We hope everyone has been enjoying holiday celebrations and staying safe from the mercurial weather that has created slippery roads and 63-mile-per-hour wind gusts. Despite the temperature fluctuations, Central Jerseyans have made it out to sing holiday music in Rahway, compete in gingerbread house competitions in Edison, and view eye-popping holiday light displays in Woodbridge. 

The week ahead may not hold better weather (expect wind and rain!), but The Central Jerseyan has a variety of indoor and outdoor events for those of you going stir-crazy.

Bold souls willing to travel south can join thousands of others congregating to observe the 249th celebration of the American Revolutionaries' victory in the Battle of Trenton.  If you want to stay closer to home, we have plenty to do without having to endure a wind chill while watching hundreds cross the Delaware. On Monday, there will be holiday crafts at the Edison and Rahway libraries, and on Tuesday, Rutgers Master Gardeners will teach you how to build your own home rain garden at the Edison library.

We’ve got some Choose Your Own Adventure activities for you on Wednesday and Thursday, and a Kwanzaa Craft at Rahway Library on Friday, Newark’s Winter Village on Saturday, and  Sunday’s family-friendly events include a Jurassic Quest in Edison and Woodbridge’s Free Holiday Model Train Show.

You can check out all of these events and more here. Of course, if you have any community events you'd like listed on our events page, please don't hesitate to contact us.

This week, The Central Jerseyan reported on the most recent Rahway Board of Education meeting, where officials announced that the district's Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Tiffany Beer, will be leaving the district.  Dr. Beer was celebrated for contributions to the community for the past five years, and each school commemorated its community events to end the year. The next school board meeting will be open to the public at 6:00 PM on January 27th. 

In more regional news, ICE continues to have an active presence in Central Jersey,  with Metuchen Mayor Jonathan M. Busch recently posting on Facebook about the detention of Sener Kalkan.  According to Busch, Kalkan is a Metuchen resident who was arrested at a routine immigration hearing as part of his legal immigration process. The mayor posted that Kalkan had completed an immigration interview in Newark and was returning to pick up paperwork when he was detained while his wife, Metuchen-born Jennifer Poandl, was waiting in the lobby. Congressman Frank Pallone echoed concerns about the arrest and called for an immediate response from the Trump administration.

Data from the Immigration Enforcement Dashboard, which compiles information from public information requests, states that 5,378 people have been arrested in New Jersey by ICE since the start of the second Trump administration, making it the state with the 9th highest ICE detentions.  Delaney Hall, where Kalkan is said to be held, has been making national headlines this week after a detainee died in the center one day after arriving.

Karla Alvarez, chair of the Rahway Social Justice Commission, spoke to The Central Jerseyan about December’s food drive and the community events they hosted this weekend to bring residents closer together. This Saturday, the commission organized multiple events at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage. There were holiday performances, an expo with donated food, coffee, and crafts, and an open mic night.

Alvarez said the commission needs more volunteers who are passionate about fostering a community where neighbors help neighbors. If you can contribute, their meetings take place at 7:00 PM on every 4th Monday of the month at the Rahway Recreation Center.

Here are a couple of local picks that can perk up your day and help you get the last-minute holiday gifts out of the way. 

🦞If you need some catering for those holiday festivities, check out Monai’s Soulfood Restaurant at 520 Roosevelt Avenue in Carteret. It’s independently owned and specializes in Southern fare, including fried chicken, fish and seafood, mac and cheese, and desserts. It’s also a casual sit-down place, open for lunch and dinner every day except Monday. You can check out some of the savory dishes here. 

☕ Have you checked out the blueberry jersey crumb cake yet at the Coffee Box at 1465 Irving Street in Rahway? If that’s not your cup of joe, check out the holiday drink special for you or a neighbor: peppermint mocha, eggnog latte, and the vegan alternative “oatnug” latte. 

Want to advertise with us or shout out a local business? Contact us here ➝ 

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This week's trivia: What is the New Jersey State bird? Hint: This “wild canary”  is also the state bird of Iowa and Washington. 

Answer to last week’s trivia: Who introduced the term “brain-rot” to the American public in 1854?  Henry David Thoreau used it in his American classic Walden; it became the Oxford Word of the Year in 2024.

Here’s the weather for the upcoming week.

☀️ Sunday, December 21:  Sunny and windy - temperatures range from 27°F to 46°F.

☀️ Monday, Dec 22: Sunny with a chance of precipitation - temperatures range from 32°F to 40°F.

🌦️ Tuesday, Dec 23:   Rain and snow mix - temperatures range from 35°F to 41°F.

☀️ Wednesday, Dec 24: Sunny and windy - temperatures range from 30°F to 47°F.

🌦️Thursday, December 25: Cloudy; late rain showers - temperatures range from 40°F to 42°F.

🌦️ Friday, December 26:  Rain and snow mix - temperatures range from 39°F to 53°F.

☁️ Saturday, December 27: Cloudy and windy - temperatures range from 27°F to 48°F.

☀️ Sunday, December 28: Mostly sunny and cold - temperatures range from 27°F to 48°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!