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.

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.

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 [...]

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 [...]

[caption id=”attachment_3946” align=”alignleft” width=”130” caption=”Phyllis Quixley, who worked for the borough for more than 30 years, 16 of those as administrator, cleared out her office on Tuesday.”][/caption]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.

[caption id=”attachment_3936” align=”alignright” width=”157” caption=”Asbury Park Fire Captain Frank DiLello”][/caption]By TOM SHORTELL
Asbury Park Fire Captain Frank DiLello ran in a five kilometer run/fund-raiser over the weekend that follows the steps a New York firefighter took in rescue efforts on 9/11.
Over 20,000 people participated in the seventh annual Tunnel to Tower Run, DiLello said.
“It was really a moving experience,” he said.
Though it was pouring rain, he said he was too caught up in the moment to care.

By DON STINE
Efforts to sell the Neptune’s senior citizens center to fund acquisition and improvements to a larger facility are on hold after an ordinance authorizing the sale was tabled at the Sept. 22 Township Committee meeting.
The ordinance called for the township to sell the property at public auction with a $2.5 million minimum bid. Jersey Shore University Medical Center, just a bit west of the senior center, has expressed a potential interest in purchasing the property.
One caveat in the ordinance, however, was that a private sale of the site could take place if the buyer was an incorporated, nonprofit hospitable association, like Jersey Shore – a stipulation that brought comment by Committeeman James Manning Jr.

Downtown merchants in Asbury Park will celebrate Rocktober, a tribute to the city’s musical heritage on First Saturday Night Oct. 4.
The event will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. and beyond.
“The city of Asbury Park has very deep musical roots” said Michael Evans, Chairman of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce’s Special Events Committee. [...]