February 2015

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Almost fifteen years after Derick Stevens allegedly sexually assaulted an inmate at the county jail he worked at, the criminal case against him finally appears to be coming to a close. 

But, like other public officials who have been given probation despite the severity of their alleged crimes, Stevens will likely avoid any time in jail.

His career with the Middlesex County Department of Adult Corrections and Youth Services began on August 19, 1996, four years before he allegedly sexually assaulted the inmate.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—For the fifth time in as many months, sparks flew as the New Brunswick Planning Board heard testimony on a developer's controversial plan to build a 52-unit apartment building on Mine Street.

With the board's self-appointed curfew of 10:30pm, they were once again forced to delay any potential action on the application made by Construction Management Associates (CMA), after another grueling three-hour meeting.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ–Township Police announced the arrest of Nygeria Dixon, a 24-year-old mother from New Brunswick, on charges she used her 4-year-old daughter to help her steal a wallet from another customer in the Target store on Route 1.

Dixon has been charged with one count of theft and two counts of child endangerment in the incident, which occurred in January.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The New Brunswick Parking Authority (NBPA) is preparing to replace hundreds of its coin-operated parking meters with newer technology, at the cost of $350,000.

The agency, which manages nine different public parking garages, a handful of surface parking lots, and handles the enforcement of on-street parking, plans to purchase 704 parking meters that accept credit cards.

The meters would be provided by IPS Group, a parking and telecommunications company based in San Diego.

NORTH  BRUNSWICK, NJ—Michael Vitanza may soon be back to working at the Township's Department of Public Works, more than a year after being arrested for buying drugs while on the job.

Vitanza, age 58, worked as a laborer until he was charged with "conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance" in December 2013, as part of a State Police investigation known as "Operation: Smoke Screen."

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–Authorities have requested that the owners of two staffing agencies shut down last week agree to allow the government to pay wages owed to the companies' hundreds of workers from their bank accounts.

The assets of Olympus Management Services and AM Professional Services were frozen, after state investigators abruptly shut them down last week without warning, and its owners were arrested on fraud charges.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Music and art will come together this Valentine's Day weekend at the "Art of the Guitar" showcase on February 15 at the Zimmerli Art Museum. 

"Music at the Museum" is a new concert series featuring artists from the Mason Gross School of the Arts Extension Division and Collegiate Music Department performing at the museum.

The showcase will include works by the renowned composers Coltrane, Herzog, Domeniconi, Albeniz, Gnattali, J.S. Bach, Dyens, Milan and Tarrega.