All AROUND Old Bridge- December 2022

OLDBRIDGE

OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP CHRISTMAS

TREE AND MENORAH LIGHTING

OB STUDENTS COLLECTS LETTERS TO SUPPORT THE

MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION

to help make other children’s wishes come true. The MakeA-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical con ditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. For each “Believe” letter received throughout the holiday season, Macy’s will donate $2 to the Make-A-Wish Founda tion, up to $1 million dollars.

For the tenth and final time, Old Bridge High School Senior AJ Silvestri will partner with Jonas Salk Middle School 7th Grader Jillian Bresocnik as they continue on their mission

AJ is an 18-year-old who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, a progressive, life-threatening disease which requires exten sive daily care to preserve his health. In 2012, he had his wish granted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Since 2014, with

the support of our communi ty and the Old Bridge Public Schools, he has been collecting letters to support the “Believe” campaign. Over the past decade, with the help of countless adults and children throughout the country, thousands of letters have been collected to support the Make-a-Wish Foundation. This year, while the mission to support the Make-a-Wish Foundation remains the same, the motivation of the campaign has been solidified as we honor one of AJ’s greatest supporters, Kendall Bresocnik. Since 2015, the Bresocnik family, includ ing their daughters Jillian and

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December 13th from 4:30 – 6:30pm We will have, Face Painting, an Inflatable Snow Globe you can take pictures in, Cookies, Arts & Crafts and of course a special visit from Santa!! Who will be taking pictures too!! The Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremony starts at 6:30pm.

LAST FEW WEEKS TO DONATE TO TOYS FOR TOTS

Now, we are in our Holiday season again, All Around Old Bridge, Old Bridge Chamber of Commerce and Old Bridge Business Alliance wants to give back to our most prized com munity members, our children, this season with a goal of 2,500 toys to donate, we can reach that goal this year with your help. Just think the smiles we will bring to the children this year.

Each year, the residents and

businesses of Old Bridge support those in need around the hol idays by participating in our Annual Giving Event “Toys for Tots”, we will begin collecting donations through Decem ber 16h to help provide the much-needed joy the children deserve for the holidays. Over the last 2 years we have collected over 3,650 toys and watched as residents both from and outside Old Bridge lent a helping- hand. With a donation from each of our businesses and residents, we can help provide toys for many children this holiday season, to gether we can make a difference.

To make your donation, you can drop off a toy at any drop off locations,page 7, or you can scan the QR code to donate and a toy will be purchased.

Mayor's office of Economic Development

Pursuing Progress _

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

ship will commemorate the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor with our annual wreath laying ceremony. All are welcomed to join us as we lay the wreath and read a proclamation to honor and remember all our brave veterans.

Dear Old Bridge Residents, It’s hard to believe that we are now at the end of another busy, successful year and the holiday season is in full swing.

To kick off the holiday season at the Township, we will be hosting our annual celebration by lighting the township Christmas Tree and Menorah. I would like to extend an invitation to all our residents to join us in celebrating with Santa at the Municipal Complex on Tuesday, December 13th from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will be pictures with Santa, cookies, face painting, an in flatable snow globe, arts and crafts, and horse drawn carriage rides.

On Wednesday, December 7th, 2022, at Silver Linings in the George Bush Center, Old Bridge Town

I would like to take this oppor tunity to reflect on the past year. Many residents enjoyed our restau rant week, Saltwater Day and Old Bridge Day. Our annual Memorial Day parade and 9-11 Memorial Ceremony honored those who have sacrificed for our country. My administration continued to work hard to keep our residents safe and to keep the economy growing. We had multiple grand openings and ribbon cutting cer emonies throughout the year. We are continuing to welcome many new businesses to town, and we sponsored the new Hermes Expo for the second year, which con nected businesses to the Old Bridge community, and worked with the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce to assist our town and local businesses as well. We have many exciting things

to look forward to in the coming year such as the grand opening of the new Cottrell Farm Park. When the park is completed, it will have an amphitheater, a park pavilion, memorial gardens, a playground and splash pads, walking paths, and parking areas. I am also looking forward to the opening of the new Old Bridge Municipal Golf Course at the Rose Lambertson property, located on the north and south side of Lambertson Road, scheduled to be open in 2023. The project will include construction of an 18-hole golf course with a practice range, short-game practice area, practice putting green, and minigolf area. These are just a couple of examples of ways we are pro viding our residents with access to more public recreation and smart growth for Old Bridge Township.

Thank you to all our residents, businesses, and township em ployees for making 2022 such a successful year. I wish you all a blessed and merry holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year.

Mayor Owen Henry

Mayor Owen Henry

CHRISTMAS AT CALVARY OLD BRIDGE

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.”

This Christmas we invite you to Calvary Old Bridge for a special message taken from Hebrews 1 titled The Final Word. Join us as we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus, who is the son of God, the brightness of His glory,

and His final word to mankind of His will for our salvation.

There will be three Christmas services on Saturday, Decem ber 24 at 1,3, and 5pm that will focus us on Jesus through worship and Bible teaching. We pray that the Lord will bless this time together and encourage you to bring friends, family members, loved ones or co workers out to one of these three

services. Children’s Ministry will be available at all services.

Services will be held in the main sanctuary at Calvary Old Bridge, located at 123 White Oak Lane, in Old Bridge NJ. For more informa tion visit CCOB.org

There will be no service Sunday, December 25 and normal service will resume Saturday, December 31, at 6pm.

Gregory Scharpf, Amboy Bank President and CEO, helps Anahita Feltz, Old Bridge Food Bank Manager, second from left, gather the food collections from the Amboy Bank Administration and Operations Buildings and neighboring branches. Scharpf said, “Through the generosity of our staff and clients, we were able to help the Old Bridge Food Bank feed the members of our community who need it most. We’d like to thank everyone for making our annual food drive such a success.” Amboy Bank’s food drive included all 22 offices making donations to their local community food banks. Also pictured are Pete Delucia and Sean Muirhead, both of Parks and Recreation.

THINK OLD BRIDGE

By Steve Mamakas, Executive officer of

Mayor’s Office of Economic Development

The busiest time of the year is here again: A lot is happen ing in Old Bridge at this time. In the coming year we will see some more growth in the recreations, entertainment, and retail sectors. From the new Golf Course and Mini Golf Center in the process of being built. To the new retail center coming on RT9 with high profile pad sites and eateries including a Super Shoprite, Target, Gregory’s Coffee, and Chipotle to name a few. Helping the residents stay in Old Bridge and not having to travel far for goods and services. Building upon our (Think Old Bridge, We Have it All) slogan. Plus delivering on the overall plan to support our local businesses and keep the revenue here in the township. So as the holiday season is now in full swing. Let’s again look at how the holidays can help businesses. As we know businesses prepare every day for the consumer to enter their establishments. As well as looking at opportunities to capture new customers. They also switch into high gear preparing for the holidays with advertised specials and deals. All trying to anticipate what will sell and stocking up on holiday gift items, restaurants will order extra product in these last months of the year as they try to meet the needs of their local patrons. At the same time the residents visit businesses across

town for home and office related items like decorations and placing food orders for hosting holiday gathering or attending parties. As people tend to stay as close to home as possible during these days and prioritize for gifts and other holiday-related items. Plus, out searching for the perfect gift or even last-minute item for cowork ers, friends, or family members. Businesses tend to generate a good amount of their revenue during the holidays. Accounting for a good uptick in sales according to a financial related shopping source. Businesses having online presence these days is also good. All to attract customers ordering specialty items or meals to just stop in to quickly pick up. Making it convenient for them as they rush around during the holiday season. So, let’s (THINK OLD BRIDGE) and keep our local businesses in mind and thriving this season and the coming year. Today many new businesses have opening across town. So, let’s support them and stop in to welcome them during this time of giving. Happy Holidays to all Shop, Dine and Buy Local Feature Business All of our businesses

Visit the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development Old Bridge @ facebook.com\obe townedo or Twitter @ twitter. com/obedonj to check out all the exciting happenings from grand openings to ground breaking events across the town.

the

MAYOR’S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTING BUSINESSES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS

of Dance419 Rt 34 - South Old Bridge Fire Station14 Throckmorton lane6am-6pm Mon-Fri - The Max – 3879 Rt 516 - YMCA- 1 Mannino Park - Café Luna- 3679 US-9

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

By Himanshu R. Shah, Business Administrator Himanshu R. Shah

1. ANCHOR PROGRAM

Beginning in 2022, the Home stead rebate program will be replaced by the ANCHOR program. The State of New Jersey mailed out applications for the ANCHOR program the last week of September. To qualify, applicants must have owned or rented their primary residence in New Jersey on October 1, 2019. The deadline to file the application is Friday, December 30, 2022. All payments will be issued in the form of check or direct deposit beginning in late Spring 2023. For a full list of qualifications and details on how to apply please visit https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/ taxation/anchor/index.shtml.

2. 2nd ANNUAL COAT DRIVE

The Old Bridge Food Bank and the Department of Public Works would like to thank every one who came to our 2nd Annual Coat Drive on Saturday, Novem ber 5th. Over 250 coats, hats, scarves, and gloves were collect ed for the Old Bridge Food Bank.

3. LEAF SEASON

Leaf season continues in all Wards through the month of November and will con clude the week of Decem ber 12th. Please visit Old Bridge.com/PublicWorks for the full pickup schedule.

4. CHRISTMAS TREE AND MENORAH LIGHTING

The Old Bridge Township Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting is on December 13th from 4:30 to 6:30. There will be pictures with Santa, cookies, face painting, inflatable snow globe, arts & crafts, and horse drawn carriage rides.

5. ICE ARENA

The Holiday Ice Skating Show will be on Friday December 16th at 5pm. As a reminder, the Old Bridge Ice Arena is open to the public for the season. Please go to oldbridge.com/ recreation for a full schedule of public sessions. Registration for Winter Ice Skating Lessons is on December 16th at 6pm.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN GIFTING A PET

By Anita Greenberg, DVM

Dr. Anita Green berg and her husband, Dr. Daniel Belli, are the owners and operators of the East Brunswick Animal Hospital for more than 30 years.

Dr. Greenberg has been a member of the Old Bridge Township Council since 2016

Giving pets as gifts should not be taken lightly. Not everyone is ready for the years of commitment that comes along with all the cuteness of a pet. Be sure the recipient accepts the responsibility and care commitment. Get details of what type of pet the person would like. Consider the energy level, size, age, and species of the pet desired. Get specifics.

Different pets come with different responsibilities so understanding the recipient’s abilities and limitations can help you choose a pet that is right for them. Always ask and receive permission before giving someone a pet as a gift. Do not ignore the cost factor of having

and caring for a pet. Besides food, take into account wellness visits, vaccines, preventative medicines, spaying or neu tering, and unexpected expenses. Does the pet need to be groomed? You don’t want the pet to be a financial burden.

Is the recipient old enough to care for the pet? If you are gifting a pet to a child, be sure other family members are willing to help care for the pet.

Make sure the recipient is allowed to have pets where they live. If they are renters, sometimes there is an added cost to have pets. Are they willing to incur that cost?

Match the pet to the person’s life style! Does the recipient travel often for pleasure or work? Does the person have a heavy work schedule? They may not have the time to care for a pet.

Having a pet requires a lifetime commit ment to the pet. That is every day, for the entire life of the pet. Consider the lifespan of the pet. The average life of an African Gray parrot, for example, is 60 years!

Avoid impulse purchases. During the holidays, it is often a busy, hectic and stressful time. It may not be the Continue on page 22

THE IMPORTANCE OF TESTING FOR THE SAT AND ACT

Students can find out whether SAT or ACT is better by taking a mock test of each. While mock tests are official, released tests, taking one does not count towards college admissions. Oftentimes, parents want to use the PSAT to compare to the ACT, but the PSAT is out of 1520, not 1600, and is usually too old to get an accurate com parison. The date and scoring difference also does not make it great to use as a baseline test. We recommend at least a practice test to start (to establish a baseline score), one when prep is halfway done (to assess improve ment) and one before the student takes their official test (as a dress rehearsal). That being said, students with the biggest score improvements are usually those who take mock tests consistently.

This is the advantage of mock testing vs testing on your own:

1) Sally might not be a “morning person.” She could be a rock star at 4pm, but she’s going to need to perform at 8am. Stu dents arrive at our tests at 7:45am, just like they would on test day. They have to train themselves to perform well at that time.

2) Most people’s attention spans are 2 hours. That’s why movies are 2 hours. On the SAT and ACT, students have to focus for a full 3 hours. Practice focus ing for that long period of time will get students better at focus ing for that long period of time.

3) When a parent calls to tell me that Sally is a nervous test taker, as you know, what that means is that Sally gets so nervous that it hurts her per formance. There are actually 2 types of stress—distress and eu stress. Ask any athlete if he/she was nervous before and during their best performance and they will inevitably tell you that

they were. That’s the eustress… that’s the good stuff. If Sally is a nervous test taker, taking mock tests with some consistency can bring down her level of stress from distress, to eustress.

Mock tests are free to Ivy Master students. Suggestion for a topic? You can reach me at Paul.Pscolka@ivymasters.com 732-485-6480 www.ivymasters. com Check out my interview: https://gettestbright.com/whypractice-tests-matter-so-much/

ALL AROUND OLD BRIDGE

LIVING STONES

This up coming year of 2023 marks the twentieth year since The Bridge Christian Radio began airing in the NY/ NJ area, running a cam paign with the slogan, “God speaks. Are you listening?”

Hebrews 1:1-2a says, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son….”

God has spoken throughout history, but the final Word came in the birth of a Child, the only begotten Son of God, Jesus, the Savior of the world. Many came before Him and many have come after him, both politically and religiously, claiming to be the answer to the world’s problems. But Jesus came to rescue those who believe in Him. Since the

first century, when wise men laid their treasures at His feet and angels sang on high, God has been speaking to human ity by His Son, Jesus Christ.

Yet often, I hear people ask: Why is it not more clear?

When any person saw even a partial glimpse of God in the biblical account, they fell as though dead at His feet due to His overwhelming glory. Unlike the angels who were made to serve and praise God, we were made in His image to know and love Him. Love is only real if it is a choice! If God were to display all His power, all humanity would reflexively bow, and free will would immediately dissolve.

If a multi-billionaire’s son went to college dressed in flashy clothes driving a fancy car, every girl on campus would swoon to meet him. If dressed in rags and driving a clunker, the uppity gals would shun him. But the ordinary girl who falls in love with him for him will be shocked when he takes her home to meet his father! And so, God hides in

His creation, and those who seek Him will find Him. God wants us to love Him by free choice. But because God is just, every sin must be judged. And since all are plagued with sin (Romans 3:23), this leaves us all facing judgment and eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23). But God sent His only Son, being fully God, but also fully Man, to take the punishment of all the sin of the world and pay the required penalty (Romans 8:3).

Even a short time of suf fering by an infinite person equals an infinite amount of sin for a finite number of people.

God is still speak ing, so the real question remains—are you listening?

A thousand voices are vying for your attention, but God has had the final Word in His Son, Jesus Christ. Believe in Him!

OB WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

By Gaby

Old Bridge Highs School’s student athletes are gearing up for the winter sports season.

The boys bas ketball team, 10-15 last year, seeks revenge in the GMC. “If we are able to put the pieces to gether and ev eryone plays up to their potential, we could have some solid success,” assistant Coach Matt McCann stated.

Senior captain Adam Scire, with support of fellow senior Ryan Witte and standout soph omore Krish Patel, believes the team is ready. “We have put in the time all summer and fall building team chemistry and a family, so we are hoping to make something happen in the playoffs,” said Scire.

The girls basketball team, 13-9 last year, will face a rig

orous schedule. “We have some tougher competition this year, but that won’t stop us from reaching our goals,” senior Gabby Walker stated.

Four-year varsity players and captains Walker, Leena Tran, and Malvina Sullivan form the returning core. “I am relying on this group’s experience to help us learn some new strategies that I believe will make us successful,” Coach Alec Alspach explained.

The wrestling team, domi nant at 18-8 last winter, expects success in the upcoming season. “This is a season that many of the young men on the team have been working toward for the last four years,” Coach John Post said.

The strong group of seniors seek a championship title. “We were told in the 8th grade that if we all stuck together, this year was going to be a great one,” senior Rob Orzol ex claimed. “As for myself, I want to put my name on the wall.”

See KnightLifeOB. com for a full preview.

THE FINAL WORD

Lloyd Pulley, Senior Pastor

Malanga and Frank Papeo

Senior Robort Orzol stares down his opponent before the match begins in a home meet last winter.

OPERATION BEACHHEAD- BRINGS DISABLE VETERANS & ACTIVEDUTY TROOPS ON THE ICE

By Lisa Valsera, Deputy Director Parks & Recreation

We were approached by George Ragu who sat on the board of Operation Beach head about 7 years ago, he asked if the Old Bridge John Piccolo Ice Arena could host a group of disabled veterans for a day out.

Operation Beachhead is a non-profit organization based at the Jersey Shore providing adventurous, yet safe, all-season sports for veterans and active-duty troops.

We of course said yes, they brought specially made sleds to hold people who are wheelchair bound, some with no limbs, or who can’t walk properly. They organized volunteers to come and help the veterans acclimate to the sleds and the ice, they had different veteran organizations that came from all over NJ and one that came from the Bronx. What a fantastic day we all had, they were a great bunch of ladies and gentlemen, who served out country every one of them were an absolute pleasure to help. We decided to make it a monthly outing for them, and they have been coming ever since. They come once a month and are playing full scale hockey games

now, referees and all. Operation Beached brings their volunteers and we get some hockey coaches, firemen and police to come and help too, once a year the OB Varsity Hockey team comes to volunteer and help out as well, we feel like it’s a great lesson for them to see the sacrifices some made for us and our country and to learn to give back, plus they get to witness the respect these Veterans deserve. The concession stand serves them break fast and lunch. It brings them joy and

WHEN AUTO ACCIDENTS OCCUR

By

The roads in the United States are among the busiest in the world. According to Statista, more than 218 million Ameri cans hold a valid driver’s license. Due predominantly to a combination of alcohol abuse, speed and reckless driving, approximately three million of these individuals are injured in car crashes every year with two million suffering permanent injuries per DriverKnowledge.com.

But if you didn’t guess already, the news gets even worse if you live in New Jersey.

In a recent article, Forbes recently called New Jersey the home to the nation’s “second worst drivers” and Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth among cities with the most car accident claims based on a study from Allstate Insurance. This was even veri ed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), which found 273,473 total car crashes and 62,690 related injuries in the state in 2016.

The reasons are many. Some accidents are unavoidable -the result of bad timing, poor weather, awful conditions, vehicle failure or dreadful luck. Insurers have reported that deer or large animals played a role in more than 1 million car crashes just a few years ago. Life is sometimes unfair,

especially on the road.

Then again, there are the accidents where someone is de nitely at fault. But don’t kid yourself, it’s not a mistake if you know it’s wrong before you do it.

First, always wear a seatbelt. The statistics listed by Driver Knoweldge.com should stun staggering anyone who does not regularly wear a seatbelt. As stated by the website,1 in 7 people do not wear a seatbelt while driving even though they reduce the risk of death by 45% and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. In addition, people who don’t wear seatbelts are also 30 times more likely to be ejected from the vehicle during a crash.

Next, do not drink and drive. The National Highway Traf c Safety Administration, the National Safety Council and National Institute of Health reported more than 10,000 deaths from drunk driving collisions from 2006-2016. Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes daily, while more than 1,900 people in 2018 were killed in alcohol-related crashes where drivers had lower alcohol levels as stated by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Another serious problem on today’s road is distracted driving. Once again, DriversKnowledge.com’s statistics are spot-on. Every year, more than 1060 people are injured in crashes that

involve a distracted driver. This includes being more than 23 times more likely to crash while texting and driving.

In addition, researchers have proven the correlation between cellphone use and reckless driving. Some studies have even equated handsfree operation to driving drunk. One university found that motorists who spoke on handsfree cellphones were 18 percent slower in braking.

So, you can be the safest driver in the world and still be the victim of the other guy’s bad decisions. As a result, it’s always important to drive safe and smart. But, if catastrophe or the other guy should strike, it is imperative to reach out for the proper certi ed care. The right treatment can oftentimes not only reduce pain and increase exibility, but overcome weeks, months, or even years of needless suffering.

For more information on methods for treating the injuries and pain associated with motor vehicle incidents please contact DeLuca Family Chiropractic at (732) 679-2414 or visit our website at www.dfccares.com. The of ce’s professional staff located at 2309 Hwy 516 in Old Bridge, NJ is dedicated to tailoring chiropractic programs targeted toward wellness and personal injury.

Dr. Anthony DeLuca, Director of DeLuca Family Chiropractic in Old Bridge, New Jersey, Selected for the Olympic training center in San Diego California and Colorado Springs Colorado

UNWRAP THE GIFT OF GOOD HEALTH AT THE Y!

The Y brings wellness and people together! This holiday season give the gift of good health to yourself or those you care about with our special mem bership. From November 25 – Decem ber 31 buy 2 months of membership, receive 1 MONTH FREE to Freehold, Old Bridge and Red Bank YMCAs. This special Gift of Health membership also offers no joiner fees or contract, access to unlimited group and aqua fitness classes, healthy activities for all ages and abilities, and full access to all 3 YMCA branches. Gift of Health membership must be activated by June 30, 2023. Learn more at www.ymcanj.org/giftofhealth.

There are wellness activities for every member of your family—from quality swim lessons for all ages, to a variety of programs that help adults feel their best in spirt, mind and body. Membership includes YMCA360, a 24/7 virtual platform with over 1,000 on-demand and livestream classes.

Y membership is so much more than access to fitness facilities and pools. The Y makes our community stronger. In ad dition to wellness branches, the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County serves over

36,000 residents through programs such as preschool, child care, before and after school care, teen leadership and men toring, personal and family counseling, mental and behavioral health care, com munity outreach, and summer day camp.

A non-profit charity, the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County has served community for 149 years with programs that support healthy living and well-be ing for people of all ages, interests, and backgrounds. All are welcome and no one is turned away for the inability to pay.

Visit www.ymcanj.org/gift ofhealth to purchase membership starting November 25. Follow the Y on www.facebook.com/ymcaGMC to connect with the Y community.

We’re stronger together!

SUPPORT FEEL BETTER BEARS AT ALL AMERICAN AUTO MALL

Imagine you’re a child in an emergency situation going on in your home; a fire, a burglary, a crime of any kind. You’re anxious and confused, and the adults around you are busy trying to deal with the situation at hand. But when the police arrive, they take the time to dedicate a few minutes to calm you down and hand you a cuddly teddy bear to hug and take your mind off things. That’s the idea behind Feel Better Bears, and initiative de signed to help police take care of children in emergency situations. You can help by donating a new and unwrapped stuffed animal less than 18 inches tall. All donations are given to the New Jersey State PBA. The stuffed animals will go from your hands to squad cars to help children on the scene of crisis situations. All American Ford and Subaru has been proud to take part in this initiative for the last 4 years and it is one of their

favorite charities to take part in. Donation bins will be located throughout the All American Ford and Subaru showrooms which are located at 3698 Route 9 South, Old Bridge, NJ 08857. Please consider donating and giving comfort and love to a child this holiday season. You can also purchase a brand new teddy bear or stuffed animal online at nj1015.com/bears to donate directly to the PBA! Please contact Marketing Manager Cait Whitemore at cait@aafordnj. com with any questions. Thank you for taking part in this great initiative, Happy Holidays!

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN GIFTING A PET

Continued from page 9

best time for the individual to acquire a pet. Find this out first.

Yet, without a doubt, pets can be the best gift, as they bring so much joy. Review all factors beforehand and make sure you having a willing recipient.

And consider adopting, as there are so many pets waiting for a loving home.

I suggest a visit to the Old Bridge Animal Shelter on Route 516 at the Municipal Complex in Old Bridge. How wonderful it would be to clear the shelter for the holidays. How joyful it would be to have happy owners matched with the loving gift of a pet from the shelter.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!

IN MEMORIAM

FRANK SIRIANNI

AUGUST 17, 1940 - NOVEMBER 22, 2022

82 OF OLD BRIDGE, VISITATION WAS HELD AT WAITT FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE, MORGANVILLE

PATRICIA THEODOROPOULOS

JULY 26, 1946 - NOVEMBER 23, 2022

76 OF OLD BRIDGE, VISITATION WAS HELD AT OLD BRIDGE FUNERAL HOME

LUCIA KURTZ

SEPTEMBER 17, 1965 - NOVEMBER 24, 2022

57, OF OLD BRIDGE,VISITATION WAS HELD AT OLD BRIDGE FUNERAL HOME

ROSE MARIE ARVIDSON-WILTON

APRIL 1, 1929 - NOVEMBER 5, 2022

93 OF OLD BRIDGE, VISITATION WAS HELD AT OLD BRIDGE FUNERAL HOME

To send condolences to families please visit www.oldbridgefh.com

OLD BRIDGE 9TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Court Judge or Representative of the Court System, Local Civic Associations, Local Mental Health Agencies, Local Reli gious groups, private citizens, including youth representatives and individuals recovering from drug and/or alcohol abuse.

OB STUDENTS COLLECTS LETTERS TO SUPPORT THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION

Continued from page 1

The congregation of Baitul Hadi Mosque in Old Bridge has had this long-standing tradition for the last eight years to recog nize an organization that has done some outstanding com munity service for the people of the Old Bridge Township. Every year, the mosque works with the mayor’s office of the Old Bridge Township to identify once such organization. This year, the award was given to the Municipal Alli ance of the Old Bridge Township. The purpose and intent of the

Alliance program is to eradicate illicit drug use and substance abuse throughout the Town ship. Membership includes a mayoral representative, the Chief of Police, President of the School Board, Superintendent of Schools, Student Assistance Coordinator, Representative of a Parent-Teacher Associa tion, Representative of a Local Bargaining Unit for teachers, Chamber of Commerce Rep resentative, a representative of Organized Labor, Municipal

This year, the event was held at the Masjid Baitul Hadi, the Old Bridge Mosque at 6 pm on Tuesday, November 22nd, and was attended by a large number of people and various officials of the township. The award recipi ents received their plaques and certificates from the Honorable Owen Henry, the Mayor of Old Bridge and Abdul Nasir, the Pres ident of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Central Jersey Chapter. The event was followed by a sumptuous thanksgiving dinner, which consisted of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes. The attendees stayed afterwards for a while for the social hour.

Kendall, tirelessly supported AJ’s vision to help other critically ill children, often coordinating thousands of letters for the campaign each year, including over 8,000 letters in 2019 alone. However, in 2020, Kendall received a devastating diagnosis of Level 3 Glioma, an inoperable brain cancer. At 7 years old, Kendall tragically lost her life within 5 weeks of her shocking diagnosis. Despite her rapidly deteriorating health, Kendall, who loved unicorns and rain bows, continued to write letters for the campaign until she was unable to physically do so. Prior to her death in May of 2020, Kendall had her own Make-aWish dream granted- a pool for her family to enjoy in the summer months. Even in her

final hours, as in all the days of her life, Kendall thought only of others, with her unparal leled grace and generous spirit. Believe….in Unicorns. Anyone can help AJ and Jillian and it is FREE to participate! You can submit as many wishes as you like and you can wish for whatever your heart desireseven if it is a unicorn. Wishes are due by December 15th, 2022. The Silvestri and Bresocnik families are happy to coordinate local pick up. Electronic sub mission is not available this year.

Questions? Please contact Jillian and AJ at JBresocnik049@obps.org ASilvestri674@obps.org

LIBRARY DIRECTORS REPORT

Season’s Greetings!

Did you know that the Old Bridge Public Library adds roughly 1,000 new books every month? And if you cannot find what you want to read, then we will do our best to get it for you. We aren’t just books either, though we have over 150,000 of them for all ages, including e-books and audiobooks. Your library also has magazines, newspapers, music, movies, Launch Pads, Passport applica tions, public computers, copiers, hotspots, Notary services, and much more. We are a full service library, open seven days a week, until 9:00 PM on weekdays, with quiet study rooms, a section just for teens, and free wifi. So, stop by and visit.

Here are a couple of fun programs taking place at your library this month: The Second Saturday free musical series features Carnaby St. performing rock music from the 1960s on Saturday, De cember 10, 2022. Shows start at 1:00 PM in the Large Meeting Room of the library.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens performed by The Ladies of History Actress, Alisa Dupuy, on Tuesday, De cember 20, 2022. Shows start at 6:30 PM in the Large Meeting Room of the library.

As always, you may see what’s hap pening at the library on our website https://www.oldbridgelibrary.org.

It’s also that time again when we support those in need by participating in the “Toys for Tots” Annual Giving Event. The library is collecting donations through Decem ber 16, 2022 to help provide comfort and joy for children during the holidays.

Lastly, Library Director Alan Kornblau will be leaving the library at the end of the month and we share his wishes of good tidings to everyone, and a Happy New Year!