New Jersey
Paul McCartney spotted in Metuchen: This week in Central Jersey history, Feb. 24-March 2
It was reported on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 that former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney was spotted in front of the Buttery Bake Shoppe on Main Street in Metuchen on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 by borough resident John Manzo, who took a quick picture.
McCartney, 77, strolled around the borough. enjoying the spring-like day. He was seen taking pictures of the Metuchen’s downtown area.
Here’s a look at events that happened in Central Jersey from five, 10, 25, 50 and 100 years ago this week.
Five years ago
Feb. 25, 2020: Gov. Phil Murphy proposed a $40.9 billion budget that raised taxes on millionaires, cigarettes and guns while setting aside a record amount of money for NJ Transit ― but helped pay for that by diverting money from other accounts, moves he’d denounced as budget gimmickry.
Feb. 26: According to several reports, the book “The Good Nurse” about Charles Cullen, a former nurse who was convicted in March 2006 of 22 counts of first-degree murder and is serving eight life sentences at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, might soon be turned into a Netflix film, it was reported.
Feb. 27: It was reported PharMedium, a South Brunswick healthcare company, would close on April 20, 2020 after the federal Food and Drug Administration said it manufactured and distributed drugs intended to be sterile, such as oxytocin and morphine sulfate, that were adulterated because the drugs were made under insanitary conditions.
Feb. 29: A patient at Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel who was suspected of having the novel coronavirus was cleared after tests were performed. While test results were awaited, the patient was treated in isolation.
Feb. 29: The Rutgers Prep boys basketball team beat Watchung Hills, 71-57, winning its first Somerset County Tournament title since 1983.
March 1: In an episode called “Human Sawdust,” the show Forensic Files II, on HLN cable news channel, featured Melanie McGuire, the former Woodbridge resident convicted of killing her husband, cutting his body into pieces and discarding them inside suitcases thrown into the Chesapeake Bay.
10 years ago
Feb. 25, 2015: Gov. Chris Christie was proposing a $33.8 billion spending plan for the fiscal year starting Wednesday, July 1, 2015 that included extensive changes to public workers’ pensions and health benefits, it was reported.
Feb. 26: It was reported Robert Heary, a surgeon at Rutgers University’s teaching hospital in Newark, was its highest paid employee, earning $3.14 million.
Feb. 26: In the 2015 Greater Middlesex County girls basketball tournament final, Piscataway High School beat Monroe, 77-74, in overtime, making it Piscataway’s third straight championship.
Feb. 27: The body of missing Perth Amboy man Moises Torres, an 80-year-old with dementia and hearing loss, was found at a spot along the Middlesex Greenway behind the former Boro Hardware in Metuchen, a more than seven-mile walk.
Feb. 27: HelloFresh, a delivery service for recipe kits, opened a warehouse and storage facility at 1501B W. Blancke St. in Linden, bringing more than 100 jobs to the city, it was reported.
Feb. 28: It was reported Jared Silverstein, a senior at Hillsborough High School who participated in the Grammy in the Schools Grammy Camp, performed on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015 at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
2000
Feb. 25, 2000: Tara Cunningham, 20, was sentenced to five years in prison ― the minimum prison sentence ― for stabbing and killing her boyfriend, Christopher Jay Hayes, in their Bound Brook apartment in November 1998.
Feb. 27: A growing movement of students at Livingston College at Rutgers University had started a grassroots effort to get Rutgers University to expand its student center, it was reported.
Feb. 27: The Westfield High School boys swimming team took first and second place in the 100-yard breaststroke and added a first and third place in the 400 freestyle relay to beat Cherry Hill East, 89.5-80.5, to win the Public A state title at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.
Feb. 29: A Somerset County grand jury indicted Monique Lozada and Francisco Demoscoso, both of North Plainfield, and Manuel Carmona of Plainfield, in connection with the alleged kidnapping of Wilber A. Ramirez of North Plainfield.
Feb. 29: Katie Couric, co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show since 1991, spoke to an audience of more than 1,800 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick as part of the “Unique Lives and Experiences Women’s Lecture Series.”
Feb. 29: The body of a man was found in New Market Pond in Piscataway by a crew of township employees who were repairing the Washington Avenue bridge. The body was later identified as Zahid Saleem, 26, of North Plainfield, who had been missing since Friday, Jan. 14, 2000.
1975
Feb. 24, 1975: The New Brunswick board of education adopted a $10,710,934 budget for 1975-76. It was reported on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1975, they would ask the city for $8,760,312 of the total amount.
Feb. 24: Rev. Thomas Quinlan, 38, a South Amboy native, was shot and killed in a first-floor hallway of St. James Parish School in Penns Grove where he was principal. It was reported on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1975 that he was acting as a decoy in an attempt to lure the gunman out of the elementary school.
Feb. 25: In the semi-finals of the 11th annual Middlesex County Coaches Basketball Tournament, Woodbridge High School beat St. Joseph’s, 56-45, at Madison High School.
Feb. 27-March 1: “Anastasia” was presented by the Wardlaw-Hartridge Dramatic Club at the Wardlaw Country Day School campus in Edison.
Feb. 28: According to information released by the state Department of Labor and Industry, unemployment in Middlesex County rose by 1.5 percent in February 1975 to 10.3 percent.
Feb. 28: Under the guidance of second-year head coach Jerry Moore, Somerville High School set a school record for most victories in a season by beating Highland Park High, 56-53, in a basketball game.
1925
Feb. 24, 1925: Raymond H. Morris of New Brunswick was given a term of six months in the Hudson County penitentiary in the United States District Court after he entered a plea of guilty to an indictment charging him with embezzlement. He was taken to the penitentiary to begin his sentence.
Feb. 25-26: The movie “Love’s Wilderness,” starring Corinne Griffith, was shown at Reade’s Strand Theatre in Perth Amboy.
Feb. 27: In boys basketball, South River defeated Belleville High, 25-23.
Feb. 28: Plainfield experienced some sensations of an earthquake at about 9:30 p.m., the first of such an experience in the past 40 years, or since the more severe shock of 1885.
March 2: After taking a drink of orangeade at a Perth Amboy store, Anton Berlando, 4, of Carteret, became ill immediately and died before medical aid could be secured..
Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for MyCentralJersey.com
PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) — One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting in Paterson.
The violence erupted around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of East 29th Street and 10th Avenue.
Children nearby gasped in horror at the sound of rapid gunfire. They were just about to sing Happy Birthday to their 13-year-old friend at her backyard party, but instead of blowing out the candles, they ducked for cover when they heard gunshots in the distance.
“Just hearing it – it was scary to witness, to hear. Especially on my birthday. Like a time I’m trying to play with my friends, get together,” said the 13-year-old.
She also says she had a friend who was there who saw what happened.
“He was going to the bodega – he went running back, but he had saw two people come out of a car and then shoot, but it was like an automatic gun,” she added.
Bystanders watched in shock and panic as first responders treated the victims. One of them was lying in the street next to a car and another was on the ground next to a bicycle.
Local councilman Luis Velez says the City of Paterson has taken measures to reduce crime in this part of town – what he calls a ‘hotspot’ — in part by installing security cameras. He is encouraging the community to cooperate.
“Paterson Police is doing their job as I know, they’re doing a great job to reduce crime, but one again we, the police, nobody, not even the news media has a crystal ball to say this is going to happen now,” Velez said, “Some people see corners getting built up, they see activities and they’re afraid to come out and say something, but our police department is trained to keep it confidential and approach to bring the quality of life in this area.”
The 13-year-old hopes her next birthday party is not ruined by the sound of gunshots.
“First we thought it was fireworks, but then we heard sirens and everyone started going home because they were scared,” she added.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Let’s be honest, we didn’t need a national list to tell us this. New Jersey has the best restaurants, the best food, and some of the most talented chefs anywhere in America.
It’s something locals have been saying forever, and now the rest of the country is catching up. Still, it’s always nice to see that recognition on a big stage.
We Already Knew New Jersey Was the Best
USA TODAY’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list highlights standout dining destinations across the country.
From humble roadside gems to chef-driven hotspots earning major buzz, the list celebrates places that truly stand out, and New Jersey showed up in a big way.
Three New Jersey Spots Earn National Recognition
This year, three Garden State restaurants made the prestigious list:
- The Pasta Shop – Denville
- Ram & Rooster – Metuchen
- Anjelica’s – Sea Bright
And yes, that includes a Jersey Shore favorite, because of course it does.
These restaurants represent everything people love about dining in New Jersey, quality, creativity, and flavors that keep you coming back.
A Jersey Shore Standout Shines
There’s something special about seeing a Jersey Shore restaurant included among the best in America. It’s not just about great food, it’s about the full experience, the atmosphere, and that unmistakable local charm.
Anjelica’s in Sea Bright earning a spot only reinforces what shore locals already know: some of the best meals you’ll ever have are right here, close to home.
No Surprise, Just Well-Deserved
At the end of the day, this recognition feels less like a surprise and more like confirmation. New Jersey’s food scene has always been top-tier, and lists like this just make it official.
Keep Reading: Beloved New Jersey Restaurant is Closing
So whether you’re heading to Denville, Metuchen, or down the shore, you already know, you’re in for something special.
PHOTOS: Step Inside a 1970s Kitchen — 34 Things You’ll Recognize
From Tupperware jugs (you know the ones) to those ever-present knife sharpeners, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the quintessential ’70s kitchen.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
If You Grew Up in the ’70s and ’80s, These Foods Were Super Fancy
From Babybels to Toblerone chocolate, take a nostalgic bite out of these ‘fancy’ childhood foods that made us feel way more elegant than we really were.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
FIFA and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill have become embroiled in a war of words this past week as the prospect of $150 train tickets to travel to World Cup games and plans to close parts of New York’s Penn Station have angered residents.
The recent uproar began after reports surfaced April 6 that parts of Penn Station would be closed to NJ Transit commuters not attending World Cup games for four hours before kickoff during the eight matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
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Moreover, round-trip train tickets between Penn Station in Manhattan and MetLife Stadium, where the final of the FIFA World Cup is set to be played, were announced by NJ Transit to come in at $150 per person.
A return ride on the same line typically costs $12.90, according to NJ Transit.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026.
In a press release on April 17, Sherrill said the move to increase prices was caused by FIFA’s decision to eliminate parking at MetLife Stadium. The Democratic governor said price increases happened because FIFA did not agree to cover the costs of transporting fans.
“We are committed to ensuring costs are shared fairly. As I have said repeatedly, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” Sherrill said.
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More: Going to World Cup at MetLife Stadium? Expect $150 train tickets and no parking
FIFA, on the other hand, has said the price increase would have a “chilling effect” on fans attending games in New Jersey and said Sherrill’s demands asking FIFA to absorb transportation costs for fans were “unprecedented.”
“Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup,” Heimo Schirgi, COO for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The NJ Transit logo is seen in the lobby of the New Jersey Transit headquarters ahead of a press briefing on the New York/New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 regional mobility plan in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 2026.
What are other cities doing with World Cup transportation?
New Jersey has not been the only place where transportation costs have been the subject of discussion ahead of the World Cup. In Boston, round-trip train train tickets on the MBTA from Boston’s South Station to Gillette Stadium are being sold for $80.
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Special event trains to Foxborough for New England Patriots NFL games and New England Revolution MLS matches are usually $20 for a round trip, according to local news station CBS Boston.
Other cities have not seen increases like the ones in New Jersey and Boston. In Atlanta, for example, train fares on the city’s MARTA will be $2.50 per ride, with children able to travel for free with a paying adult.
Kansas City is offering $15 round-trip shuttle rides for fans parking in four different park-and-ride locations, as well as those coming from FIFA’s Fan Festival in the city. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is offering fans a $3.50 round trip train ticket on its Metro Train.
SEPTA in Philadelphia is also keeping its prices low, with fans set to pay the base $2.90 fare for a ride on its Broad Street Line, which takes riders to Lincoln Financial Field, set to host six matches.
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Katie Sobko from USA TODAY Network’s NorthJersey.com contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup fans going to MetLife Stadium to pay $150 for NJT ticket
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