Construction crews rebuild the portion

of boardwalk in Seaside Park destroyed

by fire last September.
TOM SPADER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SEASIDE PARK Memorial Day
proved too ambitious of a deadline for
the completion of a key section of
boardwalk that was ravaged by a mas-
sive fire eight months ago.
Construction on Funtown Pier As-
sociates boardwalk has been limited
to the immediate area surrounding
the Sawmill Cafe, where joists were
being fastened to support the planks
on the economically and culturally
important wooden thoroughfare.
Acouple blocks to the north in Sea-
side Heights, where another privately
owned strip of boardwalk is being re-
built after the September fire, is a
glimpse at the future. There, the
boardwalk is taking its familiar form
as a crew lays decking diagonally to
create the walkway.
Boardwalk regular Lou Cappetta
watched the action from behind a
temporary chain-link fence on the
boardwalk Wednesday morning.
Youre always disappointed to
miss a holiday weekend, Cappetta, of
Toms River, said when asked about
missing the unofficial start of sum-
mer, but were going to have the
whole summer. Theres not much go-
ing on but weekends until the Fourth
of July.
The fire, which was ignited by wir-
ing damaged in superstorm Sandy,
swept through more than four blocks
of boardwalk on Sept. 12. Originating
underneath a boardwalk building
near Stockton Avenue, the blaze was
whipped northward by strong winds
until firefighters 400 were involved
halted its progress at Lincoln Ave-
nue. About 60 businesses were
destroyed or damaged in the two
ROAD TO RECOVERY
BOARDWALK
NOT READY
The boardwalk decking is in place (in background) on a rebuilt section of the Seaside Heights boardwalk as
construction crews rebuild part of the Seaside Park boardwalk destroyed by fire. TOM SPADER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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SIDE SEASI SID EA SEA SEAAS EA SEA SEA
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HTS HEIGHT HT EIG IGH HEIG H GH EIG IGH HEIG
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1
2
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Atlantic
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Two sections destroyed in September fire
are expected to be completed by July 4
See SEASIDE, Page A15
REBUILDING
THE SEASIDE
BOARDWALKS
1 Owned by the bor-
ough and repaired.
2 Owned by Belle
Freeman, expected to
be opened to the pub-
lic sometime in June.
3 Owned by Funtown
Pier Associates, con-
struction underway and
expected to be com-
plete by July 4.
By Russ Zimmer @russzimmer
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THURSDAY 05.22.14
VOLUME 135
NUMBER 122
SINCE 1879
ADVICE D7
CLASSIFIED E1
COMICS D6
LOCAL A3
OBITUARIES A16
OPINION A19
SPORTS C1
TV D4
WEATHER C10
YOUR MONEY A14
PRESS ON YOUR SIDE
GETTING ZAPPED?
New Jersey plans to investigate and, if
necessary, prosecute third-party energy
suppliers who scam customers. Page A14
TRENTON Hanif Thompson charged with bur-
glary Dec. 7 and having his bail set at $50,000 was
freed after posting $200 and promising to pay more.
Aweek later, the 29-year-old Irvington man took part
in the slaying of a Toms River native during a carjack-
ing at the Mall of Short Hills, authorities said.
The State Commission of Investigation highlighted
Thompsons release from jail in a report issued
Wednesday on New Jerseys disjointed bail system,
saying it may have directly led to the murder of 30-
year-old Dustin Friedland Dec. 15 as he and his wife
were leaving the mall.
Get-out-of-jail bail
linked to mall slaying
Commission calls for reforming
distorted New Jersey system
By Ken Serrano @KenSerranoAPP
and John Schoonejongen @CapitolQuickies
See BAIL, Page A6
POLICE, RABBI AMONG 71 NABBED IN PORNOGRAPHY BUST PAGE 1B
TRENTON Thousands of senior citizens and the dis-
abled will not be seeing any property tax relief this year
despite the promise from the administration of Repub-
lican Gov. Chris Christie to deliver the money in Au-
gust.
State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff told law-
makers Wednesday that nearly $395 million in property
tax relief to residents will be delayed by nine months in
an effort to help manage an expected revenue squeeze
when the new fiscal year arrives in July. State officials
will wait until May 2015 to give the money back to resi-
dents through credits on property tax bills.
Democrats said the change isnt fair and fretted that
next year the Christie administration could further de-
lay the payment or bank the money, if the states eco-
nomic recovery continues to fizzle.
I think that weve seen any number of tricks and
procrastinations by this administration and there is lit-
State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff answers a
question on the budget Wednesday at the Statehouse in
Trenton. ASSOCIATED PRESS
State delays
property tax
relief credits
$395M for elderly, disabled
wont arrive until May 2015
By Bob Jordan @BobJordanAPP
See TAX, Page A6
RUTGERS
COACH
CONTRACT
REVEALED
C. Vivian Stringers
new deal is
incentive-laden.
SPORTS C1
Start the summer with a yard that sizzles with style LUXURY LIVING, D1
BACK IN SEASON
COLLEGE HOOPS