High heat unwelcome participant in Oceanfest
July Fourth’s soaring
temperatures reduced crowd at annual event
Chris Kelly Above, a crowd sets up in front of the stage where “The Cast” from Beatlemania, a Beatles cover band, performed at Oceanfest in Long Branch on July Fourth. At left, Long Branch’s Sam Tovaro places dough into a fryer to make zeppole.
LONG BRANCH — The turnout for the 12th annual Oceanfest was a little smaller than last year. What kept the crowds away was the intense humidity and temperatures that soared to 100 degrees, according to organizers.
Michael Rescinio, chairman of the Oceanfest committee said that, conservatively, this year 100,000 people came to Oceanfest compared to last year’s count of approximately 150,000.
"The weather kept the people on the beach," said Rescinio, "instead of coming up on the boardwalk."
He added, "The construction [within the redevelopment area] hampered the event a little because set-ups needed to be shifted differently than in the past."
Oceanfest this year was flanked on either side by the construction sites of Pier Village to the south and Beachfront North to the north. Both those sites, absent of structures, provided extra parking spaces.
What the construction did do was open up double the parking," said Susan Woolley, assistant director of the Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce, "making it much easier."
The people of Long Branch, according to Mayor Adam Schneider, wanted fireworks to come back to the city. "We didn’t have any for eight years because of the lack of funding."
Schneider, who played an integral part in establishing the first-ever Oceanfest in 1991, said the first event was half the size it is today, but it became successful in large part through the hard work of the people in charge of organizing the event.
"When you put together the enthusiasm of the people involved and our great beaches, that is what has made this event successful," said Schneider.
Nancy Kleiberg, co-chairwoman of Oceanfest, said that the sponsorship for the event is growing with every year.
The committee hired Sylvia Allen of Allen Consulting Inc., Holmdel, to sign on sponsors.
This year there were 28 sponsors, and the event hosted 150 vendors peddling goods such as arts and crafts and food, as well as nonprofit organizations with give-aways to represent their messages.
During certain times of the day, one could see city officials getting involved in the action. City Public Safety Director Louis Napoletano was responsible for frying zeppole, City Administrator Howard J. Woolley Jr. and Schneider were parking cars, and Director of Public Works Fred Migliaccio worked all day coordinating his staff, which collected garbage and litter throughout the day. After the fireworks display around 11 p.m., Migliaccio was still hard at work picking up garbage bags from straggling vendors.
The event required the assistance of 50 police officers and special officers, according to Sgt. Bruce Johantgen, including additional officers from Ocean Township, Tinton Falls, Little Silver, Freehold Borough and Stafford Township, to assist with traffic.
The Long Branch First Aid Squad, the Red Cross and the Civil Air Patrol, an official auxiliary of the United States Air Force, were on stand by to provide medical assistance.
Cadet Master Sgt. Joseph Lucarelli and Cadet Master Sgt. Mike Larkin for the Civil Air Patrol walked the promenade and reported if people were experiencing heat exhaustion and dehydration.
According to Johantgen, eight individuals were treated for heat exhaustion, and one individual was transferred to Monmouth Medical Center for treatment.
The Oceanfest committee traditionally begins planning for next year’s event with the critiquing of the event past. "This year everything ran so smoothly," said Kevin Hayes Jr., director of building and development and a fire official. "I doubt we will change anything."
As for a peek into next year, Susan Woolley said, there will definitely be another Oceanfest with growing sponsorship.
What will change, noted Hayes, is a shift of the activities to the north with the development of Beachfront North which will provide the great lawns for activities.