M'town Graduation 2012 Venue Change

High school and middle school graduation dates and places announced

On the subject of graduations in the Middletown school district this year, a little more change is in the wings. After many years of consistency in venues, the locations for both high and middle school commencement ceremonies were switched last year. And, this year, the place for middle school graduations will change once again. For the first time, the students of Thompson, Thorne and Bayshore middle schools will graduate at different times (yet to be determined) on June 15 at Middletown High School South. The High School South venue was the original place plan for last year’s middle school graduations, but then-Interim Superintendent Thomas Pagano had decided that Brookdale Commumity College was a better place for the 2011 ceremonies. …

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House Hunt

House Hunt Gets Middletown Schooled

Readin’ and writin’ and huntin’ for newly listed properties in Middletown

It’s Labor Day, and for the second week in a row, there will be few, if any, open houses. Hurricane Irene ruined last week’s opportunities, and next week brings the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  The last time house hunters were afforded the opportunity to tour properties for sale was Aug. 21; and it looks like they will be waiting a month until Sept. 18 to hunt again.  This week House Hunt decided to look for newly listed properties in our area, with an eye towards the coming school year. In the caption under each picture, you’ll not only find the details about the homes, but also which public schools the kids will attend, according to our source Realtor.com.  It won’t take lots of ‘rithmetic to see the starting prices for these homes that …

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High School Expectations: Thompson Middle School Graduates 317

Class of 2011 holds commencement exercises at Brookdale on Wednesday morning

The 317 proud young Middletown students of Thompson Middle School's eighth grade class officially graduated today in a commencement ceremony in Brookdale Community College's Collins Arena, Lincroft.  "I'd like to thank all you graduates on behalf of the teaching staff for being here today and for a job well done," said assistant principal Kelly Ford. "We believe in all of you, and we are sad to see you go." After receiving their diplomas from Board of Education members, students were called up to the podium and recognized for individual academic achievements and awards. "I don't know how they do it but somehow they do," said principal Anne Facendo as she commended the triple honor roll winners. "But these 80 incredible students achieved …

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Now and Then

Brookdale: I Don't Remember When This Was All Farmland

I look back 100 years ago when the land the community college sits on was a farm, ritzy estate

Last Sunday was the first day of spring, so I decided to look through issues of the The Red Bank Register for references to the first day of spring in March 1911. I didn’t find anything referencing spring, but I did find a number of articles about Brookdale Farm 100 years ago. Since Brookdale Community College, which is on land that was once part of the farm, has been in the news lately, I found it interesting to find that the name Brookdale came up quite often during those days when it was in a more pristine state. In case there are people in Middletown who have not been paying attention to the turmoil at today's Brookdale, here’s a summary before I move on to another time. Brookdale’s president, Peter F. Burnham, was put on …

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Middletown Schools' Graduation Venues Changed

Interim Superintendent Thomas Pagano cites cost, comfort issues

Graduations in the Middletown school district just won’t be the same this year. The locations will change for the first time in many years. Middletown North and South high schools’ 2011 graduation ceremonies will be held at Monmouth University’s Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC), West Long Branch. Meanwhile, Brookdale Community College will host the three middle school graduations, of Bayshore, Thompson and Thorne, on its Lincroft campus. Interim Superintendent Thomas Pagano made the announcements during Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting. The PNC Bank Arts Center, in Holmdel, has hosted the high school graduations in the past, and was a contender for this year’s venue. Pagano explained the board’s preference for the MAC Center this …

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