Category: Independent Opinion

  • Obituaries

    Nora M. Gleeson Ms. Gleeson, 51, of Aberdeen, died Jan. 20 at home. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., she resided in West New York, prior to moving to Aberdeen five years ago. She was a case manager at Legacy Benefits, New York City. She is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Pamela Gleeson…

  • New principal embraces role at Sycamore School

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer CHRIS KELLY staff Elaine Hayden, the new principal at Sycamore Drive Elementary School, talks to a group of students during lunch recess. HAZLET — Sometimes upon changing jobs, there are mixed feelings. While having good reasons for leaving the old one, it may take a lot…

  • School board, teachers reach tentative deal

    BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer BY TOM CAIAZZAStaff Writer HOLMDEL — Members of the Holmdel Township Education Association (HTEA) and the Board of Education burned the midnight oil Jan. 16, resulting in a tentative agreement in contract negotiations early Tuesday morning. The two groups signed a memorandum of agreement that would settle the major contractual…

  • Bomb threats cleared school twice last week

    BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Two bomb threats within a four-day span at Middletown High School North have made life difficult for students and local authorities. A threatening message was discovered on a hallway wall at the school on Jan. 9 around 11 a.m., and was then reported to…

  • Letters

    Youth and energy could be what Matawan needs I was quite disappointed in reading Tom Fitzsimmon’s letter in last week’s paper. I can only hope Tom does not speak for many in reference to his lack of support for the new mayor and council members. I found it disheartening someone would feel that a person’s…

  • Obituaries

    James A. Fagan Mr. Fagan, 81, of Atlantic Highlands, died Jan. 15 at Laurel Bay Care Center, Keansburg. Born in Jersey City, he resided in Lakewood prior to moving to Atlantic Highlands eight years ago. He was a transportation manager at Finast Supermarkets, South Kearny, for 35 years, retiring in 1984. He served with the…

  • The almighty chip

    For smokers, it’s time to prepare for the inevitable. The neighborhood bar you always dropped by for a beer, burger and a smoke while you watched the big game will be smoke-free before you know it. The Smoke-Free Air Act was approved by the Assembly 64-12 Jan. 9, then signed into law by then-Gov. Richard…

  • It’s high time for Wall to come up with proof

    Coda Greg Bean It looks like Holmdel Committeeman Terence Wall — who spends most of his time gathering wool in left field — has finally climbed the fence and escaped the park altogether. There’s an old Chinese curse that says something like, “May you live in interesting times.” And that curse applies in a funny…

  • For the Record

    A Jan. 11 article titled “Man charged on knife threat” listed Joseph Merla as the owner of the Bulkhead Bar & Grill. Merla is not the owner, according to his brother, Mayor John Merla. Additionally, the incident took place at the Uptown Keyport Bar & Grill.