Church reaches out with helping hand for hungry Bethel A.M.E. volunteers make weekends better for children, seniors BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       The season of giving is not over in Freehold just because the holidays are behind us. In an effort to keep the giving going, volunteers at the Bethel A.M.E. Church, Waterworks Road, are packaging and delivering meals to hungry children on a weekend basis through their weekend meal program. More ... Mayor says Freehold is 'worth fighting for' Michael Wilson sworn in for new term in hometown BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD- Mayor MichaelWilson told a standing-room-only crowd in Borough Hall that words could not do justice to the profound sense of gratitude he had for the people of Freehold who honored him with the job of leading them for another four years. More ... State DOT grant will fund Symmes Drive realignment       MANALAPAN - Mayor Michelle Roth announced that Manalapan has been awarded a $160,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation to be used for the realignment of Symmes Drive at the bend in the road near Craig Road and CaitlinWay. More ... Marlboro board may ask for do-over on ballot law       MARLBORO - A resolution will soon appear before the Marlboro K-8 Board of Education that will address special budget questions that are placed on the ballot in the annual school election. More ... Stepped-up enforcement planned on 3 more roads Police chief reports results from last year's motor vehicle program BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Police officers will again be participating in a program of enhanced enforcement of motor vehicle laws on selected roads in Manalapan. A resolution providing for the stepped-up enforcement was adopted by the Township Committee on Jan. 9. More ... Kane, Sims, Schnurr take seats on council BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - Three members of the Borough Council were sworn into office when the governing body of Freehold Borough held its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 6. All six members of the council and Mayor MichaelWilson are Democrats. More ... Work begins on a place where wishes come true       TheMake-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey has broken ground on a castle like building that will be one of a kind on the East Coast. The 20,000-square-foot structure, to be called the Samuel and Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, will be on Perrineville Road, off Route 33 west in Monroe Township. More ... It's not MOM's day just yet in Middlesex County BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer       Aridership study released on Dec. 13 by NJ Transit says that the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) line that would run from Lakehurst to theMonmouth Junction section of South Brunswick to the Northeast Corridor line and then to New York City would have the highest daily ridership out of the ... More ... Clerk serves as conduit between town, public Linda Cottrell plans retirement from Freehold Borough BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - One of Freehold Borough's most well-respected employees will bid farewell on Feb. 1 after 15 years with the municipality. Municipal Clerk Linda Cottrell, 62, has made the decision to retire and although her coworkers are happy for her, they are not hesitant about stating how much the... More ... State appellate court rules in favor of superintendent BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       Legal vindication was realized last week for Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools James Wasser when a state appellate court rejected a former employee's appeal of a lower court's decision. The case involved John A. Martucci, a former administrative supervisor for curri... More ... Freehold Twp. has plan for light at intersection Proposals sought for signal at Three Brooks and Halls Mill roads BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Another local traffic hot spot is in line for a traffic signal. Freehold Township is accepting bids from contractors who want the job of installing a temporary traffic signal at the intersection of Three Brooks and Halls Mill roads. More ... Annual King breakfast Jan. 21       On the morning of Jan. 21, local residents and friends of the YMCA will join together in celebration of the life ofDr.Martin Luther King Jr. Hosted annually by The Community YMCA, Red Bank, and the YMCA of WesternMonmouth County, Freehold Township, the 19th annual Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. More ... Addiction programs begin new era with new homes New Hope Foundation, Discovery Institute offer varied services BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - New state-of-the-art facilities for people who are seeking help with their addictions have officially opened their doors in Marlboro. The New Hope Foundation and Discovery Institute Inc. recently celebrated the opening of their new rehabilitation centers on Conover Road. More ... County looking to expand shared services agreements       In an effort to spur an expanded use of shared government services, the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has awarded a contract to Government Strategy Group to bolster shared services among various government agencies in Monmouth County. More ... Town loses an old friend       Downtown Freehold Borough took a hard shot to the body in the second week of the new year when the landmark American Hotel was demolished. The historic building, which stood in Freehold for about 180 years, held many memories for generations of area families who celebrated their most cherished oc... More ... For the Record       Manalapan Township Committeewoman Michelle Roth was elected mayor of Manalapan for 2008 by a 3-1 vote during the committee's reorganization meeting on Jan. 2. Roth voted for herself and was supported by Committeewoman Susan Cohen and Committeeman Richard Klauber. Committeeman Anthony Gennaro voted... More ... Educator will meet challenges of new post BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - Angela O'Cone says she has always had a passion for learning. She has turned that passion into a career and is now serving as the acting vice principal at Howell's Adelphia School. More ... The eagles have landed in western Monmouth Upper Freehold residents boast of rare raptor sightings in the area BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       Wildlife sightings happen daily in a place like Upper Freehold Township, a rural community in western Monmouth County that is still largely untouched by development. Most residents have fun searching the landscape for beavers, raccoons, deer and even bears. More ... Marlboro board updates policies; accepts donations BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Three Marlboro K-8 School District policies were updated at the Board of Education's meeting on Dec. 18. The updates were done to comply with new legislation, according to Sharon Witchel, the district's public information officer. More ... Women dance their way to fellowship Core of Fire uses the healing power of dance BY LINDA DeNICOLA Correspondent       Memories of when they danced together as young women led Red Bank nativesMargaret RiceMoir and Carol Penn to form a dance company made up of mature women and call it the Core of Fire Interfaith Dance Ministry. More ... Company may seek hike in water rates of 20-25% BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - Customers of the New Jersey American Water Company are learning this week that the utility may be seeking to raise its rates by 20 to 25 percent. New Jersey American informed the township in December that it was planning to file an application for a rate increase with the New Jersey Boa... More ... Council announces 2008 municipal appointments BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - Municipal appointments for 2008 were on the agenda when the Borough Council held its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 6. Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina was appointed as the deputy clerk and the affirmative action officer. Bellina is also in charge of damage assessment. More ... Stalking bill expected to be reintroduced BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       Although it received last-minute unanimous passage in the lame duck state Assembly with an 80-0 vote, billA-4354, which sought to increase the penalties and alter the definition of stalking, died due to lack of time and a lack of action in the state Senate. More ... Retired director oversaw Manalapan DPW's growth BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - John Lewis remembers when Manalapan residents could burn their own leaves, when the winter mix for the community's roads was salt and sand, most of the township was farmland and "everyone knew each other." Lewis, 58, a lifelong township resident, recently retired from his position as... More ... Rotary donates funding for bicycle racks       FREEHOLD - The Executive Board of the Freehold Rotary Club recently announced the donation of $2,000 to Freehold Borough for the purchase and installation of bicycle racks in the area around the downtown bus station. The bicycle racks are intended to complement the architectural design of the his... More ... Malysz will chair zoners       MARLBORO - Glenn Malysz was elected chairman of the Marlboro Zoning Board of Adjustment when the board held its annual reorganization meeting Jan. 8. Malysz was the board's vice chairman last year. Michael Fishman, who chaired the panel in 2007, was elected vice chairman for 2008. More ... Big voice puts youngster on track to singing career BY BARI FAYE SIEGEL Correspondent       HOWELL - Stephanie Marie Hanvey is petite and really quite shy. She loves gymnastics, cheerleading and basketball and, to look at her, you would think she is just another pretty fifth-grader. You'd be wrong. When this 10-year-old Ramtown Elementary School student opens her mouth to sing, she so... More ...