Middletown Bear Opens A Twitter Account

The Middletown bear has not been located by Animal Control or the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife yet, according to the Township Police, but there have been several more sightings reported on facebook throughout the Township. According to social media posts, there may be two bears…a cub and an adult.

@MiddletownBear opened a Twitter account last night.  The bear reports that it is just checking out the town and is puzzled why JCP&L wants to build a massive powerline so close to parks, schools and homes.  It posted that it was looking for the beach, but got distracted by a ferry in Belford. #wherearethefish. The bear is thinking of hosting a BBQ in Tantum Park this weekend.

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Bear Spotted in Middletown

photo via facebook

A black bear was spotted in the River Plaza section of Middletown Township last evening, near Nutswamp Road and the federal road connecting Naval Weapons Station Earle’s Leonardo and Colts Neck facilities, which is not far from Middletown High School South.

Lt. Paul Bailey of the Middletown Police Department confirmed reports of the bear sighting and said that Animal Control and The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife have been notified.  Bailey said that as of noon on Friday, no Middletown Police Officers have seen the bear.

“Don’t approach the bear, feed it or give it a picnic basket,” Bailey said in a warning to residents.  “If you see the bear, call the police. Try it keep it in your line of sight, but do not approach or engage the animal.”

Middletown Township released the following guidelines for dealing with bears:

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Middletown Township Reduces Spending and Property Taxes In 2017 Budget

Middletown Township Committee

The Middletown Township Committee will introduce a budget on Monday night that reduces Township spending by $161,459 and reduces the municipal tax rate by 3.49%

“We’ve taken a fine tooth comb to this budget in order to develop a spending plan that reduces costs without sacrificing core essential services,” said Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Ph.D. “We consistently seek ways to further minimize costs, maximize revenues and stretch a dollar.”

For the average homeowner, municipal taxes will decrease $5.31 this year.

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Next OAL Hearing on 3/29 nothing short of OutRAGEous

By Middletown Township Committeeman Tony Fiore

Tony Fiore

On March 29^th, thousands of residents and local elected officials from Monmouth County will converge upon the Collins Arena at Brookdale to speak against the proposed Monmouth County Reliability Project as proposed by First Energy and its subsidiary JCP&L.  This additional hearing called for by Office of Administrative Law Judge Gail Cookson, follows a meeting held on January 25^th at Middletown High School North where thousands attended and many were turned away.  As an elected official in Middletown who will not have the opportunity to speak at this meeting per the Judge’s request, I will not remain silent with the question I would have asked Judge Cookson:  What’s the point of this hearing?

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Massell Endorses O’Scanlon for Senate in LD 13

Declan O’Scanlon and Steve Massell

Middletown Township Committeeman Steve Massell today announced his endorsement of Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon to succeed Senator Joe Kyrillos as the senior legislator for northern Monmouth County’s 13th legislative district.

“As a lifelong resident of Monmouth County and having served these last 7 years on the Middletown Township Committee, I was not only saddened but concerned for the future of our county and state when I heard that Joe Kyrillos was retiring from the Senate,” Massell said.

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Middletown Offices To Close On Thursday Due To Expected Blizzard Conditions

Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, PhD, announced that the Township’s facilities are closed and programs are cancelled on Thursday, February 9th, due to the Winter Storm Warning with expected blizzard like conditions in the Township.

The closure includes the Middletown Library, the Middletown Arts Center, the Senior Center, Poricy Park and the Health Department. The Project Plus program, scheduled for Thursday night, is cancelled.

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Middletown North blanks Summit in N2G4 semis, reaches sectional final for first time since 1996

MIDDLETOWN – Middletown North was balanced on offense and relentless on defense Friday night and the second-seeded Lions (8-2) advanced to the North 2, Group 4 finals with a dominating 20-0 victory over third-seeded Summit. Middletown North will play Sayreville, which ousted defending sectional champ Middletown South on Friday night, in the sectional final. North will… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sayreville knocks off Middletown South 42-28 in NJ 2, Group 4 semis as DeMild throws for 345 yards and four TDs

Senior quarterback Jayson DeMild threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another to lead fifth-seeded Sayreville to a 42-28 upset of top-seeded Middletown South, No. 18 in the NJ.com Top 20, in the semifinals of the Sports Care Institute.com North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 playoffs in Middletown. The Bombers will play second-seeded… Read the rest of this entry »

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Mayor Scharfenberger: ACLU criticism of Middletown pro-law enforcement rally is absurd

photo via facebook

Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Phd, said that the ACLU’s objection to the ceremony at Middletown High School South last week honoring law enforcement, fire, first aid and military personnel is “absurd” and inconsistent with the organizations mission of protecting free speech.

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Dem Freeholder, Surrogate candidates were recruiting interns at Middletown High School North

photo via Middletown High School North’s website

The Monmouth County Democrat candidates for Freeholder and Surrogate were recruiting 14 and 15 year old high school students to be interns for Chairman Vin Gopal’s organization when they made a campaign appearance at Middletown High School North earlier this month.

According to an email from Gopal to members of the Middletown Board of Education and Superintendent William George Ed. D, the Democrats’ Campaign Coordinator, Meaghan Mahoney reached out to Assistant Principal Tyniesha Douglas on August 10 asking if she could advertise open intern positions to the student body and requesting to address a Government, Law and Public Policy Pathway (GLP3) seminar.  Douglas responded the next day offering to arrange for Mahoney to meet the class and asking her to bring possible candidates.

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