May 2011 Archives

MM asked Samantha Monday, the proprietor of the new Gardenias Floral shop on Amboy Aveniue, to give us a look into how this Metuchen native made it back to her hometown with a burgeoning new business intact. Here's what she told us, in her own words:

I grew up in Metuchen and love this town, so it was an obvious choice to start our business here. My partner (also my fiance) and I live about a mile from the store and we like to walk to work in the morning.

Being environmentally responsible is extremely important to us- -we compost nearly all of our flower clippings in our very own compost bin. We use recycled glass vases, and carry as much locally grown products as possible to support the local farmers. When locally grown is not available, we try to carry as many Veri-Flora certified flowers as we can. We use rags to clean up as opposed to paper towels and much our furniture in the store is made of reclaimed wood. We recycle everything!! We are even  doing a "vase exchange program" where our customers can bring in their used vases for us to re-use or recycle and in exchange they receive free flowers.

The Raconteur Presents



8 PM, Sat May 21
 MARK JACOBSON
 

Reading/Signing
THE LAMPSHADE: A HOLOCAUST DETECTIVE STORY
"A disquieting yet utterly fascinating account, artfully told, studded with characters that would have been impossible to invent." Jon Krakauer. Few growing up in the aftermath of World War II will ever forget the horrifying reports that Nazi concentration camp doctors had removed the skin of prisoners to make lampshades. In The Lampshade, bestselling journalist Mark Jacobson tells the story of how he came into possession of one of these awful objects, and of his search to establish the origin, and larger meaning, of what can only be described as an icon of terror.

Jacobson is a Contributing Editor at New York Magazine. In 2000, he published a profile of Frank Lucas, "once the city's biggest, baddest heroin kingpin"; this formed the basis for the Ridley Scott film, "American Gangster," starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.To read more about Jacobson, click HERE. To read more about this event, click HERE and scroll down. FREE!





JANE EYRE 
Starring Mia Wasikowska



The tale of a feisty orphan-girl-turned-governess who finds true love in a spooky mansion and ultimately redeems a tormented hero has made it to the top of every "Best Love Stories" list since it was first published in 1847, and with good reason. It's the perfect Gothic novel, melding mystery, horror, and the classic medieval castle setting with heart-stopping romance. 



Friday 7:30 Saturday 2 & 4:30 Sunday 5PM
 2hrs Rated pg-13
 Tickets $9 Seniors 65 and over $8 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229822/



On Saturday May 14 Full Moon Features and Monster-Mania present:


An 8 hour horror event featuring EVIL BONG 3D, PUPPETMASTER 2 and FROM BEYOND

Doors open at 4pm. 
5pm Intro/Q&A/Screening PUPPETMASTER 2
7PM--Special Full Moon Roadshow 
8pm--World Premiere of EVIL BONG 3D: THE WRATH OF BONG
10pm Intro/Q&A/Screening FROM BEYOND
Celebrity Guests Charlie Spradling (Puppetmaster 2) and Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, From Beyond)

 All seats $25 www.fullmoondirect.com

From the Recreation Commission:

Members of the Senior Citizens group Community Without Walls will perform their original play, About Family, on Thursday, June 2^nd at 1:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Metuchen Public Library, 480 Middlesex Avenue (Rte 27) in Metuchen.

Community Without Walls, Inc. (CWW) is an association of individuals and couples ages 55 and older who desire a way of remaining in their communities as they age.   Their mission is to enhance and support the ability of members to age well in place.   The group is based in Mercer County.  Several years ago, a few members came together to form CWW On Stage as a way of using performance art to engage with the larger communities in which they live. 

Under the direction of Adam Immerwahr, a professional director and Associate Producer at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, CWW on Stage provides training in acting and dramatic skills for senior performers. Using dramatic techniques such as storytelling, improvisation and dialogue, the program focuses on new approaches to articulating challenging issues which affect people of all ages.

ANNONCE

Tout dépendant du niveau d'intérêt et nombre de réponses à cette annonce, un groupe limité de conversation française à Metuchen est en cours de formation. Il s'agirait de rencontres non payantes où les participant(es) se réuniraient deux soirées par mois pour débattre un thème spécifique. En périphérie, le groupe aborderait d'autres sujets de nature culturelle, politique, scientifique, etc. Naturellement et sans exception, tous les échanges - verbaux et écrits - se tiendraient strictement en français. Qui serait bon candidat pour ce format ? Toute personne francophone ou suffisamment francophile pour pouvoir tenir le pas et participer en français - à un niveau ou un autre.

Au risque de paraitre répétitif, il va de soi que toute demande de renseignements - verbale ou écrite - doit être faite en français sans trop d'inquiétude concernant grammaire ou orthographe.

Merci de votre attention. Sam Van Chama (samv9@juno.com)

Citizens for Quality Education (CQE) is offering a $250 scholarship for two Metuchen High School seniors who have challenged themselves with a rigorous high school curriculum.   All students who are eligible are encouraged to apply.  The scholarship will not necessarily go to the students who score the highest or who have taken the most Advanced Placement classes. The criteria for determining the winners include following a challenging curriculum and appreciating its benefits.  

Eligibility:  A Metuchen High School senior who has a GPA of 3.3 or higher and who has followed a rigorous curriculum, which includes honor classes and at least one Advanced Placement course in 11th or 12th grade.  All eligible students are encouraged to apply by filling out an application (available through the high school) and by returning it to Mrs. Hanbrige in the Guidance Office of Metuchen High School by Monday, May 16.

Your help is needed to save the Dismal Swamp! A private developer is proposing to pave over ecologically sensitive wetlands and bulldoze over woods in the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area at the end of Alexis Lane in Edison to build a sprawling center.  The property is land-locked and the land leading to the property is preserved as state-protected land - as designated by the State's Green Acres program for protecting our little remaining open space forever.  

The Edison Township Council is proposing to pass an amendment removing this property from the Edison Recreation and Open Space Inventory, thus undermining its protection.  If this project is approved, it will significantly increase traffic and parking problems in neighboring residential developments, risk danger to children who play in the area, increase flood damage for neighboring families, and destroy the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area, which provides our crowded region's only nature trails and significant wildlife habitat.

Contact Jill Weislo, Conservation Coordinator of Edison Wetlands Association, at 732-321-1300 with any questions. Click here to sign their petition!

6 - 7:30 PM, Sat. May 7 WILLIAM LUSTIG Pre-MANIAC Reception

Some serious New York grit is about to get all up in Metuchen when legendary cult director and Blue Underground head honcho, William Lustig invades the The Forum with a brand new 35 mm print of Maniac. In 1980, Lustig found himself at the center of a storm of controversy when he made the grim and gorey slasher sleaze landmark Maniac, which boasts plenty of hideously gruesome make-up effects by horror genre icon Tom Savini. As the head of Blue Underground, he has overseen the release of some eminent cult horror films including City of the Living Dead, The Crazies and Bird With the Crystal Plumage. Lustig has also worked as an actor in his own films as well as in films by Sam Raimi, most notably Army of Darkness and Darkman. Join the Raconteur for a Dixie cup of comp wine and some up-close conversation with horror legend Lustig, then trot on down to theater for the 8 PM screening and Q&A. But be warned, this is strictly for fans of the genre. $5 (reception), $15 (screening).

The Borough of Metuchen's Historic Preservation Committee is hosting a "Historic Preservation Scavenger Hunt" along Main Street in honor of May being National Preservation Month. Forms for the hunt will be available for download from the Borough's website on May 1, and all entries must be received by May 23rd. Prizes include $100, $60, and $40 gift certificates from the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce and merchandise from the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society.

Click on this link for the event flyer with more information. And have fun! Any questions? Contact the committee's Chair, Tyreen Reuter at "ayersallenhouse@msn.com."

On Wednesday, May 25, 2011, the Metuchen High School will host its 5^th annual Alumni College Day.  Graduates from the classes of 2009 and 2010 will return home to their alma mater to share their college experiences with their former schoolmates.  If you are (or know) a member of the MHS Class of 2009 or 2010 who would like to participate in the day's events, please send an email to correspondence@metuchencqe.org.  This event is co-sponsored by the Metuchen High School Guidance Department and Citizens for Quality Education (CQE).  You can learn more about the Alumni Day at www.metuchencqe.org by clicking on "Programs."