Cranford Calendar
True Thabo will be hosting its first annual benefit cocktail party to raise money for the installation of a well in a remote Zambian village, providing a lifetime of clean water to the community. The cocktail party will be held on Friday, February 22, 2019, at The Cranford Social from 7 – 10 PM. Tickets include a three-hour open bar, delicious appetizers, tons of giveaways and opportunities to learn more about True Thabo’s work. Tickets are $50 for ages 21+ and $25 for ages under 21. 100% of all proceeds go directly to the installation of a well and community education lessons on the importance of clean drinking water to the Jenga village, a remote community in Eastern Zambia.
This non-profit organization was founded by local Cranford resident, Marissa Frank, a 2014 graduate of Cranford High School. True Thabo is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that provides clean drinking water programs and sanitation lessons to schools and communities in Eastern Africa s they work toward making clean water a right, not a privilege. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Tickets for the fundraiser may be purchased at https://truethabo.org/
The Garwood Knights of Columbus welcome friends and our local communities to donate and help save lives in Honor of Michael Sot. We like to thank Michael’s parents and family for allowing us to Honor Michael.
Michael Thomas Sot was a loving, smart, responsible and always caring son, brother, cousin, nephew, grandson and friend to all who knew him! Michael was a 2017 Arthur L. Johnson HS Honors graduate and lifelong Clark resident. At 20 yo he was a college sophomore at The College of New Jersey majoring in Math. He joined the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Early December 2, 2018, he was a designated driver for an off-campus frat event when tragedy struck. He, three frat brothers, a sorority sister, and another college student were hit by an alleged impaired driver. Two days later, Michael died. During his hospitalization and the other victims care, they needed multiple life-sustaining blood transfusions. Volunteering your blood could help so many like Michael. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Did you know 1 in 7 people entering the hospital need blood? Only 10% of the eligible population donates blood.
When you donate blood, it doesn’t just help people during disasters. From surgery to fighting cancer to giving birth, blood donations are used to save around 12,000 lives a day. A lot of the medical care we take for granted wouldn’t exist without blood donations.
Blood Drive held at St. Anne’s Garwood. Park in the lot and follow signs to Bethlehem Room.
Must be at least 16 years old (16- and 17-year-olds must bring a signed permission form from a parent or guardian
https://www.vitalant.org/Donate/Donor-Eligibility.aspx
Mark your calendars – Restaurant Week is back! Over 10 downtown restaurants will be participating in Restaurant Week, from Sunday, February 24th – Friday, March 1st with prix fixe dinner menus. Follow us on social media to see the list of participating restaurants, as well as the menus they’re offering. This is a great opportunity to try a new place or revisit some of your favorites.
This Sunday will be the start of a new tradition at A Toute Heure that takes equal parts from the history of the restaurant as well as the heritage of the chef and owners – Sunday Supper! Now that brunch is every Sunday we thought it would be appropriate to start opening up for dinner the last Sunday of the month. This month the theme will be a Polenta Party! This is a traditional dinner party originating in Northern Italy where everyone gets together and feasts on polenta and braised meats (though you’ll be just fine if you’re a vegetarian). Everyone will sit down at 6:30 pm and the three-course meal will begin. Bring a nice bottle of red wine! We thought it was also appropriate to collaborate with our friends Nick and Kim of Fat, Drunk and Fancy for this one – so expect to see their beautiful faces! Can’t wait for this!
Reservations are strongly encouraged as we are only a 12 table restaurant. Call us at (908)-276-6600 or make a reservation by clicking the “book now” button on the top right of our page!
Mark your calendars – Restaurant Week is back! Over 10 downtown restaurants will be participating in Restaurant Week, from Sunday, February 24th – Friday, March 1st with prix fixe dinner menus. Follow us on social media to see the list of participating restaurants, as well as the menus they’re offering. This is a great opportunity to try a new place or revisit some of your favorites.
Mark your calendars – Restaurant Week is back! Over 10 downtown restaurants will be participating in Restaurant Week, from Sunday, February 24th – Friday, March 1st with prix fixe dinner menus. Follow us on social media to see the list of participating restaurants, as well as the menus they’re offering. This is a great opportunity to try a new place or revisit some of your favorites.
I will be competing in the NY Giants Snow Bowl, a flag football tournament at MetLife Stadium that raises money to benefit Special Olympics NJ.
My team, Luke’s Warriors, is playing in honor of Luke Brown, a courageous Cranford kid whose family we share a special bond with. Myself and more than 30 other local dads have been practicing every Sunday morning ‘on the frozen tundra’ of my old high school field in preparation for my first Snow Bowl on Saturday, March 16th.
Please help support Special Olympics New Jersey by making a donation.
Thanks so much! Your contribution, big or small, helps 25,000 athletes throughout the state reach their goals.
Special Olympics NJ came to Cranford High School to film one of our practices with the other local team. WARNING: It’s awesome and heart-warming.
Mark your calendars – Restaurant Week is back! Over 10 downtown restaurants will be participating in Restaurant Week, from Sunday, February 24th – Friday, March 1st with prix fixe dinner menus. Follow us on social media to see the list of participating restaurants, as well as the menus they’re offering. This is a great opportunity to try a new place or revisit some of your favorites.
Mark your calendars – Restaurant Week is back! Over 10 downtown restaurants will be participating in Restaurant Week, from Sunday, February 24th – Friday, March 1st with prix fixe dinner menus. Follow us on social media to see the list of participating restaurants, as well as the menus they’re offering. This is a great opportunity to try a new place or revisit some of your favorites.
Mark your calendars – Restaurant Week is back! Over 10 downtown restaurants will be participating in Restaurant Week, from Sunday, February 24th – Friday, March 1st with prix fixe dinner menus. Follow us on social media to see the list of participating restaurants, as well as the menus they’re offering. This is a great opportunity to try a new place or revisit some of your favorites.
Jerry Zaro, the New Jersey Trustee to the Gateway Development Program, will discuss and update the public about the project. NJ Transit officials invited
CRANFORD, NJ—-The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition (RVRC), a rail-advocacy group representing 1.7 million residents in four counties along NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Rail line, will sponsor a free presentation on the Gateway Project, beginning at 7:00 p.m, Tuesday, March 26th at the Cranford Community Center.
“It cannot be understated: the Gateway Project, and related work, which has been long postponed, comprise the most significant economic impact project in the nation. It is urgent to New Jersey, the northeast, and in fact the entire country, that Federal funding be secured and the project proceeds expeditiously,” said Bruce Bergen, a former Union County Freeholder who is the Chairman of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition. “The regional economy would be dealt a catastrophic blow if one of the two existing tunnels, which have seriously deteriorated, fails or is forced to close for a substantial period of time for repairs.”
All are welcome to attend the free event. The Cranford Community Center is located at 220 Walnut Avenue in Cranford, with onsite parking.
Jerry Zaro, an attorney with Sills, Cummis and Gross P.C. in Newark, serves as Chairman of the Gateway Development Corporation (GDC) and will be the featured speaker. The GDC oversees the Gateway Project, the multibillion-dollar infrastructure initiative to build new rail tunnels under the Hudson River, rehabilitate the already-existing 108-year-old tunnels (which were badly damaged by Superstorm Sandy), build a new Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River, expand New York’s Penn Station, and related projects. It would be the largest current infrastructure project in the United States.
Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp noted: “Reliable train service, including a one-seat ride to New York, is key to the continued revitalization of New Jersey’s urban centers, and the economic well-being of our residents and businesses. Funding must be secured to complete these initiatives, rebuild our roads and bridges and keep our cities moving forward.” Plainfield has two train stations on the Raritan Valley Rail line.
Peter Palmer, former Somerset County Freeholder, and current RVRC Trustee said that commuters continue to suffer from delays and cancelations from an over-burdened and antiquated train system in dire need of upgrades. Somerset County has five train stations along the Raritan Valley Rail line.
“Our residents who rely on train service are being pushed to their limits,” said Palmer. “Further delay in making desperately-needed improvements to train service will damage regional economic development. The Rahway Rail Coalition will continue to advocate as strongly as possible on their behalf.
Bette Jane Kowalski, Chair of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and an RVRC Trustee, is promoting Union County’s efforts on the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition this year as part of the Board’s 2019 initiatives. Union County has eight stations on the Raritan Valley line, including one in Cranford, where Freeholder Kowalski resides.
“We have heard from many residents who have been personally impacted by the delays and cancellations,” said Freeholder Kowalski. “We will continue to make our voices heard for the completion of the Gateway Project and the restoration of the one-seat ride for direct service to New York.”
Hunterdon County Freeholder J. Matthew Holt, an RVRC Trustee, stated: “Both the Gateway Project and restoration of the one-seat ride on the Raritan Valley rail are crucial to the economic vitality of our region. Making these improvements would not only make the commute better, but bring economic benefits to the region—including increased home values, and increased commerce.” There are four train stations along the Raritan Valley rail line in Hunterdon County.
George Ververides, Director of County Planning for Middlesex County, and RVRC Trustee said: “Middlesex County strongly supports the completion of the Gateway Project and the restoration of the one-seat ride on the Raritan Valley Rail line. Transit delays are impacting productivity and the economy. It is also a public safety issue and major quality of life issue as well for residents who commute.”
The Gateway Project improvements are in the heart of the Northeast Corridor, the most heavily used passenger train line in the United States, which accounts for 20 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). It’s estimated that 10 percent of U.S. GDP depends on transit between New York and New Jersey alone.
The Northeast Corridor carries more than 800,000 passengers in 2,000 trains daily across eight states and Washington D.C. A 2016 Amtrak report found that implementation of the full Gateway project could generate $3.87-worth of economic benefits for every $1 spent.
The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, which represents Union, Somerset, Middlesex and Hunterdon Counties, was created nearly two decades ago to campaign for a one-seat ride on the Raritan Valley Line, which has 23,500 passengers daily, making it NJ Transit’s third most-used rail line. While track connectivity existed into New York, Raritan Valley riders always had to get off in Newark and switch trains because their diesel engines were not allowed into the tunnels under the Hudson River.
That changed in 2014 when NJ Transit began using dual-mode locomotives that could switch from diesel to electric power, making it possible to have a direct ride into New York City. NJ Transit introduced limited, one-seat ride service during off-peak hours in January 2015, but then suspended it last year.
The Coalition, which also consists of a Mayors’ Alliance and of County and State officials, can be reached on email at [email protected], is on the web at raritanvalleyrail.com/, on Facebook at facebook.com/raritanvalleyrail/, and Twitter at twitter.com/rvrailcoalition.