Residents want action on pollution of waterways Group says runoff from racetrack must be stemmed BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       Agroup of Long Branch homeowners is calling on municipal, county and state officials to find a solution to the polluted waterways surrounding Monmouth Park racetrack. More ...       Kashaun Cobin, 9, dances exuberantly at the conclusion of the 14th annual Oceans of Rhythm Festival Sept. 8 at the amphitheater at the Great Lawn in Long Branch. For more pictures, see page 3. More ... New plans expected for Takanassee Beach Club DEP holding off on decision for CAFRA permit BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       Revised plans are expected to be submitted to the state for the development of the historic Takanassee Beach Club property on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch's Elberon section. According to a spokeswoman for the N.J. More ... Oceans of Rhythm Festival       Above: A group dances at the end of the 14th annual Oceans of Rhythm Festival held at the amphitheater at the Great Lawn in Long Branch Saturday. The festival included African and Caribbean music, drumming and dance, musical theater and a procession to the ocean. The event was part of Long Branch ... More ... Boro native on recovery team in bridge collapse Navy diver on team that responded to Minneapolis disaster BY AMANDA BELING Staff Writer       EATONTOWN - - Brian Bennett had just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq when he was handpicked to join a U.S. Navy diving team that recovered victims of the Minneapolis I-35 bridge collapse. "The unit I'm in is Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU-2) and we specialize in the recovery and s... More ... Dorothy Parker Day in Long Branch Oct. 14       LONG BRANCH - - The life of Dorothy Parker, world-renowned poet, writer and critic - and Long Branch native - will be celebrated in a unique way Sunday, Oct. 14. More ... Board to review historic preservation ordinance Planning Board will consider new rules at Sept. 18 meeting BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - - The Long Branch Planning Board is expected to review a proposed ordinance next week to establish regulations for preserving historic structures throughout the city. The historic preservation ordinance was initiated by City Councilman Brian Unger last month and the proposal is sch... More ...       A morning walk on the West End boardwalk in Long Branch. More ... Unger: Leashes would ensure surfers' access Says safety measure would make rules on surfing uniform BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - - A measure proposed by Long Branch Councilman Brian Unger to tighten surfing rules in order to expand surfing areas along the city's shoreline has been tabled for further review. At the Aug. More ... Ocean advocates fight offshore LNG 'island' Corzine asks for protective status to block facility BY AMANDA BELING Staff Writer       Local officials and environmentalists held a press conference Sept. 7 to voice their opposition to a proposal to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facility within miles of the coast. More ... In the Service       Navy Seaman Apprentice David S. Downes, a 2000 graduate of Ocean Township High School, Ocean, has completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. More ... Five men arrested in gunshot incident       LONG BRANCH - Five men from Neptune and Asbury Park are facing charges after a gunshot was fired in a Long Branch neighborhood last week. According to the Long Branch Police Department, a city police officer was on patrol in the area of Westwood and Third avenues Sept. More ... Assembly bill would make town halls 24/7 REGIONAL INTEREST BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - The borough's proposed open government ordinance may become the model for state law aimed at promoting transparency in municipal government. More ... Temple hosts women's Torah study program       Temple Beth Miriam Sisterhood will host "Connections of the Heart, Mind and Spirit, "a weekend event featuring guest speaker Lynn Magid Lazar Saturday, Oct. 13. Registration fee is $18 and the event is open to the public. R.S.V.P. to the temple office at (732) 222-3754 by Oct. 1. More ... GAO tells legislators it will look at BRAC report BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       The U.S. Government Accountability Office, which is described on its Web site as "the investigative arm of Congress," has notified six members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation that it intends to review "the methodology of a forthcoming DOD [Department of Defense] report on the transfer o... More ... Impact of natural hazards to be assessed by county       The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has begun developing a comprehensive all-natural hazards mitigation plan for the county and its 53 municipalities. More ... Slocums of New Jersey plan 2007 reunion       The Slocums of New Jersey have planned their annual family reunion for Sunday, Oct. 7, at the OceanPlace Resort, Long Branch, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All interested parties are welcome to attend. Bring your records and meet other family members with whom you can share valuable information. More ...