There's no place like a historic home Sears & Roebuck Package Home stands test of time BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       The residence at 113 S. Main St. in Allentown may be modest but it's also a testament to architectural integrity that only cost $1,500. Purchased from a catalog in the 1920s, the Sears & Roebuck Package Home came to Allentown in parts that cost about $700. More ... County surplus property up for grabs at auction       Monmouth County will hold its annual surplus property auction Sept. 23 at East Freehold Park Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, beginning at 10 a.m. Items will be available for public inspection at 8 a.m. The county will receive 99.04 percent of auction proceeds. More ... Truck sales co. owner admits bribing official       NEWARK - A co-owner of local truck sales company pleaded guilty on Sept. 13 to bribing a public official and also to conspiring to launder money purported to be loansharking and illegal sports gambling proceeds. Stephen Appolonia, 53, of Colts Neck, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Will... More ... Beck proposes bill to solve nonpublic school bus issues BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - The school district is not alone in the problems it's facing while trying to provide its nonpublic school students with transportation to their schools. More ... Entries sought for Garden State Film Festival       The sixth annual Garden State Film Festival has issued a worldwide "Call for Entries" from independent filmmakers, according to Diane Raver, co-founder/executive director. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 1. Filmmakers wishing to submit their films for consideration should refer the festival ... More ... Agencies give county highest bond rating       Tagencies, Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's, recently announced that Monmouth County will be retaining its triple-A status. Only a small percentage of counties throughout the United States have been granted AAA ratings, the highest rating, according to Mark E. Acker, Monmouth County's finance... More ... State seeks volunteers to help safeguard elderly       Looking for a way to make a difference? New Jersey's elder ombudsman needs volunteers to help safeguard elderly people living in nursing homes and other long-termcare facilities. The Volunteer Advocacy Program, administered by the Public Advocate's Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalize... More ... Parents urged to join new transportation task force BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - A township man is committed to forming a task force to help ease nonpublic school transportation issues. Wayne Londregan's 16-year-old son attends St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel. More ... 'Buyer Beware' signs grab developer's attention Orleans Homebuilders urged to fix estates BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Buyer beware. Signs with that slogan on it recently popped up on many of the houses in the Winchester Estates development. About half of the homes in the 41-lot development have been sold. Starting in the high $700,000s, some of the homes have sold for $1 million, making it on... More ... September 2007: The thrill of the hunt       Possessed by the color of leaves, from the ground up into the sky, I am always on the lookout for unusual cultivars and new happenings in the plant world. Autumn color is a benefit to seek out when selecting a new addition to your garden, and you should definitely consider it. More ... Preview unwraps new exhibition       FREEHOLD - Members and friends of the Monmouth County Historical Association are invited to a special preview party celebrating the opening of "By the Sea" - an exhibition featuring the many aspects of shore culture that developed in Monmouth County. More ... IN THE ARTS       The Novins Planetarium, Ocean County College, main campus, College Drive, Toms River has announced its fall schedule. "Story Time Under the Stars" brings storybooks to life. Giant-sized pictures float among the stars to accompany tales. Children will enjoy the stories while learning about the st... More ... Autism related bills now law       Six autism related bills sponsored by state Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-Monmouth and Mercer) were signed into law by Gov. Jon Corzine last week. "A diagnosis of autism or developmental disability presents real challenges for parents and caregivers," Karcher said. More ... Booster Club schedules Witches Hollow Run       The fifth annual Witches Hollow Run, sponsored by the Millstone Township Booster Club to benefit Millstone Township student athletics, will take place Oct. 28 at the Millstone Primary School, Schoolhouse Road. The event will begin at 9 a.m. with a one-mile fun run. The USATF certified 5K run will ... More ... Festival will put Latino culture on display for all BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Local leaders say tensions have eased between two sides FREEHOLD - Ethnic heritage festivals have a history of bringing people from different backgrounds together in one venue to share and learn about each other's cultures, and the upcoming Latino Festival in Freehold Borough is no differen... More ... 2008 Teen Arts Festival will return to Brookdale       The Monmouth County Arts Council has announced plans for the 2008 Teen Arts Festival, an opportunity for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 to experience all disciplines of the arts, and to participate in workshops, performances, exhibits and critiques. More ... Community Day in U.F.      Clockwise from left - Children participate in a hulahoop contest during Upper Freehold Township's Community Day at Byron Johnson Park Sept. 15. Aidan Caldwell, 5, of Cream Ridge, "milks" the udders of a wooden cow set up by the Monmouth County 4-H Club. Families check out the New Jersey State Polic... More ... UFRSD puts an end to its Ellisdale era District pays nursery to break contract for land for new school BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - The school district has terminated its contract with Princeton Nurseries to purchase a site on Ellisdale Road for its new middle school. More ... Monmouth County Fire Academy graduates 30       The Monmouth County Fire Academy recently graduated 30 volunteers from Firefighter I Class No. 72. The ceremony was held Aug. 21. The firefighters attended weekend classes and completed more than 130 hours of course work. More ... Upper Freehold plans plaque of remembrance Names of residents serving in military sought for project BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - A group of local residents wants to make sure that those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will be honored and remembered. The group has proposed creating a plaque of remembrance for servicemen and servicewomen who have already served and for those on active duty. More ... Area Muslims begin observance of Ramadan Month of fasting, personal sacrifice lasts through Oct. 12 BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       Ramadan, the monthlong devotion that includes fasting and acts of good will, began last week for Muslims throughout the world. Holmdel resident Mohammad Mosaad is a founding member and vice president of the Monmouth County Islamic Society, Middletown. Mosaad explained that for Muslims, Ramadan is... More ... Industry uncertainty affects N.J. horse sales Slot legislation in surrounding states looms over Jersey-bred equines BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Can Jerseybred racehorses remain competitive with those foaled in slots-enriched neighboring states? The New Jersey Classic Sale, held at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Upper Freehold on Sept. 9, had horse sales totaling over $2.2 million, with the average yearling sale price a... More ... Rumson running club sets course for camaraderie Long on tradition, 'hashers' run in every corner of the globe BY LARRY RAPPOPORT Correspondent       So your life is a cup of weak tea without sugar. Not to worry. Rumson's Hash House Harriers know how to spice things up: Go hashing! "Hashing" is a lively blend of running, drinking and socializing. Members follow flour-marked trails through challenging terrain and obstacles. At the end of each r... More ...