Category: Independent Opinion

  • Marcia Calabrese Sommer

    Mrs. Sommer, 58, of Matawan, died Sept. 25, 2009, at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. She had resided in North Tonawanda, N.Y., before relocating to Matawan in 2001. Mrs. Sommer was a teacher for 27 years for the Greater Johnstown School District; St. Mary’s School, Swormville, N.Y; North Tonawanda Catholic School; and St. Benedict’s, Holmdel, retiring…

  • Dem. lemmings are driving party to stupidity

    The opinion page of the Independent on Sept. 17 led off with a letter from a Middletown resident stating that Rep. Rush Holt fumbled for responses from rehearsed rhetoric concerning HR 3200 at his town hall meeting on Aug. 26. I would like to ask this reader if she attended the same meeting I attended.…

  • Fink has worked to make Holmdel a great place to live

    The Republican majority on the Holmdel Township Committee has a curious way of defining fiscal responsibility. Since assuming majority control in 2006, the amount of money raised by taxation for municipal purposes has risen a whopping 20 percent from $8.7 million to $10.4 million. Even with that increase, the Republican majority needed to redirect an…

  • We must prepare our children for life’s challenges

    I’m shocked that someone actually wrote that their children have too much homework (Mat-Ab Parents Need to Speak up About Excessive Homework, Independent, Sept. 24). They actually came home with homework on their first day of school. I guess maybe it’s better they were at the local soccer field at night to become the next…

  • Theodore P. Coraggio Jr.

    Mr. Coraggio, 64, of the Parlin section of Sayreville, died Sept. 4, 2009, in Victoria House, Matawan. He was employed as the superintendent of London Terrace Apartments, Parlin, for the past five years. He was predeceased by his father, Theodore P. Coraggio Sr. Surviving are his companion, Eileen Peters of Parlin; two children and their…

  • Rocco Frank Novelli

    Mr. Novelli, 72, of the Belford section of Middletown, died Sept. 19, 2009, at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. He resided in Sayreville prior to relocating to the Belford section of Middletown 21 years ago. He was a fireman for the Fire Department New York, Staten Island (N.Y.) Engine 157, for 26 years, retiring in 1986.…

  • Jacqueline Ryan Strang

    Mrs. Strang, 80, of Matawan, died Sept. 20, 2009, at home. She was employed in real estate for 30 years, retiring from Weichert Realtors in 1994. She was predeceased by a sister, Patricia Marino. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Robert Strang; her children, William and Joanne Strang of Little Silver, Patrice…

  • Michael S. Alexander Jr.

    Mr. Alexander, 27, of Hazlet, died Sept. 18, 2009. He coached the Middle School Wrestling and HYAL Wrestling, and ran his own wrestling club in Hazlet. He was predeceased by a sister, Alicia, in 1995; and his grandfathers, Robert Alexander Sr. and Michael Gleason Jr. He is survived by his wife, Lauren M. Amato Alexander;…

  • Kevork Hovnanian, founder of R.B. homebuilder, dies

    BY KIMBERLY STEINBERG Staff Writer Kevork S. Hovnanian, founder and chairman of Red Bank-based Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. died Sept. 24 at New York Presbyterian Hospital at the age of 86. Kevork S. Hovnanian Hovnanian, of Rumson, founded a small family-run company in 1959, and Hovnanian Enterprises grew to become New Jersey’s largest homebuilder. “Mr. Hovnanian…