CHRIS KELLY staff Taylor Crystian, of Red Bank, sprints during the 100-meter dash at the Fisk Chapel A.M.E. Track and Field Invitational held at Count Basie Park in Red Bank on July 19. More photos, page 18. More ... Study calls for merger of O'port, Eatontown police Mahon responds: 'Over my dead body BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer       Ajoint police department shared by Oceanport and Eatontown, with Eatontown as the lead agency, is one of the recommendations made in a study on sharing emergency services at and around Fort Monmouth following the fort's closure. More ... Towns can join new Revolutionary byway Scenic route would stretch from central Monmouth to Bayshore BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       Monmouth County has invited 16 communities to participate in the development of a Revolutionary War scenic byway. More ... Baykeeper hosts 7th annual Oyster Bash       The Sandy Hook-based NY/NJ Baykeeper hosted the seventh annual Oyster Bash at the Monmouth Boat Club in Red Bank on June 26. Dozens of volunteer oyster gardeners planted oysters that were "gardened" in local waterways onto Baykeeper's existing oyster reef in the Navesink River. More ... State aid trims Red Bank tax rate BY SHARON LEFF Staff Writer       RED BANK - The borough received $350,000 in municipal aid from the state, which will lower the projected increase in the tax rate by 2.4 cents. The announcement was made at the July 14 council meeting. The budget for 2008 introduced in March called for an increase of 7.7 cents per $100 of asses... More ... Boro loses bid for lower speed limit year-round DOT declines boro's request to keep summer speed limit BY SHARON LEFF Staff Writer       SEA BRIGHT - The borough's request to decrease the speed limit on Ocean Avenue from 40 to 35 mph year-round has been denied by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT). The speed limit on the portion of Ocean Avenue in the borough's North Beach and South Beach sections is 35 mph during t... More ... Fort plan calls for town center for Tinton Falls BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer       Panel holds first of four presentations on fort reuse plan TINTON FALLS - The final reuse draft plan for Fort Monmouth was presented to borough residents and officials in the first of four public hearings to take place before the plan's submission. More ... Mayors look to COAH for housing numbers for fort Heads of host towns want fort treated as a region BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer       OCEANPORT - With a Sept. 8 deadline fast approaching, the three local mayors on Fort Monmouth's reuse panel expressed concerns that the state-mandated affordable housing requirements for the fort redevelopment have not been clearly defined. More ... RiverCenter will use grant to attract visitors to R.B. $16K in state funds will target upscale commuters BY SHARON LEFF Staff Writer       RED BANK - The downtown alliance will use a $16,500 state grant to help make Red Bank a destination for consumers and increase visitors to the borough. Nancy Adams, executive director of Red Bank RiverCenter, said the money from the NJ Department of State - Division of Travel and Tourism will b... More ... Fair Haven holds JCP&L accountable for outages Meetings held with utility reps over recurrent problems BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer       FAIR HAVEN - Borough and state officials are "not resting" in efforts to ensure that the power stays on for residents, Mayor Michael Halfacre said at last week's Borough Council meeting. During the July 14 meeting, Halfacre went over the recent meetings with Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) ... More ... Sea Bright's SkimBash garners county award       SEA BRIGHT - The Sea Bright Recreation Committee received The Monmouth County Parks System's Outstanding Special Event Award for its 2007 Sea Bright SkimBash, the annual skimboarding competition held every September. The award was presented at the Monmouth County Freeholders meeting on July 10. More ... On your marks …      Top: Tiffany Eberhart, Jackson, competes in the 800-meter run during the Fisk Chapel A.M.E. Church's annual Track and Field Invitational on July 19. Bottom: Competitors sprint during the 100-meter dash during the Track and Field Invitational held at Count Basie Park in Red Bank. More ... Monmouth County Fair back for five days of fun       The smell of kettle corn, the lights of the rides, and the sounds of musical entertainment and animals being proudly displayed at the East Freehold Park Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, in an indication that summer is here and so is the Monmouth County Fair. More ... Miniature golf tournament to benefit ALS charity       TINTON FALLS - The Rock & Roll Music Fund will host its first miniature golf tournament to benefit Joan Dancy and PALS, which is dedicated to helping people living with Lou Gehrig's disease. The event will be held at Twin Brook Golf Center in Tinton Falls beginning at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 28. More ... VNA hosts fourth annual Children's Day       RED BANK - The Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Hospice is holding its fourth annual Hearts of Remembrance Children's Day: A Celebration of Life 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9. The free grief support camp is open to children ages 6-12 who have experienced the death of a loved ... More ... Towns mull options in bridge replacement County recommends building new span to the north BY SHARON LEFF Staff Writer       After reviewing multiple options for replacing the Hubbard Bridge, which connects Red Bank to the River Plaza section of Middletown, the two municipalities must chose one before final design and construction can begin. More ... What's new at the library      Clockwise from top left: The new statue that welcomes visitors to the Monmouth County Library System's Eastern Branch was unveiled as part of the dedication ceremony on July 20. Martha Washington, played by Pat Jordan of Pennsylvania, explains to Kristen and Christopher Lucas, of Fair Haven, how fan... More ... Operation Honeycomb cracks drug network       FREEHOLD - A Monmouth County grand jury returned five separate indictments against a total of 42 individuals, including a Matawan resident, following a lengthy investigation into a drug distribution and racketeering conspiracy, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. More ... Riverside Gardens Park hosts R.B. summer series       RED BANK - Riverside Gardens Park is alive this summer with the Red Bank Summer Series featuring movies, dancing and concerts. The free series offers entertainment for all ages. "We bring free family entertainment to the park nearly every night of the week," said Bob Evans, director of Red Bank ... More ... NOTES       The Rev. Mark Van Sant has been named chairman of the board of trustees of The New Hope Foundation. The nonprofit's new facility is located on Conover Road, Marlboro. Van Sant is rector at St. John's Episcopal Church, Little Silver. The Foundation serves those in need of treatment for alcoholism, ... More ...