Millstone Township piles on the philanthropy Community helps PTO collect goods for the needy BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       It looked like Santa's sleigh exploded in front of the Millstone Township Primary School on Saturday. More than 1,000 big bags full of donated goods piled up on the sidewalk near the school Nov. 17 as community members dropped them off to help the Millstone Township PTO benefit those in need alon... More ... Roosevelt files to have federal lawsuit dismissed Yeshiva official says students will return to borough soon BY JANE MEGGITT & JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writers       Roosevelt believes it has grounds to have the lawsuit that the local synagogue and yeshiva filed against it dismissed. The borough's special counsel, Howard Cohen, has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Borough officials said the cou... More ... Millstone schools hit with spending freeze Budget surplus discovered to be lower than expected BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - The Millstone Township School District has instituted a budget freeze. Superintendent of Schools Mary Anne Donahue said at the Nov. 12 Board of Education meeting that when the district closed its accounting books at the end of the last school year, it found that the budget surplus wa... More ... School district sets goals for 2007-08 school year Millstone schools met objectives of QAAR report in 2006-07 BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - More participation in science class and a reduction in disciplinary actions are among the goals of the school district this year. Laura Vetere, the director of curriculum and instruction for the school district, presented the state-mandated Quality Assurance Annual Report (QAAR) at t... More ... Board hires consultant for contract Lawyer to negotiate with educators' association BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       ALLENTOWN - The Upper Freehold Board of Education has hired a consultant to work on its behalf with the Upper Freehold Regional Education Association. The board voted at its Nov. 7 meeting to hire attorney Mathew Giacobbe, of Scarinci & Hollenbeck in Freehold, to represent it when negotiating th... More ... Cheerleaders ready to 'rah' in Disney Three Millstone squads advance to nationals BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - The Millstone Eagles cheerleaders swept the Pop Warner Eastern Region Spirit Championships competition. All of the Millstone squads competed in the Region Championships Nov. 17-18 at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton. They went up against teams from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylva... More ... Native American history needs retelling Thanksgiving portrays stereotypes that some find offensive BY LINDA DeNICOLA Correspondent       November is American Indian Heritage Month and also the month when people across the country remember the Native Americans who are part of the Thanksgiving story. More ... Doctor leaves legacy of commitment to patients Dr. Michael Stark co-founded practice in Marlboro in 1987 BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer       Arespected doctor who dedicated his life to helping people battle diseases recently lost his own battle. Dr. Michael Stark, 52, an internist and senior partner with Jersey Shore Associates in Internal Medicine of Marlboro, died at his home in Millstone Township on Oct. 28. More ... Deadline is Jan. 2 to sign up for master gardener program       The Monmouth County Master Gardener Program is accepting applications for 2008. The deadline to apply is Jan. 2. Master gardeners are experts in all things related to home gardening in Monmouth County. More ... Persistence pays off with recall of designer crib Manalapan father responds after baby's fingers trapped BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - In a press release dated Nov. 8, the federal Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) issued news of a recall of a designer baby crib. It was a response that was due in no small measure to the vigilance of one man, Andrew Hartung, 36, of Manalapan. More ... Crib firm responds to claim of inappropriate response BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       When the federal Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a recall for a baby crib, it was done after a parent contacted the manufacturer to report a construction flaw that posed a danger to any child who might be placed in the crib. More ... Allentown graduate now a long way from home Soldier's mother tells of son's experiences in Iraq BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       Most members of the Allentown High School (AHS) class of 2005 are in college, studying for their future careers. Others have jobs and just began exploring the options life holds for those entering their 20s. At least one 2005 graduate is in a very different situation, however. More ... Manalapan officials eye new road off Route 33 BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer       MANALAPAN - The movement of vehicles on Route 33 is on the minds of Township Committee members. At a recent meeting the committee tabled a resolution that is expected to ask the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to allow a new road to be constructed off Route 33 west at a point that is ab... More ... 'Beauty and the Beast' comes to Marlboro stage BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       MARLBORO - A "tale as old as time" will be enchanting audiences young and old as the Marlboro Players bring the premiere of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" to Monmouth County. More ... Fire aid units to receive lifesaving masks for pets Local 4-H Club and dog day-care center donate funds       When fire strikes, family pets can be injured or die from inhaling smoke. Because human oxygen masks don't fit over animals' snouts, rescue personnel can't do much to help. That's about to change. Each of Monmouth County's 60 volunteer fire aid units will soon be receiving a set of specially desi... More ... Peace on earth is focus of winning poster Seventh-grader's artwork advances in Lions Club's contest BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       ALLENTOWN - In a 12-year-old's perfect world, Canada waves across the ocean to an ecstatic Africa while the United States shares a magic moment with Mexico as other countries joyfully carry on. Julie Scesney, whose imagination created the gleeful geography for the Lions International Peace Poste... More ... Public housing at naval base will be discussed       The U.S. Navy has entered into a scoping period as the preliminary process to drafting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in order to evaluate the potential impacts of creating an access route to the Laurelwood housing complex at Naval Weapons Station Earle, Colts Neck, in 2010, as required b... More ... Williamsburg Christmas will feature crafts, music BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       COLTS NECK - The spirit of colonial Williamsburg will be celebrated at the sixth annual Williamsburg Christmas sponsored by the Colts Neck Historical Preservation Committee, Dec. 9. More ... South StreetPlayers mark 25 years of performances Current production of 'The Rainmaker' on stage at Priedaine BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       The South Street Players have come full circle as they celebrate 25 years of theater production. The group was formerly known at the St. Rose Players. Its first production was N. Richard Nash's "The Rainmaker," a play about a rainmaker's arrival in a drought-stricken western town and the promise ... More ... Menorah lighting set for Dec. 6       The Freehold Center Partnership will host its annual Hanukkah menorah lighting celebration at 5 p.m. Dec. 6. The lighting of the menorah commemorates the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. More ... Holidays will kick off with downtown lighting       On Nov. 26 from 5-7 p.m., the Freehold Center Partnership will mark the beginning of the 2007 holiday season with its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Monmouth County Hall of Records plaza at the corner of Court and East Main streets in downtown Freehold. More ... Smoking will be banned on CentraState property       CentraState Healthcare System plans to go smoke-free on all of its campuses effective November 2008, system officials announced. More ...