Central Jersey Blood Center, Shrewsbury, has announced the following local blood drives: + April 10, 2-8 p.m., a Rumson PTA drive at Forrestdale School, Forrestdale Avenue, Rumson. + April 26, 10 am.-2 p.m. at Monmouth Regional High School, 535 Tinton Ave., Tinton Falls. More...

At 2.5 million visitors, the 1992 endangered species management plan for Sandy Hook is a disaster and needs major reassessment, with piping plovers not reproducing sufficiently, and terns and oyster catchers having no productivity due to predation. More...

The Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation will present The Steve Calafati Group, flamenco jazz guitar, Friday 8-11 p.m. The performance is part of the JSJBF's "Reckless Steamy Nights." BYOB and a friend to the Red Bank Woman's Club, 164 Broad St. Tickets are $10. For information, call (732) 933-1984 or e-mail to: dennis@jsjbf.org. More...

Mrs. Freedman, 78, of Manalapan, died Feb. 24, 2007, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in New York City, she had lived in Old Bridge for many years before moving to Manalapan in 1987. She was a teacher's aide in the East Brunswick school system. Mrs. Freedman was a member of the Temple Beth Ohr Sisterhood, Old Bridge. More...

LONG BRANCH - For more than a decade, Long Branch officials have been promoting the importance of college education to inner-city youths through the "Get on the Bus" college tour. The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA), in conjunction with the Long Branch Department of Recreation, is hosting the annual "Get on the Bus" college tour next week. More...

St. John Vianney's Alisa Apo and Red Bank Regional's Kyle Fitzgerald were both named Player of the Year by the Shore Basketball Coaches. Apo, a senior who lives in Howell, brought the Lancers to prominence in 2006-07 behind her sparkling all-around play. She averaged 18 points a game to lead the offense and was just as valuable on defense, averaging 3.0 assists a game. More...