Category: Independent Opinion

  • Students spend a day in Littletown

    Top: Rebecca DeStefano, 6, gets the finishing touches put on her outfit as she gets ready to take part in Littletown Day at Oakhill Academy in Lincroft March 12. Above: Francesca Dodari, 5, pushes a rickshaw as part of Littletown Day. MIDDLETOWN – Littletown Day on March 12 was a special day at Oak Hill…

  • The Rev. Patrick G. Fitzpatrick

    The Rev. Patrick G. Fitzpatrick, 72, died March 5, 2008. He was the pastor at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. He was ordained in 1962 and received his first pastorate at Holy Family in 1979. Prior to that, he was assigned to St. Anthony’s, Trenton; and St. Mary’s, South Amboy. He was predeceased…

  • Nonprofit should use non-animal research projects

    This spring, communities will host the March of Dimes’ WalkAmerica fundraiser. Many caring individuals participate in this event. Sadly though, many of the funds raised in WalkAmerica go directly to animal experiments that are unlikely to help babies. As per the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, animal experiments are notoriously bad predictors of human birth…

  • Raymond E. Murphy Sr.

    Mr. Murphy, 92, of Keyport, died March 5, 2008, at Bayshore Health Care, Holmdel. He was the proprietor of Murphy’s Auto Body, Keyport, for 30 years, retiring in 1975. He was predeceased by his wife, Marie Letts Murphy; and two daughters, Joan Martz in 2008 and Virginia Guido in 1996. He is survived by a…

  • Seham G. Gammoh

    Mrs. Gammoh, 69, of Keyport, died March 6, 2008, at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. She is survived by her husband, Ghaleb Gammoh; a son and daughter-in-law, Amgad and Fadia Gammoh of Hazlet; four siblings, Naffa Naffa of Keyport, and Fouad Naffa, Samir Naffa and Nawal Gammoh, all of Jordan; and one grandson. AMass of Christian…

  • Young Dems leader decries label

    In its Feb. 20 edition, in the letters section of the newspaper, the Independent printed a letter by Middletown resident Lois Whittom. The letter was titled “Dems imposing socialism on Middletown.” Mrs. Whittom directly called me a “socialist” because I am advocating for housing that is affordable for young people in Middletown. I do not…

  • Coda

    Singing ‘Danny Boy’ will ruin your St. Paddy’s Day GREG BEAN Growing up in a solidly Scots-Irish family meant St. Paddy’s Day was pretty special. We never celebrated Robbie Burns Day on Jan. 25 to honor our Scots side, because that involves haggis if you’re a traditionalist. And let me tell you, no thinking individual…

  • Resident proposes buying open space for Middletown

    Iwould like to see Middletown declare a moratorium on building. The latest assault on our town is the destruction of acres of trees on Harmony Road. For what? More condos. Don’t we already have an excess of them, to say nothing about the inventory of houses? How will they market these new monstrosities? Views! Look…

  • Local officials not to blame for high taxes in Middletown

    Municipalities around the Garden State are preparing their budgets for the next fiscal year. Efficient local governments are doing all they can to keep local property taxes down, but unfortunately Trenton politicians are making that task difficult. A prime example of the situation is Middletown. Despite the fact it is run efficiently and doing everything…