March 12, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

County's $392M tab carries 1.5-cent hike

Freeholders cut expenses in light of revenue losses
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

The Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders introduced a $392 million operating budget March 5 that calls for a slight tax increase and a decreased workforce. The 2009 budget is $4. More...

GETTING READY FOR SPRING SPORTS - Advertorial

By Gloria Averbuch

It More...

Town, fire district agree on $150K in budget cuts

BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

MONROE — The Fire District Number Three budget will be cut by $150,000 as the result of a mutual agreement between the Township Council and the district's commissioners. The budget now contains no increase in taxes. More...

Collection yields needed supplies for animal shelter

Monroe students' donations fill room at Sayreville facility
BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer

MONROE — A high school teacher and guidance office employee were pleasantly surprised with the response they received recently when they decided to take a collection for a local animal shelter. More...

Police warn of mail scam

EAST BRUNSWICK — Police are cautioning township residents about what they described as a widespread mail scam. Residents have been receiving "chain letters" in the U.S. mail that request the recipient to send money to a list of names. More...

Devil-ish fun

Former New Jersey Devils hockey player Grant Marshall visited the Jamesburg Street Devil hockey team Feb. 20, speaking with the kids about his hockey career, including the 2003 Stanley Cup championship with the Devils. More...

Transformation of former tavern is nearly complete

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD — What was once described as an eyesore has come a long way toward becoming a source of pride for the community. More...

Letters

Don't cheat taxpayers with worn-out rhetoric

It's that time of year again — budget season for both the school board and the municipality. The difference this year is that the proverbial chickens are coming home to roost. More...

Thinks 'victory' for Board of Education marks 'a sad day'

It's sad to see another curtailment of rights for Christians hailed as a "victory" for the Board of Education. More...

Don't let economic woes keep towns from investing in education

I'm writing to express my support, in these troubling economic times, for the outstanding educational system in the state of New Jersey. Our schools are among the best, if not the very best, in the nation. More...

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Obituaries

Fred H.J. Drew

Mr. Drew, 90, of Aberdeen, died Feb. 26, 2009, at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. He was a retired accounting supervisor at Western Electric, where he was employed 45 years. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Anne E. Lillis Drew. More...

Henry S. Rand

Mr. Rand, 91, of Monroe, died Feb. 25, 2009, at home. His wife, Ethel Rand, died in 2002. He was the official photographer for Monroe for many years. More...

George M. Kaczmarek

Mr. Kaczmarek, 57, of Sayreville, died Feb. 24, 2009, at home. Prior to his retirement in 2000, he was employed at E.I. DuPont, Parlin section of Sayreville, where he was employed for 22 years. More...

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Photo

JEFF GRANIT staff East Brunswick police officer Drew Walsh reads to children at Kiddie Academy of East Brunswick, Cranbury Road, on March 4. The special story time was in celebration of Read Across America. More photos, page 26. More...

New super takes over in Monroe

Hamilton discusses priorities for school district
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

The new superintendent of schools has arrived, and it couldn't be at a busier time for the Monroe Township School District. Kenneth Hamilton, who was appointed by the Board of Education on Dec. More...

New East Bruns. club programmed for success

Robotics team gets high scores in first full year
BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer

They've come a long way in a short period of time. But perhaps more important than the trophies the East Brunswick High School robotics club has garnered are the leadership skills the students are developing, according to their adviser. More...

E.B. school officials glad case is in past

Borden lawsuit placed district at center of national debate
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST RBUSNWICK — Board of Education President Todd Simmens said he was pleased but not surprised that the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal in the Marcus Borden case. More...

Community pride

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Pictured top to bottom: Rajesh Sare of East Brunswick and his sons Ankur, 15, and Aneesh, 6, stop by the booth of the Zimmerli Art Museum to get information from Rebecca Brenowitz during the 20th annual East Brunswick Communi More...

Crowds, Irish cheer expected in S. Amboy

City anticipates 30,000 for Saturday's parade
BY JACQUELINE DURETT Correspondent

South Amboy will grow to four times its size on Saturday, with plenty of Irish folk and those who are just Irish for the day. That's because the city will celebrate its Irish heritage with its annual Saint Patrick's Day parade. More...

Tax increase expected, but depends on state aid

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

JAMESBURG — Borough officials are awaiting word from the state regarding state aid before indicating commenting on the potential tax impact of the 2009 municipal budget. More...

Monroe regulates sale of precious metals

BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

MONROE — The price of gold may be hitting record levels, but don't think about selling it or other precious metals or jewels in the township without a license. More...

Seussed up

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Pictured to to bottom: Camille Bacon (r) and other children at Kiddie Academy of East Brunswick enjoy a Dr. Seuss book with East Brunswick Police Officer Drew Walsh on March 4. More...

Bulletin Board

Spaghetti Dinner on menu at VFW post

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1451 will host a Spaghetti Dinner 3-7 p.m. March 28 at the post home, 31 Reid St., South River. Dinner will include spaghetti, meatballs, sausage, salad, bread, coffee, tea, soda and dessert. More...

Mulvey to present Celtic music at library

Musician and singer Heather Mulvey will offer a concert titled "Celtic Music Journey" at 7 p.m. March 14 at the East Brunswick Public Library, Jean Walling Civic Center. More...

Blood donors to get free gas card

The Blood Center of New Jersey will sponsor a blood drive 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. March 14 in the Society Hill Clubhouse, 400 Thames Drive, Old Bridge. All donors will receive a complimentary $15 gas card and a free cholesterol test. More...

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Columns

Borden case is over, but it should never have begun

Coda • GREG BEAN

Well, the Marcus Borden school prayer saga is finally over (at least in the courts), bringing to an end one of the saddest chapters in New Jersey education. I've had mixed feelings about this business from the start. More...

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Sports

Top local wrestlers fall in opening matches

BY JIMMY ALLINDER Correspondent

The problem with wrestling is that unless you win a state championship, you usually finish your season on a losing note. More...

Sports Shorts

The Monroe Township High School boys junior varsity basketball team defeated a stubborn Cardinal McCarrick High School team 70- 66 to claim the JV championship crown. To reach the final game Monroe had to defeat teams from John F. More...

Driving to the basket

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above: East Brunswick Tech's Cory Ragland (5) tries to block the shot of Perth Amboy Tech's Anthony Vidal during their NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I quarterfinal in East Brunswick on March 5. More...

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