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FREEHOLD, NJ — A new indoor pickleball club is set to host its Grand Opening event toward the end of March.

On Thursday, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Dill Dinkers Freehold will host its Grand Opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce.

During the grand opening event, attendees will be able to enjoy free open play, local vendors and free giveaways, officials said.

The grand opening will begin at 4:30 p.m., with the ribbon-cutting ceremony set to begin at 4:45 p.m. You can register here.

“Come experience the energy on the courts and meet the growing pickleball community right here in Freehold,” the club said in an online post. “We can’t wait to celebrate with you!”

Located on Mounts Corner Drive, Dill Dinkers Freehold first opened its doors to players in late January and is now hosting its official grand opening event.

Stephen Hafner, the regional developer for Dill Dinkers in New Jersey, previously said that Dill Dinkers provides “exceptional resources for pickleball players,” and that he’s “thrilled to bring this experience to the Freehold community.”

“Our indoor facilities allow community members to safely stay active during the colder months while offering a fun and community-first environment," he said.

At Dill Dinkers Freehold, players can enjoy:

Alongside the club features, Dill Dinkers also offers private event spaces for community celebrations and various leagues for players of all ages and skill levels, officials said.

To learn more, you can visit the Dill Dinkers Freehold website.

Dill Dinkers Freehold is located at 202 Mounts Corner Drive, Freehold.

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Tasked with figuring out how to mine raw materials on Venus and bring them to an orbital settlement, these four students got the job done:

HIGHLANDS, NJ — Tasked with figuring out how to mine raw materials on Venus and transport them to an orbital settlement, four students from the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) dove into the science-developed plans to get the job done.

Their efforts earned accolades at the prestigious East Coast Space Settlement Design Competition (ECSSDC) held on March 7 at Toms River East High School.

During the intense, day-long competition, students from throughout the region worked in large multinational-style teams to develop a comprehensive engineering proposal addressing the systems, hardware, personnel and operational processes required to mine raw materials from Venus and transport them to the fictional Nubarum settlement for processing and distribution.

MAST junior Dolan Dunnigan of Middletown was part of the competition’s winning team, helping develop the final proposal selected by judges.

Alongside Dunnigan, MAST sophomore Daniel Chiu of Edison received the competition’s Paul Stenzel STEM Pioneer Award, recognizing exceptional design ingenuity and innovation.

MAST juniors Noah Eckert of Aberdeen and Jason Samuel of Freehold also delivered outstanding performances.

“This experience pushes students to imagine ambitious futures while also considering responsible and human-centered design,” said MAST technology studies teacher Wendy Green. “The skills they practice — collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and resilience — extend far beyond the competition.”

Competition participants were responsible for developing solutions across multiple engineering disciplines, including transportation systems, life-support infrastructure, mining technologies, human factors, communications, and logistics.

Students collaborated under real-world constraints, producing technical documentation, system diagrams, and a formal presentation to the judges by the end of the 12-hour design sprint.

The East Coast Space Settlement Design Competition is modeled after real aerospace industry proposal processes and is affiliated with the internationally recognized International Space Settlement Design Competition.

Students are challenged to approach space settlement not just as a scientific problem but as a complex systems engineering endeavor requiring coordination across many technical fields, officials said.

The competition emphasized more than technical knowledge. It challenged students to work together under pressure, think boldly while remaining grounded in practical engineering, and communicate complex ideas across disciplines.

MAST is one of six full-time career academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) that welcomes students as freshmen and retains them through their senior year of high school for a "focused learning experience that helps them take meaningful steps toward their college and career goals."

Alongside MAST, other schools in the MCVSD include the Academy of Allied Health and Science, the Academy of Law and Public Safety, Biotechnology High School, Communications High School and High Technology High School.

UPPER FREEHOLD — The mayor and council of this Monmouth County town are furious that land meant for warehouses will instead be preserved as open space.

The Monmouth County commissioners approved a plan to buy 115.5 acres of land in Upper Freehold off I-195 and Old York Road from developers. Thursday's 3-1 vote came after years of protests to stop developers from building warehouses on the Stein Property, as it's locally known. Instead, it will be preserved as open space.

The buy was championed by Allentown Mayor Thomas Fritts, who said the commissioners' vote was "a truly historic moment." Some of the largest protests came from residents of Allentown, which sits next to the land.

"Together, we have permanently protected another vital piece of our green belt —preserving our rich history, the historic byway, our residential neighborhoods, and our cherished village," Fritts said on social media.

Fritts also congratulated Upper Freehold. Many residents came out to last week's commissioners meeting to thank them for stopping the warehouses. But the neighboring township's officials aren't celebrating.

Upper Freehold leaders warn of lost tax revenue and local control

There's fury from Upper Freehold Mayor Stanley Moslowski Jr. and the local council. They condemned the commissioners' decision, which takes away the town's autonomy over its land that was zoned for warehouses.

Moslowski and the council questioned why Monmouth County spent $27.75 million — over $240,000 an acre — to buy the land from developers who spent $15 million on the same land four years earlier.

And new warehouses would have brought in vital tax revenues for the township for at least the next decade, said a resolution the officials sent to the Monmouth County commissioners. The warehouses would have generated $13 million in local taxes, including over $9.5 million in school taxes.

"This commercial rateable would ease the tax burden of the residents of Upper Freehold and provide much needed funds to the Upper Freehold Regional School District," the resolution said.

New Jersey warehouse economy fuels jobs, schools

Upper Freehold isn't the only township that's counting on warehouses to support local schools. According to a recent study from researchers at Rutgers University, warehouses generate over $11 billion in local and state taxes in New Jersey.

Warehouses have become the lifeblood of New Jersey's economy. The study found that the Garden State has more than 1 billion square feet of warehouse space, and 95% of it is being used.

The study shows that nearly 764,000 workers are employed in New Jersey warehouses. And, directly or indirectly, the giant buildings support over 1.3 million jobs in the state.

Firefighters were called to Millstone Township Middle School after the person suffered a medical emergency on the catwalk, officials said.

MILLSTONE, NJ — A person was rescued on Saturday evening after getting stuck on a 40-foot-high catwalk in Millstone Township Middle School.

At 5:03 p.m. on Saturday, the Millstone Township Fire Department responded to the middle school after being dispatched there for a medical emergency on the catwalk in the performing arts center.

Once Chief Mike Maloney and responding units arrived at the scene, they confirmed that one person was stuck on the catwalk, which is approximately 40 feet above the ground.

From there, authorities said access was evaluated, and based off the rescue requiring "removal down through two separate levels via a rope system," additional assistance was then requested from the Englishtown Fire Department and Monroe Township Fire District #2.

"Millstone Firefighter/EMT's accessed the catwalk, provided patient care and began setting up anchor points for haul systems," the fire department said in an online post.

"Englishtown Engine 12 arrived and the two agencies worked together to build out the rope systems and package the patient in a removal device called a SKED. Personnel from Monroe Tower 57 provided manpower."

From there, authorities said the patient was lowered about 15 feet from the catwalk in a limited-access area to the mezzanine, then a haul system was used to lower the patient down a steep staircase to the ground.

Once the patient was on the ground, they were turned over to the fire department ambulance crew and Atlantic Healthcare paramedics.

Authorities did not release the name or age of the person who was rescued.

"Members worked efficiently and demonstrated great inner agency operability to complete this incident safely," the fire department said. "Incidents like this are high risk/low frequency, and require vast training to carryout. All personnel operating should be commended for their actions."

In an online post, the Englishtown Fire Department expressed its gratitude for those who helped with the rescue as well, adding that the department was proud to be requested for assistance.

"Incidents like this require specialized equipment, coordination, and extensive training," the department said. "While these calls are relatively rare, our members regularly train for technical rescue situations to ensure we are prepared to assist when they occur."

"We appreciate the strong cooperation between Millstone Township Fire Department and Monroe Township Fire District #2 who all worked together to bring this incident to a safe conclusion."

FREEHOLD, NJ — Guests can look forward to games, giveaways and more when Jack & Jones and JJXX open at Freehold Raceway Mall in March.

On Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, March 15, the global fashion brand and its women’s line will celebrate their grand opening at the mall, marking one of the brand’s first U.S. locations.

The two days of grand opening festivities will include snacks, refreshments, games, giveaways, and a Wheel of Fortune spinning freebies throughout the day.

For one hour each day from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., shoppers will also have the chance to score select hoodies for just $5, mall officials said.

“Jack & Jones and JJXX bring a fresh, exciting energy to our malls,” Eric Bunyan, Senior Vice President of Leasing, Macerich, previously said. “Their focus on quality, style, and versatile fashion perfectly complements the shopping experience our guests expect, and we’re thrilled to introduce these brands to our communities.”

“These openings reflect our commitment to bringing world-class retailers to our properties, offering shoppers the latest in fashion trends and a vibrant, engaging experience every time they visit,” Bunyan continued.

Founded in Denmark, Jack & Jones has grown from a denim-focused menswear label into a global fashion retailer operating over 4,000 stores worldwide.

JJXX, the brand’s women’s line, offers high-quality denim and versatile wardrobe essentials.

With the opening of Jack & Jones and JJXX, the new store is just the latest in a series of additions at Freehold Raceway Mall.

Alongside the global fashion brand, the mall has also recently welcomed stores such as Dry Goods, J. Crew Factory and Warby Parker.

On the dining side, new restaurants such as Mango Thai and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar have brought new food options to the customers, alongside a variety of renovations and relocations of existing stores.

The grand opening for Jack & Jones and JJXX will take place March 14 through March 15 on the mall’s lower level by the House of Sport / JCPenney wings.

To learn more, you can visit the Freehold Raceway Mall website.

Freehold Raceway Mall is located at 3710 U.S. 9, Freehold.