ERIC SUCAR staff Red Bank Catholic's Kevin Boettger competes in the boys 500-yard freestyle during the Shore Conference Swimming Championships held at the Ocean County YMCA in Toms River on Feb. 8. More ... Vets: Back from the war but not home Vetwork helps homeless veterans access services BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer       Twenty years ago, Paul Kozak took a leave from his job to start a program to help fellow Vietnam veterans in Ocean County. Kozak took a one-year leave of absence and never went back. More ... Boro takes closer look at sale of historic bldg. CYMCA puts $2.5M price tag on Children's Cultural Center BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       Ahistoric Monmouth Street building purchased from the borough of Red Bank for $1 is on the market, but the sale may end in litigation for the seller and the borough. The Community YMCA Children's Cultural Center, located at 51 Monmouth St., is being marketed for $2. More ... Bridge replacement project under way Historic drawbridge slated for demolition in summer of '09 BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       SEA BRIGHT- It's full speed ahead for construction to begin within the week on the Route 36 Highlands Bridge. New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Kris Kolluri announced Feb. More ... Curley's hat in ring for freeholder Red Bank councilman offers a 'fresh voice' on county board BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       RED BANK - Township Councilman John P. Curley hopes to reach constituents on a county level when elections for the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders take place in November. Curley sent a letter of intent declaring his candidacy for freeholder Jan. More ... Boro aims to resolve sidewalk billing issue Resident faults 'shock' tactics in billing for work BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer       FAIR HAVEN - The borough's handling of bills to property owners for sidewalk installation drew criticism at the Feb. 11 meeting. At the meeting, the Borough Council approved a sidewalk ordinance at the meeting that ratifies contracts made with property owners for payment for new sidewalks and cu... More ... Lunch Break loses pantry director       RED BANK - Lunch Break pantry director Katherine "K.C." Couslar passed away on Jan. 29 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Couslar was an integral part of the Lunch Break team, serving as the organization's pantry director for almost 15 years. More ... Monmouth St. project stalls on COAH issues Board balks at lack of affordable housing units BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer       RED BANK - Planning Board hearings on an application for a mixed-use project at the corner of Monmouth and West streets hit a snag Feb. 4 when talk turned to affordable housing units. More ... Oceanport drafting cell tower ordinance BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer       OCEANPORT- The borough is working on a cell tower ordinance that would limit the location of towers to boroughowned property. During the workshop portion of the Feb. 7 council meeting, Borough Attorney John O. Bennett III went over the specifics of the proposed ordinance with Mayor Michael Mahon ... More ... Train station bldg. slated for repairs REGIONAL INTEREST BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       The historic building at theMatawan train station will be getting some TLC from NJ Transit. "The station exterior needs immediate work, so we will be stabilizing the building," said NJ Transit spokesman Joe Dee. "We are going to be doing work that will prevent what could be costly weather damage. More ... Voices will be raised for peace       The Shrewsbury Chorale, with the Garden State Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, will join singers worldwide in the Song of Peace project when it presents Haydn's "Lord Nelson Mass (Mass in Time of War)" at Freehold Presbyterian Church on March 8. More ... Dying officer's battle for benefits captured on film 'Freeheld' documentary nominated for an Academy Award BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       Chances are, Lt. Laurel Hester never planned to make headlines. Long before she became nationally known as a dying gay woman who wanted to leave her pension benefits to her partner, Laurel Hester was a cop. A good cop. And that is also her legacy. More ... Pause before you prune: February       He who would perfect his work, must first sharpen his tools. Confucius, 551-479 BCE Having the right tools always comes first. Don't start pruning before taking a close look at your equipment. You probably rely on tools that have been inherited or accumulated over several years. It pays to ma... More ...