Swim club director ends long tenure Art Lawrence has made many friends at club over the years BY VICTORIA HURLEY-SCHUBERT Staff Writer       After more than 20 years of service to the Marlboro Swim Club, Art Lawrence is looking forward to completing his overlooked "honey-do" list, spending time at home and traveling. "We have a long list of things to catch up on," said Lawrence, the now retired director of the swim club ... More ... Contamination on Dreyer lot to be addressed by town Route 522 property is part of rec center slated for expansion BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       The Manalapan Township engineer has acknowledged there is total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) soil contamination in the immediate vicinity of the Dreyer house that was purchased by Manalapan in 2005 to settle a lawsuit brought by the Dreyer family against Manalapan. More ... Students, teacher keep up fight vs. multiple sclerosis BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Rennie Rankin may have what some people would consider a limitation, but anyone who knows her would tell you her multiple sclerosis is not a limitation. Rankin, a resident of North Bruns-wick, Middlesex County, is a teacher at Freehold High School, Freehold Borough. More ... Minors may not purchase toy guns that look real BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Municipal officials pride themselves on trying keeping residents safe from harm. To that end, the members of the Township Committee recently adopted an ordinance that bans the sale of toy guns that look like real guns to anyone under the age of 18. More ... County employees aid charities       FREEHOLD - This year, Monmouth County employees donated nearly $46,000 to support the work of more than 1,300 charitable organizations throughout the United States. The Public Employees Charitable Campaign, begun last September with bi-weekly payroll deductions administered by the Unit... More ... Protection for town at issue in land deal BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Stuart Moskovitz contends he did nothing wrong in his capacity as Manalapan's township attorney in 2005 when he prepared a contract of sale for property the township bought in order to settle a legal matter. Meanwhile, municipal officials said they have now hired a specia... More ... MHS senior charged in high school bomb threat BY VICTORIA HURLEY-SCHUBERT Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Police have arrested a suspect in connection with an April 24 bomb threat at Marlboro High School, Route 79. One day before that arrest was made, another bomb scare had students spending more time out of class. More ... On Campus       Michael Zalewski of Freehold has been named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Norwich University, North-field, Vt. Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa., has named the following local students to the dean's honors list for the fall semester: Jessica Androski of Freehold; M... More ... Police continue to investigate luring incident       MANALAPAN - The Manalapan Police Department has released a composite sketch of a person who is wanted for questioning in an ongoing investigation of an attempted child-luring incident which occurred May 1. According to police, at about 4 p.m. that day a man approached an 11-year-... More ... Giant yard sale will benefit three schools       The PTOs of three Freehold Borough schools (Freehold Learning Center, Park Avenue Elementary School and Freehold Intermediate School) will host a giant yard sale on May 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Area residents are encouraged to gather up all their "stuff" that has been collecting d... More ... Officials foil plan to attack Fort Dix Six men arrested in alleged terrorist plot on New Jersey Army base BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       The arrest of six individuals and the unraveling of a plot to attack the Fort Dix army base in Wrightstown, Burlington County, shocked New Jersey residents last week. Speaking on May 8, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Christopher J. More ... Polo match will benefit art therapy initiative       COLTS NECK - The Amanda's Easel Art Therapy Program, a service of 180 Turning Lives Around, will sponsor its second annual "Polo Match and Tailgate Party" fundraiser on June 3 at 2 p.m. at Bucks Mill Park, Bucks Mill Road. Event proceeds will benefit Amanda's Easel, a nonprofit service... More ... On Campus       Scott Kaufman-Ross, son of Har-lene and Michael Ross of Marlboro, has been named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Washington University of St. Louis. Kaufman-Ross is a junior enrolled in the Olin School of Business and is a 2004 graduate of Marlboro High School. He is treasurer of ... More ... Budget hearing set for June 13 BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Following some last minute tweaking, a 2007 municipal budget totaling $29.6 million was introduced by the Township Committee on May 9. A public hearing and adoption of the spending plan is scheduled for the committee's June 13 meeting. More ... Change of venue sought in Marlboro lawn sign case BY VICTORIA HURLEY-SCHUBERT Staff Writer       MARLBORO - A Robertsville Road homeowner who was issued a municipal summons for having what the town claims is an illegal billboard on her lawn has asked that the court case be transferred to another town. More ... On Campus       Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa., has named the following local students to the dean's commendation list for the fall semester: Andrew Davison and Lindsey McCallion, both of Freehold. Laura Rose Major, a junior psychology major at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., has been name... More ... Plan to appoint new official hits a snag in Manalapan BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - It appears as if the appointment of a resident to fill an unexpired term on the Township Committee is on hold due to a request from members of the governing body that the prospective candidates have refused to satisfy. A seat on the committee opened when Republican Commit... More ... Borders books coming to mall       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Borders Inc. will open a 25,150-square-foot store at Freehold Raceway Mall in November. Borders is part of Freehold Raceway Mall's new open-air 100,000-square-foot lifestyle expansion, which is anticipated to be completed this fall. The store will be at the intersection o... More ... Gas main accident forces evacuation of preschool BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       ENGLISHTOWN - A gas main break tied up traffic for hours and led to the evacuation of a strip mall and a preschool on the afternoon of May 8. Englishtown Police Chief John Niziolek said a contractor working on a construction project on Wilson Avenue near Gordons Corner Road tore a la... More ... Council makes it official: Roth is new police chief BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - The borough's new police chief has a lot of ideas and plans he is anxious to implement in his department and his enthusiasm for his new position is clearly visible. Mitch Roth, 46, was named Freehold Borough's new police chief and took his oath of office at the Borough Cou... More ... Theft nets former rabbi five-year prison term       On May 4, Peter Light, the former rabbi in charge of the Marlboro Jewish Center, Marlboro, received a five-year prison term for his admitted theft of more than $86,000 from the synagogue. State Superior Court Judge Ira E. More ... Fencing instructor says sport gaining popularity Students of all ages learning techniques at Colts Neck facility BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       The sport of fencing is an exciting way to exercise the body and mind, with no age limit for participants. "Students range in age from 7 to 72," said Agota Balot, owner and head instructor of the Atlantic Fencing Club, Colts Neck. "Fencing is a gender-neutral sport. Size and physica... More ... In the Arts       The Freehold Center Partnership (FCP) invites antiques collectors from far and wide to check out the trinkets and treasures from the past at the 10th annual Spring AntiqueFest/Art Show May 20 (rain date, May 27) from 9 am to 4 p.m. on West Main Street between Court and Throckmorton streets. M... More ... In the Arts       Mitchell Sanborn Gallery, 46 West Front St., Keyport, will present "Eastern Europe: Historic and New Photographs" by Alan Leckner, president of Monmouth County Camera Club, May 19-June 9. More ... In the Arts       The Art Society of Monmouth County will hold its annual spring luncheon 11 a.m. May 17 at Shore Casino Restaurant, Atlantic Highlands. Local artists will have the opportunity to network and enjoy an acrylic painting demonstration by guest speaker Robert A. Loder Jr. More ... Blood drive to reward donations with a pint BY VICTORIA HURLEY-SCHUBERT Staff Writer       A regional blood drive to be held this weekend dubbed "A Pint for A Pint" and sponsored by Barfly magazine does not have the support of the Red Cross. Despite that, the organizer of the effort to supply critically needed blood says he is ready to proceed with the community event and s... More ... Mosquito commission offers tick identification and testing service       As part of Monmouth County's Tick-borne Diseases Program, residents who find a tick can bring it to the Monmouth County Mosquito Commis-sion's (MCMC) office in Tinton Falls to have it identified and analyzed for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. More ...