Category: Independent News

  • Photo

    Fourth-grader Patrick Bowles plays the role of an immigrant to America as he recites the Pledge of Allegiance in the gymnasium of Middle Road School in Hazlet, which was transformed into Ellis Island on April 5 for an interactive Immigration Day program held in conjunction with a third- and fourth-grade social studies unit. Story and…

  • Blood drive honors injured firefighter

    Central Jersey Blood Center (CJBC) encourages residents of Highlands and neighboring communities to donate blood in honor of Firefighter Jason Fazio, who went into a fire in Asbury Park on Jan. 10, the morning of his 41st birthday. After being engulfed in a flash fire, he was forced to jump out of a two-story window,…

  • Redistricting presents challenges for legislators

    BY DAN HOWLEY Staff Writer Assemblywoman Amy Handlin Local legislators say they will reach out to connect with new constituents after legislative redistricting scrambled their former districts. “It’s an exciting time with opportunities to work on issues that we didn’t have in District 12, but also a sad time because we will, in January, be…

  • Matawan doctor charged

    A physician who lives in Matawan has been arrested on charges that he wrote fraudulent prescriptions for narcotics, including Percocet and Xanax for Medicaid recipients in return for large sums of cash, according to the state Attorney General’s Office. According to a press release, Dr. Ki I. Song, 69, was arrestedApril 7 in Old Bridge…

  • WELCOME TO… Treasures of the Jersey Shore

    Point Pleasant Beach: a shore town with much to offer BY KENNYWALTER Staff Writer Point Pleasant Beach Point Pleasant Beach is a shore town that prides itself on being about more than its expansive beachfront. In fact, the borough, known as Point Beach in Shore parlance, boasts numerous special events that draw people into town.…

  • Students connect with immigrants’ journey

    Ellis Island program at Middle Road School caps history lesson BY ANDREW DAVISON Staff Writer Fourth-grader Patrick Bowles has a health check as he and third- and fourth-grade classmates at Middle Road School in Hazlet re-enact the experience of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island. Fourth-grader Renata Alberici (below) visits one of the stations set up…

  • Volunteers wanted for beach sweeps

    Clean Ocean Action (COA) invites residents and organizations to participate in the 26th annual Spring Beach Sweeps on April 30 at 69 sites along the New Jersey coast. The Beach Sweeps begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m., rain or shine. Beach Sweeps is one of the longest running cleanup programs in the…

  • IN THE ARTS

    ‘Mandalas for an Uncertain World’ Mandala by Robyn Ellenbogen Joel McFadden’s jewelry design studio kicks off the spring season with colorful, jewel-like works of art on display for April. “Second Saturdays at the Studio” showcases the work of a different artist every month. April’s featured artist, Robyn Ellenbogen, is displaying her new work, “Mandalas for…

  • Holmdel introduces sewer rate increase

    Public hearing and vote on ordinance set for April 21 BY KAITLYN KANZLER Staff Writer The Holmdel Township Committee voted to introduce an ordinance raising sewer rates at the April 7 meeting. The increase, which was voted down twice in the past six months, was given a second look by Committeemen Larry Fink and Eric…