Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch Top Ten Stories For 2013

by Patricia A. Miller

It was a year many in town would rather forget.

Southern Ocean County residents battered by Superstorm Sandy struggled and still struggle to put their home and lives together. Many are still financially paralyzed, unable to demolish or rebuild their homes because of delays in federal funding.

But the storm's aftermath wasn't the only weather-related story. A tornado touched down in Manahawkin in August, ripping trees out of the ground and cutting power to many.

The story about the Barnegat mother who gave birth to an unexpected baby on her front lawn also attracted a lot of readers. Although the initial story said the baby was resuscitated, Patch has not been able to obtain any more information about the infant.

Drug abuse and drug arrests continue to make headlines in 2013. Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato has targeted drug dealers in his campaign to rid municipalities of the ever-increasing drug scourge.

• Budget help for Sandy-wracked Stafford:
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/stafford-township-awarded-5-mil...

• Manahawkin tornado sent many running for cover, Manahawkin
Lighthouse Academy damaged:
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/national-weather-service-confirms-torn...

• A close-up look at what drugs did to one family:
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/heroin-in-ocean-county--one-familys-st...

• Hundreds turn out for Ocean County drug forum:
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/ocean-county-a-perfect-storm-for-heroi...

• More time needed to study plans, fight insurance settlement for Community Center:
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/stafford-officials-rescind-comm...

• A life begins on a front lawn in Barnegat:
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/breaking-news/p/nonresponsive-baby-revived-after-mother-...

• A life ends in a cold house in Manahawkin:
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/a-sad-death-in-ocean-acres

• Longtime Toms River Police Chief handily elected as Ocean County Sheriff
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/new-sheriff-in-town-as-gop-crui...


• Controversial Harvey Cedars dune easement suit settled for a buck:
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/hurricane-sandy/p/harvey-cedars-dune-easement-suit-settl...

• Barnegat man exposed for real role in 9-11
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/report-barnegat-man-no-911-hero