Archive for July, 2011

I’ve had some horrible bosses. Not quite “can’t wait ‘til they die so I can stomp on their graves” horrible, but horrible enough to be able to relate to the dire quandary best buddies Nick, Dale and Kurt are faced with in director Seth Gordon’s “Horrible Bosses.” »

LINDEN – Children enrolled in Linden’s day camp program have been enjoying a variety of fun activities. »

EWING -- Several local residents were among 2,100 students who participated in the 2011 Commencement Ceremony at The College of New Jersey on Friday, May 16, on campus in Lions' Stadium: »

Two years ago this week, 4.5 million of America’s workers enjoyed a modest pay increase, as the federal minimum wage rose from $6.55 to $7.25 an hour. The increase was the final of a three-step boost enacted in 2007. »

Hubert Humphrey once said “that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.” »

It’s estimated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that a whopping 34 percent of the average farmer’s production cost comes from controlling agricultural pests. Thankfully, this state we’re in is one of eleven with a special laboratory dedicated to helping farmers and conservation land managers find ways to control pests without using prohibitively costly... »

STATE – Following a Wednesday fire at a New York City wastewater treatment plant, raw sewerage has been being discharged into the Hudson River. Officials have declared the river off-limits for swimming and other recreational uses. »

ELIZABETH -- A Union County jury found an Edison man guilty of unlawful possession of a handgun, Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow announced. »

TRENTON – A New Jersey Superior Court judge has filed a lawsuit against the state challenging the constitutionality of a recently-enacted law that requires judges to pay more towards their pension and health benefits. »

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark) signed a letter launched by the House Progressive Caucus opposing any deal that cuts Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits in order to raise the debt ceiling. »

TRENTON – Preliminary estimates showed that private sector employment in New Jersey continued an upward trend, with employers adding 6,400 jobs in June — the fifth consecutive month of private sector job gains. However, overall employment gains were more modest, thanks to a public sector decline of 4,700 jobs. »

CARTERET -- Kaplan Companies has begun construction on 42 additional residential units in continuation of their Lower Roosevelt Avenue redevelopment project, according to Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman. »

Dear EarthTalk: I understand that fast-food giant YUM! Brands, owner of KFC, is under fire by Greenpeace and others for rainforest destruction. What’s the story? -- Betsy Barnard, Wellesley, MA »

SUMMIT -- A 73-year-old woman who tested positive for rabies after being bitten by a dog in her native Haiti in April died today at Overlook Medical Center in Summit. »

WOODBRIDGE – The Woodbridge Division on Aging, the Department of Health & Human Services, and the Office of Emergency Management have issued a “Heat Alert” advisory through Saturday, July 23, as temperatures are expected to climb to near 100 degrees, with extremely high humidity in the Woodbridge Township area. »

UNION COUNTY – As the heat wave continues, Union County officials remind residents that resources are available for cooling off during extreme hot weather. »

UNION COUNTY – County Manager George Devanney will retire effective Aug. 1. He was appointed to the position in 2002, following a four-year tenure as deputy county manager. Devanney, nephew of state Sen. Ray Lesniak, has been a public servant for 27 years. »

LINDEN – Linden Recreation is planning a doubles tennis tournament for adults 18 and over on Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Wilson Park tennis courts. The tournament will start at 9 a.m. and the entrance fee is $20 per person, cash only. »

LINDEN -- Children from Al Kalla Park Day Camp in Linden display their hats for Wacky Hat Day. (Photos courtesy of Linden Recreation) »

RAHWAY -- Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea is one of the hottest artists on the music scene today. Their US summer tour will stop by Rahway on Thursday, July 21, in one of only two scheduled New Jersey appearances as part of the Mayor’s Summer Concert Series. »