ANDREW MILLER staff Ryan DeMille, 8, of Millstone (center), and other Mighty Mite team members try to catch a football before a Pop Warner pep rally at Wagner Farm Park in Millstone Township on Aug. 24. For more photos, see page 38. More ... Religious freedom allegedly restricted in Roosevelt Yeshiva Me'on Hatorah files federal lawsuit against borough BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       The borough of Roosevelt is being sued for allegedly violating the free exercise and other civil rights of congregants and students affiliated with congregations Anshei Roosevelt and Yeshiva Me'on Hatorah. A federal lawsuit was filed on Aug. 27 in U.S. More ... Truck co. co-owner admits paying off public officials       NEWARK - - A co-owner of International Trucks of Central Jersey, located in Hillside and Howell, pleaded guilty Aug. 22 to bribing several local public officials. More ... Arrests for underage drinking continue at venue Local legislator wants arts center to run more family-friendly events BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       In light of the recent ban on alcohol in all PNC Bank Arts center parking lots, state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (RMonmouth/ Middlesex) has called on a Senate committee to review operations at the 17,500-seat venue in an effort to make events there more family-friendly. More ... Plan for Millstone car wash kicked to the curb Zoning Board votes against proposed Route 537 facility BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - No car washes in Millstone. That was the Zoning Board's unanimous verdict at its Aug. 22 meeting, when it denied a variance for the construction of a 9,820-square-foot car wash and oil lube service center on Route 537. The board heard applicant 537 ABR, LLC's, proposal for the facili... More ... Commission blasts new business plan Environmental group urges against car wash BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - Members of the township's Environmental Commission testified against the proposed car wash and oil lube facility at the Aug. 22 Zoning Board meeting. The Zoning Board unanimously voted the project down later in the evening. More ... Dance as a discovery of the self Local studio caters to recreational and competitive dancers BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - It's Step By Step's leaps and bounds that are getting area dancers to higher ground. For the past five years, Step By Step Dance Studio on Route 33 in Millstone has served the area's dance community with classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, pointe, musical theater, turns a... More ... State cites yeshiva for more housing violations Neighbors concerned over organization putting up big, blue barrier BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       ROOSEVELT - The state has cited the local yeshiva for more housing violations. The N.J. Department of Community Affairs (DCA) sent an inspector to 2 Homestead Lane on Aug. 15 and found an excessive amount of Yeshiva Me'on Hatorah students residing in the house and issued a "notice of imminent h... More ... Home made affordable in Millstone BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - The township made some changes to its proposal for another group home on Burnt Tavern Road before its Zoning Board approved the project. At the Aug. 22 Zoning Board meeting, Township Planner Richard Coppola said the new facility will be a 3,000-square-foot, onestory, ranch-style hous... More ... Driving back the hands of time 19th-century coaches support 21st-century land conservation BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       Was it 2007 or 1907? The lower field of Aulde House on Cooper Road in Middletown was filled with late-model automobiles on Aug. 25, but anyone gazing at the upper field that night would have witnessed a scene from the early years of the last century. More ... Acquisition of 260 acres will extend landfill's life       In an effort to extend the life of the Monmouth County Reclamation Center, the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has approved the acquisition of 260 acres that includes the former Shrewsbury Disposal Landfill, which sits adjacent to the county's existing 900-acre reclamation center in Tinton Fa... More ... Turn over a new leaf at the library this Sept.       September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and area residents are encouraged to "Discover Monmouth County Library" by checking out its new programs or signing up for a card. Now in its 20th year, Library Card Sign-up Month is a campaign promoted by public libraries nationwide in cooperation with th... More ... Upper Freehold ready in the event of emergency       UPPER FREEHOLD - The township's Office of Emergency Management conducted a communication drill Aug. 11 from its Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The purpose of the drill was to test radio communications and message handling between all area emergency responders during a disaster, according to ... More ... Impact of natural hazards to be assessed by county       The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has begun developing a comprehensive all-natural hazards mitigation plan for the county and its 53 municipalities. More ... Football Fever      ANDREW MILLER staff Millstone Eagles football players and cheerleaders (top photo) gather for a Pop Warner pep rally at Wagner Farm Park in Millstone on Aug. 24 while Alexa DeSantis, 7, a member of the Mighty Mite cheer squad (bottom photo), looks on. More ... Proposed law seeks to stop stalkers in their tracks Marlboro resident recounts how one man has tormented her BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       The hair-raising feeling that someone is watching you is a terrifying reality for one woman who lives in Marlboro. Her experiences, combined with the help of Marlboro police Detective Sgt. More ... Millstone singer's talents broadcasting around globe Vegas performance earning her chance at recognition, cash prize BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - Andrea Struk's vocal talent is getting her a go at worldwide glory and a chance to win $100,000. The 22-year-old Clarksburg resident recently traveled to the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for a singing competition after she was selected from more than 40,000 contestants to co... More ... Open space issue to come to a head in November U.F. residents show support for additional preservation taxes BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Residents had both praise and questions for the governing body after it unanimously decided to put an additional 2-cent municipal open space tax on the November ballot. Upper Freehold currently has a 4-cent municipal open space tax. The Township Committee made a decision at its ... More ... New home will be built on Disbrow Hill Road BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - An attorney for a Zoning Board applicant said his out-of-town client should have read the local newspapers. That way, he would have been aware that the township's zoning had changed. Attorney Anthony Burgess said at the Aug. 22 Zoning Board meeting that his client, Michael Sacco, has... More ... YMCA promotes physical activity       The YMCA of Western Monmouth County, Freehold Township, is encouraging members to join YMCAs nationwide in taking "small steps" to promote active living and healthy eating. Members are invited during the week of Sept. More ...