BELMAR, NJ — Shortly after sunrise this past Sunday, all eyes were on the Belmar 17th Avenue beachfront, where a calm, flat ocean would have been a welcomed sight for many — except for this group of beachgoers.

They were gathered for one major reason — to compete in the final day of the Eastern Surfing Association’s 2019 Northeast Regional Surfing Championship. Surfers ...

BELMAR/LAKE COMO, NJ — Belmar Police Department continues to roll out its new Community Policing Program, with the final meeting to be held on Thursday, May 16 in Belmar's west patrol zone.

With the summer seasons several weeks away, the program is designed to give Belmar and Lake Como residents a more active role in addressing quality-of-life issues within their ...

BELMAR, NJ — It’s the trifecta this summer for Belmar youngsters looking for action on the track, basketball court or soccer field.

Registration is now open for the following organized activities:

The Summer Basketball League will run from June 26 through August 8, with a season of six games that will be played in the recreation gymnasium, located at the Municipal Building, 601 ...

OCEAN GROVE, NJ — Serenity by the Sea owner Sarah Taylor Izzo has something to say — words of inspiration that she has crafted into a unique collection of framed art.

These statement pieces of affirmation art are on display at her Ocean Grove boutique, located at 53 Main Avenue. Cutting out single letters from printed materials, she has arranged them into words and phrases to ...

WALL, NJ — Motorists can now fuel up, and visit the convenience store and restroom facilities at the new Monmouth Service Area on the Garden State Parkway, according to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

The facility’s main building, which will include a Shake Shack, Auntie Anne's, Starbucks and Z-Mart, is expected to be open by Memorial Day.

The Wall-based service stop at ...

BELMAR, NJ — Progress has been made on two fronts in preparation for Belmar’s all-important beach season, which kicks off later this month.

At the Belmar Council’s May 7 meeting, Business Administrator Edward Kirschenbaum provided an update on two critical projects impacted by heavy rainfall — sewer system overflow into the Shark River along Route 35 and excessive ...

LAKE COMO, NJ — There was no comment during this week’s public hearing on Lake Como’s proposed $3.56 million budget, but a five-year snapshot of a declining municipal tax rate spoke volumes to a decision made four years ago to outsource the borough’s police operations.

Borough Clerk/Administrator Louise Mekosh provided the borough council on May 7 with statistics ...

FREEHOLD, NJ — Applications to vote-by-mail in the June 4 primary that are sent through the U.S. Postal Service must be received by the Monmouth County Clerk's Office no later than Tuesday, May 28 — seven days before the election..

Applications for mail-in ballots can be obtained from the county clerk's elections website at www.MonmouthCountyVotes.com, or by visiting the ...

BELMAR, NJ — Belmar Elementary School graduates who are planning to attend college in the fall have until May 17 to submit an application for a PTO annual scholarship.

High school seniors from Belmar or Lake Como who are graduating this June and plan to continue their education can apply for two $1,000 awards. Recipients will be selected based on several factors:

Academics, ...

BELMAR, NJ — Beach Haus Brewery made quite an impressive showing at the recent Atlantic City Beer and Music Fest, taking home awards for two of its newest brews.

Its Free World Pale Ale captured first place in the American Pale Ale category and “We Were Made For Peach Other” Milkshake IPA came in second among New England IPAs at the 14th annual festival.

Belmar’s own ...

BELMAR, NJ — As the prime season quickly approaches, the Belmar Business Partnership stands ready to remain the driving force behind making this seashore community a great place for business any time of the year.

Taking the pulse of Belmar’s business community, the nonprofit group reports that there is “a renewed spirit of enthusiasm and commitment, with high hopes for a ...

TAPinto Belmar/Lake Como is now publishing its Kick Off to Summer special advertising section. This go-to online guide will get your message before thousands of readers every day — whether you’re looking to bring in business from seasonal visitors, day-trippers or the locals.

When you advertise in the Kick Off to Summer special section, readers will be only a click away from your ...

BELMAR, NJ — A pink dogwood tree took its place today on the front lawn of Belmar Elementary School.

And for the school’s fourth-graders who helped with the planting, it will always be their class tree. “When you grow up and go by Main Street, you will see your tree,” said Sal Circelli, a Public Works employee and Shade Tree Commission member.

They all stood ready to ...

LAKE COMO, NJ — Lake Como residents can now join the Belmar Senior Club at no cost to them.

The borough will pay the $50 registration cost for any resident age 65 and older who wants to be part of the club, which offers a full array of amenities throughout the year. At the Belmar Community Center/Library Annex at 503 Seventh Avenue in Belmar, there is a full monthly calendar of card ...

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Julie Wester, whose parents have a home in Lake Como, will be honored by the Essex Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh at its 51st annual dinner dance on May 4 for "her years of contributions to the Irish-American community at large and her long family history with the Essex Shillelaghs."

Wester will receive the group's Friend of ...

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Susan G. Komen North Jersey’s annual 5K is in the books as hundreds of individuals’ cheery spirits shined through the soggy morning of May 5.

The 12th Annual Race for the Cure at Liberty State Park included a 5K timed race and fun run. Participants weighed in as they waited for results and awards.

“This is a great race,” Holly Basile of Wall ...

BELMAR, NJ — The sun has made a grand return, beaming along the Belmar beachfront and Silver Lake, as photographer Paul Spennrath has captured in these early morning photos.

Temperatures reached 60 degrees on May 6, with the chance of showers in the forecast mounting through the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

A look ahead to Mother’s Day on Sunday, ...

The IRS continues to highlight many resources available to help small business owners and self-employed individuals understand and meet their tax obligations. Here’s a recap of key topics covered in IRS Tax Tips during this year’s Small Business Week.

How small businesses can connect with the IRS over social media. The IRS just launched its newest Twitter account created to offer ...

Raised beds and containers expand our planting options. They allow us to grow edible and ornamental plants even where there is no plantable space to garden. Use them to make planting, tending and harvesting convenient by bringing the garden to your back door. And fill them with pollinator-friendly plants to enjoy the colorful hummingbirds and butterflies that visit and flit past the window, deck ...

BELMAR/LAKE COMO, NJ — TAPinto Belmar/Lake Como is the only all-online, objective newspaper that serves residents, organizations and businesses in both municipalities, reporting news at it happens 24/7.

Accredited by the New Jersey Press Association, it is the official electronic newspaper of both municipalities and is part of the TAPinto network of 75 locally owned and operated online ...