Category: Independent News

  • A ‘Happening’ party

    Above: Gabriella Raad, 4, takes a photo of her grandmother and mother, Margaret Matthews and Lauren Raad, during a concert by The Happenings at Normandy Park in Middletown on Thursday. Below: The Covino family, Brenda, Fred and daughter Courtney, have a good time. Bottom: Bob Kulik of The Happenings belts out a song. PHOTOSBYMIGUEL JUAREZ…

  • KBA sparks controversy by canceling Fall Festival

    BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer “I didn’t know they were canceling the event. … Maybe there were other options.” – Robert Bergen Councilman KEYPORT – The Keyport Business Alliance (KBA) is “operating illegally,” according to one councilman. On Aug. 15, Councilman Robert Bergen criticized the local business group for…

  • Dung luck: $5K prize for Cow Pie Bingo win

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer MIDDLETOWN – We all know that cows produce milk on a regular basis. They also produce pie, and we don’t mean apple or cherry. For the fourth year in a row, Middletown Reformed Church will sponsor Cow Pie Bingo, a fundraiser where the winner can raise…

  • Council rejects funding plan for road upgrades

    BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer BY TOM CAIAZZAStaff Writer “If they want to paint the sky green, as long as we’re getting the money back, then paint it green.” – Neil Mendelsohn Councilman MATAWAN – A resolution to renovate Union Street between Aberdeen Road and Daniel Drive was defeated 4-3 on Aug. 15. According to…

  • County motor pool head faces child porn charges

    BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer FREEHOLD – A top Monmouth County employee has been arrested for distributing child pornography via the Internet. Kevin M. Femiano, 40, of Little Egg Harbor, was arrested on Aug. 15 while exiting a gym near his home, according to Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Robert…

  • Progress may be coming on bulkhead

    BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer KEYPORT – John Olsen is not, by nature, an optimistic man. Like many others in town, the chairman of the Harbor Commission has been waiting a long time, at least six years, for the new bulkhead to be built. “Just once, I want someone…

  • Pier must be rebuilt using current footprint

    BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer KEYPORT – Once complete, the new fishing pier will look a lot like the old one. On Aug. 14, the Harbor Commission approved final plans needed to rebuild the William A. Ralph pier, located behind the West Front Street post office. But due to…

  • Icy stare

    SCOTT FRIEDMAN Andy Bazuk of Red Bank raises his eyebrows at the many cups of cherry ice he must eat to be victorious in the Italian-ice-eating contest sponsored by Rita’s in MIddletown on Sunday as part of Rita’s Customer Appreciation Day celebrations.