ERIC SUCAR staff Jack Baeder, of Hazlet, pauses to reflect at the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial before the beginning of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day ceremony held on the grounds of the PNC Performing Arts Center in Holmdel May 7. Story, page 3. More ... Twp. plans future of recreational facilities Recreation master plan sees need for combined aquatic/ice rink center BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       The Middletown Recreation Master Plan has gone by many names by residents of the township: a wish list, a bible and a fantasy football team. "I had gone to some of these planning meetings and we were told to think of this as fantasy football," Middletown resident James Cody said. More ... A day to honor service, remember sacrifice Vets who served country honored at Vietnam Veterans'Memorial BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       Peter Van Rixoort never met his father, but all his life he has known just how special his father's sacrifice for World War II really was. Van Rixoort's father, Staff Sgt. John Van Rixoort, who was a rifleman in the United States Army's 75th Division, 291st Infantry in Company E, never made it ho... More ... Boro Council postpones appointments James Aaron to be appointed boro attorney BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       MATAWAN - The Borough Council was set to appoint several professionals at the May 6 council meeting, but the appointments were postponed pending the appointment of a borough attorney. "We are going to hold [the appointments] because the borough just received the borough attorney's agreement at 2... More ... Residents propose ways to trim Mid'town budget Public hearing held on $62.2M 2008 spending plan BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN- The public hearing for the budget elicited ideas ranging from consolidating the library and the arts center to ending the leaf pickup. More ... Aberdeen offers trip for seniors       The Aberdeen Township Recreation Department is offering a senior citizen trip on Wednesday, July 9, to the Renault Winery in Galloway Township and to an Atlantic City casino. The trip is open to Aberdeen seniors age 55 and older. Nonresidents can sign up after the May 27 resident deadline if spac... More ... Budget cuts to police department draw outcry       KEYPORT - The Borough Council met head-on with the public backlash sparked by cuts in the police department's overtime fund at a contentious meeting last week. Residents were outspoken in their opposition, enlisting various experts and law enforcement officials to make an appearance in a show of... More ... Hazlet a step closer to adopting $18M budget       HAZLET - The Hazlet Township Committee held a public hearing on the proposed 2008 budget during the May 6 meeting at town hall, with little comment from residents on the $18.3 million spending plan. The budget would increase the tax rate to $1.084, a 0.5-cent increase over last year, according to... More ... Towns work on rejected school budget BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Board of Education has sent the school budget to the Aberdeen Township and Matawan Borough councils after voters rejected the budget last month. "It is a fairly routine process by now," said Board of Education President Patricia Demarest. More ... Hazlet will hold meeting on new flood zone maps BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       HAZLET - The township Environmental Commission went door to door Saturday to inform residents about aMay 20 meeting on revised flood zone maps that may impact their properties. It took about three and a half hours for Annie Eng and other members of the Hazlet Environmental Commission (HEC) to ha... More ... Holmdel keeps ban on alcohol at twp. property Committee decides to halt exceptions to current ordinance BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - The Township Committee recently weighed the pros and cons of serving alcohol on township property when facilities are rented out for private events. A motion to maintain the current ordinance prohibiting alcohol consumption on township property, with no exceptions to the ordinance, was... More ... Zarinsky arraigned via video conference BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - The odd court appearances for convicted killer Robert Zarinsky continued May 7, when instead of being wheeled in on a gurney, he was arraigned via video conferencing. More ... May 17 Music Fest benefits Manna House       MATAWAN - Over the past decade, music fromlocal churches has supported a cause that gives homelessmothers and their children the means to turn their lives around. The First Presbyterian Church of Matawan has hosted Music Fest, a benefit for Manna House of Cliffwood Beach, for the past 12 years. More ... District activities mark Special EducationWeek BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District will provide plenty of activities for students to appreciate one another during this year's Special EducationWeek. More ... Matawan seeks $200K for Clinton St. upgrades Residents asked to support grant application BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       MATAWAN - The borough is pursuing a grant for street and roadway improvements on Clinton Street. On April 29 the Borough of Matawan Community Development Citizen Participation Group held a brief discussion about the borough's plans to secure a grant from the Monmouth County Community Development... More ... Meeting the ocean's creatures      ERIC SUCAR staff Students from Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School meet and greet a horseshoe crab during the 20th annual Clean Ocean Action Student Summit held at Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook May 9. Students from local schools participated in six hands-on work stations and a dozen field activities, includ... More ... Aberdeen man indicted for cruelty to animals       FREEHOLD - A Monmouth County grand jury returned an indictment charging Anthony Appolonia, 50, of Aberdeen, with 19 counts of third-degree animal cruelty onMay 6, according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. More ... Art exhibit is a family affair       The Monmouth Museum is presenting a unique exhibition featuring works by three Waldman family artists: brothers Neil and Bruce and their aunt, Jean Morris. The Waldman Family Exhibition will run through June 22 at the museum, which is located on the campus of Brookdale Community College off Newma... More ... IN THE ARTS       Two River Theater Company in Red Bank closes out the season with a new bluegrass musical-comedy adapted from a little-known short story by Mark Twain. Set in Deer Lick,Mo., in 1876, "AMurder, A Mystery & A Marriage" opens Saturday, May 17, and will close on Sunday, June 8. More ... Protesters ask Pallone to support Lyme bill BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer       LONG BRANCH - Protesters gathered outside Congressman Frank Pallone Jr.'s office on Broadway in Long Branch last week to call attention to a Lyme disease bill currently being considered by the Legislature. The protesters are demanding action on HR-721, which if passed would appropriate $100 mill... More ... Nurturing future candidates BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer       TINTON FALLS - The topic was whether to adopt Internet regulations for teens. The stance was open to debate by the teens themselves. And that is exactly what more than 60 young women from11 area high schools did during the second annual "Running and WinningWorkshop" held atMonmouth Regional High... More ... NOTES       Good Shepherd Church, 112 Middletown Road and Crawfords Corner-Everett Road,Holmdel, will hold a seminar on potty training May 19 at 7:30 p.m. The interactive seminar will be led by Barbara Benson, early childhood development specialist. Light refreshments will be available, as well as door prizes... More ...