Around the County
AROUND THE
Clerk Pinkin, NJ Assemblyman Stanley, County Commissioner Director Rios, Executive County Superintendent Kyle Anderson, and officials from Middlesex County Magnet Schools pose with NJ DOE Acting Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan
MIDDLESEX COUNTY LAUNCHES RIDE ON DEMAND Middlesex County launched RIDE On Demand, an affordable rideshare service to begin to address the transit gaps in the County. The City of New Brunswick is the first to participate in this one-year pilot program, which offers individuals who reside, work, study, or visit New Brunswick safe, easy, corner-to-corner transportation for $3 per rider using an app on mobile or laptop devices. The service is offered Monday through Friday from 6 am to 10 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 6 pm. For more information, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov/RIDE. NOKIA BELL LABS ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RELOCATE TO HELIX Nokia, a Fortune 500 communications equipment company, announced it will relocate its operations to the developing New Jersey Health + Life Science Exchange (HELIX). Nokia Bell Labs will bring over 1,000 employees to the New Brunswick
area, using one of the three buildings planned for the HELIX complex as its sole research and development hub in North America. Positioned adjacent to the New Brunswick Train Station, HELIX’s phased development includes cutting-edge facilities for Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, with Nokia Bell Labs occupying the entirety of the second phase. THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF HOSTS THE 10TH ANNUAL CIVILIAN ACADEMY The Middlesex County Office of the Sheriff hosted the 10th annual Civilian Academy in November 2023 at the Middlesex County Fire
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MIDDLESEX COUNTY MAGNET SCHOOLS RECEIVE NEW JERSEY LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL DISTRICT AWARD The Middlesex County Magnet Schools received the Lighthouse Award for advancing educational equality and for exceptional strides in increasing equity in dual enrollment programming, allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school. The County Magnet Schools join a select group of educational institutions recognized for their unwavering academic improvement in equity to support Governor Murphy’s vision for a stronger, fairer New Jersey for all students. COMMISSIONERS SWORN IN DURING 2024 REORGANIZATION MEETING The Board of County Commissioners hosted its annual Reorganization Meeting on January 4 at Middlesex College. The event also marked the swearing-in of newly reelected County Commissioners Leslie Koppel and Charles E. Tomaro. Additionally, County Commissioner Director
Ronald G. Rios and County Commissioner Deputy Director Shanti Narra were selected by their colleagues to serve in their roles once again. Read more on page 5. FIND HEALTHY FOODS WITH INTERACTIVE MAP Finding fruits and vegetables just got a whole lot easier thanks to Middlesex County’s Healthy Foods Map. This innovative, interactive tool locates nearby food stores that accept WIC or SNAP benefits, farmer’s markets, food pantries, and transportation options, empowering residents to make healthier choices conveniently. To view the Middlesex County Healthy
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COUNTY ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY FREIGHT MOVEMENT STUDY Middlesex County, in collaboration with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), announced the completion of the Southern Middlesex County Freight Movement Study. The study, which began in the spring of 2022, assesses the impact of truck traffic on local roads and neighborhoods throughout the southern portion of Middlesex County. In response to the study’s findings and recommendations, Middlesex County and its partner municipalities will immediately begin working with local warehouse operators, their navigation (GPS) system providers, and public GPS providers to encourage them to map routes for
trucks that avoid residential neighborhood roads as preferred route options for trucks. For more information about the freight movement study, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov/ freightstudy. SERVICES LOCATOR: CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES Navigate a wealth of supportive services with ease using the Middlesex County Services Locator. Whether you need food, substance abuse resources, job training, emergency preparedness, veterans services, housing, or caregiving — the Middlesex County Services Locator is here to make essential services easily accessible. To access the Services Locator, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov/ middlesexcountynj.gov/ services.
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Academy, with more than 100 graduates attending
Foods Map, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov/ healthyfoodsmap.
the reunion. The Civilian Academy is an
eight-week program designed to educate County residents on the various roles and duties of the Sheriff’s Office, highlighting daily functions such as defensive tactics, K-9, transportation, fingerprinting, DARE, courts, civil process, and foreclosures.
FUN FACT Poet Joyce Kilmer, born in New Brunswick, penned the famous lines, “I think that I shall never see/A poem lovely as a tree.”
HELIX location
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FUN FACT Thomas Alva Edison, the renowned inventor, created the phonograph in what is now Edison, marking the birth of recorded sound.
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2 Your Middlesex | 2024 Issue 1
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