Making Holiday Memories

Making Holiday Memories – New Jersey artist Lloyd Garrison has prepared a pair of new holiday cards featuring paintings of the area. This painting showcases modern-day Cranford. Garrison says that the image brings back memories of the old-time towns. “They had privately-owned stores and the owners knew your name,” the artist says. “I think we all miss the home towns and dread the malls.” Garrison’s other holiday card for 2009 features Walt’s, a favorite hang out for Rahway and Linden residents in the 1950s and 60s. For information about purchasing the cards, call Lloyd’s Gallery at 609-918-1776 or visit www.lloydgarrison.com.

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“Season Of Giving” Food Drive Is Front & Center Of Township Holiday Events

by Mayor John McCormac

‘Tis the season for holiday merriment, the warmth of family gatherings and the celebration of Christmas, Chanukah and festive traditions. While we enjoy the many events and festivities of the season, let’s not forget that there are many less fortunate families throughout Woodbridge Township that need special help each and every day—not just during the holidays.

More than ever before, we are seeking food donations for the Woodbridge Township food pantries and kitchens that provide for the hungry throughout the holiday’s and into the New Year. We have set a goal to collect at least 10,000 pounds of non-perishable food over the next 45 days – food that will be distributed by our local food pantries as they work to ensure that township residents receive much needed supplies. I would like to once again encourage our always generous township residents to donate a can… or two… or three… of non-perishable foods to help neighbors and families experience a healthier and happier holiday.

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Down Economy is Buying Opportunity for Holiday Shoppers

By Harry Wyatt

Like many Americans, I am feeling a little less financially secure these days. As the holiday season inches closer, I feel like I should be scrimping and saving, not spending and splurging.

But with prices as low as they are in retail stores, this could be one of the best opportunities for holiday shoppers to buy big-ticket items at bargain prices. Plus we can’t postpone the holiday season until a time that is more convenient for us. Try explaining that to your kids.

What we can do is make sure we’re getting the biggest bang for our buck; the best way to do that is to shop locally.

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Holiday Greeting From Iraq

Army Reserve SPC Ashley Bonet, currently serving in Tallil, Iraq, sends a Thanksgiving greeting to her family in Metuchen.

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Thanksgiving Comes Everyday For Members And Volunteers At Community Access Unlimited

ELIZABETH—Americans will spare a few moments this Thursday to take stock of their lives and give thanks for that which they have – a home or job, family and friends, their health. For some it will be a passing moment before passing the turkey and gravy. For others there also may be an annual trip to the local food pantry to volunteer time before returning home to a Thanksgiving dinner.

Yet there are some who may be most thankful and feel this way everyday, even though they may seem like the least fortunate or the caregivers and volunteers with the greatest burden to carry. They are the members of Community Access Unlimited (CAU) and the agency employees and volunteers who give their time to them.

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True Holiday Spirit

by Bryan Golden

Among other things, the holidays are a time of giving and receiving gifts. The question most often asked of people is, “what did you get?” Much less frequently asked is, “what did you give?” Invariably, the inquiries concern material gifts. Purchasing a gift can certainly be thoughtful and a wonderful gesture, especially when it’s backed up by your actions.

However, the most valuable presents are those that aren’t sold in stores. When you give your love, your time, help someone in need, aid another in solving a problem or overcoming an obstacle, you give something priceless.

The true spirit of the holidays is giving. When you give, you receive. You can get anything in life you want by helping enough others get what they want. But only if you give without expecting anything in return. The impact of giving isn’t limited to just the holiday season, it’s something that has value all year.

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Assemblyman Distributes Thanksgiving Turkeys To Needy Families

PERTH AMBOY–Assemblyman Joseph Vas joined Mayrich Development, LLC on Monday to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to needy families in the 19th Legislative District at three Perth Amboy locations.

“As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our family and friends, we must remember to share our good fortunes with others,” said Vas (D-Middlesex). ”This endeavor will help to enrich the lives of residents in our district. I am proud to join our partners, Mayrich Development, for this event.  This partnership is a prime example of how the benefits of redevelopment cascade throughout the community.”

Mayrich Construction began over 70 years ago with a dream that cultivated through the early years and now serves as an elite force in excavation and foundation construction in New York City.  They have become “the best” and their reputation is unprecedented.

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Firefighters Spread Thanksgiving Cheer

 

Firefighters Spread Thanksgiving Cheer—Members of Linden FMBA Locals 34 and 234 assisted the members of LINCS in passing out Thanksgiving Dinners to the needy.  The LINCS sponsored Food Pantry was also happy to receive a substantial monetary donations from the FMBA groups.  Pictured below (left to right) Frank Gallo, Past Grand Knight, Linden Knights of Columbus and member of LINCS; Fire Fighter Ted Turon, Lt. James Kushner, Lt. Wayne Hanns, Fire Fighter Pete Dente,  Fire Fighter Jay Mayer and (kneeling)  Fire Fighter Luke Monsorno.

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A Thanksgiving Production

A Thanksgiving Production—Patricia Klein’s fourth grade class presented their annual Thanksgiving play at the Madison School auditorium on Nov. 21. The play also featured musical selections by the first grade classes. The cast of characters included: pilgrims Jose Lopez, Amanda Vansco and Kelly Kneisel; Indians Michaela Woolley, Matthew Pereira, Jada Figueroa, Juan Hoyos and Tiffany Thebodeau; and narrators Chantel Winstead, Matthew Hoffman, Scott Marcondes and Danielle McCarthy. Tiffany Moreles and Rayanne Melendez served as the stage crew. Pictured above, Matthew Hoffman, Jose Lopez, Anabella DeMeo, Amanda Vansco and Danielle McCarthy rehearse for the play.

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Trinitas Continues Tradition of Giving

Trinitas Continues Tradition of Giving—Recognizing that many families in Union County have been hard hit by the current economy, employees of Trinitas Regional Medical Center rallied for the fourth consecutive year to pool their resources in creating abundant Thanksgiving baskets for distribution in the community. At the main campus of Trinitas in Elizabeth, Sister Marion Scranton, SC, director of community initiatives, and Gary S. Horan, FACHE, president & CEO, are surrounded by many of the more than 80 baskets and shopping carts filled with all the makings for a Thanksgiving meal, plus staples like coffee, tea and rice, as well as Shop Rite gift cards. Appreciative families in Elizabeth and other communities in the Trinitas RMC service area received the donations several days before Thanksgiving.

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Soehl Students Collect Food

Soehl Students Collect Food—Soehl Middle School students collected food for the local food bank in Linden known as LINCS. The Soehl students who participated in this community service project are Magdalena Kepa, Ashley Molina, Eric Gregorich, Matthew Jaeger. Photo by Christne Hudak, Linden Public Schools

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Thanksgiving Food Drive A Success

Thanksgiving Food Drive A Success—The Blue and Gold Club at Franklin Elementary School in Rahway recently held their annual Thanksgiving food drive. Pictured here, Ana Rita Marques, Cecilia Acevedo-Herras and Tripti Misir stand by some of the food that the generous families of Franklin School donated. A total of 1,360 food items were donated, helping to make this another successful year. The food will go to other families in Rahway so that they can have a memorable Thanksgiving dinner.

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Sharing The Thanksgiving Spirit

Sharing The Thanksgiving Spirit—Thanksgiving stems from the feast held in the autumn of 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag American Indians to celebrate the colony’s first successful harvest. The Thanksgiving holiday is a time for sharing love with family and friends. The Linden School #6 family is sharing Thanksgiving baskets filled with all the trimmings so others may also have a bountiful feast. Pictured above, Linden School #6 students collect food for the school’s Thanksgiving baskets. From left to right, Mauricio Colato, Ethan Castellanos, Christopher Jaskowski, Dean Musialowicz, Ariana Eastwood, and Carolina Fus (kneeling) prepare to make baskets.

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Roselle Volunteers Help Families in Need This Thanksgiving

ROSELLE—The Borough of Roselle recently sponsored a holiday food giveaway to help Roselle families in need. On Nov. 22, dozens of residents came to Borough Hall to receive a turkey, gift certificates and non-perishable food items.

Jackie Mitchell, executive director of the Roselle Collaborative for Youth and Families, and Second Ward Councilwoman Sylvia Turnage participate in the first-annual holiday meal program at Roselle Borough Hall. Volunteers distributed nearly 70 free holiday feasts to borough residents in need on Nov. 22.

The borough facilitated the food drive at no cost to taxpayers. All items were donated by local grocery stores and other area businesses. Local churches and other community organizations were contacted to identify families in need.

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Linden Students Celebrate Thanksgiving

Linden Students Celebrate Thanksgiving—Linden School No. 1 celebrated Thanksgiving early with a day of sharing with friends. The students in Miss Garbowski and Mrs. Zucosky’s classrooms learned the importance of teamwork and to share responsibilities. Together, the students made a homemade apple pie by following a recipe from Miss Garbowski’s mom, homemade butter, and homemade applesauce. (Above) Eddie Molano shakes his jar to make butter. (Below) Giovanni Piverget, Steven Ortiz and India Thomas make Thanksgiving placemats for the senior citizens of Linden. Photos by Christine Hudak, Linden Public Schools

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