Neighbors' mold issues also still unresolved

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Neighbors' mold issues also still unresolved

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/10/06

BY JOE ZEDALIS

TOMS RIVER BUREAU

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BERKELEY — Gordon Blankfard, like many seniors living in Holiday

City and other retirement communities here, can't go down into the

crawl space beneath his home.

" I think a lot of people feel safe in their homes, " said Blankfard,

of Abergele Court. " They have no idea of the danger. "

Blankfard maintains the standing water in his crawl space has caused

mold, which may have led to his current respiratory problems.

Blankfard has a list of 21 other homes in the Holiday Heights area

that have similar drainage problems.

" The only reason we found out we had water in the crawl space was

because the termite inspector told us, " said Dan D'Apice of 11

Sandhurst Court.

" We called the mayor; he told us it was in litigation and that we'd

have to wait. We waited and waited. Last summer the township put

drains in. "

Dan and Marcella D'Apice have lived in their home since 1990.

" We were told we were on a punch list, " Dan D'Apice said. " The mayor

told us we would be kept informed. "

Walton, who lives at 5 Westgate Court with his wife, Edie,

has lived in the home since 1990 and has been dealing with water in

his crawl space for years. After the Sept. 15 storm that dumped

eight inches of rain on Ocean County, it took Walton more than two

weeks to dry it out.

" I'd run the pump a couple hours a day, " Walton said. " I'd say I

pumped 200 or 300 gallons of water.

" We're both 72 years old, and we are concerned about mold. I'll bet

the houses on either side of me have water and probably have no

idea. "

Blanche Mascoli, 70, of 7 Tarworth Court said one of Hovson's

workmen did her a favor and cut a hole in the plastic " so the water

would drain into the dirt, " Mascoli said.

" I was told I was on an updated punch list. I heard nothing. With

water under the house, wouldn't you be concerned? "

Mascoli said she doesn't know what to do. She is skeptical of

contractors, who might try to rip her off.

" I don't know who to call or where to go, " she said.