CHRIS KELLY staff Eric Pietz, 4, Eatontown, snags an Easter egg during Eatontown's annual Easter egg hunt held March 31 at 80 Acres Park. More ... Interest high in keeping fort veterans clinic open       FMERPA Veterans Affairs Committee head submits NOI for clinic BY LINDA DENICOLA Staff Writer A number of people who attend the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority meetings have repeatedly requested that the authority make it a priority to keep the Patterson A... More ... School budget would raise tax rate 5 cents       $30M tax levy would add $20 per month to avg. home's tax bill BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer The Long Branch School District Board of Education approved an $84.1 million spending plan last week for the 2007-08 school year. More ... Panel presents differing views on eminent domain Schneider: City of Long Branch 'is a destination again' BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       It's been said that Long Branch has become the poster child for eminent domain abuse, but last week Mayor Adam Schneider offered another perspective. Schneider was one of three panelists at a forum on eminent domain at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft March 28. More ... Jake's friends: 'We've got your back' Grateful family of Jake Healy thanks boosters BY SARAH L. SULLIVAN Correspondent       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Suzy Healy wants very much to show her appreciation to all the people who have lent their support to her family throughout the health challenges of her oldest son Jake, 11, who is battling leukemia. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2002 while in kinde... More ... Neighbors oppose sale of borough-owned tract Mayor: Proceeds would help offset tax-rate increase BY LAYLI WHYTE Staff Writer       EATONTOWN - Residents of Fieldstone Court spoke out at last week's Borough Council meeting against the mayor's plan to sell two acres of borough-owned property at the end of their cul-de-sac. Mayor Gerald Tarantolo proposed the sale of the property at the March 7 council workshop m... More ... DeLisa sentenced to prison term, $5K fine Former councilman pleaded guilty to taking cash bribe BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       WEST LONG BRANCH - Former Borough Councilman Joseph DeLisa was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison last week for accepting a cash bribe in 2003. U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martini also ordered DeLisa, 50, to pay a $5,000 fine and to serve three years on supervised re... More ... Monmouth Regional H.S. tax levy up 4% BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       Voters in the Monmouth Regional High School District will vote on a tax levy of $18,427,809 to support the 2007-08 proposed spending plan, a 4 percent increase over last year. The total spending plan of $25.4 million, is up 1.5 percent over last year's budget total of $25.3. More ... Boro school district proposes $10.8M 2007-08 budget       WEST LONG BRANCH - Borough voters are being asked to approve a 2007-08 school spending plan that calls for increasing taxes by 3.41 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The $10.8 million school district budget, which increased $298,406 over the 2006-07 budget of $10.5 million, was app... More ... New sheriff in town could be a woman Guadagno promises fiscal responsibility, revenue generation BY LORI ANNE OLIWA Correspondent       For the first time in the history of Monmouth County, a woman has been nominated to run for the office of county sheriff. Kimberly Guadagno, a Monmouth Beach commissioner, was successful in winning the GOP nomination at the party convention on March 24. More ... High school girls urged to enter political arena BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - - Although women make up 51 percent of the population of this country and have had the right to vote for the past 86 years, they still hold only a small percentage of elected positions. One very hopeful sign is that for the first time in the history of Monmouth County,... More ... 'Eggs-treme' fun for all      PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff 'Twas the week before Easter and all through the land, there were Easter Bunny sightings and children hunting eggs with baskets in hand. Top: William Diedrichsen Jr., 3, is hot on the trail during an Easter egg hunt held at 80 Acres Park in Eatontown March 31. Below: Isab... More ... Police 'raid' benefits families       MONMOUTH BEACH - Borough police "raided" the upscale Channel Club Tower, confiscating and removing new and used clothing and toys collected by the condominium residents. More ... Woolley House 5K set for May 12       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - - The township Historical Museum, in partnership with the Ocean Township PTAs, will sponsor the second annual Woolley House 5K Walk/Run Saturday, May 12. The race will take place at Joe Palaia Park beginning at 9 a.m. The pre-entry fee for the race is $15 and include... More ... Genetic science & healing art at JCC       The Jewish Community Center of Greater Monmouth County in Deal will present complementary programs on the topic of women and cancer from a scientific and artistic perspectives. "The Disturbing Truth: Why Ashkenazi Women Are at High Risk for Breast/Ovarian Cancer" will take place Wednesd... More ... Dems host forum for twp. candidates       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - The Greater Township of Ocean Democratic Club (serving Ocean, Allenhurst, Deal, Interlaken and Loch Arbour) will present a forum featuring members of the Township Council up for re-election May 8. All members of the council have been in office since 2003. They include ... More ... Marshal chosen for Memorial Day parade       The Community Celebration Committee of Ocean Township has announced that Mary Pat Napolitano has been chosen as the parade marshal for the 2007 Memorial Day parade. According to Donna Schepiga, president of the committee, the committee bestows the honor on a resident known for their com... More ... Notes       Temple Beth Miriam, 180 Lincoln Ave. in Elberon will host "The Art of Giving," an art auction, Saturday, May 5. Previews will begin at 7 p.m. and the auction will begin at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 per guest and includes wine and cheese and hors d'oeuvres. The fundraiser is co-sponsored by the ... 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