JEFF GRANIT staff More than 200 volunteers from several organizations helped construct a playground for children living at a transitional housing facility in Tinton Falls May 16. See page 3. More ... Historic house on state endangered list Mayor will spearhead drive to preserve Fortune House BY SARAH KLEPNER Staff Writer       Preservation New Jersey has listed the T. Thomas Fortune House as endangered and has called on Red Bank officials to save the historic structure from development. The statewide preservation society has named the T. Thomas Fortune House as one of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites... More ... Residents: Blocked beach is for the birds BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       SEA BRIGHT - - Residents of the Island View townhouse complex on Ocean Avenue are asking the borough to help them gain access to their beach which is being blocked to protect piping plovers that are nesting there. More ... Boro honors heroism in fighting Fountains blaze Mayor lauds bravery of volunteers       SEA BRIGHT - - "I feel we had one big department to put that fire out," borough Fire Chief Patrick Mason Jr. said last Thursday at a recognition ceremony held in honor of those who took part in fighting the fire at the Fountains condominium complex in February. More ... Dialogue & celebration of Jewish culture       Monmouth University in West Long Branch will host a Jewish Culture Festival June 3 through 22. The event will feature an art exhibit, Jewish film, Israeli dance and a panel discussion on "Visions and Divisions in American Jewish Life: Perspectives and Dialogue. More ... Oceanport schools honor late mayor Lecture series, essay contest recall Gatta's community service BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       OCEANPORT - - To ensure that Oceanport students remember and honor the late Mayor Maria Gatta, the school district set in a motion an educational program in her name. The Oceanport Board of Education established The Maria Gatta Distinguished Speaker Lecture Series for students at M... More ... Timetable for FMERPA reuse plan abbreviated Consultants have seven months to draft master plan BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       EATONTOWN - The reuse plan for Fort Monmouth will be completed in a condensed period of time, according to master plan consultants hired by the fort reuse authority. Timothy N. Delorm, vice president, and Todd Poole, director of economic planning, for EDAW Inc. More ... Memorial Day services       Red Bank Elks Lodge 233, along with other organizations, will participate in the Red Bank-sponsored Memorial Day Service at the veterans monument on Monmouth Street May 28 at 11 a.m. The Red Bank Children's Cultural Center, a branch of The Community YMCA, will host "Flowers for Heroes"... More ... Bond ordinance hearing at next council meeting BY SARAH KLEPNER Staff Writer       RED BANK - Three bond ordinances for infrastructure work in the borough are up for approval at next week. The work to be funded is for road improvements, water mains, fire hydrant valves and sewer pump stations, and various 2007 capital improvements by the water/sewer utility. More ... A playground of their own Volunteers build play space for kids in transitional housing       TINTON FALLS - Monmouth County children who are in transitional housing, many of whom have never been to a playground, now have one to call their own. On Wednesday, May 16, community volunteers and more than 200 employees of Home Depot, Six Flags Great Adventure and KaBOOM descended ... More ...      CHRIS KELLY staff Now overgrown, this gun battery at Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook was key to defense of the coast. A tour of the battery was included in events at Coastal Defense Day, held May 20, to highlight the fort's military history. More ... Notes       This month is American Stroke Month and the American Stroke Association is a offering a free stroke awareness risk assessment and screening program developed to educate the public about stroke, its warning signs and risk factors and preventive steps to minimize a person's risk of stroke. More ... Cultural center hosts 'Flowers for Heroes' Families invited to plant flower garden at war memorial May 26       Red Bank - History and horticulture will converge Saturday when The Children's Cultural Center, a branch of The Community YMCA, hosts Flowers for Heroes, a beautification project to prepare the war memorial at 51 Monmouth St. for the annual Memorial Day services. More ... Budget approved, Tinton Falls opens new boro hall BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - With the passage of the municipal budget last week, the municipal piece of the tax-rate puzzle dropped into place. And the council said goodbye to their old meeting room. The council voted unanimously to hold taxes at last year's rate by using a small percentage of the... More ...