Photos      ERIC SUCAR staff Josean Saez, 9, has a big smile as he reaches for cotton candy during a picnic at the Kateri Day Camp, Marlboro. For the story by staff writer Rebecca Morton, see page 48. More ... Feds deny application for solid waste transfer station Sludge Busters and elected officials praise decision BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Freehold Township now has a nickname - "The Little Engine That Could," according to Annemarie Howley. And the little engine that could, did. What it did was stop a plan that sought to establish a solid waste transfer station on Route 33 about a quarter-mile west of Kozloski Road. More ... Kateri day camp offers opportunity to children BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Campers of the Collier Services' Kateri day camp, Conover Road, enjoyed a special treat on a recent afternoon. With sponsorship from the State Street Corporation the campers devoured an assortment of food and took turns on a giant moon bounce amusement. More ... Grant will help to produce environmental inventory       The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) has selected Howell to re ceive a 2007 Smart Growth Planning Grant to develop an envi ronmental resource inventory. According to a press release, 24 New Jersey municipalities and one county will receive matching grants for planning p... More ... Ethiopian situation draws look from federation reps       Two Monmouth County residents joined more than 170 lay and professional leaders representing 48 Jewish federations across North America who recently participated in a mission to Ethiopia and Israel. The mission provided a firsthand look at life-saving Jewish Federation of Monmouth County projects... More ... Habitat ride set for Sept. 16       Area motorcycle enthusiasts will be revving up their engines again to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. On Sept. 16, Western Monmouth Habitat for Humanity will host its eighth annual Motorcycle Ride for Affordable Housing. More ... Keeping horse industry at pace may cost $50M-$75M Legislators aim to ramp up support for $1.1B enterprise in trouble BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       State Assemblyman Joseph Malone (R-30) wants to use bare-knuckle politics to get legislators in Trenton to understand the importance of New Jersey's horse industry and racing. Malone made his remarks at a recent meeting of about 40 top equine industry members and local and state legislators at Ric... More ...      Park Players will present the feminist comedy "Parallel Lives," written by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy, of the popular "Kathy and Mo Show," at the historic Paramount Theatre. Samantha Beedle and Diana Limon, directed by Robert Bradshaw, will portray over 50 characters in a series of scenes that comm... More ... IN THE ARTS       The Monmouth Folk Dancers offer free folk dance instruction Tuesday evenings through Aug. 28 at Marine Park in Red Bank. Beginners are welcome; no experience is needed. Instruction runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and dancing continues until 10 p.m. In the event of rain, dancing will be held at the Unit... More ... Camp concludes with toy donation       Helping people out feels good so of course you should have some fun while doing it. Having fun at a carnival named Toyland was the aim of the last day's celebration for the campers and friends, family and parents of children who attended the Ivy League Day Camp, Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan, th... More ... Jersey Freeze may give way to Olive Garden Freehold Borough Zoning Board scheduled to hear plan for restaurant BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - It just may be the end of an era, one that included ice cream sundaes on hot summer nights and hot dogs after a Little League baseball game. Customers of the Jersey Freeze ice cream stand and restaurant at Route 9 and Manalapan Avenue may have to switch their appetite from ice cream a... More ... Campers get instruction in nutrition, good health BY ERIN O. STATTEL Correspondent       FREEHOLD - The frequency of obesity in children between the ages of 6 and 11 has doubled in the last 20 years and the occurrence of obesity in adolescents has more than tripled in that same time frame, according to the Centers for Disease Control Internet Web page. More ... Senators' bill becomes law       Abill sponsored by state senators Loretta Weinberg and Ellen Karcher which will educate families about a vaccine to inoculate against the Human Pappilomavirus (HPV), which is linked to the development of cervical cancer, was signed into law last week. More ... Indictment charges man with running pot farm       AFreehold Borough man has been indicted by a Monmouth County grand jury and charged with running a marijuana farm in his home. On Aug. 8, the grand jury returned an indictment charging Todd C. More ... Area men proud to serve with Marines in Mongolia BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       Lance Cpl. Adam Giampiccolo, 22, is from Manalapan and Lance Cpl. Daniel Tacopino, 22, is from Freehold Township, but they had to go all the way to Mongolia to make each other's acquaintance. Giampiccolo and Tacopino are U.S. More ... Judge: Manalapan's case vs. Moskovitz may proceed BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - A state Superior Court judge has ruled that legal action filed against the lawyer who served as Manalapan's municipal attorney in 2005 may proceed. State Superior Court Judge Richard W. English delivered his ruling on Aug. 20 in the case of Manalapan's litigation against attorney Stua... More ... Friendship leads teens to form charitable club BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Five young men who live in Marlboro have taken their friendship and formed a new club with the goal of raising funds for Ocean Harbor House. Ocean Harbor House is a nonprofit agency committed to being a safe haven for youths. The facility is in Toms River, Ocean County. More ... Police, fire depts. put equipment on display at National Night Out BY ELANA ARON Correspondent       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The rain held off for Freehold Township's first edition of National Night Out. The event, which was held in the parking lot of the municipal complex, Stillwells Corner Road, on the evening of Aug. 7, attracted hundreds of residents. More ... Council targets owners of loose shopping carts BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - Municipal officials have had enough with abandoned supermarket shopping carts scattered about the streets of Freehold Borough. With that in mind, council members voted 4-2 on Aug. 13 to amend the town's shopping cart ordinance. More ... Freeholders adopt rules on campaign financing       The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has adopted what is believed to be the strongest payto play reforms in New Jersey that caps all contributions from anyone doing business with the county. It also restricts the wheeling of campaign contributions from out-of-county special interests, politica... More ... Ordinance targets animal waste       ENGLISHTOWN - The Borough Council has adopted an ordinance which amends the borough's animal control regulations. According to the ordinance, the council has determined "that there are occasions where pet waste on non-public property serves as a threat to the health and safety of residents. More ... Residents must take care to avoid wild animals       MANALAPAN - Rabies is a disease everyone has heard of and has learned to dread. This summer has seen a higher than average occurrence of rabies in the tri-state area. There were with 66 reported cases of rabid raccoons on Long Island, N.Y., and at least one confirmed rabid fox in Manalapan. More ... Attempted murder charges lodged       MANALAPAN - The Manalapan Police Department is continuing to investigate an armed robbery that took place at the Yorktowne shopping center, Gordons Corner Road, on Aug. 8 at about 6:30 p.m. According to police, the incident took place in the parking lot between Romeo's Pizza and the Elco photo l... More ... Political foes do battle on yet another front BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - The very public battle between two former members of the Township Committee was ramped up last week when news broke that they are now entangled in a personal legal matter. Stuart Moskovitz, an attorney and former member of the Township Committee, is representing Murry Shapiro, who is... More ... Unlocking potential with the power of storytelling Nonprofit gives ancient art a modern purpose BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       The art of storytelling has its roots in the very beginnings of civilization and has grown throughout time to convey history, values, culture and purpose. Storytelling Arts Inc. More ... Woman charged in theft at Manalapan group home       On Aug. 8, a Monmouth County Grand Jury returned a two-count indictment charging Incenge Torres, 29, of Toms River, with third degree theft and fourth degree forgery. More ... Mosquito commission offers tick identification and testing service       As part of Monmouth County's Tickborne Diseases Program, resi dents who find a tick can bring it to the Monmouth County Mosquito Commission's (MCMC) office in Tinton Falls to have it identified and analyzed for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. More ... Town hall expansion set BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Plans for expansion of the municipal building will be set in motion following the Township Council's recent authorization of a contract for the project. The contract was awarded to Tri-Form Construction Inc., of Metuchen, and is not to exceed $691,800. Tri-Form Construction was the lo... More ... Exhibit traces history of comic book superheroes Montclair Art Museum hosts one-of-a-kind tribute to genre BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       The American cultural phenomenon known as the comic book is getting the royal treatment at the Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, Essex County. Fans of this genre of entertainment will be coming from near and far between now and Jan. 13, 2008, to see a one-of-a-kind exhibition, "Reflecting Culture: ... More ... Zoners hear more details on medical building plan BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Testimony continued in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustment on Aug. 7 from an applicant seeking approval to construct a two-story, 40,000- square-foot medical services building on Route 520 about a quarter-mile east of Route 79. More ...