CHRIS KELLY staff Keyport's Phil Specchio and Scott Eack paddle to the finish during a series of races at the Matawan Alliance's Canoe Carnival, held at Lake Lefferts on Saturday. More ... Middletown gets to know wild neighbors DEP info session focuses on tendencies of coyote population BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       Authorities are looking for a group of miscreants that each weighs approximately 35 pounds and stands no more than 2 feet high, yet they all have hair covering their entire body. No, it's not a group of kiddie capers, but rather a pack of coyotes that has caused Bayshore residents t... More ... Train-to-ferry shuttle bus service ready to roll BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Township Planning Director Anthony Mercantante estimates that the idea for the Dock & Roll shuttle bus service was brought up approximately six or seven years ago, which brings up the question, what took so long? "We had to develop schedules between the ferries and the t... More ... So far, busy signal not a problem for gang hot line BY JOHN SUTTON Correspondent       ABERDEEN - Police have established a Drug and Gang Information Hotline for the residents to report any narcotics and gang-related information. The hot line was set up in January of this year, according to a police press release. The move to establish this hot line was provoked by the... More ... 'Please Touch' sculpture exhibit invites contact       The Sculptors Association of New Jersey is presenting an exhibition of sculpture meant to be touched at The Monmouth Museum. For all the museum-goers who are discouraged by the prevailing "Do Not Touch" signs, here's a chance to experience art with their fingertips. More ... Twp. arts center to allow alcohol at some events BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - The Township Committee adopted an ordinance last week permitting the serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages at arts center events by permit. The aim of the permit is to be able to periodically raise funds for programming within the center. Mayor Gerard Scharfenbe... More ... Couple shares iconic kiss on 'Parisian Time' Husband and wife's photo exhibit runs until Labor Day in Aberdeen BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       ABERDEEN - In the strip malls of New Jersey or in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower, romance can happen anywhere, anytime. Husband-and-wife team Realf Schermer and Koryn Morrissey hope to convey this message through their romantic photographs of Paris and New Jersey, on view now thro... More ... "Row, row, row your boat..."      CHRIS KELLY staff Middletown's Randy Bryk, 10, receives directions from Toms River's Max Kenny, 15, on proper techniques during Navesink River Rowing's open house on Saturday. More ... Center announces blood drives scheduled for July       Central Jersey Blood Center, Shrewsbury, has announced the following local blood drives: + July 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bayshore Community Hospital, 727 N. Beers St., Holmdel + July 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Clement's Roman Catholic Church, 172 Freneau Ave. More ... Firm: 300 homes needed to make Lucent viable Residents say they'd rather have tax increase than acres of new housing BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - Give us housing or we're busting down the old Bell Labs building. This was the overall message from Preferred Real Estate Investments June 19, during the developer's community outreach meeting held at the Senior Center on Crawfords Corner Road. More ... Committee splits 3-2 on anti-housing resolution BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - The Township Committee will not change the Lucent property's zoning to allow for housing, but that doesn't mean it still couldn't happen. On Thursday night, the committee voted 3-2 to approve a resolution that says residential units cannot be built on the 472-acre parcel. More ... Concerts, walks slated at Sandy Hook during July       SANDY HOOK - Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, will continue its summer programs with the free program "Have a Safe Trip! Enjoy Your National Parks" June 27 at 2 p.m. The Silver Starlite Orchestra will perform big band music June 27 at 6 p.m. at beach area E. Gateway will c... More ... Sheriff's hopeful proposes inmate immigration check BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Kim Guadagno, one of three candidates running for the position of Monmouth County sheriff, is calling for the implementation of a federal program known as 287(g) of the Immigration Reform Act of 1996. More ... VNA awards honor service to community       RED BANK - Janice Androsiglio has been named 2007 Nurse of the Year by the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey (VNACJ). The award was presented at VNACJ Nurses' Day ceremonies held May 2 at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. More ... From the Vault      Fans gather for the Haskell Hunt, a Middletown tradition from 1932-96. Area residents once gathered at the family estate of Amory L. Haskell each October for a day of races, partying and a fox hunt. This photo was taken on Oct. 24, 1990. More ... Local sites on list of top buildings & places       TRENTON - - Eighteen Monmouth County sites have made the list of the state's 150 Top Buildings and Places compiled by The American Institute of Architects of New Jersey (AIA). The list was compiled from nominations received from throughout New Jersey's architectural and historical comm... More ... Study aims to address Route 79 'hot spots' BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Traffic experts are looking to cool the "hot spots" along Route 79, one intersection at a time. On Thursday afternoon, Monmouth County officials hosted a slide-show presentation on the topic at the county library on Symmes Drive, Manalapan. Only one member of the public a... More ... Congratulations      PHOTOSBYERIC SUCAR staff Top to bottom The class of 2007 makes its way to the stage at the 34th commencement of Holmdel High School held at the PNC Bank Arts Center on June 20. Cassondra Hadel celebrates as she makes the walk on stage. The class of 2007 tosses their caps in the air. More ... Man wields knife in robbery       HOLMDEL - A township resident is facing multiple charges after allegedly pulling a knife on a store employee who witnessed him stealing merchandise at Best Buy. At about 5 p.m. on Saturday, police received a report of a man who had shoplifted a laptop computer from the store, located i... More ... Rock icons in a Visual Concert Tour 'The Art of 1967' in Red Bank June 29-July 1 BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       In 1967, good friends Janis Joplin and Grace Slick were riding high in the music world, as was Jimi Hendrix and his amazing electric guitar sounds. The year defines the spirit of rock 'n' roll in radical America, and the Monterey Pop Festival was a pivotal event for one of the most ... More ...