Heidi Heleniak

Recent Articles

Local Towns Celebrate National Night Out Aug 2

By: |

Held the first Tuesday in August, National Night Out is a community event focused on promoting a positive relationship between police and the community they are hired to serve and protect as well as encouraging neighborly camaraderie as a way to keeping neighborhoods safe. Established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, National Night Out started out with a simple concept. Local residents were encouraged to sit on their front porch for an hour with the lights on to show that they were watching out for their neighbors. It has since evolved into a way to connect with community employees and local organizations, as well as having a good time on a summer night. Every community celebrates differently. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Police

McLaughlin wins Silver in World U20 Men’s 400m Hurdles

By: |
award ribbon

Dunellen resident Taylor McLaughlin won the silver medal at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland in the Men’s 400m Hurdles with a new personal best time of 49.45. He placed right behind Jaheel Hyde of Jamaica (49.03) who was considered according to IAAF reports to be the overwhelming favorite going into the competition. Hyde has previously won the gold in the same category in 2014 and will be participating in this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A rising sophomore at the University of Michigan, McLaughlin was invited to the international competition because he won the 2016 USATF Junior Outdoor Championships in the Men’s 400m Hurdles in June. This was the last race for him this season. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Sports

Water mains being replaced in Dunellen

By: |

New Jersey American Water has begun replacing water main pipes located on Dunellen’s northeast side. The project, which is costing over $1.16 million, will replace 4,340 feet of 4-inch and 6-inch cast iron mains installed in the 1940s with 8-inch ductile iron pipes. Roads affected are Jefferson Avenue (from North Avenue to First Street), and First and Second Streets (from Jefferson Avenue to Washington Avenue). Weather permitting, work should be finished by the end of September. Final paving will be completed this fall. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Dunellen, water

Taylor McLaughlin Moves on to World U20 Finals

By: |
award ribbon

Taylor McLaughlin, Dunellen resident and University of Michigan rising sophomore, finished second in his semifinal heat at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships and will be moving on to the 400m hurdles finals in Bydgoszcz, Poland. His time of 50.25 was only bested overall by one from Jaheel Hyde of Jamaica (49.77) who ran in the same heat. The top nine runners from the semifinals will be competing in the finals on Saturday, July 23. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Events, world u20 championships

Environmental Summer Program Now Accepting Students

By: |

Middlesex County students entering grades 4 through 7 are invited to attend “Eco-Adventures at the E.A.R.T.H. Center,” a fun summer program that focuses on the environment. Scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. August 22 through 26, the program will take place at the EARTH Center, located in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park at 42 Riva Avenue, South Brunswick. Each day’s events will have a different theme, and hands-on activities will explore topics like ecology, water and resource conservation, climate change and issues such as alternative energy and earth-friendly gardening. Most days will begin with a team-building exercise to help students get acquainted. Wednesday, August 24 will feature a field trip and later in the week, students will create video public service announcements. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Middlesex County

Taylor McLaughlin Makes World U20 Semifinals

By: |
award ribbon

Dunellen resident Taylor McLaughlin finished second in his heat at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, right behind the runner with the fastest time overall, Kefilwe Mogawane of the Republic of South Africa. McLaughlin’s finishing position allowed him to advance to the semifinals. He finished fourth overall. McLaughlin will be running in the semifinals’ third heat on July 22. His personal best time of 49.73 makes him as third fastest runner in the heat. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Sports, hurdles, world u20 championships

Suspects sought in Dunellen shooting

By: |

Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief Jeff Nelson of the Dunellen Police Department said today that authorities are searching for suspects who opened fire on two men who were wounded as they stood outside a rental hall in the borough. The two men, whose names are being withheld, were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where they are being treated for gunshot wounds. The men were shot at 6:30 p.m. on July 10, 2016 as they stood outside the rental hall, located at the intersection of North Washington Avenue and Front Street in the borough. The suspects were riding in a white minivan when they approached the victims, and fled after firing an undisclosed number of shots. The investigation is active and is continuing. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Police

McLaughlin Going to Rio, Breaks World Record

By: |
award ribbon

Dunellen’s Sydney McLaughlin is going to the 2016 Summer Olympics. The 16-year-old, who will be a senior at Union Catholic High School this fall, placed third in the Olympic Trials’ 400m hurdles finals, securing the last of the three available spots. The other two spots went to Dalilah Muhammad who had the fastest times in both previous runs, and Ashley Spencer. Not only did her time of time of 54.15 give McLaughlin a plane ticket to Rio, it also broke the World Junior (U20) record of 54.40 Wang Xing of China set in 2005. According to statements made to USA Track & Field, McLaughlin did not think that making the Olympics was a possibility until recently. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Sports, olympics

A message from the Dunellen Municipal Alliance

By: |
dunellen organizations - scouts, charities, nonprofits

After a 4 year hiatus, the Dunellen Municipal Alliance is back… The Dunellen Municipal Alliance is a community-based volunteer organization representing families, schools and businesses, along with faith-based and nonprofit organizations in Dunellen. Working together, Alliance members develop a strategic plan to decrease misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, especially as they relate to our youth. The Alliance membership includes: Chairperson Diana Starace; Coordinator Terri Albertson; Council Members Ken Baudendistel and Kevin Bachorik; Borough Clerk William Robins; Dunellen Police Officer Jon DeAngelo; Dunellen High School Assistant Principal Cuyler Tobin; Student Assistance Counselor Lisa Leibowitz; Dunellen School staff members Jessica Puckett, Beth Willoughby, Lori McManus, Tammy DelRosario and Tim O’Sullivan; First Presbyterian Church of Dunellen Director of Worship & Music & Student Ministry Karl Geiger; and Dunellen Business Owner Peg Lockwood. Community members Peter Albertson and Tyler Baker round off the group. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Dunellen

Sister Act now in Plays-in-the-Park

By: |

Plays-in-the-Park’ second offering of its summer 2016 season is Sister Act. This feel-good musical is based on the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg comedy about a disco diva put in protective custody at a nun’s convent. The show runs from July 6 to 16, excluding Sunday, July 10. All of the performances start at 8:30 p.m.

Plays-in-the-Park is located at the Stephen J. Capestro Theater within Roosevelt Park at 1 Pine Drive in Edison, NJ. Sister Act is directed by Peter Loewy and choreographed by Rassean Holloway. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Middlesex County, play, theater