Highland Park Planet (http://highlandparkplanet.org/page/33/)
Emma C. DeVilla, 73, of Dayton died Friday, June 22, 2018 at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center of Plainsboro. Born in Pateros, Rizal, Philippines, she has been a resident of South Brunswick since 1976. Emma retired in 2015 with over 30 years of service as a Nursing Instructor with Capital Health Systems at Fuld. Emma was a member of St. Cecilia’s Church, Monmouth Junction and volunteered for various Roman Catholic Organizations. READ MORE
Matthew Hersh’s new job as director of communications for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities within Matthew’s new job within the Murphy Administration precludes him serving as an elected official in state or local government. He intends to remain a volunteer giving back to the community that has given him so much. READ MORE
Water – a life-sustaining commodity that many take for granted – has gained a much higher profile in Highland Park in the past few days. Residents learned that a typical family of four can expect to pay an increase of $350 this year for the tap water they drink, showers they take, the dishes they wash and the toilets they flush. This increase comprises an annual hike in water/sewer rates and a one-time surcharge. The town is establishing a new rate schedule to address the water and sewer cost increases that were never passed on to Highland Park residents and businesses for the last seven years. This action is due to an administrative failure to increase residential and business sewer and water rates to correspond to the significant escalation of the water and sewer costs being billed to the municipality. READ MORE
Highland Park resident Sam Castillo is raising money and raising expectations for an entrepreneurial enterprise that will rise – literally – to the occasion of satisfying a great need for a kneaded product and needed business in her hometown. READ MORE
Broadway performer, Thayne Jasperson, a cast member of Hamilton, visited Highland Park on Monday, May 14, when he led a theater (acting, singing, and dancing) workshop, geared towards students in the 5th through 12th grades. The workshop was facilitated by Fresh Theatre Arts, LLC., founded by Highland Park resident Tova Halpern. “Thank you, Thayne Jasperson and Fresh Theatre Arts for bringing some Hamilton: An American Musical to Highland Park, New Jersey. My kid (Lily Solomon, 5th grader) had so much fun,” said Rebecca Hersh in a Facebook post. Thayne is one of Hamilton’s original cast members. READ MORE
HP Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Taylor is designation as Middlesex County Superintendent of the Year. He is in the running for a statewide honor. READ MORE
The apocalypse in New Jersey never looked so good, thanks to local theater talent who created a musical comedy ‘The Eleventh Hour’ about the end of the world. It is on stage in NYC May 11-June 27. READ MORE
An Edison woman, driving while intoxicated, has pleaded guilty in causing the Feb. 16, 2018 death by auto of a 21-year old Edison woman and injuring two others, both residents of Highland Park, READ MORE
An unidentified juvenile from Highland Park is charged with murdering her newborn baby. READ MORE
Council Member Matthew Hersh addressed the issue of racial profiling and racial bias in the community and urges the residents adopt a clear-eyed approach about the realities of racism. READ MORE