Sandy Hook, NJ – Over 400 middle school students and teachers, from 19 schools in Northern and Central New Jersey joined scientists and volunteer teachers for a day of learning on the beach at Clean Ocean Action’s two-day Annual Spring Student Summit held on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Students experienced hands-on marine environmental education by participating in six learning table activities and twelve interactive fieldtrips.  The beaches, trails, and marshes of Sandy Hook served as the outdoor classroom for the seaside symposium.

“Students get a close-up look at their coastal world during the Summit,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action.  “They experience holding a horseshoe crab and learn about water testing.  There is an extraordinary learning opportunity from these experiences.  Students are in awe of the creatures and we hope they are inspired to protect these natural wonders,” she added.

Students participated in six hands-on learning table activities, which included live horseshoe crabs, identifying seashells, studying invertebrates, observing a model of nonpoint source pollution, and learning the lethal effects of litter on the marine environment.  Students from the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, a Monmouth County vocational high school located on Sandy Hook, served as peer teachers at the activity workstations.

In addition, naturalists and other education professionals led students in twelve field activities throughout the park.  Students used seine nets to collect and identify common marine species of Sandy Hook Bay and learned about key bird species and the important role of Sandy Hook in bird migration.  Students also participated in a beach cleanup, tested water quality, learned fishing & surfing techniques, and traversed trails with park naturalists.

“During the Summit, students get out of the classroom and become scientists” stated Tavia Danch, Clean Ocean Action’s Education Coordinator. “The Summit inspires students with a sense of stewardship that is necessary for protecting the environment in the future,” said Danch.

The 2011 Spring Student Summit was made possible by donations from private foundations, businesses, and citizens.

The following schools participated in the Spring Student Summit:  Belvidere Elementary (Belvidere, NJ), Brookside School (Allendale, NJ), Lincoln (Caldwell, NJ), Long Branch Middle (Long Branch, NJ) , Martin Luther King Jr. PS #11 (Jersey City, NJ), Matawan-Aberdeen Middle (Cliffwood, NJ), Monument (Trenton, NJ), Mount Pleasant Middle (Livingston, NJ), Newark Christian (Newark, NJ), North Star Academy (Newark, NJ), Our Lady of the Lake (Verona, NJ), Sacred Heart (Rockaway, NJ), Saint Jerome (West Long Branch, NJ), Saint Joseph Regional (Newton, NJ), Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County (Marlboro, NJ), The OLC Schools (Jersey City, NJ), Thomas G. Connors Elementary (Hoboken, NJ), and William S. Halloran School # 22 (Elizabeth, NJ).

About COA’s Student Summits:

For 24 years, Clean Ocean Action’s Summits have reached thousands of school students in New Jersey, expanding learning beyond the classroom.  The Summit program presents students with an interdisciplinary marine and environmental education experience that complements the NJ Science Standards.

COA invites northern and central New Jersey public and private schools to the Spring Student Summit, which is held in mid-May at Sandy Hook.  The Fall Student Summit takes place in early October, at Island Beach State Park for southern public and private schools.  Schools are mailed applications prior to the Summits and are accepted based on the application and availability.  Over the years, more than 15,000 students have been inspired by the symposium by the sea.

For information on additional COA educational programs or events, visit www.CleanOceanAction.org or call COA’s Main Office at (732) 872-0111.

NEWARK, NJ — With tens of thousands of music fans expected to journey to MetLife Stadium for the Electric Daisy Carnival – and tens of thousands more descending upon Asbury Park for the Bamboozle Music Festival, NJ TRANSIT is offering travel tips to customers planning to utilize NJ TRANSIT service to Asbury Park and MetLife Stadium this Friday, May 18, Saturday, May 19, and Sunday, May 20.

To assist customers throughout the upcoming weekend, NJ TRANSIT is deploying additional police officers, customer service representatives and employee volunteers at Secaucus Junction, Meadowlands Rail Station, Asbury Park Station and other stations throughout the NJ TRANSIT system.

To specifically support the Bamboozle Music Festival, NJ TRANSIT has agreed to operate its North Jersey Coast Line summer rail schedule this weekend, which will offer hourly rail service between Bay Head and Long Branch – and provide direct connections to Newark and New York.

Given the large crowds anticipated for the Bamboozle Music Festival, NJ TRANSIT is advising concertgoers to expect crowding and wait times following the concerts as rail capacity will be limited, even with the implementation of North Jersey Coast Line summer-level rail service specifically for Bamboozle.    NJ TRANSIT estimates that its North Jersey Coast Line summer-level rail service can serve approximately 10,000 customers per day; a fraction of the anticipated attendance for each day of the Bamboozle Music Festival.

Travel Advice for Customers

To help ensure a safe and pleasant trip, NJ TRANSIT is offering the following travel tips:

• Plan Ahead.  Plan your arrival and departure times in advance by getting your schedule information from njtransit.com.
• Buy Roundtrip Tickets Before Starting Your Trip.  Remember, you’ll need a ticket to get home.  Concertgoers should purchase round-trip tickets from ticket vending machines at your boarding station before getting on the train.  Ticket lines at both Asbury Park and the Meadowlands will be long after the concert.  Customers without tickets will not be permitted to board the train. 
• Expect Crowds.  The busiest trains will be those immediately preceding and following the event.  In particular, customers are advised to anticipate extended wait times after the concert.
• Expect Delays.  Large crowds can sometimes have an impact on train operations.  Be courteous to your fellow riders by standing clear of the doors, moving all the way into the car, and making all seats available.
• Use Good Judgment and Know the Rules.  Customers are encouraged to use caution and good judgment in their travels.  As a reminder, smoking is not permitted aboard trains, in stations or on platforms.

Train Service to and from Asbury Park Station

Friday, May 18

• Before the show:  In addition to regular service, two additional shuttle trains will operate to stations north of Asbury Park.  Additionally, one additional shuttle train will also operate to stations south of Asbury Park.
• After the show:  Five trains will operate, in each direction, after 11:00 p.m.
• Last train to stations north of Asbury Park will depart at 2:05 a.m.
• Last train to stations south of Asbury Park will depart at 2:53 a.m.
• Train 2312 will not run beyond Long Branch; customers are advised to use Train 3256 nine minutes later.  Also, Train 2311 will not operate between Hoboken and Long Branch.

Saturday, May 19

• Hourly service will be provided to/from Asbury Park throughout the day and evening.
• After the show:  Six trains will operate, in each direction, after 11:00 p.m.
• Last train to stations north of Asbury Park will depart at 2:05 a.m.
• Last train to stations south of Asbury Park will depart at 2:53 a.m.

Sunday, May 20

• Hourly service will be provided to/from Asbury Park throughout the day and evening.
• After the show:  Six trains will operate, in each direction, after 11:00 p.m.
• Last train to stations north of Asbury Park will depart at 1:05 a.m.
• Last train to stations south of Asbury Park will depart at 2:53 a.m.

Bus and Train Service to and from MetLife Stadium

Friday, May 18: 

• NJ TRANSIT will offer bus shuttle service to the Meadowlands from Secaucus Junction Train Station between 1 p.m. and midnight.

Saturday, May 19:

• NJ TRANSIT will offer bus shuttle service to the Meadowlands from Secaucus Junction Train Station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• NJ TRANSIT will offer rail service to and from the Meadowlands from 2 p.m. until the event ends.
• The last train will NOT depart Meadowlands before 12:40 a.m.

Sunday, May 20: 

• NJ TRANSIT will offer bus shuttle service to the Meadowlands from Secaucus Junction Train Station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• NJ TRANSIT will offer rail service to and from the Meadowlands from 2 p.m. until the event ends.
• The last train will NOT depart Meadowlands before 12:40 a.m.

Detailed schedule information is available on njtransit.com.

Claudia Lopez of North Brunswick was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the crash on May 15, 2012, at 9:02 p.m. at the intersection of Route 1 south and North Oaks Boulevard in the township.

An investigation by Officer Jason Zier of the North Brunswick Police Department and Investigator Gregory Morris of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that the woman was killed when her car, a 2000 Nissan Sentra, was struck broadside by a sport utility vehicle.

The sport utility vehicle, a 2003 Dodge Durango, was heading south on Route 1 and was being driven by George Rizzo, 30, also of North Brunswick.

The investigation showed Ms. Lopez was driving on North Oaks Boulevard through the intersection when her vehicle was hit.

The investigation further determined that Rizzo’s vehicle was traveling on Route 1 without its front and rear right tires before it struck Ms. Lopez’s car.

No criminal charges have been filed, but the investigation is continuing.

Anyone who may have information on the crash is asked to call Officer Zier of the North Brunswick Police Department at (732) 247-0922, ext. 316, or Investigator Morris of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745- 3927.