Category: Independent Opinion

  • School budget increases a ‘drain on elderly of this community’

    It never stops — Board of Education (BOE) budget increases leading to higher property taxes. Regardless of the amount, it is a drain on the elderly of this community (18 percent). We daily struggle just to meet daily sustenance and medical bills. “Fixed income” is a misnomer — so much for that. Last year’s budget…

  • Legislators must act on school funding

    The frustration can be heard in the voices of local school board members and administrators who believe state legislators are pulling in the reins — to the detriment of students — on the amount of money they are permitted to spend on education each year. The frustration can most definitely be heard in the voices…

  • Students respect their elders, and vice versa

    Youngsters bring their grandparents to class in Hazlet BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer BY DAN NEWMANStaff Writer DAN NEWMAN Raritan Valley School Principal Errol Bottani dances during Grandparents Day festivities last week. HAZLET — Third-graders at the Raritan Valley School had a unique opportunity to spend time with their grandparents last week. Nearly 100 grandparents…

  • Vote in support of Middletown’s schools, children

    On April 19, voters across the state of New Jersey will once again have the opportunity to vote in their school board elections. I urge everyone who values education in Middletown to vote yes for the school budget. Anyone who claims that failing a budget will have some meaningful impact on their taxes is simply…

  • When budgets are turned down, children are hurt

    On April 19, people who care about the education of children are encouraged to vote yes for their school budget. The school budget vote has always been very important in Middletown because our history of budget failures and cuts reduced our district to a skeletal level of survival. During the past decade — when people…

  • Credit card offers: Pay now and keep on paying

    not be exempted. And among its other very questionable provisions, the bill requires those who want to file bankruptcy to seek the advice of a credit counseling service before they’re allowed to file. There are 1.6 million Americans currently involved in the bankruptcy process, and 1 million involved in credit counseling. But credit counseling is…

  • Obituaries

    Michael E. Silvestri Mr. Silvestri, 50, of Red Bank, died April 9 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Paterson, he had resided in Rumson before moving to Red Bank 20 years ago. Mr. Silvestri was the principal owner of R.E.M. Builders and Developers, Red Bank. He was predeceased by his mother, Patricia McGowan…

  • Five vie for three seats on Holmdel board

    BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG Staff Writer BY MICHELLE ROSENBERGStaff Writer HOLMDEL — Two incumbents and three challengers are seeking three open seats on the Board of Education. The incumbents, Elizabeth Allocco and Karen Strickland, are each hoping to serve a second term. Current board member Phyllis Pascucci’s seat is also up for election. Pascucci, who took…