April 24, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

Ground broken on school in park

BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

Some thought it could not be done. Others tried to prevent it. Still others were driven to make it a reality. For all of these groups, Friday was a big day. More...

Judge says Monroe law violates builders' rights

Township attorney defends ethics measure; recommends appeal
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

MONROE - A state Superior Court judge ruled April 17 that the township must do away with one of its seven ethics ordinances. More...

Voters give a rare OK to Spotswood budget

Tab keeps taxes stable; provides new bathrooms, teachers
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD - Though there was no tax increase proposed this year, school officials couldn't rest easy until they actually saw the budget approved at the polls. After all, the borough's school budget had been defeated in each of the past 14 years. More...

Voters go with Wyluda, England, Turner-Smith

BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER- The Board of Education reorganized this week after voters elected two incumbents and one newcomer to three-year terms. Also in the April 15 election, residents approved the 2008-09 school budget by a vote of 567-363. More...

Fun in the sun

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Derek Pugh tries to avoid a tag by David Haney during a game in Monroe's two-hand touch football league Saturday in Thompson Park. Below: Paul Holzinger, of Jamesburg, tries for a catch in the lake at the park. More...

Helmetta voters say no to school tax increase

HELMETTA - Voters here have overwhelmingly rejected a proposed school budget that would raise taxes by an average of $180. Residents voted 103-29 to defeat the Board of Education's 2008-09 school budget in the April 18 election. More...

5K celebrates memory of East Brunswick native

The Jersey Shore Running Club will host its fourth annual Lake Como 5K Run Saturday, and as in the past two years it will honor the memory of the late East Brunswick resident Grania Maggio. More...

Chamber seeks vendors for wellness, fitness expo

Vendors are being sought for the East Brunswick Regional Chamber of Commerce's fourth annual Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Expo set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 10 at the Brunswick Square Mall, Route 18, East Brunswick. More...

Letters

No message, just laziness, in failure of school budget

In response to the recent school budgets failing in many towns in Middlesex County, there is no message being sent to the state. Wake up, people. I live in Jamesburg, and our budget is as lean as it gets. More...

Members vow to seek cost-effective excellence

We want to thank the community of South River for its support in the recent Board of Education election. We attribute our victory to a strong door-to-door campaign that focused on improving academic achievement in our schools. More...

Extends thanks for re-election, passage of school budget

I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to the Spotswood community for re-electing me to the Board of Education. More...

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Obituaries

Patricia R. Kaiser Bradshaw

Mrs. Bradshaw, 59, of Old Bridge, died April 2, 2008, in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. She was a school-bus aide with Phoenix Transportation, Jamesburg, for several years. She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph F. More...

Arlene M. Horvath

Mrs. Horvath, 67, of Spotswood, formerly of East Brunswick, died March 29, 2008, in RobertWood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Prior to her retirement, she was employed as a schoolteacher with the East Brunswick school district. More...

Donald Mackenzie Buchanan

Mr. Buchanan, 42, of Milltown, died April 2, 2008, in North Brunswick. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Beverly and Donald Buchanan. More...

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Photo

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Shawn Hoskins, of Monroe, enjoys a jog in Thompson Park Saturday, a perfect spring day with sunny skies and warm temperatures. More...

Coach can't bow head, take knee as team prays

Judges: Borden's history would signal religious endorsement
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

Afederal appeals court has sided with the school district in prohibiting East Brunswick High School football coach Marcus Borden from participating in team prayers, but the legal decision may not be the last in a case that has received national med More...

Let's go fly a kite

PHOTOS By SCOTT FRIEDMAN Left: Marshall Kletzkin tries to get his kite airborne while daughter Kayla, 3, chases behind during Monroe Township's Go Fly a Kite event Saturday at Thompson Park. Above: Cameron Carpnito, 4, prepares to launch his kite. More...

Monroe denies veteran board member, budget

School tab with 7.3-cent tax-rate hike goes down by vote of 2,273-1,932
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

MONROE - Township voters said no to the school budget, and ousted a longtime Board of Education member to make room for a newcomer April 15. Joe Homoki, a 13-year board veteran, lost his seat to second-time candidate Ken Chiarella. More...

E. Bruns. school tab suffers narrow defeat

Simmens, Spiegler, Shamy win in five-way race for board seats
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - Though it included the smallest school tax increase in many years, the 2008-09 budget was defeated at the polls lastweek, andwill be sent to the Township Council for possible cuts. More...

Two boro men arrested; one on drug distribution charges

SOUTH RIVER - Police arrested two men on drug charges at an Arlington Avenue residence last week. More...

Cost estimate of $2.6M prompts more questions

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - A Township Council majority is demanding better answers fromthe administration regarding the cost of the community arts center being built at Heavenly Farms. More...

Four get voters' OK, but not the budget

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

JAMESBURG - Board of Education President Don Peterson was reelected last week, but he was not in much of a celebratory mood. More...

Photo

Helmetta Mayor Nancy Martin and Jamesburg Mayor Tony LaMantia flank New Jersey League of Municipalities President Bob Bowser, mayor of East Orange, as he speaks out against the municipal aid cuts proposed by Gov. Jon Corzine April 17. More...

Bulletin Board

Day of Prayer set at high school flagpole

A National Day of Prayer event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on May 1 at the flagpole in front of Spotswood High School, Summerhill Road. More...

School tab passes easily; three elected to board

MILLTOWN - Voters approved the school budget in a 2-1 margin during the April 15 election. The $13.1 million tab for 2008-09, which will keep the school tax rate stable, passed by a vote of 402-194. More...

Applications available for EBHS preschool

East Brunswick High School (EBHS) is now accepting applications for its 2008-09 Preschool Education Program to be held at the high school, Cranbury Road. The program is open to East Brunswick residents who will be 3 years old by Oct. More...

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Opinion

Ruling shows Board of Ed. made right call from start

Congratulations go to the East Brunswick Board of Education for what turned out to be the appropriate decision when, in August 2006, it chose to appeal a federal court ruling in the Marcus Borden case. More...

Finally, a matter upon which we seem to agree

GREG BEAN Coda

Iget letters. Man, do I get letters. More...

Guns and Bibles sure aren't exclusive to flyover country

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 Greater Media Newspapers. More...

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Sports

In a cloud of dust

East Brunswick shortstop Connor Paglia applies the tag to Old Bridge's Vinny Galya as he tries to steal second base during a game in East Brunswick on Friday. The Bears lost to Old Bridge, 13-6, after holding a 6-2 lead. JEFF GRANIT staff More...

South River track teams are a work in progress

BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer

The South River High School spring boys and girls track teams feature plenty of young athletes, so both squads are looking toward bright futures. More...

Good weather brings anglers out from winter hibernation

RON NUZZOLO Fish On

The weather has been fantastic, and so has flounder fishing in the Raritan Bay. Anglers have been picking away steadily at flounder all week. More...

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