March 2014

FRANKLIN, NJ–The Villagers Theatre in Somerset continued their series of free plays written by local up-and-coming playwrights on March 17 with a comedic performance that kept a packed house entertained.

Penned by Mitchell Brodsky of Princeton and directed by Brian Remo, who also stars in the piece, "Buds" is a black comedy concerning two improbable strangers who form a relationship that leads to scheming, secret identities and eventually murder.

Mitchell Brodsky’s dialogue was natural and flowed smooth though out the reading.

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ—What is believed to be a pipe bomb exploded this morning at a small business located on Livingston Avenue, just four blocks south of the border from New Brunswick.

Asbury-Ms. Locksmithing at 1007 Livingston Avenue was the site where one man was injured in the small explosion, according to a report on News12 New Jersey.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—A newly-released city memo confirms officially for the first time that changes were made to the motor vehicle jurisdiction of the Rutgers Police Department in December 2013.

The city's police department has been skirting the issue for months, saying the maps are "always" changing and constantly revisited.

But a new memo obtained via the state's public records law confirms that New Brunswick Police Director Anthony Caputo did in fact restrict the RUPD's jurisdiction in early December.

PISCATAWAY, NJ—On the night of June 18, 2009, Gabriel Hurley made a quick run to a convenience store for some last-minute groceries.

That drive resulted in a massive head-on collision, which rendered Hurley permanently blind in both eyes, and with no sense of smell.

The air conditioner compressor unit had catapulted through the windshield of Hurley’s car, embedding itself directly into his face.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–The city appears to have given up on its battle to keep secret the official jurisdiction maps for the city's two major police departments.

A spokesman for Mayor Jim Cahill had previously said this newspaper's interest "in these maps does not outweigh the overall interests of the public to keep these maps confidential to protect the operations of the police departments and in turn the security and safety of our residents."

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—On Thursday March 13, Rutgers University officials announced a major change in their policies for reporting crimes to the public.

"Under the new policy, all students, faculty, and staff on the New Brunswick Campus will be notified of serious crimes against persons that occur… anywhere in the fifth and sixth wards of the City of New Brunswick," read the announcement.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—In front of a packed audience at City Hall's Council Chambers, the Planning Board announced it would hold off on a controversial plan for a new Sixth Ward apartment complex in an effort to hear more testimony.

Their meeting went on for more than three hours Tuesday night, as the developer, experts, and opponents testified before the board on the proposed 57-unit apartment building, and a 43-space underground parking garage.