Category: Independent News

  • Sounds of Ireland

    CHRIS KELLY staff The Burrowes Mansion, Main Street , Matawan, played host to the Irish band Trinity during the mansion’s annual Christmas concert, Dec. 10.

  • Bringing poetry to life through puppets

    Paper Moon Puppet Theatre animates classic fairy tales BY KATHY HALL Correspondent BY KATHY HALLCorrespondent SCOTT PILLING staff James Racioppi (r), artistic director of Paper Moon Puppet Theatre, demonstrates how to manipulate a marionette while puppeteer Eric Hunt watches. Puppets are more than cloth, strings and wood to James Racioppi, artistic and stage director of…

  • One From the Vault

    FILE PHOTO A young Keyport Councilman John Merla braves the cold to point out a group of troublesome pigeons atop the old Bucket of Blood, a lower Broad Street bar now home to the Passport, also a bar. This photo originally appeared in the Independent in January 1988.

  • County engineer: Oceanic Bridge should remain low

    State will have final say on height of replacement span BY LAYLI WHYTE Staff Writer BY LAYLI WHYTEStaff Writer The county has recommended replacing the Oceanic Bridge with a similar span. County officials have recommended that the new span built to replace the Oceanic Bridge, Rumson, remain a low-level, moveable bridge rather than a higher,…

  • NPS super to DEP: Replace Route 36 bridge

    Urges state officials to consider safety of 74-year-old drawbridge The Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge SEA BRIGHT — Public safety, not historic value, ought to be the state’s priority in deciding the future of the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, according to a federal representative of Gateway National Park’s Sandy Hook unit. In an Oct. 23 letter to New…

  • A borough in need of rehabilitation?

    Keyport council denies designation in lieu of a public hearing BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer In an effort to gain more control over housing developers, Keyport officials are considering turning the entire borough into an area in need of rehabilitation, a new designation that would give the borough, not…

  • Face to face

    CHRIS KELLY staff Vassilios Hontos, Keyport, takes a load off at the annual All-Keyport Art Show, held Dec. 9 at the Mitchell-Sanborn Gallery, West Front Street, Keyport.

  • Feral cats on the rise near Keyport waterfront

    Expert warns public not to feed the animals BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer Sam Snyder, manager for Brown’s Point Marina, Keyport, poses with George, a 5-month-old feral cat he adopted after having it spayed and neutered. Snyder had many of the wild cats in his area spayed and neutered,…

  • Newly hired A.D. excited to get to work

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer “It wasn’t an easy choice, but we are very pleased to have Mr. Westrol coming to Holmdel.” — Barbara Duncan Superintendent of Schools HOLMDEL — Following an exhaustive search, the township Board of Education recently found its new athletic director. Randy Westrol, who currently serves as…