"Annie Get Your Gun"      MATT DENTON Olivia Saporito is 'Doin' what comes natur'lly' as she sings the role of Annie Oakley in Matawan Regional High School's production of the musical "Annie Get Your Gun" on April 2. More ... Mercantante named Mid'twn administrator Committee promotes award-winning director of planning BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       Middletown Township Planning Director Anthony Mercantante will have to pack up his desk and switch offices at 1 Kings Highway because he has been promoted. The Middletown Township Committee Monday night voted unanimously to appoint Mercantante to the position of township administrator. More ... BREAKING NEWS: New owners plan to restore swim club Sale of Aberdeen pool and tennis club for $750K pending BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       The Strathmore Bath and Tennis Club in Aberdeen has gotten a new lease on life with its sale to new owners who have big plans for the facility. The board of directors of the club on Lloyd Road entered into a contract of sale with Frank and Tammy Ward, of Matawan, the Wards confirmed Monday. More ... Holmdel CFO adds title of administrator Annecharico has served township for 20 years BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - The township's chief financial officer will now add the title of township administrator to his job description. More ... No business like show business      MATT DENTON Casey Hebding stars as Buffalo Bill in Matawan Regional High School's production of the musical "Annie Get Your Gun" on April 2. More ... Teen driver study panel issues recommendations       Monmouth County Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow, co-chair of the New Jersey Teen Driver Study Commission, participated in a news conference last week that officially released the group's findings and recommendations to help reduce teen motor vehicle crashes and save lives. More ... Election season already under way in Middletown Dems name council candidates; GOP's Wilkens bows out BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - The municipal election for Township Committee is still seven months away, but the Democrats have already selected the party's candidates, while a Republican committeeman announced he will not be on the ticket in the fall. More ... County: BOE candidate calls Holmdel home BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL- The residency status of a candidate for the Holmdel Township Board of Education was the subject of a recent investigation by the county. More ... Dems, mayor square off over boro attny Matawan council votes down rehire of four professionals BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       MATAWAN - Council Democrats voted down a resolution to rehire the current borough attorney at the April 1 council meeting. After the motion failed, Pasquale Menna, borough attorney for Matawan for the past two years and a Democrat, remained silent while the council members disagreed over fees fo... More ... Court says biz owners can sue over fire fees Businesses say they are paying triple fees BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       HAZLET- Township business owners have won a round in their fight against what they say is a triple tax for fire prevention fees now that a court has upheld their right to pursue litigation against the municipality. Superior Court Judge Jamie S. More ... Holmdel man pleads guilty to tax evasion       TRENTON - AHolmdel man pleaded guilty April 2 to one count of tax evasion for not reporting a total of approximately $740,585 in income for tax years 2003, 2004 and 2005. U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced thatMohamedAbdelrazek, 53, made his first appearance in federal court and plea... More ... Red Cross gala marks silver anniversary       The American Red Cross will host the Silver Anniversary Gala on April 5 at the Robert B.Meyner Reception Center at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, at 7 p.m. This year's theme, "Escape to St. Moritz," celebrates the birthplace of the Red Cross in the heart of Switzerland. More ... Curley gets GOP nod for freeholder R.B. councilman's call for unity resonates within party BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       With a call for unity, Red Bank Councilman John P. Curley won the Monmouth County Republican Party endorsement to run for county freeholder March 26. "Let us leave this hall tonight in unity for victory," said Curley in his convention speech at the VFW post in the Port Monmouth section of Middlet... More ... Where on Earth are we going?       MIDDLETOWN - The Poricy Park Conservancy announced that the symposium "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream" will be held 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Poricy Park, 345 OakHill Road. Where on Earth are we going?And what can we do about it? These are two of the questions that are at the he... More ... United Way taps Hearne as CEO       WALL TOWNSHIP- The United Way of Monmouth County board of directors has named Timothy C. Hearne Jr. chief executive officer and president of the multimillion dollar nonprofit organization. Hearne, a resident of Holmdel, brings to the position over 27 years of experience in finance and administra... More ... Armenian genocide program at BCC       Brookdale Community College's Center for Holocaust Studies will present a performance of the musical "The Georgetown Boys" on Saturday, May 3, at the Long Branch Middle School. The musical tells the true story of about 109 young boys who, after being orphaned during the Armenian Genocide, were br... More ... Learn how to create environmental change       The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) is accepting applications for Leading Green, a new leadership training for people who want to create positive environmental change in the cities or developed communities where they live, work or play. More ... Junior League to host annual Spring Market       On Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, the Junior League of Monmouth County (JLMC)will host its third annual Spring Market at the Sheraton Hotel in Eatontown. More ... Alliance recognizes community volunteers       The Holmdel Democratic Alliance for Good Government cordially will host its 2nd Annual Shining Star Breakfast, Sunday, April 13, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Hazlet Holiday Inn, 2870 Highway 35 in Hazlet. More ... John Powell in Red Bank       An exhibit of paintings by internationally acclaimed artist John Powell will open at Beacon Fine Arts Gallery in Red Bank on Friday, April 18. Receptions with the lyrical realist painter will take place 7-10 p.m.April 18 and 5-9 p.m.April 19 at Beacon FineArts, 61 Monmouth St. More ... IN THE ARTS       All four original members of Asia - Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer & John Wetton - will perform at the Count Basie Theatre onWednesday,April 16, at 8 p.m. More ... 'All the world's a stage …'      ERIC SUCAR staff Middletown South High School student Katie Kroeper performs Sonnet 14 from Macbeth" during the 2008 Shakespeare Competition held in the Performing Arts Center at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft on Saturday, March 8. The English- Speaking Union of America Monmouth County Bran... More ... 'Surviving the Plan': Holocaust photo exhibit       When Jerry Casciano aims the lens of hisHasselblad camera, he delves deep into the heart of his subject. Casciano'smost recent exhibit, "Surviving the Plan," documents the power of survival of Holocaust survivors from Auschwitz, Treblinka and theWarsaw Ghetto. More ... 'It's fun to have fun'      ERIC SUCAR staff Margaret Burgener (right) reads "The Cat in the Hat" as the main character in the popular children's book greets students at Central Elementary School in Keyport on the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss last month. More ... NOTES       Interfaith Neighbors, Asbury Park, is seeking volunteers with vehicles to help with delivery of midday meals weekdays to homebound seniors throughout Monmouth County. Areas in particular need include Eatontown and Oceanport. Volunteers are needed one hour once a week or every other week, or to act... More ...      High school students Katie Adams of Rumson and Stephanie Tomasetta of Freehold founded Cinderella's Closet of Monmouth County to help make prom gowns, tuxedos and accessories accessible to underprivileged students.Aprom boutique will be held April 12 at Ocean Place Resort and Spa, Long Branch, where... More ...      Members of Boy Scout Troop 60 from Brick are among the newest amateur radio licensees after taking and passing an Amateur Radio Class and Testing Offered by the Middletown Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services. The class was held Saturday, March 15, at Croydon Hall in Middletown. Scoutmaster Bob Fa... More ... April: An ear to the ground       Watch whom you invite to your garden party! Some guests are most unwelcome and soon push others to the sidelines. These are the assertive and belligerent plants, soon running wild, quickly filling every space and that of their neighbor.Quite often, gardeners grateful for a different plant,will rue... More ... Raritan, Matawan among top local baseball squads BY DOUG McKENZIE Staff Writer       While the firstweek of the high school baseball regular seasonwas slowed a bit by inclement weather, local teams are ready to fully get into the swing of things this week as they begin their divisional races. And with plenty of talent spread throughout all the local squads, this could be a fruitf... More ...