FANWOOD — The borough council on Monday unveiled the 2024 municipal budget, which will be funded in part by a $199 average increase in the municipal portion of property taxes.At the council’s agenda meeting, Borough Administrator Jesse Moehlman said a trio of expenditures — insurance, debt service a...

WESTFIELD — In its more than 250 years of documented history, the Town of Westfield has borne witness to two world wars, the end of slavery, vast technological advancements, floods, political demonstrations, the Great Depression, the loss of residents in a terrorist attack, and even two global pande...

SCOTCH PLAINS — A firefighter and a demolition contractor were injured on Tuesday in a fire that consumed a section of an East Second Street building that was being torn down.The two-story building, which formerly housed a bicycle shop and apartments, is being razed to make way for a new mixeduse, t...

WESTFIELD — The Westfield Town Council’s plan to convert the intersection of Clark Street and East Dudley Avenue into a four-way stop drew minor opposition Tuesday evening from residents who claimed that the change could have unintended consequences. “I believe that in the absence of a traffic light...

MOUNTAINSIDE — The Mountainside Board of Education shared some ideas to address its $352,000 deficit before casting the final votes of approval for the 20242025 budget at its meeting on Tuesday.“We currently outsource our mental- health services to Tri-County Behavioral Health,” Superintendent Janet...

CRANFORD — The Cranford Board of Education voted Monday to adopt its 2024-2025 budget as approved by the Executive County Superintendent, in the total amount of $78,788,827, after a public hearing that evening. The proposed tax increase is $206.34 on the average assessed home value of $187,168.A tot...

WESTFIELD — On Monday, the Westfield Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) voted to memorialize its recommendations that two historic homes — one on Elizabeth Avenue and the other on Rahway Avenue — not be torn down. The owners of both properties, Commission Chair Jennifer Jaruzelski said, have sub...

COUNTY — For decades, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) have worked to provide a sense of security and continuity for children who find themselves caught up in the court system as their parents and caregivers attempt to navigate complicated legal challenges.According to information provided ...

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...