Rahway Rising

Happy new year to all and with a new year always comes a look back and a look forward, so here are the top 10 most popular posts on the site during 2021:

10. Property acquisition moving forward, March 1

9. MVC site to be rezoned, Sept. 7

8. Rahway tapped for Best Small Town Arts Scene, April 2

7. Council supports two marijuana facilities, Dec. 20

6. New BA, police director spur reorganization, May 17

5. First phase of Meridia Brownstones completed, Dec. 17

4. Poll results: What's your favorite coffee in Rahway?, April 9

I'll save the top 3 for the podcast along with some bonus content beyond the top 10 posts of 2021 as well as a few nuggets exclusive to the podcast, some items to which Patrons had early access. Look out for a complete post of the full top 10 coming Monday on the blog.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the site over the past year. Remember, if you enjoyed one of more than 100 posts (including 12 podcasts this year) that kept you informed about #Rahway in 2021, please consider supporting the site. Here are three ways:

Thank you again and happy new year to all!

Craig Sumberg started in September as the new executive director of the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) -- the same week that Hurricane Ida came through town and left Hamilton Stage under water. In this episode, I sit down for a conversation with Sumberg in his office about his first few months on the job. Among our topics:

* The outlook for Hamilton Stage and the financial impact of it closing [3:01];

* Early fundraising efforts and his plans for the center [4:22], how that will drive better programming [9:25] and what donors can do [25:02];

* Where he sees UCPAC fit among other arts facilities in the area [6:42] and hiring a talent buyer to secure shows [7:27];

* The biggest challenges for UCPAC going forward [20:47]; and,

* Is there such a thing as "Central Jersey" [25:25]?

"I believe we play an important role in the community both in Rahway and in Union County," Sumberg said. "I want people who live within 30 miles of us to know that we're here."

Opened in 1928, the 1,334-seat UCPAC was acquired by Union County in 2006 for $1.3 million. The facility underwent a $6-million expansion and renovation in 2008.

"We're going to have to find our niche. That's going to take some poking around," Sumberg said, including recently hiring a talent buyer, Stamford, Conn.-based Music Without Borders. "There's room in New Jersey, though a very competitive market, for UCPAC to do more significant programming. And I very much believe that that fundraising dollars and memberships dollars will go hand in hand with better programming."

To make a donation, click here or visit https://ucpac.org/donate/

Sumberg briefly served as executive director of the 15-year-old South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) last year before the pandemic forced layoffs at the facility. He led the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation in downtown Tucson, Ariz., where he was credited with growing the budget from $600,000 to almost $5 million. Previously, he was senior vice president for resource development for the Jewish  Federation of Southern Arizona. He also was executive director of the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, a 900-seat arts and culture center in Washington, D.C.

In this episode, I'll recap some of the most popular posts of September, with some podcast-exclusive bits of information thrown in:

* Hurricane Ida hits Rahway

* MVC site to be rezoned

* September reader poll: Favorite bar in Rahway

* Hamilton Stage closed indefinitely

* Pine Street to be vacated,

* Arts Center reopening with new leadership,

* Save The Trees of Rahway,

* Council pursues overlay zone for West Grand Avenue,

Looking ahead at municipal meetings the rest of this month:

* Tuesday, 7 p.m. -- City Council

* Oct. 18, 7 p.m. -- Zoning Board of Adjustment

* Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m. -- Alcohol Beverage Control Board

* Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m. -- Redevelopment Agency

* Oct. 28, 7 p.m. -- Planning Board

This episode reviews the most popular posts of August:

* Reader poll results: What's your favorite restaurant?

* City launches public input survey: The city is looking for feedback as part of a downtown strategic plan that's in the works.

* Three properties win tax appeals: The three properties were 195 W. Main St. and two of the Riverwalk townhomes.

* Second phase of The Mint-North tweaked again. The Planning Board approved changes, adding one residential unit and four parking spaces in the six-story building planned at Poplar and Main streets.

* 2020 Crime data: The Uniform Crime Report showed that reported crime in Rahway was up about 28% -- from about 190 incidents in 2019 to 224 in 2020 -- one of six towns in Union County to report an increase. Access crime data going back to 1999 by becoming a Patron of RahwayRising.

* SID transition continues: City Council held its first meeting at the new Downtown Management Corporation, including a report from the new SID director.

* Taxi rates going up: City Council approved a $1 increase in taxi cab rates, the first hike in eight years.

* Reader poll open: What’s your favorite summer outdoor event?

It's been awhile since the last podcast episode dropped, so there's plenty to catch up on the past couple of months. Here's a smattering of items reviewed on the latest episode:

- A reorganization of City Hall included a new city administrator and police director.

- The municipal budget was approved, with no increase in the municipal portion of tax bills, and here's a closer look at PILOTs in the 2021 budget.

- Two polls came and went since the last episode, and now a third is currently up on the site. Have a look at the result of the Favorite Sandwich poll, and Favorite Outdoor Space. Don't forget to vote in the current poll, Favorite Restaurant (eat-in, table service), which closes next week.

- City Council took over management of the Rahway Special Improvement District (SID) and confirmed five members of a new SID Advisory Board, replacing the Rahway Arts & Business Partnership Board of Trustees.

- City Council in June introduced an ordinance regulating cannabis but then tabled cannabis legislation until the Planning Board has a chance to review it this week.

It's a super-sized episode this week:

* Four Esterbrook Avenue properties will be studied to determine if they qualify for redevelopment.

* City Council adopted a $325,000 SID budget for 2021 that includes $110,000 for improvements and programming.

* There's still time to vote in the March reader poll, sponsored by Rahway Arts and Business Partnership: "What's your favorite soup in Rahway?" Chime in here.

Looking ahead:

* Materials related to an application to build 14 townhomes on Pine Street are due to the to the Zoning Board of Adjustment by Monday.

- Pizza poll results and a new reader poll for March.

- Phase 2 of Dornoch II heads to Planning Board

- Property acquisition moves ahead for Bridgeview

- Housing inventory remains low, in Rahway and beyond

Looking Ahead:

- The Rahway Arts and Business Partnership is scheduled to meet Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

The polls are back. RahwayRising.com kicked off the return of reader polls, sponsored by the Rahway Arts and Business Partnership, with the Favorite Pizza poll. Remember to vote before the poll closes this week.

* Park Square owners secure $34-million loan

* City Council OKs Brownstones amendment

* Properties hit with cleanup liens

* Late fee tacked on to vacant property registration

Coming up this week, the Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled to meet Monday and take up an application for two, five-unit townhomes next to Flanagan Field.

The Planning Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday to hear a plan related to a Walters Street warehouse addition that was approved in November.