Independent

Photo

11/19/2009

Kevin Furlong of Raritan High School intercepts a pass intended for Long Branch's Devron Clark during NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II play at Long Branch on Nov. 14.

Burlew files for recount in Keyport council race

BY TOM SHORTELL Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

Republican Borough Council candidate Ed Burlew has filed for a recount of the Keyport council election after losing by one provisional vote. State Superior Court Judge Patricia Del Bueno Cleary, sitting in Freehold, ordered a recount of the council race Nov. 16 after Burlew's lawyer, John T. Lane, filed a request.

Christie taps Kyrillos for transition team

BY TOM SHORTELL Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

District 13 state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos will sit on Gov.-elect Chris Christie's transition team, a group of 10 people who will oversee the passing of the torch between administrations.

Developer seeks return of escrow funds

BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

HOLMDEL— Somerset Development, contract purchaser for the Alcatel Lucent property, is seeking reimbursement for escrow funds that paid for a report at odds with the developer's concept. According to Ralph Zucker, president of Somerset Development, the Lakewood company was charged $3,500 in escrow fees for a report prepared by Reva Partners, a consulting firm.

Help feed the hungry

11/19/2009

HAZLET — RAINE (Reaching All In Need Everyday) is seeking food donations for Thanksgiving dinners for the needy. The nonprofit organization needs approximately 50 turkeys and nonperishable foods to distribute to area families. Nonperishable food items include things like instant mashed potatoes, canned vegetables and stuffing.

Council calls for fee waiver for senior center's needy

BY TOM SHORTELL Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

KEYPORT — The Borough Council tasked the Keyport Senior Center's executive director with creating a waiver process that would excuse some out-of-town, lowincome seniors from paying a $50 fee. This summer the council voted to initiate a $50 membership fee for all out-of-town residents who use the center.

Speed, safety are concerns in Cliffwood

11/19/2009

ABERDEEN — Residents of West Prospect Avenue, adjacent to Matawan Avenue Middle School (MAMS), spoke at the Nov. 10 Aberdeen Township Council meeting, voicing concerns about speeding and child safety in the area. The street, in the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, is notorious for accidents, speeding and property damage, according to the residents.

$800K approved to repair historic gun batteries

11/19/2009

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-12th District) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior and Environment Conference Report, which includes funding for Sandy Hook National Park. The conference report reconciled differences between the House and Senate appropriations bills that were passed earlier this year.

Council approves rental housing rehab program

BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

ABERDEEN — The Township Council adopted a resolution at its Nov. 10 meeting authorizing an agreement with the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders for a rental housing rehabilitation program. The resolution was passed unanimously with the exception of Councilman Thomas Perry, who voted no. Deputy Mayor Wilhelmina Gumbs was not present for the vote.

County dedicates a fun place for all children

BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

Aplace for children of all abilities to play and have fun was dedicated Nov. 7 at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch. "Tony's Place," a joint initiative of Middletown based Challenged Youth Sports and the Monmouth County Park System, includes special adaptive equipment for children with disabilities.

Local food pantries in need of donations

11/19/2009

Food pantries that serve the Bayshore region are seeking donations for the holiday season. Nonperishable items, such as pasta, canned vegetables, rice, cereal and canned soups are in great demand. The economic recession has created a greater need for the services of local resources like the Keyport Ministerium.

'Land & Sea'

11/19/2009

An exhibit of work by 11 fine art photographers opens today at McKay Imaging Photography Studio and Gallery in Red Bank. "Land & Sea" is curated by Laury Egan with final selections made by Robert McKay and Elisabeth Koch-McKay. The show features 33 landscape and seascape photographs chosen for their mood, composition and technical excellence.

Road improvements OK'd by Aberdeen council

BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

ABERDEEN — The Township Council unanimously passed and executed two agreements with CME Associates, engineering, surveying and planning firm, for the 2009 road improvement program at its meeting on Nov. 10.

NOTESAround Town

11/19/2009

The new Holmdel Volunteers in Parks VIP) program continues its earth-friendly clean-up events at Bayonet Farm, 41 Middletown Road, Holmdel 1-4 p.m. Nov. 22. Help keep Holmdel's parks and trails clean, safe, and inviting to the public while having fun, making new friends, and earning credit for community service. Families are welcome.

Groundbreaking for new Alzheimer's community

11/19/2009

Alcoeur Gardens, which has locations in Matawan, Ocean Township and Brick, broke ground recently on a new Alzheimer's community in Toms River. The ceremony for the new facility took place Nov. 12 at Alcoeur Gardens, 1126 Lakewood Road in Toms River.

'South Pacific Swing Era' dance Nov. 20

11/19/2009

The Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft section of Middletown, will hold a "South Pacific Swing Era" dinner and dance 6 p.m. Nov. 20 at Gibbs Hall, Fort Monmouth. The event will feature music by the Brookdale Big Band, singing by Barbara Baron, a cash bar and dinner.

Post's Pearl Harbor services Dec. 6

11/19/2009

Middletown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2179 and Ladies Auxiliary will conduct its Pearl Harbor services at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at the VFW post, 1 Veterans Lane and Route 36, Port Monmouth section of Middletown. The public is invited to pay tribute to the 2,403 men and women who perished on Dec. 7,1941. For more information, call the post at 732-787-0999.

CILU to host 'Don't Move Firewood' talk

11/19/2009

HOLMDEL — Citizens for Informed Land Use (CILU) will host the monthly public meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Holmdel Senior Community Center, Crawfords Corner Road. "Don't Move Firewood" will be presented by Keith Bologno of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Boro to hold annual toy and food drive

11/19/2009

Matawan PBA Local 179 is again sponsoring their yearly collection drive of new, unwrapped toys, canned goods and nonperishable food items to distribute to those in need this holiday season. Toys are needed for boys and girls of all ages.

Park System holiday décor workshops in Dec.

11/19/2009

Monmouth County Park System will hold two separate holiday décor workshops 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 4 and 5 at Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Road, Middletown. Attendees will create two pieces at the workshop — a wreath accented with ribbons and pinecones, and a topiary tree to complete at home.

Statements by Holmdel GOP flier, chairman are false

11/19/2009

(An open letter to the residents of Holmdel) Iam not a candidate for public office, nor do I hold any public position. Yet, the Holmdel Republican candidate Frank Capaci has distributed a campaign flier about the former Bell Laboratories property that included several statements about me.

Matawan Borough Council results astound resident

11/19/2009

My father-in-law frequently used an expression upon observing an individual exhibiting foolish or imbecilic behavior, such as the guy at the Green Bay Packers game wearing nothing but shorts and body paint in snowy sub-zero weather or the guy who attempts to fly to the stratosphere in a lawn chair using a bunch of helium balloons.

Political mailer lies about affiliation with developer

11/19/2009

Iunderstand that any candidate for public office feels that he or she must campaign aggressively, but that did not give Holmdel Township Committee candidate Frank Capaci and town Republican Chairman Tom Scarano the right to publicly lie about me or others in the community regarding the future of the Lucent property.

Cartoon

11/19/2009

Preventing another Operation Bid Rig

Guest Column • Arthur Z. Kamin — 11/19/2009

Now that the election is over, it is time for the five-member Board of Freeholders to come together and adopt a strong ethics structure to give the county the watchdog agency it needs to help ensure honest government.

Navy must kill plan for civilian housing

In the News • MARK ROSMAN — 11/19/2009

Ithink I am known as a person who tries to see all sides of a story. After almost three decades as a professional journalist, I can state with certainty that there are at least two sides to every story, and usually more than that.

To cook a turkey — first find the darned giblets

Coda • GREG BEAN — 11/19/2009

In our family, there are lots of stories we like to tell around the Thanksgiving table. Most of them are funny — to us — and most of them involve disasters, some going back generations.

Bernard W. Schneider

11/19/2009

Mr. Schneider, 93, of Middletown, died Nov. 15, 2009. Dr. Schneider Was superintendent of schools in Connecticut, New York, and Middletown, from 1971 until retirement in 1984. Prior to that, he was a teacher in Chatham and Elizabeth, and principal in Bloomingdale. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to represent the United States in England and Norway.

Jean Cerqua

11/19/2009

Mrs. Cerqua, 84, of Holmdel, died Nov. 15, 2009, at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. She was a member of the Holmdel Half Century Club and the Keyport Seniors Club. She was predeceased by a son, Vincent Cerqua.

Helen Sulley Wiget

11/19/2009

Mrs. Wiget, 76, of Keyport, died Oct. 21, 2009, at home. She had resided in Laurence Harbor before relocating to Keyport 15 years ago. Before her retirement, Mrs. Wiget was a custodian for the Old Bridge School District. She was predeceased by a son, Robert Wiget.

Norma Vela

11/19/2009

Mrs. Vela, 75, of Keyport, died Nov. 8, 2009, at home. She was employed in customer service at Prudential Insurance Co., Holmdel, for 15 years, retiring in 1991. Mrs. Vela is survived by her husband, Frank M. Vela; two daughters, Valerie Ulrich of Brick and Tracey Doyle of Neptune; and three grandchildren. Arrangements were by Day Funeral Home, Keyport.

Francis LaPiana

11/19/2009

Mr. LaPiana, 86, of the Lincroft section of Middletown, died Nov. 15, 2009. He was an engineer at Bell Labs for 15 years, retiring in 1987. Prior to that, he was employed at Bellcomm, where he worked for NASA designing the software programs for the first manned lunar landing. He was predeceased by his wife, Eileen Ruth Burkross, in 2001.

Victor S. Cresci

11/19/2009

Mr. Cresci, 84, of Keyport, died Oct. 14, 2009, at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was predeceased by his wife, Francis Grillo Cresci. He is survived by his ,children Vivian and Richard Fagin of Middletown, Victor G. Cresci of Union Beach, Richard G.

James G. Playter

11/19/2009

Mr. Playter, 56, of Middletown, died Oct. 30, 2009, at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. He was employed at Buck Smith's House of Brides, Middletown, for more than 20 years. He was also employed at Met Life, New England Division; and as a financial adviser at TFS Financial, Lincroft section of Middletown.

John N. Lyons

11/19/2009

Mr. Lyons, 54, of Toms River, died Nov. 6, 2009, at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. He owned Lyons Transmissions, Brick, for the past 15 years. He was predeceased by his father, John V. Lyons, in 2000. Mr.

Mary J. Pelkowski

11/19/2009

Mrs. Pelkowski, 72, of Union Beach, died Oct. 14, 2009, at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. She resided in Matawan prior to relocating to Union Beach in 2001. She was a retired customer service representative at Shrewsbury State Bank, and employee at Bare Necessities, Matawan, for more than 20 years. She was predeceased by a son-in-law, Craig T. Roberts.

Robert J. Stolpe Jr.

11/19/2009

Mr. Stolpe, 76, of Keyport, died Nov. 15, 2009, at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. He resided in Middletown prior to relocating to Keyport in 2007. He was a retired truck driver for Thomas Farrell Landscaping, Shrewsbury. He was predeceased by a brother, John L. Stolpe; and a sister, Lillian Kelly.

Herbert Thomas Camlin

11/19/2009

Mr. Camlin, 84, of Hazlet, died Nov. 16, 2009, at Regency Park Nursing Home, Hazlet. He resided in Middletown prior to relocating to Hazlet in 2009. He was a retired Jersey City police officer.

Frank Picciurro

11/19/2009

Mr. Picciurro, 78, of Holmdel, died Oct. 14, 2009, from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He resided in Middletown, prior to relocating to Holmdel in 1999. He retired from RPM Insurance Agency in 1995. Prior to that, he and his brother, Henry Picciurro, formed VIP Real Estate and The Picciurro Agency, Staten Island, N.Y.

New Pt. Monmouth School playground a five-year dream

BY TOM SHORTELL Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

Members of the Port Monmouth community ushered in a new playground with a ribboncutting ceremony at Port Monmouth Elementary School on Nov. 16. The school had been organizing fundraisers to replace the playground for five years, said Marie Boccasino, a spokeswoman for the Port Monmouth PTA.

Visions of sugarplums

11/19/2009

Youngsters watch as Georgette Thomas, of Brookdale Community College's Culinary Education Center, demonstrates how to make a gingerbread ornament at the Middletown Public Library on Nov. 13.

Gingerbread man

11/19/2009

Steve Powers-Hill, of Brookdale Community College's Culinary Education Center, demonstrates how to create a gingerbread holiday ornament at the Middletown Public Library Nov. 13.

Looking for yardage

11/19/2009

Top: Bennett Jackson (4) of Raritan looks to pick up yardage on the ground during the team's victory over Long Branch in NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II Tournament play Nov. 14. Above: Raritan's Jesse Raymond (28) runs to the outside.

Monmouth men put the icing on the cake

BY DOUG McKENZIE Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

It's been a good couple of weeks for Monmouth University (MU) soccer teams. Just one week after the MU women's soccer team captured its second Northeast Conference Tournament title in the last three years, the Monmouth men's team made it a sweep on Sunday, defeating Quinnipiac University (QU), 2-1, to claim its third NEC title.

CBA harriers upset at State NP-A meet

11/19/2009

Someone forgot to tell Don Bosco Prep that the race for New Jersey cross country supremacy was a two-team race. Saturday'sNJSIAAStateGroupChampionships were supposed to be the prelude to the Nov. 21 Meet of Champions where Christian Brothers Academy and Haddonfield, both nationally ranked, would finally decide which was the best boys team in the state.

Capozzi, McNamara go one-two at state meet

BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer — 11/19/2009

There was a role reversal, but Red Bank Catholic's girls still finished one-two at the State Non-Public A Cross Country Championships Saturday at Holmdel Park. Molly McNamara and Michelle Capozzi have provided RBC with the best one-two tandem at every meet they've run this year, and the State Group Championships were no exceptions.

Sports Shorts

11/19/2009

The Husky Indoor Soccer League will offer discounts on its registration fees this winter by providing scholarships based on need, plus free registration to children of active military personnel. For details, call Art Perri at 732-566-0154. The registration deadline is Dec. 15.