The Daily Rundown: Wednesday, April 26
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Perth Amboy BID increases improvement grants
Perth Amboy Business Improvement District recently increased funds available for grants. Mayor Wilda Diaz and BID Chairman Barry Rosengarten are encouraging local companies to apply. The grants cover a portion of the cost to renovate an entire structure or install lighting, signs or display windows. In 2016, the city and BID provided close to $25,000 to seven businesses. This year, the BID has doubled the amount of funds for façade grants, and may increase the budget if there is a surge in applications. The Grzankowski Family Trust, Devine Health and Medical Supplies, Journey to Wellness, Toscano Consulting, and Maritza’s Boutique recently made improvements made possible through the grants. Visit www.perthamboynj.org.
READ: The Daily Rundown: Tuesday, April 25
East Brunswick invites residents to share Coffee with a Cop
The East Brunswick Police Department invites community members to come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee, at Coffee with a Cop 9 a.m. April 27 at the Colonial Diner, 560 Route 18 north. The event is designed to help police create lasting connections with the communities they serve. Contract Patrolman Craig Hoover with questions at choover@ebpd.net or office phone 732-390-6938.
Local author Alison Pilla to read children's book
Alison Pilla, a graduate of Woodbridge public schools, Stockton University and Kean University recently published her first children's book, "It's Not So Bad". To celebrate Week of the Young Child, she will be doing a reading for children at Little Treasures Learning Center in Edison, at 4 p.m. April 26 and at the Edgar Early Childhood Learning Center in Metuchen at 4 p.m. on April 27.
22 West Tap and Grill's grand opening
Although the community has been enjoying 22 West Tap and Grill’s food and entertainment since December, the gastropub at 1601 Route 22, Bridgewater, will celebrate its grand opening from 11 a.m. to midnight April 29. Highlights will include live music, complimentary valet parking, the Magic 98.3 FM Street Team, carnival games and prizes, caricature drawings, a Velcro jumping wall and many giveaways. The event will showcase the new spring menu, including the Beer Stout Burger. Other food and drink highlights will include Tito’s Vodka Lemonade Stand, beer trucks, additional liquor vendors, such as Fireball, and food stands. Visit 22westtapandgrill.com.
Protecting water quality through watersheds
Watersheds — areas of land that collect rainfall — play a vital role in purifying and collecting rain, protecting us from devastating floods and providing safe havens for wildlife. Without active management forested, watersheds will be of no value to the marshes, rivers, lakes, streams, and natural aquifers that they feed. Foresters are key to healthy watersheds because trees drastically reduce erosion along banks and add leaves/debris to feed and shelter wildlife, including trout. Forests can also be managed to protect, restore and sustain water quality. If properly managed, watersheds can: absorb more rainwater for less flooding, filter harmful pollutants out of waterways and recreational areas, provide inexpensive sources of drinking water, and provide areas for recreation. To learn more about watersheds and the importance of forestry in keeping them and the water supply healthy, visit https://njforests.org and www.njaudubon.org.
Middlesex Water Co. launches infrastructure effort
Middlesex Water Co. recently announced a major infrastructure campaign to enhance safety, reliability and resiliency throughout its water system. Water for Tomorrow involves numerous projects designed to upgrade and replace infrastructure and enhance the integrity of system assets to better serve current and future generations of water users. Middlesex plans to invest $160 million through 2018, the company reported in a news release. The Middlesex system provides retail, commercial and industrial water services to 61,000 homes and businesses in Carteret, Edison, Metuchen, South Amboy, South Plainfield and Woodbridge. Information and updates about the Water for Tomorrow program can be found at www.middlesexwater.com.
Veterans resource fair planned at First Baptist
The First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens Veterans Ministry is hosting a Veterans Benefits Resource Fair, Saturday, April 29, at the church on Somerset Street in the Somerset section of Franklin. This event aims to provide information to veterans, their family members and to veterans In the community, according to a news release. There will be a free continental breakfast served from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by the fair presentation from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Veterans Administration will provide information on all benefits entitled to veterans and their family, including: healthcare, home loans, insurance, burial and memorial expenses, and more. Information also will be provided by VA Vocational Rehabilitation on education benefits, disability compensation and more. This is a free event and registration is encouraged. RSVP by email to veteransministry@fbcsomerset.com or call 732-470-1819 or 732-828-2009.
Induction dinner on May 20
The 22nd annual New Brunswick High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will be held on Saturday, May 20, at the school's cafe. Guest speaker will be Jonathan Casillas of the New York Giants. Doors open at 4 p.m.; program starts at 5. The cost is $40. For tickets, contact Joe Riddick, treasurer, 75 Pine Grove Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873, New Brunswick High School Athletic Hall of Fame at 732-246-0977. Make checks payable to: N.B.H.S.A.H.O.F. Visit http://hs.nbpschools.net/Athletics/NBHS-Athletic-HoF/.
Newsletter details getting food stamps
How low- and moderate-income New Jerseyans may obtain food stamps is among the issues highlighted in the latest newsletter of Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ). The bilingual publication, “Looking Out For Your Legal Rights,” is accessible at www.lsnjlaw.org by clicking on the “publications” tab. The newsletter also is available at all Legal Services offices in New Jersey. Food stamp applications are available online at www.njhelps.org.
ALDI reopens in Woodbridge
ALDI will offer grocery shoppers a smarter alternative as it reopens its Woodbridge store, 450 King Georges Post Road. The Woodbridge store is part of the aggressive $1.6 billion investment plan ALDI recently announced. More than 1,300 ALDI stores will be remodeled and expanded across the country by 2020. The grand reopening is on Thursday, April 27. Doors open at 9 a.m. at the store on King Georges Road.
Bridgewater police blotter
On April 4, Jonathan Debaro, 18, of Branchburg, was charged possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle while parked in a vehicle near Old York Road, police said. On April 8, Tayner Blackburn, 21, and Kimberlin Macal-Garcia, 22, both of Whitehouse Station, were charged with shoplifting $474 worth of merchandise from Lord & Taylor at the Bridgewater Commons Mall, police said. On April 11, Jacquis Jordan, 22, of Piscataway, was charged with possession of marijuana after the vehicle he was traveling in was stopped for a motor vehicle violation on Route 22 West, police said. On April 11, Juan Garcia-Santos, 44,of New Brunswick, was charged with shoplifting merchandise with a combined approximate value of $221 from Macy’s at Bridgewater Commons, police said. On April 11, Asa Panatero, 35, of Manville, was charged with shoplifting $719 worth of merchandise from Macy’s at Bridgewater Commons, police said.
Raritan Township police blotter
Police charged Wrayan S. Thomas, 31, of Elizabeth, and John Garcia, 28, of Bronx, New York, on April 15 with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia (plastic bags and blunt wraps) following a motor vehicle stop on Route 202/31. Thomas also was charged with maintenance of lamps, driving with a suspended driver’s license and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle. On April 17, police charged Jill K. Rossnagle, 29, of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia (marijuana blunt) and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle following a motor vehicle stop on Route 202/31. On April 18, Casey A. Czyzewski, 27, of Raritan Township, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (heroin), possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of drug paraphernalia (glass pipe and plastic straw) following an incident in the Flemington Fields Development.
International Tabletop Day
Come out for an afternoon of fun and games at the International Tabletop Day at Woodbridge Main Library from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 29. The library will be featuring classic easy to learn games, such as Ticket to Ride and Tsuro. They will have demos all day for anyone looking to learn a new game and open gaming for anyone looking to play and meet new people. Woodbridge Public Library is at 1 George Frederick Plaza. Call 732-634-4450, ext. 7128; www.woodbridgelibrary.org.
Community yard sales
North Brunswick will conduct its second annual Community Wide Yard Sales during the first three Saturdays in May — May 6, 13 and 20. The yard sales, which will be held rain or shine, will be conducted in three zones. On Saturday, May 6, yard sales will be held in Zone 1, which includes Berdines Corner and the neighborhoods bordered by Livingston Avenue, Patton Street, Ridgewood Avenue, Linwood Place, Hermann Road, Milltown Road, including the Milltown section, Chrome Street, Georges Road and Nassau Street. On Saturday, May 13, the sales move to Zone 2, including all neighborhoods on either side of Route 130 from the Route 1/130 overpass to Black Horse Lane, including Deer Brook Village. On Saturday, May 20, the Zone 3 yard sales will be held between Route 1 and Route 27 and from How Lane south to Finnegans Lane. Visit www.northbrunswicknj.gov.
JRecovey program holds Annual Share Day
Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County’s (JFS) JRecovery program is sponsoring its free Annual Share Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at the JFS office in the Concordia Shopping Center, 1600 Perrineville Road, Suite 52, Monroe. The event will feature Rabbi Ellie Shemtov of Beit Yosef — Recovery and Music. JRecovery is a support group for anyone who has been touched by addiction; the recovering addict and their friends and family members. Light Kosher lunch will be served. Registration is required. RSVP to JFS at 732-777-1940 by May 3.
Hicks to be inducted
The National Inventors Hall of Fame will be inducting its 2017 class on May 4. Counted among this year’s posthumous inductees is New Jersey native and Stevens Institute/Newark College of Engineering (now New Jersey Institute of Technology) alumnus Beatrice Hicks, who invented a gas density sensor used by the NASA space program. Her sensor activated a switch, indicating a leak, when there was a change in the density of artificial atmospheres protecting electronic equipment and other vital mechanisms. Visit www.invent.org.
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