Farewell to a Main Street mainstay Allentown's large white ash surrenders to old age BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       There's no one alive who saw the white ash when it was just a sapling, but many who live in the Allentown area today shared in the wonders of the tree's golden years. Before the only Fraxinus Americana on Main Street succumbed to old age and finally departed from this world on May 1, it towered 7... More ... Roosevelt residents want art honored, not money Dissent expressed over installation of donor plaque near mural BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       ROOSEVELT - In certain places it's common for those who make monetary donations to a project to be honored with a plaque, but not in Roosevelt. Some residents at theApril 28 Borough Council said it's not appropriate to have a plaque commemorating those who contributed funding to the new communit... More ... U.F. bonds for $535K for DPW equipment Twp. Committee vows to oversee all purchases BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - The Department of Public Works has not one, but two watchdogs. Deputy Mayor Bob Faber and Committeeman Stanley Moslowski Jr., the Township Committee's liaisons to the Department of Public Works (DPW), said they would be the watchdogs and review all of the department's purchasing... More ... 911 system soon to be on narrowband Sheriff also talks about inmate labor program BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - The Monmouth County Sheriff paid a visit to town last week. Kim Guadagno, who was elected last year as the county's first female sheriff, told the Township Committee at its May 1 meeting that her office cares about what happens in Upper Freehold and discussed an upgrade to the 9... More ... Piping to the beat of their own drummer & drum major Borough family strengthens bond through music BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       ALLENTOWN - The family that plays together stays together. Members of Allentown's Owens family are closer than ever since they started sharing their passions for music. More ... Roosevelt to repair, not replace old water tower Water/sewer bills to go up at least $70 BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       ROOSEVELT - Residents can expect their already high water and sewer bills to go up once again. At the April 28 Borough Council meeting, Councilman Jeff Ellentuck reported on recommendations for repairing the structure supporting the town's 71-year-old water tower. More ... Land conservation group faces grim realities State's shrinking horse industry, fiscal crisis loom over preservation BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       Millstone Mayor Nancy Grbelja received a round of applause for her speech in support of saving the state's equine industry at the 31st annualMonmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) Board of Trustees meeting. More ... Connect mind and body for health, stress relief BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       NORTH BRUNSWICK - With your hand on your stomach, take a deep breath through your nose. Hold that breath for four seconds. Slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat this over the course of five minutes. At the end of the deep-breathing cycle, you shouldmore feelmuchmore relaxed and collected, acc... More ... Allentown and U.F. disagree about recreation fees BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       Allentown is not happy about its residents having to pay extra this year for Upper Freehold recreation programs. While township officials continue to vigorously defend the discounted recreation fees they recently adopted for Upper Freehold residents, the Allentown Borough Council passed a resolut... More ... Communities unite to relay for life, ACS       PLUMSTED- The New Egypt,Allentown and Millstone Township communities have united once again to fight cancer in theAmerican Cancer Society's Relay for Life event slated to be held at New Egypt High School, 117 Evergreen Road, Plumsted. More ... Millstone family battles stigma of mental illness BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - When Pradeep Shah told family and friends that he has diabetes, they showed compassion and offered him scads of health tips and diet advice. The receptionwas not the samewhen he told them about his son's illness. More ... Area resident seeks turn signal at Route 33-Millhurst Road BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       AManalapan resident is asking for action to be taken at a Route 33 intersection that is often choked with traffic. More ... Panel tries to get a handle on impact of retail center Developer has reconfigured Village at Manalapan plan BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - 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 ... Bill would give towns power to place traffic signs BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       ANew Jersey assemblyman is crafting legislation that would relieve local municipalities from needing state approval to place street signs. According to Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-19th District), the author of the bill, the purpose of the legislation is to streamline traffic management and inc... More ... Brookdale alumni officer promotes service project End result will be construction of new school in Central Asia BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       Little did Kirsten Kristensen know that a segment of ABC-TV's "Good Morning America" would lead her to spearhead a fundraising campaign to build a school in the mountainous region of Central Asia. More ...