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Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

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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.
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“I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care.”

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”

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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“Your manager is always nice and flexible, and the caregivers are sweet and wonderful”

Your manager is always nice and flexible, and the caregivers are sweet and wonderful
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“We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver”

We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver is excellent. I would recommend them.
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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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TESTIMONIALS

“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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TESTIMONIALS

“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!!”

Pamgoldberg
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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.”

Theodore S.
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“Your manager is always nice and flexible, and the caregivers are sweet and wonderful”

Leta J.
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“We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver is excellent. I would recommend them.”

Carla500226
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TESTIMONIALS

“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 Lavallette, NJ

How does In-home Senior Care in Lavallette, 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 Lavallette, 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 Lavallette, 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 Lavallette, 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 Lavallette, 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 Lavallette,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 Lavallette, 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 Lavallette, NJ

‘High’ Rip Current Advisory Continues Sunday, ‘Moderate’ Risk Monday

The National Weather Service has extended its forecast of “high” rip current risks at the Jersey Shore to 9 p.m. Sunday, meaning swimmers may not have their usual level of access to ocean beaches in some locations.According to the NWS Surf Zone Forecast for Ocean County, the surf height will be 3-4 feet Sunday and carry with it a “high” risk current risk. The NWS defines “high” as “life-threatening rip currents likely in the surf zone.” G...

The National Weather Service has extended its forecast of “high” rip current risks at the Jersey Shore to 9 p.m. Sunday, meaning swimmers may not have their usual level of access to ocean beaches in some locations.

According to the NWS Surf Zone Forecast for Ocean County, the surf height will be 3-4 feet Sunday and carry with it a “high” risk current risk. The NWS defines “high” as “life-threatening rip currents likely in the surf zone.”

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Water temperatures will remain in the upper 60s and wind will be from the southwest at about 10 m.p.h.

On Monday, the rip current risk is predicted to be “moderate,” meaning “life-threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone,” as opposed to “likely” during high-risk periods. Water temperatures will remain in the high 60s with surf heights of 2-3 feet with west winds around 5 m.p.h., becoming southwest in the afternoon.

The NWS issues its Surf Zone Forecast for periods of two days at a time.

“There is a high risk of rip currents,” a statement from the local NWS office in Mount Holly said. “A high risk of rip currents implies that wind and/or wave conditions will support the development of very strong rip currents. Rip currents can be life threatening to anyone caught in the rip current.”

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties and piers.

According to the NWS, if you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.

Lavallette Welcomes New Candy Store

Lavallette officially welcomes a new business Saturday with the grand opening of She Shells Sweets at 605 Grand Central Avenue next door to Playa Bowls and the Crab’s Claw Inn. A classic “sweet shop” they offer a wide variety of treats including candy, chocolates, homemade fudge and taffy, coffee and more. You’ll find sweet delights for yourself as well as gifts for Dad to enjoy on Father’s Day.While the store opened last weekend Saturday at 11 am Lavallette Mayor Walter LaCicero will mak...

Lavallette officially welcomes a new business Saturday with the grand opening of She Shells Sweets at 605 Grand Central Avenue next door to Playa Bowls and the Crab’s Claw Inn. A classic “sweet shop” they offer a wide variety of treats including candy, chocolates, homemade fudge and taffy, coffee and more. You’ll find sweet delights for yourself as well as gifts for Dad to enjoy on Father’s Day.

While the store opened last weekend Saturday at 11 am Lavallette Mayor Walter LaCicero will make it official when he cuts the ribbon. Festivities throughout the day include a singer belting out some old soda shoppe tunes just before and after the ribbon cutting and a face painter will be on hand from 4-6pm.

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These are the best NJ high schools for sports

Stacker put together a list of the best high schools for sports across New Jersey — using data from Niche that included sports championships, family surveys, student enrollment, athletic participation rate and sports options. Here's the top 25.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

(Canva, Townsquare Media)

Best NJ high schools for sports - #25

River Dell is a member of the NJSIAA, The Big North Conference, BCCA, BCWCA, Super Football Conference, Northeast Field Hockey League, NJILL and NJIGLL.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #24

Oak Knoll offers 15 varsity programs, including Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Sailing (fall/spring), Softball, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field (winter/spring), and Volleyball.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #23

Jackson Memorial HS offers 27 interscholastic varsity sports - winning team and individual championships over the years.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #22

Middletown HS South offers 20 sports, including co-ed ice hockey.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #21

Manasquan HS offers 25 sports, including ice hockey and a surf team.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #20

Among at least 16 sports programs offered at Immaculate Heart is a ski team.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #19

Ridge High School has a full roster of 34 sports — including fencing, sailing and skiing.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #18

With more than 30 sports offerings, Summit Senior HS includes a girls' ice hockey team, plus co-ed sailing.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #17

Saint Peter’s Prep encourages each student to do at least 1 co-curricular sport or activity. The school has 18 varsity sports and 40 teams - including crew and water polo.

(Canva, Townsquare Media)

Best NJ high schools for sports - #16

Shawnee High School Athletics keeps a running tally of its earned championships at the county, conference and state levels - as well as records set by individuals and teams.

(Canva, Townsquare Media)

Best NJ high schools for sports - #15

Northern Highlands Regional has 24 sports, spanning winter through spring.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #14

St. Augustine Prep has many of its own fields and facilities on the school campus, including an Olympic-sized pool. The rate of student athletics participation is 91%.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #13

CBA has a storied athletic history. Its sport offerings include rugby, crew and sailing.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #12

With nearly three dozen sports, the offerings by Ridgewood High include alpine skiing, club crew and girls flag football.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #11

West Essex High School offers roughly two dozen sports.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #10

In addition to a full offering of girls and boys sports at multiple levels, Haddonfield Memorial also offers year-round crew.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #9

Among a range of sports offered at Westfield High School, girls ice hockey is included — while girls flag football completed its first season in spring 2023.

(Canva, Townsquare Media)

Best NJ high schools for sports - #8

Seton Hall Prep is another private school with a long history of athletic achievements. Sports offerings include multiple levels of crew and a varsity rifle team.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #7

Among its vast sports offerings, Wayne Hills High has fencing, skiing and girls flag football.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #6

Bergen Catholic competes in 17 different sports as part of the NJSIAA. Since the school began in 1955, BC has won 560 championships.

(Canva, Townsquare Media)

Best NJ high schools for sports - #5

Cedar Creek High was another school that saw its first girls flag football season wrapped in 2023, along with its other sports offerings at multiple levels.

(Canva, Townsquare Media)

Best NJ high schools for sports - #4

Don Bosco Prep has a history of championships and more than a few alumni turned pro athletes. Its extensive sports offerings include rugby, skiing and mountain biking.

(Canva, Townsquare Media)

Best NJ high schools for sports - #3

Red Bank Catholic has 28 varsity sports among its offerings.

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Best NJ high schools for sports - #2

Delbarton has 17 title-winning varsity sports and a roster of notable alumni — including current young Yankees slugger, Anthony Volpe.

(Canva, Townsquare Media)

Best NJ high schools for sports - #1

Ramapo High has a full athletic schedule with many of the teams racking up a history as league and divisional champs. It's among schools on the list that have seen girls flag football added to its offerings.

Lavallette Organizing Plans for Upgrades to Chandler Field, New Dog Run Area

Lavallette borough officials are finalizing plans to partner with the school district to improve Chandler Field, the baseball field complex situated between Route 35 and Baltimore Avenue.“We did meet with the Board of Ed, and it looks like we’re going to do it in two phases,” said Borough Administrator John Bennett, at a council meeting held Monday night, referring to new dugouts and a new infield.“We’re also going to go ahead and try to apply for a Green Acres improvement grant which would try to ...

Lavallette borough officials are finalizing plans to partner with the school district to improve Chandler Field, the baseball field complex situated between Route 35 and Baltimore Avenue.

“We did meet with the Board of Ed, and it looks like we’re going to do it in two phases,” said Borough Administrator John Bennett, at a council meeting held Monday night, referring to new dugouts and a new infield.

“We’re also going to go ahead and try to apply for a Green Acres improvement grant which would try to get the money for the outfield,” he said, which would come in the form of a low-interest loan of 2 percent.

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The upgrades to the field will be completed after a number of other projects are checked off the borough’s list, he said. The borough is also pursuing maintenance at the pickleball courts.

“After we finish the tennis courts and some other continual maintenance, the next project will be this field,” said Bennett. “We want to bring it up to the standards we have at the recreation area.”

Chandler Field is, notably, one of the most popular areas for members of the “Goose Patrol” to bring their four-legged friends for some exercise. In Lavallette, residents can apply for a limited number of permits to allow dogs onto the field in order to spread their scent with the hope of scaring away Canada geese which had been soiling the field. The program has been hailed as a success, though over the years it has morphed into a recreational activity as much as a goose-prevention measure. Officials are considering a plan to designate a certain area of the Chandler Field complex as a permanent dog run that can be used even when activities are ongoing within the park.

“The thought was, when the children were in there playing, you could go into this certain area which will be fenced-in where the dogs can run unleashed,” said Councilwoman Anita Zalom.

Bennett said the designated dog run fencing would not be paid for by taxpayers, but those who bring their dogs to the park.

“We’re getting the prices right now, and we’ve been working with the Goose Patrol people who will be the source of the funding,” he said.

Lavallette Beach Sales on Target, Mobi-Mats to be Installed on Two Streets

Lavallette officials this week said beach badge sales for the 2023 season are among the highest-ever, even after a few lackluster weather days that fell on weekends. Meanwhile, two years’ worth of grant funding is expected to cover the cost of Mobi-Mats at two beach entrances to make accessing the sand easier for residents with disabilities.“We’re having a good summer,” said Councilman Michael Stogdill, who reported $889,000 in revenue having been generated already this season. “The last three years have ...

Lavallette officials this week said beach badge sales for the 2023 season are among the highest-ever, even after a few lackluster weather days that fell on weekends. Meanwhile, two years’ worth of grant funding is expected to cover the cost of Mobi-Mats at two beach entrances to make accessing the sand easier for residents with disabilities.

“We’re having a good summer,” said Councilman Michael Stogdill, who reported $889,000 in revenue having been generated already this season. “The last three years have been great and we’re right in that neighborhood. We’re able to meet expenses, and that is the major concern.”

Like most municipalities, Lavallette has had to raise salaries of beach staff in recent years, plus fund increased insurance premiums and perform maintenance on its lifeguard headquarters.

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“Opening weekend” for swimming, which occurred June 17, produced $52,000 in revenue, and badge sales were up to $18,000 this past Sunday after iffy weather kept things slow on Saturday.

Mobi-Mats

Officials have also received a grant to place Mobi-Mats – a fabric-based hard surface mat that is installed over the sand at beach entrances to make walking on them easier – at on one street, and another is expected to come through over the next few weeks.

Council President Anita Zalom spearheaded the grants. One of the grants was received last summer, however the funding did not cover the installation. A borough employee has since undergone training in how to install the mat, and it will be located at the President Avenue beach soon.

The next “mat grant” will include the installation cost, with the mat being planned for New York Avenue.

“I’ve been given the unofficial word, but we need to wait for the official word” on the grant approval for New York Avenue, Zalom said.

President and New York avenues were chosen because they are two of the widest streets in town, making them more accessible for handicap-outfitted vehicles. The mats will be sand-colored, white and brown, like those that have been installed in neighboring Ortley Beach.

Does The Island Need a Dog Park? Lavallette Councilman Has a Multi-Town Idea

There aren’t too many complaints about Ocean County’s northern barrier island. Sure, occasionally a motorist drives the wrong way, or folks don’t want to leave the beach...

There aren’t too many complaints about Ocean County’s northern barrier island. Sure, occasionally a motorist drives the wrong way, or folks don’t want to leave the beach when the lightning alarm sounds – but most often, seasonal residents, especially, bring up the fact that there aren’t too many dog-friendly open spaces around.

Some towns allow dogs to roam the sand during the winter, but beaches are off-limits to man’s best friend during the summer. The same goes for boardwalks (Seaside Heights had a short, but failed, experiment) and most parks. A notable exception is Lavallette, where dogs are allowed in some areas as part of the borough’s “Goose Patrol,” a program that caught on to humanely keep Canada geese from leaving their droppings behind. The scent of dogs prevents the geese from congregating in one area, the waste problem goes away, and the dogs get a place to stretch their legs – everyone wins.

The Goose Patrol program, however, has its limits. Only a certain number of dogs can be permitted in the program to prevent overcrowding, and priority is generally given to year-round residents since officials want to keep the geese away all year long. What the island needs is a dog park for everyone, one Lavallette councilman said Monday night, and he’d like to approach neighboring towns about lobbying for space at a potentially perfect location.

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Lavallette Councilman James Borowski proposed Monday night that his town, plus Toms River and potentially Brick, approach the Ocean County Utilities Authority about using a portion of the 6.5-acre former treatment station – now overwhelmingly vacant land – for a dog run, even if it’s seasonal. The OCUA tract is located in Ortley Beach between Fielder and 8th avenues to the south and north and Washington Avenue and Route 35 to the west and east, respectively.

“I agree that’s a great spot,” said Mayor Walter LaCicero. “There is definitely more need and more requests than we can accommodate right now, especially for people who are not full-time residents of Lavallette.”

The problem, as Shorebeat readers are likely aware, is that OCUA has spent years turning down requests from both members of the public as well as local municipal leaders to use the land for recreation or open space. As recently as last month, Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill said the little-known county sewerage agency led by former Lacey Township Mayor John Parker “won’t budge” on the issue. In 2016, the Ortley Beach Voters and Taxpayers Association rallied a large number of residents to attend an OCUA meeting, but to no avail. Similar proposals dating to before the existence of Shorebeat likewise did not produce positive results.

Parker, at the time of the 2016 rally, spoke about how he did not want the authority to “lose” the property, though the OBVTA’s proposal would have allowed the land to remain owned by OCUA. Parker has historically wielded significant political influence in Ocean County and, in turn, over board members. Years later, however, and with a multi-town effort, officials hope there may be some way to influence board members to finally allow the public to benefit from the site, which shut down operations years ago and now utilizes just about 20 percent of the property to pump sewage through a submarine pipe to a modern treatment station in Berkeley Township.

“I would propose that this governing body joins arms with Toms River,” said Borowski. “I think that a dog park, specifically-designed in a small spot of that facility, might be something we could convince the [commissioners] to go with.”

LaCicero said his only concern would be lessening the number of Goose Patrol members, however there is already a waiting list for the program.

“Toms River just opened [a dog park] on the mainland this spring, so I’m sure they would be behind it as well,” the mayor said.

Shorebeat will follow up with the Ocean County Commissioners at their next meeting on the issue, though the land is owned by OCUA, which is semi-autonomous from the larger county government.

The site lays largely dormant, and OCUA does allow Toms River Township to use a small portion for beach employee parking and equipment storage. The entire parcel was, at one point, owned by the Toms River MUA before it was sold to OCUA as towns switched to a county-wide system.

“The township sold it to them for a pile of dough, and when they consolidated, they didn’t need the site anymore,” said Hill. “At one time it was a big treatment plant, but then they decided to put everything into a main underneath the bay and they no longer needed the treatment facility.”

Hill has said that Toms River would also be open to an agreement where the land is used seasonally for recreation and would remain under OCUA ownership.

LaCicero, for his part, would like to see both spots open to the four-legged friends of residents and visitors.

“I certainly don’t want to discourage participation here in town,” he joked. “We don’t want the geese to get too smart and return.”

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