ELIZABETH, NJ — More than a hundred people lined up inside the Elizabethport Community Center for a chance to see Santa Claus at the fifth annual 1st Ward tree-lighting ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 13. “I’m truly blessed and I just want to bless the children,” said 1st Ward Councilman Carlos Torres, who helped arrange the event. “It’s […]
UNION, NJ — The Union man who killed his girlfriend, cut up her body and disposed of most of it in five garbage bags near the Pulaski Skyway in Newark more than four years ago was sentenced to 70 years in prison Monday, Dec. 18. Matthew Ballister, 47, turned his back in protest on Superior Court […]
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Smithereens fan Jeff Christian was a frequent patron of Crossroads in Garwood, at least when Pat DiNizio was there playing his solo acoustic shows. “These concerts were more intimate, in a bar setting,” Christian said in a Dec. 15 phone interview. “He would cover his favorites of The Beatles, The Smithereens, all in […]
LINDEN, NJ — Joining the Linden Police Department was just one way for Ariel Franjul to give back to the United States after immigrating here from the Dominican Republic in 1997 at about 10 years old. Franjul, who was sworn in as an officer on Dec. 11, moved to Linden after being honorably discharged in the […]
State Assemblywoman Annette Quijano plans to reintroduce a bill that would provide driver’s licenses for people who live in New Jersey but cannot prove lawful presence in the United States. Her current bill already is catching the attention of some of her constituents. Cosecha, a grassroots activist group whose name translates to “Harvest,” held an […]
HILLSIDE, NJ — Iyore Olaye’s passion for the sciences and technology were evident even while she was growing up in Hillside, where she spent weekends and summers while visiting one of her parents. “Iyore was a very ambitious and hardworking, phenomenal student,” her sister, Iredia Olaye, said. “She just gravitated towards the sciences, playing with […]
CRANFORD, NJ — Cranford student Daniel Serna, 15, was recently recognized for working to alleviate the pressures of homelessness in Union County by Homefirst Interfaith Housing and Family Services Inc. Serna received the 2017 HomeFirst Hero Award from the homeless shelter and nonprofit organization at the organization’s Evening of Thanks dinner at the Shackamaxon Country Club […]
SUMMIT, NJ — Summit has joined with Berkeley Heights and New Providence to share municipal court services, a consolidation of courts in the three northwestern Union County towns that will eventually center itself in New Providence. Berkeley Heights and New Providence have had a shared-services agreement since 2010, expanded in 2014; Summit recently joined in with […]
UNION, NJ — A requested recount in the Union school board race slightly altered vote totals but left the results unchanged. Linda Richardson finished atop a list of six declared candidates for three seats followed by Vito Nufrio and Sherry Shannon Higgins. Current board President Ronnie McDowell, who ran in this year’s race, had called for […]
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Frequent visitors to Rahway River Park may be familiar with the variety of trees growing throughout, yet few may be able to identify those planted in 1947 to honor 58 Union County citizens who died in World War II. Of the 58 trees planted as memorials, 15 were no longer standing but […]