Defense helps Crimson Knights hold off Colonials

Posted via APP.com:

Wall senior Maurice Washington did just about everything except make the clinching play Saturday against Freehold.

That was left to senior Matt Mancino, whose interception with 29.7 seconds left clinched the Crimson Knights' 12-6 victory over the Colonials in a Shore Conference Federal Division game at Freehold.
With the win, Wall (5-2, 4-2) kept its hopes alive for a berth in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III playoffs. Freehold (4-3, 3-3), the defending CJ III champion, fell in danger of missing the postseason.
"We knew if we won this we have a chance for the playoffs, so it was a big game," Wall junior running back/linebacker Connor Caponegro said.
It was Washington's play on both sides of the ball that kept Wall in the hunt for the playoffs. He ran for 98 yards and scored the Crimson Knights' only touchdown, and made two interceptions as part of a tenacious Wall defense. Overall, the Crimson Knights forced four turnovers and held Freehold to 145 total yards.
"It was a defensive slugfest," Wall coach Chris Barnes said. "Our defense had to play as well as they did for us to really be in the football game."
Part of Wall's defensive strategy was moving Washington from cornerback to safety.
"(Washington) does a real good job of filling our run support," Barnes said. "We wanted to get more men in the box and it helped us against that offensive system."
After a scoreless first half, Washington began the third quarter with a 63-yard run to Freehold 8. Wall settled for a 21-yard field goal by senior Tim Mullooly to take a 3-0 lead.
Wall drove for another 21-yard field goal by Mullooly, getting a 16-yard pass from running back Will Avon to Mancino, later in the quarter to make it 6-0. In the fourth quarter, Washington finished a 33-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to the outside to give the Crimson Knights a 12-0 lead.
Freehold pulled to within 12-6 with 5:18 left when sophomore quarterback Kevin Phillips, who took over for starter Damar Bivins, threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to senior Tezzy Thorpe on fourth-and-8.
The Crimson Knights then ended Freehold's last two possessions with interceptions. Washington grabbed the first one for his second interception and nearly had a third, but Mancino grabbed the last one to clinch the win. It was Mancino's seventh interception this season, tying him with Manasquan's Ryland McTighe for the Shore Conference lead.
"We both had it, but I wanted to give it to (Mancino)," Washington said.

Freehold man charged in Berkeley with sex assault

Posted via APP.com:

A 42-year-old Freehold man was charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, according to a criminal complaint.

Thomas P. Anderson, of Vought Avenue, was charged Thursday by Detective Joseph J. Robertazzi.
The crimes were alleged to have occurred about 14 years ago, according to the complaint. Anderson was placed in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Taxes, development priorities among 4 running in Freehold

Posted via APP.com:

Taxes, code enforcement and downtown development -- all are major issues this year's crop of Borough Council candidates say are of utmost concern for the town.

Democratic incumbents Marc LeVine and Sharon Shutzer point proudly to their record on municipal spending and code enforcement, saying they want to continue that progress if re-elected.

But their opposition said much more needs to be done to engage citizens in the budget process and crack down on problems like overcrowding.

"Code enforcement needs to be empowered," said Ted Miller, one of two Republican challengers running this year.

Miller and his running mate, John F. Newman, are competing against LeVine and Shutzer for two three-year terms on the Borough Council.

Newman was not available for comment, but Miller said the two are campaigning on the same platform.

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Curfews Help Curb Mischief, Mayhem

Both the Borough and the Township will institute special curfews this weekend to prepare for Mischief Night and Halloween festivities, despite reports of decreased egg-throwing in NJ over the past few years.

In Freehold Township, minors won't be allowed outdoors in a public space after 9 PM on Friday and Saturday night, while Borough kids & teens must be indoors by 10PM.

Curfews became a popular way for towns to cut down on Halloween and Mischief traditions such as a toilet-papering trees, spraying shaving cream on doorbells, and egging neighbors' houses. According to this article in the Courier Post, other NJ towns have seen a drop in vandalism on these nights due to heavier police presence and enforced curfews.

Just to be safe, police warn retailers about egg sales in the days leading up to October 30th.

Trick, Treat, or a Mild Shower

This week's wet weather could continue straight through to Saturday night, soaking trick-or-treaters and chaperoning parents, according to the National Weather Service.

For the rebellious, the Mischief Night forecast predicts a cloudy night and temperatures in mid-50s, but a mostly dry night for reveling.

And on Saturday, looks like a 30% chance of precipitation in otherwise cloudy skies. The temperatures should only drop as low as 51 degrees, but that chill could become a fright with some showers.

Bad jokes aside, better bundle up for this Halloween night.

Kids credited with park’s extreme makeover

Committeewoman Michelle Roth, Mayor Richard Klauber and local Scouts unveil Scout Lake's new sign. Photo by Andy Kazmierski.

Holiday Lake in Manalapan is now Scout Lake, named after about 20 area Boy, Girl and Cub Scout troops who helped breathe new life into the surrounding Holiday Park.

The 13-acre park and lake, off Pease Road, were rededicated at a ceremony Saturday.

Scouts since March have been hard at work building benches and picnic tables for the dog-friendly park. The children and other local volunteers came out a week before the rededication for a cleanup that netted some 25 bags of trash.

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APP Spotlights BioTech HS

The Asbury Park Press has an in-depth look at Freehold Township's Biotechnology High School in today's paper and online. The APP's editorial staff spent a few days with the students there back in early October, helping students to investigate, write, and produce articles on their own school.

Editor Eric Pinckney helped orchestrate the "Day in the Life" project at the school. He wrote in an editor's note that he "was never the best student when it came to biology and the sciences. But after working with such an intelligent, thoughtful and fun-spirited group of students, biology was a lot more interesting."

Check out the full online package here.

Friends Pay Tribute to Late Teacher

The Freehold Township Early Childhood Learning Center honored a former employee who died last year from cancer, according to the News Transcript.

A memorial bench and plaque were dedicated to Noreen Hennessy, a social worker at the school, and  more than 70 staff members raised over $3,000 at a recent walk for breast cancer in her memory.

From the report:

She was never distracted at work by her illness and always maintained a positive attitude," said Nancy Doran, Hennessy's friend and colleague. "We wanted to reflect on the person she was and know that she would be humbled today to see all of those here in her honor."

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Freehold Borough PBA “Fright Night” Fundraiser a “Howling” Good Time

Jackie Condie Tweeted us a few weeks ago about a Boro PBA event, and when we asked her to be a special correspondent for the event, she wrote up this awesome guest post. Hooray for citizen journalism.

The wet and windy weather on Saturday night didn't scare families away from the annual Halloween "Fright Night" fundraiser held by the Freehold Borough PBA #159 at the VFW Hall on Waterworks Road.

Turnout was strong as kids of all ages came out for a fun evening of hayrides, crafts, pumpkin decorating, and an exciting martial arts demonstration from Freehold's own Art Beins Karate Training Center.  A number of other local business owners had generously donated goods and services for prize giveaways, all of which were greatly appreciated by the dozen or so lucky winners.

The outside party began at 4:00 and continued through the early evening, with a large tented area offering a dry haven from the periodic rain.  To keep the energy levels up for all that fun, the PBA provided a tempting all-you-can-eat buffet of hamburgers, hotdogs, clams, chicken – not to mention peanut M&Ms, admittedly the favorite of this attendee – and enough chips and nachos to feed an army.  Beer and wine was served to the adults, with plenty of soft drinks and bottled water for everyone.

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Freehold Township Bank Robbed

Posted via APP.com:

Authorities are investigating a robbery that took place early this afternoon at a Route 9 bank.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt displayed a gun during the robbery of the Freehold Savings Bank at about 12:10 p.m.

No other information was immediately available.

Monmouth County Craftsmanship Celebrated

Veronica Vezeris, a Monmouth County Historical Association guide, and Laura Casaceli of Howell walk through the association's exhibit "Craftsmen & Clients" in Freehold Oct. 13.

From APP. com comes a story today about a new exhibit at the Monmouth County Historical Association. The exhibit, which opened Oct. 4, highlights the work of Monmouth County area cabinetmakers, silversmiths and potters of the 1700s and early 1800s.

The exhibit will run until July at the association's headquarters, which is located near the Monmouth County courthouse at 70 Court Street in Freehold.

Israeli PM Press Liaison to Speak

David Baker (Image from Jewish National Fund Web site)

The Freehold Jewish Center will have a special guest at evening services Friday: David Baker, the senior foreign press coordinator in the Israeli Prime Minister's office.

Baker, a Queens native, serves as a liasion between the Prime Minister's Office and the international press corps. He also speaks frequently in North America, both on university campuses and within the Jewish community, according to his Jewish National Fund bio. (Baker is listed as a member of the fund's speakers bureau.)

On Friday, Baker is expected to talk about some of the important issues pertaining to Israel today.

Services begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish center, which is located at 59 Broad Street in Freehold.

Thinking about attending? Want more information? Call the center at (732) 462-0254.

CentraState Cancels Flu Clinics

Due to a supply shortage, CentraState Medical Center is canceling its seasonal flu vaccine clinics for November and December, according to a release sent out today.

CentraState had planned to hold clinics in October, November and December. But the hospital gave out 900 vaccine doses this month alone, running through their supply three times faster than they did last year, hospital spokeswoman Renee Crotts said.

Hospital officials have now been told that a second request for 900 additional doses might not be filled by their supplier, Crotts said.

Freehold HPC Tables Richmond House App

Members of Freehold's Historic Preservation Commission decided to hold off on rendering an opinion on the Richmond House demolition application, after listening to nearly three hours of testimony for and against it Monday.

The commission will take the issue up again at a special meeting on Nov. 9.

The commission has already signed off once on the application from Fox Associates, which wants to tear down the two-story building at 42 E. Main Street and put up a three-story structure. But members agreed to revisit the plan at the request of the Borough Council.

The plan has come under fire from some local historians, who say the building is historically significant because it is one of the few pre-Civil War structures in the borough. It was built in the Greek Revival style, a rare sight in central New Jersey, according to preservation advocates.

Girl Scouts plan 5th annual volunteer expo

Without volunteers, many organizations and activities overlooked, but essential, to our everyday lives would not exist. In an effort to connect those who want to give their time and talent with those organizations that need volunteer support, the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore will host its fifth annual Pay It Forward event November 8 from noon until 4 p.m. at its Program Activity Center in Farmingdale.

“Pay it Forward is a great educational tool for the community to learn about their local nonprofit organizations,” said Susan Warnken, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore program specialist and event organizer. “If everyone interested in volunteering donated just one hour to any of these organizations, the differences we’d see would be astonishing.”

There are many benefits to volunteering: quality time with the kids, being an active citizen in the community and just having fun.

“Aside from the benefit of growing closer to my family through time together, I get the chance to have fun while making a difference for both my family and others – that sounds like a win-win to me,” said Chuck Masarik, the father of two teen Girl Scouts in Neptune. “My participation brings us closer together through shared experience.”

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