Archive for April, 2011

TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced Monday that its Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Family Leave Insurance (FLI) benefit programs are replacing paper checks with electronic debit cards. »

ELIZABETH--Marine Corps Pfc. Maria I. Martinez, daughter of Jose Martinez, of Elizabeth, recently completed the Basic Food Service Course. »

CLARK -- Erin Reilly, a special education teacher at Valley Road in the Clark School District, was the recipient of the prestigious “Innovations In Special Education” Award through the New Jersey School Boards Association. »

IT’S OFFICIAL...the other day, on the official F.B.I. website, they finally released a memo “proving” that aliens actually did land in Roswell, New Mexico, back in 1947... »

SOMERSET -- The Diocese of Metuchen will honor Jim and Jeanine Cavanagh of Raritan, at its 21st annual Bread and Roses Ball on Saturday, May 14. The Cavanaghs will receive the Immanuel Award at the event which will take place at the DoubleTree Hotel, 200 Atrium Drive, Somerset. »

Dear EarthTalk: Why don’t cleaning products have to list their ingredients, and are these products tested for what they might do to your health? -- Patricia Greenville, Bethel, CT »

WESTFIELD -- Literacy Volunteers of Union County (LVUC) and Literacy Volunteers of the Plainfield Public Library honored tutors during a special Tutor Appreciation Event held in Westfield at the Presbyterian Church during National Volunteer Week. »

ELIZABETH—A “CSI” science contest for girls in grades 6-8 was held at Benedictine Academy in Elizabeth on Saturday, April 2. The competition brought together a total of nine investigative teams representing eight elementary schools in the Union and Essex County area. »

One of the biggest threats to New Jersey’s public land is illegal off-road vehicle (ORV) riding. The Pinelands Preservation Alliance has been on the front lines of addressing this problem for years, and has come up with a 12-point plan to protect the public lands of this state we’re in. »

FAIR LAWN – Through the humanitarian efforts of their employees, Columbia Bank has raised $14,400 in support of Japan’s Earthquake and Tsunami Relief efforts. The relief funds were donated directly to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Save the Children charities. »

CRANFORD -- Calvary Nursery School & Child Care and Helen K. Baldwin Nursery School, joined together last week with the Cranford Police, Fire, Postal and E.M.S. Departments for a block party to celebrate young children and the staff that work with them. »

CLARK -- Mrs. LaManna's preschool class is pictured with students from the Arthur L. Johnson High School puppetry club. The Clark preschoolers were treated to three short puppet shows reinforcing themes such as good manners, hygiene, and friendship. »

ELIZABETH—Benedictine Academy, an all-female Catholic college prep high school in Elizabeth, has released its third quarter honor roll. Thirty-nine exemplary students at the Academy were named to first and second honors based on outstanding academic performance »

RAHWAY -- On Friday, April 8, Rahway Middle School held its first Word of the Day Challenge. The top three students in each grade level were awarded trophies. »

RAHWAY – Mayor Rick Proctor threw out the ceremonial first pitch to mark the beginning of the 2011 Rahway Police Athletic League baseball season. »

Every day we are exposed to contaminants from traffic exhaust, pesticides, and chemical fumes from industrial and manufacturing facilities. If left unchecked, these pollutants could accumulate in the air to levels that could affect our well-being and lead to future health problems like cancer, asthma and other lung diseases. »

TRENTON -- New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner James Simpson today announced that a longstanding policy that bans trucks from the Garden State Parkway north of Interchange 105 in Tinton Falls, Monmouth County will remain in place. »

TRENTON - A former state correction officer from Avenel pleaded guilty Monday to being a member of a network that smuggled pre-paid cell phones and drugs into Northern State Prison in Newark, Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced. »

NEWARK– As Americans file their income tax returns, New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA) held a press conference today at its Free Tax Preparation Center in Newark to demand that the state Legislature and Gov. Chris Christie restore New Jersey’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working families. »

ELIZABETH -- General Electric made $14.2 billion in profit, yet calculated a 2010 corporate tax bill that added up to less than zero. Instead of paying taxes, the company will receive a $3.2 billion gift from the taxpayers. »