PHOTOSBY JEFF GRANIT staff Roosevelt Mayor Elsbeth "Beth" Battel rides Beemer, a dressage horse, at her Footlight Farm in Roosevelt on April 5. More ... Roosevelt mayor carries on Monmouth horse tradition Mayor Beth Battel has been riding, training horses for more than 40 years BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       Perhaps it's no surprise that the mayors of three towns in western Monmouth County, home to the largest horse population in the state, have some connection to the equine industry. Millstone Township Mayor Nancy Grbelja has pleasure horses and is involved in standardbred racing. More ... Civil Air Patrol activities featured at Great Adventure       JACKSON - The Jersey Shore Council of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America are hosting a weekend "scouting event" at Six Flags Great Adventure theme park, Route 537, April 20-22. Guests will be treated to a special presentation to be given by the New Jersey Wing Civil Air Patrol (... More ... Poster thoroughbred sought for ad campaign       ReRun Inc. has announced a contest to help kick off its new advertising campaign promoting the versatility of the thoroughbred. The tag line for the ad campaign is "Your next (fill in the blank) horse is just a furlong away." The motto will appear in trade publications, on posters, and... More ... CAMP session focuses on arts and spirituality       ALLENTOWN - Not all camps are about pitching tents and roasting marshmallows. The Christian Arts and Music Program (CAMP) integrates the arts and spirituality into community service projects. A new six-week session of the midweek program begins on Wednesday, April 18, and will run thro... More ... Budget to keep tax rate stable       UPPER FREEHOLD - The township has proposed a $7.5 million municipal budget for 2007-08. Although the proposed budget amounts to about $300,000 more than last year's budget, Mayor Stephen Fleischacker said the spending plan would not affect the tax rate. More ... New ratable has a hard time in U.F. Businesswomen spent $206,000 in fees before breaking ground BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Two years after receiving preliminary approval to build a Kiddie Academy day-care center in town, the owners plan to break ground. The building is expected to be the first structure in the 11-lot commercial development at Cox's Corner, located at the corner of Rout... More ... Businessman wants to turn manure into gold for town Recycling equine waste could make Millstone money BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - New Jersey is full of manure. And when Jim Hye says that, he isn't expressing a political opinion - he really means it. At the April 2 meeting of the Millstone Agricultural Advisory Board (AAB), Hye presented a manure recycling plan that could benefit both himsel... More ... 2005 law may overburden commercial development BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - An ordinance passed in December 2005 received some flack at the last Township Committee meeting. Members of the public and the governing body had criticisms of the township's facade ordinance at the April 5 meeting. More ... N.J.'s horse industry adds up to $3.5B       The equine industry helps keep New Jersey green.Not only does the 96,000 acres of working horse farms help keep the "garden" in the Garden State, but the equine industry's value at more than $3.5 billion helps keep the state rolling in a different kind of green, according to a new study relea... More ... Petrella family hopes for another run in the sun Annual 'Run for a Memory' scheduled for June 9 BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - Shirley Petrella hopes the sunlight will once again shine down on her family's "Run for a Memory" this year. Slated for June 9 at the Millstone Township Elementary School, the 5K helps the Petrellas raise funds for the John W. Petrella Jr. Scholarship Foundation. More ... Scrapbooking event to help troops abroad       MILLSTONE - Scrapbooks and soccer balls have something in common with troops stationed overseas. In their own ways, the two pastime objects are actually helping servicemen and servicewomen abroad. Proceeds from a scrapbook session in Millstone will go toward purchasing items for the tr... More ... U.F. mulls over a life aquatic for Cox's Corner BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - A couple has proposed putting a year-round aquatic facility at Cox's Corner. The township's Economic Development Committee (EDC) heard the proposal for the indoor pool at the Route 524 commercial center at its April 4 meeting. Because such a land use is not listed as... More ... A tale of tragedy, torture and survival       Monroe man recounts his recurring 'luck' in surviving the Holocaust BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer With his deep tan and beaming smile, along with a face that belies his 80 years, Murray Goldfinger looks like someone who has lived the good life. More ... Millstone wrestler takes home state title BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - Matt Doskoczynski had to overcome adversity again this year to win a wrestling tournament he qualified for but ultimately could not compete in last year. More ... Magazine highlights county fun       Finding year-round activities in Monmouth County just got easier with the publication New Jersey's Monmouth County, a 66-page magazine highlighting the county's attractions. The magazine spotlights the county's beaches, shopping centers, theaters, museums, historic sites, lighthouses, p... More ...