Freehold Releases Snow Cost Estimates

This winter's unusually heavy series of snowstorms has cost Freehold $85,000, Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina reported Monday night.

Freehold Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina

Most of the expenses came from rock salt purchases and overtime, Bellina told the Borough Council.

Those costs will be minimized thanks to the borough's "snow trust," where officials had put aside money for just such an emergency.

Overtime payouts will come from the borough's operating budget, but Bellina was confident the snowstorms would not have a severe impact on the budget.

"We should be fine," he said in a follow-up interview Tuesday.

As for the havoc wreaked by last weekend's rainstorm, Bellina said Tuesday it was too early to tell how much it had cost the borough.

Clearing the Roads in Freehold

Asbury Park Press photographer Doug Hood went for a ride-along with county worker Ron Boyce, an assistant supervisor in the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering, as he salted Kozloski Road Thursday afternoon.

Bob Dickerson, shift coordinator for the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering, keeps a close eye on the storm.

The county DPW maintains 1,000 miles of roads in the county, as well as parking lots for various facilities, including the county libraries.

Employees made several salt-spreading runs throughout the day, and planned to return to the roads between 2 and 4 a.m. today to get ready for the morning rush hour, according to John W. Tobia, director of the county Department of Public Works and Engineering.

For a peek into the busy life of a public works employee during a snowstorm, check out Doug's video here.

Irizarry Decision Postponed

There will be no decision until at least next month in the criminal case of a Freehold Township woman and her son who claimed they were victims of police brutality.

Migdalia Irizarry applauds speakers during a 2008 rally outside the Freehold police station

Superior Court Judge Eugene A. Iadanza was expected to hand down a decision Thursday in the case of Migdalia Irizarry and her son, who were arrested after a motor vehicle stop on Jan. 29, 2008, in Freehold.

That decision has now been postponed to March 24, according to a member of his staff.

Both Irizarry and her teen son have been on trial for charges of obstruction and resisting arrest. Irizarry's son was also charged on a juvenile complaint with aggravated assault.

Snow Day!

Freehold students haven't had it this good in a long time.

Thanks to yet another snowfall blanketing the Shore, Freehold Township elementary and middle schools are closed today and borough schools will close early.

High schoolers have reason to celebrate, too: Freehold, Howell and Manalapan high schools will dismiss at 12:03 p.m. today; Colts Neck, Freehold Township and Marlboro high schools will dismiss at 1:03 p.m.

UPDATE: Freehold, Howell and Manalapan High Schools will now dismiss at 11:30 a.m. Colts Neck, Freehold Township and Marlboro High Schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. All after-school activities have been canceled.

The Freehold Regional High School District's RAISE Academy and Adult Evening School are closed today, according to the district Web site.

So have fun in the snow, folks. And as always, if you take some cool photos that you want to share, send them to me at kpredham@app.com.

FBEF Awards School Grants

The Freehold Borough Educational Foundation is donating more than $8,000 to projects benefiting the borough's elementary and middle school students, according to foundation chair Jean Holtz.

Freehold Borough Educational Foundation chair Jean Holtz

Holtz announced the awards, which total $8,601, at a borough school district meeting earlier this month.

The grants will be used to fund various initiatives ranging from writing programs at the Freehold Learning Center to new books at Freehold Intermediate Center.

The foundation has been awarding grants to worthy borough school projects since 2001. With this latest round, the foundation has now funnelled nearly $85,000 into the district, Holtz said.

For a full list of this year's projects, check out this report on APP.com.

CentraState Partners on Cancer Facility

Freehold Township's CentraState Healthcare System is one of three partners that plan to open a massive cancer-treatment center in Somerset, the first of its kind in the New York region, according to a Gannett New Jersey report.

The $160 million facility will offer proton-therapy, a form of radiation therapy that causes less damage to "normal" tissue in front of and behind a tumor.

Construction is to begin in April. If all goes as planned, the facility could begin receiving patients in March 2012.

An artist rendering of a ProCure proton therapy center

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Park Ave. PTO Raffle Nets Thousands

A basket raffle hosted by the Park Avenue Elementary PTO raised just over $14,000 for that school's students, according to PTO treasurer Susan Greitz.

"It's pretty impressive," said Greitz, who co-chaired the event.

The raffle - which offered up prizes like a golfing trip and grocery gift certificates - was held this past Saturday at the Park Avenue Elementary school. The proceeds will go toward various student activities, including class trips, the school's Field Day event and classrooms items like books and indoor recess materials, Greitz said.

County Holding Budget Meetings

Members of the public can get a glimpse into the budget process this week, when the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders hold two budget sessions, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry

Budget hearings are scheduled for 1:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Friday in the conference room on the second floor of the Hall of Records, 1 E. Main St. in Freehold.

Department heads will review budget requests at the meetings. The public can attend, but participation may be limited.

Public budget hearings have also been scheduled for next month. The budget is set to be adopted on March 11.

Township Approves Fire Budgets

Freehold Township residents went to the polls Saturday to weigh in on the 2010 budgets put forward by the town's two fire districts, the Asbury Park Press reports today.

In District 1 (serving residents west of Route 9), voters okayed a $1,192,287 budget and its $895,300 tax levy.

District 2 voters approved a $971,000 tax levy in support of the district's 2010 $1,088,000 budget.

Residents also voted in fire commissioners seeking re-election in both districts, as well as referendums to purchase new vehicles for the districts.

Service Summit Proposal DOA

Freehold Township won't be holding a Call to Service summit any time soon, Committee members made clear last night.

The summit - suggested by resident Jennie Jeannette "J.J." Mistretta - would have educated residents on the opportunities in town to serve in non-elected positions.

But Freehold Township already has more residents eager to serve their town than positions to appoint them to, Committee member David Salkin said.

"We've had waiting lists as long as I've been here," said Salkin. "It's not like we have a problem filling boards."

The summit proposal was placed on the Committee's workshop agenda Tuesday after Mistretta asked members to consider it at their Jan. 26 meeting.

"It (the Committee's decision) is kind of what I expected...It (was) just posturing for the public and the press," Mistretta said Wednesday.

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Township Offices Closed Wednesday

Town officials have called it: All Freehold Township municipal offices will be closed Wednesday. They will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Also, a bonus for the procrastinators out there - thanks to the snowy weather, the township's February tax payment grace period has been extended to Friday, according to the township's Web site.

Freehold Schools Consider Revisiting Goals

Freehold Schools Superintendent Elizabeth O'Connell wants to take a fresh look at the district's goals.

O'Connell floated the idea Monday night of reviving the district's strategic planning committee, which last met during the 2003-04 school year.

The committee would be tasked with creating new strategic objectives to guide the district, according to O'Connell. She hopes to assemble a "broad group" that would include administrators, teachers, parents, school board members and community volunteers.

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Former FRHSD Teacher Admits Taking Kids’ Money

As a teacher at Colts Neck High, Megan Laboy told her students they would get better grades if they made charitable donations. But in reality, she admitted Friday, the money went straight into her own pocket.

Laboy admitted the crime Friday, when she pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree theft by deception, according to the Asbury Park Press.

In exchange for her guilty plea, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office will ask that Laboy be sentenced to probation and seek forfeiture of any future public office.

Laboy joined the Freehold Regional High School District in 2001, but was no longer an employee by the time she turned herself in to authorities last year, district spokesman James Quirk said at the time.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 14.

WFS Collects Thousands for Haitian Relief

The numbers are in: West Freehold elementary students raised a cool $5,000 during their "Hopping for Haiti" fundraiser last week.

"Amazing...right?" the coordinator of last week's event, Natalie Gagliardi, said in an email announcing the good news.

The Freehold Township school's students collected pledges last week in return for participating in various hopping and jumping exercises during their gym classes. All donations are to be given to the American Red Cross International Response Fund for Haitian relief efforts.

Gagliardi, a second and third grade special education teacher, said she received the last of the donations Wednesday morning.

Boro Squad Seeks Members

Freehold's First Aid Squad needs volunteers, trustee Bill Madden told the Borough Council Monday during one of his occasional squad updates.

The squad, which serves Freehold and Freehold Township, could use about 20 more members, Madden said after the meeting.

Anyone interested in joining the squad can drop by its Spring Street headquarters any Thursday evening, or they can call the building at 732-308-1515. Prospective members can also call Madden at 732-431-4261.

(The squad is also always in need of donations. Pledges can be made online at www.freeholdfirstaid.org.)