January 17, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

GOP-dominated council takes over in So. River

Eppinger takes seat as mayor, appoints new boro attorney

The Republican Party has control of the governing body for the first time in over a decade. More...

It's not all about money for Spotswood teachers

Report shows boro has lowest starting salaries in N.J.

SPOTSWOOD - Though starting salaries for teachers in the borough are the lowest in New Jersey, the school system is able to find and hold on to quality faculty members who uphold and surpass standards, officials said. More...

Borders closes the books for good at Rt. 18 store

Retailer: Location was found to be 'underperforming'

EAST BRUNSWICK - Many in the township paid their last respects to an old friend last week. More...

Despite aid increase, new formula seen as flawed

E.B. schools to get $2M more in aid for next school year

EAST BRUNSWICK - The state's new school funding formula has some skeptics among members of the Board of Education. During the board's Jan. More...

Staffer at music academy to present lecture

SPOTSWOOD - Lyric soprano Annamaria Stefanelli, a faculty member at the Academy of Music on Main Street, will present "A Brief History of Italian Opera" on Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. at the West Caldwell Public Library, 21 Clinton Road, West Caldwell. More...

American Indian winter crafts subject of meeting

JAMESBURG - The public is invited to chase away the midwinter blues and learn about traditional American Indian winter crafts and games at the next meeting of Intertribal American Indians of New Jersey. The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. More...

Letters

Library official responds to Jamesburg councilman

I cannot let the remarks of Jamesburg Councilman Otto Kostbar ("State bill would limit library funding hikes," Sentinel, Jan. 10) pass without a response. First of all, the library is not swimming in money. More...

Urges Assembly support for legislator's plan

There's hope, folks, to have our property taxes reduced substantially and to have a sensible method of funding education, thanks to Assemblyman Joseph Egan (D-17), who made a suggestion to fund education by income taxes. More...

Fiscal cuts should come from top down

Mr. Bean, in his column in your last issue, seems to have found the solution to New Jersey's budget problems. If we take away 8,440 jobs from our state workers and cut down on programs and services, we might solve our problem. More...

Obituaries

Mary A. Flaherty Goodine

Mrs. Goodine, 104, of East Brunswick, died Jan. 2, 2008, in the Residence at Forsgate,Monroe. Surviving are two daughters, Geraldine Hurley of East Brunswick and Joan A. More...

Elizabeth H. Mason

Mrs. Mason, 82, of East Brunswick, died Dec. 27, 2007, in Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge division. Prior to her retirement in 1991, she was an office manager for Brown and Boveri, North Brunswick, where she worked for 15 years. More...

Howard L. Wood

Mr. Wood, 66, of East Brunswick, died Dec. 28, 2007, at home. More...

Photo

ERIC SUCAR staff Virohin Shakelli (l-r), Laurant Spatola, Jason Hong and Gabriella Palfey practice some yoga in the preschool enrichment program at the Raritan Valley YMCA in East Brunswick Friday. More...

Report: Police force 'extremely deficient'

Helmetta mayor, chief agree dept. needs major improvement

The Helmetta Police Department is deficient in key areas, including a lack of policies, training and supervision, according to a consultant's report. More...

Telling a timeless tale

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Patrons enjoyed an afternoon of chills and thrills as Neill Hartley of the American Historical Theatre portrayed author Washington Irving and told the tale of Ichabod Crane and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" at the Spotswood Public Libr More...

Teen drinkers fined; licenses suspended

EAST BRUNSWICK - Four teenage girls, who in December became the first to be charged under the township's new ordinance prohibiting alcohol consumption by minors on private property, have pleaded guilty. More...

YMCA focuses on getting the whole family in shape

EAST BRUNSWICK - The Raritan Valley YMCA is looking to help residents keep their New Year's resolutions. More...

Split board opts to keep polling hours the same

Analysis showed a change is unlikely to have major impact

EAST BRUNSWICK - The times for this year's school election will not change, despite the suggestion of some Board of Education members that the hours be extended. During its Jan. More...

Stretchin' it out

ERIC SUCAR staff Jason Hong is down with the yoga exercises during preschool at the Raritan Valley YMCA in East Brunswick Friday. More...

Verizon arrival highlight of annual cable report

EAST BRUNSWICK- The township is beginning to have access to Verizon's fiber optic cable lines, amove that some residents hope will increase competition and keep cable TV prices in check. More...

Bulletin Board

Pelican offers lift tix to blood donors in Jan.

Pelican Pool and Ski Center, 393 Route 18, East Brunswick, is offering a free ski lift ticket to anyone who donates blood. Participants must donate blood at any hospital or blood bank and show Pelican Pool proof of doing so by Jan. More...

Uniform Sale to benefit patient-care services

The Raritan Bay Medical Center Perth AmboyAuxiliarywill sponsor aUniformSale from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 23 in Centennial Hall A and B at the hospital's Perth Amboy division, 530 New BrunswickAve. More...

Tickets available for St. Mary's Casino Night

St.Mary of Ostrabrama Church, South River, will hold a Casino Night from 6-11 p.m. on Jan. 19 at Knights of Columbus Hall, 88 Jackson St., South River. More...

Opinion

Time to focus more on the boro, less on politics

The spoils go to the winners, and in South River, the winners are enjoying their newfound control of the municipal governing body. More...

Red State/Blue State

In Red and Blue states, the times are a changin'

A political discussion between Red State conservative Dave Simpson - a former reporter, editor, publisher and columnist - and Greg Bean, Blue Stater and executive editor of GreaterMedia Newspapers. Let us know what you think. More...

Coda

Pundits suffer the Night of a Thousand Deaths

For a political junkie likemyself, there was no better theater than watching the results of the New Hampshire primary election on CNNand the other networks Jan. 8. More...

Sports

Photos

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Above left: Monroe's Ivan Baretto (l) snags a rebound in front of North Brunswick's Ricky Harris (r) during the second quarter of a game on Jan. 15 at North Brunswick High School. More...

15-0 Suozzo leads O.B. wrestlers to fast start

Giusti, Zafrani each have just one loss

The Old Bridge High School wrestling team is off to a 5-0 start, and six competitors already have 12 or more wins to their credit. Coach Bryan Garnett's team has downed J.P. More...

Sports Shorts

Old Bridge spring football registration is now open for all surrounding towns, every Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. for the month of January. More...