ERIC SUCAR staff Members of the Freehold Township K-8 School District summer band tune their instruments before performing a concert for friends and family members Aug. 3 at Freehold Township High School. The students spent several weeks of their vacation working on their musical skills. More ... Districts hire new business administrators Boyce to Freehold Reg., Boyle to Freehold Twp. in pending changes BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       There are changes coming to the administrative offices at two local school districts. Sean P. Boyce, who was the business administrator and board secretary in the Freehold Township K-8 School District for seven years, has been hired for that same position in the Freehold Regional Hi... More ... Planning board approves patio homes off Ryan Rd. BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - The Planning Board has unanimously granted preliminary approval to a development of nine attached patio homes off of Ryan Road. The board granted its approval on Aug. 1 to the Enclave at Glenbrook. The parcel is surrounded by the Glenbrook development. At present there is ... More ... Academy commuters vent over bus issues Riders complain that full buses pass by and no options are available BY ERIN O. STATTEL Correspondent       The commuters are restless and unhappy. Last week they let someone know that. State Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth and Mercer) held a forum on Aug. More ... Manalapan pair charged with bias intimidation       MANALAPAN - On July 31, Adriane Lynn Tropiano, 40, and Angela Marie DeNigris, 40, who live at different addresses on Parkview Way, were arrested and charged with bias intimidation and terroristic threats in connection with a series of threats that were made against a Manalapan couple. More ... Motorcycle ride honors victims, heroes of 9/11 Manalapan couple gets ready for 3-day event from Aug. 16-18 BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - America pledged to never forget those who were lost on Sept. 11, 2001. Township residents Butch and Michelle Budai are two people who have made it their personal business to make sure that promise is not forgotten, nor are the people who were killed on that day or the f... More ... Datebook       • Single Friends, 55 and older, will temporarily meet every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall, 8 First Place, Old Bridge. The group formerly met at Huddy's, Freehold Township. Cost is $2. Details: (732) 775-8710. • Freehold Phrasers Toastmasters Club meets the firs... More ... Council gives nod to DOT sidewalk plan Liquor license transfer approved for bar that has been shuttered BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - The state Depart-ment of Transportation's (DOT) planned installation of sidewalks on both sides of Route 9 between Texas Road and the Regal shopping center was approved by the Township Council on Aug. 2. More ... Police officer hurt in scuffle       FREEHOLD - A resident's behavior because of what police said was an intoxicated state resulted in a trip to the CentraState Medical Center emergency room for a Freehold Borough police officer. According to Freehold Borough police Lt. Mark Wodell, Patrolman Rich Ciampa responded to a So... More ... Fun times at farm bring taste of West to Howell BY ERIN O. STATTEL Correspondent       HOWELL - The clock starts and a blur of brown and white cows streak by the bleachers. Two girls on horseback fly by, laughing and screaming. The girls aim their horses in the cows' direction, ready to beat the clock. Welcome to the weekly team penning event at Curry Farms, Georgia Tavern R... More ... Blood donors receive free admission to county fair       The Middlesex County Fair will host a nightly blood drive at the fairgrounds, 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, from Aug. 6-12. Blood donors will receive free admission for the daily blood drives scheduled through Friday from 5-9 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 ... More ... Summer camp seeks volunteers       The Muscular Dystrophy Association is seeking summer camp volunteers who are looking for a rewarding and memorable experience. Volunteer counselors are needed to help young people with neuromuscular diseases enjoy a fun-filled MDA summer camp from Aug. 18-24 at Spring Valley, N.Y. More ... Assault on Englishtown cops sends man to prison       On July 27, Austin K. Genoa, 21, of Old Bridge, was sentenced to a seven-year state prison term after a jury convicted him in May of eluding Englishtown police, aggravated assault by eluding police, and two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. The sentence was imposed by ... More ... Extra school aid ends up being less than expected BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - Administrators in the Freehold Borough K-8 School District had been anxiously anticipating official word about how much additional state aid they would be receiving for the 2007-08 school year. The wait is over. District officials received a document on July 27 advis... More ... Three new tenants named for mall's lifestyle center BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Work on the Freehold Raceway Mall expansion is progressing and three more retailers have signed on for space in the mall's new lifestyle center. A 100,000-square-foot addition to the mall - dubbed the lifestyle center - is under construction between Sears and J.... More ... Music ministry director keeps beat at St. Mary's BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       COLTS NECK - Tom Carter, the new director of music ministry at St. Mary's Parish, brings to the congregation his expertise of sacred music and something more - his love of jazz. "I studied jazz with Jimmy Amadie, a former sideman (piano accompanist) with Mel Torme and Woody Herman,"... More ... In the Arts       Running Rabbit Family Theatre will present "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" at Pollak Theatre, Monmouth University, West Long Branch. Performances will take place Aug. 9 and 10 at 10:30 a.m.; and Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. More ... Near accident sparks idea for motor vehicle safety BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       Your car starts clinking and making all sorts of horrific noises as you drive down a busy highway. The best thing you can do is pull off on the side of the road, but that is a move that can sometimes be risky. Knowing that, two area residents sought to come up with a safety product fo... More ... Official: Rumors unfounded Anonymous letter made claims about field at rec center BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Township health officer Dave Richardson said rumors of historic pesticide contamination on a football field at the Manalapan Recreation Center posing a health threat to people who use the field are just that - rumors. According to Richardson, there is no cause for conc... More ... Manalapan preschool wins OK from board BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - The construction of a preschool across the street from an adult community was approved by the Planning Board on July 26. The 4-2 vote to approve The Learning Experience came after a series of meetings in which some residents of the adult community, the Village Grande, had... More ... Tick-borne diseases are focus of site       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The Freehold Township Health Department has announced the launch of a new Internet Web site that offers centralized and comprehensive information on tick-borne disease ecology and control. According to a press release from the township, the Web site provides informa... More ... Revaluation inspections will be getting under way BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       ENGLISHTOWN - Residents will be getting a surprise in their mailbox soon, if they have not already received it. Sometime this month, all property owners in the borough should be receiving a letter from Certified Valuations Inc., of Randolph, informing them that the property they own ... More ... Office building seeks approval       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Medical Freehold LLC has applied to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for approval to construct a one-story, 8,800-square-foot office building next to an existing medical/office building at 303 W. Main St. (Route 537). A use variance is required for the new building be... More ... Law enforcement careers highlighted during week Police academy hosts 16th annual summer program for youths BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Even though there may have been an individual activity they did love, one thing all of the participants at the 16th annual Sheriff Youth Week could agree on was that the program was filled with memorable presentations and experiences. More ... Feds appear set to assist watershed restoration       MARLBORO - The U.S. House of Representatives has approved $15 million in a water resources development conference report authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move ahead with small-scale watershed restoration projects, including stream bank restoration in Marlboro. More ...