Twp. forms economic task force BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - The township has created a task force that will be responsible for finding ways to attract and retain businesses. The Economic Development Task Force will include township administrators, planners, residents, business owners and a representative from the Northern Monmou... More ... Assembly bills aim to better autism awareness BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. recently announced his work on a seven-bill package designed to improve detection, treatment and awareness of autism in New Jersey. More ... Corzine demands cut in greenhouse gas emissions Bill similar to executive order is under review in the state Legislature BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Gov. Jon Corzine signed an executive order Feb. 13 that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state by 80 percent. The order is virtually identical to a bill introduced in the Legislature in June. Both the bill and the order mandate that greenhouse gas emissions in the sta... More ... Dancing with daddy       Joe Ponisi tries to do the "Cotton Eye Joe" dance with his daughter Nicole, 9, during the Daddy & Daughter Sweetheart Dance at the Holmdel Senior Center on Sunday. More ... Committee to state: Keep your pension money BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - In a recently adopted resolution, the mayor and Township Committee called on the governor and the state Legislature to include pension system reforms among the property tax relief initiatives they are considering. More ... Cty. human services dept. restructured       Monmouth County Freeholder Robert D. Clifton has announced a restructuring at the Monmouth County Department of Human Services that consolidates a number of divisions and eliminates one senior management position. The change comes as a result of a months-long budget review process by th... More ... From the Vault       James "Chip" Carter stumps for former Vice President Walter Mondale and his father, former President James Carter, in Hazlet in 1976. Standing along with Carter is Patrick Healy of the Bayshore Regional Democratic Club. More ... County teens to showcase talents at arts festival       MIDDLETOWN - The Monmouth County Arts Council's 2007 Teen Arts Festival comes to the campus of Brookdale Community College on March 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning with a Visual Arts Reception on March 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. More ... Committeeman opposes any housing at Lucent Wall posts petition, plan for property's future on Web site BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - Committeeman Terence Wall is collecting names for a petition against allowing housing on the 472-acre former Lucent property. The Lucent tract is the largest tax ratable in Holmdel, bringing in an estimated $3.2 million each year, or about 18 percent of Holmdel's total ta... More ...