Sunday, May 19, 2013
A decision to not change the absentee policy also tops news this week.
Northstar Air Medical held its “Every 15 Minutes” program to teach about the dangers of drunk driving. Black bears have been seen around Martinsville, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection offers tips for avoiding them. The board of education has almost completed its contract negotiations with the Supervisors and Principals associations. Despite concerns from parents, students and board members, the administration is planning to keep the changes to the absentee policy for another year to see how well it works. The Yale Whiffenpoofs came to Bridgewater, performing at Arbor Glen this week for sold-out crowds. With Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder retiring, the board of education is preparing its plans for hiring…
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The announced retirement of the superintendent also tops this week in news.
First Team 303, the robotics team at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, earned third place in the world at the recent championships in St. Louis. The Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School science team placed in the top 16 in the country at the National Science Bowl in Washington D.C. A Somerville man was arrested after he allegedly burglarized a vehicle and stole credit cards in the parking lot of the Time to Eat Diner. The township council introduced an ordinance to set salaries for municipal employees, including a 2 percent raise for department heads. A Bridgewater police officer is participating in the Police Unity Tour, and he is honoring a fallen officer, who died in a motorcycle accident, along the way. Bridgewater-Raritan High School …
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The opening of Crumbs and the Harlem Wizards also top the week in news.
A juvenile was listed in critical condition after being hit by a car on Route 22 West Monday. Route 22 between the New Jersey State Police barracks and Mountain Avenue will be down to one lane for about 50 days while the NJDOT continues its short-term improvements. High school students raised $1,500 selling shirts, with money to be used toward the restoration of the Jersey Shore. Residents in Martinsville have seen far fewer vultures since an effigy was hung on the corner of Perrine and Eastbrook roads. More than $10,000 was raised for Project Graduation at the high school during the game between the Harlem Wizards and the Hometown Heroes. Crumbs Cupcake Shop opened in the mall recently with its treats that are 1.5 times the size of …
Sunday, April 28, 2013
A hiring of an interim band director also tops news this week.
The district has begun looking at the recently released state school performance reports, and absenteeism is a big factor in college and career readiness scores for individual schools. Despite being No. 34 last year, Bridgewater-Raritan High School did not make the list from U.S. News & World Report of the top 50 high schools in the state. The district has hired an interim band director while Larry Markiewicz’s suspension still stands—and the administration has declined to comment on how long it will last. The Marine Corps is sponsoring the first ever Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone Bowl with football players from across the county playing to honor the late John Basilone. The school district is looking into the possibility of a partnership with…
Friday, April 26, 2013
Basilone Bowl and Ridge High's top schools' ranking also make headlines.
Writing on a bathroom wall at Woodmont Elementary School in Montville prompted a bomb scare and an evacuation of the school Wednesday morning while police and a bomb squad checked the building to be sure it was safe, police and school officials said. No bomb was found. Police have released a slideshow of an individual they are trying to identify who was on Finley Lane in Wayne at the time a home on that street was burglarized April 20. Zach Rice of Long Valley, who suffers from avascular necrosis of the hip, has joined forces with Goryeb Children's Hospital to raise funds for gaming systems for patients. The 'Action for Distraction' 5k will be held Saturday at Loantaka Brook Reservation in Morristown. Ridge High School is this year ranked …
Sunday, April 21, 2013
High school SAT scores and a lacrosse win also top the week in news.
Route 202 South and part of Milltown Road was closed for about three hours Friday after a dump truck started leaking diesel fuel after it struck another vehicle in the intersection. Rumors that the township is planning to switch to the county dispatch system are false as the township council has not heard any proposal about the possibility. We’ve got an interactive map of average SAT scores throughout Somerset County public high schools, and how those could relate to median household incomes. The boys varsity lacrosse team defeated Hillsborough, 7-4, in a home game Wednesday. A Warren resident, and Bridgewater business owner, who ran the Boston Marathon Monday said he will go back in the future because all runners have to after the horror …
Saturday, April 13, 2013
A 4-year-old named honorary police officer also tops local news.
Gov. Chris Christie held a town hall at Raritan Valley Community College Thursday, and discussed his unfinished business as he prepares for a re-election bid. Jamar Rogers, a contestant on season two of NBC’s “The Voice,” performed his new single at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics in Raritan, as he is an advocate for diagnostic testing. Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder has withdrawn his name from a bid for a position in the Easton Area School District. The county collected more than 1,302 rifles, shotguns, handguns and other weapons during its gun buyback program in early April. A Brahma Avenue house was deemed not liveable after it was possibly struck by lightning Wednesday night. Franklin Park resident Malik Campbell was named an …
Sunday, April 7, 2013
The closing of Jimmy's Country Produce also tops the week in news.
The school district is looking into getting a more detailed demographic report of Bridgewater and Raritan, with information about individual neighborhoods, not just numbers of students. The Harlem Wizards performed part of their show Wednesday to encourage students to come out to their game against the Hometown Heroes to benefit Project Graduation. Jimmy’s Country Produce has closed down after 20 years on Milltown Road in Bridgewater. The township and Bridgewater Senior Officer Association approved a three-year contract with sick pay caps and salary increases of 2 percent per year for three years. Students were recognized for achievements in science, German and much more throughout the past month or so. The township heard from the police …
Sunday, March 31, 2013
The completion of Sandy clean-up also tops news this week.
The district is investigating a Facebook page, called BRHS Fights, that had videos posted of fights taking place at the high school. The DPW is finishing up some final collections, but most of the clean-up is done throughout the township. The fights featured on a Facebook page appear to be random and not arranged in any way, according to the police chief. A trial date has not been set for two Bridgewater men charged in the murder of Carolyn Stone in 2009 in Bradley Gardens. Residents were displaced from a home on Washington Valley Road Monday after a fire did damage to a barn and apartment. Students have said they are going to school sick because they are afraid of being penalized with too many absences because of the new policy.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Continued pleas to end Larry Markiewicz's suspension also tops this week's news.
Students and parents continue to speak out in favor of band director Larry Markiewicz, asking the district to end his suspension. The board of education approved a $139 million budget for the 2013-2014 school year, with a $32 increase in taxes for Bridgewater residents and $0.20 decrease for Raritan residents. Councilman Matthew Moench asked the township to consider the possibility of energy aggregation to try and save residents money on their bills. The township council has been discussing the possibility of prohibiting smoking in all parks, much like the county already does. The police department has been named an official accredited agency after an extensive process that took several years. Roman Jewelers is leaving the Bridgewater …
