January 2009 Archives

Next year middle-schoolers will have to put more muscle into hauling the extra poundage each day. However, more and more textbooks are published online--some Edgar students use online math texts right now--and this trend is sure to continue. There's a good chance that present Metuchen students may be among the first generation of American students who have no books to carry at all.

Until that day comes, however, concerned parents can check out www.chiro.org to find chiropractors' suggestions for making sure heavier packs don't lead to back problems.

Two unique events at the Raconteur this weekend--come check these out!

8 PM, Fri. Jan 30
Cool Women Reading/Signing
Cool Women Poetry collective includes members who are active as: Poets in the Schools, under the auspices of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, as well as 'Dodge Poets' with the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Foundation.

Noon, Sun. Feb 1
Transatlantic Web Cam Jam Session/Live Music
The first Sunday of each month The Raconteur will host a very special transatlantic jam session, live in Metuchen and concurrent with a running session in Reading, England at a pub called The Retreat. Raconteur musicians will play in the rear of the Rac while Retreat musicians will be projected on a screen behind local performers, riffing off each other via a Google web cam. Expect, among the eclectic mix of instruments, something called a fluba, which appears to be a tuba-sized fluegel horn.

It's easier to get completely snowed in than to have to walk through this wintry mess to get to the train station. Hasn't changed much, has it?

As of 5:30 a.m: 

Metuchen public schools are closed. St. Francis is closed (6:15 - updated from earlier announced delayed opening). Please click the snowflake icon in the upper right column of this page throughout the day for other closures. 

Last night the Board of Education continued its ongoing consideration of its 2009-2010 budget with discussions on school-based budgets, curriculum costs and line item issues.  The process is all the more important this year as the threat of reduced state aid lingers--this is made even more difficult by the fact that Governor Corzine won't release the state aid numbers until mid-March.  

For details on the 2009/2010 Board of Education budget click here to see the handouts from the meeting.

At this time of year, parents with preschool-aged children are starting the scramble of finding what they feel is the best (and often most conveniently located) nursery school program for their beginning student. Metuchen actually has a plethora of choices so to make it less complicated, we've put together a list so you don't have to! Most schools in the area are sponsoring open houses over the next couple of months so check out this directory of our area's available programs and call for a tour or open house schedules. And if you've already made these key decisions, we want to know what your recommendations and warnings are (be nice), based on your personal experiences at these institutions. Thanks!

EWA previously filed a lawsuit with Eastern Environmental Law Center in January 2008, charging Akzo Nobel Chemicals Inc., Akzo Nobel Inc., and Basell USA Inc. with violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).  Sampling by Akzo Nobel's consultant, Sovereign Consulting, found the carcinogens benzene at over 860 times acceptable state levels and arsenic at over 550 times above NJDEP surface water criteria.  EWA's sampling also found high levels of the carcinogens 4-chloroaniline and asbestos, and other contaminants.

The eyes of the world were on Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, January 20th, as Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. He is the first African-American male to be elected to this position, an event which rightfully followed the celebrations for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King's dream of racial equality came one step closer to reality with Obama's swearing in. While most of us here in town had to be happy with our 24-hour news channel coverage of the events, some of you may have been there as a witness to history. If you were at the Inauguration, tell us about it! And if you weren't, like most of us, where were you and what are your reactions to this unforgettable moment in American history?

Gov. Jon Corzine has announced that his list of possible lieutenant governor candidates includes Metuchen resident, State Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex). Other candidates on his list include Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer,

The potential list he is compiling is not limited to those three, Corzine said. With a 43% approval rating for his work on behalf of New Jersey, Corzine is ahead of Christie in early polls.

Buono, a former member of the Metuchen Borough Council, has been serving as a state senator from Middlesex County since 2002. Prior to that she was part of the General Assembly from 1994-2001.

Yesterday morning on Whitman Avenue, an 11 year old girl stated she was walking to Edgar School when a car stopped next to her.  It was an older model, white 4-door (possibly a Toyota), with black bumpers. The driver opened the passenger window and asked if she "needed a ride."  She did not acknowledge him and continued to school. 

She reports he turned his vehicle around and drove past her once again but she was already walking up to her school and did not see where he went.  The driver was described as a white male with short brown hair.  He had a short (trimmed) beard possibly a goatee and he spoke with a "weird" accent.

At this point, the police have no reason to believe this is the same male involved in the attempted luring in Edison last week. 

If you have any information, please contact the Metuchen Police Department at 732-632-8500.

Owned by Peter J. Loewy, a resident playwright/producer, the Forum was once an actual movie house as well as a performing arts center. Presenting children's programming, sponsoring movie events, offering its stage to various local dance and theater workshops, the Forum provided a fantastic gathering point for the arts in downtown Metuchen. There are rumors that the theater will be split into two parts and become a cineplex for Asian film. Throughout the 2008 Borough Council Campaign, each candidate sadly discussed the high cost of buying the place and making it a working theater once again, one  that would draw visitors from all around the area and help elevate the viability of our downtown.

We are hoping that Mr. Loewy or the present leasee will comment so that we can figure out what's happening here.

As of late, the Bush administration seems to be furiously trying to shore-up its legacy and leave Pennsylvania Avenue with one last positive spin on its actions and policy. Plans for tonight's State of the Union call for more of the same.

I can't blame him; the end is a good time to reflect back on what you've done. But, at this point, the legacy of this (or any) administration belongs to history. Time will tell what worked and what did not. America is now looking forward.

Regardless of what you think of his intent, the outgoing President had a unique and entertaining delivery. As I watched this compilation of Letterman segments, I couldn't help but remember former Texas governor Ann Richards (who lost re-election to George W.) and her Democratic National Convention Keynote speech of 1988 when she said of George Sr.: "Poor George. He can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth." As this President Bush rides off into the sunset, I can't help but feel he'll be where he perhaps always should have been: On his ranch, in jeans, curled-up on the porch swing with his wife after dinner, ribs--of course. So long, George.

All weather-related closures that we learn of will be displayed by clicking the snowflake in the upper-right box on this page.

The federal government issued final approval today for a second commuter rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River. ... For decades, officials have dreamed of a second rail tunnel to ease the load on the 100-year-old tunnel now in place. NJ Transit commuters alone make 170,000 trips through the tunnel each day, pushing it to its functional limit. The new tunnel would double peak capacity to 48 trains per hour from the current 23 trains per hour.

The Metuchen Grapplers made their presence known this past weekend at the 20th Annual Steven Fulcher Tournament.  Hosted by the Edison Eagles wrestling team, the highlight of the day was Jake Beacher's pin in the finals, earning him the Gold.  Sean Benedict and Mike Volpe also achieved first place honors.  Joe Hronich, Mike Gelberg, Nick Revano, and Avery Clark took silver medals and Kevin Coleman brought home the bronze.

Congratulations to all!

- Jake Beacher's Victorious Final

District at Metuchen developers, Renaissance Properties, went before the Planning Board last month with slight changes and enrichments to their master plan. 

1)  The single-story bank portion of Building D, the building that will provide the new space for Boro Hardware as well as a bank and luxury condominiums, will now be a full 4-story structure, replacing earlier plans for a cantilevered bank drive-through corner. In addition to providing additional living space, the design team felt the original plan was not visually appealing.

2)  A 3^rd story walkway will connect the residences in Building D to the parking deck within Building A.

3)  The office space originally planned for Building B has been re-worked into work/live space; residential units with at-home office space included.

4)   A landscape architect, Tom Bauer, has been brought on-board to give the courtyard area, the outdoor parking area/plaza which will host community events, a "WOW" factor; beauty, shade, maximum use and comfort features with priority given to pedestrians.  

As temperatures drop there is cause for concern at Campbell School where several classrooms have insufficient heat. The Carrier company has been slack in sending the necessary parts to fix the heating unit.  Ms Kulesza's classroom received the donation of a space heater from a student's family but the temperature still hovered around 59 degrees the other day.

Although the school is doing all it can to get the unit fixed, it's cold.  You might want to pack a sweatshirt in your child's backpack - just in case.

Sunday Family-Centered Religious Education at St Francis is CANCELLED for tomorrow, Sunday the 11th.  Classes resume on schedule in February. 

Thanks to Justin Manley for volunteering to take-on the role of captain for his Neighborhood Watch team.  Are there more civic-minded crime preventers out there?  Take a look at the list of volunteers.  Is your street covered?  Talk to your neighbors and consider becoming involved in this worthy effort.

If you're interested, please contact police officers Nancy Phibbs or Ken Bauer for more information.

as reported by Nyier Abdou in The Star-Ledger, Friday January 09, 2009

Edison police are investigating a report that on Tuesday, a man attempted to lure an 11-year-old township girl into his car. The child was walking home from the library, alone, Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. on Grove Avenue near Saint Helena Church. A man in a black car with tinted windows pulled up alongside her and introduced himself as "David," said police Lt. Joseph Shannon.

According to the police, the man, who was clean-shaven and wearing sunglasses, told the girl "Your mom told me to come pick you up."  The child, who did not recognize the man, kept walking, but he continued to follow her. To avoid leading the man to her house, the girl turned around and headed back toward the library.

The man did not get out of the car and instead drove off.  When the child got home, she asked her mother if she had sent anyone to pick her up and told her what happened. The girl's parents reported the incident the next day.

"She handled it very well," Lt. Shannon said. "It's a serious incident." The man is described as white, in mid-30s, with black hair. He was driving a newer-model, four-door car.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Edison Police Detective Frank Varga at (732) 248-7533.

Recycland went before the Zoning Board of Adjustment last night to provide further testimony with regard to their desired indoor sports facility, which would transform the abandoned warehouse adjacent to the facilities at Vidas Park. (See earlier posts regarding this property)  Civil and traffic engineering plans were presented.

First to testify was Steve Coppola, a civil engineer from Bohler Engineering in Warren, NJ, who spoke primarily about the exterior layout of the facility - the landscaping, signage, parking, access roads, lighting, and storm-water drainage.  Board member Daniel Spiegal voiced concern over parking lot access and pedestrian safety; he would like consideration of a one-way loop throughout the two primary lots as he feels it would help protect children getting in and out of cars.  The developer agreed to consider the suggestion with his engineers and report back to the board.

Still feeling sluggish from a week or two of holiday eating?  Researchers say that getting back on track may take trickery to reset your digestive system as overeating causes biological changes that lead to more food cravings and mixed signals to the brain.  

Dr. Joe Bass, an endocrinologist form Northwestern University, has found that when mice are overfed, their systems change and gear them to sustained overeating.  "If mice eat a high-fat diet, they actually wake-up from sleep and eat: he said.  His studies conclude that people who eat less fat will sleep better and find it easier to avoid nighttime bingeing.  

Overeating "sets your body chemistry into red alert," says Dr. Sasha Stiles, a family physician who specializes in obesity at Tufts Medical Center. "Your metabolic processes will go into overdrive to make sure they get rid of the huge load," Stiles explains.

This means that much of what you eat will be stored as fat rather than converted into healthy byproducts.

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said he is filing papers today saying he is a candidate for New Jersey governor this year.

In an e-mail to supporters, Christie said he plans a formal announcement in the first week in February.  "We can fix our broken state and make it more affordable for all New Jersey families," Christie wrote.

The popular 46-year-old Republican from Morris County is considered by some to be the strongest possible challenger to Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine. Christie's filing comes after a headline-grabbing run as a corruption-busting prosecutor who ended the careers of some of New Jersey's most powerful politicians.

Corzine's office had no immediate comment. (Corzine is mum, while GOP rival say they were prepared for Christie candidacy)  Christie was not immediately available for comment. In his e-mail, he lamented the economic and political conditions in the state.

Attention "green" musicians! Sustainable Times wants you. Sustainable Times is a bi-monthly 30-minute radio show and podcast produced by The City University of New York (CUNY). It is part of a new initiative to lead the way to a sustainable future--one in which energy and other resources are used in ways that assure they're availability to future generations--while promoting local musical artists interested in furthering the green cause. Musical artists of all stripes have been featured- from small independent artists to big names acts like Guster and folk legend Pete Seeger. 

Why does CUNY want musicians from Metuchen and its environs? Because sustainable initiatives begin locally, but involve everyone. Beyond that, many of the production staff of Sustainable Times are commuters from outside the five boroughs, just like much of the NYC workforce. Laurie Reilly, the show's host and producer resides in Connecticut, Dawn Spicer, News Producer in New Paltz, NY and the show's senior editor lives right here in Edison, NJ. By the way, that last person is me.

Here is an updated list of your friends and neighbors who have stepped-up to help the police prevent crime through the Neighborhood Watch program.  

Is your street covered? 

Are you good at observing what's going on in your neighborhood?  Do you notice when an unfamiliar truck is parked in a neighbor's driveway or at the end of the block?  We all take-in more than we think as we pull-out of our driveways, take in the mail, walk to the bus-stop.  Do you know of a retired neighbor who might not have heard of this program but would be terrific at keeping a watchful eye?  

Interested enough to perhaps get more information?  Please contact Metuchen Police officers Nancy Phibbs or Ken Bauer, they'd be happy to provide you with the details.  

Be a bulldog that helps take a bite out of crime (sorry - just had to say it).  

The forecast calls for snow or ice overnight.  We will post closure, delay, or early dismissal announcements as soon as they become available.  You can also call the Board of Education at 732-321-8700 after 6:30 AM, link from our homepage to the district website, or log onto one of the following online news stations:  WCTC or WMGQ

Here is a quick look at the public school delayed opening schedule:

Metuchen PD's own Captain Rob Retenberg recently graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy Program for law enforcement officers in Quantico, Virginia. Having participated in 11 weeks of advanced investigative, management, and fitness training, Captain Retenberg was one of 250 graduates from all 50 states, 26 countries, and four military organizations.  He graduated with 17 college credits accredited through the University of Virginia, lost 3% of his body fat, and 1.5" off his waistline and of his time there he says "I really miss it.  It was a great experience."

The Internet overtook print newspapers as a news source this year, according to a report by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, which asked more than a thousand people where they got "most of" their national and international news. (Respondents were allowed to name more than one medium.)

Click here to read the rest of the article.

The Take Away, WNYC's morning news show and joint venture with Public Radio International (PRI), featured a story about a concert fan - Britain's Ray Morrissey, who has been to over 5,000 concerts in the past 35 years. He is 50 years old.  As part of the show, they asked listeners to call-in with their first concert stories.

As I listened, my mind wandered back to 1974 and my first concert.  I saw YES at the Garden.  My son is nearing his 10^th birthday and it's incredible to think that my folks, the stricter and more old-fashioned folks in my group of friends, let me travel into NYC, on the train, with 6 or so friends, unchaperoned, WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD!  Honestly - I had an earlier bedtime than most kids my age, "cool-clothes" weren't in my closet, and I'd get in trouble for things that other parents thought nothing of.  I was often asked "will your mom let you do that?"

I should mention here that the 6 or so friends were boys.  A bit of a tomboy, many of my friends were boys and maybe that's where my parents' old-fashioned ideals were on my side - boys would look out for me and see to it that I was okay.  Of course, they were 12 too, maybe they'd turned 13 by that February.  But there we were, Jeffery Bergson, Steven Greenbaum, Julius Wilpon, Joel Bromberg, Stephen Brody, Jeffrey Weiss, and me.  On the train.  In Penn Station.  Alone.  We didn't do anything wrong - we earned the trust we'd been given.  Our worst offense was walking outside and standing on the sidewalk,  taking in the sites and sounds - the commuters, the hot pretzel vendors, the crowds - all somehow more exciting now without adults guiding us.  Once in the concert, I remember looking at the stage and then across the aisle at my friends to, I think, soak it all in - happy for the music, the independence and now, 34 years later, the memory.  Thanks Mom and Dad.  

Over the course of four lunches and two dinners, I feel that I have become somewhat of a Wild Rice groupie--the food is so good, I would eat there every day if my wallet could take that kind of abuse. Not that the restaurant is too pricey--it's not cheap but I think it's well-priced for the remarkable Vietnamese cuisine it so elegantly prepares.

The red-and-saffron main room has some of the loveliest appointments I've ever seen in a restaurant. From the slightly-dipped handmade look of the bone white pottery teapots to the shining teak tables and orchid-filled flute vases, Wild Rice makes each table feel like its very own island paradise. The service is attentive but not annoying and its menu is long on interesting choices but not so extensive that it's hard to make up your mind about what to order. If a rush of cold air didn't fill the room each time someone comes in during a freezing winter's day, I may have believed that I was eating in a tropical island hideaway.

Do you have a new stockpile of new toys and games in your house this week?  Read what a noted expert on play has to say about this very important aspect of childhood and being human:

Dr. Stuart Brown, a medical doctor, neuro-scientist, psychiatrist, Mayo Clinic Fellow, and founder-director of the National Institute of Play, began studying play as an aspect of psychological development in 1966 when then Texas governor John Connally , who had survived the motorcade assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, assembled a team of experts to study the motivation behind extreme violent behavior in young men after Charles Whitman murdered 14 people from a tower at the University of Texas. 

One of the major conclusions of the study was that there had been a systematic suppression of any free play, largely the result of Whitman's father's strict and overbearing personality.  "He prevented Charles from play in any era of his life, including infancy, he stopped all spontaneity."  Dr. Brown then researched all young murderers in the TX prisons and found the majority had "bizarre, absent, deficient play histories."  No murderer studied engaged in rough and tumble, free play as a child, "absolutely none." 

As the holidays draw to a close, we look back, way back, into Metuchen's past holiday celebrations. In this picture, local high school students beautify Metuchen for the holidays. Do you recognize any of these young ladies?? 

Metuchen Police Officers Nancy Phibbs and Kenneth Bauer presented information on how to protect yourself against property crime at the December 18^th Neighborhood Watch meeting.  Here is the valuable advice they shared:

At Home:

§                Secure all entrances at night when leaving, including cellar doors and windows. Consider installing metal gates or rolling shutters over windows and patio doors.

§                Store ladders inside. Do not leave them loose outside. If you cannot put them safely inside, lock them securely

§                Do not give out information to strangers on the telephone. On wrong numbers, do not tell the caller your number. Report continued wrong numbers to the phone company.

§                Report broken street lights in your neighborhood. Well-lit areas discourage burglars by taking away hiding places.

§                Be alert for unusual activities. If you see an unknown person loitering in or around a neighbor's yard, don't be afraid to check his or her identity with your neighbor by phone.

§                Remember: people on legitimate business will be glad to show identification.

§                Report any suspicious actions, sounds or strangers to the police.

§                Start a "buddy system" with your neighbors in order to watch each other's homes. Watch for unexpected "movers" and "repair people" at a house where no one is home.

Encroachment on the trail is a long-standing concern for the traffic and development plans in Edison and Metuchen, among other towns. They have also been responsible for investigating other possible projects, such as building a trail from Glendale down to the shore and putting reflective markers along the trail to help trekkers and emergency personnel find their way down to what is the "only [public] access to the Raritan River, the longest river in New Jersey," according to Walter Stochel, 2008 Jefferson Award recipient.

The Metuchen Grapplers recently competed in the Ford's Holiday Team Tournament. It was the second year in a row our team participated.

Representing the Grapplers were: Lucas Revano, Will Hronich, Michael Gelberg, John Schleck, Kevin Coleman, Matt Volpe, Joe Hronich, and Devin Miller.

Highlights of the day included 3rd place finishes for Matt Volpe, John Schleck,  and Michael Gelberg, and congratulations to Kevin Coleman who placed in 2nd place in his division.

GO BULLDOGS!