ANDREW MILLER staff Fishing off the jetty was a popular option on Saturday on Ideal Beach in North Middletown. More ... No smoke detectors in fatal trailer park fire Neighbors stunned by fire that kills three at Bayshore Manor BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       Three Hazlet residents, including a 9- year-old boy, were killed in a fire that rolled quickly through a trailer home in the early morning hours on Sunday. Matthew Paduano, 24, his wife, Katherine Arndt, 37, and her son, Zachary, 9, weren't able to make it out of the home, located in Bayshore Man... More ... Perfect beach day      PHOTOS BY ANDREW MILLER staff Saturday was a perfect end-of-summer day at Ideal Beach in North Middletown. More ... Union Beach bridge reopens       UNION BEACH - The Union Avenue bridge spanning Flat Creek was reopened last Thursday, after being shut down since February for reconstruction. The reopening marks the completion of two bridge replacements performed by Marbro Inc. of Montclair under a single contract. More ... Famed illustrators' works coming to new arts center BY LAUREN PIRO Correspondent       MIDDLETOWN - Art imitates life. Or such is the way some artists choose to create, connecting their viewers to bold and beautiful expressions of their own daily feelings and activities. More ... Bros. bring patriotism to the world of vodka Local man launches new brand in a bottle that 'stands proud' BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       OLD BRIDGE - America has long been known as a melting pot. Two area men have decided to add a splash of vodka to the mix. Brothers Frank and Sal D'Acunto will release Americana vodka to the tristate area next month. The vodka, according to Frank, is a luxury product that will hold appeal for all... More ... Equalizers, township come to terms over complaint Advocacy group fights for access for disabled BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Carolyn Schwebel says that since 1990, she has been an advocate of those with disabilities. But sometimes she feels as if it's been even longer than that. More ... Rush Holt advocates equal pay for equal work BY LORI ANNE OLIWA Correspondent       House passes bill that counters recent Supreme Court ruling U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-12, a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, recently expressed his support for women in the workplace by his sponsorship of H.R. 2831, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007. More ... Acquisition of 260 acres will extend landfill's life       In an effort to extend the life of the Monmouth County Reclamation Center, the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has approved the acquisition of 260 acres that includes the former Shrewsbury Disposal Landfill, which sits adjacent to the county's existing 900-acre reclamation center in Tinton Fa... More ... Towns by district       About these statistics Staff members at Greater Media Newspapers recently studied the legislative records of each lawmaker in our coverage area for the 2006-07 legislative session. All figures were current as of Aug. 5, while the Legislature was on summer recess. More ... Lawmakers face roadblocks on the hard road to success Some say system in Trenton must be changed BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       The idea that there is too much politics in Trenton has been around for so long, it has become a cliché. The familiar bugaboos of partisanship and petty rivalries disrupting the legislative process are well known and well despised. More ... Most new laws Read the Story... Least new laws Read the Story... Young singer gets ovation at U.S. Open performance BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       HAZLET - Each year at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Queens, N.Y., 256 of the best men's and women's singles players compete for a championship, a big payday, and the recognition of the hundreds of thousands of spectators in attendance each year. More ... $500K to be spent on Route 36 upgrade Residents may qualify for cash to fix up private property BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       KEYPORT - Attention, Keyport: Seek and ye shall find half a million dollars. Meant to improve the overall look of Route 36, a $500,000 grant from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will be doled out in increments over the next five years. Unlike most grants, many residents may be able to ... More ... Roundabout opens at entrance to Brookdale Traffic-calming device unveiled after 5 years of talks BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Roundabout a million dollars is the cost of the new traffic device outside Brookdale Community College. Unveiled last Thursday, the roundabout was commissioned by the Monmouth County Board Freeholders in July 2006. At the time, the county board approved $1. More ... Proposed law seeks to stop stalkers in their tracks Marlboro resident recounts how one man has tormented her BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       The hair-raising feeling that someone is watching you is a terrifying reality for one woman who lives in Marlboro. Her experiences, combined with the help of Marlboro police Detective Sgt. More ... From the Vault      Eric Fitzgerald, 5, and Allison Clements, 4, greeted commuters at the Middletown Train Station with protest signs May 2, 1989. The youths were representing a group called Residents Against Giant Electric (RAGE), which opposed a Jersey Central Power & Light plan to build large power line towers in th... More ... Historic house becomes home to tranquil day spa BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Thinking about going organic? Perhaps a trip to the spa might be in order. Orange Skye, Route 35 and Pine Street, is a new and completely chemical free day spa devoted to pampering the body inside and out, sans artificial ingredients, harsh toxins or manmade preservatives. More ...