Lakewood hosts Arbor Day festivities at baseball stadium      LAKEWOOD — Gathered around a newly planted weeping European beech tree at FirstEnergy Park, home of the Lakewood BlueClaws, Lakewood officials and members of the community celebrated Arbor Day on April 24. More ... Background check ordinance to be up for approval Staff Writer By kathy baratta      HOWELL — An ordinance requiring fingerprinting and background checks of all coaches and volunteers working in township-sponsored youth activities and organizations is expected to be adopted by the Township Council on May 20. More ... Ocean County municipalities to get shared recycling revenues      More than $150,000 is being returned to Ocean County municipalities participating in the county’s recycling program. More ... Bulletin Board Former deli owner writes cookbook      Cynthia Russert-VanDenBogart, former local business owner, recently released her first cookbook, Cyn-fully Delicious … Tempting Your Taste Buds to a Heavenly Level. More ... Bulletin Board Jackson choral group available for events      The Golden Tones, a choral group made up of 40 senior residents of Green-briar at Winding Ways in Jackson, is currently rehearsing selections from Guys and Dolls. Any resident or group who is interested in having them perform at a function should call Mark Simon, director, at (723) 833-9062. More ... Bulletin Board Job fair to be held at Lakewood library      Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and the Puerto Rican Action Board are joining together to host a job fair May 11, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lakewood library, 301 Lexington Ave. Immediate openings are available at Six Flags and on-site interviews will be conducted. Employees are ... More ...      SARAH McCOLGAN Youngsters decorate the blacktop at the new Jackson Plaza during Saturday’s chalk art contest sponsored by the Jackson Community Alliance to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse. More ... Jackson committee adopts budget with 1-cent tax decrease Staff Writer By cindy tietjen      JACKSON — The Township Commit-tee unanimously adopted the 2002 municipal budget at its meeting on Monday. Under the 2002 budget, residents will see the municipal tax rate decrease by 1 cent per $100 of assessed valuation. More ... Rosenwald, Placitella join regional high school board      Two new members of the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education have taken their seats on the panel. Following the April 16 school election, the board held its reorganization meeting on April 29. More ... Pupils’ effort aids March of Dimes      JACKSON — The bad news was that when the WalkAmerica walk-a-thon began on a recent weekend, the sky was drizzling. The good news was that it waited until just about the end of the event to really start pouring. More ... Committee begins task of paring school budget      LAKEWOOD — The defeat of the school budget may have disappointed members of the Township Committee and the Board of Education, but working together on revising the budget has brought about a camaraderie that was absent in the past. More ... Grunhut tapped to lead board      LAKEWOOD — With a stated goal of working together for the good of students, Board of Education members have chosen new leaders for the coming year. More ...      SARAH McCOLGAN Carmela Malfa, 3, of Jackson, takes a break from Saturday’s chalk art contest at the Jackson Plaza to dig into a hot dog. More ... Greater Media acquires WJRZ      NEW BRUNSWICK — Greater Media, Inc. — which owns Greater Media Newspapers, publishers of the Tri-Town News — has announced the purchase of WJRZ (100.1 FM) Oldies 100. More ... Zoning board approves riding academy at Girl Scout camp      HOWELL — The zoning board has voted unanimously to grant permission for the Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts to construct a riding academy, activity center and two multi-purpose athletic fields on its Camp Sacajawea property on Route 524. More ... Township officials urge DEP to readopt watershed rules      FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Munic-ipal officials are concerned about water quality and the watersheds in the community, especially since the southern part of the township contains the headwaters for three bodies of water. More ...