Kruise Nite gets green light for '08 FREEHOLD - The Freehold Center Partnership announced on May 5 that Kruise Nite will be held in downtown Freehold Borough in May, June, July and August. Recent comments by borough officials appeared to have left the 2008 edition of Kruise Nite in doubt. Representatives of the borough and the partnership had been meeting in recent weeks in an attempt to work out an agreement that would allow the event to take place. According to Monday's announcement, Kruise Nite, which has been held for 18 years in a row on the final Thursday of May, June, July and August, will take place on May 29, June 26, July 31 and Aug. 28 from 6-10 p.m. Kruise Nite was founded to celebrate classic automobiles and their cultural impact on American society, according to the partnership. The owners of classic cars line Main Street and invite attendees to check out the vehicles up close. "Kruise Nite has become a staple event for the downtown of Freehold Borough," said Jayne Carr, operations director for the Freehold Center Partnership. "It makes sense that Monmouth County's original highway - Route 537 - and the town that sprang up to service the county plays host to the automobiles that once traveled here through the decades." Sidewalk vendors will continue to offer goodies and fun souvenirs, music will be provided by a disc jockey and two local radio stations, and nonprofit organizations will be on hand for public education and fundraising efforts. Among the vendors are the Freehold FirstAid and Emergency Squad, Freehold Open Door, WRAT-FM, CentraState Healthcare System, Pinto Novelties, Pierce Promotions and the Freehold Kruisers. Restaurants accommodate a variety of tastes, such as Italian, Mexican, Pan- Asian, Japanese and traditionalAmerican fare. According to the press release, the Freehold Center Partnership and the Borough Council, along with the Freehold Borough Police Department, collaborated on a successful effort to restructure the event to ensure it can continue to accommodate thousands of visitors in a safe and orderly environment for years to come. Crowd management issues needed to be addressed and resolved in a most efficient and economical manner to ensure the livelihood of the event for the future, the partnership said. "In any town, public safety must be paramount, especially given an event of this magnitude. We are pleased that all parties involved stepped up to the plate to provide creative and resourceful resolutions," Mayor Michael Wilson said. Some of the changes for Kruise Nite include designated show-parking only for automobiles, no alcohol consumption on the street, increased security/police for protection and quicker response should any incident arise due to crowds, and a 9:30 p.m. closing time for entertainment and vendor activities. "As we have grown, much to our delight, we have realized that along with the natural evolution of a successfully entrenched event comes a need for continual review and adjustment to ensure we are on the right track," Carr added.