InJersey

George Chen is driving the country in a motor home — and paying his own way — to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China, based in Taiwan. He’s traveling to 30 major cities, carrying a battery–powered “torch of peace” and gathering Taiwanese–Americans together to celebrate their homeland. “We’re trying to promote Taiwan [...]

Gabrielle Billington reached into an aluminum bin of vegetables and pulled out a pink blob the size of her fist. “Oh my gosh — look at this radish!” she said. Purple, white and yellow onions rolled around in another tray, beets were in a third, and others were piled with arugula, lettuce and spinach. “I [...]

Matthew Schulock, 20, of Somerville, is one of three men charged in connection with a series of burglaries from May 29 to June 2. Police were called to St. John’s Episcopal Church on West High Street soon after 11:30 p.m. on June 1, when the pastor found the building open, Fazio said. Police found a [...]

(Reader submitted) Somerville Middle School Musicians directed by Mr. Steven Loreti competed in the Music in the Parks Festival hosted by Six Flags Great Adventure on Friday June 3.This was a two day festival for student choral, orchestral, and band ensembles from many New Jersey counties and the largest regional event in of its kind. The [...]

Michael Pestorius’ challenge to incumbent Township Council members Christine Henderson Rose and Matthew Moench failed to gain enough traction with voters to propel him through the primary. Pestorius won 525 votes, to Moench’s 858 and Rose’s 693. Pestorius had challenged Rose in particular, saying her votes to support a school district and fire district budget [...]

In Raritan Borough, Mayor Jo-Ann Liptak won the Republican nomination over challenger Pasquale Marago, a former Borough Council member. Liptak won 317 votes to Marago’s 101. “I think the voters are sending a message that they’re happy with what we’ve been doing, they’re pleased with the way the borough is moving and they like what [...]

Municipal gadfly Arlene Strege was narrowly defeated by Jim Schworn, the local Republican committee’s candidate for Township Committee, in Tuesday’s primary elections. Strege won 430 votes to Schworn’s 443. Township Clerk Sharon Brienza said Strege has already told her she intends to seek a recount. Schworn, a New Jersey Transit executive, will face Democrat Louis [...]

(Reader submitted) Raritan Mayor Jo-Ann Liptak received the prestigious 2011 Millicent Fenwick Award on June 5 at the Bernards Inn. The Millicent Fenwick Award is given annually to a Republican woman who exemplifies the late Congresswoman and Ambassador’s passion and energy. Millicent Fenwick was an extraordinary person in New Jersey and Congressional history. Always a [...]

The borough has secured more than $1 million in state funding to continue planning and implementing environmental upgrades at the former landfill property. Borough officials on Wednesday are poised to give final approval to an ordinance appropriating the money and providing for a bond issue that will generate about $122,000. Colin Driver, the borough’s economic [...]

St. Ann’s will hold its 106th Annual FESTA on the parish grounds in Raritan beginning Tuesday, June 14, and continuing nightly through Saturday, June 18. Known for great homemade food, including its famous pizzelles, FESTA promises the traditional fun of carnival games, wheels of chance, live music and inflatable rides plus four new special indoor features. [...]

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, 8:35 p.m. May 30. Anand S. Rao, 42, of Alexandria, Va., was charged with DWI while traveling on Inner Ring Road at the Bridgewater Commons Mall. DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, 2:16 a.m. May 31. Demisay A. Karvela, 53, of Bedminster, was charged with DWI while traveling on Route 22. She was also charged [...]

In his letter of March 19, 1944, Jimmie Valeri wrote on U.S. Navy stationery from Shoemaker, Calif., about waiting for an assignment. “I expect to leave within a very few days,” wrote Valeri to Tony Orlando, a Raritan restaurant owner. “Some of the boys I came with have already been sent to Pearl Harbor for [...]

BURGLARY, between 3:30 p.m. May 27 and 6:10 a.m. May 31. Someone broke a window to gain access to a work trailer at a construction site on Veterans Memorial Drive. Nothing appeared to have been taken, though the trailer was left in disarray. Police found drops of blood on a desk and turned the case [...]

In Branchburg, says Jim Schworn, there are only two issues – development and taxes. Schworn, 45, is running for the Township Committee partly because he wants to address both issues. His goals include maintaining Gov. Chris Christie’s 2 percent cap on annual increases to the township’s operating budget and getting more people involved in the [...]

A three-way Republican race for two seats on the Township Council is pitting two incumbents against a political newcomer in Tuesday’s primary. Matthew Moench and Christine Henderson Rose, both serving on the council, hope to hold onto their seats. Michael Pestorius, a former Navy officer and a director of operations at Sanofi-Aventis, hopes to defeat [...]

Primary Election Day: June 7, 2011. Polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please note the following election district and polling location changes: District 1 was combined with District 8 District No. 15 was renumbered and is now District 1 District 4 was combined with District 6 District 16 is now District 4 Boundaries [...]

On Friday, July 1, 2011 Linda Russell will perform songs and ballads of the 18th century during a musical concert at the Old Dutch Parsonage historic site in Somerville. Ms. Russell, well-known for her historic musical interpretation, will sing and play period instruments including hammered dulcimer, guitar and tin whistle. Patriotic airs and anthems will [...]

The new principal at Somerville High School will be Corey J. Jones, an assistant principal and director of athletics at Roosevelt Middle School in West Orange. The hiring of Jones and Thomas Conroy, the district’s new director of curriculum, instruction and technology, were recently announced by Superintendent Tim Purnell. Jones replaces Timothy O’Halloran, who has [...]

When Jo-Ann Liptak looks back on her five years as mayor, she points to a number of achievements that she says improved life for residents and business owners. But when Pasquale Marago looks at Liptak’s record, he charges that she hasn’t done enough. “I don’t have anything negative to say about the mayor, other than [...]

VEHICLE BURGLARY, May 26. A Barrington Drive resident reported his vehicle was entered overnight, but nothing was removed. VEHICLE BURGLARY, May 25. A Cabot Hill resident reported his unlocked vehicle was entered and the interior ransacked. Nothing was taken. VEHICLE BURGLARY, May 26. A Sudbury Lane resident reported someone entered his unlocked vehicle and removed [...]