March 31, 2011 RSS feed / Front Page

Police arrest seven after raid at fire chief’s home

House declared uninhabitable due to 20 code violations
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

Milltown’s fire chief is among seven people who have been charged with drug-related offenses following an ongoing police investigation. More...

Monroe insurance plan switch saves money but riles retirees

Changes are part of new contracts for employee unions
BY CHRISTINA HABERSTROH
Staff Writer

The Monroe Township Council is moving forward with new union contracts that bring changes to employees’ health insurance plans. More...

Media blitz

Above: Jim Mihopulos of East Brunswick browses the videos on sale at the East Brunswick Friends of the Library’s 37th annual Friends’ Book & Media Sale March 21. More...

Monroe resident tapped to serve as U.S. marshal for New Jersey

MONROE — President Barack Obama has nominated a township man to become the U.S. marshal for the District of New Jersey. Juan Mattos Jr. would serve in the post with the U.S. Marshal’s Office, the enforcement arm of the federal courts. More...

Letters

Don’t blame mayor, council for property taxes

I am replying to a recent Sentinel article (“East Brunswick Residents Organize to Call for Tax Relief,” March 24), wherein a group of East Brunswick residents headed by Kem Balani is calling for drastic cuts in property taxes. More...

Drivers ignore law, make dangerous left

I read the article in the March 10 issue of the Sentinel about the red light camera at Route 18 and Tices Lane in East Brunswick. More...

All New Jersey should share quality health care, costs

I n the letter to the editor “Focus on Quality, Affordable Health Care forAll” on March 10, Jennifer DeAngelis wrote that all of us should have access to affordable health care, thus making the argument “You have something I don&rsq More...

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Columns

Short-term decision good for some, very bad for others

CODA
GREG BEAN

Was anyone surprised by the news last week that the teachers’ union in South Brunswick, the South Brunswick EducationAssociation, after “careful consideration” rejected a proposed wage freeze for the 2011-12 school year? More...

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Schools

Monroe students bring ‘sunshine’ to ill children

Teacher, teenagers visit Maine camp to bond with campers, families
BY CHRISTINA HABERSTROH
Staff Writer

MONROE — Traveling nearly 400 miles during a school break was well worth it for a group of local teenagers who helped put smiles on the faces of sick children. More...

Spotswood’s IC Theatre kids ready to stage Disney classic

SPOTSWOOD — The IC Theater Group at Immaculate Conception School will perform Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” More...

Spotswood students seek gowns to be donated to those in need

SPOTSWOOD — Two students at Spotswood High School are organizing a prom gown collection in order to help girls who can’t afford their own. More...

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Business

Local businesses team up to help E.B. Rescue Squad

Barry Brill was watching an East Brunswick Township Council meeting one recent evening when an official announced that the township Rescue Squad was in desperate need of funds. More...

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Concerns raised over school budget impact

Administrator responds to citizens’ calls for tax cut
BY LAUREN CIRAULO
Staff Writer

The East Brunswick Board of Education will vote tonight on the adoption of its 2011-12 budget, but officials took time during a March 24 public hearing to address community concerns. More...

Photo

Seven-year-old Abby and 4-year-old Andy Semsel follow their putts down a makeshift miniature golf course set up in the children’s section of the Monroe Township Public Library on March 26. More...

Photo

Jean Cleary of South River looks at a book on opening day of the East Brunswick Friends of the Library’s 37th annual Friends’ Book & Media Sale March 21. More...

Film stresses garden’s impact on community

Filmmaker from E.B. to screen and discuss his documentary at library
BY LAUREN CIRAULO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — The local food movement may be rooted in “green” ideals, but it doesn’t just offer environmental sustainability and nutritional benefits. It cultivates a strong sense of community as well. More...

South River board OKs budget amid dissent

Budget is up 2% after plan to convert three positions to part-time is scrapped
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER — After some discussion, the Board of Education adopted a 2011- 12 budget that carries a school tax increase of $131 on a home assessed at the borough average of $83,313. More...

Out of this world

Cousins Maya Blinco, 10, and Nahal Balinco, 6, both of East Brunswick, celebrate with noisemakers during a reading of the Megillah. More...

Bulletin Board

Two open houses scheduled at St. Bart’s

St. Bartholomew School, 470 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick, will hold open houses for parents and prospective students 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 10 and May 15. School tours will be available. More...

Rummage Sale to benefit food bank

Aldersgate United Methodist Church will host a Rummage Sale 8 a.m.-1 p.m. April 1, rain or shine, in the white house next to the church, 568 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick. The event will feature hundreds of books selling for 10 cents each. More...

Dinners continue at Italian-American Club

The Sgt. John Basilone Italian-American Club will offer its next weekly Tuesday- Night Dinner at 6:30 p.m. April 5 at the Imperial Music Center, 48 Appleby Ave., South River. More...

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Obituaries

Emily Gaccione Edwards

Mrs. Edwards, 94, of East Brunswick, died Feb. 27, 2011, in Reformed Church Home, Old Bridge. She was a former school aide at Bowne- Munro and Warnsdorfer schools, both East Brunswick. More...

Mary Bongiovanni Pucciarello

Mrs. Pucciarello, 87, of Sayreville, died March 15, 2011, in CareOne at East Brunswick. Prior to her retirement, she was the co-owner and secretary of J&P Fabricators, Sayreville. More...

Nancy L. Wiederkehr

Ms. Wiederkehr, 66, of Engelhard, N.C., formerly of East Brunswick, died Feb. 28, 2011, in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Prior to her retirement in 2009, she worked as a registered nurse. More...

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Sports

Gronski encouraged by Bears’ determination

Girls lacrosse team is on the rise
BY JIMMY ALLINDER
Correspondent

I f the Greater Middlesex Conference ever established an award for its most optimistic coach, it would go to Sheri Gronski. More...

Bears turning to seniors for diamond success in ’11

BY JIMMY ALLINDER
Correspondent

For as long as East Brunswick High School athletic teams have worn green and white, the goal is to win. That is why no Bear coach is more disappointed with his teams’ records in recent seasons than baseball coach Tom Hockenjos. More...

sport shorts 

A Family Portrait Night fundraiser will be offered by the Old Bridge Knights Pop Warner from 6 to 9 p.m. April 4 at the Old Bridge Civic Center, 1 Old Bridge Plaza. More...

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