Category: Independent Opinion

  • Tsunami countered by wave of generosity

    It was the day after Christmas, a time when many of us were still basking in the afterglow of holiday parties and hearty turkey dinners. News reports of the tsunami disaster that devastated several Southeast Asian countries were at first spotty, and no one yet knew the depths of the damage caused. But the death…

  • ‘KBA’ should really stand for ‘Kiwanis Benefits All’

    In the Jan. 11 Independent, Keyport Business Alliance (KBA) advocate Kathy Shaw stated “I never heard of the Kiwanis Club doing a Memorial Day parade, a street festival or a ‘battle of the bands.’” She was absolutely correct in that statement. The 36 members of the Keyport Kiwanis pay their own way and provide hundreds…

  • Obituaries

    Brian J. Cross Mr. Cross, 63, of Middletown, died Feb. 11 at home. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., he relocated to Middletown 34 years ago. He was a computer programmer at Philips Van Husen, Bridgewater, the past eight years. Mr. Cross is survived by his wife of 24 years, Linda Douglas Cross; four sons and…

  • Public must support call for constitutional convention

    If the New Jersey Education Association had been around in 1776 would it have campaigned against the Declaration of Independence? Would it have spent its members’ nickels and dimes to defeat the convention that resulted in our federal constitution? The answer to both questions, sadly, is probably so. The New Jersey Education Association has adopted…

  • Board of Ed should ‘stop spreading panic’ about bill

    Kudos to Robert Whittemore for his guest columnist letter in your Feb. 9 issue. His first statement is earth shattering: “Everyone committed to quality education needs to collaborate, focus on quality and avoid distorting the potential impact of S-1701.” Wake up, Middletown Board of Education (BOE), teachers union and administrators. This is directed to you.…

  • Obituaries

    Robert Leslie Dalton Jr. Mr. Dalton, 81, of Middletown, died Feb. 5 at home. He resided in Boston prior to moving to Middletown. He was a co-founder of and salesman at the brokerage firm of Dalton Associates. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was instrumental in helping establish…

  • Reader lauds efforts of school play director

    Joseph McAleer Guest Column The Matawan Avenue Middle School (MAMS) is a school in the midst of major construction projects, a school simultaneously recovering from an arson fire which caused major damage to the stage and auditorium, many classrooms, and caused major disruptions and change in the normal procedures and activities from day one of…

  • S-1701 will limit administrative spending

    Robert Whittemore Guest Column Everyone committed to quality education needs to collaborate, focus on quality, and avoid distorting the potential impact of the recently enacted New Jersey Senate Bill S-1701. Why was the emphasis of a recent report on S-1701 funding law focused on efforts to fight legislation already passed? Doing so overlooks the numerous…