August 7, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

Kafton proposes legal action on housing issue

Council president: Residents don't know how law will hurt

Municipal officials in Jackson are struggling to come to grips with state affordable housing rules that they say will have a significant impact on the township. More...

Howell zoners consider plan for age-restricted units

HOWELL — An applicant that is proposing to build an age-restricted housing development is seeking a use variance that would give it the right to construct residential units in a Highway Development 1 (HD-1) zone. More...

Community asked to help revise schools' strategic plan

HOWELL — The Howell Board of Education is soliciting a broad range of community members to help update the Howell K-8 School District's strategic plan. More...

Artists at the Shore

The summer exhibition "American Seascapes: Artists at the Shore" is on view in the Laurel Tracey Gallery in Red Bank through Aug. 16. Conceived as a refreshing visual respite, all the paintings and works on paper in the show depict coastal scenes. More...

Classmates ready to reunite

Memories of their glory days will be on the agenda when members of the class of 1968 from Southern Freehold Regional High School get together for their 40-year class reunion next month. More...

Proposed policy: Place cell phones in lockers

Prepare to say farewell to text messaging friends about the latest gossip during the school day. More...

Tax assessor retires from Jackson post

JACKSON —After 16 years of service in Jackson, tax assessor Dennis Raftery has retired, effective Aug. 1. At a recent Township Council meeting, council President Michael Kafton said Raftery has been employed by Jackson since 1992. More...

U.S. mega base considered for cyber command center

PLUMSTED — The nation's first military mega base of McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst is being considered by the Pentagon as one of the possible sites for the future headquarters of the U.S. More...

Administrators' degrees subject of investigations

FRHSD superintendent speaks about issue during July 28 meeting

The matter of doctorate degrees obtained by administrators from a questionably accredited school is "not a significant legal issue," according to the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education's attorney, Lawrence S. Schwartz. More...

Hospital uses donations to renovate waiting area

LAKEWOOD — Waiting in the hospital for a family member undergoing an outpatient surgical procedure can be an anxious experience. More...

Plumsted board names new superintendent

Mark C. DeMareo will lead district with four schools

PLUMSTED — A new superintendent will become the guiding light for the Plumsted School District's four schools. Mark C. DeMareo has been named superintendent of the Plumsted schools and is expected to be on the job later this month. More...

Letters

Stricter oversight was needed by FRHSD Board of Education

I just finished reading your Web site article ("Doctorate Degrees Subject of Two Investigations") about the meeting that occurred on July 28 at the Freehold Regional High School District and I feel that something should be mentioned. More...

Group says no approved plan ever included rail line

I am the president of the Battlefield Restoration and Archaeological Volunteer Organization (BRAVO) and the volunteer archaeologist at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan. I have written to Monmouth County Administrator Robert M. More...

For every bad person there are 15 good people

I have come up with a new blessing: For every bad person you encounter, I wish you 15 good ones. This is what happened to me recently. More...

Red State / Blue State

In Denver, things take a turn for the truly weird

A political discussion between Red State conservative Dave Simpson — a former reporter, editor, publisher and columnist — and Greg Bean, Blue Stater and executive editor of Greater Media Newspapers. More...

Sports

Big Brown comes to Monmouth, takes care of business

Derby, Preakness winner outdistances field at Haskell Invitational

One question prevailed in the minds of more than 45,000 racing fans at Monmouth Park Sunday — will Big Brown make the huge comeback so many were hoping for by winning the Haskell Invitational? The answer was yes. More...

Novello gives something back to Patriot lacrosse

Dennis Novello is like a proud big brother. He helped start the Freehold Township High School boys lacrosse program and is now witnessing firsthand, as a coach, its tremendous growth. "I see lacrosse taking over," he said. More...

Live racing resumes at Freehold today

Once again, the Cane Pace will be the highlight of Freehold Raceway's new season. The nation's oldest daytime harness track reopens today for the 2008-09 campaign. Post time is 12:30 p.m. More...

Photo

The name of the game is chess, and that is what (l-r) Nick Gallis, Jeremy Brown, Will Koesis and William Carroll, all of Howell, were playing at Howell Middle School South on July 30. More...

Seda resigns as mayor

Elected in 2006, Jackson official will not finish term

With less than two years remaining in a four-year term of office, Jackson Mayor Mark Seda has announced that he will resign from his position effective Oct. 17. More...

Big effort needed to keep buses running efficiently

JACKSON — School bus transportation in Jackson is heading in the right direction even as administrators deal with state rules, long distances to be covered, crowded buses and tight time schedules. More...

Three men sent to prison for roles in 2005 shooting

JACKSON — Three individuals who were indicted for their roles in a drive-by shooting on Nov. 13, 2005 at the Regency Club Apartments, New Prospect Road, will spend time in state prison. More...

Town begins planning for more affordable housing

REGIONAL INTEREST

UPPER FREEHOLD — The toughest part of Upper Freehold Township's master plan revision process still lies ahead. More...

Zoning board gives OK for BJ's Wholesale Club

HOWELL — The Zoning Board of Adjustment has granted Tropicana Commercial Center a use variance that will permit the construction of BJ's Wholesale Club and other stores at Route 9 north and Lanes Mill Road. More...

Soccer tourney benefits police

JACKSON — A soccer tournament will be held on Aug. 9 to raise funds for the Jackson Policemen's Benevolent Association vest account. Jackson Police Officer John Pejoski, a member of PBA Local No. More...

Doctors graduate from program

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — The second class of six resident physicians has graduated from the CentraState Family Medicine Residency Program. More...

Official irked to hear about GPS unit lease

JACKSON — A resident has questioned why 15 vehicles in the Department of PublicWorks need GPS (global positioning system) devices, who ordered the purchase of the GPS units and how it was funded. More...

Dept. of Consumer Affairs launches Internet Web site

Ways to prevent identity theft and contractor fraud are just some of the topics found on the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs Internet Web site. More...

UNC student gets rare glimpse of life in Cuba

Caitlin Ross spends semester abroad in Castro's nation

Alist of the most publicized events in the relationship between Cuba and the United States — Communism, Castro, the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the deportation of Elian Gonzalez and a current embargo against the island na More...

Master plan review covers all aspects of community

JACKSON — Just as some people would look into a crystal ball to probe the future, Jackson planners are taking a look at the municipality's master plan and gathering the advice of experts. More...

Health, wellness database online

The Ocean County Library has recently added a database specifically designed for the unique health concerns of teenagers to its roster of free products that are available online. More...

Bulletin Board

Datebook

• Cruise Night will be held at the Jackson Crossing shopping center, Hope Chapel Road and East Veterans Highway, Jackson, at 6 p.m. Aug. 8. The event will feature classic cars, music of the 1950s and prizes. Details: 732-747-7846. More...

Opinion

Let school officials hear opinions on phone plan

L et the debate begin — and we say that in a way that is meant to foster public discourse on an issue that must be dealt with: cell phones in schools. More...

Hot summer dreams keep rolling through my mind

I'm sitting out on the deck looking over my backyard in the dark of a hot summer night. The air is thick and close, and if I close my eyes, I can almost imagine I've been transported to an earlier, almost antediluvian time. More...

Director: Upgrades at airport will be a boost to Lakewood

Your Turn

The Lakewood Airport Authority is pleased to announce that Lakewood Airport has received approval to proceed with projects for fiscal year 2008 amounting to $800,000. More...

Obituaries

John F. Spinosa

Mr. Spinosa, 91, of Manalapan, died Aug. 2, 2008, at The Chelsea at Manalapan. He lived in Jackson and then in Florida for 30 years before moving to Manalapan a year ago. Mr. Spinosa served in the U.S. More...

Eugene (Gee) B. Randolph

Mr. Randolph, 42, who lived most of his life in Freehold, died June 13, 2008, at Kent General Hospital, Dover, Del. More...

Anne (Danehy) D'Amico

Anne D'Amico, 90, of Lakewood, died July 15, 2008, at Regency Park Nursing Center in Hazlet. She was an account clerk for the Daily News in New York City for many years. More...