Turning the tide at Cliffwood Beach Aberdeen hopes to upgrade and beautify beachfront, seawall BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       Fifty years after it was destroyed in a hurricane, the boardwalk at Cliffwood Beach is poised for a rebound. On Sept. 18, Aberdeen unveiled design plans for Cliffwood Beach, including a semipermanent roll-up boardwalk, upgrades to the current seawall and more convenient parking along the waterfro... More ...      ANDREW MILLER staff Brianna Depalma (l), 13, of Holmdel, and Audine Buffalino, 13, of Holmdel, participate in an act put on by the Perna Dance Center of Hazlet during Saturday's Hazlet Day festivities, held at Veterans Memorial Park. More ... Adopt a Pet       Adoption fees: Adult dogs - $100; puppies up to 4 months - $140; adult cats - $60, or two for $90; kittens up to 4 months - $120; purebred adult dogs and cats - $150; purebred puppies and kittens - $180 (All fees include: spay/neuter, ear cleaning, nail clippers, More ... DOT seeking bids for Highlands bridge project Demolition of drawbridge could begin in early 2008 BY AMANDA BELING Staff Writer       SEA BRIGHT - As early as January, the Highlands bridge is coming down, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT spokeswoman Erin Phallon said last week the official newspaper advertisement for bids went out Sept. 13. More ... Board considers changes to student drug survey BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - The issue of random drug and alcohol testing and surveying drug abuse in the district was once again a hot topic during the Board of Education's Sept. 19 meeting. The board received a confidential memo containing the results of the survey that was approved Oct. 23 last year, and, ac... More ... Police press homicide charges for DWI crash BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - An off-duty state trooper was charged on Friday with one count of second-degree vehicular homicide stemming from a fatal motor vehicle collision on Route 35 north on Sept. 14. Christopher M. Brozyna, 28, of Hazlet, reportedly crashed his car into a vehicle driven by Ernesto Stamaria... More ... Hook advocates will appeal court rejection District Court says developer's lease stands BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       Save Sandy Hook will appeal a U.S. District Court decision that rejected the group's complaint that a developer's lease for historic buildings at Fort Hancock is "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or not otherwise in accordance with law. More ... Boro seeks NJT's OK to relocate day laborers Council wants attorney general's opinion on registration proposal BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MATAWAN - Plans to move day laborers from in front of the 7-Eleven to an unused portion of the train station made headway last week. On Sept. More ... Keyport looking for a few good developers Boro to accept requests for qualifications for Aeromarine site BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       KEYPORT - Anyone interested in developing Aeromarine? On Sept. 18 the borough authorized an advertisement for the acceptance of requests for qualifications to develop the 62- acre parcel. A former dump that now leaches into Raritan Bay, the property was once home to the Aeromarine Plane & Motor ... More ... A brush with Keyport      ANDREW MILLER staff Keyport Fest, held Saturday along West Front Street, allowed 3-year old Zachary Bennett, Jersey City, to enjoy painting with his grandmother, Diane Brinkley, Keyport. More ... Matawan Day returns Sunday       MATAWAN - Food, rides, music and games will be the order of the day Sunday afternoon during the 17th annual Matawan Day, to be held at Terhune Park on Main Street. More ... Township to participate in climate change discussion       MIDDLETOWN - Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger was joined by Sierra Club Cool Cities representative Maria Stavoia Sept. 17 to announce that Middletown would be part of the National Conversation on Climate Action. The event will take place on Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Middletown Arts Center, 36 Chu... More ... Hazlet ramps up plans for skateboard park BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       HAZLET - X-Gamers, rejoice: Hazlet is in the development stages of building a skate park, which is expected to be completed by spring. More ... Hudson Trail areas to close for improvements BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Signs reading "Closed for Repairs" will be joining the trees and paved pathways as common sights in various sections of the Henry Hudson Trail. The Monmouth County Park System announced on Sept. 17 that sections of the Henry Hudson Trail-North would be closed for about six weeks sta... More ... Brookdale offering free job training to local businesses       MIDDLETOWN - As a participating partner of the Basic-Skills Workforce Training Program, Brookdale Community College is offering basic skills training to employees of Monmouth County businesses at no charge, thanks to a $1.88 million grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Deve... More ... From the Vault      Miss Middletown Theresa Heidel sits back and enjoys the Mr. Ideal Beach contest on July 3, 1988. More ... Five-fingered fascination 'The Glove Series' by Sandy Johanson at McKay Imaging BY MARIE MABER Correspondent       'Lost and Found," a curious new exhibition of photographs at McKay Imaging Studio and Gallery in Red Bank, begs explanation. Intellectually we know that not all art is based on beauty. But when we find ourselves facing an image of a soiled work glove, we start to wonder. More ...