By Peter Fiorilla on UNION
UNION, NJ — Members of Insert Team Name Here, the senior robotics team at Union High School, spend about 15 hours a week working on their robot during competition season, which this year extends from early November to the end of February. Their efforts are carefully documented in a 40-page engineering notebook, including what works, along […]
By Peter Fiorilla on COUNTY NEWS
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Data released by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs shows Union County had the third-highest average residential property taxes in the state last year, behind only Essex and Bergen Counties, but also had the lowest average residential property values out of New Jersey’s 21 counties. In 2015, the average property tax […]
By Peter Fiorilla on HILLSIDE
HILLSIDE, NJ — Hundreds of Hillside residents cleaned out the inventory at a local floral shop, presented some of the bouquets they bought to store owners up and down Maple Avenue, and bolstered local businesses using their hearts — along with their credit cards — on Valentine’s Day. It was the second monthly “love mob,” put […]
By Peter Fiorilla on COUNTY NEWS
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Recently uncovered emails show that the $219,000 conference table at Kean University, regularly used by protestors and detractors to paint the university’s administration as out-of-touch and clueless, had been ordered and shipped to Kean well before before it was publicly approved. Kean’s embattled president, Dawood Farahi, apparently signed off on the polarizing […]
By Peter Fiorilla on COUNTY NEWS, ELIZABETH, WESTFIELD
UNION COUNTY, NJ — A pair of doctors with roots in Elizabeth and Westfield were charged with fraud last week, as federal and state prosecutors allege that they have been repeatedly submitting false claims to Medicare and Medicaid in violation of the False Claims Act. A neurologist with a practice in Elizabeth, Gautam Sehgal was charged […]
By Peter Fiorilla on PLAINFIELD
PLAINFIELD, NJ — In 2012, Plainfield resident Keath Gerald got more than he bargained for when he met with his doctor for a precautionary appointment. Gerald’s swollen ankles, along with the water weight he’d been putting on, led him to believe there was something wrong with his body, but he wasn’t sure what. After the visit, […]
By Peter Fiorilla on SUMMIT
SUMMIT, NJ — A striking documentary about race, and one woman’s experience growing up with dark skin in a Jewish family, is making its way to MONDO in Summit on Friday, Feb. 19, when The Film Society of Summit will screen, “Little White Lie,” with director Lacey Schwartz on hand. After the screening, Schwartz will host […]
By Peter Fiorilla on LINDEN
Intra-school mail program teaches Linden students responsibilty, leadership and more
LINDEN, NJ — Fifth-graders at Linden School No. 5 are getting a taste of what it’s like to be classroom leaders, and post office employees, through this year’s Wee Deliver system, a novel take on what it means to be a role model in school. Students who act responsibly, in and out of the classroom, […]
By Peter Fiorilla on HILLSIDE
Stephanie Bush-Baskette is now the fifth BA under Garretson
HILLSIDE, NJ — The fifth time just might be the charm in Hillside, where the township’s latest business administrator, longtime public servant Stephanie Bush-Baskette, has been doing her part to give “a small town with a lot great people” cause to be optimistic. Since being appointed by Mayor Angela Garretson in early January, Bush-Baskette’s top […]
By Peter Fiorilla on ARTS / EVENTS
RAHWAY, NJ — Indiana native and former “America’s Got Talent” star Drew Lynch is a walking, talking comedy soundbite, quick on the draw despite the stutter he was left with after getting hit by an errant softball years ago. Four years in comedy clubs – along with a runner-up finish in season 10 of “America’s Got […]