Category: Independent News

  • Ex-mayor’s board picks will not be recognized

    Committee opts to leave twp. clerk BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer BY TOM CAIAZZAStaff Writer HOLMDEL — The Township Committee defeated a resolution introduced by former Mayor Larry Fink on Feb. 2, instructing the township clerk to recognize appointments he made to the Holmdel Planning Board in January 2005. Doing so would require Maureen Doloughty,…

  • Merla faces new corruption charge

    Accused of extorting trash co., demanding pickups for supporters BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer John Merla A federal grand jury returned an indictment with a new charge against Keyport Mayor John Merla, accusing him of extorting the owner of a solid-waste-disposal company that had a contract with the borough. The latest…

  • Thompson Park mansion destroyed

    Historic structure housed Visitor Center, Park System offices BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer BY TOM CAIAZZAStaff Writer MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Firefighters attempt to save the 110-year-old mansion at Thompson Park in Middletown on Monday after a fire broke out in the west wing of the building, engulfing the entire structure. Thompson Park will never look…

  • Eleni’s passion: Keeping dances, costumes of Greece alive

    Hellenic dancers share cultural identity and pride in Greek heritage BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer BY LINDA DeNICOLAStaff Writer The lost Greek dances of Asia Minor will be the featured performance when the Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey hosts its annual Taverna Night Saturday at Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Holmdel. For one…

  • Faux to pro?

    MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Vicenza Palma, 5, of Middletown, uses a bar to hold herself up as she learns to skate at the new acrylic rink at Pier Village in Long Branch on Jan. 28.

  • Grant will support people with special housing needs

    FREEHOLD — Monmouth County, through a partnership of the county’s Department of Human Services and Planning Board, has been awarded a $1.78 million grant to support the county’s effort to provide housing for residents who have disabilities or mental illness, or who suffer from AIDS or chronic substance abuse. “We are extremely pleased to have…

  • Photo

    SCOTT FRIEDMAN Angela Hodges serves up some lunch at the “Feed the Hungry” luncheon at the Second Baptist Church in Matawan on Saturday.

  • Arts teach students what they can achieve

    Your Turn Andy McDonough Guest Column Every now and again, standardized testing in public schools alerts us to some problem in our educational system. Presented with declining test scores, educators and administrators must struggle with how to remedy these problems in the face of personnel, budgetary and time constraints. Frequently passed over in these times…

  • Highlands official joins GOP race for freeholder

    Middletown native lists ethics, taxes, home rule as top priorities BY GLORIA STRAVELLI Staff Writer BY GLORIA STRAVELLIStaff Writer LONG BRANCH — Anna Campbell Little, Republican councilwoman for the Borough of Highlands, Friday announced that she is a candidate for the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders seat vacated by Amy Handlin. An attorney with…