DUI Lawyers in Middletown, NJ

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — As Patch told you repeatedly, redistricting is next on the Middletown school district's agenda. This will possibly include closing at least one — but likely multiple — schools in the future.

The Middletown school district is about to launch a "Strategic Planning process" facilitated by the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA).

The NJSBA will hold three public meetings where they will hear from the Middletown community. The dates of those meetings has now been announced and they are:

These meetings will be open to all, not just Middletown school parents. They will be open to all Middletown residents. There is also this "Strategic Planning Interest Form:" https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQb9a2OrHuzbQqC2WC20OA2zjQ9BIIVx0cX7qU6uBYtasf0A/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawKIXc5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBseklZbHZkNGc4WmZzOXByAR63Xov0Bbm-A_B8djHf7z9Ustly81LZIEyEwMiapTJhcDAbZosIDbF6uRG9ug_aem_ZYy31nxyyfyy__Drk33zfw

As part of this process, the school district already hired an outside strategic planning firm to tell them how to redistrict and where to save money and plug budget holes. The district will pay that consulting firm $24,000, superintendent Jessica Alfone previously said.

The consulting firm will first assess all the buildings in the district; that facilities assessment will take place during the month of June, Alfone said previously. They will then present a report in mid- to late September about "how our boundaries could be redesigned" and any Middletown school buildings "that are aging and could be taken offline," she said.

"I think we all know that something needs to change," said the superintendent at the last Board meeting, held last Wednesday, April 30.

The budget passed, with three Board members, Frank Capone, Jacqueline Tobacco and Gary Tulp, voting against the tax increase.

Updated Wed, May 28, 2025 at 3:40 pm ET

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — At the Wednesday night Middletown school board meeting, the Board took a vote to pass the district's proposed 2025-'26 budget, which has a 10.1 percent tax increase to the school tax levy.

The budget passed, with three Board members — Frank Capone, Jacqueline Tobacco and Gary Tulp — voting against the tax increase. Here is the vote on the budget:

Tulp said he was against the 10.1 percent tax increase because it was "the most drastic possible option."

Capone proposed a motion that the Board approve an earlier plan, which was to sell a lot of land to the Township and raise the school tax levy 5.5 percent. However, superintendent Jessica Alfone said both of those proposals had to be brought up in separate votes before Wednesday night's meeting.

Capone also scrambled to propose lower tax levy increases, prompting Board member Minniues to say to him "you're playing 'Let's Make a Deal' with our kids."

Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

But other board members who voted for the tax increase said the infusion of tax revenue would help the district, and improve students' education.

"I cannot consciously not vote for this," said Minnuies, saying the public could even vote her off the board for her vote. She said the 10-percent tax increase will help make the district more financially stable.

"Without getting that extra money in, we don't have financial health," said Fitzgerald. "I'm sorry, but 10.1 is the only option at this point."

"This is a no brainer," said Mark Soporowski. "We cannot come up here next year and the year after that talking about how many millions of dollars we are in debt."

Multiple Middletown residents encouraged the Board to pass the budget with the 10.1 tax increase.

"It's a tax increase to make one small step in a very dysfunctional budget," said one woman.

"The benefit of this difficult choice sets us on a multi-year path to financial health," said another Middletown resident.

But another woman asked the district not to raise the school taxes 10.1 percent.

"It's inevitable the schools are going to close, so increasing the taxes is not the best idea," she said.

School district administrator Amy Doherty started off the meeting by presenting the 2025-'26 school year budget. Because the Middletown school district was approved by the state for something called a tax levy incentive program, the district is allowed to raise the school tax levy beyond the 2 percent cap that it has increased annually since 2011.

The district was able to trim $6 million in operating costs from its budget, said Alfone, which she said she was proud of and wanted to highlight to the public. This savings came from cuts to administrative positions. Also, $2.4 million alone came from support staff cuts, which Alfone stressed is not actually cutting support staff teachers, but actually just changes and reductions in scheduling. The district has also tabled many of its planned infrastructure projects, she said.

Closing schools and redistricting is next on the school district's agenda.

The Middletown school district already hired an outside strategic planning firm. The district will pay that consulting firm $24,000 to tell the district how to solve its budget holes going forward, said Alfone.

The consulting firm will first assess all the buildings in the district; that facilities assessment will take place during the month of June. They will then present a report in mid- to late September about "how our boundaries could be redesigned" and any Middletown school buildings "that are aging and could be taken offline," said Alfone.

"I think we all know that something needs to change," said the superintendent.

There will also be three public meetings, with the first in May, where the strategic planning firm will hear from the Middletown community. The dates of those meetings was published at the hearing, but it was difficult to see. A flyer with the dates will be sent out Friday to school parents, said Alfone.

"If the strategic planning firm comes back to us in September and recommends closing schools, what are we going to do then?" said Capone. He already said closing schools is imminent in Middletown.

"They are likely going to recommend closing at least two schools, possibly more," said Tulp.

Some members of the public criticized the Board for keeping from them that the district needs to close schools. Two women called for the resignation of Capone and Tobacco, saying they "hid" the financial problems of the school district from the public for the past four years.

You can watch Wednesday night's meeting, which is still ongoing, here:

This service road behind the Lincroft Acme will become a two-way. A two-way center turn lane will be installed on Middletown-Lincroft Road.

Updated Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 1:45 pm ET

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — On Tuesday, Monmouth County announced it will officially begin construction to turn the one-way service road behind the Lincroft Acme into a two-way road.

This is to reduce the amount of cars that have to use Newman Springs Road (Rt. 520) to enter or leave the Lincroft shopping center. Residents have long said Newman Springs is a major problem road in Middletown, something the Township agreed with and promised to make safer.

The existing service road is only one way for cars leaving the Acme shopping center onto Middletown-Lincroft Road (Rt. 50).

The county will now widen the service road and make it a two-way. A two-way center turn lane will be installed on Middletown-Lincroft Road, so cars can turn into the service road. A stop sign will be placed at the intersection.

This is a major roadwork project in Middletown and it will significantly change how people access Lincroft Plaza.

Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The whole point is to reduce car volume on Newman Springs, Mayor Tony Perry said last month.

"Once that road becomes a two-way, you can now come down Middletown-Lincroft Road and turn to get to either the Luigi's shopping center or the Acme shopping center," Perry said. "You will not have to go onto Newman Springs. The whole idea is to take traffic off Newman Springs."

Monmouth County is paying for the work (those are both county roads). The county will also install a new two-way vehicular driveway connecting Lincroft Grove to the Acme service road.

Middletown Mayor Perry said it "took years of negotiations" for the Township to get possession of the service road behind the Acme, which was necessary to turn it into a two-way street.

"This project will significantly reduce the number of crashes that could occur on Newman Springs," he said Tuesday.

Perry said it was resident Abe Littenberg, among many other Lincroft residents, who have been extremely vocal and are working with the Township to make Newman Springs safer.

"The number of incidents was something no one could deny," Perry said previously. "We had to improve traffic flow."

The number of cars on Newman Springs is only expected to increase now that LifeTime and the massive new Red Bank Veterinary Hospital are both open at the Parkway. Also, there's a new apartment complex coming to Newman Springs by the Parkway, One River Center, which is expected to have 340 apartments once it opens.

Ongoing Patch reporting on the dangers of Newman Springs Road in Middletown:

Here's What Middletown Is Doing To Make Newman Springs Road Safer (May 13)

Woman Hit By Car On Newman Springs Road In Middletown (April 30) "She's lucky to be alive," mayor said. The woman, in her 30s, was struck by a car at 9:30 a.m. while trying to cross Newman Springs at Hurley's Lane. She sustained "significant injuries."

Here's everything the library has planned for kids this summer, all the way through August 20:

Updated Thu, May 29, 2025 at 11:18 am ET

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Summer is right around the corner, and here's everything the Middletown Public Library has planned for kids and teens:

The library's "Color Our World" Summer Reading Challenge runs from June 23 – August 1. Early registration for the summer reading challenge begins June 2; visit mtpl.org to register. Here's the Summer Reading 2025 page to learn more.

Color our World with Andrew’s Big Show – June 3 at 11 a.m.: Enjoy Andrew Scharff’s 45-minute family-friendly comedy and juggling performance as he shares tales of adventure around the world. For all ages.

Gymboree for Walkers/Crawlers – June 5 at 10 am and 11 am: Gymboree of Red Bank will offer gym classes for toddlers under 2 years old and babies 6 -15 months old.

Gymboree for Newborns-7 Months – June 11 at 1:30 pm: Gymboree of Red Bank will offer a pop-up class for babies, newborns to 7 months, with music and props, a floor mirror, parachute and bubbles! Please bring a blanket.

Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Just Chill – June 20 at 2 pm: Enjoy the first day of summer vacation at the library with games, crafts, and other activities. For ages 2-8.

Rainbow Fish Storytime Meet and Greet – June 24 at 11 am, July 17 and August 12 at 3 pm: Listen to the story "The Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister followed with a special meet-and-greet photo opportunity with our Rainbow Fish character! For all ages. Please register for one session only.

Bright Star Theatre Presents The Wizard of Oz – June 26 at 3 pm: Follow the comic duo Lenny and Mabel down the yellow brick road to the land of Oz and meet all your favorite characters along the way in this interactive retelling of the L. Frank Baum classic. For all ages.

Little Sensei Storytime – June 27 at 10 am: Enjoy a reading of "The Three Ninja Pigs" followed by a martial arts demonstration. For ages 4+.

Color Our World Drawing Program with Illustrator Jay Cooper – July 9 at 3 pm: Learn to draw with book illustrator Jay Cooper, known for Last Kids on Earth, Bots and Styx and Stones! For grades 3+.

Talewise presents Color Our World – July 10 at 11 am: Science and stories collide in this interactive learning adventure featuring hands-on science experiments! For all ages.

Space Science with Snapology – July 22 at 3 pm: Blast off in Snapology’s Space Science Class! Students will study the solar system through hands on building activities. For Ages 5-8.

Miniature Horses Roxxy & Roo Visit– July 23 at 11 am: Welcome miniature therapy horses Roxxy and Roo for a meet and greet and demonstration with their handler Ms. Ana. For all ages.

Game Bots Robotics & Coding with Snapology – July 25 at 11 am: Calling all gamers! Have a blast learning about robotics while creating robotic games and learn to use coding to program them. For ages 9-12.

'Surfing Robot' PopDown® Card Craft – August 5 at 11 am: Graphic artists David & Susan Udovic return for another creative and unique PopDown® Card Craft. For grades K-5.

Eyes of the Wild – August 6 at 2 pm: Back by popular demand, meet another fascinating group of animals along with their handler Travis Gale. For all ages.

Dinoman and his Dinosaurs – August 11 at 11 am: Take a 40-minute ride through the Mesozoic era with Paleontologist Bob Lisaius in this entertaining and educational science program for all ages.

Color Our World Cartooning Lesson with Mike Dawson – August 20 at 3 pm: The local artist behind The Fifth Quarter series returns for another fun cartooning workshop for grades 3+.

Visit mtpl.org to read more or to sign up for upcoming programs. Please contact Jenna O’Donnell at jodonnell@mtpl.org for additional information.

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Perhaps the prettiest month of the year, June is the perfect time to head out to your county parks. Even better, the Monmouth County Park System fills the month with activities the whole family can enjoy. Here’s what's planned:

Milling Demonstrations

Saturdays & Sundays, May 31 & June 1, 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29 at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.

Historic Walnford, Freehold

See the 19th century gristmill grind corn into meal. Each demonstration lasts approximately 15 minutes. FREE!

Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir

Saturdays & Sundays, May 31 & June 1, 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Friday, June 6 at 6 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Manasquan Reservoir, Howell

These 45-minute tours are narrated by Park System naturalists and include opportunities to view local wildlife. The cost is $6 per adult and $4 per child, age 12 and under. Children must be at least one year or older to attend and be able to sit independently during the duration of the tour. Please call to confirm schedule as tours are both weather and water level dependent. All tours leave from the Visitor Center. Lifejackets required. Tickets can be purchased on day of tour only.

Dairy Day

Sunday, June 1 from 12-2:30 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

Discover the vital role our dairy cows play in farm life through cheesemaking, butter churning and ice-cream making demonstrations. FREE!

Concert in the Park - Colts Neck Community Band

Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft

Enjoy an evening of music ranging from light classical to marches to Broadway favorites. Indoor seating is available or bring your lawn chairs. FREE!

Basket Weaving Demonstrations

Friday-Sunday, June 6-8 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold

Visit the Penn/Jersey Basket Weaving Guild as they weave baskets. FREE!

Deep Cut Gardens Open House

Saturday, June 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown

Spend the day in the gardens! Activities include bonsai demonstrations, pollinator and gardening crafts, koi pond presentations and greenhouse tours. FREE!

Cookstove Demonstration

Saturday, June 7 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

See what's cooking on the woodstove and discover how recipes, cooking techniques and kitchens have changed since the 1890s. FREE!

Lacemaking Demonstration

Saturday, June 7 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

Watch lacemaking in action as our demonstrator shows the historic techniques of crochet, bobbin and shuttle work used in the Victorian era. FREE!

Thompson Park Canoe Rentals

Saturdays & Sundays, June 7 & 8 and 21 & 22 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Thompson Park, Lincroft

Canoes will be available for rent on Marlu Lake. All equipment provided; limited number of canoes available. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. All rentals must be returned by 3 p.m. The cost is $15 per boat for 1-3 people for two hours; cash or check only.

Victorian Laundry Demonstration

Sunday, June 8 from 1-2:30 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

From lighting the wood stove to ironing the aprons, experience a late-Victorian laundry day during this demonstration. FREE!

Concert in the Park: Sentimental Journey Big Band

Friday, June 13 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Thompson Park Theater Barn, Lincroft

Hear sounds from the Swing Era and beyond as Altha Morton performs with the Sentimental Journey Big Band for an evening of unforgettable music. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, food, and soft drinks. Will move inside the Theater Barn if the weather is inclement. FREE!

Open Shoot Archery

Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft

All equipment is provided for this open shoot. No outside equipment permitted. This is not an instructional clinic and NOT designed for beginners. If you are new to archery, register for one of our instructional classes prior to attending. Open to ages 10 and up; under 18 with adult. The cost is $10 per person; cash or check only.

Accordion Melodies of the 1890s

Saturday, June 14 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

Listen to melodies of the 1890s played on the accordion during your visit. FREE!

Freshwater Fishing Derby

Saturday, June 14 from 2-5 p.m.

Manasquan Reservoir, Howell

Sunday, June 15 from 2-5 p.m.

Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold

Starts with a free fishing clinic from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the longest fish in three different categories. Fishing pole rentals available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rental cost is $5 per pole. A container of worms is included with each registration. The cost is $28 per family of 4; $9 per person. Walk-ins are welcome; cash, check or credit card on site.

Bluegrass and Old-Time Music

Sunday, June 15 from 1-3 p.m.

Thompson Park, Lincroft – Outside the Theater Barn

The Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association will meet for a jam session under the trees. Bring your own bass, banjo, fiddle, mandolin or guitar to join in, or just stop by and enjoy an afternoon of music. FREE!

Music on the Porch

Sunday, June 15 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold

Let the toe tapping tunes of an acoustic duo enliven your visit to this historic site. FREE!

Rigging 101

Tuesday, June 17 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Manasquan Reservoir, Howell - Meet at the West Dock/Ramp.

If you are an experienced sailor but do not have a sailing certification or would like to refresh your skills, attend this session and learn how to rig our 15’ American sailboats. Sailors showing proficiency will have an opportunity to obtain a Monmouth County Park System sailing card, which will allow them to rent these boats during our drop-in sailboat rental times. FREE!

Casual Birder

Tuesday, June 17 at 9 a.m.

Hartshorne Woods Park - Meet in the Claypit Creek section parking lot in Locust.

Join a Park System Naturalist for a laid-back morning bird walk. We’ll meander through the park for about an hour and a half to see what birds we can find. Participants should expect to be walking a few miles (2-4) on sometimes uneven or muddy terrain. No need to be an expert at identifying birds to enjoy. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow if needed. FREE!

Climb Time

Saturday, June 21 from 12-3 p.m.

Thompson Park, Lincroft – Use Marlu Lake parking lot.

Try the Park System's 25’ portable climbing wall. You must be 42” or taller to climb. Open to ages 8 and up; under 18 with adult. FREE!

Spinning, Knitting & Weaving Demonstration

Saturday, June 21 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

Discover the art of spinning fleece and learn various methods of knitting. FREE!

Felting Demonstration

Sunday, June 22 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

See the process of felting wool during this demonstration. FREE!

Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay

Wednesday & Friday, June 25 & 27 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth

Discover a variety of fish, crabs, and other sea creatures as we pull a long seine net along the edge of Sandy Hook Bay. Closed-toe shoes are required. Parents or guardians are required to stay with and supervise their children. No swimming during the event. This program is designed for individuals and families. Weather permitting. FREE!

Life in a Freshwater Pond

Thursday, June 26 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen - Meet outside the Visitor Center.

Join Park System naturalists to explore a freshwater pond. We’ll look for basking turtles, hopping frogs, hunting herons, splashing fish, and anything else that catches our eye. We will also discover the unique life that lies underneath the water in a freshwater pond. Wear closed-toe shoes. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. Weather permitting. FREE!

Nature Lecture: Sea Stars and Sand Dollars of the Jersey Shore

Thursday, June 26 from 7-8 p.m.

Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth

Learn about these little aquatic invertebrates during this talk by a Park System Naturalist. FREE!

Traditional Chair Caning Demonstration

Saturday, June 28 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

See the process of weaving natural plant fibers into the seat of a traditional chair during this demonstration. FREE!

Piano Ballads from the Turn of the Century

Saturday, June 28 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

Tap your feet, dance a one-step, or sing along to popular turn-of-the-19th-century ballads as they are played inside the farmhouse. FREE!

Under the Summer Stars

Sunday, June 29 from 10:30-11:30 p.m.

Dorbrook Recreation Area, Colts Neck – Use the soccer field parking lot.

Look for key objects and constellations in the night sky with our guide. Bring a camp chair to rest on as we star search and a flashlight to light your way in the dark. Program may be cancelled due to overcast skies or inclement weather. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. FREE!

That’s not all! The Monmouth County Park System has a number of sites listed on the National Registers of Historic Places that open for free tours during the warmer months including:

Historic Battery Lewis

Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; tours offered through October 13.

Hartshorne Woods Park - Use Rocky Point entrance in Highlands.

Historic Holmes-Hendrickson House

Friday-Sunday from 12-3 p.m. starting every half hour; tours offered through October 5.

Holmdel Park, Holmdel

Historic Portland Place

Wednesday-Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.; tours offered through November 16.

Hartshorne Woods Park, Locust section of Middletown

Historic Racing Stable

Fridays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; tours offered through October 19.

Thompson Park, Lincroft

Historic Seabrook-Wilson House