Your weekend update
Week in review and events for the week ahead
If you’re off for President’s Day, there are easy ways to get out of the house. Public ice skating in Edison and roller skating in Woodbridge both return on Monday.
Every winter, families flock to the outdoor skating rink in Roosevelt Park in Edison. (Source: Middlesex County)
Lunar New Year officially begins February 17, the same day Edison Library kicks off a four-part workshop series on using AI to simplify your business. Midweek, you can dive into an Afternoon Lecture on the Music of Mardi Gras at Woodbridge’s Barron Arts Center, or continue celebrating Black History Month with spoken word performances at Rahway Library.
The weekend is packed. UCPAC in Rahway hosts Lez Zeppelin — an all-female tribute to the classic rock band — on Friday. The NJ Big Flea Market takes over the Edison Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday. Also on Sunday, Highland Park launches its first-ever Sustainable Repair Shop, a hands-on way to reduce waste and learn something new.
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.
Stay in the know
Central Jersey News
Council President Joseph Coyle during the February 11 Edison Township Council meeting. (Edison Television)
The story that got people talking this week was a chaotic Edison Township Council meeting that quickly turned tense. Sharp exchanges, visible frustration, and heated debate made it clear that local politics in Edison is anything but quiet right now.
Keia Smith (left) and Taziyah Lanier (right) say they would participate in another protest despite backlash following the march. (The Central Jerseyan)
Another big one: our feature on the Edison High School students who organized the anti-ICE protest. The student leaders spoke openly about why they walked out, what they were hoping to accomplish, and how they’re handling the backlash. It’s a closer look at how national issues are playing out in local hallways.
We also expanded into Metuchen this week with coverage of the latest Mayor and Council meeting. It’s a sign that our regional footprint keeps growing. In Woodbridge, longtime Business Administrator Vito Cimilluca announced he’ll retire at the end of April, closing out a lengthy run in township government.
Out this morning: a profile of the North Plainfield High School walkout organizer and what happened after their protest.
Get involved
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The seed library at the Rahway River Watershed Association, located in Rahway. (The Central Jerseyan)
If you’re looking for ways to get involved this year, the Rahway Environmental Commission is already building out its 2026 calendar.
At Thursday’s meeting, members began planning Arbor Day and Earth Day events and discussed expanding partnerships with local volunteer groups. The goal is to make it easier for residents to plug in and take part in hands-on community work.
The meeting also drew residents concerned about the city’s exploration of privatizing the public water utility, showing that environmental issues remain at the forefront of mind in Rahway.
The commission meets on the second Thursday of every month. You can find more information here.
Show support
Want to treat yourself AND help your community?
Calcutta Wok (Iselin): Since we’re talking Lunar New Year, why not try it out? Located on Oak Tree Road, they specialize in Indo-Chinese fusion (Hakka style). Their chili chicken or Gobi Manchurian is the perfect way to observe the cultural celebration or try something new. They are located at 1585 Oak Tree Road and are open from 11 AM to 10 PM every day.
Baguette Delite (Edison): Not in the mood for some food prepared on a wok, but you want a delicious sandwich with Asian flavors, with some of the best bread you have ever eaten? Then it is time for a bánh mì sandwich at Baguette Delite in Edison. Located at 381 Old Post Road in Edison, this casual sit-down restaurant offers Vietnamese flavors in approachable vegetarian, shrimp, or BBQ baguettes.
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Test your knowledge
Trivia & Weather Run Down
This week's trivia: Many of you know that Thomas Edison’s 179th birthday was last week (he was born on February 11, 1847). But can you guess what he had tattooed on his forearm? (Yes, he really did have a small tattoo before it was cool.)
Answer to last week’s trivia: Sadly, a lot of heroic or cute dogs that you might see pop up on your social media feed may be AI. How cool was it that the medical service dog Bailey really does provide life-improving care to Katie Graham, even if he does steal the occasional piece of cheese from the fridge?
Here’s the weather for the upcoming week.
☁️ Monday, February 16: Mostly cloudy during the day and cloudy at night — temperatures range from 30°F to 41°F.
🌤️ Tuesday, February 17: Mostly sunny during the day and cloudy at night — temperatures range from 32°F to 56°F.
🌧️ Wednesday, February 18: Light rain during the day and cloudy at night — temperatures range from 32°F to 45°F.
☁️ Thursday, February 19: Cloudy during the day and light rain at night — temperatures range from 34°F to 49°F.
🌦️ Friday, February 20: Rain showers during the day and partly cloudy at night — temperatures range from 35°F to 48°F.
🌦️ Saturday, February 21: More rain possible. Partly sunny during the day and clear at night — temperatures range from 29°F to 47°F.
🌤️ Sunday, February 22: Partly sunny during the day and clear at night — temperatures range from 26°F to 45°F.
🌤️ Monday, February 23: Partly sunny during the day and partly cloudy at night — temperatures range from 23°F to 42°F.
That’s all for now.
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!