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IN THIS ISSUE: Tour Metuchen The Spirit of Metuchen Minority-Owned Businesses Borough Bites… and More

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BY LAUREN LAMANTIA

Spirit of Community in Metuchen Lives Within The

Fourth-Generation Local Pastor

W

hen the Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens was 13 years old, he had an epiphany and vision that God was speaking to him in his bedroom, in which God declared that Owens would spread the word of God onto others. Owens thought this was a dream, but upon waking up he could still hear God’s voice.

At around the same age as his vision, Owens’ grandmother, Alce Thompson, shared with him that she had felt God had put a special mark on him to preach and teach God’s word. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Owens would hear a similar saying from another person that would cross his path when he was older, only influencing his path more to follow what God had told him so many years before.

Owens grew up in Metuchen, where he is fourth generation, with his family roots in the area dating back to the late 1800s.

Around the age of high school, Owens’ family relocated close by to Edison where Owens was a part of the first graduating class in 1965 at John P. Stevens High School. From there, Owens went on to pursue secondary education at Virginia Union University, a Historical Black College located in Richmond, Virginia, where he pursued pre-med and double majored in chemistry and biology. Also during his college years when he was 18-19 years old, Owens recalled that he would get on Freedom Buses on the weekends in which he would go down to Alabama, Georgia, and other states south of Virginia in which he would campaign during the Civil Rights Movement.

Aside from pursuing his academics and involvement in civil rights, Owens recalls visiting the seminary on campus in which he would sit in on classes. There, he explained that the president of the seminary, Dr. Alex B. James, saw Owens attending and asked him if he was a pre-ministarian student, which Owens denied.

“At that time I was running from my calling,” Owens said.

James then said something that Owens had heard before. “[He] said to me, ‘Son, God has put a mark on you, and whether you deny it or not, God has a special calling on your life,” Owens recalled. “He shared the same exact words that my grandmother shared with me.

And so it haunted me, and I knew that God was really calling me into ministry.”

After that, Owens proceeded to graduate from Virginia Union University and was recruited by Squibb Pharmaceuticals back to New Jersey to get a job there. While working, Owens explained the pressure he felt to pursue ministry, in which he later returned to Virginia Union University to pursue his masters in the school of divinity.

In 1977, Owens then started parttime pastoral ministry at his first church please see OWENS, page 5

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OWENS

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in Hopewell at Second Calvary Baptist Church for 13 years while still employed at Squibb Pharmaceuticals. In 1987, the church had grown so much that the church asked Owens to be their first full-time pastor that the church ever had in 90 years.

Now, Owens has been serving as a full-time pastor of 32 years since 1990 at New Hope Baptist Church of Metuchen, the same church his grandfather John Thompson founded with 12 others and Owens was born and raised in.

Owens is also deeply involved in numerous organizations that act in giving back to the community, among them on a local level he is the president and CEO of the House of Hope Community Development Corporation of NJ, and is the first chaplain in the history of the Metuchen police and fire departments where he serves in crisis counseling in times of tragedy. Along with this, he is also involved in The Metuchen Edison Area Interfaith Clergy Association, of which he is the oldest serving member.

The group is made up of multiple religious communities that come together such as Christian pastors, Muslim imams and Jewish rabbis.

In terms of Owen’s involvement in the community in the church, New Hope Baptist Church recently hosted the 22nd annual community celebration of “Good Trouble” for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on

Jan. 16, in which this year’s program was dedicated to late Congressman John Lewis who passed in 2020. This particular service, with the collaboration of New Hope Baptist Church and The Metuchen Edison Area Interfaith Clergy Association, has acted in giving back in the way of scholarships that have been given out to students for the past 20 years in the Metuchen and Edison community.

Owens explained that in doing so all of the local synagogues, mosques and churches submit names of students out of their particular congregations and all of the funds raised during the event goes to those specific students in the form of scholarships.

For those looking to get involved by paying it forward, but who do not know where to start, Owens suggests getting involved in one’s local religious community by attending advocacy and discussion groups to see where a helping hand is needed in the community.

In regards to what community and looking out for one another means to him, Owens told a story about his father Luther Owens who was the first African American licensed plumber in New Jersey in 1974, and shared something his father said to him

when Owens saw his father taking care of their neighbors lawn in North Edison for a period of time.

“If we don’t help our neighbor to get the crabgrass out of his lawn, sooner or later the crabgrass will grow in our lawn,” Owens said, quoting his father, “and I thought about that for the longest time and I realized that my father, with a fifth grade education, was a very wise man when it came to life. We can turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the struggles of other people but sooner or later if we don’t kill it in their neighborhood it will come to ours.”

Owens also noted how in his father’s advice what everyone can take away going forward.

“My father was so right, that for us to be advocates for the rights of people, even though it may not be ours, we better get the crabgrass out of our neighbors yard or sooner or later it will grow in our yard,” Owens said. ■ Photos courtesy of New Hope Baptist Church

The Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens, senior pastor

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BY KATHY CHANG

I

n September 2021, Metuchen marked its first celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month across the downtown and inside local businesses in efforts to celebrate the diversity and highlight achievements of the Hispanic community within the borough.

The celebration – which certainly is not the last – is essentially an indication of “remarkable” growth in minority-owned businesses since Metuchen Downtown Alliance’s (MDA) inception in 2016.

“Minority owned businesses were 38% of non-office business openings,” said Isaac Kremer, executive director of the MDA, noting the percentage “is more than the national small business ownership rate of 17%.

“People open here because Metuchen is a great environment to do business,” he said.

“The borough government has been highly supportive, helping every chance they get.

MDA programs to clean and maintain the district, technical assistance and matching grants for storefront improvements, and regular retail promotions have all contributed to the success of these businesses.”

Joanne Cruz and her husband JC GomezPeralta, who co-own New Market and Creative Twist Events at 19 New Street, were instrumental in helping to create the WINTER 2022

Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.

“It was beautiful to see all the people, it felt good,” Cruz said, noting she and her husband grew up in the Dominican Republic.

The celebration was a collaboration through the MDA and the Metuchen Human Relations Commission.

The event was a full-day affair themed Esperanza meaning “to celebrate a bright future and reinforce the resilience of the local community.”

It kicked off with Sarah Peña, director for Hispanic policy, research and development for New Jersey, followed with Dominicanstyle merengue, bachata musical performances and story time.

The celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month is a first of many multicultural events in the works between the MDA and Metuchen Human Relations Commission.

The MDA highlights its 46 minorityowned businesses on its website.

In addition, some 46% of storefront grants have been given to minority-owned businesses since 2018.

“Private individuals and a foundation gave funding to support improving outdoor dining for women and minority-owned businesses to help build community,” he said.

“Some of the minority-owned businesses that benefited from these programs include please see BUSINESS, page 7 6

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In this Issue: Fourth-Generation Pastor Minority Owned Businesses Borough Bites A Look at Local History Metuchen on the Move

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BUSINESS

continued from page 6

Creative Twist Events, Brewed Awakening, Kabab Factory, Pastry Lu, What’s the Scoop, Papillon & Company, Angie’s Cafe and others.”

Cruz said she’s loving how the diversity has grown compared to when she was first beginning her event and party planning business in 2015.

“We all support each other,” she said, stressing the importance of support and to “include all cultures.”

The “support,” in essence, helped Cruz and her husband make the decision to open New Market in August 2021 after the pandemic changed the direction of their careers.

Cruz had spent 13-plus years combining visual design and customer service for luxury brands in New York City.

New Market is a collaborative indooroutdoor marketplace that houses a group of small independent businesses.

Cruz said it’s perfect for those who are not looking to sign a five-year lease. Vendors can rent a space from a year or six months to just a weekend or a few hours, she said.

The market currently has four anchor stores, which includes Creative Twist Events offering their party supplies and balloon bar.

The other stores include FK Living, love, June, and Sweet Roots Cakery.

Edna Epelu, who was born in Uganda, a country in East Africa, brings her love of the

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arts to Metuchen with her business Papillon & Company at 418 Main St., which she opened in September 2020.

“The most important thing at the time was creating a space for people to engage

and get out of isolation,” Epelu said when she opened, noting at the time stores and restaurants were not yet at full capacity due to the pandemic.

With the exhibition of monthly artwork, patrons can “relax and decompress” as they peruse the many unique gift items from home décor, art to repurposed furniture and antiques from local producers, artists and vendors.

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Last May and June, Epelu hosted Kamoinge Workshop, a photography collective of Black photographers that was founded in 1963 in New York City.

Adger Cowans, one of the early members of the workshop, plus seven other photographers attended the opening and a community talk. Epelu said the event drew local sponsorships from Manasquan Bank On June 19, Papillon & Company served as the backdrop for the borough’s inaugural Juneteenth Celebration, a collaboration through Papillon, MDA, NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Metuchen Edison Piscataway and the Metuchen Human Relations Commission.

The celebration, which celebrates the freedom of enslaved African Americans after the Civil War, incorporated the Kamoinge Workshop at Papillon.

Epelu, who has moved around internationally with stints in Sierra Leone and Afghanistan with charity work, said the same diversity and small charm that she please see BUSINESS, page 11 PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAMIE GIAMBRONE

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WINTER 2022

Locals’ Destination for Valentine’s Day Dinner

BY RYAN GALLAGHER

F

or Jersey residents, there are almost too many options for dining out on Valentine’s Day. Just in the small Borough of Metuchen, there are restaurants and bars that offer homemade food with flavors from across the globe. On this special day, individuals search for the more intimate and comfortable locations to bring their significant other.

Whether you’re married or dating, every couple has come to the crossroads that is picking a place to eat. Phrases that occur during this process usually sound something like, “No, you pick,” or “I’m fine with any place, as long as I’m with you.” However, many romantics will soon find there is so much more to it than these phrases may illicit (if you know you know).

Fortunately, Metuchen is home to at least two sure-fire spots that can please just about anybody on Valentine’s Day: Civile Cucina Italiana and The Greek on Main.

Additionally, Metuchen’s downtown and surrounding area is ripe with restaurants that offer great food and friendly customer service.

Civile Cucina Italiana at 154 Main Street

On Valentine’s Day 2022, the staff at Civile will serve a four-course, pre-fixe menu for customers with reservations or for customers who call-ahead for takeout. Whether for dine-in or takeout, a Valentine’s Day dinner at Civile will cost each couple $110. The meal will come with an appetizer for each please see BITES, page 9

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BITES

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person, a soup or salad for each person, two entrees, and a dessert for both guests.

“We’re excited to have couples come out and share an intimate evening in Metuchen,” said Civile’s Co-Owner Jason Penedos. “We always set up a nice candle-lit atmosphere, it’s romantic with rose pedals on the tables. And it’s BYOB for mostly two-tops and for groups if they’re interested.”

Penedos said he already had his menu set for Valentine’s Day and was getting prepped to share it with his community and online followers. He spoke of mouth-watering appetizers, special soups, and classy entrees for guests on Cupid’s Day. “For apps we’ll have Calamari Ciasulli— it’s not your average calamari and it’s tossed in balsamic reduction,” explained Penedos.

“We’ll have the crowd favorite, Sicilian meatballs, which are still made from my grandmother’s recipe. We’re doing a Manhattan clam chowder which is usually only a special item here. And for entrees, our steaks are incredible. We work with an amazing butcher for our NY Strip, and signature veal chop parmigiana. We’ll also do the fresh rainbow trout with crab stuffing.”

Civile’s full Valentine’s menu is available to view on their website, while reservations can be made in advance over the phone or by email. Folks can expect to make reservations from 4–9 p.m.

The restaurant is usually not open on Mondays, but they will open for this Valentine’s Day which happens to land on Monday, Feb. 14.

On this day, Penedos will instead shut down their sister restaurant, Lotsa Balls on New Street, to focus completely on Civile Cucina and the guests.

The restaurant has been a dining option for Metuchen’s population for 10 years now, after the original Civile of Kenilworth burned down years ago.

“It’s an upscale, great date spot. Bring out the wife or your girlfriend,” explained Penedos. “We usually get you on a special occasion, whatever it may be. This is a great spot for an intimate get-together, dim-lit, and romantic. We get high-line clientele like Pat Shurmur when he was the [New York] Giants head coach, and we get the town’s local residents. So, you never know who you’re going to walk into here.”

The Greek on Main at 419 Main Street

Just down the road from Civile Cucina is another one of Metuchen’s fine dining 08840

Greece by the Ionian Sea. “We get fresh fish and ingredients delivered straight from Greece—we are trying to replicate visiting Greece. The food there is so intense, and the flavors are strong and beautiful. I try to recreate that here as our fish, pastas, and even our oregano and salt is straight from Greece.”

Kappas and crew aren’t arranging any pre-fixe menu for Valentine’s Day. Instead, they’re planning to run some popular specials, some that they’ve done in years past.

Either way, Kappas recommends couples make a reservation online.

“For appetizers, we’ll most likely do prawns wrapped in shredded philo dough, with roasted red peppers and feta cheese aioli. Although, it might change slightly, because it’s been tough with shortages— please see BITES, page 10

establishments. Geographically, the two restaurants are close in proximity and close regarding the countries in which they pull their flavors from. However, owner Teddy Kappas of The Greek on Main believes that

guests will not find any other restaurant quite like his.

“We take a unique approach to our menu.

We introduce certain things that no one else has in this area,” explained Kappas, who is originally from the west coast of mainland

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BITES

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prawns are tough to find, and I don’t want to order just anything. So, there’s a chance we do something like seared stuffed scallops with crab meat and spicy feta mousse.”

Kappas revealed that he goes out of his way to think of outof-the-box ideas that people will try, likely for the first time.

“As an entrée, I think we’ll have

stuffed veal chop with Greek sausage, spinach, and kasseri cheese,” explained Kappas.

“Also, lobster tail with orzo pasta, spinach,

432 Main Street, Metuchen WINTER 2022

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and orzo cream sauce—similar to vodka sauce. And halibut filet or Chilean sea bass filet.”

Kappas also pointed out that he’d have his traditional baklava, but stuffed with chocolate chips as a variation for Valentine’s Day; apparently this homemade dish has built up a following of its own.

“One year we even did a red velvet cookie dough skillet with our own fig ice cream that we make here,” recalled Kappas. “Half of my menu are the classic Greek dishes, and other half is something we’ve created that you’re not going to find in another Greek restaurant.”

The Greek on Main is another romantic destination for couples in Metuchen—a spot that is comfortable and invites the community to come have a relaxing, unique meal.

“I’m thankful I’ve been in Metuchen because it’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in the restaurant business. We have customers since day one and they still come once a week—the community is amazing.

They helped me out a lot during COVID. I thank them for calling us even when they couldn’t come out to eat and for giving us hope.”

Fortunately for couples who might not be able to decide on the perfect location for Valentine’s Day, restauranteurs Kappas and Penedos have two establishments that are sure to please. These two restaurant mainstays in Metuchen further the borough’s already sterling reputation as a place to be enjoyed by hungry couples on Valentine’s Day. ■ PHOTOS COURTESY OF TEDDY KAPPAS

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The Greek on Main 08840

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What’s the Scoop has been at 457A Main Street since March 1, 2020. The only difference is the sale of pizza, which they had to stop because of the smaller space. And despite the pandemic, Schutz said they have been fortunate enough to remain open.

“We never closed,” she said. “We restructured our business during COVID and did curbside pickup and made deliveries. We made ice cream kits, sundae kits, and cake kits so people at home with their families, they had something else to do.”

And among the homemade 80 or so flavors including flavors of the Caribbean Islands -

Brownie Sundae passion fruit, rum raisin and mango - another success has been wholesale of ice cream cakes and other items.

“It’s a business on its own,” Schutz said. “It took us to a different level.

Even now with the slower months in winter, we still have wholesalers. It’s really working out.”

In January, the MDA adopted a nondiscrimination policy and has subsequently guided their work according to the policy.

“It’s important that businesses in Metuchen reflect the diversity of our community, Middlesex County and New Jersey,” Kremer said. “From those dozens of minority-owned businesses that have chosen to open here in the past few years, they’ve greatly added to the social offerings and the economic performance of our downtown. Most impressive is how Metuchen comes together as a community and includes everyone. That has been a key to our resilience during the pandemic and to our ongoing success. With over 70% of our customers coming from outside of Metuchen it is natural and fitting for our businesses to reflect the diversity of Middlesex County and New Jersey.” ■ PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAMIE GIAMBRONE

Michelle and Mike Schutz owners of What’s the Scoop.

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hears people say they love about Metuchen drew her in as well.

“Before opening my business, I knew Metuchen,” she said, noting when she would visit family in New Jersey, they would have lunch at Café Paris.

“When I started looking for places for my business, Metuchen was on my list.”

Epelu said each business owner brings not only their ethnic backgrounds, but their own sensibilities, their own individualities, and their own philosophies of what they want their business to be.

As a first-time business owner, a minority-owned business owner and women business owner, Epelu said she has been blessed with great guidance through the MDA and great grassroot connections from other supportive business owners.

“It’s the American dream that anything is possible,” she said.

For Michelle Schutz, who co-owns What’s the Scoop with her husband Michael and hails from Trinidad and Tobago, said having diversity is important when it comes to her daughter and son.

“It’s important for them to see minorities can actually own a business and actually make it and do something well,” she said, adding Metuchen has embraced diversity well.

“We never really had a problem,” she said, even as an interracial couple. “For me it’s very positive. People know us because we live in Metuchen, our kids went to school in Metuchen.”

Previously, Schutz co-owned Lollipop Land, a candy store, in the borough.

Schutz said it’s nice when people come from out of town and hear her accent.

“They’d be like ‘Whoa, you’re the owner, that is great’ and ask, ‘Where are you from?’,” she said. “It’s a nice feeling to have as a minority-owned business.”

Schutz and her husband have owned What’s the Scoop for five years after buying it from the previous owners. The ice cream shop has been a staple in the borough for more than 20 years.

The Metuchen community rallied behind the business with a Kickstarter when the business had to move from 410 Main Street three years ago.

“They didn’t want us to leave Metuchen and go elsewhere,” Schutz said. “They raised $15,000 and that was the foundation to start there. It was amazing.”

Irish Whiskey Salted Caramel Sundae WINTER 2022

A L O O K AT

LOCAL HISTORY Step off on a walking tour of Metuchen’s history, heritage

BY GLORIA STRAVELLI

W

hile pandemic precautions remain in place, this is an ideal time to take a stroll around town with the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society, as well as a resourceful local Girl Scout, as guides.

Walkers will learn first-hand about the historical points of interest, architectural styles and local neighborhoods that are part of the borough’s rich heritage, revisit landmark sites, learn behindthe-scenes local lore and stroll the eclectic downtown district.

Maps and illustrations lead the way along the curated walking tours, which highlight the borough’s architectural heritage, cultural institutions, iconic neighborhoods, vibrant downtown and other points of interest. Routes are abbreviated to be easily walkable, are mapped out and guides are accessible online, on a cell phone and are downloadable.

The four self-guided tours are: the award-winning Walking Tour of Historic Architecture in the Thomas Park/Tommy’s Pond Neighborhood; Walking Tour of Metuchen’s Residential Historic Architecture; Walking Tour of Metuchen’s Main Street, from the Old Franklin Schoolhouse to the Forum Theatre; and Metuchen Colonial Cemetery.

Local resident and Ambassador Scout Kate McNamara researched, designed and created the Walking Tour of Historic Architecture in the Thomas Park/Tommy’s Pond Neighborhood, which was recognized with the 2021 Girl Scout Gold Award.

This online presentation provides a wealth of local insight about the architecture, residents and provenance of the original homes in the neighborhood, which are no longer in place, according to McNamara, who said the loss of the homes prompted her project.

“I noticed that around town there were a lot of historic buildings and houses that were getting knocked down,” she said. “It made me mad because that’s history that you’re kind of ripping away. And the memory of WINTER 2022

their characteristics is just gone because the house just isn’t there anymore.

“I wanted to try to make a difference in my town and let people know about what’s going on and how important history is by making it interesting,” she added. “I think history generally gets a bad rap. But actually it’s really interesting and I wanted to show people that it is interesting and it can be learned in a fun way.”

McNamara said designing and creating the online presentation for the walking tour involved many months of working with numerous sources and substantial research, especially delving into books on local history and sourcing photographs.

“I worked with the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society, that’s where I got most of the photos for the website. They provided so much information and were so helpful,” she said, adding she photographed the homes now in place that replaced the original structures, none of which remain.

“And I reached out to lot of the homeowners. I left a letter in their mailbox and there were actually a surprising number of homeowners that emailed me and said, ‘Hey I have some facts about my house, here’s what I know.’ And they all were willing to share their information. It was really wonderful.”

Family members helped organize the tour route, including where to begin and end.

“I went on a walk with my mom and my brother and we walked around the neigh12

borhood,” she said. “I was sort of thinking about it and looking at the houses.

I said, ‘Alright, these are definitely the ones I want to focus on, the main houses.’ But I was thinking about the others and we walked around thinking about and looking at all the houses.”

By the end of the walk, she had found the focus: “I decided these are definitely the ones,” she said.

The online version of the tour on the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society website includes more than 100 houses in Tommy’s Pond, while the in-person tour was whittled down, following the recommendation of the historical society, kept to three-and-a-half blocks, whereas in total there are six blocks in the neighborhood, McNamara said.

The online version is programmed so that walkers can view the online tour on their cell phone as they stroll along.

“You can walk around and look at the history, see the old photos, see the actual houses (in place) now,” she said. “So you can kind of be taking the tour self-guided, which is COVID-friendly. That was the thought, in the depths of 2020, we were like, this is what we need to do.”

McNamara said the local homeowners have been very engaged.

“They are very much interested,” she said.

“They provided me with information. A lot of them actually came on the tour and said, ‘I saw your project, let’s talk about my house.’ please see HISTORY, page 13 08840

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miles, not every structure and architectural style is represented.

“However,” according to the website, “this tour includes most of the predominant styles, with specific examples at … corresponding addresses along the route.”

The society emphasizes that interiors of the homes are not included on the tour and asks that those walking the tour route remain on the sidewalks/public right-of-way at all times.

An illustrated map for the “Metuchen Walking Tour: Old Franklin Schoolhouse to the Forum Theatre,” also downloadable on the website, steps off at the schoolhouse off Middlesex Avenue.

The route travels along Middlesex Avenue, turns onto Main Street, then Amboy Avenue.

In all, there are 24 points of interest on this tour, which spans an area that includes the public library, the municipal complex the borough’s eclectic Downtown center, the post office, terminating at the historic, soonto-be-renewed Forum Theater.

Metuchen Colonial Cemetery, Main Street at Woodbridge Avenue, is also known locally as the Old Presbyterian Burying Ground and/or the Revolutionary War Cemetery.

According to the society’s online presentation, the burial ground reflects Metuchen’s early European settlement and is the resting place of at least 59 Revolutionary War soldiers and seven patriots. Markers feature Early American folk art motifs.

Old Colonial Cemetery was established

between 1715 and 1730 as the burying ground associated with the Presbyterian Church and contains some 500 marked graves and 60 unmarked graves dating from as the early 1700s to the late1800s.

According to the society, the first Metuchen meetinghouse was an eight-sided building located near the southeast corner of the site.

After a fire destroyed the meetinghouse, a new building was constructed on the same site and then enlarged in 1753 and again in 1792, according to the online history. The continued growth of the congregation made it necessary to expand again and in 1836 the new Presbyterian Church was built on the east side of Main Street.

That same year, the railroad was laid through Metuchen and ran along on the northern edge of the cemetery, then in 1887, the railroad bought the property along the northern edge of the cemetery as part of a track expansion project and the remains from that section were reinterred.

As time passed and the cemetery was no longer in active use, its condition declined and in 1974 the Presbyterian Church donated the cemetery to the borough. In the 1990s, according to the society, the cemetery committee of the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society was formed and raised funds to improve conditions and the site became more accessible, site markers and interpretive signage were added. ■

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HISTORY

continued from page 12

“It was really awesome, we were really excited about it.”

McNamara began research for the project in June 2020 and by May 2021 was leading walking tours of the neighborhood. She also gave a presentation to the borough mayor and council.

She explained that Tommy’s Pond was recommended for her project because while there are official historic districts across town, the neighborhood is not one of them.

“So it was recommenced to me to do a project about it to sort of bring attention to the area, hopefully get it to be developed as a historic district,” she said.

“The official name is Thomas Park, although it’s been forever nicknamed Tommy‘s Pond,” she said. “The name refers to David Graham Thomas; he was a very rich landowner and did a lot of farming and the entire route of my project was his property.

“When he passed away, his property got divided and a certain portion got donated to the borough and became a park. The rest of the property was sold off to builders. His house was on the corner of Graham and Spring and eventually got knocked down. A lot of people were very upset.”

This online tour features a scrolling guide to “Houses on the Tour,” which begins at the corner of Lake Avenue and Franklyn Place, where the garden of Tommy’s Pond is located.

Arranged by street address, homes featured are located on Franklyn Place, Graham Avenue, Spring Street, Cliffwood Place, High Street and Lake Avenue.

The presentation includes: information on architectural styles, date of construction, notable residents and tidbits about their lives, as well as architects, builders and historical significance.

Also included are: a guide to architectural terms and printable/downloadable maps, plus a Kids Fun Packet, Adult Info Packet and a Self-Guided “Tour through History.”

Another tour on the society’s website, Walking Tour of Metuchen’s Residential Historic Architecture, can be downloaded at www.metuchen-edisonhistsoc.org, scroll to Walking Tours in the menu box, opt to download -- and step outside for a walk through time.

An illustrated guide is provided to identify the architectural periods of the featured homes and the decorative elements specific to that period. Style elements that identify each are highlighted including: East Jersey Cottage, both Greek and Gothic Revival, Mansard, Queen Anne, Italianate, Shingle Style, Four Square, Planbook/Vernacular Victorian, Bungalow and Colonial Revival.

The walking tour of architectural styles begins at the Old Franklin School, 491 Middlesex Ave., and continues in a clockwise direction. According to the historical society, in order to keep the tour at a walkable 1.6

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WINTER 2022

Metuchen on the Move It’s all in the details.

When it comes to your social calendar, change is … not always good. But sometimes it’s inevitable. For updates pertaining to weather and other cancellations, visit the event organizer’s website the day of the event.

Paws to Read With Niles

Meet Niles, the new therapy dog who visits the Metuchen Public Library, from 1-2 p.m. Feb. 5 and 19. He loves stories, so

SINCE 1948

come in and read to him.

You can bring a book from home or choose one from the library’s collection. Each reader will have about 10 minutes of reading time.

Don’t want to read? Come anyway, Niles loves hugs, too.

No registration is needed; however, you may need to wait your turn. Everyone over age 2 is required to wear a mask. The Metuchen Public Library is located at 480 Middlesex Ave.

Online Yoga Classes

The Metuchen Public Library will offer online yoga classes from 9-10 a.m.

Saturdays led by instructor Theresa Jefferson. Integral Yoga Hatha, a mat class, will offer deep relaxation, breathing techniques and meditation.

No experience required. The dates are Feb. 5 and 19. Chair yoga will be held on Feb. 12.

To register, visit metuchenlibrary.org/calendar.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 2-7 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Community Room of the Metuchen Public Library, 480 Middlesex Ave. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org and use code Metuchen Public Library.

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A documentary viewing and discussion of The Trial of Adolf Eichmann will be presented by Elie Honig, a member of Temple Emanu-El in Edison, who is a CNN senior legal analyst and author.

He will speak about his documentary commemorating the 60th anniversary of Eichmann’s trial, who was known as the “Architect of the Holocaust.”

The discussion is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 15 at the temple, 100 James St., Edison.

To participate virtually via Zoom, visit https://zoom.us/j/8357221415 using passcode “temple.”

Or, call 1-646-558-8656 using meeting ID 8357221415 and passcode 426022.

Local History Day

Local History Day, hosted by the MetuchenEdison Historical Society, is rescheduled to Feb. 20 from 1-4 p.m. at the Metuchen Library, 480 Middlesex Ave. Details for the March program, based on radio history in New Jersey, and the cemetery cleanup in April, will be announced.

Health & Wellness Expo

Centraljersey.com will hold a Health & Wellness Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. please see CALENDAR, page 15 08840

CALENDAR

continued from page 14

Feb. 27 at MarketFair, 3535 Route 1 south, Princeton. For tickets, visit nmg.ticketleap.com/CJ22 For vendor opportunities, email events@newspapermediagroup. com Centraljersey.com/Newspaper Media Group publish a chain of weekly newspapers and monthly magazines throughout Central New Jersey, including the Criterion Sentinel newspaper and “08840” magazine.

Berkshire Hathaway’s office on Middlesex Avenue.

Dave LaMarte created a piece on economic injustice based on the First Presbyterian Church Community Food Pantry.

Melisa Gerecci of Metuchen worked on a climate change project for the Urban AG Lab at Rutgers University.

Protest to Policy was the focus of Bobby Duncan for the Citizens Campaign, and Ria Monga for the League of Women Voters of Greater New Brunswick.

For more information on the project, visit www.windowsofunderstanding.org or follow on Instagram @windowsofunderstanding and #weseethroughhate

Send us your calendar listings!

Please include all critical information: who, what, where, when, and how to register or get tickets (if applicable), as well as a few lines of description. Email your listings to jamato@newspapermediagroup.com

Windows of Understanding

The fifth annual Social Justice Public Art Initiative “Windows of Understanding” officially launched on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a way to pay homage to King’s legacy with a designated “Day of Understanding”.

The works of art from local New Jersey artists will be on display in storefronts and public spaces through Feb. 28 in Metuchen, South Plainfield, Highland Park and New Brunswick.

The New Brunswick Community Arts Council, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Highland Park Arts Commission, the Metuchen Arts Council, and the South Plainfield Cultural Arts Commission partnered on this initiative that unites New Jersey artists, organizations and businesses to promote awareness and engagement around social justice issues impacting local communities.

As Windows of Understanding embarks on its fifth year, its focus revolves around climate change, economic justice, protest to policy, and public health. This is a creative, community-building response to the negativity and hate being perpetuated in today’s media landscape. It is through visual language that artists can communicate methods of understanding in powerful ways that cut across cultural boundaries.

This year, 24 non-profit organizations have been paired with artists to illustrate positive strides. The Metuchen Arts Council mounted an exhibition in the windows of sponsor 08840

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WINTER 2022

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