Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 4

MONDAY, JAN. 30, 2006 ASBURY PARK PRESS LOCAL NEWS www.app.com page bb Colts Neck residents pitch in to build community center Devices tune out radio interference WRAT-FM tries frequency moderation 1 BLAME PHYSICS Jennifer Kesse Fla. search continues for Shore native Last heard from Jan. 23 1 ml liiilif- '1 Many Colts Neck residents, like Sil Lutkewitte (above), are contributing in any way they can toward the new community center at Bucks Mill Park, (staff photos: dave may) I fetes a ion comm mm By ERIK LARSEN COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU LAKE COMO If this were any ordinary rat problem, borough hall officials would simply call an exterminator. But with 4,000 watts of power broadcasting from the heart of downtown Lake Como, capturing this evasive, airborne rodent that can be heard but not seen, is a job better suited for Bill Clan-ton, chief engineer at WRAT-FM, 95.9, a sta-, tion better known by the rodent in question, its moniker, "The Rat." The 280-foot tower on the corner of Route 71 and 18th Avenue is a landmark in the borough.

The history of the station is one that has seen some of the biggest names in music walk through its front door. But in recent weeks, borough officials and residents have complained about radio frequency interference from the which some in town and even residents in Avon and Belmar have complained is affecting their other radio and television reception. Michael and Susan Lu-terzo of Fernwood Road even said they were forced to replace their living room TV and a telephone because they could hear The Rat's signature Grunge rock coming through their appliances. During a tour of the station on Friday, Clan-ton showed off several products he purchased for a couple dollars which he said eliminates the interference. One of the devices called a Radio Interference Filter which he installed on the Luter-zos' television set free of charge, does exactly what its name suggests.

"Five dollars at Radio Shack," Clanton said. "It captures that spurious signal," said Michael J. Kazala, station manager of The Rat and WJRZ-FM in Ocean County. Both stations are owned by Greater By BOB JORDAN FREEHOLD BUREAU COLTS NECK Sil Lutkewitte, who is helping lead the project to build a new community center at Bucks Mill Park, said the center will be something everyone in town will have ownership in literally. "One time we were at a meeting and said we were $5,000 away from meeting one of the deadlines, and an individual in the audience wrote a $5,000 check right then and there," Lutkewitte, a retired chemical engineer, said Friday.

"But another time this was at the town parade a little girl handed me a bill. Her mom had told her she could either put the in the Pepsi machine or use the money to help with the building," he recalled. Unlike many municipalities where governing bodies often attend to projects by spending tax money or borrowing, the community center is the latest example of where Colts Neck residents choose to simply pass the hat to collect do- "Everyone wants to do something to get this building done." Sil Lutkewitte, helping lead project to build new community center nations for projects, Lutkewitte said. About $120,000 in cash and in-kind donations have been raised thus far, Lutkewitte said. "One guy drove in and said, 'I'm in the tile business, let me put the tile down in the Lutkewitte said.

"Everyone wants to do something to get this building done." Lutkewitte and fellow township residents Sal Barbagallo, John Grabow-ski and Vince Cerullo who formed the Colts Neck Community Center Committee, are steering the estimated $170,000 project to an expected dedication and opening in April or May. The building is intended for use by the many civic associations and sports groups who seek space for meetings and activities, such as the Senior Citi- SEND SIGNAL PROBLEMS R. Keith Smeal, director of technical operations for WRAT-FM (95.9 The Rat), said because "The Rat's" radio signal is obviously far more powerful than any conventional radio device, it has the capacity to interfere in weak signals in close proximity to the station's tower. However, inexpensive filters purchased at electronics'stores are capable of eliminating its interference. Media Inc.

of Braintree, Mass. "We do routinely measure our signal and are in full compliance of FCC regulations," he said. "We take this stuff very seriously. Although it's not a requirement to go to someone's home when they call with a complaint, we have a good neighbor policy." The Luterzos said the station responded to their home within the space of about an hour or two. "They've been very cooperative; they looked at the TV and put a filter on," said Michael C.

Lu-terzo. "They called (Thursday) and said someone might be by (Friday) or (Saturday) to put a filter on the VCR." Interference from The Rat has always been to some degree a part of life in the borough. Mayor Lawrence G. Chiaravallo said when the Borough Council used to meet in the local firehouse, The Rat's broadcast could be heard over the meeting's audio tapes upon playback. Nevertheless, Chiaravallo said, The Rat has been a good and altruistic neighbor, active fundraisers in a number of area charities, and he's glad they're here.

"I know they went to Mrs. Luterzo's house they put a filter on her television to show their good will and cooperation." the statement. "We have a responsibility to protect the environment, and that is a key focus area in all of our operations," Swenson said. Because New Jersey is tied into a regional electrical grid, the lights at homes normally powered by Oyster Creek will stay on without interruption during a shutdown. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

1 By J.D. GALLOP GANNETT NEWS SERVICE Orlando police returned Sunday to the heavily wooded area where 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse's abandoned car was discovered last week, but they still have no new leads into the disappearance of the former Shore area woman. The search continued as police officers, including some on horse-, back, methodically went through the brush hunting for anything bits of clothing or other physical evidence that could help them determine what happened to Kesse. "We've got some canals in that area. The officers went out about 3 to 5 miles from where her car was found.

They've done a lot of work in terms of following up leads and it's still a hot case," said Barbara Jones, spokeswoman for the Orlando Police department. Officially Kesse, who works for Westgate Resorts, is considered a missing and endangered adult. Kesse is the niece of Bill Gilmour, a for-' mer Barnegat mayor. She was born at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, in 1981, and lived in Barnegat until 1984, when her family moved to Virginia. They eventually moved to the Central Florida area.

Police said Kesse last communicated with her boyfriend by either cell phone or text message at 10 p.m. Jan. 23. Kesse never showed up for work the next day, prompting calls to police by her co-workers and family members. "She had an fairly good relationship with her parents and had regular communications with them.

Usually, if she was going to the store she'd call up and talk with her mom," Jones said. Kesse last spoke to her mother at 6 p.m. Jan. 23. "Her mom couldn't get a hold of her and all of the calls to her cell phone went straight to her voice-mail." An anonymous tip led police to Kesse's 2004 black Chevrolet Thursday near a condominium complex in southwest Orlando where she lived.

Several homicide detectives and crime scene investigators searched through the car including the trunk but found no clues to her whereabouts. Bloodhounds were then used to track down any possible scents leading from the abandoned car. The scent trail led back to the parking lot of Mosiac, the luxury condominium complex where Kesse lived. BEHIND THE NEWS Orlando police continue search for the missing 24-year-old on Sunday some taking to horseback in an effort to track down clues. A reward of up to $100,000 given by an anonymous donor was offered to anyone with information on Kesse's disappearance.

Kesse's family in Orlando has alsoioffered an additional and Luke, 8, are both Scouts. This is the second building erected in the township in recent years not to require a bond ordinance. The Colts Neck Library, which opened in 2000, was built after residents Tom and Judy McClintock donated $50,000. Other residents also pitched in, and approximately $1 million in monetary and in-kind donations were collected for the building of the library. Barbagallo, a longtime township Planning Board member and owner of Monmouth Excavators, served as general contractor for the library, free of charge.

The library is 40 percent larger than the town's former Heyers Mill Road library, which was originally a Grange building. Also, donations primarily from township residents paid for a 911 memorial sculpture by the late Jim Gary, who had lived in Colts Neck for about 20 years. The project cost about $80,000. "These types of projects are reminders of how special the town is that we live in," Florek said. "No taxpayer dollars went into either one of these buildings." Florek added, "Sil Lutkewitte and Sal Barbagallo are putting a lot of effort into the community center.

Those are a couple of guys who look to get a project done without thinking about it to death. They like to start things up and grow the support along the way." Lutkewitte said additional donations can be sent in the form of checks made out to: CN Rec and Community Center Bldg. Fund; co Sun Bank; 24 Route 34 North; Colts Neck, NJ 07722. ON THE WEB: Visit our Web site, www.app.com, and look under Special Reports for a link to Life in our Towns, portraying a slice of life in Colts Neck, more stories about the township, photo galleries, listings, maps and charts. TO DONATE Donations for the Community Center can be sent in the form of checks made out to: CN Rec and Community Center Bldg.

Fund; co Sun Bank; 24 Route 34 North; Colts Neck, NJ 07722. according to the statement. The plant can operate safoly at reduced power with three pumps, Oyster Creek spokeswoman Ra-chelle Benson said. Oyster Creek Vice President Bud Swenson said in the statement the plant is taking precautions to limit the shutdown's environmental impact. A sudden shutdown during a cold period likely would kill fish in a canal where water that has cooled parts of the plant is Visit our Web site, www.app.com and click on the Web Extras button for a link to: Colts Neck Township zens Club and the Colts Neck Polo Club, Mayor Kenneth Blorek said.

The annual Colts Neck Fair will have many of its activities in and around the building, Florek said. The building will become property of the township upon its completion, Florek said, and the Recreation Department will handle use schedules and oversight. Iroquois Court resident Bridgit Riley said many families are anxiously awaiting the opening of the pole barn design building, which replaces a small frame shed that was torn down last year. "My family is excited that there will be a new place for groups to use," said Riley, who is a Cub Scout den leader. She said her children Nolan, 10, Vince Cerulld "We have a responsibility to protect the environment, and that is a key focus area in all of our operations." Oyster Creek Vice President Bud Swenson operable last week, operators reduced power to 50 percent Wednesday night, 100 80V.

0 -70A 60 SOV. 40 I 30. I 20 I 10 I The Bucks Mill Park (above) will be the site of the new community center. A sign (below) marks the donations residents have made toward the project. STARTING SEPT.

2005 DONATIONS TO; COLTS NECK RECREATION COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING FUND Our new Community Center SUN BANK 24 Route 34 North Colts Neck, NJ 07722 AT THIS LOCATION FOR ALL TO Sal Barbagallo USE Sil Lutkewitte The 280-foot tower for WRAT-FM, 9S.9, sits at the corner of Route 71 and 18th Avenue In Lake ComO. (STAFF PHOTO: BOB BIELK) John Grabowski Oyster Creek nuclear plant temporarily shut down for repairs By MATT PORIO TOMS RIVER BUREAU LACEY As part of a repair effort, Oyster Creek nuclear power plant temporarily shut down Saturday night, an official said Sunday. Officials Friday said they planned a shutdown for the repairs, as soon as it was safe for local fish, which are sensitive to the water temperature variations associated with During the shutdown, which began at 10:22 p.m., workers were expected to repair two of the station's recirculation pumps, according to a prepared statement released by plant officials, but it was not known how long the repair work would take or when the reactor would be restarted. With two of the station's five reactor recirculation pumps which continuously pump reactor water through the system in- discharged. The fish, which are attracted to the canal because it's warmer than Barnegat Bay, would die from a sudden drop, in temperature this time of year.

According to Oyster Creek, fewer than 70 blue-fish died when operators shut down the plant and stopped the flow of warm discharge water into the discharge canal. Fish that are more cold-tolerant, such as striped lfiss, were not affected, according to.