“Summer of ‘09” To Be Best Ever In Woodbridge

By Mayor John McCormac

The “Summer of ‘09” looks to be the best ever in Woodbridge… which is why I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the great events and happenings coming to Woodbridge this summer.

Let’s start with Saturdays in downtown Woodbridge with the kick-off of the “bigger and better” open-air Farmer’s Market on Saturday, June 20, in the Town Hall parking lot on Main Street.  This season, the Farmer’s Market will feature more farm stands and vendors… cooking demonstrations by the chef’s at Wegmans… and dozens of special events for kids of all ages.  So, shop the Farmers’ Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and find out what “Woodbridge Fresh” is all about.

Wednesdays come alive with “Music on Main Street.”  Enjoy an assortment of free music on Main Street every Wednesday all summer long… from the Jack Goodman “Swing” Band… to the Tim Gillis Band… to the Woodbridge Community Choir… there’s a show for everyone.  And, return to the days of “classic cars” and “hot rods” when car enthusiasts from across the state start “Cruisin’ on Main Street” on Wednesdays in June, July and August.

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Colonia Teen Killed In Car Crash

COLONIA – A Colonia High School sophomore was killed in a single-car crash on Route 9 in Woodbridge last Thursday night.

Jennifer Metzger, 16, was pronounced dead at 9:17 p.m. at the accident scene, authorities said. She was a passenger in a 1997 Ford Explorer driven by Allen McGovern, 18, of Rahway, police said.

Another 16-year-old girl who was a passenger in the car was also seriously injured and was flown to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

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Woodbridge To Host 2009 New Jersey Senior Olympics

WOODBRIDGE– Flanked by Senior Olympians and Olympic volunteers, Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac and the New Jersey Senior Olympic Committee announced that the township will again host the New Jersey Senior Olympics on Sept. 11, 12 and 13.

In announcing details of the upcoming New Jersey Senior Olympic games from the Woodbridge Community Center and YMCA – the central headquarters and main sporting venue for the upcoming senior competition – McCormac said that the senior games track the goals of the “Mayor’s Wellness Campaign” which encourages township residents, regardless of age, to engage in a healthy and fit lifestyle.

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Woodbridge Memories

By Diane Norek Harrison
WOODBRIDGE-Here are memories from readers:

Woodbridge Golden Bears
I received the following in an e-mail from Mark Curran: “Hi Diane, I am the son of Joe Curran # 76 in the photo of your Feb. 27, 2009 Atom Tabloid-Citizen & Gazette article about Woodbridge, New Jersey sports memories. The photo was taken during the 1952 season. My father Joe was in his senior year at Rider College playing quarterback. The Rider College football team went undefeated that year.

“My Dad would play his collegiate games on Friday night or Saturday mornings and if he was not too banged up after his Rider College game, he would drive up to Woodbridge and play for the Golden Bears on Sunday afternoons. He was chosen as the 1952 Most Valuable Player for the Golden Bears.  He is now 82 years old.”

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Woodbridge Walks To Fight ALS

Woodbridge Walks To Fight ALS—Despite the rain, hundreds of walkers and volunteers came out to Alvin P. Williams Memorial Park in Woodbridge on Sunday, May 3, for the 2009 Woodbridge Walk to Defeat ALS hosted by the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter. The annual event raises funds and brings awareness to the fight against ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. If you’d still like to donate to the ALS Association or find out more information about ALS, visit www.als-nj.org. (Photo credit: Jack McCoy.)

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County Sponsors Health Expo

WOODBRIDGE—The Middlesex County Public Health Department will hold a Health Expo from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at the Woodbridge Center Mall. The event is free. Information and activities will be available for the whole family to enjoy.

“It is important to continue to promote county services that are available for our residents,” said Freeholder Ronald G. Rios, chairman of the county’s Public Health and Education Committee. “The Health Expo provides the Public Health Department and its partners the opportunity to educate community members in an enjoyable environment, while providing knowledge about public health and environmental concerns.”

Children can learn about chemical safety from “Wally the Wise Guy Turtle,” and lead poisoning prevention from “Peter Paint.”  They also can win prizes by playing “Wheel of Inspections.”
Adults can receive blood pressure screenings and talk to health professionals about adult and children’s health programs.

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Remembering the Past: Fords Memories

 by Diane Norek Harrison

WOODBRIDGE-Here are a few memories from Jim Kacmarsky, in response to my Feb. 6 column on the Perth Amboy and Woodbridge clay pits.  

“I grew up in Fords section of Woodbridge, and the clay pits were part of my life. They were at the end of my street (Carlton Street) in Fords. There were many ponds, where I used to catch sunfish and frogs. The main pond was called ‘Catfish Pond’, although I never caught any catfish in it. There were also lots of ponds with green water, that we called ‘acid ponds.’ No life in them – probably toxic waste. There was a ‘No Trespassing’ sign outside with ‘Mc House Clay Company’ on it, and also a US Government Reservation – ‘Keep Out’ sign outside the woods. Last time I visited, there is now a highway through the whole place.

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Middlesex Communities Receive Funding For Shared Communications Study

MIDDLESEX COUNTY – Woodbridge Township Mayor John E. McCormac, South Amboy Mayor John T. O’Leary, Carteret Mayor Daniel J. Reiman, and Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz, announced Monday that the four Middlesex County communities have received a $22,734 grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to perform a radio communications engineering feasibility study for a shared emergency communications system.  

The joint study will determine the best way to link a new state-of-the-art radio and emergency communications system currently being installed by Woodbridge Township with police and emergency responders from Woodbridge and the three neighboring municipalities of South Amboy, Carteret and Perth Amboy.

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Despite Recession, Voters Pass Majority Of School Budgets

STATE – Despite the recession and a growing movement against increased taxes, voters passed a majority of the school budgets in Middlesex and Union counties on Tuesday.

Voters approved school budgets in 16 of 21 Union County school districts, though Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden and Plainfield voters rejected their districts’ spending plans. Eighteen of 24 school budgets passed in Middlesex County; budgets failed in Edison, Carteret, Sayreville, Monroe, Perth Amboy and Helmetta.

While a majority of South Amboy voters agreed to a $42,000 plan to restore middle school sports programs that were eliminated last year, the second question did not receive the sixty percent of the votes needed to pass .

The budgets that failed will now be reviewed by municipal officials, who will decide whether to make cuts. School boards may then accept the cuts or appeal to the state commissioner of education.

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School Elections Today

STATE – On Tuesday, more than 550 of the state’s 603 school districts will hold elections where voters express approval or dissent on proposed budgets for the 2009-10 school year and fill about 1,500 school board seats, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Polls are required to be open on April 21 between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. but most offer voting hours from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Check with your district for specific hours and polling places.

Locally, the following candidates are running for school board seats:

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May Is Senior Month In Woodbridge

By Mayor John E. McCormac

May is Senior Month in Woodbridge Township. Senior Month allows us the opportunity to recognize and challenge senior residents and to provide services and activities that stimulate, educate, and encourage an active and challenging lifestyle.  

Senior Month offers educational, recreational, and entertainment activities designed for senior and adult members of the community and encourages senior residents to engage in health and fitness programs and competition, mind-stimulating activities such as Jeopardy-style games, sudoku, art and music classes, health programs and medical screenings, and senior receptions and community engagements.  

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Woodbridge “Tooling Around The Township” Program Marks 10th Year

WOODBRIDGE—Mayor John E. McCormac launched “Tooling Around The Township – 2009,” the annual community-based program that organizes teams of volunteers, local trades’ persons and business sponsors to fix-up, repair and help maintain homes for senior and disabled township residents.

 “I’m excited to announce that ‘Tooling Around the Township – 2009’ is on target for Saturday, April 25 and that it will be bigger and better than ever,” McCormac said last Wednesday.  “I can think of no other project that brings together municipal government agencies, the corporate, business and trade community, and resident volunteers in a way that truly benefits senior and disabled residents more than the annual Tooling Around the Township program.  Therefore, I am today issuing the call to action – volunteer to be part of a team to fix-up a home for a senior or disabled resident.”

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Police Arrest Avenel Teens For Playground Arson

WOODBRIDGE – Mayor John E. McCormac today announced that an 18 year-old adult and a 17 year-old juvenile from Avenel have been arrested by the Woodbridge Police Department and charged with intentionally setting fire to playground equipment at the 5th District Park and Playground located in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township.  The April 13 fire caused more than $25,000 in damage to playground equipment and park facilities. 

 “I am gratified that the Woodbridge Police Department was able to make arrests within hours of the fire.  These arrests send a strong message to anyone who thinks that setting a fire and destroying thousands of dollars of playground equipment is simply vandalism.  We will seek the stiffest penalties possible, including restitution and community service,” said McCormac. “I would like to thank neighborhood residents – and the media – for their assistance and cooperation in helping the Woodbridge Police Department conduct a thorough and effective investigation.”

Two Avenel teens were arrested yesterday for allegedly setting the fire that destroyed $25,000 worth of playground equipment Monday night.

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Police Suspect Arson Caused Playground Fire

WOODBRIDGE –The Woodbridge Township Police Department is actively investigating a suspected arson fire that destroyed more than $25,000 in newly installed playground equipment at the 5th District Park & Playground located in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township. 

Police are investigating the fire that destroyed $25,000 worth of playground equipment Monday night.

  According to Police Chief William Trenery, the suspected arson fire was reported to the Woodbridge Township Police Department 9-1-1 Dispatch Operations Center and the Avenel Fire Department at 9:56 p.m. on Monday, April 13.  The initial report was made by a neighborhood resident who spotted the fire.  The Avenel Fire Department responded to the scene within minutes of the report.  Upon arrival, Avenel Fire officials reported the playground equipment was fully engulfed in flames.  The fire was under control by 10:15 p.m.

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Woodbridge Seeks “Sustainable Jersey” Certification

John McCormac

WOODBRIDGE—Mayor John E. McCormac announced yesterday that Woodbridge Township continues to set the pace as a statewide leader in “green” environmental and sustainable initiatives by actively seeking the designation as a certified “Sustainable Jersey” community.  “Sustainable Jersey” is a certification program sponsored by the New Jersey League of Municipalities, which provides assistance to municipalities that want to go “green,” control costs and save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term. 

“Woodbridge Township continues to plan for the future by implementing innovative, cost-effective, sustainable, environmentally-friendly, and energy efficient programs and initiatives geared to provide long-term ‘green’ benefits to the residents of Woodbridge’s ten towns,” said McCormac.  “The ‘Sustainable Jersey’ Program provides municipalities with the know-how and resources needed to plan for a ‘green’ future.  And, as a ‘Sustainable Jersey’ community, Woodbridge Township will be eligible to receive the tools, guidance, training and additional financial resources necessary to institute programs and initiatives that provide for long-term “green” savings and sustainability.”

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