SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- Scotch Plains native Billy Wilkins is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter of indie, rock, and pop music. Growing up performing in New Jersey bars from a young age, Billy has carved out a living taking requests and playing them for fans on the Internet.

Which song has been most often requested? WonderWall by Oasis. In fact, the musician says fans have asked for it ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — When he signed up for a dating app, he had no idea it would lead to a date with reality television.

But Ahhre Maros’ foray into online dating soon led to him being on Lifetime’s “Five Guys A Week,” a show where five men vie for the affection of one woman over one week.

“I got an email from a casting company saying we hear you’re ...

FANWOOD, NJ -- The Fanwood Library reconstruction project takes a giant step forward in September with a planned move into temporary quarters at the historic Fanwood Train Station building on North Avenue. The Fanwood Museum will house scaled-down library services, while the current library building is demolished to make way for a brand new facility.

Earlier this year (April), ...

ELIZABETH, NJ — Workers with disabilities were disproportionately affected by the pandemic, losing thousands of jobs in the vulnerable service, production and transportation industries.

From March to April 2020, the number of employed working-age people with disabilities fell by 20% (950,000 people), while the number of employed working-age people without disabilities decreased ...

KEARNY, NJ — Construction of a new portal bridge that would expand rail travel between Newark and New York City moved one step closer to reality Monday when New Jersey officials and transit leaders broke ground on the new project.

Shovels in hand, Gov. Phil Murphy was joined by U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, and ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – Minuteman Press Westfield, owned and operated by father and son team Jim and Seamus Mooney, won the Top Marketing Award at the Minuteman Press International World Expo 2022. Bringing together Minuteman Press franchise owners with vendors, special guest speakers, and staff, the Minuteman Press World Expo was held at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, Texas, from July 27 ...

CLARK, NJ  – A Clark-based company has pledged its time, expertise, and resources to ‘answer the prayers’ of a fellow business struggling to keep its doors open.  

Last month, David McKenna, owner of Good Tidings, stepped up to help fellow Clark business owner Erika Dent after learning that she was considering closing Erika’s Cucina, the deli ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- The Township of Scotch Plains hosted its second annual DOGust event, which celebrated canines and promotes pet adoptions on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

The event at Jerseyland Park is a universal, three-hour birthday party for adopted & rescued dogs. 

UNION, NJ -- More than 2,500 students were named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List at Kean University. Selection to the Dean's List is based on successful completion of at least 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.45 or higher.

The following local students made the list:

Moustafa Amer of Scotch Plains is a junior majoring in Physical Education and Health - Teacher Education ...

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ -- Tufts University recently announced the Dean's List for the Spring 2022 semester. Dean's List honors at Tufts University requires a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater.

Among the local students earning dean's list honors are:

Seun Adekunle of Scotch Plains, Class of 2025;
Melanie Litwin of Scotch Plains, Class of 2023;
Briana ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ  -- Montclair State University congratulates the following undergraduate students from Scotch Plains and Fanwood who completed their academic degrees in May 2022.

Paige McKeown of Scotch Plains;
Anna Piekutowski of Scotch Plains;
Tristen DesRosiers of Scotch Plains;
Bryce Moore of Scotch Plains;
Gianna Strzalkowski of Scotch Plains;
Brogan Quigley of Scotch ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- Popular local catering company Savory Selections has opened in a new location at 1731 East Second Street in Scotch Plains. Owners Felton Jones and Jill Jackson Jones hosted a Saturday afternoon "pop-up" to celebrate the company's branching into retail. For those who stopped by, it was a just a taste of what is to come.

Jill Jackson Jones ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- First Option Juice Hub and Salad Bar (1832 E. 2nd Street, two doors down from CVS) has announced its weekly special for the week of Monday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Aug. 6.

Customers will get 15% off Green Modern Avocado Smoothies, when they mention TAPintoSPF.

First Option helps individuals achieve and sustain a healthy lifestyle while providing the ...

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new law Wednesday that extends outdoor dining in New Jersey until November 2024.

"There are restaurants and bars and growing numbers of breweries that are still relying on the outdoor dining spaces they were allowed to create to get themselves back financially to where they were pre-pandemic," Murphy said. "We want to see them ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- Scotch Plains police held a clap-out for retiring Lt. Luke Fugett upon completion of 25 years of service to the township. He officially retired August 1, and both on and off-duty officers from Scotch Plains and other local police agencies were on hand for his walk out and last radio broadcast.

Lt. Fugett was born and raised in Elizabeth -- Elizabeth, West Virginia, ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) on Monday, Aug. 15, will examine all aspects of the Scotch Plains Police Department's policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The Scotch Plains Police Department must comply with NJSACOP LEAP standards in order to achieve accredited ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- Scotch Plains police report that five cars in the township were broken into Friday during daytime hours in the areas of Hill Road, Shackamaxon Drive, and West Broad Street.

The police remind residents to be on alert and lock the doors of their motor vehicles and do not leave any keys or fobs in their cars. Call the police if you see anything ...

CLARK, NJ  – A Clark-based company has pledged its time, expertise, and resources to ‘answer the prayers’ of a fellow business struggling to keep its doors open.  

Last month, David McKenna, owner of Good Tidings, stepped up to help fellow Clark business owner Erika Dent after learning that she was considering closing Erika’s Cucina, the deli ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- Scotch Plains resident and Willow Grove pool member Kristina McKeon was recognized for her charitable efforts after raising $1,400 for the Valerie Fund. On July 29, 2022, McKeon presented her donation to Valerie Fund representative Leah Delpiano.

For what initially was as a simple lemonade stand, McKeon raised $358 and the amount she raised was matched by Willow Grove ...

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ -- Ron Shovlin and his family have long valued leveraging their business, Shovlin Mattress Factory, to support the community and causes they're passionate about. This year, he is honored to have been recognized during the 22nd Annual Golf & Luncheon at Shackamaxon Country Club in Scotch Plains and received the Play for P.I.N.K Humanitarian ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — When the director of the Westfield Regional Health Department updated the local Board of Health on monkeypox cases Monday, there were 13 confirmed and probable cases in Union County and 155 cases statewide.

By Wednesday, those numbers had risen to 14 cases in Union County and 175 across New Jersey with the majority clustered in northern counties, according to the state ...

Athlete spoke to young campers at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ -- Rutgers Diver Savana Trueb visited the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA's Splash Camp to discuss water safety with the Y's campers on Friday, July 22.

This summer, there have been over a dozen accidental drownings in New Jersey. In response, the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, Trueb, and ...

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ -- A voluntary conservation notice has been issued as of Wednesday, July 20, for New Jersey American Water customers in Fanwood and Scotch Plains to reduce water usage.  The water company urges residents to voluntarily limit all non-essential water use until further notice.

Water conservation is suggested in Clark, Cranford, Dunellen, Edison, ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- In a world of isolation, anonymity, and keyboard-warriors, Alpha offers content and guidance for churches, ministries, and individuals to create a space for honest and open conversations about life’s biggest questions. Everyone is welcome, and no questions are off limits.

Alpha is a place to connect with other people who are open to exploring life, faith, and ...

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ -- The JCC of Central New Jersey has three swim programs. The Barracudas Swim Team (ages 5 - 18) is the competitive team; the Mini-Barracudas (ages 5 - 8) introduces children to the swim team program, and the IntraCudas (ages 8 - 18) is the intramural program. The Barracudas are beginning their 22nd season competing in the New Jersey JCC-YMHA Swim League.

On ...

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ -- The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Baseball League (SPFBL) 11U Raider Select team won the 2022 New Providence Green League (NPGL) Summer League Championship. The team ended the season on a five-game winning streak.

Roster

Brayden Bates
Brendan Rabe
Cain Lambert
Charlie Dursee
Cooper Rekemeier
Dante Castronuovo
Dean Moloney
Griffin ...

BEDMINSTER, NJ -- 9/11 survivors and victim family members slammed former President Trump for hosting the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament at Trump's National Golf Course in Bedminster Friday morning. 

Members of the group 9/11 Justice put together the press conference outside the Clarence Dillon Library, a little more than two miles down the road from Trump National Golf Course ...

TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey's hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) are getting a big financial boost.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced Monday the programs, which help and support victims of violence, will receive $10 million in federal American Recovery Plan (ARP) funds.

“The Paterson Healing Collective is pleased to ...

TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey's State Parole Board is teaming up with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care to help offenders struggling with substance use disorder, both before and after their release.

"We're confident that this is something that could be life-changing to a lot of people," State Parole Board Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri, Jr. told TAPinto.

KEARNY, NJ — A project to replace the Portal North Bridge, which has been the cause of countless commuting nightmares for many over the years, is moving forward. When it's complete, rail delays due to marine traffic in the Hackensack River will be a thing of the past.

"Today, we take the next great step of putting shovels in the ground so that this bridge can finally become ...