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Raritan’s Math Teacher, Teaches More Then Just Math

Details: Category: News; Published: 03 August 2011

HAZLET, NJ - “Five years have passed and the lower ninth ward is still in ruins. We saw houses where the water damage reached the ceiling fan. Others had the roof caving in from the front to the back. People still inhabit these houses because they have nowhere else to reside. We are truly blessed – Raritan student.”

In April of 2011, Raritan High School Math Teacher and Interact Advisor, Andrew LaBarbera took a team of 25 students to help New Orleans Habitat for Humanity build homes for families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Students toured the work site to see the reality of the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina and worked long hours on four new houses to install siding, a kitchen, closets, doors, windows, moldings and much more.

In addition to helping build homes, the students toured the city to see the damage done by Katrina and developed an understanding of the historical and cultural significance of the devastation.

Another student said, “I will never forget how such different people could work side by side and create such beautiful houses. We started as a team and ended as a family.”

It is a key goal of the Interact club to provide Raritan High School students with opportunities to make a make a difference in their community, country and world.

This year, LaBarbera is hoping to take a team of students to Alaska, “Our students formed lasting friendships, developed effective leadership and teamwork skills through this program,” LaBarbera said, “there are so many places the Interact club can visit to provide the same type of relief we did in New Orleans, I’m excited about the club’s future.”

For more information on the Interact club, or to make a donation for their upcoming relief trip, please contact Andrew LaBarbera at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Red Bank Elks Host Golf Outing

Details: Category: News; Published: 01 August 2011

RED BANK, N J - The Red Bank Elks Lodge will be having their 10^th annual Golf Outing and Fundraiser on Monday August 22^nd at the Fort Monmouth Sun Eagles Golf Club with a shotgun start at 8am. This fundraiser helps the lodge continue our community efforts and support.

Cost is $110 for members, $125 for non-members and includes greens fees, cart, continental breakfast, and dinner afterwards at the Lodge. There will be prizes and awards as well. Bring a guest to dinner for just $25.

Play is limited to the first 124 to sign up and spots are going fast. Sign up as individual or with a group.

Interested in promoting your business at the event? Hole sponsorship is available for a tax-deductable donation of $75.

Please contact Gil Sanchez at 732-620-7002 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to sign up. Or visit our website at www.redbankelks.org

Flaws with Middletown BOE Drug Policy

Details: Category: Letters to the Editor; Published: 29 July 2011

Dear Editor,

The Middletown School District has had a drug testing policy since 2006, which requires all high school students participating in extracurricular activities and/or with a parking space at school to face mandatory drug tests.

Even though this policy may have been enacted with good intentions, there are a number of serious flaws in it that must be addressed.

1) Students who are subject to random drug testing may opt to use dangerous hard drugs such as heroin (which is highly addictive and currently the most popular illegal drug in New Jersey) instead of the soft drug cannabis, which is non-addictive and has never resulted in a single death. The reason for this would be the fact that while cannabis can show up in a urine test for 30 days or more, heroin as well as other opiates such as OxyContin usually become undetectable within a few days.

2) Drug addiction is a medical issue and therefore it is inappropriate to use school disciplinary procedures against students found to be suffering from a medical condition. While the handbook states that they do not impose disciplinary measures against students who fail to pass such tests it later reads, "students will be removed from co-curricular activities, sports, and parking privileges as set forth in Board Policy." Additionally, because drug addiction is a medical problem, the results of any such test are a personal medical record that need to be kept private in compliance with HIPPA and limited to licensed medical professionals consented to by the student and their parent(s)/guardian(s).

3) Research shows that students who are involved with sports and other extracurricular activities are less likely to use drugs and are more likely to disapprove of drug usage. Therefore, it seems counterproductive to remove students experimenting with drugs from a peer group that would discourage them from using drugs.

While there are clear questions over the scope of government intrusion and parental rights when your local public school is running what amount to mandatory medical tests on students, it would be highly irresponsible for the Middletown Board of Education to fail to at minimum correct the flaws noted above prior to the start of the 2011-2012 school year.

Eric Hafner

Red Bank, NJ

Fire on Roof of Little Italy Pizzeria May Have Been Caused by Careless Smoking

Details: Category: News; Published: 27 July 2011

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ - A fast response from the Atlantic Highlands Fire Department brought a fire today quickly under control at 73 First Avenue. Witnesses saw flames and thick black smoke billowing from the roof of the building around 12:47 p.m. Police responding to the scene located the fire on the second floor roof of Little Italy Restaurant on the Railroad Avenue side of the building. Officers evacuated occupants of the building and surrounding buildings.

little_italy_fire_1
Atlantic Highalnds Fire Department ladder on First Avenue extended to the roof of Little Italy Pizzeria.

The Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad responded, treating three building occupants for minor smoke inhalation at the scene. They refused to be transported to the hospital.

Atlantic Highlands Fire Marshall Martin Hawley said the fire was accidental in nature. The fire originated on the roof of the building. He said, "careless smoking cannot be ruled out."

New Jersey American Water’s Middletown Transmission Main Project

Details: Category: News; Published: 26 July 2011

Transmission Main to Increase Reliability

VOORHEES, NJ – New Jersey American Water has recently begun a new phase of construction of a nine-mile water transmission main in Middletown Twp. The 36-inch main, in this phase, will run along Middletown-Lincroft Rd from W. Front St. to Bamm Hollow Rd., will help manage water demand and pressures in the Monmouth County. When completed, the project will reduce pressure by as much as 40 pounds per square inch (PSI) thereby reducing the likelihood of mains breaks and service disruptions.

“Over the last two years, we have constructed 6 miles of the planned nine-mile transmission main improvement” said Suzanne Chiavari, vice president of engineering for New Jersey American Water. “This phase will include 3500 feet of which about 8500 feet have been completed since June. The transmission main will improve service, enhance fire protection, and reduce pipe pressure.”

During this phase, crews will be working daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will have impact on traffic and limited water service interruptions for customers’ homes and businesses.