Category: Independent Opinion

  • High school students may also be tested for alcohol use

    MIDDLETOWN – A policy intended to test high school students for drugs is now including alcohol as part of the program. The policy, which was introduced at the Board of Education Sept. 19, will randomly test 10 percent of all students involved in extracurricular activities, including athletics, and those students who park their vehicles on…

  • Police thanked for response to burglary

    As you may recall, between Aug. 4 and 14, at least $2,100 worth of musical instruments and equipment were stolen from the Middletown High School South music room. While such an incident could have been devastating to the music program, it was with the assistance of the Middletown Police Department – specifically Detective Patricia Colangelo…

  • Sentence shows corrupt officials will see time

    A federal judge sent a strong message to public officials throughout the state with the two-year prison term he gave to former Hazlet Mayor Paul Coughlin. Coughlin, 42, was among 11 Monmouth County-area officials arrested on corruption charges in an FBI sting in February of 2005, and is also among the first to find out…

  • Resident thanks Hazlet for help during time of grief

    Last week, I buried my wonderful husband of 12 years, Michael L. Connors, who died suddenly at the tragically young age of 41. Next to being a loving husband and devoted father to our two small children, Kaylee and Ryan, the thing Mike loved best was being a firefighter. He loved being able to help…

  • Open Hearts benefit was a success

    We would like to extend overdue thanks to everyone who came out on Aug. 12 for Jon Caspi’s CD release party and benefit for Open Hearts for Keyport Parks (OHKP). The night sold out, everyone had a great time, and we exceeded our fundraising goal. Our sincerest appreciation goes out to the many people who…

  • Association urges creation of mandated truck routes

    In, July the Monmouth County Freeholders unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the requested expansion of the Republic Services (Marpal) waste transfer station. If allowed, the expansion would have increased the amount of truck traffic on Swimming River Road and Route 537 by allowing Marpal to expand its hours of operation and increasing the amount of…

  • Never thought it would turn out this way in Keyport

    (Open letter to Keyport Mayor John Merla) As a lifelong resident of Keyport, I can honestly say that no one will be erecting any plaques in your honor any time soon – or later, for that matter. If there is anyone with a chip on their shoulder, it is not Mr. Greg Bean, (“Merla: Bean…

  • Keyport resident impressed by storm efforts

    On Sept. 2, in the height of Ernesto’s heavy winds and rain, we found our driveway totally blocked by a neighbor’s fallen tree. A call to police brought Tim Regan within minutes, to assess the seriousness of our situation. Mr. Regan called in a team of firefighters with chain saws to get the huge trunk…

  • Coda

    ‘The Confession’: More than we needed to know Greg Bean After the whirlwind of detail surrounding former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey’s life as a closeted gay, I have three words to describe my reaction: too much information. Like most people in New Jersey, it came as no particular surprise when McGreevey outed himself as…