Mayor to seek re-election to Cranford Township Committee

CRANFORD, NJ — Mayor Tom Hannen will seek re-election to the Township Committee in November for a third, three-year term, the Democrat announced via his official Facebook page March 15. “After careful consultation with my wife and family, I have decided to seek another term on the Cranford Township Committee,” Hannen wrote on his official […]

Winter, spring storms wreak havoc on school calendars

Winter, spring storms wreak havoc on school calendars

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Municipalities have struggled through multiple snowstorms this winter and spring, causing school district calendars to buckle under all the unforeseen snow days. Some school districts had to add days to the June calendar or cut into spring break to meet the state-mandated minimum of 180 instructional days. Such measures haven’t been […]

Ailing Green absent from Assembly since re-election

Ailing Green absent from Assembly since re-election

UNION COUNTY, NJ — State Assemblyman Jerry Green has not participated in any legislative voting sessions or committee meetings in Trenton since being re-elected in November, public records show, and Democratic leadership has remained silent about his absence. Green, who will turn 79 on April 16, has served in the state Assembly since 1992 and […]

Birchwood OK’d for three buildings, 225 apartments

CRANFORD, NJ — The local planning board unanimously gave its final approval for the construction of three, 50-foot, four-story apartment buildings on the Birchwood property at its April 4 meeting, ending a decade long fight over the area, which lies on the Kenilworth border. Despite agreement between the board and developer on several conditions, the […]

Clark taxes to jump one-fifth of last year’s spike

Clark taxes to jump one-fifth of last year’s spike

CLARK, NJ — Municipal taxes will increase by $41 for the average home assessed at $121,000 under the the township’s newly adopted $23 million budget. “This is a nominal increase,” business administrator John Laezza said. “The prior year’s tax increase was due to a major tax appeals in excess of $1 million, which raised it.” […]

Cranford resident seeks Mount Laurel help from nonprofit

CRANFORD, NJ — A longtime Cranford resident was hoping to assist the township with its Mount Laurel housing obligations, and wanted the zoning board to use some leverage with a nonprofit organization to do so at the board’s recent meeting. Community Access Unlimited, an Elizabeth-based charity that provides services for the disabled, is currently applying […]

New Hillside mayor makes appointments, more coming

HILLSIDE, NJ — Mayor Dahlia Vertreese has appointed Hanifa Johnson as the township’s new department of public works director. Johnson was hired as the head of the DPW, Hillside spokeswoman Natalie Pineiro said. Johnson previously worked as an assistant deputy borough engineer in Roselle and for Maser Consulting, an engineering firm based in Monmouth County. […]

Proposed Union budget would hike average tax bill $50

UNION, NJ — A preliminary budget proposal for 2018 shows the municipal tax could increase a homeowner’s property tax bill by $50 for an average home assessed at $45,600. The increase would bring the annual average property tax bill up to $3,167 this year. Only one local resident attended a March 27 hearing for the […]