MILLTOWN, NJ - It may not feel exactly like spring is in the air this week, but the season officially arrives on Tuesday, March 19. To celebrate, the Milltown Public Library is hosting Blossom Bingo on Monday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. Adults and families are welcome to stop by the public library to enjoy spring bingo along with snacks and refreshments. There will also be a kids' scavenger hunt. Registration is not required to attend.
]]>HELMETTA, NJ - The Helmetta Department of Public Works is looking to hire a seasonal support laborer. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Duties include landscaping, operation of equipment, heavy manual labor along with other public works related projects and duties. Interested applicants must be able to lift 80-pounds and have a valid NJ Driver's License with a clean record. Applicants will have to have a background check and a mandatory drug test prior to hiring. The hourly wage is $15.
Applications can be downloaded at the Helmetta Borough website. Completed applications can be emailed to Helmetta Borough Clerk Melissa Hallerman at m.hallerman@helmettaboro.com. Applications can also be mailed to Hallerman at 51 Main Street, Helmetta, NJ, 08828.
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SPOTSWOOD, NJ - Everyone was hopping at the Spotswood High School Gymnasium on Saturday for the annual egg scramble. The eggs were there for the picking with lots of eager hands and empty baskets waiting. Families with kids of all ages came out for some early Easter fun courtesy of the Spotswood Recreation Department and the Spotswood PTA. Even the Easter Bunny hopped by and posed for pictures.
It was the second family-friendly event for the weekend for the Spotswood PTA. The award-winning Spotswood PTA hosted St. Patrick's Day Bingo at the Memorial Middle School for Schoenly and Appleby School students.
]]>SPOTSWOOD, NJ - Pizza lovers in Spotswood, Helmetta and surrounding communities have been anxiously awaiting the grand opening of Milltown's popular Maria's Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen's second location on Summerhill Road. The borough's newest eatery had a soft opening this week and is offering a limited menu. It's grand opening week is set for Monday, March 25 through Friday, March 29.
Maria's owners, Rosamaria and Camillo Bonesse, are doing something special to support the Spotswood School District while celebrating the opening of their new location. Rosamaria and Camillo are donating 50 percent of each receipt from their grand opening week to the Spotswood School District. Half of all dine-in, takeout and website orders qualify for the week-long dine-to-donate. Diners do not need a code or flyer to participate in the March 25 through March 29 dine-to-donate. Third party orders from apps such as DoorDash, GrubHub and Slice do not qualify for the dine-to-donate.
Maria's Pizza became a Milltown staple in 1987. Rosamaria and Camillo took over the family-run business when her mother retired six years ago. When the space previously occupied by Tony’s Pizza became available in the Romeo Plaza on Summerhill Road, Rosamaria and Camillo started to think about expanding and bringing Maria’s closer to patrons from Spotswood and Helmetta as well as parts of East Brunswick and South River. The couple is also excited about introducing Maria’s Pizza to other nearby communities like Jamesburg, Monroe and Old Bridge.
Maria's Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen is located at 210 Summerhill Road. Takeout, delivery and catering orders can be made by telephoning 732-360-8846. Orders can also be placed online at Maria's Pizza Spotswood's website. For menu updates and more, follow Maria's Pizza Spotswood on Facebook.
]]>MILLTOWN, NJ - March Madness gets underway next week on the basketball court, but it's already happening at the Milltown Public Library. To get in on the action, stop by the West Church Street library to cast a vote in the March Book Madness Tournament. There are two brackets set; one for adult books and another for children's. Books with the most votes move through the brackets each week until there is an adult and a kids champ.
]]>HELMETTA/SPOTSWOOD, NJ - This is the final week to drop off donations for Community Team NJ's annual Giving Basket Drive. Community Team NJ is now making up an additional 24 baskets for area kids in need. The volunteer organization is now putting together more than 65 Easter Baskets.
Saturday, March 16 is the final day to drop off donations for Community Team NJ's annual Giving Basket Drive from 10 a.m. until noon at the Spotswood Municipal Complex or the Helmetta Community Center. Donations can also be dropped off this week in collection bins at Spotswood VFW Post 4589 at 33 Daniel Road, Waves of Motion at 75 Summerhill Road or Helmetta Borough Hall at 51 Main Street during regular business hours.
Community Team NJ's annual Easter Basket Drive helps make the holidays brighter for local families in need in Spotswood, Helmetta and Milltown as well as families living in area shelters. Residents can still sign up to donate items via SignUpGenius or through Amazon Wish List. Amazon Wish List items will be sent directly to Community Team NJ. For additional information on Community Team NJ or to volunteer, visit their website.
]]>SPOTSWOOD, NJ - Spotswood High School's spring sports teams got rolling this week. Chargers baseball, softball, golf, boys tennis and track teams began practice for the upcoming 2024 spring sports season on Monday. Last spring, the Chargers baseball, softball, golf and boys tennis teams earned Greater Middlesex Conference Division titles. The upcoming spring sports season comes on the heels of division titles for Chargers teams in girls soccer and football in the fall, along with girls basketball and boys basketball in the winter.
The golf team begins its regular season in 10 days. Spotswood's gold team won the GMC's Blue Division championship and finished with a 13-3 overall record last season. The team opens the season on Monday, March 25, with an away meet with Timothy Christian High School. On Tuesday, March 26, Spotswood hosts St. Thomas Aquinas High School at the Rossmoor Golf Club in Monroe Township. Both tee times are at 4 p.m.
The rest of the Chargers spring sports teams kick off the 2024 season over spring break. Spotswood's varsity baseball, softball, and boys tennis teams start the spring season on Tuesday, April 2.
The Chargers varsity baseball team is the defending Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division champs. Spotswood had an overall season record of 21-8. The Chargers open the season with a home-at-home against Metuchen High School. Spotswood travels to Metuchen High School on April 2 for an 11 a.m. game. The Chargers then host Metuchen on Thursday, April 4 at the Spotswood High School Varsity Baseball Field at 11 a.m.
Spotswood's softball team has won two consecutive Greater Middlesex Conference Division championships. In 2022, Spotswood won the Blue Division title and last season the team won the White Division title. Spotswood opens the 2024 spring season at home, hosting Colonia High School at the Spotswood High School Varsity Softball Field on Tuesday, April 2 at 10 a.m. The Chargers travel to Woodbridge High School on Thursday, April 4 to play the Barrons at 11 a.m.
The Chargers boys tennis team went 11-1 last spring to clinch the Greater Middlesex Conference's Gold Division title. Spotswood opens the boys tennis season at home at the Spotswood High School Tennis Courts at 4 p.m. against Dunellen High School. The team then travels to Sadowski Parkway Tennis Courts on Thursday, April 4 to take on Perth Amboy at 4 p.m.
After a strong showing this winter, the Chargers spring boys and girls track and field team gets running on Wednesday, April 3. Spotswood participates in a multi-school meet at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in Iselin. Events begin at 4 p.m
Catch all the Chargers baseball, softball, boys tennis, golf and track action this spring with TAPinto Milltown/Spotswood.
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SPOTSWOOD, NJ - Read Across America Week kicked off on March 2 and continued through March 6. The Spotswood School District's Schoenly School kept the reading fun going on Thursday when popular children's book author, Beth Ferry, paid a visit. Ferry is a New Jersey author and lives down the shore with her family. She is the author of Schoenly School favorites Stick and Stone and The Bold, Brave Bunny. Stick and Stone is a New York Times bestselling picture book.
Ferry spent the morning at the Schoenly School sharing her work and talking to the students about writing. The Schoenly School houses the Spotswood School District's prekindergarten through first grade students. Ferry's author visit was a huge hit with students and staff. Her visit was organized by the Spotswood PTA.
"Beth's engaging storytelling not only entertained Schoenly School's preschool, kindergarten and first grade students, but also inspired them to explore the world of writing and find their own motivation," Schoenly School Principal Jessica Ayers said. "It was heartwarming to see the kids laughing and learning in such a unique and impactful way."
Ferry has more than 20 published picture books with her latest, Solar Bear, set to be released on March 19. For more information on Ferry and her books, visit her website.
"At Schoenly School, we always strive to foster a love of reading through creative and enriching experiences," Ayers said. "Beth Ferry's visit, sponsored by our PTA, was a perfect example of this commitment."
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SPOTSWOOD, NJ - Pull out the pink. No, it's not for Barbie. It's for the Spotswood High School Troupers' four-run performance of Mean Girls High School Version. The musical is set to open on Thursday, March 21, at the Spotswood High School cafetorium at 6:30 p.m. So, be sure to wear pink even though it is not a Wednesday. This fetch performance will be directed by Spotswood High School Drama, English, Public Speaking and Debate teacher Annie Raczko. Michelle Levine is the show's choreographer and co-assistant director. Spotswood High School Science teacher Rima Michaels is also a co-assistant director as well as the production's house and business manager. Appleby Music teacher Brian Buechele serves as the musical's musical director. As with past productions, Spotswood High School Vocational teacher Jeff Michaels is the show's set designer and master carpenter.
Mean Girls: The Musical premiered on Broadway in the spring of 2018. It ran through 2020. It was well-reviewed and received 11 Tony Award nominations, but fell victim to the pandemic and closed. It recently made a splash on the big screen when the musical version of the popular 2004 film came out in January. The high school version of the musical by the Spotswood High School Troupers runs from Thursday, March 21 through Saturday, March 23.
The following student-actors make up the cast:
Mauriella Adolphus, Olivia Komissaroff, Alexandra Anselmo, Emilia Kozak, Eveilette Arellano, Lily Miller, Kiomarie Carrasco, Jessie Motard, Mandy Conrad, Miri Nell, Chris Cruz, Gibson Pierce, Tabitha Devlin, Emma Puehlhorn, Kaitlyn Esposito, Scythe Puehlhorn, Charlie Essig, Leah Rey, Molly Fink, Serena Rosario, Dylan Hahner, Sarah Sullivan, Alley Hosemann, Mia Williams, Cliff Hoyt, Sage Woods, Hannah Jolly, Victoria Wylde and Maggie Keelen make up the musical's ensemble. Kim Louis and Sadie Schatten are the musical's stage managers. Ashley Faunlagui is the lighting manager. Gabby Barasch, Beanie Craig, Gwen Hartwig, JD Shearn and Elizabeth Wylde make up the lighting crew. Gwen Hartwig and Abby Salapka are the production crew. Serena Rosario and Alexandra Anselmo are the musical's dance captains.
Under the direction of Jeff Michaels, members of the high school's construction classes are fashioning the show's sets. All the costumes are created by Elana Kircher. Her costume assistant is Penny Vignuolo. The musical's sound designer is Bartlett Sound Design. Alexandra Anselmo is also doing hair and makeup along with Rosie Caron. The show's scenic artists and prop crew consist of Parthinea Abdalla, Olivia Adiao, Rosie Caron, Cyanne Chan, Leah Harrell, Ajla Idrizi, Kaitlynn Krefski, Kim Louis, Emma Lyons, Grace Paprota, Serenity Patino, Jaylee Peralta, Anita Perez, Sadie Schatten and Mariam Tanyos. Sound managers include Rosie Caron and Casey Stephens Seickel.
The annual spring production's opening night is on Thursday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. There will be another evening performance on Friday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. and two performances on Saturday, March 23. The Saturday performances include a 1:30 p.m. matinée and a 6:30 p.m. performance.
Tickets are on sale now through Friday, March 15 online at ShowTix4U. Online tickets are $10 plus a service fee. Tickets will also be available at the door. General admission tickets at the door are $15 and $10 for students and seniors.
Remember to bring those burn books for this PG-13 musical because yes, it will be "so fetch."
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