High-Profile Defense Attorney Found Guilty of Murder, Witness Tampering

Paul Bergrin, a Newark defense attorney who prosecutors say urged the 2004 murder of a witness against one of his clients, was convicted on 23 criminal counts, according to a report in the Star Ledger.

Local Soldier Wounded in Afghanistan Dies

U.S. Army Specialist Derek McConnell, who lived in Parsippany, died Monday, according to posts by his mother and fiance on the Facebook page “Team Derek.”  McConnell grew up in West Essex, where this week the community remembered him as an "American hero."

Parents Allege Cherry Hill Teacher Bullies, Harasses Students

An English teacher’s allegedly racially inappropriate comments, discrimination and bullying led a group of a half-dozen Cherry Hill East parents to take their case before the school board.

Perth Amboy Substitute Teacher Charged with Student Sex Assault

A substitute teacher at Perth Amboy High School is being held on $100,000 bail after being charged with the repeated sexual assault of a female student, according to a statement by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Hoboken Man Arrested for False Bomb Threat at Newark Airport

A 35-year-old Hoboken man was arrested on Sunday morning for allegedly making a false bomb threat at Newark Liberty International Airport, the Star-Ledger reported.

Prison Guard Posed as Cop, Coerced Sex from Prostitutes, NJ AG Alleges

A New Jersey corrections officer allegedly coerced prostitutes into having sex with him at several Burlington County spots by identifying himself as a police officer.

Former Hoboken IT Official Pleads Guilty to Intercepting Mayor's Emails

Former IT official Patrick Ricciardi pleaded guilty to intercepting emails meant for the mayor of Hoboken and top city officials and passing some of those communications on to other officials, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

Driver Killed in Parkway Crash Was Heroic 9/11 Port Authority Cop

Lt. Kevin Murphy of Hazlet, who died in a Sunday night crash near the Woodbridge exit of the Garden State Parkway, was a decorated police officer and Special Olympics organizer.

'Scary, Graphic' Text Message Circulates at Ridgewood Elementary School

A chain mail message is "spreading like wildfire" among fifth graders at a Ridgewood elementary school, prompting the principal to ask parents to talk to their children about social media.

Trial to Begin in Teaneck Rabbi Sex Abuse Case

Prosecutors plan to fly two Israeli boys to the United States to testify in the trial of a Teaneck rabbi who allegedly molested the teens while they stayed with him during a scholarship program, northjersey.com reported. 

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

With another winter blast zeroing in on the Garden State starting late tonight (Sunday), NJ TRANSIT operations, customer service and police personnel are again taking steps to minimize delays and ensure service reliability and safety.  All customers are strongly advised to check njtransit.com before traveling for up-to-the-minute service information before starting their trip.

To offer customers additional travel options during the expected inclement weather conditions, NJ TRANSIT will offer full system wide cross-honoring on Monday, March 25, enabling NJ TRANSIT customers to reach their final ticketed destination through an alternate travel mode—rail, light rail, as well as on both NJ TRANSIT bus and private bus carriers.   

Customers who normally take the bus from Rutherford to the Port Authority Bus Terminal may use their ticketed bus pass on the train from Rutherford to New York Penn Station. Customers who normally take the bus between Atlantic City and Lindenwold may use their ticketed bus pass on the train instead. Customers using their tickets or passes to travel to a destination other than the destination printed on their original ticket will be subject to the appropriate additional fare if applicable.

NJ TRANSIT is preparing to minimize disruptions and delays to the extent possible, particularly in light of the potential for icy conditions and heavy, wet snow, which are both expected across portions of the Garden State.  Locomotives will be strategically positioned across the rail system to rapidly respond in the event of a disabled train. 

Additionally, the agency will closely monitor the crowds at New York Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal and the Port Authority Bus Terminal and make adjustments to service as necessary. 
Customers are advised of the following: 

• Systemwide:  NJ TRANSIT plans to operate a regular weekday schedule Monday, March 25.  Depending on the impact of the storm, it may be necessary for NJ TRANSIT to modify service as conditions change. 
• Bus Service:  While every effort will be made to continue operating bus service throughout the state, customers may experience delays or detours on their routes in the event of extreme winter weather conditions.  Customers are advised to plan accordingly and anticipate disruptions to bus service.

Travel Advice:

• For the latest travel information, visit njtransit.com or access its Twitter feed at @NJ_TRANSIT prior to starting your trip.  In the event of delays or service adjustments, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My Transit alert system, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone, PDA or pager.  (If you are not yet a My Transit subscriber, we encourage you to sign up at www.njtransit.com/mytransit)  Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555 or from broadcast traffic reports.  
• Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late breaking service information.
• Build additional travel time into your trip to a station, terminal or bus stop.
• Stairs, flooring and platforms can be slippery, so please use caution when walking along wet surfaces or any outdoor surface exposed to the weather. Use extra care when boarding or exiting buses and trains.
• Report slippery or unsafe conditions to bus operators, train crews or NJ TRANSIT staff.  
• If you park, ensure your car is stocked with a snow brush and ice scraper so you can clear your car upon returning to the lot. 

NJ TRANSIT is well prepared to handle the impending winter weather:  

• Snow plows and salt spreaders are ready for service and snow-removal contracts are in place with outside vendors.
• NJ TRANSIT is well-stocked with 16,000 bags of snow-melting supplies, and hundreds of shovels and snow blowers.
• NJ TRANSIT has performed maintenance and testing on its two rail-mounted jet snow blowers in the event they are needed to help clear train tracks of snow and ice, particularly in rail yards.
• More than 750 rail switches, switch heaters and overhead wires were inspected as part of NJ TRANSIT’s preventative maintenance program.
• Onboard heating systems, thermostats, weather stripping and electronic components have been inspected on NJ TRANSIT rail cars, light rail cars and locomotives.
• Bus maintenance personnel have inspected and performed necessary maintenance on a fleet of nearly 2,200 buses - from the heating and airbrake systems, to the engine fluids, tires, windshield wipers and doors.

Ross Street Elementary School #11 received the SupportMusic Merit Award from the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The school was one of 66 schools across the country to receive the prestigious award this year. 

The SupportMusic Merit Award is awarded to individual schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

"This award is representative of the dedication of our students, and the support of our families and community. We could not be more proud to be a part of this music program," said Benjamin Barbato, who teaches instrumental music, and Mark Filoramo, a vocal music teacher.

To qualify for the SupportMusic Merit Award, teachers at Ross Street answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.

"Receiving this prestigious award is a reflection of our school community's motto, 'Our Path To Success Begins Today.' As an individual who has had a passion for the arts, it is my firm belief that music education is an integral component to our students' academic success," said Kimberly Hahn, the school's principal.

The NAMM Foundation’s SupportMusic Merit Award brings attention to the importance of keeping music education part of school’s core education for all students and music’s vital role in student’s success in school.

The SupportMusic Merit Award is an important part of the NAMM Foundation’s efforts to advocate for school-based music education. Numerous studies have demonstrated that learning to play music can boost other academic and social skills, such as math and learning to cooperate in a group.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Spring is here, but obviously no one told the weatherman.

Central New Jersey, including the Woodbridge area, is under a winter weather advisory for today, into Monday night. 

The National Weather Service (NWS) said that the area may get up to 4 inches of snow before the downfall is over.

Light snow is expected to spread over the region from the south. Snow is forecast to continue through the day, while mixing with rain during the afternoon. Precipitation is expected to move off the coast later this evening.

The snow and slush may lead to slippery conditions, the weather service said.

Temperatures during the day should remain in the mid-30s.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

The Woodbridge Flood Zone group, which has caused a stir with a march and presence at last week's council meeting, will be holding a meeting tonight at the First Presbyterian Church in Woodbridge.

Mayor John McCormac and members of the town council are slated to attend.

The meeting will begin with a planning session at 7:30 pm, followed by the regular meeting at 8 pm.

The community group is comprised of township residents affected by Hurricane Sandy and other flooding events, and who are ready to do work towards real change.

Township residents who have experienced flooding issues are welcome to attend the meeting.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

There's a free Reiki session tonight at Comfort & Balance in Sewaren.

So what's Reiki, you ask? As it's described on their website: "[Reiki is] used to alleviate physical, mental, emotional and spiritual imbalances which the body is now experiencing as disease."

It's claimed that Reiki can help with a whole host of ailments, including anxiety, stress, all kinds of pain, depression, insomnia, and even weight loss. It's also said that Reiki is "used and prescribed in hospitals and clinical settings and is recognized by the NIH [National Institute of Health] as a CAM (Complimentary Alternative Medicine)."

So can't hurt, might help - what've you got to lose?

The session starts at 8 pm, with a check-in at 7:45 pm. No reservations are required. 

The session is free, but donations to a changing charitable endeavor each month are encouraged. This month, all donations will go to Parents of Autistic Children (poac.net). 

For more information, call 732-750-8767. Comfort & Balance is located at 83 Woodbridge Avenue in Sewaren.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Municipalities say they are frozen in place when it comes to affordable housing.

With the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) in limbo because of litigation before the state Supreme Court, including a challenge to the governor’s attempt to eliminate the agency, towns say they are left without direction. They're afraid to act on plans to spend money designed to help fix the problem. They fear that if they act, they could be penalized later; but they also fear that, if they fail to act, they will lose the money.

And the loser in all of this, housing advocates say, are the thousands of low- and moderate-income New Jerseyans who are left without access to affordable places to live.

“There are fears from towns that, if they go ahead and spend the money on things everyone agrees is legitimate, then COAH can come and ask for the money back later,” said Kevin Walsh, associate director for the Fair Share Housing Center, an advocacy group in Cherry Hill.

COAH was disbanded by Gov. Chris Christie in July 2011 by executive order. Housing advocates sued and the appellate court ordered that the governor reinstate the housing council on the grounds that it could not be eliminated by executive order. The matter is now before the state Supreme Court, one of two cases concerning COAH. The council has not met since March 22, 2011, and currently has six active members, according to the Department of Community Affairs.

Use It or Lose It

As the battle over COAH has worked its way to the Supreme Court, the Christie administration invoked a provision of Assembly bill A-500, which had been signed into law in July 2008 by then-Gov. Jon Corzine. The legislation reformed the state’s affordable housing rules and required that local trust fund money be spent within four years of it being collected.

In June 2012, the DCA sent letters to municipalities ordering them to remit the money to the state. Towns and housing advocates objected, saying COAH had not promulgated the necessary regulations to govern local trust funds.

A total of about $141 million was to be returned to the state and, while the law called for it to be placed in the state affordable housing trust fund, the Christie administration earmarked it as revenue in the 2012-2013 state budget.

An appellate panel issued an injunction in August, pending resolution of COAH’s status by the Supreme Court.

State officials, however, say COAH and the DCA are reviewing plans and that towns can spend trust fund money. The state is still seeking court-approval to force towns to forfeit unspent trust fund balances.

“Spending plans have been and continue to be reviewed for approval in accordance with the Fair Housing Act, and applicable regulations,” DCA spokeswoman Tammori Petty said in an email.

The War of Words

The Fair Share Housing Center says A-500 required that COAH craft new rules to govern the trust funds. In an opinion piece for Rooflines Magazine, published by the nonprofit community planning group Shelterforce, the FSHC said that the bill’s “language on commitment conflicted with COAH’s existing regulations and because the phrase ‘commit to expend’ was not defined.” COAH, however, “didn't clarify, and has refused to provide any determination either through regulation or in individual cases of what ‘committed’ means.”

Walsh said COAH is the only agency with authority to write rules for the trust funds, and it is the only agency with the authority to approve individual trust-fund plans. That leaves municipalities in limbo, he said.

“There is no guidance coming from COAH as to what it constitutes a ‘commitment to expend,’” Walsh said.

Michael Cerra, senior legislative analyst for the state League of Municipalities, agrees. He said the attempt by the governor to seize the trust funds and use them in the general budget violates the reasons they were authorized in the first place.

“We want to see towns be able to comply with the law,” he said. “Those trust funds -- these are not state dollars. They are dollars collected locally to help subsidize housing.”

Frank Gambatese, mayor of South Brunswick, said the Middlesex County town has accelerated its use of the trust fund money because it fears the state will seize the money.

“We’re trying like mad to provide as much housing as we can,” he said. “We’re saying, ‘when are they going to grab that money?’ We want to do it as carefully as we can, but it makes it difficult when you put on that kind of pressure.”

He called the attempt to seize the money and COAH’s status “unconscionable.”

“We believe in affordable housing,” Gambatese said. “We were among the first towns to submit a plan for the third round even though we didn’t agree with the numbers and we are proceeding as though we are trying to meet the third-round obligation.”

The township’s third-round plan, like most in the state, has not received certification. But the township has been moving forward. During the first two rounds, it had built 669 affordable units out of a total obligation of 1,331 and created what housing advocates say is an aggressive “buy-down, write-down” plan.

A Key Component

Gambatese said the trust fund is a key component of the township’s approach to affordable housing. The township has been using its trust fund money as part of buy-down program, in which it purchases existing housing throughout the township for up to $250,000, deed-restricts them for affordable housing, and then sells them to low- and moderate-income buyers for about $100,000. The township has bought 18 houses, so far, he said, with a goal of buying 42. The money also is used to repair and upgrade existing affordable housing, he said.

In addition, the township is looking at property that can be purchased using trust fund money and turned over to a local nonprofit, the South Brunswick Community Development Corporation. SBCDC, which runs two other complexes for low-income seniors and disabled residents in the township, would then apply for funding from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“We were more than careful in past, because we didn’t want to just spend the trust fund down,” he said. “We wanted to make sure the money had a good purpose.”

Other towns are facing similar quandaries. Burlington Township, for instance, has been using its trust fund money to extend the deed restrictions on its affordable units. Burlington Mayor Brian Carlin joined Gambatese and Mayor William Kochersperger of Pemberton Borough in August in testifying before the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee. Other towns are using the money to buy land and build housing.

Towns still have access to their trust funds, Cerra said, but the funds’ questionable status and the questionable status of COAH more generally is making it more difficult for towns to address housing needs.

“There are a whole host of Bergen County towns that have United Way projects that are kind of in the pipeline and they are not sure if they are going to be able to finish them,” Cerra said. While COAH’s future is unclear, he added, the board “could be acting on spending plans.”

Continue reading on NJSpotlight.com.

NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical insight to New Jersey’s communities and businesses. It is non-partisan, independent, policy-centered and community-minded.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Easter's right around the corner - and so is the Avenel-Colonia First Aid Squad's annual flower sale.

Proceeds from the sale help support the work of the squad. A wide variety of flowers and plants as well as cemetery pieces will be available.

Hours for the sale are:

• Friday, March 29th, from Noon to 8 pm;
• Saturday, March 30th, from 8 am to 8 pm;
• Easter Sunday, March 31st, from 8 am to Noon

The flower sale will be held at the squad building at 105 Avenel Street in Avenel. For more information, call 732-636-4640.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

It's budget time again, and the Woodbridge Board of Education will be meeting Tuesday night to pass the 2013-14 annual school budget.

The board will meet to formerly adopt a budget of $206.7 million, of which $162.6 million will be raised via the local property tax levy.

An interesting addendum to the BOE agenda is the travel budget. 

The board is moving to reduce its travel and expense budget. It had budgeted a maximum of $36,500 for the expenditures in the 2012-13 school year, but only spent $5,125.

If the resolution succeeds, the board will reduce its appropriation for travel and other such expenses to $11,500 for the new school year.

The maximum reimbursement, according to the resolution, will be:

• Board Members, $7,000
• Superintendent, $1,000
• Board Office, $1,000
• Administrators (other than the superintendent or business administrator), $2,500

The board meeting will be at 7 pm at Avenel Middle School.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Members of the John F. Kennedy High School Eco-Friendly Club don't take 'no' for an answer - and the rest of the township may benefit from their stubbornness.

In the school's newsletter, they relate a litter blight at the intersection of Green Street and Route 27 in the Iselin section of Woodbridge. Club members had wanted to organize a cleanup of the median strip near the railroad and busy roadway, about a half-mile stretch of roadway near the Parkway South Exit 131.

The club's goal was "to give visitors of Woodbridge Township who arrive via Exit 131 on the GSP a better impression of what the town has to offer," they said in the newsletter.

Students were told by the township that the property belongs to NJ Transit, and because of the proximity to Route 27 and the railroad tracks, it wouldn't be safe for the students to organize a cleanup effort.

Instead of giving up, the Eco-Friendly Club students took to the Internet.

Club Vice President Ileana Race wrote up a petition on change.org, asking NJ Transit to clean up the littered mess near the exit. 

In a few weeks, they've gathered 379 signatures, including one from Woodbridge Councilman Kyle Anderson.

"I am a township resident for many years. My mom still lives in the Iselin section and this area is the entrance to our town and it is a terrible site for residents and visitors," Anderson wrote. "Please help."

Woodbridge residents who'd like to add their signature to the petition can go to the change.org website at this link.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Governor Chris Christie told his NJ 101.5 listening audience he'll be chaperoning the Prince of Wales when he visits the Jersey Shore in May.

“I am going to be spending the entire day with Prince Harry,” the governor said.

The prince's exploits in Las Vegas became tabloid fodder and the "Ask the Governor" radio show asked how to prevent some bad press during his trip to New Jersey.

"I'm thrilled that he's willing to come, he wants to come and see the destruction for himself firsthand," Christie told NJ 101.5, "and he wants to be helpful."

Prince Harry will be visiting the United States May 9-15 to visit survivors of Superstorm Sandy and to promote charities he supports that help injured service men and women in the United States and the UK.

In addition to New Jersey, the Prince will visit New York City, Connecticut, Colorado and Washington, DC.

— Contributed by Patch blogger ArtGallagher

The Christie administration has taken another step toward supporting new statewide elevation standards based on Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps.

On Monday, the administration filed with the Office of Administrative Law an adoption package supporting the standards. The action comes nearly a week after Christie predicted FEMA will scale back tough new flood maps it issued last December.

Those maps place a large amount of properties in flood zones, and require many structures to be elevated if their owners don't want to see flood insurance rates spike.

The initial FEMA flood maps, which could create thousands more in insurance premiums and have residents raising their houses feet off the ground, are "too aggressive," said Gov. Christie at a Thursday town hall meeting in Manasquan.

When asked to explain the possible discrepancy, a Christie spokesman said he would review the matter and get back to Patch.

The Christie's action on Monday provides clear direction for residents as they rebuild from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Those maps, updated in New Jersey’s coastal counties for the first time in more than two decades, are based on the best available data to best protect lives and property from the most severe storm surges, according to a DEP release.

The elevations are on average 2 to 4 feet higher than standards that had been in effect under the significantly outdated FEMA flood maps.

DEP Commissioner Bob Martin stressed that setting new elevation standards now will protect property and lives in future storms and help residents avoid the shock of significant flood insurance premiums when FEMA formally adopts new federal guidance for flood insurance.

“We must never allow ourselves to forget the scope of destruction from Sandy,” Commissioner Martin said. “It is absolutely critical that we rebuild stronger and more resilient in the aftermath of this historic storm.

Last week, Christie addressed a packed crowd of officials and residents in the Hurricane Sandy damaged town of Manasquan, and returned to the complicated and controversial topic of what would happen with flood maps and how to rebuild the Jersey Shore.

"This initial map has been too aggressive," said Christie, referring to areas of land and the suggested heights property in those zones would be raised.

Christie's town hall event filled Manasquan High School, as the governor pushed for the adoption of "fair" base flood elevation maps in place of those adopted this winter.

As many towns and freeholders contest FEMA's currentmaps, the governor opened the town hall with comments on the push to create a safer New Jersey, one where waterfront communities wouldn't face catastrophic damage like that seen after Hurricane Sandy.

"We'll have a continued fight to get the fairest flood maps in place," Christie said.

It's spring - get set for new shopping experiences at Menlo Park Mall

Three new stores are set to open this spring at the Edison-based shopping center:

• Call it Spring, a seller of footwear and accessories for shoe-lovers who like to sport the latest, up-to-the-minute trends and experiment with style. The new store will have its home in the Macy’s wing.
• L’Occitane, a specialty boutique offering organic natural beauty products originating in the south of France. It will open on the Upper Level in Center Court.
• Ruby Thai Kitchen, a quick-service, Thai fast-food concept, will move into the Food Court on the Upper Level. Its menu includes an assortment of vegetable dishes, dumpling samplers, duck, chicken and beef delights.

The stores join several others that opened in the past few months - Beauty Salon Plus and Mr. Waffle.

Located on the Upper Level in the Macy’s wing, new arrival Beauty Plus Salon offers a wide selection of professional beauty products and salon services at discounted prices. Mr. Waffle, the latest addition to the Food Court, will appeal to shoppers who enjoy breakfast or a special treat anytime of the day or evening, with offerings that include fresh-made crepes and Belgian waffles as well as frozen yogurt with assorted toppings.

“We’re thrilled to add this impressive slate of new stores and eateries to our current lineup of fine retailers,” said Suzy Lichter, area director of marketing for Menlo Park Mall.

“Shoppers will find new options in shoes and accessories, beauty products and services, menswear, dining options and much more. We invite them to visit our new retailers and believe they will like what they see.”

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Hess Oil's announcement that it was divesting itself of its retail gas operations and convenience stores to focus on oil exploration and development hasn't satisfied one investor. 

Elliot Managment Corporation, which controls 4.4 percent of Hess stock, is fighting a battle to put five members on Hess's board and split the pared-down oil company into two separate firms, the Wall Street Journal reported.

John Hess, whose father founded the company, controls 10.6 percent of the firm's shares and is fighting back. 

Elliot, a hedge fund managing firm, charges that too many members of Hess' board of directors have ties to the family, the Wall Street Journal said. They report the company has lost 47 percent of its value since its high in 2008.

The battle for the board will take place on May 16 at the firm's annual meeting in Houston.

Hess rid itself of its oil refining operation in the Port Reading section of Woodbridge, which closed at the end February. They announced that they'd be looking to sell off their 1,350 retail gasoline operations and convenience stores - many owned by Hess itself - that operate in 18 states on the Eastern Seaboard earlier this month.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsle

Brick Township's former business administrator, Scott MacFadden, has been indicted for violating state pay-to-play laws in his role as chief administrative officer of Birdsall Services Group, a Monmouth County-based engineering firm.

Birdsall has been under investigation for skirting the state's pay-to-play laws by allegedly reimbursing its employees for their personal, unreportable political contributions.

The firm has engineering contracts with a host of Shore area communities, including Brick.

MacFadden, 58, a township resident, is accused of making at least $77,957 in such illegally reimbursed contributions, a statement from state Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said Tuesday.

He is being represented by Brick-based attorney William P. Cunningham, the statement said.

MacFadden was hired as assistant business administrator in Brick in 1985 and served as business administrator from 1989 through 2006.

Several other executives at the engineering firm were also indicted, including former CEO Howard C. Birdsall, 69, of Brielle. Birdsall resigned as CEO last year.

In the scheme, instead of the company making corporate political contributions to campaigns and political organizations that would disqualify it from public contracts awarded by certain government agencies, shareholders and employees of the firm allegedly made personal political contributions of $300 or less, which are deemed unreportable, according to the attorney general's office.

Under state law, personal political contributions under $300 do not have to be reported to the state Election Law Enforcement Commission.

The state's Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau on Tuesday obtained a nine-count state grand jury indictment charging Birdsall Services Group, which is headquartered in Eatontown, and several employees and shareholders, including:

• Howard C. Birdsall, 69, of Brielle, the largest shareholder of Birdsall, who retired late last year as CEO.  He allegedly made at least $49,808 in illegally reimbursed political contributions.

• Thomas Rospos, 61, of Belmar, a former Executive Vice President of Birdsall.  Rospos was charged in a prior indictment in the case, but this indictment supersedes the earlier one.  He allegedly made at least $241,000 in illegally reimbursed political contributions.

• William Birdsall, 64, of Manchester, Howard’s brother.  He holds the title of Senior Vice President and is a significant shareholder of the firm.  He is semi-retired.  He allegedly made at least $74,459 in illegally reimbursed political contributions.

• Alan Hilla Sr., 73, of Brielle.  He is Executive Vice President for Business Development for Birdsall and a significant shareholder of Birdsall.  He is also semi-retired.  He allegedly made at least $148,309 in illegally reimbursed political contributions.

• Scott MacFadden, 58, of Brick, Chief Administrative Officer of Birdsall.  He allegedly made at least $77,957 in illegally reimbursed political contributions.

• James Johnston, 51, of North Brunswick.  He is President of the Environmental Consulting Division of Birdsall and a significant shareholder.  He allegedly made at least $45,797 in illegally reimbursed political contributions.

• Robert Gerard, 52, of Wall.  He is the former Chief Marketing Officer of Birdsall and was formerly a significant shareholder.  He allegedly made at least $48,700 in illegally reimbursed political contributions.

Each of the defendants is charged with conspiracy, two counts of money laundering, making false representations for government contracts, misconduct by a corporate official, tampering with public records or information, falsifying records, prohibited corporation contributions through employees, and concealment or misrepresentation of contributions or expenditures.

The amounts listed for illegal contributions by the defendants are approximate figures based on the investigation to date, and the investigation is ongoing, the attoney general's office said. 

In a statement, Birdsall criticized the indictments.

"We find it regrettable that the State has made this decision after the company has voluntarily made sweeping changes to its leadership and internal processes over the past 10 months to ensure that such actions could never occur again," spokesman Joe Orlando said. "Birdsall Services Group will continue to serve its many clients in full compliance with the new standards it implemented along with its long history of professional competence."

The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Thomas W. Sumners Jr. in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Ocean County, where the defendants will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment on the charges.

If convicted, the defendants could face between 10 and 20 years in prison on each count of conspiracy and money laundering alone. The remaining charges all carry prison terms between three and ten years.

Altogether, each defendant could also face fines of more than $1.3 million.

Parents and kids will be lining up for Woodbridge's traditional Easter Festival. This year, it'll be held at the Parker Press Park on Rahway Avenue, next to Walgreens.

The festivities start at 10 am with an Easter Egg hunt that will run until noon.

An Easter Parade and pictures with the Easter Bunny - courtesy of Walgreens - will be held from 2 pm to 4 pm. 

Prizes will be given for best Easter outfits (bonnets are encouraged.) 

For more information, call the Woodbridge Recreation Department at 732-596-4048. For weather updates, call 732-602-6045.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Concerned that their voices are being ignored in Washington, D.C., New Jersey small-business owners and advocates spoke out yesterday against potential cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

The teleconference highlighted a white paper from the Main Street Alliance, which argued that even small cuts to the two programs could have disproportionately large effects on businesses still struggling to work their way out of the Great Recession.

“Even a 3 percent cut to Social Security and Medicare would mean an annual loss of more than $1 billion a year to New Jersey’s economy,” said Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-10th Dist.), who participated in the presentation.

The report’s release came in the wake of the budget cuts presented by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and adopted by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Participants acknowledged that is unlikely to become the nation’s spending plan.

But Corinne Horowitz of the New Jersey Main Street Alliance said her 1,300 small-business members also are worried about cuts or other changes sought by President Barack Obama as part of a so-called “grand bargain” with Republicans. They fear budget talks will continue with them still on the outside, she said.

“The small business voice is really important because we’re not hearing it in Washington, where corporate CEOs like the Business Roundtable,” whose members claim more than $7.3 trillion in annual revenues, “are the ones being listened to,” Horowitz said. "Maybe corporate CEOs don't need Society Security or Medicaid for their retirements, but small-business people rely on them."

According to the report, an analysis of U.S. Census data shows 36 percent of New Jersey small-business owners are 55 or older, she said. That is roughly on par with the nation average, which has an overall rate of one-third, she said.

So not only do employees rely on government programs, but many of the people who own and run these companies also need them to remain stable, according to participants.

“We’ve put all of our savings into our business,” said Chris Bobbins, owner of the South Orange Frame Shop. “If Congress cuts Social Security and Medicare, I don’t know how I’ll be able to afford to retire.”

Even under the current tax-supported system, those benefits can be sparse. The average benefit of a Social Security beneficiary in New Jersey is $14,451 a year, but two out of three senior citizen households rely on the program for a majority of their income, Horowitz said.

“We need people to have disposable income that they can depend upon because that means customers for our businesses,” said Geetha Jayamaran, who owns two Flemington firms, Grab Em Snacks and the Spoon & Sprout Café.

That only increases in an era when small business continue to find it difficult to get financing from banks or government programs, she said. She started the café two years as an ancillary venture to her successful line of plantain chips, Jayamaran said.

“We needed a commercial kitchen for the chips because we were leasing space and it was very cumbersome,” but when she found a location, it was larger than necessary, she said. The vegetarian café seemed like a natural and fun sideline, but the workload is mounting, she said.

“Because I can’t get funding, I can’t hire all the people I could use, so I end up doing more and more myself, which isn’t healthy,” Jayamaran said, adding that is also limiting export of her chips.

“All these issues are on our front burner at once… so we don’t need anything that will reduce spending by our customers,” she said.

Jayamaran is right to link those issues to Social Security and Medicaid, Horowitz said, citing a November report from the Congressional Budget Office, which found that each dollar spent on the two programs generates about $1.50 in consumer spending.

Asked for other budgetary solutions, the advocates and small-business people had a familiar list of alternative prescriptions: close tax loopholes, eliminate the “parking” of corporate funds in offshore accounts, and make sure big businesses and wealthy individuals pay their “fair share.”

That is not just rhetoric, said Ann Vardeman of New Jersey Citizen Action. She pointed to a report earlier this month from Citizens for Tax Justice that analyzed the offshore profit holdings of 92 major corporations.

Continue reading on NJSpotlight.com.

NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical insight to New Jersey’s communities and businesses. It is non-partisan, independent, policy-centered and community-minded.

The artwork of Woodbridge high school students will be showcased at an exhibit entitled "Student Works," to be shown at the Barron Arts Center.

The show will be on view starting April 1, and running through April 18, with a closing reception on the 18th from 7 pm to 9 pm.

“Student Works” challenges Woodbridge Township students from all three high schools to create a work of art that expresses their individual points of view. The exhibit will include work in 2D or 3D. All mediums of expression will be explored in the show.

The Barron Arts Center is located at 582 Rahway Avenue in Woodbridge.

Gallery hours are Monday thru Friday, from 11 am to 4pm; Saturday and Sunday, from 2 pm to 4 pm. 

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Seven current and former executives from Birdsall Engineering, a Monmouth County-based engineering firm, were indicted Tuesday on charges that they tried to circumvent the state's restrictions on campaign donations by reimbursing employees for donating to favored politicians.

The total amount of money spread around may be over $686,000. In response to the NJ Attorney's General's request, a Monmouth County judge Wednesday froze the bank accounts and other assets of the beleaguered Birdsall firm, northjersey.com reported.

But of all the details divulged by the ongoing investigation of the NJ Attorney General, the one thing they won't say is which politicians and campaigns were the beneficiaries of the illegal donations.

"We're not giving out that information," said AG spokesman Peter Aseltine. "They donated to many political campaigns around the state. We're not putting out a list of those organizations."

While Birdsall has done millions of dollars of business with municipalities around the state, perhaps no town has had as close or continuous a relationship with the company as Woodbridge Township.

Since January, the town council has approved several large contracts and change orders for Birdsall. And in February, Mayor John McCormac gave the welcoming remarks at a Birdsall event on FEMA flood mapping, held at the Woodbridge Hilton.

Just this year, the township has given Birdsall tens of thousands of dollars in contracts and change orders: 

• January 8, for professional services for an Assessment of Marine Structures at the Municipal Marina, in an amount not to exceed $1,200;
• January 8, Change Order #1 for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Consulting in the amount of $80,109, increasing the contract amount of $305,889 to a total of $385,995;
• January 8, Change Order #1 for environmental consulting services for the dirt contamination at Highland Grove Pool in the amount of $15,000, increasing the contract amount of $15,000 to a total of $30,000;
• February 5, for professional environmental engineering consulting services for the dirt contamination at Highland Grove Pool, Phase II, in an amount not to exceed $20,000;
• February 19, for professional engineering services for post Hurricane Sandy roof damage assessment and repair for the Woodbridge Township Community Center, in an amount not to exceed $17,300.

Birdsall was also the engineering firm and contractor on the town's solar projects on various buildings. Scott McFadden, one of the indicted executives of the company, gave a presentation in 2010 to the council on how the solar panel projects were cost effective.

They were also given a contract last October for $15,320 to manage the township's solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) as the bottom was falling out of the SREC market.

The sale of SRECs was predicted to pay for the cost of the solar panel installation, before the SREC market was flooded and dropped to an all time low by December.

There is no indication what the township will do now that Birdsall's top management is facing major legal woes. McCormac's office did not return calls for comment.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

Ever had a hankering to be a college professor? Here's your chance to dip your toe into the pond at Middlesex County College and put that master's degree to good use.

The school will hold an Adjunct Faculty Recruitment Fair on Wednesday, April 23, from 4 to 7 pm in the College Center Cafeteria. Prospective adjunct instructors can talk with department chairpersons about the array of openings.

The range of courses for which they are seeking teachers is huge - everything from American History and Ancient Egyptian History to Political Science, languages, and all types of English classes on the liberal arts side, to accounting, business, food service

“This is a convenient way for professionals who would like to teach at the College level to find out about opportunities and even interview for available positions,” said Dr. Karen L. Hays, vice president for academic and student affairs at the College.

Most positions require a master’s degree, and some disciplines call for other certifications as well. In some fields, relevant experience may be substituted for a master’s degree; however, all college level courses require that the instructor have a minimum of a master’s degree.

Please download an application from the college’s website, www.middlesexcc.edu/hr, complete it, and bring several resumes and a copy of an unofficial transcript.

There are several high-demand areas in which a number of positions are open, such as Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination. There is a critical need for adjuncts able to teach during the day.

Also, given the academic preparation required for every major, there is a continuing need for instructors to teach reading, writing, and math courses at both the developmental and higher levels, as well as Psychology, Philosophy and Health.

Classes are offered during the day, evenings and on Saturday at the Edison campus and at the Centers in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy. Please see the website for a list of available courses.

For more details go to the Middlesex web page: www.middlesexcc.edu/hr or call 732-906-4688.

Middlesex County College is located at 2600 Woodbridge Avenue in Edison.

Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsle