Category: Independent News

  • Community Connections wins Grossinger Award

    The art project Community Connections recently won the Victor E. Grossinger Award for innovative programming from the Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners. Community Connections is a collaboration between the Middletown Township Cultural & Arts Council (MTCAC) and Middletown Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department. It was developed in cooperation with the school district and…

  • Some county employees barred from local offices

    Freeholders pass two resolutions as part of BY KARL VILACOBA Staff Writer BY KARL VILACOBAStaff Writer BRIELLE — A day after being jolted by news of corruption charges against a former member, the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders enacted new reforms designed to help restore public confidence in county government. The board passed a resolution…

  • Azzolina objects to new ‘Public Trust’ policy

    BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer MIDDLETOWN — A new policy that prohibits certain county employees from running for office is “over the top,” according to Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina. One of the latest reforms of the Operation Public Trust initiative, spearheaded by Freeholder Amy Handlin, the resolution was passed unanimously…

  • Greater Media Newspapers wins 29 NJPA awards for ’04

    Greater Media Newspapers has won 26 editorial, photography and advertising awards in the New Jersey Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for 2004. The group tally included 12 awards for outstanding photography, nine awards for classified advertising, one award for retail advertising, and four awards for reporting. Photographer Jeff Granit won three first-place awards in the…

  • No Child Left Behind explained to parents

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer Middletown MIDDLETOWN — The No Child Left Behind Act, signed into law by President Bush in January 2002, was intended to provide education for the disadvantaged, make for safer, drug-free schools, and help the overall education process. While the act was signed to benefit children, parents…

  • Students say release of teacher was a mistake

    BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG Staff Writer BY MICHELLE ROSENBERGStaff Writer ABERDEEN — The Board of Education and students don’t always see eye to eye. The board’s recent decision to part ways with Harry Peles, a high school physics teacher, has students questioning its actions. Peles said he was informed about a week earlier that he was…

  • Board member felt time was right to step down

    Carol Matarese served in Hazlet for last 14 years BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer HAZLET — Most candidates say they know the perils of being on a school board, from dealing with the public to hours of hard work, all for the benefit of the kids and not their own pockets.…

  • State to finance Rt. 34, Lloyd Road upgrades

    BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG Staff Writer BY MICHELLE ROSENBERGStaff Writer ABERDEEN — Traffic at the intersection of Lloyd Road and Route 34 may soon be a breeze. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has announced that Monmouth County is being awarded a $2,325,000 grant to improve the intersection. The improvements are expected to upgrade driver…

  • Officials plan review of Mat-AB budget

    BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG Staff Writer BY MICHELLE ROSENBERGStaff Writer ABERDEEN — Aberdeen and Matawan are preparing to set the new school tax rate after voters defeated the proposed $56.8 million budget. The township and borough have both assigned one person each to look over the budget and meet with Superintendent of Schools Bruce Quinn. Aberdeen…