Power Restored to All Safe Properties in Belmar

Belmar officials on Tuesday said that power has been restored to all properties in town except those unsafe for electricity. 

Mayor Matt Doherty credits the borough's push to hammer JCP&L with phone calls until power was restored, according to a borough release. 

Support groups will be available 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Bella Buddha Yoga Studio, 921 Main Street. 

"Counselors will be available for you to share your thoughts, feelings and stories," Doherty said in the release.  

The borough is asking residents and others to share their photos, videos and stories of Hurricane Sandy. Officials said they want to preserve the memories and possibly make them into a book. 

Submissions should be directed to sandy@belmar.com. 

Ocean Avenue will remain closed for several months as it will be a major construction site as crews continue to clear up the debris and rebuild the boardwalk, officials hope, in time for summer.

A Borough Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Dec, 3, to discuss rebuilding the boardwalk.

"It is an honor to be your mayor, and I hope I made you as half as proud of me, as I am of you and the rest of our community," Doherty said. 

"I will never forget having to call you these past two weeks, especially the day after and I saw how hard we were hit.  But the resolve, determination and commitment I have seen from you since is beyond words.  It was with a heavy heart that I told you of the devastation to our community, but now, because of what I have seen in our community these past two weeks, it is with confidence that I know we will be a great community and future generations will say this was Belmar’s finest hour."