Union County News
By TONY GALLOTTO
July 25, 2024
RAHWAY, NJ — A Perth Amboy police detective’s medical condition has improved from critical to stable after being wounded in a shooting while trying to serve warrants in Rahway on Wednesday night. The unidentified police detective was shot at least once in his leg around 8:30 pm on Wednesday, ...
CRANFORD, NJ – If you were up at dawn this morning, June 25, you might have seen the film crews parked in front of The Morning Roast at Yale Terrace Brewery on Eastman Street. ABC News' Dani Beckstrom was there filming a segment that ran later that morning. Open at 5:30 a.m., the coffee shop, run ...
NEWARK, NJ – A Scotch Plains woman has been charged in connection with her role in embezzling more than $350,000 from a Union County synagogue, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Tuesday, July 23. Stacy Margaritondo, 51, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud. She ...
ROSELLE PARK, NJ — The borough grew a little brighter recently, as Union County Connects, a 501(c)(3) charity that advocates for safer trail networks in Union County, unveiled a brand-new mural featuring a historical rendition of the Rahway Valley Railroad Engines. Painted on the Son-Rise Document ...
CRANFORD, NJ - "Mothers’ Instinct," a psychological thriller filmed almost entirely in Cranford in 2022, will finally make its US debut this Friday, July 26. The film, which stars Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, is set in 1960 suburban America. It’s about two next-door neighbors and best ...
UNION, NJ – An automatic fire alerted Union firefighters to the Stop & Shop at 1201 Stuyvesant Avenue on Sunday night. Upon arrival, firefighters found a fully involved vehicle on fire in the underground parking garage, causing heavy smoke. Union Fire Chief Greg Ricciardi said the store ...
CLARK, NJ - A vehicle crashed through the fence of the Hyatt Hills Golf Complex on Thursday afternoon. According to Police Chief Pedro Matos, there were no injuries and only the driver was present in the car. The car appeared to have traveled off of Raritan Road, through the iron fencing, ...
CRANFORD, NJ – Were you tuning in to Live with Kelly and Mark on ABC on Wednesday? If so, you may have seen Walnut Avenue School kindergarten teacher Samantha Longo! A friend of Longo’s told her that they recruited dancers before the show started, so she was ready when they asked for volunteers.
WESTFIELD, NJ — A resident of Boynton Avenue reported being defrauded out of about $990 on July 11 in a phone scam, Westfield Police said Wednesday. “The victim received a notification via the computer as a Microsoft warning that financial information had been compromised,” Sgt. Michael Walsh ...
WESTFIELD, NJ — Some unique and eye-catching public art installations are making their debut in Westfield this week, as the town begins hosting the “Reflections of Ordinary Life” exhibition of five sculptures by the late artist Seward Johnson, Mayor Shelley Brindle announced in her weekly update ...
CLARK, NJ — On Tuesday, July 16, around 8 p.m., Clark Police officers responded to an accident on Madison Hill Road involving an automobile and a motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle was later identified as 32-year-old Rahway resident Justin Almenas. Almenas suffered serious injuries as a ...
CRANFORD, NJ - Cosplay, crafts, panels, and more will all be coming to Tosho-con, a free, all-ages comic, anime, and pop culture convention hosted by The Cranford Public Library on Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. “We are excited to welcome everyone back for this year's Tosho-con!” ...
UNION, NJ - A home on Robinson Terrace in Union was struck by lightning on Sunday afternoon during an intense summer storm which began just after 2:00. Union firefighters responded to the home on Robinson Terrace and discovered that a lightning strike had blown the chimney off the house and ...
CLARK, NJ — On Wednesday, July 3, the Clark Police Department responded to a report of shots fired around 12:30 a.m. at 9 Stanton Street that ultimately resulted in the arrest of a Clark resident. The man, 79-year-old Kenneth Kutyla, had a detention hearing on Wednesday, July 10, at which time, ...
PLAINFIELD, NJ — Following a 2-car accident, a car was pushed into the garage of a two-family home on East Second Street at its intersection with Leland Avenue in Plainfield at around 9:30 on Friday morning. There are no reported injuries. Union's Battalion 2, Squad 2, Ladder 2 and the Special ...
CRANFORD, NJ – From July 14-20, thousands of young soccer players from around the world will descend upon Gothenburg, Sweden for the 2024 Gothia Cup. The 48th edition of the tournament will feature more than 1,900 teams from 76 countries and include two of Cranford’s young athletes. Ava Cao ...
TRENTON – A Union native has been named Governor Phil Murphy’s new Chief of Staff, replacing Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. Tim Hillmann, currently serving as the Governor’s Principal Deputy Chief of Staff, will assume the role of Chief of Staff later this summer. Hillmann is a graduate of Union ...
CRANFORD, NJ – Cranford Recreation and Parks were pleased at the turnout at the Cranford Canoe Club. “The Canoe Races on the 4th of July is one of Cranford’s best and oldest traditions,” said Steve Robertazzi, director of the department. “The day never seems to disappoint! Plus, we only had a ...
WESTFIELD, NJ — Alexander Liu said the manager at Walgreens on North Avenue apologized to him after a cashier there called him “ching chong ching” instead of his name last month. Liu, a 48-year-old Westfield resident who is of Chinese Cuban descent, said the cashier uttered the slur when he went ...
Update: — A Cranford teen reported missing Sunday afternoon was found safe Sunday evening at Yankee Stadium. CRANFORD, NJ - The community is searching for an 18-year-old male named Petey who walked away from his home on Lincoln Avenue West this afternoon around 2 p.m. He has special needs and ...
WESTFIELD, NJ — The hard work and humility that brought Courtney Smith and Phoebe Klag to a global athletic stage last summer is taking them back there for a second year. Westfield natives Smith, 13, and Klag, 14, have for the second year in a row been selected to represent the United States at ...
CRANFORD, NJ – On July 1, Officer Thomas Bell officially retired after more than 25 years of service as a member of the Cranford Police Department (CPD), serving in the Auto Theft Task Force, the CPD Honor Guard Unit, the CPD Special Operations Team, the CPD Bicycle Patrol Unit, and the CPD ...
CLARK, NJ — Early Wednesday morning, the Clark Police Department responded to a report of shots fired at 9 Stanton Street. Members of the Clark PD quickly concluded that a man was barricaded with a weapon in his possession. The Union County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit was then ...
WESTFIELD, NJ — A Westfield resident is out $10,000 after answering a phone call from someone pretending to be a representative from the fraud department at his financial institution, police said Tuesday. The incident was reported on June 26, police said. While speaking with the suspect or ...
CRANFORD, NJ – Independence Day celebrations are just around the corner and Cranford is taking two days to celebrate the occasion with fun for all ages. Tuesday, July 2: Cranford will host its annual fireworks display in Nomahegan Park. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. with rides, games, ...
CRANFORD, NJ - Want to be part of a Cranford tradition? Join the 4th of July annual Canoe Races. The fun begins at the Cranford Canoe Club at 8:30 a.m. and the races include the following categories: 10-13 years 14-20 years 21 and older Ma & Pa Mother & Child Father & ...
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — A series of incidents involving suspicious vehicles and thefts kept Berkeley Heights Police busy this week, culminating in the recovery of a stolen vehicle in Newark. Chief William Ives emphasized the importance of vigilance and community involvement in maintaining ...
CRANFORD, NJ- When Cranford residents, Sarah Harvan and Ellie Tantillo saw one of their favorite musicians, Gracie Abrams, was performing live on NBC’s Today show Citi Concert Series line up, they knew they had to go. The girls met at Cranford High School and are both currently studying at the ...
CLARK, NJ — The Clark Police Department recently released information concerning an attempted residential burglary on McCollum Drive in town. On Tuesday, May 28, Clark patrol units responded to a report of an attempted burglary. The investigation revealed that three suspects, two juveniles and ...
CRANFORD, NJ – Cranford resident, Amy Solecki Downey had just the right bike for her son, Andrew, who has special needs and was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome. There was only one problem: the bike was pink. Downey posted on Facebook to see if someone could repaint it. Emilio DiFabio of DiFabio ...