March 19, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

Spotswood school board proposes no tax increase

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

For the second year in a row, the Spotswood Board of Education is proposing a school budget with no tax increase. More...

Late aid figures hamper 'arduous' budget process

E.B. board prepares school tab for April 2 adoption
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — State aid for the 2009-2010 budget will remain at the same level as the current school year. More...

MOVING UP - SHOULD YOUR CHILD TAKE SPORTS TO THE NEXT LEVEL? - Advertorial

By Gloria Averbuch

Sports offer fitness, fun, camaraderie and education in a whole host of life skills. When determining whether to get more serious, however, there are many factors that will ensure you make the right decision, and a smooth transition. More...

Resident says he's battled water problem for 8 years

Boro testing to see if water line should be replaced
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER — With a wife, two young daughters and a baby on the way, resident Daniel Palka said he wants the borough to fix the water problem he has at his Rose Street home. More...

Novel addresses problems in pharmaceutical industry

BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

Dr. Michael Rushnak was visited by a drug company representative in 1979. More...

Super: District taking steps to address scores

BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER — Superintendent of Schools Ronald Grygo acknowledged that there are improvements to be made based on the school report cards recently released by the state.A parent attended the Feb. More...

E.B. awaiting bids for modified trash pickup

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — The Township Council has voted to reject the previous bids for trash pickup, but is still planning to limit garbage collection. More...

Vas indicted on theft, misconduct charges

BY JACQUELINE DURETT Correspondent

The indictment last week of state Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Middlesex) has county and state leaders, including those from his own party, calling for his resignation. More...

Bloom provides guide for young runners

BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer

Marc Bloom has written nine books. Some were very personal, like "God on the Starting Line," about his time coaching the St. Rose High School, Belmar, boys cross country team. More...

Purim party

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Above: Attendees get some tasty treats during the "Purim on the Lower East Side" event March 10 at the Forsgate Country Club. More...

Letters

On economic effect of open space program

Considering the open-space programs being conducted by New Jersey cities, I wonder what effect these programs have on the local economy. More...

New Wal-Mart will create more problems

This letter is regarding the new Wal-Mart store that is proposed for Old Bridge. We have enough stores — we do not need another Wal-Mart. There is a Wal-Mart just 10 minutes from where the new one would be built. More...

Reduce budget now, don't wait around for state aid

Jamesburg, like many towns, is struggling with its budget this year, and I can appreciate that fact. More...

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Obituaries

Margaret M. Szczepanowski

Mrs. Szczepanowski, 89, of South River, died March 6, 2009, in Care One of East Brunswick. Prior to her retirement, she worked as a seamstress for more than 30 years at American Girl, New Brunswick. More...

Barbara A. Lesko Reid

Mrs. Reid, 70, of Monroe, died Feb. 28, 2009, in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Prior to her retirement in 1994, she was employed at Blackwell Associates, East Brunswick, where she worked for seven years. More...

Clara Koscinski Uscenski

Mrs. Uscenski, 83, of South River, died March 6, 2009, in Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge division. Her husband, Edward J. Uscenski, died in 2008. More...

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Photo

JEFF GRANIT staff This week marked the 40th St. Patrick's Day for Shanahan's Bakery in Milltown, which is known to sell thousands of Irish soda bread loaves on the holiday. More...

Shopping center OK'd at Rt. 33, Butcher Rd.

Wawa/gas station removed from builder's application
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

Ashopping center proposal that was rejected by Monroe Township last year has been scaled back and approved. The plan known as Monroe Towne Plaza now calls for 142,235 square feet of retail space at Route 33 and Butcher Road. More...

Photo

ERIC SUCAR staff Shayna Altein helps a child make hamantash during a Purim party sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe March 10 at the Forsgate Country Club. More...

Board gets funding to rebuild Memorial

Grant, insurance money, bond referendum expected
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — The school district will receive more than $4.2 million in state grant money to help reconstruct the Memorial Elementary School, much of which was destroyed in a fire last summer. More...

House fire claims life of Helmetta man

BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer

HELMETTA — A man died last week in what officials said was the borough's first fatality from a house fire in nearly 45 years. More...

Police arrest three after shooting in park

Monroe teen allegedly fired gun at car with three occupants

EAST BRUNSWICK — A Monroe teenager was jailed last week after he allegedly fired a gun at a group of people who were inside a car at Bicentennial Park, off Riva Avenue. More...

Loaf of the Irish

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above: John Shanahan, who bought the Milltown bakery in 1969, prepares the dough for baking loaves of Irish soda bread early on the morning of St. Patrick's Day Tuesday. More...

Local photographer's exhibit focuses on fruit

SPOTSWOOD — A new exhibit in the art gallery at the Academy of Music on Main Street will feature photographs by area artist Grazina Strolia. The show, "Deliciously," will kick off with an opening reception from 1 to 3 p.m. More...

Wine making is hot despite the 'Chile' atmosphere

The Grape Escape will showcase Chilean grapes during open house March 19
GBY BETH EISEN Staff Writer

Grapes from the Colchagua Valley in Chile will be bottled in the U.S. for the first time this spring at The Grape Escape in the Dayton section of South Brunswick. More...

Spotswood OKs license for junkyard operation

SPOTSWOOD — The Borough Council has voted to renew the operating license for the junkyard owned by the Giancola brothers for another year. More...

Bulletin Board

Signups under way for Milltown rec trips

The Milltown Department of Recreation will sponsor a variety of upcoming trips open to residents and nonresidents. A Brooklyn Pizza Tour is set for April 19. The bus will depart at 10 a.m. from Milltown Borough Hall. Cost is $65 per person. More...

Fools for Christ sets dinner, auction

The Fools for Christ of The Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg will present its annual Pa-Sketti Dinner and Wonderful Wacky Auction beginning at 5 p.m. March 28 in the church fellowship hall, Gatzmer Avenue at Church Street. More...

Spotswood Library sponsoring Book Sale

The Spotswood Public Library, 548 Main St., will conduct its annual Spring Book Sale during regular library hours through March 28. Hardcover books, paperbacks, children's books, VHS videos and audiocassettes will be available. More...

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Columns

Reader says bring back the Ford Ranchero — say what?

Coda • GREG BEAN

Once again, my readers have come through. When I ask them to respond to a column, they respond. Man, do they respond. More...

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Sports

Blish turned personal loss into a positive for MTHS

Senior led Falcons with 15.7 points per game
BY JIMMY ALLINDER Correspondent

Don't you have to be older and wiser before you can truly appreciate living one day at a time? Not if you've been forced to grow up like 17- year-old Stephen Blish. More...

Monroe getting ready for difficult schedule

BY JIMMY ALLINDER Correspondent

Kind of like one of those jigsaw puzzles, Monroe's baseball team is made up of a lot of pieces. Put them all together and you have a pretty nice picture. The Falcons come into this season with a variety of youth, experience and talent. More...

Sports Shorts

The Sayreville Bomber golf outing, sponsored by the Football Touchdown Club and the Baseball Booster Club, will be held April 18 at the Bunker Hill Golf Course in Princeton. Beginning at 1 p.m. More...

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