News-pourri

A revised bill, co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Joseph Danielsen (D-17), designed to better prepare law enforcement agencies to handle racial, ethnic, religious and other diversities has been signed into law. Other co-sponsors of the bill, (A-1663), were Assembly Democrats Gary S. Schaer, Speaker Vincent Prieto, Shavonda Sumter and Gordon M. Johnson.

A township woman stopped by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick Aug. 5 for a reunion of sorts. Tamara D’Ambra, accompanied by her mother, husband and three children, wanted to say “thank you” to the hospital’s Mobile Health Services and medical staff who helped save her life in June. D’Ambra, 44, suffered a major heart attack at home …

A bill that aims to help prevent college student suicides was signed into law earlier this week. The bill, known as the “Madison Holleran Suicide Prevention Act,” was co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17), as well as Assembly members Joseph Lagana, Tom Goblin and Raj Mukherji.

By Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine. Crescendo.

Key people involved in the Class of 2016 graduation – the first one held at the current Franklin High School – were commended at the July 21 Board of Education meeting. “We thought it was important to recognize a few key individuals who made the graduation at Franklin High School possible,” said board president Ed Potosnak. “It was a fabulous …

A policy prohibiting discrimination against transgender students caused a minor controversy at the July 21 Board of Education meeting. Board member Pat Stanley failed to garner any support for her motion to table voting on the policy, a move she made after saying the board seemed in a rush to approve it.

By Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine. I will say, up front, that I may have broken the rules. It just seemed like a good idea at the time.

By Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine. As with most endeavors, the exciting and high intensity portions – the actual attendance at the Republic National Convention – is intense. The more mundane procedures, such as communications and logistics, are just as important.

A plan to build 34 townhomes on two Cedar Grove Lane lots will probably come before the Zoning Board of Adjustment sometime this fall, not that the board will have much choice in the matter. That’s because the board must approve the project’s site plan and grant whatever variance waivers it needs as the result of a 2013 lawsuit settlement.

By Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine. There is an air of exhilaration in the atmosphere at the Republican National Convention at “The Q,” even if attendees were supporting a different GOP candidate. Seeing delegates from all over America in one location is witnessing our democracy in motion.