CHRIS KELLY staff Tenafly's Nicole Kugler, 18, Marissa Ayvaliotis, 17, Yuri Hongo, 18, and Olivia Rousso, 17, participate in the Polar Bear Plunge in Long Branch on Feb. 2. More ... Kohl's to come to twp.'s Middlebrook Center Construction on $5M project set to start in the fall BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer       Construction of a Kohl's department store at the site of the Cost Cutters shopping plaza on Route 35 and Deal Road is expected to start this fall. Plans are for the retail and clothing store to open its doors to customers at the Middlebrook Shopping Center in spring 2009, according to Alfred Coco... More ... DEP to host meeting on beach club site tonight City residents hosting fundraiser on Feb. 10 to save historic site BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       Aspecial meeting has been called by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to discuss the project proposed at the Takanassee Beach Club site on the city's oceanfront. The meeting is scheduled to be held today at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the Long Branch High School on Indiana Av... More ... Library features work of 82-year-old photographer Warner White's work to be displayed at West Long Branch library BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer       WEST LONG BRANCH - Warner White has been photographing architecture and landscapes from around the world for the past six decades. His passion for photography began more than 65 years ago when he was in high school, and the 82-year-old Fair Haven resident said he still enjoys the hobby today. More ... 'College Goal Sunday' to be held in Long Branch Attendees of Feb. 10 event qualify for $500 educational award       LONG BRANCH - The third annual New Jersey College Goal Sunday is scheduled to be held at seven sites across the state on Feb. 10, including at Long Branch High School on Indiana Avenue. Brookdale Community College will be hosting the event at Long Branch High School in the media center for Monmo... More ... Strollo's Lighthouse slated for new site Application carried to the March 18 Planning Bd. meeting at 8 p.m. BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - It was standing room only at the city Planning Board meeting last week where plans were heard that call for opening a Strollo's Lighthouse ice cream stand in a residential neighborhood. More ...      CHRIS KELLY staff Participants of the Polar Bear Plunge run into the water in Long Branch on Feb. 2. More ... New traffic patterns planned at Rts. 35 & 36 BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer       EATONTOWN - The N.J. Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing to change traffic patterns at the Routes 35 and 36 intersection in the borough to clear up congestion for drivers. The proposed changes call for a complete renovation at the interchange, including the construction of additional... More ... Police break up college parties; five arrested Police issue 44 township ordinance violations to underage partygoers       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Five Monmouth University students are facing charges for allegedly serving alcoholic beverages to underage individuals at parties held in residential neighborhoods in the Oakhurst section of town. Police arrested and charged Dustin Coleman, 22, of East Greenwich, R.I., Randall H... More ... Car overturns      PHOTO BY DAVID BEALES A Nissan Altima overturned after striking a parked car on Florence Avenue in Long Branch around 9 p.m. Jan. 31. The driver of the Altima was alone in the vehicle and was taken to Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, reportedly for minor injuries. More ... Pizza deliveryman robbed at gunpoint       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Police are searching for a man who reportedly robbed a pizza deliveryman at gunpoint last week at the Twinbrook Apartment complex on Aldrin Road. On Jan. 30 at approximately 11 p.m., a 33-year-old pizza deliveryman from Brick was delivering a food order to a residence in the Twi... More ... Teenager shot with pellet gun       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - A 17-year-old townshipmale is facing charges for shooting another teenagerwith a pellet gun, according to police reports. On Jan. 25 at approximately 9 p.m. More ... Police arrest suspects in pocketbook thefts       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Police arrested three individuals in connection with a series of reported thefts of pocketbooks in the parking lot ofWegmans Food Market on Route 35. On Jan. More ...