Communities coped in wake of nor'easter Oceanport readied shelter; despite outages, no one came       Senior citizen Gloria Kretowicz spent last Thursday inside her Red Bank condominium wearing two pairs of pants, two shirts, a robe and a winter hat. Kretowicz, who lives at the Red Bank Manor condominium complex on Manor Drive, said the ice storm that pummeled the area Feb. 14 left he... More ... Long Branch approves revised Pier Village plans Residential units, third phase added; hotel possible BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       Revised plans for the Pier Village redevelopment project were approved last week, and include a third phase along the oceanfront with more residential units, retail outlets and possibly a hotel. At the Feb. 13 municipal meeting, the Long Branch City Council unanimously adopted resol... More ... Wall that Heals to come to Long Branch Traveling replica of Vietnam Memorial due in county in July BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       It is called "The Wall that Heals" and for most, that is what it accomplishes through its travels around the nation. In July, one of those stops will be Long Branch, which will be the host city for the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, a replica of the memorial in the nation... More ... 'Christmas in February'      Top to bottom: Marge Rescinio, Ocean Township, sorts and organizes clothing for distribution at the "Christmas in February" dinner. Volunteer Yolanda Maletto, Long Branch, serves Florinda Noonan, 15, WestLong Branch, during "Christmas in February" dinner, sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society... More ... City chamber hosts annual awards dinner       LONG BRANCH - The Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce will celebrate community pride and spirit during its 73rd Annual Business Awards Dinner Saturday, March 3, at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa, Ocean Blvd. The gala event will be highlighted by the presentation of the Louis G. Libut... More ... Attorneys ask court to allow advocate's brief Move counters city's attempt to block Chen's amicus brief BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - Attorneys representing Long Branch homeowners filed papers in court last week supporting the admission of the state Public Advocate's friend of the court brief in their case against the city's eminent domain plans. Attorney Peter H. Wegener and attorneys with the Inst... More ... Legal services opens Long Branch office       LONG BRANCH - Ocean Monmouth Legal Services (OMLS) Inc. is hosting an open house for its new city office on Broadway on Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. OMLS is a nonprofit civil law firm that provides free legal services to low-income residents of Monmouth and Ocean counties. More ... On Campus       Stacy R. Beharry, Long Branch, has been named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Keystone College, La Plume, Pa. Hailey Rassas, Long Branch, has completed the associate alumnae of Douglass College extern program at Douglass College of Rutgers University, New Brunswick. More ... Bipartisan group forms Women's Political Caucus Bipartisan group works toward supporting women in politics BY LORI ANNE OLIWA Correspondent       The 2008 Presidential election is not the only place where women are making their mark in politics. A Monmouth County Chapter of the Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey (MCWPC) has recently been formed with the goal of supporting female candidates of any political party in a bip... More ... Quakers need help to restore historic meetinghouse Fundraising goal is to raise $500,000 in five years for repairs BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       SHREWSBURY - With the first phase of restoration work completed on the Shrewsbury Quaker Meetinghouse in the historic Four Corners section of Shrewsbury, the Monmouth County Historical Commission has given Shrewsbury Quakers a $4,180 grant to fund the second repair phase in 2007. More ... Science students see the future: robotic surgery       LONG BRANCH - Students from Monmouth County Vocational School's Academy of Allied Health & Sciences got an up-close look at the future of surgery recently during a visit to Monmouth Medical Center. Students attended a Robotic Surgery Lunch & Learn that included a hands-on demonstration... More ...