CHRIS KELLY staff Oakhurst resident Dona Yasser, dressed as Professor Trelawney, tells Ben Edelson, 9, Toms River, his fortune during a Harry Potter Hogwarts Halloween Party Oct. 27 at the Ocean Township Library. More ... Former L.B. councilman gets four months in jail Zambrano confined to home for four months after prison sentence BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       Former Long Branch Councilman John R. "Fazz" Zambrano will begin serving a four-month jail sentence in December for accepting a cash bribe while in office. Zambrano, 45, will start the prison term Dec. 10 and after completing his sentence will be confined to his home for another four months and b... More ... Kean seeks to cut $1 billion in spending       Assemblyman Sean T. Kean is running in the 11th District state Senate race to continue his efforts to make New Jersey an affordable state. Kean, a Republican, is being challenged by Democratic candidate John Villapiano to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Joseph Palaia in the Nov. 6 election. More ... Villapiano calls for new state college, drug testing for new drivers       John A. Villapiano, Senate candidate for the 11th District, held a press conference Oct. 30 to propose legislation to put the brakes on teenage substance abuse. A former State assemblyman and county freeholder, Villapiano said if elected Nov. 6, he will move to institute mandatory drug testing b... More ... Coalition endorses Kean       The Long Branch Coalition of Condominium Associations (LBCCA) decided at their monthly meeting last week to endorse Sean Kean for state Senate in the 11th District in the November election. At the Oct. More ... Residents question Pier Village II tax break Taxes on upscale project to be phased in over five years BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - Some Long Branch residents protested a measure adopted by council last week that provides a tax break to the developers of a luxury redevelopment project at Pier Village. Council voted 4-1 to approve ordinance 40-07 at the Oct. More ... Residents lose bid to halt Monmouth expansion Supreme Court won't revisit lower court approval for dorms BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       WEST LONG BRANCH - The state Supreme Court rejected a petition by a group of West Long Branch residents to overturn a lower court ruling that gave Monmouth University the go-ahead to expand its campus. The court denied the petition of certification on Oct. More ... Towns buy equipment through county program       Six coastal Monmouth County municipalities and two school districts participated in the Monmouth County Improvement Authority's 2007 Pooled Capital Equipment Lease Program, which produced a total of $934,024 in budget relief and reduced debt service costs by $244,436 countywide. More ... NOTES AROUND TOWN       The Choraliers of Eatontown is seeking additional singers for its Christmas concert, which will be presented Sunday, Dec. 9. The group is a mixed chorus, under the direction of Kathy Jacobs, which sings a variety of music, both traditional and secular. Rehearsals are held every Monday evening at 7... More ... Fort invites public to 90th anniversary       Fort Monmouth will mark its 90th anniversary the week of Nov. 5 through 8. The week-long celebration culminates on Thursday, Nov. 8, with the 90th Anniversary Festival on Greely Field. The festival will begin with Fort Monmouth's annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. with the Commandant of West... More ... Treats for little ones      Mya Terry, 5, decorates a ghost at the Holiday Express Halloween party for children Oct. 28 at Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff More ... Second Baptist raising funds for expansion Addition to include new sanctuary and classrooms BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - Plans to expand the Second Baptist Church building on Liberty Street are under way and church members are asking the community for help with fundraising. To help fund the multi-million dollar expansion project, the church is offering opportunities to purchase items, such as memoria... More ... Activists plan rally to save beach club site       LONG BRANCH - Local residents, environmental groups and historic preservation groups are scheduled to gather at St. Michael's Church on Ocean Avenue Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon to stage a rally in an effort to save the Takanassee Beach Club from being developed. More ... The facts about cell towers       The New Jersey Coast Section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers will host two talks on the afternoon of Nov. 11 on some common misconceptions about cell phone towers, at the InfoAge Museum at the historic Camp Evans Site in Wall Township. More ... Sporting event to help raise funds for kids       Organizers of the eighth annual Turkey Bowl announced that The Kids Helping Kids Athletic Challenge will be held this Thanksgiving fundraising season. The event will take place Nov. 3 from 2 to 5 p.m. More ...