June 2011 Archives

Thank to Dave Liantonio for this great story:

In an effort to reduce traumatic brain injury in children, Safe Kids Middlesex County of the Level 1 Trauma Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is kicking off its 6^th Annual "wheels Under Your Feet? Helmet on Your Head!" Think Positive Campaign - a four-month helmet safety program - in  nine Middlesex County municipalities on June 21.

This helmet safety campaign will reward children who wear a helmet when participating in wheeled activities such as bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, or riding a scooter.  Town police officers will give a "summons" to any child "caught" wearing their helmet between June 21 and September 30.  Each summons can be redeemed for free items and enters the child in a raffle drawing.

The helmet safety campaign is part of a statewide education and awareness initiative to promote the expanded helmet law requiring all children under 17 to wear a helmet.

The Teen Advisory Board of the Metuchen Public Library will host a Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, June 25 between 10 AM and 12:30 PM for Metuchen residents who will be entering grades 6-12.  The Scavenger Hunt begins in the Young Adult section of the Library, 480 Middlesex Avenue.  Participants are free to hunt the public spaces of the Library for answers to a set of questions and clues. One lucky person will win a $25 gift card; everyone who takes part in the hunt will receive a paperback book of their choice from a wide selection of popular YA titles. Rachel Suss and Kristen Thomas put together a fun time for all!

While at the Library, sign up for the Summer Reading Program where everyone earns books and prizes for reading on their own and for attending YA programs all summer long.  Ask for a contest booklet at the Library. For more information, visit the Library, call 732.632.8526 or write KLiss@Lmxac.org.

Sent to us by reader Simi Best:

The Grand Re-opening ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 25^th from 1-3 PM in front of the park (on Grove Avenue in Metuchen just north of the Northeast Corridor train overpass). The ribbon cutting will be at 2 PM; town officials will be present. Snacks and drinks will be provided. The reason for this great event: three girls who took it upon themselves to do their Girl Scout Silver Project and help the town out.

In the Spring of 2010, three Metuchen Girl Scouts - then ages 12 and 13 - noticed a park that had become completely overgrown since opening 10 years earlier as part of the town's centennial celebration, its sign worn and its path barely distinguishable. Thus started a year-long mission by Annie Pahlow, Katie Facchini and Simi Best to restore Centennial Park to its original condition - and better - as their Girl Scout silver award project.

The Scouts and town workers cleared Centennial Park's path of vegetation, spread 60 cubic yards of woodchips, stained tables, and plan to install educational signs. The Department of Public Works worked closely with the girls, which was a tremendous help in making this possible. In addition to Public Works, the Metuchen Recreation Commission, Metuchen Environmental Commission, and Girl Scout Troop 81645 helped to get the park cleaned up and safe for the public.

Great work, Scouts!

On Tuesday June 28 at 7:30 PM, Wendy Mass will speak at the Metuchen Public Library, 480 Middlesex Avenue. Ms. Mass is the author of many popular novels for young people, and her books have been nominated for 42 state book awards. Among her titles are The Candymakers, Finally,  Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (soon to be released as a major motion picture), and A Mango-Shaped Space, which was awarded the prestigious Schneider Family Book Award by the American Library Association.  

A Visit with Wendy Mass will kick-off the Library's 2011 Summer Programs for both the Children's Department and the Young Adult Department.   Books will be available for purchase and signing. This event is free and open to the public; it is geared to a family audience. For more information, call the Children's Librarian, Glynis Brookens, at 732.632.8526 or write the Young Adult Librarian, Kathy Liss, at KLiss@Lmxac.org.  This program has been paid for by The Friends of the Metuchen Public Library.

The Teen Advisory Board of the Metuchen Public Library (480 Middlesex Avenue) invites all Metuchen residents who will be entering grades 6-12 in September to sign up for free summer programs, classes and events.  Registration opens on Saturday, June 4.  All who register in person at the Library on that day between 10 AM and 1 PM will receive a free paperback book of their choice.

Summer programs include a babysitter certification class led by a healthcare professional, a robotics workshop, a songwriting workshop, an improvisations/theatre games class,  a three-session fiction writing workshop, cooking classes in cupcake decorating and pasta making, two book discussion groups (one for high school students and one for middle school students), two community service projects and more! To see the complete list of classes, dates and times, visit www.metuchenlibraryteens.org or stop in at the Library for a YA Summer Programs brochure.

During the last two weeks of August, there will also be college prep programs including a free PSAT practice test (Gr. 10, 11) and a free SAT practice test (gr. 11, 12), a interview workshop for college admissions (grades 11 and 12)  and a college application essay workshop (grade 12 only).

Registration for all programs is required, and classes are open to Metuchen residents only. Space is limited so register early. You may register in person or by calling the Library on 732.632.8526 or by writing the Young Adult Librarian at KLiss@Lmxac.org beginning on Saturday, June 4.

Metuchen's Junebug ArtFest Committee is looking for the artist who will create the FEATURED JUNEBUG SCULPTURE for the FIFTH ANNUAL JUNEBUG ARTFEST that will take place in June 2012.  Each year, the sculpture is the focal point of the Junebug ArtFest, and the unveiling ceremony signals the event's official opening.

We are interested to name the 2012 sculptor at this time, since we would like the artist to experience the event first hand before creating the work.  The event has a strong online presence.  You can see information about it (both video and photo) at JunebugArtFest.com. For additional information and to acknowledge interest, please contact Linda Vonderschmidt-LaStella at 732-906-4137 or email earthsongsceramicstudio@gmail.com.

3 Exciting Screenings This Weekend Only At The Forum Theatre in Metuchen
www.forumtheatrearts.org



 THE DOUBLE HOUR



A chambermaid and an ex-cop meet at a speed dating event and a romance develops. But during a romantic getaway things suddenly take a dark turn.Guido, a former cop, is a luckless veteran of the speed-dating scene in Turin. But, much to his surprise, he meets Slovenian immigrant Sonia, a chambermaid at a high-end hotel. The two hit it off, and a passionate romance develops. After they leave the city for a romantic getaway in the country, things suddenly take a dark turn. As Sonia's murky past resurfaces, her reality starts to crumble. Everything in her life begins to change - - questions arise and answers only arrive through a continuous twist and turn of events keeping viewers on edge until the film's final moments. THE DOUBLE HOUR, winner of Best Actress at the 2009 Venice International Film Festival, is directed by Giuseppe Capotondi.
Friday 7pm Saturday 5:30 & 7:30 Sunday at 1pm  In Italian with English Sub-titles 95m


Tonight, June 16^th at 6PM, Mayor Thomas Vahalla and members of the Metuchen-Edison Area Clergy, Metuchen Edison Woodbridge South Amboy YMCA, Metuchen Municipal Alliance-YSB and Metuchen Seniors, Inc. invite you to join them for a Candlelight walk through Metuchen to celebrate Unity in our Community. The event kicks off at Borough Hall @ 6PM with stops at Martin Luther King Park, the Y Corporate Office, Freedom Plaza, Main & New Streets and end at the Metuchen Senior Center, 15 Center Street for some light refreshments. See www.metuchennj.org for more information and details about the Unity in Our Community Poster Contest.

BUS TOUR TO THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

 Join the Friends of the Metuchen Library for a bus tour to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

 Special Exhibits Include:

The Junebug Arts Fest presents the following events this evening:

•                6:00 - 8:00 pm - Interactive Events

1) Wanda from Little Fish Art will help participants create fans and Chinese wooden tops @ Borough Hall

2) Laurie LeFevre Theater for Kids - (6:00 - 7:00 pm) Miss Laurie will coordinate a "Music for Kids" event located in the Convery Courtyard (next to the Cigar shop on Main Street)


•                7:00 pm - Pet Parade @ Forum Theatre - Registration @ 6:30 pm


•                6:00 - 9:00 pm - Gallery Opening @ the Senior Center - Featuring artwork created by 9 students of Joan Watterson's water color class that takes place weekly at the Metuchen Senior Center. 


Skoglund/Dickson Films Shown - To acquaint ArtFest visitors with the two master artists who will give presentations later in the month (see below), several short films introducing them and their work will be shown on the side street/driveway near 443 Main Street, Classic Travel & Tours

In Metuchen, the candidates for Mayor and Borough Council for the Republican Party were decided in the primary election for the party.  The team of Peter Carpena (Mayor), Robert "Bob" James (Council), and Kieran Esposito (Council) ran unopposed.  They are running on issues of Open Government and Transparency with no more rubber stamped agendas. Where the people can take part in the decisions that are going on and can play a role in deciding the direction of the borough. They are for Fair Taxes for the community and believe Metuchen can be made much more Business Friendly, allowing businesses to thrive in downtown Metuchen.  They have many Community Enrichment initiatives planned including Safe & Clean streets, a Senior Center run by the seniors, best Schools policy and keeping the borough family friendly.