Facing the hoop      CHRIS KELLY staff With his face painted like the New York Yankees symbol, Michael Chiusano, 9, of Middletown, takes aim during a basketball shooting fundraiser held at MIddletown High School South on Sunday. More ... Baby on board? Put out butts, Keyport says Boro to vote next week on whether to ban smoking with kids in car BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       The days of lighting up with kids in the car may be coming to an end.The Keyport Borough Council is considering a ban that would make it illegal to smoke in vehicles while minors under 17 are present. If enacted, Keyport would be the first town in the state to pass such a ban. Chatham rej... More ... Give your beach a clean sweep! COA seeks volunteers for Spring Beach Sweeps       SANDY HOOK - Clean Ocean Action (COA) invites organizations and citizens to participate in the 22nd annual Spring Beach Sweeps April 28, at sites along the New Jersey coast from Old Bridge to Cape May. The sweeps begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m., rain or shine. More ... Man breaks in, robs bank       MIDDLETOWN - Authorities are still searching for a suspect behind a break-in at a local bank last week. At about 12:20 a.m. Thursday, township police responded to a burglar alarm at the Amboy National Bank on Route 36 in the Port Monmouth section of town. When officers arrived at the ... More ... Residents invited to celebrate Aberdeen's 150th birthday       ABERDEEN - The township will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a birthday party at town hall on April 29 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a choir festival at 7 p.m. at Temple Shalom of Aberdeen. More ... Wool Days slated in Holmdel       The Monmouth County Historical Association will present a special family program at its Holmdel site, the Holmes-Hendrickson House, on April 28-29 from noon to 3 p.m. each day. Wool Days is held in coordination with neighboring Longstreet Farm's sheep shearing. More ... Middletown monk keeps ancient rituals alive New Greek Orthodox bishop feels apocalypse is near but has no fear BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Buried deep in the suburbs, at the end of a nondescript cul-de-sac, there's a split-level ranch that looks pretty much like every other house in the neighborhood. Except it's a monastery. Since 1979, three Greek Orthodox monks have lived and prayed at the little... More ... Corporate Raiders Students run full-service, profitable print shop out of Keyport High School BY TAMMY MCKILLIP Correspondent       KEYPORT - They're only teenagers, but five Keyport High School business technology independent study students are running a successful business and already have more job and personal relations skills than many college graduates. More ... Authorities remain on the lookout for coyote Traps have been set in area of Middletown where toddler was attacked BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Nearly two weeks after a coyote attacked a 1-year-old boy, the animal was still on the loose Monday and had township and state officials looking for its whereabouts. On Friday, April 6, the animal was spotted off Kings Highway East, near Chapel Hill Road. It wandered ... More ... Lincroft man hopes to replace Oxley as sheriff Republican Peters plans to face Guadagno in June 5 primary BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - After feeling slighted by his party's leaders, a Lincroft man has decided to run in a primary for Monmouth County sheriff. Dan Peters, 42, a Lincroft resident for the past three years and a former police detective in South Amboy for 10 years, said he wanted to get invo... More ... Middletown Planning Board to meet April 25       The Middletown Township Planning Board will hold its next meeting April 25 at 7 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is for Monmouth County to present plans and alternatives for traffic improvements in the areas of Kings Highway and Church Street near the train station and Monmouth Avenue, Valley ... More ... Middletown seeks donations to support soldiers in Iraq       MIDDLETOWN - The township is gearing up to support a unit of 59 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division who are expected to deploy to Iraq later this year. More ... Volunteers sought to take calls on youth helpline       HAZLET - The 2nd Floor youth helpline, a program of 180 Turning Lives Around, is seeking reliable, energetic and open-minded individuals interested in becoming trained volunteers to offer careful guidance and help adolescents in the community. More ... From the Vault       On Sept. 27, 1985, Hurricane Gloria made its way through the Jersey Shore area, causing major coastal floods and property damage. From top to bottom: Waves break over the road and along the Ye Cottage Inn parking lot in Keyport around 8 a.m. Benches in that same area remained submerge... More ... Still no long-term plan in place for police station BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MATAWAN - Stalled redevelopment plans have put police station upgrades on the back burner, again. At the April 4 Borough Council meeting, Councilwoman Debra Buragina inquired into the status of redevelopment, asking if the redevelopment subcommittee had come to any conclusions on wha... More ...