By James J. Devine When one of a handful of Hispanic state lawmakers announced he would not seek re-election, the leader of the Middlesex County Democratic Party reportedly said, “nobody from the Latino community has shown an interest in that seat…” Although South Amboy Mayor John T. O’Leary has been campaigning for the seat held…
During March, Women’s History Month, the League of Women Voters of the Union Area is paying tribute to the achievements of women past and present in the communities where our members live—Union, Cranford, Linden and surrounding towns. We are proud to take note of contributions by League members and other women in our towns, throughout…
By Norma E. Blake During the past year, over 100,000 New Jersey residents lost their jobs, adding their names to a list that was already well over 200,000. Many families in our state are facing economic challenges, some for the first time. Businesses, both large and small, are closing their doors as their revenue stream…
Defeating the De-Motivator The sweet strains of a Puccini aria cut through the Saturday night clatter of the busy Italian restaurant in New York City, but it wasn’t coming from the aging voice of the Sicilian baritone who was hired to belt out favorites like Funiculi-Funicula. It was a soprano whose crystal clear voice filled the room. Within moments…
by Assemblyman Joseph Vas In my years of public service, one thing always remains the same: When times are good, the public generally asks government to limit its influence, but when rough economic times hit the public often turns to the government for answers. Today we find ourselves in the midst of a sobering economic…
By Michael P. Riccards The change of seasons, especially in the East, brings bucolic dreams of springtime and its sister, baseball. For many the game recaptures a pastoral past, the remembrance of childhood aimlessly spent, rather than the problems of free agency and steroids, the greed of players and owners alike, and the spiraling problems…
The Most Powerful Motivator I was abruptly awakened and told, “The house is on fire. Go outside!” As I ran out of my bedroom and into the hall my socks slipped on the polished oak floor. A guiding hand helped me keep my footing and a frantic voice urged, “Hurry! Hurry!” As I got…
Will You Freak-Out or Hunker Down? Sometimes motivation is forced upon us. We are thrust into the Un-comfort Zone. And, whether we sink or swim depends on how we respond to the situation. How do you react during a crisis? Here are the stories of two men who faced a crisis lat in life and how they…
By Ronald G. Rios According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event. In 2009 an estimated 785,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack and about 470,000 will have a recurrent…
By Mayor John McCormac The most important task we have in municipal government is to make sure that every Woodbridge Township resident has timely and accurate information before, during, and after emergency situations. As we have seen over the past couple of months, the threat of a disastrous storm, a winter snow alert, or other…
