MTOTSA appeal set for May 14 in Trenton Rally planned for day of appeal at 8:45 a.m. outside the courthouse BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       As their day in court approaches, a group of Long Branch homeowners fighting to save their oceanfront properties from condemnation say they are in the best position they can be. Members of Marine and Ocean terraces and Seaview Avenue, known as the MTOTSA alliance, are scheduled to appear in Super... More ...       Runners and walkers of all ages compete in the annual New Jersey Marathon Fun Run/Walk along the Long Branch oceanfront May 3. More ... Mobile park units help toward COAH quota Planning Board amends affordable housing in boro master plan BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer       EATONTOWN - The Planning Board took action last week to designate housing units in the borough as affordable housing in order to comply with regulations set forth by the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH). At the April 28 Planning Board meeting, the board voted 9-0 to approve an amendmen... More ... Relay for Life       Kerry Terry of Oakhurst (r) is shown with her parents Pat and Bevin Irvin at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event at Joe Palaia Park in Ocean Township on May 2. The family was out in support of Kelly's 5-year-old daughter, Mya Lin, who is fighting cancer. More ... Unger calls on residents to serve on Zoning Board       LONG BRANCH - Councilman Brian Unger is issuing a call to residents who may be interested in serving on the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment. The Zoning Board considers variances for applications that propose to utilize a building or property in a manner not consistent with the city's zoning la... More ... Kean addresses budget cuts at town meeting West Long Branch to hold public hearing on municipal budget May 14 BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer       WEST LONG BRANCH - Municipalities across New Jersey are preparing for drastic cuts in state aid, but Sen. Sean Kean, D-11, said the decreased funding could be less significant than initially proposed. More ... City unveils plans for a 'greener' community City to incorporate green standards and incentives in master plan BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - City officials are taking steps to make the community a "greener," "cleaner" and "cooler" environment. Mayor Adam Schneider and his appointed Energy ReviewCommittee unveiled plans for the "Long Branch Goes Green" initiative at anApril 22 workshop meeting. More ... City Housing Authority awarded $250K grant       LONG BRANCH - The city Housing Authority was awarded a $250,000 grant last week that will fund programs to support housing selfsufficiency. The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) received the Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Family and Homeownership Program grant from the fe... More ... Stretching out       Connor Lyness, 10, (l) and his sister, Corinne Lyness, 4, (r) both of Matawan, stretch their muscles before competing in the annual New Jersey Marathon Fun Run/Walk along the Long Branch oceanfront on May 3. More ... Eatontown nonprofit builds affordable units The 14-unit Carver Hotel project to house low-income residents BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer       EATONTOWN - The Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA), based in Eatontown, is expected to start renting out rooms next month at its newly constructed affordable housing complex. The AHA built the 14-unit Carver Hotel project in Neptune at the site of the former historic Carver Hotel. More ... On the catwalk       Above left, Monmouth University students model clothing from local businesses during a fashion show at the university's Woodrow Wilson Hall Auditorium in West Long Branch on April 30. The event was hosted by Monmouth University's Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship classes. Above right:... More ... Protest calls attention to Lyme disease bill Pallone: Health panel focused on food and drug safety       LONG BRANCH - A "Lyme Disease Rights" protest was planned to be held yesterday outside Rep. Frank Pallone's office on Broadway in Long Branch from noon to 2 p.m. The protest was organized by Lyme Rights, a grass-roots group that is seeking to have HR 741, the Lyme bill, put on the Energy & Comme... More ... Volunteers to plant shrubs in boro       MONMOUTH BEACH - The Monmouth County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will be planting shrubs on May 13 for the final stage of the island restoration project. Volunteers are scheduled to meet at 11:30 a.m. at the foot of Shrewsbury Drive and will be on the island by noon to start planting bushes. The ... More ... Bus hits township couple       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - A 68-yearold township woman was hospitalized last week after she and her husbandwere struck by a school bus while attempting to cross a road. On April 30 at approximately 8:42 a.m., police received a report of a pedestrian accident involving a school bus, according to police rep... More ... Dressmaker accused of sexual contact       OCEAN TOWNSHIP - A township dressmaker was arrested last week after a female customer reported that the male dressmaker touched her inappropriately during a fitting. The victim told police that while she was being fitted for a dress, the dressmaker made inappropriate comments to her and touched ... More ... Coastal plan addresses redevelopment issues Plan aims to create vision for future of Coastal Monmouth area BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       SHREWSBURY- Ameeting and open house to update the public on the progress of the Coastal Monmouth Plan was held April 30 at the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library in Shrewsbury. The Coastal Monmouth Plan, which covers 30 municipalities from Sea Bright to Manasquan, addresses open space... More ... In the Service       Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Jeffrey J. Picado completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. He is the son of Linda F. Barragan of Ocean, and Mauro H. Picado of Asbury Park. Army Staff Sgt. Christine M. More ... New Jersey beaches awash in litter       SANDY HOOK - Local ocean advocacy group Clean Ocean Action (COA) released data April 24 from the 2007 Beach Sweeps that reveals volunteers removed a record number of pieces of debris per person, and one of the highest recorded number of total items collected. More ... Shooting hoops       Krissy Birdsall, 5, of Oceanport, plays basketball during the New Jersey Marathon in Long Branch on May 3. More ... DOT OKs rail line funds       New Jersey Transit will receive more than $1 million for its proposed Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex (MOM) passenger rail line, according to Reps. Chris Smith and Jim Saxton (both R-N.J.), who sought to have the money included in the federal budget. More ... County awards historic preservation grants Local treasures get 'bricks & mortar,' receive matching funds       TheMonmouth CountyHistorical Commission awarded preservation grants recently for 25 restoration projects in 18 municipalities. The awards totaled $100,000. Local projects awarded grants include window restoration at Christ Church in Shrewsbury and restoration of the barn at VanMater Farm in Holmd... More ...