Pallone and mayors: Enjoy Labor Day at the Shore

By Neil Schulman
Long Branch — The Jersey shore is open for Labor Day weekend, and residents are encouraged to come and take advantage of the  sand, sea and shops. Congressman Frank Pallone, Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson,  Monmouth Beach Mayor Susan Howard, Neptune Township Mayor Kevin McMillan, Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley, and local restauranteur Tim McLoone spoke at a press conference at Pier Village on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Congressman Frank Pallone speaks as Mayors Ed Johnson, Asbury Park, and Susan Howard, Monmouth Beach, look on.

Frank Pallone said the damage from Hurricane Irene was lower than expected at the shore, even if towns with rivers and lakes are still experiencing problems. Here, however, speakers encouraged residents to return to the shore.

“We want people to come down and go fishing, go swimming, use the beach,” Pallone said.

It looks as though people are already returning to the beaches. Pier Village and the ocean behind where Pallone spoke were both crowded, and McLoone reported that his Sea Bright restaurant had its busiest weeknight in years.

Speakers also talked about the need to protect beaches, sand replenishment, and cleaning up damage from the hurricane. For more on that, stay tuned to The Link News.