A raccoon found in the vicinity of Tyler Avenue and Oak Street in Carteret has tested positive for rabies, according to Middlesex County health officials.

A rabid raccoon was found in Carteret, the first in the borough in 2015, but the 12th in Middlesex County. File photo 

CARTERET -- A raccoon found in the vicinity of Tyler Avenue and Oak Street in Carteret has tested positive for rabies, according to Middlesex County health officials.

Officials said this is the first case of rabies found in Carteret this year, but the 12th in Middlesex County.

The raccoon was found Saturday in a resident's yard, acting aggressively toward a resident's dogs. The animals fought, officials said and the animal was killed in the fight.

Health officials said the two dogs have been placed on 45 day quarantines and the county health department will be distributing rabies fact sheets within the area.

Health officials said rabies is caused by a virus that can infect all warm-blooded mammals, including man.

Related: Woodbridge health officials issue rabies alert

They advise residents to immediately report any contact, especially a bite, from a wild or domestic animal to their local health department and report any wild animal showing signs of unusual behavior to local animal control officers or police.

Officials also recommend making sure all family pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations and animal proof their homes and yards.

Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Grab your skates and hit the ice at these seven outdoor skating rinks in New Jersey.

The brisk air blows through your hair while the winter sun warms your cheeks.

The blades of your skates cut through the frozen surface beneath your gliding feet, as your knit scarf whips and trails behind you.

You drift smoothly over the ice, careful not to to make a wrong move and lose your balance.

It's wintertime in New Jersey and it's time to strap on some skates and hit the outdoor ice rinks.

While there are many year-round indoor skating facilities from North Jersey to the Jersey Shore, there's nothing quite like the feeling of chilly winter wind dancing on your cool skin, as you slide across a frozen pond.

Here are seven outdoor skating rinks in New Jersey -- including a few in Philly -- to visit this winter.

Winterfest Ice Skating Rink, Pennsauken

The Winterfest Ice Skating Rink at Cooper River Park is open from Nov. 27 to Feb. 14.

At twice the size as last year, the skating rink is 60 feet wide and 120 feet long, and located in the center of Jack Curtis Stadium on North Park Drive in Pennsauken.

Twinkling lights, vendors, and hot chocolate set the scene for this year's Winterfest Ice Skating Rink.

Hours are Monday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

Ice shows occur on Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit www.skatewinterfest.com.

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, Philadelphia

An Olympic-sized skating rink overlooking the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest kicks off Nov. 27 and runs through March 6.

The winter fantasyland features a ski-chalet style lodge, a winter garden made from recycled shipping containers, a heated tent, twinkling holiday trees, fire pits, and plenty of seating.

MORE: 8 South Jersey house tours to get you into the holiday spirit

This season, RiverRink includes more seating inside and outdoors, a 360-degree deck around the rink, additional food options including hot chocolate, holiday treats, and goodies from the Garces Group.

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is located at 101 South Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia.

For more information, visit www.delawareriverwaterfront.com or call 215-925-RINK.

Rothman Ice Rink at Dilworth Park, Philadelphia

Philadelphia's Dilworth Park will transform into a winter wonderland from Nov. 13 to Feb. 28 for the second consecutive year.

New this year is the Rothman Cabin -- a heated tent located near the ice rink. Inside the tent, visitors will find food and drinks from Garces Events like hot chocolate, coffee, burgers, fries, and more.

Dilworth Park is located at 1 South 15th Street near City Hall in Philadelphia.

The rink is open to skaters of all levels and ages.

For more information, visit www.ccdparks.org/dilworth-park/rothmanicerink.

Newport Skates, Jersey City

Located on the Hudson River in Jersey City, Newport Skates is surrounded by restaurants and amazing views of Manhattan.

The outdoor rink is 7,000 square foot and a great place for a romantic date night.

Hours are Monday to Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Admission is $7 and skates can be rented for $6.

For more information, visit www.newportrentalsnj.com.

Swartswood State Park, Newton

Forget the man-made ice rink, Swartswood State Park offers ice skating on an actual frozen lake.

Known as New Jersey's "first state park," Swartswood is an historic landmark destination that dates back to 1915.

Skaters should call 973-383-5230 to be sure the lake is frozen to ensure safe skating.

For more information, visit www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/swartswood.html.

Edison Family Ice Skating Rink, Edison

The Edison Family Ice Skating Rink is an outdoor rink located in Roosevelt Park and great for families to get out and enjoy the brisk winter months.

The rink is open through April, weather pending.

For more information, visit www.co.middlesex.nj.us or call 732-745-4484 or 732-494-2980.

Mercer County Skating Center, West Windsor

West Windsor's Mercer County Skating Center is an open-air, sheltered skating rink with a full snack bar, fireplace, lounge area, vending machines, skate rentals, and lockers.

The facility is open through March.

For more information, including prices and skating schedule, call 609-371-1669 or visit www.mercercountyparks.org.

Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Nearly 100 New Jersey religious leaders have signed a letter urging Gov. Chris Christie as "a man of faith" to reconsider his widely-publcized statements that the nation refuse all Syrian refugees, even "orphans under age 5."

TRENTON -- Nearly 100 New Jersey religious leaders have signed a letter urging Gov. Chris Christie as "a man of faith" to reconsider his widely-publicized statements that the nation refuse all Syrian refugees, even "orphans under age 5." 

With worldwide fears inflamed by the Nov. 13 terror attacks on Paris, the Republican governor and presidential contender has said the country's "broken" screening and monitoring system cannot be trusted. He wrote to President Obama saying New Jersey will not participate in any resettlement activities that places Syrian refugees here. 

"The fact is that we need for appropriate vetting, and I don't think that orphans under 5 should be admitted to the United States at this point," Christie said on conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt's syndicated radio show on Nov. 16.

RELATED: Christie: No Syrian refugees, not even 'orphans under age 5'

Alarmed by the governor's statements, Rabbi Jesse M. Olitzky of Congregation Beth El in South Orange said he asked congregants how he should respond. The result is a letter sent Tuesday, signed by 95 clergy members from across the state and from many faiths.

In it, they respectfully but firmly tell the governor his statements "do not speak for us, our faiths, or our communities."

"We urge you, a man of faith, to reconsider your position so that New Jersey can be a state that we are all proud of -- a state that answers the prophetic call to welcome the stranger," according to the letter obtained by NJ Advance Media.

Christie is a Roman Catholic.

"While we respect the deep security concerns that may be present when someone enters this country and seeks asylum, we urge you to not conflate two separate and important issues," the letter reads. "We understand the importance of keeping our residents safe. However, we ask that you see these Syrian refugees as we do, as our faiths do, and as the world does: as individuals fleeing from terror, not perpetrators of terror."

Some 12 million Syrians have been forced from their homes due to Syria's raging civil war, with half of them children, according to the Christian relief charity, WorldVision.

The United States has accepted roughly 1,800 refugees between Jan. 1 and Nov. 15, including 75 that have settled in New Jersey, according to the State Department's Refugee Processing Center. 

"Our faiths not only command us to love our neighbors; they also command us to love the stranger," the letter continued.

"The Hebrew Bible commands: "Love the stranger for you yourselves were once strangers" (Deut. 10:19). The Christian Bible tells us: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matthew 25:35). The Quran teaches: "be good to the parents and to relatives, to orphans and to the needy; to the neighbor that is near and also to the stranger that is far" (An-Nisaa 4:36).

Christie's comments have raised his public profile as he continues to scrap for supporters in a crowded field of Republican presidential candidates. He has made daily appearances on TV and radio programs to discuss his views on the issue. 

In the Nov. 19 Washington Post, conservative columnist George Will praised Christie's response to the ISIS attacks in Paris. "Pay particular attention to his affirmation of the foundational conservative belief in the indispensability, the sovereignty and the prerogatives of nationhood," Will wrote.

Olitzky said he hopes the letter is seen as an invitation to discuss the governor's position with an "ad hoc group" of clergy who represent their own constituency. He said he is optimistic they could change Christie's mind if given the chance.

While Christie made the comments in the context of the campaign, "It's not my place to address him as a candidate," Olitzky said. "My concern is about his comments as the governor of our state." 

The letter is signed, "In Faith" by:

Rabbi Jesse M. Olitzky of Congregation Beth El, South Orange;

Abdul Mubarak-Rowe of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-NJ;

Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye Wilson, of Episcopal Church of St Andrew and Holy Communion, South Orange;

Rabbi Dan Cohen of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, South Orange;

Rabbi Alexandra Klein of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, South Orange;

Rabbi Greg Litcofsky of Temple Emanu-El of West Essex, Livingston;

Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz of Temple B'nai Abraham, Livingston;

Rabbi Clifford M. Kulwin of Temple B'nai Abraham, Livingston;

Ashraf Latif of the NIA Masjid and Community Center, Newark;

Rabbi Cecelia Beyer of Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael, Springfield;

Rabbi Mark Cooper of Oheb Shalom Congregation, South Orange;

Cantor Erica Lipitz of Oheb Shalom Congregation, South Orange;

Sr. Bonnie McMenamin, SSJ of Diocese of Camden, Camden;

Rev. Kiran Young Wimberly of Slackwood Presbyterian Church;

Pastor Ryan Imer of Slackwood Presbyterian Church, Trenton;

Rabbi Renee Edelman of Temple Sha'arey Shalom, Springfield;

Sr. Veronica Roche, SSJ of St. Joseph Pro Cathedral, Camden;

Rabbi Adam Feldman of The Jewish Center, Princeton;

Rabbi Emeritus Gerald Zelizer of Congregation Neve Shalom, Metuchen;

Rev. Bernard Poppe, of St. George's Episcopal Church, Maplewood;

Rabbi Azriel Fellner of Livingston;

Rabbi Rebecca W. Sirbu of Teaneck;

Rev. Canon Dr. Francisco Pozo of Christ Episcopal Church, Trenton;

Rabbi Robert Rubin of Temple Beth Or, Brick;

Rev. Jeffrey E. Ugoretz of Christ Presbyterian Church, Hamilton;

Rabbi Stephanie Dickstein of Highland Park;

Rev. Jan Willem van der Werff of The First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck,  Princeton Junction;

Rev. Joanna Hollis of Christ Episcopal Church, New Brunswick;

Rabbi George Nudell of Scotch Plains;

Kadam Peter Kurczynski of Dharmachakra Buddhist Center, Vauxhall;

Rabbi Edward Friedman of Freehold Jewish Center, Freehold;

Pastor Daniel K. Eisenberg of St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church, Trenton;

Rabbi E. Noach Shapiro of Montclair;

Rabbi Esther Reed of Rutgers University Hillel, New Brunswick;

Rev. Paul Rhebergen of Ewing Presbyterian Church, Ewing;

Rabbi David Greenstein of Congregation Shomrei Emunah, Montclair;

Sr. Regina Chassar, SSJ, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Tenafly;

Rabbi Leonard Levin, South Orange;

Pastor Valencia Norman of First Presbyterian & Trinity Church, South Orange;

Rabbi Donald A. Weber of Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro;

Rev. Larry Smith of First Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hunterdon County, Frenchtown;

Rabbi Joseph M. Forman of Or Chadash, Flemington;

Rev. Sharyl M. Dixon of Kingston Presbyterian Church, Kingston;

Rabbi Doug Sagal of Temple Emanu-El, Westfield;

Sr. Ruth Bolarte, IHM of Diocese of Metuchen, Metuchen;

Rabbi Julie Roth of Center for Jewish Life - Princeton Hillel, Princeton;

Rev. Bradford L. Motta of Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church, Maplewood;

Rabbi Marc Kline of Monmouth Reform Temple, Tinton Falls;

Rabbi Emerita Sally Priesand of Monmouth Reform Temple, Tinton Falls;

Rev. David A. Davis of Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton;

Rev. Lauren McFeaters of Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton;

Rabbi Elyse Frishman of The Barnert Temple, Franklin Lakes;

Rabbi Joel Mosbacher of Beth Haverim Shir Shalom, Mahwah;

Rev. Canon Jack Belmont of All Saints' Church, Princeton;

Rabbi Debra Hachen of Temple Beth-El, Jersey City;

Rev. Karen Hernandez-Granzen of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Trenton;

Rabbi Paul Jacobson of Temple Avodat Shalom, River Edge;

Rabbi Paula Feldstein of Temple Avodat Shalom, River Edge;

Rev. Dawn Adamy of Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, Hillsborough;

Rabbi Jordan Millstein of Temple Sinai of Bergen County, Tenafly;

Rabbi Emeritus Bruce Block of Temple Sinai of Bergen County, Tenafly;

Rabbi Justus Baird of Auburn Seminary, Princeton;

Rev. Rick Boyer of Prospect Presbyterian Church, Maplewood;

Rabbi Marc Disick of Temple Beth Am, Bayonne;

Rabbi Emeritus Gordon Gladstone of Temple Beth Am, Bayonne;

Rev. David DeSmith of St. David's Episcopal Church, Kinnelon;

Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, Short Hills;

Rabbi Laurence Groffman of Temple Sholom of West Essex, Cedar Grove;

Rev. Molly Dykstra of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Trenton;

Rabbi Eric B. Wisnia of Congregation Beth Chaim, Princeton Junction;

Rabbi Adena Blum of Congregation Beth Chaim, Princeton Junction;

Rev. David M. Horst of Central Unitarian Church of Paramus;

Rabbi Randall Mark of Shomrei Torah Wayne Conservative Congregation, Wayne;

Rabbi Emeritus Richard Hammerman of Congregation B'nai Israel, Toms River;

Rev. Linda Owens of Bound Brook Presbyterian Church, Bound Brook;

Rabbi Robert Tobin of B'nai Shalom, West Orange;

Rev. Robert H. Legnani of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, Delran;

Sr. Delores Clerico, SSJ of Catholic Community of Christ Our Light, Cherry Hill;

Rabbi Helaine Ettinger of Millburn;

Rev. Lawrence E. Frizzell of Seton Hall University, South Orange;

Rabbi Mary Zamore of the Women's Rabbinic Network, Westfield;

Rabbi Bennett Miller of Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, New Brunswick;

Sr. Therese Dowd, SSJ of St. Rose Convent, Belmar;

Rabbi Rachel Hertzman of Montclair;

Rev. Nelson H. Rabell-Gonzalez of Apostles' Lutheran Church, Turnersville;

Rabbi Barry Schwartz of Congregation Adas Emuno, Leonia;

Rabbi Arnold Gluck of Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough;

Rabbi Michael Pont of Marlboro Jewish Center, Marlboro;

Sr. Sheila Murphy, SSJ of Wildwood;

Rev. Robert J. Gregorio of Glassboro;

Rev. Dr. Anthony P. Johnson of The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood;

Imam Raouf Zaman of Muslim Center of Middlesex County, Piscataway;

Pastor Molege Desir of the South Orange-Vailsburg United Methodist Church, South Orange

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

It just doesn't quite feel like Thanksgiving without some pigskin action, and luckily the Garden State will be packed with football games on Thursday. NJ Advance Media will have coverage from all over New Jersey on Thanksgiving, and to prepare you for the action we  broke down the 10 best games of the day. RELATED: Football: 5 N.J ...

It just doesn't quite feel like Thanksgiving without some pigskin action, and luckily the Garden State will be packed with football games on Thursday. NJ Advance Media will have coverage from all over New Jersey on Thanksgiving, and to prepare you for the action we  broke down the 10 best games of the day.
RELATED: Football: 5 N.J ...

Members of the New Jersey Army National Guard and Air National Guard helped give out fixings for Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of families at the new Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry on Tuesday.

KEYPORT - Members of our nation's military, and their families, already give a lot of themselves for the benefit of their neighbors.

But on Tuesday, representatives from the New Jersey Army National Guard and Air National Guard took some time out to give even more - specifically to help give out Thanksgiving dinner fixings to hundreds of families in need at the new Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry.

Members of the New Jersey Army National Guard and Air National Guard helped give out fixings for Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of families at the new Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry on Nov. 24, 2015. (Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

"It is eye opening to see how many folks out there who are in genuine need of assistance, especially during the holiday season," Chief Warrant Officer 3 Patrick Daugherty, of the N.J. Army National Guard, said while giving out turkeys.

"It feels good to be able to come to a food pantry like this and help provide some necessities to individuals and families that need it, to have that direct contact with them and be able to see the expressions of gratitude on their faces," Daugherty added.

The guardsmen were on site as part of the Christie Administration's fifth annual "Season of Service," during which Cabinet officials launched the beginning of the holiday season by packaging and serving Thanksgiving meals at various locations throughout the state.

Keyport Councilman Isaac Cooper, who volunteers as the executive director of the Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry, said he was grateful that the new food pantry was selected to be part of the "Season of Service" initiative.

"We want to get as much out to the community as possible, because we're here to help the needy not the greedy," Cooper said. "So this event was good. Anything that can raise awareness about what we're doing here, we're for."

This was the first Thanksgiving meal distribution event held at the Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry's newly constructed O.O. John Reed Community Center on Elizabeth Street.

The new facility helps provide necessities to more than 260 families from 21 towns throughout the Bayshore region per month, which is nearly 800 total people and growing, Cooper said.

This thank you note written on a paper plate hangs on the wall of the Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry on Nov. 24, 2015. (Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

On Tuesday, the food pantry was expecting to provide Thanksgiving meals to 264 families and by 9:30 a.m., there was a line stretching out the door.

"The need for assistance is definitely ramped up this time of year," Cooper said. "Regardless of what people say, there are a lot of people who are laid off or out of work. Or who work all year for a pittance or working class people who've never taken any help before, but do not want to see their children go hungry during the holiday season."

Because of this, Cooper said, the volunteers at the Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry strive to make it as easy as possible for people to get the assistance they need.

"We wanted to make this as much of a church experience as possible, without taking their manhood or their womanhood from them," Cooper said. "So the hardest thing about coming through here should be to come to the door. After that we serve them the best we can and everybody here is non-paid volunteers, so everything that comes in one door goes out the other."

The National Guardsmen said it was obvious the need that exists and how thankful the people were to receive it.

"They were all expressing gratitude to us and thanking us for our service," Daugherty said. "They were genuinely happy to be receiving some assistance, and we were genuinely happy to be able to interact with them."

--For more information on the Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry, click here.

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A Manalapan woman was killed early Wednesday morning when her car struck a deer, then struck a tree and rolled over into a ditch on Buckelew Avenue.

A Manalapan woman was killed Wednesday morning in a one-car crash in Monroe Township in Middlesex County.File photo 

MONROE TOWNSHIP -- A Manalapan woman was killed early Wednesday morning when her car struck a deer, then struck a tree and rolled over into a ditch on Buckelew Avenue.

Nalani Tesalona, 29, was traveling west on Buckelew Avenue,approaching the intersection with Gravel Hill-Spotswood Road, at 3:12 a.m. when she struck the deer, police said.

Police said she crossed the double yellow center line, crossed the eastbound lane of Buckelew Avenue and left the roadway, striking the tree and rolling over into the ditch.

More: Middlesex County news

Authorities said Tesalona, who suffered head injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the accident is being investigated by Sgt. Sergeis Jangols of the Monroe Township Traffic Safety Division. Anyone who might have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Jangols at (732) 521-0222 Ex. 126.

Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Shante K. Walker, 26, allegedly put 33 containers of baby formula powder inside a suitcase at the Target store on the 500 block of Nassau Park Boulevard

WEST WINDSOR - A New Brunswick woman was arrested on robbery and assault charges after fighting with a store employee trying to stop her from leaving the store with 33 containers of baby formula, police said.

Staff photo 

Shante K. Walker, 26, allegedly put the baby formula inside a suitcase at the Target store on the 500 block of Nassau Park Boulevard and tried to pay for just the suitcase, police said. The incident occurred Nov. 8

Walker was confronted by a store employee, but refused to let anyone open the suitcase, police said.

The employee, a man, blocked Walker's cart. Walker threatened to shoot the employee and then threw several "roundhouse"-style punches, landing one on the back of the employee's head, police said.

The employee knocked Walker to the ground and followed that with a "a few quick punches,'' police said.

Walker, seemingly unconscious, layed on the floor for four minutes before getting up and leaving the store, police said.

Police found her hiding under a car in the parking lot, police said.

In addition to the charges from the incident, Walker also was wanted by South Plainfield police and had other outstanding warrants. She was jailed in lieu of $100,00 bail, police said.

Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

 

Betty Cantrell, Miss America 2015, made friends and mesmerized the patients at the PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick Wednesday morning. Watch video

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Betty Cantrell, Miss America 2015, made friends and mesmerized the patients at the PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick Wednesday morning.

Whether she met them in the hallways, in the gym while they did therapy, in their rooms, or when they gathered around her to hear her read and sing to them, the children gazed up at Cantrell, who wore her silver crown, star-struck.

But one little boy had a lot to say.

When Cantrell asked Spencer Fairfield, 5, if he would be her boyfriend, he readily answered, "I'm already a boyfriend."

The patients at the PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital and its other affiliated hospitals in New Jersey, all of which are Children Miracle Network Hospitals, are there for rehabilitation.

More: Middlesex County news

Rebecca Mazzarella, a spokeswoman for the hospital said Miss America titleholders have supported the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, since 1989, helping with fundraising and visiting hospitalized children.

After visiting individual patients, many of them joined her in a recreation room where Cantrell read stories to them and sang, "Let It Go," from the movie, "Frozen."

Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Featured video

During the Revolutionary War, the Morgan family, owners of the inn, became active on the side of the colonies.

SAYREVILLE -- This undated photo shows Ye Old Spye Inn on Cheesequake Creek in Sayreville.

The Sayreville Historical Society notes that the inn was known as the Morgan Inn and was a stop on stagecoach routes through the area. During the Revolutionary War, the Morgan family, owners of the inn, became active on the side of the colonies; nighttime raids on British ships anchored in the Raritan Bay could be launched from the inn, with the raiders returning to it for refuge.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

The name was changed in 1777 following the capture, trial and hanging of a traitor named Abe Mussey, who was signaling to British ships in the bay.

Ye Olde Spye Inn burned down in 1976; curiously, the fire took place one year after a reenactment of Mussey's trial.

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 The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

 

The kitchen, located on Neilson Street in Downtown New Brunswick, has served Thanksgiving dinners since its inception in 1989, said Executive Director Jim Zullo.

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Officials with the Elijah's Promise community kitchen estimated approximately 200 meals were served on Thursday. 

The kitchen, located on Neilson Street in downtown New Brunswick, has served Thanksgiving meals since its inception in 1989, said Executive Director Jim Zullo.

"Thanksgiving is always a day that we get so much support," Zullo said.

He said along with the Thanksgiving day meal, Elijah's Promise also offers turkeys leading up to the holiday to those who are less fortunate. On Wednesday, for example, Zullo said the kitchen got a call from a resident of a neighboring suburb who had recently lost his job. The man was in need of a turkey and was "obviously distraught" about having to call the kitchen for one. 

"It's always gratifying to do that," Zullo said of giving the man a turkey. 

Elijah's Promise is open seven days a week. They serve meals from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The kitchen serves an average of 300 meals a day. 

In addition to meals, Elijah's Promise offers a number of social services, including health screenings, vision tests and support for those with substance abuse problems.

And on winter nights when the temperature drops below 20 degrees, the kitchen acts as a warming center for those who need a place to stay. 

Zullo said it's great having so much support on Thanksgiving, but Elijah's Promise is always in need of volunteers all-year round.

"I would encourage people to go online (and) set up a time to volunteer," Zullo said. "We always need volunteers and we always welcome them. We have over 3,000 volunteers come through the facility on an annual basis. It's really critical to allow us to do what we do."

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

Take a break from Thanksgiving to see how well you know New Jersey news.

You've probably completed your Thanksgiving feast, watched your fill of football and exhausted the list of non-incendiary topics to talk about with your family. Your options are now limited to plotting late-night pre-Black Friday shopping, grazing Thanksgiving leftovers or taking NJ.com's News Quiz.

The correct choice is obvious: The seven questions below will not add to your soaring cholesterol count, max out any credit cards or further strain frayed family relationships. For extra fun, challenge your Thanksgiving guests to see who gets the highest score. The loser does the dishes. Share your scores in comments, and remember that there's no Googling allowed.

EAST BRUNSWICK — Cleveland is a 13-month-old cat in the care of Karma Cat and Zen Dog Rescue. Volunteers say he is a curious cat who "talks up a storm." Cleveland, who was rescued from an overcrowded municipal shelter, thrives on attention. He is good with kittens but doesn't get along with other adult cats. Cleveland is FIV/FeLV negative and...

Cleveland 

EAST BRUNSWICK -- Cleveland is a 13-month-old cat in the care of Karma Cat and Zen Dog Rescue.

Volunteers say he is a curious cat who "talks up a storm." Cleveland, who was rescued from an overcrowded municipal shelter, thrives on attention.

He is good with kittens but doesn't get along with other adult cats. Cleveland is FIV/FeLV negative and up-to-date on shots; he has been neutered and microchipped.

For more information on adopting Cleveland, contact the nonprofit rescue society, which is currently caring for 46 cats and kittens, at 732-568-4694, email info@karmacatzendog.org or go to petfinder.com/shelters/NJ639.html.

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.

 

Fairly cool temperatures and possible afternoon rain showers are predicted for Saturday in Piscataway.

It's too bad the Rutgers-Maryland football game isn't taking place one day earlier. On Friday, New Jersey is expected to be completely dry and basking in the spring-like warmth of 60-plus temperatures.

The weather picture for Saturday is different -- but not too bad for late November.

Clouds will be in the sky the entire day, and forecasters are saying it will be about 10 degrees cooler than it was on Friday. One good thing: The original forecast was calling for light rain showers at the start of the game, but now it's looking more likely the showers will hold off until after the game.

If you're heading to High Point Solutions Stadium for some tailgating and some football, here's what to expect.

Rutgers football tailgaters should dress warmly, and bring along a rain poncho, for Saturday's game against Maryland. (Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

KICKOFF WEATHER OUTLOOK

It should be about 50 to 54 degrees and mostly cloudy from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., with only a light breeze. So there won't be any wind chill, according to AccuWeather. At kickoff time, around noon, and throughout the game, the temperature should hover in the mid-50s, which is pretty good for late November football. 

WHAT TO WEAR

With relatively cool temperatures in play, and a slight risk of rain in the afternoon, fans going to the game should dress in a couple of light layers. Start with a long-sleeved T-shirt or flannel shirt, topped with a sweatshirt or a windbreaker.

Also recommended: We would advise bringing along a rain poncho, just in case the forecast changes and rain moves in early than expected. This will keep your head and upper body dry.  

MORE: Complete coverage of Rutgers football

If you're the type of person who gets cold hands easily, bring along a light pair of rain-resistant gloves (not wool ones). If you want to keep extra warm by bringing a scarf or a blanket, make sure you keep those dry by keeping them inside a plastic trash bag or under an extra rain poncho. 

BLANKETS POLICY

Here's the official policy on blankets and extra jackets in cold weather at High Point Solutions Stadium:

"Fans will be able to bring these items into the athletic venues by tossing them over a shoulder or arm. Items that are folded up will have to be opened up in order to gain entry into the athletic venue."

WEATHER FACTOIDS

The average high temperature for Piscataway on Nov. 28 is 51 degrees, and the average low is 32, according to AccuWeather data. Last year on this date, the high was 39 and the low was 18.

The warmest temperature ever recorded in Piscataway on Nov. 28 was 74 degrees, in 2011, and the coldest was 14 degrees, way back in 1903. 

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

The crash occurred 3 a.m. Saturday when a tractor-trailer rear-ended a minivan driving slowly in the right lane, New Jersey State Police said.

File photo 

SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- A man was injured when his car was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer, causing the truck to jackknife and burst into flames on the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick, authorities said.

The crash occurred at 3 a.m. Saturday when the FedEx tractor-trailer, driven by Elliot Remi, 32, of Queens, struck a Honda Odyssey from behind in the right lane of the southbound lanes of the Turnpike at milepost 77.1, New Jersey State Police said.

The driver of the Odyssey, Troy Claffee, 48, of the Bronx, was driving slowly on the highway, State Police said.

ROAD REOPENS: NJ Turnpike in Monroe Twp. reopens after Fed Ex truck fiery wreck. No injuries https://t.co/MHFolRqZih pic.twitter.com/hagcxu9fsy

-- Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) November 28, 2015

Police said the tractor-trailer jackknifed and "became fully engulfed" in flames. Both men were able to get out of their vehicles. Remi was not injured and Claffee was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life threatening, police said.

The right and center lanes of the highway were closed for several hours but have now been reopened.

No charges have been filed at this time but the investigation is continuing, police said.

The groups collected more than 15,000 pounds of food for MCFOODS.

Old Bridge High School Junior ROTC members PJ Czaplinski, Scott Kowalski and Zachary Huber load boxes of food for the Middlesex County Food Pantry. 

OLD BRIDGE --On Nov. 13 members of the Old Bridge High School Junior ROTC set up an assembly line to load the more than 10,000 pounds of nonperishable food they collected for the Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Pantry into the MCFOODS van to be taken to the food pantry.

The JROTC and area Boy Scouts spent two weeks collecting donations outside area grocery stores. The local Scouts collected another 4,800 pounds of food.

"We had 100 percent involvement," said retired Chief Master Sgt. Tom Pitzer, a program head for Old Bridge's Junior ROTC. "This gets these kids civic-minded and community involved."

"The Junior ROTC, it's really like a cornerstone of who we are at our high school," said Old Bridge High School principal Vincent Sasso. "This is one of the many things they do throughout the year to help."

To submit school news send an email to middlesex@starledger.com.

Rutgers President Robert Barchi said the move the shake up the athletic department was not due to any single factor, but he cited the off-field problems of the football team and a program that was "not moving in the right direction," after a losing season. Watch video

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Rutgers University President Robert Barchi said his decision to fire the school's athletic director and its head football coach was in part a response to the increasingly competitive environment the state university now faces with its entry into the Big Ten Conference.

"There is a lot of pressure in this league and we have to succeed," he said.

In a conference call with reporters several hours after terminating the contracts of coach Kyle Flood and athletic director Julie Hermann --and after meeting privately for 20 minutes with the football team earlier in the afternoon -- Barchi said the move to shake up the athletic department was not due to any single factor.

However, he cited the off-field problems of the football team and a program that was "not moving in the right direction," after a losing season.

"It made sense to start fresh," he said.

RELATED: Flood says thanks on the way out

The Scarlet Knights went just 4-8 this year, but were rocked by scandal, including the arrests of several key players charged in a series of home invasions, reports of failed drug tests, and the improper contact by Flood with a faculty member aimed at boosting the grade of a key cornerback who had been deemed academically ineligible to play.

Rutgers immediately announced the hiring of Patrick Hobbs, Dean Emeritus of the Seton Hall University School of Law who previously led the athletics program at Seton Hall University, to be the new athletic director.

Hobbs, who was on the conference call, said he was aware of the challenges, but called it a "tremendous opportunity" to be coming to Rutgers.

ALSO: Barchi makes the right moves | Politi

"I'm really exited by this. Our affiliation with the Big Ten has elevated the competition we're going to be up against," he said. "I see nothing but opportunity here."

Hobbs was offered a five-year contract that will pay him $560,000 a year, with annual incentivized bonuses based on performance, said Barchi.

Hobbs said the search has already begun for a coach to replace Flood.

"We want to bring a great coach to Rutgers. We're going to work and find the right coach," he said.

The team's associate head coach, Norries Wilson, will serve as the interim head coach leading the university's off-season program until a new head coach is hired.

Flood, 44, was in his fourth year as head football coach at Rutgers. Barchi said the university would pay Flood $1.4 million and that the money likely would be a combination of private and university funds. Hermann, 52, was being paid $450,000 annually on a contract that runs through June 2018. She will be paid her full base salary and health and pension benefits, Barchi said.

The announcements of the terminations came after days of mounting speculation that a major shakeup in the athletic program was in the works, Hermann was summoned to Barchi's home for a short meeting shortly before noon. Flood, on a recruiting trip to Long Island, was notified by phone.

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2015/11/kyle_flood_fired_as_rutgers_football_coach.html

In an announcement to the university community, Barchi said while the Scarlet Knights under Flood won 26 games and played in three bowl games, "our continued struggles on the field combined with several off the field issues have convinced me that we need new leadership of our football program."

In the wake of the university's investigation into the grading issue, Flood had been suspended for three games in September and fined $50,000.

Barchi, said he reached the conclusion this past week that the university needed a fresh start in its athletic program and "it would not have been fair to Julie, to Rutgers and our student athletes, or to potential football coaching candidates, for her to continue in her role."

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

After days of mounting speculation, Rutgers University President Robert Barchi on Sunday fired his athletic director and head football coach, saying it was time for a "fresh start." Watch video

NEW BRUNSWICK--It was a sack that took out the key players of a football program which had collapsed not only on the field, but off it as well.

After days of mounting speculation, Rutgers University President Robert Barchi on Sunday fired his athletic director and head football coach, saying it was time for a "fresh start."

Barchi said with the university's entry into the Big Ten Conference, Rutgers needed to be competitive. "There is a lot of pressure in this league and we have to succeed," he said.

In a conference call with reporters several hours after terminating the contracts of coach Kyle Flood and athletic director Julie Hermann--and after meeting privately for 20 minutes with the football team earlier in the afternoon--Barchi said the move to shake up the athletic department was not due to any single fact. However, he cited the off-field problems of the football team and a program that was "not moving in the right direction," after a losing season.

The Scarlet Knights went just 4-8 this year, but were rocked by scandal, including the arrests of several key players charged in a series of home invasions, reports of failed drug tests, and the improper contact by Flood with a faculty member aimed at boosting the grade of a key cornerback who had been deemed academically ineligible to play.

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2015/11/former_coach_kyle_flood_thanks_rutgers_community.html#incart_river_home

Rutgers immediately announced the hiring of Patrick Hobbs, Dean Emeritus of the Seton Hall University School of Law who previously led the athletics program at Seton Hall University, to be the new athletic director.

Hobbs, 55, who was on the conference call, said he was aware of the challenges, but called it a "tremendous opportunity" to be coming to Rutgers.

"I'm really exited by this. Our affiliation with the Big Ten has elevated the competition we're going to be up against," he said. "I see nothing but opportunity here."

Hobbs was offered a five-year contract that will pay him $560,000 a year, with annual incentivized bonuses based on performance, said Barchi.

According to Hobbs, the search has already begun for a coach to replace Flood. "We want to bring a great coach to Rutgers. We're going to work and find the right coach," he said.

The team's associate head coach, Norries Wilson, will serve as the interim head coach leading the university's off-season program until a new head coach is hired.

The announcements of the terminations came after days of silence from the Rutgers administration, amid growing rumors and speculation that a major shakeup was in the works. Hermann was summoned to Barchi's home Sunday for a short meeting shortly before noon, and left less than 15 minutes later after being informed of the changes being made. Flood, on a recruiting trip to Long Island, was notified by phone.

Barchi said he had been unaware Flood would be off campus, and apologized for not telling the coach personally that he was being let go.

The coach earlier in the season had been suspended for three games and fined $50,000 in the wake of the university's investigation into his contact with a faculty member involving efforts to improve the grade of a star player who had found academically ineligible to play.

Everything you need to know about Rutgers' athletics major shakeups

The program has also been the focus of an ongoing criminal investigation after at least six members of the team were arrested on assault charges and tied to a series of home invasions in which students were robbed of money and drugs.

In an announcement to the university community Sunday afternoon, Barchi said while the Scarlet Knights under Flood won 26 games and played in three bowl games, "our continued struggles on the field combined with several off the field issues have convinced me that we need new leadership of our football program."

Flood, 44, was in his fourth year as head football coach at Rutgers. He was given a two-year contract extension in September 2014 that was to pay him at least $6.5 million through the 2018 season. Hermann, 52, was being paid $450,000 annually on a contract that runs through June 2018.

According to Flood's contract, he is due a $1.4 million buyout if he is fired without cause. Under the terms of Hermann's contract, the "university shall continue to pay Hermann her full base salary and health and pension benefits, but no other amount or item.'' Under that contract, she would be owed $1.16 million through 2018.

Barchi said the buyout money likely would come through a combination of private and university funds.

Following the announcements by Rutgers, Gov. Chris Christie, who university officials said was not consulted about the changes, issued a statement praising Hobbs, who serves as Ombudsman for the Office of the Governor.

"I've known Dean Hobbs for many years and he has always been a person of great character and judgment, as well as an effective leader and manager. I can think of few people better suited to step into the role of athletic director," Christie said. "Rutgers is fortunate to have him and I congratulate him on his selection."

Flood, meanwhile, who had parked his SUV inside the gates of the Rutgers practice field and then boarded a helicopter for a New York high school championship game on Long Island Sunday morning, finally returned at 2:20 p.m. after the news of his termination broke. In a message on social media, he later thanked the Rutgers community and wished his team success.

"This program has been built on a strong foundation. I have no doubt the best is yet to come," he wrote.

He was not given the opportunity to meet with his players after his firing.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.

S. Klein opened on Nov. 11, 1963, in Woodbridge.

A TOYS "R" US, Raymour & Flanigan furniture store and a Best Buy electronics store today fill The Plaza at Woodbridge on Route 1. But in the 1960s, the entire site was dominated by the S. Klein Department Store.

S. Klein, which sold everything from food to furniture, opened on Nov. 11, 1963, at 675 Route 1 in Woodbridge.

In this 1960s photo, a family stands near their car in a parking lot full of sharply detailed sedans outside the department store.

On Dec. 3, this and other vintage photos of places to shop in New Jersey will appear as "Vintage photos of N.J. discount and department stores" on nj.com.

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The 8,500-square foot home sat empty in Piscataway for several years until it was sold last August. Watch video

(Editor's Note: This story has been reprinted from Aug. 20, 2014.)

PISCATAWAY -- The custom-built house that former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano had built near the football stadium is finally off the market, closing on Tuesday at a record $1.35 million sale price, according to the real estate agent who brokered the transaction.

Michael Santini of Golden Key Reality said it's believed to be the highest sale price for a residential listing in Piscataway.

"That's another first for Coach Schiano,'' said Santini, who listed the 8,500-square-foot-house located at 38 Logan Lane in Piscataway not long after Schiano left Rutgers to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Reached on his cell phone Wednesday afternoon, Schiano confirmed the sale of his home but declined to provide further details or be interviewed on other topics.

Santini said the property, which sat on the market for more than 2 1/2 years, "was the most challenging and most rewarding house'' he's sold in his 38 years in real estate.

"It was an absolute pleasure,'' Santini said, "to work for Greg and his wife and the buyer.''

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2015/11/links_recapping_njcoms_coverage_of_rutgers_athleti.html

Schiano spent 11 seasons at Rutgers, where he turned a struggling program into a perennial bowl contender before making a leap to the NFL. The Buccaneers fired Schiano last December after he compiled a 11-21 record in two seasons.

Since then, rumors have swirled that if Rutgers was to make a coaching change after this season, Schiano would be near the top of the list of candidates to replace Kyle Flood.

The property owned by former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is now off the market.Keith Sargeant/NJ.com 

The university Board of Governors voted to sell Schiano the wooded 0.85-acre parcel of land amid calls for public debate, since it was once part of 350 acres of land that Rutgers had protected from development for ecological reasons.

At the time, Schiano said his goal was to move his family to a house that was both near the football stadium and large enough to entertain people associated with the program.

Located less than a mile in driving distance from High Point Solutions Stadium, the house is set on a cul-de-sac surrounded by homes valued at around $300,000. Couple that with an annual property tax bill exceeding $24,000 and Santini didn't have an easy chore selling the home.

"Greg had the house custom built for his family,'' said Santini, who has served as the real estate agent for several Rutgers coaches, including Flood, now in his third season as Scarlet Knights head coach.

"It's designed as a family retreat,'' Santini said. "That is a home you'd see in Martha's Vineyard, not the kind of home you're accustomed to seeing in that neighborhood. Houses in that neighborhood typically sell for between $700,000 and $900,000 at most so the fact that we were able to get over a million for it, certainly people in that neighborhood should appreciate it.''

POLITI: Barchi made the right moves

The listing described the home as having an "open floor plan ... meticulously designed with comfort and easy living in mind.'' The house features a mahogany-paneled office, a gourmet kitchen with two refrigerators, an exercise room with mirrored walls, a heated pool with a waterfall, a rubberized floor and a steam shower, and a 42-by-30-foot media and game room.

"We probably had 30 potential buyers over the course of how many years,'' Santini said. "I talked with him periodically, just to give him an update on how things were progressing. He's such a good guy -- I haven't been feeling well in recent years and he'd check in and say, 'Mike, you know I'm praying for you and if there's anything you need.' ''

Initially listed at $2.3 million, the house was reduced to $2.15 million in September 2012 and then to $1.95 million later that year. Its final listing price was $1.595 million, Santini said.

While Santini declined to provide details on the new property owners, he said: "They're a nice couple that appreciated the quality of the house. It's going to be their primary residence, and they were an absolutely pleasure to work with.''

A Rutgers football season ticket holder, Santini, 57, said he routinely handled the up-keep on the house, making sure to run the pool and ensuring that the subcontractors maintained the property.

"I was just saying to my secretary, 'What am I going to do with my time now?' '' Santini said. "He's a terrific man, a terrific coach, and a great family man. In my book, I'm 57 and I've been following Rutgers for years. What Schiano and (former AD Bob) Mulcahy did for that program can't be overstated.

"I call it 'the house that Schiano built,' '' Santini said, referring to Rutgers' football stadium -- not the Logan Lane property.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.

 

Michael Pino, 33, had nine decks of heroin, police say.

Michael Pino tried to bring heroin to South Brunswick court, cops say. (Photo provided) Brian Amaral | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- A Franklin man was arrested as he was heading to court last week because he tried to go through security with heroin in his pocket, police said.

Michael Pino, 33, approached the court screening area on Tuesday, where officers Ken Bird and Alan Quercia were standing, police said. They told him he had to empty his pockets. He refused to empty his front jeans pocket, where officers noticed a visible bulge, police said.

RELATED: Man tries to bring marijuana into Middlesex courthouse, cops say

Police say Pino put his hand over the pocket and refused to say what was in it. He then allegedly resisted arrest as more officers showed up.

Cops found nine decks of heroin in the pocket with the label "killer," police say.

Pino was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest. He was jailed on $20,000 bail, and the case he was going to court for was postponed, police said.

Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.