We're Still LENDING
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Your Local Connection APRIL 22, 2010 SentineNORTH BRUNSWICK • SOUTH BRUNSWICK l gmnews.com sot N.B. educators agree to 1-year wage freeze Savings could mean positions, full-aay kindergarten saved if budget was approved BY JENNIFER AMATO Suff Writer Editor's note: The Sentinel's deadline occurred prior to the school budget vote on April 20. An article on the budget results will appear in next week's edition. ver 800 employees of the North Brunswick Township school district Owill accept a one-year wage freeze for the upcoming year, according to a tenta- tive three-year contract agreement reached early Friday morning. The $1.7 million in savings could trans- late into 40 positions being saved, includ- ing the restoration of full-day kindergarten, if the budget passed on Tuesday. However, if the budget failed, everything is put on hold. "I think it was good for our members and good for the BOE to see we are a big family, a big group that all wants the same thing," said Martha Landy, president of the North Brunswick Township Education As- sociation (NBTEA). "I'm happy from the standpoint that both sides can go back to focusing on what's im- portant: educational programming and the in- ERIC SUCAR staff tegrity of trying to provide the best education The Griggstown Lock dancers perform during Artrar Day activities held along the property of tlie Mapleton Preserve in Kingston on April 17. (Continued on page 33) N.B. employees facing layoffs, furlough days Task will be to maintain services will be affected across the board. This comes in addition to five layoffs at the with reduced work force beginning of the year. BY JENNIFER AMATO "Most towns had bigger layoffs last year, and we Staff Writer did our damnedest to hold off," Womack said. "We do need to continue to be responsible to taxpayers orth Brunswick Township is expected to have who believe the township has been operating with 19 layoffs and 26 furlough days imposed to more personnel than necessary." Ntry to save money. Furloughs would shut down the entire township Although no timetable has been set. Mayor Fran- on one day every other week, most likely a Monday cis "Mac" Womack said the state Department of Per- or Thursday, Womack said. Every employee except sonnel will be notified of the layoff decision this for sworn police officers would have to take off week to seek its approval. Although specific posi- tions are not known, Womack said every department (Continued on page 26) MAILING ADDRESS We're still LENDING PROVIDENT www.ProvidentNJ.com READY, WILLING & STAiLE! BANK 2 SENTINEL NS SAVE LOCALLY WITH ONLINE COUPONS • VISIT www.gmnews.com April 15, 2010 New Jersey's #1 Garden Centers QUALITY • SELECTION munc^r uwwwbno,^ ^MdrE.SHRUBS^^''' rr: moRE^EVERGREENSr^^ March 25, 2010 SAVH IXX'ALLY WITH ONLINE COUPONS • VISIT www.gmnews.com NS SENTINEL 3 ^.ftps^^^ ^ judd Elementary School creates Garden of Hope Six hundred pink tulips represent those affected by breast cancer BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer ^veryone at Judd Elementary School is tickled pink by the new garden planted Ei c utside the front entrance. Give peace a chance Kattiy Cave, director of elementary instruc- tion, and a committee of about 12 other staff Students of the Heera Art members planted 600 tulip bulbs in early No- Center display original artwork vember, which have now blossomed into full- in North Bruaswick. fledged flowers. Page 32 "Some of our committee members are gar- dening people, which is fab," Cave said. "It's a whole bit of science with planting these tulips." The Garden of Hope is representative of breast cancer, since the bulbs were provided by The Maine Cancer Foundation's Pink Tulip Project. The project was founded in 2006 by breast cancer survivor Robin Whitten as one PHOTO COURTESY OF KEUY KEWSBEER garden in Portland, Maine. Last year, $50,000 Judd Elementary School's Garden of Hope will honor anyone indirectly or directly affected by was raised, and this year 30,000 bulbs have breast cancer. About 600 bulbs were provided by the Pink Tulip Project. been reserved. Cave came across the project in a magazine a constant reminder of hope," Cave said. bulbs from the school to extend the idea and decided a garden could be symbolic at the The Pink Tulip Project does not ask for a throughout the town. school for anyone experiencing, directly or in- down payment, but instead has the organization Any funds the school raises over the $600 directly, the challenges of cancer. pledge an amount it believes members can pledge will go toward signage for the garden. "Cancer is so far-reaching. It goes deep," raise. Judd set its goal at $600, and thus far has "We want to label it so when the tulips are Cave said. "How nice to do a Garden of Hope held a jeans day and a hat sale to solicit funds. gone, there is still a label there," Cave said. What's happening that says, if you have it or are dealing with it, The committee will hold an ice cream social in "The committee hopes that the aesthetics of the we honor you." May — each department will bring in a topping project continue to grow." Check out Just Go to find out The flowers "are going to bloom and we and the committee will supply the ice cream. what plays, events and con- certs are taking place. going to be beautiful and are going to go away. In addition, Judd will ask the community at Contact Jennifer Amato But they are going to bloom again [and this] is large in the fall to join the project by purchasing at [email protected]. Page 31 Equal rights Linwood students sending care packages to Marine in Afghanistan North Brunswick holds second annual Disabilities signed, a card that the would be a way for Kosmo and his fellow Awareness Day. Cpl. John Kosmo was a Linwood school staff signed, and Marines to feel appreciated. Middle School student years ago photographs of eagles "I hope they have a good time with it and Page 28 the students colored in, enjoy what they get from us," Dar said, "and I BY JENNIFER AMATO a project they did on also hope they know that we support them and Staff Writer Afghanistan, former are supporting what they're doing." ixth-grade students at Linwood Middle teachers of Kosmo's Pa^ added, "I want them to feel thankful and QUOTE Of THE WEEK School will be sending care packages to and a group picture in coimected to home because there are a lot of front of the marquee things they might miss. like their pets or their "tf these responsible people can SCpl. John Kosmo, a North Brunswick make a mistake, you know your school district graduate who has been stationed outside of the school. family." children's friends can make that i in Afghanistan since January. "Students think, by Kosmo's mother, Sharon, said that "as a par- mistake." Linwood Principal Pete Clark asked social no fault of their own. ent of a Marine deployed in Afghanistan, you studies teacher Nancy Yauch if her students that North Brunswick cannot believe what a terrific feeling it is to see — Detective Ron Seaman is their world. I want the nice things people like Nancy have done for South Brunswick Police would be interested in writing to Kosmo. Since Page 12 her daughter Mallory knew Kosmo through them to know that [John]. ... I am so grateful to Mr. Clark fw pro- school, and since her nephews, Casey Lyon and there's more out there," moting the letter writing and the lovely message Cpl. John Kosmo Jesse Burke, of South Brunswick, are both Yauch said. "This is on the marquee." Marines, she decided that car-^ packages would more real. It's someone This was not the first project Yauch has held Classified 41 be a great addition to the letters that were sent a who walked through the halls they walk through, to teach her students about the military. Around Editorials 10 few months ago. or played on the fields they play on. It's more of Veterans Day she asked her smdents to write let- Entertainment 31 "Anything that's something from home a coimection to North Brunswick, so they can re- ters to soldiers she found online, and coordinated late to that." Obituaries 34 brings them back," Yauch said. "If they see any- a fundraiser in April 2007 that raised over $1,700 Student Mariam Dar decided to donate pret- to purchase Silly String cans used by the mili- Real Estate 37 thing from school, it would make a connection back home." zels, playing cards and gum. Student Josiah Park tary to detect trip wires. Sports 36 The entire sixth-grade class made donations, chose to send playing cards, newspaper comics "I'm just amazed at how amazing the stu- such as snacks, candy, drinks, gum, card games, and an issue of Time magazine. dents were, and they kept giving." said Yauch's magazines, comics, stuffed animals, lip balm, "I learned that there are a lot of things they fellow team teacher, Denise Petraco. "It started sport socks, baby wipes and Febreeze. North don't have ... that we have a lot of," Dar said, as extra credit, but then they were doing it to giiinews.coin Brunswick Cadette Troop No. 81388 donated with Park adding that there is a lack of air con- help someone in need." on the web Girl Scout cookies. ditioning, plumbing and electricity, and that The packages will also include a banner "learning is illegal so [some Afghan children] Contact Jennifer Amato at A Greater Media Newspaper made by a special education class that everyone have to do it in secret." jamato@gmne^\'S.