Melitta Schmidt

Melitta Schmidt of Union died at her home on Sunday, February 11, 2018. She was 96. Born in Germany, she came to the US to escape the Nazis in 1938. She lived in Newark and Irvington until she moved to Union 57 years ago. Melitta married the love of her life, Joseph Schmidt in 1954 […]

America needs the Fair Tax, not more fiddling with the tax code

By Robert C. McNair Some 150 years ago, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote: “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.” Today, America’s financial well-being is threatened by its continued reliance on an antiquated regimen of tax laws and regulations to […]

Merry Christmas

EDITORIAL  On Dec. 25, people around the world celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. Literally meaning Christ’s Mass, the phrase derives from Middle English and Old English and traces its origins to the translations of the Hebrew word for “Messiah,” meaning “anointed.” In recent years, this very religious holiday has taken on a […]

Voters make the case for Freeholder Districts in Union County

If anything came out of the Republican loss for the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, it was the need for freeholder districts. During the freeholder debates, hosted by the Union County League of Women Voters in Cranford on Oct. 15, when challenged by the idea of Freeholder Districts, Freeholder Chairwomen Linda Carter responded on […]

Practice what you preach

In a day and age when the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has his own 21st century pulpit, a Twitter feed, why is it so difficult for the Archbishop of Newark to grant an audience to a local community that is so clearly devoted to their parish, and more importantly, to […]

A passion for books in Union County

Left Out By Frank Capece The passion for books of Lois Cantwell and Andrea Hirschfeld is undoubtedly shared by many. Their Union operation, bookBgone, makes their passion special and their hard work well worth it. First, the facts on their operation.  Through their efforts they have collected an estimated 30 tons of books which have […]

Greeting and Humbugs in Union County

Left Out By Frank Capece The list of “Greetings and Humbugs”  in Union County seems to grow each year. So without further delay, let’s get started. Greetings to Liz Weishapl from Union.  For the past 35 years she diligently served the auxiliary at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, including the past six as its President. It’s […]

A bunker mentality in Cranford

Left Out By Frank Capece They had a contentious town meeting in Cranford last week regarding the status of Chief of Police Eric Mason and others caught up in the swirl of vacant positions in the local government. Once community leader Jerry Dobbins peppered questions over the acting positions of township administrator, chief financial officer […]

Don’t run and please don’t lean on the barriers

Left Out By Frank Capece By Saturday evening the biggest line at the Target Store in Union on Route 22 was at the small little Pizza Hut near the entrance. Quite a difference from 48 hours prior when by 10 p.m.on Thanksgiving, the lines and filled shopping carts were quite a site. Actually, with anxious […]

When quality candidates debate

Left Out By frank Capece Sylvia Weisbrot as usual had the best seat in Union on Monday evening. As an official time keeper for the League of Women Voters local debates over the past thirty years, the Linden resident has performed the very necessary task of keeping time and waving the different colored cards to […]