JEFF GRANIT staff John Albino (l) and Evan Canova, of Absolute Music in Hazlet, show students what being a musician is all about during Career Day at Indian Hill School in Holmdel on April 10. More ... Holmdel fire chief comes under fire Members of Fire Company No. 1 charge breach of duty BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       The conduct of the Holmdel fire chief as overseer of the township's fire personnel will be discussed during an executive session at Thursday's Township Committee meeting. More ... Petition: traffic threatens Mid'town historic district Group opposes county plan for traffic signal BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       The character of Middletown's historic district is at risk due to the county's plans to install a traffic signal and reconfigure the roadway that runs through the area, according to group of local preservationists. More ... Keyport group promotes harmony between cultures Cultural Harmony Program aims to help immigrants assimilate BY DENNIS JORDAN Correspondent       On a Thursday afternoon, long after most schoolchildren and teachers have put aside textbooks, chalkboards and lockers for the day, some of the classrooms at Keyport Central Elementary School are still abuzz with lessons. More ... Reward offered in wake of damage to memorial Monument slated for Holmdel vandalized BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       The National Police Defense Foundation (NPDF) is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who vandalized its Sept. 11 police memorial. According to a press release from the NPDF, in 2001 the foundation commissioned sculptor Franco Mine... More ... Earth Day cleanup slated for Saturday at Poricy Park       MIDDLETOWN -- Poricy Park Conservancy will host the second annual Earth Day Cleanup and Celebration organized by N.J. Community Water Watch on Saturday, April 19. Participants are invited to join theMonmouth and Brookdale chapters ofN.J. More ... Middletown '08 budget at $62M Public hearing on budget slated for May 5 BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - The budget process for 2008 has included several rounds of costcutting resulting in trimming $4.2 million so far, according to the township's chief financial officer. "We've already cut more than $4. More ... GOP challengers seek to unseat Matawan Dems       MATAWAN - Four candidates will run for two open seats on the Borough Council in the November election. The two three-year-term seats up for election are currently held by Democratic Councilmen William Malley, of Broad Street, and Robert Bunyon, of Matawan Green Lane. More ... Holmdel Committee candidates       HOLMDEL - Two seats are up for grabs on the Township Committee in this year's municipal elections. Each seat is for a three-year term. The Democratic and Republican committees submitted the names of candidates April 7 by the 4 p.m. deadlinemandated by Monmouth County. More ... Hazlet to bond $412K for open space purchase Resident: Open space tax should pay for acquisition BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       HAZLET - A bond ordinance to fund the acquisition of the 1.84-acre tract known as the Pfleger property for open space preservation was the topic of discussion at the April 1 Township Committee meeting. More ... Tax assessor faces two-week suspension Heck faces penalty for missed reval filing deadline BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - The township's tax assessor could face a suspension of 15 working days without pay for failing to submit the municipality's 2008 revaluation data on time, according to Monmouth County Tax Administrator Matthew Clark. More ... Democrats' plan lists ways to trim budget 39-point plan looks for cost savings on $62.2M '08 budget BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN- Township Committee Democrats came up with a list of ways to cut the budget too late in the game, according to the mayor and deputy mayor. Although the committee approved introduction of the municipal budget by a 5-0 vote on its first hearing April 7, Committeeman Patrick Short said he... More ... Newspaper group takes home 30 awards in NJPA contest       Greater Media Newspapers received 30 awards from the New Jersey Press Association for excellence in writing, photography and advertising in the NJPA's Better Newspaper Contest for 2007. More ... Loughran appointed at Holmdel H.S. 20-year veteran has been serving as asst. principal BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - The high school has a new leader who has been on staff for two decades. Assistant PrincipalWilliamLoughran, a 20-year veteran at Holmdel High, assumed leadership of the high school from interim Principal C. Arthur Albrizio at last week's Board of Education meeting. More ... Luminance & Order'       An exhibit of photographs by Geanna Merola opens Friday atMcKay Imaging Photography Studio and Gallery in Red Bank. "Luminance & Order" will run through May 15 at the gallery, located on the second floor of 12 Monmouth St. Merola currently teaches photography and the history of photography at Broo... More ... Raising an autistic child a 'Day After Day' challenge       RED BANK - After performances throughout New Jersey, several to sold-out houses, a rock opera about the struggles and joys, despair and hope of parenting children with autismis coming to the stage of the Two River Theater in Red Bank onApril 19. More ... Performers honored for unique dance style Choreographer combines Indian and western styles BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       Arhythmic blend of music teamed with a fusion of traditional Indian dance and western dance styles brought top prizes to Nritya Creations Academy of Dance, directed by Meena Basu Nag, at the Naya Andaz competition held on March 1. More ... Man indicted for assault, eluding police       FREEHOLD - A Monmouth County grand jury returned an indictment April 9, charging a Brick Township man with various crimes stemming from a December 2007 incident that occurred in Brick Township and involved police in Middletown, Holmdel and Tinton Falls. More ... COA to hold Beach Sweeps State's longest running volunteer cleanup takes place April 26       SANDY HOOK - Clean Ocean Action (COA) invites citizens and organizations to participate in the 23rd annual Spring Beach Sweeps on Saturday, April 26, at more than 60 sites along the New Jersey coast. The Beach Sweeps begins at 9 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m., rain or shine. More ... IRS reps offer assistance to New Jersey taxpayers       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - IRS representatives visited the Freehold Raceway Mall recently as part of an outreach effort to educate taxpayers on various tax season topics. Approximately 30 taxpayers sought personal assistance on various tax issues ranging from choosing a tax preparer to the upcoming econ... More ... Belford man pleads guilty to vehicular homicide       FREEHOLD - On April 7, James C. Letual, 36, of the Belford section of Middletown, pleaded guilty to the seconddegree crime of vehicular homicide, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. The charge resulted from aMarch 2007 crash inAberdeen Township in which a pedestrian was killed. More ... Career Day      JEFF GRANIT staff Naval Aviator Michael DeGiglio talks to students about his career in the U.S. Navy on April 10 at Career Day at Indian Hill School in Holmdel. More ... Corodemus joins Middletown law firm       MIDDLETOWN- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla announces that former Assemblyman Steven J. Corodemus, of Atlantic Highlands, has joined the firm as counsel and will practice in the environmental and real estate, land-use and development practice areas. More ... NOTES       Blue Tulip, 459 Route 35, Middletown, and Family Resource Associates (FRA) and TECHConnection, Shrewsbury, will hold a fundraiser April 18 from noon to 5 p.m., with 15 percent of all proceeds benefiting FRA. Patrons are asked to tell the salesperson that the purchase is for the FRA sale. For more ... More ... Voter registration better linked to DMV services       TRENTON - Voter registration opportunities for New Jersey residents will expand as the state moves to fully implement a federal law. The federal "motor voter" law requires the state Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to link voter registration with motor vehicle transactions. More ...