Family trying to bring son home FHS graduate, U.S. Navy veteran killed in Phillipines BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Marsha Holts and her husband, Bruce, of Neptune expected to spend the week before Christmas preparing for the holiday. Instead, they had to deal with the untimely death of her son. Jerome Jemall “J.J.” Williams, 37, a graduate of Freehold High School, was killed in a motorcycle acci... More ... Hoops are heating up       Freehold Township High School’s Alan Frost (34) drives around Manalapan defenders on opening night of the 2006-07 basketball season. This week, Freehold Regional High School District teams will be competing in holiday tournaments. For more, see Sports. More ... School officials watch enrollment Small increase in number of pupils seen for next year BY TALI ISRAELI Staff Writer       School officials in Marlboro’s K-8 district are projecting a total increase in enrollment of 41 students in the 2007-08 school year. At a recent meeting, Assistant Superintendent Marc Gaswirth presented the Marlboro Board of Education with enrollment projections for the coming schoo... More ... New Jersey’s standardbred industry on shaky ground Breeders call for bigger purses and slot machines at state’s race tracks BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD — While the annual standardbred horse sale in Harris-burg, Pa., on Nov. 3-8 set record numbers this year, local breeders have concerns about the economics of New Jersey’s standardbred industry. The yearling auction held during the sale’s first two days had total sales... More ... Legislature reconsiders clean elections process BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       Fair and clean elections in New Jersey? Perhaps it’s not so far-fetched after all. In the Garden State, where wheeling campaign donations and pay-to-play for municipal jobs are still part of the day-to-day political landscape, an updated version of FACE (Fair and Clean Election Projec... More ... State dismisses complaint lodged against Kleinberg BY TALI ISRAELI Staff Writer       MARLBORO — An ethics complaint that was filed against Mayor Robert Kleinberg in April has been dismissed by the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The complaint filed by resident Steve Glickman raised issue with the mayor’s use of a township-owned vehicle. More ... Resident charged with theft from foundation       COLTS NECK — On Dec. 22, Mark A. Vernaglia, 44 of Jockey Terrace North, was arrested and charged with second degree misconduct by a corporate official, second degree theft by deception, second degree misapplication of entrusted property, third degree issuing a false financial statement, fourt... More ... Board awards Narozanick ‘Freeholder Emeritus’ title       FREEHOLD — In honor of Freeholder Theodore J. Narozanick’s 48 years of service to the citizens of Monmouth County, the county Board of Freeholders on Dec. 21 awarded him “Freeholder Emeritus” status upon his retirement at the end of this month. More ... Hiring of professionals to be on council agenda BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR. Staff Writer       HOWELL — Municipal officials will interview candidates for about 30 professional positions (special attorneys, engineer, planner, etc.) after Jan. 1. At its reorganization meeting on Jan. 1, however, the newly configured Township Council is expected to name a township attorney, public... More ... Costco due at Planning Board       MARLBORO — Representatives of Costco Wholesale are expected to appear before the Planning Board in February. Representatives of Costco, a membership shopping club, will seek site plan approval to build a 145,267-square-foot facility in the Regal Cinemas Plaza on Route 9 north near Texas... More ... In the Service       Air Force Senior Airman Bryan P. Feuerstein has deployed overseas to a forward-operating location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in e... More ... Dog’s amazing story has payoff for town Lulu’s family donates winnings to be used to build dog park BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN — When Hal and Peggy Eisen turned over a $7,500 grand prize they had won in a contest to Manalapan officials, it was just the latest development in a tale so full of twists and turns that if the events had not actually occurred no one would buy the story as fiction. More ... Freehold Twp. getting set to open Opatut Park fields       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — The community’s athletes will soon have a new place to play. Members of the Township Committee announced at the Dec. 19 meeting that Opatut Park, East Freehold Road and Route 79, will have its official opening in July. More ... Responders brush up on emergency coordination Training session held for fire departments, police & first-aiders BY TALI ISRAELI Staff Writer       MARLBORO — A training session for Marlboro’s emergency agencies was held recently to improve their response to crisis situations. The event was held at the headquarters of the Robertsville Volunteer Fire Company, Route 520, on Dec. 4-5. The training sessions were hosted by Todd Lake... More ... Whitman sampler Walt Whitman impersonator visits BCC English students BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       Everywhere he goes, Walt Whitman gets the same old question. Are you gay or what? Luckily, the 181-year-old icon takes the question with a shaker full of salt. “I do not know if he was a homosex-ual,” Walt Whitman impersonator Darrel Blaine Ford said recently at Brookdale Community ... More ... In the Service       Army Reserve Pvt. Brandon Harrold has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction in drill and ceremonies, rifle marksmanship, weapons, map reading, tactics, armed and unarmed... More ... Deal will bring 118 units to site of former egg farm BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR. Staff Writer       HOWELL — The Township Council has passed a resolution executing a settlement agreement with AST, Sunnyside Road, LLC. The governing body voted 4-1 to approve the resolution at its Dec. 19 meeting. Councilwoman Cynthia Schomaker voted against the measure. More ... Knitters know special gifts are well received BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       HOWELL — Gerry George had no idea how her simple question — “Can I help some ladies learn to crochet?” — would impact the lives of so many people in such a positive way. George, 75, posed that question to Carol Zur, Howell’s director of senior services, in 2002. More ... 2006 in photos      CHRIS KELLY staff The British troops take the field and fire a cannon during the annual re-enactment of the Battle of Monmouth in Manalapan during the weekend of June 24-25. More ... Are We There Yet? Oh, boy! A new power washer for Christmas Lori Clinch       When my husband of many years returned home this evening, he was beaming with pride. “I’ve been thinking about you all day long,” he said as he buried his hands deep in his pockets. Then he smiled wildly, looked at me with love and reported, “And I’ve been considering an expensive g... More ...