Officials give F&F preservation an 'A' Deal between Holmdel, county and state will protect longtime farm BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       Ostrictly for the birds. That's the way it seemed on Thursday afternoon as a large flock of blackbirds sang out during a ceremony commemorating the entrance of F&F Nurseries, Crawfords Corner and Roberts roads, into the state's Farmland Preservation Program. More ...       Bland and Austin Hand, from Dark Forest Creations, bid farewell to visitors of the Keyport Business Alliance's Haunted Harbor House on Sunday. More ... Aberdeen voters have a dozen choices for council Democratic majority hopes to continue work started in recent years       Twelve, count 'em, 12 candidates are vying for four seats on the Aberdeen Township Council Nov. 6. Running on the Democratic slate are three incumbents and one former Board of Education member. All four say they want to finish what the Democrats have started. More ... Republicans oppose Anchor Glass homes, say Freneau is overlooked       The four Republican candidates for Township Council are hoping to end 12 years of Democrat control. An even mix of youth and experience, the GOP ticket includes a former councilman, an attorney, an engineer and one candidate who is both an attorney and an engineer. More ... Green Party candidates concerned over eminent domain, property taxes       Adding a dose of variety to this year's council race are the four Green Party candidates. Unsatisfied with rising property taxes and concerned about manmade erosion along the township's water bodies, the Greens hope to break through Aberdeen's two-party system. More ... Road project takes officials by surprise BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - The roadwork at the intersection of Van Schoick, Red Hill and Dwight roads came as a surprise to many residents last week, including all five members of the Township Committee. As part of a project over five years in the works, the county-owned roadways are now being realigned to creat... More ... Shadow Lake vote dredges up animosity Democrat, Republican majority clash over $3.8M bond ordinance BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - The Oct. 15 Township Committee meeting had many hallmarks of a great television show: people cheering, a major conflict and an Emmy Award for technical achievement. More ... Two seats up for grabs on Hazlet committee BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       HAZLET - Two familiar names on the ballot will be opposing two relative newcomers to the township political scene on Nov. 6. Scott Aagre and Republican running mate David Tinker are facing Democrats Joseph Marques and Gerard Jaume for two three-year terms on the Township Committee. More ... Tea Time       One of the many tables at the annual "Tea on the Titanic" show held at the Keyport Yacht Club on Saturday is filled with tea, pastries and conversation. The event, which was hosted by the Keyport Historical Society, included tea, refreshments and a fashion show. More ... Red Bank police officer indicted for misconduct       On Oct. 15, a Monmouth County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Red Bank Police Officer Steven Adams with two counts of seconddegree official misconduct, and one count each of second-degree aggravate assault and fourth-degree falsifying records, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor... More ... Boni Bates' gift came early in life Co-founders of ghost hunting group welcome skeptics BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       The visions began when Boni Bates turned five. The first grader had gone to get something out of her bedroom closet. When she looked up, she saw the ghostly faces of an elderly man and woman staring down at her. Then she did what most little girls her age would do. More ... Haunted prison a place of sadness and despair Travel Channel show features Brick woman BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       PHILADELPHIA - Even the weather cooperated when the Garden State Ghost Hunters Society visited the abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia in June. Thunder boomed. Lightning flickered eerily from the skylights and across the stone walls of the medieval looking prison built back in 1... More ... From the Vault       Former President George Bush campaigns for re-election in September 1992 in Middletown. At his left is former Middletown Committeewoman Rosemarie Peters and to his right is former Monmouth County Freeholder Director Harry Larrison. More ... Medals, memories are part of firefighters' ceremony       OCEAN GROVE - On Oct. 7 the Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office held the 2007 Monmouth County Medal Day and Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service at the Ocean Grove's Firefighters Park. More ... On the run       A group of runners takes part in an impromptu sprint at the 18th annual Great Race held at Middletown South High School on Saturday. The annual event featured a 5K run, two competitive 2K races for the younger crowd and an awards ceremony. More ... Cannon blasts Congress' inaction on immigration Councilman says letters to leaders seeking advice on illegals were ignored BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MATAWAN - The federal government does not care about illegal immigration. That is the conclusion Councilman Michael Cannon came to after receiving a letter from U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (DNJ). Cannon announced his disappointment at the Oct. More ...