MIDDLETOWN, NJ - Titan Cheer alliance in the Leonardo section of Middletown breaks all the stereotypes that come to mind when you think of cheerleading. These cheerleaders aren't here to stand on the bylines and encourage the football team - they are talented, athletic young women (and young men!) who are working hard at their sport!  

    The gym had to shut down for ...

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - The Rutgers football team has paused all in-person team activities and quarantined the entire program after reporting six additional positive COVID-19 cases in its latest weekly testing cycle.

The team had experienced four positive tests for COVID-19 since returning to campus on June 15, according to a statement from a spokesman in the university's athletics ...

HOLMDEL, NJ - Golf and a Movie? You can do both on Friday at the Bell Works Metroburb!

DRIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT this Friday at Bell Works!  Come early to play INDOOR GOLF with the family before watching “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY”.

Reserve drive-in spot with this ...

CAMDEN, NJ — With New Jersey’s rate of transmission (Rt) nearly doubling in a month - from 0.87 in early July to 1.48 today — Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday that he will again tighten caps on indoor gatherings.

“We believe that some of this increase is attributable to the number of indoor house parties and other events which we have been seeing across the ...

TRENTON, NJ – Despite reporting that there were no in-hospital COVID-19 deaths during the 24-hour period ending 10:30 p.m. last night for the first time since March 10, Gov. Phil Murphy expressed disappointment over the increase in the positivity rate in the state during his COVID-19 press briefing in Trenton on Friday, July 31.

"The spot positivity rate for tests from July ...

TRENTON, NJ – Gov. Murphy reported the daily COVID-19 figures, slammed people who attended overcrowded house parties, defended the performance of the Motor Vehicles Commission (MVC), and discussed the updates to the state’s travel advisory regulations at his COVID-19 press briefing on Wednesday, July 29, 2020.

Travel-Quarantine Update

New Jersey’s travel advisory was ...

Teachers who wish to request leave or an accommodation due to medical or child care issues are able to contact Human Resources. A comprehensive protocol is in place for high risk staff members.

MIDDLETOWN, NJ _ The Middletown Board of Education focused their agenda on one of the biggest initiatives in their history on July 29th, the Restart and Recovery of in person learning for the ...

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

In mid-June, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education issued guidance for New Jersey colleges, requiring them to make plans for restarting operations and address 10 areas ...

MIDDLETOWN, NJ - 'Back to school' plans in area towns are emerging and the September schedule is headed for major disruptions. Some degree of remote instruction appears virtually guaranteed. Middletown is a good example of what is to come in Monmouth County as they just released information that provides detailed insight into the fall educational schedule. A few key ...

TRENTON, NJ – Education was a main focus of Gov. Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 press conference in Trenton on Friday afternoon.

Earlier,  he announced that parents who want their children to do online learning only would not be required to send their kids to school.

“This is not going to be a normal school year. It is going to be hard. It will be a challenge to ...

Middletown, NJ: It was a described as a nightmare in the Belford section of Middletown last week as over 60 small dogs were rescued from absolutely horrific conditions. The rescue occurred after a call was received on the Monmouth County SPCA cruelty hotline, according to a representative: "The call came in from a person who turned out to be a family member of the owner ...

MIDDLETOWN, NJ: Middletown Recreation announced its new Seasonal Surprise Bags program for seniors! The Department is preparing the activity bags for distribution in August to members of the Middletown Senior Center. 

"These bags are full of old-fashioned fun and will be linked with live virtual content in August and September," said Recreation Director Janet ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - "A lavish lifestyle." That's what Senior Administrator Chris Slavicek promises for residents at the new Care One on Cranbury Road.  Indeed, care one is located right next to the luxurious Park Chateau and the new hotel that is going up beside it.  On a recent tour of the almost-finished residence, it was easy to see the ground plan of a lovely care ...

RED BANK, NJ: Edgar Lino, a young man who had just graduated from Red Bank Regional High School last month suddenly passed away.

According to a Go Fund Me page set up by Lino's loved ones: "Edgar Lino died due to an unfortunate event on the night of July 9th."

Lino died at mid-afternoon the following day, the Go Fund Me page reads.

Lino had just graduated ...

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ: The Navesink Maritime Heritage Association has some open spots for their “Round Staten Island Cruise” on the Mariner.  The cruise will depart Sunday, August 9, 8:00am from the Atlantic Highlands Marina.

A highlight of the cruise will be a private tour of the 1907 historic ferry SS Yankee located on the North Shore of the Island. It's now fitted ...

NJ FLAVOR: We are that family. You know, the one with the kids who have a combined count of over 30 severe food allergies. You can see our previous NJ Flavor story, “11 Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Families with Severe Food Allergies,” here.  

We are the family that was used to weekly allergic reactions due to ever-changing and surprisingly hidden ingredients, even ...

Highlands, NJ: The Navesink Maritime Heritage Association has teamed up with Seastreak to offer whale watching cruises.

And it’s just not whales! 

You and your kids will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and more magnificent creatures of the sea on a Seastreak Whale Watching Cruise!

Think about it.

You, your family or ...

COLTS NECK, NJ: On Saturday, July 11th, Frutta Bowls in Colts Neck, graciously hosted a Coronation and Send-Off Party for New Jersey International Pageant winners. The event was originally set to take the stage at the Crowne Plaza, on March 28, but was postponed due to the pandemic. The live pageant was then moved to a virtual platform, the winners were chosen online and crowned in ...

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ: With a history that goes back nearly 74 years to 1947, the Monmouth Park Charity Fund (MPCF) has cemented itself in the history of Monmouth County as one of the most notable and successful non-profit agencies. Having raised nearly $9.9 million for those at risk or in need in the community, the MPCF is a reliable partner for local charities that have come to count on its ...

Companies, Organizations Needed to Host Events

A current, nationwide surge in COVID-19 infections throughout the Sun Belt, along with the constant importance of bolstering the local blood supply, has created a significant need for residents to donate blood and, if possible, convalescent plasma.

The nonprofit, blood-collection organization Vitalant is offering an open-to-the-public ...

Holmdel, NJ: The Frontline Heroes Challenge will kick off this Saturday, August 1, at Bell Works in Holmdel, 101 Crawfords Corner Road. The event will start with introductions at 9:00am and an outdoor Zumba class.  Interviews with star athletes and dignitaries will continue till 11:30am.

To register for the Zumba class, click HERE.  Limited to 50 participants!  

The Frontline ...

RED BANK, NJ – Given the pandemic, Lunch Break's annual gala has been postponed, but absolutely nothing with Lunch Break's programs has paused. COVID-19 hit and the Lunch Break machine adapted, adjusted, and never missed a meal.  Jon Stewart and his wife Tracey, are both strong supporters of Lunch Break's initiatives, and now the former host of the ...

RED BANK, NJ: The Count Basie Center for the Arts is partnering with Nederlander Concerts for a live "Drive-In" show starring Andrew McMahon on August 24 and 25 at Monmouth Park.

The event will benefit the nonprofit Count Basie which has been hit hard financially by the pandemic.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, August 7th and can be purchased by clicking HERE.  A maximum ...

MIDDLETOWN, NJ:  

August 3-14        

10 AM - 12 PM        

Ages 13+

MAC Musical Theatre - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. 
This exciting opportunity is for older performers, ages 13 and up, with more advanced techniques. Using a professional conservatory approach, the students will take individual classes in acting, voice and ...

There are so many types of love besides romantic: love for your family, friends, career, community, yourself. With all that is going on in the world right now, the Monmouth Film Festival wants you to remember the things you love. They hope during these trying times you were able to slow down, bond with those closest to you, pick up a new passion, and practice some self-care, but unfortunately ...

As some of you may know from last year, The Monmouth Film Festival shared an article highlighting some female directors whose films were being screened at their 2019 festival. This year is no different as they plan to continue that tradition. Making these blog posts is just scratching the surface in all they hope to do. Women make up more than half the population so it only makes sense they take ...

The home office deduction allows qualifying taxpayers to deduct certain home expenses on their tax return. With more people working from home than ever before, some taxpayers may be wondering if they can claim a home office deduction when they file their 2020 tax return next year.

Here are some things to help taxpayers understand the home office deduction and whether they can claim ...

NEW JERSEY - Effective 5am on Tuesday, August 4, a Statewide State of Emergency has been declared by Governor Murphy for Hurricane Isaias.

Do not be on the roads unless absolutely necessary, said Governor Murphy. All State offices will be closed on Tuesday and only essential employees should report to work.

"If you must drive, take it slow, use caution and leave extra time to ...

TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey Supreme Court will hear arguments on Aug. 5th from declared GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli and his legal team against Governor Phil Murphy's plan to borrow $9.9 billion to balance the state budget,

Ciattarelli, a Hillsborough resident and former state assemblyman and Somerset County freeholder, insists what Murphy is attempting is not only ...

HOLMDEL, NJ - A low to moderate income project planned by Holmdel Township on Middle Road has run into some controversy. The project, ordinance 2020-06, is a 50 unit all-inclusive project. It was set for an ordinance vote on Tuesday.

The project has been under discussion for some time and is designed to help the township meet its affordable housing obligations ...

Monmouth County, NJ: The League of Women Voters will hold a special webinar meeting entitled, “Polling: The Art and Science of Measuring Public Opinion” at Monmouth University on Thursday, August 13. 

Carol Lau is the guest speaker and has served as the Research Associate at the Monmouth University Polling Institute since 2017.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in ...

Publishers Note: Candidates are welcome to submit candidate statements! Log on and submit so voters know where you stand on the issues that matter to Middletown residents.

MIDDLETOWN, NJ - The Middletown Board of Education election will be held on the same day as the General Election on November 3, 2020. This year will prove to be quite competitive with ten choices.

There are three seats up ...

HOLMDEL, NJ - The long and winding road ahead in the Holmdel Township Committee election continues as the already close election has become even closer. When the dust settles, the Township Committee will look different. This is already the case with the likely shift in the balance of power at the district 'county committee' level.

The top vote getter for the Township ...

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ - Power Outage at Route 36 police are reporting all traffic lights are out along rt 36 through Middletown into Atlantic Highlands.

MIDDLETOWN, NJ: A suspect local police have been looking for over the last couple months has now been arrested after multiple houses of worship have been vandalized.  Earlier today, (Tuesday, 7/28) the Middletown Township Police announced the arrest of 34-year-old Natalee Hamilton. In each case of vandalism, police say the suspect smashed out the house of worship's windows with ...

RED BANK, NJ: Thirty-year-old Stephen Grosso of Fair Haven was charged with the knocking down of a statue at the St. James Church on Broad Street.

“We took the report of the damaged statue on June 15th and obtained video surveillance from the area.  With the assistance of the Rumson PD, our detectives were able to positively identify the individual, said Red Bank Chief of Police ...

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – NJ Sharing Network, the non-profit, federally designated organ procurement organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue in the state, has kicked off 2020 #DonationNeedsDiversity, an initiative to empower multicultural communities to become more involved in saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation.

Celebrated in August, National ...

If you recently purchased hand sanitizer from any of the Walmart stores in New Jersey, you should immediately check the brand as it may be part of a nationwide recall for a potentially lethal ingredient.  

The 4e Brands North America recently announced a voluntary recall of 10 bottle sizes of Blumen hand sanitizer due to the potential presence of methanol (wood ...

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

New Jersey health inspectors have nearly cleared a massive, multiyear backlog of thousands of nursing home complaints in recent months, the state now says, and they have conducted infection ...

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

New Jersey’s unprecedented fight against the coronavirus pandemic is expected to take a heavy toll on those working its front lines, with studies suggesting that at least half — ...

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ: Comfort Keepers In Home Care supports events and organizations that make a positive difference in our communities. Right now Comfort Keepers is supporting Beacon of Life's Wounded Warrior Fundraiser. Your business can also be a part of supporting our Veterans! You can have your business' name included on the flag of support for our Veteran's at the ...

NEW JERSEY — Jewish homes across New Jersey, have been opening their mailboxes each week for generations, and receiving news of interest in the Jewish world around them in the New Jersey Jewish News: from the hyper local — such as start times for holiday services at different synagogues and who is memorialized in the obituaries — to local, national, Israeli, and around the world ...

Above photo from Chick-fil-A, Tennessee location. 

HAZLET, NJ: Despite the pandemic, business is clucking along in Hazlet. Many locals are very excited about the popular Chick-fil-A  restaurant. With over 2600 locations in 48 states, Chick-fil-A is now breaking ground in Hazlet, on Route 35 North, adjacent to the Cinemark Theatre, near ...

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – April Scelsa’s story mirrors those of thousands of small business owners whose nail salons, coffee houses and nutrition supplement boutiques wouldn’t have been able to re-open in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic without a little help.

Scelsa used money she got from the New Jersey Economic Development Agency (NJEDA) to purchase masks, gloves, ...

NEWARK, NJ - US District Judge Esther Salas released a video message two weeks after her son was killed and husband was shot multiple times during an attack at their North Brusnwick home. While barely holding back tears, she described the days before her son was killed and the moment when she heard the gunshots. 

Her message is that Federal judges need better protection. Their home ...

UPDATE TODAY AT 1:38PM: The suspect in the fatal shooting of a federal judge's son at their North Brunswick home yesterday, has been found dead, Eyewitness News reported in their noon broadcast. The suspect allegedly died by suicide, according to Eyewitness News. NBC New York reported the suspect was found dead in a town in New York. Investigators are ...

JBJ Soul Kitchen Now Offering Meals To Go!

Patrons can order meals online for curbside pickup or dine outdoors while Paying It Forward to feed individuals and families in need

Red Bank, N.J. – July 28, 2020 – JBJ Soul Kitchen, a non-profit community restaurant, announced it is offering meals to go for curbside pickup at both its Red Bank and Toms River locations.

FREEHOLD, NJ — With summer at its halfway point, Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas Arnone is imploring Gov. Phil Murphy to reopen restaurants for indoor dining “before it’s too late.”

Since Murphy pulled the plug on the start of limited indoor dining on July 2, food and drinking establishments have been doing their best welcoming customers outdoors since June ...

Holmdel:  Farmers’ Market, today, Saturday, July 25th, 

Where: Bayshore Medical Center
727 North Beers Street
Holmdel, NJ 07733

When: Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Bayshore Farmers’ Market is a community event designed to bring residents consistent, affordable healthy food options from locally sourced vendors to people in our community.

Middletown residents: The Township will be offering free compost!  Read article to the bottom. 

MIDDLETOWN, NJ:  The residents of Middletown will soon reap the rewards of what for many homeowners, is countless hours of raking leaves!  Now those leaves are repurposed, and can return to benefit the residents. What not long ago was just a discussion between two NJ ...

TRENTON – When the COVID-19 crisis hit New Jersey in mid-March, the New Jersey Clean Communities Council (NJCCC) had an immediate challenge: People were littering masks, wipes and gloves.

Many were discarding personal protection equipment in shopping carts or carelessly throwing them on the ground in parking lots, creating an unnecessary risk for store employees, municipal workers and ...