CHRIS KELLY staff Michael Walker, 6, of Marlboro, examines the fossils, bones and other items that have been arranged on a table during Discovery Day at the Marlboro Recreation Community Center on April 27. A dinosaur exhibit was part of the event. More ... Panel tries to get a handle on impact of retail center Developer makes changes to Village at Manalapan plan BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       The attorney representing The Village at Manalapan has said the developer is no longer proposing to include a housing component as part of its plan. What will be included in The Village at Manalapan and how traffic will navigate the site is still being discussed. More ... Resident seeks left-turn arrows at Route 33 & Millhurst Road Manalapan location is scene of frustration for area motorists BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       Aresident is asking for action to be taken at a Manalapan intersection that is often choked with traffic. More ... Health center pumps up pupils' school workout Dance Dance Revolution also has students moving & thinking about fitness BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - A combination of fast food diets, video games and a lack of exercise has made childhood obesity a serious and growing health concern in the United States. Health-savvy educators around the nation are trying to stay one step ahead of their students' sedentary habits in an effort to nur... More ... Effort is afoot for skate park to honor two teens Concert at Eisenhower was held to support new skate park fund BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Community members have started to join an effort to raise money for the establishment of a second skate park in Freehold Township that would provide a safe, protected environment for youths to ride their skateboards. More ... Town will ask sheriff's office to man school post BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Members of the Township Committee have given the goahead for Township Administrator Tara Lovrich to contact the Monmouth County Sheriff 's Office for the purpose of requesting that an officer be placed atManalapan High School. More ... History students advance to next level       MANALAPAN- Pupils from the Manalapan EnglishtownMiddle School recently participated in the Southern Regional Division of the New Jersey National History Day Competition at Rider University. The theme of the competition was "Conflict and Compromise in American History. More ... Impact of horses, racing focus for new committee       ASave the Horse Committee that was formed by Monmouth County Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry and comprising a variety of stakeholders held its first meeting recently and dedicated itself to lobbying state officials to make them understand the value the horse and, particularly, the horseracing... More ... Library concert to feature Manalapan cellist virtuoso       Courtney Lin Kaita, a budding 17- year-old cellist virtuoso and lifelong Manalapan resident, will present a performance of great cello masterworks at 2 p.m.May 3 at theMonmouth County Library Headquarters, Symmes Drive,Manalapan. Admission is free. More ... Officials OK bonding for municipal projects BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - The Township Committee at its meeting onApril 23 approved a bonding ordinance that will help to pay for a host of municipal projects. According to the ordinance, the total cost of the various improvements and related expenses is $4.5 million. Bonds in the amount of $4.275 million wil... More ... Home run derby will help endow scholarship BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       Signups are now being accepted for a home run derby that will benefit a scholarship in the name of a former Freehold High School student. The home run derby to be held at 10 a.m. June 1 will take place at the YMCAof Western Monmouth County's Camp Topanemus facility on Route 537, Millstone Townshi... More ... Baseball game goes to the dogs       LAKEWOOD - All dog owners are welcome to bring their four-legged friends to a baseball game from 1-7 p.m. May 3, at FirstEnergy Park, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood. WJRZ-FM and WRAT-FM, two Greater Media radio stations, are hosting "Bark at the Park," a Lakewood BlueClaws' tradition for the past four ye... More ... Freehold strengthens jewelry resale practices BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - An amended ordinance that regulates the buying and selling of jewelry and precious metals in Freehold Borough was adopted by the Borough Council on April 7. The original jewelry and precious metals code was revised. More ... DOT OKs rail line funds       New Jersey Transit will receive more than $1 million for its proposed Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex (MOM) passenger rail line, according to Reps. Chris Smith and Jim Saxton (both R-N.J.), who sought to have the money included in the federal budget. More ... Detective honored with Officer of the Year award BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - Detective Michael Ratta, who joined the Manalapan Police Department as a patrolman in July 2001, received the department's Officer of the Year Award for 2007 during ceremonies held at the April 23 meeting of the Township Committee. More ... Science students stand out       MANALAPAN - A total of 17 Manalapan EnglishtownMiddle School Science Investigations That Excite Students (SITES) participants competed in the Albert Einstein Science Fair, the junior level of the Delaware Valley Science Fairs. More ... Soil cleanup at rec site completed under budget BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - A soil remediation project at theManalapan Recreation Center has been completed for less than the Township Committee budgeted for the job. At its meeting on April 23, the Township Committee approved a change order for TTI Environmental Inc. that lowered the cost of the cleanup from $... More ... Conover Road students raise pennies for patients       COLTS NECK - Students at the Conover Road Primary School collected money to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during the month ofApril. After a kickoff assembly presented by the society, the children earned money for chores in the home or neighborhood that they then contributed to this se... More ... Change in school structure proposed Manalapan-Englishtown superintendent seeks feedback from public BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       ENGLISHTOWN - A change in the structure of the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District is being proposed and input from the public is being sought. In an April 24 letter to parents that was posted on the district's Internet Web site, Superintendent of Schools John J. Marciante Jr. More ... GOP club endorses duo for committee       MANALAPAN - The Manalapan Republican Club voted onApril 15 to endorse the entire Manalapan Republicans line in the June primary for two seats on the Township Committee. More ... Pair sentenced in bias incident       MANALAPAN- On April 25, Adriane Lynn Tropiano, 40, and Angela Marie DeNigris, 40, both of Manalapan, were sentenced by state Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr. for their roles in a bias intimidation incident that occurred in June and July 2007. More ... Pupils make a difference for SPCA animal shelter BY BARI FAYE SIEGEL Correspondent       "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." HOWELL- AnnMarieMenhart's fifthgraders at the Newbury School may never have heard this famous quotation by MargaretMead. They may never h... More ... Monmouth seeks funding to complete rail line study       FREEHOLD - Monmouth County officials have submitted a request to U.S. senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez for the $1.5 million needed to complete the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) so the Monmouth Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) rail project can move toward the preliminary engineerin... More ... Athletic center irks residents Howell officials listen, but make no comment because case now in court BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL- Residents of Fairfield and Baker roads appeared before the Township Council on April 22 with a petition signed by 200 neighbors who object to a proposal put forth by a developer who wants to build theMonmouth CountyAthletic Center near their homes. More ... Water rate hike draws objections New Jersey American plan draws the wrath of residents & officials BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - With nowhere else to turn for water service, Howell residents urged representatives of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to deny the New JerseyAmericanWater Company the 23.35 percent rate increase it is seeking. More ... Two sides due back in court       MARLBORO - The case of the Marlboro Players vs. John Does is on hold for the moment. A defamation case that was filed by the Marlboro Players theater group against unnamed individuals was prompted by comments that were posted on the NJ.com theater forum Internet message board. More ... Students saluted for artwork       FREEHOLD - Twenty-five sixthgraders received U.S. savings bonds recently in recognition of their award-winning artwork in the annual Fair Housing Poster Contest, sponsored by Monmouth County's Fair Housing Board and the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders. More ... Temple Shalom to display AIDS Memorial Quilt Temple will host social action weekend May 1-4       ABERDEEN - As part of a special weekend devoted to social action, sections of the internationally celebrated AIDS Memorial Quilt - the 54-ton handmade tapestry that stands as a memorial to more than 90,000 individuals lost to AIDS - will be on view from May 1-4 at Temple Shalom of Aberdeen Town... More ... WMUA program focuses on keeping grease from sewers       MANALAPAN - The Western Monmouth UtilitiesAuthority (WMUA) has announced the start of a new program to cut down on grease entering its treatment system and local waterways, asking that food service establishments implement new maintenance practices to prevent sewer line blockages and threats to t... 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. Antonin ... More ... Liberty Oak Chorus to perform in Jackson       JACKSON- The Liberty Oak Chorus, an award-winning Freehold-based chapter of Sweet Adelines International, will be performing its "Red Hot" spring show at Jackson Memorial High School, 101 Don Connor Boulevard, Jackson, at 3 p.m. May 18. More ... Bohlin, Schneider seek mayor, council positions BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - Republicans Russell Bohlin and Paul Schneider were the only candidates who filed nominating petitions to run for the mayor's seat and a term on the Township Council by theApril 7 deadline. Bohlin is running for a four-year term as Howell's mayor and Schneider is running for a four-year... More ... Minister has sought to make church a presence in town BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - The Rev. Dr. Andre McGuire is a leader, an inspirational teacher and a man of God. McGuire was recently honored with a resolution from Mayor Michael Wilson in recognition of his 15 years of service to the New Beginnings Agape Christian Center, Throckmorton Street. More ... Silvert's salutes employee upon 50 years of service BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - If Harry Silvert needed something done, Elike Jenkins was the man he went to. Jenkins, 68, has been a valued and dedicated employee of Silvert's furniture store on South Street for 50 years. The respected employee of one of Freehold's oldest businesses was honored at a Borough Council... More ... 'Weekend in Old Monmouth' features tour of historic sites       Monmouth County's first "Weekend in Old Monmouth" historic tour will open the doors of 32 local historic sites all at the same time - from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 3 and from noon to 5 p.m. on May 4. "Independent and local historic sites are generally operated independently of one another," said... More ... Police: Road where fatal accident occurred is safe BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - Opinions differ as to whether Georgia Tavern Road is a safe thoroughfare or a potential drag strip. Georgia Tavern Road is a 4-mile long street that runs between Route 9 in the Freewood Acres section of Howell and Casino Drive. More ... Crash inspires college students to take action Manalapan graduate is among founders of Kylie's Cause BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       The night of Dec. 28, 2007, changed the lives of Elizabeth Ricciardi, 21, Lauren Phillipi, 24, and Melissa Pinheiro, 21, all of whom are roommates at Monmouth University, West Long Branch. That nightMelissa's sister, Heather, 20, and their cousin, Kylie Pinheiro, 18, were driving her home from a ... More ... Former coach sentenced to seven-year prison term       On April 18, Robert Nanni, a former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officer, was sentenced to seven years in New Jersey state prison by state Superior Court Judge Paul F. Chaiet, sitting in Freehold. More ... Marlboro temple delivers Passover meals on wheels       MARLBORO - Passover 2008 marked the eighth year that the Marlboro Jewish Center has delivered Passover kosher meals on wheels to individuals and families who cannot get out to purchase their own holiday food. More ...