Category: Independent News
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Keyport chief endorses an eventual successor
Urges promotion from within, not a civilian director BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer KAREN BOWES Keyport Police Chief Theodore Gajewski responds to Mayor John Merla’s April letter to the Independent, May 16, at Keyport borough hall. KEYPORT – Just let me do my job. So said Police Chief Theodore…
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Bergen: Wording to blame for layoff rumors
BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer Robert Bergen KEYPORT – Accused of lying to the public, Councilman Robert Bergen blamed the parts of speech. On May 16, the councilman explained that the word “plans” can be used as either a noun or a verb, which explains why so many residents…
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Resident wakes up and battles home invader
BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer MIDDLETOWN – Two days after allegedly breaking into a township home and scuffling with the homeowner, an Atlantic Highlands man was arrested. Michael McCullough, 23, was charged with robbery and burglary following the May 17 early-morning incident at a home on Florence Avenue, according to Detective…
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Anxiously awaiting
CHRIS KELLY staff Students at the Home Away From Home school in Aberdeen wait out the rain to begin the Hop-a-Thon, an event aiming to raise money for muscular dystrophy on May 19.
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A change of leaders, budget goals for KBA
BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer KEYPORT – A dramatic change in leadership has taken place within the Keyport Business Alliance (KBA.) Art Olsen, of Olsen’s Boat Works, East Front Street, was elected KBA president on May 15, replacing Michael Norris in the top spot. Olsen’s business philosophy differs greatly…
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Hazlet cuts $650K from school budget
BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer HAZLET – Following the defeat of the school budget by more than a 2-to-1 margin, the Township Committee and Board of Education have agreed to slice $650,000 from it. Among the items that enabled the district to save money were cuts to field trips for students…
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Hands, hammers, hearts build homes for families
Habitat for Humanity volunteers take part in community build BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer BY CHRISTINE VARNOStaff Writer PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Brian Gill and Dean Margarites help Habitat for Humanity of Long Branch during a two-week “community build,” to construct prefabricated exterior wall panels for multiple homes in the parking lot of Monmouth…
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C-Town may move to former Foodtown site
BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer BY TOM CAIAZZAStaff Writer CHRIS KELLY Staff 126 Main St., formerly Foodtown and Harris Hardware, is the proposed site of C-Town, a supermarket chain. A special planning board meeting will be held on June 19 to hear testimony for the approval of the site. MATAWAN – The Unified Planning and…
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Residents call on boro leaders to cut tax hike
BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer KAREN BOWES A sign advertising the bulkhead replacement project in Keyport has worn down with age. The council was criticized for a lack of progress on the project in recent years. KEYPORT – Ongoing litigation, an emergency water tower paint job, and borrowing money…
