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Thursday, May 23, 2013

As Rebuilding Continues, Shore is Open for Business

Tourism commissioner says rental market is healthy.

Though immense devastation from Superstorm Sandy remains visible up and down the New Jersey coastline, beaches, boardwalks and even rental homes are ready for the annual influx of summer tourists that will begin this weekend, officials said Thursday at the annual "State of the Shore" event in Belmar. The State of the Shore report is presented by state officials and the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium every year before Memorial Day weekend kicks off, but this year it evolved to mark the unofficial reopening of the Shore area following Sandy. With emergency repairs to state and local infrastructure damaged by the storm now complete, work has started on the state's long term recovery, said Bob Martin, commissioner of the state Department of …

recallbethmason

8:23 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

sorry bob martin but i have no respect for anything you say or do as you were the idiot who approved the monarch project to built in Hoboken NJ. do you remember the project bob? two 12 story towers to be built on a platform over the hudson river...you know the area that is considered by FEMA to be to dangerous to build on because of superstorm sandy severely flooded the area! nice going schmuck…   more ›

Obama and Christie to Visit Jersey Shore on Tuesday

This will be Obama's first visit to Shore since just after Sandy.

President Obama and Gov. Christie will visit the Jersey Shore on Tuesday, according to The Record in Bergen County. This will be Obama's first visit to the area since Oct. 31, just after the storm struck. A full itinerary of the visit was not available. More information can be found here.

william gleave

9:00 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

the hell with the boardwalk take care of the people who lost the homes first then fix the bordwalk ????   more ›

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Memorial Day Parade Marches Through Westfield Monday

This year's Grand Marshal will be Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich.

Break out your red white and blue! Westfield's annual Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. Monday with opening ceremonies taking place at the World War I Veterans Memorial Monument at North Avenue and East Broad Street Plaza. Westfield Mayor Andy Skibitsky and other local officials are expected to address the crowd. Among those in the line of march are: various veteran organizations, the N.J. National Guard, town officials, police, fire and public works personnel as well as civic and youth organizations. Those participating are asked to be in the Lord & Taylor West parking lot by 8 a.m. Follow opening ceremonies, the parade will head north on East Broad Street, straight toward Fairview Cemetery, where the Veterans of Foreign Wars will …

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Mobile Command Center Purchase Raises Impropriety Concern

In February, ownership of a 2008 Ford Expedition was transferred to the Town of Westfield from the Utah-based corporation that would later source its mobile command center.

During the public comment portion of the Westfield Town Council meeting Tuesday evening, Westfield resident Greg Kasko once again questioned the manner in which the Town of Westfield purchased its new mobile command center. Kasko began by outlining the process that typically takes place when a municipality considers making a purchase.  "When a department needs something, it should go to its municipality and get some permission to fill the need," he said. "The department should make up a list of exactly what it needs and the public should be told in reasonable terms. If the Town is to buy the items with money raised by a bond, they must pass the ordinance first and then advertise what the specifications are and seek bids.  "Bids are then …

Comment_arrow

A.John Blake

6:56 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013

Your comment as to what I am against is totally wrong. At no time during Sandy did we lose Central dispatch and the purchase of more emergency generators took care of that. Do you want the head of any department wheeling and dealing behind the back of the public to buy what the head of department thinks is necessary? I am not convinced that a mobile command center is necessary for Westfield, …   more ›

Monday, May 20, 2013

Former Freeholder Candidate to Talk on Union County Topics Tonight

Summit attorney and former Republican Freeholder candidate Andrew Smith will address the League of Women Voters tonight at the New Providence Library. The meeting is open to the public.

Andrew Smith, a Summit resident, attorney, and former Republican candidate for the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, has a few things to say about how county government is run. He'll be talking about that and other topics tonight, May 20, at the New Providence Library, in a special series entitled "Union County - It's a Big Deal" that's being sponsored by the League of Women Voters (LWV). The forum will be held at the library's Conti Community Room at 7:30 pm. The building is located at 377 Elkwood Avenue. A question and answer session will follow the talk, which is open to the public. Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter had also been invited to address the group, but because she's running for reelection, the LWV …

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Database Provides Information on 31,000 Flood and Salvage-Titled Vehicles

The state urges customers to consult the database before buying a car

The State Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) are urging all customers to consult their database of flood and salvage-titled vehicles before purchasing a car. That database now provides information on 31,000 such vehicles, the State MVC announced on Wednesday. It isn't illegal to sell vehicles with flood or salvaged titles. However, there are specific requirements that ensure potential purchasers are aware of the status of such vehicles, according to the MVC. “Damage sustained by vehicles must be disclosed to prospective buyers,” Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said. “We will hold car dealers accountable for violating our Consumer Fraud Act if they fail to make such disclosures.” The database was …

foggyworld

9:30 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013

Could someone explain what this report is all about? Who authored it? Who paid for it? When was it written? And does it really apply to the question of today's police departmental behavior? And why is it a secret anyway?   more ›

Friday, May 17, 2013

Westfield Memorial Library Offers New E-Book Service 'Freading'

Access is available to tens of thousands of book without waiting in line to download.

The Westfield Memorial Library is pleased to announce a new e-book service for patrons called Freading™. This service allows the library to increase the size and diversity of its collection by offering access to tens of thousands of books, none of which require users to wait in line to download. Once patrons have signed up for the service via the library’s website www.wmlnj.org, they can download a select number of books each week at no direct cost. Freading manages the patron’s borrowing through a virtual token system whereby users exchange tokens for downloads. Every month six tokens are added to the patron’s account, which “roll over” if unused. The number of tokens each book requires is assigned by the publisher, based on newness and …

Council Candidate Sees Light at End of Tunnel for Westfield Commuters

Third Ward Republican Diane Barabas will challenge David Oliveira in the June primary. The winner of that election will face Democratic challenger Matthew Sontz in November.

Dear Editor: There might be a light at the end of the tunnel for Westfield Commuters that travel on the Raritan Valley Line into  New York, Penn Station. At a recent meeting with Martin Robins, Board Member of the Raritan Valley Coalition, he informed us that there was a plan to partner with NJ Transit and provide service by using some of the new dual-powered locomotives during peak Commuter times. This would be a dream come true for the Commuters on the Raritan Valley Line, because as of this date there is no direct service into New York City. ONE SEAT RIDE is only available if you chose to leave from train stations on the Northeast Corridor or the Jersey Coast Line(NJ Transit).  Which means, you have to leave town and park your car at …

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Westfield Regional Board of Health Discusses Impending Cicada Invasion

Health Department will distribute 100 free helmets as part of "B Hard Headed" helmet safety campaign.

To the Editor: The Westfield Board of Health met on May 6, 2012.  We discussed the impending invasion of cicadas. Although cicadas are a noisy nuisance, they are fortunately NOT a public health hazard and will be gone about 1 month after they arrive. To protect children, the Westfield Regional Health Department is sponsoring the “B Hard Headed” helmet safety campaign this summer. Up to 100 free helmets will be distributed to children who ride bicycles, skate board or roller blade. For more information, please contact Laura Scanlon, MS, RN, the Public Health Nursing Supervisor, at 908-789-4070, extension 4074 or lscanlon@westfieldnj.gov. You must license your cats and dogs through the Town Clerk and get them vaccinated against rabies, due …

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Union County Clerk Offers 'Vote-By-Mail' Service at Westfield Office for June 4th N.J. Primary

Clerk says she is working to make voting "fast and convenient."

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that a “One-Stop” service is available for Union County voters at the Westfield and Elizabeth offices of the County Clerk. “Eligible voters are able to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the New Jersey Primary Election in person at either one of my offices, receive their ballot and cast the ballot at the same time,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “This one-stop voting service is available at my Westfield office as well as at the main office in Elizabeth.” “The service in Westfield and Elizabeth makes voting more accessible, particularly at the Westfield office with its convenient Saturday office hours and evening hours during the week,” Ms. Rajoppi added. “With the important June 4 Primary Election for …

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