March 2016

FRANKLIN, NJ—The Franklin Food Bank invites avid cyclists, local schools, and the Franklin Township community to the Annual Tour de Franklin Charity Bike Ride to support a local cause-fighting hunger.

It is Franklin Food Bank’s largest fundraiser, with the involvement of over 660 riders in the previous year, raising a total of $60,000 in a single day. Months of planning, support from many local business, the engagement of cyclists, and volunteers from the community are what makes the day a success.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The Middlesex County Freeholders and the New Brunswick Housing Authority (NBHA) Board of Commissioners have each taken actions this year to clear the way for a Philadelphia-based real estate company to sell much of the former county building, which re-opened as a luxury apartment building in 2003.

But only one of the public entities admitted that was what it was doing after being questioned by New Brunswick Today.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The Hub City's K-12 schools will see their largest increase to state aid in years, under a state budget proposal made by the Christie administration for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

Parents, students, and other community members will have the opportunity to voice their input at a March 22 public hearing at the New Brunswick High School Auditorium at 7:00 pm.

State aid makes up over two thirds of the school's yearly budget, while the rest comes from federal grants and the local tax levy.

SOMERSET, NJ–The Office Depot on Easton Avenue in Rutgers Plaza will close forever on May 15, the day before the date Staples Inc. has to terminate its $6.3 billion-acquisition of the company.

Asked why the store was closing, one employee said the retailer was closing several stores worldwide, adding: “unfortunately we are one of the unlucky ones.”

PISCATAWAY, NJ—The search for the next head coach of Rutgers’ men's basketball team may be nearing its end, with multiple outlets reporting that Stony Brook University coach Steve Pikiell will be heading to the Scarlet Knights.

Pikiell, age 48, has spent the last 11 seasons leading the Seawolves, compiling a 192-156 record overall.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–On March 21, the George Street Playhouse is hosting what is sure to be an unforgettable night featuring a Broadway legend.

Sandy Duncan, an acclaimed actress and comedian, is performing a dramatic reading of Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy at the downtown theatre.

She has previously taken on the role of Daisy in a previous 2009 performance in Ft. Worth, Texas. 

Theatre aficionados will recognize Ms. Duncan from her title role in the revival of Peter Pan on Broadway.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—City police and county prosecutors say they have solved a March 7 murder, charging someone arrested "on unrelated charges" the following day with several serious crimes.

Raymundo Jael Perez-Garcia, 23-year-old city man was arrested on March 8, just one day after he allegedly shot at three men, fatally wounding one of them, at the intersection of Townsend and Drift Streets.