InJersey

Voters in the Freehold Regional High School District readily approved a $115.6 million general fund tax levy for 2011-12, but threw out two incumbents seeking re-election to the district Board of Education. The tax levy passed by a vote of 9,989 to 6,966, according to county election results. Incumbents Christopher Placitella and Barry Hochberg were [...]

Former Schools Superintendent H. James Wasser may have departed the Freehold Regional High School District, but his shadow still looms over this year’s school board elections. “I thought it was an outrage,” Carl Accettola said of the revelations in 2008 that several district employees, including Wasser, had earned doctoral degrees from an unaccredited online university and received [...]

There has to be an easier way from Freehold to New York City – right? That’s what the Borough Council is hoping, anyway.  The Council unanimously passed a resolution Monday asking New Jersey Transit to provide shuttle service from Freehold to the Aberdeen-Matawan train station, a move that would “not only enhance transportation services, but [...]

Freehold Regional High School District’s supervisors of extracurricular activities will receive 1.5 percent raises this school year, but no increase in 2011-2012, according to the contract approved by the school board Monday. Each of the district’s six schools has a supervisor of extracurricular activities, often known simply as a SECA. The supervisors’ duties include coordinating the work [...]

After more than a quarter-century with the township government, Freehold Township Administrator Thomas E. Antus plans to retire April 1. Antus, 62, was praised by residents and government officials alike at Tuesday’s Township Committee meeting, where his retirement was announced. Antus began working for the township in 1984, when he was hired as assistant superintendent of [...]

Yep, folks, it’s that time again – The annual school board elections are almost upon us. Three seats – all for three-year terms – are up for election on the borough school district’s board of education this April. Anyone pondering a run for one of those seats has just under seven weeks to make a [...]

Freehold Regional High School District officials want to get started on a list of capital projects. One problem: They need to figure out how to pay for them. To assist them with this quandary, the district’s school board has hired two firms, the Asbury Park Press reports: The school board awarded contracts Jan. 10 to the [...]

With the new year just a week in, the Freehold Township Committee met Friday night to pick new leaders, swear in newly-elected Committeewoman Barbara McMorrow and approve a slew of volunteer and professional appointments. During their annual organization meeting Friday, the Committee unanimously chose David Salkin to serve as this year’s mayor. Eugene Golub – [...]

Borough police are searching for a man they believe broke into a local business twice and used a stolen credit card at an area Staples. The unknown man is thought to have burglarized a Bannard Street business on Dec. 18 or 19, and again during the New Year’s weekend. The burglar stole several items, including [...]

Borough residents will have a greater say in the budget preparations next year, when a newly established budget committee gets underway. Mayor Michael Wilson plans to appoint three residents to a new ad hoc Citizens Advisory Budget Committee on Sunday, when the Borough Council holds its annual organization meeting. The committee is expected to help [...]

With his wife and children surrounding him, Freehold Township Patrol Officer Earl Cain was sworn in as a sergeant Tuesday. “It’s like I’m starting my career over again,” Cain, 44, of Jackson, said after the brief ceremony during the Township Committee’s regular meeting. Cain joined the township police department in 1999.  He will now serve as [...]

Think the borough could be more pedestrian and bicyclist friendly? Speak your mind at a special forum on Monday. The state Department of Transportation and the borough will host a public comment session from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at borough hall, 51 W. Main St. The purpose of the forum is to present various recommendations intended [...]

The Freehold Soil Conservation District will provide Plants for Pollinators in the Classroom resource kits to several teachers in Monmouth County. The program is designed to help students learn the importance of native pollinators and to study the relationship between plants and pollinators, according to a news release. Selected teachers will receive indoor growing kits, complete with a [...]

Freehold Regional High School District officials are looking at ways they can pay for infrastructure projects, which could include a referendum. Routine facility repairs and replacements were put on the back burner this school year because of financial constraints, and a similar situation is likely for the 2010-11 school year and beyond, Assistant Superintendent for [...]

Quarts of soup and artisan bowls made by Freehold High School students will be sold today through Friday to benefit the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Available soups are French onion, butternut squash, chicken noodle, cream of broccoli, vegetarian mushroom barley and vegetarian lentil. All soups are prepared by students of the Culinary Arts Academy [...]

In 1990, Keith Lewis just wanted to run his own restaurant. But 20 years after he opened Sweet Lew’s Hometown Cafe, the restaurant has come to mean so much more — to him and the Freehold community. “I’ve seen families grow,” said Lewis, 52. Children who dined at the small, homey restaurant 20 years ago now [...]

The Township Committee named Elizabeth Kiernan acting tax collector Tuesday after the woman holding that position was charged with credit card theft. Kiernan’s new appointment is for a 90-day period, effective Dec. 6, according to the resolution passed Tuesday. Kiernan, 44, had been earning $35,000 annually as the township’s principal tax clerk. She will earn [...]

Freehold High sure has some talented athletes. From football to field hockey to gymnastics, the borough’s high school students have been decimating their competition around the state this year. On Monday, the Borough Council honored the high school’s girls field hockey and girls gymnastic teams for their state wins last month. The gymnastic team captured [...]

The person chosen to become the next Freehold Regional schools superintendent was not announced Monday because contract negotiations are underway now with the prospective appointee, Board of Education President Ronald Lawson said. The board has decided on a successor to H. James Wasser, who retired June 30. However, Lawson said the selection will not be [...]