The Coaster

By DON STINE

The Ocean Township police department swore in its third female police office and promoted three other officers at the Township Council meeting Monday night.

The make-up of the police department keeps changing for the better. There is an enormous amount of talent and experience here and we welcome (new employees) on board, said Police Chief Antonio V. Amodio Jr.

Patrolwoman Alisa M. Martinez, who was formerly a Point Pleasant Beach officer, became the third female member of the police department.

By DON STINE
The Oakhurst Fire Department in Ocean Township, the townships first founded in 1913, celebrates its 95th anniversary this year.
The fire department has a long history and it has been an honor serving the community, said Fire Chief Stu Newman.
The department was honored by the Township Council on Monday.

Our volunteer fire departments are an asset that sometimes residents dont appreciate. It is a service we could never afford, said Mayor William F. Larkin while presenting a resolution honoring the fire department. Newman welcomed residents to the department saying volunteers are always needed.

Coaster Photo: Dave and Mike McLaughlin put the lifeguard stand in place at the Allenhurst Beach Club in preparation for the opening Friday.

By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Visitors and residents are invited to Asbury Parks beachfront for the Memorial Day weekend to enjoy the sun, sand and live entertainment and to witness the citys biggest construction project in decades.

By GARRETT STASSE

Tinton Falls scored a major legal victory on Tuesday when a judge cleared legal obstacles to redeveloping the former CECOM property. The borough stands to net about $2.5 million and be allowed to approve a 151-unit age-restricted housing development on the Wayside Road property. The green eyesore of an office building is scheduled to be demolished by the end of the year. Jerry Dasti, the lawyer representing the borough for the last couple of years, said the money comes in three forms: about $1.3 million in impact fees from PRC, the developer; $535,000 to help pay affordable housing obligations, and $600,000 the borough doesnt have to repay in a property tax appeal. This is a very fair and appropriate settlement, he said.

By DON STINE
Political stability in Deal continued this week after longtime Board of Commission members Harry I. Franco and Dorothy ODonnell were sworn into office.
Commissioner Morris Ades was also sworn into office for his first full term. All three commissioners were re-elected to four-year terms last month.
Franco was appointed to fill an unexpired term in 1979 and won his first full term in 1980. He has served as mayor for the past 13 years and was again appointed mayor for the next four years.
ODonnell has served on the board for 12 years and begins her fourth full term.

Ocean Township Mayor Bill Larkin cuts the ribbon at the re-opening of the Colonial Golf Course in Ocean Township Saturday.
By DON STINE
Area golfers said they are very happy that the Colonial Terrace Golf Course in Ocean Township a local landmark is now renovated and reopened.

Township officials held the ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday and golfers are definitely ready to tee-off.

The course looks good, beautiful, better than ever! Ill try to play everyday, said 93-year-old Leo Krautheim, who has played golf at the course for decades.

Asbury Park downtown merchants are set for the un-official beginning of summer, said Mike Evans, owner of Mikes Beach House on Cookman Avenue.
And Aaron Coleman, special events manager at Mattison Park, said business owners are rolling out the red, white and blue for the holiday weekend.
We have 2,500 feet of red, white and blue fringe for the outside of the stores, he said.
In addition, red, white ad blue bunting will also add to the holiday spirit.
Many shops will be open late on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNIWhen Robert Shafer leaves the Neptune City school district in June, he will be leaving behind four decades of memories.
Too many years to single out any one in particular, he admits.
Many memories, I have a lot of good memories, with the kids…and the parents, I have really good relationships with the parents.
Shafer has stayed in one place long enough in fact to see the grandchildren of some of his students coming through the door.
Shafer started his teaching career in the district in 1967 as a seventh and eighth grade science teacher. He remembers current business administrator William Folk as one of his students as well as the head custodian.