JEFF GRANIT staff The Zipper takes visitors to the 31st annual Italian Festival for a spin Aug. 8 at the Ocean Township event held at Joe Palaia Park. More photos, page 3. More ... Group wants study of bridge impact Partnership to ask DOT to assess effect on environment BY AMANDA BELING Staff Writer       A newly formed Environ-mental Partnership of 14 local municipalities is asking for a full Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed replacement of the Highlands Bridge. More ... City approves $500M hotel redevelopment Project to take five to seven years to complete BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       Broadway will become the gateway to the oceanfront under plans for a multi-million-dollar resort/hotel/conference center, which the Long Branch City Council approved last week. The renovation and expansion of the Ocean Place Resort & Spa phase of the redevelopment project will inclu... More ... 'Hip Hop Wiz' on stage at JCC       Forty young actors and dancers will take the stage at the Jewish Community Center's Axelrod Performing Arts Center for a special performance of "Hip Hop Wiz." The performance features specially arranged songs from the "Wizard of Oz," "Wicked" and "The Wiz," flavored with a dose of pop ... More ... Paws 4 A Cause raises funds to save pets' lives       EATONTOWN - - A newly formed dog 4-H Club has launched its first community service project and hopes to raise enough money to provide emergency responders with equipment that will save the lives of pets in emergencies. More ... Save Sandy Hook wants court to delay ruling Group asks court to wait for results of gov't investigation BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       TRENTON - A group formed to block commercial development on Sandy Hook has asked a federal court to hold off ruling on its lawsuit while the federal government investigates a developer's lease for buildings on Fort Hancock. Lawrence Lutrell, the attorney for Save Sandy Hook, Friday... More ... Boro will go ahead with Donovan's Reef talks Council's views on purchase break along party lines BY AMANDA BELING Staff Writer       SEA BRIGHT - Mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams broke the tie vote among Borough Council members in favor of starting negotiations for the possible purchase of Donovan's Reef at the municipal meeting Aug. 7. Kalaka-Adams, a Republican, indicated that the point of the vote was not whether t... More ... Under the big top       OCEANPORT - The Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars is coming to Oceanport next month and will feature an international cast of daredevils, acrobats, jugglers, clowns and more. The circus will be held under the big top at Maria Gatta Community Park on the corner of Port-au-Peck Avenue and E... More ... Rookie lifeguard, family members save swimmer BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - When off-duty rookie lifeguard Jessica Mejia witnessed a man struggling in the water after hours at Seven Presidents beach, her instincts took over and she ran to his rescue. The rescue turned into a joint family effort when Mejia was joined by her father and brother in... More ... Kochel continues as Ocean Twp. consultant BY LORI ANNE OLIWA Correspondent       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Township Manager Dave Kochel retired June 1 but will remain involved in township business for the remainder of 2007 as a consultant to new manager Andrew Brannen. Brannen, who is currently manager of Princeton City, Ill., will start his employment with the township A... More ... Piece of Long Branch history on auction block       LONG BRANCH - The historic Casey Jones restaurant property on Morris Avenue will be on the auction block Aug. 22. The corner property, located three blocks from the beach, will be auctioned off by order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court at 1 p.m. at the restaurant site, according to Maximil... More ... Seashore campers are Broadway-bound       LONG BRANCH - Campers at Seashore Day Camp's new summer theater program put on their first full-scale production last week. Some 20 campers ages 6-14 performed in the musical "Cinderella" Aug. 8 and 9 for other campers before the play opened Aug. 10 and 11 for performances for the comm... More ... Italian fest      JEFF GRANIT staff Clockwise, Lajos Barabas waits for customers Aug. 8 during the 31st Italian Festival sponsored by the Ocean Township Italian American Association. Peter DiNardo adds powdered sugar to a fresh batch of zeppoles. A young festivalgoer enjoys an activity at the festival, held at Joe P... More ... New location for Aug. 19 Licata swim       LONG BRANCH - The third annual Ray Licata Memorial Swim will held Aug. 19 at a new location at Pier Village on the Long Branch oceanfront. The event is being co-sponsored by the Long Branch Department of Recreation. Over the past two years, the swim has raised more than $18,000. More ...