Advanced Knee Pain Treatment in Middletown, NJ

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Acts of kindness happen every day, and we want to hear about the moments — big or small — that show how neighbors support one another.

Patch partnered with T-Mobile on Good Deeds, Great Communities, a nationwide initiative that spotlights acts of kindness in communities across America. If you’ve done a good deed, experienced one or seen one recently, we invite you to share it. At the end of the submission period, Patch will select one community, at Patch’s discretion, and make a charitable donation of $500 to a local nonprofit in that town.

You can submit a recent act of kindness — whether it was something you did yourself or something you witnessed. If you’re submitting a kind act done by someone else, please be sure you have their permission before sharing their story.

As part of the submission, you’ll be asked for your state and ZIP code. This information helps power our real-time leaderboard, which is updated throughout the submission period so readers can follow along and encourage others in their community to participate. You’re welcome to submit more than one act of kindness, helping highlight the many ways people in Middletown show up for one another.

Related:

If you’d like to share a story, submissions remain open through March 31, 2026. Submit your good deed here, and consider sharing this opportunity with others in Middletown so more acts of kindness can be included. Patch may select your good deed to appear in an article as part of the Good Deeds, Great Communities project.

Kindness is happening in Middletown — tell us about a good deed you’ve seen or experienced.

Leaderboard results are for engagement purposes only. Any donation associated with the project will be made by Patch, and the recipient will be determined by Patch.

The Middletown Township Public Library offers a variety of programs, including gardening, author talks, trivia and historical discussions.

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown Township Public Library has announced its line-up of adult events for February. These programs cover various interests, from gardening and literature to history and technology.

On Thursday, February 5, Barbara Ely will lead a gardening lecture on starting seeds indoors at 2 p.m. Later that day at 7 p.m., novelist Vanessa Riley will discuss her book "Fire Sword and Sea" in a virtual talk. The New Jersey Book Club will meet on Monday, February 9, at 12 p.m. to discuss "Five-Finger Discount: A Crooked Family History" by Helene Stapinski.

Several events will celebrate Black History Month and America's 250th birthday. Dr. Lindsey Stewart will present a virtual talk, "Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine & 400 Years of Black Women's Magic," on Thursday, February 12, at 2 p.m. History on the Hoof will explore Revolutionary War songs, drumming, and fifing on Monday, February 16, at 11 a.m. The America 250 Community Read will continue its discussion of "1776" by David McCullough on Thursday, February 19, at 2 p.m. Additionally, the Middletown Historical Society will host Dr. Philip Papas to discuss military strategies at the Battle of Monmouth on Tuesday, February 24, at 7 p.m.

Other programs include a Personal Library Jars workshop on Wednesday, February 11, at 6:30 p.m., and Bob's Burgers Trivia on Thursday, February 12, at 7 p.m. Tech Tuesdays, focusing on Computer Basics Windows Platform, will take place on February 17 at 2:30 p.m. The Genealogy Club will meet on Wednesday, February 18, at 2 p.m. to discuss researching German ancestors. A Seed Swap is scheduled for Friday, February 20, and Saturday, February 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Smithsonian Curator Emeritus Tom Crouch will present a virtual talk on "The Incredible History Behind the World's Largest Museum" on Tuesday, February 24, at 2 p.m. An Adult Zining Workshop will be held on Thursday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m. Registration and additional information for these events are available on the library's website, mtpl.org, or by contacting the reference desk at 732-671-3700, Ext 320.

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown Township Public Library will offer a February line-up of programs for children and teens that blend learning, creativity and fun. Registration is required for most programs and is available at mtpl.org.

The Brainy Bunch – Wednesdays at 4:30 pm: Join a weekly STEM-based program for Grade K–5 combining education, experimentation and fun.

Duplo Free Play – Fridays at 11 am: Bring your little builders for open-ended Duplo playtime! Ages 2+ are invited to get creative, build big, and have fun together — no registration needed.

Cards for a Cause – Wednesday, February 4 from 3–5 pm: Drop in to make Valentine’s Day greeting cards for Middletown seniors. Volunteer Hours will be offered for each card with a limit of 5 cards for 5 hours. For ages 13-18.

Gymboree for Walkers/Babies – Thursday, February 5 at 10 am and 11 am: Gymboree of Red Bank will offer gym classes for toddlers and babies.

Arctic Walrus Storytime & Craft – Friday, February 6 at 10 am: Join Monmouth Museum volunteer Denise Hibell for a storytime and craft inspired by the museum’s January exhibit.

Take Your Child to the Library Day – Saturday, February 7 from 10 am – 2 pm: Celebrate National Take Your Child to the Library Day by joining a fun storytime and stopping by the craft room to choose from Valentine’s Day or winter crafts while supplies last. For ages 2 and up.

Origami Valentines Teen Art Program – Wednesday, February 11 at 7 pm: Learn how to fold origami hearts into perfect gifts for someone special at this Valentines Day craft program for teens ages 13–18.

Read to a Dog – Thursday, February 12 at 4 pm and Monday, February 23 at 6 pm: Improve the literacy skills of children by reading ten minutes to a certified therapy dog. Four sessions are available on each date. For independent readers in Grades K-5.

Revolutionary War Songs, Drumming and Fifing with History on the Hoof – Monday, February 16 at 11 am: Celebrate America’s 250th birthday at this all-ages musical program focusing on the role of fifers and drummers during the American Revolution, and learn songs sung during that period.

Teen Anime Club – Monday, February 16 at 4 pm: Join the Anime Club compete against your friends in anime bingo! For ages 10+.

Tween Book Club – Tuesday, February 17 at 4:15 pm: Tween ages 9–12 will meet to discuss Lightfall: The Girl and the Galdurian by Tim Probert, enjoy a related activity, and socialize during the second half of the program.

Bookworms Book Club – Thursday, February 19 at 4:15 pm: Join the Bookworms Book Club for grades K–3 to share your love of reading and join the Bookworms Reading Challenge!

Sensory Family Storytime – Friday, February 20 at 10 am: Read, sing, dance, and play, then explore our interactive sensory stations! Designed for ages 0–3.

Community Leader Storytime with a Dentist – Saturday, February 21 at 10:30 am: Join a special Dental Month edition of the Community Leader Storytime with Dr. Jason V. Tesoriero from Acorn Pediatric Dental! Hear stories and learn how much fun it is to visit the dentist. For all ages.

Tween Craft Night – Tuesday, February 24 at 6:45 pm: Join a special craft night for tweens to create Yarn Art Masterpieces. For ages 9–12.

Pokémon Trading Night – Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 pm: Join fellow Pokémon fans to trade cards, chat about Pokémon books and movies, and play the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Bring your own deck; best for ages 5+ / Grades K–4.

George Washington’s Spy Masters, 250th Escape Room for Tweens – Saturday, February 28 at 2 pm and 3 pm: Step into the world of the Culper Spy Ring in this Revolutionary War–themed Escape Room! Work as a team to crack codes, uncover hidden messages, and outsmart the British Army — all before time runs out. For tweens ages 9–12.

A judge ordered Middletown to settle with a developer to allow up to 136 townhouses there. It was initially going to be 408 apartments.

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A Monmouth County Superior Court judge ordered Middletown Township to settle with a developer to allow up to 136 townhouses to be built at 114 West Nut Swamp Road.

That is why the Middletown Planning Board introduced an ordinance at their meeting last week (Jan. 7) to change the zoning of that property from single-family residential (which it is currently) to multi-family residential.

The next meeting on this is the Middletown Township Committee meeting at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, Jan. 20, where the town will likely approve the court-ordered zoning change.

Here's the backstory on this:

Middletown Township tried to keep this property from being developed. 114 West Nut Swamp Road and 490 Red Hill Road, another vacant property in that area, are both owned by a private developer named Adoni Property Group.

Adoni Property Group initially wanted to build 408 apartments at 114 West Nut Swamp Road, and 67 apartments at the Red Hill Road property, which is directly behind Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer center.

Middletown tried to fight that; the town wanted to keep both lots as vacant open space and woodland. Middletown Township tried to seize both properties under eminent domain. If Middletown had been successful, both properties would have remained open space, said Mayor Tony Perry.

However, Adoni fought back and a legal battle between the town and the developer has been occurring for the past three years; Patch reported on it in 2023. Holmdel Twp. joined the legal battle too, to stop the Red Hill Road development (the property is right on the Middletown/Holmdel border).

Middletown was prepared to take the case all the way to the New Jersey Supreme Court, but last summer, in July 2025, a Monmouth County Superior Court ordered both sides to settle.

Middletown was forced to reach a compromise with Adoni. The terms of the settlement are that the Red Hill Road property will not be developed and must remain open space woodland, and Adoni will be allowed to build a much smaller number of units on the West Nut Swamp Road lot. And they must be town homes, not apartments.

The Superior Court judge ordered the settlement because she said Middletown is not building enough affordable housing. Twenty seven of those town homes must be affordable housing. The affordable town homes will be intermixed with the market-priced units.

Middletown has been fighting New Jersey's affordable housing mandates for a long time, arguing that developers, such as Adoni, use affordable housing quotas to allow them to build. Patch has written about that, too: Middletown Withdraws From NJ's Affordable Housing Mandate (2019)

Middletown's Twp. attorney Brian Nelson argued the case. He said this Thursday of the outcome:

"Everyone thinks we can just stop development. We tried to do that and spent a lot of money trying."

A group of Middletown residents started this website to stop the zoning change next Tuesday: https://savewestnutswamp.com/

Prior on this topic: Middletown Sued By Developer Seeking To Build 478 Apts. On Red Hill Rd (2023)

As the temperatures have recently dropped and winter is around for several more weeks in New Jersey, many of us have begun to feel a change not just in the weather — but in our bodies too. Cold weather can make joints feel stiffer, muscles more tense, and everyday movement less comfortable. That’s where expert care and guidance from comes in, offering trusted orthopedic support for anyone dealing with joint, bone, or soft-tissue concerns during the colder months.

With a location in Middletown Township, Genesis Orthopaedics & Spine is a community-focused orthopedic and sports medicine practice that provides comprehensive care for musculoskeletal conditions. Whether you’re dealing with chronic joint pain, sports-related injuries, or temporary discomfort made worse by cold weather, their experienced team can help with diagnosis, personalized treatment plans, and rehabilitation strategies tailored to your needs. Their services often include everything from non-surgical care and physical therapy to surgical interventions when necessary.

In addition to in-person appointments, Genesis also offers telehealth consultations, making it easier for patients to connect with orthopedic specialists from home — particularly useful when winter weather makes travel difficult.

Cold Weather & Joint Health: What You Should Know

Many people notice that joint pain — especially in the knees, hips, hands, and back — tends to worsen when temperatures drop. Several factors contribute to this:

Tips for Cold Weather Care

Here are practical strategies to help protect your joints and maintain mobility throughout the winter:

Keeping your entire body warm helps maintain circulation and minimizes joint stiffness. Layering with moisture-wicking base layers, insulating middle layers, and wind-resistant outerwear helps trap heat. Don’t forget hats, gloves, and warm socks — cold hands and feet can make overall stiffness worse.

It might be tempting to stay sedentary on chilly days, but consistent movement is one of the best defenses against joint pain. Gentle activities like indoor walking, yoga, stretching routines, and low-impact workouts help keep joints lubricated and muscles strong. If you have access to a heated pool, aquatic exercise is an excellent winter option.

Warm showers, hot baths, heating pads, and warm compresses can help relax tight muscles and improve circulation to stiff areas. Applying heat before activity can make movement more comfortable and reduce pain.

Slippery sidewalks and snow can lead to painful slips, ankle sprains, or fractures — common winter orthopedic injuries. Wear shoes or boots with good traction, use handrails on steps and walkways, and keep paths clear of ice and snow to reduce risk.

Hydration supports joint lubrication, even in winter. Warm herbal teas or broths count toward fluid intake if plain water feels too cold. A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods — including leafy greens, nuts, and omega-3-rich fish — can also support overall joint health.

If self-care and lifestyle adjustments aren’t enough — or if you experience sudden pain, significant swelling, or reduced mobility — it’s a good idea to consult a specialist at Genesis Orthopaedic. Early evaluation can help prevent minor aches from evolving into chronic issues and ensure you get the right treatment plan, whether that involves physical therapy, advanced pain management, or surgical options.

Cold weather doesn’t have to mean a season of discomfort. With smart preventive steps and the support of trusted orthopedic professionals like those at Genesis Orthopaedic, located at 1270 NJ 35, Suite 1 in Middletown, you can stay active, enjoy winter activities, and protect your joints all season long. Learn more about the Middletown location, TAP here, or call