Category: Independent News

  • No RAINE on this parade

    Clockwise from far left: RAINE (Reaching All In Need Every Day) volunteer Laura Broderick helps wrap gifts that will be distributed to needy children for the holidays. A look inside Hazlet’s Beers Street School, which was used as a workshop by RAINE. All of the toys and food were distributed to children for the holidays.…

  • Status Green to compete in MEANY Fest finals

    BY CHRISSY GERITY Staff Writer BY CHRISSY GERITYStaff Writer Status Green, whose members are (seated) Louis Montesano of Howell, and (standing l-r) Chris Marino of Howell, Mike Montalto of Howell, and Russell Tolas of Holmdel, will rock in the new year on Dec. 31 at Red Fusion, Asbury Park. See story, page 24. He quit…

  • Legislature tweaking clean elections process

    Changes being made based on lessons of 2005 pilot in District 13 BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer Fair and clean elections in New Jersey? Perhaps it’s not so far-fetched after all. In the Garden State, where wheeling and pay-to-play are still part of the day-to-day political landscape, an updated…

  • Whitman sampler

    Walt Whitman impersonator visits BCC English students BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer KAREN BOWES Walt Whitman impersonator Darrel Blaine Ford, Staten Island, reads from “Leaves of Grass” at Brookdale Community College, Dec. 14. In the background hangs an 1887 photo of Whitman, taken in New York. MIDDLETOWN — Everywhere…

  • From the Vault

    “The Fountain Casino, the Bayshore’s newest disco, held its grand opening this week,” read the caption to this photo, originally published in the Daily Register in June 1979. Long before gaining notoriety for his controversial development projects, Anthony Spalliero (second from right) posed for this photo along with entertainment director Johnnie Flame (center) and three…

  • Legislature adopts civil union law

    Aberdeen couple one of seven who sued to force change BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer BY CHRIS GAETANOStaff Writer “No way will I ever vote on any measure because the Supreme Court ordered me to.” — Sam Thompson Assemblyman Same-sex couples in New Jersey will now have access to all the legal rights and responsibilities…

  • Photo

    MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Third-graders Jessica Knierim and Mason Sheehan pack stockings to send over to the troops in Iraq as part of Operation Caring Friends, a project taken on by Joan Collins’ class at Cove Road School, Hazlet. See page 33 for story.

  • Police report two assault incidents at restaurant

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Two separate incidents at the same McDonald’s have led to the arrest of five township residents. On Friday, Middletown police arrested Michael Stevens, 44, on robbery, aggravated assault and theft charges, stemming from a Dec. 6 incident in which he allegedly stole the wallet…

  • Powder found in Vonage letter deemed nontoxic

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer HOLMDEL — While police say progress has been made regarding a case involving a threatening letter sent to Vonage, the search is still on as to its source. Township police were called around 1:40 p.m. on Dec. 13 by the company, headquartered at 23 Main St.,…