Cigar Night 2021 will be held as a live event this year, co-sponsored by The Aubrey Foundation and the Anthony A. Raspa Memorial Foundation.
The event is scheduled for June 27 beginning at 5 p.m. at The Brown Stone Bar and Grill, 932 Middlesex Ave., Metuchen.
Cigar Night was originally established by The Aubrey Foundation as a fundraising event to honor the memory of Aubrey Pappas, a North Brunswick teacher who was killed in a catastrophic auto accident in 2014.
Less than a month before the scheduled event, Aubrey’s cousin, Anthony A. Raspa, lost his life at age 24 after a tragic car accident while on patrol as a trooper with the New Jersey State Police.
In his memory, the Anthony A. Raspa Memorial Foundation was created, and the two organizations joined together in sponsoring Cigar Night for the mutual benefit of both scholarship funds.
Proceeds from past Cigar Nights have allowed the foundations to award more than than $25,000 to scholarship recipients in Central Jersey. I
n addition to cigars, food, music and sangria, guests will enjoy an unlimited top shelf open bar and lawn games.
Also, with every paid ticket, attendees are automatically entered into a raffle for the chance to win prizes.
There will also a silent auction featuring sports memorabilia and other unique collectibles.
Tickets are priced at $100 each. Combination tickets are also available at $120, which includes registration for the seventh annual Purple for Pappas 5K Run/Walk on Oct. 17.
To purchase tickets, visit www.TAFCigarNight.eventbrite.com
Prospective school board candidates may obtain a “School Board Candidate Kit” online at www.njsba.org.
Published by the New Jersey School Boards Association, the School Board Candidate Kit includes a nominating petition, information about legal qualifications for school board candidacy and the role of the school board member. Information about the New Jersey School Ethics Act and important dates in the school election process are also included in the kit.
Candidates must file a nominating petition with the Middlesex County Clerk’s Office in order to get their name on the ballot for the annual school election.
The deadline to submit the nominating petition with the Middlesex County Clerk is 4 p.m. Monday, July 26. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2.
The regular public meeting of the North Brunswick Board of Education scheduled for 7 p.m. June 23 will be held in person at the North Brunswick Township High School auditorium, 98 Raider Road, North Brunswick.
For instructions on how to access the meeting and make comments during the public participation session, visit www.nbtschools.org
Due to COVID-19, all registrations will be handled remotely.
Appointments can be made at www.sbschools.org/central_registration Go to Central Registration to pre-register and schedule an appointment.
If you have already scheduled an appointment, someone from Central Registration will contact you.
Any questions, email [email protected]
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Safe Kids Middlesex County will co-host Summer Safety at the North Brunswick Library.
Learn about water safety during a webinar at 4 p.m. June 23 via Zoom.
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvde2pqT4qGdIkXFcrWYlo3bkCtfxclEOY
For more information, visit northbrunswicklibrary.org
A local Veterans Stand Down serving homeless and at-risk veterans will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 24 at the American Legion Joyce Kilmer Post 25, 4 JFK Dr., Milltown.
Services include benefits, claims, housing, women and men’s clothing, lunch and other services.
For more information, contact Bob Looby at 908-894-0746 or [email protected], or Ron Dixon at 732-404-7445 or [email protected]
JCC Jamz presents Still Kickin’, the Jewish Community Center’s very own garage band, at 7 p.m. June 24 outdoors in the JCC parking lot, 1391 Marine Ave., Scotch Plains.
The band includes Dr. William Charschan of Charschan Chiropractic and Sports Injury Associates in North Brunswick and Scotch Plains.
Bring your own chairs, dinner and drinks.
Parking will be in designated spots to be socially distant.
No pets allowed.
Register for the free concert at jccnj.org
Donations will be accepted at check in.
Saint Peter’s University Hospital will hold a blood drive from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. June 28 in the Sister Marie de Pazzi Conference Center, 254 Easton Ave., New Brunswick.
Donors will receive a $5 Starbucks gift cars and a raffle chance to win a $50 card.
Appointments are encouraged. Visit rwjuhdonorclub.org or call 732-235-8100, ext. 221.
NAMI NJ’s new webinar series, Multicultural Conversations, will address Pride Month and mental health concerns within the LGBTQ+ community from 2-3 p.m. June 30.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness New Jersey chapter offers four programs serving African American, Hisplanic/Latinix, South Asian and Chinese American communities.
Register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uLl10fpcS06BVimLQ9Emjg
The North Brunswick Youth Sports Festival will be held from July 1-11 by DeVry/Chamberlain University, 630 Route 1 north, North Brunswick.
Hours are: 6-11 p.m. weeknights, 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays, 3 p.m. to midnight Saturdays, 3-11 p.m. Sundays.
Special hours for July 4 are 3 p.m. to midnight, July 5 from 3-11 p.m. and July 6 6 p.m. to midnight.
There will be free entertainment, rides, Rosaire’s Royal Racers, High Flying Pages thrill show, motorcycle stunt show, a Gossamer Magic Show and a new Kiddie Land.
Fireworks will be presented at 10 p.m. July 4 and at 10 p.m. July 10. Rain date is 10 p.m. July 11.
For discounts and a mega pass, visit www.nbysf.com
Summer reading fun begins soon for all ages at the South Brunswick Public Library.
Registration for the 2021 Tails & Tales program ends on Aug. 15. There will be prizes.
Registration for the animal-themed summer program will be on the Readsquared app; there will be a variety of virtual and in-person events throughout the season. Read whatever you want and log your progress on the account you establish on the app.
To register, visit SBPL.READSQUARED.COM, call the library or stop by in person at 110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, for help registering.
To view an informative video from Children’s Department Head Matt Kirschner, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=teHx8nLO0jY&feature=youtu.be
Instead of the annual Fun Festival as the library’s celebration event, there will be a new program called the Trails & Tails Summer Reading program. It will be presented in partnership with the township’s Recreation Department on July 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the library and four of the parks in South Brunswick.
Participants will need to visit each of the five locations in a road rally style event. There will be fun, crafts, and prizes. More details to come.
The library is now back to its pre-COVID hours of operation: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday 1-5 p.m.
All video games and movies are free to borrow.
For more information, visit sbpl.info
Win at Weight Loss workout in the park will be held by the South Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department from 7-8 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through July 1 at Beech Woods Park, 137 Beekman Road, Kendall Park section of South Brunswick.
Join Claire Mason of PurposeFit LLC for an outdoor workout that is a mix of cardio, conditioning circuits and strength training.
Classes are suitable for all fitness levels.
Bring a mat, water and a set of dumbbells.
There are no rain dates; virtual classes or class recordings will be offered in the event of inclement weather.
Drop-in sessions are $15. Packages are available.
For more information, call 908-403-7093 or visit www.purposefitcoach.com
Prinal Patel of Nothing Bundt Cakes, 1443 Route 1 south, North Brunswick, is conducting a diaper drive through July 3 on behalf of Central Jersey Diaper Bank.
Children’s diapers in all sizes are needed.
Receive a free bundtlet with dropoff.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Monday to Saturday.
For more information, call 732-592-2537.
The North Brunswick Municipal Complex, located at 710 Hermann Road, will be fully open and operational to the public beginning July 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Council, committee and board meetings will resume in person beginning June 29. Remote meeting access will continue to be available as an option.
Visitors must wear a mask upon entering the building.
The Daniel Anderl Love is Light 5K will be held July 17 at North Brunswick Community Park, 2053 Route 130, to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Anderl, who was killed in his North Brunswick home on July 19, 2020.
Rain date is July 18.
The event will benefit the St. Joseph High School Daniel Anderl ’18 Memorial Scholarship Fund. Anderl graduated from the Metuchen private school in 2018.
The cost in advance is $25, or $25-$35 in person the day of.
To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/NJ/NorthBrunswickCommunityParkNorthBrunswick/InauguralDanielLoveisLight5K
Or, to donate to the scholarship fund, visit https://alumni.stjoes.org/g/daniel-anderl-18-memorial-fund
The North Brunswick Department of Parks & Recreation will award the Grandparents of the Year.
A one-page typed explanation of why the grandparent(s) deserve(s) the title should include the name, address and phone number of both the nominee and nominator.
Submissions are due by Aug. 1.
Email to Lou Ann Benson at [email protected]
Recipients will be awarded in September near Grandparents Day.
For more information, call 732-247-0922, ext. 8233.
Complete all five challenges through August to collect Team USA gear during the North Brunswick Tour de Parks.
Each challenge costs $3 per participant.
After completing each challenge, submit photos and the completed form in order to collect gear.
The cost is $3 per participant.
Details on future activities will be announced.
Participants can register for one event at a time, or choose the Spring Summer Total Tour de Parks option and commit to all five.
Register at https://register.capturepoint.com/NorthBrunswickTownship or email [email protected] or call 732-247-0922, ext. 475.
Summer Fun & Games in the Park for North Brunswick children in grades K-7 will be offered through Aug. 27 at Veterans Park, Roosevelt Avenue.
All CDC guidelines will be followed during summer day camp.
Deposit is $15.
Register early in order to ensure programming is not canceled.
For more information, visit www.northbrunswicknj.gov
North Brunswick Township is accepting nominations for the Ann Marie Chandlee Volunteer Service Award for 2021.
Any organization, business or person who willingly gives their time, talents and resources to fulfill the needs of the community and improves the lives of North Brunswick residents can be nominated.
Return the nomination form to the North Brunswick Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services, 710 Hermann Road, North Brunswick; fax to 732-247-0979; email to [email protected]; or drop the nomination form inside the box marked “Volunteer Service Award Nominations.”
North Brunswick PBA Local 160 announced the return of its annual Cops & Rodders Car Show for Sept. 19. Rain date will be Sept. 26.
More details will be announced.
For more information, email [email protected]
The 24th annual Taste of Middlesex is planned for 5:30-8 p.m. Sept. 27 at The Pines Manor, 2085 Route 27, Edison.
Each year, the Edison Chamber of Commerce invites restaurants from around Middlesex County to showcase their cuisines.
Attendees sample dishes from around the area, then choose the winner by voting for their favorite.
The Groove will perform during the evening.
Must be 21 or over to attend.
Tickets are $50 per person in advance or $60 at the door; seniors get a $5 discount. Or, purchase a 10-pack for $450.
The event serves as a fundraising opportunity for non-profits; for every $50 ticket an organization sells, $25 gets donated back to the organization. Unsold tickets must be returned to the chamber by Sept. 1.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 732-738-9482.
Playhouse 22 will reopen to the public for live theater with the opening night of “Harvey” on Oct. 8 at the community theater, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.
The annual production of “A Christmas Carol” will return in December.
More information about tickets, new safety guidelines and the 2022 season will be available at Playhouse22.org
The National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold its 2021 walk, NAMIWalks NJ Your Way: A United Day of Hope, virtually on Oct. 9
For more information, visit namiwalks.org/newjersey
Ongoing
Right at Home of Central New Jersey can organize a Senior Citizen Prom for local facilities.
They will provide music and entertainment.
A prom king and queen will be crowned.
For more information on how to schedule a prom, call 732-967-0900.
Serving northern Middlesex, Mercer and Monmouth counties.
New Jersey State Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) COVID Crisis Fund is supporting the rising demand for medical oxygen for hospitals in India.
Make a check payable to AAPI and mail to Dr. Binod Sinha, 4 Progress St., Suite A9, Edison 08820.
Or, visit https://njstateaapi.org/donation-for-medical-oxygen-to-india/ to donate online.
Sign up at https://forms.gle/nxuZUi5AMJe1RcyJ8
Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick has launched the Substance Abuse and Addiction Loss Support Group for families who are coping with loss due to addiction.
The free and confidential support group meets virtually on the second Thursday of every month from 7-8:30 p.m.
Inspired by Saint Peter’s Opioid Task Force, the Substance Abuse and Addiction Loss Support Group is for families and close loved ones of people who have passed away from addiction.
The support group is open to everyone in New Jersey and serves as a safe space for families to discuss their grief.
To join the Substance Abuse and Addiction Loss Support Group, call Jeanne Delacruz, a social worker at Saint Peter’s who facilitates the support group, at 732-745-8522 or email [email protected]
Amaranth at North Brunswick is the township’s first age-restricted community, currently under construction on Route 130.
Low- and moderate-income residents who would like to be part of the community can add an email address to be part of the marketing for the development.
To register, visit amaranthnj.com
Middlesex County’s Parks and Recreation Department will accept reservations for picnic groves at nine county parks via a new online reservation system.
The parks included in this new reservation system include Alvin Williams Park in Woodbridge; Donaldson Park in Highland Park; Fords Park in Woodbridge; Johnson Park in Piscataway; Joseph Medwick Park in Carteret; Merrill Park in Woodbridge; Roosevelt Park in Edison; Thompson Park in Monroe; Warren Park in Woodbridge.
These picnic groves offer visitors a socially distanced way to host picnics and small gatherings in an outdoor setting.
Fees vary for each location and are contingent on the Executive Order in place at the time of event.
To reserve a picnic grove online and view a list of accommodations provided at each grove such as electrical outlets, charcoal grills, shelter, etc., visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov/About/ParksRecreation/Pages/PR/Reservations.aspx.
A list of rules and regulations for the use of picnic areas will be listed on that page.
NAMI In Our Own Voice (NAMI En Nuestra Propia Voz) is a program by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New Jersey chapter geared toward community education and reducing the stigma of mental health, as trained volunteers share their lived experience of mental health recovery.
To schedule a presentation at a school, PTA meeting, congregation, town hall, support group or professional training, email [email protected]
Presentations are available in English and Spanish.
Gain stability from an in-demand occupation; apply for a Women’s Center career training grant from Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County.
Qualified persons who are active members of the JFS Women’s Center must submit an application and attend an interview. Grants are available for short-term training programs for in-demand jobs.
Eligible candidates must qualify as a “displaced homemaker,” a woman who is a single mother, divorced, separated, widowed, or living with a disabled spouse/partner.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, email [email protected]
French American School Princeton (FASP) is accepting enrollment.
At FASP, students in preschool (3 years old) through grade 8 benefit from a rigorous bilingual curriculum accredited by the Middle State Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools and the French Ministry of Education; personalized attention thanks to small class sizes; and a multicultural community with more than 30 nationalities represented.
FAPS is located at 75 Mapleton Road, Princeton.
Visit ecoleprinceton.org, call 609-430-3001 or email [email protected].
Central Jersey SCORE, a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration, is looking for volunteers to assist people looking to start a business or grow an existing small business.
The organization is recruiting business owners and executives, both current and retired, who want to share their experience and knowledge with today’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
The Central Jersey Chapter of SCORE serves Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties.
Central Jersey SCORE provides in-person mentoring and webinars, both offered virtually in line with current pandemic restrictions. In addition, the SCORE website offers tools and templates on a wide variety of topics and numerous online courses and webinars to assist small business owners through every aspect of business development and management. Services are offered free of charge.
Anyone interested in volunteering with SCORE or seeking additional information should email [email protected]
Dove Hospice Services of New Jersey seeks compassionate volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families.
Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes, which can also be nursing facilities or assisted living facilities, at least once a week. They read to the patient, reminisce about their lives, play cards, help with letter writing and provide respite for caregivers.
Visits can be virtual, and are either during the day or early evening.
Volunteers may also assist with administrative work within the hospice office.
Patient care volunteers complete an application and attend a virtual volunteer training program that covers the role of a hospice volunteer. Day and evening virtual training programs are offered.
To sign up for the next virtual training class, contact Volunteer Coordinator Deborah Adams at 732-405-3035 or email [email protected].
South Brunswick VFW Post 9111 is seeking monetary assistance from the community.
The organization has long supported free Christmas parties for children, food drives, Purple Hearts Chapter 10, the American Veterans Dog Foundation that trains dogs to support veterans, and a Christmas party for veterans at the New Jersey State Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park.
To donate to the GoFundMe account, visit https://gf.me/u/ynb882
Central Jersey Family Health Consortium is offering a series of virtual support groups.
A New Dad Support Group for expectant and new fathers with babies under 1 year old will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, co-facilitated by a therapist and an experienced father of twins.
Registration is required by emailing Pat Vena at [email protected].
A New Mom Support Group for pregnant and new moms with babies under 1 year old will be held in English at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and in Spanish at 1 p.m. Wednesdays.
To register in English, email Pat Vena at [email protected]. To register in Spanish, email Mariella Flores at [email protected].
The Listening Hearts and Minds Support Group is held at 6 p.m. Tuesdays for pregnant and parenting women, co-facilitated by experienced counselors. Topics include parenting skills, coping with COVID-19, stress management, keeping mental health and meditation.
Pre-registration required by contacting Deena Cohen at [email protected] or 888-633-5502.
CJFHC is located at 30 Silverline Dr., Second Floor, Suite 1, North Brunswick.
For more information, visit www.cjfhc.org or call 732-937-5437.
Monroe Township Jewish War Veterans Post 609 is collecting United States and foreign stamps, both on and off envelopes.
Stamps are used by veterans as hobbies and as therapy to support medical staff at VA Medical Centers nationwide.
Stamps are not traded or sold; they are forwarded to veteran patients at no charge.
Also requested are DVDs suitable for veterans at those locations.
Send all items to JWV Post 609, c/o Charles Koppelman, 6 Yarmouth Dr., Monroe 08831-4742.