Community Rallies around Supplies for Haiti

Following quick action by the District 12 Republican Office, western Monmouth County rallied Saturday to collect hundreds of personal items for the relief efforts in Haiti.

The Office, together with Convoy of Hope, a Missouri-based non-profit with a chartered plane flying supplies to Haiti, organized supply drives for the eastern and western halves of the County.
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Menorah Lighting Tonight at 5

Come on out to the Hall of Records tonight to watch the Menorah Lighting and kick off Hanukkah 2009!

Christmas Tree Lighting Videos

If you missed it last night, here's a quick glimpse at the sights and sounds of the Christmas Tree Lighting in Freehold Borough:

The Rock N' Roll Chorus:

See another Christmas video after the jump!

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Christmas Tree Lighting in Freehold

Last night's Christmas Tree Lighting at the Hall of Records drew a couple of hundred people to Downtown Freehold on a mildly cold night to kick off the holiday season.

The event was organized by  the Freehold Center Partnership and 107.1 The Breeze, and was hosted by The Breeze's on-air personality Lisa Anderson. The Rock N' Roll Chorus and Freehold Township High School Holiday Ensemble provided Christmas tunes, while Santa provided candy canes and gift promises.

Check out the scene:

Who Knows What Happened to Her Nose?

Here's a mystery for an ambitious gumshoe: what happened to this pretty lady's nose?

The hallmark statue of downtown Freehold--located at the front of the Hall of Records parking lot-- is looking a bit like Owen Wilson these days, and we're wondering who's run off with her honker.

Want to get on the case? Check out the missing schnozz for yourself tonight at the Tree Lighting: 5PM in front of the Hall of Records.

If you can solve the mystery of the missing nostrils, we've got a special Freehold prize for you.

Tree Lighting Tomorrow Night

It's time to deck the Hall of Records again in Freehold tomorrow night, as the Board of Freeholders and the Freehold Center Partnership light the Christmas Tree on Main Street.

Today, we caught the crew doing some pre-cleaning around the tree, which was set up over the weekend in preparation for tomorrow's festivities.

The tree lighting kicks off at 5PM tomorrow; on December 15, the town will light the Menorah in a similar ceremony.

Deck the Hall of Records

We caught the elves in action today, decking the Hall of Records in wreaths and garland for the Holiday Season. The festivities kick off next Tuesday with the Tree Lighting.

Spooktacular Parade this Sunday

The Annual Halloween Spooktacular Parade and costume contest are set for this Sunday at 1PM.

The Borough's Spooktacular committee has offered a range of programst his Halloween season to get Freeholders  feeling spooked, including the window-decorating contest and recently-controversial scarecrow decorating contest.

Spooktacular parade in 2008.

Now, the committee brings the piece de resistance to the fanfare, organizing over 800 hundred students, parents, and volunteer groups to march in costume from the Freehold Raceway parking lot up to Main Street and over to the Hall of Records.

Costume judging takes place from 12 to 12:45 in the lot and prizes will be awarded at Hall of Records after the parade. Trophies will be given out in nine categories and age-groups, including Children's Group, Adult Group/Family, Pooch, and individual costumes.

Volunteer Fair Postponed

The Freehold Volunteer Fair that was set to take place tomorrow will be postponed until next Saturday, October 24, because of the predicted inclement weather.

The Fair will be held at the Hall of Records parking lot and will feature dozens of non-profits, Boro committees and commissions, and civic groups.

A few weeks ago, community contributor FBColonial offered this info on the First Annual Volunteer Fair:

It was 16 years ago when I first started giving back to this community. I first joined the fire department. I look back now and think "thank god I did". It was one of the best things I decided to do in life. Learning how to give back and never forgetting where you come from are lifelong lessons I picked up from my mother. I guess you are all wondering why I'm I saying all of this.

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Goodfellas Replaced by San Marzano

A new pizza place and trattoria has opened where an old pizza place and trattoria once stood:

San Marzano Restaurant has officially opened its villa doors in the Hall of Records parking lot, in the location formerly occupied by Goodfellas. The space is still undergoing renovations that started this summer, but the side entrance, pictured above, is open and ready for business. Buon Appetito!

Borough Gets Ready for Nerds Concert Tonight

The Hall of Records parking lot is looking all set for tonight's end-of-summer rock show by the Nerds. Freehold's favorite cover band will take the stage from 7-9PM tonight, thanks to one last sunny Friday evening.

The concert was originally scheduled for August, but was rescheduled due to summer showers.

Summer Kruises Out of Sight

Dark and threatening clouds remained at bay long enough last night for classic cars to take center stage one final time this summer.

The last installment of the monthly Kruise Night event welcomed over 100 old cars (made at least 25 years ago, before this reporter's birth) and hundreds more car enthusiasts and spectators to the Hall of Records parking lot and spots along Main Street.

Some photos contributed by Patricia Hopkins.

From 5PM to just before 10 PM, tunes from the 60s and 70s blasted through speakers in front of the Hall of Records while the Freehold volunteer EMS sold hot dogs and sodas to car owners, hobbyists, and Freehold area residents.

Kruise Night's benefit to local businesses and restaurants was also apparent, as sidewalk dining areas in front of Federici's, Court Jester, Angelo's and more filled with leather-clad diners.

The Nerds To Perform Sept. 18

Freehold Borough will be able to hang onto summer just a little bit longer than the rest of the state this yera. The summer concert series will be extended to September 18, when the Nerds will take the stage in the Hall of Records parking lot from 7-9 P.M.m.

The famous funnymen from New Jersey tour the country playing covers of classic rock, R&B, soul, and pretty much anything else you can think of. They're famous for their "Sweet Caroline" sing-a-long, their nerdy outfits, and their Monty Python-style sense of humor on stage.

The concert was originally scheduled for August but was cancelled due to thunderstorms. The scheduling geniuses at the Freehold Center Partnership worked to reschedule the concert as soon as possible, and the show will close out the summer series for 2009.

Classic Rock Comes to Freehold

The Wings' guitarist Denny Laine

The Freehold Center Partnership has just announced a rockin' September concert to be held in the Hall of Records parking lot: Denny Laine, former guitarist of Wings, and Terry Sylvester, former guitarist and singer for the Hollies.

Terry Slyvester of the Hollies

The classic rock duo will take the stage on Friday, September 11, at 7:30 P.M. to play hits from the 60s and 70s, when both musicians spent time touring and playing with the Beatles.

After playing lead guitar for the 60s-era Moody Blues, Laine left to cofound Wings with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife Linda. The three were the only members to remain in the band until it broke up in 1980, following world tours, 14 Top Ten singles in the US, and the hit song, "Mull of Kintyre."

Slyvester, meanwhile, founded his first band The Escorts in Liverpool, England in the early 1960s and played many local shows with the Beatles around Liverpool. In 1969, Sylvester replaced Graham Nash (of Crosby, Stills, and Nash) in the Hollies, and later recorded solo albums at Abbey Road Studios with famed producer Allen Parsons.

Idols Of Summer

The Freehold Idol finales last night blew the crowd away with a summer's worth of talent and hard work.

Here, some sights and sounds from the penultimate week of Idol '09:

Photos courtesy Patricia Hopkins

Congratulations to Samantha Citro for taking home first place this summer!