Map from 1860 shows vastly different Union

UNION, NJ — The township looked a little different in 1860 than it does now. When it was incorporated in 1808, Union comprised 16 square miles and included parts of what are now Linden, Roselle, Kenilworth and Hillside. The daily 5 p.m. gridlock on U.S. Route 22, a coffee shop on every corner and almost […]

Union school board to conduct survey on district food provider

UNION, NJ — The school district will conduct surveys regarding its food provider, Aramark, after concerns were voiced by parents and students. There will be two surveys conducted — one by the provider and one by the district — so the Board of Education can decide what to do when Aramark’s contract expires in June. […]

Officials blame timing of snow, not amount, for chaos

Officials blame timing of snow, not amount, for chaos

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Officials from around the county blamed the midafternoon timing of the unseasonal Nov. 15 snow storm — rather than higher-than-predicted accumulations — for the chaos of gridlocked roads and multihour commutes. Those responsible for snow removal, mostly the heads of municipal public works departments, said the havoc was caused in part […]

Lesniak to advise, instruct policy advocates

Lesniak to advise, instruct policy advocates

UNION, NJ – Students who have an interest in becoming community and policy advocates will have the chance to do so with a new undergraduate course coming to Kean University this spring. The history course, titled “Social Movements: History and the Call to Action,” will be taught by former Democratic state Sen. Raymond Lesniak. “I’ve […]

Experts issue warning: beware of ‘zombie trees’

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — They may look alive, but they’re dead. And due to recent super storms in New Jersey, they’re all around Union County. “Zombie trees,” as they’re referred to by arborists, are trees that may look healthy but now have defects. With winter approaching, and the heavy wet snow with it, tree experts recommend […]

Union seeks ways to restore kindergarten aides

UNION, NJ – The Board of Education is looking at ways to restore aides to kindergarten classrooms who were cut from the budget in 2017, including parent volunteers, substitutes and Kean University clinical faculty and interns. Under state guidelines, there can be a maximum of 25 children in a single kindergarten class before the school […]

With holidays approaching, model railroaders get spotlight

With holidays approaching, model railroaders get spotlight

UNION, NJ — It was a particularly busy morning for Tim McCollum as he had to make room in his freight yard for about 100 cars that would be arriving soon. “The track is busy this morning now, isn’t it?” train dispatcher Bob Nalbone said to McCollum. McCollum finished moving several cars and he finally […]

Union athletic director sues school district, principal

UNION, NJ  – The public school district’s athletic director claims she was pressured to fire the high school’s white football and basketball coaches by the black principal in a race and sex discrimination lawsuit against the principal, several district officials and the school board. Linda Ionta, a white Union school district employee for 29 years, […]