Monday, March 25, 2013
We look at places that take the longest to navigate.
Somerset County is a very busy place—between all the major highways that converge there to the many side roads, there always a lot of cars out at all times. So we want to know what you think are the busiest intersections throughout Bridgewater, Basking Ridge (such as mornings by Ridge High School), Green Brook, Warren, Watchung, Hillsborough, Bernardsville, Bedminster and beyond. Where do you usually get stuck in traffic? Take our poll and let us know in the comments where are the most difficult roads to navigate.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Letter to the editor
- OPINION
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Tuesday, March 19
The audience experienced magic during the "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" show at Hillsborough High School. I marveled at the level of talent, intricate set design, and how well the actors and musicians were able to transport the audience to Belle and Gaston’s village. A high school theater program gives students such wonderful opportunities to not only act, sing, and dance but also to be part of the orchestra, production staff, and the chance to appreciate how much support they get from so many high school staff members and parents during the months leading to the performances (a hint for students to thank them all when life goes back to normal). I would like to thank Director BJ Solomon and Musical Director Christine Micu who helped …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Let us know what roads you would never cross on foot.
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign (TSTC) recenty determined that Route 22 is the most dangerous road in Somerset County for pedestrians based on the number of deaths over a three-year span—but that's not the only place to watch out. A total of four pedestrian deaths were reported on Route 22 between 2009 and 2011, in addition to others on Weston Canal Road and Route 619. And these figures, of course, don't include motor vehicle fatalities—that have nothing to do with pedestrians—including the death of a Bound Brook resident on Route 22 in Bridgewater Thursday. But there are other roads throughout Somerset County while, not as dangerous, still pose some kind of threat when trying to cross. So we want to know what roads you consider too …
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
State moves to dedicate bypass, but some say it's too much.
A bill introduced by local representatives, including State Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman, R-Somerset, and Assembly members Jack Ciattarelli, R-Hillsborough, and Donna Simon, R-Flemington, to rename the Route 206 bypass in Hillsborough in honor of Pete Biondi is advancing through the legislature. With the measure's progress, it appears likely to easily pass—and understandably so: Biondi was a popular and well-liked member of the Assembly before his death in 2011, and many in the Capitol undoubtedly have fond memories of him. His contribution to Hillsborough is certainly impressive as well, shepherding the township through a period of tremendous growth. But some note the township has already rededicated the municipal complex in his honor…
Sunday, December 30, 2012
U.S. needs a genuine third party to deal with this and other issues.
Looking back from this point, the last year seems to have been filled with misery and grief: the Newtown mass shooting that killed 20 children, Superstorm Sandy and the devastation she brought, the Aurora theater shooting. Locally, there have teen suicides that touched several communities. Longtime businesses have shut their doors or announced their closings. Many in red Northwest Jersey probably viewed the re-election of President Barack Obama as bad news, as well. So perhaps it is appropriate that the nation spends the last hours of 2012 teetering on the edge of the so-called "fiscal cliff." Part of what led us to the cliff was well-intentioned: A bill designed to reduce the federal deficit. The other main problem was beneficial to …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
And if the end of the Maya's 'long count' calendar comes—how are you preparing for it?
According to some, the world will end Friday, in their reading of ancient Mayan calendars. But those calendars are silent on how the end will come about—and at what time. Before Europeans came to the New World, indigenous tribes used a calendar system now called the Mesoamerican Long Count, which predicts an apocalyptal event on Dec. 21, 2012, an event interpreted in some circles to mean the end of the world. And with less than one week to go, everyone from radio DJs to NASA is getting in on the action. The agency created a page on its website devoted to debunking the myth—not least because the Mayans never predicted any such thing. The date is simply the end of one time period that simply starts over. “Our planet has been getting along …
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Is murder of 26 people, most of them children, enough to make Washington take notice?
Bullet-proof glass in every window. Armed guards monitoring X-ray machines at the sole entrance. Snipers on the rooftop keeping watch over the playground. Is this the future of elementary schools in New Jersey and the nation? It’s hard to imagine everything school officials would have to do to make children completely safe, after the horrific slaughter Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. There is one thing that this nation must do: Congress must pass and the president must sign laws putting much greater controls on guns, preferably to include an Australia-style firearms buy back. Information about the senseless murder of 20 first-graders and six staff members at the school is still incomplete, with new details seeming …
Friday, December 7, 2012
After hearing discussion at Thursday's Planning Board meeting, what do you think?
To hear the consultants for Harding Corona's proposed 56-bed residential drug rehab treatment center tell it at Thursday's Planning Board meeting, the center will be an idyllic spa, filled with recuperating executives. To hear residents living near the proposed center, it will be filled with criminals seeking to take advantage of the center and nearby residents. What do you think? In her testimony at the meeting, drug counselor Georgette Jungels said the center will only admit "high-functioning" clients, primarily from among pain-killer addicted "business and executive people." She said a typical stay will cost from $30,000 to $40,000, and the center will teach coping skills, such as yoga, tai chi and art therapy. But when pressed by …
Sunday, December 2, 2012
NJ needs to adopt rules to ensure everyone can vote more easily if another disaster hits.
All the ballots have finally been counted in New Jersey. Once they are certified by the state canvassers on Friday, New Jersey can finally close the book on this difficult election. Or can it? The constitutional litigation clinic of Rutgers Newark Law School is poking into the votes, asking for information about the processing of special balloting New Jersey Secretary of State Kim Guadagno ordered to help those displaced by Superstorm Sandy. Remember, thousands were homeless, either literally because their houses were destroyed or left uninhabitable, or by choice because they had left cold, dark buildings to stay with family or friends or at a hotel. Even some polling places were without power and so had to be moved. Guadagno ordered the …
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Politicians have to make tough—perhaps expensive—decisions and need to start taking action.
It’s been three weeks since Superstorm Sandy blew through New Jersey, and past time to begin figuring out how to minimize losses the next time. Some solutions involve building; some, doing the opposite. Just as the attacks of Sept. 11 brought talk of rebuilding, there have been vows to restore the shore back to Oct. 28, 2012, as if nothing had happened. That would be a huge and costly mistake. It is not politically correct to say that at least some of what was destroyed should not be rebuilt. But it’s the truth. Barrier islands are aptly named. They are supposed to serve as barriers for the shoreline. When a major storm like Sandy or Irene hits, they will take the brunt of it and provide some measure of protection for the mainland. They …
Voltaire
3:11 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
I think Mr. Balls statement is a bit extreme but the new Somerville Circle is nothing like the old circle. I remember as part of driver education class in the '70s we had to drive around the circle 3 times with the driving instructor. Believe me, it's nothing like it used to be. more ›