Category: Independent News

  • Ships ahoy

    PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above, children built boats from milk cartons and plastic bottles and launched them into the bay at Spy House Beach, Port Monmouth section of Middletown, on the New School’s Boat Day Oct. 1. Below, Point Pleasant’s Aeli Wirta chants as he rides on the Lion Boat.

  • Dem hopeful: Context explains ‘muzzle’ quote

    Morlino knocks GOP for BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer BY KATHY BARATTAStaff Writer Steve Morlino of Howell, a Democratic candidate running for a three-year seat on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, claims he has been victimized by a Republican machine that “can’t run their candidates on their record so they resort to distortion and…

  • Police: Man assaulted K-9

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer HOLMDEL — Township police arrested a man over the weekend for possession of crack cocaine and aggravated assault on a police officer and K-9, among other charges. Jason Specchio, 27, of Grant Place, Middletown, was observed just after midnight on Saturday driving a vehicle into a…

  • Keyport council hears complaints on speeding

    BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer KEYPORT — Speeding has become an issue along Broad, Greensgrove, Maple and First streets. At the Oct. 19 Borough Council meeting, Mayor John Merla said he visited these areas and noted “cars barreling up First Street. This is something I witnessed, so it’s not…

  • Families celebrate the return of loved ones

    Aberdeen BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG Staff Writer BY MICHELLE ROSENBERGStaff Writer Angel Rivera poses with his wife, Yamely, and their children, Roberto, 13, and Angelica, 8, at a party thrown at the Aberdeen VFW in honor of his arrival home after serving 14 months in Iraq. Two local soldiers recently gave their loved ones a reason…

  • Artist sees beauty in all things

    FARRAH MAFFAI staff Titled “A Head Above the Rest,” the graphic above by Florence Bramley Hill stands at the entrance of the African veldt at the Memphis Zoo. At right is a panel Hill designed for the Bergen County Zoo to depict the story of the tamarin monkeys, which are almost extinct in Brazil. Career…

  • Giuliani stumps for Bush at Brookdale

    BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer Back in 2000, Rudolph Giuliani was conflicted: Should he back longtime buddy and Arizona Sen. John McCain for president, or throw his support behind George W. Bush, a virtual stranger from Texas. He went with the stranger. “I chose Bush because he’s a real,…

  • Traditional costumes are big sellers this year

    Local merchants say witches, zombies and monsters are selling well BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Halloween is creeping up on us and everyone wants to know, what are you going as? At Party Fair on Route 35 in Middletown, zombies and witches are the big sellers. “The…

  • High School South field nears completion

    Facility opens for general use to band, sports teams BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer A few weeks ago, it seemed so simple — the new outdoor athletic complex at Middletown High School South was ostensibly finished, to the point where the varsity football team was able to use it for its…