December 21? What's All The Fuss About?

Should we be singing "it's the end of the world as we know it" with REM or "it's just another day" with Paul McCartney?

So yeah … we’ve all pretty much heard about the end of the world as depicted by “the” Mayan Calendar. But really, what the heck does it all mean? What is “the” Mayan Calendar and what was chiseled on that piece of stone that made everybody go all whacko with apocalyptic fears? “The” calendar is NOT the Aztec Stone of the Sun that is usually referenced as the December 22, 2012 doomsday forecaster. Though it is based on the much earlier Mayan calendar, Aztecs, it seems, were a bit like some of today’s conspiracy theorists and their art depicted the fiery doom of their enemies at the hands of angry gods and human sacrifices made to prevent the end of the world. Yeah. The apocalypse. It's not JUST in the book of Revelation.  The Mayan Calendar…

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Freeholder Mirabella: Tested Once Again, Union County Looks Forward to 2013

Union County Freeholder looks ahead to new year.

Between the global economic meltdown of 2008 and a series of natural disasters culminating in Hurricane Sandy, Union County has seen its share of crises over the past four years. We have also been touched by the sorrows borne by communities not so very far away; here in New Jersey, the devastation of shore towns by the storm, and in Newtown, Connecticut, a human tragedy from which no real recovery is ever possible. While our hearts and minds reach out in sympathy, we can also look inward and prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead.  And as this year comes to a close, there is cause for renewed hope in the future. One cause for optimism has been the growth of new relationships all across the spectrum of our community. In this regard, …

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Poll: Should the U.S. Ban High-Capacity Ammo Magazines?

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg will ask Congress to approve a ban on ammunition magazines of more than 10 rounds. Do you agree with his proposed bill?

In the wake of the mass shooting in Newtown, CT, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced plans to reintroduce high-capacity magazine ban legislation in the 113th Congress. Lautenberg’s bill, the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act, would prohibit the manufacture and sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds. It also would ban ammunition magazines that could be readily converted to accept more than 10 rounds. “In light of yet another horrific shooting tragedy, it is clearer than ever that there is no place in our communities for deadly high-capacity gun magazines and I will keep working to pass my bill to reinstate the ban on them,” Lautenberg said in a statement. “If we don't pass a high-capacity …

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Devilsfan

10:52 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012

And I'm Santa Claus   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Letter: A Message to Congressman Lance to Help End Gun Violence

The following letter was sent to Congressman Leonard Lance.

Last year guns killed 48 people in Japan, 8 in Great Britain, 34 in Switzerland, 21 in Sweden and over 11,000 in the United States. We spend billions on security threats abroad, but do little to improve the security from assault weapons and handguns that have killed over 30,000  people in 2012. When is enough, enough? The NRA will not be providing a pamphlet to assist our schools how to talk to children after this bloodbath. The right to bear arms is not more important than a child's right to grow up. I urge you sir, as you claim to be a moderate, to represent us and be a true leader and work with the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence and make changes. Sensible change in our nations guns laws are long overdue. America is better than this…

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Cranford Can Do Better Than Part-Time Town Officials

This is the town council who felt so strongly that one man, Eric Mason, would be the best township administrator, that they held the position open for one year for him.

To the Editor:  At the November town council meeting we were informed that Chief Eric Mason is resigning from being the acting township administrator and will return being a full time police chief in 2013. This comes after our township committee went through the process of selecting a new police chief for a position that is not vacant. The explanation we were offered was that nobody is happy with the situation and that they cannot discuss because it involves privacy laws governing "personnel issues". There is only one part the decision that is nobody's business, that is Chief Mason's reason behind his decision to remain as police chief. There is a lot more that is involved in how we got where we are today, that is not covered by "personnel…

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Letter to the Editor

Letter To The Editor: Commissioner Is Not The 'Villain'

The following is a response to a recent letter to the editor.

  Editor's note: The following is a response to a letter submitted by Michael Celock, which was sent following Township Commissioner Ed O'Malley's letters regarding the township's response to Hurricane Sandy. To The Editor: Apparently, an individual could always come up with reasons why a mayor could take a family vacation to Florida while his town is in a state of emergency, but many citizens of Cranford still believe that the chief executive of a municipality should remain and do whatever must be done and not leave it to a second-in-command or anyone else. If some one is to be called a villain here, it certainly is not Mr. O'Malley. Myron Borden Cranford

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Letter to the Editor

Letter To The Editor: Resident Responds To Commissioner's Statements

A Cranford resident has responded to Commissioner Edward O'Malley's letter to the editor following Super Storm Sandy.

To the Editor, I read a recent letter to the editor by Township Commissioner Edward O’Malley regarding the township’s response to Hurricane Sandy with much interest. This letter contains statements which I found to be hypocritical, out of touch and at times leaving me downright baffled as to why we even need to elect five commissioners, when Commissioner O’Malley says that only two are actually needed in the event of a crisis. The first glaring area is Commissioner O’Malley’s continued attacks on Mayor Robinson for deciding to go to Florida with his family. Commissioner O’Malley writes of a “leadership vacuum” and that the mayor is the “primary” contact with PSE&G with respect to the power failures in the community. When I read this, I had…

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Letter to the Editor

Letter To The Editor: A Failure By Police To 'Protect And Serve'

A resident feels some police have shown a lack of respect and support.

Editor's note: The following letter was originally addressed to Mayor David Robinson and the Cranford Township Committee. Dear Mayor Robinson and Elected Officials: In light of today's elections and the changes forthcoming in our township, it is finally time for my voice to be heard. I planned to address you personally at the last town meeting which, obviously, did not occur. Following today's election, we all look forward to a full-time police chief and full-time administrator as well as a CFO. We look forward to a better and safer tomorrow. We are counting on each of you to always be there for us. I would like to remind each of you of my experience in town and ask that you seriously consider these facts with regard to the appointment of …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter To The Editor: We Need To Learn From Our Mistakes

The following is a letter from Cranford Township Commissioner Edwrd O'Malley, a Democrat.

I am not a member of the town’s Emergency Management Commiittee and as such I am not privy to its actions or communication during crises. The Mayor and Public Safety Commissioner hold that responsibility along with our Administrator and Department Heads. In the early days after the storm I realized that the town was not doing all that it could. I sent a list of suggestions to all of the Committee members. I received no response so I wrote a letter to the Patch urging action. During this time I also did what I could personally to help individuals, utility crews, displaced people at the shelter, etc., but this is not about me. At a time of crisis the first job of elected officials is to ensure that the apparatus of government gets fully …

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