Several River Road residents attending the council meeting of April 27th were again dismissed by the mayor and governing body regarding their request for a public meeting to discuss proposed changes in the configuration of River Road. Despite the on-going requests to the council to provide a forum for a dialogue to include the township and county engineer with appropriate maps thus enabling the public to ask specific questions about the projects, the elected officials remain unmoved by the reasonable plea of townspeople.
 
River Road dates back to the time when it was an Indian path and its design remains as it was then.  George Washington's troops marched the roadway and Piscataway, one of the oldest municipalities in the United States enjoys an illustrious history. The residents along the roadway, many who reside in historically designated homes are very concerned with the proposed further erosion of historic sites, once gone can not be recovered.

The State Historic Sites Council recently recommended that the Department of Environmental Protection reject the proposal by Piscataway and Middlesex County to take up to 17,000 feet of Hank and Jean Bruno's historic property township officials say is necessary to repair a failing bridge. The proposal also calls for the installation of sidewalks where none now exist. The decision by the Historic Sites Council now moves to the assistant DEP Commissioner who has until August to accept, reject or modify the decision.
 
The plan submitted by county and local elected officials would also change the configuration of the roadway and destroy the tree line which in and of itself adversely affects the historic integrity of the Bruno property. The farm located at South Randolphville and Sidney roads is listed on the national and state historic registers.
 
Members of the Historic Council have asked why no elected official or planner has considered that the bridge be replaced with one of similar design that would not affect the Bruno homestead.

Come join us May 8 (Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm) at the Piscataway Republican Organization Booth at the 13th Annual Piscataway Street Fair. Piscataway Town Hall Lawn, 455 Hoes Lane, Piscataway. Everyone is invited to drop by and all candidates that need to campaign in Piscataway are specifically invited to join the Piscataway Republicans at the booth. For further information contact Bobbi Goodman at 732-235-0621 or at bobgoodman@erols.com. (Rain Date May 15th).

Who's next on hit list in township land grab?

I can't take it anymore! And thank God I didn't purchase a home in Piscataway! Mayor Brian Wahler must be on a personal vendetta akin to Tony Soprano and probably won't be happy until he steals the Cornell Dairy Farm from the Halper family.

Mayor Wahler, what's your house worth? Let's say about $250,000. Give it to the town for, say, $50,000 and call that open space. Leave the Halpers alone. We all know that won't happen. So after Wahler uses his strong-arm tactics on the Halpers, who in Piscataway will be next? The good folks of the township need to keep an eye on this menace and vote him out the first chance they get. Or, they can forever sleep with one eye open, wondering whose land is next.

Janice DiLella - Edison (courtesy of The Home News & Tribune)

The revised plan for the Hoes Lane West and River Road intersection is now available in the Engineering Department at the Piscataway Township Municipal Building. All are encouraged to view the plan. It appears that a widening of River Road is planned. This includes 4 lanes on River Road as well as curbs, sidewalks and bike lanes. How can projects be contemplated when the Route 18 extension won't be fully complete until sometime in 2008?

River Road residents are expected to attend this Tuesday night's council meeting to ask for a discussion item to be included on the council's agenda to what appears as considerable widening of River Road at several junctions notably River Road and Hoes Lane.
 
There are proposals by the elected officials to install sidewalks in areas accross town where none now exist. Some years ago a survey was conducted of residents who overwhelmingly voiced disapproval of such a plan. 

In his March 30th letter to the editor, Piscataway Township Council President Steven Cahn writes, "There has been a good deal of local discussion and unfortunately much misinformation regarding the future of the project to improve the intersection of Hoes Lane and River Road." He also writes, "I would invite anyone who has questions or concerns about this project to come and review the plans at the township Engineering Department or contact one of your township officials."

Therein lies the problem. Not everyone with questions or concerns about this project can review the plans since the Engineering Department is open only during the day, when many people are at work. Also, if different people are talking to different township officials, they may be getting different answers. That's why the Township Council should hold a public hearing in the evening on the proposed improvements to the intersection in question. Then everyone interested in this project has an opportunity to review the proposed plans, voice their concerns, ask their questions and suggest any alternatives or improvements. Most importantly, township officials will be able to clear up any misunderstandings. Written by John Costello and printed in the April 7, 2004 Home News & Tribune.

The Regular April PRO Meeting will take place Thursday, April 8, at the Spain Inn. The meeting begins promptly at 8pm.

Important: County Committee Petitions to be signed. We look forward to your attendance and encourage you to come early and dine at the Spain Inn. Please let Barbara Kossyk know if you cannot attend at (732)-356-6438 or PRO_secretary@juno.com. 

Attention all Piscataway Republicans: we are signing up committee people.  We may have an opening in your Ward and District.  If you are interested in serving or want further information please contact: Bobbi Goodman at 721.235.0621 or at bobgoodman@erols.com.

The deadline for filing petitions for GOP County Committee seats, as well as GOP nominations for mayor and council in those municipalities having local races this year, is April 12th. Petitions for these races are filed in your municipal clerk's office. However, don't forget that each candidate for county committee and local office must also sign a separate form requesting to be on the organization column, (ie: to run with the "Middlesex County Republican Organization" county candidates), the original of which must be filed with the county clerk's office with a copy filed with your municipal clerk, no later than 2 days after the filing deadline.


Every registered voter in Middlesex County will receive a sample ballot in the mail for the June primary. The more county committee seats are filled via petition filing, the less "No Nomination" for these positions will appear on these sample ballots.

For the first time in about 20 years, there are Republicans running in Perth Amboy's nonpartisan elections, (Tuesday, May 11). The "We the People ..." Slate consists of Billy Delgado (Republican) for Mayor and Maria Garcia (Republican) and Israel Varela (Independent) for Council. Although Perth Amboy is able to field enough poll clerks, they would prefer to have the most knowledgeable poll clerks who know, and are willing to make sure that everything is done properly under the election law. Since, (other than Spotswood, which also has a nonpartisan local election on that day), all other Middlesex County municipalities do not have elections that day, anyone who meets the requested criteria to be a poll clerk in Perth Amboy for that day, or is otherwise willing to volunteer for other election day activities, should contact Billy Delgado at billyedelgado@yahoo.com or at his office: 732-826-6711.


If you are wondering whether Republicans can be elected in Perth Amboy, you should know that there are presently two Republicans who serve on the elected school board. In addition, some of you may know that I served as Perth Amboy Republican Chair in the 1970s, and, while I was chair, we elected a Republican (Fred Richards) to the Perth Amboy City Council - who became Council President! Is it going to be a tough and uphill race? Without a doubt. However, under the right circumstances, which includes as much help as possible from fellow Republicans like you, it could happen.

Today at the Middlesex County Republican Organization's 2004 Convention Piscataway's Charles Edwards was unanimously chosen as the Republican candidate for Sheriff.  Go Charles GO!!!!!!

It has just been confirmed that Guardian Angels founder and WABC talk show host, Curtis Sliwa, will be the keynote speaker at the MCRO Nominating Convention, this Saturday, at the Pines Manor in Edison. Curtis is a dynamic speaker, and if you have not heard him speak in person, you will not want to miss this opportunity. If you are not signed up to attend the convention as a delegate, you can still show up on Saturday, register as a guest for $10.00 and see and hear Curtis Sliwa, along with enjoying all the rest of the typical convention hoopla.