January 24, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

Boro native gets medal for his service in Iraq

Staff Sgt. Travis Platt recently returned from 2nd tour overseas
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

Travis Platt, a U.S. Army staff sergeant and native of South River, led over 30 soldiers in combat in Iraq, collectively recovering more than 50 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) while carrying out a variety of missions. More...

Board looks to turn page on calendar soon

Planning for days off, end of school year no easy task
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK- Should students lose some days in order to be released earlier in June? More...

Teens accused of totaling parked car, damaging others

BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

MILLTOWN - Police arrested four teenagers earlier this week in connection with vandalism to vehicles parked on and around Ackerman Avenue. More...

E.B. names reps to committees

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The new year has brought new faces to township committees, as well as some familiar faces assuming different roles. During its Jan. More...

Former construction officials sue So. River

Boro assessing results of building dept. services provided by Old Bridge
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER - Two former borough employees are suing the town after losing their jobs due to the disbandment of the Building Department. Borough Business Administrator AndrewSalerno, whose office received the lawsuit on Dec. More...

Adopt a Pet

Old Bridge Animal Shelter 1 Old Bridge Plaza off Route 516, near municipal complex (732) 721-5600, ext. 6300 www.oldbridgeanimalshelter.petfinder.org Hours:Mon.& Fri. 10 a.m. to noon & 1 - 3 p.m.; Tues.,Wed. 10 a.m. More...

Library directors, users express dislike of bill

Local librarians say proposal would affect programs
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

In attempts to thwart state legislation that would change the long-established formula for funding libraries, the New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) has launched a postcard campaign. More...

Letters

Thank teachers for students' success

I n reading the article concerning Spotswood teachers making the lowest starting salaries in the state ("It's Not All About Money for Spotswood Teachers," Sentinel, Jan. More...

Planners, legislators must bring a halt to one-man, one-car thinking

This new year brings more retro thinking on the part of our "planners" and financial wizards walking the halls of the Statehouse. Last year saw the passage of New Jersey's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bill by Gov. More...

Not pleased with performance of mayor, council

This coming November, East Brunswick is not only electing a new president, we are electing a mayor. A president can only have two terms. More...

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Obituaries

Robert Charles Evans

Mr. Evans, 50, of the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick, formerly of Old Bridge, died Jan. 5, 2008, at home. He was a special agent for the Federal Recovery Agency, Kendall Park, for the past three years. More...

Yu-Chih Yang Sung

Ms. Sung, 95, of East Brunswick, died Jan. 10, 2008, in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Her husband, S.C. Yang, died in 1975, and a son, Jerry J.Yang, died in 2002. Surviving are a son, Davy T. More...

Joseph Lykin

Mr. Lykin, 81, of the Parlin section of Sayreville, died Jan. 14, 2008, in JFK Medical Center, Edison.Hiswife,Dorothy, died in 2002. More...

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Sports

Big fourth quarter pushes Spotswood past Metuchen

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Left: Spotswood's Cody Pace (No. 22) tries to catch some air against Metuchen during a Jan. 18 game at Metuchen. Right: Spotswood's Nick Olenski (No. More...

OBHS bowling teams prepping for late-season tourneys

BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer

The Old Bridge High School boys bowling team is off to a 9-3-1 start and all five starters are averaging more than 200 pins or close to that mark. More...

Sports Shorts

Old Bridge High School standout senior athlete Amber Zimmerlink has signed a National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse for Iona College under the Gaels' head coach, Lauren Rywak. More...

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Photo

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Shilpa Guha, 17, of East Brunswick, performs a traditional Indian dance during the kick-off of India Week at the township's library Sunday. Events marking the anniversary of India's Republic Day continue through Saturday. More...

Decision looming on controversial rate hike

Dems, Repubs at odds over plan for 70% increase
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

Milltown officials are moving forward with an ordinance that would raise electric rates in town by about 70 percent. More...

The race is on

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff A group of Cub Scouts direct their eyes on a close race during the annual Pinewood Derby. More...

Police: Massage parlors were operating illegally

EAST BRUNSWICK- Police charged employees at two local spas for allegedly operating without a license. More...

Revitalization group set to embark on new year

JAMESBURG- Anyone with a stake in the town's future is invited to attend the Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition's first open town hall meeting of the year on Jan. 30. Themeeting will be held at borough hall, Perrineville Road, from 7 to 9 p.m. More...

Foundation hopes big money is in the cards

Casino Night will raise funds for school grants
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD- Enjoy a night of poker, blackjack, roulette and craps … yet you're guaranteed not to go home with your pocket any lighter? That's what the Spotswood Educational Foundation is offeringwith its CasinoNight, scheduled for Feb. 29. More...

Natural resource inventory on view

MILLTOWN - Residents are invited to view the first portion of a natural resource inventory completed recently by the borough's Environmental Commission. More...

Middlesex Co. unveils $398 million budget

Freeholder director calls for a public convention to assist in tax reform
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NEW BRUNSWICK - The Middlesex County Freeholder Board unveiled a $398 million budget proposal on Jan. 10 that calls for the reduction of appropriations to below-2007 levels and a hiring freeze on nonessential county employees. More...

Buono to chair budget panel

State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) was appointed earlier this month to chair the powerful Senate Budget andAppropriations Committee. More...

India's Republic Day

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Deepti Mutruru, 19, of Plainsboro, performs an Indian dance Sunday at the East Brunswick Public Library during the inauguration of a week of events recognizing the anniversary of India's Republic Day. More...

Bulletin Board

Nativity of Our Lord will host blood drive

New Jersey Blood Services will conduct a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 atNativity ofOur Lord Church, 185 Applegarth Road, Monroe. More...

Hadassah to offer Peace-Treaty Poker

East Brunswick Hadassah will present a Peace-Treaty Poker event at 8 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the East Brunswick Jewish Center, 511 Ryders Lane. Peace-Treaty Poker is a fast-paced game in which each hand is played against a different pair of players. More...

'Basic Backpacking' coming to Cheesequake

Aprogramtitled "Basic Backpacking" is planned for 1 p.m. on Jan. 27 at Cheesequake State Park, Route 34, Old Bridge. Individuals ages 10 and up are welcome to attend. The event is free of charge. For more information, call (732) 566- 3208. More...

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Opinion

Red State/Blue State

It's my column, and I'll cry if I want to
DAVE SIMPSON & GREG BEAN

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

Men's brains aren't cut out for detailed memory
GREG BEAN

Whenever my wife and I take a romantic walk down memory lane, remembering our years together as a couple, it always feels a little like tiptoeing through aminefield. One wrong step and BOOM! - you're blown clean off the river. More...

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Schools

Redistricting expected to ease overcrowding

Students being moved to new school in September
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

MONROE - The Board of Education has introduced a plan to redistrict students in light of the new elementary school slated to open in September. More...

Residents have brushes with two rabid animals

E.B. woman's dog kills rabid fox that approached her
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

The year's first two cases of rabies in Middlesex County involved a raccoon in one case and a fox in the other. In Monroe, an unidentified resident contended with an antagonistic raccoon on Jan. More...

Lawmakers pass new school-funding formula

BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer

Lawmakers in the state Senate and General Assembly narrowly passed a bill that would radically alter the way that state aid is apportioned to local school districts, after a tooth-and-nail struggle that, as one assemblyman observed, fell mostly alo More...

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