As Central Jersey continues to endure a bitterly cold stretch of winter weather, many of us are forced to adjust plans once again for the week ahead. The extreme weather disrupted travel and forced some last-minute changes, including the cancellation of Rahway’s Black History Month flag raising ceremony, originally scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 1, due to dangerously cold temperatures.

Sunday still marks the beginning of Black History Month, and communities across Central Jersey are moving forward with events, programs, and celebrations throughout February. From educational programs to cultural gatherings, towns including Woodbridge continue to offer opportunities to reflect, learn, and come together to honor Black history and contributions at both the local and national levels.

The coming week also brings a mix of civic meetings, arts programming, and neighborhood events that keep local life moving even in the heart of winter. 

It’s a good idea this week to double-check event details before heading out. As always, you can check out our full events calendar for everything happening around Central Jersey. And as always, if you have a community event you’d like listed, don’t hesitate to reach out.

New student safety data released at a recent Rahway Board of Education meeting drew strong interest from parents and residents. The figures provided a clearer look at reported incidents across the district and raised questions about transparency, reporting practices, and how schools respond when issues arise. For many families, it reinforced why school board meetings matter.

In Edison, the Township Council faced public scrutiny during a debate over proposed pay raises for themselves. Residents raised concerns about priorities and accountability as the discussion unfolded. The exchange highlighted the broader tension between governance decisions and public trust.

Ending the week on a lighter note, Rahway officials announced expanded library hours and additional programming. The changes are designed to improve access and better serve residents of all ages. It’s a reminder that local decisions can have immediate, everyday impact.

This week’s extreme cold and heavy snow pushed city workers across Central Jersey into long, demanding hours, and many quietly rose to the challenge. Across Central Jersey, Department of Public Works crews worked through dangerous conditions to clear roads, sidewalks, and school grounds, including using heavy equipment to make sure students could safely return to class.

Rahway firefighters were also kept busy during the storm, responding to a high volume of calls Friday morning while navigating icy streets and frigid temperatures. It was a reminder that emergency response doesn’t pause for weather, and that crews are often working when most of us are still sheltering indoors.

In Edison, DPW crews also deserve recognition after helping address a major water main break along Route 1, restoring service and managing traffic amid already difficult conditions. Across towns, these are the workers who keep daily life moving during the hardest moments, often without much fanfare but with a big impact.

Looking for a Valentine’s Day gift that feels a little more personal? The Valentine’s Day Pop-Up at Bell Works in Holmdel brings together local artisans and vendors offering handcrafted gifts, art, jewelry, and treats. It’s an easy way to find something thoughtful for a partner (or to treat yourself) while supporting small businesses and makers from around the region. Consider it a feel-good alternative to big-box shopping, with plenty of charm.

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This week's trivia: As you may have read by now, the coldest recorded day in New Jersey’s history was January 5, 1904, when it reached -34 degrees in River Vale. But do you know which Central Jersey town owns the state record for the most snowfall in one day?

Hint: It’s also a shore town.

Answer to last week’s trivia: Edison’s two sister cities are Shijiazhuang, China, and Vadodara (Baroda), India

Here’s the weather for the upcoming week.

🌤️ Monday, February 2: Mostly sunny and cold — temperatures likely in the low-30s during the day and remaining chilly overnight, with clear skies early then partly cloudy later.

🌤️ Tuesday, February 3: Sunshine continues with cold highs in the lower 30s, though any daytime melt is likely to refreeze at night with lows near 20°F.

☀️ Wednesday, February 4: A cold, mostly sunny day with highs around freezing and frigid overnight lows, keeping snowpack around and sidewalks icy.

🌨️ Thursday, February 5: Partly sunny with a chance of light snow late — highs near the low 30s and chilly overnight temperatures.

☁️ Friday, February 6: Mostly cloudy and cold with highs in the low 30s and little change overnight, still well below average for this time of year. 

☁️ Saturday, February 7: Cloudy and cold with temperatures lingering in the low 30s, maintaining wintry conditions across the region.

☁️ Sunday, February 8: Continued cold with mostly cloudy skies and highs again in the low 30s — expect winter weather to stick around as snowpack remains and seasonal temperatures hold steady. 

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!