Monday, September 10, 2012
Surfers are part of 8th Annual Beach Bash on Belmar Beach
To say that he had been looking forward to it all week does a disservice to the magnitude of his new-found obsession. Surfing. On a real surfboard. With a real surfer. Sunday could not come fast enough. And no neurotypical child can possibly fathom the fantastic, all-encompassing, living-and-breathing obsession that my 9-year-old son had lived these past few days. He didn’t just look forward to surfing with Surfers Healing — a nonprofit group that takes kids with autism for an authentic surfing experience — Sunday at Belmar’s 7th Avenue beach. It was simply the only reason the sun rose and set. And it was pretty obvious to everyone at the event that my boy just might be the day’s most willing participant. “(Your son) is psyched!’’ said …
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Journalist and former Brookdale instructor Arthur Z. Kamin offers perspective on the new direction and leadership at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Embattled Brookdale Community College has a new president following the scandal-ridden 20-year administration of Peter F. Burnham, who pleaded guilty July 24 to theft by deception and two counts of official misconduct amid continued allegations of his improper personal spending habits. He may be headed to prison for at least five years. Dr. Maureen Murphy quietly — and without fanfare — arrived on the Brookdale campus last month. She was the former president of Jacinto College South in Houston. She’s Brookdale’s first female president and was recommended to the board of trustees for the college’s top job by an 11-member committee. But don’t expect — at least for now — any major college shakeups under the new president. And that’s too …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The goal was to get a greater voter turnout for school board elections, but the result has been more pressure on school board and municipal candidates, this author says.
This Election Day — for the first time since 1903 — voters in most New Jersey’s school districts will elect local Boards of Education members on the same Nov. 6th ballot as candidates for municipal, county, state and federal offices, including the President. Ninety-percent of all New Jersey school districts – or 468 districts – hastened to switch elections from April to November after the state approved enabling legislation this year. Districts believe the change will boost voter-participation in school races where the average turnout was a dismal 15 percent for over a decade. But, if the number of inquiries my political consulting practice is fielding from municipal and school board candidates are any indication; this change has created …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Legislature overwhelmingly votes to allow citizens to decide whether to change state Constitution
The state's voters will decide this fall whether the New Jersey Constitution should be amended to allow legislators to force members of the judiciary to pay more for their health and pension benefits. Only three members of the Legislature voted against the measure, which was swiftly passed after a divided state Supreme Court ruled that requiring greater contributions is tantamount to a pay cut, forbidden by the Constitution. "Rarely has the public seen such unanimity between the legislative and executive branches that the judicial branch was dead wrong," Gov. Chris Christie told the Star-Ledger. The top court's majority ruled that the Constitution's prohibition on pay cuts protects the judiciary from partisan meddling while the state …
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Some American Flag inspired treats for your your Independence Day festivities.
Have you thought about what to cook for your Independence Day celebration? Independence Day, or Fourth of July, is commonly celebrated with fireworks, parades, barbeques and picnics with friends or family. It's festive to make and eat red, white and blue foods this coming Wednesday too. You can find a lot of desserts in your local supermarket for the holiday or you can make your own. I have a few fun and easy ideas to make with your family. 1. You can make or buy an angel food cake or a pound cake. Next cut it into cubes or pieces and add blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream. This can be served in individual dishes or one large one. 2. Another idea is to make a cake shaped like our nation's flag. Buy white cake mix and make it in…
Thursday, June 28, 2012
In a complicated decision, the justices upheld most of the health care reform legislation popularly known as Obamacare.
- OPINION
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Thursday, June 28, 2012
Do you agree with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision Thursday upholding most of President Obama's signature health care reform legislation? By a 5-4 vote, the justices upheld most of the act, although the opinion is a complicated one. The court upheld the requirement that every American purchase health insurance or else pay a penalty, as a tax decision and upheld it on those grounds, in an opinion written by Chief Justice Roberts. "Our precedent demonstrates that Congress has the power to impose the exaction in Section 5000 under the taxing power, and that Section 5000 need not be read to do more than impose a tax," Roberts wrote in one of the key sentences from the opinion. Click here to read the full text of the opinion. Vote in our …
Monday, June 25, 2012
Cast your vote for the Middletown Arts Center in the categories of "Dance Lessons" and "Theater" before Aug. 1.
The Middletown Arts Center (MAC) is currently seeking votes to be named the Best in Monmouth County in the “Dance Lesson” and “Theater” categories. Hosted by Monmouth Health & Life Magazine, the Annual Best of Monmouth County Awards call out to residents to nominate their favorite local businesses. This year, there are five subject areas including Restaurants and Food; Bars, Nightlife, and Entertainment; Retail Shopping; Beauty, Spas, and Wellness; and Home and Personal Service. In each subject area, residents can fill in their top 10 favorites and select a category for each. If you would like to nominate the MAC in the dance lesson and/or theater category, select "dance lessons" or "theater" in the category menu under the Bars, …
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Tell us if you think the two students who spoke at the Middletown High School graduation should have received their diplomas.
Middletown High School South (MHSS) senior class presidents Eric Dominach and Mike Sebastiano may have graduated on Thursday, June 14 however until recently they only had pictures as proof. The graduation speech given by Dominach and Sebastiano currently available on Facebook, contained references to school administration and specific students which did not sit well with administration. A few days after graduation when the two went to go pick up their diplomas, they were denied. A previous Patch article on the matter reported that Dominach and Sebastino received their diplomas on Wednesday, June 20.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Parent offers a narrative letter on the events that transpired the day after teacher Bernadette Davis' contract was not renewed.
- OPINION
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Thursday, June 21, 2012
My child was a student at Holy Cross School in Mrs. (Bernadette) Davis' fourth grade class this year. My husband and I send our children to Holy Cross at great financial sacrifice because of the education but more importantly, the amazing nurturing community of the school. As in any school situation, there are things that we support and agree with and also things that we do not. However, as educated adults, we know that for any successful school, company, friendship, or marriage to survive and flourish, there must be first and foremost honesty and open dialogue. In the past, when there were issues that concerned us, we spoke to the teacher or an administrator. Hopefully, this is how things work in a civilized society. Unfortunately, I am …
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tell us in the comment section what you think the outcome of the proposal of 342-unit residential development of the Avaya site on Middletown-Lincroft Road should be and why.
Tonight is the night. The Middletown Township Planning Board is expected to make their decision tonight on Four Ponds Center Associates final site plan for residential development of the former Avaya site property. For over a year now, local residents have been voicing their opinions about the site plan. The development would bring 342 new units of housing on the 62-acre site of the former Avaya offices in the Lincroft section of the township. Of the 324 dwellings, 68 are slated to be two- and three-bedroom affordable apartments intermingled with the four 18-unit apartment buildings. Recap all information pertaining to the proposed site plan before tonight’s meeting and see what residents have said in the past about the proposed plan with …
Erin
11:05 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Great article, Keith! more ›