Archive for January, 2011

TRENTON – By an 8-5 vote, the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee advanced a controversial bill that would give businesses tax credits for funding scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools. »

WOODBRIDGE – Tomorrow morning, Woodbridge officials will officially unveil the “Quiet Zone” railroad crossing that has been installed at the Woodbridge Avenue railroad crossing in Sewaren. »

Concert • Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. – The Choral Arts Society of NJ will perform Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, Mountain Ave. & East Broad St. Tickets are $20 ($15 for seniors & students) Info: 1-908-654-5737. »

MIDDLSEX COUNTY – Middlesex County Sheriff Mildred S. Scott is re-establishing the position of undersheriff as part of an effort to build stronger relationships between county and local law enforcement and to enhance operational efficiencies in the department. »

EDISON -- Family, friends and colleagues of the late Middlesex County Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel joined the college community Jan. 18 as its newest building was dedicated in his honor. Crabiel served on the freeholder board for 27 years – 13 of those as director – and was a legend in the county... »

Everyone is leaving me. Oprah is finishing out the last season of her show, Sargent Shriver passed away a few days ago and now Regis is saying good-bye, too. How much can one person take? What’s next? »

Seth Rogen, who has thus far enjoyed a successful film career as the affable slacker who serendipitously rises to heroic heights, fails to summon that persona in director Michel Gondry’s “The Green Hornet.” »

Kristen Forbes of Noblesville, Indiana, had recently graduated from college when she was diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer at age 22. After a yearlong, painful battle, she succumbed to the disease, leaving behind a bright future and grieving family members and friends. »

PLAINFIELD – Four members or associates of the G-Shine Bloods criminal street gang operating in Plainfield were arrested Wednesday by a federal task force for alleged drug and gun offenses, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. »

NEWARK – Fifteen New Jersey residents, including an alleged member and associates of the Genovese organized crime family, are charged with racketeering and related offenses in a superseding indictment unsealed Thursday morning in conjunction with arrests in the case, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman and Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney... »

After my Oct. 22nd column on the Masonic Temple, where I wrote the General Contractor was Hans Krogh, I received the following in an email from Mark Krogh: »

TRENTON -- Rutgers University restricts competition for its public contracts by rejecting basic bidding requirements imposed on all other New Jersey state colleges and universities, an Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) audit has found. »

NEW BRUNSWICK -- A city man was arrested Wednesday on a charge of fatally beating another resident, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and New Brunswick Police Director Peter Mangarella announced. »

STATE – New Jersey earned a “A” for its smoke free air laws, but got an “F” for its spending levels on tobacco prevention and control programs in the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control 2010 report. »

NEWARK – New Jersey’s Division of Consumer Affairs launched a multimedia outreach campaign this week to educate consumers about how to avoid credit repair scams that may actually worsen their situation. »

NEWARK — U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced that the South Amboy Fire Department will receive a $23,579 federal grant for operations and safety. »

TRENTON--A first-in-the-nation grant program targeting air pollution caused by dry cleaning has been an initial success in New Jersey, with nearly 300 applications received statewide to finance new and upgraded dry cleaning equipment, and with thousands of pounds of pollutants already removed from the air, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced Wednesday. »

CARTERET – A $1.48 million improvement project to upgrade Industrial Avenue is nearing completion, according to Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman. »

TRENTON – Lottery players will have the option to increase their potential payout if they add the new Megaplier option when they purchase Mega Millions lottery tickets. »

Dear EarthTalk: What’s being done to “green up” professional sports? I know that the last two Olympic Games both made some effort, but are there others? -- Rob Avandic, Chicago, IL »