CHRIS KELLY staff Brittany Horst, 14, of Jackson, rides Chaika during competition at the recent Festival of Horses held at the Horse Park of New Jersey, Upper Freehold Township. The competition took place Aug. 12. More ... Source of foul odor remains a mystery Howell mayor urges MRRSA engineer to find the answer BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       Howell officials and representatives of the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority (MRRSA) are still trying to find the source of a smell that has been plaguing the Freewood Acres section of the community. Freewood Acres is off Route 9 near Interstate 195. More ... Keeping horse industry at pace may cost $50M-$75M Legislators aim to ramp up support for $1.1B enterprise in trouble BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       State Assemblyman Joseph Malone (R-30) wants to use bare-knuckle politics to get legislators in Trenton to understand the importance of New Jersey's horse industry and racing. Malone made his remarks at a recent meeting of about 40 top equine industry members and local and state legislators at Ric... More ... Three charged with bias intimidation in Jackson BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - Three white adult males from Jackson were arrested and charged with bias intimidation, harassment and criminal mischief stemming from an Aug. 11 incident. According to a press release issued by Jackson police Detective Sgt. Denis Campbell, the incident occurred on County Line Road and ... More ... Library mystery takes youths back to the '70s BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - Death, mystery, suspense, Sudoku and puzzles were the ingredients Howell library staff members used to try to create interest for the 2007 summer reading program "You Never Know." One of the final events of the summer program was an updated version of the popular board game "Clue." The ... More ...      ERIC SUCAR staff With help from the narrator, Stephanie Rosato, 17, a group of youngsters points to the "killer" during a game of "Staying Alive" at the Howell library. The game included a 1970s theme. For the story by staff writer Toynett Hall, see page 6. More ... Howell woman bidding for Mrs. America Claire Pavlinec was recently crowned Mrs. New Jersey '07 BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - In a community of more than 50,000 people you will find not one, but two beauty queens. Township resident Claire Pavlinec was crowned Mrs. New Jersey 2007 on Aug. 3 in an event held at Rowan University, Glassboro. This week Pavlinec, 37, is at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson,... More ... Dog training facility case to continue BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - Testimony on an application that seeks to allow a dog training facility to remain in operation is expected to resume in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustment on Sept. 24. Kindred Souls Canine Center, Brown Road, is owned by Peter Campione and has been operating in Howell for seven yea... More ... Cape May Oktoberfest trip slated for Sept. 29       The Lakewood Community School is sponsoring a bus trip to an Oktoberfest in Victorian Cape May, Sept. 29. The bus will depart from the Lakewood municipal building at 8:30 a.m., arriving in Cape May about 10:30 a. m. The festival features German food, music, a beer garden and handmade items and cra... More ... Library hosts artist's first public showing of photos BY KAREN F. RILEY Correspondent       JACKSON - The work of local artist Andrew Gioulis is on display at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, through the end of August. Numerous photographs, as well as ceramics, are featured. Gioulis grew up in the world of art; his parents own Ocean Grove Artisans - an advertising agency that has... More ... Dogs will have a place to play at Johnson Park BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - Dogs will soon have a place to roam on their own at Johnson Park, Kierych Drive. The Township Council has given the goahead for the creation of an off-leash dog park area at the municipal recreation facility. Dogs must be brought to the park on a leash, but will be permitted to go off-... More ... Wheeler-dealers enjoy Monopoly tournament BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - On a recent day 36 young people packed the small meeting room at the Howell library, Old Tavern Road. They were all there trying to win a tournament that featured one of America's most renowned board games, Monopoly. More ... Council presents awards       JACKSON - Members of the Township Council recently thanked Councilman Angelo Stallone for serving as the council president during the first year of the municipality's new government. Jackson changed its form of government from a Township Committee to a mayor and Township Council in July 2006. More ... MOMS Club will support fundraising for playgrounds       PLUMSTED - The MOMS Club will be supporting the Township Committee's efforts to provide the community with new and upgraded playground equipment at the Recreation Park and Oakford Lake Park. MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support) is a nonprofit corporation representing an international network o... More ... Charity softball game set BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - A charity softball game to benefit a township family will be played at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Pine Park, County Line Road, Lakewood. "The game will be played under the lights," said Jackson Police Officer John Pejoski. "Many of the firefighters and cops work past 5 p.m. so we will start... More ... Forestry center will host full moon hike Aug. 27       JACKSON - The New Jersey Forest Service and the Jackson Pathfinders will host the sixth an nual Full Moon Hike at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Forest Resource Education Center, off Don Connor Boulevard. Scouts, families and groups of all ages are invited to the free 1-mile trail hike. More ... August: Act III begins       Have you ever dreamed of glorious spring and summer flowering bulbs, a garden awash in color and unique shapes? Now is the time to look at your bulb catalogs and devise a planting strategy, which offers the most varied show imaginable, with a minimal effort on your part. Order your bulbs by mid-Se... More ... Family histories told in unique biographies Attorney leaves firm after 5 years to start unique creative venture BY LAURA KOSS Correspondent       Matthew Litt has done what many people spend countless hours at their desks daydreaming about. This 29-year-old Manalapan native stopped dreaming and left his career as a Manhattan attorney to start his own business, Bridge Biography. More ... Things look up for lady who sings the blues Jo Wymer puts her life in song as she pursues success in music biz BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Everyone has a story. Some people write it, others paint it, but Jo Wymer? She sings it - with attitude and soul. Wymer, 40, of Freehold Township, is a blues singer. She and her band are billed as "Blues with Attitude" and anyone hearing her sing needn't ask why. More ... Feds deny application for solid waste transfer station Sludge Busters and elected officials praise decision BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Freehold Township now has a nickname - "The Little Engine That Could," according to Annemarie Howley. And the little engine that could, did. What it did was stop a plan that sought to establish a solid waste transfer station on Route 33 about a quarter-mile west of Kozloski Road. More ... Westlake Brandeis unit marks anniversary BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - It is with much pride that the Westlake adult community chapter of the Brandeis University National Women's Committee is celebrating its first anniversary. "With pride and amazement our copresident Ruth Badian recalls that evening last year when 15 women met in her home and founded the... More ... Antique auto show Sunday       The Historic Village at Allaire will present its 12th annual Antique Rolling Iron Auto Show on Aug. 26 (rain date Sept. 16). Antique vehicles are expected from throughout the tri-state area. This show is open to all vehicles manu factured from 1982 and before. More ... Senators' bill becomes law       Abill sponsored by state Sens. Loretta Weinberg and Ellen Karcher that will educate families about a vaccine to inoculate against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is linked to the development of cervical cancer, was signed into law last week. More ... Lightning strike kills Howell woman       HOWELL - Friends and family mourned the loss this week of 45-year-old Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Osler of Howell, who was struck and killed by lightning on the evening of Aug. 17 as a violent rainstorm moved through the area. Police said Osler was struck by a bolt of lightning as she walked outside the... More ...