Top 10 Stories in September for Little Silver, Oceanport

10. POLL: Should 537 Extend Through Fort Monmouth into Oceanport?

News earlier this month that the county wants to extent Route 537 across Route 35 in Eatontown and through the Fort Monmouth property might seem to some an opportunity to squeeze lemonade out of the closing of the Army base.

9. Seven Bridges Road Cut-Through to Close in Time For School Start

Local residents have all seen the Seven Bridges Road sign that says   but not all have obeyed as motorists whiz past the sign and cut over Little Silver Point Road just to avoid the detour.

8. Men Find Coffee and Friendship at Ye Olde Pie Shoppe

Like clockwork, the men begin arriving at Ye Olde Pie Shoppe in Little Silver around 6 a.m. most weekday mornings. The first shift is made up of the early birds — the teachers and commuters. As the morning wears on, the guys who work more locally start to arrive, grabbing a cup of coffee and either gathering around one of the wooden tables at the front of the Oceanport Avenue shop, or if it's just a few of them, hanging out back in the kitchen while owner Tom Caruso decorates a cake or ices cookies.

7. Authorities Probe RBR Senior's Death; Foul Play Not Suspected

Authorities can not yet determine the cause of a Red Bank Regional senior's death early Monday morning, although foul play is not suspected.

6. Obituary: Jonathan H. Bitman

Jonathan H. Bitman, 52, of Little Silver, died Tuesday, Sept. 4 at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank after a courageous battle with cancer. Jon had a strong sense of community and an even stronger love for his family and friends.

5. Sad Ending for Missing Dog

After noticing fliers posted along Branch Avenue in Little Silver, I called the number listed around lunchtime and left a message to see if I could help get the word out about "Carly," a yellow lab missing in the Monmouth Beach area. But when her owner called me back later Monday afternoon, I learned she had been found but "didn't make it." I didn't have the heart to ask any more questions.

4. Olivia's in Little Silver Not Just a Pizza Joint

John Sommers, the owner of the just-opened Olivia's Ristorante Italiana & Pizzeria in Little Silver, bristles at the notion that his eatery is just another pizza place.

3. PHOTO GALLERY: Why Little Silver Needs a Bar

It wasn't just the vino that was flowing at the Little Silver Bottle Shop on Saturday afternoon for a wine and cupcake sampling. The event married three local businesses — Cupcakes of Little Silver, CorkMaven and the bottle shop — and created an overflow of neighborhood synergy.

2. VIDEO: Tribute to Little Silver's Jon Bitman

Little Silver's Jon Bitman, who died Tuesday after battling pancreatic cancer for almost two years, wore a lot of different hats.

1. Little Silver Councilman Loses Battle With Cancer

Jonathan Bitman, who served as a councilman in Little Silver for nine years and was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in November 2011, died Tuesday morning, according to the borough's mayor.