A Guide to Our Virtual Kitchen & Bath Design Process NOVEMBER 2020 FREE
What’s SHuP? Send Hunger Packing WW-P collecting money for grocery store gift cards By SaM SCIarrOTTa
Send Hunger Packing West Windsor-Plainsboro has been helping feed families in need since 2017. This year, though, they’re doing something a little bit different. SHuP WW-P recently launched a fundraiser to collect donations for grocery store gift cards that will be distributed to food insecure families in November and December. The group hopes to raise $20,000 for 800 $25 cards. “We’ve had a lot of folks coming through who were not previously on free or reduced lunch, not on SNAP, now facing issues that they’ve never faced before,” said Melissa Hager, director of SHuP WW-P. “We regrouped and thought that we should have another fundraiser and do something for the end-of-theyear holidays. That’s how we’ve come to this stage for this fundraiser.” Prior to COVID, SHuP’s main fundraiser was its Friday food bags. The group collected donations for food insecure students in grades K to 6 throughout the West Windsor-Plainsboro school district. The bags, placed in stuSee HUNGER, Page 9
As we are all working from home together, this may be good COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG time to virtually plan out your upcoming kitchen or bath projects. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish working remotely with one of our design professionals.
For the love of tech
Start with a Project “To Do” List
You’ve been watching the home improvement shows, looking at magazines and doing some research online. You may even have put together an inspiration file of all the things you would love to have in your new kitchen or bathroom.
South senior adapts computer science group to COVID era
Where do you go from here?
First, make a list of what to change in your kitchen or bath area. Following is a brief checklist of what to consider:By SaM SCIarrOTTa Are you...
After two years, Samvit Agarwal’s found a rhythm with his non-profit, CS • Working with a new or existing floor plan? Remastered. Everything was running • Adding new appliances, lighting, sinks and faucets? smoothly. He had around 250 volunteers teaching free com• Changing flooring and if so, will other areas change as well? Luke Pometti (front, third from left in the black mask) started the COVID Running Club as a way for puter science classes throughout area? New Jersey, as well as in him and his friends to stay in shape in absence ofnew fall sports West Windsor-Plainsboro • the Installing tile in inthe the backsplash or in school the bath district. Now, the club has 16 members and meets every Tuesday and Thursday for a two-mile run. Ohio and California, and soon to be in China and India. (Staff photo by Sam Sciarrotta.) • Taking out the tub or enlarging the shower area? When the coronavirus pandemic started to spread, Try to have some idea of cabinetry and countertop choices, he and his colleagues—vice presidents Akash Bobba and even though this is not something you need to finalize before Bharat Krishnan—reacted talking with a design professional. just as smoothly. He’d been running for a few The group generally ran some of his friends tried out Student starts years but really got into it last its computer science classes for the track team for the fi rst What Can Our Design Pros Do For You? running club to stay time just before coronavirus winter when he decided to try in public spaces like schools for spring track. and to andcomplete libraries. They started spread. done your out Oncetoyou’ve research, you areHe ready our all closed active “At first when I heard that his running partner, Maxxe at the same time mid-March, receiving your information, would head to the High whichone left ofCSour Remastered itbrief wouldquestionnaire. last two weeks Upon [in Rice, By SaM SCIarrOTTa School North you track every unable toideas operate for a while, March], becausedesigners that was will experienced contact to discuss your COVID-19 had Community the original message, I still other day for a three-mile run. like many other non-profits and wishes. a design concept is createdto forandyour spaceorganizations. He was really beginning community that theyNext, would have Middle School eighth grader thought But Agarwal sat down with Luke Pometti feeling claustro- track after that,” he said. “As miss it. and we’ll also give you an“Iestimate range of what your project like the feel of it,” Pom- his colleagues and, together, phobic. So he decided to get it kept going on and on, I lost etti said. “I have always lovedstarted they came up with an online hope of the outside and do what he did any may cost. We track look seaforward to helping you get on your son continuing. I was disap- going fast. It’s not as fun for tutoring model that uses video best: run. project. because I did well in myself when I’m running calls and screen sharing. The Pometti was excited to run pointed, cross country for CMS this tryouts. I had gotten a taste by myself, so that’s why I transition was difficult, Agaryear, until the fall sports sea- of the team, but not the whole reached out to Maxxe. I love wal said, but it ended up workrunning no matter what, but ing out in the group’s favor. son was cancelled in the West experience.” Visit us at cranburydesigncenter.com/VirtualDesign. “Our main struggle was As summer started to creep if I got my friends involved, Windsor-Plainsboro school district due to the pandemic. in, Pometti was feeling the I thought it would be better. organizing sessions and He had a similar experience itch to get outside after a few If I only trained on my own, pairing students up with in the spring, when he and months of lockdown. See RUN, Page 6 See AGARWAL, Page 7
Keeping pace with the pandemic
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