ERIC SUCAR staff One of The Harlem Globetrotters goes for a slam-dunk during the team's routine before a game played before a sold-out crowd March 18 at Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College. More ... Summer at PNC: Changes in concert lineup, tailgating State police will use video surveillance, plainclothes officers BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       Festival-type concerts and tours are off the summer concert roster for the PNC Bank Arts Center, according to Kevin Morrow, president of Live Nation New York. Morrow made the announcement to a small audience at a forum held March 18 at Holmdel High School. More ... Family of murder victim sues Zarinsky Grand jury returns charge of murder BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       Afamily member of Jane Durrua wants the man who is being charged with the murder of her sister to pay in terms of life in prison and in monetary terms. More ... Protecting and sharing the legacy of Bayonet Farm 10th annual Earth Day Celebration to be held April 27 BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       Don't blink as you drive along Middletown Road, or you will miss the entrance to what has been referred to as "Holmdel's Greatest Hidden Treasure." Bayonet Farm is tucked away from the winding country road, quietly standing along the tree lines and farm fields as a symbol of Holmdel's history an... More ... A no-no for Jo-Jo Joseph Merla charged in connection with missing trash bins BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       KEYPORT - Richard Jones was simply cleaning out his property and piling the waste into trash bins when the cleanup got complicated by a trash hauler who refused to retrieve the refuse the hauler said contained hazardous materials. More ... Keyport cites state aid cuts for 12.8-cent tax increase Council calls for borough hiring freeze BY DENNIS JORDAN Correspondent       KEYPORT - The Keyport Borough Council unveiled its 2008 budget, which calls for a tax rate increase of 12.8 cents per $100 of assessed valuation due, according to officials, to the elimination of state aid depended on in previous years. More ... Keyport BOE budget would hike tax rate by 2 cents BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       KEYPORT - The Board of Education held its public hearing on the 2008-09 budget calling for a tax rate increase of 2 cents per every $100 of property value. Keyport Board of Education Business Administrator Jo Ann Podracky presented the $17,999,781 budget on March 19. More ...      ERIC SUCAR staff Harlem Globetrotter "Hi Rise Brown" soars toward the basket before the sold-out crowd gathered at the Robert Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft March 18. More ... Matawan Fire Dept. has gone to the dogs BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       MATAWAN- The borough's fallen firefighters have been memorialized through the fire department's new mascots, who are already spreading goodwill and awareness in the community. More ... Scouts vie for victory in Pinewood Derby BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       MATAWAN- It was the fast and the furious of Pinewood cars at the Matawan MunicipalCommunityCenterwhenmembers of Cub Scout Pack 66 raced their handmade cars for a shot at a trophy. "This was the first time we were in the community center, and the kids really had fun," said Frank Radics, Cub Scout ... More ... Turnout light for forum on zoning amendment Township committee members say they remain undecided BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       HAZLET - The Township Committee expected a large crowd in the auditorium at Raritan High School last week for a public forum on a controversial zoning issue. However, according to Committeeman Joseph Belasco's count, just a little over 50 people showed up. More ...      ERIC SUCAR staff A group of bagpipers marches down West Front Street during the St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Keyport on March 22. The parade included floats, fire trucks and local groups and vendors from surrounding towns. More ... Aberdeen budget calls for 10-cent increase Public hearing on 2008 budget to be held May 6 BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       ABERDEEN - The Township Committee introduced a $15.3 million budget last week that calls for a 10-cent increase in the tax rate. The 2008 municipal budget of $15,307,556.72, introduced at the March 18 committee meeting, is up from last year's budget of $14,065,297. More ... Revised plans presented for waterfront park Plans reduce parking, add green space and welcome center BY DENNIS JORDAN Correspondent       KEYPORT - The most recent design plan for the new waterfront park, featuring expanded green areas but reducing the number of parking spaces, was presented at the Keyport Borough Council meeting on Tuesday night. More ... Twp. man convicted of armed robbery       ABERDEEN - A township man was convicted of first-degree armed robbery of a taxi driver last week. On March 13, a Monmouth County jury convicted Fernando Vasquez Volano, 26, of Aberdeen Township, of the crimes of first-degree armed robbery, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purp... More ... Brookdale president chairs accreditation commission Regional panel's job is to evaluate higher education institutions BY BARI FAYE SIEGEL Correspondent       When he's not tinkering with his beloved classic car collection, or running one of the state's most prestigious community colleges, Peter Burnham is responsible for evaluating every college and university in the Mid-Atlantic region. More ... Genealogist delves into history of Shore's murders Murders in Monmouth' documents three decades of crime BY KATHY HALL Correspondent       George Joynson's passion for genealogy led him to write "Murders in Monmouth: Capital Crimes from the Jersey Shore's Past." On a visit to the Monmouth County Archives, the longtime professional genealogy researcher found a copy of a book that covered all the murder trials in Monmouth County from ... More ... Young musicians have their chance to shine Outstanding students from Monmouth & Ocean counties combine talents BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       The New Jersey State Youth Orchestra (NJSYO) has a new home. The approximately 170-member orchestra will rehearse at St. Mary's Church, Route 34, Colts Neck, starting with its 2008-09 season. Previously, the orchestra rehearsed in three locations: the Trinity Episcopal Church, Red Bank, the Red B... More ... IN THE ARTS       Asbury Park filmmaker Susan Pellegrini presents "The Violet Glow" soiree, another of her "color" series of fundraising events to support the production of her documentary film on Stephen Crane and Asbury Park, at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, Fifth and Ocean avenues, Asbury Park. More ... Garden State Film Festival rolls out the red carpet       The sixth annual Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) showcasing film, video and animated works by independent filmmakers, will roll out the red carpet April 4- 6 in Asbury Park. This year's honorees include novelist and Oscar-winning screenwriter Budd Schulberg, who will receive the Lifetime Achiev... More ... County to launch TV show       FREEHOLD - Monmouth County is hitting the airwaves with a monthly television program designed to bring the county's many governmental services directly to residents. "Monmouth In Focus" is a televised companion to the county newsletter of the same name. More ... Helping hands      CHRIS KELLY staff Joan Raine and Pat Frank, both of Hazlet, entertain Daniel Juarez, 5, who visited the Keyport Senior Center, along with a group of preschoolers, on March 13. More ... That Hot Dog Place ... have soup, will travel       RED BANK - If your recurring weekend fantasy is that Gary Sable will show up at your door with a steaming bowl of his homemade soup just in time for lunch, your dream has come true. More ...      CHRIS KELLY staff Aberdeen's Ellis McCoy sings "The Wheels On the Bus" with Christopher Espinal, 5, Alex Esteban, 3, and Arianna Fuentes, 4, along with a group of youngsters at the Keyport Senior Center on March 13. More ...