CHRIS KELLY staff Rebecca Pivnick, 16, and Jen Post, 17, stroll along a street in Freehold Township on April 13 as they participate in the 2008 Walk MS fundraiser. The event benefits individuals and their families who are living with multiple sclerosis. This year's Freehold area walk began and ended... More ... Group offers reward after memorial is vandalized 9/11 sculpture was housed at Weaverville Road studio in Freehold Township BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       The National Police Defense Foundation (NPDF) is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who vandalized its Sept. 11 police memorial. According to a press release from the NPDF, the foundation commissioned sculptor Franco Minervini of... More ... Budai, Johnson pursue seats on governing body BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - There will be a Republican primary in Manalapan in June now that Kalman "Butch" Budai Jr. and Steven Johnson are also vying for two seats on the Township Committee. More ... Caring teen donates hair in name of friends BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - How one soul is touched by another in life is sometimes even more clearly visible in death. Erica Cerrato, 12, had long hair most of her life - until March 18. On that day she walked into Joe's Barber Shop on South Street in Freehold Borough and had 12 inches of her lush loc... More ... Sides still talking about Kruise Nite for 2008 BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD- The future of the landmark community event that some people say put Freehold Borough on the map remains in question. Freehold Borough officials and members of the Freehold Center Partnership were expected to meet this week to continue their discussion about the future of Kruise Nite, wh... More ... Marlboro Players pursues online defamation case Attorney representing theater group expects to be in court April 18 BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO- It is a case of who done it in a lawsuit filed by the Marlboro Players against defendants all listed as John Doe that stems from comments that were posted on an online Internet forum. The Marlboro Players is a community theater group. More ... Feds allege worker fired for complaint about firm U.S. lawsuit seeks man's lost back pay, punitive damages BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       HOWELL - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Brocon Petroleum Inc., Route 33, and its president, Richard Kohler, on behalf of a former employee of the company. That employee was allegedly terminated in violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and ... More ... Manalapan symphony to perform       MANALAPAN - The Manalapan Symphony Orchestra will present its second concert of the 2007-08 season at 3 p.m. May 4 at Manalapan High School, Church Lane. Michael Avagliano, in his first year as music director, will lead the orchestra as it presents a program of Mozart, Haydn and Dvorak. More ... Teen plans April 27 event to highlight food allergies BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Adam Rubinstein, 13, wants to make a difference in the life of his brother Jason, 16, and the approximately 12 million other people who are afflicted with severe food allergies that can become life threatening. More ... Mayor outlines initial progress in Marlboro BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - April 9 was Mayor Jonathan Hornik's 100th day in office and to mark that day, Hornik and the Township Council held a town hall meeting at the Greenbriar adult community. The mayor had called for such meetings upon his inauguration. More ... Mayor states displeasure with looming cut in aid BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN- After being informed by state officials that Manalapan's net reduction in state aid for 2008 would amount to $376,823, Mayor Michelle Roth decided to go to Trenton to share something of hers that was in surplus - her anger and dismay over the cash cut. More ... Autopsy in girl's death inconclusive       MANALAPAN - An autopsy that was performed on a 17-year-old Manalapan girl who was found dead at her home proved inconclusive and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office is continuing its investigation into the matter. First Assistant Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw Jr. More ... Englishtown unable to pay for summer camp waivers BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Englishtown Mayor Thomas Reynolds told Manalapan officials on April 9 that his town will not be able to pay for youngsters from his community who attend the Manalapan summer recreation program but are unable to pay the $500 registration fee. More ... Man indicted in connection with June '07 fatal accident       On March 28, a Monmouth County grand jury returned an indictment charging John Lombardo Jr., 35, whose last known address was in Marlboro, with vehicular homicide and knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Jun... More ... Middle school will host hearing on rate increase BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - A public hearing on the New Jersey American Water Co.'s proposed 23.35 percent rate increase will be held at the Howell Memorial Middle School, Route 524 (Adelphia Road), at 7 p.m. April 23. More ... Restaurant tasting will benefit foundation BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - The Marlboro Educational Foundation's Restaurant Tasting, an evening of appetizing dishes, raffles and silent auction gift baskets, will be held at the Excelsior, Route 9 south,Manalapan, on May 5. More ... Songwriting seminar offered       MANALAPAN - A new program called "Yes, You Can Write a Song" is being offered by the Manalapan Parks and Recreation Department. Students will discuss the essential components of a song, the use of lyrical language and style, and songwriting mistakes. They will analyze hit songs and evaluate their... More ... Summer at PNC: Changes in concert lineup, tailgating State police will use video surveillance, plainclothes officers BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL - Festival-type concerts and tours are off the summer concert roster for the PNC Bank Arts Center, according to Kevin Morrow, president of Live Nation New York. Morrow made the announcement to a small audience at a forum held March 18 at Holmdel High School. More ... Scholarships, special grants supported by casino night       The Howell Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation and the Howell Township Education Foundation, two education-focused, nonprofit organizations, recently co-hosted a casino night at Our House Restaurant and Tavern in Howell to raise money to provide learning opportunities for local public school ... More ... April: An ear to the ground       Watch whom you invite to your garden party! Some guests are most unwelcome and soon push others to the sidelines. These are the assertive and belligerent plants, soon running wild, quickly filling every space and that of their neighbor. Quite often, gardeners grateful for a different plant will ru... More ... Band to honor soldiers at Vietnam Memorial Freehold Township H.S. musicians have enjoyed busy schedule this year BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The members of the Freehold Township High School band have been busy making music for all to hear during the 2007-08 school year, and they are not ready to stop yet. "We start in late summer with marching band camp and play at several festivals, parades and football games thr... More ... Citizens get inside look at K-8 school district BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - You don't have to be a graduating eighth-grader to earn a diploma in the Freehold Borough K-8 School District. Agroup of volunteers who attended the school district's first Citizens Academy were each presented with a diploma in recognition of their "graduation" from a six-session cour... More ... Student information system to be upgraded in Marlboro       MARLBORO - The Marlboro K-8 School District will be getting a new student information system after the Board of Education approved the purchase of PowerSchool at a recent meeting. PowerSchool from Pearson School Systems, of Chandler, Ariz., will cost the district $175,547, according to the resol... More ... Council working to keep municipal tax rate stable Howell officials acknowledge tough financial times BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - Township officials are working to develop a budget for 2008 that will not raise the municipal tax rate. The budget was discussed by members of the Township Council during an April 9 meeting. At that time members of the governing body indicated that it is their goal to hold the municipa... More ... Englishtown unable to pay for summer camp waivers BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer      MANALAPAN — Englishtown Mayor Thomas Reynolds told Manalapan officials on April 9 that his town will not be able to pay for youngsters from his community who attend the Manalapa summer recreation program but are unable to pay the $500 registration fee. More ... Mortgage broker pleads guilty to defrauding bank       AFreehold mortgage broker pleaded guilty on April 3 to one count of bank fraud for submitting fraudulent documents in support of a $367,500 residential mortgage loan application, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced. More ... Preservation grants awarded       The Monmouth County Historical Commission awarded preservation grants recently for 25 restoration projects in 18 municipalities. The awards totaled $100,000. Local grant recipients include: • Colts Neck Preservation Committee, school blackboard restoration, $1,500. More ... Runners to raise awareness of neurofibromatosis effects       The Jersey Shore Relay is set for April 19 and some of its participants hope the event will raise awareness of Neurofibromatosis, popularly called NF, a childhood disorder which affects nerve tissue. Among the hundreds of runners will be members of 22 teams who will be wearing bright yellow shirt... More ... 'Smokey Joe's Café' cast will rock and roll all night BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - Smoking hot performances will be served up when the Marlboro Players perform"Smokey Joe's Café" at the Marlboro Middle School, Route 520, on April 25-26 and May 2-3 at 8 p.m., and on April 27 at 3 p.m. "Smokey Joe's Café" is the longest running musical revue in the history o... More ... Newspaper group takes home 30 awards in NJPA contest       Greater Media Newspapers received 30 awards from the New Jersey Press Association for excellence in writing, photography and advertising in the NJPA's Better Newspaper Contest for 2007. More ...