Editor's Note: Rewinding the News

This week a smoky fire at the Arnold's Pest Control building disrupted Centennial Avenue, a paddling competition down the Rahway River ended in success for eight lucky winners and police pursued an alleged robber and carjacker through the township, arresting the suspect in Springfield. Here are the events that made the headlines this week:

Sunday, July 4:

▪      Patch chats with a top national judo competitor, who is spending most of his summer days at the Judo Karate Club in Cranford – the school where he began his career in martial arts.

▪     A smoky fire races through Arnold's Pest Control on Centennial Avenue. As the stairways collapsed, it became difficult for firefighters to get inside the building.

Monday, July 5:

▪     The annual Firecracker Four Mile Run, a competition across residential streets and  Nomahegan Park, kicks off Fourth of July activities in Cranford.

▪    The Cranford Canoe Race competitors vie for first place, churning up the water on the Rahway River.    

▪     Fourth of July fireworks illuminate the night at Nomahegan Park. The light show draws hundreds of people from around the area.

Tuesday, July 6:

▪    Cranford Police halted a Belleville resident's vehicle on North Avenue, and charged the driver with marijuana possession.                  

▪    Patch offers the lowdown on how Governor Christie's tax reform would work at the local level.            

▪     Two firefighters gain a new rank at the Cranford Fire Department: Captain William Merwede and Lieutenant Andrew Stratton.         

Wednesday, July 7:

▪       Ace softball pitcher Julie Siragusa chats with Patch about her upcoming role; leading the Lady Cougars into battle next year.  

▪       Patch taps township heads for some advice on keeping cool and safe during this heat wave, and offers an update on Community Center activities on this sizzling hot day.

▪       Swim Club members raised hundreds of dollars for Cranford Family Care through a weekend-long Swim-A-Thon.              

Thursday, July 8:

▪       The Cranford Rotary Club gears up for its annual golf tournament – a scholarship fundraiser for township high school seniors.

▪     The Cougar baseball program winds down after a spectacular season. The coach chats with Patch about the team's talented varsity players and promising underclassmen.                  

Friday, July 9:

▪       A car chase veers through Cranford. The suspect, who allegedly robbed a gas station in Roselle with a machine gun, was arrested in Springfield.

▪       Cranford United States Postal Service feels the weight of a national USPS fiscal decline.  

▪       Shiny hot rods decorate Cranford's downtown center during the Chamber of Commerce's monthly Cruiser Night.

▪       An always-popular Cougar baseball camp  draws an impressive camper turnout.

Saturday, July 10:

▪       Police Chief Eric Mason, the next president of the state Police Chefs Association, chats with Patch about the organization and upcoming goals.  

▪       The Driftwood Players will be serving up Shel Silverstein  to adults via poetry and one-act plays at Trinity Episcopal Church the end of this month.