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Yearly Review - 2004

	Nationally, 2004 was a year of controversy and scandals: a heated presidential race, growing concern over the handling of Iraq, McGreevey's dramatic resignation, Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction, and allegations that Barry Bonds won't be breaking Hank Aaron's record without a boost. Locally, there were also quite a few controversies. In Long Branch, people in redevelopment zones have begun objecting. In Oceanport, the future of the race track has been revised several times. West Long Branch is grappling with an ailing, expensive to replace, police station. Presented here are some of the highlights from last year: January New Year's Eve starts out hot, literally. A fire destroys an A. Bruno and Sons greenhouse. The structure was over 100 years old, and had been used by the business since 1925. The city kicks off its centennial with a midnight run on the Promenade. Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider says that redevelopment is working, and stopping at this point could damage the progress that has been made in the city. Oceanport swore in their first female mayor, Maria Gatta, and three new councilmen. Lucille Chaump and Linda Johnson were elected to council, and Gerald 'Jay' Briscione was selected to fill Gatta's vacant seat. Before the end of the year, council's makeup would change noticeably. Mauro Baldanza, Bruce Johantgen and Councilman John Zambrano are sworn in as fire chiefs in Long Branch. Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo warns that the borough could be facing a 7 cents tax increase this year unless land is sold to offset that. Beachfront South residents announce they are concerned eminent domain will be coming. Like MTOTSA (the Marine Terrace, Ocean Terrace and Seaview Ave. group) in Beachfront North, they say their homes are in good condition, and the area doesn't need redevelopment. Although the city had said it might announce a developer for the area, that would be put off for months. MTOTSA meets with city officials and developers Matzel Mumford to discuss the fate of their neighborhood. MTOTSA members will speak at practically every council meeting this year, asking the city to reconsider redevelopment. A fire destroys 13 vintage automobiles, valued at over half a million dollars, at Coach Classics, Broadway. Through January and February, the area will see at least one big fire a week. Aldi's in West Long Branch fences off their parking lot, preventing sledders from accessing Cemetery Hill. Dr. Sandra Greco, Oceanport, is declared Ms. Senior America. The weather gets cold enough that people can safely skate on Franklin Lake. The New Jersey Sports Authority announces it will be considering leasing its two race tracks, which include the Monmouth Park track in Oceanport. Oceanport resident Robert Wilcox dies at the age of 94. He was a former Shore Board of Education member and received the borough's first Mayor's Lifetime Achievement Award. Holy Trinity School students attend a right to life march in Washington D.C. February In two separate incidents, Ocean Township Police arrest three people on marijuana possession charges, following investigations. In one case, an 18-year-old was found with the drug in plain sight in the presence of a 16-year-old and two nine-year-olds. Monmouth Mall presents plans to expand to the Eatontown Planning Board. They would like to add about 80,000 square feet in several buildings. Christopher Dziedzic, a 25-year-old Oceanport resident, died when his car crashed into a guard rail and overturned at the intersection of Rt. 18 and Hwy. 36. Three men force their way into a Long Branch home, attack the residents, and steal a woman's purse. Bidding begins on work to improve flood conditions around Riverdale and Griffin Streets in Monmouth Beach. A nine-year-old boy is killed in Long Branch when a 17-year-old driving a truck fails to see him in a parking lot. Members of MTOTSA begin showing up to council meetings wearing shirts saying 'No eminent domain abuse' and 'Shame on Long Branch.' Mayor Adam Schneider says that Matzel Mumford's proposal for the area includes offering condos to longtime residents so they can stay in the area. The West Long Branch Zoning Board begins a series of special meetings on a proposed dormitory in what is currently a residential neighborhood. Despite claims from University officials, residents say the proposed dorm could hurt their quality of life and property values. At the end of the year, these special hearings are still being held, though they are expected to wrap up fairly soon. The Long Branch Concordance, an organization which brings other charitable organizations together, places a call for interested parties to participate. Welsh Farms, Eatontown, is robbed at knifepoint. West Long Branch Patrolman William Lynch, on his way to work, is flagged down and helps catch the suspect. A 39-year-old city man says he was kidnapped and held captive by a former romantic partner, who told him he would be killed if he attempted to escape. A seal is spotted walking around Monmouth Beach. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center picks him up. Later in the week, another seal is spotted by the harbor. A 40-year-old man was struck by a truck and killed while riding a bicycle on Rt. 35. A public hearing on the possibility of leasing the track is held. The Sports and Exposition Authority says it will not take any action which would result in layoffs of employees or loss of tax money to Oceanport. A groundbreaking is held on a new $72 million high school for Long Branch. All funding comes from a state construction plan. West Long Branch officials estimate that it could cost up to $4 million to solve the problem of mold in the Parker Ave. building. That building, which houses the police department and other offices, is a health and safety risk, some say. Because he has to move to another town, Oceanport Councilman Phil Apruzzi resigns from council. Apruzzi had served for 12 years. The Jersey Shore Charter School announces it plans to open in September, offering classes to Eatontown, Oceanport, West and Long Branch students. Two men scam some Spanish-speaking city residents, saying they have won lottery tickets, but need more funds in their bank to cash it. They took the cash from the victims and ran. March A 62-year-old West Allenhurst woman, on her way to St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, is killed when her car is hit by another on Ocean Ave. The other driver, a 20-year-old Ohio man, was heading to Naval Weapons Station Earle, and took a wrong turn. The Margaret Vetter School celebrates its 50th birthday. Various events celebrating the 50s, such as car shows and sock hops, are held, and a time capsule from the school's founding is dug up. Eatontown announces they can shave half a cent from the budget, bringing the tax increase down to 6.4 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The Tradewinds Beach Club in Sea Bright is demolished. Developers plan to build new homes, including a couple of multi-million dollar ones, on that property. The first meeting of the Long Branch Concordance is held.The room is filled to capacity with interested volunteers. A man calls the Eatontown Police and tells them he has been robbed of marijuana by two men. Police arrested two people fitting the description. Several local towns, including Eatontown and Oceanport hold CERT - Community Emergency Response Team - graduation ceremonies. CERT members can assist police and firefighters in case of emergency. Oceanport will graduate another team in December. Police seize over 100 bags of heroin from a city resident. West Long Branch police officer Arthur Cosentino is promoted to the rank of lieutenant. At the ceremony, several other police officers are recognized for their accomplishments. Oceanport's municipal budget is defeated, when two council members vote no. A two-thirds majority is needed to approve a budget, and with Apruzzi's resignation, the three other votes canÕt carry it. The budget would have called for a 3.3 cent tax increase. This unexpected defeat causes funding problems for several weeks, and upsets many voters. After a new councilman, Robert Holden, is appointed, and additional funding is found after an audit, a budget with a slightly more than a one-cent increase is passed unanimously. 'Matzel Mumford submits a plan for the Beachfront North Phase II area. Meanwhile, MTOTSA members take exception to the mayor's characterization that many of the houses in their neighborhood are in 'fair to poor' condition. ' Monmouth Beach announces a budget with a tax increase of 2.7 cents. ' The Prosecutor's office says it is rethinking charges against a police officer, who could have been charged with simple assault and possible official misconduct, for slapping an undercover officer in 2003. Prosecutor John Kaye said he had received more calls Òthan with any other case in the 21 years that I've been here.' In April the charges are officially dropped.. 'West Long Branch resident Helen Schultz dies at the age of 89. She had been on the WLB Library Board of Trustees since 1942. 'Alex Rivera, the 'Dancing Marine' who made national news during the early days of the Iraq invasion by entertaining Iraqi children, was shot while fighting in Afghanistan. The bullet exited near his stomach, and he was expected to make a full recovery. 'Police say an Ocean Township woman involved in an accident claimed she was having a seizure to avoid getting a ticket. ' New Jersey Natural Gas Company releases a report on how they plan to remediate the contaminated area near the old gasification plant on Long Branch Ave. to the DEP. 'The Oceanport First Aid Squad celebrates its 55th year in existence. The last few years have seen a dramatic increase in calls made, more than twice as many as a few decades ago. April Eatontown school bus drivers say they are concerned the school will fire them and hire a private contractor, which could cause safety concerns. Board of Education members say they need to cut some money from the budget, but havenÕt made any firm decisions. They do eventually go out to a private company. As of December, the borough is looking to purchase part of the bus storage garage from the board. Eatontown settles a suit with developers concerning a development on the former Mr. BÕs Golf center. Western Properties had wanted to put 300 units there, and when that was turned down, alleged that the borough did not currently satisfy affordable housing regulations. The settlement calls for only 120 units on the property. Hollywood Avenue Squares, a game show with local 'celebrities' such as mayors, former mayors, and well-known names around town, is held to celebrate the Centennial. A ribbon cutting is held for Procter Estates, North Fifth Ave. All 48 units of the affordable housing unit had already been sold. The county announces the East Main Street bridge in Oceanport will take longer to finish than expected. A bad winter, utility work and material shortages push the proposed opening date from before summer to late June. The Long Branch Board of Education proposes a budget with a 4.8-cent tax increase. Oceanport, West Long Branch, and Shore Regional also propose budgets with tax hikes. In all cases, they are voted down. The Long Branch Community Club donates $355,000 to the city to help build a park where the club once stood in North Long Branch. Pier Village announces some of the leases they've signed, which include a restaurant with local businessman Tim McLoone, a Stewarts, Kidegories, and Ladies Workout Express. Ten people at a Ocean Township house rented to college-age students are arrested on drug and alcohol charges. Police noticed some teenages carrying a bag; when the cops were seen, they tried to hide the bag, which contained more than half a pound of marijuana. A man is stabbed in Eatontown in what police say was a drug deal where the buyers tried to defraud the sellers. Several members of MTOTSA attend a conference on eminent domain abuse in Washington D.C. Carl Johanneson, 25, of Long Branch, is awarded the super featherweight championship of the world during a fight in England. Constantine Katsifis describes the six townhomes he wants to build on Columbia Ave. He describes them as upscale, and says he plans to live in one, but neighbors believe it will cause too much traffic and ruin the quality of the neighborhood. The matter is still before the Zoning Board. A man broke into a furniture store in Eatontown and fell asleep on a display bed. Police say he had marijuana in his possession. The County Planning Board releases a study saying the median cost for a new home in Monmouth County is $480,000, up $60,000 from last year. The most expensive was $3.6 million, in Sea Bright. The stateÕs 1,500th UEZ project is started in Long Branch. The $214,000 project will go to improving a portion of Broadway. MTOTSA announces they will be submitting their own plan for renovating their neighborhood. The Monmouth Beach Board of Education announces it will not be rehiring a popular social studies teacher, Robert Jorgensen. Parents and students show up to protest the decision. A gala ball is held for the Centennial. May Eatontown considers a tough new law on shopping cart theft. Those who take them off supermarket property could face $1,250 fines and 90 days in jail. City resident Lorenzo 'Bill' Dangler is awarded the Blacks in Government award for his work for the community. Monmouth University President Paul Gaffney, a retired Admiral, is appointed chairman of a Governor's Commission to save New Jersey's military bases. City resident Frank Muzzi is also appointed to the commission. City resident Luis Gonzalez is murdered on his 22nd birthday. Gonzalez, who neighbors said was a good friend, was found shot in his apartment. Long Branch and Ocean Township team up to draft a new 'animal house' ordinance. The new regulations are designed to restrict rentals in single family neighborhoods to once a year in most cases. The ordinances draw criticism from landlords, and get challenged in a legal suit in September. Monsignor Paul Bradley celebrates his 90th birthday, performing Holy Communion at St. John the Baptist Church that day. Bradley, who served as chaplain at Iwo Jima, creates an award to honor Monmouth Medical Center nurses that same week. Solar panels are installed on a Liberty Street home, making it the first sun-powered house in the city. The owners say that they actually sell electricity back to the utility companies. A man who robbed a convenience store on Joline Ave. is recognized, despite wearing a bandanna to cover his face. Police are able to arrest three people. City Council cuts $470,000 from the Long Branch School budget, about a third of the proposed increase. West Long Branch, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport and Sea Bright team up to study Shore's defeated budget, and recommend $300,000 be cut from it. Shore cuts that amount, but not from the line items towns suggested. Oceanport council says it will reduce the school tax increase to 6.1 cents from 9.6 cents. In all cases, officials say this will not affect the quality of education. Investigations indicate a man who attempted to fake his own drowning in July of 2003 may have been after insurance money. Four days before he 'disappeared' off the Long Branch beach he took out a $1 million policy. The man later reappeared in New York, saying he had amnesia. He was charged, and though the trial was delayed due to an illness, he was eventually found guilty. Groups from around the county hold a press conference in Long Branch announcing that changes in the HUD (Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) will lead to less housing. They say the new policies 'will force agencies to consider tragic actions such as evicting families. After a Hispanic man was robbed by two black men, he formed a posse. That group came upon a different group of black people, mistook them for the robbers, and started a large brawl. Five people were arrested, and one man was seriously injured after being struck with a frog-shaped concrete lawn ornament. The Long Branch schools are the site of the Second Annual Relay For Life, a fundraiser for cancer research.. Elberon resident Hester West graduates Monmouth University at the age of 82. June Tests by Edison Wetlands indicate Troutman's Creek is fairly contaminated. When New Jersey Natural Gas performs its own tests, they appear to give different results, saying contaminants are only found in the deep sediments. The first Environmental Justice Taskforce in New Jersey is formed to ensure Troutman's Creek is kept clean. While following up on a 911 call, city police discover a family, including two children, living in an unfurnished basement without plumbing. Monmouth Beach Public Works Superintendent Lou Ferrugiaro retires, causing a problem in town: Lou took care of Katie the Kat, the borough's mascot. A Long Branch couple adopts the cat in June, but Katie, 14, passes away a couple of weeks later. Rosario Miraglia III is arrested and charged with the 'mob style' murder of his girlfriend, Leigh Martinez, 31, and grandmother, Julia Miraglia, 88. Both victims were mutilated. A city resident working as a clerk in the police department was charged with stealing $1,500, taking funds from people applying for licenses. Monmouth Park announces it will have larger purses this year. In an effort to keep slot machines out of New Jersey tracks, Atlantic City is putting millions into purse supplements to attract a higher caliber of horses. The Guayanilla High School, Puerto Rico, band comes to Long Branch to perform. The band, part of Long Branch's sister school, has also played at the Macy's Day Parade, Puerto Rico Day Paradees, and the Rose Bowl. An unusual Long Branch wedding: Fluufy and Isabella, two Pomeranians, are wed in a ceremony complete with tux and gown (from PetSmart). Several towns begin studying LOSAP, a volunteer pension program. In November, voters in West Long Branch, Eatontown and Oceanport approve the plan for their borough volunteers. The West Long Branch Police Dept. hires three new police officers, and promotes Paul Haberman to the rank of sergeant. Three employees of the Long Branch Public Works Department are charged with official misconduct. They had rented dumpsters out to businesses and individuals, and pocketed the money for trash collection rentals. An Ocean Township man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after he hit a six-year-old who was crossing the street to buy ice cream, and fled the scene. The West Long Branch Education Foundation awards around $5,000 in grants to teachers for various programs to improve education. July More than 100 city residents show up at a zoning board hearing to protest two proposed projects: townhouses on Columbia Ave. (see April) and a development on Morris Ave. Despite engineering studies, some say that the work on Morris Ave. on the old Pond Top Estate will increase flooding in the neighborhood. Area resident and WWII Veteran Peter Rubino goes to France and is awarded the French Legion of Honor medal for his participation in D-Day 60 years ago. A former city police officer who was charged with extorting money from minorities in the city in 2003, pleads guilty and accepts a three-year jail sentence. Towns around the area, in response to the passage of a new law, set fees for domestic partnership licenses. Sgt. Alan Sherman, a Marine from Ocean Township, is killed while fighting in Iraq. He is buried on July 4. The Oceanport bridge reopens, much to the relief of merchants and motorists. Oceanfest draws the largest single-day crowd in the celebration's 14 year history. Hundreds of thousands flock to the Long Branch promenade for food, crafts, music, entertainment and fireworks. Monmouth Community Bank, based in Long Branch, announces it will merge with Allaire Community Bank, and become known as Central Jersey Bank. SICA, the Shore Institute for Contemporary Arts, marks its grand opening. The Third Ave. building is dedicated to promoting the arts. Officials announce that though work on the Monmouth Road-Wall Street intersection could take up to two years, though much of the work will be done at night and off-hours to avoid congestion. In the meantime, motorists are asked to be patient, so that traffic will eventually flow more smoothly. The tides turn! After losing the last two bocce tournaments in the West Long Branch-Long Branch annual rivalry, the city comes back, winning two matches to one. An arsonist sets fire to a Cottage Place apartment at night. The upstairs resident's cat manages to wake her owner and get him out of the house, which is destroyed. The cat collapses, but is revived by firefighters. Long Branch announces it will acquire more homes for redevelopment. A group of properties on Abbotsford Avenue, in the 'Hotel Campus' part of the redevelopment zone, will be acquired. Long Branch Council says that a Pay to Play bill is not needed in the city, as they already comply with all state regulations. Still, some suggest that if it's not passed, it may look as though council is hiding something. Due to construction work at Blackberry Bay Park, Oceanport announces it will have to cancel Summer's End Festival this year. A Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention team is formed in West Long Branch, Eatontown and Oceanport. Sea Bright Councilman William Gelfound suggests changing the date of Board of Education elections to November, in an effort to increase voter turnout. August K. Hovnanian is selected as the likely developer for the Beachfront South section, from Morris to North Bath Ave. They propose 350 new homes with a total cost of over $300 million. They also say they will build an extended boardwalk down to West End, and contribute about $10 million to the city. The U.S. mail sorting facility in Eatontown gets an anthrax scanner. A 70-year-old Leatherback turtle washes ashore. Although this creature, an endangered species, is initially diagnosed as having choked on a plastic bag, later tests indicate it may have died of some other cause. National Night Out is held in several local communities. Residents learn safety tips from the police, and enjoy an evening of camaraderie. A Monmouth Beach resident is scammed out of $10,000 by someone who claimed to by a psychic. Some of Pier Villages future tenants introduce themselves at a party at the Ocean Place Conference Resort. Members of the Concerned Citizen Coalition criticize New Jersey Natural Gas' test of Troutmans Creek. The company sent samples to two labs, and reported the lower results to the state, they say. The gas company says that one of the labs was not certified by the DEP, and the other results had to be submitted. Robert Harrison, Monmouth Beach, is accused of attempting to kidnap the son of his former employee, real estate tycoon Jim Weichert. The son got suspicious when he received a call which supposedly came from the New Vernon Police - a department which doesn't exist. Police say they found a BB gun, ransom note, and stolen license plates in Harrison's car. A 33-year-old city man's body is found floating in the ocean. Police are not sure how he drowned. Two female housekeepers are found dead at an Elberon home. They drowned in the swimming pool. Officers hypothesize one may have had trouble swimming, and the other drowned while trying to help her. The New Jersey Charter School is told it cannot open. The state says it is concerned the facility will not be ready for students when it is supposed to open next month. There are also reports of lower than expected enrollment. September The week before school starts, sex scandals shock Monmouth and Shore Regional high schools. William O'Leary, a Shore Regional teacher is fired, days before he would have received tenure, after he is charged with having started an affair with a 14-year-old student four years ago. Cecilia Schneider, a Monmouth Regional teacher, is suspended after being charged with child pornography. Police say they discovered photographs of her with a very young child. Schneider would later resign. A city man is charged with death by auto after running over a woman. He had been quarreling with her, and began to drive off. She clung to the car, but he kept driving until she fell under a tire. The Little School closes its doors after 22 years of teaching pre-school in the Long Branch area. A man reported his sister had been kidnapped. When West Long Branch police stopped a van matching the description, they discovered it was apparently being used to smuggling immigrants into the country. A golden retriever is shot and killed in Ocean Township. The dog had gotten out of the back yard through an open gate. Owners reported they heard a sound like a firecracker and discovered the dog had been shot. Several towns warn that they'll have to tighten their budgets next year. A new state law reduces the 'cap,' the amount a budget can increase over last yearÕs, from 5 to 2.5 percent. The Kiley family donates a rescue truck in memory of Jack Kiley, a former Dept. Chief. Eatontown Councilman Charles Riddle announces he is resigning after 13 years on council. Riddle said he was looking for a larger house, and could not find any in his price range in the borough, so had to move. Roy Eisen is appointed to fill the seat for a year. A 74-year-old city woman was hit by a car and killed as she was crossing Joline Ave. Local residents say the intersection is dangerous, and there have been a couple of fatal accidents there in recent years. An Asbury Park man entered the engineer's compartment of a train leaving the Long Branch train station and announced he had a bomb. The train was stopped and searched, but no bomb was found. A suit is introduced against Long Branch and Ocean's rental ordinance policy, saying they are intentionally discriminating against renters. In related news, officials report receiving fewer complaints about renters' behavior in the first few weeks of school than they did in 2003. Motorists in North Long Branch and Monmouth Beach scramble to get around, as both the Atlantic Ave. bridge and Patten Ave. bridge are closed for construction. West Long Branch Fire Co. #1 gives its old truck to firefighters in the town of Ninety Six, South Carolina. MTOTSA says it is convinced the city won't use their plan, and makes it public. The city said that several questions had to be answered before discussing the plan in more detail, and MTOTSA said some of these questions, which included how the city would be indemnified and how the group would guarantee the work, were unfair to ask of non-planners. October Monmouth Beach Mayor Jim McConville announces he won't seek another term, citing an increasingly busy schedule with the state program 'Get Fit, NJ.' A 14-year-old Monmouth Regional High School student called in a bomb threat. When police arrested him, they found several stolen credit cards. The Sixth Annual Walk for Ronald McDonald House attracts thousands of people and raises $70,000 for the organization. Maureen O'Callahan, 41, a native of Monmouth Beach, her daughter Tara and nephew John Oldgis were killed in Fairfax, Va., when a drunk driver hit them as they were pulled over on a shoulder. For the first time in five years, Oceanport receives a Community Development Grant. The $43,000 will go to improve the first aid squad building. A flu shot shortage results in some cases where the number of available vaccines is cut in half and several cancelled clinics in the area. The Monmouth Beach Columbus Day Fishing Tournament's winner is Tim Skeetz, with a 28-pound striped bass. A police investigation reveals that a physician with offices in Long Branch is involved with illegal drugs. Investigators say the office was used to weigh and package cocaine. Bruce Beacham and Rodney Jackson, both of Long Branch, are arrested and charged with the murder of Luis Gonzalez, killed in May. An attempt by the Church of the Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach, to sell some of its land to a neighbor hits a snag. Nobody is opposed to the plan, but so many members of the Planning Board are congregants that it can't be approved, due to conflict of interest. The Long Branch Arts Council holds its first event, a three-day Poetry Festival. November Election results: Democrat Gerald Briscione is re-elected for a three year term in Oceanport. He is joined by Republican Hugh Sharkey. The remaining year for Apruzzi's term is filled by Republican Richard Gallo. In Eatontown, incumbents Joyce Englehart and Ted Lewis defeat the GOP challengers. West Long Branch, where two people were running unopposed, saw the return of Republican Joseph Woolley and welcomed newcomer Democrat Bettina Munson. Eatontown says it wants resident input into its redevelopment plan for their downtown area, a section near Broad Street and Rt. 35. At a meeting in late Nov., officials say they don't intend to seize any property in the area through eminent domain, and will welcome residents' proposals. A plan is proposed for redeveloping Broadway, from Memorial Pkwy and Liberty St. to Second and Belmont Aves. The plan, proposed by Broadway Arts LLC, a group which includes several city businessmen, calls for several theaters, arts and retail on Broadway, and reasonably-priced housing on the surrounding streets. For Veterans Day, Oceanport unveils a Wall of Honor, a tribute to over 200 veterans, going back to World War I. All veterans are either members of the borough, or have family here. Shore Regional Board of Education member Russell Olivadotti is honored by the school and several local organizations. Shore renames its media center after him. He has been a Board member for over four decades. A Support the Troops drive conducted by The Windmill prepares over 300 care packages for soldiers serving in Iraq. The Adult Emporium, Eatontown, is held up. Police arrest four people, including a former employee of the adults-only store, in conjunction with the robbery. K. Hovnanian meets with Beachfront South residents to discuss their plans for the area. That includes sending surveyors out, though residents may refuse them access to the land. The developers say they would like to avoid eminent domain, and come to an agreement with residents on the price of the land. A construction worker dies in Ocean Township, following a fall from a scaffold. The Long Branch Concordance gets office space at the Garfield Grant Building, Broadway. Many groups say they could use this space. Many Oceanport residents tell officials from Gov. Codey's office they do not want to see night racing at Monmouth Park Race Track. They fear the lights, noise and extra traffic will harm their neighborhoods. The state had proposed night races during the week to boost the track's revenue. December Sea Bright's United Methodist Church's steeple must be removed, due to rotting wood causing it to come loose and sway. Police in Ocean Township charge 26 people after receiving complaints about a loud party. Most were charged with underage consumption of alcohol. Many parties, tree lightings, menorah lightings and similar events are held during the holiday season. Long Branch celebrates its centennial Christmas the way it would have been observed 100 years ago: Santa rides through town in a horsedrawn carriage, and trees in City Hall are decorated Victorian style. Monmouth University joins the Clothesline Project, hanging shirts of victims of domestic abuse to raise awareness of the problem. MTOTSA announces they will be hiring an attorney to challenge the city's right to take their property. West Long Branch police say that deer crossing Highway 36 have caused several traffic accidents, and urge motorists to drive carefully. County Freeholder Harry Larrison resigns after nearly four decades in office. County Republicans select Monmouth Beach Commissioner Bill Barham to serve his remaining term. Shore Regional dedicates the Richard 'Doc' Demaree Fitness Center, named after the school's former physician. West Long Branch and Long Branch graduate several officers from the Monmouth County Police Academy. Pier Village begins signing people up to rent apartments. Monmouth Mall is told that plans for an expansion cannot be approved unless trees taken down several years ago are replaced. Those trees had blocked light from the mall spilling into residential neighborhoods. Foodtown of West End is sold. Michael Zimmerman, owner of the store which had been in his family since 1904, says the sale to Gerry Norkus, who owns six other Foodtowns, is necessary for the store's future success. Return to Home Page To Review 2007 To Review 2006 To Review 2005 To Review 2003 To Review 2002