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 Historic Portland Place 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 Middletown, 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.
“I just started using always best care for my dad The certified aids that came from”
“Such an amazing company with employees who truly care about their business and those they”
“It is a pleasure to work for someone that genuinely respects caregivers for the job”
“I am a current client of this provider I can’t begin to tell to you how”
“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living”
“I am a current client of this provider Your manager is always nice and flexible, and”
“I am a current client of this provider We are very happy with Always Best Care.”
“I am a current client of this provider We have hired Always Best Care. We have”
“I am a current client of this provider We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago”
“I just started using always best care for my dad The certified aids that came from the agency were fantastic This situation is new for myself and my dad For having no complaints from my dad is a plus So ty again for such an easy transition for my dad Much appreciated Susan”
“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.”
“It is a pleasure to work for someone that genuinely respects caregivers for the job we do!”
“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.”
“I am a current client of this provider Your manager is always nice and flexible, and the caregivers are sweet and wonderful”
“I am a current client of this provider We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver is excellent. I would recommend them.”
“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 Poricy Park Nature Center 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 Oak & Reed or visit William Murray House, 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 Middletown, 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 Middletown, 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 Middletown, 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.
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown schools superintendent Jessica Alfone started off Monday night's public budget meeting by saying:"We have had a lot of productive conversations over the last several days and those discussions are continuing to happen in small groups with the Board of Education and the administrative team. We are exhausting every single possibility that comes our way. April 8 is our board meeting where we will have an executive session and then a public portion, and we hope to have some specific information to gi...
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown schools superintendent Jessica Alfone started off Monday night's public budget meeting by saying:
"We have had a lot of productive conversations over the last several days and those discussions are continuing to happen in small groups with the Board of Education and the administrative team. We are exhausting every single possibility that comes our way. April 8 is our board meeting where we will have an executive session and then a public portion, and we hope to have some specific information to give you at that time."
"The things you've brought forward are things we're having conversations about behind the scenes ... about what our next steps will possibly be," she added.
That April 8 meeting will begin with a private executive session, then followed by a public session — where Alfone said additional information will be revealed.
Also, later today the Middletown school district intends to send a survey to all parents/guardians. The school district wants to send that same survey to all community residents — not just public school parents.
On Monday night, one dad presented an idea he said the parent community came up with:
The Board of Education should sell two distinct properties it owns on Kings Highway: One 10-acre tract near the intersection of Sleepy Hollow Road, and another 8-acre wooded lot directly behind Village Elementary School. If using the sale price of land from the recent Mater Dei sale, the combined 18 acres could be sold for more than $10 million, which could plug the district's current $9.8 million budget gap, he said.
It remains unknown if the district will consider this idea. Neither Alfone nor the school board has said anything publicly about this idea, or other alternatives the community proposed.
The Middletown school district proposed a tentative $197 million budget for next year, with a $9.8-million budget hole the district says it has to close. The school district proposes closing Leonardo and Navesink elementaries, and Bayshore Middle School, plus close an additional one or two more elementary schools in the coming years.
Monday night's meeting was attended by many parents from the savemiddletownschools.com movement, wearing their signature bright blue T-shirts.
The first speaker accused "certain members of the board" of "playing partisan politics and ended up with lawsuits because of it."
Parents called the district's proposal to close three schools a "half-crafted plan" and one that was not backed up with data or evidence.
"Our seniors feel pushed out," said another mom. "Our parents feel even more pressure and we're destroying our property values. These are our largest personal investments. Why didn't you mention all this before the election last fall?" she asked the board, to much applause. "Why didn't you tell us about that before you asked us to vote on an open space initiative?"
Watch Monday night's public budget hearing:
It's Not Just 3 Schools: Middletown Seeks To Close More In Future (March 20)
The first public budget hearing: Older Middletown Residents: We Can't Afford 10 Percent Tax Hike To Keep Schools Open (March 27)
Gov. Murphy Responds To Proposed Middletown School Closures (March 27)
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Here's a reminder that the second emergency public budget meeting for the Middletown school district will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Thompson Middle School gymnasium.If you cannot attend tonight's meeting in person, it will be livestreamed via the district's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channe...These are "emergency" public hearings on the budget because the school district has ...
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Here's a reminder that the second emergency public budget meeting for the Middletown school district will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Thompson Middle School gymnasium.
If you cannot attend tonight's meeting in person, it will be livestreamed via the district's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channe...
These are "emergency" public hearings on the budget because the school district has until April 30 to come up with a balanced 2025-'26 budget that does not include closing three schools, as the school district has proposed.
Other alternatives include a 10.1-percent school property tax increase (the district already tentatively plans to raise school property taxes 4.88 percent next year, in addition to closing the three schools; see this letter), or possibly laying off 120 school employees, and eliminating some extracurriculars for students.
The remaining meeting schedule:
"The administrative team and the Board of Education are actively working on vetting further alternative options to eliminate a significant shortfall in next year's budget," said superintendent Jessica Alfone in this March 21 letter to Middletown public school parents and guardians. "After the first two forums, the district will be putting out a survey to all community members for feedback, and the Board of Education will be holding a special executive session on April 8 to discuss the feedback from the community. Following this meeting, alternatives will be shared with the school community. The final two forums will be for the community to express feedback on the various alternatives to balance next year's budget and ensure a path forward for the future. I want to reiterate to the school community that nothing is finalized in regards to the budget until our April 30 meeting."
Here's some of what was said at the first public budget hearing: Older Middletown Residents: We Can't Afford 10 Percent Tax Hike To Keep Schools Open
Huber Woods Environmental Center in Middletown will host an Earth Day Open House April 26.Patch StaffLINCROFT, NJ — This April, the Monmouth County Park System is showering local residents with fun – the Spring Craft Show, Earth Day Open House, nature walks and so much more!Here’s what’s planned for the month:19th Century Woodworking DemonstrationSaturday, April 5 from 12-3 p.m.Historic Longstreet Farm, HolmdelFind out what's happening in Middletownf...
Patch Staff
LINCROFT, NJ — This April, the Monmouth County Park System is showering local residents with fun – the Spring Craft Show, Earth Day Open House, nature walks and so much more!
Here’s what’s planned for the month:
19th Century Woodworking Demonstration
Saturday, April 5 from 12-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See how a woodworker studies his materials, plies his tools, and crafts beautiful and functional items. FREE!
Milling Demonstrations
Saturdays & Sundays, April 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19 & 20 and 26 & 27 at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold
See the 19th century gristmill grind corn into meal. Each demonstration lasts approximately 15 minutes. FREE!
Climb Time
Sunday, April 6 from 3-6 p.m.
Shark River Park, Wall
Try the Park System's 25’ portable climbing wall. You must be 42” or taller to climb. Open to ages 8 and up; under 18 with adult. FREE!
Splendid Spring Stroll
Wednesday, April 9 from 10-11:30 a.m.
Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen - Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Wednesday, April 30 from 10-11:30 a.m.
Clayton Park, Upper Freehold - Meet in the Emley's Hill parking lot.
Welcome the season by joining a Park System Naturalist on a peaceful trail walk through the park. Sturdy footwear is recommended as trails used may have inclines or tree roots to step over. FREE!
Spring Craft Show
Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
This seasonal craft show features 40 + local artists and crafters. Admission and parking are free.
Open Shoot Archery
Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft
All equipment is provided for this open shoot. No outside equipment permitted. This is not an instructional clinic and NOT designed for beginners. If you are new to archery, register for one of our instructional classes prior to attending. Open to ages 10 and up; under 18 with adult. The cost is $10 per person; cash or check only.
Accordion Melodies of the 1890s
Saturday, April 12 from 1-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Hear melodies of the 1890s played on the accordion during your visit. FREE!
Cookstove Demonstration
Saturdays, April 12 & 26 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See what's cooking on the woodstove and discover how recipes, cooking techniques, and kitchens have changed since the 1890s. FREE!
Seashore Open House
Tuesday, April 15 from 1-4 p.m.
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park Activity Center, Long Branch
Stop in during our annual Open House for some fun by the sea. Engaging hands-on activities will entertain and educate you and your family about the shore and the ocean. Speak with a Park System Naturalist about your own shell collection or the aquatic animals on display. Free admission and parking.
Seabrook-Wilson House Open
Sundays, April 20 & 27; Mondays, April 21 & 28; and Thursday, April 24 from 1-4 p.m.
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth
Visit this house, which dates back to the early 1700s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and see displays on the ecology of the bay and local history. FREE!
Earth Day Planting
Tuesday, April 22 from 5-6:30 p.m.
Holmdel Park, Holmdel - Use the Forest Edge parking lot.
Join a Park System Naturalist as we restore our native forests. Your actions will provide valuable food and shelter for local wildlife. Supplies provided, but plants are limited.
Nature Lecture: Skate Fish Along the Jersey Shore
Thursday, April 24 from 7-8 p.m.
Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth
Skates are flattened fish related to sharks and rays and live in the waters off the New Jersey coast. Learn more about this unique fish that calls the Jersey Shore home during this talk by a Park System Naturalist. FREE!
Earth Day Open House
Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Huber Woods Environmental Center, Middletown
Celebrate Earth Day with live animal displays, guided nature walks, crafts and more. Local nature organizations will be on hand to provide valuable information. FREE!
Wool Days/Sheep Shearing
Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27 from 12-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See the farm staff use traditional blade shearing practices to remove the fleece from our sheep. Gene Sheninger will return with his collies to demonstrate their herding skills. FREE!
Earth Day Beach Cleanups
Sunday, April 27 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth
Sunday, April 27 from 1-3 p.m.
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park Activity Center, Long Branch
Help clean our coastline of trash and plastic debris while discovering more about the local environment.
Wood Carving Demonstration
Sunday, April 27 from 1-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See how the wood carver whittles a block of wood into a beautiful work of art. FREE!
Casual Birder
Tuesday, April 29 at 9 a.m.
Big Brook Park, Marlboro
Join a Park System Naturalist for this laid-back morning bird walk and meander for about an hour and a half and see what birds we can find. Participants should expect to be walking a few miles (2-4) on sometimes uneven or muddy terrain. No need to be an expert at identifying birds to enjoy this walk. A limited number of binoculars will be available on a first come basis. FREE!
To learn more about these Park System activities, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call the Park System at 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the Park System TTY/TDD number is 711. The Monmouth County Park System, created in 1960 by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks, and Recreation agency.
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MIDDLETOWN -- The property of the former Mater Dei Prep school will soon become a public park used for youth sports and recreation, Mayor Anthony "Tony" Perry announced Thursday evening in a video posted to Facebook."The Township Committee has reached a tentative agreement to preserve the 20-acre Mater Dei property, a place where so many memories were made and friendships were formed and dreams began," the mayor said.The purchase price will be $11.75 million and will be paid for through the township's open s...
MIDDLETOWN -- The property of the former Mater Dei Prep school will soon become a public park used for youth sports and recreation, Mayor Anthony "Tony" Perry announced Thursday evening in a video posted to Facebook.
"The Township Committee has reached a tentative agreement to preserve the 20-acre Mater Dei property, a place where so many memories were made and friendships were formed and dreams began," the mayor said.
The purchase price will be $11.75 million and will be paid for through the township's open space trust fund and money from Monmouth County officials, he said.
"We are protecting this land from development and giving it new life as Mater Dei Park," Perry said. "This isn't just about saving space. It's about creating space, space for our children to run and play, for families to gather, and for our community to grow stronger together."
By the end of May, the former private school's running track and sports fields will be opened to the public and youth sports teams for exercise and recreation, he said.
The former school building will be demolished, according to Middletown officials.
An official with the Parish of St. Mary's in Middletown, which currently owns the property, declined to comment. A spokesperson with the Catholic Diocese of Trenton also could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.
Mater Dei Prep closed to students in 2022, after officials announced that enrollment had declined by half since 2014.
"Fewer students and the resulting loss in revenue through the years has created an operational deficit that depleted the school’s reserve despite aggressive fundraising efforts," school officials said at the time.
The year it closed, its enrollment was down to 220 students.
The Middletown Committee will introduce an ordinance to complete the purchase and hold a public hearing on the issue at its April 7 meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. and be held at the municipal building at 1 Kings Highway. A final vote on the purchase is scheduled for the Committee's April 28 meeting.
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, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.
The Mater Dei high school building will indeed be torn down, this summer.MIDDLETOWN, NJ — On Thursday evening, St. Mary's Catholic church in Middletown confirmed a rumor that has been circulating through town this week: St. Mary's parish will sell the former Mater Dei High School building, and surrounding grounds, to Middletown Township.Middletown plans to buy the 20-acre property and turn it into a recreational park. The existing sports fields will be kept as is, said Mayor Tony Perry. The new park will be called Mater...
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — On Thursday evening, St. Mary's Catholic church in Middletown confirmed a rumor that has been circulating through town this week: St. Mary's parish will sell the former Mater Dei High School building, and surrounding grounds, to Middletown Township.
Middletown plans to buy the 20-acre property and turn it into a recreational park. The existing sports fields will be kept as is, said Mayor Tony Perry. The new park will be called Mater Dei Park.
However — in what will likely be difficult news for many Middletown residents to hear — the Mater Dei school building itself will indeed be torn down. The entire property will be used for youth and adult recreational sports, said Mayor Tony Perry. The Township has no need for the aging former Catholic school building on site.
"Plans call for the former high school building to be razed," confirmed St. Mary Mother of God in a press release.
Interior demolition will begin very soon, as soon as the sale is completed, said the mayor. The building itself will be torn down this summer.
None of these plans affect St. Mary's grammar school, which will still continue to operate as usual on site and which has a healthy enrollment of Middletown youngsters.
The sale price is $11.75 million. However, an agreement made between Middletown and the county determined that Middletown will pay just 25 percent of that price (just under $3 million) and the county will pay the remaining 75 percent, over $8 million. Monmouth County will make this large purchase using tax dollars from the county's Open Space Trust Fund.
It will be a Middletown town park, not a county park.
The $11.75 million will go directly to St. Mary Mother of God Catholic church in Middletown. It will not go to the diocese in Trenton. That means the main Catholic church in Middletown has an $11.75-million check headed its way. This millions-of-dollars-cash infusion will be used to pay down debt service, parish maintenance, continue religious education and start a student endorsement fund to continue Catholic education in Middletown, said the St. Mary's pastor, Father Jeff Kegley.
The largest portion of funding from the sale will go to the student endowment fund for Saint Mary School, which is operated by the parish and provides Catholic education for students from age 2 through eighth grade, said Kegley. Proceeds from the endowment will support long-term educational initiatives, he said.
Remaining funding from the sale will be dedicated to the maintenance and upkeep of the parish and Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Shrine, he said.
“The decision to sell was not taken lightly, but we believe it is in the best interest of our parish and the broader community,” Father Kegley said. “It will secure our parish’s future and the mission for Catholic education in our town."
None of this can be done without public input: On April 7, the proposal to buy Mater Dei will be introduced at a Township Committee meeting. There will be a public hearing April 28.
Founded in 1961, Mater Dei was Middletown's longtime Catholic high school. Since the 1960s, it educated thousands of teenagers. Many in Middletown were heartbroken to see Mater Dei permanently close in 2022, but the Diocese of Trenton said enrollment had dwindled to a mere 220 students, and the school could not cover a $1-million yearly operating deficit.
Since then, the Mater Dei building has had a ... colorful history. You can see the building and grounds immortalized forever when it was used as the filming location for the "Mean Girls" movie revival, which filmed at Mater Dei in March/April 2023.
Then, St. Mary's tried to enter into an unusual arrangement last spring with College Achieve Public School (CAPS), a charter school in Neptune and Asbury Park. CAPS was going to rent the building from St. Mary's and bus 9th-12th graders up from Asbury Park to Middletown.
CAPS was going to pay St. Mary's $30,000 a month in rent, plus a $150,000 sign-on bonus.
But this bombshell Star Ledger report by reporter Matthew Stanmyre revealed that CAPS was paying its administrators exorbitant salaries, all in New Jersey taxpayer dollars: CAPS founder and CEO Michael Piscal was paid $697,528 a year. CAPS Paterson director Gemar Mills made $433,734 a year. Jodi McInerney, director of CAPS Asbury Park — who graduated from Red Bank Catholic — was paid $323,245.
Stanmyre also reported CAPS manipulated a loophole for it basketball team, which pummeled the Shore Conference in the winter of 2023/'24: An NJSIAA rule allows students from outside of town if a charter school is not at full enrollment. CAPS-Asbury Park said it was not fully enrolled, and put 11 of the most highly ranked basketball players in the state on its '23/'24 team, from towns such as Trenton, Keyport, Newark and Irvington. Critics say CAPS deliberately recruited and stacked its team with out-of-town players.
After that report, the Asbury Park school district sued CAPS, saying CAPS siphoned $1.4 million that should have gone to Asbury public schools by enrolling dozens of teenagers who live out of town. Out of 338 kids enrolled in CAPS-Asbury Park for the 2023-24 school year, Asbury Park BOE says they were only able to verify 53 actually live in Asbury Park.
After that report, McInerney and her husband, principal Tim McInerney, both went on administrative leave.
CAPS is currently being investigated by the state of New Jersey for possible misuse of taxpayer funds: The New Jersey Office of the Comptroller filed a subpoena in November 2024 seeking access to all of CAPS' contracts, lease agreements, spending documents, real estate transactions and financial documents, according to NJ.com and the Asbury Park Press.
CAPS abandoned its plans to rent Mater Dei. Middletown Twp. never granted them a certificate of occupancy, anyway.
The Catholic parish of Saint Mary was founded in Middletown in 1879 and currently counts more than 4,200 families as members of the church.
Here's a history of when St. Mary's tried to rent Mater Dei to CAPS charter school:
NJ Now Investigating CAPS Charter School, Which Wanted To Move Into Mater Dei (Feb. 2025)
Lawmakers Want CAPS Investigated, As It Seeks Expansion To Middletown (May 2024)
St. Mary's Plans To Bring Urban Charter School To Mater Dei Campus (April 2024)
'Mean Girls' Movie Musical Filming In Middletown In March And April (Feb. 2023)
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