What's Making News In the Town Next Door?

In Marlboro

The Town Council voted last week to . The Aquatic Center, located off of Vanderburg Road near the soccer complex, is one of two swim clubs in Marlboro. Business Administrator Jon Capp said membership fees will increase from around $45 to $91, in an effort to lessen the township's financial roll in the club and make the center self-sustainable through membership fees. Mayor Jon Hornik said if the club does not become sustainable, the township will have to consider other options, including closing it.

In Matawan-Aberdeen

Lombardi's Italian Kitchen announce The family owned foodstore, catering company and grill will be merging with Tommy's Coal Fired Pizza and focusing on the catering end of the business. The Lombardi brothers plan to close down on or about Feb. 15, so enjoy a last meal there and check into their Super Bowl and Valentine's Day specials.

The passed stating its intent to move school board elections from November to April. According to Middletown schools officials, more than 50 districts have opted for the change. (Holmdel BOE has not decided what their decision will be yet.)

In Red Bank

It’s estimated that more than 600 Monmouth County residents are homeless with thousands more living in temporary housing. Each year Project Homeless Connect attempts to accurately assess the county’s homeless population while providing outreach to those in need. In Red Bank, approximately 200 residents filed in to the for food, warm clothing, and a free health screening

In Hazlet

The Strathmore Bath and Tennis Club closed in 2008. Middletown will decide in two weeks . Marlboro is doubling its rates for its aquatic center. But Hazlet is going on the offensive, offering discounted memberships to the long-running Hazlet Swim Club. The township announced this week that non-residents can get the 2012 in-town seasonal resident rate of $578 for an unspecified limited time. Normally, non-residents family memberships will sell for $754. For more info see the Hazlet Township website. (Last July, Holmdel Patch did a survey on what the local clubs were charging for 2011. See it here. )

In Manalapan

A 23-year-old resident of Manor Court in Manalapan Township awoke to find two men in his home demanding money, one of the burglars had a knife. The victim gave the suspects between $150 and $200; no injuries were reported. The suspects left the scene in a white, four-door sedan with tinted windows and blue headlights. News 12 NJ Anchor Janine Strafaci vists Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School on Wednesday to talk to children about being a successful Italian-American. An Old Bridge resident, Robert Shabunia, allegedly attempted to obtain Oxycodone from a Walgreens Pharmacy in Manalapan with a forged prescription he knew to be falsified. Shabunia was indicted by the Monmouth County Grand Jury on subsequent charges.

In Holmdel

The Board of Education approves a plan to install solar panels on all four of its public schools this summer, expecting to save an aggregate of $2.5 million over 15 years. Frustrations over the Reader's Workshop literacy program drew dozens of parents to the Wednesday BOE meeting. Some of the talk was about too much time spent on homework. Monmouth County dentists, including Dr. Dipika Shah of Holmdel, is offering free dental care to children on Friday, Feb. 3. Roads closures for New Jersey Natural Gas pipeline installation closes Longstreet Road, approaching Holmdel Park.