Tornado Strikes Summit Among Most-Read Stories of 2013

Tornado Rips Through Summit

In early July, a tornado cut a swath of damage in Berkeley Heights, before tearing through New Providence and Summit, according to the National Weather Service in New York.

Summit Schools Ban Unannounced Parent Visits

In a letter sent to district parents in mid-July, Superintendent Nathan Parker said parents will no longer be able to drop in “unannounced” to visit their children or drop off any forgotten items beginning in September. Students will get IOUs if they forgot their lunch, but will suffer the consequences for forgotten classroom supplies and assignments.

Summit Man Drowned In Delaware River, Officials Confirm

A body recovered from the Delaware River in Hunterdon County in July was that of a Summit man who has been missing for nearly a week, a New Jersey State Police spokesman confirmed.

Families of Special Ed Students Sue Summit Schools

The families of three special education students are suing the school district and its board of education over allegations Summit failed to adequately provide for their students, whether through in-school education or alternative programs. 

2 Summit Residents Robbed Within a Half-Hour

In mid-August, Summit Police were searching for the those responsible for the robbery of two Summit residents within a half hour of each other.

Merck to Close Summit Campus, Cut 8,500 Jobs Amid Restructuring

Pharmaceutical giant Merck announced plans in early October to close its Summit campus amid a top-to-bottom restructuring that will slash as many as 8,500 jobs companywide, according to Fox Business.com.

Full Day, Tuition-Based Kindergarten Approved by Board of Ed

In mid-October, the Summit Board of Education voted to approve a pilot full-day, tuition-based kindergarten program for the 2014-2015 school year. The vote came down to five members voting for it and two against. James Freeman and Richard Hanley cast the dissenting votes. 

Summit High School Assistant Principal Anthony Akey Resigns

Summit High School Assistant Principal Anthony Akey, who has spent more than three decades in the Summit school district, resigned his position, effective Jan. 31, 2014. 

Raccoon Causes Widespread Power Outage

In mid-December, an outage impacting 3,000 customers, including two Summit public schools, was caused by a raccoon that entered a Summit substation, according to JCP&L spokesman Gerry Ricciardi.