FREEHOLD - State Police are seeking the public's assistance in an animal cruelty investigation in Upper Freehold Township where three neglected dogs were found troopers responded to the area of Burlington Path Road and Emleys Hill Road The dogs were evaluated by North Star Vets and then placed in the care of the Popcorn Park Animal Refuge we are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying their previous owner(s)," police said "If you recognize these dogs or know who may have abandoned them please contact the New Jersey State Police Troop “C” Hamilton Station Detective Bureau at 609-584-5000 Ext Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A 26-year-old Freehold Borough man was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday May 2 after previously pleading guilty to shooting a man in the face last year in Jackson Township officers in Jackson Township responded to Larsen Road and found a 27-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the face Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he was treated and subsequently released The victim and a woman were sitting in a parked vehicle outside a residence when a blue sedan parked in front of their vehicle knocked on the window and as the victim exited he was assaulted and then shot in the face Vulpis and Phelps were arrested following the attack Vulpis pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon Further investigation revealed Glenn Franzson conspired with Vulpis to contact the victim after the shooting to have him provide a false statement to law enforcement in reference to the investigation Franzson was charged with witness tampering and conspiracy to commit witness tampering The charges against Phelps and Franzson remain pending “The State is required to prove each and every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt," Billhimer said the victim of a crime remains uncooperative with the prosecution’s efforts for the State to satisfy its legal burden of proof the State reluctantly entered into this negotiated resolution - in the absence of victim cooperation - so that some level of justice might nevertheless be accomplished." has made another stop in the Garden State to grab some grub I'm sure you could have figured that out Portnoy, of Barstool Sports fame is constantly buzzed about for his One Bite Pizza Reviews Although sometimes he takes more than one bite Portnoy has visited over a hundred pizza places in New Jersey to give us his honest review Even though he's been to my favorite New Jersey spots for pizza Conte's in Princeton and Federici's in Freehold Portnoy's highest rating in New Jersey went to the pie at DeLucia's Brick oven pizza in Raritan which is #4 overall on his best pizza overall list Portnoy's latest New Jersey pizza stop was in Freehold He grabbed a pizza at Romeo's Italian America on Elton Adelphia Road The owner gave him two pies to try...one bar pie and one cheese who happened to be in the pizza spot at the time of the review but the owner is so nice and he didn't want to break the owner's heart by giving him a 7.2 READ MORE: Three NJ Restaurants Made Yelp's Top 100 List He also grabbed some fried mozzarella on the way out Romeo's Italian American isn't new to the pizza scene He's been "slinging pizza for many many years." He had a smaller spot but upgraded to the current location about 5 years ago Go check out the pizza for yourself at 177 Elton Adelphia Road in Freehold Gallery Credit: Joe Votruba See what the pizza rating was.\nRead More Portnoy, of Barstool Sports fame Portnoy's highest rating in New Jersey went to the pie at DeLucia's Brick oven pizza in Raritan Barstool Pizza Review - Romeo’s Italian American (Freehold READ MORE: Three NJ Restaurants Made Yelp's Top 100 List Freehold Royalties (FRHLF) has two appealing investment characteristics: You can download our full Excel spreadsheet of all 76 monthly dividend stocks (along with metrics that matter like dividend yield and payout ratio) by clicking on the link below: Click here to instantly download your free spreadsheet of all 76 monthly dividend stocks now, along with important investing metrics Combining a high dividend yield and a monthly dividend renders Freehold Royalties appealing to income-oriented investors the company is ideally positioned to benefit from high production growth in exceptionally rich resource areas in North America we will discuss the prospects of Freehold Royalties Freehold Royalties is focused on acquiring and managing royalty interest in crude oil and potash properties in Western Canada and the United States The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Calgary Freehold Royalties aims to deliver growth and attractive risk-adjusted returns to its shareholders by acquiring high-quality assets with acceptable risk profiles and long economic lives It then tries to generate highly profitable lease-out programs for the development of its properties Freehold Royalties generates approximately 93% of its revenues from oil and natural gas liquids and the remaining 7% from natural gas Source: Investor Presentation the company generates 55% of its revenue from its properties in Canada and the remaining 45% from its properties in the U.S it is only natural that Freehold Royalties has exhibited a highly volatile performance record The royalties that its new customers are willing to pay are greatly affected by the prevailing oil and gas market conditions and the underlying prices of oil and gas the oil and gas production of its existing customers significantly varies from year to year as it is dependent on the prevailing oil and gas prices it is not surprising that Freehold Royalties has posted losses in three of the last ten years $231 million in funds from operations ($1.53 per share) with a record 65% weighting toward oil and NGLs The company completed $412 million in acquisitions The company’s shift toward higher oil-weighted production increased profitability with liquids weighting rising from 62% in 2023 to 64% in 2024 and an expected 66% in 2025 Fourth-quarter production hit 15,306 boe/d Freehold’s highest liquids weighting since inception Freehold increased its credit capacity to $450 million while maintaining a manageable $282 million in net debt with rising cash flows from higher liquids weighting The company declared a $0.09 monthly share dividend With a balanced U.S.-Canada revenue mix and a strong acquisition strategy Freehold is positioned for continued growth Freehold Royalties currently enjoys decent business momentum The company has grown its production by 38% over the last four years to a new record level Such a high production growth rate is extremely rare in the oil and gas industry have failed to grow their output over the last several years This is a key difference between Freehold Royalties and most oil and gas producers Freehold Royalties is inevitably sensitive to the oil and gas industry cycles This is clearly reflected in the company’s volatile performance record Freehold Royalties has failed to grow its earnings per share the company has posted losses in three of the last ten years and negligible profits in three of the last ten years not only thanks to its high production growth but also thanks to the deep production cuts implemented by OPEC in an effort of the cartel to support the price of oil The price of natural gas has remained depressed this year primarily due to an abnormally warm winter but oil prices have remained above average Freehold Royalties is likely to post above-average profits this year Given the decent business momentum and the cyclical nature of the Freehold Royalties business we expect approximately flat earnings per share in five years from now Freehold Royalties is currently offering an exceptionally high dividend yield of 8.4% which is seven times as much as the 1.2% yield of the S&P 500 The stock is thus an interesting candidate for income-oriented investors but the latter should be aware that the dividend is not safe due to the cyclical nature of the oil and gas industry Freehold Royalties is paying a generous dividend but its earnings have decreased significantly vs the 10-year high earnings per share of $1.03 in 2022 the payout ratio has risen from 68% in 2022 to 90% Such a payout ratio is unsustainable over the long run management should be praised for its pristine balance sheet due to the inevitable swings in oil and gas prices Freehold Royalties’ dividend is far from safe the company has cut its dividend in three of the last ten years investors should be aware that the dividend received from this stock depends on the exchange rate between the Canadian and U.S Freehold Royalties has traded for 12.4 times its earnings per share in the last 12 months We assume a fair price-to-earnings ratio of 10.0 for the stock the current earnings multiple is much higher than our assumed fair price-to-earnings ratio If the stock trades at its fair valuation level in five years it will incur a -5.9% annualized drag in its returns Taking into account the flat earnings per share the 8.4% dividend yield and a -5.9% annualized contraction of valuation level Freehold Royalties could offer just a 2.5% average annual total return over the next five years This is a low expected total return and hence we recommend waiting for a significantly lower entry point in order to enhance the margin of safety and increase the expected return from this highly cyclical stock Freehold Royalties has much better prospects in growing its production and reserves than most of its peers and offers an above-average dividend yield of 8.4% The company also has a rock-solid balance sheet which is likely to entice some income-oriented investors the company’s performance record has been highly volatile due to its business cycles and it seems almost fully valued right now investors should wait for a much more attractive entry point And see the resources below for more compelling investment ideas for dividend growth stocks and/or high-yield investment securities TOMS RIVER - A Freehold man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to an aggravated assault in Jackson in June was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison relative to his previously entered guilty plea to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with an incident that occurred in Jackson Township on June 27 His sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act meaning that Vulpis will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he can be considered for parole eligibility Vulpis was sentenced to five years in prison with a 42-month period of parole ineligibility relative to his previously entered guilty plea to possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with the same incident Vulpis pled guilty to those charges on Feb Jackson Township Police responded to the area of Larsen Road for a report of a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound Responding officers found a 27-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his face The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he was treated and released An investigation revealed that the victim and a female were sitting in a parked vehicle outside of a residence on Larsen Road A blue sedan then parked in front of the vehicle approached the vehicle and knocked on the window As the victim was getting out of the vehicle one of the assailants shot the victim in the face Further investigation revealed that Vulpis was the one who shot the victim Vulpis was taken into custody at his residence without incident and initially charged with attempted murder possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and being a certain person not to possess a weapon He was taken to the Ocean County Jail where he has been lodged since his arrest Continuing investigation revealed that Noah Phelps was the second assailant involved in the attack on the victim and that Phelps and Vulpis conspired to attack the victim Phelps was charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder; a warrant for his arrest was issued and his name was entered in the National Crime Information Center database Phelps surrendered himself to the Freehold Township Police Department He was taken to the Ocean County jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform and Vulpis had conspired to contact the victim in an effort to have him provide a false statement to law enforcement in reference to the investigation detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on Franzson’s residence where they seized a quantity of methamphetamine and a Polymer 80 handgun (ghost gun) with a high-capacity magazine Franzson was taken into custody at the residence without incident Franzson was also found to be in possession of cocaine Franzson was additionally charged with possession of a weapon without a serial number possession of a high-capacity ammunition magazine Franzson was also taken to the Ocean County jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform “The State is required to prove each and every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt – the highest standard of proof recognized under the law," Billhimer said for the state to satisfy its legal burden of proof 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freehold Royalties Ltd (Freehold or the Company) (TSX:FRU) announces fourth quarter and year-end results for the period ended December 31 North American oil weighted portfolio was prevalent in 2024 we saw operators focused on both heavy and light oil production growth and we continued the growth of our U.S portfolio through accretive acquisitions in the Permian In 2024 Freehold completed $412 million in acquisitions focused on expanding our footprint in core inventory-rich operating areas that continue to enhance our business Our Midland exposure has increased to having an interest in one in every three wells drilled in the Midland basin at year end 2024 compared to one in every 12 wells the year prior We have assembled a strong land base under investment grade operators in the Midland (ExxonMobil is Freehold’s largest payor in the Midland basin and our second largest corporate payor) and going forward we expect our revenue to be balanced between Canada and U.S Our production mix has significantly changed over the past few years where our focus on oil weighted growth has had a substantial positive impact on our cash flows We have delivered a consistent improvement in our liquids weighting our portfolio was 55% weighted to oil and NGLs and the 11% shift to a 66% liquids weighting in 2025 translates to an increase of almost 20% on revenue per boe basis for our shareholders Production volumes averaged 15,306 boe/d for the quarter with a 65% oil and liquids weighting – Freehold’s highest liquids weighting since the Company started in 1996 Canadian volumes of 9,437 boe/d for the quarter increased by approximately 4% quarter-over-quarter with 15% heavy oil production growth in the Mannville Stack and the Clearwater play and a 5% light oil production growth in southeast Saskatchewan production of 5,869 boe/d for the quarter increased by 6% quarter-over-quarter reflecting strong drilling and completion results in addition to production adds from the December Acquisition Freehold returned $163 million to our shareholders through dividends (approximately 70% of our funds from operations) while using the strength of our balance sheet to support strategic acquisitions the balance sheet continues to remain strong with net debt currently at $282 million representing a 1.2x trailing 12 months net debt to funds from operations (1.1x including annualized full year funds from operations from the December Acquisition) we expect production to average between 15,800 and 17,000 boe/d which represents approximately 10% growth at the midpoint over 2024 production Our liquids weighting is expected to increase to 66% in 2025 this increase in liquids weighting is expected to increase funds from operations by over 3% year-over-year We expect these value-added barrels to improve cash flows as we prioritize the dividend reduce net debt and continue acquisitions throughout the year The board of directors of Freehold has declared a monthly dividend of $0.09 per share to be paid on April 15 The dividend is designated as an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes 2024 audited consolidated financial statements) 2024 and Q4 2024 Drilling and Leasing Activity 1,140 gross wells (20.0 net wells) were drilled on Freehold's royalty lands during 2024 a 15% increase (8% on a net basis) compared to 2023 The increase in drilling reflects the expansion of the Company's U.S asset base and the positioning of our asset base in areas that continue to attract drilling capital despite volatility in commodity prices 98% of the drilling in the quarter targeted oil Approximately 35% of gross wells drilled in 2024 were in Canada (83% on Freehold's gross overriding lands and 17% on mineral title prospects) and 65% targeted Freehold's U.S royalty acreage (77% drilled on mineral title lands) Freehold estimates approximately $10.1 billion in gross third-party capital was spent on its royalty lands up from $7.7 billion in 2023 Spending was comprised of US$6.7 billion on our U.S assets and $900 million on our Canadian royalty assets (1) Equivalent net wells are aggregate of the numbers obtained by multiplying each gross well by our royalty interest percentage; U.S wells on Freehold’s lands generally come on production at approximately 10 times the volume that of an average Canadian well in our portfolio.Canada Q4-2024 drilling activity on a gross basis was up 15% from the previous quarter with 110 gross wells Q4-2024 drilling in Canada was led again by oil weighted plays including southeast Saskatchewan (26 gross wells) Viking (19 gross wells) and Clearwater (10 gross wells) 403 gross locations were drilled on Freehold’s Canadian lands a 14% decrease from the 466 gross locations drilled in 2023 reflecting higher average royalty interests in the year The largest increase in year-over-year activity was on our heavy oil lands where 120 gross wells and 5.79 net wells were drilled in 2024 compared to 89 gross wells and 2.79 net wells drilled in 2023 Freehold entered into 74 new leases with 30 counterparties totalling approximately $2 million in bonus and lease rental revenue including 27 new agreements with 13 counterparties in Q4-2024 The majority of the new leasing was focused in southeast Saskatchewan and the Mannville Stack 178 gross (0.6 net) wells were drilled on our U.S slightly down from last quarter due to reduced activity in the Eagle Ford basin offsetting increased activity in the Midland basin Approximately 78% of Q4-2024 drilling was focused in the Permian basin and 18% in the Eagle Ford basin 737 gross (3.0 net) wells were drilled on Freehold’s U.S royalty lands; representing a 40% increase on a gross basis and a 15% increase on a net basis compared to 2023 Strong industry activity in the Midland and Delaware basins along with the 2024 U.S acquisitions led to the increase in activity wells typically come on production at approximately ten times that of an average Canadian well in the Company's portfolio making net well additions much more valuable in the U.S well can take upwards of six to twelve months on average from initial license to first production compared to three to four months in Canada totalling $1 million of bonus and lease rental revenue All leasing activity has been focused on Freehold’s mineral title interests in the Midland and Delaware basins of the Permian We expect production to average between 15,800 and 17,000 boe/d for 2025 weighted approximately 66% oil and NGLs (45% light and medium oil 8% heavy oil and 13% NGLs) and approximately 34% natural gas – an increase from 64% oil and NGLs in 2024 approximately 56% of our light oil is derived from our U.S David Hendry has played a key leadership role in growing our business while maintaining our strong balance sheet positioning Freehold to deliver on its strategic objectives “I am grateful to David for his strong leadership and partnership over the last six years and thank him for his significant contribution to our success,” said David Spyker David Hendry will continue in his role until his retirement later this year which will provide the Company time to identify a successor and ensure a smooth transition A webcast to discuss financial and operational results for the period ended December 31 will be held for the investment community on Thursday March 13 A dial-in option is also available and can be accessed by dialing 1-800-952-5114 (toll-free in North America) participant passcode is 9011292# (1) Calculated based on the basic weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period(2) Based on the number of shares issued and outstanding at each record date(3) See Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures(4) See Conversion of Natural Gas to Barrels of Oil Equivalent (boe)(5) The 2023 reported balances have been restated due to the retrospective adoption of IAS 1 (see note 3d of December 31 2024 audited consolidated financial statements)(6) Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period This news release offers our assessment of Freehold’s future plans and operations as of March 12 and contains forward-looking statements that we believe allow readers to better understand our business and prospects These forward-looking statements include our expectations for the following: forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties risks and impacts of tariffs imposed by Canada or the U.S (or other countries) on exports and/or imports into and out of such countries the impacts of the ongoing Israeli-Hamas-Hezbollah and potentially the broader Middle-East region and Russia-Ukraine wars and any associated sanctions as well as OPEC+ curtailments on the global economy and commodity prices competition from other industry participants inaccurate assumptions on supply and demand factors affecting the consumption of crude oil inaccurate expectations for industry drilling levels on our royalty lands the failure to complete acquisitions on the timing and terms expected the failure to satisfy conditions of closing for any acquisitions the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management our inability to come to agreement with third parties on prospective opportunities and the results of any such agreement and our ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources Risks are described in more detail in our Annual Information Form for the year-ended December 31 With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this news release the cost of developing and producing our assets the quality of our counterparties and the plans thereof our ability and the ability of our lessees to obtain equipment in a timely manner to carry out development activities our ability to market our oil and gas successfully to current and new customers the performance of current wells and future wells drilled by our royalty payors our expectation for the consumption of crude oil and natural gas our expectation for industry drilling levels our expectation for completion of wells drilled our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms production additions from our audit function our ability to execute on prospective opportunities and our ability to add production and reserves through development and acquisition activities Additional operating assumptions with respect to the forward-looking statements referred to above are detailed in the body of this news release You are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information although considered reasonable at the time of preparation undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in We can give no assurance that any of the events anticipated will transpire or occur The forward-looking information contained in this document is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement To the extent any guidance or forward-looking statements herein constitute a financial outlook they are included herein to provide readers with an understanding of management's plans and assumptions for budgeting purposes and readers are cautioned that the information may not be appropriate for other purposes Our policy for updating forward-looking statements is to update our key operating assumptions quarterly and we do not undertake to update any other forward-looking statements You are further cautioned that the preparation of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) which are the Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for publicly accountable enterprises requires management to make certain judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets having either a positive or negative effect on net income as further information becomes available and as the economic environment changes To the extent any guidance or forward-looking statements herein constitutes a financial outlook You are further cautioned that the preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to make certain judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets Conversion of Natural Gas to Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) To provide a single unit of production for analytical purposes natural gas production and reserves volumes are converted mathematically to equivalent barrels of oil (boe) We use the industry-accepted standard conversion of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil (6 Mcf = 1 bbl) The 6:1 boe ratio is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip It does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead and is not based on either energy content or current prices While the boe ratio is useful for comparative measures and observing trends it does not accurately reflect individual product values and might be misleading based on the current price of crude oil to natural gas is significantly different from the 6:1 energy equivalency ratio using a 6:1 conversion ratio may be misleading as an indication of value references are made to terms commonly used as key performance indicators in the oil and gas industry funds from operations per share and cash costs are useful non-GAAP financial measures and ratios for management and investors to analyze operating performance and we use these terms to facilitate the understanding and comparability of our results of operations these terms do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by GAAP and therefore may not be comparable with the calculations of similar measures for other entities This news release also contains the capital management measures net debt and net debt to trailing funds from operations 2024 audited consolidated financial statements which is calculated as revenues less ad valorem and production taxes (as incurred in the U.S which do not charge corporate income taxes but do assess flat tax rates on commodity revenues in addition to property tax assessments) details the net amount Freehold receives from its royalty payors as average realized price less production and ad valorem taxes cash-based interest charges and share-based payouts represents the per boe netback amount which allows us to benchmark how changes in commodity pricing and our cash-based cost structure compare against prior periods is comprised by the recurring cash-based costs cash costs are identified as operating expense cash-based management fees and share-based compensation payouts Cash costs allow Freehold to benchmark how changes in its manageable cash-based cost structure compare against prior periods The following table presents the computation of Net Revenue Dividend payout ratios are often used for dividend paying companies in the oil and gas industry to identify dividend levels in relation to funds from operations that are also used to finance debt repayments and/or acquisition opportunities Dividend payout ratio is a supplementary measure and is calculated as dividends paid as a percentage of funds from operations which is calculated as funds from operations divided by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period provides direction if changes in commodity prices and/or acquisitions were accretive on a per share basis Funds from operations per share is a supplementary measure FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP -- Mark it on the calendar Two long-awaited additions to Freehold Raceway Mall — Dave & Buster's and Lidl — have set the dates for when they will open their doors "The addition of Lidl and Dave & Buster’s marks an exciting new chapter in Freehold Raceway Mall’s continued growth," said Frank Lucia family-friendly experiences and accessible grocery options that further solidify our role as a central hub for the community "We’re thrilled about what this means for our guests and are energized by the momentum as we look toward the future," he said “We are excited to open the first Dave & Buster’s in Freehold,” General Manager Mo Visser said in a statement the 30,725-square-foot grocery store is on Trotters Way next to Ashley Furniture Lidl touts its selection of private label brands The store also has a bakery with breads and pastries David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 27 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freehold Royalties Ltd (Freehold or the Company) (TSX:FRU) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced transaction to acquire mineral title and royalty interests in the core of the Midland Basin in Texas (the Acquisition or the Acquired Assets) for approximately $259 million expenses and customary closing adjustments The board of directors of Freehold has declared a monthly dividend of $0.09 per share to be paid on January 15 Freehold increased its credit facilities by $50 million to $450 million The committed revolving credit facility increased from $380 million to $430 million while the operating facility remained unchanged at $20 million The agreement also carries an option to increase the revolving facility by an additional $50 million Freehold is uniquely positioned as a leading North American energy royalty company with approximately 6.1 million gross acres in Canada and approximately 1.2 million gross drilling acres in the United States Freehold’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada under the symbol FRU This news release offers our assessment of Freehold’s future plans and operations as at December 13 2024 and contains forward-looking information including forward-looking information with regards to Freehold's estimates for 2025 production for the Acquired Assets and net royalty revenue (net of production and ad valorem taxes) for 2025; the expected attributes and benefits to be derived by Freehold pursuant to the Acquisition; and the future performance of the Acquired Assets following the completion of the Acquisition This forward-looking information is provided to allow readers to better understand our business and prospects and may not be suitable for other purposes forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties including the demand for oil and natural gas the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah conflict on the global economy and commodity prices our ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources Risks are described in more detail in Freehold’s annual information form for the year ended December 31 2023 which is available under Freehold’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca With respect to forward looking information contained in this press release including relating to the 2025 forecast production and 2025 royalty revenue from the Acquired Assets undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking information The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement To the extent any guidance or forward-looking statements herein constitute future-oriented financial information or financial outlook they are included herein to provide readers with an understanding of management's plans and assumptions for budgeting purposes and readers are cautioned that the information may not be appropriate for other purposes and is prepared as of the date hereof You are further cautioned that the preparation of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards requires management to make certain judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets All references in this press release to dollar amounts are to Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated will set up nets and courts at Mount's Corner shopping center on West Main Street Dill Dinkers has signed a lease for a 25,000-square-foot storefront Middlesex and Union counties over the next decade He hopes to open the Freehold Township club by the end of the summer or early fall this year More pickleball in Freehold Township: Freehold Raceway Mall big changes start with Freehold Athletic Club Dill Dinkers has 20 locations open in 10 states Another 380 locations are under development Dill Dinkers was founded by Will and Denise Richards in November 2022 and started to offer franchises about 18 months ago Hafner said he chose to get into the pickleball business when he changed his plans to get into the restaurant and bar industry Freehold Township news: Teacher battling aggressive cancer fights insurance to pay for immunotherapy "We all know that COVID hit and changed the restaurant and bar industry forever," Hafner said "I decided to get out from behind a desk and do something more active and got into pickleball." He met the Richards at a pickleball conference last May and decided "this is a good thing." Customers can either buy a club membership or pay to play Hafner said Dill Dinkers wants to be a part of the community and partner with other local businesses "We're not just a corporate entity," he said The club will open next to LIvoti's Old World Market and joins other draws including Panera Bread chief executive officer of Starker Commercial Realty in Manalpan along with Starker brokers Susan Taylor and Michael Imperato represented the landlord in the lease transaction Freehold Township news: Voters approve $135M for security, improvements after close vote outcome "The use is positive for the neighboring tenants and the community as this facility will not only welcome the avid pickleball player but families of all ages to participate in this growing sport," Starker said in a statement Commercial real estate broker Chris Meranto of Locate AI represented the tenant in the lease negotiations This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy The Monmouth County Board of Elections will be counting ballots in Freehold Township School District's referendum FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP -- Voters appear to have narrowly approved a $135 million school spending initiative Tuesday that will help repair Freehold Township's preschool through eighth-grade schools But Freehold Township School District officials did not declare a victory on Tuesday night "As of Tuesday night, unofficial results of the Freehold Township School District bond referendum are too close to call," school officials wrote on their referendum webpage The Monmouth County Board of Elections will keep counting ballots postmarked by March 11 support for the school referendum was ahead with 94 votes with all 29 voting districts in the township reporting School votes: Shore Regional $51M referendum shot down by voters after Sea Bright fight School votes: Lacey voters reject all three questions in $92 million referendum for school projects If approved, the $135.5 million project will fund security upgrades The project would also add security vestibules add one additional surveillance camera at each of the district's eight schools and purchase new fire alarm systems and safer interior and exterior doors according to a news release from district officials About 40% of the costs would be covered through state aid The referendum would raise school taxes about $37 per month on a home assessed at the township average of $611,704 Freehold Township news: Bear and Birch is a Russian banya, BYOB restaurant in Freehold Township Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP -- Freehold Athletic Club opens on Saturday bringing the whir of workout machines and and the clop-clop sound of pickleball to Freehold Raceway Mall for the first time It is the first of several large tenants that are poised to inject more excitement into the Jersey Shore's largest indoor shopping center "We're going to be more than just a gym," said co-owner Adam Mintz "The whole concept was a gym and a wellness facility so it's more than just picking up weights and putting weights down." 'Kids just go bananas': Puffy Cotton Candy bringing adorable edible treats to Freehold Raceway Mall "The growth at Freehold Raceway Mall reflects our dedication to meeting the needs of our community," said mall General Manager Frank Lucia in a statement to What's Going There "With Freehold Athletic Club bringing a cutting-edge fitness experience Dave & Buster’s delivering high-energy entertainment and Dick’s House of Sport revolutionizing the way people engage with sports retail we are redefining what it means to be a shopping destination." Dave & Buster's will open late this spring with House of Sport expected to open this fall Freehold store included: When and where will the next Wawa open at the Jersey Shore? Freehold Athletic Club fills about 32,000 square feet in the lower level of the mall's former Sears wing and also has converted the former Sears Auto Center into space for five pickleball courts for members The club will feature cardio machines and other new fitness equipment including treadmills chiropractic and physical therapy and massage therapy Mintz also is a co-owner of Club Metro USA on Route 9 in Freehold Township which is closing as Freehold Athletic Club opens What's next? Freehold eyes raceway redevelopment after generations of horse racing They wanted to have a community presence and expand on the concept of a gym to create "one-stop shopping for everything With the former Sears space and plenty of parking a fitness center at Freehold Raceway Mall "was a really "There was a location at a mall where you have a lot of people coming in and out," Mintz said "People could spend more than an hour here They can do multiple things at one location here." Dave & Buster's is renovating more than half of the former Sears space next door to Freehold Athletic Club and a bar and restaurant with a total of 137 tables and 545 seats flatbreads and protein bowls along with drink offerings Dave & Buster's has four other locations in New Jersey Freehold gym too: These five Jersey Strong gym locations are now Crunch Fitness Dick's, which has a Dick's Sporting Goods store located across from the mall on the other side of Winner's Circle, the center ring road, is filling the former Lord & Taylor building. The two-story 133,644-square-foot store has been vacant since Lord & Taylor closed in late 2020 Dick's House of Sport sells sporting goods products that you'll find at Dick's Sporting Goods but House of Sport includes an in-store experiences like a climbing wall multiple golf bays with TrackMan golf simulators and multi-sport cages that can be used for baseball Dick's is building an outdoor athletic field amenities area converting about 81 parking spaces just north of the store It will contain a track surface surrounding an artificial turf athletic field FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP -- Anthony and Brandy Valasa have always appreciated good-quality bread — as well as the importance of “breaking bread” with family the two combined those passions by opening Krust Café a breakfast and lunch restaurant on Route 9 that offers all-star breakfasts hearty lunch sandwiches and amazing bread in a relaxing space designed to bring community members together Anthony worked on fishing boats in Atlantic Highlands after high school before enrolling in the Monmouth County Police Academy (Sheriff’s Department) in Freehold and served as a correctional police officer at the Monmouth County Jail from 2005 to 2015,” said Anthony received a national valor award for his service What should you eat? Five Jersey Shore comfort dishes that are perfect for a winter's day A native of Millstone who graduated from Waynesburg University in southwestern Pennsylvania with a degree in criminal justice and psychology “I knew I wanted to be in some aspect of law enforcement and took the civil service test,” said Brandy “Anthony and I met at the Police Academy in 2006 largely because both of our last names were at the end of the alphabet and we were often standing near each other,” she joked “I’ve been a correctional police officer at the Monmouth County Jail for the past 18 years.” While Anthony enjoyed his career in Corrections he’d always wanted to own his own business and a great opportunity ultimately presented itself a friend of mine in New York City landed a successful bread route with a bakery he was affiliated with and informed me that another route had become available if I was interested,” said Anthony who discussed the career change with Brandy and soon began distributing bread C'est Cheese! Asbury Park shop offers 70 kinds of cheese, plus bread, crackers and more “Our kids were small at the time and Anthony and I were working long hours doing opposite shifts at the jail just to make ends meet and we hardly saw each other,” Brandy recalled we both agreed that Anthony should pursue it.” Anthony continues to deliver bread from the same small bakery in Staten Island “where they still bake things the right way and hand-roll everything,” he said of their ingredients and process And thanks to such standout specialties as their ciabatta Anthony has since expanded the bakery’s New Jersey distribution from Monmouth County to counties far north and south he and Brandy decided to take things a step further “I’m a people person who loves to cook and I’ve always wanted my own brick-and-mortar place,” he said “I wanted it to be located here where I live because I know so many people in the area and felt that our town lacked an old-school the opportunity to acquire a small space in their hometown arose when Anthony learned that Romeo’s a Freehold Township-based chicken/ribs/pizza restaurant where he had delivered bread but we knew that their former space was our spot,” said Anthony who opened Krust Café — named for an edgy take on bread — with Brandy on Dec “Brandy and I wanted everyone to come in and feel like they were family and friends sit down with a cup of coffee and shoot the breeze,” Anthony said Benchmark Breads: From baking at home to a store of their own in Little Silver 400-square-foot eatery might be small on space “The bread we source is made by hand with just four ingredients and no preservatives who said that he and his team take great care with the baking process and then a convection or stone oven to fully bake it so that we can serve it hot and fresh.” Customers can purchase loaves of bread at Krust Café for $4 to $6 per loaf or enjoy the bread in a number of different menu items and chicken salad sandwich on cranberry walnut bread,” Anthony noted “Other big sellers of ours include our ‘Big Kahuna,’ a pork roll and cheese sandwich with grilled candied pineapple on semolina bread ($12.50) and our ‘Jersey Turnpike,’ an egg ham and sausage sandwich with hash browns and homemade bacon jam on semolina ($12.49).” customers also enjoy their three-egg dishes cheeseburgers and Italian heroes featuring chopped ingredients to ensure even layering Washing it all down is another sensory experience “We source our coffee from a fantastic small-batch beanery in Key West “The only place that you can get this coffee outside of Key West is at our café.” In the nearly two months since they’ve been open Anthony said that response has been tremendous I coach local football and wrestling teams and word of mouth about Krust Café has gone viral,” he said of the growing number of diners eager to try their fare “Customers have a wonderful experience at our place,” Brandy agreed “Most customers are from nearby towns like Freehold but one customer recently came all the way from Brooklyn just to get our bread.” everyone can get a lot of the same other ingredients elsewhere but the bread makes the sandwich every time,” Anthony confirmed 'Kids just go bananas': Puffy Cotton Candy bringing adorable edible treats to Freehold While the rising price of menu staples like eggs has been challenging for the fledgling café the long hours the Valasas put into their venture have been a labor of love and Brandy’s brother-in-law Sherm; our daughter and son also work here after school and on weekends Brandy helps out running the register and counter when she’s available and I’m ‘the bread guy’ who does a little of everything,” Anthony said and my mom and Brandy’s parents have become regulars here too.” the Valasas are excited to begin offering soups salads and bread bowls and to continue evolving Krust Café’s menu to include such items as chocolate bread French toast chocolate bread pudding and different cream cheese spreads — all while soliciting input and feedback from their customers we’d also love to grow our own produce in the alley space next to our café and put seating out there,” Anthony added “We’d love to name sandwiches after our customers and have people coming here on their bikes like your favorite neighborhood café from when you were a kid and maybe even open other small locations like this one in a town just like Freehold.” “We’ve built such a family-oriented community in Freehold and Krust Café is a place where everyone can relax feel welcome and enjoy great food and conversation,” Brandy said “We love satisfied customers and hearing people say that our food was awesome!” Anthony agreed “We’re breaking bread and making conversation with every person coming through the door,” Brandy said Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Krust-Cafe-Freehold/61558206625711 After two months of intensive chemotherapy and radiation Brian McNamara was ready for the next phase in his battle against a rare and aggressive head and neck cancer Then the 44-year-old Freehold Township resident and father of five who is a history teacher and high school football coach His insurance company denied coverage for the immunotherapy his doctors recommended “This needs to be brought to light,” wife Jodi McNamara said Spending speeding up: What do New Jerseyans spend on health care each year? The McNamaras have been fighting back — filing appeals enlisting government help and seeking alternatives Now — after two months of dead ends — they're going public with their plight I feel like I’m banging my head against a wall,” Jodi said and the insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies I am putting as much pressure on them as humanly possible.” 'Not medically necessary'Brian McNamara played football at Middletown High School South and began teaching history and coaching football at Brick Township High School right after college He became Brick’s defensive coordinator before joining the gridiron program at Freehold Township High School and he thought it was a sinus infection he couldn’t shake Then his face went numb and his vision blurred The diagnosis: small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma “They (doctors) gave me a 50-50 shot at beating this I’m going to be in the 50% that beats this,” Brian said in December Beating the odds: NJ man had 5% chance of surviving esophageal cancer; 25 years later, he's helping others which helped him visit leading doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston in addition to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York which the McNamaras shared with the Asbury Park Press “Brian went through all of his chemo and radiation and so far he’s had a favorable result,” Jodi McNamara said “All of them are on the same page that after this initial treatment of chemo and radiation he needs to be on immunotherapy for at least a year.” They did foresee a thorny approval process because of the rarity of McNamara’s cancer “He has been following the protocol for small-cell lung cancer because there is no data for it as it sits in the sinuses,” Jodi said “Because the immunotherapy is approved for small-cell lung cancer the insurance company is using that loophole to say ‘We’re not covering it because it’s not medically necessary.’” which is a subsidiary of industry giant Aetna After Meritain rejected the initial immunotherapy drug for what is called “compassionate use” — an affordable option for patients with life-threatening conditions because “for a family of seven you have to make under $140,000” to qualify “The drug costs $12,000 to $15,000 (out of pocket) every three to four weeks By that point it became clear: They were going to need help scaling this wall Horizon, Hackensack Meridian reach deal: Consumers saved from hospital insurance mess Jodi McNamara cast a wide net for assistance She spoke with officials at the National Institutes of Health and members of the staffs of U.S She said the case has gotten the attention of Justin Zimmerman who is commissioner the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Although Kim and Gopal declined to comment to the Asbury Park Press on the specifics of the matter Gopal’s office released a statement saying “we firmly believe that decisions regarding access to lifesaving treatments should be made by medical professionals We remain dedicated to advocating for state policies that put patients first and ensure that no family has to fight for the treatment their doctor recommends Our office continues to monitor this issue closely and advocate for residents facing similar challenges.” AstraZeneca did not respond to an inquiry by the Asbury Park Press A Meritain spokesperson replied with the following statement: "Meritain is committed to supporting Mr McNamara and his provider throughout this process As the administrator of a self-funded health plan our role is to administer benefits and apply coverage decisions based on the terms outlined in the plan internal review options have been completed and the next available step is an external But there is no timetable for that third-party review and he’s supposed to start immunotherapy within four weeks of chemo ending to make it most effective,” Jodi McNamara said “So now we’re desperate to get this immunotherapy We’ve got to give him the best hope with this treatment and we can’t even get him on it Toms River protestors: GOP Congressman Smith must protect Medicaid, Medicare from Trump trying to get some clarity on alternative medications that might merit approval Jodi said she spent two hours waiting for a response from Aetna’s customer service department before being told essentially “We have no clue what you’re talking about.” She’s been detailing these travails on social media she wants to let others who are in a similar struggle know they are not alone “I need people to understand what Aetna is doing to my husband at a time when we are already terrified,” she said “I have no doubt they do this to so many patients Don’t let the insurance companies do this to you Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com There will be a couple of extra Irish eyes smiling at the Freehold St the ancestral home to multiple Freehold residents those that call these two wonderful places ‘home,’ have a lot more in common than most people might realize,” said Freehold Mayor Kevin Kane in a statement “We are as proud of our connection to Rathangan as we are of our connection to Bruce Springsteen and we are going to celebrate that as much as we can.” formally approved a Twin City resolution between Rathangan and Freehold on Jan 15 The signing of a twinning charter by both towns will take place on an upcoming date Springsteen's great-great-grandmother Ann Garrity (on his father's side) came to Freehold from Rathangan in 1852 Kane and a delegation Freehold visited Rathangan in May of 2024 where they attended a Springsteen and E Street Band concert at Croke Park in Dublin big night in Dublin,” said Springsteen from the stage said I got relatives from Rathangan and they're going to twin the two towns together the Grand Marshal for the parade is Tim MacCutcheon and Community Grand Marshal is Tommy Taylor “Freehold Borough’s vibrant small business community will be awash in green for the St Patrick’s Day parade,” said Councilman Jeff Friedman who also serves as the Executive Director of Downtown Freehold and president of the Freehold Borough Arts Council “We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the area There will be contests for Best Dressed Baby Under 3 Post-parade festivities include the Eddie Testa Band and Pat Guadagno and Richard Blackwell at the American Hotel at 18 E Visit downtownfreehold.com for more information Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey FREEHOLD — A former special education teacher at Freehold Intermediate School has been indicted on seven counts of sexual crimes against an eighth-grade student in her class was charged last summer after a criminal investigation into her conduct uncovered thousands of text messages between her and the 15-year-old male victim including an exchange of photos and video that confirmed the sexual nature of their relationship Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki, director of the Special Victims Bureau, who is in charge of the case, said at a detention hearing in July that Havemann-Niedrach was “obsessed” with the teen An investigation was triggered after staff at Freehold Intermediate raised alarms when Havemann-Niedrach was observed bringing the student food and eating lunch with him daily in a classroom Another teacher witnessed her rubbing the victim’s back and neck describing the interaction of her colleague with the eighth-grader as flirtatious a vice principal recommended that police be notified about their suspicions The student’s mother would tell investigators she had grown concerned about her son He had been seen by his sister sitting in the teacher’s car and was always on his phone late into the night Investigators would also learn that the victim had confided in a friend that he was dating a teacher the boy denied there was anything going on between him and Havemann-Niedrach He claimed he was dating the teacher’s daughter after he turned over his phone to authorities more than 25,000 text messages were recovered between the teacher and student the boy’s mother contacted investigators to inform them that her son had admitted to her that he had been in a sexual relationship with Havemann-Niedrach concerns for the boy’s mental health resulted in him being taken to a hospital for an evaluation The victim told investigators that their sexual relationship began around January 2024 which took place at both the teacher’s house and at hotels which investigators were able to corroborate using cell phone data and financial records An examination of the text messages between them included photos of a sexual nature and a video of them engaging in sexual conduct The indictment returned by a state Superior Court grand jury in Freehold includes first-degree aggravated sexual assault first-degree endangering the welfare of a child via the manufacture of child sexual abuse materials two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child Havemann-Niedrach was released in July from the Monmouth County Jail and placed on home detention She was ordered not to have contact with any minors and she was prohibited from accessing computers to ensure there was no possibility of communication between her and the victim The investigation was led by the Special Victims Bureau of the Prosecutor’s Office and Freehold Police Department Anyone who may have additional information about the former teacher’s alleged conduct is still asked to contact Detective Dawn Correia of the Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 Havemann-Niedrach is represented by Freehold-based criminal defense attorney Thomas Huth Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com community members will be able to vote on the proposed referendum which would help fund various projects ranging from new fire alarm systems to enhancing security and upgrading heating Almost all the proposed projects are eligible for state aid that comes with a voter-approved referendum The Board of Education previously hosted two information forums on the referendum (in-person and virtual) where residents could ask questions about the proposal and hear from professional consultants and district representatives residents will be able to cast their ballot on the referendum and decide whether or not it gets approval Here’s what you need to know about the voting process: How To VoteTo vote on the proposed bond referendum residents can cast their ballot by mail or vote in person on March 11 For those who wish to vote by mail, you must send your completed application in time to be received by March 4 at the Monmouth County Clerk of Elections Office in Freehold Any Freehold Township residents who want to vote by mail but don’t make the March 4 deadline can hand-deliver their applications The Monmouth County Clerk of Elections (located at 300 Halls Mill Road Freehold) will accept walk-in applications until 3 p.m Applications can be mailed or hand-delivered but officials said they are not accepted online “We’d like to thank our community members for taking the time to learn about the bond referendum,” Superintendent Neal Dickstein said so participation from every Freehold Township resident truly matters.” To learn more about the proposed bond referendum, projects and more, you can visit the bond referendum website For questions directly related to the referendum, you can email vote@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The 10,000-square-foot restaurant replaces Tokyo Hibachi & Sushi Buffet in Pond Road Plaza on Route 9 and there are more than a dozen others across the country general manager of the East Brunswick restaurant said the Monmouth County restaurant is expected to open in two or three months The BYOB will seat 400 people and is half the size of the East Brunswick restaurant More: Downtown Freehold restaurant named one of best in U.S. UMI's all-you-can-eat offerings include sushi and sashimi (there are nearly two dozen varieties of each) There are also harder-to-find dishes like oxtails and black fungus salad made with mushrooms More: Calling all restaurant owners: Help us build our Jersey Shore Dining Guide you need to come more than once," said Rafaela Martelo host manager at the East Brunswick location giant grilled prawns and fried pork belly; ramen fans can choose between tonkotsu and spicy broths; and diners wanting hot pot order a cooking liquid from their server then help themselves to self-serve refrigerators filled with ingredients which are brought back to the table to cook "There's a big selection of meats and fish," Martelo said of the hot pot offerings A self-serve bar of flavoring sauces rounds out the dish Go: UMI will open at 4345 Route 9 in Freehold Township; umibuffet.com. Also at 275 Route 18 south 609-380-7592; and 1692 Clements Bridge Road 2025 at 12:41 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Election results will remain unofficial until certified by the Monmouth County Clerk NJ — The final results for the Freehold Township School District's $135.5 million bond referendum funding improvements at Pre-K-8 schools are pending as 94 votes currently separate the referendum being approved or denied according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk's Office As of Tuesday night, unofficial results show that the referendum received 1,394 “yes” votes and 1,300 “no” votes The results will remain unofficial until certified by the Monmouth County Clerk Patch has reached out to the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office to find out how many vote-by-mail ballots are outstanding and how many provisional votes were cast school officials said the unofficial results are currently “too close to call,” and that it may take a few more days to learn the official election outcome as the Clerk’s Office continues counting mail-in ballots and verifying provisional votes submitted at the polls “On behalf of the Board of Education and administration I extend my gratitude to the Freehold Township community members who helped us share information took time to learn about the project proposal and cast their ballots,” Superintendent Neal Dickstein said “We understand the community is eager to learn the outcome and we will report the updated numbers when they become available.” The referendum vote comes after the Freehold Township Board of Education proposed a $135.5 million bond referendum that would fund long-lasting building improvements at the district’s Pre-K-8 schools the referendum aims to support the safety and health of students and is being pursued as a “responsible financial strategy to address the highest priority security and facility needs.” which is only available through a voter-approved bond referendum officials said — approximately $45 million to offset the local share of projects officials said the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $611,704 would see an estimated tax impact of $37 per month though an increase to school debt tax wouldn’t appear on tax bills until July 2026 To learn more, you can visit the Freehold Township Bond Referendum website. To see unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, you can click here 2025 at 12:19 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The car show will take place at Freehold Township Day on Saturday NJ — The “Don’t Forget The Vets” Car Show is officially returning to Freehold Township for its 26th year The annual event will take place at Freehold Township Day on Saturday Tighe Park and will be presented by the Veterans Community Alliance attendees will be able to view cars on display at the event with trophies and dash plaques awarded for the first 100 cars The Trophy Ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m Pre-registration for the event is $20 and will be $25 at the event with all proceeds going toward helping veterans “The weather is changing and car show season is here,” township officials said “Mark your calendar for the ‘Don't Forget the Vets’ Car Show at Freehold Township Day.” Freehold Township Day will run from 4-11 p.m To pre-register for the car show, you can click here you’ll be guided on how to pay online or by check and registration at the car show event will close at 4 p.m To learn more, you can visit the Freehold Township Facebook page, the Freehold Township Day website, or email FreeholdTownshipDay@gmail.com FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP -- Though too close to call initially a bond referendum that will fund security and repair projects for the township's preschool- through eighth-grade district passed by just more than 100 votes The $135 million project for Freehold Township schools will pay for security cameras The Monmouth County Board of Elections took several days to certify the results because the initial tally was too close to call according to Freehold Township School District officials "On behalf of the Board of Education and administration I extend my gratitude to the residents of Freehold Township for voting and taking time to learn about this important step in the future of this community," read a statement by Superintendent Neal Dickstein The cost of the projects will be offset by $45 million in state aid The projects will cost about $37 per month over 20 years on a home assessed at the municipal average of $611,704 The impact on the tax bill will begin in July 2026 Construction could start in the summer of 2026 "We are excited to begin working on finalizing the plans for updates and renovations so the district can better support our students and community now The district includes eight elementary schools and educates about 3,500 children unable or unwilling to justify spending the many millions it would take to make the historic half-mile track in Monmouth County a viable enterprise into its third century “This was an extremely difficult decision especially given the historical importance of Freehold Raceway to the local community and the New Jersey horse racing industry,” said the track’s general manager the operations of the racetrack cannot continue under existing conditions We are incredibly thankful for our dedicated employees horsemen and fan base for their support and patronage for so many years.” Members of the group say they will meet with state regulators on Tuesday to discuss the track’s plan to close.Tuesday is going to be a big day in shaping where this story goes from here There will be more than one important meeting I hope that the SBOANJ (of which I am a member) now takes an aggressive approach to this problem I hope there is something the horsemen’s group and local officials can do to explore ways to resuscitate Freehold as a racetrack I hope that someone courageous and creative in New Jersey can take charge and figure out a way to make a historic venue a going concern I hope that all of these efforts aren’t too late But mostly I hope we find out why the track’s owners are bailing now the track had a gross handle of $13.78 million over 42 days with an on-track handle of $1.25 million.” What were the operating costs of Freehold Raceway What impact did sports betting have on the equation Why weren’t people coming to the track or betting Freehold Was there a marketing and promotion budget Did the track’s owners upgrade the grandstand to make it more friendly to younger customers and their families Did they renovate the facilities to make it more attractive to sports bettors Or did the company just let Freehold Raceway sink into oblivion through years of benign neglect Because I haven’t been to the track in 17 years I asked a few New Jersey friends to describe the current “customer experience” at Freehold Raceway “dump,” in doing so.You want examples One frequent Freehold visitor told me last week about how the “up” escalator to the track level has been broken for years Another horse person said the last time he visited the track its apron was cracked and choked with weeds and the benches near the track were so old and worn they were sagging in the middle Fixing these things would not have cost millions It would not have turned Freehold into a destination spot for young adults or families But they would have been some manifestation of commitment from ownership.So it was a dump allowed hundreds of hard-working people to earn a living around racehorses People whose lives for generations have revolved around Standardbred racing People who sell goods and perform services for out-of-towners like me bringing money into Monmouth County that otherwise would not be there People who now will be forced to scramble not just for jobs but to try to maintain the only lifestyle they have known Could the track’s owners have forestalled all of this with a different economic model Or is there no such model that can save tracks like this It was also a dump that evidently attracted a great many people who came to the track not for the races but to bet on and watch sports. John Berry, writing in HarnessLink last month was on to something when he asked why Freehold Raceway suddenly discontinued sports betting at the track on the eve of the current football season especially after “Freehold Raceway had their best year to date with $30,289,021 with two of their best months coming during the strong NFL months of November and December.” Why throw the baby out with the bathwater “Attempts to get a statement from Penn Entertainment proved unsuccessful,” Berry wrote Out-of-state interests (Pennsylvania) altering the lives and jobs of hundreds of New Jerseyans The closing of Freehold Raceway is a new warning to other tracks around the country affiliated with big gaming companies (and aided by purse subsidies) Beware of track owners and operators who do not invest in capital improvements or adequately promote the track If your favorite track is a “dump,” in other words Freehold needed a major facelift to even have a chance to survive We may never know whether the track could have survived with better marketing and investment in its facilitiesIt’s easiest to blame the track’s owners for what has happened But there is plenty of other blame to go around New Jersey’s legislators help thousands of people each year with their investment in horse racing But what if they had permitted slots or other casino games at the track 15 years ago through the state administrations of both Republicans and Democrats But it’s a failure in a sense that the horsemen’s group and state officials couldn’t get together to come up with a solution here historic racetrack next to a famous mall with a full casino and vibrant sports book sounds like a plan to me they would sell the land at a sizable profit for subdivision and development… The partners in Roosevelt Raceway Associates deny they intended from the beginning to discontinue harness racing at the track They attribute the recent decision to tremendous operating losses.” Sound familiar?Do the co-owners of Freehold have a deal in place to sell it to developers Have the bright lawyers in these companies figured out a way to get around the historic landmark designation that was affixed years ago to the track Did Penn National and Greenwood Racing try to sell the property to other racing interests Why did the track close its lucrative sports betting operation earlier this year Can it really be that Freehold’s mayor was blindsided by this big news (and the mayor) would be compelled to come into a room full of reporters and answer these and other questions And we do not live in a world in which Jeff Gural the owner and operator (and rescuer) of the Meadowlands Racetrack* in East Rutherford He was approached on Thursday to do so but declined Gural taking over Freehold would ensure its survival and the survival of countless jobs in the county The good news is that Gural said he “would consider working with SBOA to increase our dates to try to help the horsemen who typically race there.” Gural should help the SBOA The money that was legislatively allocated to Freehold purses were allocated to help Standardbred interests By Andy Cohen is a three-time winner of the John Hervey Award for reporting on horse racing and a two-time winner of Canada’s Joe O’Brien Award for racing commentary See someone else’s good coverage of a racing integrity topic you want us to share Let us know via email at andrew@paulickreport.com The only mystery is why there are still so many in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing unwilling to face the problem squarely enough to help solve it 2025 at 10:21 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Drivers should obey the posted road closure and assigned police traffic directors while the road is closed NJ — Drivers should be aware of a road closure planned for West Main Street on Wednesday borough officials said contractors employed by the borough will be working on the intersection of Throckmorton Street and West Main Street West Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from Throckmorton Street to Court Street Road work is expected to be completed the same day Drivers should obey the posted road closure "Thank you for your support and patience as we work to complete this important work," borough officials said To learn more, you can visit the Freehold Borough Facebook page FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Voters here will be asked to spend $135.5 million on security upgrades and roof repairs for the township's preschool through eighth-grade schools the project would add security vestibules and one additional surveillance camera at each of the district's eight schools the referendum would raise taxes about $37 per month on a home assessed at the township average of $611,704 The debt tax would not appear on bills until July 2026 The referendum would also include upgrades to the heating and provide energy efficient windows to the Early Childhood Learning Center Office areas at each school would be reconfigured to include nurse suits About $45 million of the total would be covered through state aid according to a spokesperson who represents the Freehold Township Board of Education The elementary and middle school district serves about 3,500 students next to education," Superintendent Neal Dickstein said in a news release "The bond referendum would allow us to make necessary updates to increase school security and update our facilities with the assistance of state aid rather than relying entirely on local taxes." MORE: Montessori preschool wants to open in vacant Shrewsbury office building Not just Christmas: Howell Rutgers student collects thousands of toys for kids in hospitals Board of Education President Michael Amoroso said in a news release that the district would be reaching out to the community about the importance of the referendum and the state aid component "We encourage the community to learn about how this investment in our facilities would continue to serve our community now and into the future." The referendum vote will be held on March 11 She has worked for the Press for more than 16 years The Bruce Springsteen film “Deliver Me from Nowhere,” starring Jeremy Allen White as the Boss and White were in attendance as the period film drove a black Z28 Camaro down South Street and made a left on Main as streets downtown were closed and a young Bruce filmed a scene driving a black Studebaker outside Saffron Fine Indian Cuisine which was made to look like a hardware store as cars from the ‘50s drove by More: Michael Diehl, the man who gave Bruce Springsteen his first guitar lessons, has died said hello to Freehold residents and fans next to the Studebaker at the corner of South and Main after the first scene was shot The crowd of onlookers lining Main Street grew as filming lasted into the early afternoon “It's not every day they come to little Freehold to make a movie I liked (White) in 'The Bear,' and I'm sure he'll resemble Bruce in the movie and do a good job.” ran into Springsteen at Joe's Barber Shop on South Street before the shoot “It's a very unique experience being from Freehold where they're filming a movie with Jeremy Allen White who I watched in 'Shameless.' To see him and meet him it's a pretty cool experience to say the least,” Golub said More: Here are NJ locations where the Bruce Springsteen movie starring Jeremy Allen White filmed manager of New City Super Carniceria Food Market on West Main watched what he could of the filming from the store A production assistant was stationed outside the market to help with pedestrian traffic flow during filming The crew relocated to the Carousel House in Asbury Park to shoot additional scenes after the Freehold filming on Friday A small group of fans stood outside starting around 5 p.m as lights on the small Ferris wheel and Zippers ride illuminated the city waterfront next to Wesley Lake in the parking lot of the Carousel and love interest Faye (Odessa Young) enjoyed a romantic slow spin on the carousel inside while the cameras rolled “Deliver Me from Nowhere” is written and directed by Scott Cooper (“Crazy Heart,” “Hostiles”) The cast also includes Jeremy Strong (“The Apprentice,” “Succession”) as Springsteen manager Jon Landau; Paul Walter Hauser (“Black Bird,” “Richard Jewell”) as Springsteen guitar tech Mike Batlan; Stephen Graham (“Young Woman and the Sea,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”) as Springsteen’s father Douglas Springsteen; and Johnny Cannizzaro (“Quantum Leap,” “Jersey Boys”) as Steven Van Zandt based on the book “Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska” by musician Warren Zanes Location filming began Oct 28 at the Montclair Library's Bellevue Avenue branch, and the action included four big days in Asbury Park from Dec Production was halted on the eve of a Freehold shoot on Dec Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene Unofficial results for the referendum initially came in on election night (March 11), though school district officials said the votes were “too close to call” at that time the county clerk’s office updated voting results which shows that the referendum passed with 1,520 “yes” votes and 1,399 “no” votes The approved referendum will give Freehold Township upfront funding and unlock approximately $45 million in state aid to offset the total $135.5 million in project costs Updates to the structures and systems that support students and staff members will be made at every building across the district I extend my gratitude to the residents of Freehold Township for voting and taking time to learn about this important step in the future of this community,” Superintendent Neal Dickstein said the school district said they worked carefully to plan improvements that will meet the district’s needs now and position it for the future Throughout the election process, residents and community members were also invited to information sessions (both in-person and virtual) where they could learn more about the referendum and ask questions school officials said the tax impact is estimated at $37 per month over 20 years for the owner of a home assessed at the Freehold Township average of $611,704 Payments on this investment will start in July 2026 “We are excited to begin working on finalizing the plans for updates and renovations so the district can better support our students and community now officials said Freehold Township’s financial advisor will focus on selling bonds at the most favorable rates and the architects will begin finalizing project specifications for the bidding process Work on the funded projects (which are outlined on the district’s referendum website) could begin as soon as summer 2026 though the timing of other renovations will be coordinated with the district to cause minimal disruption to daily operations To see the official election results from the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, you can click here To learn more about Freehold Township Schools’ bond referendum, you can visit their website 2025 at 4:02 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}For the safety of pedestrians and motorists officials are asking residents not to place brush at the curb more than two days before scheduled pickup NJ — For those looking to get a head start on their spring cleaning you can now add Freehold Township’s brush collection dates to your calendar The town’s brush collection is set to begin on March 24 All brush should be placed at the curb (not in the street) by 6 a.m on the first day of the scheduled week to ensure pickup All brush should be cut to a maximum length of eight feet and a maximum diameter of eight inches Brush should not exceed eight cubic yards (approximately the size on a mid-sized automobile) fence posts and commercial trimmings and recyclables will not be collected For the safety of pedestrians and motorists The brush collection schedule will be as follows: To find your sector area, you can click here To learn more, you can visit the Freehold Township Facebook page or website Stir fry and salad chain honeygrow is once again expanding in New Jersey with a newly completed lease in Freehold one of several locations that the eatery announced Monday The Philadelphia-based operator said it will occupy 2,500 square feet at the newly constructed Freehold Marketplace at Route 33 and West Main Street sharing the space with established brands like Walmart That means the fast-casual chain is now approaching 10 locations in the state having entered the market nine years ago with a store in Cherry Hill Honeygrow on Monday also announced new leases in Shrewsbury “Surpassing 50 locations and opening in our eighth state this year was an exceptional accomplishment,” said Justin Rosenberg “As we introduce honeygrow’s unique dining experience to new customers we’re excited to continue expanding into 2025 and each of these locations shows how dedicated we are to continued growth in our existing markets based on the overwhelming positive feedback these communities have provided.” has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Restaurant chain Bojangles has opened along a major commercial corridor in Piscataway as part of a previously announced deal brokered by The Goldstein Group All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy UPPER FREEHOLD - Two 20-year-old Mercer County residents died after the car they were in ran off the road on Interstate 195 early Sunday It was the second double-fatal accident in the last several days. It follows a high-speed car crash on Route 37 in Toms River on Friday night. In that incident, a juvenile suspect is in custody, charged in the deaths of two people whose car he allegedly crashed into while fleeing police, authorities said. New Jersey State Police were called to a crash on the eastbound side of Interstate 195 in Upper Freehold were occupants in an Acura car that was traveling east on the highway when it ran off the road to the right and hit two trees both occupants were ejected and sustained fatal injuries," police said in a statement No further information was available Sunday A police chase ended after the suspect reached speeds of 118 miles per hour Freehold Raceway closing despite owner pocketing savings from hefty tax breaksFarmers' AdvanceThe owners of Freehold Raceway pursued and received hefty tax breaks two years ago But despite that significant boost to their coffers along with a $1.6 million annual purse subsidy from New Jersey taxpayers owner FR Park Racing still plans to shutter the historic racetrack later this month The Freehold Raceway New Jersey Tax Court case in 2022 is relevant with the final day of racing after 151 years set for Dec as are the questions raised about the value of the property expected to go on the market in the near future Freehold Borough is in the process of doing its own redevelopment study in an effort to identify the best use for the property moving forward which could still include a horse racing element The town and FR Park Racing’s vision of the future I think they believe they can sell it for a lot more even though they testified that that was all it was worth,” Freehold mayor Kevin Kane told the Asbury Park Press “Every time they got a tax bill they would appeal it their interpretation was that for tax purposes it was only worth this amount of money Now all the sudden they want to sell it and it’s a different amount went to court in 2021 and received a big tax reduction of its own More: Kentucky Humane Society rescues 10 neglected horses from Franklin County farm More: New Detroit horse farm breaks ground in city, filling equestrian void for youth Most of the 41 acres in Freehold Borough – approximately 16 acres along Rt 9 are in Freehold Township – was part of a settlement that saw the track’s tax bill drop $316,126 according to court records reviewed by the Asbury Park Press The big change in the settlement came in the assessment on a 27-acre parcel that houses the grandstand and half-mile oval That parcel had its assessed value dropped from $22 million to $16.1 million The assessed value in 2025 is $13.38 million the entire 57.7 acre site is now valued at $21.9 million a joint venture between Penn Entertainment and Greenwood Racing purchased Freehold Raceway for $46 million in 1999 Officials did not reply to a request for comment from ownership FR Park Racing is abandoning a 25-year quest to secure a gambling casino at the track The track did have another alternative revenue stream operating a sports book for nearly four years before closing the facility over the summer “They can’t see themselves owning it in the future and it didn’t materialize,” said Kane of a recent meeting between town officials and FR Park Racing representatives “They are getting inquiries from home developers to sell the property from what they told us They hadn’t talked to a real estate broker yet so they don’t know what the value is or what they want to sell it for.” FR Park Racing reached a settlement in tax court with Freehold Township in 2023 after the assessment on the 16 acres rose from $3.42 million in 2022 to $6.67 million in 2023 The assessed value was back down to $3.95 million in 2024 The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey filed a lawsuit in September against FR Park Racing and its sports betting partner claiming the FR Park breached its contractual obligation in failing to maintain the facility and that hundreds of thousands of dollars in sports betting revenue has been withheld Monmouth Park is owned by the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority but property taxes are paid by Monmouth Park’s operator the track received a $20 million reduction on the assessed value on a 136-acre parcel the grandstand and one mile oval sit on resulted in a tax savings of around $212,000 The 265-acre site has an assessed value of $114.5 million with property taxes of $1.6 million in 2025 The NJSEA recently signed off on a plan that allows Darby and Morris Bailey’s JEMB Realty to develop 80 acres of the site with a portion of the revenues earmarked for Monmouth Park 2025 at 1:22 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The parade will take place on March 16 NJ — When Grand Marshall Tim MacCutcheon and Community Grand Marshall Tommy Taylor step off to lead the Freehold Borough Arts Council’s St Ireland are officially “twinned” communities a group from the Irish village is set to travel to the borough and further develop the “twinning” process which is the ancestral home to multiple Freehold residents is also the ancestral home of Bruce Springsteen whose great-grandmother Ann Geraty emigrated to the borough in 1853 those that call these two wonderful places ‘home,’ have a lot more in common than most people might realize,” Mayor Kevin Kane said Kane and a delegation of residents visited Rathangan to progress the twinning process Springsteen even gave a shout-out to Kane and his relatives from Rathangan He then dedicated the song “My Hometown” to "his homies." and our special guests from Rathangan," Friedman continued The March 16 parade will step off at 12:30 and be preceded by check-in at 10:40 a.m and the Grand Marshal Induction Ceremony will be in front of the American Legion Freehold-Monmouth Port 54 There will also be contests for Best Dressed Baby (under 3 y/o) Best Decorated Bicycle and Best Dressed Motorcycle The parade route will run down Main Street and end at Freehold Elks Lodge 1454 For more information and to see the complete list of afterparties, you can visit the Freehold Borough Arts Council St. Patrick’s Day Parade website For those interested in marching or volunteering to help, you can email Councilman Friedman at jfriedman10@hotmail.com The Board of Education is hosting the forum to offer insight from professional consultants on the referendum and to answer community members’ questions This is the second forum the board is hosting for residents to learn more about the referendum proposal 20 forum remotely by submitting questions for the event community members will hear from professional consultants (such as the district’s architect financial advisor and bond counsel) who guided the referendum proposal and district representatives who can explain firsthand the benefits of using bond funding to complete the proposed projects Read: See Proposed Projects For Building Improvements community members will be asked to cast their vote on the referendum officials said the district will get upfront funding and state aid for long-lasting improvements to increase safety and security and boost health and efficiency at every school across the district The state will pay up to 40% of eligible costs for the proposed projects if the referendum passes an estimated $45 million in state aid would offset local taxpayers’ share of the $135.5 million cost of the proposed projects This type of funding is only available through a voter-approved bond referendum the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $611,704 would see an estimated tax impact of about $37 per month This increase to school debt tax would not appear on tax bills until July 2026 officials said these critical repairs would still need to be made “We invite our community to attend this virtual information session so they can hear directly from our staff members and professional consultants about the projects,” Superintendent Neal Dickstein said “Please come and ask your questions so you can make an informed vote on March 11.” All voters must be registered with a Freehold Township address by Feb. 18 to participate in the referendum. To register for the referendum, you can click here you can type them into the Q&A feature on Zoom during the event or email them in advance to vote@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us A video recording of the referendum will also be available on the bond referendum website after the forum is complete but I was surprised to learn how much New Jersey relies on public transportation to get to work Maybe my view of New Jersey as being so heavily a car state is skewed because I compare it too much to New York City I’d like to be a better citizen and do my share to save the planet by taking public transportation But to get from my home in Freehold to my job there really isn’t a good choice for that That said, a study by The Pin Factory says the Garden State is actually second in the nation for using public transportation. They have 21.5% of their residents relying on public means to get to their daily jobs 8% of New Jerseyans are using public transportation NJ Transit has come under fire for so long now for shoddy service so often that it sounds like a nightmare I can’t imagine spending an hour and a half a day inside an NJ Transit train car there’s the problem of "others." Others taking up too many seats Others making too much noise or smelling like weed I can’t imagine a commute where I can’t belt out “Defying Gravity“ from “Wicked” at the top of my lungs the way I can in the privacy of my car On a train or on an NJ transit bus I could put my earbuds in and listen to the “We Hate Movies” podcast but then I’d be laughing out loud and annoying everybody around me I give credit to anybody who takes public transportation in New Jersey whether it’s because you have to or because you choose to Gallery Credit: Rick Rickman The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5's Kylie Moore. Any opinions expressed are Kylie's own. You can follow Kylie on Instagram.Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. Read More That said, a study by The Pin Factory says the Garden State is actually second in the nation for using public transportation. The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5's Kylie Moore. Any opinions expressed are Kylie's own. You can follow Kylie on Instagram.Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. FREEHOLD - A 26-year-old Manalapan man spent more than 3 1/2 years in the Monmouth County Jail but is now free attempted murder and weapons charges stemming from a drive-by shooting in the borough in 2021 A Monmouth County jury on March 21 acquitted Lamin Conteh of all charges following a two-week trial before Superior Court Judge Joseph W Conteh had been in jail without bail since Aug a day after Reashaun "Rocco" Billingsley Jr. was wounded in what was described as a gang-related drive-by shooting on Lloyd Street in the borough pointed a firearm out of the window of a car in which he was a rear-seat passenger and fired a hail of bullets at a front porch where Billingsley and Stevens were hanging out The shooting occurred during a time of gang turmoil in the borough during which members of the Crenshaw Mafia Bloods were trying to recruit members of the Grape Street Crips into their organization but Billinglsey had refused to join the Bloods set she said in her opening statement to the jury who was known as "Nudge,'' had no motive to harm Billingsley or Stevens Ten days before the fatal drive-by shooting the nephew of the reputed leader of the Crenshaw Mafia Bloods according to prosecutors and the defense attorney Lundy suspected Billingsley was responsible for that shooting KSO had all the reasons to have a beef with Rocco,'' Yannone told the jury After shooting at the porch on Lloyd Street Conteh fled from the car about a block away was "flabbergasted'' by the shooting and later went to police and identified Conteh as the gunman Yannone said Clarke waited to go to the police who was in the front passenger seat when the shooting occurreed first discarded shell casings from the car in an area beside nearby railroad tracks they stopped at a 7-Eleven for gas and went to a liquor store Shuler later told police he didn't know Conteh and couldn't identify the suspect in a photo array Shell casings recovered from the scene and by the railroad tracks were matched to a gun recovered from Lundy's uncle Prosecutors alleged Conteh traveled with Powell to Pennsylvania to buy the gun because his phone was tracked along that route But Yannone said there was no subscriber information for the phone showing it was Conteh's Yannone said the state had no forensic evidence linking Conteh to the gun or shell casings or proving he was inside the car during the drive-by shooting "One thing is certain - there is no proof beyond a reasonable doubt my client shot and killed Rocco and injured Mr Conteh broke down in tears when he heard the jury foreperson reciting "not guilty'' to all the charges "My client has maintained his innocence,'' the defense attorney said "He has always been very eager to have his day in court "He truly appreciates the hard work of the jury in this case,'' Yannone added "While this was not the outcome that we had hoped for the state respects the jury and its verdict and we thank them for their service,''  Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S "Alongside the Freehold Borough Police Department our investigative team worked hard to obtain justice for Reashaun D we work with the evidence that our investigative team uncovers we believed that it had firmly established this defendant's responsibility.'' Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@app.com When Grand Marshall Tim MacCutcheon and Community Grand Marshall Tommy Taylor step off to lead this year’s Freehold Borough Arts Council Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday they will be joined by some very special guests The borough and Rathangan, Co. Kildare, Ireland and a group from the Irish village will travel to Freehold for Sunday's festivities Rathangan is the ancestral home to multiple Freehold residents those that call these two wonderful places ‘home,’ have a lot more in common than most people might realize,” Freehold Mayor Kevin Kane said He then dedicated the song “My Hometown” to his "homies." It will be preceded by check-in at 10:40 a.m The Grand Marshall Induction Ceremony takes place in front of the American Legion Freehold-Monmouth Post 54 at 62 West Main St The route runs down Main Street and ends at Freehold Elks Lodge 1454 For more information and to see the complete list of After Parties visit downtownfreehold.com/events/2025-fbac-st-patricks-day-parade If you would like to march or volunteer to help email Councilman Jeff Friedman at jfriedman10@hotmail.com Go: St. Patrick's Day Parade, steps off at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Freehold; downtownfreehold.com/events/2025-fbac-st-patricks-day-parade Here are more things to do at the Shore this weekend including "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" at Axelrod Vintage & Collectibles Marketplace Saturday in Middletown "Finnegans Wake," a novel by Irish novelist and poet James Joyce is said to be one of the most challenging books in the English language thanks to its stream-of-consciousness style But before its publication in 1939 came "Finnegan's Wake," an Irish street ballad that tells the story of an intoxicated Irishman who is thought to be deceased but awakens when whiskey is spilled in his casket revelers gather at Lighthouse Tavern in Waretown for a re-enactment — coffin and all The festivities kick off with live Irish music at 7 p.m followed by a pipes and drums band and the wake Kyra Kennedy reprises her starring role in "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," which runs Friday to Sunday at Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park “It is an absolute dream and privilege to portray this legend again,” said Kennedy who portrayed Carole King at the Paper Mill Playhouse earlier this year “I am thrilled to revisit my favorite musical and step into Carole’s iconic shoes again with this incredible team in the state where this all started for me.”  Kennedy originated the role of Kat in the world premiere of "Mystic Pizza the Musical"; performed as Jenna in the first national tour of "Waitress"; and portrayed Monica Lewinsky in the world premiere play "When Monica Met Hillary." The show is directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado who served as assistant Latin choreographer for the original Broadway production of "In the Heights." He also has appeared on Broadway in "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and "On Your Feet – The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan." Salgado has directed "In the Heights," "Ragtime," "Aida" and "Matilda." Songs in "Beautiful" include “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “Natural Woman” and “I Feel the Earth Move." Go: "Beautiful: The Carolke King Musical," Friday through Sunday, April 6, Axelrod Performing Arts Center, 100 Grant Ave., Deal Park, $32 to $74; 732-531-9106, ext. 14, or axelrodartscenter.com Ocean County College Repertory Theatre Company presents Peter Shaffer’s Tony Award-winning play “Amadeus” on Friday Saturday and Sunday at the Black Box Theater (Building 11B) located inside the Grunin Center for the Arts on the main campus of Ocean County College In the court of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II Antonio Salieri is the established composer Enter the greatest musical genius of all time: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Salieri has given himself to God so that he might realize his sole ambition: to be a great composer and can be purchased by calling 732-255-0500 or by visiting grunincenter.org Go: "Amadeus," Friday, Saturday and Sunday (also March 21 to 23), Black Box Theater (Building 11B), Grunin Center for the Arts, Ocean County College, College Drive, Toms River, $21, $19 for seniors; 732-255-0500, grunincenter.org Toms River High School North’s Nautical Stars Theatre Company presents "Crazy for You" Thursday to Saturday A zany rich-boy-meets-hometown-girl romantic comedy a young New York banker who is sent to Deadrock But Polly takes an instant dislike to the city slicker so Bobby vows to win Polly’s heart and save the theater Memorable Gershwin tunes from the score include “I Got Rhythm,” “Naughty Baby,” “They Can't Take That Away from Me,” “Embraceable You,” “But Not for Me,” “Nice Work If You Can Get It” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” Note that Friday's show is ASL interpreted Go: "Crazy For You," 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Toms River High School North, 1245 Old Freehold Road, $10, $8 for students and seniors; onthestage.tickets/show/toms-river-high-school-north-nautical-star-theatre-company hosts a "very Wicked" Purim extravaganza beginning at 6 p.m The event at the synagogue begins with a costume parade any nonmembers who are interested in joining the congregation at B’nai Israel for the Purim extravaganza or for the traditional Megillah reading the next morning should contact the synagogue office at 732-349-1244 in advance Go: Purim, beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Congregation B'nai Israel, 1488 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, free; 732-349-1244, cbitr.org and awe-inspiring stunts meet bubble magic at the Circus Pop This 60-minute spectacle is created by veteran circus performer Logan Jimenez Tickets are $25. Bell Theater is located inside Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel. A box office is set up one hour before the show. Tickets also can be purchased in advance online or at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center Go: Circus Pop! The Giant Bubble Show, noon and 3 p.m. Saturday, Bell Theater, inside Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, $25; 732-531-9106, ext 14, belltheater.org Middletown Arts Center presents the Antique Vintage & Collectibles Marketplace from 9 a.m The inaugural event will feature over four dozen vendors offering vinyl records A limited number of vendor tables are available for $25 National Quilting Day is a time to admire the artisans who create them, and to recognize that their handiwork carries centuries of tradition forward across generations. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, celebrate with the Pieceful Shores Quilt Guild of Manahawkin at the Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch in Surf City There will be live quilting demonstrations at this free event and you can see quilts that the guild has created in the lobby (on view throughout March) National Quilt Day was established in 1991 by the Nebraska-based National Quilting Association Its close to 90 members conduct “Sew-Ins” twice monthly at the Bay Avenue Community Center in Manahawkin Pieceful Shores is sponsoring a fabric shopping trip bus trip to Lancaster More information is available by calling Charlene Samanich at 973-452-6925 Go: National Quilting Day with the Pieceful Shores Quilt Guild, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Ocean County Library, LBI branch, 217 South Central Ave., Surf City, free; 609-494-2480, theoceancountylibrary.libnet.info/event/12671839 Email Bill Canacci at bcanacci@gannettnj.com a Freehold Borough restaurant that played a part in putting Indian food on the map at the Jersey Shore but we've stuck to our authentic flavors," owner Archana Sharma said "We've worked really hard on the presentation When Archana Sharma and Shravan Shetty — and partners Sammeer Raajpal and Sidharth Sharma her son — opened their restaurant in downtown Freehold Borough in 2016 they wanted to show that Indian cuisine could be a superstar How many have you been to? Check out USA TODAY's 2025 Restaurants of the Year. They took traditional dishes and elevated them made with tandoor-cooked chicken in a creamy tomato-based sauce gets an upgrade with a spiral of cream swirled throughout Confit duck breast becomes tacos when folded between paratha a flatbread; and smoked quail eggs arrive perched in a nest with smoke wafting from the bowl underneath and going to Indian restaurants was something I enjoyed growing up "I wanted to create something that brought in mainstream America." Aarzu was one of few Indian restaurants in Monmouth County when it opened She wondered if people would like the food Aarzu's popularity and diners' excitement to dine there proved she didn't need to worry and Aarzu is now one of many Indian restaurants in the area Malai chicken kebab with cashew-nut cream and cardamom "is subtle on its flavors and it's not overpowering with spices," she said How we did it: Inside look at how USA TODAY chose its Restaurants of the Year for 2025 Lamb chops chargrilled in the tandoor oven is "something that everybody just loves," she said "and then I would say our crispy spinach chaat (served with yogurt enhanced with chili garlic crunch and served with sesame naan The chefs — Shetty is executive chef alongside Dayanand Shetty no relation — recently changed Aarzu's menu for the first time (specials aside) adding dishes like tandoor-cooked octopus with cumin-spiced potatoes "I do believe Indian food is one of the best cuisines," Sharma said See the full menu. Sharma and her partners are opening a coastal Indian restaurant and bar this year in Asbury Park, as well as a restaurant and cocktail bar on 21st Street in Manhattan South Indian cuisine with a bar," she said of the latter Details: Aarzu Modern Indian Bistro, 30 E. Main St., Freehold; 732-333-0933, aarzu.com. Book your reservation now on Open Table. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently See the entire list of Restaurants of the Year here: 2025 at 2:13 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Freehold Township High School is located at 281 Elton Adelphia Road (Harlem Wizards via Freehold Township)FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP NJ — The Freehold Township Education Foundation is bringing the Harlem Wizards to town for a night of fun and basketball this March the team will play at Freehold Township High School for one night only and tickets start at $35 for general admission Children 3 years old and under can attend for free General admission to the event includes seating on a first-come first-serve basis in the general admission area For those who purchase reserved student tickets you’ll get seating in the reserved section Reserved adult seating includes seating in the reserved section and a $5 souvenir gift certificate to use at the Harlem Wizards Souvenir Store on game night (all items picked up at the game) those who purchase courtside tickets will be able to enjoy courtside seating a pregame meet & greet with Harlem Wizards players including a Courtside Plus pass and color team photo (all items picked up at game) Courtside tickets for adults also include a $10 souvenir gift certificate to use at the Harlem Wizards Souvenir Store on game night The event is brought to town by the Freehold Township Education Foundation which aims to support excellence throughout the school district through funding of grants for teachers innovative programs and strategic initiatives To purchase tickets for the event, you can visit the Harlem Wizards website To learn more about the Freehold Township Education Foundation, you can click here Freehold Township High School is located at 281 Elton Adelphia Road 2025 at 4:02 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Mayor’s Borough-Wide Clean Up Day will take place on Saturday NJ — Mayor Kevin Kane’s Borough-Wide Clean Up Day will take place this spring community members will be invited to help clean up Freehold Borough as part of the event Dumpsters for trash collection will be available at Park Ave School (280 Park Ave.) and DPW Site (161 Center St.) from 8 a.m there will also be free on-site paper shredding at Borough Hall (30 Mechanic Street) from 9 a.m residents are welcome to dispose of up to five bulk items on each of their trash collection days For questions, you can call 732-462-4200 (options 8 and 1). To learn more, you can visit the Freehold Borough Facebook page there has been the lingering question of which quality Shore squad outside of the elite tier of teams would break through to cement itself as an additional serious title contender On their home court in front of a rollicking crowd that was evenly split between supporters of the two local rivals in the Freehold Regional School District the Cougars battled tightly against Freehold Borough in the Central Group 3 section semifinal before seizing control in the final 10 minutes The Cougars withstood a galvanizing fourth quarter effort by Freehold Boro's Brian Tassey and toppled the reigning section champion in a 59-47 victory Matching Tassey's performance was Colts Neck senior Lukas Sloane who turned in a star effort with 27 points in the victory we could toughen it out and just make it this far," said Sloane and it was kind of hard to block it all out for me it was just surreal how everyone on the team can come together and get this win." The Cougars needed a five-man effort to compete with the superb athleticism and rare size of Freehold Boro Their relentless ball pressure paid dividends down the stretch as a series of turnovers doomed the Colonials and the team was clearly out of sync offensively Matching Freehold's size on the interior was Bryce Belcher the guard who is capable of running the point but has had to play in the front court for this iteration of Colts Neck we don't got a guy that's like 6-foot-7," said Belcher The senior did exactly that with 12 points and 10 rebounds paving the way for teammates to follow suit as Colts Neck did not concede a massive advantage on the boards despite facing the size of Tassey and Aidan Hamlin-Woolfolk for Freehold That defensive grit hit a tipping point in the third as the Cougars seized control after holding the Colonials to single digits in the quarter we held them to seven points in the third quarter," said Belcher which had to navigate the loss of two top scorers that now play college basketball in Volodymyr Trotsko and Bryce's older brother Mike Belcher they've raised their game to another level thanks largely to the revelatory development of Sloane who has gone from averaging 8 points per game as a junior to 17 as a senior "It's hard to be consistent in high school against different teams "But as a senior this year with all the work that I put in during the offseason It's just so easy to play a game where you trust each other and you just work hard and you get success out of that." The work had a direct correlation to closing out the victory down the stretch as the Cougars did not falter at the free throw line and essentially closed out the win with a minute remaining thanks to the efficiency at the charity strike I don't know how many of those I shot in the offseason "It's just crazy to know how that work can payoff." The electricity on the court matched the energy in the crowd from the opening tip as both teams came ready to prevail in the win-or-go-home rivalry duel the difference was Colts Neck's immaculate execution of well-crafted game plan by coach Steve Jannarone The Cougars energized their raucous student section with a strong start as they won the tip and scored on the opening possession en route to an early 9-4 lead after Sloane drilled a pull-up three answering to cut the deficit to just one point after an explosive dunk by Aidan Hamlin-Woolfolk But the momentum of that play was stifled by a questionable technical foul call Colts Neck clung to an 18-16 lead after the opening quarter The teams continued to trade buckets in the second quarter with the largest lead being a mere four points But Colts Neck pivotally sped up its pace and wore out the smaller rotation of Freehold Boro that relies heavily on the starting five That tactical choice paid dividends in the long term as the wear and tear was evident in the fourth when the Colonials' legs failed them on a series of outside shots the Cougars lead was just 30-26 at halftime thanks to 16 first half points by Sloane the Cougars' found a rhythm as their defense tightened the screws Colts Neck built a lead that peaked at the end of the third quarter at nine points the game might've been decided much sooner as Colts Neck was firmly in control Several outside shots resulted in air balls for the Colonials and they were plagued by errant passes that could be attributed both to the passer and the recipient Tassey almost single-handedly cut that lead to 44-40 midway through the fourth He produced another bit of magic down 48-40 stealing a pass and scoring through a foul to cut it to 48-43 Tassey scored 12 of his team's 14 fourth quarter points but his singular effort simply wasn't enough as Colts Neck bled out the clock with ball movement and scored 10 of their 16 points on free throws to seal the 59-47 victory it would appear the four-seed Cougars (17-9) caught a break as six-seed Ewing (22-7) upset two-seed Burlington Township in the other section semifinal on Tuesday But Colts Neck will face their biggest challenge of the season in a Ewing team that has impressed throughout the season The Blue Devils beat Donovan Catholic by 16 whereas the Cougars only beat Donovan by two By contrast Colts Neck toppled Hopewell Valley in the playoffs a team that beat Ewing comfortable early in the season Both teams share a common loss to Hightstown but they'll have to piece together another near-flawless showing to finish their incredible season-long journey as section champions.