Hope you are surviving this weekend’s snow! We are switching it up this week and sending out our newsletter on Sunday with a quick weekend review! Did anyone make it to Edison’s Winterfest, Rahway’s Santa on Parade and Coat Drive, or Mocktails and Music? If so, please let us know by commenting on our Instagram page!  Here at The Central Jerseyan, we want to create journalism for the 21st century in a way that brings communities together.  We would love to hear from you what you liked, what you didn’t like, and how you kept your kids’ toes warm.   Personally, my kids made out like bandits on the candy and have no regrets. 

Did you miss out on the latest events? Visit the newly updated events page at The Central Jerseyan to discover some exciting upcoming activities! There’s free karaoke, Hanukkah celebrations, UCPAC’s $10 Polar Express, and STEAM events for kids in Edison. If you have any community events you would like to see listed on our events page, please feel free to contact us!

Big things have been happening in Central Jersey. Highland Park High School was in the news for a controversial flyer promoting a socialist club, but the school’s administration defended the creation of the club, citing a federal law that prevents barring student groups based on political content. The school also saw the creation of a Club America chapter this year and hosts a variety of other academic and cultural extracurricular clubs. 

In less controversial news,  The Central Jerseyan has put together a quick slideshow and article on the recent Woodbridge Council meeting.  My favorite part was celebrating the Youth Soccer Champions. The Colonia Cosmos boys team, Colonia Galaxy boys team, and the Woodbridge Wildcats girls team each received proclamations recognizing their standout fall seasons. In addition to recognition of the achievements of the youth soccer teams, the council adopted a significant amendment to the Route 1 Area 7 Redevelopment Plan, approved the acquisition of a small NJDOT-owned property, and rescinded its earlier support for Mad Hatter Dispensary.  

We at the Central Jerseyan believe that one of the most important aspects of journalism is celebrating individuals and communities that make a difference and empowering our neighbors and neighborhoods.  The articles below have covered how your neighbors have been helping their communities and how they need your help to achieve even greater success.  If you would like to nominate a person or community to cover, please contact us. 

In Woodbridge, David and Scott Rudd relaunched their annual toy drive, which is expected to help over 200 children who might otherwise receive no presents.   

In Linden, Youth Legacy Leaders hosted their annual toy drive this weekend. The group also hosted a free two-day boxing workshop on November 22 for local kids. The group serves as an excellent example of the impact that local networking can have. The volunteers are friends and co-workers, and much of the supplies they receive come from local businesses. How can you help? They are looking to expand and could greatly benefit from a volunteer with experience in grant writing to help them assist even more kids.

In Rahway, as food pantries across the country are struggling to keep up with demand, Zion Lutheran Church continues to serve the community in Rahway. The volunteers are more passionate than ever, but they need donations of time, money, and food. The church’s Little Free Pantry is open every Wednesday and will also be open on Christmas Eve, according to Rev. Carmine Pernini.

Here are a couple of local recommendations that can brighten your day and help you take care of those last-minute holiday gifts.

🥯 Have you checked out the new Casa Bagels located at 1608 Route 27 in Rahway? They open at 6 AM every day, and you can enjoy freshly made bagels and coffee there. It’s a great spot for kids, and they are even hosting a bagel art competition for young artists.

As a gift idea, why not purchase a gift card to support this new business and give it to your favorite neighbor as a thoughtful holiday treat?

🐮 Wholly Cow Gelato, located at 1542 Main Street in Rahway, now offers more than just delicious coffee and gelato. Did you know they also serve Glaze Donuts? During my visit, I picked up a bag of their fair trade coffee as a gift for my wife. You can also find various merchandise there, making it a great spot for cozy gifts for friends.

If you’re interested in advertising with us or promoting a local business, please contact us here.

We are so incredibly grateful to our early Patreon subscribers. We could not continue this project without you. If we add just ten more Patreon subscribers, we can eliminate pop-up advertisements on the main page and return to a simpler, clutter-free home page that celebrates the things that truly matter: your neighborhoods and your stories. If you believe our communities deserve serious, independent journalism, join today and be part of what keeps it alive.

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Trivia: Who introduced the term “brain-rot” to the American public in 1854? Hint: He was not from Central Jersey, although we do exist.

You’ll find out the answer in our next newsletter. Feel free to post a guess on The Central Jerseyan Facebook page until then. First one to get it right will get a shout in next week’s newsletter.

Here’s the weather for the upcoming week.

☀️ Monday, December 15: It will be cold and mostly clear - expect temperatures in the mid-teens°F to upper 20s°F 

☀️ Tuesday, December 16:   Sunny and cold - expect temperatures in the upper-teens°F to low 30s°F 

☀️ Wednesday, December 17: It’s warming up! Expect temperatures in the upper 20s to mid-40s.

🌧️ Thursday, December 18:  Rain is likely - expect temperatures in the low 40s.

☃️ Friday, December 19:  A 75% chance of snow is forecasted for the day, followed by a sharp drop in temperature. The day will start warmer in the 40s and drop to the 20s.

⛅ Saturday, December 20: Cloudy in the mid 20s-30s.

🌦️ Sunday, December 21: There’s a chance of light rain during the day, but it should clear up by night. Temperatures in the low 30s to the mid 40s.

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 simply reply to this newsletter or contact me here.

Have a great week!