State Issues Winter Storm Notice For Friday Rush Hour

TRENTON – Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police and Director of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, is issuing a winter storm notice for “Rush Hour” tomorrow morning.

Fuentes is advising that all state residents and commuters prepare for the morning’s impending winter weather.  The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring the approaching storm and is anticipating a wintry mix of snow, and rain, throughout portions of New Jersey’s southern, central and northern counties.

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Former Assemblyman Indicted On Child Pornography Charges

TRENTON – Former New Jersey Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen was indicted Wednesday on official misconduct and child pornography charges for allegedly using computer equipment in the 20th Legislative District office to view child pornography and print copies of child pornography that he left around the office, Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced.

The Division of Criminal Justice obtained a state grand jury indictment charging Cohen, 57, of Paramus, with the second-degree crimes of official misconduct, reproduction of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography, as well as the fourth-degree crime of possession of child pornography.

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AAA Forecasts A Decrease In Christmas Holiday Travel For The First Time In Six Years

FLORHAM PARK—AAA projects a slight decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Christmas holiday period (Dec. 19 – 31).  Nearly 63.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home, approximately 1.4 million (2.1 percent) fewer than last year’s total of 65.3 million.  This represents the first decline in Christmas holiday travel in six years.  AAA has projected year-to-year decreases in the number of travelers for all the major driving holidays in 2008 (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas).

“The current economic landscape has caused many people to rethink how they spend their money,” said Rick Zeckendorf, vice president of travel services for the AAA New Jersey Automobile Club.  “Money that would have ordinarily been spent on travel is now being used for other expenses and, as a result, people are exhibiting caution when deciding how to spend their available dollars.”

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Port Authority Sued Over Contaminated School

CARTERET – Mediation began this week on a $6 million lawsuit that contends a riverfront improvement project contaminated Carteret’s Minue School.

The suit alleges that dredge material used to build wetlands at the Joseph Medwick County Park was improperly handled. The material allegedly caused dirt and dust tainted with lead, arsenic and other toxins to contaminate building, grounds and playground equipment at the school adjacent to the park.

While it appears that the 700 students at Minue School were not affected by the pollutants, the school district had to spend more than $1 million to clean it up. The suit is an attempt to recover the clean-up costs and $5 million in punitive damages from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, who ran the project.

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A Gift That Costs You Nothing, But Benefits Many

RAHWAY – To meet the community’s increasing need for blood, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway and The Blood Center of New Jersey are sponsoring a blood drive the first Wednesday of each month from 1:30 to 7 p.m. at the hospital, located at 865 Stone Street in Rahway.

Donating is safe and simple, and one donation can help as many as three people who need red blood cells, plasma or platelets.  Donors are asked medical history questions and given a mini-health check that includes pulse, blood pressure, and iron level.  The process generally takes under an hour. Donors must be at least 17 years of age, weight 120 pounds and be in good health.

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Roselle Catholic Hopes To Make Another Golden Moment

By Jim Whelan

As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Roselle Catholic High School, the school ran an online voting contest for the 50 Golden Moments in the school’s sports history. It was no surprise that the 1963 North Jersey State “A” Basketball Championship was voted the number “Golden Moment” in the school’s history. 

The 1963 team also scored upsets against #1 team in the state, St. Mary’s of Elizabeth in the Union County semi-finals and Seton Hall in the state North semi-finals.  Roselle Catholic has had their share of basketball triumphs, but that was the last state championship for the school’s hoops program. 

Second year boys coach Dave Boff knows the school’s rich tradition and is looking to make his make on the school sport’s history. Last year, Boff took over for a Union County coaching legend when Pat Hagan stepped down after 28 years.  Boff had a successful three-year coaching run for the Governor Livingston’s girl’s team before coming to Roselle Catholic. 

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NJ Legislators Hope To Engage Constituents Online

TRENTON – The Assembly Democrats recently stepped into the world of online social networking, launching their own page on the popular Facebook site. The page will allow those on the social networking site to view Assembly Democratic videos, photos, news updates and upcoming events.

New Jersey Senate Republicans have their own Facebook page as well.  Links to the Facebook pages can be found on the organizations’ respective websites, www.assemblydems.com and www.senatenj.com.

The Assembly Democrats and Senate Republicans also maintain YouTube accounts, where internet users can view the latest video press releases from the two organizations. The Republicans’ videos can be found at www.youtube.com/senatenj, while the Democrats can be found at www.youtube.com/user/njassemblydems.

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Remembering The Seven Arches & Bel Air Manor & More

By Diane Norek Harrison

PERTH AMBOY—I received a note from a Woodbridge resident after my Oct. 17, 2008 column with doctors who once practiced in Perth Amboy. The note read: “Dr. Max Novich was an orthopedic doctor in Perth Amboy.”

I was asked to ask the readers if anyone has information on the Perth Amboy P.B.A. dances from the 1930s, or information, specifically on the dance committee badges from 1934. If you have information or memories of any dances or balls from the area, please write or email.

This material was given to me for my column. There is no year on it, but looking at the prices it had to be way back in time. The Seven Arches was destroyed in a fire. It was located at 496 Fayette Street and was under the personal supervision of Ed Mason.

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