Too Hot for You? There Are Places to Go to Beat the Heat

When your air conditioning conks out in the summer, it can be uncomfortable. But when it quits working in a heat advisory such as the one issued by the National Weather Service today, it can be a lot more than just sticky, particularly to vulnerable populations, such as the sick, the elderly, or the very young.

If your a/c gives out, or you don't have any cooling method at all, you have options.

Malls, libraries, and movie theatres are traditional choices to beat the heat. But for people who have a hard time getting about, the township has several choices that may be a lot nearer to where you live.

Called "cooling centers," the air-conditioned zones are set up to help township residents cool down and stay healthy.

The hours of the centers vary; if you intend to use one, call first:

• Woodbridge Community Center at the YMCA, 600 Main Street, Woodbridge, 732-596-4170
• Evergreen Senior Center, 400 Inman Avenue, Colonia, 732-388-2736
• Community Center (Building 20) at the Bunns Lane Housing Development, Bunns Lane, 732-634-2750
• Woodbridge Main Library, 1 George Frederick Plaza, 732-634-4450
• Fords Branch Library, 211 Ford Avenue, 732-726-7071
• Henry Inman Branch Library , Colonia, 607 Inman Avenue, 732-726-7072
• Iselin Branch Library, 1081 Green Street, Iselin, 732-726-7073
• Woodbridge Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza, 732-855-0600, ext. 5023
• Woodbridge Town Hall, One Main Street, 732-634-4500

Residents without air conditioning and who can't readily travel to one of these locations should call the Division on Aging's 'Beat the Heat' program at 732-855-0600 x5023 or the Woodbridge Police Department at 732-634-7700 for help. 

For those who want to stay home but lack air-conditioning, the township has a program to loan fans to seniors, the disabled, or otherwise qualifying residents. Anyone interested in donating a fan to help those in need should also call the Division on Aging at  732-855-0600 x5023 for more info.