Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is quickly becoming the most dangerous drug in America. Here are the basics. Brett Kelman, The Tennessean
Accident in Sayreville leaves one injured
An accident on the Garden State Parkway in Sayreville at 8:21 p.m. on Feb. 2 left a Califon teenager with serious injuries. Matthew Wittkop, 13, was a passenger in a 2010 Chrysler minivan driven by Charles Wittkop III, 43, also of Califon, said State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn. The 2010 Chrysler minivan rearended a disabled 2018 Chrysler minivan on the northbound side of the Garden State Parkway near milemarker 125.7, Flynn said. Matthew Wittkop was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the 2018 minivan also sustained minor injuries.
Second annual Alumni Homecoming event
On Friday, Jan. 4, Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) held the second annual Alumni Homecoming event. More than 40 alumni, including graduates from as far back as 1967, attended the event. Thanks to generous donations from the school’s career and technical programs and their partners, many of the alumni left the event with door prizes; one even received a firewood shed created by the SCVTHS Carpentry program. Visit www.scvths.org.
Pallone announces $900K in grants
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J. 6th District) announced on Thursday that Rutgers University has been awarded two National Science Foundation (NSF) Grants totaling $883,635. Pallone has been a leader in fighting to ensure funding for the nation’s science and health research priorities. “I know that these grants will support Rutgers’ world-renowned research and continue to build on New Jersey’s status as a leader in science and innovation,” said Pallone in a statement. “I will continue to work to ensure that the federal government is supporting the sciences and higher education.” The grants include: $343,635.00 for a project entitled “REU Site: DIMACS REU in Algorithms from Foundations to Applications” (nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1830707) and $540,000 for a project entitled “Entanglement Physics of Quantum f-electron Materials” (nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1852215).
Brunelli named nationwide broker of virtual park
Retail leasing specialist R.J. Brunelli & Co. has been selected by Legend Heroes Park as exclusive nationwide real estate broker for its entry into the U.S. market. Vacant anchor and sub-anchor spaces at regional malls, as well as freestanding or strip center big-boxes, are primary targets for D. Legends Holdings, the Singapore-based creator of indoor virtual reality theme parks. As a tech-based entertainment concept, Legend Heroes Park combines cutting-edge virtual and augmented reality technologies with the physical world for an immersive experience. Guests of all ages will find a wide range of rides, games, sports, entertainment, and other attractions employing virtual and augmented reality, holograms, motion tracking, projection mapping and 4D+ technologies.
The park’s modular concept can be adapted to a wide range of building sizes, with the space divided into a series of zones targeting different interests. A Junior Zone allows young children to discover, learn and explore through virtual and physical spaces. Sports Zone is where people of all ages can learn, practice and hone their skills in football, baseball, archery, clay pigeon shooting and other sports. Arcade Zone features immersive and interactive arcade games.
Building requirements call for 30,000- to 40,000-square-foot spaces with a minimum ceiling height of 16-feet overall, with 40 percent of the space at least 32-feet high for rides, according to Brunelli. Preferred locations should have five million people within 30 miles, with a one-hour maximum driving distance. Regional malls are the preferred venue. For more information, contact Fox at jfox@rjbrunelli.com.
Franklin’s OpenRisk Technologies chosen
OpenRisk Technologies, a Franklin Township-based startup company is one of two startup companies chosen to join the highly selective Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator program (accelerator.wf.com/), bringing the number of companies to 21 since its inception in 2014. The aim of the program is to advance emerging technologies in pursuit of breakthroughs for financial services. Startups are eligible to receive up to $1 million in funding, along with guidance from Wells Fargo business and technology leaders to help refine the launch of their ideas. OpenRisk Technologies Inc. (openrisk.io) has built a derivatives collateral and liquidity management platform that leverages semantic web, artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies to analyze data, facilitate post-trade operations and manage risks.
“OpenRisk is excited to be part of the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator and to work with business and tech leaders through the program to validate key components of our platform,” said Narasimha Kodihalli, OpenRisk’s founding CEO. “We see great potential to grow our solution and build on our foundation of smart people, smart approach and smart technology.”
Bill to name highway heads to governor
In honor of the life-long career in public service of Assemblyman Jerry Green who represented Legislative District 22 for 16 years, the full Assembly has approved legislation (A-4073) sponsored by Assembly Democrats Jamel C. Holley, Linda Carter, James Kennedy and Annette Quijano to designate the portion of the State Highway Route 27 in Union County as “Jerry Green Memorial Highway.” The bill now goes to Gov. Murphy for approval. Speaker Pro Tempore Green was the longest serving assemblyman of the current New Jersey General Assembly.
Hyland featured in New Jersey Monthly Magazine
Timothy M. Hyland, CFP and president of Stone Hill Financial LLC in the Annandale section of Clinton Township, was featured as a 2019 Five Star Wealth Manager℠ in New Jersey Monthly magazine for the 8th consecutive year. Less than 8 percent of more than 4,300 NJ wealth managers considered were named for the award in 2019. Timothy Hyland and Stone Hill Financial LLC can be reached at 908-894-5020 or by visiting www.stonehillfinancial.net.
Hackettstown woman accused of selling heroin
A 36-year-old Hackettstown woman has been charged with selling raw heroin. Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III, New Jersey State Police Lt. Mark G. Kepenis New Jersey State Police, Perryville Station and Washington Township Police Chief Thomas J. Cicerelle announced that a joint investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns, & Narcotics Task Force, the New Jersey State Police and the Washington Township Police Department has led to the arrest of one person on narcotics offense. Kearns said Ushma Desai was arrested Jan. 30 and charged with distribution of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with allegedly selling two grams of raw heroin during December 2018. During her arrest she was found to be in possession of Suboxone and drug paraphernalia. She was released pending a court appearance.
MJH Associates acquires media assets
Cranbury-based MJH Associates, a leading independent full-service health care education, market research and multichannel medical communications company, has acquired media assets from the UBM Life Sciences Group (part of Informa PLC). The acquisition comes with seven offices — six in the U.S. and one in the United Kingdom — and more than 220 associates. The combined entity makes MJH the largest privately held medical media company in the U.S. Visit mjhassoc.com.
Winter Horse Care Workshops 102 & 103
Somerset County Park Commission Lord Stirling Stable has announced the dates for the Summer Horse Care Workshops 102 and 103, designed for individuals who are seeking to gain knowledge and confidence around horses through a combination of non-riding activities and hands-on experience. Horse Care Workshops 102 and 103 will be held at Lord Stirling Stable, 256 South Maple Ave. in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards, beginning Saturday, Feb. 9, (providing weather does not delay currently running programs). Classes will meet for five consecutive Saturdays. Workshop 102 will meet from 10 a.m. to noon and Workshop 103 will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. Students in Workshop 102 will build upon their experiences in Workshop 101, which is a pre-requisite for this class. Workshop 102 is a pre- or co-requisite for 103. The classes may be taken concurrently. There is no riding involved in either program. Registration is now open and will be available up to the opening day of the workshops as space permits. Fee is $60 for Somerset County residents and $90 for non-residents for either workshop. For additional information or to confirm program start date, call Lord Stirling Stable at 908-722-1200, ext. 5010. Individuals with a hearing or speech impairment can call NJ Relay Service at 711. Visit www.somersetcountyparks.org.
Navy installations and commands exercise
Naval installations within the continental United States (CONUS) will conduct Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2019 (CS/SC 19) Monday, Feb. 4, through Friday, Feb. 15. CS/SC 19 is a two-part, linked anti-terrorism force protection exercise conducted by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command on all CONUS Navy installations. This annual exercise is designed to enhance the readiness of Navy security forces and ensure seamless interoperability among the commands, other services and agency partners. Exercise CS/SC 19 is not in response to any specific threat, but is a regularly scheduled exercise.Area residents may also see increased security activity associated with the exercise. Additionally, residents in the immediate area may hear announcements over the Station’s emergency broadcast system — to eliminate any confusion with possible real world events, all announcements related to the drill will begin and end with the statement, “Exercise, Exercise, Exercise.” Visit bit.ly/2RwFpSJ.
Zwicker ‘bot’ measure approved by Assembly
Looking to strike a balance between innovation, transparency and consumer protection, a bill prohibiting the use of an online “bot” to communicate or interact for the purpose of misleading a person during a purchase, or to influence the outcome of an election, was recently approved 75-1-0 by the full Assembly. The legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-16th District), would protect the public from bad actors who would utilize bots to spread misinformation. As defined by the bill (A-4563), a bot is an automated online account where most of its posts are not operated by a person. A person who violates the provisions of the New Jersey bill would be liable for a civil penalty of $2,500 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second offense, and $10,000 for each subsequent offense. If the individual discloses that it is, or is using, a bot, liabilities would not be applicable. The disclosure would need to be clear, conspicuous and reasonably designed.The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration. Visit http://www.assemblydems.com/.
Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. held
Seventh graders at Wardlaw+Hartridge in Edison led a recent Middle School full division meeting with a tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They read selections from his “I Have a Dream speech” and made connections between it and the school’s mission skills of ethics, empathy, and civic engagement. Students in all three grades reflected on King’s message and crafted their own dreams for the school community, which are displayed on bulletin boards throughout the Middle School. Visit www.whschool.org.
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