DAVID BEALES Kathleen Lindsey (l-r), Bertha Kellum, Anna Stevens, Phyliss Amanda Walker and Elnora Lucile Gardenhire perform in "A Stitch in Time," a musical presentation about the joys of sisterhood and the trials of life as a slave, during a Black History Month event at the Middletown Main Library... More ... Train station bldg. slated for repairs Clifton: Continued deterioration could mean loss of bldg. BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       The historic building at the Matawan train station will be getting some TLC from NJ Transit. "The station exterior needs immediate work, so we will be stabilizing the building," said NJ Transit spokesman Joe Dee. "We are going to be doing work that will prevent what could be costly weather damage... More ... Resident: Young adults can't settle in Mid'twn Blames use of RCAs for lack of affordable housing BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       Young adults are being shut out of living in the town they grew up in because Middletown sends affordable housing funds out of town, a resident told the Township Committee last week. Matthew Morehead, 27, West Front Street, told the committee's workshop meeting Feb. More ... Olympians bring home the gold, silver & bronze Hazlet Rockets excel in N.J. Special Olympic Winter Games BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       The Hazlet Rockets left for the Olympic games with their snowshoes and skis and returned with 19 medals and a bunch of fun memories of competing with friends. The Rockets showed off their skills in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the New Jersey Special Olympics Winter Games held Jan. 27-2... More ... Hazlet planners reject rezoning of tract Board votes new zone is not consistent with master plan BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       HAZLET - The Planning Board sent a controversial ordinance back to the Township Committee last week, after deciding the new zoning isn't consistent with the master plan. More ... Township attorney's pay target of lawsuit Court calls for ordinance setting compensation BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - At the monthly workshop meeting on Feb. 4, the Township Committee discussed drafting an ordinance to establish compensation for the township attorney, More ... Gallo welcomes residents' input BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       ABERDEEN - Newly elected Councilwoman Janice Gallo took the oath of office at the Feb. 4 Township Council meeting. Gallo, a Democrat and a 24-year resident of the township, listed better communication with residents as one of the main goals for her term as councilwoman. More ... Abduction before a.m. commute       MIDDLETOWN - Shortly before 5 a.m. on Thursday Feb. 7, Police Officer RobertMcNair was dispatched in response to a report that a man had been assaulted and abducted as he was leaving for work. More ... Bridge replacement project under way Historic drawbridge slated for demolition in summer of '09 BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       SEA BRIGHT - It's full speed ahead for construction to begin within the week on the Route 36 Highlands Bridge. New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Kris Kolluri announced Feb. 8 that the DOT will replace the 75-year-old drawbridge that spans the Shrewsbury River to connect ... More ... A gift for Charlie Company from one of their own       Middletown's adopted soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will get a special treat from a World War II paratrooper in the next round of supplies shipped through the township's Adopt-A-Unit program. Bob Bearden, an 85-year-old WWII veteran attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, has donated co... More ... Party turns ugly in Middletown       MIDDLETOWN - A fight between two brothers at a Super Bowl party resulted in the arrest of one sibling on charges of aggravated assault. Middletown Township police arrested James J. Gibbons, 44, on charges of aggravated assault after he allegedly inflicted potentially life-threatening injuries to... More ... In the Service       Air Force Airman Lester T. Dorsey has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.A2005 graduate of Matawan Regional High School, Aberdeen, he is the son of Mary Dorsey of Donaldsonville, La. More ... Woman rescued from home blaze BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Township police and firefighters responded to a call of a fire at a house on Monmouth Avenue to find that a 54-year-old disabled woman was still in the home. On Feb. 5 at approximately 4:30 p.m., a house fire was reported at 668 Monmouth Ave. in the Port Monmouth section of the town... More ... Heeding the charge to feed the hungry BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       ABERDEEN- When people volunteer their free time to help others, it inspires something much greater inside their own being. Township Deputy Mayor Wilhelmina Gumbs knows this firsthand. As a volunteer with the Cathedral International Church in Perth Amboy for the past five years, Gumbs has become ... More ...      More than 100 firefighters battled a blaze that destroyed a QuickChek food store Feb. 10 and led to the evacuation of all four stores at a Cherry Tree Farm Road strip mall near Route 35 in Middletown, authorities said. More ... Child Find effort under way       The Middletown Township Board of Education is conducting its "Child Find" effort for Middletown residents. More ... Crowd does not give governor an E-ZPass Corzine explains need for toll increases; residents pan program BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       Gov. Jon Corzine received a less than warm welcome at Marlboro High School on Feb. 4 when he came to Monmouth County to present his financial restructuring and debt reduction program for New Jersey. More ... Keyport man indicted for robbery, assault       AMonmouth County grand jury returned a two-count indictment on Feb. 6, charging Ryan Fallon, 20, of Keyport, with one count of first-degree robbery and one count of second-degree aggravated assault. According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Oct. More ... Input sought for disaster survey       ABERDEEN - The township is working withMonmouth County's Emergency Management Office to identify natural hazards and plan for future disasters as part of the county's Multi-jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning Project. More ... 'Overture' original quilts at library       Innovative design, vivid colors and fine hand craftsmanship converge in an exhibit of original quilts created by members of Rebecca's Reel Quilters currently on display at Middletown Main Library. More ... Voices raised for peace       The Shrewsbury Chorale, with the Garden State Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, joins singers worldwide in the Song of Peace project when it presents Haydn's "Lord NelsonMass (Mass in Time ofWar)" at Freehold Presbyterian Church on March 8. More ... 38th annual Monmouth arts festival       The 38th annualMonmouth Festival of the Arts, New Jersey's largest art invitational, will take place April 5-9 at Monmouth Reform Temple, 332 Hance Ave., Tinton Falls. The event will begin with the Artists Gala Reception at 7:30 p.m. More ... Dying officer's battle for benefits captured on film 'Freeheld' documentary nominated for an Academy Award BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       Chances are, Lt. Laurel Hester never planned to make headlines. Long before she became nationally known as a dying gay woman who wanted to leave her pension benefits to her partner, Laurel Hester was a cop. A good cop. And that is also her legacy. More ... Middletown Library presents 'Lincoln at the Library'       February marks the remembrance of America's Presidents in observances all across the country. To honor the memory of one of the nation's greatest leaders, Middletown Main Library has scheduled two consecutive weekly programs that highlight the accomplishments, personal and professional travails, ... More ...