CHRIS KELLY staff Evan Schade, 3, Tinton Falls, shares his Christmas wish list with Santa Claus during a visit to historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel Park Dec. 15. More ... Hazlet skate park gets boost from county $$ $238K open space grant will fund several projects BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       An open space grant of $238,000 from the county will bring skaters in Hazlet Township a step closer to having a skate park. Hazlet, along with 10 other Monmouth County municipalities, has been awarded a grant for open space projects by the Board of Chosen Freeholders. More ... Specifics of new school funding formula unfurled Holmdel, Hazlet in line for 10 % hike; all districts would get at least 2% BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Gov. Jon Corzine recently released a new formula for school aid that will have varying affects on schools in the Bayshore area. The state aid figures from Corzine's proposed new school funding plan would give some area school districts a significant cash increase from Trenton if the new formula p... More ... Many pitch in to make ball for athletes special Fourth annual Special Olympics Winter Ball a hit BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       Four years ago a group of parents of Special Olympics athletes wanted to give the youths a yearly event to bring them together and just have fun. On Dec. 1, the Hazlet Rocket Special Olympic Parents Group held its fourth annual Special Olympic Winter Ball for the athletes from Monmouth and Ocean ... More ... Exxon Mobil to seek LNG facility off Jersey coast Offshore natural gas terminal is second sought off N.J. BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       SEA BRIGHT - After Exxon Mobil Corp. announced plans to seek regulatory approval for a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal off the coast of New Jersey Dec. 11, state officials and local activists are speaking out against the plan. More ... The colors of Christmas      CHRIS KELLY staff Gabriella Cardoso, 6, Morganville, colors during an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas event at historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel Park Dec. 15. More ... Kay retires from authority       John Kay, a Monmouth County Improvement Authority (MCIA) commissioner since 1993, has retired from that position. Kay served as the MCIA chairman for 10 years, relinquishing that role to current Chairman Al Rosenthal last year, according to a press release from the authority. More ... State fund helps pay for children's medical needs       On Dec. 13 Gov. Jon S. Corzine announced more than $3.3 million in financial grants awarded by the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission (CICRFC) to help families dealing with their children's extraordinary medical expenses. More ... Fight poverty, join AmeriCorps VISTA       Anew public service campaign has been launched to enlist New Jersey residents in joining Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), the AmeriCorps program that fights poverty. The campaign draws attention to the 37 million Americans who live in poverty and to the changing face of poverty, which to... More ... Reward offered for leads to suspect in shootings BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       RED BANK - In an effort to entice those who may know more information about the whereabouts of the 19-year-old male who allegedly shot two men recently in the borough, a longstanding Red Bank social club has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and capture. More ... SICA call for photos for book, exhibit       The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts in Long Branch is announcing a two-part call to artists for photographic submissions for two projects. The first is a planned publication titled "Roadside Sculptures and Topiary Delights [as created by the Utility Companies]. More ... Park System graduates 25th Park Ranger class       The Monmouth County Park System celebrated the graduation of 14 Rangers from its 25th County Park Ranger Basic Course in late November. The graduation was attended by county officials and Park System staff. Training included radio procedures, missing person searches, First Aid and CPR. More ... 2008 Teen Arts Festival will return to Brookdale       The Monmouth County Arts Council has announced plans for the 2008 Teen Arts Festival, an opportunity for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 to experience all disciplines of the arts, and to participate in workshops, performances, exhibits and critiques. Registration is open to Monmouth County... More ... A look at a family album       Climb the stairs to their studio two floors above Monmouth Street in Red Bank and you'll be rewarded with a look at Bob and Liz McKay's travel photos. More ... IN THE ARTS       Glen Burtnick's Christmas Extravaganza will be presented at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Saturday at 7:30 p.m. This will be the 17th anniversary of Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza. More ... Artist's creations will fill Beatles hotel Howell resident known worldwide for works of Fab Four BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer       When the Beatles came to America in 1964, they rocked our world, literally. To this day Beatlemania is still running rampant across the country. With the 40th anniversary of the release of the Beatles' "Sgt. More ...