State agency tells Union County Improvement Authority to review $50 million Roselle school-recreation project

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A state agency that regulates fiscal operations for municipalities and counties asked the Union County Improvement Authority to review concerns raised by a Roselle resident regarding the town’s proposed $50 million Mind and Body Complex. Local Finance Board Chair Timothy Cunningham sent a letter Aug. 24 to the UCIA, which has been […]

Union police shooting range faces lawsuit for distressing pets at nearby animal shelter

Union police shooting range faces lawsuit for distressing pets at nearby animal shelter

UNION, NJ — A Kenilworth resident who is suing Union, claims that an outdoor shooting range used by the police department is causing noise pollution, possible lead contamination and upsetting the animals at a nearby shelter. Michael Klein filed suit in state Superior Court in June regarding the shooting range at 990 Jefferson Ave., which […]

Van service traveling county providing care to pets

Van service traveling county providing care to pets

UNION COUNTY, NJ — For six years, three rotating veterinarians, one vet technician and one driver from the Associated Humane Societies have provided medical care to animals in Union County and beyond from a van, a service to pet owners who don’t have the money to pay a regular veterinarian or go to an animal hospital. […]

New proposal for Kennedy Reservation park draws fire

New proposal for Kennedy Reservation park draws fire

UNION, NJ — Union residents knocked down the township’s plans to utilize parts of Kennedy Reservation for a recreation area six months ago, and now designs for a county park there are also receiving heat. Union spokeswoman Natalie Pineiro said the township pulled its Green Acres funding application after receiving pushback from residents on the Green […]

Twenty-year-old from Linden bidding for state Assembly

Twenty-year-old from Linden bidding for state Assembly

LINDEN, NJ — He recited the 13th Amendment nearly verbatim, then stumbled. So he reached into his jacket and produced a battered copy of the U.S. Constitution. “There was a cover,” said Onel Martinez, who is running as a District 22 Independent for the state Assembly, during an interview at Kean University on Sept. 1. “I […]

Dead murder suspect identified 24 years after crime

ELIZABETH, NJ — Police have learned that a man they’ve been seeking for more than two decades in the murder of his girlfriend died the same week he is suspected of killing her. “This means this case is now closed,” Union County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Mark Spivey told LocalSource on Aug. 22. Fingerprints of an unidentified […]

Local fourth-grader steps into spotlight at U.S. Open

Local fourth-grader steps into spotlight at U.S. Open

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — The distance between Scotch Plains and Flushing Meadows is a lot shorter than the leap from the fourth grade to a crowd of 24,000 at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. Nine-year-old Dan Kaznowski is ready to make both. After being selected from more than 200 YouTube auditioners, Dan is preparing to sing […]

Westfield house fire claims life of 19-year-old student

Westfield house fire claims life of 19-year-old student

WESTFIELD, NJ — An early morning house fire Monday, Aug. 28, on Prospect Street in Westfield killed one of the occupants and left the other two homeless, according to Westfield fire Chief David Kelly. Jake Tooley, 19, was found dead inside the residence after his 24-year-old brother Sam and mother escaped unharmed. “The first arriving units […]