I am writing this to remember my grandfather Carmen Canastra. Today, March 21, 2013, he would have been 100 years old. My grandfather was an excellent cop and a good father, as well as a good grandfather. He is very much missed. If anybody out there has any photos, memories or stories of my grandfather, please share them at DOLY9676@aol.com. -Carleen Canastra Milltown

The state of our cities and neighborhoods are at stake. Violence has become a culture of rage and plague our young people unlike any other time in history. Guns have become the weapon of choice for a easy kill and sometimes by the masses. In New Jersey their are 18 targeted cities that received most of the attention where violence became commonplace in many of their communities: Elizabeth, Roselle, Linden, East Orange, Irvington, Newark, Jersey City, Franklin, New Brunswick, Atlantic City, Asbury Park, Lakewood, Plainfield, Paterson, Passaic, Trenton, Salem, and Camden are communities where …

If you are over 21 and interested in working with youth in New Brunswick, I have news for you: New Brunswick 4-H needs you.Right now, New Brunswick 4-H needs adult volunteer club leaders for arts and crafts club, for health and nutrition programming, and for film-making/script-writing clubs. We would also love to start a Junior Council, a leadership club for youth ages 12-15. Until a leader for this club steps forward, we cannot take the first steps for planning this club.New Brunswick 4-H staff (there are two of us) are willing to help you recruit members and reserve space for your meetings…

On Nov. 6, 2012, the voters of New Brunswick made history by voting “Yes” for an elected school board. Due to the change from a Type 1 school board to a Type 2, the New Brunswick Board of Education has called a special election for Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 to elect two additional members to the school board. The New Brunswick For Elected School Board Committee, chaired by Yolanda Baker, has reviewed all of the candidates’ qualifications and we have agreed that Jerry Mercado and Cedrick Goodman are the best choices for the school board. Yolonda explained “We are only concerned with the children …

The city of New Brunswick has functioned with an appointed Board of Education for over approximately 20 years. On Nov. 6, 2012, residents of the city decided to take a different approach and move to an elected board. Residents sought to engage new members who could bring a different perspective to the current public education in New Brunswick. The new members would need to be committed to enhancing the academic experience while providing a safe environment conducive to learning. Ron Hush and Diana Fajardo share a voice for parents and children that express a dedication to the community of New…

Thanks to the hard work and persistence by pancreatic cancer advocates, the U.S. Congress recently passed historic legislation that will finally bring hope to those affected by the disease. The Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, formerly known as the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, passed Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, on Dec. 21, 2012.This legislation means we are one step closer to creating a national strategy for combating pancreatic cancer, developing early detection tools and effective treatments and improving the lives of those affected by this …

A new report from the state Department of Transportation confirms what many opponents of red light camera ticketing systems have long suspected: cameras lead to more accidents, more injuries and greater cost.The report contains data showing that both the total number and total cost of crashes have increased at intersections after cameras were installed.The commonly stated goal of red light cameras is to reduce injuries from right-angle crashes, generally the most dangerous type of collision that results from running a red light.At the 24 intersections in New Jersey that have had cameras …

The City of New Brunswick is looking for new commissioners to fill vacancies on multiple appointed boards and commissions. The following Appointed Boards and Commissions are seeking individuals to fill seats for 2013: the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Planning Board, Cable Television Advisory Committee, City Recreation Committee, New Brunswick Community Arts Council, New Brunswick Board of Education, New Brunswick Environmental Commission, Historical Association, Human Relations Committee, Library Board of Trustees, Minority Business Enterprise Committee, Rent Control Board, Construction Board …

The holiday season should be a time of joy. But each year, fires caused by Christmas trees and holiday decorations bring tragedy to families all across the country. Research by the US Fire Administration shows a significant rise in fires and the danger of fires during the holiday season. In recent years, the U.S. has averaged more than 200 fires each year that began with a Christmas tree or holiday lighting, many resulting in death or injuries. But there are simple steps that families can take to substantially reduce the risk of a fire over the holidays. The Christmas tree is a symbol of the …

A recent report on red-light safety cameras from the New Jersey Department of Transportation has surfaced vocal camera program opponents who are not taking into consideration the bigger picture. Important statistics — that any traffic safety expert would see as positive progress — aren’t getting the attention they deserve. The bottom line is citations are down, the often fatal right-angle “t-bone” crashes have decreased and these trends continue to rise at intersections where red-light safety cameras have been operational for two years. Camera programs are implemented with the sole purpose of…

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. This year, approximately 160,340 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer, accounting for 28 percent of all cancer deaths.  That is why there is an entire month dedicated to this disease, raising awareness and increasing research to help put an end to it. People like to think that lung cancer is a self-inflicted disease from smoking; the truth is that radon, secondhand smoke, and air pollution all can cause lung cancer. The American Lung Association encourages everyone to help stomp out the stigma of lung cancer and create awareness around the …

As a cardiologist and on behalf of the American Heart Association, I want to thank the New Jersey Legislature and the Governor for the recent passage of Janet's Law, lifesaving legislation supported by the American Heart Association that will make the Garden State's schools safer for all who enter the facilities and grounds. Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone at any time, often without warning. In fact, the American Heart Association reports about 295,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (treated by emergency medical services) occur in the United States each year. The quicker a victim of …

Dear President Obama, As parent advocates working to improve educational opportunities not only for our own children, but for children across New Jersey, we believe that all children in our state should have access to a high quality public education. We write today to ask you to reevaluate the current Federal education policies that are detrimental to our public schools and the students who rely on them. Our fight for public education here in New Jersey is not unique – we see the same things happening across the country – and we have realized that these problems stem from Federal level …

Tensions between bicyclists and motorists are in the spotlight this summer and we believe it’s time we all took more responsibility for cooling the confrontation and sharing the road. We represent bicycle clubs and organizations with over 2,000 members in NW and Central NJ. Each of us is also a motorist. We understand sharing the road from behind the wheel of a car as well as on a bicycle. We are as upset as anyone when a bicyclist does not ride safely or a group of cyclists block the road and surround a car as reportedly happened in Tewksbury this summer. Our organizations train riders on …

Responding to the city's recent proposed city budget and serving in his second term representing city residents, Democratic Committeeman Cedrick Goodman is calling for intervention from state regulators to reject the city's recent budget proposal that would once again raise property taxes on the poor and elderly while awarding pay raises in the city Mayor's Office. With almost every municipality in the entire State of New Jersey forced into consolidating into shared services to save jobs, and avoid tax increases statewide, the greed in the City of New Brunswick appears to continue. During the…

On behalf of the New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA) representing over 25,000 eating and drinking establishments, we support State Assembly efforts to help small breweries sell their products. However, the proposed amendment permitting breweries to have a cash bar at the end of their tours leaves us frostier than the beer! Throw in a little “free” food, and we see breweries growing into open “Beer Gardens” that will undermine the value of our liquor licenses.We favor beer samplings as part of a flat fee brewery tour, but a cash bar should require a liquor license as it always has. New …

Dear Senator Smith,   The 7,000 members of Save Our Schools NJ, a nonpartisan, statewide, grass roots organization, are firmly opposed to the changes to New Jersey’s current school funding formula in Governor Christie’s proposed fiscal year 2013 State budget. These changes reduce funding for the neediest students, including those in your legislative district.     We also are opposed to the proposed budget’s failure to fully fund either the current school funding formula or the Governor’s proposed formula until 2017. This translates into a state funding reduction of more than $2.5 billion …

The exploitation of adjunct faculty is not a new topic, but somehow it seldom finds its way onto radio talk shows, segmented news shows, or other arenas of exposure. Making the case for better treatment of part-time / adjunct faculty seems to fall on deaf ears everywhere – especially at the bargaining table.   At Rutgers University where membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) generates some claim to fame and the addition of a medical school in New Brunswick makes positive news (if not the looming takeover in the south), we see part-time lecturers (as adjuncts…

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month! In recognition of this month, we would like to remind the public of two laws that will keep our youth safer. One addresses concussion recognition and management; the other addresses safety on the ski slopes of New Jersey.Awareness of these laws can lead to prevention of one of the most devastating of disabilities: traumatic brain injury. The concussion law requires that a brain injury safety program for athletes be created in each school district; the fact sheets explaining the signs and symptoms of concussion are distributed and acknowledged by student …

To the Editor:  The $7 million in non-public school technology initiative aid that was cut from New Jersey's FY 2010 budget placed added pressure on the capacity of non-public schools in a bad economic environment. Governor Christie originally line item vetoed the restoration included in the FY 2012 budget approved by the legislature. Recently, Governor Christie proposed including $3.3 million for non-public school technology initiative aid in this year's budget. The proposed allocation is not enough. In January, Assembly Member Gary Schaer introduced Bill A238, which would restore the full $…