Tuesday, April 3, 2012
June primary will set up November election that could shift the balance of power on the township's governing body.
The June Primary Election will be uncontested in Cranford with only one member from each political party seeking election to the Township Committee. Former Republican Township Commissioner Scott Mease and Democrat Thomas Hannen Jr. are both seeking election to the single seat that will be up for grabs in the November election. Republican Mayor David Robinson's term is set to expire at the end of the year, but after nearly six years on the dias, he has chosen not to seek re-election. "It has been a pleasure to serve, but after six years, I have decided to take a break," Robinson said, adding that he also wants to dedicate more time to his family. The outcome of the November election will determine the balance of power on the Township …
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The highly-anticipated film will be shown on multiple screens starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 23.
If you've had a craving to see the best-selling novel "The Hunger Games" come to life on the big screen, you're about to be satisfied. The film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ beloved novel about teens in a post-apocalyptic society who are forced to fight to the death on live television will be shown on multiple screens starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 23 at Westfield's Digiplex Rialto. The movie, rated PG-13, with a running time of 142 minutes, stars Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence as the novel's heroine Katniss Everdeen. Published in 2008 by Scholastic, the book is the first in a trilogy. With nearly 24 million copies in print in the United States alone, it has become a worldwide phenomenon embraced by teens as well as adults…
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Union County Freeholders pull the plug on MusicFest, saving at least 42 county employees from being laid off. From police reports to council decisions, here's a look at the top news for the last week
Faced with at least 42 layoffs and the possibility of additional job cuts, county officials decided to cancel the annual MusicFest held in Clark's Oak Ridge Park."A consensus was reached by the Freeholder Board (March 8) following numerous fiscal committee meetings, union negotiations and departmental meetings," the press release stated. The Board also canceled the Union County Rhythm and Blues by the Brook. County officials say the cuts will save approximately $1.2 million. In other news around the county: BERKELEY HEIGHTS On Saturday, March 11, Berkeley Heights Police Officers responded Ralph Pl., Branko Rd. and Ridge Dr. to investigate three separate residential burglaries. Investigations revealed all three residences were forcibly …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The former Springfield Township Attorney likely to take retiring Freeholder Deborah P. Scanlon’s place on ballot.
Former Springfield Township Attorney Bruce Bergen wouldn’t comment on whether he is running for Union County Freeholder. His social media network is a different matter, however. Last week, the website Union County Watchdog reported that Bergen would be "appointed" a Freeholder following the retirement of Deborah Scanlon. There has not yet been an official announcement about Bergen's candidacy. When contacted at his Cranford law office, Bergen declined to comment. Nonetheless, the Union County Democratic Committee’s Facebook page lists him as one of three Democrats vying to be elected Freeholder in 2012. A Facebook post from March 3 reads “the Union County Democratic Committee has nominated the team of Bruce Bergen, of Springfield, …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Republicans such as Nancy Munoz, Jon Bramnick, and Tom Kean came out to support the Congressman in front of Summit City Hall.
Congressman Leonard Lance kicked off his reelection campaign for New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District yesterday in front of Summit City Hall. It was his forth stop on his first day of heavy campaigning. Political leaders from Summit joined other Republican politicians from Westfield and Kenilworth who came out to support Lance. Mayor Ellen Dickson was on hand as well as Senator Tom Kean, the chairman of the Lance for Congress campaign, Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, both campaign co-chairs. “I am proud to endorse Leonard Lance for Congress," said Kean. "As our Congressman, Leonard Lance is leading the fight for lower taxes, less spending and more accountability in the federal budget process," he said. Lance…
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Elections, Veterans Day, big sports wins dominate the story in towns across Union County
Berkeley Heights Jeanne Kingsley, a 15-year resident of the town with a long list of experience working in finance, and incumbent Robert "Bob" Woodruff, former mayor of Berkeley Heights, were both elected Tuesday to fill the two open seats on the Berkeley Heights Township Council, defeating Democrats Stephen Yellin and Jamie Divine Cadavid. Kingsley finished with 1,494 votes, while Woodruff garnered 1,459 votes. Yellin received 819 and Divine Cadavid 569 votes. Woodruff said during his tenure as Mayor and in his current Council position, he has worked productively for the Township’s citizens and feels that his vast experience is important at this time. “These difficult times require steady stewardship from those entrusted with governance…
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Democrats remained on top in Union County Freeholder race.
In a resounding victory, incumbents Angel Estrada, Chris Hudak, and newbie Vernell Wright were elected as Union County Freeholders Tuesday night, making it 16 years since the last Republican sat on the board of freeholders. With three seats up for grabs, Andy Smith of Summit and his running mate Ed Ortiz of Elizabeth faced an uphill battle raising less money than their opponents. While Smith raised $7,000, Ortiz was unable to raise enough to file a report to the state. While the trio of Democrats raised more than $104,000, including funds available from previous elections. The three of them all from different backgrounds hope to succeed and bring change. “I’m very excited about the next three years, Hudak said. “I really am. We have a …
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
According to Union County, 154,144 were cast.
In the race for Union County Freeholders, unofficial results show Democrat incumbents Angel Estrada and Christopher Hudak are returning to the county post along with newcomer Democrat Vernell Wright. Estrada of Elizabeth has served nearly 12 years on the freeholder board while Hudak of Linden has served for about a year. Wright of Union is a retired public school prinicpal who will be new to the board that has executive oversight over county government. Together the Democrats earned about 99,000 votes according to unofficial results released by Union County Clerk's Office Tuesday night: Their Republican challengers earned about 54,000 votes. It has been about 15 years since a Republican has had a seat on the county board. For the full …
Unofficial results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday show support for existing leadership.
Across New Jersey, all 120 seats all up for grabs — 80 in the state Assembly and all 40 in the Senate. In the 21st District, encompassing Berkeley Heights, Cranford, Garwood, Mountainside, New Providence, Springfield, Summit and Westfield, voters returned all the incumbents to office. No surprises developed Tuesday as Republican State Senator Tom Kean Jr. nearly doubled the votes garnered by his opponent, Democrat Paul Swanicke. According to unofficial results relesed by Union County, Kean earned 18,239 votes, or 66 percent, to Swanicke's 9,518 or 34 percent. Kean, who serves on the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committees, has devoted his career to pushing for ethics reform in the state and has backed legislation to …
The Cranford GOP defeated the Democrats to secure the two seats on the governing body.
Cranford Republicans Andis Kalnins and Lisa Adubato Nesi secured an unexpected victory in Tuesday's Township Committee race, defeating Incumbent Mayor Daniel Aschenbach and his running mate Thomas Hannen Jr. According to the results provided by Township Clerk Tara Rowley Tuesday night, Kalnins and Adubato Nesi garnered 2,727 votes and 2,698 votes respectively to defeat Aschenbach, who earned 2,351 votes and Hannen, who earned 2,511 votes. The election yielded a 33 percent voter turnout. Results are unofficial until certified by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi. A veteran of over a quarter century in Cranford politics, Aschenbach, who was seeking his seventh non-consecutive term on Township Committee, was surprised at the results of the …
John Hartnett
4:17 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2012
If you weren't able to purchase tickets to see the midnight showing of the "Hunger Games", don't forget, you can always play the home version. It's easy! You just take turns sweeping everyone's plate off the table before they've had a chance to take a bite. Suitable for all ages. more ›