November 29, 2007 RSS feed / Front Page

67% electric rate hike looming in So. River

GOP, Dems at odds over increase expected to take effect Jan. 1
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

Residents in South River may face as much as a 67 percent increase in their electric rate next year. The Borough Council on Monday voted 3-1 to introduce an ordinance increasing the rate. More...

$676K tax refund, lack of disclosure at issue

Councilman: Tower Center refund may affect 2008 budget
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - Tower Center II has been awarded a $676,000 tax refund, and at least one council member is upset that it was not made public. More...

Man seeks help bringing music to New Orleans

Spare instruments sought for children in devastated areas
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - New Orleans is famous for its music, so it's only fitting that the beleaguered city be refitted with musical instruments. More...

Get the word out: Poets bring art to sports town

Wordsmith eager to start weekly poetry nights at E.B. café
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The world of poetry seems to be beckoning Cyndi Dawson, and she is whole-heartedly heeding the call. More...

Pets perish in E.B. house fire

JEFF GRANIT staff The windows and doors of a house on Biernacki Court, East Brunswick, are boarded after a fire swept through the house Monday afternoon, killing a pet dog and two cats. More...

Dems don't get support for $3.3M bicycle path

Republicans refuse to second motion on bonding for project
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER - Plans to create a pedestrian walkway along an old railway are officially on hold, despite the efforts of borough Democrats. More...

Book writing is new goal of hockey player

Former New Jersey Devil Chico Resch meets fans, signs autographs
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Devils fans got to meet the team's original goaltender and current color commentator at his book signing on Nov. 15. "He is so friendly," Cranford resident Nancy Dango said. More...

Letters

Donate a bed net, help wipe out malaria

When I took a trip to Tanzania in 2005, I took malaria pills to make sure that I wouldn't get malaria. But the natives that I met in Africa don't have the money for malaria pills. And just like you and me, they are afraid of malaria, too. More...

New high school will benefit students and community

Iwould like to take this moment to thank Dr. Ralph Ferrie, superintendent of Monroe Township Schools, and all the administrators of the Monroe Township School District. They have made the best of a potentially dreadful situation for our children. More...

Parents must be voice; vote yes on referendum

Ihave been a Monroe resident for more than 14 years, and I have two children in elementary school. I am an active member of the PTA and extremely involved in my daughters' lives. It is of utmost importance to me and my family that the Dec. More...

Click here for all stories

Obituaries

Jeannette Toth

Mrs. Toth, 77, of Manalapan, died Oct. 31, 2007, at home. Prior to her retirement in 1991, she was employed as a sales clerk at Mendokers' Bakery, Jamesburg, for more than 20 years. She was predeceased by a daughter, Nancy J. Fitzpatrick, in 2000. More...

Elizabeth "Betty" J. Ryan Nielsen

Mrs. Nielsen, 83, of South River, died Nov. 6, 2007, in Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick. More...

John Edward "Bud" Smith

Mr. Smith, 81, of the Clearwater community in Spotswood, died Nov. 6, 2007, in Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge division. Surviving are his wife, Theresa C. Rosenkranz Smith; two sons, the Rev. William J. Smith of St. More...

Click here for all stories

Schools

Community celebrates an old school made new

Construction project at Lawrence Brook completed this month
BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent

EAST BRUNSWICK - Students, alumni, parents and teachers gathered recently to celebrate the bigger and better Lawrence Brook School. More...

Dedication of high school track

JEFF GRANIT staff William "Dudley" Tighe looks on as East Brunswick High School Athletics Supervisor Frank Noppenberger speaks during the dedication of the high school track in Tighe's name at halftime of the Thanksgiving Day football game. More...

Click here for all stories

Photo

JEFF GRANIT staff East Brunswick High School cheerleader Shannon Hussey performs the pregame routine for the Thanksgiving Day homecoming game. The Bears defeated Old Bridge, 35-14. See Sports. More...

Board to ask for $41.9M more for school Dec. 11

Construction costs have risen since $83M bond was approved
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

Monroe Township voters will soon have the opportunity to provide the missing cornerstone for the building of the new high school in Thompson Park. A Dec. More...

Teens' driving habits placed under scrutiny

Special commission hears suggestions from parents, students
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

What can be done to decrease the startling recent spike in motor vehicle accidents involving teenagers was the topic of a public hearing conducted by the Governor's Teen Driver Study Commission on Nov. 19 at Colts Neck High School. More...

Sidewalk will soon run border to border in boro

BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer

HELMETTA - Thanks to a $100,000 grant from Middlesex County, the borough will be able to finally have a sidewalk that stretches from one end of town to the other along Main Street. More...

Work to begin on place where wishes come true

Make-A-Wish group gets started on 'magical' building in Monroe

MONROE - The Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey will break ground tomorrow on a castle-like building that will be one of a kind on the East Coast. More...

New lawsuit pending on high school issue

BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

MONROE - While school officials breathe a sigh of relief after surmounting various obstacles involved in getting the new high school built, there may be a new one on the horizon. More...

Bear to Bear

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff East Brunswick High School cheerleader Lucy Toto doesn't seem daunted by the Bears' mascot during the pregame homecoming ceremony on Thanksgiving Day. More...

Restrictions may change for curbside pickup in E.B.

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The township is tightening restrictions on trash and recyclables, meaning residents and contractors have to be more careful with how they dispose of the materials. More...

Bulletin Board

Spotswood tree lighting scheduled for Dec. 1

The Spotswood Recreation Department will sponsor the 18th annual borough Holiday Tree-Lighting Ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the municipal center, Summerhill Road. More...

Christmas tree lighting set for Dec. 5 in J'burg

The annual Jamesburg Christmas Tree Lighting is planned for 7 p.m. on Dec. 5 at Veterans Park, East Railroad Avenue, Jamesburg. Holiday music will be performed by the Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School Band and the Jamesburg Library Young Singers. More...

Tree-lighting festivities set for Dec. 7 in S.R.

The South River Parks and Recreation Commission will sponsor the borough's annual Holiday Tree-Lighting Celebration beginning at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 near the Szabo Gazebo in Dailey's Pond Park, Prospect Street. More...

Click here for all stories

Opinion

Ultimate responsibility rests with new drivers

It has happened again, and again. Inexperienced drivers - teenagers who have just received a magic license that grants them their freedom and independence - ignoring the rules and regulations they have very recently pledged to obey. More...

Girl Talk

When prompted by love, change is easier to accept
CLARE MARIE CELANO

My son said "I do" on Nov. 9, and with those two words and the string of poetic words spoken by a trusted friend and justice of the peace, my son's life changed - and, surprisingly, so did mine. More...

Coda

It now seems like Oscar was a very bad role model
GREG BEAN

When my boys were little, Friday nights were "campout" nights. The routine on campout night absolutely never varied. First, we'd stop at McDonald's for a big sack of burgers and fries. More...

Click here for all stories

Sports

Turkey Day fun for E.B. & O.B.

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Top: East Brunswick quarterback Doug Fischer is tackled by Old Bridge defenders Richard Agosto (33) and Anthony Rybek during the Thanksgiving Day game in East Brunswick. More...

Hang on for the ride

JEFF GRANIT staff Old Bridge tight end Stewart Luciow tries to shake off East Brunswick's Rich Lang after catching a pass in a game between the two teams, which East Brunswick won, 34-17. More...

Tough schedule will test O.B. early and often

Move to new conference could make rebuilding year for Knights difficult
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer

The Old Bridge High School ice hockey team enters what coach Drew Campbell termed a rebuilding season after going 8-11-2 last winter. More...

Click here for all stories