CHRIS KELLY staff Beth Ann Clayton, Middletown, performs during the 14th annual Holiday Express Concert and Town Lighting in downtown Red Bank Nov. 23. More ... County data charts communicable diseases Epidemiologist finds cases of hepatitis, Lyme on the rise BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       Based on data collected from 2001 to 2006, the Monmouth County Regional Health Commission (MCRHC) has compiled a health report of descriptive statistics of communicable diseases in the county for 2006. More ... Teens' driving habits placed under scrutiny Special commission hears suggestions from parents, students BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       What can be done to decrease the startling recent spike in motor vehicle accidents involving teenagers was the topic of a public hearing conducted by the Governor's Teen Driver Study Commission on Nov. 19 at Colts Neck High School. More ... Holiday Express      PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Clockwise from top: Kathy Dorn Severini belts out a solo during the Holiday Express Concert and Town Lighting in downtown Red Bank Nov. 23. Santa's appearance and other happenings on stage were visible to the crowd of several thousand on a large projection screen. Bundled... More ... For the Record       After having the measure on the books for six months, the borough of Red Bank repealed a keg registration ordinance Nov. 26 at the request of the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). An article in the Nov. 21 issue stated that the ordinance was approved at the Nov. 12 Borough Counc... More ... Boro EMS gets $45K in homeland security funds Federal grant will be used to purchase protective equipment BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - Tinton Falls EMS South received a $45,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant in October, the first of its kind to be awarded to an EMS unit in the borough. More ... Parking at L.S. train station will cost more Permits, meter rates go up to fund lot repairs BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       LITTLE SILVER - After seven years of static pricing, commuters will see an increase in 2008 parking prices at the Little Silver Train Station. The Borough Council passed an ordinance outlining the price increase for a six-month permit, which will go from $130 to $200, and a 12-month permit, whic... More ... Lantern Tour, holiday bazaar in Shrewsbury Dec. 7, 8       SHREWSBURY - Christ Church will hold its annual holiday bazaar Dec. 7 and 8 in conjunction with the annual Historic Four Corners Lantern Tour Dec. 7. The bazaar will be open 5-9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 7, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8, in the parish house, 380 Sycamore Ave. More ... Count Basie Park to get new playground Boro seeks grant funds for Marine Park upgrades BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       RED BANK - Borough children may have a new place to play as soon as Jan. 1, after the council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the purchase of playground equipment for Count Basie Park. At the Nov. More ... State funds available for removal of storage tanks       Owners of properties with underground storage tanks that need removal or replacement may be eligible for financial assistance from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP operates a grant and loan program, which is available to both commercial and residential applicants wh... More ...      SCOTT FRIEDMAN Kevin Soldo of Holmdel, volunteer with the environmental education group Waterwatch, carries away a discarded mattress at a cleanp at Liberty II Park in Tinton Falls Nov. 18. More ... Holiday festivities in Ocean Grove       The Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce will kick off the holiday season with an old-fashioned treelighting ceremony Friday, to be followed by the annual Victorian Holiday Festival House and Inn Tour Dec. 8 and 9. On Friday, Nov. 31, pictures with Santa Claus in the Community Room at 6:30 p.m. p... More ... In the Service       Air Force Airman Cameron A. Ashe has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. A 2007 graduate of Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls, she is the daughter of Charlotte Hardy of Colts Neck. More ... New RFH Film Club launches movie night series       RUMSON - There is a new option for movie lovers in the Rumson-Fair Haven communities. Rumson-Fair Haven (RFH) Regional High School has begun a new Film Club that will sponsor a Movie Night each month during the school year. Beyond screening well-known films, the series will give students a forum... More ... MCAC awards $146K to local arts groups       The Monmouth County Arts Council, Red Bank, has announced its Local Arts Program Grant Awards for 2008. The grants will go to local nonprofit arts organizations for a wide range of art exhibitions, concerts, dance, theater, film and other arts events. More ... Czech named to county's top post Search firm VP will serve as interim admin. in Middletown BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       Middletown Township Administrator Robert Czech has a new job that will replace the word "township" in his job description with "county." At the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting on Nov. More ... Construction to begin on Eatontown shelter       EATONTOWN - Construction for a multimillion dollar face-lift at the Monmouth County SPCA building in Eatontown was expected to start this week. A groundbreaking ceremony was planned to be held at the Wall Street SPCA facility Tuesday and plans call for upgrades and renovations to be complete wit... More ... Sponsors needed for Operation Sleighbells       Family and Children's Services (FCS) of Long Branch is seeking sponsors for its annual "Operation Sleighbells" holiday gift program. The program started in 1909 as a way to give area children a brighter holiday season and through the years the project has grown with more than 2,000 children recei... More ... Brain Tumor Center opens in Long Branch Facility at Monmouth Medical Center named in memory of David S. Zocchi       LONG BRANCH - What started out as a dream for a local doctor has turned into a reality with the opening of the first brain tumor center in the state at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. The David S. Zocchi Brain Tumor Center, at the Leon Hess Cancer Center within Monmouth Medical Center, f... More ...