It’s good to be back! After a break over the Easter holiday and a terrible bout of hay fever, The Central Jerseyan Newsletter is running once again.

The biggest draws this week: Rutgers Day on Saturday brings the whole region to campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway for hundreds of free exhibits, live performances, and hands-on activities from 10 AM to 4 PM — one of the most beloved free events of the spring calendar. And if you haven't caught it yet, the Mingus Big Band performs a live tribute to Charles Mingus at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center on Wednesday night, with tickets starting at just $5.

On the weekday front, Monday kicks off with a free evening lecture at Edison Library on the life and work of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, featuring poet and actress Lorraine Stone at 7 PM. Tuesday offers a free virtual lecture from literary historian Mary DeForest on the hidden adult themes in The Wind in the Willows and Mary Poppins — turns out both beloved children's classics were written with grown-ups in mind. Thursday brings a free community block party at Rahway's Tully Field from 5:30–7:30 PM, with carnival games, face painting, giveaways, and a ribbon-cutting for the park's newly renovated playgrounds and pickleball courts.

For the weekend, Saturday's Walk with the Mayor departs Rahway City Hall Plaza at 9:30 AM, ending at the Mind Your Wellness fair at the Rahway Recreation Center (10 AM–1 PM), with health screenings, fitness info, and youth activities. Also on Saturday, the Friends of Wheatena Park Cleanup runs 10 AM–1 PM — gloves and bags provided by Union County Parks. On Sunday, Edison Library hosts a free drop-in coding workshop for kids in grades 5 and up from 12:30–1:30 PM, and over in Holmdel, Historic Longstreet Farm holds its annual Wool Days and sheep shearing demonstrations from 12–3 PM — free, and always a hit with families.

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.

NJ Transit finally unveiled its plan this week for moving fans to and from MetLife Stadium during the eight men's World Cup matches in June and July, and the ripple effects for Central Jersey commuters are significant. A round-trip train ticket to the stadium will cost $150 — compared to the normal $12.90 fare — with tickets capped at 40,000 per match and sold only through the NJ Transit mobile app starting May 13. Shuttle buses from Clifton will run $80 round-trip, and parking at MetLife — rebranded "New York New Jersey Stadium" for the tournament — will be eliminated on match days.

For regular commuters, the bigger story is what happens at Penn Station. Starting four hours before each kickoff, westbound rail service from New York Penn Station to Secaucus Junction will be restricted to World Cup ticket holders only, effectively locking non–ticket holders out of outbound evening service during those windows. After matches, Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, and Raritan Valley Line trains bound for Manhattan will terminate at Newark Penn Station, forcing riders to transfer to PATH.

NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri defended the fare hike as cost recovery, not profit — the agency says the tournament will cost it roughly $48 million in security and infrastructure upgrades. "If tickets remained at the normal price, New Jersey commuters would subsidize the cost of FIFA travelers by 92%," Kolluri said. Governor Mikie Sherrill has taken the same position, pointing out that FIFA is projected to bring in $11 billion from the tournament while contributing nothing toward transit costs; FIFA has pushed back, warning the fares will have a "chilling effect" on attendance.

The dates to watch locally are Monday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 30, when match times overlap with evening commutes. NJ Transit is urging riders to work from home if possible and is offering a 20% discount on one-way NYC-bound tickets and a 3% discount on June monthly passes to soften the blow. The other match dates are June 13, 16, 25, 27, July 5, and July 19 — and for the latest travel info, NJ Transit has set up a dedicated hub at njtworldcup.com.

Did you know? Rahway is the home to one of New Jersey’s largest rain gardens, located at the corner of St. Georges and Central Avenues. The native plant rain garden was created in 2015 through state funding and design work by Rutgers University. Today, Rahway’s rain garden has matured and is a great benefit to Rahway’s environment as well as a breathtaking sight when seen in bloom during July and August. Starting this spring, volunteers will meet regularly for an hour to help with maintenance. At the same time, volunteers will learn ‘best gardening practices’ through instruction provided by Rutgers Certified Master Gardeners. For more info, please email Bob Markey at [email protected] . 

Next week is packed with incredible shows at two of Central Jersey's beloved public theaters, and every ticket you buy helps keep the arts alive right here in your backyard.

UCPAC (Union County Performing Arts Center) in Rahway has something for everyone. On Monday, April 20, kick off the week with a free Earth Day celebration on the main stage — a story-time event for kids Pre-K through 3rd grade hosted in partnership with NJ Clean Communities. Then on Friday, April 24, grab the popcorn and pull on your PJs for The Great Muppet Caper on the Hamilton Stage. Tickets are just $10. And if you're looking for a big laugh on Saturday night, TikTok and AGT star Preacher Lawson brings his stand-up tour to the Hamilton Stage on Saturday, April 25 (7 PM & 9:30 PM, tickets from $36).

Over at the State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Thursday, April 23 brings a special sensory-friendly performance of Illusionist Lyn Dillies — an inclusive, accessible show perfect for teens and adults on the autism spectrum (tickets from $30). And running Friday through Sunday (April 24–26), the internationally acclaimed Shen Yun dazzles audiences with classical Chinese dance, a live orchestra, and stunning visuals (tickets from $99).

Both UCPAC and State Theatre are nonprofit public performing arts centers that depend on ticket sales and community support to keep their doors open — and their stages full. So the next time you're looking for a great night out, consider that buying a ticket is also a small act of civic love.

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Local decisions are often made in the dark, but The Central Jerseyan is proving that clear, independent reporting can fundamentally change a community’s trajectory. From Edison, where public scrutiny delayed proposed council salary raises, to Rahway, where the city canceled a water privatization bid after residents were given the facts, our coverage ensures your voice is heard before decisions are "locked in." We don’t just record history; we provide the transparency required for neighbors to take action and hold local leaders accountable.

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This week's trivia:  On April 13, in the Battle of Bound Brook, George Washington’s forces successfully retreated to the Watchung Mountains, preventing a total defeat after the surprise attack by British forces. What year was it?

Last week’s trivia:  47 years ago to this week, New Jersey was facing 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? Answer:  The 1979 Iranian Revolution energy crisis, which featured widespread gas shortages and the implementation of odd-even rationing in New Jersey, caused New Jersey gas stations to close.

Here’s the weather for the upcoming week:

⛅ Monday, April 20: A chance of morning showers tapering off by midday, then becoming partly sunny — temperatures range from 31°F to 53°F.

☀️ Tuesday, April 21: A bright and sunny day with calm winds — temperatures range from 42°F to 55°F.

🌦️ Wednesday, April 22: A chance of early morning showers clearing to partly sunny skies — temperatures range from 44°F to 64°F.

☀️ Thursday, April 23: Mostly sunny and seasonably warm — temperatures range from 49°F to 73°F.

☀️ Friday, April 24: Mostly sunny with pleasant conditions — temperatures range from 48°F to 71°F.

🌦️ Saturday, April 25: A chance of showers with some breaks of sun — temperatures range from 46°F to 63°F.

🌧️ Sunday, April 26: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers — temperatures range from 46°F to 62°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!