Archive for March, 2011

Dear EarthTalk: I understand that, among mining’s other problems, like providing climate-warming coal and endangering miners’ lives, it is also a serious water polluter. Can you enlighten? -- Richard Moeller, Salt Lake City, UT »

METUCHEN – The Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce and the Metuchen Cultural Arts Commission are seeking artists for the fourth annual Junebug ArtFest. »

RAHWAY – The city’s annual talent show, presented by the Rahway Recreation Department, is set for Friday, April 15, at the Union County Performing Arts Center. The talent competition is divided into three age groups: youth, teen and adult. »

OLD BRIDGE – Two authors and a music artist are teaming up to hold a free purity seminar and concert for New Jersey youth at an Old Bridge church in April. »

SCOTCH PLAINS -- The Scotch Plains S.A.L. American Legion Post 209 sponsored its annual raffle which raised $2,500 to benefit the Center For Hope Hospice Camp Starbright located at 175 Glenside Avenue in Scotch Plains. »

RAHWAY -- Second grade students at Franklin School in Rahway recently learned about units of capacity. To share their knowledge, they created drawings of “capacity creatures.” »

UNION – It has been said that a soul mate is the one who makes life come to life. For people with disabilities, who sometimes face challenges enjoying life to its fullest potential and therefore treasure each success perhaps more dearly than people without disabilities, finding a soul mate can be their greatest... »

RAHWAY -- On the morning of March 17, the third grade students of Franklin Elementary School in Rahway were searching for the "Big Dipper" and "Orion's Belt" in the school gym. Surprisingly, they were able to locate them - with the help of STARLAB and Math and Science coach, Roya Basu. »

CLARK – School officials have released a revised 2011-12 calendar that resolves a conflict with the 2012 graduation dates at Arthur L. Johnson High School and Carl H. Kumpf Middle School. »

CARTERET -- Mayor Dan Reiman and Councilwoman Susan Naples congratulated Carteret High School student Jonathan Mortimer in March on his acceptance into the U.S. Naval Academy’s Summer Seminar (NASS) program. A junior at Carteret High, Mortimer is one of 2,250 international applicants accepted into the program for the 2011 summer session. »

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Army National Guard Pfc. Christopher E. Dowling has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. »

PISCATAWAY – The Diocese of Metuchen will host a talk on What the Bible Says About Suffering and Death on Thursday, April 7 beginning at 7 p.m. in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane. »

CLARK -- The Guidance Department and Development Office at Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark, sponsored a career panel for members of the junior class. The panel consisted of five accomplished alumnae who shared their career paths with the students. Marybeth Ream, development director at Mother Seton introduced the panel members. »

WAYNE – Working with the First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains, a crew of Columbia Bank volunteers assisted two Wayne homeowners begin to repair recent flood damage. »

LINDEN -- The Provident Bank recently promoted Michael A. Raimonde of Linden to executive vice president and director of retail banking. He is responsible for the overall supervision of Provident’s 80 plus branch network and sales management. »

When Newsweek recently asked 1,000 adult U.S. citizens to take America’s official citizenship test, 29% of respondents couldn’t name the current vice president of the United States. »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The leader of the nation’s third-largest political party criticized President Barack Obama’s decision to attack Libya on Sunday, saying that U.S. foreign policy is fueling resentment for America in the Arab world. »

CARTERET – Last night, police arrested a borough man accused of strangling his live-in companion to death, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and Carteret Police Chief John Pieczyski announced. »

ELIZABETH – New Jersey’s attorney general joined with representatives from the State Division of Consumer Affairs and the Consumer Federation of America to warn elderly residents about a scam that preys on their desire to help their family members. »

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie’s school funding cuts violate the state’s constitutional mandate to provide a “thorough and efficient” public education, a court-appointed Special Master ruled on Tuesday. »