Originally published on Feb. 24, this was Middletown Patch's first Street Talk video. We figured, in light of Presidents' Day and our anniversary, that we'd bring it back for all to see. Interesting how things have changed since then ... Middletown-NJ Patch's Street Talk hit the streets of the township on Presidents' Day weekend and posed a provocative presidential question: Ronald Reagan was a movie star before he became president. Is there any celebrity you would like to see as president? The question was called everything from "pithy" to "loaded." And from the VFW in Port Monmouth to the …

We, at Patch, don't want anyone to be afraid of voicing their opinion. Though, sometimes it's the subject of the interview that evokes the fear. Fear not. This one Middletown resident had some very interesting ideas about Calico, the Food Circus Clown icon. She wasn't afraid to speak up about them. Just don't try to get her to pay him a visit. See what she had to say. Was she just clowning around or serious? Either way, the answer was entertaining at the very least. Check it out. Click on the arrow on the image and listen away.

Due to popular request, Middletown Patch has unearthed some never-before-seen Street Talk video footage about Calico, a/k/a The Evil Clown of Middletown. We had asked in our first series on the subject: How do you feel about Calico? If he had to be replaced, what, if anything, do you think would best be suited for his replacement? Some of the answers we got were laugh-out-loud funny. Some were pretty matter-of-fact. Check out what we found left over on our video footage — left on the cutting room floor.

Whether you're old enough to remember Art Linkletter or not, you still probably know that "kids say the darndest things." Well, Patch caught up with a few who offered their unique insights on the impending Easter holiday.  Street Talk obtained permission from some parents at the Middletown Arts Center's Eggstravaganza  to capture their kids' opinions on what's to come on Sunday on film.  The Easter Bunny: from where he lives to what he does, the kids all had opinions about that hippitty-hopitty icon.  And they didn't hesitate to tell us what they liked about Easter, and what they got in their…

Patch hopped on over to the Middletown Arts Center's Eggstravangaza to pose our April Street Talk question: What scares you more, costumed bunnies or BENNYs? After singing the praises of the Arts Center and welcoming everyone, one of  the MAC's representatives revealed a juicy personal secret. And we were lucky enough to be greeted by Middletown Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill, who sat down with us to speculate on the existence of the (not-so-) mythical BENNY, and whether they were actually present at the event.  Click on the video to enjoy the fourth installment of our five-part series. And don'…

In this special Wednesday edition of Street Talk, we continue our Easter Parade of Middeltowners sharing their opinions about, and advice for, our economy-boosting, sometimes challengingly intrusive friends from the north known as BENNYs. We hopped over to the Middletown Art Center's Eggstravaganza to ask who townies thought was more frightening this season — those ominous, large costumed Easter bunnies or BENNYs? For the third part of our five part series this week, click the video above. 

In the second part of our five part Street Talk series, Middletown Parks and Recreation Director weighs in on what scares him more, BENNYs or those ominously overgrown costumed bunnies that you see hopping from event to event lately. With Easter about as late as it can possibly be this year, Memorial Day is on the heels of the egg-hunt holiday. The official start of the summer season is only about a month away; and, we'll soon be seeing a lot of our shore-loving, road-clogging friends. So, this month, Patch hit the Middletown Art Center's Eggstravaganza to find out how Middletowners felt …

With Easter about as late as it can possibly be this year, the egg-hiding bunny will soon be followed by Memorial Day. That's when the unofficial start of summer comes, as do the season's sand-digging, albeit economy-boosting, friends from up north, commonly referred to as BENNYs or Bennies, depending. For this month's Street Talk, we hit the Middletown Art Center's Eggstravaganza to find out how Middletowners felt about the spring rabbit and the summer visitors. Sometimes the Easter Bunny can frighten a child. And sometimes the return of our Jersey Shore friends can frighten their parents. …

When you ask a Middletown resident, it seems everyone recognizes "that evil clown from Middletown," even if they don't exactly know his history or his name. Officially named Calico, the 55-year-old clown is such a popular (and, who knew, polarizing) figure, that he caused a full week's worth of Middletown residents to opine about what amounts to a sign. Originally, the clown was the signature monument for now-deceased, longtime Republican Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina's Food Circus grocery store on the Route 35 north site. His larger than life presence looming over the highway for so many years…

Just when you think you've heard it all about Calico, the infamous Food Circus clown, otherwise known as "The Evil Clown of Middletown," Patch has more on the subject from more residents. We've found that everyone has something to say when it comes to the unofficial township welcome sign that has made the edge of Route 35 his home for more than half a century. Originally, the clown was the sign for now deceased, longtime Republican Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina's Food Circus grocery store on the site. His larger than life presence looming over the highway for so many years, Calico has become a …

Calico, the infamous Food Circus Clown, also known as the "Evil Clown of Middletown," has lived beside Route 35 for more than half a century. Originally, the clown was the sign for now deceased, longtime Republican Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina's Food Circus grocery store on the site. His larger than life presence looming over the highway for so many years, Calico has become a familiar face, icon, even mascot to Middletown residents. He appears on many travel and roadside attraction Web sites, and we even have a story about the strange history of Calico right here on Middletown Patch. For this …

Calico, the infamous Food Circus Clown, also known as the "Evil Clown of Middletown," has lived beside Route 35 for more than half a century. Originally, the clown was the sign for now deceased, longtime Republican Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina's Food Circus grocery store on the site. His larger than life presence looming over the highway for so many years, Calico has become a familiar face, icon, even mascot to Middletown residents. He appears on many travel and roadside attraction Web sites, and we even have a story about the strange history of Calico right here on Middletown Patch. For this …

Calico, the infamous Food Circus Clown, also known as the "Evil Clown of Middletown," has lived beside Route 35 for more than half a century. Originally, the clown was the sign for now deceased, longtime Republican Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina's Food Circus grocery store on the site. His larger than life presence looming over the highway for so many years, Calico has become a familiar face, icon, even mascot to Middletown residents. He appears on many travel and roadside attraction Web sites, and we even have a story about the strange history of Calico right here on Middletown Patch. For this …