An updated look at the Top 20 through March 7 games.

Adam Rarela, a Marlboro teen, was killed in the August crash

OLD BRIDGE -- A 29-year-old man has been indicted in the Route 9 crash last summer that left a Middlesex County teen dead, court records show. 

Anthony Depompa, of the Lawrence Harbor section of Old Bridge, faces a three-count indictment in the August crash. He was driving a small box truck when it crashed into the back of a dump truck on the northbound side of the highway, according to the indictment. 

Depompa was changing lanes at the time of the crash, according to mycentraljersey.com

Depompa was indicted Tuesday on charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and assault by auto, court records show.

Adam Rarela, a passenger in the truck, was killed in the crash, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said in a release.

Rarela was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:18 a.m., authorities said.

The 18-year-old resident from Marlboro had graduated from the township high school in the spring and preparing attending Kean University, according to his obituary.

Depompa and the driver of the dump truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Torrez was sentenced yesterday by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale in Jersey City.

JERSEY CITY -- A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the fatal shooting of a Carteret man found dead in a Jersey City basement.

Akeem Torrez pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in 2015 for his role in the May 12, 2013 death of Hikeem Neals, and was sentenced yesterday by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale in Jersey City.

On that night in 2013, police responded to a Kensington Avenue building on a report of shots being fired and found Neals in a basement apartment with a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said at the time.

Neals died after being shot through a window of the basement apartment. During Browning's trial, the prosecution alleged that Browning's cellphone activity ceased at the time of the shooting, while surveillance footage also showed two of Browning's accomplices breaking into a third accomplice's car -- which had two guns hidden under the hood.

Neals, who had a daughter, grew up in Jersey City and attended Hudson Catholic High School where he played football there three years, according to his obituary. He graduated from Dickinson High School in 2008 and he worked for Roto Clip, an auto manufacturer.

Chaos and anger flared in the courtroom when Torrez's codefendant, Keeshawn Browning, 24, of Jersey City, was found not guilty by a jury in June 2016.

Co-defendant Terrell Harris, 30, pleaded guilty to multiple gun charges and was sentenced to eight years in prison, while co-defendant Mark Felts, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and was sentenced to five years. Both are from Jersey City.

Torrez's sentencing closes the case. 

The body of a 19-year-old Old Bridge woman reported missing for nearly two months has been found.

Rachel Oakes, 19, of Old Bridge

OLD BRIDGE -- The body of a 19-year-old township woman missing for nearly two months has been found.

Rachel Oakes' body was recovered Sunday near the Raritan River in Edison, according to Jim O'Neill, spokesman for the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

He added that the family has been notified.

The cause of death has not yet been determined.

Oakes' boyfriend, Tyler Urbanski, previously said that he had received a call from authorities at around 3 a.m. on Jan. 10 after her car was discovered near the Driscoll Bridge, which carries Garden State Parkway traffic over the Raritan River.

Oakes was a former student of Old Bridge High School.

After Urbanski posted a message that Oakes' body had been found, many took to social media to express their condolences.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Councilwoman Sapana Shah wants the council to vote on declaring the township a "fair and welcoming community," a distinction a step shy of a "sanctuary city."

EDISON -- A councilwoman is urging the township to publicly stand behind and reassure its diverse population amidst the current political climate.

File Photo 

In a proposed resolution submitted to the administration Wednesday afternoon, Councilwoman Sapana Shah wants the council to vote on declaring the township a "fair and welcoming community," a distinction a step shy of a "sanctuary city."

Eleven other New Jersey communities have approved similar resolutions, including New Brunswick, affirming many of the current anti-discrimination practices and policing involving unauthorized immigrants. In addition, the resolution says the township will oppose any government registry based on religion, national origin or immigration status. 

The resolution is currently under review by the township attorney and chief of police, according to council president Michael Lombardi.

"People are very scared," said Shah. "I believe it is our duty as elected officials to make everyone who lives and works here feel safe and welcome." 

Edison Township, where nearly half of the residents are foreign-born, was also the target of fake online alerts of document checks that created confusion and unrest in immigrant communities nationwide. 

The resolution also calls for additional training for police and municipal workers on immigration laws, while complying with all state, county and federal regulations. 

President Donald Trump has threatened to cut funding from municipalities like Perth Amboy that declare themselves "sanctuary cities." In Monmouth County, in the days after Red Bank officials considered drafting a similar resolution making the borough welcoming to immigrants, pro-Trump supporters organized two rallies to protest the potential move and to support the president's policies. 

"Edison has made some progress toward inclusion over the past few years, but simply saying that New Jersey's fifth largest municipality 'embraces diversity' does not go far enough in today's intolerant climate," Shah said.

"Hate crimes against Muslims, Hispanics and African-Americans are on the rise," she said. "It is our duty to declare that Edison does not tolerate xenophobia"    

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP -- Phyllis is a 6-year-old female tabby in the care of Angel Paws Rescue. She was surrendered by an owner who couldn't afford surgery she required for nonmalignant tumors. The surgery was covered by the rescue group and Phyllis is now fully healed. A favorite of volunteers, she should make a good pet in most any home. Phyllis...

Phyllis 

WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP -- Phyllis is a 6-year-old female tabby in the care of Angel Paws Rescue.

She was surrendered by an owner who couldn't afford surgery she required for nonmalignant tumors. The surgery was covered by the rescue group and Phyllis is now fully healed.

A favorite of volunteers, she should make a good pet in most any home. Phyllis has been spayed and is up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Phyllis, call 732-340-1199, email info@angelpaws.org or visit the Pet Adoption Center at 490 Inman Ave. in Colonia. The center is open weeknights from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and weekends from noon to 3 p.m. The shelter is supported by the efforts of Angel Paws Rescue and is currently caring for 70 cats and kittens.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email middlesex@starledger.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

 

SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- A South Brunswick police officer uses a video camera at an investigation scene in this photo from 1980. An actual test on a similar system shows that the "portable" pack that held the recording equipment and video tape weighed 14 pounds. If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your...

SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- A South Brunswick police officer uses a video camera at an investigation scene in this photo from 1980.

An actual test on a similar system shows that the "portable" pack that held the recording equipment and video tape weighed 14 pounds.

If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to middlesex@starledger.com. And, check out more glimpses of history in our online galleries Thursdays on nj.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

 

James C. Clay, 35, was arrested this week following a five-month investigation

EDISON -- Police have accused an Elizabeth man of using the identities of Edison residents to get loans and credit cards, according to officials. 

James C. Clay, 35, was arrested Thursday following a five-month investigation in the identity theft scheme after police receiving several complaints from Edison residents in October, police Det. Jeff Tierney said in a release.

Clay is accused of diverting mail, hacking online accounts and applying for and receiving loans and credit cards under others' names, Tieney said.

"The search warrant that Edison police received for Mr. Clay's residence is one of the first in New Jersey ever issued to municipal police for an investigation into such a sophisticated identity theft case," Tierney said.  

The amount of money allegedly netted in the scheme was not known. 

Clay is being held without bail in Middlesex County jail on identity theft and fraud charges.

Police seized computers, smartphones and other evidence at Clay's home during his arrest, which Tierney said may lead to additional charges. 

Elizabeth police and U.S. Postal Services Inspectors assisted in the investigation. 

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

To be eligible for criminal record sealing, there are three tests: the offense, the number and nature of the offense, and how long the offense occurred. Watch video

The U.S. is awash in rap sheets. There are an estimated 68 million Americans with criminal records, and many of them in search of a job or an apartment can tell you all about the one-strike-and-you're-out stigma that governs their lives.

Or just ask employers: A whopping 92 percent conduct criminal background checks for at least some positions, and surveys show that the vast majority rank felony convictions as a major factor in hiring, while giving significant weight to misdemeanor convictions.

So it was encouraging to see Gov. Christie resuscitate the issue of expungement Thursday, and share his desire to revise the statute.

This is not about amnesty for violent or serious crimes: Expungement, or record-sealing, is the process for removing criminal records related to minor or juvenile arrests or convictions after a period of time. New Jersey's law is onerous, and lawmakers will examine the scope of crimes that might be expunged and shorten the waiting period for minor offenses.

Unlike Ban The Box - another inspired idea - expungement would lend real job protection against a criminal record, because that record would no longer exist. Some may consider this an abstract piece of justice reform, but it has a direct effect on employment discrimination, the recidivism rate, and the economy.

Recidivism is higher among those with convictions who are unemployed, vis-a-vis those who are able to get a job after completing their sentences. Employment, however, isn't easy to find if you have a criminal record - a record actually reduces your chance of getting a job call-back by 50 percent.

Consider this number from the Center for Economic and Policy Research: Because a felony conviction lowers an ex-offender's prospects, the reduction in employment costs the U.S. economy $65 billion annually.

Or just think of New Jersey's heroin crisis: Addicts often run afoul of the law (52,000 drug arrests in 2014 alone), and even if they beat their addiction, that record may follow them forever.

As Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) put it, "Earning a second chance to fully succeed is fair and just. Removing barriers where appropriate establishes those principles."

Living with a criminal record - whether earned or spuriously devised - is hard enough. The same people don't need to be held back by unjustified, institutional prejudices.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Got green? New Jersey's got 11 different parades for you on March 12.

What is a Sunday in the middle of March without a St. Patrick's Day parade?

The official holiday doesn't arrive till March 17, but New Jersey boasts 11 different St. Patrick's Day processions, from Warren County to Monmouth County, all stepping off Sunday afternoon. So whether you want to hear bagpipes, see a stepdancing routine or dress up your child, pet or self in your finest "greenery," there's probably a parade for you. 

• The fourth Asbury Park St. Patrick's Day Parade gets going at 1 p.m. at Fifth and Ocean avenues; visit asburyparkstpatricksparade.com

• Bergen County's 36th St. Patrick's Day Parade begins 2 p.m. at Washington Avenue in Bergenfield; bergencountyirish.org

• The sixth Freehold St. Patrick's Day Parade -- which organizers also claim to be the shortest such parade in the state -- kicks off at noon at the Freehold Borough Municipal Building at 51 W. Main St. and ends at the Freehold Borough Hall of Records, at 1 E. Main St.; visit freeholdborougharts.org

• Hackettstown's ninth St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 3:30 p.m. in front of the post office at 120 Grand Ave., continues onto Main Street towards David's Country Inn then proceeds to Mountain Avenue and Union Cemetery; visit hackettstownbid.com

• The Hunterdon County St. Patrick's Day Parade, organized by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, returns for its fourth year at 3 p.m. on Main Street in Clinton; visit fssphunterdon.com

• The 54th Jersey City St. Patrick's Day Parade starts 12:30 p.m. at Lincoln Park and Kennedy Boulevard and moves north to Journal Square; visit facebook.com/jcparadecommmittee for more. 

• The fifth Rumson St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 1 p.m. at Allen Street and River Road; visit rumsonstpatricksdayparade.org

• The 26th Somerville St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 1:30 p.m. and moves along East and West Main streets, visit somervillesaintpatricksparade.com for more.

The Somerville High School Marching Band warming up before the Somerville St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1997. (Star-Ledger file photo) 

• The 44th West Hudson St. Patrick's Day Parade covers two towns and one borough -- Harrison, Kearny and East Newark -- starting at 2 p.m. at S. Third Street and Harrison Avenue in Harrison. The parade makes a turn on Central Avenue in East Newark and then moves on to Kearny Avenue and Johnston Street in Kearny. Visit the United Irish Associations of West Hudson Facebook page for more.

• The 66th West Orange St. Patrick's Day Parade begins at 12:15 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Avenue and Main Street (town hall); visit westorangeparade.com

• The 44th Woodbridge Township St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 1:30 p.m. at Woodbridge High School (1 Samuel Lupo Pl.) and ends at the Woodbridge Municipal Building (1 Main St.) visit amerirish.com/id4.html 

Michael Knight, of Newark, was arrested last May after he allegedly beat and tried to sexually assault a student on the university's New Brunswick campus.

Michael Knight, of Newark, is charged with severely beating and trying to sexually assault a female student on the Rutgers University New Brunswick campus last May. (Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office) 

NEW BRUNSWICK -- A Newark man who officials say beat a female Rutgers University student and attempted to sexually assault her has been indicted on kidnapping and sex crimes charges, court records show.

The attack occurred in last May near College Avenue and Seminary Place on the Rutgers University New Brunswick campus. The assailant struck the victim on the head, severely beat her and was trying to sexually assault her when a group of people intervened, according to authorities in a previous report.

Michael Knight later surrendered to police in Newark after being identified as the attacker.

The woman was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Court records show Knight has been charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, attempted aggravated assault sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, endangering an injured victim and related offenses.

He also faces a charge of making terroristic threats for allegedly saying he would shoot a man trying to run after him as he fled from the scene, previous reports said.

Knight remains held in the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility on $2 million bail.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey need homes.

If you're interested in helping homeless animals but aren't able to adopt one, there are a number of other ways you can be of assistance.

Realistically, not everyone can adopt. People who live in apartments or developments that have no-pets policies fall into that category, as do people with allergies or disabilities that will not allow them to care for pets of their own. Adoptapet.com offers these suggestions for ways people who want to help can participate in caring for homeless animals.

* Help out at a local shelter. It's not glamorous work by any means, but it's vital and will be very much appreciated. You can do anything from help walk dogs to bottle feed kittens, help clean kennels or cat's cages or even help with bathing and grooming. Contact your local shelter to find out their policies regarding volunteers.

* If you're handy, you can lend a hand in many ways. Shelters usually need repairs of many kinds, so fixer-uppers can help out like that. If you sew, quilt or crochet, you can make blankets for your local shelter.

* Help out at an adoption event. Many shelters and rescue groups participate in local events by hosting a table with pets available for adoption. They also hold these program at malls, pet supply stores and banks, and can always use a helping hand.

* For galleries like this one and for online adoptions sites, often a shelter or rescue group doesn't have the time or equipment to shoot good photos of their adoptable pets, Something as simple as making yourself available to shoot and provide digital files of pet photos can be a big help.

* Donate. It doesn't have to be money; shelters need cleaning supplies, pet food, toys for the animals and often even things we don't think twice about getting rid of like old towels and newspapers. Every little bit helps.

If you don't know where your local animal shelter or rescue group is, a quick online search will reveal a number of results. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to get involved but it provides immeasurable assistance.

Here's a gallery of dogs annd cats in need of adoption. More homeless pets can be seen here and here.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

A playoff season to remember

A memorable tournament

The state-side festival aims to introduce people to the joys of live theater, offering programs at little or no cost.

The 20th annual Stages Festival -- a month-long, state-wide celebration of free and low-cost theater productions  -- has begun, with more than 75 new productions coming to traditional and non-traditional venues from Cape May to Newton, Woodbury to Weehawken.

The festival began as a week-long event geared towards families. It was extended to a month to accommodate the schedules of more theaters and to appeal to more constituencies -- not only families but older residents, disabled residents and minority groups. The name "Stages" refers to the festival's appeal to people at all stages of their lives.

"It really breaks down barriers -- economic barriers, geographical barriers," said John McEwen, executive director of New Jersey Theatre Alliance, which organizes the event. "Events take place at theaters, art centers, libraries, schools, senior centers and other community centers to ensure that everybody has access to the theater experience."

The programs on this year's schedule include acting and writing workshops, puppet and magic shows, musical performances, family-friendly Shakespeare, readings and full production of new plays. (To view a schedule, visit stagesfestival.org.) Some free notable programming that demonstrates the festival's range includes:

"Healing Voices OnStage": Caregiver Stories --  The real-life experiences and stories of professional and family caregivers are brought to the stage by professional actors at Morristown's Bickford Theatre March 31 through a partnership between Kean University's Premiere Stages, Writers Theatre of New Jersey and Atlantic Health System.  

"A Year in the Trenches" -- The festival marks the World War I Centennial with a new play commissioned by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Historical Commission. The work is largely based on state resident Charles Edward Dilkes' 2014 memoir  of serving in Europe. Free readings of the play are scheduled at Bickford Theatre, the Ocean County Library in Toms River and McGuire Air Force Base. East Lynn Theater Company will present a full production this fall.

"Plays by People" -- Now in its third year, this event at Peapack's Matheny Medical and Education Center features staged readings of short works by playwrights with complex developmental disabilities. 

New play readers -- Among the readings of new plays at the festival will be Farber's play The Messenger will be featured in part of the "New Plays New Jersey" series run by Writers Theatre of New Jersey on March 18 at Jersey City Theater Center; "Rocket Sex Magic" by David Lee White, and "Diagonal Trilogy" by Vita Patrick Morales.

An average of 10,000 people enjoy Stages' events each year. Nick Paleologos, executive director of the festival co-sponsor N.J. Council on the Arts, said arts venues across the state have seen their attendance numbers grow in recent years as the state recovers from the national economic downturn. He wants to see even more people sample what the state has to offer.

"There's an amazing and vibrant theater scene here. It's everywhere you turn," he said. "We're in the business of making people get out, away from the televisions, and to a live theater performance."

McEwen, whose non-profit organization represents 32 equity-producing theaters in the state, said many theaters use the Stages Festival to explore new programming and to reach new audiences. All artists fees are covered by the festivals and its sponsors, including the Horizon Foundation of N.J., Bank of America, PSEG Foundation and the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. 

"They have an opportunity to test the waters," he said, noting some organizations use the festival to check response to possible summer programs and to collaborate with others. "When we find opportunities for theaters to work together, it's just ideal."

The 2017 Stages Festival

Through March 31 at venues throughout the state. Admission is free or greatly reduced. For more information, visit stagesfestival.org.

Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook. 

Our hyper-local snowfall map will show you what the National Weather Service is predicting in your backyard. Additionally, our Bust-O-Meter gives you an idea of how confident forecasters are in their prediction.

Map last updated at 8:00 a.m. March 13

Blizzard warnings are out for much of New Jersey as a late season nor'easter bears down on the Garden State. 

But how much snow can you expect? 

Click anywhere on the map above to see what the snowfall forecast is for your area. Each box contains a separate forecast issued by the National Weather Service for every 5 square kilometers in the northeast. We will update our map when the National Weather Service updates its forecasts.

Because forecasts are far from iron-clad, we've also developed the Bust-O-Meter, through which we display an analysis of forecast confidence as the storm nears.

Find that below, along with a look at our methodology.  

Methodology

The Bust-O-Meter uses a weighted average of six locations in New Jersey for any given storm event. We take the official forecast of these locations and measure how far they are from the best and worst case scenarios published by the National Weather Service alongside the official forecast.

The wider the range between the official forecast and the best and worst case scenarios, the less confidence there is in the forecast. Generally, these ranges come down as the storm event gets closer and confidence increases. We put our measure on a 100 point scale to simplify it for readers.

This is experimental.  It will be tweaked and expanded as time goes on.

Stephen Stirling may be reached at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @sstirling. Find him on Facebook.

Four Democrats seeking to succeed Gov. Chris Christie were joined by a surrogate for a fifth.

JERSEY CITY -- Four Democrats seeking their party's nomination for governor this year met in Downtown nightclub Transmission last night for a mostly friendly forum hosted by two LGBT groups.

River Edge nightclub owner Paul Binetti, former U.S. Treasury official and federal prosecutor Jim Johnson, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman John Wisniewski were joined by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, a surrogate for former U.S. Ambassador Phil Murphy. The Democrats are vying in June to be their party's choice to succeed Gov. Chris Christie, who cannot seek a third term this November.

The gloves stayed on for the roughly 70-minute forum as the five men took turns answering a dozen questions submitted by audience members. The only hint of combativeness came when Binetti, the only gay candidate in the race, took shots at the absent Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive and Democratic Party fundraiser who has loaned his campaign $10 million.

"Phil Murphy is buying this election," Binetti said to a smattering of applause from the crowd of about 50. "He is spreading his money wherever he can ... to bump out everyone else on this stage behind us."

Binetti tied Murphy to the state's last Democratic governor, Jon Corzine, also a former Goldman Sachs executive. Wisniewski, D-Sayreville, made the same connection while urging the audience not to select an outsider in an effort "to clean things up."

"Jon Corzine, our first Goldman Sachs governor, ran 12 years ago saying, you know what, I'm an outsider, elect me, I'll make New Jersey better," Wisniewski said. "And he did such a good job that four years later we put Chris Christie in."

Gusciora, D-Trenton, defended Corzine and Murphy, saying Corzine "did a pretty damn good job."

"Just because they come from Goldman Sachs is not a detriment," he said. "I really believe that you need somebody like Ambassador Murphy to come in and have a new perspective ... I don't rule out somebody just because they have wealth."

Last night's questions included some on LGBT-specific issues like HIV drug PrEP, along with broader questions about school funding, how the state will deal with possible repeal of the federal Affordable Care Act and gerrymandering.

The Democrats, seated on a stage in front of the American, New Jersey and gay pride flags, repeatedly slammed President Trump and were met with healthy applause from the crowd every time.

Lesniak said if Trump tries to allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines "I'll be in court myself" fighting him under the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment, which curbs federal power.

"It's interesting by the way, the 10th amendment now we will have to use, it's been used by conservatives against civil rights, we will now have to use it for our rights to stop Donald Trump," Lesniak said. "We're going to be very active using the 10th amendment saying, we decided what the public safety of our residents are."

Regarding the possible repeal of the ACA, also known as Obamacare, Johnson said the state is "in a world of hurt" if Trump and Congressional Republicans follow through with their pledge to repeal the controversial healthcare law. If the law is repealed, he said, New Jersey must step in with funding to keep anyone from losing their insurance.

New Jersey Democrats must "mount a very, very strong defense, much stronger than we have right now," he said. "We cannot have 800,000 people in New Jersey losing their health care."

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

Here are the school closings and delayed openings due to Tuesday's expected snowstorm.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY -- Due to the snow that is expected to drop more than a foot of snow across much of New Jersey, school districts in Middlesex County have announced school closings and delayed openings for Tuesday, March 14.

Below is our list of the school districts that are affected:

• Bishop Ahr High School (Edison) - closed
• Carteret  - closed
• Cranbury - closed
• Dunellen - closed
• East Brunswick - closed
• Edison - closed
• Highland Park - closed
• Jamesburg - closed
• Middlesex - closed
• Middlesex Vo-tech -closed
• Metuchen - closed
• Monroe - closed
• Milltown - closed
• New Brunswick - closed
• North Brunswick - closed
• Old Bridge- closed
• Perth Amboy - closed
• Piscataway - closed
• St. Joseph High School (Metuchen)
• Sayreville - closed
• South Amboy - closed
• South Brunswick - closed
• South Plainfield - closed
• South River- closed
• Spotswood - closed
• West Windsor-Plainboro - closed
• Woodbridge - closed

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

This heartfelt play tells a love story with the assistance of jazz classics by Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Sarah Vaughn

The subtitle "A Jazz Romance" appended to Stephanie Berry's new play, "Sarah Sings a Love Story," resonates in various ways throughout this lovely play with music.

In one regard, it speaks to the romance of Elaine (Marva Hicks) and Russell (Curtiss Cook), a couple whose love develops and blooms to the persistent soundtrack of jazz. In another, it speaks to the couple's constant adoration for Sarah Vaughn (Tamar Davis), the legendary vocalist whose music is a powerful touchstone for their relationship. But the subtitle also underscores the heartfelt treatment Berry's play gives to jazz itself. This is a play offered in loving adoration to jazz, a dedication that shines through tenderly.

At the core of "Sarah Sings a Love Story" -- now playing at the Crossroads Theatre Company in New Brunswick -- is a simple love story: Elaine and Russell meet in college; spend much of their courtship at New York jazz clubs watching performances by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and especially "The Divine One," Sarah Vaughn; marry; have children; and persevere through some relationship struggles. But simple is not to say simplistic. Berry succeeds in showing that the love between these two is deep, warm, and complex.

Ultimately, though, the play is less interested in the action of its plot than it is in the syncopation of love and jazz that runs throughout the show. Backed by a three-piece orchestra under the musical direction of Nat Adderley Jr., frequent performances of jazz standards punctuate the play, sometimes interspersed with the action of the plot like a musical, but more frequently performed aria-style. It's as if the Crossroads Theater transforms into the Blue Note or Birdland and we are all Sarah Vaughn's audience.

Davis shines and occasionally stuns in her task of giving voice to Sarah Vaughn. Her vocals are versatile and rich, velvety like the real Vaughn and seemingly drawn from a river of life experiences like her predecessor. A Grammy-nominated veteran of Broadway and "The Voice," Davis's wonderful performance makes this show a visceral experience rather than some sort of recreated memory.

Hicks and Cook sing well themselves, but their greatest contribution here is giving life to the love between Elaine and Russell. Cook gives us a Russell who struggles to reconcile demands of masculinity, pride, and selfhood in a midcentury America particularly oppressive to black men. Hicks's Elaine bears a lifetime of worry on her shoulders and in her voice. But in each other and through jazz, the two find strength and fulfillment.

A heartwarming play that does not give in to sentimentality, "Sarah Sings a Love Story" becomes all the more touching when we find that Berry -- who is familiar to Crossroads's audiences from recent appearances in "Autumn" and "Repairing a Nation" and who won an Obie for the solo show she penned called "The Shaneequa Chronicles: The Making of a Black Woman" -- based her play on the 60-plus-year marriage of her brother and sister-in-law.

And this tribute to longevity comes in part as a bittersweet send off to its own performance space -- the play marks the final performance before Crossroads's current building is demolished and replaced with new, state-of-the-art digs. Progress is promising, but of course the past never fades without at least a tinge of regret. Sarah Vaughn's music was all about the union of love and sorrow, and Berry's play captures that jazz spirit skillfully.

Sarah Sings a Love Song

Crossroads Theatre Company

7 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick

Tickets: $25-$55 available online  at www. www.crossroadstheatrecompany.org. Through March 26

Patrick Maley may be reached at patrickjmaley@gmail.com. Find him on Twitter @PatrickJMaley. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

The special elections in 2 Middlesex communities will be held on March 28

MIDDLESEX COUNTY -- A Middlesex County judge has postponed the special school elections that were scheduled Tuesday in two county school districts due to winter storm Stella, which is expected to blanket the state in snow.

The referendum votes -- which were being held in Woodbridge and South Plainfield school districts -- were postponed to March 28 by Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Vincent LeBlon, according to Jonathan Busch, attorney for the Woodbridge Board of Education.

The March special school board elections give voters a chance to approve various projects for school districts, including infrastructure improvements.

For example, Woodbridge is seeking to create a districtwide, full-day kindergarten, upgrade schools, and enhance school security, to name only a few, according to the district's website.

South Plainfield is also asking for approval for various infrastructure improvements.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.