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I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care. Not only have they placed the perfect caregiver with my mother they also take care of the billing and when I need to speak to a receptionist they are always available. Thank you!!
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I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living Facility for my mother. We moved to the city a month ago and had little idea about the local senior living communities. I’d like to thank the highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers of Always Best Care for helping our family during the difficult time.
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“We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now.”

We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now. My mother practically does everything herself, but sometimes they might fix her her lunch, there might be a little bit of shopping, and they take her to her appointment. My mother is fine. The hours are fine. She got the hours that she requested. I know she is being billed on her credit card. They have been very helpful and very cooperative. The women always call back.
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“We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in”

We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in three days a week to assist my mother with doing the wash, keeping the house picked up, and just talking to her. She’s wonderful. We interviewed several people, and there was just something about the way they were organized in their presentation and their follow up. that impressed us. They were a level above the other ones that we spoke to. They really listen to you about your needs and work very hard to match the caregiver up with what you’re looking for. We were very impressed with them.
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“Such an amazing company with employees who truly care about their business and those they take care of. Caretakers are top notch and customer service is great and they are available whenever you need them.”

Josie J.
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“I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care. Not only have they placed the perfect caregiver with my mother they also take care of the billing and when I need to speak to a receptionist they are always available. Thank you!!”

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TESTIMONIALS

“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living Facility for my mother. We moved to the city a month ago and had little idea about the local senior living communities. I’d like to thank the highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers of Always Best Care for helping our family during the difficult time.”

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“We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now. My mother practically does everything herself, but sometimes they might fix her her lunch, there might be a little bit of shopping, and they take her to her appointment. My mother is fine. The hours are fine. She got the hours that she requested. I know she is being billed on her credit card. They have been very helpful and very cooperative. The women always call back.”

Judy367738
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TESTIMONIALS

“We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in three days a week to assist my mother with doing the wash, keeping the house picked up, and just talking to her. She’s wonderful. We interviewed several people, and there was just something about the way they were organized in their presentation and their follow up. that impressed us. They were a level above the other ones that we spoke to. They really listen to you about your needs and work very hard to match the caregiver up with what you’re looking for. We were very impressed with them.”

Nancy176801
In-Home Care Cliffwood, NJ

How does In-home Senior Care in Cliffwood, NJ work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care Cliffwood, NJ

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Cliffwood, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Cliffwood, NJ gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.

Respite Care Cliffwood, NJ

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Cliffwood,NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Caregivers Cliffwood, NJ

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

01

An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

02

Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

03

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Latest News in Cliffwood, NJ

Aberdeen Residents Fight Proposed Yeshiva in Cliffwood

The yeshiva owners will seek a variance from the Aberdeen zoning board next Wednesday, Sept. 7.Aberdeen, NJ - Residents in Aberdeen are fighting a yeshiva proposed for Meinzer Street, a quiet, tucked-away area in the Cliffwood section of town, reports the Asbury Park Press. The big blue signs you might have seen that read “Cliffwood Matters! Save Our Town!”...

The yeshiva owners will seek a variance from the Aberdeen zoning board next Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Aberdeen, NJ - Residents in Aberdeen are fighting a yeshiva proposed for Meinzer Street, a quiet, tucked-away area in the Cliffwood section of town, reports the Asbury Park Press. The big blue signs you might have seen that read “Cliffwood Matters! Save Our Town!” reference the yeshiva fight.

The yeshiva owners, Ruach Chaim Inc., will request a variance from the Aberdeen zoning board next Wednesday, Sept. 7, because the land is currently not zoned to allow a private educational academy to operate there.

Those who live on and around Meinzer Street say their main concerns are traffic and density. They say as the yeshiva grows, it could attract more than 300 people to the sleepy area, and the roads aren't equipped to handle that kind of traffic. Cliffwood Avenue Elementary School is two blocks away.

“Essentially, it’s a density issue,” said Cliffwood resident Michael Canberg, who is leading the opposition. “There are concerns for fire safety, traffic safety, evacuation safety. The land is definitely not zoned for that kind of density and not strategically positioned to handle that.”

“My biggest thing is, it’s not about them being Orthodox Jews,” Keirsten Chevalier, a lifelong Cliffwood resident and mother of two, told the APP. “I don’t care who it is. Whoever is trying to build something like that on a little piece of land, I think it’s crazy. When I do dropoff and pickups (at the school), it’s always a mess. Something like this will cause even more traffic.”

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According to the Asbury Park Press, Canberg has filed a formal objection and retained the law firm Curcio Mirzaian Sirot.

The yeshiva would be a four-building Orthodox Jewish academy run by Ruach Chaim Inc. It would consist of a synagogue/educational center/cafeteria, a rec center, a 160-bed student dormitory and a 42-unit married-student apartment building.

Read the original story here.

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More from Matawan-Aberdeen

Aberdeen L.A. Fitness Officially Opens At Old A&P Site

ABERDEEN, NJ — The new L.A. Fitness on Rt. 35 in Aberdeen just opened its doors this week, in the location of what used to be the old A&P supermarket.The L.A. Fitness is located at the intersection of Rt. 35 and Cliffwood Avenue and anchors the newly renovated Aberdeen Plaza.A Jersey Mike’s sub shop, currently under construction, will open there next.The property owners of Aberdeen Plaza, Basser-Kaufman, say they are "confident" they get the rest of the stores rented in the next year.&ldq...

ABERDEEN, NJ — The new L.A. Fitness on Rt. 35 in Aberdeen just opened its doors this week, in the location of what used to be the old A&P supermarket.

The L.A. Fitness is located at the intersection of Rt. 35 and Cliffwood Avenue and anchors the newly renovated Aberdeen Plaza.

A Jersey Mike’s sub shop, currently under construction, will open there next.

The property owners of Aberdeen Plaza, Basser-Kaufman, say they are "confident" they get the rest of the stores rented in the next year.

“We are confident that we will be able to tenant the rest of the space during the calendar year of 2021,” said Basser-Kaufman Principal Marc Kemp.

This is a "signature" L.A. Fitness, meaning it has an indoor swimming pool, free weights and exercise equipment, functional training, group fitness classes, saunas, steam rooms and such options as personal training, towel service and babysitting.

“Occupying a major portion of the shopping center’s former A&P supermarket, the L.A. Fitness Signature Club is the cornerstone of the redevelopment of Aberdeen Plaza into what we anticipate will again be a thriving commercial property,” said Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini. “This beautiful club is a welcome addition to the Rt. 35 corridor and should emerge as a major destination for residents of Aberdeen’s Cliffwood and Cliffwood Beach sections, and other parts of the township, as well as nearby towns like Keyport and Matawan."

Some amenities are temporarily unavailable due to New Jersey’s COVID-19 rules. For COVID safety, the gym will have contact-less check-in, extra space between equipment, additional cleaning and extra hand sanitizing stations.

The new club is open seven days week. For membership and other information, call (732) 231-2409.

In addition to Mayor Tagliarini, Aberdeen was represented at the ribbon-cutting by Deputy Mayor Joseph Martucci, Councilwoman Connie Kelley, Township Manager Bryan Russell, as well as Aberdeen Economic Business Council (EBC) Chairman Carmine Visone and member David Shah.

They were joined by an L.A. Fitness team that included Vice President of Sales Louis Pinto, General Manager Dominick Bacchetta, Weekend General Manager Joseph Chiavetta and Operations Manager Estela Sharp. Also on hand were representatives from Aberdeen Plaza owner Basser-Kaufman, including Principals Steve Kaufman and Marc Kemp, Director of Property Management Paul Reese and Max Kemp.

Aberdeen/Holmdel SERVPRO Seeks Teens To Fight Hunger

Aberdeen/Holmdel SERVPRO is partnering with local high school students to raise awareness of hunger in northern Monmouth County:|Updated Tue, Oct 17, 2023 at 8:29 pm ET(Servpro)CLIFFWOOD, NJ — SERVPRO of Aberdeen/Holmdel is joining ...

Aberdeen/Holmdel SERVPRO is partnering with local high school students to raise awareness of hunger in northern Monmouth County:

|Updated Tue, Oct 17, 2023 at 8:29 pm ET

(Servpro)

CLIFFWOOD, NJ — SERVPRO of Aberdeen/Holmdel is joining Dermer Dreams for their annual food drive on November 4.

SERVPRO of Aberdeen/Holmdel is partnering with local high school students to raise awareness of hunger in northern Monmouth County. All students who sign up will earn 10 hours of community service.

Dermer Dreams developed the Neighborhood Captain program where students are provided 100 Dermer Dreams donation bags; teens create their own strategy to distribute the bags and collect as much food as possible. The student, along with a parent, picks up the bags and delivers them to the drop site, which is the Fair Haven firehouse, on Saturday, Nov.4. From there, the food is delivered to food banks in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Here is how to sign your teen up to be a "Neighborhood Captain:" https://dermerdreams.org/

“Our friends, Alyse and Dan Dermer, brought Dermer Dreams to Fair Haven, NJ in 2019 and have been steadily growing its Neighborhood Captain program throughout the county and state," said Jennifer Harvey, vice president and owner of SERVPRO Team Harvey. "We want to do our part to bring this meaningful initiative to the students and residents of the towns we serve."

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dermer Dreams is a non-profit organization; their motto is "fighting hunger, one bag at a time." Their goal is to raise 1,000,000 pounds of food in New Jersey. They have collected and delivered more than 515,000 pounds of food to people who are food insecure.

After the student delivers the food, they are given a certificate for 10 hours of community service.

The Dermer’s next Neighborhood Captain event is Saturday, Nov. 4, and is expected to be the largest one yet, with hundreds of students participating as “Neighborhood Captains."

For more information about the Dermer Dreams Neighborhood Captain program, go to www.dermerdreams.org. For more information about SERVPRO Team Harvey, go to www.servproaberdeenholmdel.com.

For more than 50 years, SERVPRO has been a trusted leader in fire and water cleanup and restoration services, construction, mold mitigation, biohazard, and pathogen remediation professional services. SERVPRO Team Harvey responds to property damage emergencies large and small, from million square foot commercial facilities to individual homes. When disaster strikes homeowners business owners and major insurance companies alike rely on SERVPRO Team Harvey to make it “like it never even happened."

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Clean Cliffwood Beach Park on Saturday

Clean Ocean Action's twice-yearly event is set for 9 a.m. Saturday at sites all along the coastlinePatch Staff|Updated Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 3:50 pm ETIn the 1970s, there was a television ad that depicted a stream choked with trash – aluminum cans and old tires, among other things – and the ad would cut away at the end to a Native American man with a tear running down his cheek.The ads, of course, urged people not to litter, because of what it was doing to the environment.If those ads were done...

Clean Ocean Action's twice-yearly event is set for 9 a.m. Saturday at sites all along the coastline

Patch Staff

|Updated Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 3:50 pm ET

In the 1970s, there was a television ad that depicted a stream choked with trash – aluminum cans and old tires, among other things – and the ad would cut away at the end to a Native American man with a tear running down his cheek.

The ads, of course, urged people not to litter, because of what it was doing to the environment.

If those ads were done today in New Jersey, the Indian would be a Lenni Lenape, and he’d be standing on a shoreline choked with plastic bottles and caps, because those are the most commonly discarded items on the beaches of the Jersey Shore, according to Clean Ocean Action.

Clean Ocean Action’s twice-yearly beach sweeps are set for Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m. at sites up and down the coast, from Sandy Hook to Cape May, as well as some inland sites.

They’ve become an annual rite of spring – a rite the group wishes was unneeded, as it continues to promote its message of protecting the marine environment by recycling and disposing of trash properly.

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the 2011 beach sweeps, more than 7,500 volunteers collected more than 450,000 pieces of debris, from plastic bottle caps and straws to the far more odd items like cell phones, fake vampire teeth, TVs, a prosthetic leg and even an adult-sized Elmo costume, according to the group’s annual report on the sweeps.

“Plastic, including foam, represents 83 percent of the total waste found in 2011,” the group’s website notes. “It is clear: disposable plastic items continue to litter beaches, threaten marine life, and impact water quality.”

This spring’s sweeps, which run until noon, also fall the day before Earth Day, which some towns are marking with events promoting environmental awareness. In Point Pleasant, one of the sites being swept is the Maxson Avenue beach on the Manasquan River, next to Riverfront Park where the borough’s will be held on Saturday immediately following the beach cleanup.

While many of those who volunteer for the beach sweeps arrive in groups who have registered ahead of time, Clean Ocean Action volunteers willingly accept individuals or groups who walk up to a site on Saturday morning to participate.

Here’s a list of sites in Ocean and Monmouth counties where cleanups are being held. Volunteers are usually on site by 8:30 a.m. to begin handing out bags and tally sheets – where you can keep track of the litter you collect. The complete list of sites can be found here.

MONMOUTH COUNTY LOCATIONS

Aberdeen: Fisherman's Parking Lot at Cliffwood Beach (Next to the roller hockey rink)

Allenhurst: Euclid Avenue beach

Asbury Park (2 sites): 1. Convention Hall at the Boardwalk; 2. North Beach (meet at the dirt lot near Asbury Towers)

Atlantic Highlands: Harbor parking lot on First Avenue

Avon: Pavilion at Norwood & Ocean avenues

Belmar (2 sites): 1. Belmar Fishing Club, First Avenue beach; (2) 16th Avenue beach

Bradley Beach: Gazebo at 5th & Ocean avenues

Deal: Philips Avenue beach

Highlands: (2 sites) 1. Popamore Point on Shore Drive; 2. Snug Harbor Avenue beach (behind Community Center)

Keansburg:- Laurel & Beachway avenues

Keyport: Cedar Street (First Street at waterfront)

Long Branch: Pier Village, meet at public access at Melrose Terrace and Ocean Avenue

Manasquan: Main Street beach

Middletown (3 sites): 1. Leonardo Public Beach South at Beach Avenue; 2. Ideal Beach at Ocean Avenue & Bayside Parkway; 3. Bayshore Waterfront Park, meet at Fishing Pier

Monmouth Beach: Bathing Pavilion at 29 Ocean Ave.

Ocean Grove: Main Street beach; meet at flagpole

Red Bank: Meet at Chapin Avenue

Sandy Hook: Parking Lot D (Seagulls' Nest Restaurant)

Sea Bright (4 sites): 1. Ferguson Beach, north of Rumson/Sea Bright Bridge; 2. Meet at Gaiter's Restaurant Oceanside; 3. Meet at Algarve Milano Oceanside; 4. Meet at Public Beach parking lot

Sea Girt: Boardwalk at Beacon Boulevard

Spring Lake: South End Pavilion at Atlantic & Ocean avenues

Tinton Falls: Historic Tinton Falls. Meet at Crawford House parking lot.

Union Beach: Florence Avenue at Front Street

OCEAN COUNTY LOCATIONS

Bay Head: Central Market, Route 35 and Mount Street

Beachwood: Public Beach, Compass Avenue on the Toms River

Brick: Brick Beach III on Route 35 North, next to Ocean Club and across from Bayside Park

Lavallette: Philadelphia Avenue beach

Mantoloking: Lyman Avenue beach

Normandy Beach: Meet at Labrador Lounge at Peterson Street and Route 35 North

Ocean Gate: Wildwood Avenue Pier

Ortley Beach: Third Avenue beach

Point Pleasant: Maxson Avenue and River Avenue beaches

Point Pleasant Beach (2 sites): 1. beach in front of Jenkinson's Aquarium on the Boardwalk 2. Maryland Avenue Beach

Seaside Heights (2 sites): 1. Grant Avenue on the boardwalk; 2. Bayside boat launch along Route 35 South

Seaside Park (5 sites): 1. Stockton Avenue on the boardwalk; 2. Second Avenue; 3. Midway Beach at 6th Lane; 4. Island Beach State Park Bathing Pavilion 1; 5. 14th. Avenue and South Bayview Avenue

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Cliffwood Beach: The NJ vacation spot swept away by a hurricane

These days, Cliffwood Beach serves as a quiet section of Aberdeen, NJ with beautiful views of the Raritan Bay.Locals will tell you it is not – I repeat – not the same as neighboring Cliffwood. The two are divided by Route 35.As nice of a location as Cliffwood Beach is, especially if you're a New York commuter, it doesn't jump out at you when you're considering "beach towns" to visit along the Jersey coast. It's hard to imagine a Jersey Shore-esque environment when you've got Tottenville, Staten Island star...

These days, Cliffwood Beach serves as a quiet section of Aberdeen, NJ with beautiful views of the Raritan Bay.

Locals will tell you it is not – I repeat – not the same as neighboring Cliffwood. The two are divided by Route 35.

As nice of a location as Cliffwood Beach is, especially if you're a New York commuter, it doesn't jump out at you when you're considering "beach towns" to visit along the Jersey coast. It's hard to imagine a Jersey Shore-esque environment when you've got Tottenville, Staten Island staring back at you.

But not too long ago, Cliffwood Beach was a popular resort town. Up until the end of the summer in 1960, the area included a boardwalk with amusements, saltwater swimming pool, and sports recreation area including tennis and handball courts.

At night, visitors let loose at a popular restaurant, cocktail bar and lounge called The Cat 'n Fiddle.

The area drew comparisons to Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY.

For decades people flocked to the Raritan Bay Shore destination, but it all came to a screeching halt on Sept. 12, 1960. That was the day Hurricane Donna crossed into New Jersey.

The National Hurricane Center calls Donna one of the all-time great hurricanes.

As they describe it,

A northwestward turn on the (September) 9th brought the hurricane to the middle Florida Keys the next day at Category 4 intensity. Donna then curved northeastward, crossing the Florida Peninsula on September 11, followed by eastern North Carolina (Category 3) on the 12th, and the New England states (Category 3 on Long Island and Categories 1 to 2 elsewhere) on the 12th and 13th.

50 people were reported dead in the United States from Donna, and damages totaled in the millions. To this day Donna is the only hurricane to impact every state along the East Coast with hurricane-force winds.

Subsequently, the devastating impacts led to the name "Donna" being retired, and will never again be used for an Atlantic hurricane. The name was replaced by "Dora" in 1964.

When Donna made her way into Raritan Bay, she shifted the popular Cliffwood Beach waterfront from present tense to past tense.

From the Sept. 16, 1960 edition of the The Matawan Journal,

Bayfront areas of Matawan Township took a battering from Hurricane Donna, especially in sections bordering Matawan Creek and in portions of Cliffwood Beach. During the worst of the hurricane, water was nine to 10 feet deep in the streets of Cliffwood Beach, police reported. Damage in the beach area was estimated at more than $150,000. Ten families were evacuated from the waterfront area to the Cliffwood Fire House. Flooding in Cliffwood Beach reached all the way back to Greenwood Ave. The storm lashed bay waters completely covered the roofs of the 180 unit colony of seacots facing the bay at Cliffwood Beach and crashed through the rear of the Cat 'n Fiddle Restaurant, splitting the building in two. Police were stationed at the restaurant after looting was reported.

All that remains today is the saltwater swimming pool, but it is currently buried in a sand dune that helps support part of the sea wall.

The vacation retreat was never to be heard from again.

Efforts to revitalize the waterfront didn't follow through until the last five years.

You can now take a stroll down memory lane and imagine what the resort destination would look like today if it wasn't flattened, flooded, and erased from history. In 2018, the Aberdeen Sea Walk at Cliffwood Beach was unveiled.

The half-mile trail along the Donna-damaged seawall includes fishing posts, outlooks, benches, and a gazebo.

They also opened up Veterans Park on the beachfront, which has playgrounds for children, a picnic area, and multi-purpose fields.

It may not look the way it used to, but the Raritan Bay waterfront can still be a fun and scenic destination.

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 producer, writer, and host Joe Votruba. Any opinions expressed are his own.

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