Heidi Heleniak

Recent Articles

Free Activity Pages – Disney and Pixar’s “Onward” Movie

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Screenshot from Onward movie showing mother, son and dragon inside a house.

The Walt Disney Studios has made Disney and Pixar’s ONWARD available to buy digitally and on Movies Anywhere. It will be available on Disney+ on April 3rd. The film had recently opened at the Dunellen Theatre on March 6. Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 international health crisis, the theater needed to close its doors to the public (the adjoining Zupko’s Tavern which provides the theater with its dine-in menu is still open for take-out orders). Games and coloring pages are available for download here. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Dunellen

How COVID-19 is impacting Dunellen

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Currently there are no incidences of the coronavirus COVID-19 reported in Dunellen. However, several precautionary and preventative measures have been put into place. This is a list of activities that have been impacted. It will be updated as the situation evolves. Government
Municipal buildings and services will remain open during normal business operations until further notice. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Dunellen

Dunellen Police Report | February, 2020

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On 2/27/2020 at 6:05 pm, a New York resident was arrested and charged with offering prostitution following execution of a search warrant at a North Avenue business after an investigation by the Dunellen Detective Bureau assisted by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. She was brought to Dunellen Police Headquarters for processing and later released with a court date. On 2/27/2020 at 6:05 pm, a Pennsylvania resident was arrested and charged with offering prostitution following execution of a search warrant at a North Avenue business after an investigation by the Dunellen Detective Bureau assisted by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. She was brought to Dunellen Police Headquarters for processing and later released with a court date. On 2/25/2020 at 12:01 am, a Bound Brook resident was arrested for contempt of court following a motor vehicle stop on Bound Brook Road in which he was a passenger. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Dunellen, Police

Mayor’s Message | March, 2020

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First, I would like to take note of our volunteer Dunellen Defender Fire Company #1 and Dunellen Rescue Squad and call to volunteers to join their perspective organizations. Our men and women show great courage and valor, and we are better off as a community for their service. I implore you as a member of our community to contact the Dunellen Fire Department and/or the Dunellen Rescue Squad and ask how you may get involved. Dunellen has a rich history of volunteerism and it is truly the backbone of our community. In addition to last month’s student athlete highlights, I would like to extend congratulations to another student athlete’s accomplishment and that is of Chloe Cassidy who achieved her 1,000 career points in basketball in February. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Politics

Train Accident, 1929 | Dunellen Past Present

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Train accident involving a passenger train and freight train when there was a train roundhouse near Art Color, December 31,1929. “Train Wrecks from the Movietone Outtakes Collection”

Phil Mulligan commented regarding this accident on Railway Preservation News: “A Reading freight train and a CNJ passenger train at Dunellen NJ on the CNJ. That was four track territory on the CNJ and Jersey City – Philadelphia trains (freight and passenger) ran on a pool basis based on mileage, about two Reading to one Central. B&O Royal Blue service also used these tracks. Today this is on NJT’s Raritan Valley Line. Continue Reading →

Filed under: History

Dunellen begins decade with new mayor, 2 new council members

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nj government state level building

January 1 was not only the start of a new decade; it also was the day that Dunellen got its first new mayor of the millennium. The Dunellen Borough Reorganization Meeting was started as tradition dictates, at noon. The municipal courtroom was filled to capacity. The adjournment of the outgoing council was called by 2019 Council President Jason F. Cilento. Moments later, Cilento changed his title to Mayor, as he was sworn into office by Municipal Judge Katherine Howes. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Politics

Dunellen Police Report | January 2020

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On 1/29/2020 at 4:19 pm, police received a walk-in report of theft by deception. The victim reported a loss of funds from a digital currency related scam. On 1/29/2020 at 1:24 pm, police received a walk-in report of theft by deception. The victim reported sending money to a scammer posing as a corporation. On 1/29/2020 at 10:25 am, police received a walk-in report of theft. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Police

Guhl and Musson Honored by Dunellen Schools

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Barbara Guhl was selected as Faber's teacher of the year.

Barbara Guhl has won teacher of the year for John P. Faber School. Guhl has been teaching in Dunellen for 38 years. She originally taught kindergarten and first grade at Whittier School where she was chosen as teacher of the year during the 1993-1994 school year. She now teaches first grade at John P. Faber School. Not only does Guhl work to inspire students but she creates a learning environment where they can soar, she also does the same for all of the staff. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Education

Industries of New Jersey: Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties by Richards Edwards

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Dunellen may have officially become a town in 1887 but it was already being mentioned in books back in 1882. Below are a few pages from the “Industries of New Jersey: Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties” book by Richards Edwards. It’s available as a downloadable .pdf. “Like all the villages in this portion of the State, Dunellen is growing gradually in trade and number of inhabitants. The village is located on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, twenty-seven miles from New York city, three west of Plainfield, and four east of Bound Brook. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Dunellen, History

Mayor Cilento’s First Annual Address

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Reorganization Day Speech
Mayor Jason F. Cilento
January 1, 2020

Good afternoon everyone. I wish to extend to you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year! We are blessed to live and do business in Dunellen and I am honored and grateful to be able to serve you as Dunellen’s 22nd Mayor. I look forward to working with the other members of the Borough Council: Kenneth Bayer, Jessica Dunne, April Burke and Stacy Narvesen, and I wish to welcome new Councilpersons Trina Rios and Daniel Cole Sigmon. I think it is important we recognize that with the swearing-in of Trina Rios, the Council is now not only a majority female, but the Council is now more diverse with Trina being the first Hispanic representative elected to the Borough Council, to my knowledge. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Politics