The Coaster

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.

Debbie Higgins

By PAM LAMBERTON
Debbie Higgins, born and raised in Allenhurst, is a local film critic and film maker whos most recent success is the documentary Snake Hill.
Well received by all who have seen it, Snake Hill is the story of a long abandoned institution in New Jersey where people would be placed for care by both the good intentioned and the bad intentioned. A very interesting story, Snake Hill was first premiered at a private showing at The Baronet in 2006. It went on as a choice for the Red Bank Freedom Film Society where it won the Jersey Fresh Award and Best Feature Documentary. It also won for Best Film Score at The Garden State Film Festival. It had its world premier at The Palm Beach Film Festival.

Michael Schneider was sworn in as sergeant in the Allenhurst police force this week by Mayor David McLaughlin. Schneiders brother, Matt, who is a police officer in Cranbury holds the Bible for his brother. Also pictured is Schneiders wife, Jeanne and son Ryan. Schneider has been a member of the Allenhurst police force for 12 years and was promoted from patrolman.

By GARRETT STASSE

Coaster Photo: Allenhurst Police Sgt. James Gaul (center row, fourth from right) was the guest of a honor at a retirement luncheon last week. Employees of the police department, the public works department and clerical staff of Allenhurst gathered to congratulate him on his retirement after 27 years of service. Allenhurst Police Chief Robert Richter is fifth from right in the center row.

By ELLEN CARROLL
What do you like best about your neighborhood?
How many of your neighbors do you speak to on a regular basis for five minutes or more?
Do your children feel safe in your neighborhood?
These are just a few of the questions a targeted number of residents of Asbury Parks West Side will be asked beginning Sat., April 12. Interfaith Neighbors Inc. is gathering the information using mostly volunteers over several days.

By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
As she prepared for this years Garden State Film Festival, which will take place in Asbury Park April 3 through 6, festival executive director Diane Raver described herself as calm, cool and collected.
Its great to have the confidence of the city. I had no idea it would grow this big this quickly, she said.
Area residents will be able to party with the stars this weekend as special events are planned throughout the city for this years festival, the sixth.
The festival will take place at various venues throughout Asbury Park.

By DON STINE
The Deal Lake Commission is requesting $470,000 from county or state coffers to pay for much-needed water-quality and flooding projects for the lake the largest in Monmouth County.
At any point in time this is the most important one for the seven participating towns to remain fully supportive of the commission, said Commission President John Everson.
In a letter to state Senator Sean Kean (R-11th District) the commission wrote it wants him to push for $470,000 in funding from the state or Monmouth County to pay for three vital projects:

Allenhurst Police Chief Robert RichterBy JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
The Allenhurst Police Department is a service oriented one, with traditions that most towns would envy.
Chief Robert Richter made sure he continued those traditions over the last 11 years while he has served as chief.
One of the unique traditions is having a police officer assigned to follow the [...]