JEFF GRANIT staff Siegfried Rehwinkel, Middletown, leaves the Westboro Station post office in Red Bank, which reopened July 20 after being closed for two years for renovations. See story, page 18. More ... Council mulls future of west side building Prown proposes conversion to boro community center BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       The borough of Red Bank plans to accept bids on the Count Basie Achievement Center building on the west side, and some community members came out to the council meeting Monday to voice their opinions. David Prown, Hillside Place, urged the council not to open bidding on the building... More ... Election season gets under way in Red Bank Three council seats up for election; Bifani opts out BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       The summer isn't even half over, but the political season got under way in Red Bank last week with both parties announcing slates for Borough Council in the November election. Council hopefuls include some familiar faces as well as four newcomers who are seeking to fill three seats... More ... On the brink of the sixth extinction Going organic could help threatened bees and butterflies BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       The fate of many major food crops hangs in the balance of what biologists are calling the "sixth extinction." Humans are currently living during a time of species loss as great as the meteor-caused disaster that exterminated the dinosaurs, according to organic gardener Manuela McCus... More ... Monmouth County Fair returns for 33rd year       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The Monmouth County Fair has returned to the East Freehold Park showgrounds on Kozloski Road between Business Route 33 and Route 537. The county fair remains a tradition, with this year marking its 33rd year of providing family fun. More ... Ex-FBI analyst sentenced for espionage       A former Marine and former FBI intelligence analyst at Fort Monmouth was sentenced July 18 to 10 years in prison for espionage and other charges. U.S. District Judge William H. More ...      JEFF GRANIT staff Phyllis Rudrow, Red Bank, paid a visit to the new Westboro Station post office after it reopened this week. Post office manager Bill Tighe was on duty. More ... Local churches unite to provide 'Buckets of Love' Two congregations collect flood cleanup supplies BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       RED BANK - The borough's Independence Day celebration this year presented a fundraising opportunity for a pair of Red Bank churches that are collaborating to help flood victims. Church members raised $125 to kick off a joint outreach program called Buckets of Love. The congregatio... More ... Legislators want inquiry into BRAC decision BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       A nonpartisan congressional delegation of New Jersey public officials introduced legislation July 19 that would require the comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission's decision to close Fort Monmouth. More ... Best Liquors still operating ... for now Customer recants testimony; boro drops charges BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       RED BANK - - The borough's efforts to close down Best Liquors on Leighton Avenue continued to evolve last week as a hearing date before the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) was canceled. In the latest development, the borough dropped its effort to have the state l... More ... Muggles wait eagerly for final Harry Potter volume BY ANUM AZAM Correspondent       FAIR HAVEN - - A long line of muggles, who are nonmagical human beings in the wizarding world, wrapped around the block in front of River Road Books last Friday night, excitedly awaiting the midnight release of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. More ... Jersey Shore outlet stores agreement signed Redevelopment agreement signed; project to begin BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - The long-awaited Jersey Shore Premium Outlet Center, to be built on Route 66, was back on the agenda for last week's Borough Council meeting. Council members unanimously approved an in-depth redevelopment agreement with the developer of the 70-acre property, Chelsea ... More ... Tinton Falls Open Space Committee needs help       TINTON FALLS - There are several open seats on the borough's Open Space Committee. Borough Council President Michael Skudera said last week that about half of the committee has resigned, and the committee needs help working on important open space and recreation issues throughout the t... More ... Oceanport mayor fails in bid to add meetings Council views on proposal fall along party lines BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       OCEANPORT - Borough Mayor Lucille Chaump's suggestion to increase the number of public council meetings held each month failed to gain the approval of the Borough Council last week. More ... FMERPA planner midway through info gathering Panel must meet Dec. 8 deadline set by Defense Dept. BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - - Despite questions on the part of public officials about the real economic and safety costs of closing Fort Monmouth , the Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Planning Authority (FMERPA) is pushing forward so that it can meet the Dec. 8 deadline imposed by the federal... More ... Sidewalks installed, one block at a time BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - Two sidewalk improvements that were for several years a gleam in the eye of council members have finally become a reality. The two areas are across from the Tinton Falls Middle School between the northern end of Branford Circle and Tinton Falls Fire Co. No. 1 and an ar... More ... Stork Club       Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, announced the following local births: Heather and Christopher Tilton of Ocean, a son on May 7. Dyan and William Czarnik of Tinton Falls, a son on June 13; and Catherine and Rudolph Brewington of Tinton Falls, a daughter ... More ... Center announces blood drives for August       Central Jersey Blood Center, Shrewsbury, has announced the following local blood drives: • Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a "Rock 'n' roll Up Your Sleeve" drive at Two River Theatre Company, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank. There will also be live music, gifts and drawings. More ... Police seek 2 in armed robbery       RED BANK - Borough police are seeking two men who allegedly robbed a jewelry store on Shrewsbury Avenue at gunpoint on July 18. Initially, the suspects entered Pequeno Diamente and browsed around at the jewelry, then left the store and returned a few minutes later, according to a press... More ... Happy potters      PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Top to bottom: Briana Clayton, 12, of Rumson, rolls out a slab of clay during a pottery class at the Children's Cultural Center in Red Bank on Friday. Carly Green, 10, of Fair Haven, works on a coil pot. Sophie Litwin (r), 12, of Rumson, and Paulina Braka, 10, of Long Bra... More ... Muggles celebrate Potter countdown at Grand Hallows Ball Several hundred fans at Borders for midnight book release BY LAYLI WHYTE Correspondent       EATONTOWN - Muggles of the world, rejoice! The seventh and final installment of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series was released last week, finally to reveal the outcome of the epic battle between good and evil. More ... Mail call: Westboro post office reopens       RED BANK - - After being closed for two years while undergoing renovations, the Westboro Station post office reopened July 17. Post office officials marked the re-opening of the west side post office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, July 20, but customers had already begun using... More ... Mosquito commission offers tick identification and testing service       As part of Monmouth County's Tick-borne Diseases Program, residents who find a tick can bring it to the Monmouth County Mosquito Commis-sion's (MCMC) office in Tinton Falls to have it identified and analyzed for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. More ... Monmouth St. project would go to Zoning Bd. Developer argues project belongs at Planning Board BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       RED BANK - A developer lost a bid to have his application heard by the borough Planning Board last week and will have to present the mixed-use project to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for approval. More ...