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Sciatica Treatment in Middletown, NJ Relief Without Surgery, Starting Today
It probably started in your lower back. Weeks ago, maybe months ago - possibly from lifting something the wrong way, possibly after a long drive, possibly from no obvious trigger at all. You iced it, took some ibuprofen, waited it out. The back pain got better.
And then the pain showed up somewhere new.
Shooting down your glute. Into your hamstring. Burning through your calf. Sometimes all the way to your foot. It flares when you sit at your desk for more than fifteen minutes. It wakes you up when you roll over at night. Bending to put on your shoes has become a genuine ordeal.
That's sciatica. And if you're dealing with it right now, you already know two things: it's miserable, and it doesn't resolve on its own the way regular back pain does.
At NJ Sports Spine and Wellness in Middletown, NJ, sciatica is one of the most common reasons patients walk through our door. It's also one of the conditions we're best positioned to treat. Our combination of DRX9000 spinal decompression, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and advanced therapeutic modalities - all under one roof - gives us a wider set of tools than most practices have. For the overwhelming majority of patients, we can resolve sciatica without surgery, without injections, and without long-term pain medication.
Let's talk about what's actually causing your pain and what we can do about it.
- Sciatica Treatment in Middletown, NJ - Relief Without Surgery, Starting Today
- Sciatica Treatment in Middletown, NJ | NJ Sports Spine and Wellness
- What Is Sciatica?
- The Different Types of Sciatica We Treat
- Sciatica Symptoms We See Every Day
- Why Generic Sciatica Treatment Often Doesn't Work
- Our Approach to Sciatica Treatment
- When Surgery Is Truly the Right Call
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Patients Choose NJ Sports Spine and Wellness for Sciatica
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. It starts as a bundle of five nerve roots in your lower spine, exits through small openings between the vertebrae, merges in your pelvis, and runs down the back of each leg all the way to your foot. When any of those nerve roots - or the sciatic nerve itself further down - gets compressed, irritated, or inflamed, the signal it carries gets disrupted. The result is the very specific pattern of symptoms we call sciatica: pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that radiates from the lower back into the buttock and down the leg.
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The real question is: what's compressing or irritating the nerve in the first place? Because the answer determines what actually works to fix it.
The Different Types of Sciatica We Treat
One of the reasons sciatica doesn't respond to generic treatment is that "sciatica" covers several very different underlying problems.
Herniated or bulging disc.
The most common cause. When the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes out against the fibrous outer layer - or breaks through it entirely - it can press directly against a nerve root. That compression, combined with the chemical irritation from the disc material itself, creates classic shooting leg pain.
Spinal stenosis.
A narrowing of the spinal canal or the small openings where nerves exit the spine. Common in patients over 50. Usually causes leg pain that's worse with standing or walking and eases when you sit down or lean forward on a shopping cart.
Degenerative disc disease.
Age-related wearing of the spinal discs reduces cushioning between vertebrae and can lead to nerve compression over time.
Spondylolisthesis.
One vertebra has shifted forward relative to the one below it, narrowing the space where a nerve exits.
Facet joint arthritis.
The small joints at the back of the spine become inflamed or develop bone spurs that encroach on nearby nerves.
Piriformis syndrome.
The sciatic nerve passes under (and in some people, through) the piriformis muscle deep in the buttock. When that muscle is tight, spasming, or inflamed, it can compress the nerve - creating sciatica symptoms that have nothing to do with your spine. This one gets missed a lot, and the treatment is completely different from disc-related sciatica.
Pregnancy-related sciatica.
Weight distribution changes and hormonal ligament laxity during pregnancy can put new pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Our Middletown, NJ team evaluates for all of these, because treating a disc herniation like it's piriformis syndrome (or vice versa) is how patients end up stuck in treatment that isn't working.
Sciatica Symptoms We See Every Day
Sciatica has a signature pattern, but it shows up differently in different patients. Common symptoms:
- Shooting pain down one leg from the lower back or buttock
- Pain that radiates from your back into your hip, thigh, calf, or foot
- Sharp pain in the buttock that worsens with sitting
- Burning or electric-shock sensations down the leg
- Numbness or tingling in the leg, foot, or specific toes
- Weakness in the leg, foot, or ankle - difficulty lifting your toes or pushing off
- Pain that's worse with sitting than with standing or walking
- Pain when bending forward, sneezing, coughing, or straining
- Difficulty getting comfortable in any position at night
- "Foot drop" - catching your toe when walking
- Pain that started in your back and migrated down the leg as back pain faded
If your symptoms appear on both sides at once, or you're experiencing loss of bladder or bowel control, saddle-area numbness, or rapidly progressing leg weakness - that's a red flag. Those symptoms can indicate cauda equina syndrome or another urgent spinal issue, and you should go to an emergency room, not a clinic.
Why Generic Sciatica Treatment Often Doesn't Work
A lot of patients have been through a standard treatment cycle before they walk into our Middletown, NJ office. Rest, anti-inflammatories, maybe a round of muscle relaxants. Physical therapy somewhere that treated the back generically. Maybe an epidural injection that helped for a few weeks, then wore off. By the time they get to us, they're frustrated, skeptical, and often being nudged toward surgery.
Here's why that cycle is common. Epidural steroid injections reduce inflammation around the nerve, which can provide real short-term relief - but they don't address the mechanical compression that's causing the inflammation in the first place. When the steroid wears off, the compression is still there. Generic physical therapy helps some patients and frustrates others because it doesn't distinguish between a compressed disc that needs decompression and a piriformis issue that needs completely different work.
Effective sciatica treatment has to do two things: identify the specific source of the nerve compression and address it mechanically. That's what our approach is built around.
Our Approach to Sciatica Treatment
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
DRX9000 Spinal Decompression
For disc-related sciatica, the DRX9000 is one of the most effective non-surgical tools available. It uses precisely calibrated, computer-controlled traction to gently separate the vertebrae, creating negative pressure within the disc. That negative pressure can help retract disc material away from compressed nerve roots and improve circulation to the disc itself, supporting healing. The treatment is comfortable, drug-free, and has strong clinical evidence behind it for herniated discs and lumbar radiculopathy - which is why it's our primary treatment for most disc-related sciatica cases.
Physical Therapy
Not generic back exercises. Our physical therapists identify whether your sciatica responds better to flexion-based or extension-based movement (disc patients and stenosis patients often need opposite approaches), rebuild core and hip stability, and retrain the movement patterns that put recurring strain on your lower back. This is the piece that keeps sciatica from returning after the acute symptoms resolve.
Chiropractic Care.
Specific, targeted spinal adjustments restore proper motion to segments that have become restricted and are contributing to nerve compression. For many patients, chiropractic is the piece that relieves acute symptoms fastest.
LiteCure Class IV Laser Therapy
Therapeutic laser reduces inflammation around irritated nerve roots and soft tissue, supports cellular repair, and can significantly reduce pain. We often use it alongside spinal decompression to accelerate relief during the early phase of treatment.
Manual Therapy and Soft-Tissue Work
For piriformis-related sciatica, and for the muscular tightness that almost always accompanies disc issues, hands-on work - including instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization and cupping - releases restrictions that are contributing to compression.
Acupuncture
A meaningful evidence base exists for acupuncture in sciatica, particularly for patients who haven't responded well to other approaches or who are looking for additional pain modulation alongside their primary treatment.
Pain Management Options
When needed, our pain management team can provide targeted interventions to help control acute pain while the mechanical treatment takes effect. The goal is always to get you moving out of the pain cycle, not to build dependence on medications or injections.
Activity and Ergonomic Guidance
What you do in the 23 hours a day you're not in our office matters more than the one hour you are. We'll give you specific guidance on posture, work setup, sleep position, and which movements to avoid or embrace - based on your specific type of sciatica.
When Surgery Is Truly the Right Call
For a small subset of patients, surgery genuinely is the right answer. Progressive neurological weakness, cauda equina syndrome, or severe sciatica that hasn't responded to a thorough course of conservative care are legitimate surgical indications. In those cases, we coordinate with spine surgeons who use minimally invasive techniques - smaller incisions, less tissue disruption, and lower infection risk than traditional open procedures.
The honest reality: most sciatica patients do not need surgery. Most studies and clinical guidelines now recommend conservative treatment as first-line for disc-related sciatica, with surgery reserved for cases that fail to respond or involve significant neurological compromise. Before any surgical conversation, we want to know that spinal decompression, chiropractic, targeted PT, and laser therapy have all been genuinely attempted.
Why Patients Choose NJ Sports Spine and Wellness for Sciatica
A True Spine-Focused Practice
The word "spine" is in our name. Sciatica and disc-related conditions are a core focus of what we do, not a side service. Our team sees these cases every day and has built a specific, multi-tool approach around them.
DRX9000 Spinal Decompression On-Site
Not every practice has it. The DRX9000 is one of the most evidence-supported non-surgical options for herniated discs and lumbar radiculopathy, and having it in-house means we can start treatment the day you come in.
Same-Day Appointments
Nobody dealing with sciatica wants to be told to wait three weeks for an opening. We offer same-day appointments whenever the schedule allows.
A Full Multidisciplinary Team Under One Roof
Sciatica responds best when multiple approaches work together. Our chiropractors, physical therapists, pain management specialists, acupuncturists, and podiatrist work in the same building, on the same chart, toward the same plan. If your sciatica is disc-related but has a piriformis component on top of it (a very common combination), we can address both at once without sending you to a second practice.
A Treatment Plan With a Finish Line
We track progress, adjust what isn't working, and don't keep you coming back indefinitely. The goal is to get you back to sitting through dinner, sleeping through the night, and doing the things you've been avoiding - then to stop seeing you except for the occasional check-in.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first sciatica evaluation at our Middletown, NJ office is thorough. We'll ask when it started, what makes it better or worse, how it's affecting your daily life, and what you've already tried. Then we'll do a comprehensive physical and neurological exam - testing reflexes, sensation, strength, and range of motion, and running specific orthopedic tests to help identify whether your sciatica is disc-related, stenosis-related, piriformis-related, or something else. If imaging would clarify the picture, we have X-ray on-site.
From there, we explain what we think is going on in plain English and walk you through your treatment options. You'll leave knowing what the plan is, what it involves, and roughly how long it should take to feel real improvement.
Book Your Sciatica Appointment in Middletown, NJ
If you've been dealing with sciatica for weeks or months - and nothing you've tried has actually resolved it - let's take a look. For the vast majority of patients, we can get sciatica resolved without surgery, without long-term medication, and without waiting it out indefinitely.
Call our Middletown, NJ office at (908) 866-7246 to schedule. Same-day appointments available.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the cause and how long it's been going on. Acute disc-related sciatica caught early often responds to spinal decompression, chiropractic, and targeted PT within a few weeks. Chronic cases with long-standing disc involvement typically need a longer treatment arc. Most patients feel meaningful improvement in the first few weeks, even when full resolution takes longer. Your provider will give you a more specific timeline after your evaluation.
No. Most patients describe it as a gentle stretching sensation, and many find it genuinely relaxing. You lie on a specialized, computer-controlled table while it applies precise, calibrated traction. Sessions typically run 20–30 minutes, and most patients are comfortable throughout.
Not always. A thorough physical exam and targeted orthopedic testing can identify the cause of most sciatica cases. If imaging is needed - to distinguish between possible causes, rule out a serious issue, or confirm a surgical indication - we'll let you know. We don't order imaging reflexively, because it often doesn't change the treatment plan for conservative care.
In most cases, yes. Current clinical guidelines recommend conservative treatment as the first line for disc-related sciatica, with surgery reserved for cases that don't respond or involve progressive neurological weakness. Many patients who've been told they need surgery find that spinal decompression, chiropractic care, and proper physical therapy resolve their symptoms without it. If you've been told surgery is your only option, a second opinion is almost always worth getting.
A lot of conditions mimic sciatica - hip issues, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, and certain nerve entrapments lower in the leg can all produce similar patterns. Getting the right diagnosis is the first step. If what you thought was sciatica hasn't responded to standard treatment, there's a good chance the original diagnosis was incomplete. We'll work out exactly what's driving your pain before recommending any treatment.
Latest News in Middletown, NJ
This NJ station has $6 gas that you can never buy — here’s why
Mike Branthttps://nj1015.com/six-dollar-gas-station-middletown-nj/
When I saw this, I had to do a double-take. Did the price per gallon really shoot past the $6 mark?I know gas prices are going up all throughout the state, but $6 gas is just ridiculous. In fact, it's probably the highest unleaded price any of us will see in New Jersey (as of Mar. 19, 2026, that is).Look, if gas prices everywhere got to this point, I think it's safe to say most of us will stick to walking and only drive when necessary. There's just no way any of us in the right mind will stop at this station displaying such an ...
When I saw this, I had to do a double-take. Did the price per gallon really shoot past the $6 mark?
I know gas prices are going up all throughout the state, but $6 gas is just ridiculous. In fact, it's probably the highest unleaded price any of us will see in New Jersey (as of Mar. 19, 2026, that is).
Look, if gas prices everywhere got to this point, I think it's safe to say most of us will stick to walking and only drive when necessary. There's just no way any of us in the right mind will stop at this station displaying such an astronomical price.
Fortunately for us, you can't fill your tank here (not that you'd want to anyway). Even if you wanted to pay those prices or stop into the convenience stores, you'll never be able to.
That's because this brand new gas station isn't functional. Instead, it was built as a set for a movie shoot that just so happens to be taking place at the old Circle Liquor Store location off of Route 35 in Middletown.
Or, as I refer to it as, the famous evil clown parking lot.
If you don't remember seeing this gas station in Middletown, you're not alone. This movie set was built incredibly fast, and, quite honestly, it looks very impressive considering how fast it went up. I almost wish it would open to the public as I think it would do well here (well, maybe not with those gas prices).
According to Patch, Middletown "cannot reveal any details about who is in the movie, including actors. The production companies are MRC and Truck Stop Productions."
Crews are expected to continue filming through late June. Once filming is complete, it'll go back to the empty evil clown parking lot we're all familiar with.
So for now, it's a mystery. What's this movie going to be about? And more importantly, is it a lens into what our gas prices are eventually going to be? I sure hope not.
If you have a chance, take a ride and check it out for yourself. But please keep in mind that it is an active movie set and filming may be taking place. That's why the lot is closed off... don't trespass.
But the fact that it's right by the evil clown makes it that much more interesting. It legit looks like a fully functional gas station in person. You have to love it when filming like this happens in New Jersey.
The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host & content contributor Mike Brant. Any opinions expressed are his own.
Parents Chant “Put Children First” As NJ School Board Votes To Close 3 Schools
Matt Ryanhttps://943thepoint.com/middletown-nj-school-closures/
Big decisions about schools always hit close to home. Recently, a very populated and divided town ended a long and emotional night with a vote that will reshape the local school system for years to come.After hours of debate, public comment, and some very tense moments in the meeting room, the local board of education voted to close three school buildings as part of a plan to shrink the district's overall size.The meeting stretched for more than five hours. Dozens of parents showed up, many pleading with the board to reconsider...
Big decisions about schools always hit close to home. Recently, a very populated and divided town ended a long and emotional night with a vote that will reshape the local school system for years to come.
After hours of debate, public comment, and some very tense moments in the meeting room, the local board of education voted to close three school buildings as part of a plan to shrink the district's overall size.
The meeting stretched for more than five hours. Dozens of parents showed up, many pleading with the board to reconsider. At one point, the room erupted into chants of “Put children first” as board members prepared to take the final roll-call vote.
It was the kind of scene that shows just how personal these decisions are for families.
It usually comes down to money (of course) and enrollment. In many cases, school districts see student numbers decline, while costs continue to climb.
In this New Jersey school district, officials say the financial outlook is getting worse quickly. A projected deficit of about $3.2 million is expected for the 2026 to 2027 school year. They claim that the number could grow to nearly $14 million within a few years if major changes are not made.
Administrators in this town believe shrinking the district footprint will help manage staffing levels, which make up the largest portion of the budget.
The plan also continues a trend already underway in the district. One elementary school closed back in 2020 after enrollment dropped.
The district at the center of this decision is the Middletown Township Public School District, one of the largest districts in Monmouth County.
Three schools will close as part of the new plan. Leonardo Elementary School, Navesink Elementary School, and Bayshore Middle School will all be affected.
Students from Leonardo and Navesink will move into the current Bayshore building, which will be converted into Bayshore Elementary School.
Middle school students who currently attend Bayshore will be reassigned to Thorne and Thompson Middle Schools.
Once the changes are complete, the district will operate 10 elementary schools feeding into two middle schools.
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According to The Patch, the final vote was extremely close.
Five board members voted in favor of closing the schools, while four voted against the plan. Several members who opposed the closures warned that the changes could lead to overcrowding and questioned whether enough financial analysis had been done.
Others argued the district had no choice.
One board member became emotional while explaining her vote, acknowledging that the decision would be painful for many families but saying delaying tough decisions could make the situation even worse later.
If anything was clear by the end of the night, it was this. For many families in Middletown, the conversation about the future of their schools is far from over.
March Programs For Adults At Middletown Public Library
Carly Baldwinhttps://patch.com/new-jersey/middletown-nj/march-programs-adults-middletown-public-library
Here is everything planned, all free and open to the public:MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown Township Public Library (MTPL) announced its line-up of adult events for March.Additional information and registration can be found at mtpl.org. Any questions, please contact the reference desk at 732-671-3700, ext. 320.Virtual Talk: Humor, Heart, and Reflective Rural Stories with Author Michael PerryOn Wednesday, March 4 at 2 pm, humorist Michael Perry will share humor, heart, and reflective rural stories fr...
Here is everything planned, all free and open to the public:
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown Township Public Library (MTPL) announced its line-up of adult events for March.
Additional information and registration can be found at mtpl.org. Any questions, please contact the reference desk at 732-671-3700, ext. 320.
Virtual Talk: Humor, Heart, and Reflective Rural Stories with Author Michael Perry
On Wednesday, March 4 at 2 pm, humorist Michael Perry will share humor, heart, and reflective rural stories from his books. Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.
Virtual Seminar: Cracking the Code — Affordable College Solutions
On Thursday, March 5 at 7 pm, Carl Barling and Jodi Simon of Cornerstone College & Wealth Solutions will explore ways to pay for college, including financial aid, scholarships, college savings strategies, recent legislation impacting affordability, and ways families at all income levels can reduce costs and preserve their financial future. Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.
NJ Author Talk: Paging New Jersey: A Literary Guide to the Garden State
Join the New Jersey Book Club on Friday, March 6 at 1 pm as author James F. Broderick discusses the Garden State's numerous contributions to American literature and shares his own personal experiences writing about New Jersey history. This lecture is part of the library's Community History Project and was made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
New Jersey Book Club: The Barrens: A Novel of Suspense
Join us on Monday, March 9 at 12 pm to discuss this startling and complex tale by Rosamond Smith (aka Joyce Carol Oates), following a serial killer and the people his crimes touch and transform. Participants may attend in person in the History Room or register at mtpl.org to receive a Zoom link.
Tech Tuesdays: Design with Canva Basics & Internet Basics and Online Safety
Perfect your design and internet safety skills with a Tech Tuesday session in March at MTPL. Join us on Tuesday, March 10 at 2:30 pm to learn the basics of Canva, a free online design platform that makes it easy to create professional-looking graphics. New computer users are invited to the Internet Basics session on Tuesday, March 31 at 2:30 pm to learn how to navigate the internet, use search engines, and explore websites safely.
Virtual Talk: Book Portals and Journeys of Literary Magic with Kate Quinn
On Thursday, March 12 at 7 pm, acclaimed author Kate Quinn will discuss her latest work, The Astral Library, a fantastical novel that poses the question: Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.
Emo Music Bingo
Grab your eyeliner and skinny jeans and join us on Wednesday, March 12 at 7 pm for a night of music bingo dedicated to all your favorite emo hits. This program is for adults 18+.
America 250 Lecture: The Continental Soldier — How He Lived, Dressed, and Fought
Part of MTPL’s continuing celebration leading up to the United State’s 250th birthday, Dr. Bill Anania will lead a presentation on Friday, March 13 at 2 pm to discuss and demonstrate the clothing and equipment of the average Patriot soldier during the American Revolution.
Genealogy Club: Researching Your Irish Ancestors
Join fellow researchers on Wednesday, March 18 at 2 pm as Maureen Winski Maloney presents this month's topic, "Researching Your Irish Ancestors."
America 250 Community Read: 1776 by David McCullough
Join us by the fireside at the Grover House, located at 930 West Front Street, on Thursday, March 19 at 2 pm to discuss chapters 5 and 6 of David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize winning account of the events of 1776, the American Revolution, and its effect on communities, soldiers, people of color, Native Americans, African Americans, and women.
Researching Revolutionary War Patriots, Part 3 with the Middletown DAR
Join the Middletown Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on Friday, March 20 at 11 am for one-on-one help with a Middletown DAR genealogist as you use FamilySearch public trees and the National Society DAR database to identify potential Revolutionary War ancestors. Please bring a laptop — Chromebooks are available to borrow at the Reference Desk with a Middletown Library card (please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the workshop).
Makers Day: Technology Through the Ages
Celebrate America's 250th anniversary on Saturday, March 21 from 11 am to 2 pm with a special themed Maker Day event featuring demonstrations, games, crafts, and an exploration of how STEM has evolved over the past 250 years.
Virtual Author Talk: America's Failed Response to the Opioid Crisis with Shoshana Walter & Barbara Kingsolver
On Tuesday, March 24 at 2 pm, author Shoshana Walter and special guest host Barbara Kingsolver will discuss Walter's book Rehab: An American Scandal, in which the Pulitzer finalist exposes the country's failed response to the opioid crisis and the corruption plaguing the drug rehabilitation industry. Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.
Adult Zining Workshop
Embrace your creativity at MTPL’s Zining group for adults with resident archivist Laura Poll on Wednesday, March 25 at 1 pm in the Makerspace. No artistic skills are needed, and all supplies will be provided.
Demystifying Artificial Intelligence
Join presenter Eddi Khaytman on Wednesday, March 25 at 6:30 pm for an engaging and informative introduction to the world of Artificial Intelligence and its real-world applications. The presentation will explore why AI excites and concerns so many people, its implications for society, and will feature demonstrations of some of today's most powerful AI tools, including ChatGPT, Midjourney, Sora, Perplexity, ElevenLabs, and Adobe Firefly.
Visit mtpl.org to read more or to sign up for upcoming programs. Please contact Jenna O’Donnell at jodonnell@mtpl.org for additional information.
Middletown Library's March Programs For Kids, Tweens And Teens
Carly Baldwinhttps://patch.com/new-jersey/middletown-nj/middletown-librarys-march-programs-kids-tweens-teens
MIDDLETOWN, NJ – As spring blooms and Maker March arrives, the Middletown Township Public Library invites children and teens to explore a season of fun, hands-on, and educational activities.What's planned for kids: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...
MIDDLETOWN, NJ – As spring blooms and Maker March arrives, the Middletown Township Public Library invites children and teens to explore a season of fun, hands-on, and educational activities.
What's planned for kids:
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.
Tween Game Night – Tuesday, March 3 at 7 pm: Bring a friend or make a friend while playing games like Trivia, Bingo, Pictionary, HeadsUp and more. For ages 9-12.
Cards for a Cause – Wednesday, March 4, 3–5 pm: Drop in to make St. Patrick’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 & Crawlers – Thursday, March 5 at 10 am and 11 am: Gymboree of Red Bank will offer gym classes for toddlers and babies.
Dinosaur Storytime and Craft – Friday, March 6 at 10 am: Join Monmouth Museum volunteer Denise Hibell for a story time and craft inspired by the museum’s dinosaur exhibit.
Family Storytime and Craft Spinning Wooden Tops – Saturday, March 7 at 10 am: Join us for a special America 250 themed storytime & craft to learn about wooden tops, one of the oldest toys in history, and a favorite pastime for children during the colonial era, over 250 years ago.
Gymboree for Infants – Tuesday, March 10 at 12:30 pm: Join a special gym class with Gymboree of Red Bank for newborns up to seven months with music, a parachute, bubbles and more!
Tween Book Club – Tuesday, March 10 at 4:15 pm: Tween ages 9–12 will meet to discuss their monthly book selection, enjoy a related activity, and socialize during the second half of the program.
Stuffed Animal Storytime and Sleepover – Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 pm: Children ages 3 and up are invited to bring stuffed animal friends for a special library sleepover! Enjoy a bedtime story before tucking your plushie companion in for the night, then come back the next day to discover what adventures they got up to.
Teen Catapult Competition – Wednesday, March 11 at 7 pm: Learn how to make catapults out of popsicle sticks and compete against your friends for prizes. For ages 13–18.
Read to a Dog – Thursday, March 12 at 4 pm and Monday, March 16 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.
Leprechaun Storytime – Tuesday, March 17 at 10 am: Join us on St. Patrick’s Day for a special story time and craft with a leprechaun, co-sponsored by Middletown Parks and Recreation.
St. Patrick’s Day Craft – Tuesday, March 17 at 3:30 pm: Create a craft with Bayshore Family Success Center.
Bookworms Book Club – Thursday, March 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, March 20 at 10 am: Read, sing, dance, and play, then explore our interactive sensory stations! Designed for ages 0–3.
NJ Makers Day, “Technology Through the Ages” – Saturday, March 21 at 11 am: Celebrate America's 250th birthday with a special Makers Day event! Enjoy demonstrations, games, crafts and learn how STEM evolved over 250 years. All ages welcome.
Teen Anime Club – Monday, March 23 at 4 pm: Join the Anime Club create trading cards featuring your own manga characters! For ages 10+.
Tween Craft Night – Tuesday, March 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, March 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.
Community Leader Storytime – Friday, March 27 at 10 am: Celebrate Women's History Month in March with Middletown Committeewoman Kimberly Kratz, who will share stories and talk about what a committeewoman does!
Drop-In Tiny Art Show – Saturday, March 28 at 10 am: Create a tiny art project with The 4-H Kindness Club to add to a month-long display in the Children’s Program Room.
Eyes of the Wild – Monday, March 30 at 2 pm: Meet and learn about another fascinating and entertaining group of animals with handler Travis Gale.
Snapology – Tuesday, March 31 at 2 pm: Join Snapology’s STEAM lab for For ages 5-8 and actively experiment with the principles of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
Visit mtpl.org to read more or to sign up for upcoming programs. Please contact Jenna O’Donnell at jodonnell@mtpl.org for additional information.
Middletown to close 2 schools a year after raising taxes to save them
Amanda Oglesbyhttps://www.app.com/story/news/education/2026/02/27/middletown-school-district-says-it-will-close-2-schools-parents-tax-hike-10-million/88893928007/
Feb. 27, 2026Updated March 2, 2026, 12:32 p.m. ETMIDDLETOWN ― The Board of Education has crafted a plan to close two elementary schools by September, a decision that drew screams and shouts from parents during a school board meeting on Feb. 26.That evening, a majority of the Board of Education voted to direct school administrators to draft the 2026-27 school budget assuming that Leonardo and Navesink elementary schools are closed.The district is facing an estimated $3 million budget gap for the 2026-27 school year. All...
Feb. 27, 2026Updated March 2, 2026, 12:32 p.m. ET
MIDDLETOWN ― The Board of Education has crafted a plan to close two elementary schools by September, a decision that drew screams and shouts from parents during a school board meeting on Feb. 26.
That evening, a majority of the Board of Education voted to direct school administrators to draft the 2026-27 school budget assuming that Leonardo and Navesink elementary schools are closed.
The district is facing an estimated $3 million budget gap for the 2026-27 school year. All New Jersey public schools must have a tentative, balanced budget prepared by spring.
More than 100 parents protested the move to close schools during the board meeting, which was held at Middletown High School North and lasted through midnight. At times, the crowed yelled and shouted at school board members. Some yelled profanities. Others raised their voices into the microphone during a public comment period. Students lined up to plead for board members to leave their schools open.
Last year, the board raised school taxes 10.1% to eliminate a $10 million budget hole and prevent closing schools. This year, the school is reconsidering that earlier proposal.
A higher "student-teacher ratio is really just gonna create chaos," said Maggie Weikel, a mom with children in River Plaza Elementary who attended the meeting.
Logan D'Alessio, a sixth grader at Bayshore Elementary, worried about how the changes would impact him and his friends. He worried about being pushed into a more crowded school next year.
"I just got to the (Bayshore) school, and I think it's very fun, and I don't want to switch schools in the middle of my middle school career," he said.
In a district restructuring plan shared by NJ.com, students at the Leonardo and Navesink schools would be moved to Bayshore Elementary beginning in September. Bayshore Middle School would be closed in the future and its students moved Thorne and Thompson middle schools.
The Board of Education did not include any mention of closing Bayshore Middle School in its recent resolution on the budget.
Middletown currently has 11 elementary schools in a district that serves less than 8,700 students. For comparison, Toms River Regional School District has 12 elementary schools, but has more than 14,100 students.
However, Middletown school officials are anticipating overcrowding within some of the schools in the southern section of the township. Last month, the school board heard plans to redistrict students at Harmony, Lincroft and River Plaza schools and shift them to Middletown Village and Ocean Avenue in order to reduce future crowding.
Under the most recent plan, district officials are looking to sell or lease Leonardo Elementary and Bayshore Middle School. The district does not own the Navesink school building.
Officials also plan to also hold a bond referendum that would help pay for construction and build classrooms on the remaining schools. Construction could begin sometime in 2028, according to the plan.
By laying off the schools' staffs and eliminating spending on maintenance and repairs of the buildings, the district would save between $3.5 million and $4 million every year, according to the restructuring proposal.
Board President Chris Aveta said that maintaining the status quo and only raising taxes 2% annually ― the maximum allowed under state law without voter approval ― would leave the school district with an ever widening budget gap.
"We'll still face budget deficits of $6.6 million in (school year) '27-'28, $10.2 million in '28-'29, and $13.9 million in '29-'30," he told the school board during the meeting.
That was little consolation for the parents and students who believed the changes would upend their educational experience.
"I am pretty upset about this," said Benjamin Hecht, a Bayshore Elementary sixth grader. "It's hard for me to get adjusted and connected in a school's environment."
The 11-year-old said he felt safe with classmates and staff at Bayshore.
"All the other schools in Middletown are already overcrowded," he said.
Elizabeth Hamill also worried about the future school closures, and said she worried her child's education at River Plaza Elementary would be impacted by the changes under discussion.
"It seems like every year we kind of get a runaround and the same plan… regurgitated to us," she said.
"I think that people move into this community because of our small schools, because of the low student-to-teacher ratio, because when you walk into the school, you can almost recognize everybody by name," Hamill said. "I'm worried about what a closure would do to our community, what it would do to ― most importantly ― our children."
Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years. Reach her at aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.
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