March 20, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

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PHOTOS BY STEVEN M. BARON Police and fire officials are investigating a fire that destroyed a vacant farmhouse on Dunhams Corner Road in East Brunswick March 11. More...

Town seeks state OK for tax levy increase

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The township is asking the state Local Finance Board to grant a waiver so that this year's proposed tax levy can increase by more than 4 percent. More...

State gives town more time for soccer fields

Replacement fields required as condition of school site approval
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

MONROE- The State House Commission granted a six-month extension to the township on Thursday for the completion of soccer fields required as a condition of the land diversion for the new high school site. More...

Disco will live again at charity fundraiser

Friends committed to raising money in battle vs. cancer
BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer

Two busy moms from Manalapan are planning to run, volley and disco the night away in the name of love and charity. More...

Rotary Club donates signs for safe driving

SPOTSWOOD - In an effort to increase drivers' awareness of hazards on the road, particularly when children are nearby, "Drive Safely" signs were recently installed at each of the borough's four schools. More...

Grants fund rec. initiatives for people with disabilities

EAST BRUNSWICK - The township will receive $20,000 to fund its Daisy Recreation Program, and Middlesex County will get $15,000 for its Recreation Theater Initiative under two grant awards announced recently by local legislators. More...

Helping the community is in one man's blood

Martin Engel is honored for running successful blood drives each year
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Martin Engel has been donating blood for 60 years. On Feb. 25, the township blood bank he runs was awarded by America's Blood Centers (ABC) as the most productive small blood drive in the nation. More...

Tailgating ban set for acts that draw younger crowd

Public forum set for March 18 on underage drinking at arts center
BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer

HOLMDEL- Consumption of alcohol while tailgating at the PNC Bank Arts Center will be limited to older crowds during this summer's concert series. More...

Golf outing will benefit breast cancer research

MONROE - The state chapter of Industrial/ Commercial Real Estate Women (ICREW) will host its seventh annual Golf Classic on May 8 to raise funds for breast cancer research. More...

Fundraisers

March 20-26 • Book Sale, during regular library hours, at the Spotswood Public Library, 548 Main St. Hardcover books, paperbacks, children's books, VHS videos, audiocassettes. More...

Letters

Governor at war with smaller communities

Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to withhold state aid from small towns is an egregious abuse of executive power. More...

Gutsy governor did the right thing, at his own political peril

Jon Corzine is my nominee for a Profile in Courage. The governor has given New Jerseyans the disastrous facts about the state's finances. He has presented his unpopular plans to help turn the picture around. More...

Simmens deserves re-election to board

Iam writing to express my strong support for the re-election of current East Brunswick Board of Education President Todd Simmens. Todd has brought to the board new vision, creativity, energy and enthusiasm. More...

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Obituaries

Mildred "Millie" Stone Wind

Mildred "Millie" Stone Wind Mrs. Wind, 93, of the Clearwater community in Spotswood, died Feb. 29, 2008, in University Medical Center at Princeton. More...

James P. McCarty

Mr. McCarty, 84, of Old Bridge, died Feb. 12, 2008, in JFK Medical Center, Edison. He was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Constance McCarty. Surviving are his wife, Ann Ryan Mellilo McCarty; two sons, James P. More...

Anthony Baratta

Mr. Baratta, 97, of Monroe Village in Monroe, died March 10, 2008, at home. His wife, Elizabeth Sargent Baratta, died in 2003. Surviving are a daughter, Lynne D. More...

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Sports

Sliding back just in time

JEFF GRANIT staff Monroe's Lindsey Curran slides back to first base as the ball gets past South Brunswick's Emily Littlejohn during a scrimmage in Monroe on March 15. More...

OB girls lacrosse getting ready for season opener

Lady Knights looking to improve on last year's 13-6 record
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer

Aveteran lineup returns for the Old Bridge High School girls lacrosse teamand coach SteveGajewski's goal is to contend for theGreaterMiddlesexConference (GMC) championship. More...

Sayreville wants to bomb the competition on the diamond

Baseball team wants to improve upon last year's GMC runner-up spot
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer

The Sayreville High School baseball team brings a deep pitching staff and improved defense this spring as the Bombers look to upgrade last season's 10-7 record. More...

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Golden Triangle plan approved

Toll Bros. gets OK for retail, housing on Route 18 property
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

The East Brunswick Planning Board has granted approvals for Toll Brothers to build the residential and retail components of the Golden Triangle redevelopment. More...

Friends, family recall soldier's selfless spirit

Community, military pay final respects to Army paratrooper
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

Hundreds gathered last week to honor and pay final respects to U.S. Army Cpl. Steven R. Koch, 23, who gave his life to protect his country. The many people whose lives were touched by the soldier remembered a courageous, giving and kind young man. More...

Helmetta tables police force restructuring

Council accepts offer of out-of-town officials to help department
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

HELMETTA - Police chiefs from several area towns were among those packed into a crowded borough hall last week to support Cully Lewis remaining in his capacity as police chief. More...

Park overhaul to include basketball court/ice rink

Grants fund work at Mundy park, area near DeVoe Lake
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD - Construction could begin this summer on $500,000 worth of improvements to Mundy Avenue Park. More...

Officials cut travel costs, scrutinize employee OT

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK- Travel costs and overtime are just two of the issues township officials are addressing as they examine the municipal budget in depth. More...

South River officials say budget situation is dire

Officials ask state for waiver to increase levy, avoid cutting services
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

SOUTHRIVER- Borough officials are wrestling with a municipal budget that could carry as much as a $364 tax increase on a home assessed at $100,000. More...

Surrogate office opens in borough

SPOTSWOOD - The Middlesex County Surrogate Court has opened a satellite office at the Spotswood Senior Center, 1 Arlington Ave. More...

School volleyball game to benefit MS research

The Spotswood High School Octagon Service Club and History Club will sponsor their annual Volleyball Game to Fight Multiple Sclerosis (MS) from 6-8 p.m. on April 22 in the gym at the high school, Summerhill Road. More...

Public invited to colorectal-cancer seminar

An educational seminar on colorectal cancer will be offered from 6-8:30 p.m. on March 24 in the SisterMarie de Pazzi Conference Center at Saint Peter's University Hospital, 254 EastonAve., New Brunswick. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. More...

Eggs-ellent hunt

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Top left: Kamryn Pickard, 6, of Monroe, showcases her bonnet during Saturday's Egg Hunt and Bonnet/Top Hat Contest at the Monroe Township Community Center, Monmouth Road. More...

State department cuts more shift than slash

BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer

Gov. JonCorzine's proposal to cut three departments in the state government, if it is approved by the Legislature, will be less of an elimination andmore of amerger, according to some state officials. During the governor's budget address on Feb. More...

Bulletin Board

Family Pasta Night scheduled at OLOL

Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) School, 44 ClevelandAve.,Milltown, will hold a Family Pasta Night from 4-8 p.m. on April 5. Dinner will include pasta, meatballs, sausage and peppers, salad, bread, beverages, dessert, coffee and tea. More...

PTA to host Tricky Tray Basket Auction

The Irwin School PTA, East Brunswick, will sponsor a Tricky Tray Basket Auction beginning at 7:30 p.m. on March 28 in the cafeteria at Churchill Junior High School, Norton Road, East Brunswick. Doors will open at 6 p.m. More...

Book, Media Sale coming to Monroe Twp. Library

The Friends of the Monroe Township Library will hold its annual Book and Media Sale from April 26-May 2 at the library, 4 Municipal Plaza. Gently used books and media will be available at bargain prices. More...

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Opinion

Among the powerful, bad behavior is all too common

GREG BEAN Coda

Back in the days when I was a police reporter, I started hearing rumors of a fancy, high-priced bordello operating in the part of town usually associated with high society. More...

To solve the mystery, you have to look at history

DAVE SIMPSON & GREG BEAN Red State/Blue State

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...

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Schools

E.B. school tab carries lowest increase in years

Board looks to hire 12 new teachers, keep tax rate hike to 6.9 cents
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The Board of Education is proposing a single-digit increase in the school tax rate, the first in several years. "This is the lowest tax increase in at least 10 years," said School Administrator Bernardo Giuliana. More...

Third-graders put their imaginations on display

EAST BRUNSWICK - If the Invention Convention is any indication,wemay one day be shopping for items like "Super Shades," the "Tissue Butler" and "HappyHeels. More...

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