Council defers school taxes, shaves tax hike Move will cut 4 cents from projected increase in tax rate BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       Eight cents and counting.That was the Brick Township Council's latest proposal for an expected increase in the municipal purposes tax rate at the March 23 Township Council caucus meeting. Council members unanimously agreed to defer tax payments to the Board of Education, a move that... More ...       Woods Avenue resident Michael Fox gives his son, Tyler, a boost up to visit McGruff the Crime Dog during a benefit basketball game for the Fox family at Brick Township High School Friday night. Tyler suffers from the same incurable disease as his late sister. More ... Sports, clubs in jeopardy if ballot question fails Classroom instruction has to come first, superintendent says BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent       Sports programs at the Brick Township middle schools could be the first to go, if voters turn down a special question on the ballot in the April 17 school board elections. More ... Kelly 'leaning' toward mayoral run this year Acropolis is most likely Republican choice BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       BRICK TOWNSHIP - Local Democratic Party leaders are set to screen candidates tomorrow night to run for the seat vacated by disgraced former Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli. Mayor Daniel J. Kelly said Monday he still hadn't decided whether to run for the remainder of Scarpelli's term. More ... Slap shot       Gary Howatt of the New York Islanders, Whalers and New Jersey Devils glides past a Bud Ice All Stars defender during a benefit hockey game at the Ocean Ice Palace on Chambers Bridge Road Saturday. More ... Recycling continues to pay in Ocean County       Ocean County's recycling efforts continue to provide environmental and economical benefits. Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the program. More ... Stick flick       Brian Propp of the Philadelphia Flyers rushes past MIke Guarino of Brick during a benefit hockey game at the Ocean Ice Palace on Saturday. More ... Adopt a Pet       Jersey Shore Animal Shelter 185 Brick Boulevard (732) 920-1600 www.jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org More ... Brick woman badly injured in Rt. 88 crash BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       BRICK TOWNSHIP - A local woman was seriously injured in a head-on collision on Route 88 recently, police said. Clotelle St. John, 50, suffered multiple compound fractures of both legs in the accident, which happened at 11:17 p.m. on March 23, about 80 feet west of Burnt Bridge Avenue... More ... Residents urged to report drug activity       The Brick Township Police Department provides a drug hotline for residents to report drug-related activity. The hotline was established as a means of providing the public with the opportunity to anonymously report drug activities in their neighborhood. It is answered and monitored by detectiv... More ...