Jersey Fresh marred by tragedy two years in a row Aortic rupture said to have killed David O'Connor's horse BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       An international event held at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Upper Freehold from May 8-11 was marred by a tragedy. For the second year in a row, a horse died during the Jersey Fresh CCI ** and CCI *** competitions. More ... AHS alumna has never stopped marching Avery Pontell-Schaefer finishes college career out in front of the band BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       Amid 34,804 Rutgers University students, Allentown'sAvery L. Pontell- Schaefer achieved distinction. The 22-year-old Allentown resident will soon graduate from the New Brunswick campus with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and a minor in Italian. She will study abroad in Italy this summe... More ... Juvenile crime on the rise in Millstone Township Drug Alliance correlates rise to population increase BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - Juvenile arrests and alcohol- and drug-related offenses have been on the rise in the township over the last five years. Helen Varvi, longtime chairwoman of the township's Alliance to Prevent Alcoholismand DrugAbuse, gave the Township Committee a report her group compiled that identif... More ... Twp. wants increased surcharges "The taxpayers were told the lottery would solve our school tax problems. Anyone see their school tax going down?" - Elias Abilheira Committeeman BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - The township has gone on the record supporting increasing New Jersey State Police surcharges in lieu of raising property taxes to fund state budget shortfalls, but one committeeman disagrees with its stance. The Township Committee voted 3-1 at its May 7 meeting to pass a resolution i... More ... State police address recent burglaries in Millstone Various cars and six homes broken into during March, April BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE- The New Jersey State Police said an e-mail circulated by residents about recent burglaries has caused unnecessary disturbance in the township. Lt. More ... An errant animal makes for special 'Moo'ther's Day Police say animal may still be on the loose BY JANE MEGGITT and AMY ROSEN Staff Writers       Sharon Gaboff has four children but spent most of Mother's Day with a bull. A part-time animal control officer for Manalapan Township, the Millstone resident was unexpectedly called to duty May 11 when what was thought to be an errant cow was discovered wandering in the vicinity ofWoodward Road i... More ... Prototype of the American con man came from U.F. New book explores life of Gilbert Imlay BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - The lives of the black sheep in a family often resonate through the centuries, while those of their conventional, law-abiding relatives are lost to history. More ... Happening in Roosevelt on Saturday BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       ROOSEVELT - Something unexpected, strange and artistic will happen in Roosevelt this weekend. Roosevelt residents Brad Garton, Wiska Radkiewicz and Vicotoria Estok will collaborate with a handful of other New Jersey and New York artists to present "Digital Art in Unexpected Places" at 8 p.m. on ... More ... Family gives to farm in honor of late son Riding High thankful for contributions that paid for fencing BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD - Good fences make good neighbors. And for those with horses as neighbors, good fencing is imperative. Thanks to a fundraising drive by a township couple, Riding High Farm on Route 526 will put up new and improved fencing to keep the 10 horses used in its therapeutic riding prog... More ... Winter training facility for horses sought at fort Plan could help N.J. horses train year-round BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       The closing of FortMonmouth in 2011 means that some of the choicest real estate on the East Coastwill be available for public and private investment. One group would like to see 80 acres of the now-federal property in Oceanport, close to Monmouth Park racetrack, dedicated as a training facility f... More ... New season starts at Monmouth Park Racing officials hope for big year despite looming industry crisis BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       And they're off! Monmouth Park's 63rd season of live thoroughbred racing began onMay 9. The meet will run for 99 days through Sept. 28, with purses averaging $330,000 per day. Highlights of the meet will include the $1 million Haskell Invitational Stakes on Aug. 3. More ... Freshmen victorious in AHS Battle of the Bands       ALLENTOWN - Freshmen rock. David Corniola, Kyle Oberhauser and Johnny Costa, performing as the band Havana Harbor, won Allentown High School's annual Battle of the Bands contest on May 2. The freshmen competed against several bands, including senior bands, to win. More ... Pinewood derby victors announced       Fifteen local Cub Scouts emerged victorious during the fourth annual Battleground District Pinewood Derby Race held recently at Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Raceway. The Scouts hailed from 18 Cub Scout packs from Freehold, Howell, Marlboro, Manalapan,Millstone Township and Colts Neck. The 63 S... More ... Recess task force bill advances in N.J. Senate BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       On May 5 the Senate Education Committee amended bill A-467, also known as S-226, which seeks to establish a task force that would be charged with studying the potential benefits of student recess and making recommendations on the advisability of mandatory recess in New Jersey school districts. More ... Many talents create new vision of mill       Area artists collaborated to create an eclectic interpretation of Allentown's most recognizable vista. Members of theAllentownArt Guild recently completedMural Project 2008, a collective artistic exercise in which the group divided a photo of the Allentown Mill and Mill Pond into individual squar... More ... Street fest in New Egypt       An old-fashioned outdoor street festival with family-oriented events for all ages comes to downtown New Egypt on May 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Oakford Lake pedestrian bridge links all the festival activities taking place on Lakeview Drive at the Oakford Lake Park to the Front Street site, whic... More ... County course goes green       MILLSTONE- In this age of environmental concern, going green has come natural to theMonmouth County Park System. More ...