Thursday, December 27, 2012
The road will remain closed until further notice, officials say.
Ravine Drive between Main Street and Matawan Avenue will remain closed for one to two weeks after flood water from Lake Lefferts again damaged the roadway, according to Sgt. Thomas Falco who is the Matawan office of emergency management coordinator. Although the damage is not immediately visible to drivers, Falco explained that the earthen embankment along the Lake Lefferts dam was eroded by the heavy rainfall Wednesday night. Drivers are asked to allow additional travel time and plan an alternate route. This is not the first time that the section of Ravine Drive along the Lake Lefferts dam has given way. In 2011, during Tropical Storm Irene, rushing water from the lake washed away a chunk of pavement. The road remained closed for weeks …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Emergency responders were trained on the fire department's newest water rescue boat, a red Zodiac fit for a town with so many lakes and creeks.
Bobbing in Lake Lefferts a short way from the dock off of Ravine Drive, is a member of the Matawan Borough Fire Department waiting to be rescued by fellow emergency responders during a water rescue drill on Sept. 23. Two firefighters climb into the department's new red Zodiac, designated as Marine-29-1, and launch into the lake, navigating four buoys on their way to their comrade, who is playing the role of the victim. As they approach, they place the boat into neutral and float the final distance toward the victim. Then the rescuers deploy a brightly colored net, wrap it under and around the victim, and hoist her onto the boat. They drive the victim to the dock where they use a similar rolling strategy to transfer her from the boat to the…
Friday, September 21, 2012
The Matawan Fire Department will be training for water rescues at Lake Lefferts on Sunday, Sept. 23
The Lake Lefferts boat ramp at Ravine Drive will be closed to the public on Sunday, Sept. 23 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for an emergency services drill hosted by the Matawan Borough Fire Department. Emergency responders will be using to lake to practice conducting a safe water rescue in different scenarios. Several fire trucks and emergency vehicles will be parked in the area. Please note that this is only a drill and residents should not be alarmed.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Monmouth County officials remind everyone that consumer possession of fireworks is illegal in this state and to adhere to the outdoor watering ban. Meanwhile, higher costs are making it harder for professional fireworks displays to take place.
Emphasizing the county-wide water restrictions in place since Friday, Monmouth County officials took time on Sunday to remind residents of the state's fireworks laws, and the dangers that can come with consumer fireworks. "With the Independence Day holiday upon us, it is important to understand the risks of illegal fireworks,” Freeholder Director John P. Curley said in a press release. “Our current water emergency makes this even more critical." New Jersey American Water lifted the boil-water advisory for Aberdeen, Highlands, Holmdel and Middletown on Monday evening. However, the outdoor watering ban remains in effect. "With or without these firefighting water tankers it remains critically important for residents to adhere to the outdoor …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Looking for a way to enjoy the weather this weekend? Rent a canoe in Matawan
With hot weather on the way this weekend, there's no doubt that tons of cars will clog roadways while traveling down the shore. Why not avoid the traffic and stick around Matawan to enjoy a day of paddling around Lake Lefferts on a canoe? The canoe rental center will open for business on Saturday, June 23. The rental center will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday until Labor Day weekend. It costs $15 per hour to rent a canoe and life vests are available on site. Just park your car in the gravel lot at the intersection of Ravine Drive and Matawan Avenue and use the crosswalk to access the lake. Don't forget sunblock!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
A kayaker was stranded about 150 feet from shore Saturday afternoon, emergency responders say
The Matawan Borough Fire Department pulled a stranded kayaker from a waterway near County Road 516 Saturday afternoon, according to Fire Chief Carl Bommer. The male victim launched his kayak in Lake Lefferts near Ravine Drive and traveled under County Road 516, Bommer said. Shortly after passing under the bridge, the man got stuck in the mud about 150 feet from the shore along Greenbrook Drive. He was unable to free himself and a witness called 911 at about 2 p.m., Bommer said. Members of the fire department trained in ice and water rescue went into the water and retrieved the kayaker, who was uninjured in the incident, according to Bommer. He was safely on shore by 4:15 p.m. Since the kayaker was right on the border of Matawan and Old …
Gregory Nazarian
1:24 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
As a teenager many years ago when the flood gates were still operable, the lake in severe rainy weather also overflowed. I remember that there was a spillway or what looked like a ramp on the swamp side of the dam that seemed adequate to send the spilling water at least 10 feet away from the bulkhead. No erosion occurred and the road held up. Maybe it should be considered when this repair is done. more ›