CHRIS KELLY staff Students George Robson and Erin Brautigan rehearse a scene March 12 for Ocean Township High School's production of "Into the Woods," which opens tonight and runs through Saturday at the high school on W. Park Avenue. More ... Towns want piece of Fort Monmouth pie County also seeks facilities, open space after base closure BY LINDA DENICOLA Staff Writer       The three towns that encompass Fort Monmouth have filed their Notices of Intent to seek fort properties within their jurisdictions. In addition, the county also filed notices by the March 8 deadline, mainly for open space and recreation facilities and in some cases, is partnering w... More ... Owner contests value set for beachfront home Commissioners put value of home below city's offer BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       A Long Branch homeowner thinks her oceanfront home is worth more than the $750,000 a court-appointed panel has valued it at. Attorney William J. Ward filed an appeal in Superior Court last week stating that the value set by condemnation commissioners was far from what his client Fra... More ... Borough and M.B. study shared police BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       SEA BRIGHT - - The borough and its neighboring town Monmouth Beach, are planning to work together on a study of joining their police departments. At the Borough Council meeting last week, Mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams said that the idea would be looked into as part of an effort to share ... More ... Court rebuffs city's bid to block public advocate Appellate court allows amicus brief in support of homeowners BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - - A recent court ruling will allow state Public Advocate Ronald. K. Chen's friend of the court brief to be used in a Long Branch eminent domain case. More ... Gotti Kelley       Green Scene March 2007: Spring plants are stirring You need not be much of a gardener to know that March is a turning point in the gardening year. The sun shines stronger, grass is greener, tips of daffodils and small spring bulbs are making their debut and there is an abundance of ... More ... Paint finally dries on township arts center Middletown unveils first new indoor rec facility since 1981 BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       The new Middletown Arts Center, was unveiled recently. The 23,000-square-foot building is the township's first new indoor recreational facility in over 25 years. The township broke ground on the facility in 2002 with the project being completed in two phases. More ... Husky Brook Park plan is unveiled 19-acre tract adds to borough's open space areas BY LAYLI WHYTE Staff Writer       EATONTOWN - A conceptual plan for a park proposed for the site of the Stella and Capilupi tracts was presented at last week's Borough Council meeting. More ... O'Leary gets probation in sexual contact plea Former teacher admits relationship with student       WEST LONG BRANCH - - A former math teacher and coach at Shore Regional High School was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual conduct with a former student who was 15 years old at the time. More ... Fisher appointed to fill vacant council seat Councilwoman will run for unexpired term in November BY LAYLI WHYTE Staff Writer       EATONTOWN - - Kristine Fisher has been appointed to fill the vacant seat on the Borough Council that was left open by the Feb. 11 death of Councilman Joseph Questore. Fisher has been a member of the borough Planning Board for three years. She also has served as a member of the Down... More ... West Long Branch proposes $8.7M budget Spending plan would raise tax rate by 2.9 cents BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       WEST LONG BRANCH - - The Borough Council introduced a municipal spending plan for 2007 that, if adopted, would increase residents' taxes by 2.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The $8,717,100 budget calls for an increase from last year's tax rate of 35.5 cents per $100 of asse... More ... 3 incumbents run for Board of Education       WEST LONG BRANCH - borough Board of Education April election is an uncontested race to fill the three open seats on the board. Returning to fill their posts are incumbents Annette M. Hurley of Girard Avenue, Steven Fineberg of Muncy Drive and Dina O'Hare of Girard Avenue. More ... SCAN programs slated for April 18, 25       Monmouth Medical Center will present "Stop Your Tobacco Dependence" April 18 from 1-3 p.m. at SCAN Learning Center, Monmouth Mall, Eatontown. "The Laughter Club: Long Live Laughter" will be presented April 25 from 1-3 p.m. Both are free to SCAN members, and membership is open to residen... More ... Cub Scouts advance to Boy Scouts       The Cub Scouts of Pack 1 in Monmouth Beach will have their annual Blue and Gold Dinner Sunday, March 18, at The Channel Club in Monmouth Beach. The dinner is both an awards ceremony and a birthday celebration for the Cub Scouts organization, which was formed in 1916. More ... 'Art in Park' will open May 27       The Long Branch Historical Association and the Long Branch Arts Council plan to kick off the summer season with the ninth annual "Art in the Park" outdoor art show May 27. The event will be held one block from the beach in West End Park on the corner of Brighton and Ocean avenues. More ... Cops seek 2 suspects in bank robbery       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Township police are seeking information related to the armed robbery of the Bank of America branch in Ocean Plaza on Route 35. According to police, on March 2 at approximately 1:47 p.m., the Bank of America branch was robbed of an undetermined amount of cash by two arm... More ... CPC's 'Peter Bry Clinical Training' March 23       CPC Behavioral Healthcare, Eatontown, will present the 2007 "Peter Bry Clinical Training" March 23 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel. The training will focus on "Domestic Terrorism in Our Schools and Communities and Hate Group Recruitment." Presenters will be Lt. More ...      SCOTT PILLING staff Former New Jersey Devil Bob Skriak gives a motivational talk, "On Realizing Goals," about perseverence, drive and staying focused to achieve goals to students at Seashore School in Long Branch March 9. More ... Notes Around Town       St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Broadway received a donation of $1,000 from the Norkus Charitable Foundation to be used to support and extend the church's outreach. ***** Holy Trinity Rosarians will host a bus trip to the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City March 18. More ... Wyeth collection at Monmouth U       WEST LONG BRANCH - - Three generations of Wyeth art will be on display at Monmouth University's Pollak Gallery next week. Featuring Wyeth works from 1938 to 2004, the private collection reflects seven decades of American experience, from the rocky coast of Maine to the rubble of the W... More ... Reservation due for SPCA event March 23       The Monmouth County SPCA, Eatontown, will hold a casino night/dinner-dance March 31 at 7 p.m. at Manasquan River Golf Club, Brielle. Reservation deadline is March 23. The black tie-optional event will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, dancing, games of chance and an open bar.... More ... Active soldiers may not be taxed on '06 income Panter: $9M revenue loss would be insignificant BY LAYLI WHYTE Staff Writer       OCEANPORT - Soldiers are expected to pay the "ultimate price," not the "ultimate price, plus tax." Assemblyman Michael J. Panter (D-12) said he is appalled that U.S. Army Pfc. Paul J. Newell, who has been on active military duty in Germany since joining the Army in November 2005, i... More ... Into the Woods      PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff From top: Little Red Riding Hood, played by Lily Wilton, is stalked by the Wolf, Eric Schroeter, during a rehearsal for Ocean Township High School's production of "Into the Woods." Joey Edelmann, Ellpetha Tsivicos and Hannah Sultana rehearse their roles as the Baker, the ... More ...