Community Bulletin Board: the Sentinel (for May 26)

 

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Monroe plans to award scholarships to one or two of the approximately 150 graduating seniors at Monroe Township High School who participate in Key Club, a high school level chapter of Kiwanis International that they sponsor.

A GoFundMe page for the scholarship has been set up at www.gofundme.com/f/monroe-high-school-scholarship-fund?utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet&utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer-andr

The goal is at least $2,000.

 

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Monroe is holding a coat drive for Trenton Rescue Mission and NJ Rise.

Gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves are requested.

Drop off containers are located at the Encore Clubhouse vestibule or on the side porch of 39 Westminster Dr. in Greenbriar Whittingham.

For more information, call Lin at 609-655-0023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saint Peter’s University Hospital will host the final lecture in its virtual family lecture series on the topic of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine from 6:30-7:30 p.m. June 2.

The lecture, “The HPV Vaccine’s Role in Cancer Prevention for Your Adolescent,” will be presented by Daniela Correa, MD, pediatrician, The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital; and Paulina Rojas, MD, pediatrician, Saint Peter’s University Hospital’s Family Health Center.

Dr. Correa and Dr. Rojas will address why it’s important to vaccinate adolescents against HPV. They will also share key facts about HPV and the safety of the HPV vaccine.

To register, visit

https://SaintPetersHCS.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7kQcomXSReqmT-3slyOPpw

 

 

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at 151 Milltown Road in East Brunswick will host an outdoor community yard sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 4 and 5 to benefit local food banks. Rain date will be June 11 and 12.

All member-donated sale items will be offered to attendees for a suggested food bank donation.

All funds raised will be used to purchase non perishable food items for the Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services (MCFOODS), which then distributes food to several local Middlesex County food banks.

 

 

The East Brunswick chapter of Hadassah will hold an expansive yard sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 6 in the North Brunswick Municipal Building parking lot, 710 Hermann Road, between Georges Road and Livingston Avenue. Rain date is June 13. 

 

Items needed include housewares, clothing, electronics, toys, bikes, jewelry, decor and miscellaneous. All items must be priced. All clothing must be clean and in good condition.

All proceeds benefit the Hadassah Medical Organization.

 

 

 

COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing in India, with more than 350,000 cases reported per day. The death toll is devastating the most vulnerable and marginalized populations: the homeless, poorly paid daily wage laborers and domestic workers. There are critical shortages of ventilator beds, medical oxygen, medicines and other lifesaving supplies.

United Way of Central Jersey (UWCJ) has established an India COVID-19 Relief Fund to raise financial support for the United Way of India to help battle this pandemic. The UWCJ India Relief Fund will accept donations though May 31.

Donations may be mailed to: UWCJ at 32 Ford Ave., Milltown 08850; or visit https://bit.ly/3gNsSdZ

One hundred percent of all donations will be directed to the UWCJ India COVID–19 Relief Fund.

 

 

The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey will present a workshop titled “Implications and Treatment of the Long-Term Neurological and Cognitive Effects of COVID-19” at noon on June 3.

Identify long-term and neurological impacts of COVID-19; describe the lingering cognitive issues resulting from COVID-19 and useful strategies to increase function; and describe options for medical, rehabilitative and recovery programs for those individuals who have experienced long-term effects of COVID-19.

Presented by Dr. Carol Sonatore, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, and Jennifer Murphy, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.

Register at bianj.org/webinars

The Brain Injury Alliance is located in North Brunswick.

 

 

 

MCFOODS (Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services) will hold Dine Below the Line at 6 p.m. June 6 via YouTube.

Tune in live to watch local chefs showcase recipes prepared on a budget with items typically found in a food pantry. Chefs will be judged on creativity, budget and nutrition. There will be a “People’s Choice” vote as well by those watching.

Donations for MCFOODS can be dropped off at the MCFOODS facility at 28 Kennedy Blvd., East Brunswick, around the back of the building under the tent. Staff members are there weekdays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. to receive donations.

If an organization would like to conduct a food drive, arrangements can be made for staff to deliver containers and pick up donations.

Or, direct monetary donations can be made at www.feedingmiddlesexcounty.org/ or checks payable to Feeding Middlesex County can be mailed to P.O. Box 781, Edison 08818.

 

Councilwoman Marylin Israel and the Spotswood Recreation Department will hold a Multicultural Day from 3-6 p.m. July 17 at the Spotswood Knights of Columbus, 30 Crescent Ave., Spotswood.

To share your culture and represent your heritage, contact Israel at [email protected] or call 732-484-2749. Include your name, phone number and which country you will be representing.

Participants will be asked to bring one or two traditional dishes, their country’s flag, cultural artifacts, costumes, history, music and personal ancestry.

RSVP by June 18.

 

 

 

Old Bridge PBA Local 127 will once again sponsor the Old Bridge Militia’s Bulldozer Bash, which will be held at 2 p.m. June 19 at Old Bridge Elks Lodge 2229, 67 Old Amboy Road, Old Bridge.

The Old Bridge Militia Foundation has played a part in cultivating a hard rock and heavy metal scene, while also assisting those who might be interested in learning about music, especially younger members of the community. Funds raised by those initiatives go to those who do not have the financial means to purchase instruments or lessons.

Donation of $30 includes beer and soda. Food trucks will be on site all day.

For more information, visit oldbridgemilitia.org or email [email protected]

 

 

 

NAMI New Jersey will hold its virtual annual meeting and conference from 6-8 p.m. June 18 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19. Meeting times are tentative.

The meeting will recognize the efforts of mental health advocates to improve the lives of those affected by mental illness. These awards are presented to affiliate leaders, individuals and families affected by mental illness, community leaders, mental health service providers, law enforcement officers, educators, legislators and media.

The theme is “Growing Through Adversity, Embracing Resilience.”

Registration information will be released.

For more information, visit naminj.org

 

Councilwoman Marylin Israel and the Spotswood Recreation Department will hold a Multicultural Day from 3-6 p.m. July 17 at the Spotswood Knights of Columbus, 30 Crescent Ave., Spotswood.

Participants will share traditional dishes, their country’s flag, cultural artifacts, costumes, history, music and personal ancestry.

 

 

 

 

The East Brunswick Public School District Community Programs Department again is offering the Early Learning Academy preschool classes.

This parent-pay program is for 3- and 4-year-old children residing in East Brunswick and surrounding areas.

To be eligible for the 2021-22 school year, children must be 3 years of age by Oct. 31, 2021, and not age-eligible for kindergarten (5 years of age by Oct. 31, 2021).

Children must be toilet trained.

The curriculum design and implementation is based on the New Jersey Department of Education’s Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards and the Preschool Implementation Guidelines. Certified supervisors with expertise in the field of early childhood and school readiness oversee the planning and preparation for the program.

The program provides parents the opportunity to register their child for a five-day/week developmentally appropriate learning experience within the school district.

This tuition-based program is five days per week. Half-day (a.m. or p.m.), mid-day extension, and full-day including early morning and/or after school care are available.

The program is located in a designated section in the Hammarskjold Middle School, with  security and its own designated pick-up and drop-off doors.

Transportation for this program is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

Visit www.ebnet.org/ela for full registration instructions, including fees and all required forms. 

A non-refundable registration fee plus the first month’s tuition must be received to reserve a spot in the program. Credit card payments are accepted (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover) as well as via e-check.

For more information or questions regarding the registration process, curriculum and program content information, email [email protected] or call 732-613-6629.

Enrollment for the current school year is still being accepted for the in-person 5 day per week half and full day programs. Visit www.ebnet.org/ela  

For summer, in-person 3- or 6-week programs (half and full day), visit www.ebnet.org/elasummer.

 

 

The East Brunswick Public School District Community Programs Department is again offering summer in-person Kindergarten Readiness Academy and Summer Early Learning Academy programs to all East Brunswick residents, as well as surrounding communities.

The Kindergarten Readiness Academy is designed to provide students entering kindergarten with continued quality programming prior to kindergarten. Participation in this program will focus on essential kindergarten readiness skills, therefore providing a head start for all participants. These essential kindergarten skills are aligned with the East Brunswick Kindergarten curriculum.

Additionally, the program enables us to provide comprehensive transition information for children to their Kindergarten teacher.

The Summer Early Learning Academy will offer a fun-filled summer care program for 3- and 4-year olds who will not be entering Kindergarten in September 2021. Activities and themes are designed to promote children’s social and cognitive development.

Both programs will also concentrate on closing the learning gap that research shows traditionally occurs over summer months. They will provide your child a summer of fun including Science, Carnival, Olympic and Ocean-themed weeks, plus more. Kindergarten

Readiness Academy and Summer Early Learning Academy will have full- and half-day programs, running from June 28 to Aug. 10, with the option to attend three weeks, or all six weeks.

Visit www.ebnet.org/elasummer for registration instructions and program details.

 

 

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 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

 

 

Camp Middlesex, a summer enrichment program for children age 7-15, will return for the summer.

Camp runs from June 28 to Aug. 20 at the college’s Edison campus. 

While most programs will be in person, there is also a virtual component for those who prefer that option.

Each week, children choose a program that combines two classes, which have been paired together to create an all-day experience in areas such as sports, crafts, STEM, Super Science for Kids, computers and theater. 

There is also an option to take classes in a “virtual Live” setting, in which campers sign up and participate at a set time from their home computers. These include cupcake making, drawing, genealogy, poetry and painting. 

The new theater camp will run both morning and afternoon, and is centered on musical theater. 

For those students interested in science, math and technology, Camp Middlesex offers Black Rocket courses, which run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. They include Minecraft Designers, eSports, Creating Video Games, Virtual Reality, Robotics, and many others. These classes are run on-site, but there is also a virtual option, in which campers can participate from home. 

For more information, visit middlesexcc.edu/Camp-Middlesex or call 732-906-2556. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

The Monroe Township Public Library will now be open on Sundays.

The library is open to the public Monday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Monroe Township Public Library building is open for Grab & Go Service. Library patrons may enter the building, look for an item and check it out, make a photocopy, reserve an item, etc.

All patrons and staff are required to wear masks and observe social distancing of at least six feet at all times while in the library building. Temperature checks take place at the entrance before entry into the Library. Capacity is monitored by library staff. Patrons are encouraged to use hand sanitizer prior to entering the building and after touching library materials and surfaces.

Seating remains unavailable at this time.

Self-checkout is encouraged.

Curbside pickup service is available by appointment at the drive-thru window. Place items on hold with a library card and pick them up when they’re ready. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Schedule an appointment at www.monroetwplibrary.org/curbside or by calling 732-521-5000.

The Monroe Township Library is not yet holding programs indoors, but will begin to offer some in-person programs outside on the library grounds. All CDC recommendations will be observed, including masks and social distancing. Registration is required for in-person programs. In the event of inclement weather, some programs will be held virtually only and others will be rescheduled.

Read the descriptions for each event at www.monroetwplibrary.org/calendar

 

 

 

 

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]

 

 

The Lost Souls Memorial Project (LSP) is releasing the official Request for Design Proposals (RFP), seeking design teams to submit their ideas about what the future Lost Souls memorial will be in East Brunswick.

The LSP seeks to create a permanent memorial to 137 African Americans who, in 1818, were stolen from New Jersey and transported to the Deep South to be sold into permanent slavery. Jacob Van Wickle, a corrupt Middlesex County judge, organized an extensive ring that included members of his family as well as highly placed members of the New Jersey elite. The state was phasing out slavery at the time, and under the state’s gradual emancipation laws no slave could be sent out of state without having given formal legal consent. The judge and his ring used deception, fakery and outright kidnapping of both free and enslaved people, who were held under guard in his home in what is now East Brunswick, New Jersey. They were sent on ships from Perth Amboy to Louisiana and Mississippi, many ending on the plantation owned by Van Wickle’s brother-in-law. Had they remained in New Jersey, they would in time have become free according to the state’s laws.

Outrage when the ring was discovered led to a few indictments, but Van Wickle was never brought to account, and the affair was forgotten.

The purpose of the Lost Souls Public Memorial is to ensure that these children, women and men are never again forgotten, and this horrific event be brought to light.

The New Brunswick NAACP, the New Jersey Chapter ​of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, and The Unitarian Society, as well as other community groups and individuals, are working to bring this project to life.

For more information about the project, and to access the RFP, visit lostsoulsmemorialnj.org.

 

 

The South River Police Department responds to emergency and non-emergency calls at businesses 24 hours a day. Occasionally, it becomes necessary to contact someone from the business outside of business hours. To assist police with having this information available when needed, the department maintains a database containing after hours contact phone numbers for business owners and representatives.

Anytime a new business is opened, business ownership is transferred, there are changes in employment status of listed contacts, or there are changes in positions or job titles of listed contacts, a business should be registered – but registration is 100% voluntary.

Information will be stored in a secure database. In the event it is deemed necessary by first responders on scene, the Communications Center can access the information and quickly reach a business owner or representative.

To register a business, visit southriverpd.org/business-registration and download the business registration form. The completed form can be submitted by emailing it to [email protected], faxing it to 732-613-6103, or dropping it off at headquarters, 61 Main St., South River.

For more information on registering an alarm, call 732-257-1999.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jewish Family Services Food Pantry needs volunteers to organize its food pantry and supply closet, located at 1600 Perrineville Road, Monroe.

 

 

Monroe Township residents can apply for current and future openings on township boards, commissions and advisory councils.

Monroe is accepting volunteer applications for appointments to the Americans with Disabilities Act Committee, Affordable Housing Board, Commission on Aging, Cultural Arts Commission, Environmental Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Human Relations Commission, Library Board of Trustees, Open Space & Farmland Preservation Commission, Planning Board, Recreation Advisory Board, Shade Tree Commission, Sustainable Jersey – Green Team Advisory Committee, Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Residents should visit https://monroetwp.com/index.php/boards-commissions and select from a list of boards and commissions to review full descriptions of each group.

They then can send the downloadable form located at the bottom of the boards and commissions page of the website for their area of interest.

Submissions may be sent to the Municipal Clerk by mail at the Administrative Offices, by email at [email protected], or by fax to 732-521-3190.

All submissions will be retained for a maximum period of one year from the date of filing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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].

 

 

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.

 

 

 

The Community Pet Food Bank by New Beginnings Animal Rescue is open from 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, with varying hours on Saturdays, on the grounds of Nativity Lutheran Church, 552 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick.

For more information, visit nbarnj.org

 

The Jamesburg Public Library will hold its board meetings on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

These meetings are open to the public, and will take place on Zoom for the remainder of the year.

Visit jamesburglibrary.org or www.facebook.com/JamesburgLibrary/ for further information.

Each meeting will have a different Zoom link and passcode

 

The East Brunswick Recreation, Parks & Community Services Department is collecting non-perishable food, cash and gift cards for distribution to Aldersgate Community Outreach Center.

Drop off food in the back of the box truck parked in the parking lot, 334 Dunhams Corner Road; the door is kept down so lift it to put donations inside.

Or, drop cash/check/gift cards in an envelope and put in the drop box next to the front door to the Recreation Department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The East Brunswick Domestic Response Team is seeking volunteers.

Citizens are trained to respond to local police departments on an on-call basis to provide support and information to victims of domestic abuse.

For more information, email [email protected].

 

 

 

The Korean War/Defense Veterans Association Central Jersey Chapter No. 148 extends an invitation to any veterans, regardless of branch of service, who served during the war from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953, in any location, including Europe, or who have served in Korea from July 27, 1953, through the present.

The group meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of every month —except January through April — at the Monroe Township Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Plaza.

Membership dues are $25 to the Korean War Veterans Association and $10 chapter fee per year.

The chapter is involved in various functions during the year, including parades, flag raisings, visiting the Korean War Memorial in Atlantic City, etc.

For more information, contact Charles Koppelman at 609-655-3111 or [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].