Year in Review: 2006

2006 was an eventful year for the nation. Highlights included the Winter Olympics, a possible break in the Jon Benet Ramsey case, Democrats taking control of both houses, and a mounting death toll in Iraq.

Locally, things were just as busy. We had our own rough elections, political scandals, developments, murders, and more.

Here are a few of the highlights for the year.

January

┤ John Zambrano, a Long Branch councilman, starts the year by handing the reins of Fire Chief over to Angelo Ciaglia.

┤ Two new councilmen, J. Thomas DeBruin and Christopher Neyhart, are sworn into office in West Long Branch. In a vote to assign people to committees throughout the year, Tina Munson, the only Democrat on council, abstains, saying she wasn't included in the planning process.

In Oceanport, an appointee to the borough's Capital Ordinance Committee causes some dissension. Two Republicans vote against appointing Gary LaBruno, who ran as a Democrat in the last elections. The mayor says that he was one of two people who applied for the two vacancies on the committee.

New councilmembers are also sworn in in other communities.

┤ A judge finds FBI agent Thomas Jobes not guilty of shoplifting 40 cents worth of wire from Home Depot in May of 2005, accepting the agent's claim he just about forgot it.

┤ Following an increase in burglaries, Oceanport police warn residents to lock their cars.

┤ The mayor of Eatontown warns that a recent property revaluation could result in the average resident paying hundreds more in property taxes.

┤ Monmouth Beach resident Bill Barham is selected to lead the Monmouth County Freeholders.

┤ Long Branch High School renames its auditorium for the late Vincent Borelli.

┤ In Monmouth Beach, Commissioner Kim Guadagno accuses mayor Susan Howard of stacking the planning board with her friends. The mayor says the people she appointed are concerned with the development of the borough.

┤ Within the course of a week, there are three armed robberies of stores in Long Branch.

┤ The Long Branch Seniors Club celebrates its 35th anniversary.

┤ A couple of fires are started in the old West End movie theater, owned by Solomon Dwek. Officials suspect they were started for mischief, but say the long unused theater would need much work before it could be used.

┤ Long Branch Council approves conceptual plans for Pier Village Phase II. No eminent domain will need to be used, as the developer had acquired all the property.

┤ Monmouth University announces it will install solar panels on some buildings, saving $2.7 million in electric costs over the next 25 years.

┤ West Long Branch Council sues the West Long Branch Zoning Board, saying they overstepped their power when they gave Monmouth University the okay to build dorms in a residential neighborhood. The issue divides the borough, with some saying council is protecting their rights, and others saying suing itself is a waste of taxpayer money.

┤ After years in the Town Hall, a new, much larger, Ocean Township Public Library opens on Deal Road.

┤ Oceanport promises to have Blackberry Bay Park work completed in time for baseball to be played there.

┤ Vivian Martin, a columnist for the Link, passes away at age 71 on Jan.29 after a long battle with cancer. She had written about local communities for over 20 years.

February

┤ Vini "Maddog" Lopez, Bruce Springsteen's original drummer, announces he will perform at the Wave of Hope charity concert in Long Branch to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. He is joined by several other prominent local groups.

┤ A 10-year-old West Long Branch girl reports a stranger attempted to lure her into his car. Her lessons in safety prevent her from being fooled.

┤ Arthur Cosentino is promoted from Captain to Police Chief in West Long Branch. Lawrence Mihlon is promoted to Captain.

┤ Local officials in towns around Fort Monmouth debate with the state on the proper way to set up a committee to determine what to do with Fort Monmouth when the army turns it over to local groups in a few years.

┤ Patches are made to the 95 Poplar Ave., West Long Branch, building as borough officials continue to discuss what to do with the aging, mold infected structure, which houses the police department. Discussions will continue throughout the year.

┤ The Long Branch Chamber of Commerce announces that Jacob Jones, Director of Community and Economic Development, and New Jersey Repertory Company owners SuzAnne and Gabe Barabas are the recipients of this year's Louis G. Libutti Community Service Award.

┤ The treasurer of the Monmouth Beach EMS company resigns following allegations he took money from the squad's coffers. Later in the month, his computer is seized.

┤ The owners of the Frank's Nursery property on Monmouth Road, West Long Branch, ask for a zoning change to allow high density residential development.

┤ After 16 months of construction, the Atlantic Avenue bridge, over Troutmans Creek, reopens.

┤ The Long Branch Housing Authority receives a $20 million Hope VI revitalization grant. It is the only housing authority in the state to receive this.

┤ Monmouth Beach Commissioners debate whether to hire a borough administrator, or continue with just a clerk. Eventually, a part-time administrator is hired.

┤ Alfie Lenkiewicz announces he will challenge Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider in the May mayoral elections.

┤ Oceanport announces it will rename Port Au Peck park for the late mayor Maria Gatta.

┤ Fire departments and the first aid squad in Oceanport say they are unhappy with how a committee evaluated their financial needs. The mayor promises to look into the issue.

┤ The Long Branch Concordance issues a resource map detailing where people can go in the area to get help with food, housing, medical and other issues.

┤ Ocean police arrest five individuals charged with breaking into homes and stealing electronics and other items.

March

┤ Long Branch Council votes to permit the use of eminent domain in the Broadway Arts District, though they say it will only be used if the negotiations "completely break down."

┤ Eatontown passes a resolution saying it does not approve of the state's proposals for the Fort Monmouth Reuse Committee, and seeks a compromise.

┤ Ocean police take 35 underage drinkers into custody following a noise complaint.

┤ Sea Bright works to reduce its budget for the coming year. The first effort calls for an 8 cents per $100 of assessed property increase.

┤ Five people join Lenkiewicz to run for council as part of the "New Wave" team: Ralph DeFillipo, Carlos Nieves, Leonard Goldschein, John Ferraro and Stephen Molnar.

┤ Voters in Eatontown pass a $30 million referendum to make major renovations to the aging school system. The state will pay 40 percent of the cost.

┤ Former Shore Regional High School teacher Dennis O'Leary, accused of an inappropriate relation with a student, reaches an agreement with the County Prosecutor's Office to plead to Endangering the Welfare of a child. Although records indicate he and the victim phoned each other 17,000 times in a 10 month period, he does not say a physical relation took place.

┤ The West Long Branch Environmental Committee investigates GeesePeace, which is called a humane way to handle the goose population in the borough. The program includes addling eggs and discouraging geese from staying in the area.

┤ Monmouth Beach announces a series of events which will be planned for its Centennial this year.

┤ Adam Schneider and the five incumbent councilmembers, David Brown, Dr. Mary Jane Celli, Michael DeStefano, Anthony Giordano and Zambrano, officially announce they will seek reelection in May.

Several people who are not part of any ticket also announce they will seek seats.

┤ Governor Jon Corzine visits Monmouth University and delivers a talk about the budget, saying there needs to be more accountability today, for the sake of future generations.

┤ A Long Branch resident wins $1 million after buying a lucky lottery ticket at a Prospect Avenue store.

┤ The NJ Department of Environmental Protection announces it has secured funds to dredge Franklin Lake in West Long Branch. Mayor Janet Tucci says she has been working on this for years.

┤ Oceanport announces a budget with a 4.1 cent tax increase. Most of these increases were beyond their control, council members say.

┤ Sea Bright introduces an ordinance prohibiting dogs on the beach all year round. In the past, they were only prohibited during the summer season. Dog owners' hackles are raised, but the borough says it's required by the state to protect endangered species.

┤ A rally protesting the use of eminent domain for redevelopment is held in front of the Monmouth County Courthouse. MTOTSA (the Marine Terrace, Ocean Terrace and Seaview Ave. Alliance) files a suit objecting to the city's attempts to use eminent domain on their properties.

┤ Local officials say that the state's decisions on Fort Monmouth have slowed them from the most prepared for closings to least prepared.

┤ The Long Branch Human Services department holds its 14th annual "Get on the Bus" College Tour, to take students around to visit colleges and check out the possibility of attending.

┤ An Ocean Township policeman pulls over a man who is driving erratically. When the officer approaches the car, he discovers the driver - later charged with DWI and heroin possession - has fallen asleep.

April

┤ An 87-year-old city woman is killed when her car collides with a truck on Norwood Avenue.

┤ An anti-war protest is held in front of Congressman Frank Pallone's Long Branch office.

┤ The election races heat up in the city. The Schneider team runs on its record, pointing to the progress it has made over the last 12 years. The New Wave Team says people are unhappy with the use of eminent domain, taxes and the focus on the oceanfront.

Two debates are held. The second one, at the Ocean Place Conference Center, is standing room only.

┤ Two spas in Ocean Township are raided, and seven people arrested on prostitution charges.

┤ The Police K-9 Foundation provides bullet proof vests for Long Branch's three four-legged officers.

┤ Long Branch council announces a one-cent tax decrease. They say this is possible due to increased ratables from Pier Village.

┤ West Long Branch Council President Richard Cooper, in office for 24 years, announces he will not seek reelection in November.

┤ West Long Branch announces a small tax increase, which they say is due to state cuts and the recent reassessment.

┤ The Oceanic Fire Company honors Edward "Pop" Miller, 90, who has been a member of their company for 67 years.

┤ The Long Branch Elks recognize John Landa as Fireman of the Year, and Det. Sgt. Michael McGlennon as Policeman of the Year.

┤ Sea Bright manages to reduce the tax increase to three cents in their final budget draft.

┤ The Schneider team is unable to attend one debate, having arranged an event before its date was announced. This causes anger among some.

┤ It is revealed that Lenkiewicz's business had filed for bankruptcy in the Ô90s. Critics charge this means he can not run the government. Lenkiewicz says that this was years ago, and the result of a business partner.

┤ Congressman Pallone tells members of the local National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) chapter that Medicare Part D has significant flaws. He is particularly upset with a sign-up deadline of May to get full benefits from this program.

┤ Monmouth Beach Patrolman Jeffrey Godwin wins a contest from Dunkin' Donuts to earn free coffee for life.

┤ The Long Branch High School Symphonic Band is invited to perform in Dover Township to welcome 123 soldiers home.

┤ The IAMA, Italian American Memorial Association, dedicates its ballroom to Richard G. Traversa for the work he has done for the organization.

┤ The U.S. Attorney General brings another corruption charge against former West Long Branch Councilman Joe DeLisa. They say DeLisa, who had been charged in Operation Bid Rig in 2005, also took cash to help get a drug store built in the borough.

┤ Former Eatontown school teacher and councilman John Collins pleads guilty to having sexual relationships with two teenagers, and is sentenced to a 10-year jail term.

┤ The New Jersey Marathon and Long Branch Half Marathon draw 20,000 runners and spectators to the city and Monmouth Beach.

May

┤ As part of "a day without immigrants," 48 stores in Long Branch - many catering to Brazilian and Latino immigrants - close.

┤ The state increases the amount of funding it gives to the borough of Eatontown compared to 2005 - by one dollar. That isn't enough to help the tax rate, which rises more than 7 percent.

┤ West Long Branch announces it will form a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

┤ The Great Lawn and Amphitheater, a new park, opens on the Long Branch oceanfront.

┤ Long Branch election results come in: Adam Schneider and his team win. Schneider received 53 percent of the votes to Lenkiewicz's 42.

Lenkiewicz considers challenging the election, since a letter purporting to be from him circulated that week, alleging he was dropping out. (It is never determined who sent it, though it did not appear to go to as many households as once thought.)

┤ Solomon Dwek deposits a check at a drive-thru window of a bank for $25 million. The check bounces. A judge orders that all his assets - 316 properties in the county - be frozen while the matter is sorted out.

Dwek is described by those who know him as a kind and fair businessman.

Some worry there will be an effect on the local real estate market.

┤ Monmouth Park Race Track opens for the season with the highest purses it has ever had.

┤ The Exchange Club honors its Men of the Year, Police Officer Sebastian "Sam" Tomaine, ex-Fire Chief Zambrano, and First Aider Donald Henry.

┤ Karen Ginty, a teacher in Monmouth Beach, is selected County Teacher of the Year.

┤ West Long Branch Council calls for tougher construction standards, following reports of buildings not being built properly.

┤ Shore Regional Softball Coach Nancy Williams celebrates the 500th win of her career.

┤ On May 21, two local organizations celebrate significant milestones. Holy Trinity Church, Long Branch, turns 100 this year. In Sea Bright, the fire department recognizes its 125th year of keeping residents safe.

┤ For the second year in a row, Oceanport gets into a debate over whether to change health insurance providers. Some say it could save the borough thousands a year, but others aren't convinced the proposed alternative can deliver the quality they expect.

┤ Aileen Quinn, star of the movie "Annie," returns to Monmouth University, where scenes of Daddy Warbucks' mansion (Wilson Hall) were filmed, as part of the university's annual scholarship ball.

┤ The Oceanport Lions Club holds its annual Strawberry Fair, to much better weather than it had in 2005. Proceeds benefit charities and local organizations.

June

┤ Oceanport residents claim that despite three years of renovations, Blackberry Bay Park's fields still have problems, such as flooding and rocks.

┤ The Karen Gizzi Memorial Event, named for a teacher who lost a battle with, is held at Long Branch Schools, to raise funds for the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

┤ The West Long Branch Zoning Board hears a proposal from Monmouth University to build a Multipurpose Athletic Center. Hearings will go on for months, with traffic generated by the proposal being a major concern.

┤ Monmouth Beach Police crack down on teens loitering in parks after thousands of dollars of vandalism.

┤ Judge Patricia Del Bueno Cleary refuses to accept the deal offered O'Leary earlier in the year, saying she does not believe the victim would be satisfied.

┤ Monika Mazurczyk becomes the first female president of the Long Branch Rotary Club.

┤ Dr. Elizabeth Keshish replaces Dr. Joan Kelly as Superintendent of West Long Branch's Schools.

┤ Jay W. Ross, a philanthropist from Monmouth Beach, passes away at the age of 90. Over the years, Ross had helped build and preserve places such as the Sea Bright Library and Monmouth Beach Cultural Arts Center.

┤ West Long Branch unveils a Wall of Honor, commemorating those from the borough who served in the military, or their loved ones who served.

┤ A proposal on how to renovate the deteriorating Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion is made. The issue divides the community between those who think the proposal is too extravagant and those who think it is urgently needed.

┤ The 12th Annual Cruise to the Jersey Shore Car Show in Long Branch sets records for attendance and cars being displayed at the event.

┤ A message is found in a Shore Regional High School rest room that there is a bomb in the school. The police evacuate the building, and determine it was a false alarm.

┤ Despite some concerns about pedestrian safety, Sea Bright officials vote to accept a proposal from the state Department of Transportation for a new bridge connecting them to Atlantic Highlands.

┤ In an effort to reach more people in need, the Long Branch Concordance begins a Latino community outreach program.

┤ Several eminent domain issues affect Long Branch:

The state's Public Advocate, Ronald Chen, issues a report on eminent domain use in New Jersey, and calls for a tougher definition of blight than is currently in use.

MTOTSA organizaes another rally denouncing the city's actions.

Judge Lawson issues his verdict on the MTOTSA suit. He finds strongly in favor of the city, saying that the redevelopment zone is legal, and the city has been acting properly and legally.

┤ Eatontown Borough Hall is filled to standing room only by residents protesting their higher tax rates due to revaluation.

┤ The 130-year-old Chelsea House, Long Branch, is demolished. A time capsule buried during a 1920s addition to the home is discovered.

┤ A man on a motorcycle attempts to run down a West Long Branch police officer after being told to pull over.

July

┤ The 16th annual Oceanfest is celebrated on the Long Branch boardwalk. Attendance records are set.

┤ The Long Branch Council, which has run and been elected as a team for the last 12 years, is sworn in for a fourth term together.

┤ Need to know a winning race horse? Forget about it. Actually, Fagedaboudit Sal, a horse owned by Sal Tringola of Monmouth Beach, is on a roll this summer. He wins his second race by seven lengths.

┤ Some people attending a concert in Pier Village go for a walk on the beach during intermission. They notice two kids drowning, and save their lives.

┤ Eatontown Council votes to tear down a building on Main Street, citing it as structurally unsound and rat infested.

┤ In the first Long Branch-Neptune bocce tournament, Long Branch councilmembers claim the victory.

┤ Following an argument over a boy, two Long Branch teenagers are shot and wounded.

┤ Councilman John Zambrano pleads guilty to taking a $1,000 bribe in 2003, and resigns his seat on council. The community is shocked, and his running mates say they never suspected anything was a problem.

Council announces it will pick a temporary replacement until elections can be held in November.

┤ The Oceanport council quarrels over several issues, including more discussions on changing insurers, the thoroughness of the audit, and whether it would be a good (or fiscally prudent) idea to change to the county dispatch service. One resident accuses council members of "backstabbing" each other.

┤ The West Long Branch Shade Tree Commission plants a "butterfly cafŽ," a set of flowers designed specifically to attract the colorful little insects.

┤ A court sides with Oceanport against a builder's remedy lawsuit brought by a company which had been denied the right to build what it wanted. Oceanport's attorney in the case says the verdict will have far-reaching consequences when dealing with affordable housing issues.

┤ Eatontown isn't the only community complaining about reassessments. Some Oceanport residents say they are now paying thousands of dollars more a year on relatively small properties.

┤ The driver of a Jaguar is killed when hit by a train at the Cedar Avenue railroad crossing. Over the years, there have been several accidents and fatalities caused by trains at that spot.

┤ Oceanport Board of Education member William O. George resigns, saying his job is preventing him from spending enough time on board issues.

┤ The West Long Branch First Aid Squad is accused of doing work without getting the necessary permits first.

┤ West Long Branch police paint a normal police vehicle in subdued colors. This "stealth car" is used to help catch speeders.

August

┤ Long Branch and other communities around the nation start the month with a Night Out Against Crime, featuring fun activities and information.

┤ The Long Branch DARE program puts on "Happy Beach Safety Patrol," a series on safety for children on the local cable channel.

┤ Sea Bright is told Shore Regional intends to hold a referendum asking for $50 million to renovate their facilities and grounds. Officials worry about the effect on taxes, and say they are shocked to learn about this through a letter.

Several Sea Bright officials urge residents to vote no on the proposal.

In the coming weeks, Shore Regional says that "critical mistakes" are circulating about their proposed referendum, and urge people to get the facts at open houses to be held just before the vote.

┤ VFW Post 2226 names Chris Brady, Oakhurst Fire Department "Fireman of the Year," Leah Zimmerman "EMT of the Year," and Sonia Henriques, Ocean Township "Police Officer of the Year."

┤ A fight breaks out in West End, and a juvenile is stabbed in the chest and hospitalized.

┤ Nicole Moore, 17, of Ocean Township, dies when her car jumps the curb on a busy road late at night. Moore, a Police Explorer, was the daughter of Sea Bright Police Chief William Moore.

┤ West Long Branch Councilman Joseph Woolley storms out of a council meeting, announcing he is resigning. He later says he was not resigning, but is incensed at "selfish attacks" on borough employees.

┤ The contractors at the West Long Branch First Aid Squad are fined $2,000 for starting work without permits. The squad will work with the borough to remedy the issue.

┤ FBI Agent Thomas Jobes sues Home Depot, saying that their frivolous charges cost him significant status in his career, forcing him to retire.

┤ The FBI claims that International Trucks of Central Jersey bribed several officials in various towns, including someone in Long Branch. The city reviews the bids awarded to the company, and the four council members all say they didn't take any bribes.

┤ The former treasurer of Monmouth Beach's EMS is indicted for a $144,000 embezzlement. Prosecutors say his computer, when seized, also contained child pornography.

┤ Congressman Pallone announces Long Branch will be getting $3 million for beach replenishment.

┤ Jackeline Biddle is chosen to fill the seat on city council. Biddle is Long Branch's first Latino council member.

┤ An estimated 80,000 attend the Ocean Italian Festival.

┤ Herbert "Hoover" Lambert Bell, 30, is shot to death outside a bar on Division Street.

┤ A monument is unveiled in memory of Captain James M. Gurbisz in Eatontown. Gurbisz was killed in Iraq in 2005.

┤ An Ocean Township man who used to live in Elberon is charged with 429 counts, including sexually assaulting underage children and videotaping them.

┤ Clean Ocean Action says that dangerously high levels of bacteria are being detected in Branchport Creek. Monmouth Park says it will investigate if they are the source of this, and eventually discovers where runoff is entering the stream.

┤ A 13-year-old autistic child is reported missing in Oceanport. He is found in Sea Bright several hours later.

┤ The owners of Frank's Nursery propose putting 238 apartments on the site.

┤ Rashaan Lewis, of Virginia, is charged with Bell's murder. Prosecutors say Lewis shot Bell, then fled the state.

September

┤ Oceanport schools announce they are seeking a $2 million referendum next month to replace a leaking Wolf Hill School roof, and the heating and cooling system at Maple Place, among other repairs.

┤ Several people announce they will be running for council election in November. These include Biddle, Brian Unger, Michael Sirianni, Vincent Maccioli, and Ralph DeFillipo, the runner up in May.

┤ Seven people are arrested following an investigation into the crash which killed Moore. Many are charged with underage drinking, though police say Moore was not drinking, and alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

┤ A noise complaint on Monmouth Road, West Long Branch, turns combatitive. Six police departments are called in to control the party going on.

┤ The fallout from tropical storm Ernesto causes extensive damage to some places in the area, notably around Elberon.

┤ The first Long Branch Day - a series of family events - is held in the city.

┤ West Long Branch police officers say their headquarters at 95 Poplar Avenue is a health hazard, and some of them have contracted breathing problems down there.

┤ Monmouth Beach celebrates Centennial Day with a parade to commemorate its 100th birthday.

┤ Petco reopens in Eatontown at a new location after an explosion destroyed their old facilities in March 2005.

┤ The renovated Guggenheim Library at Monmouth University opens its doors.

┤ The state announces it will sue Sea Bright for not properly accounting for beach fees, and failing to put in enough parking. Sea Bright says this is unexpected and unjustified.

┤ Richard Traversa, 71, passes away. IAMA had honored him earlier in the year.

┤ Various members of the equine industries meet at Monmouth Park to discuss the future of horses and racing in the state.

┤ Referendum results: Oceanport passes easily, but voters reject Shore Regional's proposal by a 3-1 margin. Shore announces it will study the reason voters said no.

October

┤ Karen Ginty of Monmouth Beach School is named State Teacher of the Year.

┤ Saying that negotiations with landlords have broken down, Eatontown council passes a new rent control measure.

┤ In an effort to save money, West Long Branch officials say they will consider using shared services for their courts, allowing a smaller new building to replace 95 Poplar Ave.

Meanwhile, some improvements are made at that building to clean the air quality.

┤ In a series of debates and profiles, candidates for Long Branch discuss what issues they think are important for the city. Eminent domain, addressing the needs of minorities, and several other issues are brought up.

┤ For the third time in two years, a car fails to negotiate the bend on Rt. 71, Eatontown, damaging a 60-year-old tree.

┤ As part of the sixth annual Big Event, Monmouth University students help 28 community projects around the area.

┤ Judith Peterson White, wife of the Monmouth Beach Police Chief, passes away.

┤ The courts rule in favor of the Zoning Board in the suit against them by the borough and residents; Monmouth University gets the okay to build new dorms.

┤ The Eatontown Fire Department celebrates its 125th anniversary.

┤ Oceanport announces that due to improper dumping, it may need to curtail the hours of its recycling center, currently available 24 hours a day..

┤ Monmouth Park traces the source of the contamination leaking into Branchport and announces it will be repaired within a few weeks.

┤ Before Halloween is over, holiday shopping begins. People line up overnight at Toys R Us to get tickets for holiday items. Many say they will be selling them online, not giving them as gifts.

┤ Immigrations and Customs Enforcement arrests 27 illegal immigrants in Long Branch.

November

┤ Lawrence Hamm, organizer of the People's Organization for Progress, speaks at the Greater Long Branch NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet.

┤ Horses are quarantined in Monmouth Park after tests discover a contagious equine herpes virus among them.

┤ A group of local businesses stage a protest, saying they should have more of a say in redevelopment.

┤ Election results:

In West Long Branch, Mayor Janet Tucci and Councilwoman Barbara Ruane are reelected. Steve Cioffi is elected as a Republican councilman.

Eatontown re-elects incumbent Democrats Chuck DaVis and Joe Questore as Councilmen, and Gerald Tarantolo as Mayor.

Oceanport re-elects Democrat Lucille Chaump as mayor. Republican Will Johns gets a seat on council. Incumbent Democrat John Ibex has a single vote lead over his oppenent. When a recount is held, Ibex's lead grows to two votes, and he keeps his seat.

Brian Unger wins a seat on Long Branch's council.

William Keeler and Dina Long are reelected to council seats in Sea Bright.

┤ A new evergreen tree is donated to West Long Branch for the holiday season.

┤ Following an investigation of a fire on a vacant property in Long Branch, four college students are charged with burglary, attempted arson, criminal mischief, possession of fireworks, criminal trespass, providing alcoholic beverages to underage persons, consumption of alcoholic beverages on private property.

┤ Prosecutors charge O'Leary with another offense, saying he committed acts of criminal sexual conduct on a student while chaperoning at a prom when he was a teacher.

┤ Prevention First inducts Team Jump Off, a Long Branch group of teenagers dedicated to finding productive activities, into its Youth Hall of Fame.

┤ Two men are shot - one, Michael Montgomery, fatally wounded - on Hendrickson Ave. and John St., Long Branch.

┤ A teacher from Brick Township is pulled over in Ocean. Police discover cocaine in the vehicle.

December

┤ Sea Bright urges the state not to replace the Highlands Bridge, arguing it has historical significance.

┤ Oceanport and other communities announce they will have extra patrols this holiday season to look for impaired drivers.

┤ Monmouth Beach concludes its centennial with a tour of some historical homes in the borough.

┤ Gov. Corzine comes to a symposium in Long Branch, urging safer roadways around the state.

┤ Terri Blair, founder of the Long Branch Concordance, is ousted by the Board of Directors with no public explanation. Many are outraged, and threaten to leave the organization.

┤ The DOT announces it will look at the trouble spot on Rt. 71 to see what can be done.

┤ A petition is submitted in Monmouth Beach calling for voters to decide on the Bathing Pavilion referendum.

┤ Keith Mason, 28, is murdered in his Second Ave. home.

┤ Less than a week later, another murder takes place in Long Branch, of Patricia da Silva.

┤ The Zoning Board denies Monmouth University's MAC request.

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