Summer is officially here, and already there have been a ton of things to do. Schools let out for summer, World Cup fans gathered for watch parties, and the nation celebrated Juneteenth. And let’s not forget what else today is. Happy Father’s Day! (Pro tip: Dads actually like getting new socks and coffee mugs. You can never have too many of either.)

🎵 The Everly Set | Mon, June 22 | 7:30–9:30 PM | Joseph R. Lewis Concert Field, Woodbridge High School | Free
Woodbridge's Golden Oldies Monday series welcomes The Everly Set, a tribute to the Everly Brothers' tight harmonies and timeless catalog. Think "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," and "All I Have to Do Is Dream" on a summer evening under the open sky. No tickets, no fuss — just bring a lawn chair and a blanket.

🎵 Beginnings | Tue, June 23 | 7:30–9:30 PM | Joseph R. Lewis Concert Field, Woodbridge High School | Free
Tuesday's Tribute series brings Beginnings to the concert field — one of Central Jersey's most celebrated Chicago tributes. If the brass-heavy rock of "25 or 6 to 4" and "Saturday in the Park" is your thing, this is your night. Beer, wine, and food vendors on site.

⚽ World Cup Watch Party: Ecuador vs. Germany | Thurs, June 25 | 4–7:30 PM | East Cherry Street, Rahway | Free
Rahway's second World Cup watch party of the summer features a Spanish-language broadcast of Ecuador vs. Germany, followed by music and community festivities. Soccer-themed games, a 360-degree photo booth, and local business specials round out the evening. Rain or shine.

⚽ World Cup Watch Party: Portugal vs. Colombia | Sat, June 27 | 7–10 PM | East Cherry Street, Rahway | Free
The weekend closes with what organizers expect to be one of the region's largest Colombian community gatherings of the World Cup season. Portuguese and Colombian fans alike are welcome for a Spanish-language broadcast of the match, followed by music and activities. Rain or shine.

🚗 Moonglow Cruisers Cruise Night | Every Friday | 5–8 PM | Edison Shopping Center, 2303 Woodbridge Ave., Edison | Free
Every Friday through October, the Edison Shopping Center parking lot fills with classic and custom vehicles of all kinds. No entry fee, no registration required — just show up, walk the lot, and admire the chrome. A low-key way to kick off the weekend.

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

The news never stops, and neither do we. The Central Jerseyan gave you a new story every day this past week. Here are a few highlights.

Woodbridge is moving forward with a new elementary school in Hopelawn.
The Woodbridge Township Board of Education voted Thursday to formally submit construction plans for a new K-5 school to the state for review — clearing a significant procedural hurdle for a project Mayor John McCormac has been publicly advocating since March. The school would be built at 90 Clyde Ave. in Hopelawn and is targeted to open in September 2028. McCormac has said the project will be funded through PILOT revenue from new development, not property taxes.
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Rahway's Class of 2026 pulled an all-nighter — and earned it.
Nine years after Project Graduation last took place in Rahway, the Class of 2026 spent the night after commencement at the Rahway Recreation Center for a drug and alcohol-free lock-in that ran from 10 PM to 6 AM. Seniors took on sumo wrestling suits, rode a mechanical bull, and said their goodbyes in a night organized by two volunteer PTO moms who stepped up after the original organizers were called away for military reserve duty. For a class that missed its sixth-grade send-off to COVID, it was a long time coming.
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Your cable company may soon have competition. New fiber providers are moving into Central Jersey.
Woodbridge and Rahway have approved agreements allowing fiber internet providers to install equipment in public streets, opening the door to broadband competition for the first time in years. Edison is expected to follow later this month. The agreements don't guarantee service. Providers still need to build out infrastructure, neighborhood by neighborhood. But they represent the first real challenge to the cable companies that have long had the market to themselves.
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Head to American Legion Post 261 in Piscataway this Saturday and let your appetite do some good. From 1–5 PM, the Post is hosting a BBQ pig roast with proceeds going directly to support local veterans. Grateful Smoke BBQ handles the food — whole roasted pig, hot dogs, fixings, and salads all included — while Carson Drive provides live music through the afternoon. A $30 donation gets you the full spread and is a great way to spend a summer Saturday for a cause that matters.

🐷 BBQ Pig Roast | Sat, June 27 | 1:00–5:00 PM | American Legion Post 261, 840 S. Washington Ave., Piscataway | $30 donation per person | 732-752-9756

This week, The Central Jerseyan covered a Rahway independent candidate suing to get her name on the mayoral ballot after a Democratic Party official challenged her petition signatures. We covered Edison's city council approving a military-grade vehicle for its SWAT team in a tense 3-2 vote, with key questions about cost and condition left unanswered. We reported on burglars smashing through the front doors of Rahway businesses in the middle of the night. We covered a new elementary school in Woodbridge that moved closer to reality, fiber internet competition coming to your street, and the Rahway NAACP celebrating Juneteenth with college scholarships and community leaders.

Government accountability, public safety, community, and education across three towns, all reported by one person, without a paywall.

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This week's trivia: Thomas Edison ran his famous Menlo Park laboratory in what is now Edison Township, Middlesex County. In what year did he first successfully demonstrate the incandescent light bulb there, and on what street was the lab located?

Last week’s trivia:  Thomas Edison first successfully demonstrated the incandescent light bulb at his Menlo Park laboratory on New Year's Eve, 1879. The lab was located on Christie Street, which that night became the first street in the world to be lit by incandescent light. Special trains brought crowds from New York City to witness the moment. Christie Street, in what is now Edison Township, is still there today. The Edison Memorial Tower marks the spot.

Here’s the weather for the upcoming week:

⛈️ Monday, June 22: Showers through the morning, developing into steady rain and a possible thunderstorm by the afternoon — temperatures range from 66°F to 80°F.

⛅ Tuesday, June 23: A slight chance of morning showers, then clearing out to mostly sunny skies for the rest of the day — temperatures range from 65°F to 84°F.

☀️ Wednesday, June 24: Sunny and clear conditions straight through the day and into the evening — temperatures range from 66°F to 85°F.

🌦️ Thursday, June 25: Mostly sunny start, but watch for a chance of passing afternoon showers and thunderstorms — temperatures range from 65°F to 85°F.

🌦️ Friday, June 26: A mix of clouds and sun with a couple of light, passing showers possible during the day — temperatures range from 66°F to 82°F.

🌤️ Saturday, June 27: Excellent weekend weather featuring plenty of sunshine and just a few passing clouds — temperatures range from 65°F to 86°F.

🌧️ Sunday, June 28: Mostly cloudy and noticeably humid conditions return, with periods of rain expected to close out the weekend — temperatures range from 66°F to 83°F.

Have a great week!