Many teachers are retiring, asking for leave or not wanting to go to schools in person amid COVID-19 fears

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

There’s been a shortage of substitute teachers for years, but the ...

TUSCALOOSA, AL -- Melissa Grare of Piscataway, NJ, was named to The University of Alabama Dean’s List for summer 2020.

A total of 506 students enrolled during the 2020 summer term at UA were named to the Dean's List with an academic record of 3.5 or above or the President's List with an academic record of 4.0 (all A's).

The UA Dean's and President's lists recognize ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ — With an unprecedented start, a new year of learning is now in motion for Piscataway students.

During the first few days of school, TAPinto Piscataway received your ‘First Day of School’ photo entries for our 2020 Back-to-School Photo Gallery and gift card contest.

Thanks to the generous support from our sponsors, we are pleased to announce that we have ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ — Middlesex County health officials reported one new case on Monday, bringing the total to 1,056 of residents that have tested positive for COVID-19 in Piscataway. No additional information regarding the new case was provided. The reported death toll is 38 for the township.

According to covid19.nj.gov, there are now 19,116 positive cases in Middlesex County and ...

NEW JERSEY — Referring to the coronavirus as a marathon, rather than a sprint, New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli wants residents to be wary of “pandemic fatigue.”

As New Jersey passes 200,000 coronavirus cases Monday, she said the COVID-19 has forced many families to confront financial hardship, grief due to loss, uncertainty, isolation and ...

An entire dorm at the New Jersey Institute of Technology remains in lockdown after the engineering school detected high levels of the COVID-19 virus in its sewage.

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

Project engineers ran ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ -- Women leaders from across the country, the state, and the local community are mourning the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday, Sept. 18. Justice Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the Court and served more than 27 years.

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg ...

TRENTON, NJ – Gov. Phil Murphy began Friday’s COVID-19 press briefing on a somber note by expressing his outrage over two gunmen who fired on the home of two Camden County police officers while their newborn baby was inside.

The gunmen shot at the officers’ home in Camden late Tuesday and struck the home at least six times, according to Camden police. The couple were inside ...

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ - Even when the people we care about are far away, we can always keep them close in our hearts. In times like these, this lesson is more apparent than ever- and it’s an important one to remember on National POW/MIA Recognition Day. This year, that day falls on September 18, 2020. It’s dedicated to our nation’s servicemen and women who were prisoners of ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ – At 7:49 Tuesday morning, the Piscataway Police issued a travel alert advising motorists that the train crossing at New Market Road has malfunctioned, closing it between Union Street and William Street for repairs.

They also advised that Morris Ave. is closed between Route 18/Hoes Lane and S. Randolphville Road for infrastructure improvements.

Motorists are asked to ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A Piscataway woman died Tuesday after she was struck by her own vehicle after parking on a downhill grade in the parking lot of 9E Easy Street, according to a release from Bridgewater Township Police.

According to the release, police were sent to the parking lot at about 10:16 a.m. Tuesday for a report of a pedestrian involved motor vehicle crash with injuries.

When they ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - Crystal Springs has closed the pools for the season for humans, but the Department of Recreation and Parks wanted to give your dogs an opportunity to have some fun! Come join us on Saturday, September 26th for our 3rd Annual Drool in the Pool! Tickets are being sold online only. One ticket includes one dog and one handler. Proof of vaccinations must be shown the day of ...

EDISON, NJ — Plays-in-the-Park had to cancel their summer and fall sessions on stage when COVID-19 arrived, and everyone began quarantining. Rather than just letting the proverbial curtain fall, Artistic Director Margaret Davis and her staff changed their programming. Davis shared, “We shifted gears and produced a slate of FREE virtual programming for all to enjoy.” She ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ - The Bryan Hansen Band returns to the Summer Stage on the Division Street pedestrian mall Saturday, Sept. 19, form 6-9 p.m.

The concert is free. Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets, wear a mask and observe social-distancing.

In addition to front man and lead guitarist Bryan Hansen the New Jersey-basef band includes William Blakey on bass guitar and vocals and ...

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Coach Greg Schiano’s on-again, off-again return to the Rutgers sidelines is on again after the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted Wednesday to resume the Big Ten football season on Oct. 23.

The team’s return to play an eight-game schedule will come with several new health protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Big Ten will ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ — New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), the governing body for high school sports in New Jersey, has announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with the National Football League (NFL). The organization will host a two-day, virtual diversity, bias and cultural competence workshop for football game officials, Sept. 22–23. The ...

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service urges individuals who owe taxes but have not yet filed for 2019 to act now to avoid larger penalties that, by law, start after Sept. 14.

The tax deadline was July 15 this year. Taxpayers who submitted an extension have until Oct. 15 to file and do not face the failure to file penalty if they file their taxes by that deadline. But taxpayers need ...

NEWARK, NJ — Job seekers in New Jersey have a few more options as of Monday — more than 6,000, to be exact, in light of Amazon’s North American hiring expansion. 

The e-commerce company announced it’s adding 100,000 new full and part-time jobs across its operations in the United States and Canada, meaning sites in New Jersey will be adding 6,400 jobs.

“New ...

WASHINGTON — As part of a larger effort to reach underserved communities, the Internal Revenue Service is taking a number of aggressive steps to expand information and assistance available to taxpayers in additional languages, including providing the Form 1040 in Spanish for the first time.

In addition to being available in English and Spanish, the 2020 Form 1040 will also give taxpayers ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ – Many county residents in need of food assistance throughout the pandemic have turned to the Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services (MCFOODS) for help, and now supplies are running low.

To help replenish the various food pantries it serves, Piscataway residents can make donations of non-perishable foods at MCFOODS’ Drive-by Food Drive ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ – In solemn remembrance of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a day now forever known as 9/11, members of the Piscataway Elks gathered with township officials and guests in front of Lodge # 2414 with their annual tribute to the thousands of lives that were lost, and to the heroes who rushed in to help.

“As we know, freedom is the cornerstone of the American ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - The East Brunswick Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a blood and platelet drive at the Brunswick Square Mall on Thursday, September 17 from noon to 6:00 pm to address the need for blood services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All donors will receive a tee shirt and be entered into a raffle to win a $50.00 gift card. Platelet donors will be given a $10.00 Shop Rite gift ...

FAIRFIELD, NJ -- Allison Kulesza, General Manager of Car Lofts in Fairfield, spoke with TAPintoTV’s Executive Producer, Brian Brodeur about the facility's unique offerings for car enthusiasts and how the business has managed and pivoted during the pandemic. 

Car Lofts is a vehicle storage facility with a private social club for car enthusiasts, along with rental venues ...

LITTLE FALLS, NJ -- Harry Legg, Founder of New Jersey Tai Chi, joined Brian Brodeur, TAPintoTV Executive Producer, at East Main Media Studios to discuss and demystify the practice of tai chi, while also demonstrating some of the martial art’s moves in the studio. 

“Most people may not realize tai chi is a deadly martial art,” said Legg, “but you might wonder how ...

AUGUSTA, GA -- Corey Washington, educator and author of Jimi Hendrix: Black Legacy (A Dream Deferred), recently appeared on TAPintoTV, speaking with Executive Producer Brian Brodeur about his book, as well as the life and music of Jimi Hendrix, who passed away 50 years ago today.

Brodeur and Washington spoke via video conference from East Main Media’s studio in Little Falls, NJ, which ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ — It was all about showing our favorite canine companions lots of love Wednesday on National Dog Day.

Founded in 2004 by pet advocate Colleen Paige, every Aug. 26 National Dog Day celebrates all breeds and encourages adoption.

In honor of the 2020 National Dog Day, readers were invited to share an adorable, funny, or charming photo of their furry ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ — Piscataway loves their dogs, and it shows! 

National Dog Day is August 26, a day celebrated each year to bring attention to the plight of animals and to encourage adoption.

“National Dog Day celebrates all dogs, mixed breed and pure,” according to the website, Nationaldogday.com. 

“Our mission is to help galvanize the public to ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - Chef Ravi has combined some delicious ingredients to make an autumnal feast of well-seasoned salmon and rice.  A soothing, slow recipe for some comfort food. Try something new!

Those that sold to supermarkets fared better than those that relied on restaurants and schools

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

Third-generation farmer Eric Hensel says in March he took what he was growing in his ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - Indian saag is a curry of cooked mustard or similar 'bitter' greens (kale, collards, turnip greens), and spinach or similar mild greens (chard, bok choy, beet greens). Any combination of greens works. Use more spices and peppers for hot saag, or less for mild in this tempting recipe from our own Chef Ravi.

LONG BEACH ISLAND REGION — The New Jersey summer flounder season ends today, September 19, and with northeast winds gusting to 30-knots and seas of 5-6-feet, few, if any, boats fished on the final day.

Now that the fluke season is over, it is time to look to the fall and begin seeing what other fish are available. Many anglers are already getting their gear ready for the fall run.

BELMAR, NJ — Belmar raked in more than $4.9 million in beach access revenues this season — selling nearly 105,000 more beach badges over the previous year.

While revenues reflected a nearly 39 percent increase over 2019 total sales of nearly $3.56 million, there was a 35 percent increase in the total number of badges sold — 405,104 seasonal, daily and senior/disability tags, ...

NEW JERSEY - West Virginia has been added and Ohio and Maryland have been re-added to New Jersey's travel advisory list, announced Governor Murphy.  Governor Murphy announced the added and re-added states during the Tuesday September 8 press conference.

Travelers who are coming from the following states and territories are being asked to self quarantine for 14 days: AL, AK, AR, ...

Piscataway, NJ —  Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died at age 87 from complications of pancreatic cancer.

We are sharing this article from The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday of “complications of metastatic pancreas cancer,” the Supreme Court announced.

“Our nation has lost a jurist of historic ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ — Piscataway police reported that several coyotes were seen in Green Acres Park on Monday.

The coyotes that were spotted were an adult and two juveniles, said officials on the township’s Facebook page.

Township officials said coyotes have been spotted in Green Acres Park in the past as well as in the Livingston Campus’ Rutgers Preserve and nearby, along ...

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ - Jim Peck, an amateur astronomer since he first saw the Russian satellite Sputnik I in the night sky as a child, will present a virtual program, “The Sky by Day and by Night: An Introduction to the Heavens,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7.

The program is part of the Option Green lecture series sponsored by the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental ...

FREEHOLD, NJ — East Freehold was the center of a 3.1 magnitude earthquake early this morning that could be felt throughout Central Jersey, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake struck at about 2 a.m. on September 9, triggering an influx of nearly 6,000 reports from people who felt the rumbling in at least seven counties in New Jersey, including Middlesex County. There were ...

Cooler temperatures and warm soil make fall a great time to add trees to your landscape. Make the most of this investment of money and time and give your tree its best chance at survival with proper planting and care.

Select a tree suited to the growing conditions, your landscape design and available space. Make sure it tolerates the sunlight, soil and temperature extremes. Check the tag for ...

Whether it is the hot weather, the age of your landscape or simply the need for change; a late summer makeover can help you increase your landscape’s beauty. Put the “wow” back into your garden with a few new plantings, garden art, or other simple improvements.

Many established landscapes have a few or many overgrown plants. Sometimes the plants you purchase perform better ...

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – Under a new state law, registered Piscataway voters will soon receive their Vote-By-Mail ballots for November’s general election, an option many are expected to take with the limited numbers of in-person polling locations that will open on Election Day. Now a state law, voters have the option of mailing back their forms or depositing them in a secure drop ...

NEW JERSEY — Less than two months from Election Day, Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday said a new website will allow New Jersey residents to register to vote and track their mail-in ballot all while on the go or from the comfort of their home.

“This online form is safe and secure, and can be accessed anywhere – whether from a library computer or your smartphone,” Gov. Phil ...

The Jewish community will celebrate the Jewish New Year, beginning at sunset on Friday, September 18.

Happy New year!

Long-term slowdown in land development could be derailed by exodus to suburbs

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

New data confirms that New Jersey has recently been using a lot less land for new development than it did 20 ...