Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Tuesday, Sept. 18
Purple flag appears over Watchung Library
The Coalition to Save Watchung Library has proclaimed its commitment to keeping a library in Watchung, erecting a purple flag at the entrance to the library. The color purple has come to represent the campaign to keep a library in Watchung.
Winning tickets sold
One ticket matched all five numbers drawn winning the $571,913 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot from the Friday drawing. The ticket was sold at Country Farms (B), 820 King Georges Road, in the Fords section of Woodbridge. The winning numbers were: 12, 14, 20, 23 and 32 and the XTRA number was 04. One ticket also matched all five numbers drawn in Sunday's Jersey Cash 5 jackpot, winning the $149,426 jackpot. The ticket was sold at State Wine & Liquor, 78 Washington Ave., Carteret. The winning numbers were 01, 10, 24, 35 and 39 and the XTRA number was 02. There was also one third-tier prize-winning ticket sold for Friday's Mega Millions drawing that matched four of the five white balls and the Gold Mega Ball drawn winning the $10,000 prize. The ticket was purchased at Sunny Mart Food Store, 1182-1184 Rahway Ave., Avenel section of Woodbridge. The winning Mega Millions numbers for Friday's drawing were 23, 30, 40, 43 and 66. The Gold Mega Ball was 13, and the Megaplier Multiplier was 04. For additional information visit njlottery.com/en-us/home.html.
Sodexo revolutionizes cafeteria experience
Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company that provides student nutrition to Old Bridge Schools, has launched Taste4, a new meal concept that revamps the classics - salads and wraps, deli sandwiches, pasta, grilled favorites, pizza – and elevates school lunch for today’s sophisticated palettes. Using extensive consumer insights on GenZ’s retail dining experiences and focus groups with students from across the country, Taste4 was developed for students by students. Sodexo Chefs then created a USDA compliant menu that includes world flavors, spicy comfort foods and unique, fun food combinations. Taste4 keeps the needs and interest of student diners at its center with do-it-yourself stations, grab-n-go options and faster check-out lines leaving more time for socializing. The innovative meal concept takes high school diners on a culinary journey where they have kicked-up, squeezable and shakable flavors and sauces inspired by Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, American Regional and Heat spices from around the world. Taste4 includes an Adventure station that features a weekly rotation of 12 branded concepts to provide a street, retail experience. Student diners will experience something new every week for three months as they are treated to brands, including Beale Street BBQ, Overslept, Sub Culture, Country Comfort, TaterTemptations, Chopsticks, Glorious Grilled Cheese, Canal Street Mac Attack, Fiesta, Strutters, Sunset Strips and Favorites. Artwork reflecting the diversity of the flavors and freshness of the food helps tell the culinary story of each meal. Branding is customized by school to celebrate school spirit. Additional information about the high school is available at www.oldbridgeadmin.org/highschool.
Act passes in U.S. Senate
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) Monday applauded unanimous Senate passage of The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, bipartisan legislation he first introduced in the 114th Congress with original cosponsors Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), to create a national cancer registry for firefighters diagnosed with the deadly disease. The bill calls on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to dangerous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters to determine if there is a link, and to develop better protective gear and prevention techniques. The bill, reintroduced in February 2017, has 48 Senate cosponsors, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and the late Sen. John McCain. Firefighters are exposed to a range of harmful toxins, and research has indicated that there is a strong connection between firefighting and an increased risk for several major cancers such as testicular, stomach, multiple myeloma and brain cancers. The registry would improve collection capabilities and activities related to the nationwide monitoring of cancer incidence among all firefighters – career and volunteer.
Norris McLaughlin welcomes Harris
The law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., welcomes Ellen M. Harris to its Real Estate & Finance Practice Group. Harris, who joins the firm after 12 years as Chief Legal Officer at Newark Housing Authority, has a background in municipal and federal law, contract negotiations, arbitration, mediation, transactional real estate, and eminent domain matters. Visit www.norrismclaughlin.com.
Immigrant entrepreneurs honored
The winners of the Sixth Annual New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneurs Awards will be honored from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce Multi-Chamber Networking Event at The Embers Restaurant, 3793 Route 1 South, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick. The 6th Annual New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards honor immigrant business leaders helping New Jersey communities thrive. Among the 2018 winners, their NJ business location and country of origin are:
Caspar Wistar Award for Growth - Pierre Hage-Boutros, founder, Pierre’s of South Brunswick, Monmouth Junction (Lebanon)
Rising Star - Suchitra Kamath, owner/president, Minuteman Press Edison (India)
Honorable Mention Innovation - Christina Jeng, founder and president, enfoTech & Consulting, North Brunswick (Taiwan)
To purchase tickets to the awards event, visit https://squareup.com/store/asian-indian-chamber-of-commerce.
Shared Services Resource Guide now available
The 2018-2019 Shared Services Resource Guide, an overview of cost savings available to schools and state agencies through shared services participation with the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ), can be downloaded at www.mresc.k12.nj.us/pages/Middlesex_Regional. Shared Services result in reduced expenses in tuition-based special education; Post 21 transition support; transportation; electricity and natural gas; telecommunications; furniture; security equipment and other services and supplies.
National Adult Day Services Week
The Gateway Family YMCA celebrates National Adult Day Services Week, Sunday, Sept. 16, through Saturday, Sept. 22, joining the National Adult Day Services Association and organizations throughout the United States. The Gateway Family YMCA — WISE Center YMCA Branch in Union, will be offering tours of the Adult Day Services program by appointment during Adult Day Services Week. Contact Susan Butler, director of WISE Adult Day Services to schedule a tour at 908-687-2995. For more information about The Gateway Family YMCA or the WISE Adult Day Services program, visit www.tgfymca.org or contact the Wellness Center Branch at 908-349-9622.
Volunteers needed
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking to expand its team of volunteers for the upcoming tax season. Tax-Aide, celebrating its 50th year, offers free in-person preparation and assistance to anyone, especially those 50 and older, who can’t afford a tax preparation service. The program is seeking volunteer tax preparers, client facilitators, those who can provide technical and management assistance and interpreters. Every level of experience is welcome. Volunteer tax preparers complete tax preparation training and IRS certification. To learn about our volunteer opportunities, visit www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277). AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in coordination with the IRS.
Nominations sought
Nominations are currently being sought for the 2019 Unity Achievement Awards, presented each year by the Union County Human Relations Commission (UCHRC) to individuals, organizations, and businesses that have distinguished themselves in the areas of volunteerism, public service, and the promotion of human rights. The awards honor ordinary people who do extraordinary things on behalf of others. Award nominees must live, work, and/or go to school in Union County. Nominations for the 2019 Awards are being accepted now, and they must be received no later than Wednesday, Dec. 26. The awards will be presented in May 2019. Nominations can be submitted online at www.ucnj.org/uchrc, emailed to uchrc@ucnj.org, or mailed to the UCHRC, c/o the John H. Stamler Police Academy, 1776 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. For additional information, call 908-889-9028 or email uchrc@ucnj.org.
‘BOBO Fridays’ Food Drive continues Sept. 21
Freeholder Patricia Walsh has announced that the next “Buy One, Bring One” collection of food for Somerset County families and individuals in need will be held Friday, Sept. 21. Look for the blue BOBO Fridays bins at these county locations: Somerset County Administration Building, 20 Grove St., Somerville; Park Commission Headquarters, 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater; and Lord Stirling Stable, 256 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge section of Bernards. Local libraries hosting the bins include the Bound Brook Memorial Library, Bridgewater Library, Manville Library, Mary Jacobs Memorial Library (Rocky Hill), North Plainfield Library, Peapack-Gladstone Library, Somerville Public Library, Warren Township Library and Watchung Library.Towns that have BOBO Fridays bins in their municipal buildings are Bedminster, Bound Brook, Franklin, Green Brook, North Plainfield and Raritan. Canned or boxed food items are accepted. For examples of healthy foods to donate, visit http://bit.ly/DonateHealthy.
Sayreville’s renovated Veterans Field opens
Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios joined Sayreville officials and the Sayreville Junior Bomber Youth Football and Cheer Organization for its opening day on Sept. 8. Middlesex County allocated a $1.5 million grant from the Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund for a new turf field, lighting and other amenities at Veterans Field and improvements to the Sayreville Recreation Complex. “We are committed to providing the best possible recreation facilities for our residents. Fall and football are a perfect match, and now with this new turf field, lighting and other amenities at the Veteran’s Field complex, so is fall and Pop Warner football in Sayreville," Rios said in a news release. Visit https://leagueathletics.com/Default.asp?org=SAYREVILLEJRBOMBERS.
READ: Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Monday, Sept. 17
Read more articles and stay in touch with your local news by clicking here
Email news tips to cnmetro@MyCentralJersey.com or hntmetro@MyCentralJersey.com