Keep Middlesex Moving has developed a transportation finder to help seniors find a ride to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
The tool allows users to see what transportation options are available at almost all of the 40-plus vaccination sites in Middlesex County.
For more information, visit https://kmm.org/
The Middlesex County Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Mega-site, operated by RWJBarnabas Health, is seeking volunteers to assist in the efficiency of the registration and vaccination process and help visitors feel comfortable.
Volunteers of the mega-site, located at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison, will greet patients and visitors; perform temperature screenings; direct patients through various steps of the vaccination process; provide education materials; and assist with maintaining the registration area and supplying vaccination stations.
Volunteers do not administer vaccines.
Those who apply to volunteer must be a minimum of 18 years old and will be subject to a background check and a drug screen, and will need to sign a confidentiality statement.
College students requiring community service hours are also eligible to volunteer. RWJBarnabas Health will track hours and provide written verification for those who need it.
Volunteers must commit through June to at least two shifts per week from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; or one full day from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with an hour break for lunch. Shifts are available seven days a week.
Send your name, phone number, email address, desired start date and your availability to Megasite_Volunteer@rwjbh.org.
The Arts Institute of Middlesex County presented a multitude of arts and culture events throughout April, primarily centered around National Poetry Month.
Explore everyday family and community life in the Bahamas through paintings and poetry in a reading of “Under the Sunday Tree,” then create your own everyday scene or portrait in paint, at 4 p.m. April 28.
The program will be held virtually.
Visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Artsculture for full details.
To honor National Poetry Month, the Arts Institute will also present a series of videos and content on www.middlesexcountynj.gov/PoetryMonth
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.
The community is invited to join a “find your voice” conversation with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, professor and “New York Times” bestselling author of “How To Be An Antiracist”; and moderator/host Amanda Ripley, investigative journalist and “New York Times” bestselling author, at 7 p.m. April 28 via Zoom in an event hosted by the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen.
The discussion is made possible by a Greystone Fund Grant, Presbytery of Elizabeth, as well as sponsorships from many area houses of worship including, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Metuchen; New Hope Baptist Church of Metuchen; Church of the Nazarene of Edison; Neve Shaloam of Metuchen; Temple Emanu-El of Edison; New Dover Methodist Church of Edison; First Reformed Church of New Brunswick; Raritan Valley Baptist Church; Oak Tree Presbyterian Church of Edison; Reformed Church of Metuchen; Centenary Methodist Church of Metuchen; and First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen.
Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/146476995637, or the FPC website at fpcweb.org.
A Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
The Edison Arts Society will showcase the contemporary and abstract paintings of Nitu Pilania in the Edison Arts Society Gallery on the third floor of the municipal building, 100 Municipal Blvd., Edison.
The exhibit is open through April 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the business week.
Pilania is a self-taught Indian artist based in New Jersey. Her oil and acrylic artwork are primarily centered around contemporary and abstract styles. Her paintings revolve around nature and animals with bold and vibrant colors. She also enjoys using graphite charcoal pencils as well.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Working Together to Prevent Youth Suicide will be presented by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the New Jersey Department of Health, New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, Monmouth University SRF Suicide Prevention Research and Training Project and the School of Nursing and Health Studies, New Jersey Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner, New Jersey Department of Children and Families, the New Jersey Traumatic Loss Coalition, and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.
The free virtual conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon on April 29.
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OK4X_jzXTIqHYvDtrLW5PA
For more information, contact Sharleen van Vlijmen at svanvlijmen@njaap.org
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 jdanyus@saintpetersuh.com
MCFOODS (Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services) is holding a virtual walk to end hunger through April 30.
Choose when, where and how far to walk.
Go to www.feedingmiddlesexcounty.org/virtual-walk to sign up. There is a $5 registration fee. Ask others to sponsor per mile or per journey.
Tag photos, videos or screenshots of a walking app with #FMCVirtualWalkForHunger and @feedingMC1. And, visit the Facebook event page at https://fb.me/e/4mvbiiwoz
In addition, several food drives to benefit the food insecure in Middlesex County are planned over the next few months:
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 15 at East Jersey Old Town Village, Johnson Park, 1050 River Road, Piscataway
- East Brunswick High School’s second annual Battle of the Classes Food Drive: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 8, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 16 at Brunswick Square Mall, 755 Route 18, East Brunswick
In addition, Dine Below the Line will be held 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.
Furthermore donations 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.
Woodbridge Township will hold an Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 1 at Town Hall, 1 Main St., Woodbridge.
There will be a toy exchange. Bring used toys to exchange for new ones.
Fitness classes include yoga from 11-11:30 a.m., a kids sport class from 11:30 a.m. to noon, and Zumba from noon to 12:30 p.m.
A tour of the Blue Acres ecological preserve will be offered.
Mother’s Day photos will be taken on the Trex Bench, which is made of recycled materials.
There will be vendors and giveaways.
Masks are required for all activities.
Parking will be available at the NJ Transit lot and the Berkeley College lot.
RU Ready to Farm, a new beginner farmer training program from the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) Cooperative Extension, will hold its first online information session on May 1 at 10 a.m.
This program is directed by Middlesex County Agricultural Agent Bill Hlubik and will provide a combination of online and in-person hands-on training to new and beginner farmers from around the state.
This information session will:
- Highlight the need for a next generation of farmers.
- Provide an overview of the RU Ready to Farm training program.
- Explain how to sign-up for the program.
- Outline the level of commitment expected from program participants.
- Feature farmers sharing the story of their horse-powered diversified farm in coastal Maine.
Registration for the information session can be found at https://go.rutgers.edu/db88up1r
For more information about RU Ready to Farm, visit rubeginnerfarmer.rutgers.edu, or email beginnerfarmer@njaes.rutgers.edu. Follow on Facebook and Instagram @RUReadytoFarm.
The Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce announced Cruise Night Season for 2021.
The scheduled dates are May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 1 and Oct. 6 from 6-8:30 p.m.
Rain dates will be the following Wednesday.
There will be prizes for first, second and third place at each event.
Sponsorships are available.
For more information, call 732-548-2964 or email metuchenchamber@optimum.net
Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, is hosting a free virtual lecture on Trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Self Care Strategies, presented by Laurie Herrick, BS, and Heather Ward, MSW, LSW, CPS, Wellspring Center for Prevention, 6:30-7:30 p.m. May 5. Register at https://SaintPetersHCS.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2-vnCAeHTjKFFjTCrqHLCg
Another 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, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. June 2. Register at https://SaintPetersHCS.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7kQcomXSReqmT-3slyOPpw
For more information, contact Robert J. LaForgia, coordinator, Healthier Middlesex, at rlaforgia@saintpetersuh.com or 732-745-8600, ext. 5831. Allow up to 48 hours for a response.
Camp Middlesex, a summer enrichment program for children age 7-15, will return for the summer.
A virtual camp information session will be held on May 6 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Visit middlesexcc.edu/camp-middlesex for details.
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.
The Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County in Edison will hold a virtual canasta tournament on May 12.
Play three games on canastajunction.com The opening ceremony via Zoom is at 10 a.m., followed by play from 10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Winners will be announced on Zoom at 1:45 p.m.
The cost is $18 per person to play, and $5 per raffle ticket.
Must register by May 6.
Call the JCC Front Desk at 732-494-3232 to register by phone.
For more details, contact Diane Mael at dmael@jccmc.org
A cleanup day will be held in the Clara Barton section of Edison starting at 8 a.m. May 8.
Meet in front of the Clara Barton First Aid Squad at 1079 Amboy Ave.
Volunteers are needed to collect trash and clean up the neighborhood.
Wear comfortable clothing that can get dirty.
Supplies will be provided.
The Terra Nova Garden Club of Edison is offering a $400 scholarship to an Edison resident and high school senior who is planning to attend college in the fall and has a significant interest in agriculture, horticulture or environmental sciences.
Applications along with criteria can be obtained at all Guidance Offices in all Edison high schools.
The deadline for submission is May 12.
Contact Gloria Dittman at 732-548-9234 for more information.
The Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold the 75th annual Bernie Cohn Golf Classic from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 13.
Tee time is 9 a.m. at the Banks Course, Forsgate Country Club, 375 Forsgate Dr., Monroe.
Sign up at mcrcc.org or https://shotgunflat.wufoo.com/forms/z1qupopx0qkzr0t/
Middlesex College is developing apprenticeship opportunities in Advanced Manufacturing through Career Advance USA, a U.S. Department of Labor-funded grant.
Apprenticeships, developed and implemented in collaboration with employers, are earn-and-learn programs that combine formal classroom learning with on-the-job training.
Those interested in the program should register for a virtual information session at 10 a.m. May 13 by visiting middlesexcc.edu/manufacturing-apprenticeships.
The college is also looking for employers interested in developing workers.
For more information about the grant and how to participate, visit middlesexcc.edu/manufacturing-apprenticeships or contact Yarelis Figueroa at yfigueroa@middelsexcc.edu or John Miller at jsmiller@middlesexcc.edu.
Eligible adult students and graduates with the potential to succeed in college can apply for the 2021 NJALL Scholarships.
NJALL will award two scholarships on June 18 to two adults who earned a high school diploma by attending a New Jersey adult education program to prepare for a High School Equivalency Test or Adult High School and have been accepted to/or are attending college.
The Scholarship NOW provides up to $1,000 per semester for full-time enrollment, (pro-rated for part-time) to a maximum of $8,000 for higher education.
To qualify, an applicant must be a resident of New Jersey. Scholarship applications are open to anyone regardless of gender, race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation or disabling condition.
The 2021 application with eligibility information is available at https://files.constantcontact.com/2333e3fb001/c398a7eb-91b8-4dfa-9f55-18a3a701099f.pdf
All applications must be submitted, including all required documents, postmarked no later than May 10.
United Way of Central Jersey is continuing to provide VITA services to prepare taxes this season for individuals and families making $65,000 or less.
All taxes will be prepared remotely via video conferencing and/or phone.
To schedule an appointment, visit https://uwcjtaxprep.as.me/schedule.php
For VITA Lockbox locations, visit https://tinyurl.com/VITALockbox
To prepare your own taxes for free, visit www.myfreetaxes
Sign up at https://forms.gle/nxuZUi5AMJe1RcyJ8
The Edison Police Department is seeking applicants to serve as auxiliary police officers.
Auxiliary police officers are unpaid volunteer positions open to U.S. citizen, age 18 or older, with a high school diploma or a G.E.D, and a valid N.J. driver’s license.
Applicants must be in good physical condition and able to pass a criminal background check and interview.
The applicants should be Edison residents, or live in towns near Edison that do not have auxiliary police officers of their own.
The auxiliary police officers augment the Edison Police Department by assisting with traffic control functions, crowd control and security, road closures, extra patrols in parks and public properties, and may be dispatched to emergency or disaster situations.
All applicants, if selected, will be required to attend the Middlesex County Auxiliary Police Academy which will tentatively start in May or June and extend for six weeks. The training will occur on most Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and a few Saturdays during that period of time.
Applicants for auxiliary police officer should contact Lt. Robert J. Dudash Jr. at 732-248-6442 or rdudash@edisonpd.org.
Applications can be downloaded from www.edisonnj.org or www.edisonpoliceaux.com
Completed applications must be mailed or dropped off to the Edison Police Department, Patrol Bureau, 100 Municipal Blvd., Edison 08817, Attention: Lt. Robert J. Dudash Jr.
Applications must be submitted by no later than 4 p.m. to be considered for the 2021 appointment process.
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 carshow@nbtpba160.com
The YMCA of MEWSA (Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy) will host its annual Richard Hale Memorial Golf Classic on Oct. 7 at the Metuchen Golf and Country Club in Edison.
This fundraiser supports the Y’s Send a Kid to Camp Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to children from underserved families in the community.
In 2020, the Y provided more than $12,000 in camp scholarship funds which provided peace of mind for families facing economic challenges. With these scholarships, campers are less likely to experience summer learning loss and become inactive.
Camp provides access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) programming, swimming, sports, arts and crafts and more.
The fundraiser starts with lunch and a Bloody Mary bar, a shotgun start at 12:25 p.m., followed by an open bar and dinner, along with several events including a wine pull, raffles and a 50/50 raffle.
Sponsorship opportunities are available which are tax deductible and include recognition in all promotional materials, press releases and in the event program.
For more information, visit www.ymcaofmewsa.org/golf-classic; or contact Catherine Haugh at 732-516-9200, ext. 2083 or catherine.haugh@ymcaofmewsa.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
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Ongoing
Free mobile COVID-19 testing is offered at The Family Learning Center, 30 Hillside Ave., Metuchen, every Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Nasal PCR, saliva PCR and rapid antibody testing are available.
No appointment necessary. Walk ins accepted.
Bring ID and insurance card. No out-of-pocket costs for insured or uninsured people.
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 womenscenter@jfsmiddlesex.org
Free mobile COVID-19 testing is offered at The Family Learning Center, 30 Hillside Ave., Metuchen, every Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Nasal PCR, saliva PCR and rapid antibody testing are available.
No appointment necessary. Walk ins accepted.
Bring ID and insurance card. No out-of-pocket costs for insured or uninsured people.
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 womenscenter@jfsmiddlesex.org
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 marcia.glatman@scorevolunteer.org
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.
