Cranford gives final approval for Birchwood PILOT

Cranford gives final approval for Birchwood PILOT

CRANFORD, NJ — The township committee on May 8 approved a 30-year payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, agreement with the developers of the Birchwood apartment complex on the border with Kenilworth. Birchwood Developers Urban Renewal Associates will pay 11 percent of its yearly gross revenue to the town as an annual payment rather […]

Union schools facing 200 layoffs with budget shortfall

UNION, NJ — About 200 non-tenured faculty and staff will receive reduction-in-force notices due to a budget shortfall in the upcoming year, Assistant Superintendent Gerry Benaquista said at a May 8 school board meeting. The news comes following an April 26 school board budget meeting at which officials originally said 49 positions — including custodians, […]

A long hike for fallen police officers

A long hike for fallen police officers

Photos Courtesy of the Linden and Summit police departments RIGHTEOUS RIDE – Cyclists from several Union County municipal police departments, including Linden, Summit and Cranford, took part in this year’s Police Unity Ride, a four-day excursion from New York to Washington to raise awareness of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of […]

Johnny B. Badd extols changed ways to Clark students

Johnny B. Badd extols changed ways to Clark students

CLARK, NJ — Two weeks before Marc Mero’s first professional boxing match in New York, his nose was shattered in a sparring session. The doctor said Mero would need reconstructive surgery before he could get back into the boxing ring. “I had never trained harder for anything in my whole life,” Mero told students in […]

Next generation ATM coming to Union County

Next generation ATM coming to Union County

WESTFIELD, NJ — Robotics and other technology are routinely coming under more scrutiny for their societal impact, and what some see as the next generation in automated banking is coming to Union County. Interactive teller machines, which are essentially remote-controlled, ATM-like kiosks virtually guided by a banker, will make their appearance in Westfield in early […]

Roselle Park cop, fireman drag man from burning car

Roselle Park cop, fireman drag man from burning car

ROSELLE PARK, NJ — A Roselle Park police officer and a firefighter dragged a man to safety from a burning car after residents reported the parked vehicle on fire, police said. The 42-year-old male occupant, who was not identified beyond having a last known address from Everett, Wash., did not suffer any visible injuries, according […]

Rahway, mayor sued for sexual harassment

RAHWAY, NJ — A lawsuit filed by a female city employee alleges former Mayor Samson Steinman resigned in December from his post the same day her accusations of sexual harassment reached the city council’s president at that time, Raymond Giacobbe Jr. Denise Rolong, managing director of the city’s Gallery Space, filed a civil complaint in […]

Ethics charges are filed against Union County judge

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A Superior Court judge who was convicted in February of defiant trespass in a dispute with her daughters’ Catholic grade school regarding one of the girl’s desires to play basketball on the boys’ team has been formally charged by a judicial board with five ethics violations. The action by the Advisory Committee […]

Artist-preferred housing complex opens in Rahway

Artist-preferred housing complex opens in Rahway

RAHWAY, NJ — A local metalsmith and two musicians first met while applying in December for the city’s first low-income housing that caters to artists. Amanda Mikulewicz, who graduated from university two years ago and now makes engagement rings for a living, was second in line to apply for a coveted apartment at The Willows […]