Archive for March, 2009

PERTH AMBOY – Former Perth Amboy Mayor and state Assemblyman George Otlowski died Monday at Raritan Bay Medical Center. He was 97. The lifelong Democrat presided over Perth Amboy from 1976 to 1990. Otlowski won his first elected office in 1955, when he was voted to the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. He... »

WOODBRIDGE—Woodbridge Township Firefighters Association IAFF Local 290 is planning a charity event this weekend in conjunction with St. Baldrick’s to raise money for childhood cancer research and show solidarity with young cancer patients. The firefighters got involved in this cause to honor the memory of late Firefighter Matt Lokos, who participated in St. Baldrick’s... »

LINDEN—On Friday, March 20, the Linden Police Athletic League will be holding an all-star event at Linden High School, located at 121 W. St. Georges Avenue. The Linden P.A.L. All Stars featuring “The Hoop Wizard” Jack Ryan and Linden P.A.L. director, Officer Dan “DK” Kuczynski, will be playing against the Main Event Dream Team.... »

by Michele S. Byers, Executive Director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. It is a sad sign of how far we’ve become removed from the natural world that even our language is shifting away from biology and toward technology. The clearest example yet comes in the form of the Oxford Junior Dictionary. The Oxford... »

by Diane Norek Harrison LINDEN-This comes from my own research dated 1923: In 1865 Ferdinand Blancke, a prosperous restaurant proprietor in New York, purchased a large tract in and around what is now the borough of Linden and began to build a village. There was a station on Pennsylvania railroad at this place at... »

By Gregg Semanick-New Jersey‘s IRS Spokesperson There are several tax credits and benefits available to qualifying taxpayers with disabilities as well as to the parents of disabled children. For information on tax credits and benefits available to the disabled, see Publication 3966, Living and Working with Disabilities, or Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons... »

by Diane Norek Harrison SOUTH AMBOY-The city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held on March 14. Grand Marshal John Donnelly rode the parade route with his family. Deputy Grand Marshal Thomas Noble marched in the parade with his family. Gov. Jon Corzine marched with South Amboy Mayor John T. O’Leary and city council... »

by Diane Norek Harrison PERTH AMBOY- Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Division No. 3 and Ladies’ Auxiliary Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H.) held their annual ball and card party on Monday evening, April 2, 1923 in the new auditorium. Music was by O’Brien’s Royal Serenaders. The committee for the activity was: H.P. McCardle, Mrs. Mary... »

By James J. Devine When one of a handful of Hispanic state lawmakers announced he would not seek re-election, the leader of the Middlesex County Democratic Party reportedly said, “nobody from the Latino community has shown an interest in that seat…” Although South Amboy Mayor John T. O’Leary has been campaigning for the seat... »

By Jason Alderman If you’ve ever been laid off from a job, you know how paralyzing it can be to worry about what to do next. Because you may not find a new position right away – especially in this economy – here are several steps you should take immediately to protect yourself financially:... »

By Gregg Semanick-New Jersey‘s IRS Spokesperson If you already filed your federal tax return and are due a refund, you can check the status of your refund online at www.irs.gov using the “Where’s My Refund?” feature. If you do not have internet access, you can check the status of your refund by calling the... »

CARTERET—On March 2, Mayor Daniel J. Reiman joined U.S. Congressman Albio Sires, and Carteret business owner Jean Lutz, to distribute patriotic quilts to military servicemen and servicewomen being treated at Walter Reed Military Hospital in Washington D.C. The program, initiated in 2008 by Country Quilt ‘n’ Threads owner Lutz, has attracted a number of... »

During March, Women’s History Month, the League of Women Voters of the Union Area is paying tribute to the achievements of women past and present in the communities where our members live—Union, Cranford, Linden and surrounding towns. We are proud to take note of contributions by League members and other women in our towns,... »

Being budget-conscious doesn’t mean depriving yourself. Upscale brown-bag lunches with economic gourmet sandwich options. Keep it healthier and when possible, buy organic. Seasonal local produce assures freshness and supports your farming community, too. Choose no-nitrite, low sodium deli meats or grill hormone-, antibiotic-free chicken cutlets at home for salads and wraps. Select all-natural cheeses... »

Federal tax returns are due about one month from now. Have you sent yours in? No? Well, the National Society of Accountants (NSA) has three words for you: “Git R Done!” The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reports that many people already have. In fact, the IRS said that as of February 27, 2009, it... »

By Gregg Semanick-New Jersey‘s IRS Spokesperson You can avoid headaches at tax time by keeping track of your receipts and other records throughout the year. Good recordkeeping will help you remember the various transactions you made during the year, which in turn may make filing your return a less taxing experience. Remember, good recordkeeping... »

TRENTON – Continuing the state’s attack on mortgage fraud, Attorney General Anne Milgram announced yesterday the filing of three new fraud lawsuits charging a total of 14 individual and corporate defendants. “The lawsuits we announce (on Thursday) involve three separate complaints, but they share a common thread of greed, human callousness and disregard for... »

FLORHAM PARK—St. Patrick’s Day is synonymous with parties and parades. The AAA New Jersey Automobile Club reminds partygoers and hosts to celebrate responsibly by designating a sober driver or arranging alternate means of transportation before the celebrations begin. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 851 people have been killed in motor vehicle... »

UNION—This year the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is working to make parade day not only a celebration of the patron saint of Ireland but also a day of charity to benefit those less fortunate in these difficult economic times. Joining St. Patrick’s Day parades committees across New Jersey, the Union County... »

CLARK—The Arthur L. Johnson High School DECA Team had eight of their students compete at the DECA State Conference in Cherry Hill. DECA is an organization for business and marketing students where members compete against each other in over 15 different business fields such as restaurant management, hotel management, and accounting, to name a... »