Old Bridge PBA Local 127 members took part in a welcome home parade for 7-year-old township resident Kendall Bresocnik in the spring. Unfortunately, Kendall passed away a short time after that parade.
To honor Kendall’s memory, the PBA is taking part in the “Believe in Unicorns” fundraiser. For each letter written, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-wish Foundation.
To participate by Dec. 4, visit https://sites.google.com/carteretschools.org/believekb/home?authuser=0
For more information, email quilt23lady@gmail.com.
High school students are invited to enter their substance use prevention messages through their original music as part of the music and song writing competition, “Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey,” sponsored by New Jersey Broadcasters and 959.9-FM WRAT.
The competition is designed to challenge New Jersey high school students to create original music and lyrics with powerful peer-to-peer substance use, misuse and prevention messages. Entries are accepted through Feb. 1.
All music genres are welcomed from students interested in sharing their talent and inspiring messages about shouting down drugs and raising up their voices to inspire their peers.
The winner of the New Jersey Shout Down Drugs competition, as decided by judges and announced at the end of the Prevention Concert, will receive a $5,000 music contract. The second- and third-place performers will receive $3,000 and $2,000 music contracts, respectively, with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.
For rules and information on how to enter, contact Diane Higgins at 973-275-7985.
The Girls on the Run of Central NJ (GOTRCNJ) Fall 5K race will be virtual this year.
The 5K Turkey Trot will take place Nov. 26-29 and is open to the public. Registrants can complete the virtual 5K on their time and in their own place.
Registration is free and open to all. However, in an effort to sustain the GOTRCNJ Scholarship Fund, participants can donate $10 or an amount of their choice to GOTRCNJ during registration. One hundred percent of donations will go to scholarships to make the program accessible to girls who otherwise would not be able to participate.
Participants will receive a printable bib and finisher’s certificate.
Register at https://runsignup.com/gotrturkeytrot or visit www.gotrcnj.org.
For race questions, contact Donna York at donna.york@girlsontherun.org or 908-642-4321.
The Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth will hold the 17th annual Suicide Prevention Conference, focusing on “Reaching for Hope,” from 8:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 3, via WebEx.
Speakers include Susan Klebold, author and activist; and Vanessa L. McGann, clinical psychologist
To register, visit https://rutgers.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=5&EID=7116
Cost is $49 per person.
The Old Bridge Township Public School District provides special education and related services to disabled children/students ages 3-21 who are in need of special education.
If you reside within the district or have a child attending a non-public school in Old Bridge and suspect your child may be disabled due to physical, sensory, emotional, communication, cognitive or social difficulties, call the Office of Special Services.
For children 3-5 years old, pre-school disabled means an identified disabling condition and or measurable developmental impairment that requires special education and related services.
For additional information, call your neighborhood school and ask for the Child Study Team or call the Office of Special Services at 732-360-4461.
For more information, visit https://givebutter.com/sara
Old Bridge PBA Local 127 will host its 24th annual holiday party for families in need, “Cops for Kids,” on Dec. 4 in the municipal complex courtyard.
The party will be held entirely outside and feature a Winter Wonderland.
Approximately 90 children and their families will be treated to a full dinner, a visit from Santa Claus and gifts.
Monetary donations can be sent to Cops for Kids, Attn: Sgt. Jim Ford, Old Bridge Police Department, 1 Old Bridge Plaza, Old Bridge 08857. New, unwrapped toys and games can be dropped off at police headquarters from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, serving Monmouth and Middlesex counties, will hold its annual meeting, Giving Wings to the Jewish Heart of Jersey, at 6:30p.m. Dec. 8 via Zoom.
Look at ways the Jewish community became more connected and capable this year amid extraordinary challenges, recognize individuals and organizations for playing key roles, and celebrate the shared values that unite Jews.
The first 100 households to sign up by Nov. 25 will receive a celebration goody bag.
For registration information, visit https://www.jewishheartnj.org/
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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 deborah@dovehs.com.
The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County is introducing new child care options and academic programming this fall.
The YMCA is launching the “Y Academy” in September to provide convenient, flexible and affordable options for children in grades K-6, whose schedules are split between in-person and virtual learning.
Parents will have options, with children attending two or three days a week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Y Academy will be available at the Freehold Family YMCA, Freehold Borough YMCA Community Center, and Matawan Child Achievement Center.
The Y plans to offer the Y Academy at the Old Bridge Family YMCA and Red Bank Family YMCA, pending licensing, and community sites are also under consideration depending on interest.
Also new this fall is a full-day kindergarten program for families who prefer in-person classroom instruction. Young learners will engage in an academic curriculum, physical fitness, and social and emotional learning activities.
The kindergarten program will be available in September at the Freehold Family YMCA’s Enrichment Center and Matawan Child Achievement Center. It will run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, with extended care available at 7 a.m. and until 6 p.m.
Children will be placed in small groups and all safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health departments will be strictly followed. Staff and children will be required to wear masks (with scheduled mask breaks for children). Health screenings will be mandatory at parent drop off and both parent and child will be temperature checked.
The Y will also resume before and after school care in the following school districts: Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Highlands, Little Silver, Manalapan/Englishtown, Matawan, Middletown Township, Millstone, Monmouth Beach, Shrewsbury, Spring Lake Heights and West Long Branch.
Additionally, the Y provides child care for infants to preschoolers at the Freehold Family YMCA and an academic pre-school program at the Matawan Child Achievement Center.
To learn more about YMCA child care programs and registration, visit www.ymcanj.org.
The times and dates of food pantry operations in Sayreville have changed.
Food will be distributed in a contactless drive up service from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday at the Sayreville Senior Center, 423 Main St.
Donations will be accepted from 2-4 p.m. every Tuesday, also at the Senior Center, to ensure food is quarantined for a week prior to redistribution.
For more information, email policeoutreach@sayreville.com
The honorees are:
- Chris Beagan, Class of 1990, three-time state championship coach, GMC Coach of the Year
- Steven Casano, Class of 1985, founding executive director of NeuroSearch; Sayreville Little League coach, sponsorship coordinator and board member
- William D’Amico, Class of 1973, distinguished military career; three special operations commanding officer tours of duty; post-military career in corporate medical device, consumer goods and industrial manufacturing industries
- The late Matthew Lynch, Class of 1985, president of Friends Of Children’s Hospital in Warsaw, Poland; honored by U.S. ambassador to Poland for 20 years of service
- Farrah Reilly, Class of 1994, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author under the pen name Emma Chase; books translated into more than 20 languagesTickets are $50 for adults or $30 for children, with a choice of meals.All reservations received to date for tickets and program ads will be honored.New ad book and ticket requests will be mailed in March.For more information, contact Elaine Kubacz at 732-727-0192 or epkubacz@verizon.net.
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.
Old Bridge High School is seeking active duty or reservist military personnel who are alumni for the Military Wall of Honor expected to be established this year.
The wall is meant to commemorate graduates who have given their lives to honor their country and shine a light on the importance of veterans within the Old Bridge community.
Residents are urged to assist with the project by spreading the word of the proposed military wall. The high school is looking for graduates from 1995 through the present.
To submit information, visit docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSev1sK7AIQ6KvNb2iqUz6l7UgFmPBJXBpMbkAR2IuRwkUeVQQ/viewform or contact Guy Lassen at glassen@obps.org.
