.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Reed Becker | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comEva Munoz hit an RBI groundout for East Brunswick in the bottom of the seventh inning in walk-off fashion in its 5-4 win over Spotswood at the Carteret Conquers Cancer Tournament in Carteret East Brunswick trailed 4-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning before scoring two runs to win the game Christina Lee led East Brunswick by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored Munoz and D’Liah Kercado each contributed with an RBI Anabella Stagliano pitched a complete game while striking out 10 walking just one and allowing four runs on eight hits Gabrielle Hill led Spotswood by going 3-for-4 with a home run East Brunswick (14-1) will travel to face Woodbridge on Monday while Spotswood (7-9) will host East Brunswick again on Tuesday Reed Becker can be reached at rbecker@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices — The East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra will present a special “May the 4th Be With Us” concert Sunday afternoon bringing the iconic music of Star Wars to life in a live performance at the East Brunswick Magnet School Performing Arts Center and features selections from the legendary film score performed under the baton of conductor Nate White The program marks the annual celebration of Star Wars Day and fandom into a single immersive experience “A galaxy of music awaits!” organizers announced The concert is family-friendly and encourages cosplay with attendees welcome to dress as their favorite characters from the Star Wars universe guests will have opportunities to meet and take photos with costumed characters Free parking and accessible seating are available at the venue characters and community combine for musical Star Wars tribute Presented with support from the Arts Institute of Middlesex County the concert aims to unite fans of all ages while promoting support for the performing arts in the region Tickets and additional information are available at EBSOMusic.org and attendees are encouraged to arrive early in costume for the full experience The performance celebrates the lasting cultural impact of composer John Williams’ score with the orchestra set to perform selections recognized by generations of moviegoers © 2008-2025 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd CARTERET — After suffering its first setback of the season in a heartbreaking one-run,10-inning loss at South Brunswick Thursday night the East Brunswick High School softball team reacted nonchalantly on its bus ride home They appeared unfazed and unbothered,” coach Kevin Brady said ‘Should they be angrier?’ But you know what I preach that there’s always another opportunity and they seemed to take that to heart.” Taking the field with a blemish on its record for the time Saturday rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to edge Spotswood 5-4 at the Carteret Conquers Cancer event at the Carteret Civic Center Eva Munoz’s one-out grounder plated Makenna Gay to improve East Brunswick’s record to 13-1 and make a winner out of Bella Stagliano struck out 10 without walking a batter against one of the GMC’s most dangerous lineups “I know a majority of the girls on (Spotswood) they’re very good and I pay them respect,” Stagliano said “I just need to trust myself and trust my coaches and trust my catcher I think it helps me overcome facing batters and going against good hitters Even when they hit a good ball I just go on to the next play.” More: Softball Player of the Week: J.F. Kennedy’s Lorelei Lorentzen wins honors for Week 4 More: Softball roundup: Daily May results, links for Skyland Conference, GMC, area Union County East Brunswick managed to withstand another assault from Spotswood’ s Gabrielle Hill Hill had a hand in three of the Chargers runs staking them to a 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the third an RBI single to plate Delanie DiStefano in the fifth and giving Spotswood (6-9) a brief lead in the top of the seventh by igniting a two-out rally with a double later scoring on a single to right by Juliana Ziegler But the Bears’ resiliency has been a trademark of its splendid campaign and their ability to respond was a key factor in Saturday’s outcome East Brunswick answered Hill’s solo shot by scoring twice in the bottom of the third and scored on Christina Lee’s first of three singles Spotswood knotted the score in the top of the fifth inning on Hill’s run-scoring single after DiStefano successfully bunted with two strikes but the Bears responded once again as Rachel Gerould stroked a lead-off triple and scored on D’Liah Kercado’s single up the middle there are kids who seek the big at-bat,” said Brady the outs get harder to make when you know it’s closing up the game Getting that third out is a mental and physical challenge that the special ones always get.” Spotswood tied the score in the sixth as Reese Cunningham doubled and scored on a single by freshman pinch-hitter Gabby Sannwaldt Gay then crossed the plate with the winning run on another grounder by Munoz Spotswood received an impressive pitching performance from senior Lily Cunningham who has taken over in the circle for All-Area selection Ava Mormile Mormile is sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury Though these teams are no longer competing in the same division the victory had special meaning for the Bears who had lost six in a row to their nemesis and hadn’t defeated the Chargers since 2021 The Bears (14-1) had a much easier time in its second game of the day striking for seven runs in the first inning against their injury-depleted in-town rival Lee continued her scorching day by going 5-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs to finish the afternoon with hits in eight consecutive at-bats The freshman improved her record to 4-0 with a three-hitter striking out nine of the first 10 batters she faced and hitting the other She wound up striking out 10 without issuing a walk East Brunswick got contributions from up and down its roster as Emma Turzani doubled twice and Hailey Brenes contributed a double and a triple East Brunswick Magnet (4-10) played the game without its regular battery of pitcher Bella Serronico and catcher Makayla Caban Serronico was struck in the face by a line drive while playing third base in the Tigers’ early game against Carteret while Caban has an injured thumb and was limited to serving as designated player NJ – Travel back in time and discover what it truly meant to “pass muster” as .. NJ - The Passover Seder is one of my favorite meals to make 2025) – Hundreds of students from across New Jersey .. NEW BRUNSWICK - Rutgers will move 100 of its medical students into a portion of the third .. NEW BRUNSWICK – National autism rates have reached a record high NEW BRUNSWICK – Jonathan Holloway will leave his dual position as professor and .. NJ — A Piscataway Township police officer was arrested Thursday .. NJ – Three Rutgers students and a Cranford man have been charged with .. NJ - On 50th anniversary of Patrolman William J .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaTrinity Bernadino’s sixth-inning inside-the-park home run completed the comeback for Carteret securing a 7-6 home victory over East Brunswick Magnet East Brunswick Magnet (5-10) opened up a 6-3 lead after the top of the fourth Carteret (7-9) scored four unanswered runs culminating with Bernadino’s home run to clinch the result Miyah Knight drove in two RBIs for Carteret Jayanilis Pagan recorded the win on the mound two-run performance for East Brunswick Magnet Dylan McCoy can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance MediaAnna Treese scored seven goals to go with four draw controls as Peddie and East Brunswick battled to a 9-9 tie in Hightstown Neither team was able to score in two three-minute overtime periods Treese increased her team-leading goal total to 39 on the season Aubrey Shaulis added a goal and four ground balls Lexie Hoffman also scored and Mikala Kuser made 12 saves for Peddie (3-8-1) The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! EAST BRUNSWICK – Township police are investigating a pedestrian crash that left a 63-year-old South River man dead Wednesday morning to Route 18 northbound near Arthur Street where the pedestrian was critically injured and pronounced dead at the scene The driver of the vehicle was uninjured and remained at the scene of the crash Patrolman David Methner of the East Brunswick Police Department's Traffic Safety Section is conducting the crash investigation The cause of the crash remains under investigation and no further information is being released at this time Anyone who may have witnessed or has information is asked to contact the East Brunswick Police Department Traffic Safety Section at 732-390-6969. Anonymous tips can be provided by calling the Confidential Tip Line at (732) 4EB-TIPS or emailing tips@ebpd.net Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com please subscribe or activate your digital account today EAST BRUNSWICK – A Matawan man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a series of shootings in targeted attacks said Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone East Brunswick police in recent weeks responded to Cranbury Circle on reports of three separate shootings without injury was taken into custody after officers found him returning to Cranbury Circle on Friday and he was charged with two counts of attempted murder possession of a controlled dangerous substance possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property Kaldes was being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center in North Brunswick "I want to take a moment to commend the outstanding work of the men and women of the East Brunswick Police Department who were instrumental in the swift and thorough investigation that led to the arrest of the suspect," said Police Chief Frank LoSacco and relentless pursuit of justice reflect the highest standards of law enforcement Officers worked around the clock gathering evidence and coordinating with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and other partner agencies to ensure the suspect was brought into custody safely and efficiently Their efforts not only brought resolution to a very serious matter but also helped restore a sense of safety and trust in our community." Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is asked to contact Detective Michael Napoli of the East Brunswick Police Department at mnapoli@ebpd.net or 732-390-6990 or Detective Stephanie Redline of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3300 Anonymous tips can be made by calling 732-4EBTIPS (328477) or emailing tips@ebpd.net email: cmakin@gannettnj.com Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin please subscribe or activate your digital account today SOUTH RIVER – Police have arrested one of four suspects in a road rage incident last week of Helmetta has been charged with aggravated assault possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose unlawful possession of other weapons and riot Detectives on patrol in an unmarked vehicle shortly before 5:30 p.m April 1 noticed a disturbance on Ferry Street when it became apparent they caught the conclusion of a road rage incident involving weapons A quick investigation identified one of the suspects which a search warrant yielded a handgun with a loaded high-capacity magazine Cimaglia was charged with aggravated assault possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes manufacture/transport/disposition/and defacement of weapons and dangerous instruments and appliances and prohibited weapons and devices The chief praised the detectives for a rapid response and swift and thorough investigation that took a dangerous weapon off the street Police are searching for Cimaglia and two unidentified suspects Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Patrick Molina at 732-254-9002 (This story has been updated with new information.) Those who live or work in Middlesex County can now experience Dunkin’s new store design at 285 Route 18 in East Brunswick the first 100 Dunkin’ Rewards members in line at the East Brunswick restaurant beginning at 4 p.m 100 Days of Free Coffee recipients will receive a free medium hot or iced coffee for 100 consecutive days on the Dunkin’ app guests must be a Dunkin’ Rewards member or must sign up on the day of the event The offer is only available at this location Free Medium Hot or Iced Coffee will appear in Dunkin’ Rewards app for 100 consecutive days upon entering the promotion code provided as a prize All guests can spin a prize wheel to win free Dunkin’ merchandise from 4 to 6 p.m. A commemorative ribbon cutting ceremony with local dignitaries will take place at 5:30 p.m will make a $3,000 donation to the Raritan Valley YMCA in conjunction with the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation the newly-built 1,100 square-foot Dunkin’ employs 11 crew members Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for MyCentralJersey.com NJ – Dunkin' is all ready to celebrate the opening of its new next generation store the celebration will take place on April 23 The recipients of the 100 Days of Free Coffee will also receive a free medium hot or iced coffee for 100 consecutive days on the Dunkin’ App All guests are invited to spin a prize wheel to win free Dunkin’ merchandise from 4 p.m A commemorative ribbon-cutting ceremony with local dignitaries will take place at 5:30 p.m The newly built 1,100-square-foot Dunkin’ employs 11 crew members and is open daily from 4 a.m The East Brunswick restaurant features Dunkin’s next-generation design with a modern atmosphere A fully integrated digital kiosks will be coming to the store in the near future Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. EAST BRUNSWICK – Chick-fil-A is ready to open in town The chain is scheduled to open March 27 at 371 Route 18 southbound Chick-fil-A East Brunswick will be open for dine-in and drive-thru will remain open until 10 p.m The new restaurant will also offer Mobile Thru a fully dedicated lane in the drive-thru where guests can pick up orders placed ahead of time on the Chick-fil-A App Montclair native Chris Smith has been selected as the independent franchised local owner and operator of the East Brunswick location More: Garbage and recycling tick East Brunswick taxes higher in 2025, mayor says Smith began his Chick-fil-A career as a college student where he worked as a team member for five years He relocated to Atlanta to work at a Chick-fil-A restaurant before entering the Chick-fil-A Leadership Development program Smith was selected as the local owner and operator of Chick-fil-A East Brunswick “I’m thrilled get back to my New Jersey roots and bring Chick-fil-A to East Brunswick," Smith said Chick-fil-A East Brunswick is recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the East Brunswick area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrées for a year Chick-fil-A has locations in North Brunswick EAST BRUNSWICK – Gastropub chain Bar Louie has abruptly shuttered at Brunswick Square Mall joining several other locations nationwide that closed this past weekend many showing up to find their workplace shuttered and locked An internet search on Google showed all New Jersey locations listed as "permanently closed," including Paramus the Texas-based chain filed for bankruptcy and closed more than 30 locations Bar Louie closed an additional 22 locations Bar Louie opened in East Brunswick in fall 2016 and was the Garden State's first Now the closest Bar Louie is in Center Valley More: Chick-fil-A sets opening date for East Brunswick restaurant Bar Louie has 49 locations across 19 states Bar Louie is a bar and eatery with a casual Known for its handcrafted signature martinis Messages sent to Bar Louie were not returned Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin 2025 at 1:52 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Middlesex County)EAST BRUNSWICK NJ — Residents in East Brunswick and Milltown now have the opportunity to tell the County about road conditions The County will be conducting public input sessions on Thursday Back in 2022, Middlesex County adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes on roads a High Injury Network (HIN) was developed to identify roads for potential safety improvements One priority item in the Action Plan is to conduct Road Safety Audits (RSAs) running through East Brunswick and Milltown was identified as one of the roads that needed an audit A total of five locations were shortlisted for the audit: These locations were identified using various criteria and seeks to address issues of all travelers The audits will uncover safety concerns and propose recommendations for improvements that will help reduce fatal crashes and crashes involving injuries The study began in Summer 2024 and will conclude by the end of Spring 2025 Middlesex County is asking for the public’s input to ensure these RSAs are successful and impactful The County strongly encourages residents to attend Public Meetings to share their voices Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com EAST BRUNSWICK – Township taxpayers are expected to see a slight increase in the municipal portion of their 2025 tax bill under the proposed budget The total municipal tax increase for 2025 is just under 1% extending the trend of remaining under 1% for the ninth year in a row the average property was assessed at $122,000 and represents 18.83% of the actual value so the average increase amounts to $26.90 per year or $2.24 per month Cohen introduced the 2025 municipal budget at the March 10 Township Council meeting More: 300-plot cemetery proposed in East Brunswick. Here's what we know The municipal budget accounts for approximately 20% of the final tax bill and covers allmunicipal services Planning/Engineering and the Public Library comes from the ongoing five-year contract for solid waste and recycling The increase for the second year of that contract accounts for approximately $1 million There are also losses in the Parking Utility as parking numbers have yet to return to pre-COVID levels adding there was also the loss of income from Suburban Transit as it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection The township has entered a new contract with the successor carrier More: Have a look inside Robert Wood Johnson's new 15-story outpatient facility in New Brunswick "This should go a long way to mitigating any losses," Cohen said This year $4 million has been set aside for road repairs exclusive of the state Department of Transportation work on Route 18 Middlesex County roads and state Transportation Trust Grants used for Village Drive EAST BRUNSWICK – A Muslim congregation on Dunhams Corner Road is looking to build a cemetery on its property Anjuman-e-Burhani has applied to the township Zoning Board of Adjustment for preliminary and final major site plan approval with use and bulk variances to build the 300-plot cemetery with an eight-foot-high fence around the perimeter at 341 Dunhams Corner Road located in the RP Single-Family Rural Preservation District includes a mosque and parsonage of the local Dawoodi Bohra Community Use variance relief is required because a cemetery is not permitted in the zone The Township Council last August memorialized a resolution permitting the establishment of a cemetery at the site waiving state statutory restrictions due to public need and public interests The Council's approval is subject to the Board's approval of the application The applicant received amended preliminary and final major site plan approval the Planning Board in a resolution in 2018 that permitted an expansion of the existing mosque More: Local Italian favorite among three new businesses opening in East Brunswick A hearing on the application is scheduled for the 7 p.m The Dawoodi Bohra Community is a subsect of Shia Muslim and estimates put its population around the world at 1 million The Dawoodi Bohra Community of New Jersey has more than 500 families EAST BRUNSWICK – Three new tenants have been secured for Legacy Place the mixed-use development rising on the former Wonder Bread site off Route 18 Short Hills-based Garden Communities announced Bonesse’s Tomato Apizza a new business venture from the restaurateur behind Maria’s Pizza in Milltown and Spotswood will offer a hybrid of New Haven- and Trenton-style pizza along with ample seating and a private events room H2O Henna’s Hues Organic will offer high-end manicures and pedicures and waxing services using organic products The business’ operator previously owned iNailedit which serves students from preschool through high school uses an individualized approach designed to accelerate the development of math and reading skills The businesses will occupy the ground floor of One Legacy Place the development’s signature mid-rise apartment building and join 520 luxury rental apartments and townhomes in the development at 110 Tices Lane More: Affordable housing agreements made with 3 large Central Jersey towns Just one retail space remains available at One Legacy Place is currently under development and will include 9,000 square feet of additional retail leasing opportunities Construction is progressing on schedule for a late 2025 More than 90% of its residences are leased and occupied with additional enclaves – including 2.5-story townhomes – under development Four of the new townhome buildings will be ready for occupancy this month Monthly rents at Legacy Place start at $2,610 though the township is facing challenges in 2025 Cohen said the township is looking forward to the openings of Vermella East Brunswick and the ice arena and the completion of Legacy Place in the new year the mayor continued at the township's reorganization meeting earlier this month East Brunswick has been given a new affordable housing goal by the state of 314 affordable units "We're working on trying to get that reduced Some of the places they thought we could build are not practical The mayor also said the township is being forced by the state and Middlesex County to conduct a reevaluation of property values property assessments in the township have dropped to 20.35% of their market value The average home is assessed at $95,447 but the averaging selling price in 2024 was $443,793 The state is asking municipalities to conduct revaluations so the assessed values are near 100% of the market value But Cohen expressed optimism about the township's future crediting much of that to redevelopment projects in the Route 18 corridor The mayor said "there's a buzz about what the future of that corridor and what the future of this township holds and people want to be part of that." Redevelopment has put the township in a "21st century direction," with a record number of new businesses Brunswick Square Mall "is a beacon of the 1970s" and "doesn't work any longer," Cohen said "We need to work as a township to figure out how that's going to work in a 21st century," the mayor said Cohen boasted about the record number of road repairs as well as the addition of bike lanes and paths to make East Brunswick a lot more "walkable He also spoke about the number of grants the township has received in his first two terms More: East Brunswick native, former Bridgewater-Raritan teacher will 'go to war' on reality show Cohen said the public safety department saw an increase in the number of police and technology municipal use property taxes have stabilized with increases less than 1% The mayor also said the Route 18 improvement project though it may be causing frustrating delays "at the end of the day it is going to be a lot better and a lot more friendly to the businesses that want to come here." The reorganization meeting also included the swearing in of Councilwoman Dana Zimbicki and Councilman Denish Behal Councilman Kevin McEvoy was re-elected council president and Zimbicki was re-elected vice president NJ – Route 18 southbound is scheduled to be closed and detoured overnight through Sunday the left lane on Route 18 southbound is scheduled to be closed during the day on Friday Route 18 southbound is scheduled to be closed from Racetrack Road to Main Street in preparation for gas main tie-in work and to activate a new traffic signal at Rues Lane the left lane on Route 18 southbound is scheduled to be closed from Racetrack Road to Square Mall The left lane closure is necessary for gas main work use caution and expect delays when driving through the work zone Saturday and continuing overnight on Saturday and Sunday Route 18 southbound is scheduled to be closed from Racetrack Road to Rues Lane The closure is necessary for gas main work This work is part of the $86.1 million federally funded Route 18 Drainage and Pavement Rehabilitation project that will make repairs on approximately four and a half miles of Route 18 in East Brunswick improvements to the drainage systems and storm water basins installation of new sidewalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps and upgrading guiderail Improvements will also be made to various intersections throughout the project limits The project is expected to be completed in late 2027 EAST BRUNSWICK – The era of the suburban shopping mall is dying And East Brunswick is taking the first steps to prepare for the reincarnation of Brunswick Square Mall on Route 18 The Township Council on Monday unanimously designated 10 lots including Brunswick Square Mall and neighboring properties Mayor Brad Cohen said the designation is "part of a much longer redevelopment vision that the township has had for the entire Route 18 corridor." "This is a massive undertaking," Cohen said adding "clearly this is one of the biggest projects that we will have undertaken." dominated the suburban landscape in the past century the nature of shopping has changed as more and more consumers have switched to the internet for the items they used to buy at the malls it's time for East Brunswick to look at how that site can be "reinvigorated to be much more productive and useful." More: Bar Louie abruptly closes East Brunswick location. Here's what we know owner of the 754,299-square-foot mall built in 1973 had requested the township to consider it for redevelopment adding that the township has been eying the site for some time Redevelopment of the mall is part of the township's goal of revitalizing the Route 18 corridor "We had to do some major changes on the north end (of Route 18) that was desperately in need of it and really do something with the mall that is not functioning as a mall should function in 2025," Cohen said the Route 18 corridor has moved toward a recreational "It doesn't mean that we're getting rid of all retail," Cohen said "It just needs to be reworked in a way that works in 2025 and that's really what we're asking you to consider this evening." On Nov. 25, 2024, the Township Council authorized the Planning Board to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine if any of the 10 properties qualify as a condemnation redevelopment area The properties in the redevelopment area include the mall Firestone Complete Auto Care service center and Habit Burger Also included is an approximately 3,700-square-foot one story retail building which is home to a pawn/cash for gold shop the township Planning Board concluded that the properties meet the criteria for the redevelopment designation Planner Kate Keller told the Planning Board that while Brunswick Square was considered a regional mall in the 1970s it was supplanted in later decades by "super-regional malls" in Menlo Park Keller said the mall has suffered from deferred maintenance and lack of investment which has resulted in "dilapidated site conditions." there have been numerous reports of criminal activities on the site along with significant code and zoning violations including the storage of construction vehicles for the Route 18 improvement project Although Habit Burger was only recently built a joint operating agreement ties the lot into the overall scheme asked both the Planning Board and Township Council to remove the restaurant from the redevelopment area. Cohen said the township Redevelopment Agency will work with any potential redeveloper which could be the present owner or an outside developer 2025 at 1:55 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Alex Mirchuk/Patch)EAST BRUNSWICK – East Brunswick is preparing for Brunswick Square Mall's transformation the Township Council unanimously designated Brunswick Square Mall and nine neighboring properties on Route 18 as a condemnation redevelopment area which has suffered from recession and the shift to online shopping this is one of the biggest projects that we will have undertaken,” Mayor Brad Cohen said noting that the project was “part of a much longer redevelopment vision that the township has had for the entire Route 18 corridor.” Shopping malls once formed the heart of suburban communities throughout the last century consumer habits have shifted dramatically with the rise of online shopping pulling customers away from traditional retail centers The redevelopment plan aims to transform the Route 18 corridor from a traditional retail space to a more diverse area focused on recreation The mayor emphasized that the current mall model doesn't work in the 2025 environment it was time for East Brunswick to explore how the site could be "reinvigorated to be much more productive and useful." which owns the 754,299-square-foot mall built in 1973 requested the township consider it for redevelopment the Township Council authorized the Planning Board to investigate whether the 10 properties qualify as a condemnation redevelopment area The designated properties include the mall itself Also included is a 3,700-square-foot retail building from 1960 that houses a pawn shop the Planning Board determined that the properties meet redevelopment criteria The report cited numerous criminal activities and significant code and zoning violations The redevelopment designation gives the township leverage to work directly with developers to ensure the final product meets the community's long-term strategic goals for the Route 18 corridor rather than allowing property owners to develop independently within existing zoning laws an attorney from Habit Burger spoke on behalf of the company Despite Habit Burger's recent construction a joint operating agreement connects it to the overall development plan At both the Planning Board and Township Council meetings Habit Burger's attorney Robert Beckelman requested the restaurant be removed from the redevelopment area We think that this project is a laudable project and we wouldn't want to stand in the way of the overall goals,” Beckelman said we just don't think it's rational or legally supportable to have included the Habit Burger in this site particularly subjecting my client and the owner to condemnation to lose ownership of the property that this town just approved them to build two years ago.” stating the township would take it into consideration The redevelopment designation also allows the township to offer tax incentives to developers which would encourage them to invest in the property potentially offset the costs of transforming an outdated mall The mayor specifically noted that without this designation property owners could develop within existing zoning laws without township input The tax incentives are a strategic tool to guide development and potentially improve the area's long-term economic value Any final tax incentive plan would still require council approval giving the community a final say in the process Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com Party City is returning to East Brunswick after leaving more than 20 years ago The chain party and holiday supply store is coming to the Summerhill Square shopping center on Route 18 South next to Five Below in the former David's Bridal site The store design will implement Party City’s newest NXTGEN layout The design is an evolution of the retailer's latest format which provides a reinvented balloon shopping experience while also bringing birthday shopping to the next level Party City had a store along Route 18 in the township that closed around the turn of the century More: NJ-based Party City collaborates with Instacart to provide same-day delivery Party Fair, a staple in East Brunswick for almost 40 years at Mid-State Mall, closed in September.    Party City has locations in more than 70 countries including more than 700 company-owned and franchise store locations across North America House of Cupcakes and Smashburger in the shopping center EAST BRUNSWICK — The weather felt like March but the atmosphere was more like May when the Sayreville and East Brunswick high school softball teams squared off in battle between the Greater Middlesex Conference White Division favorites on the Bears’ new hilltop field Saturday The ramifications of East Brunswick’s 5-4 decision may also come into play next month when the seedings for the GMC and states tournaments are determined capitalizing on each other’s mistakes in a taut matchup that featured three lead changes Each team managed to score without getting a hit “The two of us have played great games over the past few years strong games,” East Brunswick coach Kevin Brady noted “The teams know each other really well and I think we get up for each other.” More: Softball roundup: Daily results and links for Skyland Conference, GMC, area Union County More: Softball preview index: Links to Courier News and Home News Tribune 2025 preview package The winning really began with a walk to D’Liah Kercado who was forced at second on Christina Lee’s grounder Lee stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored on another ground ball by Eva Munoz Neither school had allowed a run going into the game and Sayreville set the tone for the close contest by having the second batter of the game bunt Winning pitcher Bella Stagliano was prepared for a nerve-wracking contest we knew their pitcher was good,” Stagliano said “We knew they had good players on all levels and we all came together and our team chemistry kind of picked us up we stayed strong together the whole game and nobody backed down Sayreville scored first in the third inning when Sara Williams walked and scored on successive fly balls to right field East Brunswick (3-0) responded by scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning Rampolla then came around to score on a muffed fly ball The Bombers (1-1) answered with a run in the fourth as Riley Swanton singled with two out and Williams doubled her home Sayreville tackled on two more unearned runs in the fifth as Mya Infante reached second on a dropped popup and scored on a single by Rose Joseph who then scored on a single by pitcher Josie Vanore One of the things we talk about is really trying to stay confident when the hard things happen and I think our girls did a nice job of that today.” Bella Stagliano (2-0) bore down and blanked the Bombers over the final two frames The Bears escaped the sixth inning thanks to a nifty double play but the seventh inning presented its own challenge While a slight drizzle fell upon the freshly laid turf throughout the contest a steady rain began to fall as Stagliano stepped into the circle for the seventh inning “I hadn’t pitched in the rain in a while,” Stagliano said “I had to trust my stuff and calm down because I knew there was a lot pressure and the game was super close I knew I just needed to trust myself and throw what I have and I know my field will black me up.” Vanore followed with a solid shot to center that Lee corralled for the final out NJ — The East Brunswick Office of Emergency Management on Wednesday declared a drought in the township As most of the state continues to be stuck in severe or extreme drought many water supplies remain below their normal capacity The goal of a drought warning is to preserve and balance available water supplies in an effort to avert more serious water shortages in the future “The Administrative Order establishes a formal process for the DEP to work with water suppliers in affected regions to ensure no single water supplier or region faces a significant shortfall if dry weather and high customer demand continue,” officials said “In consideration and preparation for Drought Warning status DEP has been consulting with water suppliers to assess conditions ensure they are fully aware of the situation and that they are able to work cooperatively with the DEP The public is strongly encouraged to follow these tips to reduce water use: Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com The East Brunswick Board of Education will have an entirely new look after four candidates won seats as newcomers Jaime Falco and Anna Braun won school board seats in races against Barbara Reiss received the most votes with 7,862 or 17.20% of the count an educator with long-term experience in both the East Brunswick and Edison districts Retired East Brunswick music teacher Braun who ran for a one-year term against Levitt More: NJ election results 2024: Most races called in Central Jersey Incumbents Reiss received 5,719 votes (12.51%) while James and Goswami got 5,847 (12.79%) and 2,742 (6%) received 6,850 votes (14.99%) while Burhanuddin Danish got 1,429 votes (3.13%) please subscribe or activate your digital account today.