Community Corner

Matawan-Aberdeen Patch's Most Heartwarming Stories of 2012

From Girl Scout projects to neighbors helping neighbors after Sandy, this year has been packed full of moments that will restore your faith in humanity.

January

MRHS Students Create Memories for Disadvantaged Children

A group of Matawan Regional High School art students are designing their way into the hearts of struggling children from disadvantaged countries through The Memory Project.

February

Aberdeen Volunteer Reflects on 37 Years of Service

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The Matawan Regional High School alumnus, who now lives in Marlboro, joined the Aberdeen Township Hose and Chemical Company No. 1 when he was 18, in order to help his community and "stay out of trouble," he said.

Dog Grooming Students Care for Local Shelter Dogs

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Students at Central Jersey Grooming Academy, who are trained by Hair of the Dog owner Dawn Ledbetter, are learning the art of grooming while giving back to shelter animals.

March

Aberdeen's First Female Officer Reflects on Career that Chose Her

Growing up with five brothers and sisters in Strathmore, Kathy Sisti never thought about becoming a police officer. In fact, when it came time for her to pursue a full time career, she went to business school.

April

Matawan Thrift Shop Supports Children and Adults with Special Needs

Behind the counter of MONARC Thrift Shop is Pat Corcoran, the store manager, who greets customers by name as they come and go, pointing out items that they might be interested in.

May 

Local Runner is Chasing One Big Goal

Bronawyn O'Leary, of Cliffwood Beach, has one goal: to run a marathon in under three hours. The feat is surely easier said than done, and the 36-year-old runner has come painfully close more than once. 

Budding Young Artist Shows Off Talent at St. Jude's Fundraiser

Jack has been taking art classes once a week with teacher Deborah Stasiak through the Monmouth County Parks System for about one year now, explained his mother Stacey Gartstein.

June 

The hot sun beat down as Keyport passed the torch to Aberdeen near the Seaboard Marine, but the group was all smiles as they jogged the stretch of Route 35 to Old Bridge.

Matawan Police Sergeant Retires After 30 Years of Service to Community

Thirty years ago, George Leeuw was a 24-year-old Monmouth County resident who had never really thought about joining local law enforcement.

July 

Matawan Girl Scout Spreads Hope to Monmouth County Homeless

When 17-year-old Sara Rutch was brainstorming ideas for her Girl Scouts Gold Award Project, she didn't have to look much further than her closet for inspiration.

August 

Matawan Aberdeen Kids to Be Newest Group of Peer Buddies

Twenty-five Matawan and Aberdeen children took part in Melinda Jennis' Pathways to Exceptional Children training in order to participate in one of the many local athletics programs that pairs special needs children with with a buddy their own age.

Woman Shares Love of Animals as The Pet Nanny

A Matawan woman runs a pet-sitting business that specializes in care for animals with medical needs. 

Aberdeen Family Dental Spreads Smiles with Dentistry From the Heart

The one day event was part of Dentistry From The Heart, a national non-profit focused on providing free dental care to those who cannot afford it.

September

Wine Tasting Event Raises $50K for Cardiac Services

Nearly twice as many people this year purchased $150 tickets to attended the annual Bayshore Community Hospital Wine and Spirits Tasting fundraiser, to benefit Cardiac Services Programs at Bayshore Community Hospital. 

October

Aberdeen Matawan Travel Soccer Team Seeing Double

Parents and coaches on the sidelines of the soccer field often have trouble telling which player is which as the girls run by in a blur of matching uniforms, knee socks and ponytails. At Strathmore Field, however, parents and coaches face an even more challenging task - telling apart three sets of identical twins on the same team.

Aberdeen Honors Fallen Marine with Street Dedication

Georgette and Roy Frank pulled a white cover off of a new street sign in Cliffwood, officially unveiling a road dedicated to their son during a ceremony Saturday morning.

November

By Tuesday, Nov. 6, DeMarco's had delivered about 15 gallons of soup, 600 sandwiches, over 30 trays of food and countless pounds of fresh bread to the Beers Street School in Hazlet, where the Raine Foundation was helping to run a hot food distribution center for local shelters.

D'Bella Salon of Matawan a Collection Center for Operation Jersey Shore Santa

Operation Jersey Shore Santa was launched only days after Sandy rolled through New Jersey and their volunteers are working to collect toys and clothes for families who may not have the resources to celebrate this year, explained founder Jackie O'Leary of Brick.

The Smile That Captured a Nation

The smile of a New Jersey mother has proved not only memorable, but contagious. So contagious, in fact, that people across the entire country are working endlessly to make sure she can continue sharing her bright smile.

Keyport Residents Come Together to Clean Up Sandy's Mess

On a cold and windy Saturday, a group of about twenty people were busy at work across the street from the remains of Ye Cottage Inn.

December

Residents and volunteers started noticing the Union Beach Hope Tree, as it has become known, and slowly but surely the number of ornaments decorating the tree blossomed. 


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