ASBURY PARK PRESS

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MONDAY 03.28.16

Easter
finery
on display
Parades in Asbury,
Point Pleasant Beach
draw crowds. 3A

HOOPS, POLITICS
BOOST MONMOUTH

Planning for
four affordable
housing sites
moves forward
RUSS ZIMMER @RUSSZIMMER

Developers looking to add 317 units of affordable

housing in Monmouth and Ocean counties, including
rare below-market units for families, have received a
preliminary OK from the state.
All told, five projects Seaside Senior Apartments,
Toms River Family Apartments, Megill Road Apartments in Wall, Stafford Senior Apartments and Willows
at Whiting sought public financing, including millions in low-interest loans from the superstorm Sandy
federal aid package.
All won state approval, but the developers of the Megill Road Apartments subsequently withdrew their
township zoning application, effectively killing the project.
The Asbury Park Press has reported on the paucity
of family affordable housing projects being pitched by
the developers asking for a piece of the $700 million
Fund for Restoration of Multifamily Housing.
These units must first be made available to Sandyimpacted renters.
Affordable housing projects on the Shore often enSee HOUSING, Page 5A

TANYA BREEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Monmouth University students walk to and from class on March 21 in West Long Branch.

Record number of student applications follow

recognition of university basketball and polling

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Moving for Missy B is a suicide-prevention foundation

founded by family and friends of Melissa Byrne Mattia.

KAREN YI @KAREN_YI

WEST LONG BRANCH - It was the perfect combination of forces.

The Monmouth University basketball team had
scored one of the biggest upsets of the season, defeating UCLA. Cue the birth of the Monmouth Bench Mob
reserve players whose over-the-top celebrations
went viral.
The universitys name and polling institute also
were getting tossed around, mentioned by presidential aspirants and famously getting under Gov. Chris
Christies skin when one of the Monmouth polls
showed dismal voter support for Christie as the GOP
nominee. Guess whose forecast turned out to be
right?
The repeated mentions helped thrust Monmouth
University student population 6,394 into the national spotlight and keep it there.
The results are starting to trickle in.
Student applications spiked by 500 this year, about
a 6 percent increase from the year prior, setting a historic high for the small private university. At this
time last year, 7,844 students had applied. This year
the number is 8,346.
We broke outside the region in terms of visibility
this year, I think we went national this year, said Rob-

Suicide sparks
a movement to
save more lives
JERRY CARINO CARINOS CORNER
For every tragedy there is a miracle
to make up for it, just somewhere else.
Unknown
EVAN HABEEB/USA TODAY SPORTS

Has your perception of Monmouth University changed? Like us on

TOMS RIVER - The miracle hasnt

happened yet, but Bill Byrne and the
good people around him are working on
it. By any calculation, theyre due.
In 2005 Byrne lost his parents in a
murder-suicide. His sister Melissa struggled to cope
with the resulting trauma, and in 2014 she took her
own life. Its Shakespearean sad, except for the final
act. Byrne and those close to the Toms River family
have launched a foundation aimed at suicide prevention and awareness.
Weve had a lot of energy, the 31-year-old Byrne
said. At first it was negative energy, but its transitioning into something positive. Were trying to make

facebook.com/asburyparkpress and tell us in the comments.

See LIVES, Page 2A

See MONMOUTH, Page 5A

The Monmouth Bench Mob celebrates after a three-pointer

in the first half of a game against Georgetown in December.

6%

500

8,346

Total application
increase over the
last year at Monmouth University

Increase in new
student applications to Monmouth University

Total applications
to the university
this year, marking
a historic high

Get your tickets now!

See the Shores

top musicians
Come listen to the Pat Guadagno band play at the legendary
Wonder Bar on Friday, April 8, at the Asbury Park Music in
Film Festival. Doors open at 8 p.m. Visit APMFF.com for info.
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VOLUME 137
NUMBER 75
SINCE 1879