Category: Independent Opinion

  • The timing and costs were right to begin field upgrades

    Guest Column Bruce Quinn The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Board of Education has just entered into a lease-purchase agreement to provide repairs and upgrades to our high school athletic fields. Subsequently, there have been quotes made, articles written, letters to the editor and other comments against the decision for improvements to our athletic complex. It is evident…

  • She draws the line at sweeping the garage

    Are We There Yet? Lori Clinch As any woman with the sense that the Good Lord gave a goat will tell you, there is no reason to take on a man’s chores. Helping out my husband just one time is the reason I now have to mow the lawn, pump my own gas and sharpen…

  • Mat-Ab candidates list key issues in board race

    BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer BY TOM CAIAZZAStaff Writer Aberdeen ABERDEEN – This year’s candidates for the Matawan-Aberdeen Board of Education are looking to make finance and community involvement the core issues in the April 18 election. Michael Vail, 37, is looking to unseat incumbents John Barbato, 50, and Patricia Demarest, 42, for spots on…

  • Four compete for three seats on Hazlet board

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer Hazlet HAZLET – Three incumbents and one challenger are running for three seats in the township Board of Education elections on April 18. John Faccas, 62, of Laurel Avenue, an electrical contractor, is a newcomer to school board elections with a specific focus. “I want to…

  • Three school board seats up for grabs in Keyport

    BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer KEYPORT – The recent firing of Jennifer Modoni, a popular school librarian, has fired up this year’s Board of Education race. Four candidates are vying for three seats on April 18. Peter Henning, Main Street, is a teacher and father of four, one of…

  • School budget would carry 12.8-cent hike

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer MIDDLETOWN – The Board of Education unanimously adopted a $130.8 million budget last week, which will now head to the polls for a vote by taxpayers April 18. Voters are being asked to approve and fund a $108,409,827 tax levy, as well as a debt service…

  • Keyport board approves $16.6M school budget

    BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer BY KAREN E. BOWESStaff Writer KEYPORT – The property tax rate would increase 9.9 cents if voters approve a school budget adopted by the Board of Education last week. Residents will vote April 18 on the $16.6 million budget, which includes an $8.2 million local tax levy. Only one…

  • Cameras to be installed in high schools

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer MIDDLETOWN – In an effort to combat the number of bomb threats that have been issued during the current school year, the Board of Education recently voted to have closed-circuit cameras installed in both high schools. Promedia Technology Services Inc., of Little Falls, was awarded the…

  • Hazlet school budget unanimously approved

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer HAZLET – With the school district on a three-year streak of budget passages, school administrators are trying their best to assure another successful chapter gets written in two weeks. With this in mind, a public hearing was conducted Thursday to explain the budget’s contents and give…