DUI Lawyers in Berkeley Heights, NJ

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – As part of ongoing efforts to enhance school safety, the Berkeley Heights Public School District has officially launched the Raptor Visitor Management System across all schools this week. The initiative follows a successful pilot program at William Woodruff Elementary School and is aimed at strengthening building security and ensuring the safety of students and staff.

The system will be implemented on the following schedule:

The Raptor system is designed to streamline visitor check-ins through the use of ID card readers installed at each school’s main entrance. Visitors will be required to present a driver’s license or state-issued ID, which will be scanned and checked against a national database. If cleared, a temporary badge will be printed and must be worn during the visit.

Sign Up for FREE Berkeley Heights Newsletter

Get local news you can trust in your inbox.

The process is intended to both monitor and limit access to school buildings during instructional hours. It also helps identify individuals who may not be legally permitted on school property. Additionally, the system generates a real-time log of visitors and issues visually distinct ID badges.

To maintain building security, visitors must enter only through the main entrance. Entering through any other door or bypassing the protocol may prompt a lockdown response and involve local law enforcement.

All parents, guardians, caregivers, vendors, and other visitors will be required to follow these procedures. Identification will be necessary for entry during the school day or when picking up a student.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the Raptor Visitor Management System used after school hours?No. The system is only used during school hours and is not required for after-school activities such as athletic events or evening parent-teacher conferences.

2. What forms of identification do I need to bring to enter the school?A driver’s license, state-issued ID, or passport card (not book) are preferred. Other forms of ID can be manually entered, though this may take longer. Once operational, visitors may also use the Raptor Safe App to check in, which removes the need to bring a physical ID.

3. I do not wish for my ID to be scanned. What are my options?In this case, your information will be manually entered into the system and your photo will be taken at the kiosk.

4. What data is collected and stored when a visitor ID is scanned into the Raptor system?The system collects only the ID photo, name, date of birth, and the last four digits of the license number. No address information, Social Security numbers, or physical characteristic data is collected. The last four digits of the license help differentiate between visitors with identical names and birthdates. No photocopy of the ID is retained.More information is available at the Raptor Technologies Data Collection and Security FAQ.

5. Does the Raptor system use facial recognition?No. The system does not employ facial recognition technology. When using the self-serve kiosk, the system simply compares the photo on your ID to a real-time image to confirm identity.

6. Will this procedure be in place for school events with numerous visitors?For large school events, alternative procedures may be used to manage the number of attendees efficiently. School officers and staff will be assigned to help maintain a secure and smooth entry process.

TAPintoBerkeleyHeights.net is Berkeley Heights only free daily local news source. Sign up for our free daily eNewsletter and Like us on Facebook. Are you a business interested in reaching our audience? Email bpeer@tapinto.net.

News Tip? Click here

Round Table Residences at The Park in Berkeley Heights will include two luxury apartment buildings with a combined 328 units. — Renderings by Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners/Courtesy: The Connell Co.

By Joshua Burd

The Connell Co. is offering a new glimpse of the two apartment buildings it’s developing at The Park, its flagship business and hospitality campus in Berkeley Heights.

Known as Round Table Residences, the project includes an 11-story, 179-unit property known as RT500 that is under construction at the 185-acre complex just south of Interstate 78. That’s slated to hit the market in February 2026, giving way to an eight-story, 149-unit property known as RT600 that would rise across the street.

The developer this week unveiled new renderings of the buildings, designed by Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners and David M. Sullivan Inc., where it will market a mix of upscale studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes with rents starting at just under $2,500. Plans also call for resort-style outdoor pools, entertainment lounges, game rooms, coworking spaces and modern fitness centers, according to a news release, along with a mix of hospitality-based amenities and concierge services that will be available throughout The Park.

“We’re building an urban, walkable, downtown community within a suburban setting at The Park and a critical piece of this model is our residential buildings,” said Shane Connell, executive vice president at The Connell Co. “By creating luxury resort-style residences on site, we’re ensuring that all residents can experience everything The Park has to offer, such as world-class restaurants, large parks and open spaces and high-end amenities all in one campus.”

SLIDESHOW: RT Residences at The Park

Connell added that, as part of an elevated lobby experience, RT500 will be connected to a 6,000-square-foot coffee shop known as Cafe Exchange that is also open to the public. The eatery will offer a selection of beverages and food, while featuring live entertainment, installations from local artists, a book exchange program and an evening wine bar.

RT Residences are part of the firm’s $500 million redevelopment of what was long known as Connell Corporate Park, as it looks to transform what was a 1.5 million-square-foot traditional office campus into a destination neighborhood. Recent milestones at The Park include the renovation of the original office spaces to a modern hospitality-centric work resort and the start of construction for an entertainment building in The District at The Park, which will include a brewery, a steakhouse, duckpin bowling and other offerings.

Office tenants at The Park include the likes of Blackstone, Samsung and Aon. The property is also home to a 176-room Embassy Suites hotel, a luxury fitness and wellness facility known as FIELDHOUSE, Grain & Cane Restaurant, Starbucks, Life Time Fitness, outdoor walking and jogging trails and the coworking social club Round Table Studios.

Going public: New phases taking shape at The Park as Connell’s plan for resort-style, community-facing campus advances in Berkeley Heights

RT500 and RT600 will be comprised of 328 upscale residences located within New Jersey's newest destination neighborhood

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Connell Company, one of the largest diversified, privately held corporations in the U.S., has unveiled plans for Round Table (RT) Residences, located at The Park, New Jersey's newest destination neighborhood. RT Residences will be comprised of two luxury residential rental buildings - RT500 with eleven stories will include 179 units, while RT600 with eight stories will include 149 units. Each building will feature luxe resort-style outdoor pools, entertainment lounges, game rooms, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art fitness centers, along with a wide range of hospitality-based amenities and concierge services utilized throughout The Park.

As part of an elevated lobby experience, RT500 will be connected to Cafe Exchange, a unique coffee shop concept that is also open to the public. Cafe Exchange will feature hand-crafted beverages, a variety of food selections, live entertainment, art installations featuring local artists, a book exchange program and an evening wine bar. The 6,000 square foot space will provide a central location for the community to come together and socially connect, outside of their homes, work, and technology.

"We're building an urban, walkable, downtown community within a suburban setting at The Park and a critical piece of this model is our residential buildings," said Shane Connell, Executive Vice President at The Connell Company. "By creating luxury resort-style residences on site, we're ensuring that all residents can experience everything The Park has to offer, such as world class restaurants, large parks and open spaces, and high-end amenities all in one campus."

Designed by Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners and David M. Sullivan Inc., RT Residences units will include a mix of studio, one and two-bedroom luxury apartments. Each residence will feature contemporary stylings and neutral tones. Floor to ceiling windows in each unit will create an abundance of natural light, while wood plank flooring and quartz countertops provide a modern flair.

RT Residences are part of a $500 million redevelopment of The Park, transforming the traditional office park into a destination neighborhood. Recent milestones at The Park include the renovation of the original office spaces to a modern hospitality-centric work resort, and construction of an entertainment building in The District at The Park, which will include a brewery, steakhouse, duckpin bowling and more.

Berkeley Heights will start its Spring Chipping Program on April 7, and residents should have all branches out for pick-up on the first scheduled day for their section.

There will be only one collection per household with no exceptions.

Branches should be neatly piled at the curb with the large diameter cut-ends facing the street. Branches are limited to a maximum of four inches in diameter, and those under two feet long will not be accepted.

The program is intended only for yard branch clean up and not for tree disposal.

Residents are not permitted to have entire trees cut down and placed at the curb. If this occurs, the piles will be left for the resident’s disposal.

Lumber, building materials, fence posts, leaves, roots, stumps, briars, vines, decayed branches and other debris are not accepted as they can damage the chipper.

Any piles found to contain metal items like posts, wire or bands will also be rejected, as these pose injury risks to employees and equipment.

Residents with questions are advised to contact the Department of Public Works prior to putting branches out.

Emails can be sent to jmcmahon@bhtwp.com or jgraziano@bhtwp.com, or residents may call 908-464-2700, ext. 2167.

Berkeley Heights residents can also dispose of brush at the DPW recycling events held 9 a.m. to noon on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

No commercial or contractor vehicles are permitted at these events.

Submit Union County community news to union@njadvancemedia.com.

* * *

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.