State slashes benefits for Scarpelli Former longtime mayor to pay back $20,000 BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       FormerBrickTownshipDemocraticMayor JosephC. Scarpelli will have a lot less to live on when he gets out of federal prison sometime in 2009. The State Division of Pension and Benefits board cut Scarpelli's monthly retirement pension payment to a sixth of what he had been receiving, before his benef... More ...      CHRIS KELLY staff Brick Township's Jesse Campana, 12, tries to keep warm by a fire as he participates in the Colonial Man of the Year event at Poricy Park in Middletown on Sunday. More ... 'Freeheld' wins Academy Award Lt. Hester's pension-benefits battle wins for best documentary short BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       Filmmaker Cynthia Wade thought she was calm and collected before the winner of the Academy Awards "Best Documentary Short Subject" was announced Sunday night. "The filmmakers behind me were getting really nervous," she said. "I said 'We are all really good filmmakers and this is getting silly.' I... More ... Shelter animals get second chances at forever homes BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       BRICK TOWNSHIP - The front of the Comcast building on Brick Boulevard was dark Saturday night. But appearances can be deceiving. The two side doors in the back swung open and closed continually, with a steady parade of dogs and cats. The nonprofit Jersey Shore Animal Center's annual telethon, th... More ... Parents rally to keep PLC open BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent       BRICK TOWNSHIP - The Board of Education's recent decision to narrow its $3.5M budget deficit by closing the Primary Learning Center left about a dozen parents and their children standing in the school's parking lot last Friday outraged and wondering why. More ... Memorial wrestling grabs another District title BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer       Brick Memorial wrestling coach Dan O'Cone was uncertain early in the seasonwhether this teamcouldmeasure up to the school's proud tradition. Now he is convinced it has. More ...