ERIC SUCAR staff A group of children play computer games as part of the fun camp held at the Ella G. Clarke School, Lakewood, on July 30. The camp, which was part of the Lakewood Parks and Recreation Department's summer program, also included arts and crafts projects and other activities. More ... Teens return with sense of accomplishment Church group helped to repair residences in Zanesville, Ohio BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       M ission accomplished. A group of young people from DeBows United Methodist Church, Route 537, Jackson, recently returned from a mission to Zanesville, Ohio, where they spent a week helping to repair, paint and upgrade homes. The Group Workcamp Foundation from Loveland, Colo. More ... Mustangs put their best foot forward during meet and greet Goal is to show adoption potential of formerly wild horses BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       The spirit of the West was alive and well recently at Rick's Saddle Shop. Members of the American Mustang and Burro Association brought their formerly wild horses out for a meet and greet to show the public what pleasant riding animals they can become. More ... District upgrades security; set to enforce dress code       LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood School District will be visibly different this fall. The changes begin with upgrades to school security, a new dress code and a new superintendent of schools. In response to a Nov. More ... Georgian Court Univ. to celebrate 100 years       LAKEWOOD — The year was 1908. It was illegal for women to smoke in public in New York, females were declared unfit to operate automobiles in Cincinnati, and women around the world were struggling to gain the right to vote. More ... Holy Family names principal       LAKEWOOD — When students walk through the doors of the Holy Family Elementary School in September, a new principal will be at the helm. Robert Andrews has been appointed principal of the school. Andrews earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Peter's College in Jersey City. More ... Lakewood guitarist enjoys sharing the gift of music BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       LAKEWOOD — For Derek Pierre, playing the guitar is a labor of love. Pierre, 59, of Lakewood, taught himself how to play the instrument after being inspired by the jazz guitar technique of Wes Montgomery. More ... Hoop camp teaches youths fundamentals of basketball BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON — Basketball players between the ages of 6 and 14 recently received some training, tips and expertise at the St. Aloysius All-Star Basketball Camp. Held at the St. Aloysius School gymnasium, Bennetts Mill Road, the summer basketball camp for boys and girls had its 2008 opening sessi... More ... Assault by auto charge nets three-year probation       On Aug. 6, Robert Bayly, 20, of Cape Coral, Fla., was sentenced to a three-year term of probation for the third degree crime of assault by auto. This charge pertains to a 2006 motor vehicle collision which occurred in Howell. Bayly resided in Howell at the time of the crash. More ... Summer fun with SpongeBob      DAVE BENJAMIN Nickelodeon cartoon star SpongeBob SquarePants leads a group of youngsters in a dance during the America's Night Out Against Crime event held Aug. 5 at the ShopRite plaza, County Line Road, Jackson. The community get-together featured local organizations presenting information and demo... More ... In the Service       Army Reserve Pfc. Kathleen Pesina, the daughter of Sandi and Greg Meehan of Howell, has been mobilized and activated for deployment overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving me... More ... Agricultural educators honor Plumsted woman       PLUMSTED — Erin Noble, state FFA specialist for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, has been named an Outstanding Young Member by the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE). More ... Republicans still seek candidate       HOWELL — Republican Party officials are still seeking a Township Council candidate to round out their 2008 slate. Republican Russell Bohlin will be running against independent Councilman Robert Walsh for the mayoral seat in the November general election. More ... MOMS Club collects school items       PLUMSTED — The annual fall service project for the local MOMS Club is collecting school supplies for children who may not have the financial means to have more than the basics offered at the school. More ... A handful of youngsters      ERIC SUCAR staff A group of children gather around teacher Fay Clark during one of the many activities at Fun Camp, which was held at the Ella G. Clarke School, Lakewood, on July 30. The camp, which was part of the Lakewood Parks and Recreation Department's summer program, included computer games, a... More ... Lakewood grad serves as interim superintendent Eugenia Lawson is getting district ready for new year BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       LAKEWOOD — Neither chance nor desire could be given credit for Eugenia Lawson's 20-year career in education. According to her, it was all destiny. Lawson, 46, said she always knew she was born to lead. Her intuition, determination and the play of destiny's hand has led to her present posit... More ... Wrapping up fun      The Howell Parks and Recreation Department summer program held a "Newspaper Fashion Show" at Howell Middle School North on July 31. In top photo, counselor Ian Appow gets dressed up in newspapers prior to his turn on the catwalk. A group of youngsters (middle photo) cheers as their counselor takes t... More ... Cell phones will be turned into minutes for U.S. troops       The Ocean County Library will participate in the national "Cell Phone for Soldiers" program by distributing postage-paid envelopes for shipping cell phones at 17 of its branches. The local distribution of the envelopes began August 11, said Senior Librarian Meagan Toohey. More ... Board hears more details about Windsor Crescent BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON — An applicant proposing the construction of an affordable housing apartment complex continued working its way through testimony from professionals at the Aug. 4 meeting of the Jackson Planning Board. More ... Pinelands panel moves plan to require home clustering       During its regular meeting on July 11, the Pinelands Commission advanced a proposal aimed at better protecting Pinelands resources by mandating the clustering of residential development in Pinelands-designated Forest Areas and Rural Development Areas. More ... Burlington Path Road subdivision approved REGIONAL INTEREST       UPPER FREEHOLD — What may be the last residential subdivision approved under Upper Freehold Township's current 3-acre zoning was approved at the July 22 Planning Board meeting. Maritone Construction's three-lot subdivision on Burlington Path Road received preliminary and final approval in a... More ... Upper Freehold woman seeks to raise awareness of ovarian cancer Veiga family will join walkathon on Sept. 27 in Avalon BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD — Terry Veiga considers herself to be a very lucky woman. It's not just the nice house in the Grande at Old York development, the good husband, the two active sons, and her adored dogs. Last year, at the age of 42, Veiga was diagnosed with stage one ovarian cancer. More ... Improvements completed at Deerwood skate park BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL — An enclosed space with a slab of asphalt and incline ramps may look like nothing to the untrained eye, but to a young person who lost his skate park to vandals, those concrete fixtures are everything. More ... Large shark is reborn Milltown taxidermist restores 73-year-old behemoth for museum BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MILLTOWN — David B. Schwendeman recently found out that size does matter. The third-generation taxidermist restored a 32-foot whale shark to its full, large-as-life glory along with a team he assembled, helping to reverse the clock for the 73-year-old weatherworn fish specimen. It is the la... More ... Academy paints picture of law enforcement work BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       After several years of no movement on his idea, Freehold Borough Patrolman Keith Bailey's plan to offer a youth police academy came to life this summer and 25 young people are glad it did. Preparation for the six-day program began a year ago, according to Freehold Borough police Sgt. Andrew DeMut... More ... Night Out joins Jackson residents, service groups BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON — The 2008 version of America's Night Out Against Crime surpassed all expectations. "Every year we try to expand it a little bit," said Jackson Police Sgt. John Convery, who organized the event this year and last. More ... Lakewood developer has plans for Holmdel site Somerset Development proposes mixed uses on Bell Labs property BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       The Lakewood developer in line to purchase the former Bell Labs (Lucent) site in Holmdel, Monmouth County, has plans for a mix of uses, including retail, housing and a hotel, and will preserve the iconic building on the site. More ...