AREA — New Jersey is one of only 10 states that do not operate a rape kit tracking system. Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis wants to change that.Her bill (S715/A908), released from the Assembly Public Safety Committee Monday, requires the attorney general to create a sexual assault forensic evidenc...

COUNTY — A Union County Sheriff’s Officer is being lauded for his assistance in saving the lives of eight children and two adults who narrowly escaped a school-bus explosion last month. On Wednesday, the Union County Board of County Commissioners presented Sergeant Jorge Vazquez, of Sayreville, with...

WESTFIELD — An application to create a 24-spot parking lot at the Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church is drawing criticism from Boulevard residents who say the addition could lead to flooding challenges and disrupt the neighborhood’s natural surroundings.The project, which was initially presented to ...

MOUNTAINSIDE — Mountainside Borough Attorney John Post discussed three new ordinances that are being mandated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in Mountainside during a work session of the mayor and council last week: one regardingsalt-storageregulations,another concer...

WESTFIELD — The Westfield Board of Education (BOE) discussed its intentions to revise and update the district’s curriculum during its Tuesday night regular meeting. Kristen Sonnek-Schmelz, who chairs the BOE’s Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Committee, said that the Westfield district’s Schoo...

SCOTCH PLAINS — The zoning board of adjustment last week unanimously approved an application to install a rear-yard deck on a house on Taylors Way.Manan Modi and Harini Bupathi sought a variance for the 20-foot-by-20-foot deck, a portion of which will be closer to the rear property line than local s...

CLARK — At its June 6 regular meeting, the Clark Planning Board approved a redevelopment plan for 27-33 Westfield Avenue that will include a small office space, retail on the first floor and apartment units on the second, third and fourth floors.There will be 39 apartment units at this site, which w...

SCOTCH PLAINS — The recreation department will conduct an assessment of township parks so the recreation commission can get an idea of how to prioritize needs in the short and long terms.At Monday night’s commission meeting, after an extensive discussion of conditions at Memorial Field, Chairman Mik...

SCOTCH PLAINS — The township council gave its approval to a redevelopment agreement with Our Lady Fatima House LLC, which will convert the former residence for nuns at St. Bartholomew’s Church into an age-restricted apartment building.The building, which sits on the western side of the church’s prop...

CRANFORD – Last week, the Cranford Planning Board approved an application for a minor subdivision and a c- variance relief for deficient front and rear setbacks and located at 41 Meeker Avenue. The application proposes dividing the property into two lots, Lot 4.01 and 4.02, and the first lot would c...