The Coaster

By PAUL BOOTH
The Tinton Falls Borough Council got its first glimpse Tuesday night of what a newly constructed $6.8 million library could look like on the site of the former borough hall.

The proposed library, at 25,800 square feet, is eight times larger than the borough’s current 3,000 square foot structure and would cost $6.8 million in brick and mortar construction, explained project architect Dennis Kowal. If the project were approved and bonded, it could be completed by 2011.

Kowal, of Dennis Kowal Architects in Somerville, told the council that the average library for a community of Tinton Falls’ size would fall in the range of 24,000 to 27,000 square feet and repeatedly described the borough’s current library as woefully inadequate. Read the rest of this entry »

By RICHARD VIRGILIO
We all need a great laugh and some levity right now. Let’s laugh together this weekend at comedienne Maureen Langan’s performance at Cry Baby Gallery during the 7th Annual Women’s Arts Festival.

Named one of the “Ten Standout Stand-ups Worth Watching” by Backstage Magazine, Maureen is taking a break from opening for Joy Behar, stealing the show with her sharp news satire from MSNBC’s hottie Dan Abrams and touring – a regular at Caroline’s in New York City – to help us forget the country’s troubles and get happy. Read the rest of this entry »

By DON STINE
Some members of the Ocean Grove Homeowners Association are upset that a meeting with township officials to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the historic district’s North End was canceled at the last minute.

A meeting was scheduled for this week with Mayor Randy Bishop and Township Committeewoman Mary Beth Jahn. It was canceled after Jennifer Krimko, attorney for the redevelopers, and Township Attorney Gene Anthony said there is a legal problem with governing body representatives meeting with the homeowners committee since all five Township Committee members are listed as defendants in a lawsuit regarding the project.

The legal action has been filed by Ocean Grove resident Kevin Chambers challenging the North End redevelopment project on a number of issues. Read the rest of this entry »

What did you think of the debate?

I thought that both gentleman were fairly cordial. They addressed a lot of issues. They both have a sincere desire to help the country and I truly believe that. Senator McCain is better qualified at this point and time. Read the rest of this entry »

By DON STINE
A uniform policy creating a strict dress code for students in pre-school through the fifth grade was adopted by the Neptune Board of Education last week and will go into effect in January.

“I am just pleased that the process has finally come to completion,” said board Vice President Jason Jones, who is the official liaison to an ad hoc committee studying the uniform policy.

Jones said the uniform policy has been under discussion for several years but that it was only in March of this year that it came under serious consideration.

“We didn’t want the policy to be too restrictive but we did want to make sure there were guidelines in place and know where Neptune wanted to go with it,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »

By DON STINE
Even though the weather didn’t quite cooperate, residents living around Deal Lake partied anyway Saturday to raise money to improve water quality in the lake.

“For first time out I think everybody’s happy with the way it went. It also makes people a lot more aware what’s going on regarding the lake,” said event organizer Mark Fleming, who lives in the Wanamassa section of Ocean Township. Read the rest of this entry »

By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Bradley Beach officials hired a new borough administrator last week, but not without some issues raised over her contract.

Gail O’Reilly, a former Red Bank planner, was hired unanimously, but when it came to approving her contract, Council President Lori Marchak-Ortiz cast a no vote. Read the rest of this entry »

By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Responding to fire emergencies in Neptune has gotten easier.

Firefighters at the Unexcelled Fire Company in Neptune recently implemented a new program to better organize emergency responses.

The “I Am Responding” program includes a new flat screen monitor installed on the wall of the fire house that lists the responses of firefighters who will be heading to the fire house to go out on a call.

The program allows emergency personnel to respond via their own cell phones to a call, by calling a special number and pressing a prompt from one to nine. Read the rest of this entry »