It’s starting to look like spring outside. This past week saw temperatures finally warm and flowers starting to bud. That means allergy season! So make sure to have your allergy meds handy, take frequent showers (keep those pets clean too), and get started on some spring-cleaning projects to keep allergies at bay.

Looking ahead to events this week, Clark Library will be having an educational workshop on Monday titled “American Revolutionary Women and Quilting”. Guests can examine some of Liberty Hall’s oldest quilts. The Edison Library will host “The Great American Road Trip” and “Introduction to Irish Genealogy Research” in the evening.  On Tuesday, Metuchen Library will host a workshop for adults, “Demystifying AI Part Two,” and Rutgers New Brunswick is offering free tickets for its Visiting Film Making Series at Arthur Laurents Theatre. Both events start at 7 PM.

For a midweek pick-me-up on Wednesday, check out the Rahway Flower and Plant Sale at Roosevelt Elementary from 2:30 - 5:30 PM or bond with your community at the Rahway Autism Networking Night. On Thursday, Edison Library will host “Celebrating Deaf Culture” at the Main Library, which will include an art Gallery by DeafBlind artist Jon Gabry and others. On Friday in New Brunswick, there are two ticketed performances: So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience at the State Theatre and Dan LaMorte at the Stress Factory.

The weekend offers a great opportunity to enjoy cherry blossoms in bloom throughout the state - but one particular moment of interest may be the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival with Newark’s annual bike race at Branch Brook Park on Saturday, April 4.  Other events on Saturday include Rahway’s annual Easter Egg hunt and an Edison Library workshop, “Inventing A to Z for Kids,” where students compete to create the best product and pitch. On Sunday, Point Pleasant hosts its annual Easter Day Parade starting at 1 PM.

As always, you can check out our full events calendar for everything happening around Central Jersey, and if you have a community event you’d like listed, don’t hesitate to reach out.

School districts across Central Jersey are all facing the same one-two punch this budget season: the end of federal COVID relief money and skyrocketing health insurance costs. This past week, Metuchen and Rahway showed how differently two districts can respond to the same pressure.

Metuchen is proposing a 3.45% tax increase, about $330 more per year for the average homeowner, driven largely by a $400,000 transportation shortfall and a nearly $900,000 spike in health insurance costs. Rahway is staying closer to the state’s 2% tax levy cap at around $170 per year, thanks to a massive growth in state aid.

Looking ahead, both districts have things to build on. Rahway is expanding its pre-K program with a $2.17 million state grant and working to bring more special education students back from costly out-of-district placements. Metuchen is wrapping up referendum-funded construction projects and plans to show off the new spaces this summer. But the underlying challenge isn't going away.

As Rahway Board President Joseph Toma put it at the hearing, the COVID era is over. Districts are back to running on state aid and local taxes, with health benefit costs widening the gap a little more every year.

The Raptor Trust in Millington shared a heartwarming update this week regarding the first Great Horned Owl nestling of the spring season. After falling from a nest high in a tree on March 12, the young owl was brought to the trust for care.

Though the owlet was uninjured, it needed a safe place to grow and gain strength. During its short stay, the staff ensured it ate regularly and reached the milestones necessary for a return to the wild. We are happy to report that the owl has been successfully renested and reunited with its family—a perfect outcome that gives this local "neighbor" a second chance at life in the wild.

Brighten up your home for spring while supporting local students! The Roosevelt Elementary PTA is hosting its annual Flower & Plant Sale to raise funds for educational needs. You’ll find a beautiful selection of Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils, and Pansies, along with 4-packs of vegetable plants to kickstart your garden.

The main event takes place on the school's front lawn (811 St. George’s Ave, Rahway) on Wednesday, April 1, and Thursday, April 2, from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. To ensure you get your favorites, you can order ahead online by Monday, March 23. Pre-orders can be picked up at the event or delivered to your home for a small fee of $5.80. Limited quantities will be available for walk-up purchase, so don't wait!

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This week's trivia:  47 years ago this week, New Jersey faced a gas crisis that forced half of all gas stations to close on Sundays. What was the event that caused oil production to slow down in New Jersey?

The answer to last week’s trivia: Perth Amboy is the city where Thomas Peterson Mundy was the first African American to vote under the 15th Amendment on March 31, 1870. The town recognized this accomplishment by awarding him a medal in 1884.

Here’s the weather for the upcoming week:

☁️ Monday, March 30: Mostly cloudy and breezy as the front moves out — temperatures range from 55°F to 68°F.

☀️ Tuesday, March 31: A beautiful, clear day with plenty of sunshine to wrap up the month — temperatures range from 63°F to 79°F.

🌧️ Wednesday, April 1: Thunderstorms are possible, and rain is probable — temperatures range from 50°F to 79°F.

🌧️ Thursday, April 2: Cooler with light rain and low clouds —  temperatures range from 52°F to 43°F. 

🌧️ Friday, April 3: Light rain and a possible evening thunderstorm —  temperatures range from 44°F to 57°F. 

🌧️ Saturday, April 4: Cloudy with light rain —  temperatures range from 41°F to 57°F. 

🌧️ Sunday, April 5:  Cloudy with light rain —  temperatures range from 43°F to 55°F.

As always, you can see even more events on The Central Jerseyan website. See the full events calendar ➝ 

Have an event you’d like included in this newsletter or a tip for a local news story? You can reply to this newsletter or contact me here ➝ 

Have a great week!