Boro wins award for ‘smart growth’

METUCHEN — Mayor Ed O’Brien announced recently that Metuchen won the "smart growth" award given by New Jersey Future, a leading smart growth advocacy group.

"It’s awards like this that put Metuchen on the state’s ‘radar’ map" O’Brien said at the March 15 council meeting, noting that recognition of this sort helps attract investment in the borough.

New Jersey Future is the state’s oldest and largest smart growth advocacy group, specializing in encouraging and recognizing development alternatives to urban and suburban sprawl.

Last month O’Brien noted that the borough, which had submitted its downtown area for consideration, had made a list of 12 finalists.

This is the third such award for Metuchen in as many years. In 2002, the borough received an award from the state Organization of Planning Officials, and in 2003, it was recognized by the New Jersey chapter of the American Planning Association.

O’Brien said an award celebration is slated for May 5 in Newark and that the governor is likely to attend.

— Bryan Sabella

AAUW plans bus trip
to Culinary Institute

The American Association of University Women (AAUW), Mid-Jersey branch, will sponsor a bus trip to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., on April 17.

Lunch will be held at the French Escoffier Restaurant and then the trip will proceed to the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Departure will be at 9 a.m. from the Pearl Street lot in Metuchen and return around 6 p.m. Cost is $70 per ticket, and this trip is open to the general public

For further information, call Anita at (732) 382-5077 by April 1.