Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Tuesday, Dec. 3 – My Central Jersey

Pictures with Santa for children with disabilities

The Somerset County Park Commission, with support from the Somerset County Park Foundation, has extended a special invitation to Santa Claus to visit the Therapeutic Recreation Activity Center at Park Commission Headquarters, 355 Milltown Road in Bridgewater, on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. The Therapeutic Recreation (TR) staff has arranged a peaceful and sensory-friendly experience that is conducive to having Santa visit with children with Autism and other developmental disabilities. The TR Activity Center will be devoid of crowds, music, and the chaos of the holiday season. While waiting for the opportunity to meet with Santa and have a photo taken, children with a disability will engage in a game, crafts, and other activities under TR staff supervision and not have to stand in line.

If a child is not ready to visit with Santa when it is his or her turn, an opportunity will be provided when he or she is ready. Photos may be individual or the entire family providing one member has Autism or a developmental disability. Each family will receive a 4×6 photo with Santa. The TR department will keep all photos on file and email upon request. Fee for photos with Santa is $10 per family residing in Somerset County and $15 per family if residing outside of the county. Registration is required and may be made by calling the TR Department at 908-526-5650 or Relay Service 711 for speech and/or hearing impaired. Registration deadline is Thursday, Dec. 5. Visit www.somersetcountyparks.org.

Bill advances in Legislature

Working toward addressing the disparities found in New Jersey school discipline statistics, legislation that would create a statewide program aiming to reduce racial disparities in school discipline; improve the socio-emotional and behavioral responses of students through intervention; and decrease recidivism rates among students who violate school district code of conduct recently advanced in the Assembly. The bill (A-3519) was approved by the full body, 59-13-2, during an afternoon voting session. It is sponsored by Assembly Democrats Daniel Benson (D-Mercer Middlesex), Angela McKnight (D-Hudson) and Mila Jasey (D-Essex, Morris). The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a three-year “Restorative Justice in Education Pilot Program” to implement restorative justice practices in the public schools. “Restorative justice” is defined as a system of dispute resolution tools that allows all parties of a dispute to be involved in defining the harm and devising remedies while giving the necessary attention to community safety, victims’ needs, and the need for offender accountability. The bill now goes to the Senate for final legislative review. Visit www.assemblydems.com.

New opportunity to help kids in Somerset County 

A new Kiwanis club in Bridgewater Township will help kids thrive, prosper and grow. The members of this new Kiwanis club will look at the needs of children in the community and decide the projects that will benefit local kids. Some of those decisions will be made at the organizational meeting. Community members are invited to attend. A meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at Hilton Garden Innm 500 Promenade Blvd. in Bridgewater. Visit Facebook.com/BridgewaterNJKiwanis. Those interested in membership but unable to attend the meeting can email membership@kiwanis.org. 

Home-baked Christmas cookie sale

A home-baked Christmas cookie sale will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Larison’s Corner Church, 1000 Old York Road, in the Ringoes section of East Amwell Township. For more information, visit LarisonsCorner.org or call 908-722-5812.

Mayanza expands access to care with donations

Mayanza in Rocky Hill recently received a donation of health care supplies under a grant from the Henry Schein Cares Health Kit Outreach program that enabled it to more effectively carry out its mission of improving the health of under-served children in Guatemala through health screenings and education. The Health Kit Outreach program supports U.S.-based health professionals who provide volunteer care to at-risk and vulnerable populations globally. New Jersey-based Mayanza recently provided dental screenings and supplies to 500 Mayan children in four schools in the community of Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. Returning each year to Santiago Atitlan, Mayanza’s volunteer team also provides a toothbrush, toothpaste, and soap to each child. For more information about Mayanza, visit www.mayanza.org. For more information about Henry Schein Cares, visit www.henryschein.com.

Orientation meetings

NORWESCAP Career & Life Transitions Center for Women provides free employment readiness training. To learn more about the services the Career & Life Transitions Center (CLTC) offers, register for one of the upcoming orientation meetings. The meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 10, and Wednesday, Dec. 18. Registration is required. To register, call 908-788-1453. The CLTC is at 84 Park Ave., Suite E103, Flemington. Visit norwescap.org.

‘The Grinch’ to help collect ‘Toys For Tots’

“The Grinch” is leaving Whoville to help the Edison Police Department collect “Toys for Tots” for a third straight year, making appearances throughout the township starting on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Police are asking residents and families to donate new, store-bought or homemade, unwrapped gifts for the U.S. Marine Corps annual “Toys For Tots’” drive. Edison families and children can meet and greet The Grinch and his police entourage:

• 6 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, Woodbrook Elementary School.
• 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, Edison Memorial Tower Tree Lighting, Christie Street.
• 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, Tano Mall parking area, Amboy Avenue.
• 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, Monroe Elementary School.
• 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec.6, Martin Luther King Elementary School.
• 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, James Madison Elementary School.
• 8:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, North Edison Baseball & Softball Complex, Maryland Avenue.
• 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Lindeneau Elementary School.
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Ben Franklin Elementary School.
• 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, McDonald’s, Route 1 & Prince Street.
• 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec 7, Edison Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting, Amboy Avenue.
• 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec 7, Washington Elementary School.
• 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec 7, John Marshall Elementary School.

For more information, visit the Edison Township Police Department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EdisonPolice/, Twitter at twitter.com/EdisonPolice or contact community resource Officer Keith Jackson at 732-248-6462 or kjackson@edisonpd.org.

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