CHRIS KELLY staff CBA's Rich Grandelli (No. 1478) leads Ben Horel (No. 1480) and Brendon Pierson (No. 1485) to the finish line in the NJSIAA Non-Public A Boys race at Holmdel Park on Nov. 10. See Sports. More ... County awards contract for new visitor center Mansion to be rebuilt with similar architecture BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       The crown jewel of the Monmouth County Park System, Thompson Park Visitor Center in Middletown, which was destroyed by a fire in February 2006, will begin its rebuilding phase. M&M Construction, Union, submitted the lowest of nine qualified bids to rebuild the 20,000- square-foot colonial revival... More ... Aufseeser by a hair Buccellato considers recount, says voting machines were faulty BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       While Mayor Mary Aufseeser may lead the Matawan mayoral election by a single vote; Councilman Paul Buccellato isn't giving up without a fight. On Monday, Buccellato said he is considering a recount because of reports of faulty ballot machines in the 4th district. More ... Project brings together 'The Latest and the Greatest' Library's veterans' archive teams teens with veterans BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - In the eyes of a teenager, World War II or the Korean War are facts they may have only heard about in a history class or seen in a movie. But on Nov. 12, a group of teens will hear firsthand about the experience of veterans of those conflicts. More ... Middletown Dems fail to gain majority Heated contest draws 65 percent of township voters BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Democrats in Middletown were in position to take a majority on the Township Committee but ended up gaining just one seat in the Nov. 6 election. Middletown residents elected Democratic newcomer Sean Byrnes and re-elected Republican Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger to the Township Committ... More ... Veterans' voices      ANDREW MILLER staff Felix Cosenza, 84, of Middletown, discusses his experiences of serving in the Army during World War II, as Christine Liu, 14, of Middletown listens during an informational session at the Middletown Township Public Library. The library's Teen Council is creating a veterans' archiv... More ... Women rule in Holmdel Voters choose two women, both former committee members BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - Voters opted for a split vote last week, re-electing current Republican Mayor Serena DiMaso along with former Democratic Committeewoman Janet Berk. In addition to both candidates being women, both are non-practicing attorneys, mothers and have previous experience on the committee. More ...      SCOTT FRIEDMAN staff Joanna Friedrich-Sroka, 6, of Middletown, carries her handmade lantern at the Festival of Lanterns held in celebration of the festival of St. Martin, at The German School in Holmdel on Sunday, Nov. 11. More ... Take the 'Change a Light' pledge       New Jersey communities are being asked to take a leadership role in combating global warming by switching to energy-efficient lighting, according to the NJ Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). More ... Keyport Republican to join all-Dem council Incumbent loses seat to longtime boro official BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       KEYPORT - Voters made a split decision last week, choosing Republican John Kovacs (680 votes) and incumbent Democrat George Walling (742) to serve on the 2008 Borough Council. More ... In the Service       Marine Corps Pvt. Daniel Cornell has completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally. Cornell performed calisthenics, spent several hours in classroom and field assignments, and perform... More ... Green Party is possible spoiler in Matawan BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       ABERDEEN - A dozen choices were not enough to tempt voters away from the status quo in last week's municipal election. Democrats swept the polls as residents re-elected Councilman Vincent Vinci with 1,617 votes; newcomer Janice Gallo with 1,558; Councilwoman Wilhelmina Gumbs with 1,527; and Coun... More ... Dems gain a seat on Hazlet Committee Marques wins seat; Aagre will rejoin governing body       HAZLET TOWNSHIP - A newcomer and a returning committeeman will be joining the Hazlet Township Committee in January, after an election that saw a 100-vote differential between the firstand fourth-place candidates. More ... Vocational school earns honor       Monmouth County's Academy of Allied Health and Science, Neptune, has been selected as a national No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon school. During a school-wide assembly, Valarie M. Smith of the U.S. Department of Education presented the school its certificate of distinction. More ... Local artists with diverse voices exhibit at JCC BY LINDA DeNICOLA Correspondent       The goal of the Ruth Hyman Jewish Community Center in Deal Park is to offer gallery space to accomplished local artists, so that they have a venue for sharing their artistic expression with the public. Last month, the emotional abstract work of Rumson artist Claire Boren was showcased. The new ex... More ... IN THE ARTS       Now celebrating 37 years, the Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco) is a significant player in the dance world. Reaching over 100,000 people a year through live performance and an estimated 100 million on television, its artistic direction has a reputation for producing a repertory with passio... More ... Photo exhibits at guild       Hazlet artist Alan Leckner is exhibiting his photojournalistic work in a solo exhibit titled "Eastern Europe: Historic and New." The exhibit will run through Nov. 28 at the Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury. At the same time, Norma Kay, Union Beach, is having a mini-show of her photographs, "Ima... More ... Garden State Film Festival seeks entries       The sixth annual Garden State Film Festival has issued a call for entries from independent filmmakers. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 1. Filmmakers wishing to submit their films should visit the festival Web site at www.gsff.org. More ... NOTES       The nonprofit Monmouth County SPCA (MCSPCA) will hold its "Home 4 the Holidays" event to raise awareness of the joys of adopting a shelter animal Nov. 17 from 1-5 p.m. at the shelter, 260 Wall St., Eatontown. The event will feature hundreds of adoptable pets; radio personalities from 90.5 FM The N... More ... Open space funding OK'd for one more year Groups will continue search for long-term funding solutions BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       New Jersey residents voted to borrow $200 million for open space and farmland preservation programs Nov. 6. While the initiative's success was widely hailed by conservation groups across the state, the cash injection was viewed as a stopgap measure to keep the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSP... More ... After slow start, soccer makes postseason Holmdel boys make playoffs after 2-4-1 start BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer       After getting out of the gate at 2-4-1, the Holmdel High School boys soccer team turned things around and qualified for both the Shore Conference and NJSIAA North 2 Group III tourneys. Coach John NaCarlo said the Hornets season turned with back-to-back, 2-1 victories at home against Raritan and S... More ...