A plan by Summit officials to install surveillance cameras in the downtown was unveiled Wednesday evening, topping local news from around the region. Scotch Plains Mayor Nancy Malool announced that the Port Authority will donate steel from the World Trade Center for a planned memorial, Westfield Board of Education members bid farewell to two colleagues and high school students in Springfield went silent to combat bullying. Check out the latest in news from around Union County.

In Mountainside, the Borough Council approved the 2011 budget at a meeting last night. At the Westfield Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Facilities Committee Chairwoman Jane Clancy discussed repairs needed for several district properties and buildings. In other news, Stage House donated $25,000 to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District to purchase chess sets for students in second and third grade.

Here is today's PatchCast for April 19, 2011, featuring a recap of the top news stories from Union County.

Westfield: Standing alongside Tea Party activists and state and local officials, Congressman Leonard Lance spoke in favor of Republican tax and budget plans during a tax day press conference Monday morning in Westfield.  Lance used the filing day for federal and state income taxes to outline plans to reduce reliance on foreign debt, along with calling for tax decreases. Lance endorsed congressional Republican tax proposals, while saying that President Obama’s budget proposal calls for a over trillion dollar tax hike over the next decade. Lance said he wants to see Congress and Obama engage in…

Here are the stories making news around Union County Friday, April 15, 2011.

The death of former Summit Mayor Walter Long tops news from around Union County. Long, who served as the Hill City's mayor for eight years, passed away Wednesday night at his Vermont home following a long illness. Garwood Councilman Jonathan Linken resigned Wednesday for personal reasons, while Westfield Board of Education candidates participted in an election forum and Governor Livingston girls lacrosse defeated Cranford. Check out Patchcast for the top new from around Union County.

In Cranford, the Township Committee introduced a budget with 14 layoffs, while New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's decision to end publishing executive Cathie Black's tenure as city's schools chancellor is unlikely to change Gov. Chris Christie's Superintendent proposal. The New Jersey Department of Education said the Westfield School District is "high performing," while in Springfield, Veteran Township Attorney Bruce Bergen is running for New Jersey General Assembly. In Berkeley Heights, Governor Livingston basketball star Kim Osieja will attend and play basketball at Albright College.

Today's PatchCast features the mystery of the spent gun shell in a Summit school, while a local resident appeals to the zoning board on the planned aquatic center on the Warren and Berkeley Heights border. Plus, we have Westfield politics and the sewer tax that never went away.

In Mountainside news, scientific experiments of all different kinds were on display at the science fair in Mountainside’s Deerfield Middle School Saturday. Students from grades 3 thru 8 aimed to capture one of the top prizes for their grade level. Students were allowed to work by themselves, in pairs, or in teams of three. In all, a total of 67 Deerfield students participated by putting together approximately 50 projects in the areas of physics, chemistry, biology and consumer science. The science fair was judged by a team  chosen from all different walks of life, but with one common thread: …

Here are the stories making news around Union County this Friday, April 8.

Jason Condit, the 7-year-old son of Clark Dairy Queen owners Bill and Lois Condit, was diagnosed with cancer in September. Jason has been receiving chemotherapy treatments at Newark Beth Israel Hospital, which successfully shrunk the tumor on his kidney so that surgeons were able to remove it. Last week, Jason received experimental drugs at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to combat the cancer in the rest of his body. In the meantime, friends of the Condit family are hosting a Zumba fundraiser tomorrow, April 7 at the Clark Recreation Center. In other news, a small group of members of …

The man who suffered facial burns and smoke inhalation at the fire in Westfield early Monday morning was listed in critical condition Tuesday at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston; the Westfield and Summit school districts adopted budgets for 2011-2012, but still need to have their superintendents' contracts approved by the county; and the Springfield Board of Education expressed concern about how two new housing developments could affect school enrollment.

Here are the stories making news around Union County this Friday: Hickey Given Conditional Discharge in Drug Case, Return to Classroom Planned Public Responds To PSE&G Project Cattano Has Big Shoes To Fill As New Football Coach

Heres' the latest news covering Union County, only on Patch.

In Westfield, Firefighter Danny Maglione passed away on Tuesday and the Board of Education approved the proposed school budget. In Summit, the Board of School Estimate unanimously approved the school budget. In Berkeley Heights and Mountainside, baseball teams joined together to raise money for the B.J. Giannone Foundation. Check out more information on each of these stories: Brief: Firefighter Maglione Funeral Arrangements   Board of School Estimate Approves Budget

State police are investigating a hit-and-run accident on the Garden State Parkway in Cranford, topping local news in Union County. Berkeley Heights residents are voicing opposition to a new swimming facility in Warren, bordering Berkeley Heights; a New Providence principal is preparing to say goodbye, Cranford faculty beat seniors in an annual basketball game and Springfield hosted a "Taste of the Towns." Check out these stories in the daily Patchcast.

A bank robber surrenders to authorities, while  a school district puts the squeeze on out-of-district students. Plus, a local tennis star shines on the college courts, while Gov. Livingston plans a fundraiser at the ballfield. That's all here on today's PatchCast.

Check out the stories making news this Friday around Union County: County Freeholder Race Takes Shape Berkeley Heights BOE Adopts Budget After Last-Minute Alterations Goldman Sachs Donation Great Boon for New Providence Schools SP Council: Police Department Merger Top Priority

Springfield zoning officials postponed a decision over a proposed cell tower in the township to the April meeting. The tower has garnered opposition from residents in Springfield and Summit. Mountainside school officials outlined a budget, Westfield officials heard an earful on parking and state environmental officials are seeking public input in Berkeley Heights. Check out details on these stories in today's Patchcast.