NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - Sherrel Campbell, a fifteen-year resident of New Providence [originally from the island of Jamaica], founded The Murphy Bear LLC, a company that specializes in children's books and merchandise. 

With the pandemic, Campbell believes that children relate more to characters and books and was inspired to create The Murphy Bear, the star in her books ...

Holiday cheer multiplies through acts of kindness by community members. 

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - The residents at Autumn Lake Healthcare at Berkeley Heights were treated to a live performance by traveling carolers from Performing Arts 5678 on a frigid Saturday afternoon.

Typically, Autumn Lake would welcome numerous community groups into their facility ...

MORRISTOWN, NJ - After nine long months, the pandemic continues to take hold of our communities. People are staying home to stop the spread and are missing holiday celebrations and gatherings. So how can you spread holiday cheer when people are alone and isolated?

Two creative and talented sophomores from Morristown High School came up with a way. 

Allison Chong and Charlotte ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging throughout New Jersey, HVAC professionals are constantly looking at ways to help reduce the spread of the virus indoors. 

According to Mike Iarrapino, founder and owner of Edison Heating and Cooling, boosting fresh air, regulating humidity, and improving air purification in a home and/or business can all play a ...

HAMILTON, NJ --  Governor Phil Murphy signed the landmark New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020 into law on Thursday at Hamilton's Carella's Chocolate's and Gifts, a local family business for more than 80 years. The law provides economic support for small businesses, while propelling New Jersey’s economic recovery and growth for much of the next ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - Things can fall into place -- and you can start living your dream -- just ask Christine Kohl, who recently opened The Tile Lady Designs by Christine located behind Berkeley Car Wash at 620 Springfield Ave. in Berkeley Heights.

Christine Kohl -- known as "Christine the Tile Lady” among anyone who has had the pleasure of working with her. Christine is the one to ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS - When the opportunity arose on the ice three years ago Drew Skotarczak seized on it immediately.

Then a freshman, Skotarczak was thrust into a big-minute role for the Gov. Livingston/New Providence hockey team after a senior defenseman suffered a season-ending injury in the beginning of the 2017-2018 campaign. 

The Highlanders have been the beneficiary of that turn of ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS - Gov. Livingston hockey coach Michael Criscitello already has the proper mindset to keep his team balanced on the thin ice produced with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Everyone understands the situation,” said Criscitello, who enters his fifth season with a 23-24-6 record guiding the co-op with New Providence. “With everything that’s gone on and how unsettled ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS — The new year sees the Board of Education grappling with challenges on multiple fronts.

Continued spikes of COVID-19 and the looming possibility of superspreader gatherings await the newly elected Berkeley Heights Board of Education members Joy Young, Robert Cianciulli and Mountainside representative, Jordan Hyman.

The 2020-2021 school year has shown that even ...

The first Board of Education meeting of 2021, the Board first took time to welcome the three new members. New Board member Joy Young and returning Board member Robert Cianciulli took the place of Dr. Gerard Chrisonino and Bill Cassano. Jordan Hyman also joined as the Mountainside representative, taking the place of Dante Gioia.  

The Board then elected the President and Vice ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — Elementary teachers expressed fear and concern at last night’s reorganization meeting over the district’s plan to reopen as 'Plan A' this Monday, Jan. 11, for grades one through five. 

The district plans to transition grades one through five to their ‘Plan A’ posture; while Columbia Middle School resumes hybrid learning, ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - Just like 2020 was a difficult year for many people, that is also true for the entertainment industry. Many projects, music, television shows, and movies scheduled for release last year were delayed due the pandemic. Although those projects got pushed to later in the year and into this year, there were still many works that the public did get to enjoy. 

Early in the ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - Danny Berkow is a sophomore JV Soccer player. He has played soccer since he was little and has found a new favorite hobby in weight lifting, which he does almost daily. He is very hardworking, and he loves to push himself past his limits. He loves to lift weights and play soccer, and hopes to stay active even later in his life. He is someone who wants to make sure he is ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - Connor Splaine is a senior at Governor Livingston High School. Splaine is taking a rigorous course load and throws shot put on the track team. Working hard throughout the fall, he holds himself to high standards and works to balance his workload and sports. 

Q: Where do you work?

A: I am a soccer referee.

Q: What's your favorite class?

A: AP Econ.

Q: ...

Letter to the Editor

January 6, 2021, a day that will live in infamy. A day that brought tears to the eyes of Americans and frowns from the rest of the world. A day that saw American terrorists raid our Capitol building for their own satisfaction. A day that a flag bearing a single man’s name penetrated the center of America. 

The events at the Capitol do not look that much ...

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ - Doug Steinhardt, chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party and candidate in the 2021 GOP Gubernatorial Primary, has dropped out of the race just one month after launching his campaign.

The abrupt announcement boosts the likelihood that Jack Ciattarelli, a Hillsborough resident and former state Assemblyman who kicked off his campaign one year ago, will win the GOP ...

JERSEY CITY, NJ - There appears to be peace in Jersey City, or at least a detente, when it comes to the politics at 280 Grove Street, as well as the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO).

Less than three years removed from an attempt he made to oust her father from Hudson County’s top spot, Mayor Steven Fulop and HCDO Chairwoman Amy DeGise announced Tuesday that they will run ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Gov. Phil Murphy and the NJ Department of Health are taking heat for putting smokers in the 1B category for people registering to receive the coronavirus vaccine. 

On Wednesday, the governor announced that all residents over age 65, not just those in long-term care facilities, would be the next in line to get the vaccine, along with people who have conditions that ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Individuals ages 65 years and older and those between the ages of 16-64 with medical conditions (defined by the CDC) that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination beginning Thursday, Jan. 14, according to Gov. Phil Murphy, who shared the news at his COVID-19 press briefing on Wednesday. The governor also announced ...

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) received a positive rapid antigen test result for COVID-19 on Monday, according to a press release from her office. She believes she was exposed during protective isolation in the U.S. Capitol building as a result of insurrectionist riots on Jan. 6. As reported by multiple news outlets, a number of members within the space ignored instructions to wear ...

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The county will begin vaccinating healthcare workers Thursday, officials said.

Health care personnel eligible under the state’s guidelines to receive the vaccine must make their appointments through the county’s registration webpage starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, officials said in a press release.

“As more supplies become available, we will announce ...

UNION COUNTY, NJ -- Union County Commissioner (formerly called Freeholder) Chair Al Mirabella, who also serves as the Scotch Plains Township Manager, is set to continue a second year in a row as Chair when County government hold its annual reorganization on Sunday, January 3rd, according to a county press release issued on Dec. 24. 

The installation ceremony and the ...

NEW JERSEY — The threat of Trenton protests on Jan. 17 looms, following a massive insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. last week.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Colonel Pat Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said Monday that NJ authorities are prepared and on high alert.

“We need to bat 1,000 every day. To the governor's point [we] will be ...

NEW JERSEY -- Gov. Phil Murphy has ordered that all U.S. and New Jersey flags be flown at half-staff on Monday, Jan 11, 2021, in honor of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick of South River, who died following injuries sustained while defending the U.S. Capitol when it was under siege on Jan. 6.

In a statement, Murphy said: 

“United States Capitol Police Officer ...

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The county will begin vaccinating healthcare workers Thursday, officials said.

Health care personnel eligible under the state’s guidelines to receive the vaccine must make their appointments through the county’s registration webpage starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, officials said in a press release.

“As more supplies become available, we will announce ...

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - After the recent towing of cars at the former Bank of America lot behind Prestige Diner in New Providence, a community discussion ensued with close to 300 comments posted to the New Providence and Berkeley Heights Facebook forums to expose and warn the community.

The cars towed were patrons of the Prestige Diner who parked in the vacant lot ...

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Old Man Rafferty’s, a downtown restaurant that has served savory French onion soup and overstuffed reubens to generations of theatergoers, Rutgers students and Johnson & Johnson’s workers, has closed its doors.

Owner Mark Jakuboski said the landmark restaurant on Albany Street, like many other eateries and small businesses in New Brunswick and beyond, ...

NEW JERSEY- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a recall of Nestle Lean Cuisine Baked Chicken meals for “possible extraneous materials, specifically pieces of white hard plastic.”

The baked chicken meals were produced and packaged on September 2, 2020 with a “Best Before” date of October 2021.

This recall is for “8 8/5 oz (244g) carton trays of LEAN ...

New Jersey Date Night is a series on NJ Flavor by relationship writer Craig Rogers.

A new year is upon us and optimistically one may believe that the possibilities are endless. Granted we just came off a year so horrific that it makes Divorce Court look better than Disneyland, so it’s reasonable to be a little trepidatious. But then again, aiming for the positive is a mindset that ...

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - When faced with adversity, the New Providence community does the right thing -- over and over again. The latest example of this was the community's response to the recent flurry of customers' cars being towed from the vacant lot behind Prestige Diner.

When word got out that Prestige Diner owner Jimmy Vardas paid the towing company out of his own ...

CHATHAM, NJ - While most are still trying to assist others against the coronavirus, in the Chathams, district residents are teaming together to help another face a different enemy.

For the morning and afternoon, Saturday at Chatham High School, a drive-through bone marrow screening has held for a special little girl. Her name is Jackie Erb, the five-year-old daughter of Chatham ...

NEW JERSEY - Looking to answer questions and seeing a "bright light" at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, New Jersey healthcare leaders spoke about how they've dealt with the pandemic while offering hope for the future, at a virtual event held by TAPinto on Thursday evening.

The first-ever TAPinto signature virtual event on Jan. 14 featured five health care experts, ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging throughout New Jersey, HVAC professionals are constantly looking at ways to help reduce the spread of the virus indoors. 

According to Mike Iarrapino, founder and owner of Edison Heating and Cooling, boosting fresh air, regulating humidity, and improving air purification in a home and/or business can all play a ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — People with COVID-19 can catch the virus and not show symptoms for up to two weeks, meaning that they may not yet know if they caught it at a New Year’s gathering, health officials said.

Westfield Regional Health Officer Megan Avallone told NJ Spotlight News that many people are unaware of coronavirus’ two-week incubation period and so may not know they ...

NEW JERSEY – United Van Lines has released the company’s 44th Annual National Migration Study, revealing in 2020, Americans continued to move westbound and southbound – and the COVID-19 pandemic factored into and accelerated many of those decisions to move.

According to the study, which tracks the company’s exclusive data for customers’ 2020 ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - Things can fall into place -- and you can start living your dream -- just ask Christine Kohl, who recently opened The Tile Lady Designs by Christine located behind Berkeley Car Wash at 620 Springfield Ave. in Berkeley Heights.

Christine Kohl -- known as "Christine the Tile Lady” among anyone who has had the pleasure of working with her. Christine is the one to ...

LITTLE FALLS, NJ -- Julian Leshay, an independent photojournalist, spoke with Executive Producer Brian Brodeur about his experiences taking photos at the recent Capitol Hill riot on January 6. Leshay gives viewers his insight into the scenes he witnessed and the images he captured on that fateful day. 

Leshay arrived in Washington, D.C. the day before, “to get the environment, to ...

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - Following its annual tradition, Faith Lutheran Church in New Providence contributed Christmas gifts to persons served by social service agencies in the community and St. Stephan’s Grace Community Church in Newark. Many of the gifts were in response to the recipient's specific wishes.

The following organizations received the gifts:

The ARC of Union County, ...

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ -- On the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 15, the sixth of the eight days of Hanukkah, Faith Lutheran Church in New Providence and the Summit synagogues of Congregation Ohr Shalom-Summit Jewish Community Center and Temple Sinai lit the sixth candle of the Menorah at Faith.  This was the fourteenth consecutive year that Faith and the synagogues have partnered in the ...