What better way to spend a sunny day off from school than perfecting ollies, nollies and heelflips, which is exactly what this skater is doing Sept. 13 at a local skateboard park. More ... Hook advocates will appeal court rejection District Court says developer's lease stands BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       Save Sandy Hook will appeal a U.S. District Court decision that rejected the group's complaint that a developer's lease for historic buildings at Fort Hancock is "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or not otherwise in accordance with law. More ... DOT seeking bids for Highlands bridge Demolition of drawbridge could begin in early 2008 BY AMANDA BELING Staff Writer       As early as January, the Highlands bridge is coming down, according to the N.J. Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT spokeswoman Erin Phallon said last week the official newspaper advertisement for bids went out Sept. 13. More ... Grant helps to maintain public records, archives       FREEHOLD - In June, the New Jersey State Records Committee voted to award $25,000 to Freehold Borough for strategic, county-wide improvements in public archives and records management. The grant was authorized through the state's pioneering Public Archives and Records Infrastructure Support (PARI... More ... Beck, O'Scanlon hit campaign trail in R.B. Challenge Dems on fiscal responsibility, ethics, school funding       RED BANK - Republican state Senate candidate Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R-12) and state Assembly candidates Declan O'Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande officially kicked off their legislative campaign Sept. 17 with a stop at Riverside Gardens Park on Front Street in Red Bank. More ... Candidates Night slated for Oct. 10       RED BANK - The Westside Community Group will host its 11th annual Candidates Night Oct. 10. Candidates Night will start at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. in the community room at River Street Commons on 49 Catherine St. Each of the six candidates for Borough Council will have time for three-minute op... More ... West side cleanup set for Nov. 10       RED BANK - Expect the streets of the west side to look a little cleaner this November now that residents have planned a neighborhood cleanup. More ... NJ Transit: Train fatality under investigation BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       RED BANK - At about 7 a.m. Monday, an unidentified adult male was struck by a North Jersey Coastline (NJCL) train bound for Penn Station in New York. According to NJ Transit (NJT) spokesman Joe Dee, NJCL train number 3222 originated from Long Branch at 6:50 a.m. More ... Little Silver mayor faces election challenge Rumson's Ekdahl running unopposed for second term BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       Mayoral elections will occur in both Little Silver and Rumson Nov. 6, and both borough councils will have two open seats to fill as two, threeyear council seat terms expire for each. Little Silver Mayor Suzanne Castleman, Crest Drive, a Republican, is facing a challenge by unaffiliated candidate ... More ... Boro seeks partner for community center Talks under way with several nonprofit groups BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       After contentious discussion at the last Red Bank Council meeting about the stalled plans for the community center, Councilman John P. Curley picked up the ball and met Sept. 13 with a private sector not-for-profit that is looking to partner with the borough. More ... RiverCenter offers Dine Downtown promotion       RED BANK - Red Bank RiverCenter, a downtown alliance, is sponsoring Dine Downtown, a restaurant promotion for the month of October. Every Wednesday evening in October, 17 different Red Bank restaurants will be offering a $25 prix fixe special menu, which includes an appetizer, entrée and de... More ... O'port candidates vie for mayor, council seats       OCEANPORT - - Democratic Mayor Lucille Chaump will be challenged by former Oceanport Councilman Michael J. Mahon, a Republican, in the borough's mayoral race this November. Four candidates are also vying for two open seats on the Borough Council in the Nov. 6 municipal election. More ... Lunch Break to host Shop Against Hunger       RED BANK - - Lunch Break, the 25- year-old soup kitchen and more in Red Bank, is hosting a Shop Against Hunger yard sale Saturday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 59 Buena Vista Ave. in Rumson. Proceeds will support Lunch Break's programs for low-income families in the Red Bank area. More ... September 2007: The thrill of the hunt       Possessed by the color of leaves, from the ground up into the sky, I am always on the lookout for unusual cultivars and new happenings in the plant world. Autumn color is a benefit to seek out when selecting a new addition to your garden, and you should definitely consider it. More ... Garden club hosts flower show       The Navesink Garden Club of Red Bank ushered in the beginning of its 61st season with a show of outstanding horticulture and exquisite designs. The Standard Flower Show "Autumn Sonata" was held Sept. 11 at the Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall in downtown Red Bank. More ... Gurzo to become liaison for affordable housing Ordinance set for hearing and adoption Sept. 24 BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       RED BANK - The borough has tapped a current employee to fill the new position of municipal housing liaison, and an ordinance creating the position was introduced at the Sept. 10 council meeting. Mayor Pasquale Menna said John Gurzo would be appointed to the liaison position, which is a new requi... More ... NOTES AROUND TOWN       The Oceanport United Methodist Church on Main Street will host a flea market Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The rain date is Oct. 20. For table reservations, call (732) 222-9225. More ... Police officer forfeits position after conviction       On Aug. 31, the Judge Ira E. Kreizman ordered Dean A. Hashimi, a 12-year veteran of the Jersey City Police Department, to forfeit his employment as a condition of a sentence imposed for a 2006 attempted insurance scam and false report to police. More ... Panel recommends ways to improve boro gov't. Volunteers will continue review for additional two-month period BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       OCEANPORT - A volunteer panel has recommended creating a borough manager's position to improve the efficiency of borough government, but said the council may not have to hire additional personnel to fill the role. More ... How to spend a day off from school ...      PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff The warm and sunny weather on Sept. 13 offered youngsters a plethora of ways to spend a day off from school. Some headed to the beach for what were surely the last days of frolicking in the surf, while others gravitated to SkatePlex, the oceanfront skateboard park at Seven... More ... Family home becomes part of legacy to boro Santelle home demolished for park expansion BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       LITTLE SILVER - In the 1950s, he organized the borough's baseball program on his own and watched it grow into a full-fledged recreation program. "I think other than maybe the firehouse field, almost every baseball field in Little Silver, Dominick Santelle was responsible for building basically,"... More ... Borough seeks grant for skateboard park Sea Bright Oceanfront Skateboard Park to be built in P-House lot BY AMANDA BELING Staff Writer       SEA BRIGHT - - Residents, parents and their children, and teens from other nearby towns rushed to grab the last of the open seats at a special meeting on the borough's proposed skateboard park last week, leaving the rest of the supporters for the project standing in the hall cheering from the bac... More ... 60 years later, Tuskegee airman gets his due Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Elmer Godwin BY LINDA DeNICOLA Correspondent       The Tuskegee Airmen have waited a long time to get the recognition they deserve for their courage during World War II. In fact, they have waited over 60 years. Last March a formal medal ceremony was held by President George Bush for all Tuskegee Airmen at which they were presented with the Congre... More ... Community YMCA sponsors walking challenge       RED BANK - - The Community YMCA invites area residents of all ages to help YMCAs across the country reach a national goal of walking 10 billion steps during America on the Move Week, Sept. 22-29. To encourage children and families to participate in this national wellness initiative, the Communit... More ...