A collaboration with the Westfield High School Journalism ProgramOn the first day of senior year, I walked into school already preparing myself for disaster. Not because of the major workload and stress of college applications, but because of the new block schedule that was implemented at Westfield ...

“Breathe in gently and deeply through your nose. Exhale slowly and fully through your mouth. Clear your mind and allow your breath to find its natural rhythm.”That’s the instruction for most mindfulness meditation. You may have tried this in yoga classes or by listening to your favorite meditation a...

I was driving my daughter’s 12year-old friend home one night when she told me “Doctors withhold cures to keep people sick to make money.” My heart was breaking, as I gently told her that none of the hundreds of physicians that I knew wanted anything except the best treatment for their patients. Year...

Since launching my campaign for mayor, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with and listening to residents across Westfield. These conversations and my 15 years living in town continue to reinforce my belief that our community is strong and Westfield is an undeniably great place to live. I am running ...

I'd like to tell you a bit more about how my experience bridges two worlds: strategic planning in higher education and active community involvement. As a senior university executive and life- long learner, I’ve worked on initiatives ranging from instructional innovation and risk mitigation to studen...

If a Town’s zoning plan does not allow reasonable opportunities for affordable housing, such a zoning plan is unenforceable, unconstitutional, and susceptible to builder/developer lawsuits to build wherever they want. That’s the law. Some people don’t like that, but that is the law. In 2024, the Leg...

Last week, we published an article about Union County’s plans to tear down a 150-year-old grove of Oak trees to make way for a new ice rink at Warinanco Park. This project, or at least some iteration of it, has been in the works for years across multiple locations. It has served as an election-year ...

Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s actions consistently reflect a pattern where his voting record directly contradicts his public statements. As NJ-7 voters are aware, Kean supported the “Big Beautiful Budget Bill,” which cuts funding for SNAP, reduces Medicare access for an estimated 70 million people, adds more ...

As Co-Founders of the Raritan Valley Line Mayor’s Alliance representing 32 communities along the RVL, we know firsthand that for communities like ours, reliable train service isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Over fifteen thousand of our residents depend on NJ TRANSIT every day to get to work, schoo...

It remains hard to watch the recent impacts of extreme weather in other regions of the US knowing that the inland flooding in New Jersey remains unresolved. Since Irene, I coordinated the Mayors Council Rahway River Watershed Flood Control, and despite securing over $7 million to evaluate 21 alterna...