CHRIS KELLY staff Veronica Villanueva belts out "A Special Selection" at the Brick Community Players' 16th annual Talent Showcase held at Veterans Elementary School March 17. More ... Council says no way to 12-cent tax rate hike Mayor, administrator say past financial practices led to increase BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       Brick Democratic Mayor Daniel J. Kelly has no argument with Republican Township Council members who say his proposed hike in the municipal tax rate is too high. "I don't disagree the 12 cents is a problem," Kelly said at the March 13 council meeting, where he presented his 2007 budg... More ... Solo act      CHRIS KELLY staff Marissa Boyles performs her solo "Castle in the Cloud" at the Brick Community Players' 16th annual Talent Showcase, held at Veterans Elementary School March 17. More ... Commission will study teenage driving in N.J.       MARLBORO - On March 14, Gov. Jon S. Corzine ceremonially signed legislation establishing the Teenage Driver Safety Study Commission to study, examine and review the issue of teenage driver safety in New Jersey. "Out of the challenges we face comes the opportunity to make important chan... More ... Staff cuts almost certain; program cuts possible School superintendent offers grim view of school budget BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent       BRICK TOWNSHIP - Sports programs will be cut and more students will be walking to school if voters fail to approve several questions in the April 17 school board election, the superintendent said. "The budget is very simple this year," Superintendent Thomas L. Seidenberger said at ... More ... French's Landfill is town's 'last open sore' Officials want redeveloper to pay for cleanup of Superfund site BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       BRICK TOWNSHIP - Township officials are tired of paying for the sins of the past. So they are taking what Township Council President Stephen C. Acropolis calls "baby steps" to see if it's possible to redevelop the defunct municipal landfill off Sally Ike Road. More ... Counties applaud state support of MOM       Citing the critical need for transit investments to be made in Ocean and Monmouth counties, officials in both counties praised the action of NJ Transit in providing additional funding of $2,4 million to study a proposed rail line. Ocean County has been working with Monmouth County to ga... More ... Free seminars on growing technology at OCVTS       The Adult Education Division of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS) is offering a free seminar on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology April 2, 7-9 p.m. The seminar will be presented at Ocean County Vocational Technical School, 1299 Old Freehold Road, Toms River. A... More ... Run for the green      CHRIS KELLY staff Brick's Dave Terra-nova participates in the Freehold Area Running Club's annual St. Patrick 5K run, held at Michael Tighe Park, Freehold, March 18. More ... Parks department helps teach dogs manners       Basic Dog Obedience classes will be offered by the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Unleashed Club for Dogs, 951 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, on Sundays, April 1-May 6, noon to 1 p.m. Basic commands will be taught. A registration fee of $5 is payable to Co... More ... Police fundraiser planned for Fox family on Friday       The Brick Township Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 230 will hold its 18th annual Helping Hands Basketball Game on March 23 at Brick Township High School on Chambers Bridge Road. Members of the police department will play against members of the Brick Township High School Dragons footb... More ... Adoption support group to host Adoption Expo       The Monmouth/Ocean County Adoptive Families support group will host an Adoption Expo, March 24 from 1-5 p.m. in the Spiritual Center at St. Mary's Church (corner of Route 34 and Phalanx Road), Colts Neck. More ... County Clerk calls on state to investigate deed company BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       BRICK TOWNSHIP - Ocean County Clerk Carl W. Block doesn't want any Ocean County residents wasting their money. So Block recently wrote to state Attorney General Stuart Rabner asking his office to investigate the pricing practices of National Deed Service Inc., which has a Washington,... More ...