The Hub's top news stories of 2007

1. Red Bank reorganizes under new mayor

Edward McKenna Pasquale Menna took office as Red Bank mayor a year ago, following a 16-year run by Edward J. McKenna Jr., who is widely credited with engineering the borough's renaissance. Menna had served as a councilman alongside McKenna for 20 years, for much of that time as council president. He was sworn in at Borough Hall in front of an audience that overflowed council chambers, spilling into the hallway. Menna said that he had been waiting to become mayor for a long time, and said of his predecessor, "He brought a drive, vision and enthusiasm to the borough that is unparalleled. He really turned this town around."

At a goodbye party, McKenna gave himself an "A" for his four terms as mayor. "In 1990, I wrote out a list of 25 things I wanted to get done as mayor. Twenty-three out of 25 is not bad," McKenna said with a chuckle. "That's 92 percent. I'd consider that to be an 'A.' " (Jan. 5)

2. Vigil Friday in wake of shootings

Pasquale Menna

In response to acts of violence on Red Bank's west side, including shootings that left two men in critical condition, community members came together Dec. 7 in a show of solidarity. The Rev. Terrence K. Porter, of Pilgrim Baptist Church, organized a candlelight vigil to take place at the Montgomery Terrace complex where two brothers were shot Nov. 26. Anthony Sims, 19, was charged with the shootings but remained at large. About 200 residents braved the cold and gathered at the site where the shootings took place, and they were armed with a message of tolerance and unity. To continue the community dialogue begun at the vigil, a public forum was scheduled for Jan 19. (Dec. 6)

3. Red Bank reacts to hip-hop melee

A hip-hop event at a West Front Street club erupted into a street brawl involving several hundred people Oct. 13. Red Bank police called for backup to deal with the unruly crowd outside Chubby's Waterside Cafe on West Front Street, and law enforcement personnel from several neighboring towns as well as Fort Monmouth responded. Despite the fact that a Red Bank police officer was injured, there were no arrests made. The incident left some residents saying they no longer felt safe on the streets in their community. In response to the acts of violence, the issue of a borough community center for youths was revived. (Oct. 25)

4. Beck: Senate seat won by door-to-door campaigning

RepublicanAssemblywoman Jennifer Beck defeated her opponent in a contentious race to win a seat in the state Senate through grassroots campaigning. The District 12 legislator, who was serving her first two-year term in the stateAssembly, took the seat held by one-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Ellen Karcher, whom she beat 24,166 votes to 19,648.

Beck, a Red Bank councilwoman for six years before winning a state Assembly seat, received about 55 percent of the votes cast.

Beck's running mates for state Assembly, Republicans Declan O'Scanlon of Little Silver and Caroline Casagrande of Colts Neck, also won their seats by a narrow margin, beating out Democratic incumbent Michael Panter and newcomer Amy Mallet. (Nov. 21)

5. Women make strong showing in council race

Beck's win reflected a strong showing by women in the November elections. In Red Bank, three women won seats on the Borough Council. Incumbents Mary-Grace Cangemi and Sharon Lee and newcomer Kathleen Horgan were the top three vote-getters in the tight race for Borough Council seats in which about 100 votes separated the lowest and the highest vote-getters. At the borough's 2008 reorganization meeting earlier this month, Mayor Pasquale Menna said the election of three women to the Borough Council for the first time was a historic day for Red Bank.Women now represent 50 percent of the council makeup, (Nov. 21)

6. Fernandes holds on to mayor's seat in recount

After a recount Dec. 4, the Sea Bright mayoral election results were upheld, leaving longtime Democratic Councilwoman Maria Fernandes victorious over incumbent Mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams by three votes. Fernandes received 276 votes to the 273 votes garnered by Kalaka-Adams, a Republican. Fernandes gained two votes during the hand count of the absentee ballots cast in the municipal election, and Kalaka- Adams gained two votes in the hand count of the provisional ballots. Kalaka-Adams filed a legal challenge of the results in Superior Court on Dec. 13. (Dec. 6)

7. Woman rescued from fire in critical condition

A woman rescued from the second-floor balcony of her Sea Bright condominium during a fire Feb. 5 was in critical condition and later succumbed to her injuries. Debra Yuhasz, 47, was brought by helicopter to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. The fire started around 5:30 a.m. in the Fountains condominium complex on Ocean Avenue and was extinguished at about 2 p.m. The fire originated in building B of the complex at 1340 Ocean Ave. and was fought by volunteers from 13 other municipalities in below-freezing temperatures, with winds gusting. According to Mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams, 13 to 14 of the 32 units in the building were destroyed "to the floorboards." The second building was spared through the heroic work of the firefighters, who were recognized in a ceremony in May to honor those who took part in fighting the fire. (Feb. 8)

8. Fast racing, great loss highlight Cup Classic

Nearly 80,000 people from around the world converged on Monmouth Park in Oceanport Oct. 27-28 to experience the triumph and tragedy of one of the most anticipated sporting events to grace the Garden State - The Breeders' Cup. Total two-day wagering reached approximately $147 million despite two days of heavy rains. With many of the very best horses in the world competing in a series of high-profile races, Monmouth Park had an electric atmosphere throughout the two days. The highlight of the meet was the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, a race for horses 3 years and older at a distance of 1 1/4 miles. Though the sun was shining at post time, the track remained sloppy.As Curlin powered his way to a brilliant win, the sport lost one of its prized competitors, as GeorgeWashington suffered a fatal injury during the race and was euthanized. (Nov. 1)

9. Bridge advocates go to court to save span

A citizens group, joined by the boroughs of Sea Bright and Highlands, went to court to block the state's plan to replace the historic Highlands bridge that links the two Shore communities.

Two separate appeals were filed July 6 in theAppellate Division of state Superior Court seeking to have the state Department of Transportation's (DOT) plans to demolish and replace the Highlands drawbridge overturned.

One appeal was filed on behalf of the boroughs of Sea Bright and Highlands, the other appeal on behalf of Citizens for Rational Coastal Development.

The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved the plan to demolish and replace the 75-year-old drawbridge May 25. The approval gave the go-ahead to the DOT to demolish the existing bridge and construct a new fixedspan bridge that would be 30 feet higher.

Just one day after opponents of the bridge demolition filed an injunction to stop the bidding process, a contract was awarded for its replacement Dec. 21. (July 12)

10. Best Liquors hearing date reset to March

The hearing date on the revocation of a west side liquor store's license was pushed back to March 5, the original date before the hearing was expedited. After prodding by local officials, in October the Best Liquors hearing date before the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control was expedited to Dec. 19, but store owner Pankaj "Sunny" Sharma's attorney asked for a later date due to scheduling conflicts. In a special hearing June 28, the Borough Council found Best Liquors liable on six charges, four of which included sale of alcohol to underage persons, and revoked the Leighton Avenue liquor store's alcohol distribution license. Best Liquors first came onto the borough's radar when neighbors of the liquor store, which is situated in a residential neighborhood, complained about quality-of-life issues related to the store. (Dec. 20)

11. Towns want piece of Fort Monmouth pie

The three towns that encompass Fort Monmouth - Tinton Falls, Oceanport and Eatontown - filed Notices of Intent to seek fort properties within their jurisdictions. In addition, the county also filed notices by the March 8 deadline, mainly for open space and recreation facilities.

Tinton Falls Mayor Peter Maclearie submitted an extensive list of properties that Tinton Falls is interested in on the fort property that includes eight parcels. The Oceanport Borough Council passed three resolutions concerning the 419 acres of Fort Monmouth property in Oceanport, seeking space for the library, firehouse, police department and emergency management. EatontownMayor Gerald Tarantolo said that borough is interested in the former CECOM building located in Eatontown, in the main fort complex, for a new borough hall. Meanwhile, the deadline for completion of a FortMonmouth reuse plan was extended, while controversy grew about the Pentagon's decision to shutter the fort. (March 15)

12. Boro's long quest for cell tower site is over

After years of attempts by the borough of FairHaven to find a site for a cell tower that would be acceptable to its residents, a solution was found. The Borough Council unanimously approved an ordinance in June that authorized a lease agreement with Christ Church United Methodist, Ridge Road, to place a cell tower on the church property, Mayor Michael Halfacre said the location was the best "option we have left." The revenues from the carriers will be split on a sliding scale, with the church getting a base amount. In March, the Rev. Eusun Kim, pastor of the church, said the congregation members were in favor of the plan because it would be a community service to end the controversy that surrounded the search for a site for the tower. (June 28)

13. Tinton Falls Bd. of Ed. votes down cell tower

After a year of discussions and deliberations, the Tinton Falls Board of Education (BOE) voted against placing a cell tower on a Sycamore Avenue school property.

The vote ended a few months of controversy fueled by parents and teachers who were opposed to placing a cell tower onMahala F. Atchison School grounds.

The plan to locate a tower on school property touched off opposition from both residents and staff at the Atchison school.

After a petition opposing the cell tower was circulated on school grounds, faculty and staff at theAtchison school were told in an e-mail from the interim superintendent that they could not sign or circulate a petition of a non-school or -educational nature on school grounds.

In response, the Tinton Falls Education Association said itwould file an unfair labor practices charge with the state.

The Borough Council ultimately drafted a revised cell tower ordinance that narrowed the rules on the uses allowed in residential zones. (Dec. 6)

14. Boro grapples with issue of educating military kids

Since 1988, when Colts Neck Township declined to educate them, the borough of Tinton Falls, under an agreement with the Navy, has been educating children of Navy personnel living at Earle. But a new proposal to privatize housing on the basewould hold the borough responsible for educating those non-Navy dependent children who would also be living on the federal property at the expense of taxpayers. Tinton Falls argues that it has not been adequately compensated for educating between 103 and 110 students living at Earle. The borough sought state legislation that would align with its 1988 contract with the U.S. Navy that limits its obligation to educating only Navy dependents. A bill introduced by formerAssemblymanMichael Panter was approved in May but stalled in the Senate at year's end. (Feb. 15)