a member of Belmar’s Harbor Commission, a trustee of our local Adopt-a-Spot program, a member of the Belmar Arts Council, and has signed on as a member of the newly-formed beautification committee. I know personally that Tom can always be depended upon to fulfill the responsibilities put forward by these various volunteer organizations, as his word is his bond.

I’m sure you can readily understand why I support Tom Volker’s candidacy for Belmar’s borough council, and I hope you will, too!

DOUGLAS DEICKE
14th Avenue, Belmar

Top Ten Reasons To Vote Tom Volker In Belmar

Submitted by ROSEMARY VOLKER

1. Tom has been working since he was eight years old, and has an excellent work ethic.

2. Tom has been a volunteer all of his life: Boy Scout leader, church youth group leader, JCPenney project business teacher, JCPenney-sponsored “Clinton Visiting Housebound Seniors Program in New York City,” Belmar Elementary School Grandparents Reading Program, Belmar Historical Council Board member, chamber of commerce member, Adopt-a-Spot Program member, Belmar Harbor Commission member, Belmar Beautification Commission member, and Belmar Arts Council member.

3. Tom worked his way through high school so that he could help his single mom with the finances as she raised four children by herself. He worked every day after school, from 4 p.m. to midnight, and on weekends at a factory in Philadelphia.

4. Tom paid his way through night school at LaSalle University in Philadelphia while working full time. [He started when his three children were one month old, 15 months old, and three years old, respectively.]

5. Tom received a Celebrating Excellence Award for Outstanding Contributions from the Preferred Inns of New Jersey Bed and Breakfast Association, in which he served as president for six years and as a board member for 12 years.

6. Tom has kindness and compassion for all, especially the young and elderly. He helped care for his mother-in-law when she developed senile dementia.

7. Tom is extremely optimistic about Belmar’s future.

8. When others only criticize, Tom takes action to make it better.

9. Tom loves Belmar and all of the great quality of life improvements over the past 15 years.

10. Tom is a wonderful dad to a daughter and two sons, a superb “Pop-Pop” to 11 delightful grandchildren, and a fabulous husband to his wife of 46 years, Rosemary.

ROSEMARY VOLKER
Fourth Avenue, Belmar

Praise For Tom Volker

Submitted by HARRY ASCHOFF

Belmar is lucky to have a resident like Tom Volker running for town council. Tom and his wife have been in Belmar for 14 years, both as residents and as business owners. Tom loves the “small-town Americana” feel of Belmar, with our plaza where concerts are held, and our summer Saturday farmer’s market.

Tom is a member of various committees and organizations, including the harbor commission, beautification committee, and arts council.

Tom has been described as reliable. He’s always there to help out when he says he’ll be there. He’s thorough and a person that we can all depend on. Tom works hard and is willing to share his ideas.

Tom is enthusiastic about Belmar and wants to help solve the issues that occur. Tom is the type of person who will jump in and work at resolving issues rather than sitting back and complaining about them.

I feel that Tom Volker will be an asset to the Belmar town council.

HARRY ASCHOFF
River Ct., Belmar

Candidates offer solutions to increased taxes, shoaling

ELECTION 2008

By Kelly Skellinger

The Coast Star

The candidate elected to fill the available council seat on Belmar’s governing body in this November’s general election will be expected to work alongside the mayor and council over the next few years to develop short- and long-term solutions to several problems currently facing the governing body, including higher tax rates and increased shoaling at the Shark River Inlet.

Thomas Volker, Democratic candidate for council, and Richard Wright, Republican candidate for council, will battle for the single, three-year term on the council this November.

The available council seat is currently being held by Councilman William Merkler, the lone Republican seated at the dais of Belmar’s governing body.

His term is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31.

While Councilman Merkler was backed by the Belmar Republican Committee and he ran uncontested for the Republican nomination in the June GOP Primary, the councilman decided not to seek re-election two weeks ago, citing the increased time demanded by his business.

In turn, Mr. Wright was nominated by the Belmar Republican Committee to take his place as the Republican nominee.

Both Mr. Volker and Mr. Wright were recently presented with a set of four questions pertaining to the election and asked to answer the questions in 175 words or less.

The last two questions, relating to tax rate hikes and shoaling at the Shark River Inlet, appear below, along with the candidates’ answers. Candidate answers appear verbatim.

~

Q:With the cost of pensions and salaries on the rise, do you feel you are qualified to make the cuts necessary to keep the municipal tax rate low? What steps would you take to save taxpayers money?

A: VOLKER: In addition to my management background, my wife and I operate a B&B, so I work every day keeping costs low, while maintaining high quality. The borough’s portion of our tax bill is 37 percent and that levy is only 16 percent higher than it was in 1990. The mayor and past councils have been able to achieve that by reducing our full-time employee count from 94 to 67 over that time. I wish the state was managed as effectively as Belmar. While we need to continue to cut costs wherever we can, the biggest opportunity keeping taxes down is by sharing services with other towns, and I would work to pursue every opportunity in this area. The state also must be more realistic when considering aid cuts to towns like Belmar that are actively seeking to share services with other communities.

A: WRIGHT: The difficult economic environment will put great pressure on public sector budgets. Belmar should expect even larger cuts in state support. We need to anticipate that our local economy will also be impacted. Now is the time to start identifying marginal programs and services which can be delivered more efficiently or suspended. Other towns have adopted four-day work weeks in order to reduce the energy cost of operating their municipal building. In order to be able to maintain the jobs for all our employees, we should sit done with their union representatives and explore revising certain benefits and sharing the cost of their benefits. Longevity pay, automatic promotions, paid holidays, retirement age, health care costs and more need to be reconsidered. Belmar should also use the fiscal pressure being felt by every municipality to break the political logjam known as home rule to make regionalization of services happen.

Years of financial experience in budget management during both economic expansion and contraction qualify me to manage the municipal budget for lower tax rates.

~

Q: While the Army Corps of Engineers has attempted to thwart the shoaling of the Shark River at the Shark River Inlet by dredging on numerous occasions, the shoaling problem is not going away and continues to create dangerous rip currents for swimmers and dangerously low tides for boaters entering and exiting the inlet.

If you were elected as councilman, what steps would you take, if any, to correct the shoaling problem there?

A: VOLKER: Belmar has made a major investment in improving our marina, and it’s essential that the inlet be safe for boaters. My fellow members of the Belmar Harbor Commission and I have been pressing the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of their study on the causes of the shoaling. Congressman Frank Pallone has been very helpful in this regard. Some suspect that the cutting of the jetties some years ago is contributing to the problems. But we can’t keep reacting to the problem with emergency dredging responses. We need a long-term solution to this problem, and I will work with Congressman Pallone’s office to get this done.

A: WRIGHT: After another reported incident of large swells pitching a commercial boat into a severe yaw, we must immediately press the Army Corps of Engineers to return as often as necessary to maintain the safety of the many recreational and commercial boaters who pass through the Inlet everyday. And this needs to be a joint effort with our neighboring towns of Neptune, Neptune City and Avon.

Immediately, we need to get from the Corps their promised findings as to the causes of the shoaling and their recommendations. Dredging every six months is not considered normal and the funding for that expense is not likely to continue for very long. Notching of the jetties during the beach replenishment is suspected by many as the underlying cause. Experts on beach replenishment suggested at the time that the notched jetties would allow sand to move north along the beach and not be swept offshore. That may still be true, but shoaling and rip tides may have been the unintended consequences.

~

Voters can cast their votes for their candidate of choice on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There are four polling locations in Belmar.

District One and District Five voters can vote at the Goodwill Firehouse, located at 610 7th Avenue, in Belmar. District Two voters can vote at the Union Firehouse, located at 9th Avenue and E Street, in Belmar.

District Three voters can vote at the Volunteer Hook and Ladder House, located on 11th Avenue, in Belmar. District Four voters can vote at the Borough Public Works building, located at 800 13th Avenue, in Belmar.

Meet the Candidates night set for Oct. 21

The Coast Star

The Belmar Homeowners Association [BHA] will be hosting its annual “Meet the Candidates” night on Tuesday, Oct. 21, just two weeks before the upcoming general election.

Democratic candidate for council Thomas Volker and Republican candidate for council Richard Wright will be answering pre-screened questions during the debate, as well as questions offered to them by the public in attendance.

Both men will be competing in this November’s general election for the council seat of Councilman William Merkler, which will expire on Dec. 31.

The candidate who receives the most votes on election day, Nov. 4, will fill the three-year term on Belmar’s governing body.

The event - which will kick-off at 7 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. that evening - will be held once again at the Taylor Pavilion, on 5th and Ocean Avenues, in Belmar.

No fee will be charged for admission and the debate is open to all Belmar residents.

Coffee and refreshments will be served for those in attendance.

The BHA is currently soliciting questions from the public via a lockbox which has been placed at the Belmar Borough Hall.

The BHA will select 12 to 13 questions from the lockbox to be screened by the candidates prior to the debate, according to BHA Co-president Doug Sweeny.

Ed Bonder, also co-president of the association, is organizing this year’s “Meet the Candidates” night and will be working with the candidates one-on-one to select the questions they see fit to address during the debate.

While the candidates will be informed of the questions beforehand, the order of the questions will be decided at random, Mr. Sweeny said.

The public will have a chance to ask the candidates questions following the formal debate.

Jim Hohn, an Independent, according to Mr. Sweeny, will be moderating the debate.

A total of 200 to 300 residents are expected to attend.

To solicit questions for the “Meet the Candidates” night, visit Belmar Borough Hall and place questions in the lockbox there.

Fall Harvest Festival draws large crowd

By Kelly Skellinger

The Coast Star

To say this year’s annual Fall Harvest Festival was a success is an understatement, according to Belmar Chamber of Commerce President Rachel Rogers.

Festival goers came out in droves to attend the Belmar Chamber of Commerce’s 16th annual Fall Harvest Festival this past Sunday.

The event was held on Main Street, between 8th and 10th avenues.

While the event has boasted between 6,000 and 7,000 revelers in recent years, this year the turnout exceeded all previous records, Ms. Rogers said.

The number of people who ventured to Belmar’s downtown to participate in the day’ festivities was “hard to judge,” Ms. Rogers said, as the crowds were so immense and frequent.

According to many of the vendors who showcased their wares during the fall festival, the event, no doubt, saw more attendees than in previous years.

“The turn-out was spectacular,” Ms. Rogers said.

Clear, blue skies and warm temperatures beckoned the crowds to the borough’s downtown, Ms. Rogers noted.

“It was a beautiful day,” she said.

Vendors lined Main Street selling original, hand-made art and crafts. Fresh produce and baked pies were also for sale at various locations along the festival grounds.

The children’s obstacle course and children’s games were never at a loss for participants throughout the day. Children also lined up for pony rides and their chance to participate in the event’s ever-popular pumpkin decorating contest.

This year’s competition was sponsored by Central Jersey Bank.

A car show was another feature of the festival which drew onlookers and car enthusiasts.

A food court, located at Pyanoe Plaza, featured delicacies from local establishments and offered revelers a place to sit back and enjoy their culinary delights with ease.

“The day, as a whole, ran smoothly,” Ms. Rogers said. “Everywhere you looked children were playing; people were shopping and eating.”

Those in attendance were also treated to live entertainment throughout the day, Ms. Rogers added.

Mascots from the New Jersey Devils and Lakewood Blue Claws went head-to-head in a dance off with mascots from Red’s Custard and State Farm during the day, as well.

The fall festival was sponsored by Allaire Country Day and Goodsports, USA, the Gold Leaf sponsor.

The Silver Leaf sponsors included Hauser Hills Farms; Central Jersey Bank; Super Foodtown of Wall; and Pringle Quinn Anzano, PC.

The Bronze Leaf sponsors included Evans Enterprise Modular Homes; WRAT Radio; Versatile Entertainment; GG Design Group; InVisual MD and Manasquan Savings Bank.