Rock Out at The Concert for Union Beach

There are eight bands signed to the bill to entertain those willing to enjoy a free day of family fun.

Matawan Residents to Get Down & Dirty for Union Beach Disaster Relief Fund

Team TMAA was created to get people together for the cause and complete the Rock Solid Mud Run on June 15th at Raceway Park, Englishtown, New Jersey.

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'Oh Sandy' Anthology Uses Humor to Examine Seriousness of Historic Storm

A Matawan man with close ties to Union Beach was one of several Sandy survivors to be published in the collection titled "Oh Sandy: An Anthology of Humorous Stories for a Serious Cause."

Hurricane Sandy was no laughing matter for those people displaced from their flooded homes, for those throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of food after losing power or for those who lost their homes entirely.   However, they say laughter is the best medicine. "When you are gutting people's houses, you either start laughing or start crying and don't stop," said James Butler, a former Union Beach resident who continues to coach youth soccer there. "When you are dealing with tragedy there is at first shock and then you kind of move on to the gallows of humor." Each day after the storm, Butler, now a Matawan resident, visited Union Beach to help his parents, his childhood friends and his soccer players' families clean up and rebuild.  He …

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This Inspiring Story Brought to You by Grape-Nuts

'Oh Sandy' Anthology Uses Humor to Examine Seriousness of Historic Storm

A Matawan man with close ties to Union Beach was one of several Sandy survivors to be published in the collection titled "Oh Sandy: An Anthology of Humorous Stories for a Serious Cause."

Hurricane Sandy was no laughing matter for those people displaced from their flooded homes, for those throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of food after losing power or for those who lost their homes entirely. However, they say laughter is the best medicine. "When you are gutting people's houses, you either start laughing or start crying and don't stop," said James Butler, a former Union Beach resident who continues to coach youth soccer there. "When you are dealing with tragedy there is at first shock and then you kind of move on to the gallows of humor." Each day after the storm, Butler, now a Matawan resident, visited Union Beach to help his parents, his childhood friends and his soccer players' families clean up and rebuild.  He …

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Join RAINE at Playground Ribbon-Cutting in Union Beach Saturday

This project is a collaboration between New Jersey Firefighters and local nonprofit organizations that will build 26 playgrounds, each named specifically for one of the Newtown victims, in areas devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

KPI Bridge Oil Donates $25K to Help Union Beach Rebuild

The contribution was made to Colts Neck-based Operation Provide Comfort.

Hurricane Sandy

Union Beach Proves Hope Grows on Trees

Life in Union Beach post-Sandy has been tough, but one random act has empowered the community.

Hope comes in all shapes and sizes and in Union Beach it came in the form of an artificial Christmas tree pulled from Hurricane Sandy's carnage. Former Union Beach resident Jim Butler set up the tree under the blanket of night and placed a handwritten sign next to it that read, "Dear Sandy, You can't wash away hope. You only watered it so more hope can grow. Signed, 'Union' Beach." On Saturday, March 9, the Union Beach Hope Tree was given permanent roots when two local families, the Hornig's and the Mezzina's, donated a living tree.  The community came together to dig, plant and mulch the new tree before they moved the ornaments from the weathered artificial tree.  And, the hope will continue to spread, Union Beach Councilwoman Cherlanne …

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Bill Heller

3:28 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Way to go Councilwoman Roche! Love the idea!   more ›

Hurricane Sandy

VIDEO: Sandy Victims Walk for Hope

An estimated crowd of about 1,000 walked in support of recovery in Union Beach Saturday.

Towns all along New Jersey's coast were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Boardwalks were pulled back into the sea by surging waves, homes were knocked off of their foundations and residents left homeless. Despite the disaster, there's still hope. In Union Beach Saturday, and estimated crowd of about 1,000 people walked through the Sandy-ravaged town to show their support for recovery and each other. With little notice about the event other than a posting online, word of mouth spread throughout the week, resulting in a large and somewhat unexpected turnout. Many of those walking count themselves among those left homeless or living in significantly damaged structures.  As long as there's hope, they said, they'll survive. 

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Christie on Delays in Sandy Aid: 'Please Be Patient'

Plans are being formulated at the state level for how to spend Hurricane Sandy relief aid, but the money hasn't come in yet.

The state is developing plans for how and where to best allocate Hurricane Sandy relief aid, writing proposals for putting together lists for its various relevant agencies, from Housing and Urban Development to the Department of Transportation. The money will come, Gov. Chris Christie told a crowd in Union Beach Tuesday, and it will be used to rebuild New Jersey and get residents back into their hurricane-ravaged homes. Be patient, he said. The check hasn't been written yet. Christie joined other local legislators in celebration after a $50.7 billion hurricane relief bill passed in a contentious U.S. House of Representatives in January before heading off to the U.S. Senate for approval and finally to President Barack Obama’s desk for a …

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