New Jersey and wine lovers, perfect together Local vineyard recognized as state's Winery of the Year BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       The state has a crush that gets bigger every year. With 38 wineries and more than 2,000 acres of land occupied by vineyards, New Jersey's wine industry is currently valued at $36 million. The state ranks fifth in the nation in terms of wine production, and its gallonage continues to grow as many n... More ... Roosevelt seeing red over the war in Iraq Borough residents urge congressman to help bring troops home BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       ROOSEVELT - "What a wonderful world this could be. Let's end violence." A green sign with that saying on it is a mainstay in Roosevelt. Located on a home at the corner of Homestead Lane and North Valley Road, the posting represents the sentiments of the Johnson family. More ... Group reports on what war money could buy N.J. BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       Congressman Chris Smith (R-4th District) wouldn't face antiwar activists on Aug. 16 when they wanted to hand-deliver a report to him regarding what New Jersey taxpayers' money could be better spent on if it wasn't going toward funding the war in Iraq. More ... U.F. may raise rates to protect open space Average homeowner asked to spend $104 more per year on preservation BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Residents can vote in the November election on whether the township should spend more money on open space. The Township Committee voted unanimously at its Aug. 16 meeting to place an open space tax referendum on the general election ballot. More ... Tax bills spark need for damage control Millstone tax collector offers ways residents can seek answers and relief BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - Residents seeing red over the rise in their taxes should understand that 89 percent of their tax bill goes to the school district and Monmouth County. Dawn Mitchell, Millstone's tax collector, gave a presentation at the Township Committee's Aug. 15 meeting that provided a breakdown o... More ... Assemblywoman weighs in on Millstone bus issue Beck says she'll call bus companies to urge them to bid on routes BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck has gotten involved in the school district's fight to help find busing for its nonpublic school students. Beck (R-Monmouth and Mercer) met with Millstone Township Board of Education members and private school officials Aug. 13 and attended the board's publ... More ... Teacher asks board to keep focus global Educator advocates for older schools in light of new school opening BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - A fourth-grade teacher recently told the Board of Education that it has focused so much on the new middle school in recent years that it has neglected the primary and elementary schools. Irene Pearson, a teacher at Millstone Township Elementary School, made the comments at the Aug. 1... More ... Septic systems no longer need to be conventional Upper Freehold sets regulations for alternative systems BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - In a 5-2 vote after months of discussion, the township's Board of Health voted to pass an alternative septic ordinance. Board members George King and Nancy Amontis cast the dissenting votes at the board's Aug. 14 meeting. More ... Historic village to host 12th antique auto show       The Historic Village at Allaire will present its 12th annual Antique Rolling Iron Auto Show on Aug. 26 (rain date Sept. 16. Antique vehicles are expected from throughout the tri-state area. This show is open to all vehicles manu factured from 1982 and before. More ... Photo contest accepting entries through Sept. 17       If you like to photograph subjects such as nature, landscapes, natural resources, agriculture, or people interacting with the environment, waterscapes or wildlife then the Freehold Soil Conservation District has a photo contest for you. More ... New septic systems may alleviate old problems Alternative systems could reduce pooling, clogs, premature failure BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - The owner of a septic company shared his views about alternative systems after the township's Board of Health approved an ordinance to regulate them at its Aug. 14 meeting. Jason Luty owns A-Norton Septic Contracting in Old Bridge and does a lot of septic system work in Upper Fr... More ... Rolling with the Riptide Cyclist talks about joys of riding and women's involvement in sport BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Fast, fit and over 50. That's one way to describe township resident Audrey Wendolowski, a member of Riptide Cycling, a women's bicycle-racing team sponsored by Brielle's Riptide Cycling and other Monmouth Countybased companies. More ... Learn to cash in on racing at luncheon       Monmouth County will host one of the world's premier sporting events in October, and businesses and residents should be prepared to cash in. New Jersey has been selected to host the Breeders' Cup, which involves four days of high-stake thoroughbred racing with competitors from around the world. More ... Millstone looks to fill new supervisory job Township Committee to appoint nonunion worker to oversee DPW BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - In a 3-1 vote, the governing body approved the creation of a superintendent position for the Department of Public Works (DPW). Committeeman Elias Abilheira cast the dissenting vote at the Aug. 15 Township Committee meeting, while Committeeman Ray Dilfanian was not present. More ... Two dead, dozens arrested at Ozzfest State bans alcohol in the parking lot at PNC Bank Arts Center BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       Following the deaths of two people and the arrest of more than 80 others at last Thursday's Ozzfest concert, the tap was turned off on alcohol consumption in the parking lot of the PNC Bank Arts Center. Starting with Friday night's Velvet Revolver show, alcohol has been banned for tailgaters rega... More ... Monmouth Boy Scouts rev up recruitment drive Twelve municipalities race to gain new recruits this fall       The Battleground District of Monmouth Council Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has announced the official launch of its "Race for Cub Scouting" fall recruitment drive. More ... Local stone carver creating 9/11 police memorial Franco Minervini completing project for police foundation BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       When Franco Minervini was a young boy in his hometown of Molfetta, Italy, he helped his grandfather, Michael, who was a stone carver. Little did he know then that he would continue his family's tradition of stone carving. "I didn't think I had any tal ent," said Minervini, whose studio has been i... More ... Feds deny application for solid waste transfer station BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Freehold Township now has a nickname - "The Little Engine That Could," according to Annemarie Howley. And the little engine that could, did. What it did was stop a plan that sought to establish a solid waste transfer station on Route 33 about a quarter-mile west of Kozloski Road. More ... Things look up for lady who sings the blues Jo Wymer puts her life in song as she pursues success in music biz BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Everyone has a story. Some people write it, others paint it, but Jo Wymer? She sings it - with attitude and soul. Wymer, 40, of Freehold Township, is a blues singer. She and her band are billed as "Blues with Attitude" and anyone hearing her sing needn't ask why. More ... Jersey Freeze may give way to Olive Garden Freehold Borough Zoning Board scheduled to hear plan for restaurant BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       FREEHOLD - It just may be the end of an era, one that included ice cream sundaes on hot summer nights and hot dogs after a Little League baseball game. Customers of the Jersey Freeze ice cream stand and restaurant at Route 9 and Manalapan Avenue may have to switch their appetite from ice cream a... More ... Clearwater Festival       The 32nd annual Clearwater Festival, New Jersey's oldest and largest eco-festival, was held Saturday and Sunday at Sunset Park in Asbury Park. The theme of this year's event, which is presented by Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater, was "Global Warming - You'd Better Sweat It! More ... Artists find welcoming reception at Arc gallery BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer       Anyone who frequents the Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township has noticed there are many new and exciting structural changes going on at the mall. Some of those changes go much deeper than the interior and exterior construction projects and actually touch the people of the community on a dif... More ... Family histories told in unique biographies Attorney leaves firm after 5 years to start unique creative venture BY LAURA KOSS Correspondent       Matthew Litt has done what many people spend countless hours at their desks daydreaming about. This 29-year-old Manalapan native stopped dreaming and left his career as a Manhattan attorney to start his own business, Bridge Biography. More ... Ethiopian situation draws look from federation reps       Two Monmouth County residents joined more than 170 lay and professional leaders representing 48 Jewish federations across North America who recently participated in a mission to Ethiopia and Israel. The mission provided a firsthand look at life-saving Jewish Federation of Monmouth County projects... More ... August: Act III begins       Have you ever dreamed of glorious spring and summer flowering bulbs, a garden awash in color and unique shapes? Now is the time to look at your bulb catalogs and devise a planting strategy, which offers the most varied show imaginable, with a minimal effort on your part. Order your bulbs by mid-Se... More ... Robotics Camp      Caleb Hibbs (l) and Justin Koenig have fun working together at the recent Millstone Township Community Education's Lego Robotics Camp at the elementary school. More ... Habitat ride scheduled for Sept. 16       Area motorcycle enthusiasts will be revving up their engines again to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. On Sept. 16, Western Monmouth Habitat for Humanity will host its eighth annual Motorcycle Ride for Affordable Housing. More ... Exhibit traces history of comic book superheroes Montclair Art Museum hosts one-of-a-kind tribute to genre BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer       The American cultural phenomenon known as the comic book is getting the royal treatment at the Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, Essex County. Fans of this genre of entertainment will be coming from near and far between now and Jan. 13, 2008, to see a one-of-a-kind exhibition, "Reflecting Culture: ... More ... Park visitor center enters rebuilding phase       The Monmouth County Park System's Thompson Park Visitor Center reconstruction project went out to bid on Aug 16. Building contractors may now review the project specifications and prepare their proposals to rebuild the nearly 20,000- square-foot building at Thompson Park, Lincroft, which was destr... More ... Law journal recognizes local attorney's work       ALLENTOWN - The New Jersey Law Journal has recognized a borough resident as one of the state's outstanding lawyers for 2007. Allentown's Peter Greenbaum, a partner with Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A., has been named to the New Jersey Law Journal's "40 Under 40" outstanding lawyers for 2007, acc... More ... Big wheels keep on rolling Despite sky-high gas prices, some of the largest SUVs remain in demand for their purpose-driven ways By Jeffrey Steele       With gas prices at an all-time high, you'd expect certain developments, such as: Motorists eliminating unnecessary trips? Check. Car buyers looking into subcompact and hybrid gas-sippers? Check. Large sport utility vehicle sales climbing higher. Check? More ... Q &A Dead or dormant? with Sharon Peters       Q: We just came back from three weeks in Europe, and when we at tempted to start our car it was dead; it made a growling sound and then would n't turn over. This was just a 1-year-old battery (though a fairly cheap one). My husband, who isn't at all mechanical and even less patient, immediately s... More ...