Category: Atlanticville Opinion

  • Help with understanding school report cards

    Report card season has arrived for New Jersey’s education standards. Depending upon who you ask, the state’s grades range from above average to well below. New Jersey United for Higher School Standards believes that while the opinions of experts at national research groups are valuable, more important is that the students, parents, teachers, administrators and…

  • End tolls now before more millions are spent needlessly

    It takes a bureaucracy of more than 800 people to collect Garden State Parkway tolls. This total includes a pro-rata share of E-ZPass personnel. Imagine if each state highway had such a bureaucracy. Toll collecting is a 24/7 operation, so the costly toll-collection operation must be in place even at 3 a.m., when traffic is…

  • Lieutenant governor post is good for state

    I recently traveled out of state for business and ate breakfast in a hotel where I overheard salespeople discussing their itinerary. No comments were made about Los Angeles, Chicago or Boise, Idaho, but plenty was said about New Jersey’s turnpike exits and political scandals. It could take years to change the misconceptions held about New…

  • Center marks anniversary of art therapy program

    April will mark the 25th anniversary of Riverview Medical Center’s children’s art therapy program. This award-winning program was created to provide help and support through creativity for children who are affected by either the death or chronic illness of a deeply loved family member. Riverview’s art therapy was founded by longtime Riverview nurse, Helen Riegelman,…

  • Picturing history

    PHOTOSBY JEFF GRANIT staff Students from West Side Christian Academy, Red Bank, attended a recent Children’s Festival at Monmouth University in West Long Branch with exhibits on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and black history. Above, Kevin Wright, 12, peers at an exhibit while (below) Neil Narcisse, 10, works on a bead bracelet.

  • State should not take over county prosecutor’s office

    Sean T. K ean Guest Column Legislation that would have the state assume the costs of operating the county prosecutor’s office is not only ill conceived – it could be downright dangerous for the residents of Monmouth County. The purpose of S-1007/A-1304, sponsored by Essex County legislators Sen. Richard Codey and Assemblyman John McKeon, seems…

  • After-school program grew to fill a need

    ASTEP is seeking a permanent home for all of its activities BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer BY CHRISTINE VARNOStaff Writer PHOTOSBYCHRISKELLY staff Above, Tinton Falls’ Beverly Jordan helps Long Branch’s Allen Stovall, 10, read through a book in the ASTEPprogram at the Bucky James Community Center, Long Branch. At left, Long Branch’s Kendra Ransom, 8,…

  • Obituaries

    Paul H. Rafferty Mr. Rafferty, 77, of Long Branch, died Jan. 4 at home. He was born in Long Branch. He was an electronic engineer at Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, for 30 years, retiring in 1986. He received his bachelor’s degrees at Monmouth College, West Long Branch, and St. Michael’s College, Wooneski, Vt. He served with…

  • Aquatic center may be in school district’s future

    Ferraina suggests scaled-down version of pool that voters rejected BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer BY CHRISTINE VARNOStaff Writer LONG BRANCH — The idea of a pool in Long Branch may have failed to gain the approval of voters last year, but the superintendent of schools says he would still like to see one built. “If…