by Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
The South Brunswick Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse is getting ready to kick off its 21st annual Community Unity Day at Woodlot Park.
The event is set to begin at noon Oct. 18 and will feature more than 100 vendors, live music and dancing, boardwalk type games and plenty of food for sale. Local and state officials, including state Sen. Frank Lautenberg, will also be on hand to cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Community Center, which has been closed since April.
”The day is a part of community building, making a much stronger sense of community bonding,” Steve Reichenstein said.
Mr. Reichenstein, and his wife, Diana, co-chaired the effort to put on the event for the first time this year.
”People don’t have to feel alone in a world that is going so fast, and in a diverse town that is growing very fast,” Mr. Reichenstein said. “People can come and have a strong sense of community, have fun and absorb some healthy behaviors.”
Ms. Reichenstein said that much of the event will be targeted at a younger audience.
”This year it is really focused on children and tweens,” she said. “That’s the main group of people that the alliance targets so we wanted to create a lot of things for them to do that are both healthy and fun. It’s really a day for them to come out with their families and have a good time.”
Musical entertainment will be provided by area band Slo Motion, who play a mix of popular cover songs. Hip hop dance troop Face de Phlav will also perform, along with representatives from local dance schools and some ethnic Indian and Sri Lanken dancers, according to Mr. Reichenstein.
Though the event begins at noon, the opening ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. and feature a moment of silence for veterans and a performance by the South Brunswick High School marching band.
There will be a scavenger hunt, potato sack race and other competitions for kids and adults. For those interested in video games, Best Buy on Route 1 will provide four 52-inch plasma TVs for the day with a mix of games including Guitar Hero. Krazy House Customs on Route 1 will be displaying a monster truck, and the list of activities for kids goes on and on for the day.
For adults there will be many vendors with arts and crafts and other wares to browse, including a representative from Bodner Auctions who will do appraisals of items brought by residents. The event also will have a free raffle for everyone who shows up, including prizes like bikes, Waterford crystal and gift certificates to local stores and eateries.
A bloodmobile, health screenings from St. Peter’s Hospital, the bookmobile and a Red Cross truck that simulates being in a fire also will be on hand.
”Everyone can really enjoy this event,” Ms. Reichenstein said. “It is also a great time to get information. All the resources for kids and seniors and handicapped people and anyone else will be there.”

