Archive for August, 2011

PISCATAWAY – A former volunteer religious instructor from Brooklyn, N.Y. has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old female, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and South Plainfield Police Chief James Parker announced today. »

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of liberal groups including MoveOn.org as well as a number of labor unions, launched a webpage today that provides information about all 12 members of the powerful Joint Select Committee on Budget Deficit Reduction. »

TRENTON – Drunk drivers will face statewide crackdowns by police officers as part of the annual summer “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” campaign, Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Division of Highway Traffic Safety Acting Director Gary Poedubicky announced today. »

NEW BRUNSWICK – Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, a nonprofit committed to preventing child abuse in all its forms, released “Strengthening Efforts to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in New Jersey” on Monday. »

On Aug. 17 an asteroid estimated to be 17 to 39 meters in diameter will pass through space intersecting the Earth's orbit, missing a collision by only about one million miles. The object will be moving at about 13,533 miles per hour, or 3.76 miles per second. »

UNION COUNTY – Legislation that will help preserve two Union County historic sites was signed into law on Monday. »

CLARK – The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series continues its 51st season of music on Wednesday, Aug. 17, with an evening of music performed by Almost Queen. The free concert that begins at 7:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. »

Dear EarthTalk: I heard of a practice called cyanide fishing, which is used mostly to collect aquarium specimens, but I understand it is also used to catch fish we eat. Isn’t this very unhealthy? -- Phil Seymour, Albany, NY »

Aug. 8 at 4:58 p.m. – At the Barnes and Noble Bookstore on the 1100 block of Raritan Road, Officer Joseph Mirabile arrested Long Branch resident Richard Gardner, 57, and charged him with shoplifting $21.27 in merchandise. He was subsequently released on his own recognizance pending a court date. »

The days when you could send your kids off to the first day of school with a lunchbox and a hug are long gone. Today's back-to-school preparations likely include filing out piles of pre-enrollment paperwork, lining up carpools and, of course, the dreaded shopping excursions for clothes and school supplies. »

NEW BRUNSWICK -- A South Plainfield man has been convicted of charges stemming from the attack of a borough employee, whose neck was cut on Labor Day in 2009, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan announced today. »

LINDEN -- The Linden Police Department will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the summer 2011 “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” campaign. »

HIGHLAND PARK – The Streetscape Project, which will implement improvements between Second and Fifth avenues in Highland Park, begins today. »

WAGNER COLLEGE NEWS SERVICE--In the next few weeks, many American families will undergo a challenging rite of passage: sending a student off to college for the first time. »

CLARK -- Janeen Allmendinger, an 11-year elementary school teaching veteran, was appointed to the position of elementary school supervisor with the Clark School District at the Board of Education Meeting on Aug. 9. »

On July 9, a gathering of old and new friends merged together to celebrate the memories that Rahway High School created almost 40 years ago. A portion of the class of 1973 got together at Molly McGuire’s Restaurant in Clark for an evening of music, dancing, food and a walk down memory lane. »

SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- Middlesex County students entering 5th through 8th grades are invited to attend a summer day program at the County’s Extension office called “Eco- Adventures at the EARTH Center”. »

LIVINGSTON – Getting the right amount of sleep each night is important for children's health, safety and success in school and other activities. The start of the school year is a good time to make sure your children are getting the sleep they need. »

UNION – A series of films celebrating five of the most glamorous actresses from Hollywood’s “Golden Age” will be presented at The Union Public Library beginning Tuesday, Aug.16. The films will be screened at 2 p.m. on successive Tuesdays through Sept. 13. »

NEWARK—Parents and children know the importance of choosing the perfect first-day-of-school outfit, but just as significant are the medical checkups and plans that help children to begin the year with the best health possible. »