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 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Students of a Freehold Township elementary school will be temporarily relocated to other buildings in the district after mold was discovered in their building The Laura Donovan Elementary School may be closed for months as remediation takes place stable class space and ample time to provide a clean Donovan building," school board President Michael Amoroso wrote Thursday in a letter to the school community "The timeframe is still unknown exactly but the estimation is that we are off-site for a few months at most." School officials said the source of the mold remains under investigation by engineers and district consultants Custodial staff discovered the mold earlier this summer and reported it to administrators Because Freehold Township School District's enrollment has declined from a high of 4,500 students to its current 3,400 there is plenty of classroom space to accommodate the Donovan students and teachers Laura Donovan Elementary accommodates about 460 students in kindergarten through fifth grade according to the New Jersey Department of Education "The relocated students will be in individual classrooms with their respective Donovan teacher and classmates," the school board president said "Classrooms are not going to be shared and large group spaces are not being used." Remediation efforts are happening seven days per week but the work is taking longer than originally expected Superintendent Neal Dickstein said in a statement shared with the Press "We anticipate that these alternate arrangements may last several months and we are committed to communicating regular updates with parents and staff as information becomes available," Dickstein said in the statement "We are working diligently to remediate the mold and are especially grateful to the Donovan families who are showing patience The students' temporary reassignment is based on grade level: The situation has stirred controversy in the community Amoroso said social media users had crafted "a string of misinformation and personal verbal attacks" online over the school's closure there are always random instances of mold appearing for various reasons," the school board president said these are contained and remediated quickly without disturbance to the opening of an entire building false rumors are spreading around social media that the mold was alwaysthere at Donovan and just being covered up Monmouth University: New freshmen are most diverse group in school's 91-year history Amoroso said a factor in the cleanup is the large number of classrooms with wood panel ceilings that need to be cleaned and removed He added that temporarily relocating students to different buildings was a better alternative than placing Donovan students into virtual instruction "A parent session is being planned with a representative from our professional consultants to answer questions as soon as all the data is ready," the school board president said said the district was fortunate to have the classroom space to relocate the Donovan students "While we know this is disappointing for our Donovan families the goals remain to keep students safe and to minimize disruption to the schedules of our families," he said Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment She has worked for the Press for more than 16 years Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices 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 An elementary school in Freehold will have to start classes for the year in different buildings after mold was found in some classrooms Laura Donovan Elementary School in Freehold Township Students at Laura Donovan Elementary School will be relocated to other district schools when classes begin on Thursday Freehold Township superintendent Neal Dickstein sent a letter to families about the start-of-school plans on Wednesday Crews have been working "seven days per week" to remove the mold but the cleanup process has taken longer than expected "Engineers are on-site to help determine the cause of the mold so that it can be remediated properly," Dickstein wrote Laura Donovan School cannot open for staff and students." Kindergarten students from Donovan will begin classes at C First- and second-graders will report to Marshall W Third- and fourth-grade students will temporarily attend West Freehold Elementary School Donovan students will have classes on their regular schedule "We are fortunate that we can temporarily reorganize and reallocate classrooms to ensure your children begin the new school year on time," Dickstein wrote to families "Principals and staff at those schools look forward to giving the students and staff a warm “Freehold Township Schools” welcome when they arrive on September 5." Donovan students will be assigned buses to take them to and from their temporary schools Parents will be able to find bus schedules on the district's online platform on the week school begins Students in the YMCA's before-school program will attend it at Errickson School The YMCA after-school programs will be at the temporary schools Dickstein said the alternate school arrangements could last several months and families will be notified about future changes and partnership as we continue to work diligently to provide your children with a positive educational experience in a safe learning environment," he wrote Parents can also ask questions and discuss their concerns through a Google Docs form linked in Dickstein's letter Up to eight inches of snow is forecasted to fall in Ocean County Will the snow cancel school or change your plans The Asbury Park School District will operate on a two-hour delayed opening schedule Wednesday The Barnegat Township School District will be operating on a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday. Click here for additional information The Brick Township School District will operate on a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday. The B.E.S.T. AM Before Care Program is canceled. Click here for additional information The district said it will monitor weather conditions overnight to determine if any additional action is required in the morning Monmouth County’s community college (the main campus is in Middletown) will delay the start of classes until 11 a.m Classes and college services before that time are canceled Central Regional School DistrictThe Central Regional School District in Berkeley will operate on a 90-minute delayed opening Wednesday The district said it will monitor weather conditions overnight to determine if further action is necessary in the morning The parochial high school in Toms River will be closed on Wednesday EagleswoodThe Eagleswood Township Elementary School will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule The district said it will monitor weather and road conditions overnight to determine if additional action is required in the morning A notification would go out at at that time Eatontown public schools will be following a 90-minute delayed opening schedule Wednesday The borough school district will have a delayed opening on Wednesday though no specific information has been released as of 6 p.m The district said it would be monitoring weather conditions overnight and planned to communicate with its families as early as possible in the morning with more information Freehold Regional High School DistrictThe Freehold Regional High School District (and its offices) will operate on a 90-minute delayed schedule on Wednesday Bus pickups will also be postponed 90 minutes Freehold Township and Marlboro) will begin at 9:54 a.m Freehold Township School DistrictThe schools and offices of the Freehold Township School District will operate on a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday Students should be at their bus stops two hours later than their regular pickup times The Hazlet school system will operate on a delayed schedule Wednesday. The extent of the delay is 90 minutes. Click here for more information The regional school district in Highlands will have a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday Holmdel Public Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday The district said it will monitor overnight weather conditions to determine if further action is deemed necessary in the morning JacksonThe Jackson Township School District will be on a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday The district warns that the administration may be forced to close the school if conditions warrant but that such a decision would be made in the morning hours KeansburgThe Keansburg School District will be running on a delayed opening schedule Wednesday Keyport public schools will operate on a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday The Lacey Township School District will have a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday All Before School Childcare programs will open at 8:45 a.m Little Egg HarborThe Little Egg Harbor School District will operate on a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday The district will monitor weather and road conditions overnight and determine if any further action is necessary in the morning Long Branch public schools will have a delayed opening Wednesday. The district said arrival times for each school can be found at the top of the district’s website The Little Silver School District will be operate on a two-hour delayed schedule The Point Road School will start at 10 a.m and the Markham Place School will begin at 10:10 a.m The Manchester Township School District will operate with a 90-minute delayed opening Wednesday. Click here for a detailed schedule MarlboroMarlboro Township public schools will be on a two-hour delayed opening schedule Wednesday MiddletownThe Middletown Township Public School District will operate on a two-hour delayed opening for Wednesday Additional information for families in the Middletown school district: The Monmouth Beach School will have a delayed opening on Wednesday Staff are instructed to report for work at 9:30 a.m Monmouth County Vocational School DistrictAll MCVSD adult evening classes for Tuesday night have been canceled The Monmouth County Vocational School District will be on a delayed opening Wednesday Shared Time and Career Center AM classes will be canceled Full-time students are to report to school at 9 a.m The Neptune City School District will operate on a delayed opening Wednesday Staff are instructed to report for work at 10:15 a.m The district said it will monitor weather and road conditions overnight to determine if any further action is necessary in the morning Ocean County College will close its main campus in Toms River and its satellite campus in Stafford at 7 p.m Tuesday in anticipation of inclement weather The college campuses will be closed Wednesday. Classes will take place remotely. Click here for more information Ocean County Courthouse and Justice ComplexThe Ocean County Courthouse will be closed Wednesday for all in-person matters All remote matters will continue as scheduled There will be a 90-minute delayed opening on Wednesday for all vocational schools and at all locations in the county shared-time classes and adult education evening classes will start at their normal times The Oceanport School District will be operating on a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday The Plumsted Township School District in New Egypt will operate on a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday The Red Bank Borough Public Schools will follow a delayed opening schedule for Wednesday which serves local public school students in grades kindergarten through the eighth grade will have a 90-minute delayed opening on Wednesday Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High SchoolThe regional district in Rumson will have a 90-minute delayed opening Wednesday The Roman Catholic elementary school in Toms River will be closed Wednesday but students will still be expected to participate in classes online in what administrators said will be a “virtual day.” Classes at the Roman Catholic elementary school in Belmar will take place online Wednesday Rose High SchoolClasses at the Roman Catholic high school in Belmar will take place online Wednesday Athletic coaches and club advisers will notify their student players and members about any afterschool cancellations or schedule changes The Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch will be on a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday and the district’s transportation will also operate on a two-hour delay for all schools For Monmouth County Vocational School District students at Shore Regional: The Shrewsbury Borough School will be on a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday The Southern Regional School District in Stafford will have a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday There will be a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday The district said it will continue to monitor the weather overnight and if the closing of the school district is necessary on Wednesday will notify the community as quickly as possible Tinton FallsThe Tinton Falls School District will be on a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday There will be a 90-minute delayed opening Wednesday. Click here for a complete delayed opening schedule The district said it will continue to monitor the weather conditions and notify its community no later than 6 a.m Wednesday if any other action must be taken The Tuckerton Elementary School will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule Wednesday The district will monitor weather conditions overnight to determine if any further action is necessary in the morning All schools in the Upper Freehold Regional district are on a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday The Ocean Township School District (in Ocean County) will operate on a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday West Long BranchThe West Long Branch School District will have a two-hour delayed opening Wednesday 2025 at 2:59 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The 1812 Montrose School in Colts Neck NJ — Community members can travel through time this weekend when six historic schoolhouses throughout Monmouth County share their history with the public on Saturday The “One Room Schoolhouse Tour of Western Monmouth” will begin at 11 a.m Visitors can start the tour at any of the schools and visit as many as they wish at their own pace Maps and information on the schools will be available at each site in hard copy and with a QR code (brochure attached) “This is a unique opportunity to explore each of the schools at your own pace all in one day,” officials said "Due to the diligent work of several historic societies all of these buildings have been carefully restored and display many period artifacts class attendance lists and photographs from bygone eras as well as original architectural details," officials continued “These edifices remain as testament to the importance our ancestors placed on the need for education." Historic interpreters will be on hand to share how each school played a part in the story of the development of education in the Monmouth County area The West Freehold School will be drive-by only due to restoration underway though information on the school is available at Georgia Road School To learn more or see a tour roadmap, you can visit the Colts Neck Township website Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker FREEHOLD BOROUGH - Could 400 apartments come to downtown Freehold The borough and Meridia Capodagli Property solicited public input into potential plans Tuesday afternoon for an apartment plan nestled between West Main Street It drew praise and surprise from residents Some residents like the increase in the number of people it could bring while others said they disliked the size of the potential project The two historic buildings at 55 and 57 West Main St The two buildings would connect to the proposed apartment building which would span from West Main Street along the southeast to Broad Street along the northwest 'I always come back': Bruce Springsteen celebrated in Freehold hometown with new center about 240 parking spaces would be open to the public and 420 parking spaces would be reserved for residents 60 of the units would be set aside for affordable housing “A lot of energy has gone into keeping the historic effects of the building.” Freehold real estate: Last coffee for Nestlé as Freehold plant shuts. Here's what could happen next. Smith said the design was meant to break the building into four distinct sections to avoid overwhelming the borough The two sections along West Main Street and Broad Street are proposed to be two to three stories high while the middle section is proposed to be six stories tall “The one facing West Main Street is directly inspired by the low-scale commercial that exists on Main Street already,” Smtih said “Behind it is a building that is more like a manufacturing warehouse or livery from the 19th century.” The other two would look like an apartment or town house building from the 1920s Freehold news: Borough tweaks downtown paid parking rules again. Here's why you'll probably like it. the borough council began to talk about redevelopment of downtown Freehold about 15 years ago so you have only one way to increase your ratables and that is to develop,” Shutzer said so it was clear that we had to come up with some type of redevelopment plan.” the borough put out a bid and nine developers put out their proposals said Meridia Capodagli Property was chosen after taking into account financial viability and visiting the developer’s other sites What's Going There? ShopRite has brand-new plans for bigger Freehold Township supermarket said he was concerned with how the windows looked on the project’s renderings While many windows in downtown Freehold are set back into the building the windows in the renderings were flush with the outside Roginski’s recommendation to make the proposed windows match with the existing buildings in downtown could be taken up by the council which could then insist to the developer that the proposed building create similar windows we want it to look like it was always there they designed the buildings in such a way that they’re not just a monolithic modern structure like you see in other communities.” Freehold resident Michael Handler called the project “fabulous.” “People talk about Red Bank; they talk about the things in Matawan,” he said “Why can’t Freehold have something like that?” who was part of the borough’s historic preservation advisory commission said he was upset that the two historic buildings are proposed to be moved Such a move would make the buildings ineligible for the state’s historic registry “I was very surprised at how immense and how massive the project became,” he said What's Going There? More restaurants proposed for Walmart shopping center in Freehold Township Councilwoman Shutzer said change scares her as “you never know what you’re going to get until you have it.” But she said she’s “100% behind (the project) because it is the only way for our town to move forward in every way.” who is also executive director of Downtown Freehold said the apartment building will bring young people who will bring “better shops to town and more economic opportunity for the community as a whole.” the borough receives about $60,000 in taxes every year from the parcel of land in question He estimates that if the project comes to fruition the borough could receive over $1 million in tax revenue every year Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation Snow is expected to move into the area early Thursday morning It will then changeover to sleet before warming up and becoming rain Central Jersey could be in for a slick morning and schools are already taking notice and making plans for the morning commute The following schools have announced plans for Thursday The district will operate on a two-hour delayed opening Thursday All four schools in the district will have a two-hour delayed opening Thursday The Deal School will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule Students are instructed to report to school at 10:15 a.m The parochial high school will operate on a 90-minute delayed opening Thursday Students and their families should check with their local public school districts for any additional delays that may interrupt bus service EatontownThe district will operate on a 90-minute delayed opening Thursday Parent-teacher conferences are also canceled Parents and guardians should check their email for further information All schools and offices in the district will operate on a 90-minute delay Thursday Freehold Township School DistrictAll schools and offices in the district (pre-K through eighth grade) will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule Thursday Students should be at their bus stops two hours later than their regular pick-up times HowellThe district will operate on a 90-minute delayed opening on Thursday. Check the district website for specific start times The district will be on a two-hour delayed opening Thursday The district will be on a delayed opening schedule Thursday Bolger Middle School remain scheduled for Thursday evening Keansburg High School will have an early dismissal on Friday and afternoon conferences have been moved to this date The following schedule is in place for Thursday: The Lacey Township School District will operate on a two-hour delayed opening Thursday; A.M Depending on the severity of the weather overnight the closing of the district Thursday may be necessary the district said that such a decision would be made in the morning — if necessary LakehurstThe Lakehurst Elementary School will delay its normal opening time until 10 a.m The district will operate on a two-hour delayed opening. Check here for the bell schedule Thursday The district will operate on a 90-minute delayed opening Thursday The district will be on a two-hour delayed opening schedule Thursday Start times for each level are as follows: All morning vocational programs are canceled The county district schools and their academies will operate on a 90-minute delayed opening Thursday OceanportThe Oceanport School District will have a two-hour delayed opening on Thursday The parochial school will operate on a 90-minute delayed opening Thursday families should be mindful of any delays Thursday in the schedules of their local public school districts if their children are bused to St Elementary School will have a two-hour delayed opening Thursday Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch will be on a two-hour delayed opening on Thursday Monmouth County Vocational School District students who are on "morning shared-time" will not be bused on Thursday Afternoon vocational students will be bused as scheduled Full-time academy students will be bused in accordance with the two-hour delay The district has postponed the start of school until 9:50 a.m The weather has caused a 90-minute delayed opening for Thursday A delayed opening schedule is planned Thursday though the exact time was not yet available This list will be updated if other schools have schedule changes 2011 at 1:20 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Update: Freehold Township Schools released a statement on the district Web site informing residents of the death of West Freehold Elementary School fourth grade teacher Tara Hansen According to the letter signed by West Freehold Principal Edward Aldarelli and Supervisor of Instruction Kathleen Miller Hansen died Thursday morning after complications from childbirth fourth and fifth grade students were informed by their teachers of Hansen’s passing and parents and guardians of Hansen’s students were contacted at home District counselors and child study team members were available to meet with students throughout the day Hansen's LinkedIn profile lists her start date in the district as September 2005 “She was such an inspiration to her students and to her colleagues,” Aldarelli and Miller wrote One westbound lane was closed Sunday afternoon after an accident on I-195 near exit 11 at Upper Freehold the state’s traffic information website and app Motorists should expect a 10-minute delay due to the accident there was a 10 to 15-minute delay between exit 11 and exit 16 FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Fields and trees currently cover the southeast corner of Siloam and Monmouth roads but a plan to develop this rural 128-acre parcel with 160 new homes is raising concerns from neighbors The property is currently owned by the Brock family the same family that runs Brock Farms nursery and garden centers on Route 9 in Freehold Township and Route 34 in Colts Neck submitted plans to the Freehold Township Planning Board and aims to transform this farm south of Monmouth Road into 128 single-family houses and 32 homes within duplexes would be called the Preserve at Freehold and would lie west of the Holland Ridge community Planning Board official Todd Brown said Thursday that a hearing date had not yet been set for the proposal "One hundred sixty houses are going to be built on farmland," said neighbor Jilltrude Barba Such a high density of new housing is likely to lower nearby property values the new development would only make existing traffic problems in the area worse "There are regularly serious accidents at the corner of (Routes) 527 (Siloam Road) and 537 (Monmouth Road)," Barba said If you have to make a turn against the traffic Other neighbors said they were concerned about the proposal The developer is currently seeking a Freshwater Wetlands Letter of Interpretation from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to mark flood hazard areas and wetlands on the property Flood and wetlands areas could limit development within the parcel Pressure to build new homes is high in this area of Monmouth County. The median sale price of homes in west Freehold as of December was $689,000, up 60% from the previous year, according to Redfin the real estate brokerage and mortgage website For comparison, median sale prices of homes in Monmouth County as of December Home prices across the county grew a more modest 13.6% year-over-year 'We are heartbroken': Less than four years after opening, Sickles shuts Red Bank grocery She has worked for the Press for more than a decade FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Just days before the school district plans to switch from a virtual to a hybrid learning program officials here have revealed two presumed cases of the coronavirus at one elementary school Superintendent Neal Dickstein informed parents at West Freehold Elementary School through a letter on Thursday that the cases had been reported noting “the district is coordinating closely with public health officials and following CDC state and local health department guidance in order to insure the health and safety of our community.” He also stated, “While your child may not be attending school in person we want to keep the West Freehold community informed.”Dickstein did not indicate if the infected people were teachers Education: Toms River schools planning younger students to return in early October Dickstein’s letter stated that the district had been in touch with anyone who had been “in close contact” with the infected people defining that as anyone who had been within six feet of the infected person for at least 10 minutes within two days of the infection all close contacts have been notified by district staff If you have not received a phone call from a district staff member you are not deemed a close contact,” the letter said Ocean County: COVID-19 case reported at Jackson Memorial High School, 'close contacts' will be notified Freehold Township schools began the new year on Sept but plan to switch to a hybrid approach on Monday "Our plans to transition to the hybrid model on Monday are not affected and will proceed as scheduled," Dickstein said via email He stressed that increased cleaning and disinfecting had been implemented at all schools Strupp is an award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience who covers education and Monmouth County for APP.com and the Asbury Park Press including Killing Journalism on the state of the news media and an adjunct media professor at Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickinson University Reach him at jstrupp@gannettnj.com and at 732-413-3840 FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - School administrators are investigating a cybersecurity incident that forced the district's schools and offices to close on Monday Assistant Superintendent Dianne Martello Brethauer, assistant superintendent for Freehold Township Schools said on the social media platform X Sunday night that schools would be closed for the day due to "technical difficulties related to a cybersecurity event." School board members had little information beyond what the district said And they didn't yet know how long the district would be closed School closed: Freehold Township schools closed Monday because of 'cybersecurity event' president of the Freehold Township Board of Education said Monday morning that he had little information beyond the school's statement and didn't yet know how long the school would be closed When will Freehold Township go back to school?"There’s an ongoing investigation," Amoroso said "We’ll certainly make an announcement about (Tuesday's schedule) when the time comes There’s people working on it throughout the day.” The school district serves students kindergarten through eighth grade in Freehold Township It had nearly 3,500 students in the 2021-22 school year at five elementary schools two middle schools and an early childhood learning center Cyberattackers try to gain access to information — bank account numbers credit card numbers — that is kept on organizations' computer systems essentially by trying to steal money from other accounts or by collecting a ransom They often gain access to the system by convincing users to click on a disguised link CentraState cyberattack: Why are hospitals so vulnerable to hackers? Schools under attackEducational and research institutions were the most targeted industry in 2022 Another report by technology company Sophos found 80% of lower education providers had cyberattacks in 2023 Nearly all of the schools regained their data in part because 73% reported they had backups Last March, the New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell said it had high confidence that educational institutions worldwide would be attractive targets for cyberattacks "Students are spending more time online than ever before and engage with teachers and school staff," the agency said "As we become more (dependent) on technology cybercriminals are becoming more advanced and evolving their cyberattacks techniques and they will continue to target universities and school districts as many of them do not have adequate resources or staffing to properly protect and defend their networks." Analysts said the Freehold Township schools breach is a reminder for organizations to back up their data and train their staff to be aware of tactics used by cyberattackers they go across the board," said Bruno Tirone president and chief executive officer of MRA International Diamond is a business reporter at the Asbury Park Press who has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry for more than 20 years He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Grace West doesn’t dwell on the two times the doctors stopped her heart or how she lost her hair and part of her hearing after eight rounds of chemotherapy The 12-year-old was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma a pediatric cancer that affects the nerve cells nearly one year to the day that Grace met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Dec she got the greatest Christmas gift of all: Grace was cancer-free After two years of treatment that took a toll on Grace's body Grace and her family will spend this Christmas with more than enough reason to smile “It felt like the whole world was just like lifted off my shoulders,” said Grace her new-grown curls pushed back with a headband Grace met the Pope through the Make-A-Wish Foundation which grants wishes to children with life-threatening diseases “It was just a moment stopped in time,” said Grace, a seventh-grader at Clifton Barkalow Middle “It was so peaceful there and it just felt like after I met him I knew everything was going to be OK after that.” Grace returned to New Jersey for more treatments hospital visits and disappointing body scans that showed little improvement Grace’s mom was in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven when she got the call: her daughter’s latest scans showed there was no evidence of disease “I remember exactly where I was in the parking lot and I had to ask again ‘Are you telling me what I think you’re saying are you telling me they are clear?’” Sharon recalls saying “It was just amazing; we had waited so long to hear those words The family took Grace to Sky Zone Trampoline Park — where she wanted to go when she beat cancer “I think the visit with the Pope definitely had something to do with it I have very strong faith and that really helped She announced the good news on her nonprofit’s Instagram page, the Cookie Crumblers Foundation posting a photo of her in front of the Christmas tree wearing a onesie decorated with string lights She held a large sign that read: “cancer-free.” “This is like the best Christmas gift I could ask for and even receive,” said Grace “Cookie,” was started to help Grace through her disease and raise awareness about pediatric cancer she joked that her daughter had to be a “tough cookie” because her older brother was always running into things “There’s something about her; she has this positivity,” said Sharon who says Grace never complained even during the most painful moments Grace underwent eight chemotherapy sessions, surgery, radiation treatments and immunotherapy after being diagnosed at age 10. She was treated at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and then at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York “I was upset and it was so shocking and weird to have that happen to you,” said Grace At one point she had to cover part of her body with plastic wrap just to shower — her port which connects to a large vein to receive medicine “You just feel so heavy and gross,” said Grace “The Office,” to pass the time during her treatment She also spent a lot of time recovering in her tree house decorated with elephant pillows (her favorite animal) and pictures of her and her friends The entire time she’s held fast to her motto: “You have no choice but to be strong but you can choose to be happy and positive.” She makes fun of the time doctors told her that stopping her heart "It does not feel like a roller coaster," she said when nurses came in with bright lights to check on her and accidentally flashed her in the eyes — "can you turn that off?" Grace asked the doctor to record a surgery that removed a tumor from her adrenal gland He said it was "very unusual" for someone Grace's age to respond so well to treatment Grace's last treatment involved a new antibody drug that is already showing more positive results among patients are diagnosed with neuroblastoma and 400 have stage four Grace still feels the side effects of her treatment She wears glasses now and two hearing aids But she says she’s looking forward to swimming on the school team again and going back to class full-time “Everybody is part of this miracle,” said Sharon with a group of friends prayed 2,000 Hail Mary’s every week for Grace faith has been such an important part in this whole journey; it’s carried us through everything.” Grace still has a year of vaccine treatments and will continue to undergo scans to make sure the cancer doesn’t return Karen Yi: 732-643-4277; kyi@gannettnj.com 2018 at 4:08 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}We asked readers to share their congratulatory messages for the students in their lives who were closing a chapter — middle school Nicole Boyce of Freehold sent this message: and all those heading off to Barkalow and Eisenhower middle schools!" Congratulations to the Class of 2018 from Patch 2011 at 9:24 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}West Freehold Elementary School fourth grade teacher Tara Hansen died Thursday morning days after giving birth to a son A viewing will be held at Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home on Sunday began working in the Freehold Township School District in January 2004 as a student teacher and then as a long term substitute in Joseph J according to Assistant Superintendent Neal Dickstein She was transferred to West Freehold Elementary School when it opened in September 2004 fourth and fifth grade students were informed of Hansen’s passing on Thursday by their teachers Counseling and child study team members were available to meet with students during the school day Thursday and Friday Hansen’s family has established a trust for the Hansen’s son. Donations can be made through the online tribute page on the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home Web site or checks can be made to the Brandon Ryan Hansen Trust The baby is healthy and surrounded by family at home EDISON – The Board of Education on Tuesday appointed Edward Aldarelli acting superintendent of schools before Superintendent Bernard Bragen’s departure at the end of the month the district's director of human resources "I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve in this capacity," Aldarelli said "And I am not only thankful for the opportunity but consider it a privilege as well to serve the district in this capacity and continue all the great things that had been going on here and make sure that there's a smooth transition between myself and Dr We've worked closely hand in hand throughout." Aldarelli has been with the Edison school district for just over two years He previously served as an elementary school principal for West Freehold School for 13 years He earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Education and master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Monmouth University in 1996 and 2002 He completed his doctorate in Education from Saint Peter's University in 2017 Aldarelli's salary has yet to be determined Board of Education members welcomed Aldarelli to his new role and wished him luck “Hopefully we can all together do a good job next year,” said school board member Xiaohan "Shannon" Peng “I also want to thank the public for putting the pressure on some of the board members for finally doing the right thing for the students Also see:Edison schools to review student sex violence, harassment claims Several community members had written on social media about school board member infighting and requesting a new superintendent be named in a timely fashion Bragen, an Edison High School graduate and former assistant principal at J.P. Stevens High School, announced in September he was leaving his post after more than three years for another superintendent job in Virginia "I just want to say how grateful I am for having had the experience to sit at this table and to be a part of the school district and to work in a capacity of superintendent," Bragen said Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin please subscribe or activate your digital account today PHILADELPHIA – FEBRUARY 6: Philadelphia Eagles fans react as they watch Super Bowl XXXIX at Chickie’s and Pete’s bar and restaurant February 6 The Philadelphia Eagles were defeated by the New England Patriots 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images) and all of the other little sub communities that are nestled in this Western Monmouth area The Township itself is listed at over twelve thousand residents logic would dictate that the more people there are the more kick ass bars and restaurants there would be Well the County Seat doesn't disappoint.There are literally dozens of places to grab a bite or knock back a brew when it comes to Sunday NFL Football watching there are a few spots that I personally believe are head and shoulders above the rest while some others I have frequented for years is that they all made a positive impression on me as solid Sunday options for football viewing WA - FEBRUARY 2: Seattle Seahawks fans (from L) William Anderson and Dillon McCoy react while watching their team play the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl at 95 Slide Bars were crowded in Seattle as fans rooted for their team to win its first Super Bowl The Google description of the Cabin says it all: A Rustic Bar For years this place was one of the more popular TGI Fridays in the state it's the home of the incredible Tommy's Tavern cozy and charming is how the folks at The Chapter House describe their little gem on Route 9 just south of the Freehold Howell boarder Just south of the Chapter House is The Ivy League Another quaint family owned establishment that brings back memories of a simpler time but we won't hold that against Moore's Tavern this place is a MUST visit if you've never been So why not on a Sunday for some pigskin action? Great food this place has had a few incarnations over the years but seems to have found it's grove as a great American sports bar there are interconnecting rooms so it's got a big feel but yet you can find your spot in front of your game Plus if you need a break you can always go play video games in Iplay 5 minutes north of Freehold, up Route 79, lies Fireside Grill & Bar You walk in to a large lobby area with a hostess station Football and baseball painted murals on the wall Even the dining room has tvs. Plus they do incredible game day specials Download the app to LISTEN LIVE wherever you are and connect with us like never before MIDDLETOWN — The Freehold Township Little League U12 players have no quit in them and they’ve shown that throughout the District 19 tournament The special fight this team has has garnered belief within the team “We’re going to win the Little League World Series I have a lot of trust in this team,” said Freehold first baseman James Calamia More: Little League World Series is far off but powerhouse South Wall team dreaming big More: Ocean Township showing no quit in Little League tournament: 'Consider us The Bad News Bears' That's a long way off but pitcher Lance Virzi says: “I think we can go far I think we sleep on some teams and I think we can do better.” Tuesday's win was a perfect example of resilience for Freehold Township a 15-5 decision over Two River West to advance to the district finals After giving up four runs in the top of the third inning stopping the game short in the bottom of the fifth inning due to the mercy rule the ball was getting by us...wasn’t throwing that hard,” said Virzi Freehold Township will get a chance to redeem itself in the championship game against Lincroft on Friday After finding themselves down multiple runs and coming off a loss the Freehold players could’ve quit but instead showed mental toughness “We pounded that home with them last night,” said Freehold Township coach Tom Figliolino "They got down on themselves last night and they were never in the ball game Tonight there were a couple of lead changes and they kept the energy and intensity up so I’m happy to see that.” The comeback effort began in the bottom of the third inning when a double from Calamia brought home Jack Figliolino and Jonathon Kim to even the score 5-5 Then Calamia stole home to grant Freehold the lead before an Austin Sweeney RBI double brought home Owen Hubbs to make the lead 7-5 going into the fourth inning In the fourth inning Freehold would blow the doors open with a Jack McGee RBI to bring home Virzi to make the score 8-5 Then a Tyler Chang double brought home Freddy Mandeville to extend the lead 9-5 and Figliolino were on base bought the lead to 13-5 The final dagger was in the bottom of the fifth inning with a Virzi double RBI to bring home Evan Umansky and Sweeney to make the final score We had a lot of crucial at-bats and Freddy Mandeville with a great bunt that really encouraged our offense to score a lot of runs.” practice until FridayAfter a couple of early exits in past seasons Freehold isn’t taking this opportunity for granted The program won the state crown in 2016 but hasn't made a return trip to the state tournament since They’ll have a shot to go to the Section 3 tournament - the last stage before the state tournament - if able to get past Lincroft so the players will be practicing hard until then Figliolino has been working with this group of kids for the last “three or four years” and has watched them mature into good ball players He knows what they’re capable of and is willing to push them to their best “It was a great game they showed a lot of energy tonight,” said Figliolino “We’re going to have practices probably tomorrow and on the Fourth and we have to get ready for a real tough Lincroft team.” 2024 at 10:29 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Renee Schiavone/Patch)FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP NJ — The cause of a fire at a medical building here Monday morning is under investigation but is not considered suspicious Area firefighters responded to a fire that broke out Monday morning at 500 W according to a social media report from Central Jersey Fire Buffs on X The fire was at a one-story medical facility that houses Millennium Eye Care The response temporarily shut down a portion of West Main Street Freehold Township fire officials were not immediately available to discuss other details of the fire Multiple crews responded from all over the Freehold Township region, even as far as Englishtown, to get the fire under control, according to a report on News 12 New Jersey 2018 at 9:03 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP NJ — Motorists are being warned to avoid the Route 33 Bypass West on Tuesday morning after a tractor-trailer overturned on the road The Route 33 Bypass West is shut down at Halls Mills Road as a result of the crash The ramp from Halls Mills Road South onto the Route 33 Bypass West also is shut down Monmouth County Hazmat has been called in to clean up a fuel spill Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here you won’t have to go far to get your wings done right Listen to Shannon Holly mornings on 94.3 The Point and download our free 94.3 The Point app The Freehold Township Planning Board recently approved the proven national fast-casual chain to move into a former barber shop spot on West Main Street they started in Dallas and quickly dubbed themselves “wing experts” and I would have to agree They are moving into the Colonial Plaza in Freehold next to neighbors Saladworks It will replace the Supercuts that was at 337 West Main Street.The chain seems to be growing through New Jersey over the last few months a storefront opened in Neptune City Shopping Center on Route 35 There is also a Wingstop location going into Aberdeen on Route 35. Wingstop has 19 locations in New Jersey so eat up Special thanks to The Patch for the original story. Read more here Gallery Credit: Matt Ryan Listen to Shannon Holly mornings on 94.3 The Point and download our free 94.3 The Point app Special thanks to The Patch for the original story. Read more here WEST FREEHOLD — During the holiday season it’s always uplifting to read about a feel-good local organization in the community The Happy Hearts Foundation was created a year ago by 16-year-old Freehold Township High School junior Carmine Steffens The mission of the non-profit is to provide hospital patients and caregivers with care bags in order to improve the quality of their hospital stay or work shift The teen said he was inspired to create this organization to memorialize the lives of his grandparents His grandmother passed away 20 years later on Nov He said his grandmother was a huge part of his life as his primary caretaker because his parents worked so much and the goal of this is not to just help people and do it all for them,” Steffens said He was looking for a place where could make the biggest impact Since his grandfather died of a heart attack and his grandmother died of cancer Steffens felt he could help patients with similar illnesses But he also wanted to help anyone who could use a little brightening in their day and a hospital setting was the best place for that These are all things to help make their hospital stay a little more comfortable The caregiver care bags consist of a badge reel a personalized thank-you card and motivational quotes These are all things to help make their work shifts a little more effective and easier Steffens said he bought everything himself with his own money to put together the care bags he has reached out to several manufacturers to help with donations He hopes to find other places that will donate stress balls He is also looking for businesses and restaurants to partner with him to host fundraisers and events to help the non-profit continue their work Steffens would also love to add different items to the bags to make as great as possible. If anyone is interested in donating money or items, they can check out the Happy Hearts website, and social media pages on Facebook and Instagram They can also email the teen. He'll either pick up the items, of if someone wants to ship them to him, that's fine too. They can also link to the Happy Hearts Amazon Wishlist to help them gather supplies to fill care bags for people battling illnesses Steffens has delivered nearly 500 patient and caregiver care bags to 10 different hospitals in New Jersey He also recently started delivering packages to hospitals in New Hampshire He said he just started googling nearby hospitals in other states called and asked what they needed for their patients and caregivers Steffens said he’s received emails from hospitals saying how thankful patients were to receive their goodie bags and from staff members who were grateful for the things that made their shifts so much more effective and easier Steffens sees the organization growing because he’s determined to keep it going and I know that if keep putting the time and effort into it it will grow exponentially,” he said Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom A Freehold Township teenager created the Happy Hearts Foundation to provide hospital patients and caregivers with care bags in honor of his late grandparents.\nRead More The Happy Hearts Foundation was created a year ago by 16-year-old Freehold Township High School junior Carmine Steffens Steffens would also love to add different items to the bags to make as great as possible. If anyone is interested in donating money or items, they can check out the Happy Hearts website, and social media pages on Facebook and Instagram They can also email the teen. He'll either pick up the items, of if someone wants to ship them to him, that's fine too. They can also link to the Happy Hearts Amazon Wishlist to help them gather supplies to fill care bags for people battling illnesses Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom 2013 at 7:41 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Freehold Township Historic Preservation Commission is launching a new project to compile an oral history of the area The Commission is currently seeking alumni of Freehold Township elementary schools and Freehold Boro High School who attended prior to 1959 This includes any of the 8 one room schoolhouses as well as the West Freehold School currently serving as the Administration building on Rt You will be involved in an Oral History program to be recorded and maintained as a reference for future generations This is part of an ongoing project to ouch on all aspects of life in Freehold Township For this part of the project the commission wants to have a record of your experiences during your school years The commission is inviting those interested to to respond by email at ftheritage1686@yahoo.com or by calling 732-577-9766 For now all the commission needs is your name the commission will have a list of questions each person will be asked Then you will be invited to speak about your experiences sharing perhaps a funny story or something that has stayed with you since your school days The commission is hoping to get as many people as possible to respond so if you know of someone who has moved out of state and might be interested in participating please pass along the information about this project If you would prefer to share your thoughts in writing you may mail your submission to Freehold Township Heritage Society This project will be a collaborative effort with the Heritage Society in an effort to records as much of the oral history of Freehold as possible Welcome to the IPE Reference Hub. This site uses cookies. Read our policy Sign up to receive our free news alerts a global real estate investment management firm and its operating partner Addington Capital the specialist UK investment and property asset management business announced today the acquisition of two contiguous freehold residential blocks in the West End of London The Marylebone-located 61-130 Miles Buildings London NW1 were acquired in connection with Heitman’s global core-plus investment strategy The two freehold residential buildings are comprised of 70 units spanning approximately 28,000 square feet of living space across five floors The properties are situated within a rapidly developing area of Zone 1 London which provides convenient access to four Underground train lines available within a two-minute walk of the property Heitman Managing Director of European Real Estate Investment said: “London’s long-term demographic outlook and rapidly recovering demand following pandemic-related lockdowns make well-located residential properties a compelling investment opportunity The acquisition of the Miles Buildings represents our continued confidence in the UK and more broadly Europe’s alternative real estate sectors and student housing) continue to deliver resilient cash flows and delinked demographically-driven demand despite today’s economic volatility.” You can now read the full press release at the link below a global real estate investment management firm today announced the acquisition of its first residential asset in Oslo Bjerkebanen Apartments is located in the growing Bjerke district of Oslo and has over 6,000 square metres of residential and commercial space Long considered a niche sector in European real estate self-storage has attracted growing interest from institutional investors since the pandemic today announced that it has invested in the Hollis Building a 120-bed student housing development in an off-market transaction with Alumno Group a leading student housing developer based in London Copyright © 1997–2025 IPE International Publishers Limited Site powered by Webvision Cloud FREEHOLD BOROUGH — Authorities closed off a portion of West Main Street on Sunday night while investigating a fire that broke out in a building near the First Presbyterian Church Adelphia and Howell Township fire departments were on the scene around 7:30 p.m. The Monmouth County Fire Marshal and Freehold EMS were also gathered along West Main Street Details on what caused the fire or the extent of the damage were not immediately available Check back to APP.com for more on this developing story COVID-19 in Monmouth County: Town-by-town case list for December 6 'The numbers speak for themselves': NJ reports over 6,000 daily COVID cases for first time Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment If you're looking for a night of inspiration or just want to feel great about yourself and your country then this is perfect for you as well as your family The Glee Club from The United States Military Academy at West Point will be making a rare New Jersey appearance on Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church of Freehold located at 118 W this is a free concert so early arrival is recommended will be present with a joint Senate and Assembly proclamation that will proclaim Saturday as "West Point Glee Club Day in the State of New Jersey." Freehold Borough is doing the same for the town during the concert's Intermission ceremonies “We are honored to have been selected once again to have the West Point Glee Club return to our church for their Spring concert,” said Robert M chairperson of the Concert Committee at the 150-year-old church This will be the Glee Club’s third appearance at the church “We love coming to this church not only because of the wonderful outpouring of support we’ve had during our last two visits but also because the acoustics are phenomenal!” said Glee Club Music Director Constance Chase The Cadet Glee Club dates back to 1903 and is one of the most celebrated college choirs The Glee Club performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and are regular performers at the annual Army-Navy football game You have to hear the incredible blend of their voices to believe it What's next for these talented singers they are commissioned as 2nd lieutenants and become officers in the Army Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Steve Trevelise only. Follow him on Twitter @realstevetrev. You can now listen to Steve Trevelise — On Demand! Discover more about New Jersey’s personalities and what makes the Garden State interesting. Download the Steve Trevelise show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now. Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner Gallery Credit: Eric Scott The Glee Club from The United States Military Academy at West Point will be making a rare New Jersey appearance at the First Presbyterian Church of Freehold.\nRead More We're still celebrating that BEAT NAVY feeling WPGC was proud to perform the National Anthem Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Steve Trevelise only. Follow him on Twitter @realstevetrev. You can now listen to Steve Trevelise — On Demand! Discover more about New Jersey’s personalities and what makes the Garden State interesting. Download the Steve Trevelise show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now. Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. combines home-like aspects to accommodate the four-legged residents which range from 7 years of age or older "The chances of an older dog being adopted and leaving a shelter is not as great as for a puppy so we decided we wanted to help senior dogs," said Doreen Jakubcak Founder of Marty's Place Senior Dog Sanctuary as well as access to physically and mentally stimulating activities suited to their age and abilities Related: Luxury pet resort gives dogs and cats the royal treatment the facility is equipped with walking trails Even though many of the senior dogs admitted to Marty's Place come primarily from pet owners some are admitted because their owners might've been displaced or face financial challenges Changing the perception people have of older dogs is part of the mission of Marty's Place where some of the senior dogs are also up for adoption Related: Adopting a cat during the coronavirus pandemic "When we commit to a dog that comes to Marty's place they do have a forever home That forever home can be here at the sanctuary and when we can we try to place a dog into a new adoptive home," Jakubcak said Despite the financial challenges faced as a result of the pandemic the staff at Marty's place is working arduously to fundraise by hosting virtual events to continue serving their beloved senior dogs "People don't realize how rewarding it can be to adopt a senior dog They know and they will show you endless love until their dying day," said Rennie Rankin Submit a tip to Miguel taught English as a second language at Laura Donovan Elementary School She is the third teacher in the district to die within the past year; Clifton T Barkalow Middle School teacher passed away in October and West Freehold Elementary School teacher died following complication of childbirth in March Bliss died at CentraState Medical Center on Sunday The cause of death was not readily available Visitation services will be held at Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home on Friday from 6 p.m is joining me live in studio today from 8:30-9:30 Grace was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at 10 years old Grace got her wish granted and was able to meet Pope Francis in Rome Affectionately known as Cookie, Grace started an organization known as Cookie's Crumblers Grace started the organization to help crumble cancer and assist other children liker herself You can watch the hour live in the YouTube clip above Grace West, an amazing young girl from Freehold, joined Bill Spadea live in studio, watch the interview now!\nRead More Affectionately known as Cookie, Grace started an organization known as Cookie's Crumblers The 3rd Annual West Freehold School Golf Classic was hosted at Knob Hill Golf Club on October 14 2014 and raised over $13,000 for the West Freehold School PTO bringing the three year total for the event to over $30,000 International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) was the headline sponsor for the third straight year displaying a strong bond between the two organizations players and supporters of this outing enough The proceeds from this outing will go a long way in getting a laptop in the hands of every 2nd This outing will also help to propel us toward our next initiative getting an iPad in the hands of every Kindergarten and 1st grade student Principal Alderelli had even more to celebrate; not only would his school be the beneficiary of an additional $13,000+ in technology for their students but he also was a part of the winning team along with teachers Robby Luethold Leo Lomuntad and Michael Dilworth (see attached picture) released the following statement: We the committee would like to thank all of the golfers who participated this year Above & Beyond HVAC We thank you all again or to sponsor or register for next years outing please contact John Zalepka by email atjohnzalepka@gmail.com Changing Faces: An ongoing series that examines how our local communities are evolving FREEHOLD - When Magdalena Romero first opened her deli here 10 years ago she says there weren’t any places to buy ingredients like nopales poblano peppers or squash blossoms — staples of traditional Mexican plates tucked on West Main Street between a barber shop and a money-exchange store offers a cave of comfort to those born in a country more than 2,600 miles away Small Mexican flags and sombreros hang overhead handmade beaded bracelets to ward off negative energy drape one side of the store black beans and garbanzo beans line the opposite wall Less than 500 feet down the brick sidewalk is Federici’s Family Restaurant a Freehold fixture and one of the oldest family-run businesses in the area “We’ve been in town 94 years,” said co-owner Michael Federici 65-year-old ovens still crisp pizza pies while patrons in cozy booths feast on recipes dating to the 1920s “That pizza has not changed,” said Jim Conover long-standing traditions converge with new customs brought by waves of Hispanic immigrants But in many ways the story of Freehold has always been one of migration Irish and black migrants have all planted roots here — it was once a center for farmers to exchange goods and a factory town dotted with retail businesses At one point considered the downtown of western Monmouth County Freehold has since become a hub for mostly law offices and restaurants Freehold saw a large influx of Hispanic immigrants between 1990 and 2000 Eleven percent of residents were Hispanic in 1990 The borough’s total population increased by 10 percent This boom in Latino families has changed the face of Freehold Where many New Jersey communities have struggled with population declines Freehold continues largely to buck the trend But the influx has also weighed on the town’s infrastructure — spurring friction around rental housing Freehold schools have become ground zero for the local immigration debate — albeit a conversation more civil than the one at the national level The district has been overwhelmed by the influx of mostly Latino students weary of high taxes in this working-class town twice rejected a bond measure to alleviate crowding and say they can't solve the crisis alone has not amassed the political muscle to force the issue at the polls: Most voting-age residents are undocumented residents weighed in on a measure that would have the state override voters and impose a $32.9 million bond to reduce crowding "There's no political power with nonvoting undocumented adults," Freehold Schools Superintendent Rocco Tomazic said The battle over the schools is reminiscent of earlier growing pains the borough grappled with mounting complaints from longtime residents about littering blamed undocumented immigrants for the problems Borough officials responded by focusing on "quality of life issues." They began targeting overcrowded apartments and banned loitering in certain areas — a bid to rein in hiring of day laborers The actions met stiff opposition among immigrant groups who sued claiming harassment and civil rights violations the borough amended its most controversial practices and rescinded others "It was difficult," said Mayor Nolan Higgins "But things have gotten better as time has gone on." Many more-recent arrivals second that view; they say they feel more accepted by their citizen neighbors and are invited to participate in town festivals and events "While we’re blending well it’s almost like little individual communities," said Andre McGuire a pastor at New Beginnings Agape Christian Center for 22 years "We’re not as cultures meeting and dealing with each other as well as we should." During a preschool orientation earlier this month parents packed the auditorium at Park Avenue Elementary waiting to see their new classrooms and meet their teachers then Spanish.But instead of walking down the hallways half the room boarded yellow school buses — their classrooms were three miles away in rented spaces the next town over Freehold schools have no more room to spare The pre-K through eighth-grade district — the only one in Monmouth County to receive federal dollars for full-day preschool — rented three classrooms inside Freehold Township’s schools to accommodate pre-K students It already rents six classrooms for kindergarteners and that’s $192,224 less the district has available to spend on actually educating its youngest students Built to house no more than 1,100 students Freehold schools have 1,700 enrolled this year 72 percent are Hispanic and more than three-quarters receive free or reduced-price lunch “It’s been a straight-up trajectory of Hispanic students,” said Tomazic Most of the students’ parents are undocumented and can’t vote So when the district asked voters last year for a $32.9 million bond to build 23 additional classrooms just 611 cast ballots in the December referendum School officials say many voters have no children in school or don’t want to pay higher taxes Others say there’s lingering resentment over the influx of immigrants Almost half of the residents don’t speak English at home our job is not to determine immigration issues our job is to treat every kid the same,” said Ronnie Dougherty principal at Freehold Intermediate School and a borough resident The district has petitioned state Education Commissioner David Hespe to overturn voters’ decision on the bond The education commissioner has only made two such decisions in the past in 2003 authorizing $19.2 million in bonds for the Clark school district in Union County and in 2008 authorizing an $800,000 bond for Milford schools in Hunterdon County a large plastic curtain partitions the school's gym The library functions as a computer room and a Spanish class there’s barely room for children to walk between classes students are crammed into makeshift classrooms Teachers are constantly rearranging furniture to fit more desks and use the principal’s office or hallways for one-on-one instruction said his children are packed on top of each other “There are no walls separating classrooms,” he said recently He said his son last year complained about the noise level and couldn’t concentrate Supporters of the bond point to a larger problem facing the district: it is severely underfunded by the state.In 2008 the state passed the School Funding Reform Act which overhauled school funding and gave more money to districts with large numbers of students who did not speak English had special needs or were considered at risk.But in 2010 Chris Christie cut $1.1 billion in school aid and has held funding flat ever since — underfunding the formula and leaving districts such as Freehold struggling to maintain the same level of services amid rising enrollment and student need.Local revenues The borough has no room for new development Average residential property values were $255,000 last year The borough’s median household income between 2009 and 2013 was $55,148 Parent Joseph Wisa said he didn’t support the bond because it cost too much about a $278 increase for the average assessed home at $250,000 said he voted against the tax increase because he lives on a fixed income but we also have to support our senior citizens who are striving to stay alive.” When compared with the six neighboring kindergarten through eighth-grade school districts that also send their older students to the Freehold Regional High School District borough schools have the lowest per-pupil cost of $11,846 The Manalapan-Englishtown district has the second-lowest spending at $14,188 per pupil Colts Neck’s has the highest per-pupil cost double that of Freehold at $22,345.“I don’t know how we can continue this way,” said Tomazic Along a vacant strip of land off Throckmorton Street gathering around an old patio table and mismatched chairs They write their names on a clipboard when they arrive Workers are hired in the order of the list Cars and trucks periodically pull off the road The minimum rate at this makeshift labor lot: $15 an hour cash.Mostly Mexican men chat freely on a recent morning clad in baseball caps and construction boots Some have lived in Freehold for the past decade One arrived nine days ago from Guatemala.“My first day here was terrifying — I thought immigration (agents) would come,” said Vidal Chiquito Roldan But things have changed along this section off Throckmorton Street known as the muster zone Police don’t bother those seeking work here and the last time immigration agents were spotted in the area was four years ago this strip across from Rhea Street was the nucleus of a legal battle between the borough and undocumented immigrants Divisiveness gripped the town as longtime residents blamed littering loitering and excessive noise on undocumented immigrants requiring absentee landlords to list each of their tenants and ramping up code enforcement to handle rental overcrowding The actions sparked a 2003 lawsuit by a coalition of immigrant-rights groups which claimed the borough was systematically discriminating against Latinos reopened the muster zone and changed its procedures for inspecting rental homes Freehold became a microcosm for the national immigration debate Elected officials at the time questioned why such a small town of less than 2 square miles should have to shoulder the burden of the immigration problem alone Affluent towns surrounding the borough also reaped the benefits of cheap labor — undocumented workers staffed the kitchens landscaped pristine lawns and swept offices after hours But it was the borough that was forced to confront major shifts in its schools housing and along streets like Throckmorton "Twelve years ago the doors were slammed on us almost everywhere," said Rita Dentino a nonprofit that advocates for immigrant workers but I still think there’s a long way to go and right now we’re in a precarious time because of what Donald Trump is stirring up." The Republican presidential front-runner has pledged to deport illegal immigrants and end birthright citizenship for their children Immigrant rights groups say they haven’t received any complaints about housing inspections or harassment of day laborers lately received 3,250 complaints and issued 230 summonses Last year it received 700 complaints and issued 94 summonses “We’ve cut back on a lot of the overcrowding,” said Henry Stryker III Is it running rampant like it was five and 10 years ago Steinberg pulls out an old map tucked deep in his antique store on Monmouth Avenue He points to businesses sprawled across it: the Coffee Shoppe Much of the retail that dotted the old downtown is no longer here stamped out as Route 9 became a corridor for development in the 1960s and Freehold Raceway Mall opened in 1990 “It was ‘Leave it to Beaverville’ here,” said Steinberg He says he remembers walking down Main Street when he was a kid Mayor Higgins grew up in the funeral home he inherited from his family and now runs on Center Street He remembers hearing the looms of the now-closed rug mill click back and forth a block and a half away who purchased and restored the American Hotel on East Main Street in 2006 originally built in 1827 as a stagecoach stop when he "realized how important this particular place is to the history of Freehold." Stories like these are part of the fabric of Freehold serves as the county seat and has a long history of welcoming migrants looking for work But so are stories like that of Andres Pinto who opened a tailor shop on Main Street 28 years ago we were like two or three guys here" who spoke Spanish Now he says he’s seeing more Latinos open their own stores The changing population has also changed his clothes-altering business he began renting tuxedos for quinceañeras — the coming-of-age party for 15-year-old Latina girls — and altering the wedding-like dresses used by debutantes At the intersection of Route 79 and Route 537 there's a 7-foot-tall granite memorial bearing 1,385 names of men and women who served in World War II It sits on a triangular park dovetailing with Main Street where Spanish-speaking workers are heard in restaurant kitchens between clangs of dishes and bursts of ranchero music workers spattered with paint and dust walk alongside others in suits — each making their way home • Boom town: Growth and conflict in Lakewood • Jackson grows up: Orthodox, senior communities on the rise • Marlboro's corrupt past gives way to new era 2014 at 9:13 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Freehold Township and Freehold Borough Schools have announced that due to the arriving snowstorm all schools will run on an early dismissal schedule West Freehold and Errickson will dismiss at 11:50 a.m They will be followed by Barkalow and Eisenhower at 12:30 and Catena and Donovan at 1:05 The morning classes at the ECLC will run from 9 a.m and the ECLC afternoon classes will run from 11 a.m Full day classes at the ECLC will run from 10 a.m Freehold Borough Schools as well as the Freehold Regional High School District are also on an early dismissal schedule Howell and Manalapan High Schools will have dismissal at 12:08 p.m Colts Neck Freehold Township and Marlboro High Schools will dismiss their students at 1:03 All after school activities and the RAISE Academy are cancelled for the day Park Avenue Elementary students may begin their day at 8:10 a.m. according to Freehold Borough School District Superintendent Elizabeth O’Connell O’Connell made the announcement during the PTO presentation of the 2011-2012 budget at the Park Avenue Complex on Wednesday Approximately 45 parents were in attendance Business Administrator Patrick DeGeorge said the district is considering the earlier start time to accommodate the bussing of Park Avenue Elementary Kindergarten students to classroom space in West Freehold Elementary in Freehold Township The start of the school day at Freehold Intermediate School and the Freehold Learning Center would not change in the 2011-2012 school year which was approved by the Monmouth County Office of Education on Wednesday includes plans to bring half day preschool classes back to the Park Avenue Complex The district currently rents space at First Presbyterian Church of Freehold for full day preschool Increased enrollment has led to a lack of space at the Park Avenue Complex The district has the added burden of its spending falling $4.3 million below an adequate level DeGeorge and O’Connell said they have been in frequent contact with the 12th legislative district delegation about the need for the state’s public school funding formula to be followed O’Connell noted that districts spending above adequacy received similar percentage increases in state aid this year as those spending below adequacy “Would it have been nice to build a new elementary school or a new extension to this one We’re just asking to be funded to adequacy,” O’Connell said the district is considering the earlier start time at Park Avenue Elementary because of the retirement of a bus in its fleet with Park Avenue Elementary students arriving first Freehold Intermediate School students arriving and Kindergarten students being transported from Park Avenue Elementary to West Freehold Elementary would work more efficiently than the current bussing system The tiered bussing schedule would also allow the Kindergarteners to arrive and leave after West Freehold students; the amount of instructional time would remain the same While parents at the meeting raised questions and voiced concerns about the Kindergarten classes leaving the building were receptive to the administration’s explanation of the budgetary need The blame really goes to the state for not using the (school funding formula),” Raymond said “Taxpayers need to look at the numbers in the budget and understand what they’re funding.” The district will hold an open house for parents and Park Avenue Elementary Kindergarteners at West Freehold Elementary on Wednesday 2012 at 3:42 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The 40 participating “Weekend in Old Monmouth” historic sites are putting the finishing touches on their preparation for this weekend’s event That’s when most of Monmouth County historic sites will open their doors to visitors interested in local history from 10 a.m “This is a great way to see so much of Monmouth County’s history in a day or two,” said Freeholder Lillian G liaison to the county’s Historical Commission “Weekend in Old Monmouth is a special tour project that synchronizes the hours of operation so history buffs can travel by foot bicycle or car to take in many of the county’s rich historic places,” Burry said You can start planning your route by downloading the tour booklet and map from the county’s website each tour stop will have maps and booklets available The tours also represent several historic themes: All of the sites contributed to the importance of preservation and history throughout Monmouth County The county supports the preservation movement annually by awarding preservation grants to historic sites Many of the tour locations have received grants form the historic commission in the past.The tour sites are as follows: 2013 at 1:26 pm ETA warm welcome was extended to a new West Main Street business on Wednesday when a high-end sneaker store officially swung open its doors was celebrated by town officials and passers-by during an 11 a.m Nolan Higgins and Councilman Ronald Griffiths were on hand to cut the ribbon on the new downtown shop and welcome owner Kye Lee You’ve done a beautiful job with the store,’’ Higgins said “And we’re honored to have you in Freehold Borough.’’ The store was the former site of Al’s Bootery It was the store where Higgins’ got his first pair of school shoes who still owns the building and came to wish his new tenent good luck “I think its marvelous what he’s done with the place,’’ Sorcher said “Obviously we were concerned about who would be move in here and Mr You won’t find any of his stock in the mall or anywhere else in Monmouth or Ocean counties But what you will find are rare or limited-edition Air Jordans and other high-end sneakers If you’re looking for a certain style or certain model