June 2014

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—When a smart, quiet senior at New Brunswick Health Sciences Technology High School approached Alecia Bardachino to talk about college decisions, Bardachino was surprised because the girl had always been shy.

The brilliant senior had just been accepted to the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, a liberal arts program, but wanted to pursue her interest in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields.

The student felt that there was no one close to her who could give advice.

WASHINGTON, DC—Johnson and Johnson (J&J) CEO Alex Gorsky was one of several business executives who met with President Barack Obama on Monday to discuss ways to encourage companies to make their work places more family-friendly.

During the White House "summit on working families," a panel of leaders, including Gorsky and Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein discussed ways of making U.S. work places more accommodating for employees who have children or who are starting families.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Imagine a night filled with restaurant hopping, great cocktails, and personal introductions to the chefs and restaurateurs behind the city’s hottest haunts.

That is exactly what you can expect when you partake in a walking food tour organized by Dishcrawl.

Based in San Jose, California, Dishcrawl is an online community providing culinary events through a network of local ambassadors.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–The first exhibition at the Alfa Art Gallery to include all forms of media, ranging from oil painting and mixed media to stained glass and sculpture, is set to open this Friday, June 27th.

"Perceptions of the Human Body and Form" opens with a reception from 6:30 to 10:30 pm Friday night, and will be on exhibit until Saturday, July 26th.

The gallery is located at 108 Church Street in downtown New Brunswick.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—A block party celebrating the opening of Unity Square Community Center at the corner of Remsen Avenue and Suydam Street featured food, games, and community groups tabling to promote classes and events for children as well as adults.

In an impressive effort of community organizing, a wide variety of city-based groups came together to showcase their services and upcoming events to those who dropped by the once-abandoned firehouse last Friday.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–Over 200 Rutgers faculty, students, and staff gathered outside of the Board of Governors (BOG) meeting last Thursday at a "Rally For Respect."

Later that day, as expectecd, the board named Greg Brown, an Illinois resident who serves as the CEO of Motorola, as its newest leader.

Brown was instrumental in the failed effort to bring former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to campus for the 2014 commencement, which sparked national controversy.

HIGHLAND PARK, NJ—New Brunswick's tiny neighbor to the north has a new Mayor, Gayle Brill-Mittler, a Councilwoman whose ascension to Mayor creates the need for another temporary appointment.

Brill-Mittler takes over for Gary Minkoff, who resigned earlier this month to pursue a work opportunity.

The new mayor's nomination was unanimously approved by the Borough Council at a special meeting last night.