Here comes Santa Claus, Fanwood!

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Fanwood Recreation Commission invites all residents to welcome Santa Claus to

Fanwood on December 2 at the North Avenue train station. Kids will be able to take a free photo with Santa beginning at 3 pm and holiday  music, crafts, refreshments and contests will be provided. Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr will light the Fanwood Christmas tree at 5 pm.

The Fanwood Fire Department, Rescue Squad, and PBA Local 123 will sponsor Santa’s door to door gift delivery. Santa will deliver gifts to Fanwood homes on December 15^th starting at 11 am. You can drop off a gift starting on December 2^nd and you can find the rules and schedule here
.

Union County Holiday Happenings

Welcome to December! Things are bustling in Union County this month with so much to do! 

Here’s a run down of exciting events you don’t want to miss:

Going on now until December 8th - Scotch Plains and Fanwood business are participating in a “Shop & Dine” event which was organized by Amy Boroff of Fanwood

who created a Facebook group titled “Scotch Plains – Fanwood Shop & Dine.” She is joined by the Scotch Plains-Fanwood BPA in sponsoring the event. Click here for more information.

December 1 and 2 – The Nutcracker Suite at Union County PAC in Rahway. For more information, click here.

December 2nd - The African Children’s Choir will perform their holiday show will perform at Enlow Hall  at Kean University,1000 Morris Avenue in Union. For more information, click here.

December 8 - The Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea  perform holiday classics at Union County PAC in Rahway. You can find more information here. December 7 – A Rockin’ Holiday Celebration starring Lightning Lou Christie and Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners will perform at Union County PAC in Rahway.  Click here for ticketing information and times.

December 9 - The Greater Newark Youth Orchestras’ 23^rd Annual Winter Concert at Union County PAC in Rahway. For more information, click here.

December 13 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party will take place at Union County PAC in Rahway.  Click here for ticketing information and times.

December 15 and 16 – The Nutcracker Ballet at Kean University,1000 Morris Avenue in Union. More information can be found by clicking here.

December 16 – Holiday Brass, a quartet of brass and percussion, will perform holiday favorites at Enlow Hall at Kean University,1000 Morris Avenue in Union. Please click  here for more information.

 

Happy Holidays, Union County!

 

First Day of School, Union County!

It’s time to buy new notebooks and sneakers – schools all over Union County will be opening soon!

Opening day for all of Clark Public Schools in Thursday, September 6. School supply information and summer reading information can be found here.

Opening day for all schools in Cranford is Thursday, September 6th. Information on summer assignments and school supply lists can be found here.

All Rahway schools are opening on Wednesday, September 5th. Rahway’s Grover Cleveland School is holding their Open House on Tuesday, August 28, from 10am to 12pm. Rahway High School will hold its Freshman Orientation from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday, September 4th. For information on school supplies for Rahway students, click here.

The first day of school is Roselle Park is Wednesday, September 5th. Have you done your summer assignments yet? Click here  and here to see the assignments. Info on school supplies and school forms is available here.

Linden public schools open for all students on Thursday, September 6th. For information on your summer assignments, click here.

The first day of school for all students in Scotch Plains-Fanwood is Wednesday, September 5th. Freshman Orientation will be held on August 24th from 10am to 11:30 am, followed by a mini golf and pizza lunch. Orientation for Freshman parents will be at 7pm on August 28th. Summer Reading information can be found by clicking here.

Make it a great school year!

11 Union County High Schools Make Newsweek’s Top 1000 List!

Annually, Newsweek Magazine scours the data from the nation’s high schools and culls the top 1000 schools, based on the critera of which schools are most effective in producing college-ready graduates. The six components against which they judge the high schools are:

1. graduation rate
2.  college matriculation rate
3.  Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccaleureate (IB) tests taken per student
4. average SAT and ACT test scores
5. average AP and IB scores
6.  AP courses offered

This year, 11 Union County high schools ranked in the top 1000 in the Nation. Here they are:

#102 - Union County Magnet in Scotch Plains

#143 - Academy for Information Technologyin Scotch Plains

#167 - Academy for Allied Health Services in Scotch Plains

#224 - New Providence High School in New Providence

#251 - Summit High School in Summit

#279 - Cranford High School in Cranford

#352 - Westfield High School in Westfield

#498 - Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights

#585 - Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield

#769 - Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in Scotch Plains

#820 - Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark

To read the entire article and see how other schools in New Jersey and in the Nation compare, click here.

Scotch Plains Memorial Day Events

The Borough of Fanwood is hosting a special concert, “A Tribute to Fallen Heroes,” at the north side of the railroad station this Saturday evening at 7:30pm. The Westfield Community Band will provide an evening of patriotic entertainment and the concert is free thanks to donations of local civic groups, businesses, and individuals. Please bring your own lawn chairs or blankets!

At 8:00 am on Monday morning, Memorial Day observances will begin at American Legion Post 209 at Park Avenue and Sunset Place. At 9:00 am, there will be a ceremony at the Fanwood Memorial Library at Tillotson Road and North Avenue. At 10:00 am, there will be a ceremony at the Veterans Monument at Park Avenue and Front Street, featuring the SPFHS Chamber Choir performing the National Anthem and God Bless America.

The Scotch Plains Memorial Day Parade will start at 10:45am at the Municipal Building in Scotch Plains, proceed along Park Avenue to Martine Avenue to Fanwood and end at LaGrande Park.  The Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and Vietnam Veterans of America Color Guards will lead the parade with the Grand Marshal Robert LaCosta, a Vietnam Veteran.

Union County Egg-Citement This Weekend!

Here are some Easter Egg Hunts especially for Union County kids this weekend:

• Summit PAL is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny on April 7^th at 10 AM at the Family Aquatic Center at 100 Ashwood Avenue. This event is open to all Summit residents.
• Cranford Chamber of Commerce hosts breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Garlic Rose, 28 North Avenue, on April 7^th at 9AM. Cost is $10 for children and $15 for adults, and photos are an additional $3. Email gina.tipton@gmail.comfor more info.
• Fanwood’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be at Forest Road Park on April 7^th at 10 AM. All children 10 and under are invited to help find over 1000 eggs filled with goodies and prize tickets hidden around the park. The Easter Bunny will be there along with contests to guess the number of jelly beans and chocolate eggs. Bring your own decorated egg and bunny drawing to enter the drawing contests.
• Mountainside is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at Oasis Church, 1180 Spruce Drive, On April 8^th, right after Easter Sunday’s 10AM Church Service and Kids’ program with a Bible lesson and craft under the Big Top Tent. Live bunnies will be there, along with the Easter Bunny.

And, one more event for next weekend!

• Clark will hold its sixth annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Clark Recreation Center at 430 Westfield Avenue on Saturday, April 16^th from 12 to 2 pm. Bring a camera and take pictures with the Easter Bunny. Decorate your own basket, hunt for eggs filled with prizes, participate in a coloring contest, have snacks, enter the jelly bean contest, and enter the grand prize drawing. This event is open to Clark children up to and including 5^th grade. Al children must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Egg-Citing Hunts in Union County

‘Tis the Season for Spring Festivities in Union County! Here are some great adventures for children this weekend:

• New Providence Lions Club will hold its Easter Egg Hunt at Oakwood Park Easter on Saturday, March 31, at 9:30 am with the Easter Bunny arriving at 9:15 am. Balloons, lollipops, and viewing of EMS vehicles will start at 9:00. All age groups are invited but the egg hunt is limited to Pre-K to grade 2.

• Garwood’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 31^st, and 12 pm, with a rain date of Sunday, April 1^st at 1:00 pm. The Hunt, along with prizes and a visit by the Easter Bunny, will be at the Garwood Little League Field at the East end of Myrtle Avenue. Garwood residents only.
• Scotch Plains annual Egg Hunt is March 31^st at 11 AM at Park Middle School. The first hunt will be for 0-2 year olds. Kids ages 3-8 will follow.  Baked goods will be for sale and children can get tattoos and their face painted, as well as guess the number of jelly beans and pick lollipops to win a prize. The Easter Bunny will be there, too. Please bring a non-perishable food item (no glass, please) to donate to the Scotch Plains Food Pantry.

The fun’s not over yet! Here are some Easter Egg Hunts especially for Union County kids next weekend:

• Summit PAL is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny on April 7^th at 10 AM at the Family Aquatic Center at 100 Ashwood Avenue. This event is open to all Summit residents.
• Cranford Chamber of Commerce hosts breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Garlic Rose, 28 North Avenue, on April 7^th at 9AM. Cost is $10 for children and $15 for adults, and photos are an additional $3. Email gina.tipton@gmail.com for more info.
• Fanwood’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be at Forest Road Park on April 7^th at 10 AM. All children 10 and under are invited to help find over 1000 eggs filled with goodies and prize tickets hidden around the park. The Easter Bunny will be there along with contests to guess the number of jelly beans and chocolate eggs. Bring your own decorated egg and bunny drawing to enter the drawing contests.
• Mountainside is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at Oasis Church, 1180 Spruce Drive, On April 8^th, right after Easter Sunday’s 10AM Church Service and Kids’ program with a Bible lesson and craft under the Big Top Tent. Live bunnies will be there, along with the Easter Bunny.

And, one more event for the weekend after that!

• Clark will hold its sixth annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Clark Recreation Center at 430 Westfield Avenue on Saturday, April 16^th from 12 to 2 pm. Bring a camera and take pictures with the Easter Bunny. Decorate your own basket, hunt for eggs filled with prizes, participate in a coloring contest, have snacks, enter the jelly bean contest, and enter the grand prize drawing. This event is open to Clark children up to and including 5^th grade. Al children must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Local Baseball Heroes Honored

The Union County Baseball Association is holding its award ceremonies on Sunday, February 12 at 1:00 at L’Affaire Banquet Center in Mountainside.

Westfield High baseball players Dan Kerr and A.J. Murray will be honored as

Union County Baseball Players of the Year. Jackie Lima of Linden High School will be honored as Union County Softball Player of the Year.

Ray Korn, former Elizabeth High baseball coach will be honored for the winningest overall coaching record in Union County history.

Four new members will be inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame. Dennis McCaffery of Cranford,  Ed Murzinski of Linden, Bob Riesener of Linden, and Jamie Shriner of Roselle Park will all be honored.

Tommy John, former pitcher for the Yankees, Dodgers, and White Sox, will be the special guest speaker.

Tickets for the dinner are $40, with proceeds going to  the Union County Summer Youth Baseball League  and the Fall Teen League.  Tickets are available from the Union County Baseball Association, PO Box 176, Fanwood, New Jersey 07023.