AREA — Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-Newark), a progressive, six-term Democrat who was slated to run unopposed in the upcoming June Primary, died suddenly on Wednesday. He was 65.Elected officials who knew Mr. Payne described the Essex County native as a dedicated public servant who will be dearly misse...

SCOTCH PLAINS — The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education voted to approve its tentative $119,551,636 2024-2025 school budget and authorized it for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools for approval at its regular meeting on Thursday. The tentative budget was presented at t...

COUNTY — The Union County Board of County Commissioners welcomed young poets from across the region to share their award-winning Arbor Day poems on Thursday as part of an ongoing slate of eco-awareness activities that will be held throughout the spring and summer seasons.The Commissioner Board’s ann...

CLARK — By 6 a.m. on Friday morning, Vaccaro’s Bakery was already almost out of brownies, rye bread, pecan rings, crumb cakes and parking spaces as residents from across the region clambered to secure a place in line for the final time.Last week, the bakery’s owners, Eileen and Vinny Vaccaro, announ...

WESTFIELD — Three members of the Westfield Police Department are recovering from injuries sustained during the pursuit of a stolen motor vehicle late last week. Charges ranging from resisting arrest to assaulting a police officer have been filed against a Maryland resident in connection with the inc...

SCOTCH PLAINS — The planning board will look into whether property on Lamberts Mill Road is appropriate for redevelopment. Last month, the township council approved a resolution requesting that the board and its professional staff conduct an examination of the property at 2100 Lamberts Mill Road — w...

MOUNTAINSIDE — The Mountainside Borough Council passed its $9.9 million 2024 municipal budget on Tuesday following a public hearing.According to Mayor Paul Mirabella, this is the first time in recent years that the new budget has translated to an increase for Mountainside residents.According to his ...

CRANFORD — The Cranford Township Committee will be encouraging residents to go green this Arbor Day by offering 2,000 saplings as part of a township-wide initiative to increase the number of trees within the community. “We are inviting everybody this Saturday from 9 to 11 at Hampton Park, which is o...

WESTFIELD — The Downtown Westfield Corporation (DWC) remains optimistic that Shakespeare in the Park will take place this August even if they have to be flexible in their approach. Last week, during the DWC’s monthly board meeting, the owner of the Acting Out! theater company said the organization m...

GARWOOD — OnTuesday, during a regular meeting of the Garwood governing body, Councilman Sean Foley presented the reports on the 2024 Capital Budget requests made by the Finance Committee.Councilman Foley stressed that the FinanceCommittee’sprimaryfocusthis year will be enhancing the safety and welfa...