08040 Metuchen | Spring 2024

Jamilette - Tulips because they come in different colors for Spring and goes perfectly with everything. Diego - I prefer Daffodils. Gladys - I prefer Tulips. Sandra - I like Tulips because its amazing how they die but they come out again beautiful.

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4th

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Letter from the Editor:

Kathy Chang EDITOR

Hello 08840! Oh spring, you are here at last! So excited to enjoy the warmer weather, hear the birds chirping and watch the beautiful flowers bloom. I am also excited for you to check out our Spring edition magazine dedicated to the lifestyle and community of Metuchen. We start our issue with the Windows of Understanding Public Art Project that unites artists, organizations, and businesses to promote awareness and engagement around social justice and environmental issues impacting local communities. Building a healthy community was the center of this year’s initiative. On the local level, the project brings the Metuchen Arts Council, New Brunswick Community Arts Council, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, the South Plainfield Arts Commission, the Highland Park Arts Commission and ASquared in Rahway together. In Metuchen, the Metuchen Arts Council focused on climate change and spotlighted the inter-connected work of the Metuchen Environmental Commission, the Peter Barnes Wildlife Preserve Commission and the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership. Learn all about the project, which is in its seventh year starting on page 5.

Next, we meet the owners of Maria’s Brunch where “Mi Casa Es Su Casa” … “My house is your house” as Maria Nicolas puts it. Opening its doors in September 2022, Maria’s Brunch has been bustling with customers from the start!

Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nicolas has been working tirelessly to serve her customers but after working extremely hard to get where she is today, she wouldn’t have it any other way. With a rich background in cuisine from Mexico as well as years in the kitchen with family recipes, the food menu at Maria’s Brunch is nothing short of unique. From their sweet Teo’s French toast topped with caramelized bananas and a drizzle of special Kahula sauce – yummmmm - to their savory Brunch Burger stacked high with fried egg, bacon and American cheese (with a side of fries, of course) there is something for everyone on the menu. What stands out the most in Nicolas’ mind is the chorizo. Learn all about the yum starting on page 9.

We round our issue with Metuchen CARES, a borough committee working on prevention and education concerning substance use disorders. “To me, it’s really important to reduce the stigma [of drug addiction] and give people hope,” said Rita Brown, who is a licensed social worker and worked as a case manager and therapist throughout her career. Metuchen CARES is part of the international movement that recognizes Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 each year. Along with the movement, the committee provides resources and/or programs on problems from gambling addiction to screen addiction – whatever the need is – to the availability of Narcan and family support too. Learn all about Metuchen CARES starting on page 12. Also check out Metuchen on the Move for future community events. All of this and more awaits on the pages ahead!

Enjoy!

Kathy Chang Editor

Spring 2024 Contributors

Andrea Mendoza

Taylor Azcuy

‘Discussion, civic andinvolvement progress’

WINDOWS OF UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC ART PROJECT UNITES ARTISTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES

By Kathy Chang

The Windows of Understanding public art project is in its seventh year this year.

The project brings the Metuchen Arts Council, New Brunswick Community Arts Council, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, the South Plainfield Arts Commission, the Highland Park Arts Commission and ASquared in Rahway together uniting local artists, organizations, and businesses to promote awareness and engagement around social justice and environmental issues impacting local communities.

Building a healthy community was the center of this year’s initiative. In five towns, 20 non-profit organizations and commissions dealing with climate change, food equity, human rights and violence prevention were paired with artist facilitators to create original artwork illuminating local initiatives.

see ART PROJECT page 6

COURTESY OF JOSEPH CASTRONOVA

Joseph Castronova represented the Peter Barnes Wildlife Preservation Commission in the annual Windows of Understanding public art project.

ART PROJECT 08840

from page 5

In Metuchen, the Metuchen Arts Council focused on climate change and spotlighted the inter-connected work of the Metuchen Environmental Commission, the Peter Barnes Wildlife Preserve Commission, and the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership. The Metuchen Arts Council and Metuchen Friends of the Arts (FOMA), with a sponsorship from Berkshire Hathaway, commissioned artists to illuminate the services provided to the Metuchen community by these special agencies.

David LaMorte represented the Metuchen Environmental Commission and Joseph Castronova represented the Peter Barnes Wildlife Preservation Commission.

For Castronova, pairing with the Peter J. Barnes Wildlife Preserve brought excitement. It’s a place he has frequented whether it is to bird watch or just take a walk. His charge was to create a piece of art to bring the wildlife preserve to the community.

The Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve is the largest contiguous wetlands in northern Middlesex County. The 1,250-acre preserve is one of the last remaining viable wetland ecosystems in highly urbanized Central New Jersey. The preserve spans portions of Edison, Metuchen and South Plainfield. Middlesex County has preserved more than 120 acres of land within the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve, protecting wildlife and wetlands.

The preserve is named after Barnes, a former state senator, Middlesex County superior court judge, and Edison councilman. He passed away in 2021 after a brief battle with cancer. He was instrumental in preserving hundreds of acres of land in the conservation area.

In August 2021, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation renaming the

Dismal Swamp and Dismal Swamp Preservation Commission as the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve and the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Committee, respectively.

For research, Castronova met with Walter Stochel, a member of a number of committees and organizations, including the Edison Township’s Open Space Advisory Committee and a member of the Peter Barnes Preserve Commission.

From discussions, he created a six-foot sculpture of the red trail and depicted a number of wildlife that one can encounter on the trail any given day including: beavers, turkeys, foxes, racoons, garden snakes, box turtles, skunks and woodpeckers.

Castronova said working with the Windows of Understanding brings him outside of his comfort zone as an artist that charges artists to make pieces of art that are visually interesting and brings across a message.

For his artwork, LaMorte spent time meeting with members of the Environmental Commission. After some discussion, he decided to focus on the Middlesex Greenway, a picturesque open space resource within the communities of Metuchen, Edison and Woodbridge.

Situated on a historic portion of Lehigh Valley rail corridor, this 3.5 mile long, 42-acre corridor was purchased by the County of Middlesex in 2002 as a rails-to-trails project for recreational use, according to Middlesex County.

The Middlesex Greenway provides a 10-foot wide, paved trail suitable for walking, biking and jogging. Several fully accessible entrances provide access along the entire length of the trail, connecting a diverse array of neighborhoods to area parks, schools and shopping.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID LAMORTE

David LaMorte represented the Metuchen Environmental Commission in the annual Windows of Understanding public art project.

LaMorte linked the Environmental Commission’s discussion of encouraging more and more people to plant native plants in one’s gardens.

“In New Jersey, invasive species do a lot of good for the environment … unfortunately they have the tendency to overgrow an area,” he said, noting not many native plants are along the greenway.

LaMorte, an art teacher, created four black and white paintings - snapshots – of the greenway and chose three native plants and three animals to put in color into the artwork.

Overall, LaMorte and Castronova said Windows of Understanding gives them the opportunity to use and challenge their artistic abilities to support an organization that strives to promote awareness and engagement around social justice and environmental issues impacting local communities.

Since opening in January, their artwork pieces have been on display in the windows of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services –Fox & Roach Realtors and Properties and Merle Norman Cosmetics in adjacent windows at 564 and 556 Middlesex Ave. in Metuchen and will remain on display until the end of April. Student artwork dealing with climate change are also on display inside the offices of Berkshire Hathaway.

In addition to the environmental artwork on display, a walking tour of the Peter Barnes Wildlife Preserve will take place on Saturday, April 20. The tour will be on the trail that was the inspiration for Castronova’s artwork.

Those wishing to take part in the tour should meet at 20 New York Ave. in Edison at 10 a.m. on April 20. Parking is on the street. The tour will be led by Stochel.

Metuchen Mayor Jonathan Busch said, “Using art to draw attention to solutions to social and environmental problems on a local level leads to discussion, civic involvement and progress. Here in Metuchen, we have welcomed that process year after year through the Windows of Understanding.”

— 08840

For more information on Windows of Understanding, including a complete list of featured organizations, artists, participating storefronts, and a full calendar of free events, please visit www.windowsofunderstanding.org

“

.... ‘MY HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE’ BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ‘MY FAMILY IS YOUR FAMILY,’”

- MARIA NICOLAS EMPHASIZED.

“ AS THEY SAY BACK HOME, ‘MI CASA ES SU CASA’

Borough Bites

AT MARIA’S BRUNCH: ‘MY FAMILY IS YOUR FAMILY’

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH FOOD AND HAPPINESS

By Taylor Azcuy

Whether it is endless stacks of pancakes or that one feel-good omelet you can’t get enough of, everyone loves a good brunch.

What makes brunch even more special is being able to enjoy delicious food and a cozy environment with family, friends and the people who matter most.

This is the main goal behind Maria’s Brunch, a warm and inviting brunch spot located on the corner of Durham Avenue near Downtown Metuchen. Owned by Maria Nicolas and her family, this spot has been on its way to becoming a busy breakfast staple to many residents of the borough and beyond.

Opening its doors in September 2022, Maria’s Brunch has been bustling with customers from the start! Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nicolas has been working tirelessly to serve her customers but after working extremely hard to get where she is today, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My family and I came to this country from Mexico and we came very determined for what we wanted,” she said. “Food and hospitality have always been a part of my family with me being in the serving industry for almost ten years and my father as a cook for more than 40 [years].

“Since I had the opportunity [of] coming to America, [and] being a server even though I didn’t know much English, I knew I had to work hard to have an opportunity to do something more so I started studying for years and took years of classes until I felt comfortable enough to start finding a place to establish my dream restaurant.”

However, Nicolas’ restaurant location wasn’t something that was easy to find.

“When finding a location for Maria’s Brunch, everything was so expensive so we had to save money,” she said. “The owner of the property where the restaurant currently stands had a lot of companies interested in it with many already established and looking to expand their franchise. I was just starting out.”

see MARIA’S BRUNCH page 13

PHOTOS BY ANDREA MENDOZA

Maria Nicolas and her family bring people together through food and happiness at Maria’s Brunch on Durham Avenue.

MARIA’S BRUNCH 08840

from page 9

With the location competition stakes set high, Nicolas knew she had to do something to stand out so she essentially poured her heart into a letter to the property owner to tell her story and how a place like Maria’s Brunch can be of value to the community.

“I wrote a letter explaining where my family and I were coming from and what I’ve done in my life to get to the point where I was at,” Nicolas explained. “I wanted the owner to know the type of people my family and I were so they can make a decision if they wanted to give me the place or not.”

Sure enough, the letter worked and Maria’s Brunch became a reality.

“I am glad the owner chose me for the location so I can serve the neighborhood and become a part of such a welcoming community,” Nicolas said.

With a rich background in cuisine from Mexico as well as years in the kitchen with family recipes, the food menu at Maria’s Brunch is nothing short of unique. From their sweet Teo’s French toast topped with caramelized bananas and a drizzle of special Kahula sauce – yummmmm - to their savory Brunch Burger stacked high with fried egg, bacon and American cheese (with a side of fries, of course) there is something for everyone on the menu. What stands out the most in Nicolas’ mind is the chorizo.

“We have a lot of recipes on our menu that my mom and I used to cook together but the best one is my mom’s chorizo,” Nicolas said. “Chorizo is very popular amongst our customers as well as many salsas my father has created.”

Customers can taste the chorizo for themselves if they order such items like the Chorizo Bowl with fresh sliced avocado and home fries or dip into some homemade salsas with an order of fajitas made any way with chicken, steak or salmon.

Customers can also look forward to exciting seasonal menus surrounding the year like winter and fall items and food choices focused on particular holidays.

“We just wrapped up our Valentine’s Day seasonal menu and it was a great success so we look forward to introducing more creative choices in the future,” Nicolas said.

For those customers that also have certain dietary needs or requirements, Maria’s Brunch is up to the task.

“We offer several dietary options on our menu ranging from gluten free to sugar free as well as vegan choices like our popular vegan cheese,” Nicolas said.

With all this food talk and many options to choose from, there comes one question: Why brunch?

“We decided on just serving brunch at the restaurant along with some popular just breakfast and just lunch options because as a family we used to go to places where we felt they served either breakfast for too long or started lunch later and we couldn’t order the foods we truly wanted,” Nicolas explained. “I’m not the biggest fan of eggs but my family likes them. … Sometimes when we went out I just wanted to enjoy a burger, but the spots we went to didn’t have that option.”

Maria’s Brunch has all those breakfast and lunch options.

There’s choices available all day for those who want to be satisfied with a bigger meal or stick to a morning favorite.

“We are our busiest around 11 [in the morning] to noon every day but I am glad we have several options for our customers so they can keep coming back,” Nicolas said.

On weekends including Fridays and holidays, Maria’s Brunch has been seeing business grow very quickly, so there is a one and a half hour time limit per table.

“We believe this is enough time for family and friends to gather and enjoy a meal but also gives the opportunity for others to come through and enjoy the restaurant,” Nicolas said.

“We want to give everyone equal amounts of time.”

Reservations can also be made for parties of four or more by contacting the restaurant directly.

For those looking to open and run a successful small business like Maria’s Brunch, Nicolas says it isn’t easy but it’s not impossible.

“Being a woman business owner, I have had many people tell me it wouldn’t happen

for me and [some did] not truly believe in what I can do,” Nicolas said. “They told me, ‘You won’t run a business because you are a woman.’ While I like to think we are all equal despite gender … at the end of the day we are all human.

“You have to really give it your best and not listen to people around you saying otherwise because if someone wants to support you, they will.”

And Maria’s Brunch does have all that support in Nicolas’ family.

“My father, husband and daughter on the weekends work in the restaurant as well as my cousin,” Nicolas said. “Just like how my family is in the restaurant working alongside me, I want my customers to feel that sense of family too.”

When customers walk through the doors of Maria’s Brunch, Nicolas wants them all to feel welcomed, regardless of their story.

“No matter where you’re coming from, you’re welcome here,” she said. “I love to see people coming back with their families and enjoying those special moments.”

Since opening, Nicolas has nothing but optimism and gratitude to express to the community and patrons for welcoming

Maria’s Brunch with open arms. She and her family hope with continued success they can make their establishment bigger one day.

For now, they are enjoying the relaxed ambiance their brunch spot expresses to the community and the outstanding reviews they have been receiving.

“I hope to see the different generations of family come through our doors and continue to put a smile on people’s faces and just make them happy because I think the world needs more of that nowadays,” Nicolas said.

With much popularity and success so far for Maria’s Brunch, Nicholas and her family enjoy that they can bring a sense of home and familiarity to the neighborhood.”

“As they say back home, ‘Mi casa es su casa’ .... ‘My house is your house’ but at the end of the day, ‘My family is your family,’” Nicolas emphasized. — 08840

For more information on Maria’s Brunch, visit www.mariasbrunch. com , call directly at (732) 243-9050 or follow @Mariasbrunch on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

‘We

want to reduce the stigma’

METUCHEN CARES WORKS ON PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND RECOVERY CONCERNING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

By Kathy Chang

Rita Brown recalls the “help in the old days” when her ex-husband was recovering from alcoholism.

“It was tough love,” she explained. “There was a whole lot of blame on the families, ‘you are enabling this person, that’s why [he/she is] addicted because you are an enabler … it was horrible.”

That is in part why Brown, who is a licensed social worker and worked as a case manager and therapist throughout her career, decided to become part of Metuchen CARES, a borough committee working on prevention and education concerning substance use disorders.

“To me, it’s really important to reduce the stigma [of drug addiction] and give people hope,” she said.

Brown, Carol Volkland and Kathy Liss came together to discuss the formation of Metuchen CARES, formerly the Metuchen Municipal Alliance.

Volkland is a former teacher.

“I worked with children my whole life and also worked with families,” she said. “I was able to see the dynamic involved and within my own family, I knew I needed assistance.

“I feel it’s very important to try to educate from a very young age [in order to get to a point to] prevent people from starting [a path that could lead to an addiction].”

Liss served as a young adult librarian at the Metuchen Public Library.

“I worked with the population of teenagers and was asked if I was interested in joining [the Municipal Alliance],” she said. “We had a display [at the library], which was a way to get messages out to kids. We worked together on programming as well [before] it became more restrictive. I would like to bring [those messages and programs] back to the library because we can now.”

Liss noted on a more personal note that she had lost a son to cancer. He was 25.

Metuchen CARES works on prevention, education and recovery concerning substance use disorders. The organization is part of the international movement that recognizes Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 each year to bring communities together to remember those who died of the disease of addiction.

PHOTOS BY METUCHEN CARES

“I FEEL IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO TRY TO EDUCATE FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE [IN ORDER TO GET TO A POINT TO] PREVENT PEOPLE FROM STARTING [A PATH THAT COULD LEAD TO AN ADDICTION].”

I got such an outpouring of support from this community,” she recalled. “It was very touching and right after he died, we learned one of his peers had passed away because of an overdose.

“I could relate to the parents [having lost a child], but also saw the difference. They could not tell their story because of the stigma. That’s why I really felt, we all as a group, wanted to become part of the overdose awareness [movement].”

Metuchen CARES is part of the international movement that recognizes Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 each year. This movement brings communities together to remember those who died of the disease of addiction and to offer compassion to those who have lost loved ones to a substance use disorder. Similarly, the committee will celebrate a Recovery Day to bring hope to people suffering from a substance use disorder, their families, and friends.

Similar to the Municipal Alliance, the committee continues to work on prevention and education but also works to:

• focus more on prevention and recovery, not just reduction of alcohol and drug use;

• provide education, community support, and resources for substance use disorders and other behavioral addictions (e.g., gambling, porn, gaming);

• promote mental wellness across the community to children, teens, adults, and seniors; and

• sponsor programs and activities that better meet the particular needs and interests of the borough’s population in the areas of substance use, behavioral addictions, and mental health.

As a Municipal Alliance, which had been previously in place since the 1980s, members said they couldn’t focus on the whole picture of drug addiction. The use of grant funds from the state were limited to specific purposes and certain topics.

PHOTOS BY KATHY CHANG

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. Check each organization’s website for updated event information.

All Year – Borough Improvement League presents Metuchen Open Mic Nights last Friday of the month at the Old Franklin Schoolhouse, 491 Middlesex Ave.

April 6-12 – Metuchen Restaurant Week – Follow Metuchen Downtown Alliance’s (MDA) Facebook and Instagram for specials.

April 6, 20 – 1 p.m. – “Paws” To Read With Our Therapy Dog at the Metuchen Public Library, 480 Middlesex Ave,

April 28 – Bowling Buddies - The Bowling Buddies, formerly known as the Mother Son Bowl has incorporated a name change, yet is the same all-inclusive bowling event that has been offered for decades by the Recreation Department and the spirit of the event remains as it always has. The nature of the Bowling event is for a parent/chaperone to bring their child(ren) to bowl with other friends. The Bowling Fun will be Sunday, April 28th at Majestic Lanes.

April 28 – 2-4 p.m. – Cornerstone Jazz Series - In celebration of International Jazz Day, Rufus Reid Quartet performs in a free concert at the library. This event is a production of Metuchen Arts Council, Metuchen Library and Friends of Metuchen

Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.

April 28 – 1 p.m. –Borough Improvement League presents Roadside Graves Family Pizza Party at Old Franklin Schoolhouse.

May 5 – 7 p.m. – Laura Cantrell with Sarah Teti at Old Franklin Schoolhouse.

May 23 – 4-6 p.m. – Downtown Pre-Prom Party – MDA’s Downtown Pre-Prom is back celebrating the class of 2024 and 2025!

The event is open to the public to come and share the night in glam with your friends and family in the Metuchen High School’s classes of 2024 and 2025! Stop by the Metuchen Town Plaza before the festivities for photos, red carpet, refreshments and more.

June – Daughters of the British Empire Tea at the Old Franklin Schoolhouse.

June 15 – 5-8 p.m. - Juneteenth Celebration -- What is Juneteenth?

On June 19, 1865, around two months after Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Va., Gordon Granger, a Union general, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African-Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. General Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued more than two and a half years earlier on Jan. 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln. The holiday received its name by combining June and 19. The day is also sometimes called “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day.”

June 18 – Bright Shiners at the Old Franklin Schoolhouse.

METUCHEN CARES 08840

from page 13

This caused frustration.

“There were programs that we wanted to do for the people in the community, [programs that the] schools wanted, but we were not permitted to do those particular programs for whatever reason,” Liss said.

The Committee held its first Overdose Awareness Day in 2020 while it was still a Municipal Alliance, recalled Liss.

“At that point [borough officials heard our] frustrations,” she said, saying the next year they left the Municipal Alliance and became a borough committee funded by the municipality.

“Now [as a borough committee] we’re able to talk about addiction, address addiction … also recovery.”

And that’s what members of the committee are doing – providing resources and/or programs on problems from gambling addiction to screen addiction – whatever the need is – to the availability of Narcan and family support too.

Aside from their main event Overdose Awareness Day, they plan programs for the schools and community.

Last year, they sponsored a number of events:

• Two sessions of “A Natural High” for students, featuring neuropsychologist and standup comedian Dr. Matt Ballace at Metuchen High School;

• An evening program open to the entire adult community, “Supporting Teens in Reducing Their Stress (and Ours);”

• Supported Metuchen High School’s Project Graduation 2023 with a $1,000 donation. They purchased clear plastic drawstring bags for graduates for the event. Two wallet-sized cards containing overdose and emergency information were placed inside each bag;

• Sponsored a six-week peer leadership program for 5th and 6th grade campers at the Metuchen YMCA. Students learned important life skills like conflict resolution, sportsmanship, and how to stand up to peer pressure;

• Began an educational campaign via the “Borough of Metuchen” Facebook page with biweekly messages;

• Co-sponsored with Wellspring Prevention, “Senior Jeopardy: Maintaining a Healthy Mind” at the Metuchen Senior Apartments on Lincoln Avenue; and 08840

• Granted $1,000 to the Metuchen Public Library to create a teen issues collection. The collection will hold both novels and non-fiction books and other materials on topics like substance use, behavioral addictions, and mental health, as well as information on Metuchen CARES.

This year they plan to host a program on bullying.

The first full week of October is Respect Week. Metuchen CARES is working with Edgar Middle School to bring in a speaker, who will bring the message of being kind to others. The speaker will talk to students about overcoming a disability from birth, overcoming adversity, and overcoming physical and mental challenges.

The speaker will speak at the middle school during the day and will provide the same message later in the evening for the entire community.

The purpose of Metuchen CARES is to provide outreach to all the schools and the community through programs, resources and announcements.

“We want to get people talking about addictions and things like bullying,” Volkland said. “We want to reduce the stigma because the stigma is the thing that gets us all. It’s such a widespread issue in our society, but no one talks about it.”

The isolation of the COVID pandemic exacerbated mental health problems.

“Overdose numbers went high during COVID and stayed there,” Liss said. “There were over 100,000 overdose deaths each year, 95,000 were alcohol related deaths. [And the numbers are] still steady.”

Members said in addition of educating the risks of alcoholism for people under 21, they now have to educate about the risks of using marijuana for people under 21 because “teen brains are still developing.”

Another important announcement, members want to get across to the community is 3 out of 4.75% of people who have an addiction problem will eventually recover.

Two studies came out in 2022 – one from the National Institutes of Health and one from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – show people recover – they might relapse – but eventually will recover.

“People can keep their loved ones alive,” Liss emphasized.

Years ago, there were programs such as “Just Say No.”

“Did it work? Maybe it worked for some people, but there has to be other prevention

strategies,” Liss said, adding it’s important to “Delay, delay, delay” the onset of the first drink or use of marijuana.

“The more we can delay it, the brain is less vulnerable to addiction.”

And that is where education is key for both parents and their children to talk about addiction situations.

Metuchen CARES will continue to work with schools and work with the Metuchen Senior Center, which is combined with the borough Recreation Department.

“We are also trying to expand more into faith-based organizations,” Liss said, of providing information for people and their families. “We hope to be the resource that they don’t have.”

Metuchen CARES, which has liaisons from the Borough Council, Board of Education and police department, meets on the second Thursday of January, March, May, July, September, and November at 7:15 p.m. on the second floor of Borough Hall. — 08840

Veronica Hary

Murielle Ferino

Keith Boxer

Carmen Almanzar