Fireworks held throughout county

The Fourth of July is always a special time in the area. Last night, the Red Bank fireworks display was incredible, as usual. Traffic was what traffic is in Red Bank for the fireworks. But it was a great family event.

Dr. Andrew Walsh and his wife, school board member and Democratic candidate for Township Committee Patricia Walsh, hosted their annual fireworks party at their River Plaza home, which brought out scores of people. Some of those that attended the event included Middletown Committeeman Patrick Short and his family, Holmdel Committeeman Larry Fink and his family, Middletown Committeeman Sean Byrnes and his family, Middletown Democratic Chairman Joseph Caliendo and his family, as well as Bayshore Young Dems Chairman Matthew Morehead and his family, among others.

It was a very big event with great food and a lot of spirit. Click on the headline to go to the APP for a story about area-wide events.

Caliendo becomes Courier columnist

The Courier will be welcoming new columnist Joe Caliendo, chairman of the Middletown Township Democratic Party, as a columnist in its editorial pages in upcoming weeks. The veteran Democratic leader will become a permanent fixture in our pages, and has previously been a columnist for the Atlantic Highlands Herald. Mr. Caliendo will round out the columnists for the newspaper, sometimes characterized as "too Republican" by critics. Personally, I think the more points of view the better and so this is bound to be a lively addition. Be sure to look for Joe Caliendo's "Democrats Calling."

CAPTION: At the recent Crystal Beacon Awards, in Red Bank, Greater Long Branch NAACP President Lorenzo W. Dangler and Middletown Democratic Chairman Joseph Caliendo.

Short draws support from Bayshore neighbors

Among those at last night's Middletown Committee meeting were Matawan Borough Councilman Joseph "Bud" Mullaney and Keansburg Borough Deputy Mayor Andrew "Drew" Murray.

I noticed these two guys in the room and asked why they were there: Both said they were there to support Middletown Committeeman Patrick Short.

Mr. Mullaney said he finds Mr. Short's work very worthy, despite the challenges Mr. Short faces on the committee.

Mr. Murray said Mr. Short deserves a lot of credit for what he is doing on committee in the face of resistance to his ideas. Of some note is that both Mr. Mullaney and Mr. Murray are Democrats.

Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo said he appreciated both men showing up to support Short. But what is interesting is the fact that both of these guys are from out of town. This is not run of the mill in Democrats. What does it mean? There are tea leaves for such things, but the Bayshore Democratic Club has, by all reports I've heard, been better attended than in recent years. I know that most of the group is comprised of people from Middletown, but there has been some support from Bayshore towns, prominently Aberdeen, Highlands and Hazlet.

"Mutual support" was a theme from the old Bayshore Republican Conference. In its heyday, the BRC left a big mark where it came to cross support. My question: Does this mean the Bayshore Democratic Club is picking up momentum? Maybe too early to tell but an interesting thought for inside people.