Decades separate local teenagers from the members of the Asbury Park VFW, but an area mother has brought the two groups together by hiring a popular DJ to put on teen parties at VFW headquarters. Kimberly Brown [pictured at right, third from left], of Neptune, organizes the parties, which started this fall. VFW members donated [...]

Monmouth County’s Republicans and Democrats united to fundraise for the first time in their history yesterday at the Stone Pony, and have collected $100,000 and counting for Sandy relief. “We took the governor’s and the president’s lead by forgetting about parties and doing what needs to be done,” Joe Grillo, executive director of the Monmouth [...]

On New Year’s Day, hundreds of people will brave the elements and jump into the Atlantic in Asbury Park. The Sons of Ireland Polar Bear Plunge is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2013, with registration at 10 a.m.; a bagpipe march to the beach at 12:30 p.m.; and the plunge itself at 1 p.m. From 1 [...]

The city council selected GCS Contractors of Oakhurst to complete restroom renovations at the West Side Community Center. GCS Contractors bid about $67,000 for the project. The second lowest bid $93,000 in costs while the third lowest bid $131,000. City engineer Joe Cunha had expected the project to cost $75,000 to $85,000, he said. The [...]

The first council meeting of the new year will start an hour early, city clerk Steve Kay said today. On Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, the regular city council meeting will begin at 6 p.m., with no workshop meeting. The closed executive session will start at 5 p.m. as usual. Usually, the workshop session starts at [...]

This Sunday, Republicans and Democrats in Monmouth County are putting their differences aside to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief. “We’re putting politics aside in the name of disaster relief,” said Joe Grillo, chair of the Asbury Park Democrats and executive director of the Monmouth County Democrats, when planning began. “This is such a large [...]

The substructure of part of the boardwalk needs complete replacement in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, according to city engineer Joe Cunha. The city council started the repair process by selecting a contractor for preliminary work at the Dec. 19 council meeting. “Essentially, the entire north section of the boardwalk remains relatively unscathed due to [...]

After checking out windows and displays of businesses all over town, the Chamber of Commerce has chosen winners of the 2013 holiday decorations contest. Businesses were judged on two criteria: “Spirit of Asbury” and “Holiday Festive,” according to Jackie Pappas, the Chamber’s executive director. The combined scored was used to determine who would take home [...]

Because of damage from Hurricane Sandy, free three-hour parking in metered areas of the city has been extended until ruined pay stations can be replaced. “We need to extend it,” city manager Terence Reidy said at the Dec. 19 council meeting. Free parking usually begins around Thanksgiving and extends until the beginning of January. This [...]

The AP Boardwalk’s seasonal bar, härTH in Convention Hall, is hosting an office party Friday night for area companies as well as the general public. “If Sandy rocked your original office party plans or you’re in need of something new and refreshing this year that hasn’t been done before, we have the solution,” according to [...]