Bradley Beach, New Jersey, Feb. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A transition from paper to digital processes is underway in Bradley Beach, New Jersey where local officials have sought greater efficiency in municipal operations and constituent services. The city recently partnered with GovPilot, a Manasquan, New Jersey based provider of cloud-based government management software.

Officials from Bradley Beach are working with GovPilot to implement a number of digital capabilities and public facing forms that aim to make operations more efficient and services more convenient for constituents and visitors to the picturesque shorefront municipality whose population can swell to 30,000 during the summer months.

Bradley Beach is initially utilizing GovPilot to digitize forms and processes for Business Registration, Certificates of Continued Occupancy, Construction Permits, Dog Licenses, Fire Prevention, Open Public Records Requests, Work Orders, and non-emergency constituent concern reporting among other uses.

The municipality has deployed GovPilot’s Report-a-Concern feature which enables residents to report non-emergency concerns such as potholes or general code violations directly via a digital form on the township website, or through an app on their phone, called GovAlert. The app, available to residents on Android and iOS devices is easy to use, and routes citizen concerns directly to the relevant municipal department so that the issue can be resolved quickly.

Mayor Larry Fox said, “I encourage residents to download the GovAlert app on their phones and help us improve Bradley Beach by reporting issues that they come across so we can address them quickly. Digital government services are essential to cost effective public safety and services, and we aim to be responsive to our residents.”

“We have been thrilled to work with GovPilot thus far. The digital processes that we’ve been able to make available both to our residents and to our staff have made a huge difference in convenience and efficiency. It has completely transformed our construction department.”, said Pamela Valentine, a Construction Department Permit Tech.

Michael Bonner, the founder and CEO of GovPilot said, “We are excited to work with Bradley Beach on its early stages of digital transformation. Federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act has spurred local governments to implement digital services and operations. In partnering with local governments across the country we have found that digital processes generate significant increases in efficiency and productivity that have a positive impact on local budgets, services, and constituent experience. We expect to see similar results in Bradley Beach.”

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About GovPilot:

GovPilot - named a GovTech 100 company for six consecutive years - is the leader in digital transformation for local governments. GovPilot's cloud-based platform was built with the sole purpose of enabling local governments to operate at their full potential by standardizing, digitizing, and unifying more than 100 operational and constituent service processes on one system.

To learn more visit www.govpilot.com. Follow @GovPilot on LinkedIn and Twitter.

BY JILLY MacDOWELL | I returned to Philly this spring after living at the beach in Jersey for five years. As I waved goodbye to my Philly homies heading “down the shore” this past month, I wondered, why don't Philadelphians, in general, go to beaches north of Atlantic City?

See, I didn't live down the shore. I lived in Monmouth County, arguably known as Central New Jersey — in Bradley Beach, a great little sleepy non-commercial township between Asbury Park and Belmar. The process of moving to Illadelph, including trapping a cat, involved seven trips back and forth. None of them exceeded 75 minutes.

This is 15 minutes longer than it takes to get to Atlantic City, but at least 20 minutes shorter than the journey to Cape May. Make it make sense! When did we agree to hand the north over to... the northerners? I get it, seems fair, but if you haven't experienced the night-and-day difference between northern and southern NJ beaches, I urge you to consider Monmouth for next summer... up the shore.

Because Monmouth is really very nice. It has much to offer and things that are un-ironically cool. Starting with the closest to Philly (from NJ-295N to 195E which turns into 138E and plops you 10 blocks from the beach in Belmar), here's a quick rundown:

As the most "Jersey Shore" town in Monmouth, Belmar has its charms: Bruce's 10th Avenue and E Street, adorable cottages, every retired roadie on the Eastern seaboard, and the legendary D'Jai's (Oceanside Bar & Cafe) and Bar Ant(-icipation). Backwards ball caps, ankle bracelets, underboob, Hollister — you know the vibes. You can rent a slightly crappy house for $20k for the whole summer (that's a little over $1000/week, which is unbeatable).

Go north to adjacent hamlet Avon-by-the-Sea to find superb landscaping, classy though few Airbnb options, discreet wealth and great vegan food at Seed to Sprout. If a Nancy Meyers film was set in Jersey, it would be set in Avon. That's Avon (pronounced "a" as in "actual," accent on the "von," or like Avalon without the "al").

Next up is my beloved Bradley Beach. This historic town, named for Asbury founder and designer James A. Bradley, is about 40 percent annual residents, so it's ver-r-r-ry laidback. It boasts a spotless beach, decent jetty surfing, a tasteful boardwalk and all amenities, including a movie theater, bowling alley and greater restaurant density than any other shore town! DelPonte's pizzeria, bakery and new gelateria are iconic; Luna Verde's Mexican vegan is astonishingly good.

You've heard of Ocean Grove, right? The Camp Meeting Association that owns the land under all the private residences? The one with all the permanent tents on prime oceanfront real estate? And all the restored Victorians? It's cute, congested and, for my money, a day trip kind of town. Its northern border, on Wesley Lake, faces Asbury. In fact, there are lakes between most of these Monmouth towns. Expect to brake for geese crossings.

The "core" of the northern shore is Asbury Park. You've probably already heard good things! It's the usual mix of a few stalwart venues (long live the Saint!), an inventive restaurant scene, oodles of vintage/tattoo/maker boutiques, and new construction everywhere. It is a long way from the desolate gang playground of the late 20th century.

The walkable downtown area centered around Cookman Avenue will satisfy every diner – Rice Asian for sushi takeout, Taka for dine-in; sister hotspots Barrio Costero and Reyla for Mexican and Middle Eastern, respectively; Pascal & Sabine for chic Parisian. Cookman Creamery does ice cream sorcery. And Seaside Heights fans can find Maruca's spiral-sauced pizza up on Asbury's historic boardwalk!

The boardwalk is also a constantly evolving art exhibit, thanks to the Wooden Walls Project work with muralists and installation artists. Find the Amber Lynn heart! And the Shepherd Fairey punk murals! Then find your inner child at the Silverball Arcade! The "City by the Sea" is a place to have fun; September brings the annual Sea Hear Now music fest, organized by music vet Danny Clinch. Last year, a crowd of more than 25k descended upon Asbury's beach for headliners Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam. This year, it's Stevie Nicks and Green Day.

Unlike the aforementioned small towns, Asbury offers a variety of hotels; consider the Citizen M-ish Asbury, a reimagined Y with a rooftop bar & movie screening deck; Asbury Ocean Club, the inevitable highrise no one wanted but whose infinity pool is just begging for a cannonball; or the recently opened adults-only St. Laurent with its Slim Aaron feels.

North of the AP "core" and spanning about five miles, we have:

Deal, a drivethrough town, is for ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the mostly pre-1980 homes and their private beaches.

Wind up in Long Branch, which is coming back, slowly, and sometimes quickly. New hotels, chic high-rise condos, and a newly commercialized boardwalk with high-end shops and better oceanside food than most. On the other side of Ocean Avenue you can find just about all of Jersey's best Latin foods; Long Branch is more than a third Latinx.

Keep going to picturesque Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright on the Shrewsbury Bay – more coastline, more water sports! Anjelica's is arguably the county's best Italian food. Ubiquitous restaurateur David Burke has a few spots up here too, as well as in Belmar. Oceanside rentals are your best bet in this neck of the sand; units were constructed in recent years behind a post-Sandy seawall that's necessary but frankly a bummer from the street side.

It's just a few short miles to Sandy Hook, a decommissioned army base with an unexpectedly close-up view of New York City. Its beaches are free, except the very popular clothing-optional one, and there's an appealing wildness about the entire area.

From here you can also loop around to the Highlands -- find top-notch hiking and views at Hartshorne Woods Park, Sandy Hook Bay, Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook, and dense little downtown blocks. Not the shore, but water-adjacent and worth a trip for some exquisite ice cream from Nicholas Creamery.

South of the Asbury core to the Ocean County line you'll find:

The absurdly photogenic Spring Lake, a Cape May analogue, is for a bed & breakfast with the parents. Or a baby-moon. Something wholesome. Grace & Frankie. More quiet money. Stunning beach. Next door, the town of Sea Girt continues the pattern.

Finally, it's Manasquan! The Squan is for surfing and lobster rolls. Its diminutive Main Street is packed with healthy dining options. La Mondina in nearby Brielle is a NJ Housewives favorite. Right over the bridge is Ocean County's Point Pleasant Beach, known famously for Jenkinson's, Kohr's frozen custard, boardwalk gaming and the "traditional" boardwalk experience a Philadelphian might crave.

You can walk along the ocean, mostly on boardwalk, the entire distance from Manasquan to Asbury, about nine miles. You won't find any ferris wheels but you might find your new favorite beach.

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My family loves the quiet little beach town of Bradley Beach, which is often overshadowed by its attention-getting neighbors—Asbury Park and Ocean Grove. It offers beautiful beaches, great restaurants and a laid-back vibe, with easy access to nearby entertainment if you’re looking for it.

With a population of around 5,000 people—it can reach up to 30,000 in the summer—Bradley Beach is named for James A. Bradley, the developer responsible for the creation of this town and Asbury Park. It also has the unlikely distinction of being the first place in the United States to charge bathers to access the beach, in 1929.

The town has long been a draw to New Yorkers and northern New Jerseyans. In the 1930s, author Philip Roth and his family, who lived in Newark, vacationed here in the summers, and he wrote about it in his work. A photo of him with his father and brother at Bradley Beach graces the cover of his book Patrimony.

What I love about the beach here is that the sand dunes and grasses provide a lovely viewpoint when you’re lying on the sand, making it seem like you can be just about anywhere. The dunes were installed in the 1990s to help protect the town from damaging winds and tides off the ocean. The decision to construct these dunes proved prescient, as Bradley Beach largely escaped the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy on Shore towns in 2012.

My son Owen and I start our day with a bike ride on the boardwalk, which is permitted before 10 am. We like to ride all the way to Asbury Park and back—about three miles round trip—stopping for coffee at a boardwalk food stand (Bradley Beach’s boardwalk doesn’t have shops along it, as Asbury’s does.)

For a fabulous breakfast, we head to our favorite brunch place, the Buttered Biscuit (700 Main Street), for—you guessed it—homemade biscuits, plus eggs and banana-walnut pancakes. Get here early, because the wait can be long in the summer, and they don’t take reservations.

After our delightful meal, it is time to squeeze ourselves into our bathing suits and head to the beach, to sunbathe and swim in the ocean.

We decide to relax following our bike ride, but if we had wanted a little more exercise, we could have brought a volleyball to play at one of the nets set up on the beach. We’ve also often thought about trying a surfing lesson with the Summertime Surf School (732-599-2700), located on the beach on the Bradley Beach-Ocean Grove border.

For lunch, my family’s go-to place is Fins Tropicali Cuisine—and today is no different. If you’re too lazy to leave the beach, they’ll even deliver there—just tell them which entrance you’re closest to, and they’ll meet you on the boardwalk.

But if you want to dine in, look for the bright-yellow exterior of the restaurant at 120 Main Street. Surfing videos and surfboards set the tone at this laid-back, California-Mexican eatery. My personal favorite is the Bomba Shack salad, which has coconut-sesame battered whitefish served over a bed of mixed greens with seaweed salad and grilled pineapple. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the food is delicious, fresh and reasonably priced.

After lunch, we stopped at the Shipwreck Island Mini Golf course (800 Ocean Avenue) for 18 holes of mini golf right on the boardwalk. This fun spot is popular with families and teens.

Another favorite place in Bradley, great for an afternoon pick-me-up, is Del Ponte’s Bakery (600 Main Street)—perfect if you have a sweet tooth, like Owen. Since 1999, this place has been popular with Shore residents and day trippers alike looking for a cake or a morning treat. We love their biscotti, which come in many different flavors, and the Italian pastries, such as sfogliatelle and lobster tails. Be prepared for lines out the door.

Just down the street from Del Ponte’s is another Italian institution in Bradley Beach: Vic’s Italian Restaurant (60 Main Street), where we eat dinner. For more than four generations, this family-owned, red-sauce Italian standby has been delighting customers with its thin-crust pizza, homemade ravioli, chicken parmigiana, and meatball sandwiches—earning it a spot on New Jersey Monthly‘s list of favorite Italian restaurants in the state. Manager Ed Dollive, whose great-grandfather was Vic, says they never change the menu at the restaurant. They also never change the brand of tomatoes that they use for their tomato sauce.

“We like bringing people together with our food,” he says. We feast on pizza, tomato and mozzarella salad, and shrimp cocktail.

After dinner, we always have room for dessert, so we walk down the street to the Beach Plum (420 Main Street) for some yummy homemade ice cream. Again, if you get there during prime time, expect a line. Grab a treat and settle down at a picnic table out front to enjoy your treat and watch the world go by.

Our last stop is the gazebo at Fifth Avenue on the boardwalk to enjoy live music and cool ocean breezes.

For those who want to spend the night here, Bradley’s first boutique hotel, the James Bradley, opened last year. This lovely place is worth a visit, no matter how long your stay.

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E. Holland Sundries, a Bradley Beach bakery that opened on Main Street in 2021, is closing its doors.

The bakery's last day in business will be Saturday, Nov. 25.

"We chose to do this now because Thanksgiving is our favorite time of year," owners Shannon and Nick Phillips and Deanna Jones shared in a social media post announcing the closure. "It’s when we get to turn this shop into a full-on production bakery, and bring in our support team of friends and family that assembles once a year."

The Phillips opened E. Holland Sundries, which is named for their daughter, after several years of selling Shannon's baked goods at farmers markets. In the years prior, she worked as a line cook, sous chef and chef de cuisine in New York City and Asbury Park; managed sales at Fossil Farms in Boonton; and baked at Bay Head's Lovelandtown Grocery & Provisions.

More:Order seafood, burritos and more for delivery from this favorite boardwalk spot

Jones, previously the pastry chef at Pascal & Sabine in Asbury Park, joined the bakery in 2022.

The bakery and its menu are intentionally small: Shannon and Jones are the only bakers. They are known for their soft-baked pretzels, croissants, galettes, hand pies, cookies, brownies, blondies and fruit bars.

"The response we have gotten (since announcing the closure) has been overwhelming," Shannon told the Asbury Park Press. "It’s been so nice to hear how much we became a part of people’s lives these last three years in the shop and five years since we started."

In the Instagram post, Shannon and Deanna shared that running a small-batch bakery is hard.

"We have put 100% of ourselves into this place, and that has often come at a cost," they said. "We made the decision to close so that we can both have a quality of life that we are not necessarily used to."

More:New Asbury Park program wants to connect restaurants with local food pantries

Until closing day, E. Holland Sundries will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. Hours may be reduced the weekend before Thanksgiving. The bakery will be open for holiday pickups and some walk-ins on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

"We just want to say how grateful we are for the time that we had. It was amazing to be a part of the Jersey Shore baking community," Shannon said. "It wasn’t an easy decision by any means, but as a super-small operation, we had to make the decision that was right for Deanna and I."

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

The Jersey City up-and-coming urban bachata group DNX 4 is ready for their Jersey Shore debut Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Latin Fest 2023 at Riley Park in Bradley Beach.

Their rehearsals included a recent impromptu jam on the Asbury Park boardwalk.

“I was so happy because they were screaming the songs with us,” said band member Junior “Jus Jay” Rosario, 17, Jersey City, of the reaction on the boardwalk.

DNX 4, which includes Jean “JeanZ” Rosario, 16, Jersey City; Johvany “Gio” Castillo, 18, Jersey City; and Keven Nuñez, 18, Bogota, came together earlier this year after an open casting call from industry man Marvin Flores, whose credits include working on the team that broke superstar American bachata group Aventura.

“The idea came together during COVID,” said Flores, who lives in Clifton. “Once we get over this, people are going to want to get back to hearing live music.”

So far, the DNX 4 has released two singles, “Me Porto Bonito,” a bachata-style Bad Bunny cover, and “Bori,” a bachata version of the Tekashi 69 and Lenier single.

Bachata is a vocal and guitar-based music born in the barrios of the Dominican Republic. It's at the top of the charts these days thanks to a modernized version of it performed by groups like Aventura.

DNX 4 is looking to bring it to the next generation.

“Kids are looking for a modern version so we're adding colors to it,” Junior said.

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DNX 4 has been taking the show on the road. They played the Stop Hate Teen Tour, an anti-bullying and mental health awareness school tour that hit schools and clubs in Jersey City and Paterson.

They also played the Plaza de las Americas in Washington Heights neighborhood of New York, not far from where Aventura, and frontman Romeo Santos, launched their careers.

“This this was a dream for me and it came true,” Junior said.

Maybe someday, like Romeo Santos and Aventura, they'll play MetLife Stadium?

“I want to get to the point where I can fill (MetLife) with the whole group,” Junior said.

Go: Bradley Beach Latin Fest 2023 with DNX 4, Swing Sabroso, Latin Mix Masters and Willie Will, 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, Riley Park, 615 Main St., Bradley Beach, free; bradleybeachnj.gov.

Celebrate Hank Williams' 100th birthday

It's a Hank on the roof birthday bash.

The 100th birthday of the great Hank Williams is Sept. 17, and local talent is headed to the roof of Bell Works in Holmdel on Sunday, Sept. 10, to celebrate. Pat Guadagno and His Lonesome Cowboys, Jackson Pines, Stormin’ Norman Seldin, Michael Patrick, Cranston Dean and more will play the music of the legendary singer-songwriter.

“You’ll hear ‘em all, like you never have before,” Guadagno said.

Williams hits include “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey, Good Lookin' “ and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” and there's many more. All were composed and performed by the time Williams was 29. That was his age on New Year's Day in 1953 when he passed away on due to heart failure.

Go: Hank Williams Birthday Celebration, 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, $35 in advance/$45 at the door; patguadagno.com.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com