Planting the seeds for success at RPS Students celebrate opening of new butterfly garden BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       Students used trowels instead of pencils to make their marks in soil instead of on paper. Under a clear, blue expanse and rays of warm sunshine, Roosevelt Public School students celebrated Earth Day and Arbor Day on April 24 in their new garden on school grounds. More ... Concerns about school's air quality addressed Superintendent: At no time was anyone at risk BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       Elevated carbon dioxide levels in the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School have caused concern among some teachers and parents but are not endangering anyone, according to school district administration. More ... Distinguished equine vet realizes dream Patty Hogan opens new horse clinic in Upper Freehold BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Some days, Dr. Patty Hogan will still have a long commute to work, but most days she will merely hop on her golf cart and cross Red Valley Road. The veterinary surgeon will split her time between the Ruffian Equine Medical Center at Belmont Park in Long Island, N.Y., and her new... More ... Upper Freehold does more to honor those who serve BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD- Township veterans have a new hub of support. The Upper Freehold Township Veterans Council (UFTVC) was officially created by resolution at the April 24 Township Committee meeting. Mayor Steve Alexander, a veteran, appointed resident Bruce Novozinsky and former Mayor William Miscos... More ... Township pays for play Recreation costs make up 5 percent of U.F.'s budget BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Township officials reviewed the costs and benefits of recreation as part of their budget hearing process. During theApril 17 Township Committee meeting, former Mayor Bob Abrams noted that recreation costs constitute nearly 5 percent of the municipal budget. More ... Twp. aims to head off antenna woe BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - The township is offering some protection to residents who live in areas of town designated for wireless antennas. The Township Committee introduced an ordinance at itsApril 16meeting thatwould provide safeguards to residents living in close proximity to structures in town that have ... More ... New U.F. planner wants to change the changes Master plan to undergo another round of review BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - New township Planner Charles Newcomb doesn't see the need for the land use element of themaster plan to be totally redone. Newcomb gave his evaluation of the land use element at the April 22 Planning Board meeting. The board adopted the element in December 2007 after nearly thre... More ... Millstone man has pink pedal power 200-mile ride to support Young Survival Coalition BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       MILLSTONE- Real men wear pink. Millstone's John Streppone started cycling as a teenager when he needed an escape. He continued riding throughout his stint in theAir Force, logging up to 75miles on a bike per day. But thatwas 30 years ago. More ... Golf tourney raises funds for UFRSD       ALLENTOWN - The Upper Freehold Regional Education Foundationwill host its first golf tournament fundraiser on June 9. Tee Off Fore Education will take place at the CreamRidge Golf Club on Route 539. Proceeds fromthe eventwill fund education grants for the Upper Freehold Regional School District. More ... 'Weekend inOldMonmouth' features tour of historic sites       Monmouth County's first "Weekend in Old Monmouth" historic tour will open the doors of 32 local historic sites all at the same time - from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 3 and from noon to 5 p.m. on May 4. "Independent and local historic sites are generally operated independently of one another," said... More ... Sweetmans Lane retail plan on hold BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - The Zoning Board unanimously agreed to dismisswithout prejudice two related applications that had been languishing on its agenda for months. At the April 23 meeting, Zoning Board Attorney Gregory Vella said that the applications presented by 353 Sweetmans Lane LLC and D.Morgan Tracey... More ... Life during wartime focus of upcoming history event KKK's former ties to Allentown will also be discussed BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       ALLENTOWN - The life of a local prominent wartime nurse will be recalled at a special program later this week. TheAllentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society (AUFHS)will host the discussion on May 8 at the United Methodist Church. The program will also feature a talk about life in Allentown duri... More ... Scouts to host Venture Crew program on May 5       Millstone Township Boy Scouts of America Troop 116 is holding an information meeting about a new Venture Crew program at 6:30 p.m. May 5 at the Millstone Primary School, Schoolhouse Road. Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts that is open to young men and women who are 14 thr... More ... Run, walk for a memory in Millstone on May 31       MILLSTONE - The Petrella family invites area residents to join them for a run in the sun on May 31. The Millstone family will hold its annual "Run for a Memory" 5K at 9 a.m. at the Millstone Township Primary School. Proceeds from the event will go to the John Petrella Jr. Scholarship Foundation,... More ... PAC to host free concert for charity       MILLSTONE - Some area children have earned the honor of having their artwork displayed during an upcoming concert at the Performing Arts Center. More ...