Gagliardi, a former Commissioner of Education, was hired at Monday night’s board meeting.

Gagliardi holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in administration from Kean University.

Robert Fernicola, who lives in Loch Arbour, said he submitted the petition Wednesday. Village Clerk Lorraine Carafa will now review the signatures on the petition and, if all are in order, then a special election on the issue will be held in about three weeks.

“The commission form of government will be the same that presently exists in Allenhurst and Deal,” Fernicola said.

Loch Arbour is the only community in the state that uses the village-form of government. It is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees.

“We are thrilled with everyone’s efforts on my daughter’s behalf,” said Linda Hopkins, who lives with her husband, Robert, in the township’s West Allenhurst section.

A fund-raiser will be held Sun., Jan. 25, at the Brickwall Restaurant, 522 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and cost $25, which includes a free drink and buffet. Donations are now being accepted for a gift auction.

Judy, 26, suffers from a chronic pain condition known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)- a neurological disorder.

RSD is a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system whereby nerves misfire, sending constant pain signals to the brain. The disease causes muscle spasms, tremors, weakness, fatigue, and frequent infections and headaches.

These misguided pain signals can migrate to other parts of the body, resulting in full-body RSD, which is what Judy has.

“You have daughter that you can’t hold, hug or physically touch because it causes such pain. When Judy received her treatment in Germany her father was able to hug her for the first time in years,” Linda said.

Judy was referred to a specialist in Germany and was subsequently placed in an induced coma in 2007 and treated with heavy doses of ketamine in an attempt to “reboot” her nervous system.

This treatment is not available in the United States and a typical procedure and associated costs range from $45,000 to $50,000.

The treatment resulted in relief for Judy but the disease re-emerged in 2008.

She went back to Germany for a second treatment and is now recovering from the procedure at home.

Follow-up booster treatments are scheduled for late this month in Philadelphia.

Linda said she and her husband now need to be full-time caretakers and that their life revolves around medical claims and doctor appointments.

“It impacts on every phase of your life. And you can’t imagine what it takes to see your daughter in pain,” she said.

Linda said her family is very spiritual, which has been a comfort.

“I think religion and spirituality play an important part of getting through this,” she said.

Linda also said treating the disease creates big financial problems.

“It clearly has a financial impact. If we only had the United States bills it might be a little more manageable but the German treatments cost a lot of money,” she said.

“It is unnerving, frustrating and nearly impossible to deal with insurance. Whatever ever happens at the fund-raiser happens but people have been just incredible,” she said.

Linda said the family has received support from friends and family, Vietnam veterans, religious communities and from former high schools and colleges.

“Every time there is a new connection and people have been wonderful. People from throughout New Jersey have absolutely touched our hearts. We have been blessed in many ways. And we have a very strong and determined daughter,” she said.

For more information or to donate telephone Charlie Hopkins at 908-675-5322 or Linda Hopkins at 732-531-2574.

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

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.

The face of the citys beachfront changes daily as the multi-million renovation continues with the repaving of streets, installation of new facades and lighting on some existing buildings and construction of new storefronts along the boardwalk

A smattering of businesses, including Casa di Formaggio and the Salt Water Beach Cafe, will be open this weekend and on May 23 the Wonder Bar is scheduled to re-open for the day with a performance by Billy Hector in the evening.

Live entertainment will be provided by Lady LaRanah Phipps and the Doug and Lyle Jazz Trio.

The entertainers will alternate between the First and Fifth Avenue Pavilions throughout the weekend.

Meanwhile, work continued on a glass-encased area on the second floor of the Salt Water Beach Cafe, where Tim McLoones Supper Club is scheduled to open by July.

Megan Oliveira, a representative of Madison Marquette, the citys beachfront redevelopers, said the company is hoping to have the Beach Bar, and the Fifth Avenue pavilion and its businesses open by the first weekend in June.

A new Irish Pub, Caroline OTooles located in the arcade will debut in early June.

On Wednesday the northern end of the boardwalk was a flurry of activity as workers focused intently on their tasks.

Developer Jack Green Jr., toured Convention Hall explaining some of the work completed and some still underway.

One major improvement to Convention Hall is the addition of at least 20 bathroom stalls for both men and women.

We did a bunch of bathrooms, on the second floor all over the place, they will all be done, Green said.

The area where the Beach Bar will be located, on the southeast side of Convention Hall overlooking the beach and ocean, has been renovated to include an area enclosed with green storefront-looking windows matching the arch way entrance of the hall. The walls have been wallpapered with huge palm leaves.

Bar patrons will have the option of sitting in the open air at a rectangular bar that has been built against the outer railing.

Later plans call for a stairway directly to the beach from the bar area.

In the middle of the arcade, a horse from the old carousel sits on a high pedestal wrapped in large yellow paper roses.

Green said work on the Fifth Avenue Pavilion is 90 percent there.

Stores going into the Fifth Avenue Pavilion include Eddie Confettis Ice Cream, Brielle Cyclery, Hot Sand Gallery, LaPlaca Pottery and Style Rocket, a contemporary clothing boutique.

Most stores Green said, should be open July 4th weekend, which Green called the heart of the season.

Thats going to be the big push, he added.

Touring the Fifth Avenue Pavilion Green said the Salt Water Beach Cafe, which is open during construction, now has an elevator installed to the second floor, where a class encased area is being built adjacent to the supper club being built upstairs.

Eddie Catalano, owner of Eddie Confettis Ice Cream, said he plans to have three locations on the boardwalk.

At the Fifth Avenue Pavilion he is opening an ice cream store, with soy ice cream, Italian Ice and espresso.

He is toying with the idea of calling it Brain Freeze, but is still discussing the idea with colleagues.

He said he is shooting for a May 31 opening..

Discussing the progress being made, Catalano, who owns an electrical contracting company, said, If you dont see progress, youre blind.

As work continues along the boardwalk he said he will be opening another ice cream store at the First Avenue Pavilion called Eddie Confettis Ice Cream and Cafe and also Boardwalk Bagels.

It will all be very high end, with granite counters, its going to be astonishing, he said.

Coaster Photo: Work continues at the Beach Bar at Convention Hall in Asbury Park.

Debbie Higgins

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.

Q. Why did you make Snake Hill?

A. I wanted people to know the story. So many people dont know about local history.

Q. Did you celebrate when it was done?

A. Not really. Even though its in the can I never finished with it.

Q. Are you able to make a living making movies here at the Jersey Shore?

A. Well, I actually have a more steady income as a film critic. I write reviews for The Zagat Movie Guide and TES (Theatrical Entertainment Systems.) And hopefully, starting next month Like Minded Entertainment will host a web radio show on a new station Great Online Radio. Ill be doing interviews, chatter and some co-hosting as well as a weekly movie review. You can check the website www.likemindedentertainment.com. for updates on this project. I really am more of a critic than a movie maker. I will also be a guest lecturer at Brookdale this Fall.

Q. How did you get started as a critic?

A. Actually, at The Coaster. I started in 1987. The first review I wrote was for Bright Lights/Big City with Michael J Fox. I cant remember if I even liked it or not.
But I did a lot of things before that!

Q. Like what?

A. I really started my working life with horses. I actually became a trainer. I still love horses and Id love to go back to that one day. But I got side tracked by other things.

I went to Monmouth University as a voice major (I have a BA in Voice) so I decided to perform. I was a showgirl for a little while at Resorts. I also danced in The Ringling Brothers Circus at Great Adventure for 2 years. We had lions and tigers and bears, oh, my. I was a Zebra Dancer!

I married but was widowed very young and had a young child to support. So I started my job at the Allenhurst Post Office where I cant believe I still am today. But never gave up my love for entertainment.

For a while I was The Eastern Demographic Researcher for TES. I would screen movies with test audiences to see how they played.

Somewhere along the line I wrote a screen play called The List. It became an acquisition option for a major studio but was never made into a movie. Not yet at least. Through the affiliations I made during this effort I met Sandra Longo who partnered with me to form Likemindedentertainment.
Q. Have you written anything else?

A. I wrote a thriller called Agrarian about the ultimate terrorist attack. This script is now entering screen writing competitions and looking for an agent. Its been in 2 so far and in LA it made the top 20.

I am also working on another documentary called Angels of the Asylums. This is a TV series about gilded era asylum architecture. Its turning out to be very hard to make. I have identified 14 absolutely magnificent buildings, created between 1885 and 1930 by the premier architects of the time. They were hired by psychiatrist Thomas Story Kirkbridge who believed that grand structure and beautiful grounds were a panacea and curative to the soul. Kirkbridge formed the bat wing style of architecture prevalent in large state asylums. The grounds were designed by the likes of Olmstead. But its hard to get access. If they are owned by an entity that wants to develop the property and not preserve it, then they dont want to see it in a movie that glorifies it.

It takes me a while to complete a film project. I can only work on it on Mondays. Thats my day off. Snake Hill took 4 years, all Mondays, to make!

Q. So you are really a film nut.

A. I watch about 20 films a week. Both for pleasure and to review for my job. I feel that a really good critic has a wealth of knowledge and experience about the movies.

Q. What is your favorite movie?

A. Well, during the 1960s movies, as the viewing public knows, completely changed. So I have a favorite from before that change and one from after. My before is Ben-Hur and my after is Jaws. Jaws is a really perfect movie in every way. The plot, the music, the casting, everything. My favorites for 2007 are: Gone,Baby,Gone, 3:10 to Yuma and Breach. Nothing yet this year.

Q. How do you feel about the Oscars?

A. I am not a fan of the Oscars. I think it sold out to commercialism. So many of the people who vote do not see all the films nominated.

Q. What else have you been up to?

A. Last year I directed The Jersey Shore Film Festival. We had showings at The Baronet and The Axelrod Theater in Deal. Showing at The Paramount has become too expensive.

I also have 2 other screenplays in the works. Be sure to check my website for updates. My film company is Crescent City Films and is a division of Like minded Entertainment.

I am continuing to run the summer series films on the Beach for The Allenhurst Beach Club.

Q. What is the primary art form that comes to mind when you think of Asbury Park?

A. I grew up in Allenhurst and spent a great deal of time at concerts in Convention Hall. So Id say its concerts. I saw Black Sabbath, Janice Joplin, Jethro Tull. I also loved the amusements.

Q. What are your favorite memories of Asbury Park?

A. The top is The Mayfair. I know its gone but it was so wonderful. The Moorish architecture. The clouds on the ceilings. I was a young teenager when they tore it down. My cousin Cherie, my friend Michael Frankel and I chained ourselves to the bulldozer to try and stop them. To no avail. I also loved the horses on the carousel in The Palace.

Q. What would you like your tombstone to say?

A. Never, never give up.: Or maybe Hit em with a velvet glove.

Q. Why do you think art is important?

A. A common problem with education and home life is that art and regional history is not taught. Children are no longer exposed to ballet and piano. Art feeds the gentle side of your soul. We should be more creative and less competitive. Everything is about NOW instead of revering the past. It is denigrated as old-fashioned and useless.

Q. What is something about you that people might not know?

A. That I have a farmers soul. That I want to get involved with horses again. Oh, that I went to chef school and ran a gourmet basket business here in town. It was called Traveling Feast.

Q. Any future plans that might include Asbury Park?

A. Yes. Id love to write a screenplay about Asbury Park and have some ideas. Id love to use the city and the boardwalk for a specific story I have in mind. Sorry, I cant share the details. Some film makers have been known to borrow other film makers ideas! Id also love to create a movie screening series here in Asbury Park.

For updates on Debbies latest projects see her website www.likemindedentertainment. com

ArtsCAP can be reached through www.artscap.org.

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.

Allenhurst is losing a veteran police officer.

Sgt. James Gaul, a 27-year veteran who has seen and done much in this small town, served his final shift.

He will be replaced by Ptl. Michael Schneider, who was recently promoted to sergeant by the Board of Commissioners. The board will also begin to search for a replacement to bring the nine-member squad back to strength.

Schneider is a 12-year veteran.

The board also announced an ordinance that will tighten building requirements that will limit lot coverage.

Gaul, 49, began as a patrolman in 1982. He was promoted to sergeant five years ago. In those years, hes seen his share of action, having worked on murders, accidental deaths, burglaries and a long list of traffic and safety projects. He was called out early Christmas Day in 1992 for the epic fire that destroyed a block of Main Street.

Mayor David McLoughlin said it was a sad day.

This is the end of an era, he said. Thank you for all your service.

Gaul said he enjoyed his tour and noted hed spend half his life here.

Thereve been a lot of good things done in this town. I kind of got the gamut here.

He noted there are a couple of cases still to be solved. One is finding the second-story burglar who hit apartments several years ago. Another is finding whoever stole antique bronze street lights from the Jersey Central Power & Light Co. building a few weeks ago.

He plans to join the Monmouth University Police Department on May 1.

In other business, the commissioners said they were disappointed the borough could not persuade Interlaken to accept an offer to provide police services. The latter chose to rebuild the department after residents gave the idea strong support.

We worked very hard on the negotiations with Interlaken but they werent interested in our terms, McLoughlin said. Unfortunately, they chose a path where they want to start their department up again. The board felt we had a good opportunity.

We sat down with very open minds to work things out but unfortunately they didnt.

Commissioner Terrence Bolan said money wasnt the issue. Interlaken residents who spoke at a town meeting said they strongly favored having their own department and there was little, if any opposition expressed, he said.

Interlaken wasnt concerned with the cost. They wanted their own police department. I think they (the Interlaken Borough Council) bowed to the majority of their residents.

Allenhurst offered several options that would have guaranteed patrols in Interlaken around the clock. Ocean Township bid $175,000 a year for services.

McLoughlin announced a hearing on an ordinance that would limit impervious lot coverage to 40 percent of the property, down 5 percent from the original proposal. Impervious coverage is buildings, driveways, sidewalks, decks, pools and so forth. Borough Engineer Peter Avakian surveyed the town and recommended the change.

All existing properties that exceed the 40 percent limit will be grandfathered in as pre-existing, nonconforming uses, Borough Clerk Lori Osborn said.

McLoughlin said the move will help improve storm water runoff and preserve the boroughs appearance.

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.

Information obtained through the survey will be used to make decisions and aid in planning potential projects under the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program, a state program. The program is being coordinated through Interfaith.

Interfaith Neighbors West Side Neighborhood Revitalization initiative is a 10-year plan approved by the state to benefit the citys West Side community. The survey will help decide which projects should be funded in the area.

This survey will really help us plan projects, said Heather Schulze, who coordinates community outreach at Interfaith Neighbors. We dont want to assume that we know what is good for the neighborhood. We want them to tell us.

During informal talks residents in the area have already said they would like to see work done to improve the West Side Community Center on DeWitt Avenue, Schulze said.

We are looking into how we can partner with them, she said.

The survey will target approximately 725 randomly selected households, all residents of the West Side. It will take about 15 minutes to complete and includes multiple choice questions.

Those participating will also have a chance to win a number of prizes valued at approximately $100 each.

Residents dont have to wait to be contacted, Schulze said.

If they see us they can run out and say Hey can I participate? she said.

The volunteers expect to go door-to-door on four different days, which will include two evenings.

By talking to residents and collecting data about the neighborhood, Interfaith Neighbors will be able to tailor its revitalization projects to better fit the residents.

Schulze said residents may want a park, or affordable housing or more shops.

We are trying to put together programs people want, she said.

The funding for the project has been provided by the New Jersey Natural Gas Company, Jersey Central Power and Light, PNC Bank, Selective Insurance and Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

After the survey is completed Interfaith Neighbors will make the results available to all upon request.

In addition, a series of meetings will be held, open to all residents, where the results will be discussed. Individual responses will remain anonymous and will be not shared with anyone

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.

Coaster Photo: Aaron Coleman rolls out the red carpet at Mattison Park in Asbury Park in preparation for this years Garden State Film Festival which opens April 3.

Aaron Coleman, special events planner for Mattison Park, said the restaurant has been specially designated by Starline Films as the after, after party place.

Mattison Park is hosting a pre-festival party at 11:30 p.m. tonight (April 3), where many of the celebrities who are on the list to attend, will unwind.

The doors to the party will open at 10 p.m. to residents on a special guest list who will get to party with the celebrities, Coleman said.

Room on the guest list is still available, he said.

Mattison Park will be laying out a full menu and drinks, along with a red carpet and red rope line to greet guests.

Im really excited. Its great we are going to bring thousands of people to town. It will help the downtown and people can see the new Asbury, he said.

Coleman, who has owned a home on the lake in Ocean Grove for nine years, said several of the restaurants in town, such as Synaxis and The Harrison, have committed to staying open until 2 a.m.

Mattison Park is located on Mattison Avenue., while the other two restaurants are on Cookman Avenue.

If our place gets full well send people over that way, Coleman said.

Raver said Asbury Parks Director of Commerce Tom Gilmour complimented her on this years event.

It looks like you hit a home run, he told her.

Raver said she would be surprised if the number of attendees didnt fall between 13 to 15 thousand at this years event.

Especially with Freeheld and Greetings from the Shore, she said of two films with local ties being shown.

Of the 153 films in the festival, 57 have a New Jersey connection.

And they are the creme-de-la-creme, she added.

The Grand Opening for the festival is Fri., April 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Arcade in Convention Hall.

There will be cocktails and celebrities followed by Flyboys, which is one of the best films Ive ever seen. Its riveting….its unbelievable that an indie film could pull that off.

Its a movie for the kids as well, Raver said. And I like that.

Tickets for films may be purchased at the door at each of the nine venues.

Its just like going to the movies; you just go to the movies, she said.

Frank DAlessandro, director of the Stephen Crane House, Fourth Avenue, is hosting three sessions of short films on Saturday.

Although DAlessandro said on Tuesday that he had not been formally contacted by the GSFF organization the Stephen Crane House will be open and ready to perform its duties.

Ill put on a pot of coffee if they want, he said. Id be happy to do whatever they want, its quite an honor.

DAlessandro also said he will provide DVD players or projectors if needed.

Showings at the Crane House begin at noon with several short films, with the second session beginning at 2:30 p.m. and including Asbury Park a short film by former Jersey resident Eileen Myers whose parents live in Ocean Grove.

This year writer and Oscar-winning screenwriter Budd Schulberg who wrote the film classic On the Waterfront, will be honored with a lifetime achievement award for screenwriting.

Montel Williams is attending the premier and reception of 4Chosen, a film about racial profiling and New Jersey State Police, on April 3

The event is a benefit for his MS foundation.

The film will be shown at the Paramount Theatre at 7 p.m. with a reception to follow. Veteran actor Paul Sorvino stars in Greetings From The Shore

It is a story about a young girl still reeling from the death of her father, while spending one last summer at the Jersey Shore before heading off to college.

The film is part memoir, part fairy tale and was shot in Lavallette, New Jersey, in the same seaside town where the real events occurred to writer Gabrielle Berberich.

New Jersey actor Danny Aiello, will not only be giving special singing presentation he will announce his directorial debut of Anyones Son, which will be previewed at the festival.

Chris Costello, daughter of Hollywood legend Budd Costello, will accept a Lifetime Achievement Award for acting on behalf of her father.

This years event far exceeds our greatest expectations as a young festival. To have such honored guests and industry veterans in Asbury Park is the culmination of an exceptional Board of Directors and a very hard working group of volunteers Raver said.

General admission tickets are $10 for each two-hour block of films, and can be purchased in advance on the GSFF web site, www.gsff.org, or any of the venues.

An all-regular weekend festival pass will be available for $40, which entitles the bearer to all events except the Awards Dinner.

Two films detailing the difficulties of same sex couples trying to reap the benefits of health care will also be shown.

In Sickness and in Health, chronicles three couples in the Garden State who filed lawsuits, along with four others, in the hopes of legalizing same-sex marriage.

One couple faces the cruel ordeal of having a loved one afflicted with ALS.

Freeheld is the real life story of a same-sex couple from Ocean County who fight for ones health insurance to cover the illness and death from cancer of the other.

The story was widely covered in the Shore area and the film won an Oscar this year for Short Documentary.

Tickets for the special screening and reception are $25 and can be purchased at the event; or on the GSFF web site, www.gsff.org.

The GSFF is also seeking volunteers to assist with this years festival and sponsors to support the efforts of the non-profit organization. ]]> http://thecoaster.net/wordpress/2008/04/03/red-carpet-rolled-out-for-6th-annual-film-festival/feed/ 0 http://thecoaster.net/wordpress/2008/04/03/deal-lake-commission-seeking-470000-from-county-state/ http://thecoaster.net/wordpress/2008/04/03/deal-lake-commission-seeking-470000-from-county-state/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:30:43 +0000 Coaster http://thecoaster.net/wordpress/2008/04/03/deal-lake-commission-seeking-470000-from-county-state/ 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: ]]> 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:

- $44,000 to electrify the flood gates and install a new grate at the lakes flume into the Atlantic Ocean. The flume, which controls the water level in the lake, is located between Asbury Park and Loch Arbour and runs under Ocean Avenue.

- $25,000 to identify sources of human fecal bacteria entering the lake through the old storm water system.

- $400,000 to remove an accumulation of weeds and leaves over 14-acre areas that are choking western sections of the lake.

These items are all high priority and need to be done, Everson said.

Everson said that although Deal Lake is equal in size to all of the other coastal lakes (those that feed into the ocean) in Monmouth County combined Deal Lake receives less funding than given for projects at other coastal lakes.

The 158-acre lake has more than 20 miles of coastline.

The amount of money per acre is a lot less than whats given to other lakes, Everson said.

The Deal Lake Commission is funded by annual contributions by seven municipalities with borders on the lake: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune and Ocean Township.

The irony… is that the state Department of Environmental Protection tells us the state owns the lake but it is the commission and municipalities, along with local groups, that have to beg the state for permission to care for and find funding to proceed for the lakes care, the commission wrote in a March 13 letter to Kean.

The letter also requests a county or state agency provide matching annual funding for yearly repairs and maintenance. It also requests a county-wide Joint Lakes Commission be created to find disposal sites for dredge spoils from the lakes

Properly run the site should be self-funding by selling compost made from the spoils, Everson said.

In addition, Everson said there are many long-range projects that need to be done to improve Deal Lake.

The areas surrounding the lake are in dire need of updated and improved storm water infrastructure and controls. The lake also needs about a million cubic yards of sediment removed to fully restore its vitality.

We also need to begin identifying and building large-scale regional storm-water basins in the lakes watershed. Its really is the only way to control flooding and the flow of silt into the lake. Until these basins are in place we cant do effective dredging because the rapid storm-water runoff is scouring silt right back into the lake, he said.