The true wealth of Millstone Twp.
Town takes a day to laud its community, resident endeavors
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer
The Millstone community, which is spread out over 37 miles, came together Sept. 23 to celebrate itself in all of its uniqueness.

CHRIS KELLY staff Millstone's Amanda Savas, 15, and Emily Pollinger, 15, have fun paddling around the lake during Millstone Day at Frogbridge Day Camp Sept. 23.

The weather could not have been better for 2007's Millstone Day. Held at Frogbridge Day Camp, the event was well attended, as evidenced by nearly full parking lots and scores of people enjoying themselves through a host of activities that included swimming in the pool and kayaking on the lake.

Community groups of all stripes, such as the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, equestrian clubs, sports teams and others sold food and drink and offered fun activities including face painting and information to passers-by.

Weichert Realtors, a corporate sponsor for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, had a booth. Representatives from Millstone's Furry Angels Therapy Dogs also attended with several pooches for people to pet. Among the dogs was Shadow, an 8-year-old flat-coated retriever owned by Lori Feibus of Millstone. Feibus said that Furry Angels brings the dogs into nursing homes, hospitals and specialneeds schools, as well as to schools in Millstone, Manalapan and Freehold.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Michael Waldron, of Boy Scout Troop 116, (top photo) walks across a homemade rope bridge while Alexa Barge, 8, of the Clarksburg section of Millstone, (top right photo) plays in the pool, and Millstone's Eva Friedman, 15, (bottom right photo) rocks out on the drums during Millstone Day at Frogbridge Day Camp on Sept. 23.

"These dogs want to please," she said.

Feibus said that Shadow may be a "wild dog" at home, but when he puts on his Furry Angels vest, he knows to be on his best behavior. She got Shadow from a Long Island rescue group.

"The people who bought him thought he was untrainable and gave him up," she said. "If they could only see him now."

Robin Carney, of Millstone, also brought her two therapy dogs, Molly and Jay, to Millstone Day. She got both dogs from the Millstone-based nonprofit rescue, Adopt-APet, she said.

Molly is a 4-year-old border collie and Jay, a Chinese crested, is hairless. Carney explained that she was originally just supposed to foster Jay for the rescue group until he could be placed in a permanent home, but he became a "failed foster" when he won her heart.

At another booth, the Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence

MTFEE) advertised its sixth annual Fore the Kids golf outing and dinner, which will be held Oct. 15 at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe. Since 1999, the MTFEE has awarded 52 grants totaling $251,000 for various endeavors in township schools.

But Millstone Day wasn't all business as usual for the MTFEE. The group featured a dunk tank, where a $1 donation gave guests the opportunity to dunk teachers, coaches and even township Committeeman Bob Kinsey. Nearby, the Millstone Middle School PTA sold Millstone pride wear, including T-shirts, boxers and flannels.

Celebrating its 26th year, the Millstone Township Women's Organization (MTWO) offered literature about its nonprofit social organization consisting of township residents of all ages and backgrounds. Over the years, the group has raised and donated more than $175,000 to residents and community projects such as scholarships, the Millstone First Aid Squad, the Millstone Township Fire Company and the township's Drug Alliance. The ladies encouraged Millstone Day participants to attend MTWO's Newcomers Night Oct. 5.

Millstone resident Shrabanee Shah tried to spread the word about the Monmouth chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

"We're trying to educate [people in] the Millstone area," she said.

Shah said that mental illness is an illness like diabetes or breast cancer, for which research is still being done.

Some of the area's youth got to showcase their talents as part of The After Effect, a local jazz/rock fusion band.

Millstone's Mary Prendergast, whose children Michelle and Frankie play in the band, said that the age range of the 17 members in the band varies from seventh graders to college freshmen. Eva Friedman, daughter of Millstone Township Board of Education President Mary Ann Friedman, plays the drums in the band.

The After Effect members look forward to their next gig, playing in New York City Sept. 30 at the Tunnel to Towers Run in honor of Stephen Siller, a firefighter who on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, ran through the Brooklyn/Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers and laid down his life for others.

The area's horse enthusiasts also came together to celebrate equine endeavors during Millstone Day. Fittingly, the New Jersey Horse Council, a state organization that promotes the interest of the horse industry, had a booth right next to the local Horsemen's Association of Millstone Township (HAMT) booth.

Millstone's Maggi Romano helped spread the word about the horse council while HAMT spokesperson Ron Harning offered information about the local horse club, which has about 75 members.

Millstone-based Noah's Ark Critter Care and Carriage Horses took community members on carriage rides during the event. Kim Mooney, who runs the carriage business with her husband, Brian, had her Percheron geldings, Frank and Pete, at Millstone Day. Both gentle giants were former plow horses, she said.

As HAMT President Manny Blanco rode on the carriage, he dispensed basic information about horses to passengers and encouraged them to attend HAMT meetings, which take place at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month at the Millstone Community Center.