The street will be closed to allow for roadway improvements.

That part of Broad Street could be reopened as early as Friday afternoon, according to a borough announcement.

Hurricane Earl is moving to the north-northwest at 18 mph as of 8 AM.  Earl is expected to continue to move to the north-northwest through this afternoon, [...]]]> While high pressure will remain in control over the region for one more day with hot temperatures, the main story is clearing the progression of powerful Hurricane Earl.

Hurricane Earl is moving to the north-northwest at 18 mph as of 8 AM.  Earl is expected to continue to move to the north-northwest through this afternoon, approaching the North Carolina Outer Banks.  Earl will come very close to the Outer Banks and may make a brief landfall on the far eastern portions of the Outer Banks.  Earl is then expected to turn due north and then north-northeast tonight under the influence of a strong cold front approaching from the Great Lakes.

The speed and location of Hurricane Earl is going to be very important in determining the impacts of Hurricane Earl on the Northern Mid Atlantic.  The further west Earl gets beyond 75W, the closer Earl will be for the New Jersey coast.  However, it is clear that the worst impacts from Earl will remain over the New Jersey and New York coastal waters with tropical storm conditions expected along the New Jersey coast and much of central and eastern Long Island.  Of the two locations, eastern Long Island has the best potential to experience hurricane force winds for a short period of time.  Meanwhile, further to the northwest, the impacts of Earl will decrease rapidly.  For example, central Monmouth County of New Jersey and New York City will likely experience scattered showers, breaks of sun from time to time, and sustained winds fluctuating between Tropical Depression strength (30 mph or less) and Tropical Storm Strength (40 to 60 mph) within each passing rain band.  Further to the west over the Delaware River Valley and the northern interior, very little in the way of impact will be felt from Earl with the majority of the rainfall on Friday coming from the advancing cold front to the west.

Hurricane Earl will impact southern New Jersey starting at 11 AM tomorrow and will exit eastern Long Island and eastern Connecticut by 8 PM tomorrow.  By late tomorrow night, skies will clear, winds will decrease rapidly, and any influence from Hurricane Earl and the advancing cold front will be decreasing rapidly.

High pressure will dominate through this weekend and into early next week with clear skies, low humidity, and comfortable conditions.  Temperatures will range from the mid 70's to lower 80's for highs and upper 50's to lower 60's for lows.

For details for your location, visit NY NJ PA Weather Local Seven Day Forecast.

Location: Park Avenue Elementary School (280 Park Avenue, Freehold NJ 07728)

Topics to be presented and discussed: ‐ Steps to homeownership for first time homebuyers ‐ Low interest, state sponsored mortgage loans ‐ Accessing home ownership readiness and affordability ‐ Financial assistance for down payment and closing costs [...]]]> Time/Date:
Saturday September 11, 2010 from 9am‐2pm

Location:
Park Avenue Elementary School (280 Park Avenue, Freehold NJ 07728)

Topics to be presented and discussed:
‐ Steps to homeownership for first time homebuyers
‐ Low interest, state sponsored mortgage loans
‐ Accessing home ownership readiness and affordability
‐ Financial assistance for down payment and closing costs
‐ Your credit score and how to improve it ‐Matching grants for your down payment savings
‐ Explanation of the Live Where You Work Program

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED!

Participants:
- Freehold Borough Town Council
- NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency
- Lending Institutions
- Area Realtors
- Check-Mate Inc.
- Affordable Housing Alliance
- Novadebt

For more information contact B. Araya @ (732) 774-3100, ext. 119 / (732) 780-7656 or e-mail barbaraa@check-mateinc.org

All eyes of course are on Hurricane Earl.  The forecast for Hurricane Earl is very complicated but also rather [...]]]> High pressure once again produced an excellent day of weather, albeit hot but at least dry.  Temperatures rose into the upper 80's to mid 90's once again while humidity increased slightly from the previous few days.

All eyes of course are on Hurricane Earl.  The forecast for Hurricane Earl is very complicated but also rather simple to see.  Through today, Hurricane Earl has been under the influence of two main features.  The first is a strengthen ridge to the northeast and east, which is driving Earl to the northwest and the second is a strong upper low over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which is enhancing the southeasterly flow.  This southeasterly flow is bad news for those along the Mid Atlantic coast.

The idea from the NHC and most model guidance as that Earl would reach the edge of the western Atlantic ridge, turn north around the North Carolina coastal waters, and exit into the Atlantic well east of New Jersey.  As you know, I was not and still not buying that forecast.  Let me explain why.

Besides looking at models, a meteorologist has to use his brain sometimes and actually look at the atmospheric set up using physics and some basic laws of meteorology.  Now, the first physics problem we have here on the water vapor satellite picture is that there is a lot of dry, sinking air over the Tennessee Valley.  This is important because this dry air is significantly slowing the cold front that is expected to force Earl well to the east of New Jersey.  This dry air is the result of two features.  The first is what we call a heat ridge or warm core ridge.  The second is what we call upper level wind convergence.  You see, the upper low over the Gulf Coast is creating wind convergence over the Tennessee Valley.  This convergence is slowly down the base of the trough, which means our cold front is going to be a little late to it's date with Earl.  I know, Earl is going to be disappointed.

So where does this put us, the Northern Mid Atlantic?

Well, if my theory is right that Earl is going to move further west than guidance suggests, than Earl will pass 75W to the south of 30N, which would allow Earl to move through the Outer Banks of North Carolina and then due north towards the southern Delaware coast.  Eventually Earl will turn northeast and I have that happening over the New Jersey coastal waters, roughly 150 miles off the New Jersey coast.

At this time, the forecast I had for this morning remains the same with the most significant impacts along the immediate New Jersey coast and along the south shores of Long Island where Tropical Storm to near Hurricane strength winds can be expected, heavy rainfall, rough surf, and coastal flooding.  Further to the northwest over interior southern and central New Jersey, northeastern New Jersey, the New York City metropolitan area, and much of Connecticut, bands of heavy rain and strong winds will move through these regions, however the effects of Earl will not be a constant and I could not rule out some breaks of sun between the bands of rain.  Winds will remain in the Tropical Storm strength, but mostly towards 40 mph for a short times.  Further to the west, the cut off from the impacts of Earl will be sharp with little impact for Philadelphia, the Delaware River Valley, eastern Pennsylvania, interior New York and northern Connecticut.

Earl will exit into the Atlantic quickly along with a cold front on Friday night with clearing skies.  A cooler Polar air mass will take hold for Saturday and Sunday with temperatures falling back into the 70's and lower 80's.  By Monday though, lower to mid 80's will take hold for much of the Northern Mid Atlantic.  High pressure will keep the region dry through early next week once Earl exits.

For details on your location, visit the NY NJ PA Weather Local Seven Day Forecast!

The almost-finished building, according to workers at the site, is in the same complex as the Freehold Wal-mart and Longhorne Steakhouse.

The race, first run in 1955 in Yonkers, New York, was moved to Freehold in 1998. Freehold has the oldest half-mile racetrack in the country, though [...]]]> Freehold Raceway will once again be home to the annual Cane Pace, the first leg in the Harness Racing Triple Crown. Monday's race has a $300,000 purse.

The race, first run in 1955 in Yonkers, New York, was moved to Freehold in 1998. Freehold has the oldest half-mile racetrack in the country, though it has recently come under scrutiny by the Christie administration, as to whether it should remain open.

The race differs from other forms of horseracing in the gait in which the horses run. Pacers run with their front and back legs on one side moving in tandem.

Post time is at 12:30 at the Raceway, and admission is free. A Cane Pace cap will be given out with each paid program.

The other races in the Triple Crown are the Little Brown Jug, held on the third Thursday after Labor Day each year at the Delaware County Fair in Delaware, Ohio, and the October Messenger Stakes, held at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York.

The school board voted 4-3 in favor of Evangelista's 2010-11 school year salary, which remained unchanged at $151,556 because the district's central office staff agreed to a wage freeze.

However, because members' votes are weighted differently, the [...]]]> The Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education symbolically voted down Assistant Superintendent Donna Evangelista's salary Monday.

The school board voted 4-3 in favor of Evangelista's 2010-11 school year salary, which remained unchanged at $151,556 because the district's central office staff agreed to a wage freeze.

However, because members' votes are weighted differently, the final tally was 3.85 votes against the salary and 3.05 votes for it.

Board Vice President Harold "Heshy" Moses, along with Barry Hochberg and Jennifer Sutera, voted against Evangelista's salary. Board President Ronald Lawson and William Bruno abstained.

Since Evangelista is tenured, the vote has no legal consequence, board attorney Stephen Edelstein said.

The school board has the power to vote down a raise, but members cannot reduce the salary of a tenured employee, Edelstein said.

Only the state education commissioner has that authority, and then only after tenure proceedings are brought and a trial is held, Edelstein said.

Evangelista, the district's assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, was one of several current and former staffers who received doctoral degrees from the unaccredited Breyer State University. On Monday, district critics called for an apology from Evangelista and that she be moved to another position.

Jim Sage of Marlboro appealed to the board to vote down the Evangelista motion.

"Let's bring on the issues, send a message that the largest academic fraud in the district not go unpunished," Sage said.

Evangelista, along with her fellow assistant superintendents, was reappointed at the board's annual organization meeting April 26.

Also on Monday, the board voted in favor of the 2010-11 salary for Sean Boyce, the assistant superintendent for business administration. His salary will stay at $168,683.

No other major changes are on the horizons for the schools, according to the story.

However, [...]]]> The News Transcript reported yesterday that enrollment in the Freehold Borough school district is up 43 students this year, tallying a total of 1,405 Borough munchkins expanding their minds at the town's three schools this year.

No other major changes are on the horizons for the schools, according to the story.

However, two positions were newly created and filled for the 10-11 year: a Title I coordinator/literacy coach, who will help fulfill Title I's promise of bridging the gap between low income and other students; and a district translator/community liaison, who will help cross the Spanish language barrier with students and parents in the district.

The Title I coordinator was hired using federal Title I funding, according to the report.

The federal Department of Transportation awarded New Jersey Transit $534,375 to investigate the potential Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex line, according to the NT.

Plans for the A transit line that could connect Freehold Borough & Township to New York City, Philadelphia, and Trenton is on the move again, according to an article in the News Transcript.

Commuter traffic on Route 9 often slows to a halt when accidents happen. The proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) train line could alleviate traffic.

The federal Department of Transportation awarded New Jersey Transit $534,375 to investigate the potential Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex line, according to the NT.

Plans for the "MOM" line have been developed and tabled in the past, stalled by debate over which towns would be included in the service, and whether old freight railroad lines would be restored for the passenger service.

Part of those former freight lines makes up the current Henry Hudson trail and recreation area, which NJ Transit loaned to the Monmouth County Parks System.

According to the article, the DOT funding will go towards a study analyzing potential ridership, alternatives, environmental impact, and potential stations.

Freehold's top talent, 11-year-old singer Lianah Sta. Ana, will join them next week to sing at half-court at the Women's Quarterfinals.

Sta. Ana, who has been a part of Freehold Idol [...]]]> The US Open is underway, with some of the world's top tennis talent slugging tennis balls across Flushing, Queens this week.

Lianah Sta. Ana performs at Freehold Idol last summer.

Freehold's top talent, 11-year-old singer Lianah Sta. Ana, will join them next week to sing at half-court at the Women's Quarterfinals.

Sta. Ana, who has been a part of Freehold Idol and won national singing awards, will croon "America the Beautiful" to the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium next Tuesday (Shh..Lianah..we won't tell that school starts that day over at Applegate Elementary, too!).

Good luck, Lianah!

The Church was founded in 1935 by recent Virginia transplants to Freehold Arthur Goode and Reverend Sallie Goode. It began as a small mission on Throckmorton Street, and moved first to 9 Avenue [...]]]> Faith Tabernacle Church, on Avenue A in Freehold Borough, will celebrate its 75th anniversary this weekend with a banquet in East Windsor.

Members of Faith Tabernacle Church will celebrate their 75th anniversary this weekend.

The Church was founded in 1935 by recent Virginia transplants to Freehold Arthur Goode and Reverend Sallie Goode. It began as a small mission on Throckmorton Street, and moved first to 9 Avenue A and later 11 Avenue A in its early years.

The Church is known as the "Friendly Church on the Hill" by members, and has run an outreach program of food and clothing distribution for many years. The Church holds an annual Thanksgiving meal for the public, and distributes Thanskgiving and Christmas baskets for thos ein need.

The church also runs nursing home and prison ministries.

The banquet will be held on September 4, at the Holiday Inn of East Windsor, from 12 to 4pm. For more information, call Ellen Goode at 732-747-5945.

Today, the budget cut effects are in the news again, as the APP reports that students will head back to school next week with fewer extracurricular activities to join.

Yesterday, a panel of appellate court judges ruled that Smith's plea could not be used against him in a civil wrongful-death suit brought by the [...]]]> Freehold native and NBA star JR Smith plead guilty last year to reckless driving following a car accident in which the passenger of the SUV Smith was driving died.

Denver Nuggets guard Earl "J.R." Smith III (center) listens to his attorney Kevin Hextall during a June 2009 hearing in Millstone Township Municipal Court Tuesday. At left is Smith's father, Earl. (ASBURY PARK PRESS 2009)

Yesterday, a panel of appellate court judges ruled that Smith's plea could not be used against him in a civil wrongful-death suit brought by the passenger's mother, according to the APP.

Andre Bell, 21, of East Orange, was seriously injured when Smith ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle in Millstone in 2007. Bell died two days later.

Smith, who plays professionally for the Denver Nuggets, spent 30 days in jail for the reckless driving charge. A grand jury failed to bring criminal charges against him.

Bell's mother, Wanda Bell, is suing Smith for wrongful death of her son.

High pressure at the surface up to 500 MB will continue to produce [...]]]> High pressure over the Northern Mid Atlantic today will produce another day of clear skies and hot temperatures, however the approach of Hurricane Earl to the southeast will lead to a rather stormy end to the week for those along the coast.

High pressure at the surface up to 500 MB will continue to produce subsidence or sinking air over the New York City and Philadelphia metropolitan area.  As a result, skies will clear today as high temperatures drive into the lower to mid 90's for highs for many locations.  For temperatures to be this hot for late August is unusual, however the reason for the high temperatures to easy to explain.  When air sinks, that air warms.  Well, in this case, the sinking motion of the atmosphere starts above 500 MB and ends at the surface, that is a lot of warming!  The hot conditions in return warms the mid and upper layers of the atmosphere, which builds the heights or higher pressure at these levels.  This is a basic feed back process and the type of high pressure in place is called a warm core ridge.

Meanwhile, a cold front will be moving through the central Plains and into the Great Lakes over the next 48 hours.  This cold front and associated upper level trough will be a key player in the future of Hurricane Earl by Friday morning.

The forecast for Hurricane Earl, which is currently a strong category 4 hurricane with 135 mph sustained winds, is a very complicated forecast.  There are several features that will influence the track of Hurricane Earl including Earl itself!  One important feature is the developing negative NAO pattern or the strong upper low developing over the Canadian Maritimes.  This upper low is becoming enhanced by the remnants of Danielle, and should cause the trough approaching the Great Lakes to slow down and tilt to a negative position.  Meanwhile, the warm core ridge over the Northern Mid Atlantic will shift south and southwest over the Southeast, forcing Earl to remain east of the Southeast coast and southern Mid Atlantic.  However, as Earl has intensified, so has the central Atlantic ridge, which is driving Earl to the west.

The question in the forecast is this, which feature will have the greatest influence on the overall track of Earl.  If the ridge over the Atlantic is stronger (and I believe it is), then Earl will come very close to the Mid Atlantic coast before turning northeast.  Meanwhile, the more that the trough over the Great Lakes is delayed, the slower the turn to the northeast will be for Earl as the southwesterly steering currents will be weak initially.  Then there is the factor of the size of Hurricane Earl and the potential for Earl for at least a short time influencing the upper level dynamics around the storm.  See how this can become complicated?

Well, for now, I have the greatest impacts along the immediate coast with those along the New Jersey coast and Long Island at least having to deal with rough surf, coastal flooding, strong sustained winds over 40 mph, and periods of heavy rain.  The closer Earl gets, the worst the conditions will get.  However, because of the approach of the cold front to the west, those over the interior, specifically west of the Delaware River, will have little if any impact from Earl aside from a rather breezy day on Friday.

Earl exits on Friday night with high pressure and a much cooler, drier air mass in place for the weekend!

For details on your location, visit the NY NJ PA Weather Local Seven Day Forecast!

Upwards of 10,000 JCP&L customers could be without power, according to their website. You can keep up with the power outage at the JCP&L Outage Map http://bit.ly/95HkG5

Did you lose power today, Freehold residents? Is it back on [...]]]> Parts of Freehold and much of Monmouth County lost power shortly before 5pm today.

Upwards of 10,000 JCP&L customers could be without power, according to their website.
You can keep up with the power outage at the JCP&L Outage Map http://bit.ly/95HkG5

Did you lose power today, Freehold residents? Is it back on yet?

The Township Committee is set to approve the resurfacing of the three Tighe park sports surfaces at tomorrow evening's meeting. The contract is for $139,337, and will be awarded to Frye's Athletic Surfaces.

The hockey [...]]]> Basketball courts, tennis courts, and two roller-hockey rinks are slated to get a little lovin' from Freehold Township.

The Township Committee is set to approve the resurfacing of the three Tighe park sports surfaces at tomorrow evening's meeting. The contract is for $139,337, and will be awarded to Frye's Athletic Surfaces.

The hockey rinks show visible wear-and-tear on their surfaces:

Though the basketball and tennis courts are still looking pretty spiffy:

The Georgia Road Schoolhouse, which was originally constructed in 1735 and, in various incarnations, served as functioning schoolhouse until 1956, has [...]]]> One of the oldest original buildings in Freehold Township will be celebrated with a grand reopening event next month, and the Township's Heritage Society is looking for special help with the event.

The Georgia Road Schoolhouse, which was originally constructed in 1735 and, in various incarnations, served as functioning schoolhouse until 1956, has been renovated and is set for reopening as a historic site in the Township.

The Heritage society, which helped restore the building with old-time bench-desks and its original chalkboards, is looking for any former students of the schoolhouse to join in the reopening ceremonies.

The Georgia Road schoolhouse was constructed on land originally owned by King George, and was deeded the town with the stipulation that it always be used for education, according to the Heritage Society.  The current building was constructed out of wood taken from trees on the property.

If you or someone you know ever attended class at Georgia Road Schoolhouse, where Laura Barkalow Donovan was the last teacher, call 732-577-9766 or email ftheritage1686@yahoo.com.

The candidate will fill the position left vacant by Fillip Gershon, who resigned last month. The Board will interview applicants who filed by August 17 in a public meeting. No action is expected to be [...]]]> The Freehold Township School Board will hold a meeting Wednesday night to interview potential candidates to fill a board vacancy.

The candidate will fill the position left vacant by Fillip Gershon, who resigned last month. The Board will interview applicants who filed by August 17 in a public meeting. No action is expected to be taken by the board, according to School Business Administrator Brian Boyle.

The person chosen will serve until April 2011, at which point an election will be held to fill the one-year unexpired term.

Prospective candidates must be U.S. citizens, have lived in the district for at least one year before their appointment, be able to read and write, and be registered to vote in the school district.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm at 384 West Main Street.

The Freehold Regional High School District lost an estimated $15 million in state and local funding and consequently eliminated 152 positions. Class sizes in its [...]]]> Some Freehold area schools may feel the effects of budget cuts this year, with teacher layoffs resulting in larger class sizes, according to the Asbury Park Press.

The Freehold Regional High School District lost an estimated $15 million in state and local funding and consequently eliminated 152 positions. Class sizes in its six high schools that serve an estimated 11,800 students will average 25 to 27 students in regular level classes, up from 24 per class last year.

"It is going to have some impact on classroom instruction," said Suzanne Koegler, acting superintendent of the Freehold Regional district. "We are going to have some (student) increases. . . . But it's not auditorium-sized classrooms."

For the full report on class sizes in NJ school districts, read the article at APP.com.

http://nt.gmnews.com/news/2010-08-25/Greg_Bean%27s_Column/Readers_say_they_feel_the_pain_of_noservice_servic.html

“We really did all of our planting and pruning in June,” said Applegate, who owns the orchard with her husband. “We are basically ordering and pricing things. Next week we [...]]]>

Freehold Township's Battleview Orchard prepares for the apple picking season by ordering boxes of products.

As the temperatures drop and the fall season nears Battleview Orchard’s appropriately named owner Lisa Applegate prepares her business for the busiest season.

“We really did all of our planting and pruning in June,” said Applegate, who owns the orchard with her husband. “We are basically ordering and pricing things. Next week we will book school tours for September and October.”

The orchards as well as the country store see a lot of people in and out the door during the autumn months. According to Applegate, the school tours alone can bring in up to 8,000 customers.

Aside from hiring seasonal employees and planting the produce the Applegates have to order masses of product for the season.

“Between the bakery and produce, we have about 100 different suppliers we have to go through,” said Applegate.

“Just by looking at me you could probably say God she has done a lot of prep,” laughed Applegate. “But I’ve been doing this since 1989 so at this point it’s become second nature.”

Right now apples and peaches are available for picking. The orchard hours are 10 a.m to 5 p.m. seven days a week.

The current 20,000 square foot space that is home to the office will be upped to a 29,000 square foot area within the same building [...]]]> The prosecutors’ office, now located in the east wing of the court house, will be moving to a more spacious location on Jerseyville Avenue in early 2011.

The current 20,000 square foot space that is home to the office will be upped to a 29,000 square foot area within the same building as the investigator’s office, said Department of Public Information member William Heine.

In the vacant space of the court house will be three new court rooms.

“The change was brought about because a few years ago there was a backlog in the court system, due to a lack of court rooms,” said Heine.

This $3,750,000 project will help to keep this area’s prosecution staff consolidated and keep up with the growth in local population, said Heine.

“The county is growing we are up to 650,000 residence so the court system needs to grow with it,” he added.

Well, the annual fund raiser that helps pay for those Township delights is coming up.

The 9th Annual Freehold Township Parks & Recreation Golf Classic will be held on Thursday, [...]]]> Like those new sand volleyball courts at Tighe park? What about the recently-approved 2nd splash pad, to cool off on those summer days?

Well, the annual fund raiser that helps pay for those Township delights is coming up.

The 9th Annual Freehold Township Parks & Recreation Golf Classic will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at the Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson, NJ. Players can register for $150, which includes lunch, the dinner awards reception, and prizes.

Information on signups, sponsorships, and projects funded here.

The next day he went back and delivered bedding, toys and a truckload of food, said Regina Finn, manager of [...]]]> Just a week before Patrick "Joe" Driscoll lost his life in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he delivered twin beds to a Monmouth County home, simply because he knew the family needed help.

Participants walk along the path during the annual Walk With Joe at Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan. Joe (Driscoll) was one of the passengers killed 9/11/01 on Flight 93. Photo by BRADLEY J. PENNER/staff photographer. Manalapan -- 09/06/08

The next day he went back and delivered bedding, toys and a truckload of food, said Regina Finn, manager of the Samaritan Center. Driscoll first learned of the family at the Manalapan food pantry, where he was a volunteer.

"He didn't expect anything for it," Finn said. "That's how he was."

Today, it's only fitting the walk in Driscoll's name still supports one of his dearest causes: Without the annual "Walk with Joe," now in its ninth year, the pantry wouldn't be able to serve more than 225 families, Finn said.

The Samaritan Center is one of more than nearly a dozen charities, scholarships and organizations in Monmouth and Ocean counties supported by the walk every year. This year's 5K will be held 10 a.m. Sept. 11 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan.

Beneficiaries include Freehold Area Open Door, a food pantry, and the Child Advocacy Center in Freehold. Driscoll, an avid volunteer, supported many of the groups' causes while he was alive, said members of the Yorktowne Club.

Driscoll, who died at 70, was a husband, grandfather, CCD teacher, basketball coach, Little League umpire and longtime member of the Yorktowne Club. The 42-year-old Manalapan benevolent association organizes the walk annually.

"Joe was the kind of guy who gave his time, effort and money" to improve others' lives, said event chairman Jordan Maskowitz of Manalapan. "If he were still alive and this was (in honor of) another member, he'd (support the walk) in full force."

Maskowitz said the walk honors not only Driscoll but all who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks: Foreign-exchange trader Christopher Gray, 32, a Manalapan native and son of club member James Gray was killed in the World Trade Center. New York firefighter Thomas McCann, 46, of Manalapan also was lost; he was a husband, father of two and brother of Yorktowne member George McCann.

"For a lot of kids (Sept. 11) is only a page in the history books," said Maskowitz, 51, a retired State Police lieutenant. "As long as we're here, we're going to make sure we never forget."

Those helped by Driscoll's legacy today won't quickly forget his kindness either, Finn said at the pantry Wednesday. The walk — which has donated $200,000 since its inception in 2002 — last year gifted $11,000 to the Samaritan Center for food purchases, she said.

The pantry serves a list of families in Manalapan, Marlboro, Englishtown and Millstone that has more than quadrupled in the past three years, she said.

"We have people from all levels of life, even some of the very wealthy people in this area even lost their jobs and literally need food," Finn said. "We couldn't survive without these donations. They're very, very grateful."

For more information or to register for the walk, visit http://www.walkwithjoe.com