Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker. Harper Perennial,  2013.   I first learned about this “unsolved American mystery,” when 48 Hours did a comprehensive show on the horrific discovery of four bodies wrapped in burlap sacks in 2010. The deceased were discovered on Gilgo Beach, a desolate stretch of sand that did not host excited, Sunday sun worshippers. The Suffolk County police found the four corpses when they were searching for another missing girl, Shannan Gilbert. They failed to find ...

We have all been adjusting to the reality that COVID is an infectious disease, but we now know that it is also a profound chronic stressor with serious implications for mental health. These stressors are impacting mental health for all of us, but women, and especially women of color, have been hit the hardest. Recent studies have shown that one in ten women have had to quit a job due to a pandemic related reason and many mothers say that worry or stress related to coronavirus has affected their mental health.  This disruption in ...

Like so many of you I’ve watched the events of the last week in horror. I have not watched them in shock, I have long thought that violence would erupt during this transfer of power. I have seen the signs – the increasing violence, the rise in the acceptance of hate, racism, antisemitism and sexism. The armed militias, the increasing desperate cries, the willingness to use lies to justify behavior. I have watched in sadness as I saw the Capitol sieged in an attempted coup, I watched people who claim to support law and order ...

The Union County Board of Commissioners encourages Union County residents to help keep County parks free of litter, by reducing their use of single-use plastic bags and other disposable plastic items. “Spring is in sight and visitors will be returning to the County parks and we are asking everyone to pitch in and help preserve the environment in our green spaces.  Plastic bags and straws are the most significant source of ocean pollution, so taking steps to diminish litter has a positive impact on our wildlife habitats and our ...

Like it or not, the idea that “all politics is local'' is no longer reality. Instead, local government has been poisoned by the toxic political environment once confined at the state and federal levels. Local reporters used to be shielded from the national political discourse, in part because municipal elections typically don’t include Rs or Ds next to candidate names—and even when they do, as the saying goes: "There is no Democratic or Republican way to fix a pothole."    Read more here.

SAYREVILLE, NJ -- Brandon Bielak, a Sayreville native who played his high school baseball at St. Joseph High School (Metuchen), took the mound for the Houston Astros against the Yankees Tuesday evening in a hostile Yankee Stadium, where fans released their anger over Houston's sign-stealing scandal became public following the 2019 ALCS. Bielak had the thrill of pitching in the Bronx for the first time as a Major Leaguer, taking over in the 5th inning for former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke. However, it was a ...

Fun Virtual Events for Spring Break Poetry Party for Kids on Monday, April 5 at 2 pm April is National Poetry Month! We will celebrate poetry by reading some favorite poems, playing some online poetry games, creating our own poetry, and go on a rhyming hunt! Geared toward elementary students that are reading and writing. Please register to receive the Zoom link. Superhero Bingo for Kids on Wednesday, April 7 at 2 pm Join us via Zoom to play Superhero Bingo! This event is free and prizes* will be awarded! Pajama Time on ...