James Wallace Jr. was a retired fire chief and a retired police sergeant. "He was just a real public servant," Mayor Peter Cammerano said.

METUCHEN -- James A. Wallace Jr., a councilman and dedicated public servant in the borough, died on Monday. He was 75.

Wallace was a former fire chief and a retired Metuchen police sergeant. He was also the former Office of Emergency Management director for Metuchen.

James Wallace Jr. died at the age of 75 on Monday. (Courtesy of Metuchen Fire Department)

Most recently, he served on the borough council since 2010. Wallace's term was up at the end of this year, but he decided not to run for re-election.

Mayor Peter Cammerano said Wallace "was truly a Metuchenite." Wallace was born and raised in the Middlesex County borough of roughly 14,000 people.

"He never dreamed of living anywhere else," Cammerano said. "He could tell you who lived at a certain house for the last 40 years, and what colors it had been painted over time. He was just a real public servant, he really was."

Cammerano said Wallace suffered a series of strokes about two years ago. He had battled back, Cammerano said, and was able to drive again and walk fine.

"He was a character in the most positive way you could imagine," the mayor said.

Wallace took the greatest pride in being a member of the Metuchen Fire Department, Cammerano said. He joined the department in 1961.

"He was always the first guy from the department to respond to a call," Cammerano said. "When he couldn't do it anymore, it really hit him hard."

Fire Chief Robert Donnan said not one firefighter in his 28 years in the Metuchen department could match Wallace's experience fighting fires.

"He's been to more fires than all the people in the department put together," Donnan said.

Donnan said Wallace was a mentor and a "stand up great guy who would do anything for anybody."

"He was like a father in the fire service for me," Donnan said. "He was always there. You could always count on him being there."

Since Wallace's death, many Metuchen residents have taken to social media to offer their condolences to the Wallace family. 

Wallace's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Costello-Runyon, 568 Middlesex Avenue (Route 27), in Metuchen. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. also at Costello-Runyon. 

The signs were removed after the Board of Elections was made aware of them, officials said.

METUCHEN -- At least one polling location in this Middlesex County borough posted signs requiring all voters to show identification, a violation of voter identification laws in New Jersey.

Edward Barocas, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said the group received a complaint about the signs around 9 a.m. Polling locations in New Jersey opened at 6 a.m.

A sign posted at a polling location in Metuchen urged voters to have identification ready to show poll workers. (Courtesy of the ACLU).

The signs were posted at the Metuchen Moss School voting precinct and appear to have been taped on the tables. The signs said: "Please Have ID Ready For Poll Worker."

Shortly before 11 a.m., several voters leaving that location said they were not asked to show identification before entering the voting booth.

Cassandra Achille, the supervisor of elections in Middlesex County, said the issue was resolved as soon as they were made aware of the signs.

"Once we found out about the situation, we told them it was inappropriate, and the signs had to come down, and they came down," Achille said.

It's unclear, however, who created the signs or who instructed the poll workers to post them.

Achille said she had "no idea" how the signs got there. Middlesex County Clerk Elaine Flynn refused to meet with a reporter who went to her office. The reporter was instructed to call Jim Vokral of the Board of Elections, who handled the matter. Vokral did not immediately return a phone call seeking more information.

Over the years, the fight over voter identification laws has become a hot-button political issue in many states. Critics contend that requiring voters to show identification at the polls is a violation of civil rights and singles out low-income individuals, minorities, students, senior citizens and voters with disabilities.

Voter laws vary from state to state. Currently, 31 states enforce voter identification requirements, including 16 that require voters show a photo ID.

In New Jersey, voters can be asked to show identification in certain cases. According to the New Jersey Voters' Bill of Rights, the following voters must show identification:

* You were a mail-in registrant and did provide your driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number, but the numbers could not be verified, you must show the board workers identification today."

The Metuchen signs, however, indicated that all voters must present identification. 

Metuchen is not the only location in New Jersey to reportedly ask people to show an ID before voting. 

Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said in a tweet shortly after 3 p.m. that she ran into the same issue. 

I just got asked for ID to vote in my polling location at Boys & Girls Club. This is not ok Hudson County Board of Elections!

-- Dawn Zimmer (@dawnzimmernj) November 8, 2016

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Find 2016 Middlesex County general election results here after the polls close.

Refresh frequently, as results will be updated in real time throughout the night.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY -- Voters cast their ballots Tuesday in the 2016 election. Here is a live update of the 2016 local election results as they come in from the Middlesex County clerk's office.

(These totals are unofficial and do not include mail-in ballots.)

Find all of our election coverage here.

Sheriff

One, three-year term

 Mildred Scott (D) 175,0340

"Peter" Pedro Pisar (R) 104,408

Freeholder

Three, three-year terms

 Blanquita Valenti (D) 166,016

 Kenneth Armwood (D) 161,899

 Charles Kenny (D) 163,906

Joseph "Joe" Scillieri (R) 105,439

Kathleen "Katie" Calabrese (R) 105,583

Zhiyu "Jimmy" Hu (R) 96,989

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

Harjinder S. Bahia (R) 1,851

 Vincent Bellino (D) 5,458

Marcelino Hervias (R) 1,837

 Jorge Diaz (D) 5,425

One, two-year term

Jaswinder Singh (R) 2,028

 Ajmar Johal (D) 5,104

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Patricia Golino 3,394

 Lydia Singura 2,324

Janet Hanley 2,216

 Marty Murray 2,338

Debra Weaver 2,182

Kinny B. Nahal 1,328

One, one-year unexpired term

 Gregory C. Setar 1,953

Arvinder Singh 1,173

Hardyal Singh Johal 1,726

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

 Glenn R. Johnson (D) 1,162

 Dan Mulligan (R) 1,160

Fran McGovern (R) 954

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Pramod Chivate 813

 Linda Penney 1,375

Christopher James Ruzich 702

 Lindsay McDowell 971

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

 Joseph Petracca (R) 1,502

 Jason Cilento (R) 1,585

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Lisa Howard 1,345

 Barbara McGuane 1,282

 John Paul Osborn 1,329

Mayor

One, four-year term

 Brad J. Cohen (D) 11,105

James "Jim" Wendell (R) 9,555

Township Council

Two, four-year terms

Jane Mueller (R) 8,951

Mark Csizmar (R) 8,897

 Michael Spadafino (D) 11,532

 Sterley Stanley (D) 10,590

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Robert V. Cancro 6,883

 Chad Seyler 6,014

 Liwu Hong 7,507

Curt Philipczak 4,399

Gaurav R. Panchal 2,562

David Cukor 3,115

One, two-year unexpired term, unopposed

 Barbara Reiss 10,280

Township Council

One, three-year unexpired term

Gaetano V. Gaspari (R) 10,734

 Joseph A. Coyle (D) 21,392

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

William Araujo 11,680

 Richard M. Brescher 11,819

 Theresa E. Ward 13,128

 Xiaohan "Shannon" Peng 11,988

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

Michael Duffy (R) 427

James Misner (R) 396

 Joseph Reid 461

 Ronald Dzingleski 438

Borough Council

One, one-year unexpired term (unopposed)

 Noreen F. Carolan 556

Board of Education (Spotswood School District)

Two, three-year terms

 William Loschiavo 2,488

 William H. Smith 2,236

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

 Phil George (D) 4,241

 Jon Erickson (D) 4,208

Herbert Gross (R) 1,337

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Darcie Cimarusti 2,583

 Judy Pietrobono 2,763

 Mark Krieger 2,546

Haiying Yan 1,085

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

 Samantha Rampacek (D) 951

Shannon Spillane (R) 847

 Laura Czarneski (D) 890

Gregory Newton (R) 755

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms, unopposed

 Kerryann Holster 950

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

Daniel Lebar (R) 2,418

 Dorothy Rasmussen (D) 4,372

Joseph Furmato III (R) 2,343

 Linda Koskoski (D) 4,187

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Alicia Sneddon Killean 3,397 

 Eric Suss 2,826

 Jonathan Lifton 2,268

William Rezes 1,547

John A. Mindler, Jr. 2,019

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

Stephen Greco (R) 2,631

 Kevin Dotey (D) 2,849

Nancy Purcell-Holmes (R) 2,509

 Daniel Parenti (D) 2,976

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Valerie DiNizio 2,631

 David Oliver 2,046

 Brandon Giovanni 2,542

Sharon San Phillips 1,536

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

 Doriann Kerber (R)1,921

 Richard J. Revolinsky (R) 2,087

Felipe Zambrana Jr. (D) 1,579

Margaret O'Donnell (D) 1,522

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms, unopposed

 Carl Schneider 1,689

Township Council, Ward 2

One, one-year unexpired term

Martin Herrmann (R) 3,745

 Blaise DiPierro (D) 4,575

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

Thomas S. Nothstein 5,390

 Ken Chiarella 8,083

 Michele M. Arminio 6,163

 Patricia Mary Lang 6,089

Anand "Andy" Paluri 4,344

George "Doug" Poye 5,501

Township Council

Three, four-year terms, unopposed

 Glenn Fleming (D) 7,628

 John A. Anderson (D) 7,553

 Suzanne M. Sicora Ludwig (D) 7,508

Township Council

Two, three-year terms

George Callan (R) 4,218

Thomas V. Lichwa (R) 3,823

 Ralph Andrews (D) 9,541

 Amanda Guadagnino (D) 9,610

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Barry Duran Harris 3,977

 Coleen Keefe 4,475

 Traci Rubin 4,441

Howard Liu 2,773

Donna Mikolajewski 2,679

Gangadhara "Rao" Vakkalagadda 2,274

Township Council

One, one-year unexpired term

Frank Weber (R) 1,401

 June Dungee (D) 1,942

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Jill R. Cali 9,537

 Walter Reed 8,250

 Balwinder Singh 8,000

Matthew Sulikowski 7,501

Annette Tunyla Hopman 6,816

Shrenik Dagi 688

Todd S. Hochman 712

Mayor

One, four-year term

Joel Pabon 4,675

Miguel A. Nunez 1,534

Sharon D. Hubberman 270

 Wilda Diaz 5,925

City Council

Two, four-year terms

Ken Puccio 3,977

Virgina Lugo 1,403

Enid Crespo 332

 Fernando Irizarry 4,757

Angel Mota-Ramirez 3,534

Miriam Quiles-Figueroa 1,392

 Jelmin Caba 4,745

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

Hattie Harrell 2,010

Ruben Cruz 2,446

 Junior Iglesia 3,611

Samuel Lebreault 1,759

 Tashi L. Vazquez 3,200

Anthony Bermudez 2,028

 Randy Convery 3,065

Israel Varela 1,954

Mayor

One, four-year term

Damon Montesano (R) 5,860

 Brian C. Wahler (D) 13,762

Township Council

Three, four-year terms

 Gabrielle Cahill (D) 15,109

 Kapil Shah (D) 14,896

 Chanelle Scott-McCullum (D) 14,752

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms, unopposed

 Ralph E. Johnson 9,177

 William J. Irwin 8,460

 Adelita Deepan 8,320

Two, three-year terms, unopposed

 Edmund Yates (D) 5,504

David Bander (D) 5,315

Board of Education

One, three-year term

Russel A. Melville 1,100

 Yu "Taylor" Zhong 2,793

Borough Council

Two, three-year terms

Christian Hibinski (R) 6,882

Arthur J. Rittenhouse Jr. (R) 7,121

 Daniel Buchanan (D) 8,913

 Ricci Melendez (D) 8,637

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Daniel S. Balka 6,408

 John Walsh 6,831

 Lucille "Lucy" Bloom 6,831

Ryan De La Uz 3,123

Township Council

One, four-year term each

 Ward 1: Brian McLaughlin (D) 689

Barbara Pasternack (I) 161

 Ward 2:  Thomas Reilly (D) 600

 Ward 3: Zusette Dato (D) 751

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Ann Marie "Amy" McLaughlin 1,549

Jessica Colacci 881

 Raymond Perez 991

Samantha Seaman 645

 Tyler Simko 960

One, one-year unexpired term, unopposed

 Kevin S. Riley 1,667

Township Council

Three, four-year terms

Michael E. Kushwarra (R) 5,749

Brian Wojaczyk (R) 5,678

 Joseph "Joe" Camarota (D) 11,526

 Charlie Carley (D) 10,987

 Jo Hochman (D) 10,667

Paul Saltin (R) 5,404

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Azra S. Baig 6,616

 Harry J. Delgado 7,945

 Lisa M. Rodgers 7,118

Laszlo M. Nyitrai Jr. 4,256

Anilkumar C. Patel 5,557

Township Council

Two, three-year terms

Stephanie Bartfalvi (R) 4,635

Raymond Rusnak (R) 4,511

 Jon Dean (D) 4,891

 Gary Vesce (D) 4,750

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Ernie James Giannakis 3,225

Steven D. Bohn 2,030

 Thomas M. Cassio 3,871

 Deborah "Debbie" Boyle 3,164

Pio Pennisi 2,410

Jennifer M. Curtis 2,256

Township Council

Two, three-year terms

Jim Hutchinson (R) 2,339

Mike Trenga (R) 2,206

 John "Jack" Alai Jr. (D) 2,579

 Jule R. Meira (D) 2,611

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Raymond Baszak 1,630

Anita Chadha 1,005

John Budzin 1,031

 Kevin J. Nielsen 1,540

Mary Michelino 988

 Cynthia A. Urbanik 1,975

Sandra Adelino 1,240

Mayor

One, four-year term

Jacqueline Palmer 1,123

 Edward T. Seely 1,563

Nicholas Poliseno 820

Borough Council

Two, four-year terms

 John F. Melillo 1,245

 Jose Rivera 1,392

Steven Chasen 1,131

Township Council

One, one-year unexpired term

Amarasen Anura Rupasinghe (R) 1,600

 Virbhadra Patel (D) 4,151

Nuten Kalamdani 336

Board of Education

Three, three-year terms

 Akshar "A.J." Sidana 11,971

Thomas E. Maras 9,936

Mubashir Ahmad 5,325

 Jonathan Triebwasser 12,776

 Joseph S. Velez 14,100

Rupal Patel 6,110

An earlier version of this report erroneously reported the results of the school board election in Old Bridge. The error has been correct.

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

Traffic was being detoured Tuesday night

SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- Authorities have closed down Rt. 1 northbound at Raymond Road due to a serious traffic accident, the state Department of Transportation said around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. 

The accident involved a tractor-trailer and an SUV, said Capt. Jim Ryan of the South Brunswick Police Department said. An "extensive" accident investigation was underway late Tuesday night, Ryan said. 

A total of four people were hurt, two sustaining critical injuries, Ryan also said. 

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  

Former Brunswick Zone Carolier undergoes a multi-million makeover.

NORTH BRUNSWICK -- When you enter the futuristic Bowlero in North Brunswick, formerly known as Brunswick Zone Carolier, you're greeted by a mint-conditioned, vintage 1969 fire engine-red Ford Mustang convertible with a black interior.

The classic automobile sets the tone for a memorable experience of bowling, dining, drinking and fun that has sparked a marriage between the old-school sport of bowling and the 21st century that is reinventing the art of throwing strikes and picking up spares.

"No matter what generation you're from this car is sexy and cool, which is the atmosphere we're trying to create," said Ron Lichtenberger, area manager for New Jersey AMF Bowling Company, which also manages Bowlmor in Green Brook, which has a similar theme to that of Bowlero, but on a smaller scale.

"We want to attract people who have never gone bowling before. We want to make it so people have so much fun that they want to come back. We want to revolutionize the industry and make bowling cool again."

Bowlero will hold its Grand Opening on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Olympic Gold Medalist gymnast Laurie Hernandez as a special guest. There will be free bowling, food and giveaways.

The ultramodern multi-million makeover of the 84-lane central Jersey bowling mecca, built in the 1960s, includes a showpiece, 24-seat boomerang-style bar with five 65-inch plasma screen televisions.

There are 48 neon-glow lanes with cushioned nightclub-style seating, touch-screen menus and 24 television projectors over the lanes with 16-foot screens that show sporting events, music videos and quirky movies.

Bowling enters 21st century in Green Brook

All of the bowling balls are neon-colored and the menu features a five-pound burger called the Behemoth Burger, a two-foot long hot dog named the Coney Mega Dog, chicken wings in a variety of flavors, pizza, and a more upscale menu for catered events.

Furthermore, Bowlero includes an interactive arcade that includes a six-foot high Pac-man game screen, a Kung-Fu Panda Dojo Mojo game, a Jurassic Park Thrill Ride and a state-of-the-art 3,000-foot laser tag arena dubbed "Urban Mission."

The laser tag arena can accommodate 30 players divided into two teams and features obstacles and wall barriers with names of local streets. It's the biggest laser tag arena in the state, said Lichtenberger.

"This is a place where people of all ages can have fun," said Lichtenberger. "Adults can come here and become kids again. The kids love it because they're kids."

The facility, which has granite-filled restrooms and a coat check, is so trendy that it hosts bridal showers and bachelor parties, bar mitzvahs, birthday parties and corporate outings.

Bowlmor AMF founder and CEO Tom Shannon purchased 85 Brunswick Bowling and Billiards throughout the country in 2014 and his company is the largest ten-pin bowling center operator in the world, with 304 centers the United States, eight centers in Mexico, and three centers in Canada.

The North Brunswick location, whose 82 lanes - two lanes were taken out during the renovation - is the biggest bowling center in the state, said Lichtenberger. It is the first Bowlero in New Jersey. As of June 2015, there were only four other Bowlero centers in the country, according to its website.

Traditional bowlers haven't been forgotten. Thirty-four lanes have been left in tact for league bowlers at all levels, including seniors and women. Bowlero will still hold league tournaments and in April, it'll host the 2017 NCAA Women's Finals.

"We want to protect our league bowlers and keep their home," said Sal Izzo, general manager of Bowlero. "That's very important to us."

Even so, the sport of bowling has entered the new millennium. Gone are the traditional hard, horseshoe seating, high-intensity lighting and black bowling balls.

"This is an entertainment venue," said Lichtenberger. "We're not just about bowling. We want people to come and have a good time, even if you don't bowl."

The talent in New Jersey will reach the college level soon.

Police are seeking suspects who robbed a Piscataway liquor store. Watch video

PISCATAWAY -- Police released surveillance video Tuesday of three men who robbed a township liquor store at gunpoint last month and asked the public's help in identifying suspects.

Police say this man guarded the door while two masked gunmen robbed a Piscataway liquor store on Oct. 29, 2016. 

Two armed men entered Dix's Liquors on South Washington Avenue around 10 p.m. on Oct. 29, while a third man guarded the front door. Both gunman were wearing rubber gloves, hooded sweatshirts and masks as they held up store employees.

The robber guarding the door, however, was not wearing a mask and police focused on his image as a potential lead in the case.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspects captured on video can contact Det. Joseph Reilly of the Piscataway Township Police Department at 732-562-2364 or 732-562-1100.

To report information anonymously, call the Police TIPS Line at 732-562-2360, or text a tip by texting "TIP PTPD" to 888777.

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

Take a look at all the teams and runners picked to win

The U.S. Justice Department was monitoring three municipalities in Middlesex County after reported incidents

MIDDLESEX COUNTY -- Complaints that voters were asked to show identification at polling places in three Middlesex County towns on Tuesday are under review by the U.S. Department of Justice, a county official said.

A sign posted at a polling location in Metuchen urged voters to have identification ready to show poll workers.(Courtesy of the ACLU)

Jim Vokral, administrator at the Middlesex County Board of Elections, said federal officials were monitoring procedures in Edison, New Brunswick and Perth Amboy -- all of which have large minority populations -- when issues were uncovered involving poll workers requesting identification from voters with limited English skills.

"Most of the time when voters have limited English skills, it is hard to understand and hear their names," said Vokral, adding that poll workers still should not be asking for identification.

According to state law, if you have voted in previous elections you are not required to provide identification.

The election monitoring was scheduled in advance, Vokral said.

In about a month, he expects the Justice Department to issue a report on its findings and any steps the county needs to take for future elections.

Though not federally required to take any steps, Vokral said the board of elections always seeks best voting practices.

Reached by email early Wednesday afternoon, the Justice Department said it was "declining to comment on what monitors observed" at the polls on Tuesday.

In addition to the three towns under review, signs posted at Metuchen polling station informed voters "please have ID ready for poll worker." The signs were removed Tuesday morning after the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union was alerted.

Vokral said Metuchen was not included in the federal review.

Vokral believes the majority of the incidents reported were likely misunderstandings as poll workers were attempting to locate names in the voter registration books. 

He acknowledged that in some cases, certain poll workers might have exceeded their authority.

"I really don't know until I start looking further," Vokral said.

Voter laws vary from state to state. Currently, 31 states enforce voter identification requirements, including 16 that require voters show a photo ID.

In New Jersey, voters can be asked to show identification in certain cases. According to the New Jersey Voters' Bill of Rights, the following voters must show identification:

• "If you registered to vote by mail in this County after January 1, 2003, and never voted in a federal election in the County, you were required to provide identification.
• If you did not provide identification before voting for the first time at the polling place, you must show the board workers identification today.
• You did not complete section 5 of the New Jersey voter registration form (section 5 requires a Driver's License #, last 4 digits of the social security number if you have no driver's license, or an affirmation you do not have either set of numbers), and you did not respond to a request for such information, you must show the board workers identification today.
• You were a mail-in registrant and did provide your driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number, but the numbers could not be verified, you must show the board workers identification today.

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

New Jersey's state university turns 250-years old on Thursday. Here's how you can join the party, complete with cupcakes and fireworks.

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Rutgers University was founded without much fanfare.

William Franklin, the Colonial governor of New Jersey and son of Ben Franklin, signed a charter on Nov. 10, 1766, establishing Queens College, which held its first classes in a local tavern. The modest school eventually enrolled a handful of students in New Brunswick and struggled to stay afloat.

Two hundred and fifty years later, Rutgers is still around and has grown into one of the largest universities in the nation. It is celebrating its sestercentennial on Thursday with plenty of fanfare.

After a year-long celebration of its 250th anniversary, Rutgers will mark the actual date of its founding with a birthday blowout spanning the state.

Empire State Building to glow scarlet

"There is a great sense of pride that comes with recognizing that your institution is one of the oldest in the country and one of only a handful that predate our nation," Rutgers President Robert Barchi said.

Here are some of the highlights of Thursday's celebration that are open to the public:

"A Day of Revolutionary Thinking"

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The "Rutgers 250 Fellows" - more than 80 notable graduates from various fields - will return to the New Brunswick, Newark and Camden campuses for lectures, speeches and panels. The "Day of Revolutionary Thinking" events include speeches and panels with motivational speaker Eric LeGrand, musician Lenny Kaye and political consultant Michael DuHaime. 

Rutgers cupcake distribution

12 p.m. to 3 p.m. More than 25,000 free cupcakes will be distributed in various Rutgers locations in New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark, Scotch Plains and Stratford. The sites include:

• Rutgers-Newark: 1 Washington Street, Paul Robeson Campus Center and Stonsby Commons.
• Rutgers University-New Brunswick locations include all dining facilities and student centers in New Brunswick and Piscataway.
• Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences locations include Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Teaching Labs in Piscataway, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey Medical School and Stanley Bergen buildings in Newark and School of Health Professions facilities in Scotch Plains and Stratford.

Camden Charter Day celebration

12:45 p.m. Rutgers-Camden Chancellor Phoebe Haddon will lead a celebration with birthday cake and refreshments during annual Charter Day festivities in the Camden Campus Center's Main Lounge. The celebration will continue until 8 p.m.

Birthday celebration at Old Queens

2:50 p.m. President Robert Barchi and other Rutgers officials and students will ring the Old Queens Bell on the College Avenue campus for 250 seconds.

3:10 p.m.

• Rutgers ROTC cadets will raise a commemorative American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol and was given to Rutgers by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.
• Firing of the Rutgers cannon.
• President Barchi will deliver brief remarks. 

3:25 p.m.

• Planting of Rutgers 250 All-Star Variety Dogwood tree on the Old Queens lawn and plaque presentation.
• Robert M. Goodman, executive dean of agriculture and natural resources, at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, will deliver brief remarks while presenting the new tree to Old Queens.

Evening birthday celebrations

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Music, entertainment, food and giveaways in Deiner Park in New Brunswick. Guests will be invited to sign commemorative mural.

Sunset Key Rutgers buildings will be lit in scarlet, including Old Queens in New Brunswick, Kirkpatrick Chapel Charter Window, Wellness Plaza, the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center in Piscataway, Rutgers Business School (Livingston Campus), Douglass Student Center and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Camden.

5 p.m. Rutgers-Newark holds a birthday celebrations at the Golden Dome Athletic Center and tennis courts in Newark, with music, refreshments, and giveaways.

6 p.m. Fireworks

Best viewing locations:

• Camden: Gateway and quad across from 330 Cooper Street
• Newark: Golden Dome Athletic Center and tennis courts in view of Bradley Hall; upper floors of Stanley Bergen Building
• New Brunswick: Deiner Park, accessible via George Street; points with a view of the skyline above the Raritan; on the big screen at The Yard on College Avenue.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.

Kevin Roper, who is accused of causing a crash that injured Tracy Morgan and killed another man, appeared in Middlesex County Superior Court on Wednesday.

NEW BRUNSWICK -- The former Wal-Mart truck driver accused of causing the June 2014 crash that injured comedian Tracy Morgan and killed another man appeared briefly in Middlesex County Superior Court Wednesday afternoon.

Kevin Roper, 37, of Jonesboro, Ga., made the trip up north to New Brunswick only to find out during his less than five minute appearance that the hearing would be rescheduled for Nov. 29.

Roper's attorney, David Jay Glassman, and Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Sheree Pitchford met behind closed doors with Judge Michael Toto for approximately 10 minutes. When they emerged, Toto asked the two parties to return at a later date.

Glassman declined to comment outside the courtroom.

Roper was driving a Wal-Mart tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike near Exit 8A in Cranbury when he crashed into a limo bus carrying Morgan and others.

Fellow comedian James "Jimmy Mack" McNair, who was riding in the limo bus with Morgan, died in the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined driver fatigue caused the collision.

Roper, who had not slept for more than 28 hours, was driving 20 miles an hour over the posted 45 mph speed limit in a construction work zone before the collision, which set off a chain reaction that involved six vehicles and 21 people, authorities have said.

"The driver, already going too fast, was slow to react," NTSB Chair Christopher Hart said.

A month after the NTSB report, Glassman asked a Superior Court judge to drop the charges of assault by auto and death by auto, because he didn't feel his client would get a fair trial.

Glassman, in court filings, contended Roper would not be able to get an "impartial jury" due to extensive media coverage, civil settlements in the case and the NTSP report.

A former star on "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock," Morgan suffered a traumatic brain injury and broken bones in the crash. He settled a lawsuit against Wal-Mart for an undisclosed amount in May 2015.

Wal-Mart reached a $10 million settlement with McNair's two children in January 2015.

Roper has pleaded not guilty to aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and eight counts of aggravated assault.

Morgan has since returned to performing, making a guest appearance on SNL and embarking on the "Picking up the Pieces" tour.

In April, the tour came to the State Theatre in New Brunswick, approximately 15 miles north from where the crash occurred.  

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Police said they determined Emily Rand was the aggressor in the altercation. Watch video

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Police will not file charges against the man who punched a 19-year-old woman in the face outside a party near Rutgers in an incident that has left her hospitalized for more than a week.

Emily Rand, 19, of South Amboy suffered a fractured skull after being punched by a man in New Brunswick last weekend. (Courtesy of Debbie O'Connor)

New Brunswick police Capt. J.T. Miller said Wednesday that police have determined Emily Rand was the aggressor in the incident that left her with a fractured skull after she was knocked to the ground by the punch. 

Miller said police identified the man seen punching Rand in a video posted on social media.

"He hasn't been hiding, we know who he is," Miller said.

Rand's uncle, Bob O'Connor, told NJ Advance Media Wednesday afternoon that they were not aware of the department's decision to not file charges.

O'Connor said police have told Rand's family members that the incident was still under investigation.

"They've said they have to speak with Emily before filing charges," he said. "They need her side."

Rand, a Middlesex County College student from South Amboy, remains hospitalized, but she is able to breathe on her own and will begin physical therapy soon, her aunt, Debbie O'Connor, wrote on Facebook.

However, on Wednesday, Rand still remained heavily medicated and hasn't been awake for more than a few minutes, her family said. Rand underwent surgery to relieve bleeding in the brain.

When asked about filing a civil complaint or pressing charges, O'Connor said, "We've been focused on Emily and haven't discussed legal options."

Rutgers police said in a crime alert that shortly after 1 a.m. on Oct. 30 a victim was "struck in the face during a physical altercation and fell to the ground resulting in the transport to a local hospital."

Police said the incident happened in the area of Robinson and Hamilton streets.

A cell phone video of the incident shows Rand take a swing at a man. The man responded with a punch that connected, causing Rand to drop to the ground immediately. The video then shows the man leave in the opposite direction and pans over to an unconscious Rand.

In the time since the incident, O'Connor has created a Facebook page, Friends of Emily Rand, to provide friends and family with updates on her condition. She said it's also a place for people to leave encouraging messages for Rand. 

A Gofundme page was also started by her uncle, Bob O'Connor, to help out with medical bills. The page has raised more than $1,900 in two days. A fundraiser for Rand will also be held Dec. 3 at the RTB bar in South Amboy.

NJ Advance Media reporter Craig McCarthy contributed to this report.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

A man was killed and a 17-year-old boy is in critical condition following a crash Tuesday.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- The driver of a utility van was killed and his 17-year-old passenger was critically injured in a crash Tuesday night with a tractor trailer at a jughandle crossing on Route 1, police said.

File photo

John Jermill Williams, 29 of Hampton, Georgia, was crossing Route 1 from the northbound Raymond Road jughandle shortly before 9:30 p.m. when the Ford Transit Connect van he was driving was struck by the tractor trailer, police said.

Williams was pronounced dead at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro around 11 p.m., police said.

His 17-year-old passenger was thrown from the van. The teen, a Philadelphia resident, was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswich, where he remains in critical condition, police said. 

The driver of the tractor trailer, Nohemi Farfan, 45, of Baytown, Texas, was also injured and taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for her injuries. She was later released, police said.

Farfan was driving north on Route 1 when the crash occurred, police said.

The tractor trailer ended up on top of a divider, "straddling both the northbound and southbound lanes" on Route 1, police said.

Route 1 was closed in both directions from Route 522 to Ridge Road for roughly five hours.

The investigation remains ongoing and no charges have been filed, police said.

Investigators interviewed witnesses but officials are also asking that anyone with information to contact South Brunswick Police Traffic Safety Officer Jesse Blake at 732-329-4000 ext. 7472, or Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Det. Don Heck 732-329-3300.

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

Lucas was the youngest member of the military to receive the Medal of Honor in any conflict other than the Civil War.

Each year on Veterans Day, we honor those who have served our country. Millions upon millions of men and women have answered the call to defend our nation, at times giving their lives.

I've heard a number of stories of bravery and heroism through the years; this is one I'd never heard before and would like to share.

Jacklyn "Jack" Lucas was born in Plymouth, N.C., on Feb. 14, 1928, and was a 13-year-old cadet captain in a military academy when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

According to his June 2008 obituary in the New York Times, Lucas forged his mother's signature on an enlistment waiver that would have allowed him to join the Marines at 17 rather than the usual 18 ... except he was actually only 14.

While fighting on Iwo Jima in 1945, ""A couple of grenades rolled into the trench," Mr. Lucas said in an interview with the Associated Press later that year. "I hollered to my pals to get out and did a Superman dive at the grenades. But I wasn't a Superman after I got hit," he added, recalling the scream he let out "when that thing went off."

Jack Lucas receives the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Truman in July, 1945.Courtesy of homeofheroes.com 

Lucas was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery, becoming the youngest member of the military to receive the Medal of Honor in any conflict other than the Civil War.

The Times went on to note "after the war, Lucas earned a business degree from High Point University in North Carolina and raised, processed and sold beef in the Washington area. In the 1960s, he rejoined the military, becoming an Army paratrooper to conquer his fear of heights."

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

"On a training jump, both of his parachutes failed, and Lucas later said his stocky build and a last-second roll as he hit the ground had saved his life."

Lucas died in 2008 at the age of 80. He had been hospitalized with leukemia and died after asking doctors to remove a dialysis machine.

Any of the millions who have served our country deserve to be recognized by Adm. Chester Nimitz's statement about those who fought at Iwo Jima: "Uncommon valor was a common virtue." It still is

In honor of Veterans Day, here's a gallery of veterans from New Jersey.

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

Adding JFK in Edison fortifies Hackensack Meridian Health's presence in Middlesex and Union counties.

One of the largest and fasting growing hospital networks in New Jersey, Hackensack Meridian Health, has reached an agreement to acquire JFK Medical Center in Edison, the CEOs at both institutions announced Thursday.

Hackensack Meridian Health's Board of Trustees Wednesday signed off on a letter of intent to pursue an "affiliation;" JFK's board voted yes last week. 

"As charitable, not-for-profit health care providers, JFK and Hackensack Meridian Health share a common mission and commitment to service," according to the joint announcement.

"We share a culture and vision for the future of health care that reinforces JFK Health's role in the community," said Raymond Fredericks, the president and CEO of JFK Health said in a statement. "Along with Hackensack Meridian Health, we will enhance our delivery of top-quality, coordinated patient care to our diverse community. We are proud of the more than 20 year relationship we have with Meridian successfully running Home Care and Satellite Rehabilitation facilities."

During a telephone conference with officials from Hackensack Meridian Health Thursday morning, Fredricks said, naturally, employees are anxious about potential layoffs as a result of the consolidation. He was unable to say whether that would ultimately happen.

"Of course that is a question employees are wondering; 'What's going to happen with me?'"Fredericks said. "One thing I was able to point to is, we continue to grow. And we look forward to continuing to grow. But there is never a guarantee."

It was only four months ago Hackensack University Health Network merged its operations with Meridian, creating an 11 hospital system stretching across seven counties from the New York border to the Jersey shore. It is the second-largest hospital network behind RWJ Barnabas Health, which was also vying to  acquire JFK.

Adding JFK, a community hospital recognized for its neurology and rehabilitation services, fortifies the chain's presence in Middlesex and Union counties.

"JFK Medical Center has established itself as one of the leading health care providers in central New Jersey," said John K. Lloyd, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. "JFK shares with us the common goal of providing an expansive continuum of care. 

Central N.J. hospital up for sale has several suitors

For JFK, the partnership - first reported by NJ Advance Media - gives one of the few remaining independent hospitals the security to survive in one of the most competitive healthcare markets in the northeast. 

New Jersey's crowded hospital industry has been engaged on a merger and acquisition frenzy for more than six years, driven in large part by the landmark health care law. Hospitals agreed to take sizable cuts in Medicare funding in order to fund the Affordable Care Act with the promise of treating more insured patients. But in order to make the finances work, large hospital systems have merged and most independent community hospitals have been snapped up by chains.

During the telephone conference, Robert C. Garrett, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, said he believes the Affordable Care Act has perpetuated mergers, but that the market had already been heading in that direction.

"Since the passage, it has enhanced the pace of these types of mergers," Garrett said. He later added, "We do see it as a continuing trend" but as a positive in being able to deliver more efficient health care to communities.

JFK is a 498-bed community hospital serving Middlesex, Union and Somerset counties. Its other holdings include the Neuroscience Institute, the Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, and a satellite emergency room at the former Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Check out the top ranked runners in the state Watch video

Take a look at some eye-popping predictions

We'll compile the results and crown a winner next week.

Perhaps not all topics can be put cleanly into a spreadsheet.

The Economic Research Service created a natural amenities ranking for every county in the nation, based on a variety of factors: June and January temperature, humidity, topographic variation (the hilliness or flatness of an area) and percent water coverage, since people tend to find bodies of water attractive.

The results are all over the place, with some of the least-populated counties with the highest amount of open space and parks ranked as the least attractive. Somerset County, sometimes named the best county for families in New Jersey, was rated worst on the list.

How can data, based on facts and hard evidence, go so wrong? 

The ERS did not use enough information to determine their rankings, and even if they incorporated more data, it's tricky to capture all of the elements that make an area great.

We want to see whether we can use a different element to find out the prettiest counties: the human one. Fill out a form on your first and second choices for New Jersey's most attractive and least attractive counties. We'll compile the results and crown a winner next week.

Erin Petenko may be reached at epetenko@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @EPetenko. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  

Volunteers are asked to provide a loving and nurturing home environment for a puppy for approximately one year.

The Seeing Eye is seeking volunteers interested in raising a puppy that will one day become a trained guide for a blind individual.

Volunteers are asked to provide a loving and nurturing home environment for the puppy for approximately one year. During that time, the volunteer will teach basic obedience and house manners and will bring the puppy to Seeing Eye puppy club meetings and socialization trips. All veterinary expenses are covered by the Seeing Eye and a stipend is provided to cover food costs.

"Raising a Seeing Eye puppy is a great way for children to experience the value of giving back to the community, or a project for people who are retired and looking to contribute their time to a good cause," said Jill Jaycox, the Linda Feinne-Roth Manager of Puppy Development at The Seeing Eye. "It's never easy to give back a puppy you have raised and lived with for a year, but watching the transformation from puppy to Seeing Eye dog makes the journey worth it."

For more information, go to seeingeye.org/raise. Interested volunteers should contact the area coordinator for their county as listed on the website.

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

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