Former Garwood police chief sentenced in Pennsylvania fraud case for swindling 95-year-old in lottery scheme

GARWOOD, NJ — Former Garwood Police Chief Robert J. Ryan has been sentenced to 23 months in prison following his conviction for defrauding a 95-year-old Pennsylvania man out of almost $29,000. Ryan, 71, who retired from the department in 2000, also was sentenced to five years probation on Tuesday, Sept. 12, in Doylestown, Pa., according to […]

Cranford moves toward banning puppy, kitten sales

CRANFORD, NJ — Despite Gov. Chris Christie vetoing state legislation in May that would have effectively banned pet stores from selling puppies and kittens, many local municipalities, including Cranford, have decided to act anyway. Cranford took its first step Tuesday, Sept. 12, by introducing an ordinance that would have it join 110 other New Jersey towns […]

Clark English instructor named Teacher of Year

Clark English instructor named Teacher of Year

CLARK, NJ — Technology and English are not two subjects often thought of together; perhaps this is why Victoria Sasso, a sixth grade teacher from Clark’s Carl H. Kumpf Middle School, is so effective and was chosen as Union County’s Teacher of the Year. Sasso, a language arts instructor, received the award Tuesday, Sept. 12, from […]

Seniors camp out for hours, overnight for chance at Cranford senior housing complex

Seniors camp out for hours, overnight for chance at Cranford senior housing complex

CRANFORD, NJ — They occupied the walkway with lawn chairs and blankets, wearing jackets, coats and backpacks. They weren’t parents lining up for Black Friday sales, or teenagers hoping to get ticket to a concert. Instead they were seniors, staked outside the Edward K. Gill Apartment Building on Meeker Avenue in Cranford with hopes of obtaining […]

Kenilworth Girl Scout troop helps child abuse victims transition back to school with supplies

Kenilworth Girl Scout troop helps child abuse victims transition back to school with supplies

KENILWORTH, NJ — For children dealing with the trauma of abuse, the reality of “back-to-school” can be daunting. In order to help lessen anxiety, Girl Scout Troop 42867 of Kenilworth used their July service effort to equip victims of child abuse with school supplies. Over 25 backpacks loaded with pencils, pencil cases, folders, binders, notebooks and […]

Flooding help for Rahway River could be years away

Flooding help for Rahway River could be years away

UNION COUNTY, NJ — With images of Hurricane Irma striking Florida dominating news coverage only two weeks after similar pictures from Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Texas, local memories are being refreshed of Irene and Sandy — and the damage it wreaked. While local officials are pushing for action along the Rahway River and its tributaries, Union, […]

Van service traveling county providing care to pets

Van service traveling county providing care to pets

UNION COUNTY, NJ — For six years, three rotating veterinarians, one vet technician and one driver from the Associated Humane Societies have provided medical care to animals in Union County and beyond from a van, a service to pet owners who don’t have the money to pay a regular veterinarian or go to an animal hospital. […]

Dead murder suspect identified 24 years after crime

ELIZABETH, NJ — Police have learned that a man they’ve been seeking for more than two decades in the murder of his girlfriend died the same week he is suspected of killing her. “This means this case is now closed,” Union County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Mark Spivey told LocalSource on Aug. 22. Fingerprints of an unidentified […]

Local fourth-grader steps into spotlight at U.S. Open

Local fourth-grader steps into spotlight at U.S. Open

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — The distance between Scotch Plains and Flushing Meadows is a lot shorter than the leap from the fourth grade to a crowd of 24,000 at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. Nine-year-old Dan Kaznowski is ready to make both. After being selected from more than 200 YouTube auditioners, Dan is preparing to sing […]