It just keeps going up! The massive blizzard that was originally forecast to be a minor winter storm is now expected to dump up to two feet of snow on Central Jersey today into tomorrow. Yesterday, the forecasted snowfall total was around a foot. The original forecasts called for a light dusting.

Whether you’re preparing for heavy snowfall or planning the inevitable dig-out, there’s plenty to look forward to once the plows clear the roads.

Things pick up Tuesday at the Woodbridge Main Library with a My Weird School party for kids from 4 to 6 PM, followed by a free virtual College Financial Planning workshop at 6:30 PM. On Wednesday, Rahway’s Gallery Space hosts “Celebrating Union County Black History” with John Prescott at 6 PM, while Metuchen Library welcomes author Willa Cofield at 7 PM to discuss her civil rights activism in 1960s North Carolina. Thursday brings Mayor Giacobbe’s annual State of the City address at UCPAC from 7 to 9 PM.

The weekend is packed. Friday features the Pokémon Go and Card Show at Woodbridge Mall, a free performance of the award-winning play Stick Fly at Hamilton Stage in Rahway, and the start of the New Jersey Home & Garden Show in Edison. Saturday leans into the unconventional with the Darkside NJ Oddities Expo at the Edison Convention Center and a horror double feature — The Exorcist and Beyond the Door — at UCPAC.

Sunday shifts gears with two major cultural celebrations: the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Belmar and the Tet Lunar New Year Festival in Fords. If you’d rather stay close to home, check out Metuchen-Edison Local History Day at the Metuchen Library or catch the Sarah Borges Band at the Old Franklin Schoolhouse.

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.

A packed room at New Brunswick City Hall last week helped halt a proposed data center tied to a redevelopment plan. Residents raised concerns about rising energy costs, infrastructure strain, and transparency, and the pressure appeared to make a difference. The vote signaled that large-scale development projects in Central Jersey are facing deeper public scrutiny.

In Woodbridge, the Board of Education meeting drew attention after several speakers called for a “parents’ bill of rights” similar to one recently adopted in Colts Neck. The debate centered on curriculum transparency, opt-out policies, and the broader role of parents in school decision-making. The discussion made clear that national education battles are landing squarely in local boardrooms.

And at Tuesday’s Township Council meeting, The Central Jerseyan was first to report on the town’s newly named business administrator. Covering these meetings in real time continues to pay off, especially when leadership changes happen without much fanfare.

Student protests over ICE enforcement also continued to ripple across Central Jersey this week. In both Highland Park and North Plainfield, school districts issued discipline after students marched off campus, prompting debate over student activism, school policy, and free expression. The Central Jerseyan was first to report on both situations, with on-the-ground interviews and district responses before the story spread more broadly. It’s a reminder that local reporting often sets the pace for the wider conversation.

🌶️ Woodbridge: Chili Cookoff 

Bring the heat! Prizes for the best chili: $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place. A $10 entrance ticket supports a good cause. All proceeds will help support Nicholas Lombardi, an 11-year-old from Woodbridge battling congenital heart defects.
Sunday, March 1
🕒 Time: 12 - 2 PM
📍 Location: Acacia Youth Center Address, 95 Port Reading Ave, Woodbridge
🔗 More Information

Or Operation Warm is giving away free shoes and socks at the Rahway YMCA for kids aged 3-8. No registration is required, but attendees need to sign in at the front desk with a government ID.

Ram and Rooster (Metuchen): If you have a little extra cash to spare, why not check out the fine-dining restaurant that recently earned a top spot in USA Today’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year? Chef Sean Yan, who grew up in New Jersey, brings Chinese-inspired dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Reservations are a must at 83 Central Ave, Metuchen.

Perla Co & Eatery (Woodbridge): If you are looking for a quick bite, Co & Eatery is a cozy cafe known for its delicious crepes, fluffy waffles, and tasty paninis. Pair your meal with a freshly brewed coffee for the perfect start to your day. It opens every day at 8 AM at 96 Main Ave in Woodbridge. 

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

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This week’s trivia:
On February 22, 1796, the New Jersey Assembly passed “An Act to regulate the Election of Members,” explicitly confirming that women — along with men — could vote if they met property requirements, by adding the words “he or she.”

How many pounds* of currency did a New Jersey resident need to own to qualify?

(*New Jersey pounds were a state-issued currency still in circulation as the young nation transitioned to the federal dollar.)

Answer to last week’s trivia:
Thomas Edison had a small, mysterious quincunx tattoo — five dots arranged like the number five on a die — on his right forearm. There is no official record explaining its origin or meaning.

Here’s the weather for the upcoming week:

❄️ Monday, February 23: Windy with daytime snow, partly cloudy at night — temperatures range from 23°F to 36°F.

⛅ Tuesday, February 24: Partly sunny, turning cloudy overnight — temperatures range from 20°F to 31°F.

❄️ Wednesday, February 25: Sunshine with a chance of daytime snow, clearing at night — temperatures range from 30°F to 43°F.

🌧️ Thursday, February 26: Light snow or rain during the day, rain at night — temperatures range from 33°F to 43°F.

🌨️ Friday, February 27: Rain and snow possible, cloudy overnight — temperatures range from 25°F to 44°F.

☀️ Saturday, February 28: Mostly sunny, clear at night — temperatures range from 34°F to 46°F.

☁️ Sunday, March 1: Mostly cloudy with possible overnight snow — temperatures range from 23°F to 43°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!