AREA — Between special elections, large-scale renovation projects, new state mandates and a host of financial challenges, 2024 proved itself to be a busy one for Union County and the surrounding area.The Union County Board of County Commissioners rang in the new year by appointingWestfield resident ...

FANWOOD—Thenewyearstarted with Mayor Colleen Mahr beginning her sixth term and saying she was “as humbled, honored and excited as I was 20 years ago” when beginning her first term. She was sworn in by Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who also swore in Councilmen Anthony Carter and Jeffrey Banks to new, three-y...

GARWOOD — Borough officials kicked off 2024 with a reorganization meeting that welcomed Karina Boto and Sean Foley to their new seats on the borough council. Councilman Vincent Kearney was named as 2024’s council president.The Garwood Board of Education (BOE) also welcomed its three newest members —...

CLARK — In January, the Clark Township Council named longtime Councilwoman Angel Albanese to serve as this year’s president of the governing body. Bill Smith, who was first elected to the council in 2012, was named as this year’s vice president.In February, Antonio Manata, a former member of the tow...

CRANFORD — Cranford officials kicked off 2024 with a visit from Senate President Nicholas Scutari, who attended the township’s annual reorganization meeting to administer the oath of office to Mayor Brian Andrews.In early January, voters took to the polls to approve a $75-million bond ordinance that...

MOUNTAINSIDE — Donald Rinaldo was sworn in as the newest member of the borough council during the Mountainside governing body’s annual reorganization meeting in January. Mr. Rinaldo, a Republican, replaced Councilwoman Rachel Pater, who resigned her seat at the end of 2023 due to personal reasons.In...

GARWOOD — The family of a 12-year-old boy who took his own life after what they allege were repeat incidences of harassment and bullying has filed suit against the Garwood Board of Education, the school district and the principal of Lincoln School for claims of fostering a hostile environment and fa...

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD — The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education met for its regular session December 19 to review various committee reports and approve the district’s 2023-2024 financial audit. Kathryn Mantell, CPA, of Nisivoccia & Co., presented a financial audit of the 2023-2024 school year, ...

COUNTY — The Union County Board of County Commissioners finished out its business for 2024 last week by finalizing two new ordinances — one that will allow the county to go out to bond for over $23 million to fund various capital improvements and another that amends various sections of the governing...

GARWOOD — During Thursday night’s regular meeting of the Garwood mayor and council, Mayor Jen Blumenstock suspended the regular order of business to honor the First Aid Squad with a proclamation recognizing the organization’s 85 years of service. The Garwood First Aid Squad started on September 25, ...