January 5, 2018
Local Beat is the NJ News Commons’ weekly roundup of the best reporting by community news sources.
OAKLYN FD RESCUES DOG FROM FROZEN CREEK, SAVES CHICKENS FROM BURNING COOP
On the historic 300th call of the year, the Oaklyn Fire Department rescued a dog from a frozen Newton Creek, just minutes after extinguishing a fire that had engulfed a local chicken coop. Matt Skoufalos of NJ Pen says just after firefighters extinguished the "fully involved" chicken coop, they barely had time to regroup when another call came in for an animal rescue: a dog trapped on the ice about 150 feet out on the frozen Newton Creek.
BOOKER, DOUGHERTY PRAISE DIVERSITY, UNITY AS MORRISTOWN WELCOMES FIRST LATINO COUNCILMAN
Senator Cory Booker brought his star power to an historic New Year's Day in Morristown, where he swore in the town's first Latino councilman, David Silva. Kevin Coughlin of Morristown Green says Booker suggested that former Morristown resident, George Washington, would be proud of Morristown's embrace of diversity, which could serve as an example for a divided country.
A CAREER BEHIND THE TV CAMERAS
Verona High School alumnus Rachel Yeager never dreamed that she would return to her childhood home to film a television show, let alone that she would be working alongside some of the biggest names in reality TV. But as of late last year, Virginia Citrano of MyVeronaNJ says Yeager has wrapped shooting on the latest season of Cake Boss, right in the middle of her old high school gym.
WESTFIELD'S NEW MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS SWORN IN
Westfield's first female mayor was sworn in this week. Jackie Lieberman of TAPinto Westfield says sub-freezing temperatures didn't stop a huge crowd from gathering on the lawn of the municipal building to witness the swearing in of Mayor Shelley Brindle and Council Members Dawn Mackey, David Contract, Linda Habgood and Michael Dardia.
NEW JERSEY REQUIRES SIX-MONTH REFILS OF BIRTH CONTROL
A new birth control bill signed by Gov. Chris Christie will require insurers to pay for six-month supplies of birth control for women in New Jersey. Jeanette Beebe of WHYY says the bill's sponsors argued that having a half-year's supply of birth control on hand isn't just about convenience, it's about staying consistent.
