Suggestions take on rental housing issues Freehold Borough officials will consider action BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       After a year of work and research, the Freehold Borough Rental Prop-erty Advisory Committee has prepared a list of recommendations to deal with residential issues such as overcrowding, property neglect and absentee landlords. The recommendations were presented to the Borough Council... More ... Practice makes perfect       Certified yoga instructor Barb Brauner helps Matthew Burgio practice the finer points of a yoga position during an after-school enrichment activity at the Applegate School, Freehold Township, on Feb. 2. More ... Accident investigation leaves teen facing charges Prosecutor: Youth is not responsible for causing crash BY MARK ROSMAN and CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writers       A Freehold Township teenager is due in municipal court on Feb. 21 to answer charges of reckless driving, speeding and violating the guidelines of his provisional driver's license. The charges were lodged against William Brennessel, 17, on Feb. 8 after law enforcement authorities com... More ... Freehold Borough native has century of memories Dan Trojan worked at rug mill; still enjoys trips to harness track BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Daniel (Dan) Trojan owns a T-shirt that declares, "Heaven doesn't want me and Hell thinks I'll take over." The shirt was given to Trojan by his grandson, Donald, who obviously knows his grandfather quite well. Maybe the attitude that prompted Donald to gift his grandfather wit... More ... First aid squad sees response to urgent call for volunteers BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - A difficult situation is starting to look up for the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad. The first aid squad, which has been struggling to keep its head above water financially and facing a decline in membership, may be back on track, according to longtime member Bill ... More ... Ideas for Manalapan dog park considered BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Plans for a municipal dog park are moving forward. About 40 residents attended a recent meeting to listen to a presentation about the project and to exchange ideas. Recreation advisory board members Rebecca Ginsberg and Michael Gross chaired the Jan. 31 meeting. Recreatio... More ... Marlboro siblings excited about roles in college play       Three siblings who have been cast in Brookdale Community College's first African-American production said they feel privileged to be a part of history. Brookdale's Performing Arts Center (PAC) will pay tribute to February as Black History Month with the powerful drama of a young black m... More ... Community agency has new home, same mission BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - The Samaritan Center settled into its new home at the end of December and the transition was smooth because volunteers stepped up to help, according to Carol Puorro, the center's director. The Samaritan Center is a full-time food pantry and crisis center that has served t... More ... Knights will host casino night Feb. 17       FREEHOLD - Those who enjoy games of chance will have the opportunity to play blackjack, poker, roulette and Texas Hold 'Em at Casino Night 2007 on Feb. 17. The event will be held 7-11 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Freehold Council No. 1672, 70 E. Main Street. The Knights are sp... More ... Liquor license suspended at Freehold club BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - The Walter J. Conley Lodge No. 1379 of the Improved Benev-olent Protective Order of Elks of the World, Throckmorton Street, has been fined $500 and will have its liquor license suspended from Feb. 18-22. The disciplinary action is begin taken by the Borough Council in resp... More ... BCC annual Guitar Show on Feb. 18       MIDDLETOWN - Continuing a decade-long tradition, Brookdale Public Radio 90.5 The Night's 10th annual guitar show will be held Feb. 18 at the Donald D. Warner Student Life Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A special gift package will be presented to the first 100 people entering the show. General... More ... O'Scanlon wants to make second run for Assembly BY LAYLI WHYTE Staff Writer       Little Silver Councilman Declan O'Scanlon is set to make a second run for the state Assembly. O'Scan-lon, a Republican, ran for a 12th District Assembly seat in 2005 with Jennifer Beck. Beck won election to the Assembly, but O'Scanlon lost by 65 votes to Democrat Michael Panter, who w... More ... Wawa set for approval BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - The zoning board has directed that a resolution approving a Wawa convenience store and gas station on Woodward Road near Route 33 be prepared for its March 1 meeting. Representatives of Wawa proposed a 4,464-square-foot store and a four-pump gas station on 7 acres of a 27... More ... Zoning amendment would permit business to move BY TALI ISRAELI Staff Writer       MARLBORO - The Township Council has introduced an ordinance that would amend the uses permitted in the C-2 commercial zone following a request from a local business owner to make the change. The ordinance, which was introduced on Feb. 1, is scheduled for a public hearing and possible... More ... Student earns VFW honors       Freehold Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4374, Waterworks Road, Freehold Township, has announced its winner of the 2006-07 Voice of Democracy scholarship competition. Rebecca Pinnelas, a senior at Free-hold High School, Freehold Borough, won the post competition and the district competiti... More ... Donation to benefit autism program BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - The Board of Education has accepted a donation from the Center State Autism Foundation in the amount of $12,000 to be used for the K-8 school district's autism program. The board accepted the donation at its meeting on Feb. 7. More ... Panel has ideas to deal with local rental issues       FREEHOLD - The Rental Property Advisory Committee was formed to examine issues relating to rental properties in the borough. Issues examined include exploitation of tenants, overcrowding, neglecting to maintain interior and/or exterior of rental properties, and otherwise compromising the hea... More ... On Campus       Dana L. Goldberg, daughter of Michelle and Howard Goldberg of Manalapan, was named to the dean's list for the fall semester at the University of Maryland, College Park, Md. She is a 2003 graduate of Manalapan High School. Lisa Gingold, daughter of Donna and Lenny Gingold of Manala... More ... MCAC Juried Art Show winners       More than 400 entries from a broad spectrum of local, regional and national artists were received for the 28th Annual Monmouth County Arts Council (MCAC) Juried Art Show & Sale. Ninety-one works in a variety of mediums including paintings, works on paper, 3-D works, mixed-media and phot... More ... Owner of animal supply stores honored at dinner       A love for horses and a desire to start a business from scratch resulted in a thriving four-store animal supply business for Rick Wills, the owner of Rick's Saddle Shop, and now have earned him the title of 2006 Horseperson of the Year. More ... 'Proud to be a Partner' award winners unveiled       FREEHOLD - Continuing its tradition of recognizing and honoring those businesses and individuals that make a special difference to the borough of Freehold, the Freehold Center Partner-ship has presented this year's "Proud to be a Partner" awards. More ... Area woman will be feted by Chabad       A local wife, mother and volunteer who has successfully met the challenge of creating a traditional Jewish home in suburbia and a Jewish African-American woman who leads an observant life in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, will be the focus of the 20th annual Jewish Women's Day on Feb. 25. More ... Celebrating the Year of the Pig Teachers explain the stories/customs behind Chinese New Year BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       As the second new moon arrives, the Chinese get ready to welcome a new year. Chinese New Year is one of the biggest holidays for the Asian population in the Central Jersey area, and its celebration has become more popular as the Chinese population has grown in recent years. More ... Explorers promoted at ceremony BY TALI ISRAELI Staff Writer       MARLBORO - The members of Marlboro Police Explorers Post 105, a group of young people between the ages of 14 and 21 who are learning about law enforcement, were honored by their advisers with promotions and awards at the Township Council meeting on Jan. 25. More ... Friends will rally for Howell infant Baby underwent heart transplant in December BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       Sandy Ennis wants people to know how thankful she is for an organ donation program that saved the life of her infant son, Christopher, in December. "I want people to be more educated about congenital heart disease and the importance of organ donation. That is the only reason why my ... More ... Law addresses building height BY TALI ISRAELI Staff Writer       MARLBORO - The Township Coun-cil has introduced an amendment to an existing ordinance in a bid to clarify building height requirements in the municipality. The ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and possible vote for adoption Feb. 15. More ... Costco due at Planning Board       MARLBORO - Representatives of Costco Wholesale are expected to appear before the Planning Board on Feb. 21. 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 ... Toms River man indicted on 2 counts of carjacking       On Feb. 1 a Monmouth County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Jamel China, 24, of Toms River, with two counts each of the following crimes: first-degree carjacking, first-degree armed robbery, second-degree kidnapping, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, four... More ... Four area football stars sign National Letters BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer       For high school gridiron standouts with ambitions of playing college football, Feb. 7 is a red-letter day. It's known as Signing Day, the day when high school seniors sign their National Letters of Intent. Once they've signed on the dotted line, it's official as to where they will be ... More ... Baker, LaFalce, Roberson join 1,000 point club       The distinguished group of 1,000-point career scorers added three more players this winter. Colts Neck guard Brian Baker and Freehold Township forwards T.J. LaFalce and Marcus Roberson all joined that select group of Freehold Regional District boys within a few days of each other. More ...