Lautenberg Embarks on Final Amtrak Ride

Sen. Frank Lautenberg's body was placed aboard a Washington, D.C.-bound Amtrak train Wednesday at the Secaucus Junction rail station that was named in his honor.

As a tribute to his advocacy of mass transit, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg's body was placed aboard a D.C.-bound Amtrak train in Secaucus Wednesday.  Lautenberg's family and staff accompanied the senator for his final Amtrak ride to the nation's capital, where he'll be buried on Friday in Arlington National Cemetery. Prior to the Amtrak send-off, Rabbi Daniel Cohen of Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange, the congregation where the senator belonged, eulogized Lautenberg during a ceremony and color guard salute at the Secaucus Junction station's main concourse.

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Country Hills Fire Company Charter Member Dies

The former Route 202 resident was one of the original 61 members of the company.

A charter member of the Country Hills Fire Company died March 7 in New Hope. Harry Naismyth was one of 61 people who signed the original charter for the fire department in 1953 and donated $10 to found the organization in November of that year, according to current company member Doug Rue. “He was still on the roster until around the time my membership started, some 45 years ago in 1968," Rue said. Rue said Naismyth—who spent much of his career working with what was then called the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company in Bridgewater for 43 years—was a resident of Route 202 around Charlotte Drive and Edgewood Terrace when he helped found the company. “He served as chief of the department during 1956 and 1957 when the company was very busy …

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45-Year Former BRHS Teacher Dies

Frank Chiaravalli died Tuesday at Bridgeway Care Center in Bridgewater.

A 45-year former teacher and supervisor at Bridgewater-Raritan High School died Tuesday at Bridgeway Care Center in Bridgewater. Frank Chiaravalli, 70, was a math teacher and supervisor at the school for years, and also served as supervisor of the math department. "He was incredibly dedicated to the kids in Bridgewater, his staff and the community," said Steve Kane, high school math teacher. According to an obituary in the Asbury Park Press, Chiaravalli was born April 24, 1942 in Somerville, and was a lifelong Bound Brook resident and graduate of Bound Brook High School. After earning his bachelor's degree from Montclair State College and a master's degree in education from the University of California, he worked at BRHS, the obituary said…

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Election Preview: Bridgewater Township Council

Two candidates are running for one open seat on the township council.

Only one seat will be up for election in the 2012 Bridgewater Township Council elections. Two people are running for the one position, one Republican incumbent and one Democrat. Incumbent Filipe Pedroso was chosen to replace former councilman Daniel Hayes, who was elected mayor in November 2011, and Pedroso is running to complete Hayes' term. Patch asked the candidates to answer questions about their education, work experience and previous political experience. Click on the links below to view their profiles.

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Jersey Newspaper Pioneer Dead At 99

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Obit: Finderne Fire Captain Succumbs to Cancer

James Schupper passed away Monday.

James Schupper, captain of the Finderne Volunteer Fire Company, died Monday after a battle with cancer. Schupper, son of the late James Schupper Sr. and Frances Schupper, passed away in his home in Bridgewater, where he lived for more than 16 years, according to an obituary with the Bridgewater Funeral Home. According to the obituary, Schupper was born in Somerville, and worked as a foreman with the Bound Brook Public Works Department for 25 years. In his family life, the obituary said, Schupper enjoyed attending his daughter's dance competitions, collecting baseball cards and supprting the NY Giants, NY Yankees and NJ Devils. Schupper served as captain of the Bound Brook Fire Department for 17 years, and was serving as captain of the …

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Whitney Houston Laid to Rest in Westfield

Procession arrived at noon Sunday for burial ceremony at Fairview Cemetery. Nearly 100 fans shouted 'We love you, Whitney' as hearse turned into the cemetery.

The vigil at Fairview Cemetery began at first light Sunday morning. There were no mourners, just reporters and photographers mingling congenially as they staked out a good spot for their reports back to the network morning shows or a position for the perfect photo of the funeral procession bringing Whitney Houston to the cemetery for her burial. Police officers arrived before daylight, at 6 a.m., to secure every possible corner of the Fairview property, from the Cranford border along Union County College to the south and E. Broad Street to the north. At the western end of the cemetery, Gallows Hill Road was closed to prevent any neighborhood street from messing up any potential route in which the procession of hearses and limos that would …

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5:12 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012

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Colleagues Shocked By DeCroce's Death

Local, state officials react to sudden loss of Assembly minority leader.

This story will be updated throughout the day: Local officials and former colleagues expressed shock Tuesday morning after learning Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) collapsed and died suddenly late Monday night at the Statehouse. "I was totally shocked, that was totally unexpected," Butler Mayor Robert Alviene said. "He did what he could for us while he was in power. I'm sure his heart was in the right place all the time for the county here. Im sure he'll be missed." As a result of DeCroce's death, Gov. Chris Christie will postpone his State of the State address, originally scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. He is expected to deliver a eulogy to DeCroce instead. Patch will stream Christie's remarks live at 1 p.m…

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Photos: Family, Friends Mourn Pete Biondi

Former Hillsborough mayor, county freeholder and state assemblyman died of cancer.

Mourners gathered Monday at United Reformed Church in Somerville to pay their respects to Pete Biondi, the Hillsborough resident known for loving his town. Biondi died Thursday after a bout with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, just two days after winning his re-election bid to the state assembly's 16th district. He was 69, having been born in Newark June 23, 1942. He was raised in Union and lived in Hillsborough for 35 years, according to the funeral program. He is survived by his wife, Joan, his son and daughter, Peter and Jennifer and two grandchildren. His passion for politics and for Hillsborough led him to run for the Township Committee in 1983, and serve as mayor from 1986 to 1993. He is remembered for helping to construct the Hillsborough …

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Biondi Remembered as Hillsborough's Patriarch

Two days after winning his state assembly seat, Hillsborough resident Pete Biondi died of cancer Thursday night.

Hillsborough Township is mourning the loss of Pete Biondi, a man who spent his time giving back to the town he loved. Biondi disclosed a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma last month, stating that the disease was in remission prior to the election. He won his re-election bid to the State Assembly on Tuesday night, two days before his death from cancer. He is survived by his wife, Joan; his son and daughter, Peter and Jennifer; and two grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have not been released. “It’s shocking because you think that someone is going to recover. You always have that hope,” Hillsborough Mayor Gloria McCauley said. “He was such a great assemblyman and a leader for both parties throughout the county. He always though everyone …

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