A Piscataway police officer has been arrested and charged following a sexual contact investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and South Plainfield Police Department The officer was identified as Wesley Kliwinski according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and South Plainfield Police Chief Peter Papa Kliwinski was arrested May 1 and charged with endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct He was released from the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick following a Superior Court appearance An investigation began April 30 into allegations of a man following young women around a store in South Plainfield with a clearly visible erection Some of the conduct was captured on video surveillance More: Four protesters arrested outside Rutgers Hillel event, charged with rioting The investigation revealed the man allegedly engaged in the same behavior at another store in the area "The arrest of Officer Wesley Kliwinski on serious charges is deeply concerning and does not reflect the values and standards of the Piscataway Police Department We hold our officers to a high standard and any allegations of criminal conduct are taken extremely seriously," said Gene Wilk Wilk said that upon learning of the allegations the police department immediately took appropriate steps including suspending Kliwinski pending the outcome of the investigation Anyone with information is asked to call South Plainfield Detective Thomas Rutter at 908-226-7663 or Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Detective Haley Hlavka at 732-745-3287 Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime please subscribe or activate your digital account today Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A New Jersey police officer with military service and academic honors has been arrested for allegedly following young girls around stores in while visibly aroused and charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct when officials were alerted to reports of a man “following young females with a clearly visible erection.” Prosecutors said some of the behavior was caught on surveillance footage and later linked Kliwinski to a second incident at another store Kliwinski's Facebook profile shows he has a new baby at home He joined the Piscataway Police Department in 2015 after graduating from the Essex County College Public Safety Academy as an Alternate Route Recruit he holds an associate’s degree from Mercer County Community College and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with honors and a minor in psychology with honors from Rutgers University Air Force veteran with two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Kliwinski's arrest comes less than a week after that of Rebecca Sayegh, an off-duty Toms River police officer who was charged in a home invasion-burglary involving her ex-boyfriend Kliwinski was released from the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center following an initial court appearance Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Thomas Rutter at 908-226-7663 or Detective Haley Hlavka at 732-745-3287 By: Richard L A Piscataway Township police officer has been arrested and charged following a sexual contact investigation in South Plainfield according to information released by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Authorities say the investigation began on April 30 after reports surfaced that a man was following young females around a South Plainfield store while visibly aroused Surveillance footage captured some of the troubling behavior and investigators later learned the same man had engaged in similar conduct at another nearby store The suspect was identified as 37-year-old Wesley Kliwinski a Piscataway police officer who resides in Hamilton Kliwinski was taken into custody without incident on May 1 which is considered a petty disorderly persons offense After an initial appearance in Superior Court Kliwinski was released from the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with additional information is urged to contact Detective Thomas Rutter of the South Plainfield Police Department at 908-226-7663 Junior outfielder Trevor Cohen continued his impressive season tallying five hits in the series sweep over Illinois The Rutgers baseball team collected its first Big Ten sweep of the season in a crucial series against Illinois 12-12) faced off in a doubleheader on Friday and wrapped up the series today Game 1: Rutgers wins 9-7 Illinois started the game off with a bang, jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead off the strength of a 3-run homer off the bat of Collin Jennings. Rutgers bounced back in the very next inning as sophomore infielder Ty Doucette cleared the right field wall to make it a 3-1 game The Knights added a run in the third inning off an RBI double from graduate student outfielder Brennan Hyde to cut the deficit to 1 run Rutgers struck once again in the fourth as junior catcher Matt Chatelle drove in a run on a triple to tie the game up at 3-3 Chatelle went on to score on a wild pitch to give the Knights their first lead of the day Hyde added on another run with an infield single and Doucette worked a bases-loaded walk to bring home another run and give Rutgers a 6-3 lead The Knights and the Fighting Illini traded a run each in the fifth inning it would be the visiting team that saw the momentum swing their way Cameron Chee-Aloy blasted a 3-run shot to tie the game up at 7-7 Doucette drove in another run in the sixth, giving Rutgers a 1-run advantage before junior outfielder Trevor Cohen singled to right field to bring home a run and make it a 9-7 game it was the Knights who hung a crooked number in the score column first as junior infielder Pablo Santos and Doucette each drove in a run to take an early 2-0 lead Rutgers would add 2 more runs in the third as Cohen drove in a run on a single and Santos drove in another run with a single through the left side Illinois finally got on the board in the fourth as Will Johannes ripped an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-1 Santos drove home a pair of runs off a triple in the fifth inning to further extend the Knights' lead to 6-1 Johannes struck once again for the Fighting Illini blasting a 3-run homer over the left field wall to make it a 6-4 ballgame Chee-Aloy followed suit in the seventh with a solo shot to make it a 1-run game heading into the final stretch Cohen drove home a run via a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to make it a 7-5 game as Rutgers swept the Friday doubleheader tallying 2 runs in the first inning on a walk and a single Santos continued to stay hot for the Knights tying the game with a double that brought home a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning Rutgers used a big second inning to take control of the game plating 4 runs on a trio of singles and a throwing error on a stolen base attempt The Fighting Illini brought home a run in the top of the third inning on a walk to cut their deficit to 6-3 Hyde got a hold of the second pitch that he saw in the fourth and blasted a solo shot to left to extend the Knights' lead to 7-3 Illinois plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning via a single and a walk to make it a 2-run game with a lot of time left to play Rutgers continued to stay hot offensively in the sixth and seventh innings driving in a run in each thanks to a double by Doucette and a homer by Chatell to take the 12-5 victory For more updates on the Rutgers baseball team, follow @TargumSports on X To view more of Nicholas Hart's work, follow @nhart03 on X. © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. demonstrating offensive dominance despite an early deficit Balanced contributions came from six pitchers highlighting a collective team effort throughout the game while the bullpen was anchored by Zach Gleason who secured a four-inning save without allowing a hit Illinois struggled to maintain momentum and could not produce a significant rally raising questions about their ability to compete under pressure Rutgers' upcoming midweek matchup against Rider presents an opportunity to build on their momentum and further improve their season record With a well-rounded performance and record-setting individual accomplishments Rutgers baseball is positioned to capitalize on their recent success as they approach the final stretch of the season The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Will Harrigan | For NJ Advance MediaLucas Rivera tossed six innings of five-hit ball only giving up one earned run and lifting Carteret to an 8-5 victory over Piscataway Magnet in Carteret Four in the third and three in the fourth broke things open for the Ramblers Drexler Rodriguez doubled and scored two runs as part of a 3-for-3 day for the winners Derek Scotillo doubled and drove in three as part of a 3-for-4 showing for Piscataway Magnet The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. 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 Up next for Rutgers is the final midweek game of the season X | Instagram | Facebook Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. showcasing an impressive offensive performance in both games 11-12) overcame an early deficit in Game 1 rallying to win 9-7 before sealing the second game with a 7-5 victory This sweep clinched the series for Rutgers against the Fighting Illini (26-18 Rutgers will aim to build on this momentum as they prepare for upcoming matchups focusing on consistency and further enhancing their offensive strategy Continued strong performances from key players will be crucial for their success in the remaining games of the season The sweep over Illinois not only boosts Rutgers' confidence but also reinforces their potential to compete effectively in the conference highlighting a blend of power hitting and solid pitching This performance may set the tone for the remainder of the season Whether you’re a new board member or a seasoned veteran there are always new leadership skills to explore NJSBA offers training opportunities to help you reach your full potential as a board member Get insights and guidance on a variety of areas relating to school operations and governance NJSBA's Candidate Kit provides vital resources as well as links to important websites for anyone considering running for their local school board a former award-winning superintendent in Manville will be stepping in as interim superintendent of Piscataway Township Schools at the start of April She was appointed by the Piscataway Board of Education at their Thursday according to a news release issued by the district the Somerset County Superintendent of the Year in 2014 who will be retiring from Piscataway at the end of March Ruberto to lead our district through this transitional period,” said Board Vice President Nancy Salgado-Cowan “She is a proven educator and administrator with many years of experience Ruberto to ensure that all district programs continue without interruption.” executive director and CEO of the New Jersey School Boards Association offered his congratulations to both Ruberto and Piscataway Ruberto step into the role of interim superintendent for Piscataway,” he said “She has been a guiding force throughout her career not only as a leader but as a mentor to so many support and an example of what true leadership looks like and I have no doubt that Piscataway is in excellent hands under her leadership.” Ruberto served as full-time superintendent in Manville from 2009 to 2014 she has worked as an interim superintendent in six districts She has a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University “I’m excited,” she said after she was appointed and my husband and I have driven around town Ruberto said she has a formal transition plan to get the district ready for the new permanent superintendent and that she will be very visible in the schools Ruberto has worked as an interim superintendent in South Plainfield and most recently Madison in the 2023-2024 school year and I’ve been in very small districts,” she said maintained the traditions and history of the district and tried to influence the culture for the new superintendent.” Salgado-Cowan said the board has already begun the process of searching for a permanent superintendent with the New Jersey School Boards Association assisting in the search That search is expected to take about six to nine months we can now turn our full attention to the search for a full-time superintendent,” she said “which is one of the most important responsibilities a board has.” NEW JERSEY EDUCATION NEWS Asbury Park Press Education roundup: School tax increases across Monmouth Ocean With several school districts facing insufficient funding and the state saying local districts should shoulder more of the funding burden NEW JERSEY EDUCATION NEWS Asbury Park Press ‘Not sustainable’: Holmdel School Board looks for cuts after $600 average tax increase About 40 members of the Holmdel school district’s union protested a move to possibly outsource various services by the board.. NEW JERSEY EDUCATION NEWS Asbury Park Press Little Egg board chooses between 50-student class size tax hike The Little Egg Harbor School Board faced a painful choice at its April 29th meeting Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative PISCATAWAY – A public hearing is scheduled next week on a $163.4 million budget for the 2025-26 school year which is expected to cost an average homeowner nearly $400 more in school taxes April 24 at the Board of Education administration building The tentative budget includes a total general fund of $149,329,182 and a total tax levy of $109,813,456 which is up 5.5 percent from the previous year the assessed value of an average township home has increased 15% from $448,876 to $520,317 With an approximate 5% increase in the school property tax rate that means the school property tax bill on an average home if its assessed value increased by 15% and with the hike in the tax rate More: Four-generation farmstand in Piscataway looks to spread the scent of freshly baked sweets That would be one of the largest gross tax increases in recent years "I don't take joy in asking for $396," a school official said during the March 13 budget presentation by then-Superintendent of Schools Frank Ranelli and Schools Business Administrator David Oliveira Changes in an individual tax bill will depend on the change in the valuation of the property Piscataway has the second lowest overall property tax rate in Middlesex County at $1.89 per $100 of assessed value The tax levy revenue represents 74 percent of the budget funding source and state aid represents 17.4 percent More: Piscataway seventh-grader needs transplant in fight against end-stage kidney failure School officials said the budget reflects a nearly $800,000 loss in state aid and that as the value of homes in town went up Piscataway's student enrollment has been fairly stable for the past five years The district is looking to add four bilingual teachers with two each at the elementary and intermediate schools and moving a floating part-time nurse to a full-time position as well as adding an information technology specialist SOUTH PLAINFIELD – A 23-year-old Piscataway man was arrested with a loaded assault rifle in his vehicle after twice eluding borough police Kairi Watford has been charged with reckless driving possession of a large-capacity magazine and other related offenses after the loaded AK-47 was recovered during a search of his vehicle fled from police during an attempted vehicle stop near Hamilton Boulevard and Hopkinson Street The suspect was driving 65 mph in a 25-mph zone while disregarding police signals On March 24 Detective Christopher Blath located the suspect's vehicle on New Durham Avenue and attempted to conduct a vehicle stop over the last few years the South Plainfield Police Department has invested in technology and infrastructure systems to enhance investigative capabilities Blath was able to track the vehicle to a Piscataway home which led to Watford's arrest "This case highlights the effectiveness of our ongoing investment in technology and the dedication of our officers," said Police Chief Peter J "Our priority remains the safety of our community and we will continue to pursue those who put the public at risk." PISCATAWAY – The township Board of Education has tapped a veteran school administrator as the district’s interim superintendent will become Piscataway’s interim schools chief to begin April She was appointed by the school board at its March 13 meeting Ruberto, the Somerset County Superintendent of the Year in 2014, is replacing Superintendent Frank Ranelli who is leaving at the end of March to become the superintendent of the Lower Merion School District an affluent suburb on Philadelphia's Main Line west of the city Ruberto to lead our district through this transitional period,” said Board Vice President Nancy Salgado-Cowan who is leading the search process a master’s degree from Rider University and a doctorate from Seton Hall More: These are the Central Jersey school superintendent salaries by district, NJ's 10 most paid “I’m excited,” Ruberto said after her appointment and we have a meeting scheduled for next week to go through the formal transition plan,” she said “My first priority would be to visit the schools and meet my children I think we’re in a good place right now.”Since 2015 and most recently Madison in the 2023-24 school year More: New indoor gym in Piscataway offers play space for kids with autism, disabilities Salgado-Cowan said the Board has already begun the process of searching for a permanent superintendent we can now turn our full attention to the searchfor a full-time superintendent,” she said “which is one of the most important responsibilities aBoard has.” Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com please subscribe or activate your digital account today PISCATAWAY – The scent of freshly baked goods may be coming to John and Joan's Road Stand a longtime farmer's market on Stelton Road that is looking to add concessions But first applicant Kristin Lauria will have to get preliminary and final site plan approval and intensification of a previously granted use variance for farm use to add the 8-by-16-foot commercial trailer with a 3-by-6-foot concession window with sinks and an oven Lauria said she wants to have a commercial kitchen to bake pies and apple cider doughnuts similar to other farm stands and popular with customers She also would sell coffee and refreshments which her daughter "We're just trying to add to the business," Lauria said adding customers ask for pies all the time She plans on getting the pies from a supplier and baking the doughnuts on site is in a residential zone where farm use is not permitted but Lauria previously received a use variance for the farm and stand and this application would be an intensification of it The application is scheduled to be heard at the Zoning Board of Adjustment's April 24 meeting Lauria also will be seeking relief from township codes prohibiting signs in a residential zone because the trailer is slated to be decorated to identify it as a point of sale for coffee John and Joan's Road Stand is family owned for four generations since 1958 offering local seasonal Jersey produce shrubs and many other seasonal items such as pumpkins and Christmas trees The business was started by Lauria's grandparents who met as children and began dating and married after he served in the Army She had a love for customer service and helping people and he was the son of a farmer and grew a variety of vegetables on his land that they sold before the farm stand was built in 1964 John Lauria died in 1995 while driving his granddaughter and some cousins to school in town Lauria's grandmother continued the business with her son Tim until 2012 when he decided to pursue other interests and Lauria the oldest granddaughter who previously worked in banking for 17 years stepped in to help her grandmother before she died in March 2024 very close to my grandparents," Lauria said used to come help after middle school because he loved the road stand "I wanted to do it because there was no other way forward no one else wanted to take the reins at that point or could take the reins who said a career coach told her this is her calling and they have expanded the garden center for spring shopping PISCATAWAY – The township Zoning Board of Adjustment has approved construction of a three-story self-storage facility in a residential zone on South Washington Avenue The Board granted preliminary and final major site plan approval with variance and design waiver relief to 900 East 92nd Street LLC for the approximately 127,722-square-foot building at 1659 South Washington Ave. stormwater management and other related site improvements More: 'Gotten so out of hand': How Middlesex County is tackling spike in Route 1 fatal crashes The Board granted bulk variance relief to permit a fence on top of a retaining wall resulting in a height greater than 6 feet in a residential district and design waiver relief to permit an access driveway for a commercial use The Board previously granted a use variance to permit the self-storage facility and bulk variances for maximum building height minimum parking setback from a residential zone and maximum number of signs in a residential zone In December 13-year-old Omar Danso started feeling sick His mother planned to take him to the doctor She chalked up his feeling ill to a food allergy or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) But when the Piscataway seventh grader couldn’t stop vomiting over a two-day period she became alarmed and brought him to a nearby urgent care Omar was taken to the emergency room at St Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick with sky-high blood pressure His parents then heard the news that shocked them − their son was in end-stage renal failure "I felt like I got the wind knocked out of me I was not expecting that," said Jasmin Eversley-Danso I tried to stay out of the room so he didn’t see my reaction." Omar needed a transfusion and immediately began dialysis which filters the blood to do the job his kidneys could no longer do He spent two weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit hooked up to a hemodialysis machine through a tube in his neck and taking multiple medications to bring his blood pressure down To raise awareness of Omar’s brave fight and about organ donation in general the Danso family is hosting Omar Danso’s Day of Fun from 10 a.m "We really just want to have a day to celebrate how far we’ve come with him and do some walking and running around the park," said Eversley-Danso who credits Schor Middle School counselor Nancy Arvizzigno and Piscataway Township Recreation Director John Tierney with helping her arrange the Day of Fun "There has been a very positive response to the event," Arvizzigno said "And students haveshared that they miss seeing Omar in class." Omar’s illness and absence have greatly impacted the Schor school community "Omar is a great person − he deserves a kidney," classmate Noah Jenkins said called him "a person of remarkable strength and resilience." "I am confident that with the support of his family and the community he will overcome this obstacle and emerge even stronger and healthier than ever before." Omar Danso’s Day of Fun will feature a 5K fun run and walk as well as a DJ food and tables with health care information from NJ Sharing Network and Cooperman Barnabas Transplant Center in Livingston to spread awareness and dispel myths about organ donation "People in the community may not understand the importance of donating organs or having it on their license and how many lives they can save," Eversley-Danso said There will also be stations for blood pressure screenings "That is what led us down this road," Eversley-Danso said "If we didn’t know his blood pressure was so high I’d like to see people be more proactive in their health and I don’t want to see anyone go through what we went through." Eversley-Danso is working with Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center home of the top Northeast kidney transplant program to find a donor and prepare for a transplant She began going through the process of being tested for donation herself on April 2 which coincidentally is National Living Donor Day I know thetransplant presents its own set of challenges Judging by the laundry list of tests that I have togo through and then depending on how many other people can come forward to start thattest A living donor is highly preferable to a deceased one but all potential donors need to go through a battery of tests to see if they are suitable Not only do they need to match Omar’s O-positiveblood type but they must also be deemed healthy enough that a donation will not put them atrisk The transplant program at Cooperman Barnabas has a separate team of doctors and social workers who look out solely for the interests of the donor even if someone doesn’t match Omar’s blood type The transplant center can match another donor/recipient pair so that a donorfor Omar can give a kidney to a different recipient and a donor for that recipient can give akidney that is a match for Omar "I don’t have any hesitation about donating and I may not be acomplete match and may not be able to do what I want to do in my heart," Eversley-Danso said."So there may be someone else out there who is a better match for him or can donate on hisbehalf." Anyone interested in finding out about becoming a living donor can confidentially email Cooperman Barnabas at cbmclivingdonor@rwibh.org, call 973-322-5346, or complete a donor questionnaire at cbmclivingdonor.org Calling for information or completing a donor questionnaire carries no obligation to donate.Omar’s fight has been difficult on his family but they have also found a new network of supportin Piscataway and the organ donation community Maybe because we’re planning this event with his school counselor So many people are walking around having donated or are the recipient of a donation While he waits for his transplant and his celebration day "He has been so strong," Eversley-Danso said I hadmy tonsils out and you would have thought I was dying I want to be here.'We do his dialysis every night to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood He is hooked up each night at home through a catheter in his abdomen and the machine does its work while he sleeps In between his treatments and his medications − now down to two after leaving the hospital onnine medicines − Omar enjoys playing games a Cavapoo named Peanut,and keeping up with his schoolwork through virtual Zoom lessons PISCATAWAY - The township has settled for $750,000 a lawsuit brought by a former police lieutenant who claimed she was harassed and discriminated against because she is a lesbian The out-of-court settlement, first reported by Transparency NJ the township and former Police Chief Thomas Mosier Crea agreed to retire from the department on Aug The settlement also says the township is not admitting liability in the case and neither Crea nor the township should be considered as prevailing in the lawsuit The settlement also contains a confidentiality clause Crea's lawsuit is one of five filed by officers against the township and the former chief More: New Piscataway public safety director vows 'open dialogue' with community Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Alberto Rivas on Jan 24 dismissed a lawsuit by Michael Paiano claiming he was the victim of age and sex discrimination because he was passed over for a promotion for a younger woman Wei alleges he was the victim of discrimination because of his race and ethnicity Nichols alleges he was subjected to a hostile and discriminatory work environment because of a diagnosed skin condition that prevented him from shaving He also argues he was illegally denied a promotion In his lawsuit Alan Barboui alleges he was harassed and discriminated against because of his immigrant heritage and Mosier once referred to him as "you damn foreigners." The township has filed a motion in Middlesex County Superior Court to dismiss the lawsuit but lawyers for both sides have notified the judge they are engaging in more mediation Tejesh Patel claims he was was subjected to a hostile and discriminatory work environment because of racial slurs who joined the department in 1996 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2019 alleges in the suit filed in March 2022 that Mosier had "engaged in a pattern and practice of behavior of sexual harassment preferential treatment and failing to comply with his own policies," since the start of her career Crea's lawsuit argued the mistreatment had caused her stress and embarrassment and created a hostile work environment lists a series of instances in which she alleged the chief had been disrespectful told her "doll herself up" and made other harassing comments due to her sexual orientation and gender that led to her decision to not take the test to be promoted to rank of captain The lawsuit also contended the township failed to protect Crea and ensure the work environment was "free from sexual orientation discrimination was her direct supervisor and commented to her that he didn't want to see her promoted during his first day as a lieutenant in the Traffic Division with Crea and four other officers failed to discipline another officer in the unit who allegedly placed an inflatable naked female doll in the glass window separating the Traffic Division offices which was observed by a civilian as she walked past More: Piscataway Police Chief Thomas Mosier, facing multiple lawsuits, quietly retires Mosier allegedly favored the department's heterosexual female officers and transferred one woman officer to a highly sought after position in the Traffic Division because he wanted "to stare at her in her yoga pants." The lawsuit charged that one day when Crea was in Mosier's office he "grabbed his genitals and rubbed them while making sexual moaning sounds in self-gratification" when that female heterosexual officer walked by in the hallway as well as when a female civilian employee would walk past his office Crea didn't report the the sexual harassment for fear of retaliation When Mosier became acting chief in 2020 and implemented an emergency patrol schedule a heterosexual female officer was not required to work that schedule and was able to work remotely from home along with another heterosexual female officer had to come in person to headquarters to perform their jobs "The chief treats heterosexual female officers entirely differently than he treats (Crea) adding a female heterosexual officer was scheduled for multiple training opportunities that gave her more experience for future promotions was given preferential treatment by the chief which allowed her to be promoted to sergeant ahead of another female officer who was first in line for the promotion The lawsuit alleged Crea's report of a subordinate's misconduct was discredited by the chief while heterosexual officers were allowed to discipline their subordinates The lawsuit also stated she was bypassed for crucial information about personnel and administrative issues and never selected to participate in the department's hiring process the lawsuit stated she was criticized by the chief when she allegedly managed her subordinates too actively and was told she was "barely doing your job" when she gave her subordinates more latitude "The chief's conduct is predicated upon the plaintiff's sexual orientation and gender and is discriminatory," the lawsuit argued Staff Writer Suzanne Russell contributed to this article NJ — The inaugural Mustang Math Tournament (MMT) .. NJ - Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center has expanded its .. Communication disorders are among the most common conditions in both children and .. PISCATAWAY - The township has eliminated the police chief position and replaced it with a public safety director in charge of the police department a former Union and Hudson county law enforcement officer started his new position as public safety director on Jan Information about his salary was not immediately available Piscataway has not had a police chief since the October 2022 retirement of Chief Thomas Mosier Michelle Pilch became a deputy police chief in May 2023 and is the highest ranking township police officer She has led the department during a time of transition and received support from the public the mayor held the title of public safety director while the police chief ran the day-to-day operation of the police department The municipal code has been amended to create a singular position of public safety director and the deputy chief is a uniformed officer Pilch's supervision of the day-to-day police operations will continue Stith brings Piscataway three decades of law enforcement experience More: Piscataway superintendent leaving to head district in Philadelphia suburbs Stith began his career as a Union County Sheriff Officer before becoming a Hudson County Prosecutor's Office detective where he was named its first African-American chief of detectives New York to serve as a deputy chief following the March 2020 death of Daniel Prude a case that drew national civil rights and media attention Stith was hired by the Rochester Police Department to help rebuild trust between officers and members of a diverse community Piscataway officials may be looking to Stith to do the same thing in New Jersey Just prior to Mosier's retirement −following 33 years of service − the chief became embroiled in multiple discrimination and harassment lawsuits filed against him by township officers In one lawsuit set to go to trial in March who was hired by the Piscataway Police Department in July 2005 alleges he was passed over for a promotion to sergeant due to his age The township and Mosier previously denied the allegations and called for Paiano's lawsuit to be dismissed Slated for trial in April is a lawsuit brought by Officer Alan Barboiu who alleges he was harassed and discriminated against because of his immigrant heritage Barboiu came to the United States in 1996 from Romania citizen in 2003 and served six years in the U.S military before becoming a township police officer His lawsuit alleges Mosier mocked him for speaking with an accent Mosier also removed Barboiu from the detective bureau and replaced him with a non-immigrant white male police officer and allegedly referred to Barboiu as "you damn foreigners." Court document indicate the township reached a settlement last year in the lawsuit brought by Lt Constance Crea who alleged gender discrimination and sexual harassment contending a younger female officer was favored because she was pretty and Mosier wanted "to stare at her in her yoga pants." alleged Mosier treated heterosexual female officers differently than homosexual male officers and her mistreatment created a hostile work environment Details of the settlement were not immediately available “Community is built when we share our common values and communicate our needs,” Stith said “Piscataway has a dynamic and diverse population that prizes its police department and I know that the bonds between neighborhoods and police officers always need nurturing I look forward to contributing to the important work ahead in promoting open dialogue for the vision and mission of law enforcement in this township.” Through communication and proactive engagements the township looks to Stith to heighten the reputation of the police department manage a well-versed command staff and create lasting relationships between police and residents an international franchise offering an all-inclusive play environment for children will unveil its new Piscataway location this weekend will be accompanied by a celebration from 10 a.m Children will be able to play with all the specialized equipment explained the facility offers a wide range of activities for kids up to age 12 as well as areas for old children and adults "We are the only franchise that provides basically a safe and all-inclusive environment for kids of all abilities,” Rodriguez said “We are unique in a way that basically the sensory equipment that is in our gym basically provides the ability for children to play with purpose we have 12 pieces of specialized equipment Each one of the pieces of equipment kind of regulates children in a different way." More: How this young man with autism is turning negative experiences into teachable moments is "something pretty near and dear to my heart." Rodriguez's journey of opening a location began "I was looking for a place for my children to play I have a neurotypical and a neurodiverse child so I was looking for an all-inclusive environment that could be suitable for both my children And that's kind of how I ended up looking at the page of We Rock the Spectrum franchise and started the journey to open up my own location," said the Dunellen resident More: A new Central Jersey culinary program is helping people with disabilities find jobs This will be the sixth New Jersey location for We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym with others in Audubon The Piscataway open play schedule is 10 a.m Admission for the March 15, event is $20 per child, with treats and refreshments sponsored by the My Brother Rocks the Spectrum Foundation. For further price and membership information, visit the Piscataway location's website at werockthespectrumpiscataway.com For further details about the We Rock the Spectrum franchise, its specialized equipment, and the various services it offers, visit its corporate website at www.wrtsfranchise.com Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for MyCentralJersey.com Longtime Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler has been elected to another four-year term a Democrat who was first elected mayor in 2000 defeated Republican Debra Hopkins with 13,206 votes while Hopkins received an unofficial 6,999 Wahler's Democratic Township Council running mates Laura Leibowitz Gabrielle Cahill and Sarah Rashid also won Hopkins’ Republican Township Council running mates Niraj Patel William Lawrence and Patricia Badovinac received 6,894 More: NJ election results 2024: Most races called in Central Jersey During the campaign Wahler said the top goal for his next term is to strengthen the economic development in the township by improving the infrastructure and adapting to the continuously changing economy Wahler also stressed growing the local ratable base retaining and attracting good jobs while maintaining a positive relationship with the businesses in town Longtime Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler defeated one challenger in the Democratic primary and will have to defeat another in the Nov 5 general election as he strives to serve another four-year term in office is being challenged by Republican Debra Hopkins a county committeewoman for about 30 years who has been active in the community and currently works as a home care provider Wahler is running with Democratic Council candidates Gabrielle Cahill Hopkins is running with Republican Council candidates Patricia Bodovinvac More: These Central Jersey voters will see ballot questions in November's election More: Here's where Middlesex County residents can vote early in person starting in October my top goal is to continue to strengthen the economic development of the township We do this by improving our infrastructure as well as both retaining and attracting good jobs while maintaining a positive relationship with our Piscataway businesses what seems to be the issue that residents are most concerned about and what is your response to those concerns The biggest concern we have heard while on the campaign trail is the traffic element of the Township's Master Plan While our Police Department does great work with our safe streets program such as installing more radar signs educating high school students on the dangers of speeding and implementing stronger speed enforcement on residential streets we are always looking to do more to address constituent concerns we are working to put additional bike lanes and pedestrian walkways where possible and we also resurface or reconstruct as many roadways as possible each year What do you think is the biggest issue facing Piscataway One of the biggest issues we are facing here in Piscataway is in trying to find adaptive re-uses for some of the existing buildings that are no longer in demand Since working from home has become so much more common businesses are downsizing their physical office space leaving a lot of empty structures; however we are examining changing market conditions to come up with creative solutions to this problem We are hoping to convert some of the buildings into restaurants The Town Center project proposed for Hoes Lane looks to bring more than 1,000 new housing units to the 19-square-mile township one of the largest development projects in recent memory What do you see as a positive as well as negative impact from this type of development project and as mayor how specifically would you go about addressing them As a sitting member of the Township's Planning Board More: Piscataway OKs plan for 'town center' with more than 1,000 homes between routes 287, 18 What is your vision for the development of the township going forward What would be acceptable and what would not In terms of the development of the township making improvements to the Master Plan is our first priority we have to focus on growing our housing stock to help combat the housing shortage and upgrading our park system to ensure children and families have safe and accessible recreation areas her church and with her husband served as foster parents She also taught pre-K in the private sector for nearly two decades and served as a summer camp director one of my top goals is to address the traffic problems in town I have personally witnessed 18-wheelers driving through residential neighborhoods There is speeding and reckless driving all over town Traffic and overdevelopment seem to be the two biggest things that people are concerned about We need to have a full interchange on South Washington Avenue and Route 287 The flooding issues on Behmer and Possumtown roads need to be addressed It's now time to come up with some creative ways to solve these problems More: River Road church in Piscataway looks to subdivide its property for development The biggest issue facing our town is rebuilding trust and respect to and from the people For too many years our government has had the "because we can" attitude There has been disrespect going both ways which is unacceptable to me The only way to solve issues is to work together as a team The proposed Town Center project will be similar to the development on Ethel and Stelton roads at the old Fairway golf center It should bring in some tax revenue for the town as well as jobs it will also come with added traffic and impact on our schools I haven't talked to anyone who is happy about this project and I am not sure what other options have been considered for this property I would definitely hold the developer responsible for the cost of roadway improvements and most likely a light to help with the added traffic flow There is very little open space in this township and I think what's left needs to be preserved but we need the trees to help with our air quality Redevelopment of properties will be considered and I am looking forward to seeing the proposed ecological park being completed The challenge is how it's going to be funded The town has had a lot of development in a short period of time We need to carefully evaluate where we go from here NJ - The Piscataway Progressive Democratic Organization (PPDO) today announced its endorsement for Assembly candidate Loretta Rivers currently serving her first term on the Township Board of Education is running to represent NJ’s 17th Legislative District all-volunteer organization is proud to support our member Loretta Rivers for Assembly,” said PPDO Secretary Viola Stone “Our district is one of the most diverse places in our entire state and we deserve to have people who reflect our community and our values our residents will have a voice on the issues that matter PPDO leaders said its volunteers will be knocking doors and communicating its support for Loretta and Newark Mayor Ras J who the organization endorsed earlier this year The group started in the wake of Trump’s first election The PPDO has won multiple issue campaigns and legal challenges against the local Democratic political machine PPDO secured two council seats in last year’s election She has strong community ties and experience winning tough campaigns We look forward to helping her become the first woman and the first person of color to represent LD-17 in our Legislature and we can’t wait to do it again,” said PPDO Vice Chair and Piscataway At-Large Council member Laura Leibowitz “I am thrilled to be endorsed by this active and successful group of neighbors who have been working together for change in our community and our Party I am grateful to have their support and look forward to serving the people of LD-17 when I am in the Assembly,” said Rivers Rivers is a dedicated nonprofit professional with over 20 years of experience developing and implementing programs that improve the lives of working families and underserved communities an organization dedicated to empowering women and transforming political leadership Loretta is passionate about advancing policies that respond to the needs of all New Jerseyans in Public Administration and Social Services Professions from Kean University “Loretta’s compassion for her neighbors and enthusiasm for helping them will make her an excellent representative in our Legislature,” said Mindy Goldstein she will oppose attacks on our basic rights She will stand with working people and our most vulnerable neighbors during this incredibly challenging time in our country’s history.” I would like to receive emails from Insider NJ PISCATAWAY - After six years as superintendent of schools Frank Ranelli is leaving the school district The district Board of Education accepted his resignation at the Jan 9 school board meeting and will begin looking for a replacement Ranelli is leaving at the end of March to become the superintendent of the Lower Merion School District Ranelli’s proposed five-year contract calls for a starting salary of $290,000 with a 2% raise each April Ranelli was getting paid $236,900 a year in Piscataway "Piscataway has been a huge part of my life for the past 11 years," Ranelli said "This is an incredible school district and community that I know will thrive for years to come for the good of its students and their families I am grateful for all the wonderful people who worked alongside me to make a positive impact on our children." Ranelli expanded support for mental health and social emotional learning; instituted new opportunities for students headed to college as well as those seeking different paths after graduation; created the district’s Department of Diversity and Inclusion; oversaw expansion of the free preschool program; and guided the district through the COVID-19 pandemic Board of Education President Shantell Cherry said the board will immediately begin a search for a replacement considering both internal and external candidates "Please be assured that all district programs will continue without interruption or change and with the ongoing level of commitment to our students that our community deserves and expects," Cherry said "Selecting a superintendent for our district is one of the board’s greatest and most exciting responsibilities We expect to install someone who displays great leadership character Cherry said that Ranelli will be assisting in the transition in next two months and the board will appoint an interim superintendent during that time More: Eight Central Jersey districts receive $14.7 million to expand preschool programs and community informed and involved throughout that process," Cherry said Ranelli previously served five years as the district's assistant superintendent Ranelli began his career as a special education teacher there from 1996 to 2003 He then served as assistant principal of North Burlington County Regional High School from 2003 to 2005; principal of Lindenwold High School from 2005 to 2008; and principal of Burlington County Institute of Technology from 2008 to 2014 "Piscataway Township Schools are better off because of the wonderful impact Dr "We will miss his leadership and wish him and his family nothing but the best in this new adventure." 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 Step back in time and experience what life was like in New Jersey during the U.S There were approximately 80,000 soldiers from New Jersey who served in the Civil War and this weekend you and your children will get a chance to learn about what that experience was like The event will be held from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27 at East Jersey Old Town Village, located at 1050 River Road in Piscataway East Jersey Old Town Village is a historical preserved history site run by Middlesex County The village is a collection of 16 historical homes from the 1700s and 1800s and it shows what life was like in New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War and Civil War period East Jersey Old Town Village is located at 1050 River RoadPiscataway with historical interpreters on site from April - October Hours: Wednesday–Friday: 10 am–4 pmSaturday and Sunday: 12–4 pm Parking: It’s free and easy: Here’s a map of the Village Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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