Synagogue Threat: Update

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From NJ Spotlight – Friday Nov. 4, 2022: The day after FBI in Newark warned of a threat to synagogues in N.J., the agency said it has identified its source and mitigated the danger.The agency did not detail what steps it had taken, saying only, “We identified the source of the threat who no longer poses a danger to the community.”The source was identified only as a man who holds “radical extremist views”; there was also no word on whether he had been charged or was in custody.The agency yesterday took to Twitter to say it had “received credible information of a broad threat to synagogues in NJ,” explaining the unusual move as a “proactive measure” as it investigated. 
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George Street Playhouse for 2022/2023 Comes Alive in a New Venue with an Acclaimed Production of a New Play “Her Portmanteau”

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George Street Playhouse (GSP)is excited to welcome back audiences to the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center and announces casting for the upcoming production of Her Portmanteau a new play by Mfoniso Udofia, directed by Laiona Michelle. Performances go through October 30, 2022. “We can’t wait to welcome audiences back and jump start our exciting 2022-23 season with Her Portmanteau, a moving play about a mother and her daughters.” said David Saint, Artistic Director, George Street Playhouse. Her Portmanteau by playwright Mfoniso Udofia will be directed by George Street Playhouse’s Artistic Associate Laiona Michelle (Little Girl Blue, Book of Mormon). Mfoniso Udofia’s moving work, which The New York Times called “extraordinary,” touches on universal themes of mother-daughter relationships, forgiveness, reconciliation, and the struggle associated with leaving our countries of origin behind, while still holding on to its rich cultural heritage. READ MORE

Highland Park Celebrates the Multi-Million dollar Renovation of School Recreation Track and Field Complex

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The Borough of Highland Park on September 29, 2022 formally opened the nearly two million dollar renovation of the football fields/track & field/recreation complex behind the Highland Park Middle School/High School. The renovation of the Highland Park Recreation Complex was funded by an allocation from the NJ State FY 2022 budget and local matching funds from the municipal budget as approved by the Highland Park Council Members and the school budget as approved by the Highland Park Board of Education Memvbers. Highland Park elected officials and staff worked tirelessly to obtain the funding from the state and to ensure matching local funds. In her remarks, the mayor noted:

“The recreation complex at the Middle School/High School is the only large parcel of land owned by the borough. As such, it has served as the location for different broadly-attended borough activities over the years. READ MORE

HPPD Averts Potential Suicide on Goodkind Bridge

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Two Highland Park Police officers stopped a potential tragedy last week, as they calmed an individual showing suicidal behavior on the Goodkind Bridge in Edison. On the evening of Friday, June 3, Highland Park Police Officer Sean Garley was driving over theMorris Goodkind Bridge on Rt 1 in Edison on his way home from work. As he was crossing thebridge, he observed a car parked on the shoulder and an individual pacing near the railing thatrepeatedly grabbed the guardrail and leaned over the edge, looking at the river below.Believing he was witnessing an indicator of suicidal behavior, Officer Garley parked nearby,exited his vehicle, and started speaking with the distraught individual who confirmed they wereintending to jump from the bridge.Utilizing his training in de-escalation and critical incident management skills, Officer Garleycalmed the individual down and over the span of several minutes was able to bring them awayfrom the edge of the bridge to sit on the curb.Off Duty Highland Park Police Detective Sean McGraw, also on his way home from work, sawwhat was happening and stopped to assist Garley in keeping the individual calm.The off-duty Highland Park Officers notified the Highland Park Dispatch center of what wasoccurring and asked for support from neighboring jurisdictions. Officers from the Edison andNew Brunswick Police Departments quickly arrived on scene and were able to take theindividual to a local hospital for an evaluation and treatment.Highland Park Police Chief Rick Abrams praised Officer Garley and Det. McGraw, saying, “I amextremely proud of both officers. READ MORE

Mural vandal – a Highland Park resident – is apprehended by Highland Park police and charged

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Chief Rick Abrams of the Highland Park Police Department announces that a man from Highland Park has been charged with the vandalizing of the mural located at 75 Raritan Ave. Thomas Santo, 54, of Highland Park, New Jersey, was charged with NJSA 2C:16-1 Bias Intimidation, a 4th degree criminal charge, as well as NJSA 2C:17-3 Criminal Mischief for the actual physical defacement of the mural. A preliminary investigation by Highland Park Police Detective Sgt. J. Culver and Det. Palumbo determined that Mr. Santo first vandalized the mural on the morning of 4/29/22 and then returned later in the day to vandalize the mural again. READ MORE

Highland Park Mural defaced and town reacts to a shocking act of intolerance and bigotry

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Several faith and service leaders led a vigil on the evening of May 2, 2022 after a newly installed mural, titled “Home is Where We Make It,” was vandalized last week. Discussions are ongoing among community leaders as to when the mural will be restored. Speakers at the vigil included Josh Pruzansky, president for the Raritan Valley Orthodox Jewish Community Association, Dr. Alex Kharazi, director of Masjid-e-Ali Mosque, Pastor Seth Kaper-Dale, Reformed Church of Highland Park, and Rebecca Cypess, Middlesex Black-Jewish Coalition. Members of The Shelter Project, a group of faculty from Rutgers University and the New Brunswick Theological Seminary that commissioned the mural, also attended. The mural, located near Papa John’s pizzeria parking lot at 75 Raritan Avenue, was designed to facilitate conversations with the local refugee community by being in a prominent place for motorists and pedestrians alike. READ MORE