Chiropractor in New Brunswick, NJ

By NEILL BOROWSKI

Last updated October 24, 2024 at 5:54 PM

New Brunswick ranks ninth in the state in the number of homeless people at 182, according to nonprofit Monarch Housing Associates, which annually studies the homeless for the state Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

Newark was first with 2,089 and Jersey City came in No. 2 with 534 homeless. Camden was No. 3 with 485.

Of the New Brunswick total, 70, or 38%, of the homeless were found to be unsheltered, according to the count done on January 23, Monarch Housing Associates reported in its recently released annual report.

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Middlesex County overall had 619 total homeless persons in the report and 9% were unsheltered.

The number of homeless in New Jersey has steadily grown since 2022 and the 12,680 total was up nearly 24% from 2023. The total unsheltered population of 1,389 was up nearly 8% from 2023.

Unsheltered homeless is defined as any individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is in space not designed for sleeping accommodations for humans, such as a car, a park or an abandoned building, the Monarch Housing report notes.

People who stayed in emergency shelters, transitional housing and safe havens made up the sheltered homeless population.

The Monarch Housing Associates report on New Jersey is available here.

Homelessness skews toward the Black, non-Hispanic, population in New Jersey. Although African Americans make up only 12% of the state’s population, they account for 49% of the homeless population, according to the report.

The top three causes of homelessness were that the person or family was asked to leave a shared residence, eviction or at risk of eviction, and loss or reduction of job income, the report notes.

Of the homeless population reporting some type of disability, mental health issues ranked first, substance abuse disorders were second and chronic health conditions were third.

While most reported they were homeless for a year or less, about 19% were homeless for one to three years and 10% for more than three years, according to the report.

10 New Jersey municipalities with the largest homeless populations

Rank | Municipality | County | Total homeless | Unsheltered | % unsheltered

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Gerald Pomper, who wrote the book (or, actually, 19 of them) on American elections, is telling the students assembled in his Election of 2024 class that he doesn’t believe there is such a thing as undecided voters.

“They may not know what they decided,” he said. “I’ll give you my chicken or steak analogy. You don’t know which to order until you’re at the restaurant and the waiter says, ‘I have to have your order now.’ You finally say chicken or steak. Or, if you’re crazy, you say, ‘Give me vegetables.’ ”

The 50 or so students erupt in laughter.

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This sort of fun and fascination with learning are at the essence of this course and 300 others in fields ranging from philosophy to film studies presented through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers (OLLIRU).

Administered by the Division of Continuing Studies at Rutgers, OLLIRU operates primarily on an endowment from the California-based Bernard Osher Foundation.

Many of the students choose the annual $50 membership option, which, along with some registration fees and materials costs associated with some of the art courses, allows them to select classes over the four semesters. Or, students can pay on a per-course basis.

The non-credited, personal-enrichment curriculum is designed to serve the intellectually curious, 50 and over. The average age of the almost 1,000 OLLRU students may be 70, but director Megan Novak said they don’t card. So, the courses are technically available to anyone 18 or older who believes in the OLLIRU’s motto: Stay curious.

Registration begins Nov. 12 for the winter session, which runs from Jan. 6 through Feb. 7. Courses and registration information can be viewed by clicking here.

Since about 70% of the courses are offered via remote technology such as Zoom, a smattering of students log on several states away.

Students such as Elinore Ehrlich prefer in-person courses, many of which are taught by retired Rutgers faculty members or even retired public school instructors.

A self-professed political junkie, the Highland Park resident said she’s enjoying Pomper’s Election of 2024 class. The OLLIRU courses that sated her intellectual curiosity the most, however, have been the ones about opera.

“I’m 97 years old,” she said. “Friends and family have often said they wanted to grow up and be like me. And what’s my secret? What’s my secret to life? I’ve always said the secret to life is learning something new every day and this is part of it. I truly believe if you learn something new every day, and you are constantly aware of what’s happening around you, it will keep you young forever.”

There are no tests in these OLLIRU courses, and you can choose to do the homework or not, Novak said. But make no mistake, these classes are more academically geared than ones you might find at a local senior center.

“I often think of it this way: When was the last time I had the opportunity to study or read or engage in an area of interest without a project due, without some outside driving force where the force is intrinsic,” said Shino John, the associate vice president of strategic growth in the Division of Continuing Studies at Rutgers. “And so, many of our learners, they’re here because they are passionate about the area of interest or the instructor is a former Rutgers University faculty member that inspires them to think more creatively about a specific topic. It’s this, ‘Take me to this new plane of thinking. I want to explore. I want to learn. I want to grow in my intellectual curiosity, which is a different kind of passion that exists among our student body.’”

For the OLLIRU students who tend to take several courses a year and bump into the same classmates over and over, there’s a social component to the program. In between classes at the Lifelong Learning Center at 3 Rutgers Plaza, just off Ryders Lane, students have been known to sit in the student lounge and chat. (There’s also eight classrooms, an art room and a 40-person movie theater.)

Bob Paski, a Chester resident who is taking six classes during the fall semester, said he enjoys getting to know his classmates and his instructors.

“I’m taking a course on James Joyce’s Ulysses, ” he said. “What happens is, I have a lunch period between that and my next class, and the guy who is teaching the course basically comes and sits with us, and you can ask him questions while we’re having lunch. That’s nice, especially for something like Ulysses. That’s a tough one.”

While studying Romanticism, romance has often been in the air. In fact, more than a few OLLIRU classmates have meet, fallen in love, and gotten married. In Pomper’s case, he and his wife, Sandra Bergeson, met in class.

“We have the classes, but then there’s the community and the socialization that happens, and that’s the magic,” Novak said. “That’s the special sauce of OLLI, if you will, the ability for those connections to be made.

“I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with individuals who’ve lost somebody in their life, and they’re like, ‘I don’t know if I’m ready to come out and do stuff again, but I think I’m going to dip my toe. What instructor can you recommend? What course?’ We’ll have those conversations and then this beautiful thing happens where they make these connections and suddenly somebody’s inviting them out to lunch and that is invaluable because that’s something that is just part of the open-heartedness of the community.”

Education

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Middlesex College students who complete their associate degrees will be able to continue their undergraduate education in nearly all of Rutgers’ programs, with joint counseling and advising from both institutions

Top l-r - Shanti Narra, Ronald G Rios, Praful Raja, Gary Taffet, bottom l-r Theresa Orosz, Mark McCormick, Francine Conway, Saundra Tomlinson-Clarke.jpg

Middlesex College and Rutgers University–New Brunswick have signed an agreement offering students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Rutgers after they complete an associate degree at Middlesex College.Photo Credit: Middlesex College

Robert Oras-Kyle Anderson-José Laureano-Shanti Narra-Ronald Rios-Praful Raja-Gary Taffet-Iris Delgado-Courtney McAnuff-Theresa Orosz-Mark McCormick-Francine Conway-Saundra Tomlinso.jpgPhoto Credit: Middlesex College

Top l-r - Shanti Narra, Ronald G Rios, Praful Raja, Gary Taffet, bottom l-r Theresa Orosz, Mark McCormick, Francine Conway, Saundra Tomlinson-Clarke.jpgPhoto Credit: Middlesex College

Middlesex College and Rutgers University–New Brunswick have signed an agreement offering students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Rutgers after they complete an associate degree at Middlesex College.Photo Credit: Middlesex College

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By Kimberly Burnett

Published November 4, 2024 at 2:00 AM

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – Middlesex College and Rutgers University–New Brunswick have signed an agreement offering students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Rutgers after they complete an associate degree at Middlesex College.

The two schools gathered at an event held today on the Edison Campus of Middlesex College to sign the agreement, which offers students admitted to Middlesex College automatic conditional admission to Rutgers–New Brunswick.

The agreement is a first-of-its-kind Dual Admissions agreement between Rutgers University and a two-year college.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Middlesex College students who have a minimum GPA of 2.8 and complete the application process will be eligible to attend any academic program at Rutgers–New Brunswick, except for a few specific programs.

Students meeting all criteria will enter Rutgers–New Brunswick as fully matriculated third-year students, with application fees waived and credits transferred, according to New Jersey’s Comprehensive Statewide Transfer Agreement. Financial aid will be processed and provided by Middlesex College during the associate degree period and by Rutgers–New Brunswick during the bachelor’s degree period.

To ensure that students take the correct prerequisite courses to enter Rutgers, advising will be available from both institutions beginning in their first semester at Middlesex College. The College will provide dedicated space and a part-time transfer advisor to support students and manage the operations of the partnership.

“Transfer partner institutions like Rutgers report that our students generally perform better than their native students in every outcome, including grade point average, time to degree, and attainment of the bachelor’s degree,” said Middlesex College Board of Trustees Chair Praful Raja. “With the signing of this new agreement, we are affirming for students and their parents that beginning at Middlesex College is a smart move that will position students for success at Rutgers–New Brunswick.”

“As a proud Middlesex College Trustee, I know that we are preparing our students for the future,” said Middlesex College Board of Trustees Vice-Chair Gary Taffet. “Through rigorous coursework and with the assistance of student support professional staff members, we ensure that our students are equipped with the skills and the confidence they need to do well at Rutgers and in their chosen careers.”

“Middlesex College is delighted to create this partnership with Rutgers University–New Brunswick, making it easy for students to continue their educational endeavors at the flagship public four-year institution of higher education in New Jersey,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick. “Providing accessibility to high-quality education close to home is central to our mission, and we look forward to collaborating with Rutgers on this important agreement that will benefit so many of our students.”

“Rutgers–New Brunswick is proud to provide New Jersey’s brilliant students with a world-class education that is accessible and affordable, and prepares them to succeed in their future pursuits and as engaged citizens,” said Rutgers–New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway. “Our partnership with Middlesex College creates new pathways for students who have completed their associate degrees at an outstanding institution and are ready to continue the life-changing journey of higher education.”

“Middlesex County is blessed with exceptional institutions of higher education and this collaboration will ensure more students can take advantage of tremendous opportunities at Middlesex College and Rutgers University,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “I’m proud of our state support for both schools and each of these institutions will be enriched by this agreement. The region will thrive as more homegrown talent will pursue an affordable, excellent education.”

“The Middlesex College and Rutgers University dual admissions arrangement will inspire more County students to explore the College as their leading choice for higher learning,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “But it’s not only a leading choice, it’s a smart choice. We look forward to all the ways this partnership will continue to expand in the future.”

“Access to quality education levels the socio-economic playing field,” said Middlesex County Commissioner and Chair of Economic Development Chanelle Scott McCullum. “This dual admissions partnership removes one more barrier for many residents to pursue their dream careers while transforming their lives, families, and communities.”

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NEW JERSEY — Walgreens plans to close 1,200 of its nationwide stores, including some in New Jersey, over the next three years.

The pharmacy giant did not say which ones are on the list in an Oct. 15th news release, leaving customers to wonder and employees to worry.

Walgreens has 180 locations in New Jersey, including 13 in Middlesex County. The Illinois-based pharmacy giant has roughly 8,500 stores across the United States.

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“We hear rumors. There’s chatter (among employees),” said a worried Walgreens worker at its Plaza 12 store in Carteret. “You can say I’m concerned. I like my job and our customers … many of them are my neighbors here.”

A Walgreens employee at its Sayreville store on Raritan Avenue said: “I probably shouldn’t say anything to you … I don't want to get in trouble, but I wish (the company) would say if we need to start looking for new jobs.”

The pharmacy giant’s announcement came after it reported a fourth-quarter loss of $3 billion, but Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth said the chain is optimistic about its long-term survival, noting that a “turnaround will take time.”

Meanwhile, CVS is near the end of its three-year plan to eliminate 2,900 jobs by closing 900 nationwide stores, including 70 in New Jersey. Rite-Aid filed for bankruptcy in 2023 and is closing 699 stores nationwide, including 42 in New Jersey. Among them are Rite-Aid stores on George Street in New Brunswick and Gorges Road in North Brunswick.

Readers can click here for all New Jersey Walgreens locations. Its Middlesex County stores are located in:● Carteret● Colonia● East Brunswick● Edison● Monroe Township● New Brunswick● North Brunswick● Old Bridge● Perth Amboy● Piscataway● Sayreville● South River● Spotswood● Woodbridge

SUMMIT — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hopes to build 17 new Mormon temples in the United States and around the world, and has named this Union County city among those locations.

The news surprised officials in Summit, a six-square-mile city of 23,000 people. The city has not received plans or other information about a Mormon temple, city spokesperson Megan Trudell said in multiple published reports.

“If any permits or applications are submitted for this project, they will be handled in the same manner as any other application submitted to the city,” Trudell told The Star-Ledger.

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Russell Nelson, president of the Latter-Day Saints – considered a prophet in the Salt Lake City -based church – announced plans for 17 new worldwide temples at the church's October 2024 general conference.

Nelson’s prepared statement says the Latter-Day Saints have a 35,000-person following from 60 New Jersey congregations, on the rise here since its first missionaries arrived in 1832. The nearest large-scale temples to New Jersey are in Manhattan and Philadelphia, he said.

Nelson did not say where Summit’s temple would be built, or if the Mormons already own property in the city.

The Latter-Day Saints have roughly 350 temples worldwide. Its temples are larger and more grand than Mormon “meeting houses” or “chapels” found in many locales.

New Jersey has 40 Mormon “meeting houses,” including ones in Camden, Elizabeth, East Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Morristown, Newark and Scotch Plains, according to its website.

Here’s a list of the other proposed Latter-Day Saints temples: UNITED STATES TEMPLES● Huntsville, Alabama● Queen Creek, Arizona● Coeur d’Alene, Idaho● El Paso, Texas● Milwaukee, Wisconsin● Price, Utah

TEMPLES ELSEWHERE● Puerto Montt, Chile● Medellín, Colombia● Santiago, Dominican Republic● Santa Ana, El Salvador● Dublin, Ireland● Milan, Italy● Juchitán de Zaragoza, Mexico● Maputo, Mozambique● Abuja, Nigeria ● Kampala, Uganda