CHRIS KELLY staff Jirmire Covington, 7, Long Branch, is ready for takeoff on one of the rides at the Oceanport Strawberry Festival last weekend at Monmouth Park racetrack. More ... GOP primary race for Sea Bright mayor Murphy lacks party support to challenge incumbent BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       Former Sea Bright Borough Councilman Read Murphy is running against incumbent mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams in the primary election next Tuesday. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the borough community center in the municipal building on Ocean Avenue. More ... DEP gives go-ahead for new Highlands bridge Agency places conditions on DOT project BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has approved a controversial plan to replace the 75-year-old drawbridge that links Sea Bright and Highlands with a fixed span. The agency said the state Department of Transportation (DOT) can go ahead with its plan to demolish t... More ... RBEC supports CleanPower program       RED BANK - - The borough has signed up to participate in the CleanPower Community Partnership Campaign run by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Office of Clean Energy. CleanPower sources are those, such as wind and solar power, which do not cause global warming because they do... More ... Shrewsbury approves $7.9M budget       SHREWSBURY - The Borough Council unanimously approved the 2007 spending plan May 21. The budget allows for a 3.5-cent increase in the tax rate, a slight decrease over last year. There was no public comment during the hearing on the budget introduced on April 17. More ... Three tries, and O'port finally adopts budget Divisions on council stalled approval of 2007 spending plan BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       After two failed attempts and much dispute over hiring a borough administrator, the majority of the Oceanport Borough Council were able to reach an agreement last week on a municipal spending plan. At the May 24 meeting, council voted 5-1 to approve a $6,209,742 budget, only after t... More ... Best Liquors hearing to resume in June BY LAYLI WHYTE Correspondent       RED BANK - Testimony will continue within the next 30 days in the hearing concerning charges against Best Liquors of Red Bank, according to Mayor Pasquale Menna. The hearing began last week in front of the Borough Council, excluding Councilman Robert J. Bifani, who recused himself fr... More ... Oceanport lauded for summer wrap-up BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       OCEANPORT - - The borough of Oceanport was recognized by the county last week for its 2006 end-of-summer event. On April 30, the borough received a community event award from the Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners for the 30th annual Oceanport Summer's End Festival. More ... Strawberry festival      Angela Salerno, 14, and her friend Adriana Murphy, 13, both Oceanport, have different reactions to a ride during the Oceanport Strawberry Festival held at the Monmouth Park racetrack parking lot last weekend. More ... Storefront will provide library services Temporary access to meet summer needs       RED BANK - - Library services will become available again soon on Front Street. Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna announced at the May 16 Borough Council meeting that storefront space on West Front Street will be leased to provide an office space to library staff. More ... Disbarred attorney gets jail       RED BANK - - Jon Steiger, a disbarred local attorney, was sentenced on May 4 to five years in prison as a result of his conviction for theft by deception, a second-degree crime. Judge Francis P. DeStefano imposed the prison term on Steiger, 57, who had recently resided in Red Bank. More ...      Alex Karagianakis, 13, Rumson, plants flowers at the Red Bank Veterans' Monument during a "Flowers for Heroes" planting event May 26. More ... Advocates want ocean testing expedited 2007 Beach Protection Act requires faster testing, public notice BY LAYLI WHYTE Correspondent       Despite an early blooming and rather large brown tide on Memorial Day weekend, Clean Ocean Action is optimistic about the future of New Jersey's shore. More ... Notes       The Seniors of Little Silver will meet at the clubhouse on Church Street Tuesday, June 26, at 1 p.m. for its annual summer picnic luncheon and installation of officers and committee chairpersons. The cost will be $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers. Please call Diane Tresente (732)741-693... More ... Ranney School breaks ground for Lower School BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - Blue skies smiled down on the Ranney School while hundreds of members of the Ranney community and distinguished guests gathered on the lawn behind the Margaret Mahon Building to celebrate a major milestone for the school. More ... Solving transport issues - one idea at a time Forum views towns' traffic woes as interrelated BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - Local officials exchanged ideas recently about transportation and traffic issues in eastern Monmouth County. The group of municipal officials and legislators participated in a transportation roundtable during the May 5 meeting of the Two River Council of Mayors. More ... Outstanding teachers honored       WEST LONG BRANCH - Two local educators are among the outstanding New Jersey secondary school teachers who were honored by Monmouth University. More ...