The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) may be looking for a new attorney. Current attorney Kevin Kennedy has served his two-year contract, and the authority is running legal advertising for those services. Officials have said that attorney Jerome Hamblin of Freehold is seeking the position.

Chris Kelly The city of Long Branch has had a lot of work done recently on underground pipes. Above, construction workers are repairing a sewage pipe on Morris Avenue, near Anastasia Elementary School.

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A new candidate to replace a vacant commissioner’s seat at the LBHA, which was held by Ernesto Maldinado, will be announced soon. Mayor Adam Schneider said he has chosen a candidate, but cannot announce his choice until it is reviewed with the council. He did say the candidate will be of Latin origin to maintain the balanced representation of the diverse ethnicity of the city.

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Petitions packages for the election to run for mayor and council will be available at the city clerk’s office Jan. 2 between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The deadline to file is on or before March 21 at 4 p.m.

Chris Kelly Christmas Eve at Ron’s West End Pub is a tradition for many local residents. Above, proprietor Ron Heinzman makes his annual speech and toast in front of a capacity crowd.

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The office of Assemblyman Steve Corodemus has requested that residents of Monmouth County donate blood. Healthy individuals 17 years or older can safely donate every eight weeks. For more information, call the Central Jersey Blood Bank at (732) 842-5750.

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A free rabies clinic will be held at the Union Avenue Firehouse Jan. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon.~ Notes Around Town ~ Dogs and cats three months and older are eligible for the vaccinations. Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier.

Outgoing Long Branch Fire Chief Roman A. Mentel recently presented ex-Capt. Rocky Giarlando Jr. with a certificate of award for outstanding service.

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The Long Branch Historical Association is accepting reservations for its annual Snowflake Dinner-Dance, to be held Jan. 12 at the Long Branch IAMA Building (West End and Indiana avenues) from 7 p.m. to midnight. Music is by the Cherubs. Tickets are $30 each. For reservations, call (732) 229-9258 or send checks and names of attendees to Long Branch Historical Association, 475 Bath Ave., Long Branch.

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Monmouth Beach’s Police Department was returning to full strength New Year’s Day with the swearing-in of Bryan Keeshen, 23, as the newest officer on the force. With the 11 a.m. ceremony, Keeshen, who has served as a class 2 special police officer for the past two years, became a probationary patrolman. A lifelong resident of Monmouth Beach, he will be attending the Monmouth County Police Academy in the class beginning Jan. 28. Keeshen fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Patrolman Robert White.

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Volunteer firemen in Eatontown were spiffing up the fire station next to borough hall in the days leading up to New Year’s Day in preparation for their big party Jan. 1 in honor of the installation of new officers for 2002. Chris Kohler, the first assistant chief last year, moves up to the position of chief this year. Brian McLaughlin became the new first assistant chief, and Jeff Myskowski became the second assistant chief. John Sanders Sr. stays on as first lieutenant and Brian Denegar continues as second lieutenant. Sanders served as chief in 1996, while Denegar served as chief in 1991.

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Eatontown residents had to be pleased to hear Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo declare in his New Year’s Day remarks at the Borough Council’s annual organization meeting that he plans to make flooding problems a top priority in 2002. Tarantolo said the borough has some serious flooding problems, although they weren’t too evident in 2001 because there was so little rain. He hopes to get state and federal aid to address them in 2002.

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A concert preview lecture for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s program of "Stravinsky: Concerto for Piano and Winds" will be held at the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center, 128 Ocean Ave., Monmouth Beach, at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 2. The lecturer is Helen Benham. The actual concert will be held at 8 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank.

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Parishioners at St. Jerome’s Roman Catholic Church in West Long Branch and St. Dorothea’s Roman Catholic Church in Eatontown will have a treat Jan. 27 when the liturgical choir of Saint Michael’s College from Colchester, Vt., will sing at services in their church. The choir will perform at the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Jerome’s that day and at the noon Mass at St. Dorothea’s. The Rev. Brian Cummings, chaplain at the college, was a guest at St. Jerome’s Church over the holidays.