BREAKING NEWS Land O’ Pines will host community blood drive BY BARI FAYE SIEGEL Correspondent      HOWELL — If you found out that 15 minutes of your time could help save the lives of four people, would you make the time? Bernadette Mastowski, nurse at the Land O’ Pines School, and all of her students are banking on the generosity of the community. For the third year, the school is holding its ann... More ... Timeless tale of love stirs 'West Side Story' Howell students will perform classic musical BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       The Broadway classic "West Side Story" is coming to the stage at Howell High School for the first time. The 1957 play with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim is a modernization of William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet. More ... Danger lurks as youths head on to the Internet Detective offers tips to parents to head off potential problems BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer       With the click of a computer mouse, people in other parts of the state, country or the world can steal, threaten and lure people into dangerous and sometimes even fatal situations. More ... 13,000 acres to be sprayed in war against gypsy moths BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - New Jersey officials have notified Jackson that the state will only be able to provide a single application of a product that will combat an anticipated gypsy moth infestation this spring. More ... 'Heroes' program helps teens become mentors BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       LAKEWOOD - The connection between Armand Rook Reyes, 17, who is a senior at Lakewood High School, and Jessica Lopez, who is in the sixth grade at the Clifton Avenue Grade School, was solidified when Jessica recognized Armand, her mentor from Heroes and Cool Kids, outside of the classroom. More ... Inventory of historic sites to aid preservation efforts       PLUMSTED - The Township Committee is preparing to establish, by ordinance, the Historic Preservation and Design Review Advisory Committee to review proposed actions to historically significant properties listed on the official historic sites inventory map and to assist in the Land Use/Planning Bo... More ... Program will test toys for presence of lead Health dept. invites parents, caregivers to seek assistance BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent       Young children love brightly colored toys, but often these toys may contain hidden health hazards such as lead. To assist parents and caregivers of children, the Monmouth County Health Department and the Lead Coalition of Monmouth and Ocean Counties have launched a leaded toy information and educ... More ... Planning Board turns down plan for Cross Street homes BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - A proposed residential development which was deemed to be of no benefit to Jackson has been rejected by the Planning Board. The homes were proposed by the applicant 53 W. Cross St. LLC on an 8-acre piece of property, with approximately 3.5 acres in Jackson and 4.5 acres in Lakewood. Th... More ... Applicant takes defeated athletic center to court BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       HOWELL - The applicant who recently came up short in a bid to build an athletic training facility on Fairfield Road has filed suit against the Zoning Board of Adjustment in an attempt to reverse the outcome. More ... A loser on the racetrack becomes a winner in life ReRun Inc. helps to find homes for retired thoroughbreds BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       MILLSTONE - Although he descended from such thoroughbred luminaries as Man O' War, Native Dancer and Bold Ruler, Native Hawaiian was never much of a racehorse. The thoroughbred raced more than 25 times between the ages of 2 and 5 but never won a race. Two second-place finishes brought his total ... More ...      Laurel Agnello, 4, of Bayville, performs "March of the Radishes" as part of the fifth annual student recital presented by Judie Jensen, the owner of Expressions and Reflections, Howell, on Jan. 27 at Jackson Memorial High School, Jackson. The recital featured performances by the students of Expressi... More ... Middlesex officials rap validity of rail survey BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer       According to a recently released survey, most residents who live near the existing freight line that would become the proposed Monmouth-Ocean- Middlesex (MOM) passenger rail line want it to be built. However, officials from South Brunswick doubt the accuracy of the poll and continue to oppose the... More ... Six-home development wins planners' approval BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - The Planning Board has approved a seven-lot subdivision on BennettsMills Road for applicant BMJ of Jackson. The vote to approve the application was 8-1. Board member Blanche Krubner voted no because she did not like a steep slope at the rear of the property. Krubner said she considered... More ... Concession stands being considered BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON - A plan to build two concession stands near new municipal athletic fields was the topic of discussion at the Feb. 11 meeting of the Township Council. The topic may be discussed again when the council members meet on Feb. 26 and consider whether they want to award a contract for the proj... More ... Voices join on CD to help Ocean County's homeless BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer       In an effort to raise awareness about the homeless population in Ocean County and to connect volunteers with organizations that seek tomitigate this situation, five agencies have collaborated to produce a compact disc titled "On Our Way Home" as a fundraiser to help them continue their work. More ... Jackson Venture Crew 400 enjoys Scouting activities BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer       JACKSON- ABoy Scout troop known as Jackson Venture Crew 400, the first coed special-needs Boy Scout Troop in New Jersey, will host a fundraising dinner on Feb. 22. Chicken and all the fixins will be available 6-8 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, 54 Magnolia Drive, off Bennetts Mills Roa... More ...