Category: Independent News

  • The Christmas story

    Clockwise from top: Mary and Joseph, portrayed by Diana Graver, Navesink, and Andy Walsh, Middletown, tend to the infant Jesus as part of a re-enactment of the Nativity story at All Saints Memorial Church in the Highlands on Dec. 11. Jeff Pippin, Highlands, narrates the story of the Nativity, told with actors and live animals…

  • Hazlet’s Flight 1549 hero true to Bayshore roots

    Warren directed ferries’ rescue of the Miracle on the Hudson BY TOM SHORTELL Staff Writer It’s been more than 11 months since Alan Warren directed the NY Waterway’s ferry rescue of US Airways Flight 1549 on Jan. 15, 2008. Alan Warren, a vice president of NY Waterway, walks along the Keyport waterfront where he docks…

  • NOTESAround Town

    Staff members display a special flag recognizing the Middletown post office as a Star Worksite. The post office recently earned Star certification from the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), a federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) program that promotes effective worksite-based safety and health. Success in the program requires a facility to form a collective…

  • School administrator turns sci-fi author

    ‘A World Without Divide’ becomes reality after 20 years BY TOM SHORTELL Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — It’s been a year since William Doering had his first novel published, but there are aspects of being an author he hasn’t gotten used to. “It’s still strange to hold my own book,” he said as he leafed through…

  • NJSIAA Central Jersey champs

    ERIC SUCAR staff The Matawan Regional High School football squad celebrates after winning the NJSIAA Central Group II Championship game against Manasquan played at The College of New Jersey in Ewing on Dec. 4. The Huskies beat Manasquan, 28-12. More photos, page 52 and at www.gmnews.com. ERIC SUCAR staff

  • Hazlet committee grudgingly makes way for housing units

    Township passes bond for ambulance, trucks BY TOM SHORTELL Staff Writer HAZLET — The Township Committee unanimously, but unwillingly, introduced an amendment to the zoning map, a change forced by a lawsuit over the township’s affordable housing plan. The ordinance will make a 4-acre plot of land on Poole Avenue a Builders Remedy Zone. A…

  • Mat-Ab drops Bayshore Jointure lease agreement

    District to expand special-needs programs BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer The Bayshore Jointure Commission will move out of space leased from the Matawan-Aberdeen School District next year and move to a new facility that will allow it to expand its programs for special-needs students. Craig Lorentzen, business administrator for the Bayshore Jointure Commission, said the…

  • Borough cell tower proposed for Main St.

    Tower expected to provide more than $100K in revenue BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer MATAWAN — A resolution appointing a consultant for a proposed cellular tower was approved at the Dec. 1 Borough Council meeting. Red Bank-based FSD Enterprises is the consulting firm that will advise the borough about cell tower installation. In November the…

  • BOE to form committee to review elementary schools

    Advanced age, loss of space spur hard look at facilities BY TOM SHORTELL Staff Writer The Middletown Board of Education is expected to create a committee to review the elementary school facilities at its Dec. 16 meeting. The board tasked William Doering, the district business administrator, with writing charge for an ad hoc committee at…