COUNCIL HIRES NEW CITY MANAGER

The City Council has hired former Jersey City business administrator John "Jack" Kelly as Asbury Park's new city manager.

He succeeds Terry Reidy, who said in October that newly elected council planned to replace him.

Kelly abruptly retired from his Jersey City job last July. He was an ally of former mayor Jerramiah Healy, who lost his bid for reelection in May.

A state treasury spokesman said at the time that Kelly was in line to receive a $94,000 annual pension. Kelly will be paid $140,000 a year in Asbury Park. [MORE]

HUNDREDS TAKE PLUNGE

Hundreds of folks of all ages came to the city's beachfront on a chilly New Year's Day for the 11th annual Sons of Ireland Polar Bear Plunge.

With 280 pre-registrants and another 200 signing up at the event, the group expected to raise more than $60,000 for local charities, including 180 Turning Lives Around and the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. [MORE]

COUNCILMAN HITS DELAY
IN BOARDWALK REPAIRS

Councilman John Moor says continuing delays in fixing portions of the city's boardwalk damaged by 2012's superstorm Sandy are "ridiculous."

The current schedule for the repairs calls for a completion date of April 30 -- much too close to the beginning of the summer tourism season, in the councilman's opinion.

"We're screwing with people's livelihoods," Moor said. [MORE]

STUDIOS ENHANCE CITY PROFILE

In a world where dreams come easy, but are tough to fulfill, producer and songwriter Jon Leidersdorff has caught a golden ring.

Committed to building a cohesive infrastructure for the music scene in his hometown, Leidersdorff discovered a former warehouse in downtown Asbury Park and envisioned it as a multi-purpose center for a collective of music business locals. [MORE]

BEER GARDEN PLANS
APPROVED BY CITY

Plans for an outdoor rooftop beer garden, bar and restaurant in a vacant downtown building have been approved.

The Asbury Park FestHalle and Biergarten is expected to open this summer at 527 Lake Ave.

Owners of the business expect to create 20 to 30 year-round jobs as well as seasonal employment. [MORE]

MAGAZINE SALUTES CITY

This Old House magazine, an offshoot of the iconic television show, says Asbury Park is one of the top 10 "old house" neighborhoods in the country.

The magazine cites the city's "gem-speckled residential areas" and revitalized downtown.

No other New Jersey town made the list, nor did any communities in nearby New York or Pennsylvania. [MORE]

BEACH WORK STARTS

Work has begun on an $18.3 million beach replenishment project from Asbury Park to Avon-by-the-Sea.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. will be paid with federal dollars to do the work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The project is due for completion by May. [MORE]