ERIC SUCAR staff Jack Byrnes (l-r), Joseph Parziale Jr. and other cast members run through a scene during a rehearsal for the musical "Oklahoma!" at the Henderson Theatre at Christian Brothers Academy in the Lincroft section of Middletown on Feb. 29. More ... DiMaso in running for freeholder slot GOP chooses deputy mayor to run for Assembly seat BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       Holmdel Mayor Serena Di- Maso will find out later this month if she has made the cut as a Republican candidate for a seat on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. DiMaso is currently tied with Red Bank Councilman John Curley to be on the Republican slate for the two seats up for elect... More ... Concerns raised on teen driver sticker program Board of Ed. members, parents say GDL plan needs more discussion BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       Stickers that would identify inexperienced teen drivers might actually compromise their safety, according to some parents and Middletown Board of Education members. Concerns about the school district's proposed graduated driver's license (GDL) sticker program were raised at the first public meeti... More ... IROC series bids farewell with weekend auction Series ends, mostly due to lack of title sponsor BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       Ready. Set. Stop. After over 30 years of racing, the International Race of Champions (IROC), the all-star auto racing series, has come to a halt due to economic reasons. As a result, the contents of the auto shop will be auctioned off at IROC's facility in Tinton Falls this Friday and Saturday. More ... Today the school board, tomorrow the White House Web site, campaign manager give BOE run a political spin BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - As school board elections approach in communities in Monmouth County, Holmdel residents will recognize a familiar face among the candidates running for a seat on the township Board of Education. More ... Many hands stitch hugs, kindness into blankets Project Linus NJ volunteers range in age from 3 to 103 BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       KEYPORT - During the month of February, handmade blanket crafters across the country stitch in unison in the true spirit of giving to celebrate national Blanket Making Day. More ... Residents want zoning change to block Wawa Petition asks for 200 feet between homes, gas station BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - For some residents in Middletown, one Wawa in town is more than enough. Wawa Inc. has applied to theMiddletown Township Planning Board for approvals for twoWawa locations inMiddletown. One application has already been approved for Route 36 east and Appleton Avenue in Leonardo. More ... Art Forms evolves under new owner, new name Charlotte Scherer hands baton to Emily Asher Neiman BY LINDA DeNICOLA Correspondent       While not exactly throwing out the old, there is a new owner at the Art Forms Gallery on Monmouth Street in Red Bank. More ... 'Easts MeetsWest'       Eight local Taiwan-born artists are exhibiting their art at the Middletown Public Library through March 31. "East Meets West" consists of oil and acrylic paintings that express themes of both Eastern and Western cultures. More ... Applicant withdraws plan to expand boarding house Attny. raises concerns about location near middle school BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       ABERDEEN - An application to expand the Cliffside Boarding Home on Myrtle Street was on the agenda for the Feb. 27 Zoning Board meeting, but was withdrawn before the hearing date. Applicants Dr. Marshall and Rosemary Sherman, of Sea Bright, had sought approval to add onto the 17-bed facility at ... More ... Three seats open on regional school board BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       MATAWAN - In a district spanning two towns, four candidates are vying for three seats on the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Board of Education. Two seats are open for Aberdeen representatives with incumbents Kenneth Aitken, of Juniper Place, and Jan Rubino, of Arbordale Drive, running for re-election. More ... Saving 'soles' becomes student's Lenten mission BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - Saving soles has never been so easy. Erin McNamara, 14, is collecting lightly used shoes fromthe children of St. Benedict School and church to send to the children of Ebeye, a town in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. More ... All that jazz      ALEX TOWLE Bob Cunningham plays the double bass and Patience Higgins improvises on the saxophone during "Jazz - American Classical Music," an African American History event presented by St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church in Aberdeen Feb. 29. More ... Monmouth U. artifacts sought       Monmouth University is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2008. From Monmouth Junior College to Monmouth College to Monmouth University, the Office of Alumni Affairs is actively seeking interesting, unusual or special items and artifacts. More ... Report of found cash register leads to arrest       MIDDLETOWN - Township police received a 911 call from a man who said he found a cash register on a trail behind a shopping center on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at approximately 12:11 a.m. The discovery led police to a burglary at a business on Route 36 in the Navesink section of the township, according t... More ... Auto thefts net electronics       MIDDLETOWN - The Middletown Township Police Department is investigating reports of thefts from at least 30 motor vehicles occurring in the early morning hours of Feb. 24, according to a press release from the department. Police were initially summoned to Cherry Tree Village at approximately 5:15... More ...