COVID, Pool Accidents: East Brunswick’s Top Stories in 2020

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – Like the rest of the country, East Brunswick’s year was shaped by the pandemic and the effects of the shutdown. The town saw death, tragedy and job losses. Patch is looking back at a year few will remember fondly, but will never forget.

Here’s are some of the top stories from East Brunswick in 2020.

East Brunswick Teen Dies After Falling Through Ice

In January, a 13-year-old East Brunswick teen, Yousef Khela, died after he and two friends fell into a partially frozen pond, near East Brunswick Civic Center. When police got there, two of the boys were able to pull themselves out, but Khela slipped under the ice before help could reach him. The teen was an eighth grader at Churchill Junior High School.

Boy, 4, Drowns In East Brunswick Pool On July 4

A 4-year-old boy accidentally fell into an in-ground swimming pool at a party and drowned. Police said the child fell into the pool during a kindergarten graduation party. When adults realized the boy was missing, a family member found him at the bottom of the pool. The boy was taken to Robert Wood Johnson hospital and put on life support. He was pronounced dead before 11 p.m. that same day.

Three East Brunswick Residents Die In Tragic Pool Accident

Three people from East Brunswick died in a tragic pool accident in June. Police identified the victims as 62-year-old Bharat Patel, his daughter-in-law, Nisha Patel, 33, and her 8-year-old daughter. Police said a neighbor called 911 after she heard screaming in the backyard. The three were pronounced dead shortly after being found.

East Brunswick School District Reopens With Hybrid Model

In August, while many school districts decided to begin the year with remote learning, East Brunswick School District made news for opting for the hybrid model. School Superintended Victor Valeski spoke about the reopening plan during Gov. Phil Murphy's coronavirus briefing on Aug. 12. Valeski said the board decided to go with the hybrid model after learning that "certain students needed additional support from teachers." The school district purchased a large amount of PPE, installed plexiglass barriers and hand washing/sanitization stations and marked sidewalks for orderly movement. However, teachers expressed reservations about coming back to school buildings at a board meeting. The district managed to reopen successfully, but then many quarantines followed. The school finally shifted to the all-remote model beginning Nov.16, through Jan. 11, 2021, owing to the growing number of COVID cases.

East Brunswick Mayor, Councilmen Win Another Term

Incumbent mayor Brad Cohen won another term as mayor, beating his Republican opponent Jesal Amin in the November election. The lead-up to the elections was heated, with Amin accusing Cohen of not doing enough to attract businesses to town. Cohen responded saying he has strong fiscal record and said his redevelopment project would revitalize the town. Councilmen Sterley Stanley and Michael Spadafino who were seeking re-election also won their seats.