V. Grandi President, Matawan Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce
As we move into the heart of the fall season, I’d like to take a moment to thank all our members for their continued support and involvement.
October has been a busy and exciting month for the Chamber, filled with opportunities to connect, celebrate, and grow our business community. Please join me in welcoming our newest members to the Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce: Laurel Bay Health & Rehabilitation – Lindsay Constantino, Mathnasium of Sayreville –Jaymin Patel, Seniors Helping Seniors – Kellie Larsen and Leslie LaCosta, Scarlet Assets Management Company – MJ Bathan, Simple Amenities – Joe Pierson
We’re thrilled to have you join our Chamber family and look forward to working together to strengthen our local business community.
October was packed with activity, starting with Matawan Day on October 4th which is always a highlight for our community! It was wonderful to see so many residents and visitors enjoying the day, meeting our local businesses, and celebrating all that Matawan and Aberdeen have to offer.
We also hosted our 2nd Annual Tailgating Network-
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MATAWAN’S ANNUAL THANKSGIVING
TRADITION
by Cathy Zavorskas,
AIMS TO BREAK RECORDS
The Matawan Borough Recreation Commission is pleased to announce the 19th Annual Turkey Trot 5K and Fitness Walk (and free Kids’ Dash after the race – no registration required), taking place Saturday, November 29, 2025. Thanks to the completion of the Aberdeen Road portion of the
dam project — and a pause before the start of the next phase affecting Ravine Drive — this year’s event will return to the original certified 5K course, beginning and ending on Main Street. Since its debut in 2006, the Turkey Trot has raised funds for the enhancement of Matawan’s parks and recreation programs.
Over the years, proceeds have supported downtown decorations, lighting, flags, benches, picnic tables, and seasonal displays, as well as renovations to the Municipal Center gym, which now serves expanded programs for seniors and teens.
This year’s race will continue to support park enhancement projects, including new benches, lighting, and landscaping, and downtown beautification projects which include additional planters, flowers, new banners and decorations.
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TOYS FOR TOTS 2025 KICK OFF
Now that the holiday season is upon us, All Around Matawan and All Around Matawan Aberdeen and Matawan Police department is committed to giving back to our cherished community members, particularly our children. Our goal this year is to donate 2,500 toys, and we believe that with your generous support, we can achieve this remarkable milestone. Imagine the joy and happiness we can bring to the children this holiday season.
Every year, the residents and businesses of Matawan & Aberdeen come together to support those in need during the holiday season. We host our Annual Giving Event, “Toys for Tots,” which allows us to collect donations until December 16th.
These donations help provide the much-needed joy and comfort that children deserve during the holiday season. Over the past few years, we have been fortunate enough to collect over 10,000 toys, and we have witnessed the incredible generosity of residents from all over Matawan, Aberdeen and beyond. With a simple donation from each of our businesses and residents, we can make a significant
impact and ensure that many children receive the toys they need this holiday season. Together, we can create a positive difference in the lives of our community.
If you’re interested in donating, you can drop off a toy at any of our designated drop-off locations or contact Anthony Cosentino at 732-713-2295. Your contribution will help us make this holiday season truly memorable for the children.
Dir. of Community Engagement, Borough of Matawan
MATAWAN ABERDEEN BOE MESSAGE
It’s hard to believe we’re already heading into the holiday season, a time for family, gratitude, and faith-filled celebrations of light and love. As a Board, we’re thankful for the collaborative work we do together on behalf of our students and community.
Board members remain up to date on annual required training based on their years of service. In addition, we attend the New Jersey School Boards Association Annual Workshop each fall to participate in specialized professional development. We always make great connections, gain valuable insights, and learn creative ways other districts are stretching every dollar while supporting every student.
This focus ties directly to our Board Goals, approved in September for the 2025–2026 school year. Building on progress made, the Board will continue to focus on four key areas: Increase Community Engagement & Buy-in, Broaden Leadership Development & Board Participation Opportunities, Support Measurable Improvement in Academics, and Support Future Forward Planning of Facilities to Sustain our Growing District. Regarding facilities, the District has
been preparing for a referendum to fund necessary improvements. To remain fiscally responsible and based on updated bond balance information, the District is now targeting a November 2027 referendum for facility improvements. This revised timeline allows more time to assess building conditions, prioritize needs, and align with the 2026–2027 redistricting plan.
Community information sessions will be scheduled, with opportunities for feedback as planning progresses. Further updates and forum dates will be shared soon. We look forward to continuing to build a productive, connected district community.
MATAWAN MAYOR ALTOMONTE MESSAGE
Matawan Mayor
Joseph Altomonte
There’s been a lot of talk about Matawan’s water utility lately, and I want to take a moment to set the record straight. While we are undergoing a process to explore prices and gather information about various options, I remain steadfast in my belief that keeping Matawan’s water system public is in the best interest of our residents — unless compelling new information suggests otherwise. Our water utility is an asset to the
they’ve received similar increases roughly every two years and have never been denied by the BPU. Here in Matawan, we cover our operating expenses and plan responsibly for long-term investment in our infrastructure.
Finally, I want to address another misconception: any new development in town pays its fair, pro-rata share toward our utilities. No exceptions.
Keeping Matawan’s water public is a position I strongly believe in — because it means maintaining local control, protecting our residents, and ensuring our community’s long-term interests take precedence.
THE SAT LACKS TRANSPARENCY
By Paul Pscolka
1979 saw the enactment of the Truth-inTesting Law in New York state, which required standardized tests to release exactly half of the administered exams’ questions and answers. For this reason, only six of the seven test dates for the ACT were available in New York (because the ACT only released the questions and answers for 3 of their seven test dates).
There was a time, not too long ago (two years ago, to be exact), when students could get a copy of the SAT they took. At that time, the SAT was offered seven times per year, and the score was released every March, May, and October to the students who tested those months and paid a couple of extra bucks. The Question-and-Answer Service (QAS), as it was called, gave students an opportunity to learn from the mistakes they made on test day.
With the advent of the digital SAT came the end of the QAS. How is this possible? The College Board has cited test security and intellectual property as reasons. Why were test security and
intellectual property not cited earlier? Is the College Board simply increasing their bottom line by reusing old questions?
What the College Board does release now are student performance on very general categories tested. This is useless. Why? Because when a student underperforms on Conventions of Standard English, the student does not know if his/her weakness is subject-verb agreement, verb tense, pronoun-antecedent agreement, commas, colons, semicolons, dashes, or apostrophes. From a preparation standpoint, the practice tests are much more valuable.
Hopefully we hit a tipping point in the not-so-distant future where juggernauts like the College Board (and universities) look out for the best interests of students (as they purport to) rather than their bottom lines. Want to talk about the SAT or college admissions? Book me for a free consultation: https://www.ivymasters.com/free-consultation/
Held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the event also encourages community giving with an optional donation to the Matawan Community Food Bank as it faces a growing need during the holiday season. Organizers hope to top last year’s record of 877 participants by surpassing 1,000 runners and walkers, making 2025 the biggest year yet for both turnout and charitable donations. Registration is now open at RunSignUp. com (search “Matawan Borough 5K Turkey Trot”) or via matawanborough.com.
We hope you will enjoy a wonderful
Thanksgiving with family and friends, rest a day, and then join your neighbors for this cherished Matawan Thanksgiving weekend tradition — where the community comes together for fitness, fun, and a great cause.
DEANA GUNN, MATAWAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT
We are proud to announce that we’ve been awarded $180,908 through the Monmouth County Municipal Open Space Grant Program to help fund significant improvements at Terhune Park – making it more accessible, modern, and welcoming for all ages and abilities. This accomplishment reflects the strong leadership of Mayor Altomonte and the vision of those who remain committed to enhancing our community’s recreational spaces and preserving open space for future generations.
Here’s what’s planned:
• New ADA-accessible sidewalks & pathways from Broad Street, South Street, and Main Street entrances
designed for all ages, including seniors
• ADA picnic tables and park benches for relaxing and gathering
• New trash receptacles and a new flag pole to enhance the park’s look and function
• Concrete curbing, landscaping, seeding, and erosion control to make the space safe, sustainable, and beautiful
This investment will transform Terhune Park into a true community hub, a place where children, families, and seniors can all come together for recreation, health, and community events.
We’re also awaiting word on our T-Mo bile Hometown Grant application (up to $50,000) submitted in September to bring even more resources to this project.
Stay tuned for updates as we move forward and thank you for your support of Matawan’s parks and recreation!
Megan Taraszkiewicz & Dan De Zaio
Deana Gunn Matawan Council President
DEPUTY MAYOR MONTONE MESSAGE
Aberdeen Deputy
Mayor Margaret Montone
Over the past 10 years, the Aberdeen Township Mayor and Council have been committed to not just managing the present but securing the future. One of the most impactful ways we’ve done that is by aggressively pursuing and securing over $11 million in grant funding to support critical projects across our town.
This is what good government is all about finding smart, sustainable ways to improve the quality of life for our residents without placing the full burden on taxpayers. These grants have helped us restore and revitalize parks, modernize roads, and reinvest in the infrastructure our community relies on every single day.
Thanks to this funding, we’ve been able to complete beautiful upgrades to Overlook Park, as well as new playgrounds and restorations at Ivy Hill, Storyland, Deerfield Park, and Cambridge Park. These spaces aren’t just recreational, they’re places where
families connect, kids grow, and memories are made.
We’ve also remained laser-focused on infrastructure. Through our ongoing Roads Program, we’ve brought Aberdeen’s streets into the 21st century, whether through mill and pave resurfacing or full reconstruction, this Council has prioritized the everyday needs of our residents. Just this year, we secured grant funding for Irongate Lane as part of our 2025 road projects. Meanwhile, Darwin Way, Deerfield Lane, Inner Way, Shore Concourse, and Justice Lane are already seeing work underway as part of our broader commitment to maintaining and improving neighborhood streets. These grants didn’t appear out of thin air, they were the result of leadership, persistence, and vision. I’m proud of the role I’ve played in helping secure these funds and put them to work where they matter most.
That’s the kind of leadership that moves Aberdeen forward and that’s exactly what I’ll continue to deliver.
Margaret Montone
Deputy Mayor, Aberdeen Township
WEDNESDAY
MAYOR TAGLIARINI MESSAGE
Over the past few years, Aberdeen has found meaningful ways to honor the men and women who served our country. One of the most visible symbols of our gratitude is the Hometown Heroes Banner Program. Each spring, we proudly raise these banners over our streets, where they fly from Memorial Day through Veterans Day. Every banner tells a story of service, sacrifice, and a legacy that connects our community to the larger story of America. Building on the success of that program, in 2023 we launched a new tradition: Aberdeen’s Veterans Day Celebration and Car Show. That first year brought together families, neighbors, and veterans for a morning filled with pride and appreciation. The event featured a ceremony to honor our servicemen and women, and the turnout reminded us how much our community values recognizing those who have worn the uniform. This year, we are excited to continue that tradition and make it even stronger. On Sat-
urday, November 8, at Matawan Regional High School, we will host our Veterans Day Celebration beginning with a special break fast for honorees and their families. After ward, the celebration continues outdoors with the Veterans Day Car Show. From vintage classics to modern favorites, the cars on display provide a fun backdrop for families to gather, share stories, and connect with the veterans who live among us.
Veterans Day is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a time to pause and reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and the people who defended them. By coming together as a community, we show our veterans that their service has not been forgotten, and that Aberdeen is committed to honoring them not only with words, but with meaningful action.
I look forward to seeing you all on November 8 as we celebrate our veterans with pride, gratitude, and community spirit.
Fred Tagliarini Mayor, Aberdeen Township
Packages starting at 199.99 plus tax
All orders come with fresh cranberries, turkey, gravy, loaves of our famous bread and fresh baked pies.
Place your orders by November 16th!
Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini
CHAMBER CONNECT
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ing Event at Stewart’s Root Beer in Matawan on October 15th. This has quickly become a Chamber favorite, a relaxed, fun setting that encourages great conversations and new connections.
We were proud to celebrate the Grand Opening of Senior Helpers on October 8th, as they opened their brand-new facility on Route 9 in Manalapan. Congratulations to the Senior Helpers team on this exciting milestone!
Stay tuned for more highlights from our Networking Luncheon at Court Jester, sponsored by PuroClean (October 28th), and the Ribbon Cutting for Vigor Dispensary (October 25th), which we’ll recap in next month’s column.
Upcoming Events
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for our After-Hours Networking Event at Office Evolution on November 18th. This event is sponsored by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, with guest speaker Kathy Guzman, Senior Small Business Liaison of the NJEDA. It promises to be an informative and engaging evening focused on supporting small businesses and fostering growth in our region.
As we approach the Thanksgiving season, I’d like to express my gratitude to all our members for your continued participation and commitment to our Chamber. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected business community. Be sure to visit our website for details on our Annual Holiday Gathering, taking place the first week of December. This is one of our most festive and enjoyable events of the year!
On behalf of the entire Chamber Board, I wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving!
CHECK IT OUT: LIBRARY NEWS!
It finally feels like fall! Hope you are enjoying the sweater weather and all of the wonderful autumn activities.
As you know, our monthly calendar is always full of fun and educational activities for all of the members of our community: babies through seniors. (You can find out more about our upcoming programs at www.mapl.org.) If you’ve attended events such as Aberdeen Day and Matawan Day, or other town gatherings, you’ve seen us sharing information about library resources (and giving out candy and bookmarks!). If your children attend school in the district, they’ve seen us in their classrooms talking about the summer reading program, and we’ve had the pleasure of meeting you at Back to School Nights. We are doing our best to be present for you in our building AND out in the community to provide information and answer your questions. (It’s what we do best!)
To help organize these outreach efforts and assist in getting out to more locations, we welcomed our new Community
Engagement Librarian, Laurie Floyd, to the MAPL staff in October. Laurie is re sponsible for scheduling visits, attending events, and helping to staff our service desks. If you have an organization that would like to discuss the possibilities of a library partnership with Laurie, please feel free to contact her at 732-583-9100 or lfloyd@mapl.org.
Please note that the library will be OPEN from 9am-12:30pm on Wednes day, November 26th (the day before Thanksgiving), but we’ll be CLOSED on Thursday, November 27th (Thanksgiv ing) and Friday, November 28th (the day after Thanksgiving) so that our staff can enjoy time with family and friends. We will reopen on Saturday, November 29th, at 9am so you can come visit us after the Turkey Trot!
Be sure to mark your calendars for our December Festival of Giving. The library will be collecting books, mittens, scarves, hats, and gloves, toys, and non-perish able food items for those in need. More details to come!
Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!
Kimberly Paone, Library Director Matawan Aberdeen Public Library
Matawan Matawan
Re-Elect Re-Elect
CLIFTON Alex SAUICKIE
Alex SAUICKIE
In the Assembly, Clifton and Sauickie are leading the fight against the disastrous policies of the far-left Democrat majority in Trenton, that have made New Jersey unaffordable for the seniors and hard working families in LD12.
Rob and Alex will continue to:
FIGHT reckless Democrat Energy policies that have reduced generation and caused Energy bills to skyrocket.
WORK to get our fair share of school funding and restore funding cuts by Trenton Democrats
BRING COMMON SENSE to Trenton. IT’S TIME to end the far-left, extreme agenda of Trenton Democrats.
TRINITY CHURCH IS 175 YEARS OLD
Did you ever drive along Main Street and gaze over at number 74 and wonder….was that building once a church? The answer is yes; Trinity Episcopal Church was located there from 1950 to 1968 when we moved to our current location at 18 Ryers Lane. Trinity Church has been a vibrant part of the life of the Matawan-Aberdeen area for 175 years! The parishioners are proud of our history and look forward to a long future in Matawan. Today, Trinity is the spiritual home to a truly diverse community of faith, fully representative of our surrounding population. Our involvement in and with the community continues to grow and expand as our service and ministry to others increases. We are a friendly, welcoming parish, proud of our inclusiveness and hospitality.
To commemorate this milestone, the parish is having a historic celebration of the Episcopal liturgy using the prayer book which was in effect in 1850 on November 9th at 9am. We invite any interested neighbors to come out and visit with us on that day. We will follow the liturgy with a gathering to celebrate our history. If you are looking for a warm, welcoming church community please consider Trinity, our Sunday services are at 8am and 10 am.
REFORMED CHURCH HOME RESIDENTS RELIVE THE TIMELESS JOY OF THE BEATLES
On February 9, 1964, an estimated 73 million people tuned in to The Ed Sullivan Show to see four young men from Liverpool perform live for the first time in America. The Beatles’ debut united families across the nation, forever changing music and culture. Among those wide-eyed teens were many who now call Reformed Church Home their home.
Sixty years later, those same fans found themselves inspired again. On October 7, 2025, Reformed Church Home hosted Ft. Midlife Crisis NYC: A Beatles Story Concert, a lively tribute that brought the music—and memories—flooding back.
For ninety minutes, familiar chords filled the air: She Loves You, Let It Be, Here Comes the Sun, and Hey Jude. Residents smiled, clapped, sang, and even shed a few joyful tears. Couples who once danced to I Want to Hold Your Hand reached for each other’s hands again.
“It wasn’t just a concert,” said Activities Directors Amy Wendel and Kristen Micholowski. “It was a time machine fueled by memory and melody.
Watching our residents sing along reminded us that inspiration never ages.”
At Reformed Church Home, Inspired Living is more than a theme—it’s a way of life. Whether through music, art, or friendship, joy and purpose are renewed daily. Executive Director Kate Shepard summed it up best: “Our goal is to create moments that move the heart. The Beatles did that for a generation, and we strive to do that every day for our residents.”
On that October afternoon, yesterday truly met today—and everyone was inspired then and inspired again.
ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT HONORS OFFICERS AT 2025 AWARD CEREMONY
At the Council Meeting on Thursday 10/16/25, the Aberdeen Township Police Department held its 2025 Award Ceremony. Mayor Fred began the evening by officially swearing in Officer Dimitrious Myers. Throughout the program, officers were recognized with the Department Citation, Lifesaving Award, and Meritorious Service Award. Each honor was presented for outstanding
actions in specific cases that directly contributed to the safety and security of Aberdeen Township and its residents. The Mayor, Council, and Township Manager extend their sincere congratulations and gratitude to all the officers recognized during this special evening. Thank you for your continued dedication and service to our community.
