The Third Annual Ocean Student Photo Contest for high school students in Monmouth and Ocean counties is currently accepting entries. Pictures must be submitted by March 17 and will be judged locally at that time. Selected pictures will be submitted to the National Youth Showcase Contest conducted by the Photographic Society of America. Last year 75 photos were sent to the national contest. More...

As residents of the Fountains condominiums in Sea Bright, my husband and I want to thank the many people and agencies that came to our aid on Monday morning, Feb. 5, when we awoke to a fire of unimaginable ferocity. First, our own residents who were calm and caring for their neighbors, supporting one another and making sure everyone was safe and secure. More...

My grandfather, who once worked as the administrator of a state government institution, told me about a technique used at budget time called "shooting the cocker spaniel." "Here's how it works," he said. "No voter wants to hear about tax increases, and no politician who wants to survive likes to propose them. More...

Wouldn't it be loverly if the music of women composers was played so often that there was no need for a special concert honoring them? Elaine Vander Plate Held would happily drop the banner of promoting women composers and make the eighth annual "Honoring Women Composers" concert/lecture her last. More...

Edward James Kelsey Mr. Kelsey, 60, of Freehold, died Feb. 15, 2007, at home. He was born in Long Branch. Prior to retiring, he worked as an information systems director for New Jersey Bell Telephone Co. (now part of Verizon New Jersey Inc.), New Brunswick, for several years. More...

Shaheed Meyers, an eighth-grade student at Long Branch Middle School, took third place in a national essay competition titled "Expo Classroom Makeover." In his essay, he explained why his teacher, Candice Bidner, seventh-grade teacher at the middle school, deserved a classroom makeover. More...

In keeping with the topsy-turvy world that is Shore Conference girls basketball this winter, Red Bank Catholic and Rumson-Fair Haven proved that very little separates the best teams. Three teams (RBC, Rumson and Neptune) have taken their turn as the top team in the Shore during the season, and a fourth, St. John Vianney, threw its hat into the ring by beating two of them. More...