Category: Independent News

  • Fewer bus stops mean pupils arrive on time

    BY JOSH DAVIDSONStaff Writer BY JOSH DAVIDSON Staff Writer MATAWAN — In response to concerns by parents of private school students, the district is down-sizing one of its bus routes. Beginning last week, the district reduced the number of stops on a route where some parents complained that children were arriving to and from school…

  • Historic building’s appearance threatened

    BY JOSH DAVIDSONStaff Writer Historic building’s appearance threatened BY JOSH DAVIDSON Staff Writer JOSH DAVIDSON Murals on the former Matawan Tile Co. building on Main Street were removed by a new builder. MATAWAN — A builder mistakenly removed tiling from the mural of a historic borough building. Howard Henderson, former chair of the Matawan Historic…

  • Area high schools on state’s early warning list

    Education commissioner insists designationis misleading BY PATRICIA A. MILLERStaff Writer Education commissioner insists designation is misleading BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer The commissioner of the state Department of Education and local school officials have no quarrel with the goals of the federal No Child Left Behind act. But they’re not happy with the law’s…

  • Photo

    CHRIS KELLY staff Kabita Komal, 15, performs with the Matawan Regional High School Marching Band during the eighth annual Tournament of Bands’ Bayshore Band Competition held at Matawan Regional High School Sunday.

  • Special ed. aides may become full time

    BY ERIN ROMANSKICorrespondent Special ed. aides may become full time BY ERIN ROMANSKI Correspondent MIDDLETOWN — The township school district is deliberating a decision to offer full-time positions to its special education aides for autistic students. Members of Improving Middletown’s Program for Autistic Children Together (IMPACT) requested the Board of Education hire full-time paraprofessionals at…

  • Republican Party sees new faces in Aberdeen

    BY JOSH DAVIDSONStaff Writer Republican Party sees new faces in Aberdeen BY JOSH DAVIDSON Staff Writer ABERDEEN — The township Republican Party plans to move forward despite two candidates bowing out of the November elections. This year, the four-seat majority of the seven-member, completely Democratic council is at stake. Candidates Edward G. Fitzgerald, 43, of…

  • Dredging cycle sinks Keyport ferry plans

    Mayor Merla saysborough may have to do the work on its own BY PATRICIA A. MILLERStaff Writer Mayor Merla says borough may have to do the work on its own BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer KEYPORT — Dredging the federal channel in Raritan Bay is not on the "radar screen" for the foreseeable future,…

  • Township OKs $7.2M for F&F Nursery

    BY MAURA DOWGINStaff Writer Township OKs $7.2M for F&F Nursery BY MAURA DOWGIN Staff Writer HOLMDEL — The township is one step closer to buying the F&F Nursery property. The Township Committee voted 4-1 at its Sept. 22 meeting in favor of an ordinance allowing the township to bond up to $7.2 million for the…

  • Town approves capital improvement budget

    BY MAURA DOWGINStaff Writer BY MAURA DOWGIN Staff Writer HOLMDEL — The Township Committee has funded the capital improvement projects for the year. At the Sept. 8 regular meeting, the committee unanimously approved an ordinance to bond about $1.3 million for township general improvements. The total for all the capital improvement projects for 2003 is…