Voters reject city school budget for fourth year Taxpayers still must ante up $30.3M for schools BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       Although Long Branch voters rejected the school budget by a margin of more than 100 votes last week, the $84.1 million school spending plan could still stand, according to the district superintendent. The budget, which calls for a 5.17-cent tax rate increase, was voted down April 17... More ...       Mathias Babson, 5, West Long Branch, waits for a bite during the Long Branch Youth Fishing Derby held at Lake Takanassee April 21. More ... MTOTSA brief: City gave control to developers City's brief says eminent domain use is 'proper' BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       The city of Long Branch unlawfully ceded its power of eminent domain to a private developer, according to a brief filed by attorneys representing a group of Long Branch homeowners. That is one of the challenges being made in an appeal of a court ruling that gave the city the right t... More ... Running to celebrate life Marathoner battles brain tumor by building stamina BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - - As runners gather at the Long Branch shore Sunday to take on the challenge of the Long Branch Marathon, one man will be running the race for another reason - to celebrate his life. Tim Ragan, 32, of Manasquan, is living with brain cancer and since being diagnosed w... More ... Cooking for a cause      Local mayors helped prepare a meal for mothers and children living at Spring House, a transitional home in Eatontown, April 19. Top to bottom: April Ellis, (l-r) Nekida Duncan and Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo follow a recipe for an entree they are preparing at Suzanne's Kitchen in Eatontown, a m... More ... May 8 Ocean Township election uncontested Candidates cite financial stability, quality of services BY LORI ANNE OLIWA Correspondent       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - - For the first time, there are no challengers for mayor or for council seats in the upcoming municipal election and Mayor William F. Larkin thinks that indicates residents are happy with the current administration. More ... Boro seeks state funding for repair of eroded seawall DEP awaiting estimate; state to pay 75% of cost BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       MONMOUTH BEACH - Mayor Susan Howard and Commissioner Kim Guadagno were joined by Assemblyman Sean Kean (R-Monmouth) last Thursday at a press conference at the Shores Condominium to discuss the condition of the sea wall there. The borough officials have requested funds from the stat... More ...       Oakhurst's Christopher Lauria, 8, a member of Cub Scout Pack 70, helps clean up around Deal Lake April 22 during the Ocean Township Clean Sweep. More ... On Campus       Katelyn Laufenberg, Long Branch, was inducted into Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor society at a ceremony in mid April at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison. The society recognizes outstanding achievements of students of English language and literature. More ... LBHA seeks state funds to rebuild Garfield Court City could break ground on 140-unit project in October BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - - The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) has applied for state funding to support the redevelopment of one its affordable housing complexes. The LBHA submitted an application last Friday to the New Jersey Housing Mortgage and Finance Agency for $14 million in tax cr... More ...       Long Branch's Kyle Smith, 7, participated in the Long Branch Youth Fishing Derby, held at Lake Takanassee April 21. More ... No-growth policy a must for Monmouth University       Letter to Monmouth University President Paul Gaffney II:We read with interest your recent "Neighbor to Neighbor" newsletter to the citizens and residents of Long Branch. It is with little consolation that we read that your construction projects are not meant to make the enrollment of Mo... More ... One in six women are sexual assault victims       According to the Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN), every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted. Although anyone can be a victim of sexual assault, nine out of 10 rape victims are female. One in six American women is the victim of sexual ... More ... Donate when you see the yellow vests       The Knights of Columbus of the state of New Jersey will be collecting statewide for people with developmental disabilities the weekend of April 26-29. The first principle of the order is charity. Our goal is to raise $1 million for these organizations. All monies collected by the drive ... More ... Borough eyes purchase of Donovan's Reef BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       SEA BRIGHT -The borough is moving forward with plans to purchase the landmark Donovan's Reef on Ocean Avenue. With one dissenting vote, the Borough Council at its meeting last week approved the expenditure of $2,500 to obtain an appraisal of the oceanfront bar just south of Borough H... More ... Town Web sites seen as portal to open gov't. Report recommends user-friendly sites for towns statewide BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       Municipal Web sites can be important tools in promoting open and efficient government, but most fall far short of that goal, according to Tinton Falls Councilman Michael Skudera. During the Borough Council meeting last week, Skudera presented a 63-page report on the need to expand ... More ...