It's hard to deny that we live in a world where health issues seem to be increasingly common. From allergies that baffle doctors to chronic pain that never seems to go away, it's no secret that many individuals struggle to maintain good health. Respiratory issues, reproductive complications, and other conditions add to the mix, making it clear that we're all susceptible to some kind of malady.
Unfortunately, many modern doctors still believe that throwing pills at the problem or scheduling surgery is the best way to provide long-term relief. While certain serious conditions can warrant such extreme treatments, a large percentage of Americans are looking for something far less harmful and much more holistic. They're looking high and low for a reliable, well-studied solution that doesn't require time off work or sketchy pain medications.
At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, one of the most effective and exciting treatments we've seen work for such patients is acupuncture in Cliffwood, NJ - a modern take on an ancient treatment that has been used for thousands of years.
If you're new to holistic healing, acupuncture may seem intimidating. You might be wondering how needles pressed into your skin could possibly make you feel better. Wouldn't someone pushing a needle into your back be painful? As it turns out, acupuncture is far from painful and is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after treatments for chronic pain and for regulating issues relating to:
In fact, acupuncture has been studied and practiced for over 2,500 years and, more recently, has been researched and supported by many scientific studies. While acupuncture may not be a "miracle" treatment for every type of pain or condition, it has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of issues, from depression and allergies to morning sickness and cramps.
Acupuncture is a therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that aims to balance the body's energy, called qi, which flows through pathways called meridians. This balance is crucial for overall wellness, as disruptions to qi can lead to health concerns. According to TCM, inserting small stainless-steel needles into specific points called acupoints along the meridians can help rebalance the flow of qi and restore overall health.
These acupoints are believed to release certain chemicals when stimulated, which can trigger an immune response and promote physiological homeostasis. Recent research suggests that this therapy may help alleviate symptoms of various health ailments.
In fact, the National Institute of Health conducted a survey on complementary health approaches, revealing that acupuncture usage in the United States has increased by 50 percent between 2002 and 2012. As of 2012, 6.4 percent of American adults have reported using acupuncture as a form of treatment.
One of the most common questions from new patients interested in acupuncture typically revolves around whether it really works or whether it's all "new age" malarky. We get it - for most folks, the thought of inserting stainless-steel needles into one's back, arms, or neck sounds loony. However, with the ever-increasing popularity of acupuncture in New Jersey and other locations, numerous studies centering on acupuncture's effectiveness have taken place.
Extensive research has been conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture for various conditions. A February 2022 analysis published in the BMJ, which evaluated over 2,000 scientific reviews of acupuncture therapies, revealed that acupuncture's efficacy is strongest for:
Additionally, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acupuncture is most effective for pain relief in cases of chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and tension headaches. Additionally, a review of 11 clinical trials found that acupuncture may also alleviate symptoms associated with cancer treatment, as noted by the NIH.
When meeting with your acupuncturist for the first time, they will discuss your condition with you before conducting a physical examination to identify areas of your body that might respond to acupuncture. The needles used in acupuncture are incredibly thin, sterile, and disposable, with your acupuncturist inserting them at different depths ranging from a fraction of an inch to several inches.
Acupuncture needles are less painful than medical needles used for vaccines or blood draws. This is because acupuncture needles are thinner and solid, not hollow. During the treatment, you may experience some muscle sensations like dull aches or tingling.
Your practitioner will ask you to report any deep heaviness or numbness, which are positive signs that the treatment is working. Depending on the condition you're treating and the supplemental treatments you're undergoing, like physical therapy, acupuncture needles will remain in place for several minutes or up to 30 minutes.
Once your first acupuncture treatment is finished, it's normal to feel extra relaxed and calm. For that reason, some patients like to arrange for a ride home after their first or second session. With that said, you shouldn't experience much pain at all, and it's quite possible for you to return to work after acupuncture.
This is another common question that we get at New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness. The simple answer is, "It depends." While we understand that that's not a satisfying answer for some, it's important to understand that every patient is different. Everyone has different bodies and, by proxy, different bodily conditions and issues that need to be addressed.
During your initial consultation at our office, your licensed acupuncturist will go over your needs and goals as it relates to acupuncture therapy. Once your therapist has a good sense of the scope of your needs, they can give you a loose idea of how many sessions you'll need.
Generally speaking, most patients have appointments once a week. Others may require more or less frequent sessions. It's important to note that the full benefits of acupuncture may not be immediately evident after the first or even the second session. It's common for normal patients to undergo up to five treatments to realize the full benefits of acupuncture.
There's no question that acupuncture is more popular than ever as a non-invasive, non-addictive way to reclaim balance and well-being. But what types of conditions can this traditional therapy help alleviate in the modern world? Advances in acupuncture techniques and applications have resulted in some very promising benefits.
Did you know that regular acupuncture treatments can help reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis? In May 2017, a meta-analysis was published, which studied approximately 18,000 patients with chronic pain, such as low back, neck, and shoulder pain, knee OA, and headache or migraine. The analysis found that the benefits of acupuncture therapy in reducing pain lasted for more than 12 months.
That's wonderful news for athletes and other people who push their bodies daily to accomplish goals or bring home money for rent and bills. In fact, many medical experts consider acupuncture as a viable option for managing chronic pain in conjunction with traditional methods like physical therapy and chiropractic care. The idea behind this approach is that acupuncture may trigger the body's natural healing response to alleviate pain.
When a licensed acupuncturist in New Jersey inserts an acupuncture needle, it penetrates your fascia, a connective tissue that wraps around your organs and muscles. Like a slight tickle on your arm, your body realizes that something is happening and responds by delivering lymph fluid, blood, and other important nutrients to speed up healing in affected areas like your knees, back, neck, joints, and more.
If you're like other people who suffer from migraines, you know that once one of them hits, it can be next to impossible to function properly throughout the day. Fortunately, acupuncture in Cliffwood, NJ may be a viable solution if you have to endure migraines often.
A study conducted in 2009 by the Center for Complementary Medicine at the University of Munich analyzed 11 studies involving 2,137 patients who received acupuncture treatment for chronic tension-type headaches. The researchers concluded that acupuncture could be an effective non-pharmacological solution for frequent headaches.
The study compared the effects of acupuncture sessions with sham acupuncture and no treatment at all. Both groups that received acupuncture treatment, whether needles were placed randomly or strategically, reported a reduction in headache symptoms, while the control group reported no change. The group that received real acupuncture treatment also reported a decrease in the number of headache days and intensity of pain in a follow-up survey.
For individuals who struggle with insomnia and other sleep disturbances, acupuncture is a promising therapy. Although sedatives are commonly prescribed for insomnia, long-term use can lead to negative side effects such as dependence and excessive drowsiness.
A study conducted on 72 participants and published in Sleep Medicine in 2017 found that individuals who received acupuncture three times a week for four weeks experienced significant improvements in sleep quality and anxiety compared to those who received sham acupuncture.
Similarly, a review of 30 randomized, controlled trials found that acupuncture was more effective in improving sleep quality and daytime functioning than sham acupuncture.
While many patients choose acupuncture as a way to avoid surgery altogether, those who need surgery also use it for improved recovery. Because, at the end of the day, recovering from surgery is no easy feat. Patients may experience various symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, pain around the incision, restlessness, sleep troubles, constipation, and sore throat.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, healthcare providers may use acupuncture as a way to alleviate some of these symptoms and help with healing. A study published in Integrative Cancer Therapies in January 2017 involving 172 participants found that patients who received acupuncture after surgery reported significant improvements in sleep, anxiety, pain, fatigue, nausea, and drowsiness.
Did you know that supplementing physical therapy with acupuncture and vice versa can have profoundly beneficial effects for patients in New Jersey and across the country? If you're like most, chances are you didn't.
The truth is that acupuncture and physical therapy have both been proven effective in reducing pain and inflammation. While many people view them as separate methods, combining the two modalities can produce a synergistic effect that enhances pain relief and delivers long-lasting benefits to patients.
Physical therapists work with patients of all ages and abilities, from children to elderly adults, to help them overcome physical limitations and improve their quality of life. At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, our physical therapists help treat a wide range of conditions, from neck pain and spinal cord injuries to back pain and arthritis.
To effectively reduce pain and treat tissue injury, a combination of acupuncture and physical therapy can be very helpful. Acupuncture helps to reduce inflammation and release muscle tightness and trigger points, allowing the patient to better receive manual therapy or exercise-based physical therapy techniques. In doing so, acupuncture can actually create a window of time that allows your body to respond better to other treatments at New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, such as physical therapy and chiropractic care.
There are many benefits of combining physical therapy with acupuncture in Cliffwood, NJ, including the following:
You may be wondering, "Are there any studies showing these benefits?" As it turns out, there are many. One such study, published on the NIH's website, was conducted on patients suffering from frozen shoulder.
Patients who received acupuncture experienced a significant reduction in pain, while those who underwent physical therapy saw an improvement in range of motion. However, the best outcome was observed in patients who received a combination of both treatments, with reduced pain, increased their range of motion, and improved quality of life. This study highlights the potential benefits of using acupuncture and physical therapy as complementary treatments for frozen shoulder.
It makes sense, then, that people from all walks of life are combining acupuncture with chiropractic treatments at New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, including:
At New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, our doctors, practitioners, occupational therapists, and physical therapist specialize in a range of therapies and treatments. Much like physical therapy and acupuncture, combining chiropractic care with acupuncture therapy gives patients a new way to reclaim their mobility, reduce chronic pain, and maintain a healthy quality of life.
Chiropractic care and acupuncture in Cliffwood, NJ are natural healing practices that don't rely on drugs to improve the body's health. They focus on correcting imbalances in the body's structural and supportive systems, promoting natural healing, and ultimately leading to better health. These practices have a proven track record of helping patients improve their quality of life and overcome physical difficulties.
Integrating chiropractic and acupuncture as a dual-modality treatment offers the most efficient solution for removing blockages from the body, promoting balance, and accelerating healing. Rather than using these treatments sequentially, a combined approach allows for maximum benefits at one time.
Chiropractic targets subluxations in the nervous system through manual adjustments, facilitating the central nervous system to promote healing, while acupuncture removes blockages that may hinder the body's internal balance. Together, these treatments work synergistically to optimize energy flow and restore harmony in the body.
When our physical well-being becomes imbalanced, and our innate healing mechanisms are compromised, illnesses can manifest. The integration of acupuncture and chiropractic practices can effectively address a wide range of health conditions that they individually target, such as:
Curious if combining chiropractic care or physical therapy with acupuncture is right for your body? The best way to find out is to make an appointment at our sports rehab clinic in New Jersey. Once our team of medical professionals has a chance to evaluate your conditions, we can explore the best options to provide the most relief in the shortest amount of time possible.
New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness consists of a team of athletic trainers, chiropractors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other professionals. We're very proud and passionate about caring for our patients, many of whom are suffering from debilitating conditions like back and neck pain, plantar fasciitis, sports-related injuries, and more. If you're trying to get on the road to pain relief and recovery, acupuncture may be the non-surgical solution you need to reclaim your life. Contact our office today to learn whether this exciting treatment is right for you.
Aberdeen Twp. seeks to make a zoning change on a controversial Cliffwood property, where a Jewish group wants to build a yeshiva.Posted Tue, Aug 1, 2017 at 4:55 pm ET|ABERDEEN, NJ — Aberdeen Township seeks to make a zoning change on a highly controversial piece of land in the Cliffwood section of town. The move has been met with suspicion by some, but Mayor Fred Tagliarini, facing an upcoming election challenge over the issue, insists this could be a solution that makes all Aberdeen residents happy.On We...
Posted Tue, Aug 1, 2017 at 4:55 pm ET|
ABERDEEN, NJ — Aberdeen Township seeks to make a zoning change on a highly controversial piece of land in the Cliffwood section of town. The move has been met with suspicion by some, but Mayor Fred Tagliarini, facing an upcoming election challenge over the issue, insists this could be a solution that makes all Aberdeen residents happy.
On Wednesday night, the Aberdeen Planning Board will be presented with an ordinance that seeks to change the zoning on a six-acre Meizner Street property from its existing R-100 single-family residential to R-65 single-family residential. You can read the ordinance here.
That's a map of the Meizner Street property in question. Part of those six acres are unbuildable wetlands.
If the change is approved, it essentially means a developer can one day build more homes on the parcel. According to Mayor Tagliarini, the owner of the property, Ruach Chaim Inc., has been in talks with a developer to potentially sell that land. He declined to name the developer, or developers.
"We are trying to find a solution here that works for all the residents and everybody in this town," he told Patch on Tuesday.
Ruach Chaim Inc. is an Orthodox Jewish organization that for the past 11 years has operated Yeshiva Gedola out of an old nursing home on Center Street off Rt. 35. They have been model citizens in Aberdeen, Mayor Tagliarini said. The controversy arose last year, when Ruach Chaim said they wanted to expand in Cliffwood and proposed building a campus-like yeshiva, or Jewish religious school, on Meizner Street.
Those who live nearby said the area could not handle the multiple dormitories, rec center and buildings the religious group was planning. They predicted that a thriving yeshiva could attract more than 300 people to the sleepy area, and clog its roads. In fact, Cliffwood resident Michael Canberg rose to prominence in town by leading the yeshiva opposition and is challenging Tagliarini for his seat in the upcoming November mayoral election.
"With Glassworks we are already looking at over-development of the area," said one Cliffwood resident who lives near Meizner Street and did not want to give her name. She is referring to the under-construction rental complex right down Cliffwood Avenue.
"I also have concerns regarding how it will affect our taxes since religious organizations are exempt," she added. "The way that Lakewood has been handled, in terms of irresponsibility on behalf of zoning laws, has made us all wary."
In Sept. of 2016, Ruach Chaim requested a variance to allow the yeshiva to be built. After much outcry from the community, Ruach Chaim eventually withdrew their application in February, but they still gave the Township eight new dates that they could potentially re-submit it, according to Mayor Tagliarini.
Ruach Chaim has since canceled those dates. But the yeshiva idea is not yet completely off the table.
"Until we get an unconditional withdrawal of the application it could come back," said Tagliarini. "So this application has been postponed indefinitely — unless certain actions take place to make it possible for the applicant to look for a developer to sell this land."
Under its current R-100 zoning, the Meizner Street property can hold single-family residential lots, which must be 100 by 100 feet. If the new R-65 zoning is approved, the residential lots that can be built there can become smaller, with just 65 feet of frontage and unspecified depth. Many property lots in Aberdeen are even smaller than that, at 50 by 50 feet.
"So instead of being able to build 7 or 8 homes, let's say you can build 11, roughly," said Tagliarini. "The land becomes more appealing to a developer."
When told this news on Tuesday, Canberg said he remained deeply skeptical.
"You always could build 6 or 8 homes on there, and now you're telling me the possibility of three more homes is going to turn it into a 'highly profitable' property all of a sudden?" he asked. "I just don't believe it."
And some say Aberdeen is giving everything and getting nothing in return from Ruach Chaim.
"If the developer places a lifetime deed restriction on the property preventing its development for anything other than single-family detached residential, most, if not all, of these objections would cease," said Jeff Sirot, an attorney with the law firm Curcio, Mirzaian, Sirot, which was hired by Canberg. "It is inappropriate to create a new zone for one developer without addressing any of the community's concerns."
The mayor said the religious Jewish group may just stay where they are on Center Street, with some improvements on the building, such as possibly a new roof.
The Aberdeen Township Council already approved the zoning change ordinance last week on first reading. The Planning Board meets tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall and will vote on the ordinance then. It then goes back to the Council at their Aug. 16 meeting for the second and final reading, and potential adoption. Several residents, including Canberg, said they will attend the Wednesday night meeting and voice their concerns about the yeshiva.
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Trunk or Treat will be Oct. 28 from 4-8 p.m. in the old A&P parking lot on Rt. 35 in Cliffwood. Come out for a great time with family!|Updated Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 11:48 am ETABERDEEN, NJ — For the second year in a row, the Aberdeen Township PBA will hold their Halloween Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 28.Trunk or Treat will be October 28 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the old A&P parking lot at 325 Rt. 35 in Cliffwood. Please come out for a great time with the family! Register your vehicle on ...
|Updated Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 11:48 am ET
ABERDEEN, NJ — For the second year in a row, the Aberdeen Township PBA will hold their Halloween Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Trunk or Treat will be October 28 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the old A&P parking lot at 325 Rt. 35 in Cliffwood. Please come out for a great time with the family! Register your vehicle on www.aberdeenpba163.com. There will be a DJ, entertainment and Big Daddy's BBQ truck. There will also be K-9 demonstrations from the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office and Touch a Truck from the Cliffwood Volunteer Fire Co. #1, Aberdeen-Matawan CERT and Aberdeen Hose & Chemical #1 Station 62-1, as well as Bayshore EMS.
Set-up for vehicles decorating their trunks for the event will begin at 3:00 p.m. through 3:45 p.m. in the old A&P parking lot. Vehicles that are not participating in the decorating of their trunks will not be permitted in the event’s parking lot. The PBA is asking that all other vehicles park at the Cliffwood Avenue School or Matawan Avenue School.
There will be a bus transporting people to and from the event; the pick-up and drop-off location will be in front of the two schools. Wear a costume and you could win a PRIZE! Everyone who wears a costume has the opportunity to win … Drawings will be held up until 7:00 pm. The Township of Aberdeen is purchasing eight $25.00 gift cards to the Hoppy Shop! You will be able to pick up a raffle ticket from the Aberdeen Table located in the beginning of the Trunk or Treat area be included in the costume drawing.
The Best Trunk Contest will be announced at 7:30, which prizes will be awarded for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners! Those who are participating in the Trunk or Treat, MUST register your vehicle prior to the event. Please complete the registration form below (ONLY FOR VEHICLES PARTICIPATING). The PBA is looking forward to seeing everyone there and asks that if you have any questions to please reach out to Frank Maisano at Frank.Maisano@AberdeenNJ.org
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...
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.
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.
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
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
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.
DigitalCommonwealth.org
DigitalCommonwealth.org
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.
Vingo liquor store chain is paying the fine to resolve findings from the NJ Attorney General that they engaged in unfair trade practices.|Updated Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 3:06 pm ETABERDEEN, NJ — The Vingo liquor store on Rt. 35 south in Cliffwood agreed to pay a $90,000 fine to the state to resolve findings from the New Jersey Attorney General that they engaged in unfair trade practices with two of New Jersey's biggest liquor wholesalers.This comes as part of a sweeping two-year investigation done by the state Attorn...
|Updated Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 3:06 pm ET
ABERDEEN, NJ — The Vingo liquor store on Rt. 35 south in Cliffwood agreed to pay a $90,000 fine to the state to resolve findings from the New Jersey Attorney General that they engaged in unfair trade practices with two of New Jersey's biggest liquor wholesalers.
This comes as part of a sweeping two-year investigation done by the state Attorney General and Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).
As a result of the investigation, twenty liquor stores across New Jersey agreed to pay the hefty fines, including Joe Canal's in Woodbridge and Lawrenceville, and Vingo locations in Long Branch, at the Eatontown Pathmark plaza, Old Bridge, Aberdeen and Atlantic Highlands.
The ABC said if the liquor stores did not pay the fine, they risked losing their license.
The state's two biggest liquor wholesalers, Allied Beverage Group and Fedway Associates, will pay the biggest fines, an unprecedented $4 million each. Allied Beverage Group and Fedway Associates also agreed to change their business practices.
The investigation found that the wholesalers — which together account for approximately 70 percent of all wine and 80 percent of all spirits sold at wholesale in New Jersey — unfairly favored 20 of the state's largest liquor stores, such as Joe Canal's and Vingo's, and put smaller liquor stores at a competitive disadvantage.
They did this by manipulating the retailer incentive program (RIP), granting credit extensions and interest-free loans, and engaging in other discriminatory practices, said the AG.
"Simply put, Allied Beverage Group and Fedway Associates rigged the market in favor of a handpicked group of powerful retailers, leaving smaller businesses struggling to compete," said Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. "This settlement sends a clear message that we will not tolerate this manipulative and anti-competitive behavior."
The RIPs provide cash rebates payed to retailers by wholesalers for purchasing certain quantities of alcoholic beverages. ABC regulations control the program by making RIPs available to all retailers on a non-discriminatory basis, by keeping the RIP payments to retailers relatively small, and by not allowing wholesalers to substitute RIPs for interest-free loans.
The investigation found that Allied Beverage Group and Fedway Associates were giving chosen retailers a financial advantage by issuing rebates more often and in greater amounts than allowed.
Various Joe Canal's locations in New Jersey, including the Joe Canal's in Woodbridge, will also be paying a $90,000 fine.
Consent order for Long Branch Vingo's: https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases20/EcclipseLLC_Consent-Order.pdf
Consent order for Old Bridge Vingo's: https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases20/Meritage-Wine-Cellars_Consent-Order.pdf
Consent order for Atlantic Highlands Vingo's: https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases20/MM-Wine-Spirits_Consent-Order.pdf
Consent order for Aberdeen/Cliffwood Vingo's: https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases20/Vinvigo-LLC_Consent-Order.pdf
Consent order for Eatontown Vingo's: https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases20/SVGS_Consent-Order.pdf