Editor, the Asbury Park Sun: Some people are trying to inject race into what happened on July 1 at the swearing in of Asbury Park’s new city council and mayor. But race has nothing to do with it. Nothing, that is, unless those responsible for the coup d’etat succeed at changing the subject. I was […]

From July 3 to 9 the Asbury Park Police Department made the following arrests: JULY 3 • A 23-year-old male from Neptune was arrested and charged with possession of controlled dangerous substances [CDS] and possession of drug paraphernalia at the intersection of First and Ocean avenues. • A 29-year-old male from Asbury Park was arrested […]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun: The recent events in Asbury Park — the election of Myra Campbell as mayor — and the anger that followed her election, expressed in what some would call “verbal violence,” brought to my mind the writings of William Shakespeare and a song sung by the late Etta James. Shakespeare in […]

The city council is scheduled to meet tonight in council chambers at City Hall. A closed executive session will start at 5 p.m., followed by a workshop session at 6 p.m. and a regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Public participation takes place at the beginning of the regular meeting. Items on the agenda for […]

The planning board last night voted to grant Johnny Mac House of Sprits owner John McGillion permission to begin construction on a large-scale project that includes a beer garden, mezzanine structure and a new bar atop the current Bistro Olé restaurant. The vote passed 4-1. Planning board member Robert Feinstein voted no. It was McGillion’s fourth […]

The city’s Charter Study Commission has tentatively approved change-of-government recommendations to submit to Asbury voters on the November ballot. The commission voted last night on the tentative recommendations which will be made into a formal report, according to commissioners Michelle Maguire, Rita Marano and Duanne Small. A final report must be approved by the commission, […]

A 24-year-old Neptune man and a 25-year-old Lakewood man were shot while riding their bikes in Asbury Park early Saturday morning. The incident occurred on the 1500 block of Summerfield Avenue, between DeWitt and Ridge avenues, around 1:30 a.m., according to Captain Anthony Salerno. The Neptune man was shot three times in the leg and […]

Using a free social network designed to get real-life neighbors to connect on the internet, Asbury Park residents have created an online neighborhood through Nextdoor.com. Nextdoor’s mission is “to bring back a sense of community to the neighborhood,” according to Nextdoor.com’s main site. The Asbury site was started with the idea to be able to […]

After 15 years of service to the city of Asbury Park, Ed Johnson will continue his service-oriented work in a new role. The former mayor [above with the late Senator Frank Lautenberg] is now the president and founder of private consulting firm Ed Johnson Asbury Park. “It’s a story that’s been in the making for […]

Porta on Kingsley Street received the highest rating in a New York Times restaurant review appearing in today’s Sunday Metropolitan section. Reviewer Fran Schumer singled out for praise executive chef Grace Crossman [right photo] and head pizzaiola Fredrica Vilardi [top photo at right]. Schumer ate at Porta on both a busy Saturday night and a […]