Roosevelt artist is his studio, a factory nook filled with faces       Jonathan Shahn to open solo show in borough March 11 BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer By Jennifer Kohlhepp From behind the closed door of Jonathan Shahn's studio in the historic Roosevelt factory, a person can often hear the quiet tapping of a hammer... More ... Horses would be at heart of new U.F. development BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - The township could be the first in the state to pioneer the use of equestrian communities. At its Feb. 20 workshop meeting, the Planning Board discussed the possibility of giving more of the township's agricultural/residential (AR) zone an equestrian community overla... More ... Family Friends program helps special-needs kids       The Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey (EFNJ) will implement Family Friends, a service program established in 1984 by the National Council on the Aging (NCOA). The Family Friends program will supplement and expand the services of EFN's former program known as Helping Hands. More ...      Jamie Walsh and Michael Thomas show off a nice-size bass caught while ice fishing at Rising Sun Tavern Lake in Millstone Township. More ... Mayor looks beyond township's boundaries External TDR program could preserve township land and its equity BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Mayor Stephen Fleischacker has proposed transferring the township's development potential outside of its borders. The Planning Board is currently entering into its third year of trying to revise the township's master plan. More ... Gay Straight Alliance's name called into question National organization has same moniker as high school's new club BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       ALLENTOWN - The new Gay Straight Alliance at Allentown High School may need to change its name. The Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education approved the creation of the new club in January. But at the board's Feb. 21 meeting, a local resident expressed concerns about the nationa... More ... Audio tour opens show to visually impaired       A special audio tour of the Monmouth County Arts Council (MCAC) Juried Art Show will allow audiences with low vision or visual impairments to enjoy a firsthand experience of the art exhibit. More ... Brookdale will host Teen Arts Festival       Instruments are tuned, practices have been long, and vocalists are prepared. Performances, paintings, poetry plus more are practiced and perfected. The Monmouth County Arts Council's (MCAC) 2007 Teen Arts Festival comes to the campus of Brookdale Community College, Route 520, Lincroft, ... More ... Board censures member for inappropriate language BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       ALLENTOWN - The Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education has censured member Howard Krieger for allegedly cursing and using a racial slur against a member of the community. The vote to censure Krieger on Feb. 21 was 7-0, with Krieger abstaining. He was not asked to resign from the ... More ... Grant will help fund child advocacy center       District 12 state Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-Monmouth and Mercer) and state Assemblyman Mike Panter (D-Monmouth and Mercer) have announced the approval of a $500,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) to aid in the construction of the Mon-mouth County Child Ad... More ... Millstone Charity Gala hands out $49,500 Trailblazers, Lacrosse Club, scholarship fund benefit from charity event BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE -One night made three nonprofit organizations in town $16,500 richer. Each year, the Millstone Charity Gala Committee selects three different nonprofit community organizations to benefit from its charity event. Last year's Millstone Charity Gala recipients were the Millsto... More ... Dentist helps tots learn to keep tooth decay at bay       MILLSTONE - Learning at Frogbridge's Tadpole Village Preschool involves more than just ABCs and 123s. Dr. Robert Griggs, of Old Bridge Dental in Old Bridge, recently met with preschoolers ages 2-6 to talk about the importance of taking care of their teeth. More ... $1.5M fire district budget under review in Millstone Voters turned down proposed spending plans three years in a row BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - The fate of the fire district's budget now lies in the Township Committee's hands. Millstone Township Fire Commissioner Frank Toia told the Township Committee at its Feb. 21 meeting that the fire district has reviewed its budget since it failed with voters and that comm... More ... Candidate screening gets support       The Western Monmouth Republican Conference - made up of GOP representatives from the western part of the county - said last week it is endorsing the concept of the Republican candidate screening committee. Conference Chairman John Costigan, of Howell, said, "Those who wish to represen... More ... Lecture gives glimpse into slaves' fight for freedom Nearby site was part of Underground Railroad       BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer Local residents last weekend explored Allentown's role in the Underground Railroad. Stephanie Smith offered the Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society (AUFHS) use of her historic home, known as the Mill House, for a lecture on Feb. 24. More ... Large landowner wants say in planning U.F.'s future Princeton Nurseries owns 1,820 acres in Upper Freehold BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       The largest landowner in Upper Freehold has been holding a series of meetings with residents to gauge what they envision for the future of the township. Princeton Nurseries has 1,820 acres in Upper Freehold. The business has an additional 700 acres in Hamilton, Chesterfield and Nort... More ... Planning to consolidate development, preserve equity U.F. offers draft of revisions to master plan BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - At their Feb. 20 workshop meeting, Planning Board members discussed the bonus density percentages landowners would get under the proposed revisions to the master plan. According to the preliminary draft of the master plan, nearly half, or 46.7 percent, of the tow... More ... Hamlets keep identities despite ZIP code changes BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - The township's consolidation into two ZIP codes will continue throughout the year. Last year, the U.S. Postal Service started consolidating its post offices in Millstone because the township was being served by 10 different ZIP codes and multiple post offices, according t... More ...