Open Door, lake board will benefit from race BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - The hundreds of runners who sign up to participate in the annual Born to Run 5-mile race will be running for more than fitness. Their participation will help to support the Open Door food pantry and the Lake Topanemus Commission. More ... Manalapan officials eye new road off Route 33 Solution sought to ease congestion at Millhurst Road BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       The movement of vehicles on Route 33 is on the minds of Manalapan Township Committee members. At a recent meeting the committee tabled a resolution that is expected to ask the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to allow a new road to be constructed off Route 33 west at a point that is about... More ... Optimists honor members of church's youth group BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer       In the spirit of rewarding those who help others and to celebrate Youth Appreciation Week, the Noontime Optimist Club of Freehold has honored 20 youth group members from the First Presbyterian Church, Freehold Borough, for their efforts in helping needy people. More ... Nominees sought for annual award       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The Freehold Township Human Relations Council is accepting candidates for its Humanitarian of the Year award. The organization will recognize a local high school student who demonstrates behaviors consistent with its mission, which is to foster and promote good will, cooperat... More ... Show pays tribute to famous films       HOWELL - On Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 1 (changed from the original performance dates of Nov. 16-17), Howell High School will present a musical extravaganza "Hooray for Hollywood" in the school auditorium. Show time is 7 p.m. each evening. More ... Holiday events will begin       FREEHOLD - On Nov. 26 from 5-7 p.m. the Freehold Center Partnership will mark the beginning of the 2007 holiday season with its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Monmouth County Hall of Records plaza at the corner of Court and East Main streets. More ... Driver's parents charged with evidence tampering New York authorities lodge charges related to UConn hit-and-run BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - The parents of the teenage driver who recently pleaded no contest to charges he was driving the Nissan Armada that struck Carlee Wines, 19, of Manalapan, on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, Conn., on Jan. 20 have been charged in connection with the incident. More ... Engineer to address flooding BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Township Engineer Greg Valesi will meet with a project engineer in order to begin the process of remediating a flooding culvert problem on Woodward Road. Valesi confirmed to the News Transcript that a problem exists relating to drainage from The Meadows, a residential development bei... More ... Honors presented during Manalapan charity ball BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - A celebration for the arts was also a celebration of some of Manalapan's best employees and volunteers when the first Mayor's Charity Ball took place on Nov. 10. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding the arts in Manalapan and to charity organizations, according to Mayor Andr... More ... Proposed Rt. 537 access subject of much debate 25,000-sq.-ft. building proposed for lot in front of Raintree post office BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - It was not a convention for traffic engineers, but it may as well have been. Three traffic engineers who have testified before local planning and zoning boards on hundreds of projects over the years offered testimony at an Oct. More ...      JEFF GRANIT staff Justin Golub, 10, a student at the Errickson School, Freehold Township, helps deliver food to the Open Door food pantry in Freehold Borough on Nov. 16. The Errickson School youngsters collected food to support the local charitable organization. More ... South Street Players mark 25 years of performances Current production of 'The Rainmaker' on stage at Priedaine BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       The South Street Players have come full circle as they celebrate 25 years of theater production. The group was formerly known at the St. Rose Players. Its first production was N. Richard Nash's "The Rainmaker," a play about a rainmaker's arrival in a drought-stricken western town and the promise ... More ... Future use of housing on base to be discussed       The U.S. Navy has entered into a scoping period as the preliminary process to drafting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in order to evaluate the potential impacts of creating an access route to the Laurelwood housing complex at Naval Weapons Station Earle, Colts Neck, in 2010, as required b... More ... Coalition head reports little progress on aid formula BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Board of Education members were brought up to date on New Jersey's school funding issue at their Nov. 6 meeting. Lynne Strickland, the director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools (GSCS), gave an overview of the coalition and discussed its goals. More ... Reworked home height law may be introduced Nov. 28 BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - An ordinance that concerns the height of homes to be constructed or renovated in Manalapan is itself being reconstructed for a new introduction Nov. 28. After conducting a public hearing on the previous version of the ordinance on Oct. 10, the Township Committee decided on Nov. 7 to ... More ... Institute attorneys object to house of worship code       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - In filing an amended civil rights lawsuit in federal district court against Freehold Township, attorneys for The Rutherford Institute, in cooperation with attorney Gerald A. More ... Crib firm responds to claim of inappropriate response BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       When the federal Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a recall for a baby crib, it was done after a parent contacted the manufacturer to report a construction flaw that posed a danger to any child who might be placed in the crib. More ... 'Beauty and the Beast' comes to Marlboro stage BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - A "tale as old as time" will be enchanting audiences young and old as the Marlboro Players bring the premiere of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" to Monmouth County. More ... Child shows spirit of giving BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Members of the Marlboro Police Department thanked fifthgrader Daniel Elice on the morning of Oct. 30 for a donation he made to the department. More ... Youngster getting thrills on the road with 'Gypsy' Madison Samilow of Marlboro enjoys playing to audiences BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - As she travels throughout the United States and across the border into Canada, Madison Samilow, 10, of Marlboro, is having the time of her life performing in the national Broadway tour of "Gypsy." "Gypsy," produced by Phoenix Entertainment, was at the State Theatre in New Brunswick at... More ...