BREAKING NEWS: Falling enrollment could lead to closing of school Howell enrollment stands at about 7,100; options being examined BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer      HOWELL — As one way of dealing with a declining enrollment in the community’s K-8 public schools, Howell Board of Education members are considering the possible option of closing a school. More ...      CHRIS KELLY staff Residents and visitors to Freehold Borough are still trying to come to grips with the gaping hole on East Main Street where the American Hotel once stood. The oldest part of the hotel was demolished several weeks ago and will be replaced by a new hotel and commercial operation. For... More ... Schools expect to benefit from extra aid Freehold Borough K-8 administrators assess impact of new state formula BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       It's not as good as winning the lottery, but the Freehold Borough School District appears to be in a better position to fund its operations for 2008-09 than it was during the 2007-08 school year. With the implementation of a new schoolfunding formula that was approved by the state Legislature and... More ... Freehold still adjusting to absence of landmark       FREEHOLD - The price of progress sometimes brings with it a double-edged sword and sometimes that price tag includes excitement and sadness. The AmericanHotel is a case in point. More ... New law will have impact on second ballot questions BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD- The Freehold Borough Board of Education has joined a list of school districts asking the governor to grant a do-over. At a recent meeting the board passed a resolution which asks Gov. Jon Corzine and New Jersey's legislative leaders to amend a provision of a 2007 state law. More ... Deputy mayors ready to tackle tasks in town Larry Rosen and Huimin Shen join Hornik administration BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO- Two newdeputymayors officially received their appointments on Jan. 1.Mayor Jonathan Hornik appointed Larry Rosen asMarlboro's director of economic development and Huimin Shen as Marlboro's director of community relations. More ... Personal loss deepens couple's devotion to people in need       Ginny and Ivan Olinsky of Upper Freehold Township have a passion for making a difference in the lives of others and for helping those in need. A great personal loss has been part of the catalyst for their involvement in bettering the lives of members of the community. More ... South St. Players present 'Theatro Pazzo Spaghetti' BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       While the main course will be spaghetti andmeatballs, generous portions of mystery, craziness and entertainment will be on the menu, too, as the South Street Players present a dinner theater entitled "Theatro Pazzo Spaghetti" (Crazy Spaghetti Theater). More ... Volunteers will train to help victims of domestic violence       180-Turning LivesAround will be conducting a 40-hour training for Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) volunteers. The volunteer advocates, whose identities are kept anonymous, work in conjunction with the police to provide support, information and referrals to victims of domestic violence at po... More ... Holocaust survivor tells teens to 'love each other' BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - She stared into the audience of teenagers and was reminded of her adolescent years. She spoke about the turbulence she and her family endured as they tried to escape the horrors of the Nazi regime. She stood before these young adults as a living witness to theHolocaust and told them to n... More ... Firm's owners sentenced to prison       The brother co-owners of International Trucks of Central Jersey were sentenced to prison terms on Jan. 16 for bribing Monmouth County public officials, U.S.Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced. U.S. District JudgeWilliamJ.Martini sentenced Matthew Appolonia, 43, of Berkeley Heights, to 24 m... More ... Holland to chair Planning Board       MANALAPAN - The Planning Board held its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 10, electing new officers from among its members and appointing the board's professionals. Richard Cohen, who served as chairman of the panel in 2007, was elected vice chairman for 2008. More ... Company makes it official: Rate hike of 23% sought Ocean County Board of Freeholders adds its voice to objectors BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       As expected, the New Jersey American Water Company filed an application with the state Board of PublicUtilities (BPU) on Jan. 14 to increase its water rates by 23.35 percent. More ... Jim Murphy thanks God he's a country boy Brick man looks back on lifetime love of country music BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       So how does an Irish kid born and raised in Plainfield end up in America's Old Time CountryMusic Hall of Fame? It all began when Jim Murphy was a boy back in the late 1930s. He would hunker down next to the family's radio and tune into WAAT, out of Newark. The station had just started to play a s... More ... Township teen charged with assault on school bus driver BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - A township resident has been charged with assaulting a school bus driver. Police allege that on Jan. 15 John Bannon, 18, of Veronica Court, assaulted a 67-year-old driver who is an employee of the Durham Bus Company, Freehold. The driver was transporting students home from St. John V... More ... Josephs to chair Planning Board       MARLBORO - Larry Josephs, one of the Planning Board's new members, has been elected by his fellowmembers to chair the panel during 2008. The board held its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 16. BoardmembersGerald Bergh andMark Barenburg will retain their seats as the vice chairman and secret... More ... Jersey Syndicate hopes to follow initial success First year gives band, audiences good feelings as group gets rolling BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer       Mike Sasso has always believed that you should never burn bridges because the people you deal with may be able to help you in the future. That has proved to be a good strategy for Sasso and his band mates in The Jersey Syndicate, who had the rare opportunity to open for Twisted Sister in his band'... More ... District taking precautions after pertussis is diagnosed BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       ENGLISHTOWN - Two cases of pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, were reported in the Manalapan- Englishtown Regional School District this month. Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease characterized by severe coughing spells. More ...