AREA— Union County’s decision to auction off its underutilized jail complex has met with opposition from local leaders who say that allowing the property to be sold for use as either a privatized prison or immigration detention center could lead to unwanted complications for the surrounding communit...

WESTFIELD — Three families received approval for home renovations and expansions at the Westfield Board of Adjustment meeting Monday. All members present gave full approval for the projects, with Vice Chair Michael Cohen, Sam Reisen and Sasha Nisbet absent.The board also announced that the special h...

WESTFIELD — More than 300 books related to Jewish history, culture and heritage were recently added to the shelves of Westfield’s nine public- school libraries thanks to a collaborative fund-raising effort by a local grassroots initiative dedicated to fostering education, building relationships and ...

WESTFIELD — Construction crews are preparing to break ground on The Sophia, a long-awaited, mixed-use redevelopment project slated for completion at the corner of Prospect Street and Ferris Place, within the next month.“It took us a while to get here, but things are coming together and we are excite...

WESTFIELD — Voters in Westfield on Tuesday approved two bond referendum questions to finance major capital infrastructure projects across the local school district and bring free, full-day kindergarten to the town. Roughly 20 percent of eligible residents participated in the vote, which fell during ...

WESTFIELD — Voters in Westfield on Tuesday returned Robert Benacchio, Kristen Sonnek-Schmelz and Mary Wickens to new, three-year terms on the Westfield Board of Education. The incumbents beat out newcomer Violetta Watson, who ran on a platform of supporting special-education initiatives. The unoffic...

WESTFIELD —Westfield residents will decide whether or not to make a major investment in the school district when they head to the polls on Tuesday, April 15. The district is asking voters to approve $168 million worth of improvements through the bond referendum process, touching nearly every area of...

FANWOOD — The municipal budget that is likely to be introduced later this month includes a 3.49-percent hike in the borough’s share of property taxes, which translates to a $107 increase for the average assessed home.Total appropriations this year will amount to about $12.184 million, which will be ...

SCOTCH PLAINS — The zoning board of adjustment last week unanimously approved an application to allow homeowners to construct an addition to their home and to expand their existing garage. Daniel and Anna Upton will turn their 1.5-story, three-bedroom Cape Cod-style home on Hill Road into a five-bed...

COUNTY — Union County’s tax rate will remain flat this year despite rising operational costs and developing economic uncertainties.This year’s executive budget, Commissioner Rebecca Williams said, speaking during a regular meeting of the County Commissioner Board, represents “thoughtful planning and...