By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
A 26-year-old Red Bank man was seriously injured after being hit by a vehicle whose driver fled the scene Tuesday night, police said.
The accident, which occurred on Route 35 south in Middletown, between Coopers Bridge and Navesink River Road, left the victim, whom authorities are not yet publicly identifying, in critical condition, Middletown Sergeant Fred Deickmann said.
A view of the Navesink River from Cooper’s Bridge, where Middletown officials are concerned more people will gather this year to see the fireworks. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
While the sky lights up and music blasts across the Navesink River Sunday, and Red Bank’s north end is bursting with crowds and pre- and post-show traffic, Middletown, too, will have its share of it all.
But unlike Red Bank, the neighboring township is footing the bill for the police overtime the event necessitates.
Not fair, say Middletown’s leaders, who share concerns that, with a new fee this year to watch the Kaboom fireworks show at Riverside Gardens Park in Red Bank, more people are apt to catch the view from the north side of the river, making more work for its police force.
“It’s gotten worse every year,” said Middletown Committeeman Gerry Scharfenberger, who called Middletown the fireworks’ “incidental victims.” “It’s not an event that we sanction, but we’re left having to deal with the police and crowd control.”
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
Capping a busy week in Middletown, police reported an array of arrests for offenses including hard-drug sales, car break-ins and a slew of St. Patty’s Day disorderlies.
On Tuesday, police, along with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, wrapped up a three-month investigation and arrested a Passaic Street man for numerous drug offenses, said Detective Lieutenant Steve Dollinger.
Authorities executed a search warrant of the residenceGlenn Muscarella and found more than 220 bags of heroin, cocaine, steroids, syringes and scales used to measure the weight of the drugs for distribution, Dollinger said in a release.
The former Hovnanian Enterprises headquarters in Middletown is in the midst of a complete makeover and almost ready for tenants. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
Following a failed proposal to open a bank with a drive-through at the old Hovnanian Enterprises headquarters on Route 35 in Middletown, the building’s owner, Valley National Bank, has moved on to a new idea: completely overhauling the three-and-a-half story, box-like building and leasing it out.