July 2009 Archives

The Forum Theater hosts one final performance of Running Rabbit Theater's THE SWORD IN THE STONE on Wednesday, July 29th at 1 PM, Paul Farinelli's unique take on the legend of King Arthur told through an original musical score.

On August 2nd, GREAT SCOTT IT'S MAGIC, a rousing magic show for kids presented by professional magic man Scott Drukker, takes over the main stage. The show is interactive, making it perfect for kids of all ages. Among the live animals that help Scott make the mystical a reality is Thurston, a parrot with a vocabulary of over 200 words.

Tickets are on sale at the Forum Box office and online, too! Take a look at their family ticket packages to save money, time and make the event more fun for Mom & Dad!

From Kathy Liss at the Metuchen Public Library:

The Young Adult Department of the Metuchen Public Library, 480 Middlesex Avenue, is offering three Writing Workshops for Metuchen residents in grades 6- 12. Call the Library on 732-632-8526 or write the YA Librarian at KLiss@Lmxac.org to register for any or all of the following free classes--keep reading for detailed info!

Thursday evenings in August, 8:00; Senior Center Parking Lot (or inside should it rain)

Bring your chairs and some dinner or a snack

August 6th:    Blue Number Nine

August 13th:  Blue Roux

August 20th:  The James Street Band

August 27th:  The Kootz

Presented by Metuchen Recreation and Cultural Arts Commissions. Sponsored by The Metuchen Savings Bank and the Middlesex County Cultural Heritage Commission/Board of Chosen Freeholders through funding from the NJ State Council on Arts. 

Renaissance Properties appeared at the Planning Board meeting last week to review slight changes to the number of parking spaces and unit counts and also to discuss plans for a fountain centerpiece that will be a focal point on Central Avenue, as it runs through what will be The District.

If all goes according to plan, Renaissance will have a final resolution from Metuchen at the end of August.  At that point, notification and permit application submission to all other parties (Middlesex County, The State of NJ, Department of Transportation, DEP, State Soil Conservation, etc) will begin.  It is expected that those approvals will take an additional eight or nine months.  Once received, construction will begin.  As mentioned in our earlier story, Building D, where Boro Hardware now stands, will be the first built.

Here are some artist renditions of what the four buildings will look like.  All are side views except for the second view of Building D, which is the view from Middlesex Avenue.     

I've been asked to write a  little something to let the many Metuchen Matters readers know about Emily's progress. If you are one of the hundreds of "fans" of Emily's and get my emails, you know when Aunt Kate writes an update, it is unfiltered, unedited and unapologetic. I am not sure how the following biased, un-objective, totally out there next few paragraphs will sit with you, but, hey, this is just a little summary about our life over the past 11 months and where we are now.

From Lisa Garris, President, Metuchen EMS:

'At the cut-a-thon, Ray and his staff raised $1387.00 for Metuchen EMS.  We are extremely grateful for their support and generosity.  They gave up their Sunday off to come-in and raise funds for us.  It was a lot of fun spending the day with such a wonderful bunch of people.  We also appreciate the generosity of the Bulldog Deli for donating refreshments for the event!'

In this photo: Ray DiTomasso, Lisa Garris, Deputy Chief of Operations Warren Brooks and the stylists who participated: Patty Buckley, Michelle Tannura, Sue Telepan, Kelly Kelsheimer, Danielle Illario, Maryann Quinn, and Gina Walsh.

As summer tournament baseball comes to an end, here's a story about sportsmanship. Danny Flaherty, a player on the 10-year old tournament team, and his small act of kindness, struck a chord with league officials and brought home an important message about the game.

From District 10 Official, Jeff Georgiana:

'As our District 10 Tournament is coming to a close, I would like to let everyone know of one of the best shows of sportsmanship that I've seen in years...

From Melissa Karlovitch of the Metuchen Municipal Pool Swim and Dive Team:

'There is some very exciting news and events this week at the MMP!  On Friday July 24th, we will have an Olympic mini swim clinic from 9:00 - 10:00 for all of our athletes. The clinic is being offered by two former Olympic swimmers;  American & World record holders Janel Jorgensen and Craig Beardsley,  who now serve on the Board for Swim Across America. Practice will start as usual at 8:00 am for 11& older, with the clinic starting at 9:00. The 9:15 practice group should arrive at the pool by 8:50 to for the clinic which will begin promptly at 9:00.    

There is no cost to participate. Swim Across America is doing this in appreciation for the extraordinary efforts of our swimmers who, in the past two years, have raised over $15,000 for cancer research by swimming over 180 miles.

Thank you to all who participated & volunteered to make this special practice possible for the team!'  

Olympian Bios: 

Here are a few photos of the demolition in process.  YAY!  (Thanks for the pictures Margie)

From Councilman Chris Morrisson:

Flags at Borough Hall are at half mast today, following the death this weekend of  Angelo Donato, Chief of the Auxiliary Police Department and former head dispatcher of the Police Department. A wake will be held at Costello's on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm  & a funeral service will be held at Costello's on Thursday at 10:30 am. Costello's asks that if you are anticipating attending the funeral service that you arrive early.  After the funeral service, those in attendance will be asked to walk down to the Police Department and the hearse will do a final drive by.

On Sunday, the Schundler Company, described as a 'horticultural manufacturer,' took a serious hit when fire did heavy damage to their Edison buildling.

The perlite and vermiculite aggregates that are created there have been used in fire-proofing products for decades. According to their website, "[These are used for]  fire-proof plasters. Traditionally "plaster" had been

From Councilman Morrison and the Cultural Arts Commission:

TONIGHT:  There is a free live performance of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew tonight at Tommy's Pond - starting at 7.  If it rains, the play will be performed at the Senior Center. The performance runs just over an hour.

Although the weather hasn't always been cooperating to the fullest extent of its heat-creating best this season, there has been plenty of rays to catch while enjoying an afternoon at the beach . . . or pool. Speaking of pool, what do you think of the Metuchen Municipal Pool post-sprucing-up? Lost IDs aside and despite the lack of certain members' names on the membership list, some things have changed for the better.

So tell us . . . what happened? Did you join the pool or not? Did you decide to go somewhere else, even though the pool commission swore that this year would be better? For those of you enjoying the pool, would you rate it much higher than you would have last year? The new pump seems to be working just fine, it's fun to swim without pulling your hair out trying to stuff it into some skintight cap and the new umbrellas are like blue-and-white mushrooms sprouting from the green grasses, making a very pretty picture.

Tell us your stories and let's let the Pool Commission know whether or not their changes and maintenance have made a difference in your enjoyment of this community site and if they have indeed paid attention to their members' needs.

From Councilman Justin Manley:

'The effort is the culmination of years of effort on the part of Rich DeSimone and is jointly funded by the Borough and the Board of Education (60% - 40%). It's just one of many improvements to the Borough's web offerings I hope to see over the next few years.

METV announces a new VIDEO ON DEMAND system available on the Borough web site! Don't have cable? Missed a meeting? Want to see Board of Education meetings? Want to see other Borough programs covered by METV? A great deal of that content is now available on the Borough's new VOD system. More will be added as we go forward.

Go to the home page and scroll to the bottom. www.metuchennj.org.

Thanks to Rich DeSimone who heads up METV and all the folks who worked on this!

There's been much talk about how our schools might improve - and that input has been vital and important.  But, there's a lot of good stuff going on in Metuchen too.  Hats off to the great projects some of our teachers have shared with their students.  First, Campbell School teacher Mrs. Canter's 4^th grade marionette show:

A synopsis from 4^th grader and participant, Collin Draper:

With over 50,000 requests for tickets, the Corzine 09 Campaign has sent an email to all respondents in which campaign manager Maggie Moran states that the venue has been moved to PNC Bank Arts Center and that not all those who received confirmations of their reservations will actually be given the opportunity to come see the President next Thursday. If you received the email, make sure that you answer your phone over the next couple of days--and if you don't get to go this time, the campaign is stating that there will be additional events with the President which they will be allowed to attend. Stay tuned!

REMINDER: 

WHEN:   Thursday, July 16, 2009

WHERE: The Forum Theatre; 8:00am - 9:30 am

WHAT:    Strategies for Downtown Survival

• Techniques, Tips & Tools for Individual Businesses

• Leveraging Budgets with Co-op Marketing

• 10 Things You Need to Know About Your Downtown Economy 

Light Refreshments will be Served (Compliments of Metuchen Savings Bank)

For Free Registration, please Contact: Lorraine Mulligan (732) 549-4452 ext. 6343

lmulligan@metuchensavingsbank.com

Although Chris Christie has said that he won't be inviting newly-resigned Alaskan Governor and Republican VP Candidate Sarah Palin to stand with him in any pre-election appearances, Governor Jon Corzine has reached into his bag of campaign tricks and announced that President Barack Obama, Palin's former opponent, will be at his side on HIS campaign trail. At noon on July 16th at Rutgers campus in New Brunswick, at the Voorhees Mall lawn, the first sitting president to speak in the area since 2007 will rally in support of the governor. This opportunity for you to hear the president speak requires a little online registration time but, if they are available, all ticket reservations are free to the public.

Check out this link: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990701008 for more information.

The Edison Wetlands Association sent us this information::

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) will be hosting a meeting to discuss the formation of a Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund Site in South Plainfield.  The meeting will be held Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 7 PM at the South Plainfield Senior Center at 90 Maple Avenue in South Plainfield.   

The CAG will bring the nonprofit Edison Wetlands Association (EWA) and local community members together to push for a timely and thorough cleanup of this Superfund Site near the Edison border.  The Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund Site is an inactive solid waste disposal area where dumps operated from the 1940s until 1958.  EWA discovered broken, leaking PCB capacitors in 1999, and the resulting USEPA sampling found soil, sediment, and groundwater contamination.

Mike Patterson asked area high school arts students to go nuts on the wall in the alleyway next to What's the Scoop and some very talented members of J.P. Stevens arts honor society did just that! In their universe, Da Vinci's Mona Lisa enjoys a large cone and, instead of the apple that masks the ubiquitous bowler-hatted gentleman of Magritte's SON OF MAN, there is instead, yes, another ice cream cone. Check out the very colorful alleyway next time you're on Main Street and see how many of these artistic reinventions you can recognize! The offer is still out to other high schools so let's hope some bright young artists get a chance to go all Basquiat on the grey stone this summer.

From the Metuchen Library:

The Metuchen Public Library is officially kicking-off its summer programs today with an all day Harry Potter Film Festival. The library will open early and close late so that all 6 films can be screened.  This event is sponsored by the adult department and run by librarian John Mc Bride, who also runs a wonderful foreign film series (which will begin next week). The summer programs for adults, teens, and children are all free and open to the Metuchen community.

Visit the library website for more information.

Raymond John Salon, 150 Main Street, is hosting a Cut-A-Thon on Sunday, July 12^th from 9 am to 3 pm.  All proceeds will benefit Metuchen Volunteer Emergency Medial Service.  No appointments are necessary.  Shampoo/cuts will cost $25 and basic manicures $7. For more information call the salon at 732-548-6131. 

This just in from the Forum:

SIGN UP NOW FOR FALL CLASSES AT THE FORUM!

·         Acting & Improv
·         Scene Study
·         Theatre Games
·         Music Theatre Ensemble
·         Story Theatre
·         Mr. Ray's Train To Rock
·         Stand-up Comedy
·         Screen Writing
·         Dance

Classes for ages 5 & up.  All levels of experience welcome! The Forum will offer classes for performers of all skill levels and ages, taught by top instructors who are in the biz!  All of our students get to perform in the FORUM STARS SHOWCASE, right on the Forum stage on Main Street, Metuchen. Keep reading to see the different levels of participation . . . and more cool stuff, too!. Questions? Call 732-548-5600 or email us at kidscount@forumtheatrearts.com.

Pack-up the kids and the lawn chairs (or a blanket), Metuchen resident Edward Logue, former Supervisor of Music and Band Director at Metuchen High School, will conduct the band at this special patriotic event. 

The Brio Symphonic Band will be performing marches, vocal and trumpet soloists, folk tunes, movie favorites, and other traditional and classic band music. The band is made-up of musicians from the Central New Jersey Musician's Union, Local 202-373 AFM. 

The bunting  currently  hanging on Borough Hall is in honor of Bob Drake, a retired police sergeant who passed away last week. He served the department for 25 years and retired  25 years ago.