Moving to Freehold Twp from Bergen County (Paramus, Red Bank: 2015, houses)
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**Advise, and insight needed***
My family ( husband,4 boys 8,7,7,5 and myself) are looking to move to Freehold Twp. by May 2015 from Bergen County. After some research (which looks good on paper) we agree that this town is a good fit for our family. The houses seem affordable, with a comfortable size property for our above average family. Testing scores seem to be above average; but I wanted more information of the dynamics and demographics. In Bergen county a lot of schools don't have parent involvement, and/or a lot of times the ones that do- parents are very "clicky" and/or "connected in town". I'm also very interested in the extra curricular school activities, and the youth sports in town. We are a blended multi cultured family, so diversity is important. I am South American and my husband is American, and we are both Roman Catholic ( any churches that can be recommended in town? my boys will need to attend CCD). If anyone has any answers or recommendations, before I take the plunge please help ease my nerves. Thank you in advance.
In Freehold Township the R.C. church is St. Robert Bellarmine and in Freehold Borough it's St. Rose of Lima. The youth sports program in town is very good (both rec and schools). You've already done your homework on the schools. The only thing I can add is the fact that the high schools (Freehold, Freehold Township, Colts Neck, Marlboro and Manalapan) are all part of the Freehold Regional High School district. Depending on where you live in the township or what career path your children are taking will determine the high school they will go to. Although we lived in the township my children went to the borough high school. We couldn't have been more happy. I'm sure people will tell you don't let your kids go to the borough high school because "THOSE KIDS" (Hispanics, African Americans) go there. To those people all I can say is B.S. Where in the township are you looking to move? It's nearly 45 square miles. Good luck to you.
Freehold Twp. is a very nice town, although I may be biased since I used to live there. There is some diversity, good schools (as you know), but I don't know much about the churches.
@ exhdo1- thank you for your response. We found a house by liberty oak park, I called transportation and my boys will end up in Laura Donavan ( which I am ok with, since my realtor knows the principal). I am not intimidated by Borough or the High schools at that, I would hope, by that point the kids will have acquainted themselves to the other kids and the area.
@spaceman27- thank you for your response
** What hospitals, supermarkets, pharmacies, drycleaners, restaurants are good in the area?
@ exhdo1- thank you for your response. We found a house by liberty oak park, I called transportation and my boys will end up in Laura Donavan ( which I am ok with, since my realtor knows the principal). I am not intimidated by Borough or the High schools at that, I would hope, by that point the kids will have acquainted themselves to the other kids and the area.
@spaceman27- thank you for your response
** What hospitals, supermarkets, pharmacies, drycleaners, restaurants are good in the area?
Centra State is the closest hospital to you. It's on Rt 537, 5-10 minutes from where your looking. Across from the hospital is Iron Bridge Road and that should be renamed doctors road. There is also a Top Tomato supermarket near the hospital. You also have Shop Rite a few minutes away on Rt. 9, Wegman's is a little further up on Rt.9 in Manalapan. Food Town on Rt. 33 in the borough. Plenty of good restaurants down in the borough, some good ones in the township as well and if you want to travel a bit, lots of good places in Red Bank. You also have the typical Chili's, TGIF, Ruby Tuesday's and the like close by. There is a pharmacy at the intersection of Wemrock and 537. I think all the supermarkets have them as well. I guess you got the name Liberty Oak Park from your realtor. It was changed years ago to Michael J Tighe park but everyone I know still calls it Liberty Oak. Since you'll be close to Freehold Township High School, that's where your kids will be districted for. Once again, good luck with your move.
@exhdo1- thanks again...
I was able to map out all my places of interest and needs.... I actually drove around the other day; top tomato seemed like a market/family owned catering place ( not for my weekly shopping), Wegmans was a bit out of the way, and the Shop rite looked run down... Maybe I'm too picky lol - I saw an Acme as well- real close to me, but I am not familiar with that chain. I also, saw a Wal-Mart and Sams Club which is a plus. I drove by Centra State as well. What confused me a bit is why the kids would be districted to Laura Donovan and not Erickson?? it is so different than what I am used to in Bergen County. The mall seemed nice, always a plus!
***Does anyone have insight on traffic Northbound on Rt 9 at 7am and Southbound on Rt 9 at 4:45pm
my commute will be Freehold to Paramus. Leaving the house by 7am to be in Paramus by 8:30am and I will leave Paramus at 4pm
You're gonna hate driving on Rt.9 I don't care what time weekdays, it's a messy commute. Accident prone yet it's mostly straight road. You got the buses hogging up one lane and speedsters weaving in/out and people yapping or texting on the phone while driving. I just hate driving on Rt9 through Freehold to anywhere north or south.
@exhdo1- thanks again...
I was able to map out all my places of interest and needs.... I actually drove around the other day; top tomato seemed like a market/family owned catering place ( not for my weekly shopping), Wegmans was a bit out of the way, and the Shop rite looked run down... Maybe I'm too picky lol - I saw an Acme as well- real close to me, but I am not familiar with that chain. I also, saw a Wal-Mart and Sams Club which is a plus. I drove by Centra State as well. What confused me a bit is why the kids would be districted to Laura Donovan and not Erickson?? it is so different than what I am used to in Bergen County. The mall seemed nice, always a plus!
***Does anyone have insight on traffic Northbound on Rt 9 at 7am and Southbound on Rt 9 at 4:45pm
my commute will be Freehold to Paramus. Leaving the house by 7am to be in Paramus by 8:30am and I will leave Paramus at 4pm
There's a large Central American presence in downtown Freehold whenever I drive through there.
That commute would be hellacious, especially in a winter like we just had. Route 9 is light after light. An hour and a half would be possible under Sunday traffic conditions maybe. On a rainy Monday? I wouldn't even want to ponder it. And I know both areas well having grown up in BC.
@ebwick-on Sundays it takes me 50-55 minutes door to door. I figured leaving freehold by 6:30-7am should be ok, my bigger concern is leaving Paramus at 4pm.
My job is flexible but doubt they will let me leave earlier than 4. Thankfully the schools have after care until 6:30p- which is a relief for the days I get stuck in traffic. If the commute gets to be too much, I will consider changing jobs... I have been at my current job for 10 years, and benefits are great- I am totally torn but I really fell in love with the house and lifestyle I can afford to give my family in freehold.
@ebwick-on Sundays it takes me 50-55 minutes door to door. I figured leaving freehold by 6:30-7am should be ok, my bigger concern is leaving Paramus at 4pm.
My job is flexible but doubt they will let me leave earlier than 4. Thankfully the schools have after care until 6:30p- which is a relief for the days I get stuck in traffic. If the commute gets to be too much, I will consider changing jobs... I have been at my current job for 10 years, and benefits are great- I am totally torn but I really fell in love with the house and lifestyle I can afford to give my family in freehold.
Yes, that could be a problem. I took the day off yesterday to see my dentist and visit my mother. I made sure I left my mother's house by 3:30 to avoid the worst of the Parkway traffic and guess what. I still sat in traffic by Saddle River Road/the old Red Mill to get ON to the Parkway, and then the Parkway itself had varying spots where the traffic was stopped due to congestion.
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but I really fell in love with the house and lifestyle I can afford to give my family in freehold.
