The Coaster

By DON STINE
Neptune Township has received $550,000 in state grant money to develop a park on West Lake Avenue under the townships West Lake Avenue Redevelopment Plan.
It will be a passive park and entertainment area where community events, farm markets, and events of that nature will be held, said the townships Chief Financial Officer Michael Bascom.
Bascom said the township received $150,000 of the grant money in a previous year and recently received a letter confirming receipt of the final $400,000.

By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI

John Bauer, of Ocean Grove, plants a magnolia tree at the new rain garden being installed at Memorial Park in Neptune City. Bauer is a Monmouth County Master Gardener.

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
Loch Arbour officials have decided to remain in the Deal Lake Commission, a decision that has been welcomed by those interested in restoring the lake.
That would be short-sighted and foolish (to leave the commission) said resident John Zazzarino.
Zazzarino said the seven municipalities comprising the Deal Lake Commission need to increase their level of support if anything effective is to be accomplished.
Zazzarino said funding the commission is particularly important now that a stormwater management plan has been completed and submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection for project funding.

By TOM CARDINALE

Coaster Photo by Tom Cardinale: The Summerfield School in Neptune has been recognized for its green design and reduction in energy usage.

By TOM CARDINALE
Jerry Meyer, a member of the Shark River Clean-up Coalition as well as the Neptune Environmental Commission and Deal and Wesley Lake Commissions, is urging Monmouth County officials to ask municipalities to install ecodrains on all street drains in an effort to eliminate trash from flowing into the ocean.
Meyer said Asbury Park has [...]

By TOM PIVINSKI
“Sustainability is a condition of existence which enables the present generation of humans and other species to enjoy social wellbeing, a vibrant economy, and a healthy environment, and to experience fulfillment, beauty and joy, without compromising the ability of future generations of humans and other species to enjoy the same.”
-Guy Dauncey

By TOM CARDINALE
After a group of Neptune High School students heard that there was a possibility the school was not recycling properly, the group of eight jumped into action in hopes of enacting a change and TEAM GREEN was created.
The name stands for Together Everyone Appreciates Mother Nature, Get Responsible and Everyone’s Environment Now.
The [...]