ALEX TOWLE Chris Kautz (r), 10, of Wanamassa and Ryan Huntley, 11, of Oakhurst use fruit and vegetables to create electricity at the fifth-grade science fair at the Ocean Township Intermediate School on Jan. 23. More ... COAH calls for more affordable housing units Mayor: Proposed housing obligation is 'unrealistic' in Eatontown BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer       The third round of regulations proposed by the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) calls for Eatontown to more than quadruple its affordable housing obligation. Eatontown's fair share obligation to provide 92 units of affordable housing as required by COAH would jump to 447 units of afford... More ... Twp. museum to open at new site this year 'Buy a Brick' campaign to support restoration project at Woolley House BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - The Township of Ocean Historical Museum is offering area residents the opportunity to make their mark on township history by participating in the "Buy a Brick" campaign. The campaign supports the renovation and restoration of the historic Eden Woolley House on Deal Road. More ... City residents to receive work-force training skills State awards LBHA $97,800 grant for schooling at Brookdale BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - Residents of the Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) are being offered an opportunity to improve their skills in the work field. The LBHA received a $97,800 literacy skills grant from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) that will be used to provide basic ... More ... Mayor casts tie-breaking vote to adopt contracts GOP and Dems disagree on contracts of two municipal employees BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer       EATONTOWN - Mayor Gerald Tarantolo was called on last week to cast a vote after council members voting down party lines landed in a 3-3 deadlock over renewing the contracts of two borough employees. Tarantolo voted in favor of two resolutions at the Jan. 23 council meeting to approve the contra... More ... Fire destroys two units at apartment complex       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - An early morning fire at the Middlebrook at Monmouth apartment complex on Deal Road destroyed two apartment units and displaced several residents last week. The cause of the fire is still undetermined and is currently being investigated by Ocean Township District 2 Fire Marshal ... More ... Corzine plan may take heavy toll on local traffic Plan to increase tolls may lead vehicles to take side roads instead BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to dramatically increase tolls on the Turnpike, Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway, as well as placing a toll on Route 440, has some people worried about the impact the proposal might have on nearby nontoll roads. More ... 2 women suspected of stealing at mall       EATONTOWN - Borough police arrested two Lakewood women last week for shoplifting over $3,700 worth of merchandise from the Monmouth Mall on Route 35. Police arrested Alice Ann Morgan and Liz Deleon, both 19, of Lakewood, on Jan. 23 at approximately 9 p.m. in the parking lot of the mall. More ... Suspicious acts lead to arrest of Ocean man       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - A township man is facing charges for possessing burglary tools after a police officer observed the accused acting suspiciously last week. On Jan. 21 at approximately 3:21 a.m., Police Officer Thomas Thompson saw a man acting suspiciously in the area of Sunset Avenue, near a sect... More ... New affordable home unveiled for city family Interfaith Neighbors constructs two-story home on Norwood Ave. BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - A Long Branch family achieved the dream of homeownership last week when they became firsttime homebuyers in a city neighborhood. The seven-member Pothier family purchased a newly constructed home at 40 Norwood Ave. through the Interfaith Neighbors Inc. affordable home-ownership pro... More ... City tables measure to acquire Keelen property Public hearing and final vote on $2.2 million bond ordinance set for Feb. 13 BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - The public hearing and final vote on a $2.2 million bond ordinance to support the acquisition of property in the Broadway Corridor redevelopment zone was tabled last week due to a lack of a quorum on the City Council. More ... $564K federal grant will fund 180's programs BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       HAZLET - The nonprofit 180 Turning Lives Around now has 564,000 more ways to help end domestic violence and sexual assault in the community. The nonprofit organization received a $564,000 grant as part of the Senate Appropriations Committee FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. More ... Local health center donates school supplies in city       LONG BRANCH - A school supply drive by the Natural Healthcare Center in West End was an "overwhelming" success with over 1,800 school supplies collected for the Long Branch School District, according to a press release from the health-care center. Organizers plan to make the drive an annual even... More ...