CHRIS KELLY staff James Sacharanski, 8, of Howell waits patiently for a bite during the Howell Parks and Recreation fishing derby June 2 at Echo Lake Park. More ... Howell board forced to make extra cuts School spending plan is subject of debate at June 6 meeting BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR. Correspondent       After voters rejected the Howell K-8 Board of Education's proposed 2007-08 school-year budget in the April 17 school election, most residents thought the board needed to shave $1.52 million from the $108.5 million spending plan in order to fulfill the Township Council's recommended cut. More ... Caterpillars driving some residents buggy Mayor: Not all areas of town would have been covered under spraying BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - Residents who live on Bennetts Mills Road are not happy with a recent decision made by municipal officials not to authorize spraying to eradicate gypsy moth caterpillars. "We are having a gypsy moth problem," said Joanne Baldwin, of Bennetts Mills Road. More ... Coalition rallies to save an ailing Barnegat Bay Excess nitrogen hurts clamming, fishing, tourism industries BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer       An aquamarine Barnegat Bay shimmers in the early June sun. A small sailboat slips silently through the shallow water, tacking close to the shoreline. Gulls keen overhead and children play in the beige sand. But appearances can be deceiving. More ... Buoy oh buoy, did they find fun times Amy Rosen Around Town       Our family recently discovered our magic key to spending time together during the summer. We bought a boat. People say it's hard work to have a boat and that the happiest days for boat owners are the day they buy one and the day they sell it, but when we observed people in their powerboats ... More ... FRHSD faces decisions on enrollment numbers HHS, FTHS projected to be over capacity within next few years BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR. Correspondent       Based on a demographer's five-year enrollment projections, the Freehold Regional High School District should undergo a slight decline in overall enrollment. The projections that were presented by demographer Stan Slachetka of T&M Associates, Middletown, means that the large annual e... More ... Donations from parent groups assist schools BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - Members of parent-teacher associations in Howell are doing their best to ensure that children and staff members in Howell schools have the tools they need to succeed. According to information provided by the Board of Education, the Land O' Pines School PTO donated white boar... More ... Grant could help towns acquire police vehicle       PLUMSTED - The Township Committee has approved the filing of a grant application to the state Department of Community Affairs to participate in the Sharing Available Resources Efficiently (SHARE) program. More ... Presence of group home concerns Howell man Officials have no say when such a facility is established in town BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - Tim Geraghty says he will never again leave his doors unlocked, allow his two children to play alone in the yard or borrow a cup of sugar from his neighbors. Geraghty, who has lived in Howell for more than 30 years, said he is now concerned about his family's safety. More ... Jackson officials planning upgrades to Johnson Park BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - The 30-year-old John F. Johnson Memorial Park on Kierych Drive is getting a major face-lift. "We are having some long-overdue renovations at Johnson Park," Mayor Mark Seda said. "We are renovating the tennis courts, paving the outer road and we will be putting in three par... More ... In the Arts       This summer the Premier Theatre Company will celebrate its 22nd season of live entertainment at the Henderson Theater, 850 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft. The season will kick off with the 1960s classic "West Side Story," running June 15 through July 1, followed by "The Music Man" July... More ... Five indicted in plot to kill soldiers at Fort Dix       Five men arrested last month for allegedly plotting an armed assault on Fort Dix in Burlington County were indicted last week, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Christopher J. Christie announced. The five defendants are charged with conspiracy and other charges related to their plans to kill... More ...      DAVE BENJAMIN An infestation of gypsy moth caterpillars has defoliated trees in some areas of Jackson and residents are not happy with the township's decision to pass on a spraying program aimed at controlling the hungry bugs. See story, page 17. More ... Scam artist threatens local officer BY CHARLES W. KIM Correspondent       PLUMSTED - A telemarketer went too far recently when he allegedly threatened to kill a police officer over the phone, police said Monday. "We are subpoenaing the phone records," Plumsted police Lt. George Titko said. "These [scams] happen all the time; we haven't had anything this se... More ... In the News Connecting the world with fact and fiction Mark Rosman       I love the Internet. No, wait a second, I hate the Internet. Oh, the heck with it. I can't make up my mind about the Internet. Is the Internet the best thing to happen to mankind, a way of joining the world together, linking nations and people, news and information? More ... Cheesecake Factory coming to mall       FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Freehold Raceway Mall's parent company, Macerich, and The Cheesecake Factory have announced that the popular restaurant will anchor the mall's lifestyle expansion in a 10,300-square-foot "casually elegant" space at the entrance. More ... Relay rallies support for ongoing cancer research BY CHARLES W. KIM Correspondent       More than 550 people on 51 teams walked around the New Egypt High School track over the weekend to support cancer survivors during the sixth annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life. "Cancer never sleeps, work on a cure never sleeps," event Chairwoman Anita Pfefferkorn said. "We ... More ... Boy Scouts' drive to aid food pantry BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - The spirit of giving doesn't just occur during the winter holiday season. Some people show it throughout the year. Count the members of Boy Scout Troop 258 among them as they have chosen to respond to a need in the community with a food drive scheduled for June 16. More ... Summer food service program in Lakewood       The Lakewood Board of Education will be participating in the 2007 Summer Food Service Program from June 25 through Aug. 10. The Summer Food Service Program is a federal program of the Food and Nutrition Services, United States Department of Agriculture. More ... Exploring human nature Jacob Landau's work at Monmouth University through June 22 BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       While not exactly a household name, Jacob Landau was a force for reason in the world. A resident of the community of Roosevelt artists, he is internationally known for his drawings, lithographs, limited-edition prints, watercolors and stained-glass designs. More ...