March 18, 2010 RSS feed / Front Page

Massive $10M pot bust spans three counties

Police: Marijuana was being grown in Monroe, Old Bridge, Manalapan, Middletown
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer

Call it a different take on “Jersey Fresh.” Authorities are crediting a Monroe Township police officer with sniffing out what turned out to be the locus of an alleged $10 million indoor marijuana-growing operation, the largest in the stat More...

Monroe budget ‘bare bones,’ but staff layoffs are unlikely

Township officials awaiting word on state aid before releasing budget figures
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer

MONROE — Mum’s the word, at least until later this week. That’s Township Administrator Wayne Hamilton’s take on just how the 2010 municipal budget will eventually work out. More...

Police: Man hit officer, sped off

EAST BRUNSWICK — Police arrested a township man after he allegedly struck a police officer with his car and left the scene last week. More...

Monroe Township Public Library

Deena Schleifer of Monroe learns about some of the food offered during the Indian Cultural Festival at the Monroe Township Public Library Saturday. More...

County slices open space tax, reduces operating budget

Freeholders pursue more shared services in hopes of achieving savings
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer

NEW BRUNSWICK — Despite cutting its open space tax, Middlesex County will continue to fund land purchases this year, Freeholder Director Christopher D. Rafano said. More...

Letters

Larger indicators should be installed

East Brunswick intends to install cameras at the Route 18 and Tices Lane intersection. The goal is to get people to stop running red lights, thereby decreasing accidents (as well as raising revenue for the township). More...

Takes issue with officials’ words

New Jersey Democratic Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D-18) and Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes III (D-18) describe Gov. More...

When the government goes into debt, the people go into debt

Reports about mounting debt at all levels in the U.S. government have been growing at an alarming rate. More...

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Columns

This trick would even make the Dog Whisperer jealous

Coda • GREG BEAN

One of my favorite shows on television these days is “The Dog Whisperer” with Cesar Millan. More...

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Schools

Middlesex communities still reeling from storm

Weekend nor’easter brings blackouts, flooding, damage to many homes
BY JENNIFER BOOTON Staff Writer

The nor’easter that barreled through the area last weekend left thousands without power and caused widespread damage to homes and businesses due to heavy winds and flooding. More...

Student, school score big in T-shirt contest

BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER — What makes thirdgrader Troy Chartier-Vignapiano smile? That was the question that the 9-year-old had to ask himself when he entered Aéropostale’s “P.S. More...

Showtime

Students in the Spotswood High School Drama Club rehearse a scene from “Kiss Me, Kate,” which will be performed at 7:30 p.m. March 18-20 and 2 p.m. More...

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Indian Cultural Festival

Siya Seshadri, 6, of Monroe, waits for the fashion show segment to begin during the Indian Cultural Festival at the Monroe Township Public Library Saturday. More...

Budget crunch brings more E.B. library cuts

Flat funding, rising costs lead library board to reduce hours, programming
BY LAUREN CIRAULO Staff Writer

The East Brunswick library is scaling back expenses in preparation of the township’s forthcoming budget, and officials are anticipating cuts that will impact employees and patrons alike. More...

Mayor hopes to save jobs of two paid firefighters

BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer

MONROE — Mayor Richard Pucci is hopeful that two recently laid-off paid firefighters could be reinstated. More...

This spring marks final May election

Spotswood council moves election date to November
BY JENNIFER BOOTON Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD — The municipal election will be held in May this year for the last time. In future years, voting for mayor and Borough Council seats will take place in November. More...

Milltown officials debate Petain street name issue

BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

MILLTOWN — Borough officials continue to grapple with the issue of whether to change the name of Petain Avenue. More...

Teen from E. Brunswick wins equestrian title

Taylor Ferguson, riding since age 5, hopes to pursue career in horse industry
BY JANE MEGGITT Correspondent

EAST BRUNSWICK — Middlesex County may not be the hotbed of the state’s horse industry, but for the second year in a row a county teenager has been named New Jersey Equestrian of the Year. More...

Bulletin Board

SRHS class of ’60 schedules reunion

The South River High School (SRHS) class of 1960 will hold a 50-year reunion Oct. 2 at Ria Mar Restaurant, South River. An informal gathering will take place Oct. 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Monroe. More...

Egg hunt, hat contest planned for March 27

The Monroe Township Mother’s Club and the Monroe Township Recreation Department will hold their annual Egg Hunt and Bonnet/Top Hat Contest beginning at noon on March 27 at Dey Farm, off Federal Road, between Applegarth and Perrineville roads, More...

Hebrew-speakers club sets March 21 meeting

The next meeting of the Chug Ivrit club for intermediate-advanced Hebrew speakers will take place at 11 a.m. March 21 at the home of Frank Stechel, 329 Valentine St., Highland Park. More...

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Obituaries

Reginald S. Thomas

Mr. Thomas, 70, of Monroe, died March 2, 2010, at home. He was director of women and minority small-business development at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, where he worked for 30 years. More...

“Nino” Labombarda

Mr. Labombarda, 67, of East Brunswick, died March 3, 2010, at home. Surviving are his wife, Maddalena Leone Labombarda; two sons, Joseph M. Labombarda, and his wife, Tracy, of Easton, Pa., and Michael G. More...

Michael Periu Sr.

Mr. Periu, 66, of East Brunswick, died March 8, 2010. More...

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Sports

Falcon wrestlers conclude careers by placing at state tournament

BY JIMMY ALLINDER Correspondent

Bill Jacoutot sighed and thought about what might be if he could coach Sam Emburgia and Marc Tyson just one more year. More...

Brown cultivates talent through work

BY JIMMY ALLINDER Correspondent

Good thing actions speak louder than words. More...

Sports Shorts

The Ben Edelson Senior Men’s Saturday Softball Club will open another season of camaraderie and exercise on April 3 at Field One of Thompson Park, Perrineville Road, Monroe Township. Everybody plays, and there are no fees. More...

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