Random Thoughts To End April – Hometown View

Random thoughts on this final day of April.

Kudos to the Asbury Park Press for its investigative piece on the Lakewood School District. The four-part series began Sunday and was an eye-opener which will raise even more questions about what has to be one of the worst-run districts in the state. In fairness the demographics of the township make public education a real challenge but clearly there are a lot of things that have been done poorly and many believe at some point the state will have to intervene and take over the district.

Since I’m giving the newspaper credit for the journalism then I don’t feel it’s wrong to point out that today’s issue (not counting the Classified section) is a total of 20 pages.

Saw The Five-Year Engagement over the weekend and it truly is a very good couples movie that is not great but entertaining with some truly funny moments. Jason Segal and Emily Blunt are good together and while the film has it slow moments we liked the ending which probably could have came after 15 minutes earlier. I would recommend it but don’t feel the need to run right out which apparently was the case the opening weekend because it did not do nearly as well as was expected. It’s rated “R” and clearly not for kids.

Quite an honor for Toms River High School East wrestling coach Warren Reid who will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this summer. Reid is among 7 individuals who will be saluted into the New Jersey Chapter on Sunday, August 12th at Rider University. Reid has been the Raiders head coach for 33 years and has devoted his life to coaching young men on and off the mat.

The Toms River Regional School District will hold its 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this Friday at 5pm in the Pine Belt Arena. Some 20 individuals along with four teams will be honored from the original Toms River High School as well as current schools South, North and East. I will have the pleasure of serving as the emcee for the event which is held every other year.