Stickers will identify Mid'town teen drivers School district will require decals for parking permits BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       Bright yellow stickers with the letters "GDL" may soon be affixed to the bumpers of cars driven by Middletown Township high school students as part of a pilot program for teen driver safety. "After a rash of tragedies in the area, we got together as stakeholders to talk about how we could take ac... More ... Vets: Back from the war but no place to call home Vetwork helps homeless veterans access services BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer       Twenty years ago, Paul Kozak took a leave from his job to start a program to help fellow Vietnam veterans in Ocean County. Kozak took a one-year leave of absence and never went back. Years later, that program has expanded and become Vetwork, a nonprofit organization that helps American veterans w... More ... County mulling missed tax deadline Middletown fails to file revaluation data by Jan. 10 BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Property assessments in Middletown will remain the same for 2008 because the municipality missed a mandatory revaluation deadline. According to the Monmouth County Tax Commission,Middletown failed to meet the Jan. 10 deadline that allmunicipalitiesmust meet for submitting data on re... More ... Police chief heads leaner, proactive dept. Mitchell aims for strong community relationships, efficiency BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       KEYPORT - Thomas Mitchell is almost two months into his job as police chief and is sticking by the goals he set when he first took over as head of the Keyport Police Department. The Keyport Borough Council appointed a permanent police chief during the governing body's annual reorganization meeti... More ... Holmdel set to acquire Bachstadt tract for $1.8M Public hearing on acquisition of tract at Feb. 21 meeting BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL- Plans aremoving forward for the township's acquisition of the Bachstadt property, which will be preserved as open space for residents to enjoywithout the threat of development. An ordinance approving the acquisition of the tract on Middle Road was introduced at the Feb. 7 Township Commit... More ... Mat/Ab district names new super BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       ABERDEEN - Board of Education President Larry O'Connell has every confidence in newly appointed Schools Superintendent Dr. Richard O'Malley. "We put the candidates through an extensive interview process," O'Connell said. "If youmanage to survive the first round of interviews, you are doing prett... More ... Mid'town mayor: It's easy being green Scharfenberger lists 'green' measures for environmental council BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       KEYPORT - Members of the Bayshore Regional Watershed Council spent their Valentine'sDay talking about the thing they all hold most dear to their hearts: the environment. The topic of the Feb. 14 meeting held at Keyport Borough Hall was "How Do You Make Your Local Municipality Save Money and Hel... More ... Pause before you prune: February       He who would perfect his work, must first sharpen his tools. Confucius, 551-479 BCE Having the right tools always comes first. Don't start pruning before taking a close look at your equipment. You probably rely on tools that have been inherited or accumulated over several years. It pays to ma... More ... CVA gallery: Making their marks Fifty artists create works for exhibit showcasing drawings BY MARIE MABER Correspondent       As county residents well know, Brookdale is a community college. It stands to reason that the art gallery located at the front of the art building, the Center for the Visual Arts (CVA), is a center for teaching and learning. Exhibitions that draw ideas from the minds and imaginations of visitors ... More ... Special Eyes on the Environment       The Monmouth Museum will host for the second year an exhibition of environmental photography by students with special needs attending CPC Behavioral Healthcare's High Point School located in Morganville. The gala opening ceremony will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 10. The exhibit will run throu... More ... Take Me Home!       Aphotography exhibit with heart is on display at the SCAN Learning Center at Monmouth Mall. "Take Me Home! Portraits of Adoptable Shelter Animals" features photographs by Valerie Craig and Jack Norton, who are longtime volunteers at the Monmouth County SPCA, and Sisi Ho and David Segelstein. More ... N.J.'s racing industry on the brink of collapse Sens. Beck, Sarlo seek meeting with N.J. Casino Assoc. BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       Local members of the harness racing industry had strong reactions to the announcement that Freehold Raceway has reduced its purse structure and that the Meadowlands is expected to follow suit with drastic purse cuts if the Legislature does not quickly fulfill promises to provide a purse supplement... More ...