NJ Today: Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Monday, Aug. 6

Soccer academy holds graduation

New Brunswick Tomorrow’s (NBT) Bobadilla Summer Soccer Academy held a graduation event for 150 participants who attended this year’s camp on July 31. Named after its creator, Mike Bobadilla, Captain of the New Brunswick Police Department, the Bobadilla Summer Soccer Academy is a free five-week summer camp. Using soccer as a vehicle to engage children and youth throughout the city in the summer months, NBT partnered with Captain Bobadilla to enrich the program by infusing our holistic model for strengthening communities. As a result, NBT staffed the camp with five local soccer trainers, 20 junior counselors, 10 senior counselors, and three administrative personnel from NBT’s School-Based Youth Services Program. Kids engage in both refining their soccer skills on the field, as well as life/social skills off the field.New Brunswick Tomorrow is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of New Brunswick’s people by fostering public and private networks of institutions and community organizations. For more information, visit nbtomorrow.org.

Pappalardos celebrate 75th anniversary

Sal and Marie Pappalardo, longtime residents of the New Brunswick area, were married in St Mary's Catholic Church in New Brunswick on Aug. 1, 1943. They bought an RV in 1981 and traveled the United States, stopping along their route to visit family and friends before retiring to the Phoenix, AZ area in 2000. The family celebrated its 75th wedding anniversary at a Brazilian Restaurant in Scottsdale, AZ. Sal, 97, and Marie, 95, have three sons and one daughter: Sal (Judith) Pappalardo in Colorado; JoAnne (Nick) Cioppi in Arizona; Lou (Susan) Pappalardo in California; and Dan Pappalardo in Arizona. Sal and Marie have six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews in the New Brunswick area.

Proclamation presented

The Somerset County Freeholders presented a proclamation recognizing the founding of the 4-H Prep Program in Somerset County 50 years ago and celebrating the acceptance of this program throughout the state and nation. In 1968, 4-H provided hands-on learning opportunities in science, healthy living and citizenship to build life skills and leadership through club work and camps to youth in grades 4-13. There will be a celebration in the Prep Tent at the Somerset County 4-Fair on Aug. 8, immediately following the Welcome Ceremony (approx. 7:30 p.m.). Special guests will be Grace Conner, Val Kreutler and Lisa Darby. There will also be a Prep Birthday Party and 4-H Reunion, sponsored by the Somerset County 4-H Association and Somerset County Prep Program, on Sept. 23 at the Ted Blum 4-H Center. Tickets for this event can be purchased at the Info Tent during the Fair and at the 4-H Center until Sept. 16. All past and present members, 4-H families, leaders, volunteers and camp counselors are invited. The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station -Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K-13, on an age-appropriate basis. For more information about the Somerset County 4-H Program visit the 4-H website at 4HisTOPS.org.

Hopson coming to Branchburg Sports Complex

The Branchburg Sports Complex in association with The Wright Way Academy will
be offering a Basketball Camp featuring American Professional Basketball Player, Scotty Hopson. The camp will be held Tuesday, August 14  for ages 7 to 10 years and on Thursday, August 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. for ages 11 to 14 years. Throughout the day boys and girls will have the opportunity to participate in three-point and free throw shooting competitions as well as work on skills and drills in a fun and exciting environment. Players of every skill level and ability will learn all aspects of the game. The Wright Way Academy is owned by NFL Super Bowl Champion, Tim Wright currently a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Wright Way Academy was formed by Tim Wright and his wife, Jodi-Ann, to give young people the tools to make positive choices, eat healthy, reject violence and achieve their goals on the field and in school to become positive influences in the community To register for camp please visit our website at branchburgsports.com or call 908-203-1600.

Sandwich drive launched

Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-20th District) launched the sixth annual "Hunger Doesn’t Take A Vacation" Sandwich Drive Initiative, a month-long food drive to combat hunger among local homeless men, women and children in New Jersey, specifically the Elizabeth area. Quijano has partnered with the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless and St. Joseph Social Service Center for the past five years to distribute sandwiches to homeless individuals and families in the Elizabeth area. Volunteers will prepare sandwiches every Wednesday in August (except Aug. 15) from 10 a.m. to noon at the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, 118 Division St., Elizabeth. Parties interested in volunteering with or donating to the food drive may email HungerDoesntTakeAVacation@gmail.com or call 908-409-3796, or log onto novacationfromhunger2018.eventbrite.com.

Newsletter focuses on school enrollment issues

Details and advice about the rights of children, from 5 to 20 years of age
— even those who may be homeless or undocumented immigrants — to register for schools in New Jersey, as well as their rights in school disciplinary matters, are spelled out in the latest newsletter of Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ). The bilingual publication, “Looking Out For Your Legal Rights,” is accessible online at lsnjlaw.org and also is available all Legal Services offices in New Jersey. Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ), located in Edison, heads the state’s Legal Services system, a network of five independent non-profit corporations and has been providing free essential legal aid in civil matters to low-income people through offices in all 21 counties for more than 50 years. Since its inception, LSNJ has provided representation in more than 2.4 million cases.

Centenary Stage Company announces fall programs

Centenary Stage Company, the not-for-profit professionally producing Equity Theatre in residency on the campus of Centenary University will be holding a variety of educational opportunities during the fall of 2018. Continuing its tradition of cultivating a vibrant arts community, Centenary Stage Company will be offering the fall Conservatory of Dance, as well as, the Adult Acting Workshop. Both programs are open to the public with registration deadlines of Aug. 24. The Conservatory of Dance is a community outreach program is offered to students age 14 through adult and provides the community with affordable, high-quality dance training on a collegiate level. Classes run from Aug. 27 to Dec. 11. Tuition for the 15-week program is $130 for one class/per week, $195 for two classes/per week, and $270 for three classes per week. Registration is due Aug. 24. All classes will be held in the Lackland Performing Arts Center’s Dance Studio at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, For more information or to register for any fall workshop offerings call the Centenary Stage Company box office at 908-979–0900 or visit centenarystageco.org.

Diegnan, Pinkin, Karabinchak announce Youth Artwork Contest

State Sen. Patrick Diegnan, Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin and Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak are hosting a Youth Artwork Contest for residents of the 18th Legislative District. Youth ages 6 to 20 can submit artwork in a variety of forms, including paintings, drawings, digital designs and photography, for a chance to have their artwork framed on the walls of Pinkin's and Karabinchak’s 18th Legislative District Office. There will be a total of nine winners, three from each age category. The entries must be submitted to the 18th Legislative District Office with the contestant’s name, age, address, phone number and email address. For any questions regarding the contest, call 732-548-1406 or email AswPinkin@njleg.org.

Scholarship assistance available

NORWESCAP Child and Family Resources (CFRS) announces that scholarship assistance is available for the 2018-19 Child Development Associate (CDA) Course. Those eligible include teachers and assistant teachers who work 30 hours or more a week in programs that currently have families with subsidy enrolled or work in programs that are enrolled in Grow NJ Kids, the state’s quality rating and improvement system. The CDA is a state and nationally recognized credential administered by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington D.C. The credential allows center staff to become a group teacher and increases the knowledge base and professionalism for family child care providers. Classes are starting this September in Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties. Contact the following CDA coordinators for more information —  Hunterdon: Lisa W. at 908-782-8183; Sussex: Laura M. or Heather L. at  973-383-3461; Warren: Kristin D. at 908-454-1078.

MCFOODS needs Food Drive volunteers

MCFOODS needs volunteers for the Fall Harvest Food Drive at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Clearbrook / Concordia Adult Communities in Monroe Township. Each year the adult communities in Monroe participate in the Fall Harvest Food Drive and bring in about five tons of food to benefit MCFOODS. The contributions received through this drive help us keep food on our shelves through the fall to assist the 100 food pantries, soup kitchens and social service agencies in our network. Volunteers will receive bags, flyers and maps depicting the streets in their designated section ahead of time so that the flyers can be pre-stuffed into the bags at your convenience and save time that morning. For more information visit mciauth.com/mcfoods.htm, call 609-409-5033 or email ja@mciauth.com.

Bebe Neuwirth kicks off Kean Stage season

Kean Stage will kick off its 2018-19 season with two performances by Tony Award-winner Bebe Neuwirth, best known for her star turns on Broadway in "Chicago" and "Sweet Charity," as well as her memorable role as Lilith Sternin Crane on the television series "Cheers." Neuwirth’s show, "Stories with Piano," will be performed at Enlow Recital Hall on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 16 at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Kean Stage Box Office in Wilkins Theatre at Kean University, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, by phone at 908-737-7469 or online at keanstage.com.

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