SCOTT FRIEDMAN Will Lutkewitte, 9, and Lillie Karch, 12, both of Colts Neck, enjoy the festivities at the Grand Hallows Ball leading up to the midnight release of the seventh and final Harry Potter book at Borders in Eatontown July 20. Story, page 3. More ... Legislators want inquiry into BRAC decision State, local officials fault data used for base closing BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       A nonpartisan congressional delegation of New Jersey public officials introduced legislation July 19 that would require the comptroller general of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission's decision to close Fort Mo... More ... Group continues to fight Monmouth U expansion Residents petition N.J. Supreme Court to reverse lower courts BY CHRISTINE VARNP Staff Writer       A group of West Long Branch residents have taken their opposition to a Monmouth University expansion project to the state Supreme Court. More ... Monmouth County Fair returns for its 33rd year       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The Monmouth County Fair has returned to the East Freehold Park showgrounds on Kozloski Road between Business Route 33 and Route 537. The county fair remains a tradition, with this year marking its 33rd year of providing family fun. More ... Register by July 27 for 'Woods Hollow Classic'       The Monmouth County Park System will host the annual "Woods Hollow Classic" mountain bike race Aug. 4 at Tatum Park, Holland Road, Middletown. The classic consists of a 7.5-mile beginner race for the first-time or occasional racers which begins at 8 a.m. or the sport race of 11.25... More ...      JEFF GRANIT staff Paulina Braka, 10, Long Branch, places a coil of pottery onto her bowl during a pottery class at the Children's Cultural Center in Red Bank. More ... Prostitution investigation results in 11 arrests       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - - On July 12, members of the Ocean Township Police Detective Bureau and Special Assignment Unit made 11 arrests in connection with prostitution-related offenses at two separate massage parlor establishments located on Route 35 in the township. More ... Former FBI analyst at fort sentenced for espionage       A former Marine and former FBI intelligence analyst at Fort Monmouth was sentenced July 18 to 10 years in prison for espionage and other charges. U.S. District Judge William H. More ... Changing of the guard also a homecoming N.J. native returns to become Ocean Twp. mgr. BY LORI ANNE OLIWA Correspondent       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - For new Township Manager Andrew G. Brannen, returning to New Jersey is a homecoming. "I'm from Cape May County," Brannen said in an interview last week, "and am very excited about returning to the state with my wife and kids. More ... Police: Suspect tried to lure 2 girls in park       LONG BRANCH - A 40-year-old man is facing sexual assault charges for allegedly attempting to lure two young girls at a local park in Long Branch. According to Long Branch police, on July 14 at approximately 9 p.m., officers responded to West End Park after receiving a report that a su... More ... BBB: Online job scams Job seekers risk losing money and personal data       TRENTON - The Better Business Bureau (BBB) today issued a warning advising job seekers to beware of misleading online job postings and employment arrangements aimed at stealing money and identities. More ... Borough would subdivide Fieldstone Ct. parcel Resident wants 2.5 acres to be used for a park BY LAYLI WHYTE Correspondent       EATONTOWN - Months after the controversial topic of selling 2 acres of borough-owned property at the end of Fieldstone Court was first discussed by the Borough Council, Borough Engineer Robert Stetz presented four ways in which the property could be subdivided to get it ready for sale. More ... Muggles celebrate Potter countdown at Grand Hallows Ball Several hundred fans at Borders for midnight book release BY LAYLI WHYTE Correspondent       EATONTOWN - Muggles of the world, rejoice! The seventh and final installment of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series was released last week, finally to reveal the outcome of the epic battle between good and evil. More ... Park Avenue bridge replacement under way Detours, temporary pedestrian crossing will be in place BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - The state Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun a $6.7 million project to construct a new Park Avenue bridge in Long Branch. The state-funded project will replace the current "functionally obsolete" bridge on Park Avenue, according to a press release from the ... More ... Resident on, then off Planning Bd. agenda 'Allegations' pulled from agenda with no discussion BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - Belmont Avenue resident James Keelen's opposition to the downtown Broadway redevelopment plan landed him on last week's Planning Board agenda. But Board Attorney Martin Arbus withdrew the agenda item listed as "Keelen Allegations" at the July 17 Planning Board meeting... More ... FMERPA planner midway through info gathering Panel must meet Dec. 8 deadline set by defense dept. BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - - Despite questions on the part of public officials about the real economic and safety costs of closing Fort Monmouth , the Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Planning Authority (FMERPA) is pushing forward so that it can meet the Dec. 8 deadline imposed by the federal... More ...      JEFF GRANIT staff Matthew Sparrock, 16, Ocean Township, adds some sand to a sand castle he and other campers from Seashore Day Camp learned how to make under the direction of sculpting champion John Gowdy at the North Bath Avenue beach in Long Branch July 5. More ... Stork Club       Tracey and Sidney Rossi of Monmouth Beach announce the birth of their daughter, Sophia Patrice, May 6, 2007, at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. The baby weighed 7 pounds, and joins brothers Nicholas and John, and sisters Gabrielle, Meredith and Kathryn. Grandparents are Patricia and Nic... More ... FMERPA takes care of business BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - At the 16th Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority (FMERPA) meeting, members authorized the director to enter into a lease for a permanent office space. The authority also approved two new hires, an administrative assistant and a project manager at t... More ...