JEFF GRANIT staff Joe Lewis, Erin Schultz and Judith Lesser (l-r), of the Child's Play Touring Theatre, perform "The Time Adventure," which was written by Robertsville Elementary School, Marlboro, second-grader Maymun Mohuiddin. The actors performed the play at the Robertsville school May 2. The Chi... More ... Freehold Borough school district earns state kudos Board president says district is making strides despite shortfall in state aid BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Tom Tramaglini says many people perceive the Freehold Borough K-8 School District as an "underdog" in the scheme of things. More ... Doctor realizes dream Veterinarian made plans in high school to open community pet hospital BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       While she was a student at Red Bank Regional High School, Meredith Weltner made a career decision to become a veterinarian and to one day open her own veterinary hospital. That decision became a reality when she recently opened Barnside Veterinary Hospital on Route 33 in Howell. More ... Kruise Nite gets green light for '08       FREEHOLD - The Freehold Center Partnership announced on May 5 that Kruise Nite will be held in downtown Freehold Borough in May, June, July and August. Recent comments by borough officials appeared to have left the 2008 edition of Kruise Nite in doubt. More ... Negotiations with teachers will resume on June 16 BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       ENGLISHTOWN- The 450 members of theManalapan Englishtown Education Association (MEEA) will likely start the 2008-09 school year in September working under the terms of a contract that expired in June 2007, according to the president of the teachers union. More ... Law expected to reduce sign clutter in Marlboro       MARLBORO - In the hope of cutting down on the clutter that is caused by temporary signs and political signs that are placed alongside Marlboro's roads, the Township Council unanimously adopted a new ordinance on April 24 that will limit the placement of these signs. More ... Rockin' the Garden State      GARY GELLMAN Bruce Springsteen performs on the stage of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on May 4, with a little help from actor Danny DeVito, to close the first induction ceremony of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Springsteen, a native of Freehold Borough who has rocked the world for f... More ... Teens, parents will learn about host liability laws BY NICOLE M. ANLLO Staff Writer       MANALAPAN- An informative meeting about the consequences parents could face if they host a party and provide alcohol to minors will be held at Manalapan High School, Church Lane, Manalapan. "ParentsWho Host Lose theMost" will be presented on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. More ... 2,000 help to celebrate temple groundbreaking       MARLBORO - Guruvayoorappan (Krishna) Temple marked the start of a construction project to build a 33,000- square-foot temple and a 15,000-squarefoot priest quarters at aWooleytown Road location with a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony April 19. More ... Artist turns vandalism into a positive lesson Stone carver wants area children to see what goes into project BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Franco Minervini, a local stone carver, is happy to report that vandalism that defaced a Sept. 11 memorial can be repaired and the memorial can be installed without additional delay at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel. More ... Freehold Intermediate School will mark 50 years       FREEHOLD - This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Freehold Intermediate School, Park Avenue. To commemorate this milestone ,the administration and Board of Education in the Freehold Borough School District are planning to host a special event on June 13 from 7-10 p.m. The event, "50 Years of... More ... Students arrested after school fight       FREEHOLD - Three Freehold Intermediate School students were arrested and charged with possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon on school property on April 10. The intermediate school on Park Avenue houses students in grades six, seven and eight. More ... Council seeks answers on baffling bond issue BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO- A paperwork snafu regarding a developer's performance bonds that should have been released in 2002 for the Centex Homes project at Highland Pointe (Marlboro Pointe) was not quickly remedied as residents came forth to speak against the bonds' release at the April 24 Township Council meeti... More ... Shade tree committee enjoys rebirth in town BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - A weeping cherry tree has taken root at the municipal complex during a specialArbor Day planting. The donation of the tree was made by C. Casola Farms of Marlboro to the Marlboro Shade Tree Committee. In addition, a total of 300 saplings obtained through a grant are being planted arou... More ... Tree planting a fitting honor for late resident BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - Members of the Freehold Borough Shade Tree Commission honored one of their own onApril 26 when an 8-foot-tall London plane tree was planted in front of the clock tower onMain Street in memory ofWilliamM.Morrison. Morrison, 68, died on April 25, 2007. He was a native of Freehold Boroug... More ... Benefit golf outings scheduled       The 2008 Commerce Bank Band Aid Open golf outing will swing into action at the Forsgate Country Club, Monroe Township, on June 10 with a choice of shotgun starts at 7:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. The organizing committee, chaired by Dr. More ... WMUA seeking council's support for improvements BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - A planned capital improvement project at the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority (WMUA) was unveiled to members of the Township Council at their meeting on April 24. The WMUA, with administrative offices and a treatment facility off Pension Road, Manalapan, provides sewage treatment ... More ... Student Council goes to town hall       MANALAPAN - The Student Council of the Wemrock Brook School, along with the school's assistant principal and Student Council director Jayme Orlando, recently went on an outing toManalapan town hall. More ... Police tip line seeks info on illegal drug activity BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - The township Police Department has established a narcotics tip line within its Investigations Bureau. Manalapan police Sgt. More ... Green elected board president       MARLBORO- Three incumbentmembers of the Marlboro K-8 School District Board of Education took a familiar oath of office on April 29 at the board's annual reorganization meeting. Business Administrator Cindy Barr- Rague swore in Murray Hoffman, Cynthia Green and Terry Spilken to begin serving new t... More ... Councilman wants seniors to have info on tax freeze BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Councilman Frank LaRocca and tax collector Shirley Giaquinto are meeting with senior citizens to answer questions they may have about property taxes. LaRocca said he and Giaquinto will meet with residents of the Marlboro Greens and Greenbriar adult communities. More ... Students take part in immigrant experience BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO- With their ship docked in the hallway of the Frank Defino Central School, pupils were swept back in time to experience a journey to America through the doors of Ellis Island. Immigration Day was celebrated on April 17 as part of the Marlboro K-8 School District's multicultural festival. More ... Board wants more answers on plan for two buildings BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL- An application submitted by Blue Moon Motel LLC was brought before the Planning Board on April 17 by a developer who is proposing to demolish the Moon Motel on Route 9 south near Friendship Road and replace it with two mixed-use buildings. More ... Manisero, Formoso tapped to lead K-8 school board Key issue for district is reaching a decision on reorganization plan BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       ENGLISHTOWN - On the heels of voter approval of a $75.7 million budget for the 2008-09 school year, the Manalapan Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education has reorganized for the coming year. Incumbents Donna Formoso, Ryan Green and Dr. More ... Diversity fair helps teen pursue Girl Scout award       Senior Girl Scout Victoria Hu, 16, of Freehold Township, hosted a diversity fair, "Let's All Celebrate Our Diversity!" March 8 at the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore Program Activity Center in Howell. Victoria's goal was to encourage individuals and groups to gain a greater understanding and appre... More ... Wilderness education career calls area woman BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       After a year of study at The College of New Jersey in Ewing Township, Elyse Guarino, a Freehold Borough resident, was at a crossroads in her life. "I was in transition in my life and was looking for a direction," she said. "I overheard a conversation that helped me decide what to do. More ... Veterans to receive medals at ceremony BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - It was a dark time in the nation's history and a time that many Americans will never forget, but on May 7, New Jersey will remember the veterans of the VietnamWar who served the United States in that tumultuous era. More ...