It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Stephen Crane House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Asbury Park, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“Such an amazing company with employees who truly care about their business and those they take care of. Caretakers are top notch and customer service is great and they are available whenever you need them.”
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“I am a current client of this provider I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care. Not only have they placed the perfect caregiver with my mother they also take care of the billing and when I need to speak to a receptionist they are always available. Thank you!!”
“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living Facility for my mother. We moved to the city a month ago and had little idea about the local senior living communities. I’d like to thank the highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers of Always Best Care for helping our family during the difficult time.”
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“I am a current client of this provider We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now. My mother practically does everything herself, but sometimes they might fix her her lunch, there might be a little bit of shopping, and they take her to her appointment. My mother is fine. The hours are fine. She got the hours that she requested. I know she is being billed on her credit card. They have been very helpful and very cooperative. The women always call back.”
“I am a current client of this provider We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in three days a week to assist my mother with doing the wash, keeping the house picked up, and just talking to her. She’s wonderful. We interviewed several people, and there was just something about the way they were organized in their presentation and their follow up. that impressed us. They were a level above the other ones that we spoke to. They really listen to you about your needs and work very hard to match the caregiver up with what you’re looking for. We were very impressed with them.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Kennedy Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Stella Marina Restaurant & Bar or visit The Carousel Building, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Asbury Park, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Asbury Park, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Asbury Park, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
ABERDEEN -- Crunch Fitness, a fitness chain that is expanding at the Jersey Shore, will open an athletic club on Route...
ABERDEEN -- Crunch Fitness, a fitness chain that is expanding at the Jersey Shore, will open an athletic club on Route 34 at the former Bed Bath & Beyond store.
The 25,000-square-foot anchor store, located at the Regent Shopping Center at Lloyd Road, has been vacant since it was closed in early 2023 as Bed Bath & Beyond spiraled into bankruptcy.
Crunch Fitness is coming soon, said Ron DeLuca, chief executive officer of commercial real estate firm R.J. Brunelli & Co, who represents the landlord in lease transactions. Next door, AutoZone is under construction and will replace the former Famous Footwear store, he said.
"Having two stores occupied is terrific," Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini said. "I was just told by the landlord there that both have signed up and are ready to rock."
A spokesperson for Crunch Fitness could not be reached for comment.
The new location comes as Crunch Fitness is expanding in Monmouth County. In January, Fitness Holdings North America, acquired five locations from Jersey Strong Gym in Tinton Falls, Ocean Township, Wall Township, Freehold Township, and Marlboro.
It also continues the march of new businesses moving into vacant Bed Bath & Beyond locations.
Ross Dress for Less and Gap Factory are moving into the Route 35 store in Middletown and Burlington has opened on Route 36 in Eatontown. Ross Dress for Less is coming to Chambers Bridge Road in Brick.
Nordstrom Rack will open on March 27 at Manalapan Commons on Route 9. Dollar Tree has taken over half of the former Bed Bath & Beyond store in Howell. The Picklr, a pickleball club, is now open on Route 72 in Stafford.
David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 27 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at [email protected]. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.
Asbury Park Press
EATONTOWN - As the new Burlington store prepares to open next month in the former Bed Bath & Beyond on Route 36, the building's owner has plans to expand the shopping center and ready it for Bob's Discount Furniture.
The borough's planning board has approved plans by 36 Monmouth Plaza LLC for a building canopy that will sit over the entrance to Bob's Furniture's next to Burlington. The addition itself, which will add 19,965 square feet to the store, was approved in 2018.
Meanwhile, Burlington, located at 92 Route 36, opens on Nov. 1. The store features Burlington's new store layout, which the company said "provides a better and more enjoyable shopping experience, making it easier for consumers to discover deals and savings on their favorite brands."
An off-price discounter, Burlington sells brand-name women's apparel and accessories, menswear, children’s clothing, footwear, baby items, home de?cor, gifts and pet products at prices that are up to 60% off. The retailer has stores in Hazlet, Ocean Township, Howell, Brick, Toms River and Freehold Township.
"Our goal is to continue to offer area residents low prices on brand-name merchandise for the entire family and home,” said Michael O’Sullivan, chief executive officer of Burlington Stores, in a statement.
“We’re continuing to expand our footprint across the country and are excited to be opening a new store in Eatontown," he said. "We look forward to giving local customers the chance to discover big savings on a wide range of products.”
Bob's Discount Furniture is growing at the Jersey Shore. With an existing store in Freehold Township, the new Eatontown location will be its second in Monmouth County. In August, Bob's opened a store on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, its first in Ocean County.
At Burlington's grand opening on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, the first 100 customers age 18 and up will receive a $10 bonus card that can be used towards their purchase. On Nov. 3, customers will receive a free Burlington umbrella while supplies last, with no purchase necessary.
Store hours will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays.
David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 27 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at [email protected]. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.
The screen-shattering and mind-bending Netflix original series is back for its seventh season next month. And this time, the line between reality and altered reality gets even blurrier.Fans of the Emmy-Award-winning satirical anthology can tune into the new season on April 10.Since its last season in 2023, series creator Charlie Brooker told Tudum fans can “expect a mix of genres and styles&rdq...
The screen-shattering and mind-bending Netflix original series is back for its seventh season next month. And this time, the line between reality and altered reality gets even blurrier.
Fans of the Emmy-Award-winning satirical anthology can tune into the new season on April 10.
Since its last season in 2023, series creator Charlie Brooker told Tudum fans can “expect a mix of genres and styles” in the upcoming 6 episode installment, ranging from deeply unpleasant to hilarious in true Black Mirror style.
The sci-fi series first emerged in 2017, with Brooker exploring dystopian realities by drawing inspiration from The Twilight Zone. While channeling themes of technology and science, Black Mirror makes social commentary in a thrilling, enigmatic way.
The trailer gives viewers a glimpse at the follow-up to Season 4’s Star-Trek-inspired episode ‘USS Callister’, a beloved fan favorite, as well as returning characters from the Bandersnatch universe, Black Mirror’s interactive film from 2018.
The new season boasts yet another stacked cast with names like Paul Giomatti (The Holdovers), Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation) and Issa Rae (Barbie).
Before we can witness technology ruining peoples lives once more, fans can binge watch the first six seasons on Netflix.
originally published: 03/26/2025(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Welcome to the new Asbury Park Theater Company! As previously announced in 2025, the board of directors of Asbury Park Theater Company have appointed Asbury Park native, Anthony D'Amato, as Producing Artistic Director. Anthony, known nationally as Remember Jones, has quickly rebranded the company and put together a season of collaborative events for 2025.“It&rs...
originally published: 03/26/2025
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Welcome to the new Asbury Park Theater Company! As previously announced in 2025, the board of directors of Asbury Park Theater Company have appointed Asbury Park native, Anthony D'Amato, as Producing Artistic Director. Anthony, known nationally as Remember Jones, has quickly rebranded the company and put together a season of collaborative events for 2025.
“It’s not a surprise that there is no functioning theater space in Asbury Park,” Anthony says. “I’ve been co-producing and sharing spaces with so many organizations over the years, all who have trusted me with their homes. I’m grateful that they’ve allowed this company to stretch beyond Asbury Park while we continue to find a permanent home.”
The 2025 season includes two theatrical concert events at House of Independents in Asbury Park: The Pink Pony Club, a celebration of the music of Chappell Roan (with a cast of 25 young singers, musicians, and drag queens) on March 28th, and JONES SINGS JONES!, a 17-piece Vegas Style celebration of Tom Jones on March 29th. As of this release, both shows are close to sold out.
Embracing the collaborations, Asbury Park Theater Company will join with Bell Theater at Bell Works for two rock musicals: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, an exclusive conceptual production, June 13-29, starring Remember Jones and directed by Jose Zayas, and A Night With Janis Joplin, starring Tony nominee Mary Bridget Davies, who will co-direct alongside Remember Jones, running October 3-19.
“Mary has been a friend on and off stage for many years,” says Anthony. “We see and hear the world similarly in so many ways and to re-envision this show hand-in-hand is an honor.”
Asbury Park Theater Company will grow, expand, and redevelop its previous youth programs, this year presenting its first production: Disney’s The Lion King, Jr., July 18-20. Performers 18 years of age and younger will be able to register for camp running June 30-July 20 at Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove, which will include classes taught by Broadway and music professionals, enriching young artists with backstage knowledge as well as on stage. There will be a production team and auditions for the show announced soon, as well.
To wrap up the year, the company will reprise its now annual gala, A Big Band Holiday to Remember, on December 13th, once again at Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove. This event sold out quickly in 2024, which saw the Asbury Park music community bridged together with local and Broadway theater performers in front of a 17-piece big band.
Tickets for the concert events and Bell Theater musicals are on sale now, and more information and tickets for the other events will be coming soon. Visit the new www.asburyparktheatercompany.org for more information or redirections, and check out their Instagram or Facebook pages for continued updates!
MIDDLETOWN -- Will Middletown voters support raising school taxes by 10%, rather than closing two elementary schools and combining three middle schools into two buildings?That decision looms large in the district that has faced unrest since the prospect of closing the schools was proposed.New Jersey officials said Middletown Township School District officials could raise local taxes by 10.1% this year to avert a looming budget crisis, Superintendent Jessica Alfone announced this week. The district is facing a $10...
MIDDLETOWN -- Will Middletown voters support raising school taxes by 10%, rather than closing two elementary schools and combining three middle schools into two buildings?
That decision looms large in the district that has faced unrest since the prospect of closing the schools was proposed.
New Jersey officials said Middletown Township School District officials could raise local taxes by 10.1% this year to avert a looming budget crisis, Superintendent Jessica Alfone announced this week. The district is facing a $10 million hole in its $197 million budget for the upcoming school year.
"The district has qualified for a new tax incentive program aimed at helping eligible district's generate revenue," Alfone said Monday in a letter to parents.
It is one of a handful of schools that New Jersey officials will allow to exceed the state-mandated cap on local tax increases.
"Under the new tax incentive program, the (Middletown) district is eligible to generate up to an additional $8,372,956, or 5.2%, in revenue through local taxes," Alfone said in her letter.
The one-time 5.2% increase that would be allowed by the state would be added to the tentative 4.88% tax increase proposed for the 2025-26 school year, bringing the total increase to 10.1%, the superintendent said.
The current budget hole has led school officials to discuss the possibility of closing the Leonardo and Navesink elementary schools to help make up the difference, and moving Bayshore Middle School students to Thorne and Thompson middle schools. What is currently Bayshore Middle School would then be used as an elementary school, under a proposal introduced by Alfone last week.
The superintendent said another possibility would be cutting 120 jobs from the district, increasing class sizes to about 28 to 30 students per room, eliminating athletics transportation and elementary school band, and reducing sports and co-curricular programs.
The new offer to raise local taxes provides school officials a third alternative.
"There are a limited number of districts in the state that have qualified based on their financial progress towards adequacy, and is a product of realizing greater efficiencies in our budget over time," Alfone said.
New Jersey officials set a cost that is needed to provide an "adequate" education to students. In recent years, the state Department of Education has reduced aid from Trenton to schools in many suburban communities, like Middletown, and insisted that local taxpayers shoulder a greater percentage of the costs to educate their students.
At the same time, many of these communities are prevented from quickly raising taxes to close the resulting gap, due to a state-mandated 2% cap on tax levy increases that applies to most school costs.
Last year, state officials permitted some school districts that were under "adequacy," or not spending enough to adequately educate their students, to exceed the tax cap.
"Unfortunately, this information was not disseminated in time for us to consider (the program) in our initial proposal (to close schools or cut staff)," the superintendent said.
If Middletown participates in the program, the district will also be eligible to receive a state aid incentive that could be worth as much as $418,648 for the upcoming school year, she said.
The impact on Middletown's tax bills was not immediately available.
Middletown school officials are hosting four community forums on the issue and different proposals. The forums will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on:
The forums will be live streamed on the district's Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@MTBOE.
Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, [email protected] or 732-557-5701.
There are so many sayings about happiness and money — money is the root to all evil; money can't buy happiness — but new research suggests it depends on how much money you make.According to Wallethub, the key ingredients of a happy life is location, a positive and healthy mind and body and financial wealth, but that even has a cap. People who make $75,000 a year won’t get any higher satisfaction from more money, according to WalletHub.The personal finance website's study, ...
There are so many sayings about happiness and money — money is the root to all evil; money can't buy happiness — but new research suggests it depends on how much money you make.
According to Wallethub, the key ingredients of a happy life is location, a positive and healthy mind and body and financial wealth, but that even has a cap. People who make $75,000 a year won’t get any higher satisfaction from more money, according to WalletHub.
The personal finance website's study, Happiest Cities in America (2025), evaluated each U.S. city across three key factors that included emotional and physical well-being; income and employment; and community and environment against key indicators of happiness.
“Research shows that having more money only increases your happiness until you’re making at least $75,000 per year – anything more you earn likely won’t have an impact. Therefore, when deciding where to live to maximize your happiness, you’ll want to pick a city that offers more than just a decent average income. The ideal city provides conditions that foster good mental and physical health, like reasonable work hours, short commutes, good weather, and caring neighbors,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst said.
Out of 182 cities, two from New Jersey made the list. Here are the findings:
Jersey City made it in the top 40, coming in at No. 36 on the list, with 59.82 as its overall score. The city has the second-lowest suicide rate and third-lowest depression rate. According to U.S. Census Bureau latest report from 2023, Jersey City median household income was over $94,000.
Newark ranked 138 on the list, with an overall score of 46.67. Contributing factors for Newark weighed on mental health. Newark has the lowest suicide rate and the fourth-lowest depression rate. According to U.S. Census Bureau latest report from 2023, Newark's median household income is over $48,000.
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