Category: Independent News

  • Michael’s Feat supports ill newborns and families

    Michael Gerard Puharic Memorial Fund has raised $1M BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer Adam Puharic and Janet Emma admire a mural at the dedication of the Michael‘s Feat Family Resource Room at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Monmouth in May 2007. When Dana and Adam Puharic lost their newborn son Michael within 83 hours…

  • Sewer rate increase defeated in Holmdel

    Sewer funds depleted for taxpayer relief BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer HOLMDEL— By a split 2-2 vote, an ordinance that would have increased residential and commercial sewer rates for the second time in six months failed at a Township Committee meeting on March 3. The ordinance, which proposed a 15 percent quarterly increase for sewer…

  • Steinem: Full equality still a century away

    ‘An Evening With Gloria Steinem’ at Brookdale draws overflow crowd BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent Writer, editor and social activist Gloria Steinem talks with members of the press prior to the start of “An Evening With Gloria Steinem” at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft on March 1. ERIC SUCAR staff MIDDLETOWN — “If I had one…

  • Ice rescue drills

    Members of the Matawan Borough Volunteer Fire Department take part in a simulated rescue of a person who has fallen through the ice at Lake Lefferts on Feb. 27. Firefighters practice new emergency procedures during the department’s ice rescue drills. PHOTOS BY LAUREN CASSELBERRY

  • Photo

    Members of the Matawan Borough Volunteer Fire Department practice lifesaving procedures during a simulation of the rescue of a person who has fallen through the ice at Lake Lefferts on Feb. 27. More photos of the ice rescue drills on page 13 and gmnews.com. LAUREN CASSELBERRY

  • Council, public get first look at municipal budget

    Tax rate to rise 2.4 cents; no call for layoffs BY JAMES McEVOY Correspondent KEYPORT — During a special budget session of the Borough Council on Feb. 22, the publicwas given their first peek at an $8.5 million 2011 municipal draft budget. Lorene Wright, borough administrator, and Thomas P. Fallon, chief financial officer, emphasized several…

  • School districts react to state aid figures

    Additional state aid forestalls plans for cutbacks, layoffs in some districts BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer While many school districts anxiously anticipated a significant reduction in state aid this year, many were cautiously optimistic when Gov. Chris Christie announced that districts would receive an increase of $250 million statewide on Feb. 22. Districts in northern…

  • IN THE ARTS

    Art Alliance hosts Townsend Award Exhibit “Apricots” by Sangita Phadke The themes of this year’s Jean Townsend Award Exhibit at the Art Alliance of Monmouth County are “Double Take” and “Morning, Noon or Night.” This show will be composed of selected works from members of the Art Alliance. One $100 and two $50 prizes will…

  • Pinewood Palooza

    Cl;ockwise from top: Cub Scouts excitedly await the moment when their cars take off down the track at Aberdeen Matawan cub Scout Pack 66’s 31st annual Pinewood Derby on February 23. Scouts watch as the derby cars they crafted race along the track.A Cub Scout tradition, the Pinewood Derby was held at the Matawan Community…