Gooey Gourds

Gooey Gourds—Fourth graders in Kathy Meier’s Lower School science class dissected pumpkins on Oct. 31 to start their plant unit in science tech. The students count the pumpkin’s creases and seeds and analyze how the number of creases corresponds to the size of the pumpkin. Pictured above: Athena Gerasoulis of Edison and Robyn Stewart of South Plainfield explore the contents of their gourds. Athena is the daughter of Dr. Apostolos Gerasoulis and Ms. Xiaolan Zhang of Edison. Robyn is the daughter of Mrs. Robyn P. Stewart of South Plainfield. Photo by Kathy Meier

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Haunting Prose

Haunting Prose—Joseph Alamo, a seventh grader at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison, captured the attention of judges with his playful and spooktacular prose and his poem won first place in the Middle School competition. He was awarded a basketful of Halloween treats by his English teacher, Corinna Crafton, before reciting the poem to his peers. Joseph is the son of Joseph and Maria Alamo of Roselle Park. His sister, Katina, is a sophomore at the school. Photo by Michelle H. LePoidevin

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Learning About Election Day

Playing Their Parts — The students from the Blue and Gold club at Franklin School in Rahway worked hard preparing for Franklin School’s mock presidential debate. Travis James played the part of Barack Obama and Sean Penaranda played the part of John McCain. The students presented valuable information to the student body in order to inform students about the presidential candidates and what they stand for.

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Fingerprinting And Forensics

Fingerprinting And Forensics—Students in Barbara Drake’s Introduction to Forensic Science class at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison furthered their study of fingerprinting on Oct. 30 when Edison Police detectives Ted Hamer and Matt Lechelt visited to fingerprint the class. After completing the fingerprint cards, the detectives addressed the class on the fingerprinting process, the state and FBI databases, the time it takes for electronic prints to be checked in the database, and why the portable ink is used in the field. The students questioned the detectives about latent prints and learned about “dusting for prints” and the new equipment that has made it nearly obsolete. Junior Yang, a senior from Edison, is pictured above with Hamer. Photo by Michelle H. LePoidevin

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DeCroce Allegations: Serious and Irresponsibly Late in Coming

By Michael M. Shapiro

Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) recently stated that Senate President and former Acting Governor Richard Codey (D-West Orange) attempted to strong arm him into discontinuing his efforts to investigate a legislative slush fund that was responsible for the now-infamous “Christmas Tree” grants currently under federal investigation.

He claimed that Senator Codey offered him state grant money and threatened him so that DeCroce’s pursuit of information about the slush fund would be stalled. DeCroce agreed to a lie detector test to ‘prove’ his assertions; as of this writing, Codey has not. If DeCroce’s allegations are true, they are not only damaging to Senator Codey and the Democratic Legislature politically, but they have serious legal implications, as well. DeCroce had a responsibility to alert the proper authorities to these allegations when they occurred, not two years after the fact; the public should have been informed in due time, as well.

The issue of the “slush fund” was first brought to the public’s attention approximately one month ago during the trial of former state Senator Wayne Bryant. A Democratic legislative aide testified that some legislators were allowed to spend millions of dollars of the state’s budget at their whim from a fund that required competitive merit-based applications. Codey was acting governor when he proposed the “slush fund” and the Democratic-controlled Legislature approved it while he was serving in the role of senate president.

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“Pride and Glory” – Shamelessly Typical – 2 popcorns

By Michael S. Goldberger, film critic

You’ve seen multi-generational, good cop/bad cop tales like “Pride and Glory” before, though perhaps not so predictable and murky. Boy is it gloomy. N.Y.C. streetlights barely illuminate the night; the daytime winter setting is steely gray. Even in the dark of a magazine crime reporter’s office it’s unlikely Scrooge will allow another coal tossed in the stove.

One wishes a sit-down with director Gavin O’Connor. ‘Tell me, sir, the dreariness …is it a metaphor for all the sorrow and misery in the world, while also a stark cold reminder that far too much of the Bronx remains a thug and drug infested killing field? If so, we get it. Only thing, no offense, it’s more depressing than exciting.’

The sordid and seamy tale of police corruption grows beleaguering, its cynicism almost a genre unto itself by now. We’ve come to know the characters. Here it’s Jon Voight as Francis Tierney, Sr., big honcho in the N.Y.P.D., proud not only of his two cop sons, played by Noah Emmerich and Edward Norton, but a son-in-law (Colin Farrell) as well.

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12 Tips To Save Money And Keep Warm

NEWARK – The heating season has started. This year, more than any in recent memory, customers are concerned about how economic uncertainties may affect their ability to manage their bills, including their utility bills. PSE&G wants its customers to know there are specific steps they can take to stay warm and control their heating bill.

The following 12 suggestions will help customers conserve energy and save money:

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Former President Stumps For Stender

Bill Clinton

CRANFORD – Former President Bill Clinton is planning to visit New Jersey on Saturday to campaign with Assemblywoman Linda Stender.

Stender is seeking the U.S. House seat representing New Jersey’s 7th District, which includes parts of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties. U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-New Providence) currently holds the seat, but he announced last year that he would step down at the end of his current term.

Republican state Sen. Leonard Lance is challenging Stender in one of the most closely-watched congressional races in the country.

Clinton is scheduled to appear with Stender at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Union County College, Commons Area, 1033 Springfield Avenue.

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Early Election

Early Election—Election Day came a week early at Grover Cleveland School in Rahway. Faculty and students participated in a mock election. Students in Ms. Burke and Ms. Bechelli’s class worked the polls, as students in the school voted online for their favorite candidate. Who won? Democratic candidate, Barack Obama received 90.3 % of the vote.

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Edison Asked To Make A Difference With Township Food Drive

EDISON—Mayor Jun Choi launched a month-long township food drive to help those in need.

“As a community we respond to the needs of our neighbors. The need is growing and it is time to act to help those less fortunate,” he said.

The donation drive of non-perishable food and dry goods begins Nov. 1 and will last through the end of the month. Food collection bins will be placed at 13 locations throughout the township: the Municipal Building, Police Headquarters, Stelton Recreation Center, Minnie B. Veal Recreation Center, three public libraries and six firehouses. The firehouses allow donors to drop food 24-hours a day.

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Free Yourself of Debt by Taking Steps to Pay It Off

By William E. Best, PNC Senior Vice President, Community Development Banking

Paying off debt is among the best ways to relieve the burden and stress of financial worries. It also provides a way to increase your credit score, which in turn further enhances your financial stability.

But eliminating or reducing debt requires sacrifice. By developing a solid plan and following through with it, you can prevent your situation from going from manageable to out of control. A good start in this process is to consider utilizing the following self-help measures:

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Clark’s Esposito Park Now Open

CLARK—One of the largest remaining farmsteads in Union County has been transformed into the Esposito Farm Park on Madison Hill Road in Clark. The $2.9 million cost of the new 13-acre county park was funded through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

“This is a great day for Clark, and we’d like to extend our appreciation to the Freeholder Board for making the Esposito Farm Park happen,” said Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso. “This property is dear to the hearts of many longtime residents who recall it as a working farm, and now it is preserved to share with today’s generation and many more to come.”

“On behalf of my colleagues on the Union County Freeholder Board, I would like to thank the residents of Clark for working with us to make Esposito Farm Park a reality,” said Freeholder Nancy Ward, who is chair of the Trust Fund. “This is yet another example of the extraordinary success that the Trust Fund has had in improving the quality of life in neighborhoods throughout Union County.”

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Borough To Upgrade Ball Fields At Carteret Park

CARTERET—Mayor Dan Reiman joined with Councilman Randy Krum this week to announce that Carteret Park’s baseball and softball fields are undergoing reconstruction. Made possible by Carteret’s local Open Space referendum, $35,000 has been earmarked for materials needed to upgrade turf and surrounding amenities for Umansky Field and Leniart Field, with another $35,000 for in-house labor.

Adjacent to Carteret Middle School, the fields were first constructed in the 1960s. According to Randy Krum, both fields are used extensively by the middle school and high school, along with the number of recreational leagues the town hosts. Age, usage, and poor drainage have contributed to the deterioration of the fields, according to the Borough Engineering Department.

Both facilities will receive new infields, along with new batters boxes and new pitching mounds. Other upgrades will include new fencing, sidewalk repairs, and drainage improvements for both fields. As a cost saving measure, all work will be performed in-house by the Parks Department, and overseen by the Engineering Department.

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Lawmakers Call For Stricter STARS Standards

TRENTON – Legislation Assembly Higher Education Chairman Patrick J. Diegnan and Vice-Chairwoman Pamela Lampitt sponsored to revise the popular NJ STARS I and NJ STARS II college scholarship programs to ensure their long-term viability was released from the Assembly Higher Education Committee by a vote of 7-2, with 2 abstentions.

Diegnan and Lampitt were members of a 12-member task force Gov. Jon S. Corzine convened during the summer to examine the NJ STARS program. The task force developed a plan to strengthen eligibility standards for entrance to and continuation in the program, ease the financial burden on the state’s four-year colleges and, most notably, ensure the program’s stability.

“NJ STARS has become a great source of pride for countless students across the state, but the program is at risk of becoming a victim of its own success,” said Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “We’ve got to make sure these scholarships get to the smartest, most hard working kids out there – and that it keeps working for them as long as they need it. We need to make these changes to ensure this program will be able to help high-achieving students for years to come.”

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Halloween Art

Halloween Art—Students enrolled in Rahway High School’s Advanced Art class recently spent the day in downtown Rahway decorating windows of local businesses as well as the Rahway Public Library for Halloween. The trip, under the leadership of art teacher JoAnne Campanelli, continues a tradition of service to the community. Above, a student from the Advanced Art class paints a window at the Rahway Public Library. Below, junior Samantha Smith concentrates on the template for her mural.

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