Couple Opens Westfield Mediterranean Restaurant Couple Opens Westfield Mediterranean Restaurant
Couple Opens Westfield Mediterranean Restaurant The married owners of an Indian restaurant in Westfield are opening a Mediterranean eatery right down the street. Kanika Bakshi and Simran Bakshi are opening La'Vash on Quimby Street, where their other restaurant Spice Bazaar was before it moved to Elm Street. The restaurant will open at the end of October. The owners will be giving 100 free meals to customers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Lavash, 114 Quimbly St., Westfield
Westfield Contractor Ripped Off $135K From Clients: Prosecutor Westfield Contractor Ripped Off $135K From Clients: Prosecutor
Westfield Contractor Ripped Off $135K From Clients: Prosecutor A contractor in Westfield has been charged after he accepted a down payment to build a new home but never did any of the work, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.  Ralph A. Rapuano, 37, agreed to build a $1.35 million home for a couple in October 2018. The couple made an initial payment of $135,000, which Rapuano immediately spent on other projects, the prosecutor's office said.  Rapuano lied to the couple when he said his company was solvent, authorities also said.  He has been charged with theft by deception and theft by failure to make proper disposition of …
Westfield Man Admits Having Thousands Of Child Pornography Files Westfield Man Admits Having Thousands Of Child Pornography Files
Westfield Man Admits Having Thousands Of Child Pornography Files A 37-year-old man admitted he planned to distribute thousands of digital files depicting the sexual exploitation of children, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.  Gregory L. Brown of John Street in Westfield was arrested in February after an investigation started after an alert from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators looked at Tumblr and other social media accounts associated with Brown as well as electronic devices, including a phone and a broken tablet, all of which contained thousands of files showing children engaged in various sex…
Mayor Issues Statement After He's Told Cranford Theater Closing Mayor Issues Statement After He's Told Cranford Theater Closing
Mayor Issues Statement After He's Told Cranford Theater Closing A few weeks after a similar venue in neighboring Westfield shut its doors for good, residents of Cranford now fear the same fate may befall its small local movie theater.  Mayor Patrick Giblin said in a Facebook post Wednesday night he'd been told that Cranford Theater would close  this week, but he was unable to confirm. But a message on a ticket website Wednesday night read "refunds are now available". A similar message appeared on the marquee of the Rialto in Westfield when it closed late last month.  The rumors were confirmed Wednesday night, when a me…
Westfield's Rialto Movie Theater Abruptly Closes Westfield's Rialto Movie Theater Abruptly Closes
Westfield's Rialto Movie Theater Abruptly Closes The Rialto movie theater in Westfield closed Friday, catching everyone from members of the public to its employees to the town's mayor by surprise.  So abrupt was the closing that a message posted on the marquee Friday listed a phone number where people could call for refunds.  "Like all of you, I’m devastated to learn about the sudden closing of the Rialto Theater, which has been a treasure of our downtown for many decades," Mayor Shelley Brindle said in a Facebook post.  Brindle, who said town officials were in talks with the theater when it suddenly shut its doors, also s…
Driving In Union County? Police In Multiple Towns Cracking Down On Violations Driving In Union County? Police In Multiple Towns Cracking Down On Violations
Driving In Union County? Police In Multiple Towns Cracking Down On Violations Police in a number of Union County towns are stepping up enforcement of various motor-vehicle laws over the next few weeks, law enforcement agencies have recently announced.  In Westfield,  Chief Christopher Battiloro says to expect heightened enforcement of speed limits as local children get ready to go back to school. Police cars with "ghost lettering" that's more difficult to spot as well as motorcycles equipped to issue tickets electronically will help to combat speeding.  “This is not intended to be a surprise operation,” Battiloro said. “Everyone should know that our ef…
Teens, Including 14-Year-Old, Fled Union Police In Stolen Minivan: Authorities Teens, Including 14-Year-Old, Fled Union Police In Stolen Minivan: Authorities
Teens, Including 14-Year-Old, Fled Union Police In Stolen Minivan: Authorities Three teenagers were arrested Monday after they fled a traffic stop in a minivan reported stolen out of Westfield earlier that day, Union police said in a statement.  Patrol officers saw the minivan, a Honda Odyssey, and another vehicle exit the Garden State Parkway service area and make an improper left turn onto Vauxhall Road around 3:15 p.m., police said.  Police pulled both vehicles over, but when officers approached, the driver of the minivan took off east on Vauxhall, authorities said.  Police pursued the minivan, which struck a curb on Vauxhall and became partially di…
Matthew Toriello Of Westfield, 34, 'Rock-Star Uncle' Who Battled Addiction Matthew Toriello Of Westfield, 34, 'Rock-Star Uncle' Who Battled Addiction
Matthew Toriello Of Westfield, 34, 'Rock-Star Uncle' Who Battled Addiction Matthew T. Toriello, a lifelong Westfield resident, died Sunday. He was 34 years old. Family specifically requested that the circumstances of his death be shared with the public so others might feel less alone in their struggle. Matthew had been battling an addiction to opioids and was celebrating nine months of sobriety, during which he demonstrated strength and courage daily, loved ones said. "Then one day, very suddenly, he was not strong enough. Matt lost his battle early Sunday morning," loved ones wrote. He is survived by parents John and Marilyn Toriello; sisters Kristen and Suz…
Jessica Yorkovich, 26, Fanwood Native Who Loved Travel And Animals Jessica Yorkovich, 26, Fanwood Native Who Loved Travel And Animals
Jessica Yorkovich, 26, Fanwood Native Who Loved Travel And Animals Jessica Yorkovich, a longtime resident of Fanwood, died Friday at Hackensack University Medical Center. She was 26. Born in Plainfield and raised in Fanwood, as a child she was diagnosed with Diamond-Blackfan anemia, a rare blood disorder. She had a bone-marrow transplant in October.  After graduating from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, she earned a degree in architecture from Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. An excellent student, her furniture design was ranked among the top 10 in her 2017 graduating class and was on display at the school. She also enjoyed the two semesters sh…
NEW RANKINGS: These Union County School Districts Are Among Best In State NEW RANKINGS: These Union County School Districts Are Among Best In State
NEW Rankings: These Union County School Districts Are Among Best In State Did your district make the grade? Niche has released its 2020 list of "best school" rankings in America. The results are "based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education." Click here for more on methodology. Princeton, Millburn and Livingston hold the top three spots for best districts in the state. Here's how Niche ranked Union County schools on the list of the best district in New Jersey. No. 39: Scotch Plains-Fanwood No. 23: Cranford No. 14: Westfield No. 4: Summit Click here for…
COFFEE LOVERS: Top 5 Spots To Get Your Caffeine Fix In Union County COFFEE LOVERS: Top 5 Spots To Get Your Caffeine Fix In Union County
Coffee Lovers: Top 5 Spots To Get Your Caffeine Fix In Union County Java. Joe. Rocket Fuel. Mud. Whatever you call it and however you take it, coffee is a necessity of life for many and a pleasant now-and-then pick-me-up for others. Lucky for us, Union County is packed with winning java joints. Here are five top coffee cafés in Union County that promise to provide that needed jolt, relaxation and a little something to eat, too! Track 5, 5 Eastman St., Cranford. The one thing you see over and over again on Track 5’s reviews on its Facebook page? People who swear they will come again—and again! Pour over coffee, unique blends and plenty of pastry choices. …
Here's The Scoop: Where To Find The Best Ice Cream In Union County Here's The Scoop: Where To Find The Best Ice Cream In Union County
Here's The Scoop: Where To Find The Best Ice Cream In Union County From Vanilla—America’s favorite according to the International Dairy Foods Association—to Olive Oil (yes, really!), there’s no flavor of ice cream you can’t find in New Jersey. Here are five spots for a creamy, frozen treat in Union County. Magic Fountain, 498 Morris Ave., Summit. Winner of Daily Voice’s Best Ice Cream in Union County poll, Magic Fountain is the place to go for soft-serve in Union County. Online reviews call it a Summit staple; check out the magic blends. Zita’s Homemade Ice Cream, 1790 Springfield Ave., New Providence. Named for the family’s grandmother and aroun…