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'Oh Sandy' Anthology Uses Humor to Examine Seriousness of Historic Storm

A Matawan man with close ties to Union Beach was one of several Sandy survivors to be published in the collection titled "Oh Sandy: An Anthology of Humorous Stories for a Serious Cause."

Hurricane Sandy was no laughing matter for those people displaced from their flooded homes, for those throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of food after losing power or for those who lost their homes entirely.   However, they say laughter is the best medicine. "When you are gutting people's houses, you either start laughing or start crying and don't stop," said James Butler, a former Union Beach resident who continues to coach youth soccer there. "When you are dealing with tragedy there is at first shock and then you kind of move on to the gallows of humor." Each day after the storm, Butler, now a Matawan resident, visited Union Beach to help his parents, his childhood friends and his soccer players' families clean up and rebuild.  He …

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Photos: "Tooling Around the Township" from April 27

On April 27, Woodbridge held the annual "Tooling Around the Township" program.

On April 27 the Township of Woodbridge held the annual “Tooling Around the Township” program that brought together members of the community to fix up, repair and help maintain the homes of senior and disables residents. According to Mayor John E. McCormac in a release, “Tooling Around the Township” began in 2000 and nearly 200 handicapped and senior residents have benefited from the work done by community volunteers. This year 24 homes were worked on throughout Woodbridge Township. Volunteers for this year’s “Tooling Around the Township” included: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Avenel Fire Department, the Woodbridge High School ‘Hero’s & Kool Kids volunteers, Ed McSherry and Woodbridge Township Municipal and Public Work Employees, the …

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Angel P.A.W.S. Art Auction is Tonight

Buy a painting at 'Pawcasso' at St. Anthony of Padua in Port Reading and help the Colonia pet rescue continue their much-needed work.

MCFOODS Food Collection Down Almost 7 Tons

Middlesex County food pantries are in desperate need of donations.

Needy Middlesex County residents who rely on food banks and kitchens to shore up their own meagre stores have found those shelves a little more bare.  One reason is that the MCFOODS 2013 Spring School Food Drive - a reliable source of foodstuffs for the county's poor residents - came up almost 7 tons of food short from last year's drive. Despite strong efforts by students in 2013, food collections were down. This year, 139 Middlesex County schools participated and collected 52 tons of goods for distribution, down 6.7 tons from 2012. In 2012, 151 schools collected 58.7 tons of food for county residents, according to a release sent out by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority, a county agency which runs the program. “This drive is so …

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Birdhouse Sales at Woodbridge Center Help Build a Family's Home

The Rutgers University Habitat for Humanity group is selling birdhouses and kits this week, all with a goal of raising money to erect a home for a needy family

Some Rutgers University students are selling birdhouses so they can eventually help build a real house for a needy family. Rutgers University chapter of Habitat for Humanity is at Woodbridge Center this week, offering birdhouse kits and premade roosts for feathered friends, all in an effort to hit their goal of $100,000 - the cost of a house sponsorship. The smaller birdhouse kits are available for a $5 donation, while the larger ones are $8. They're for sale at Woodbridge Center all this week. The Rutgers group has set up a table in the lower level of the mall in the Sears wing. But don't laugh at the paltry sums. The Rutgers group only officially started last fall, and through various events, they've already raised $25,000 toward their …

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Get Beautiful Today & Help Woodbridge Pets

Sephora at Menlo Park Mall is holding a huge event to help the Woodbridge Animal Shelter

You can look lovely with makeup, hair and clothing, but nothing's more beautiful than helping a pet who needs you. Sephora, the cosmetic and skin care store at Menlo Park Mall, will be hosting "Shop for a Cause" today - a wonderful day of beauty and fun to benefit the Woodbridge Animal Shelter. Today from 10 am to 7 pm, a portion of all Sephora sales at the Menlo Park Mall store will be donated to the shelter. Eligible pets and shelter volunteers will also be on hand at the mall's center court for adoption. Perricone MD will be providing free skin care analysis, and Jamba Juice and Auntie Anne's Pretzels will be giving out free samples all day long. Make a day of it, and help the township's local animal shelter.

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Enjoy a Scrapbooking Marathon by 4-H

The Middlesex County 4-H is holding a scrapbooking weekend fundraiser to delight the most hardcore fan of the hobby.

Scrapbooking enthusiasts, this is the weekend you've been waiting for. The Middlesex County 4-H’s “Crop-Til-You-Drop” Scrapbooking Weekend will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, and it's going to be scrapbooking heaven for those who love the art. Come crop for a few hours on Friday night, leave and return on Saturday to ‘Crop Til You Drop’! Your work from Friday night will be waiting for you Saturday morning when you walk in the door. Sign up to bring a dish to share and save $5 off on Saturday. Sessions and costs are: This event will take place at the 4-H Log Cabin, 645 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, NJ and will benefit the Middlesex County 4-H Association. Register and pre-pay by Friday, March 29th. Group tables will be …

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Middlesex County Foster Children Need Your Help

Want to help a child who needs you? Become a CASA volunteer now.

Children who are separated from their families need stable influences in their lives, and you can help, even if you aren't a foster parent. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Middlesex County is urgently seeking volunteers for its Spring 2013 training session, which begins on Tuesday, April 9. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of a child removed from home due to abuse or neglect. Volunteers ensure that a foster child is well cared for, placed in safe homes, and are receiving the services they need. The end goal is to find a child a safe, permanent and loving home as soon as possible. Anyone interested in gaining experience with social work as well as learning the legal aspects of the court system is encouraged to …

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Get Your History On! Driveable Historical Events Today

Don't listen to the "I'm bored" cries from your kids. Here's a raft of fun historical events today the whole family can enjoy.

Looking for fun stuff to do on a cold March day? Take the family out for some palatable history events today - all driveable and all either free or available for a reasonable charge: Sunday, March 3 - Morris County Macculloch Hall Historical Museum 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown 973-538-2404   In honor of Women's History Month, the "Moonlight Duo" present "Herstory - Classical music by female composers from Europe and the US" at 4:30 pm on Sunday March 3rd. While treasure hunting for lost and forgotten music, the Moonlight Duo has found beautiful pieces by female composers from Germany, England and the U.S. including a manuscript by Katharine Lucke from Baltimore. Other composers featured are Clara Faisst from Germany, May Mukle and …

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Join Angel P.A.W.S at a PAWS-ta Dinner

The Colonia pet shelter is holding an annual dinner fundraiser to benefit the animals at their shelter.

Colonia's pet shelter, Angel P.A.W.S., will be holding their annual fundraiser on Sunday, March 3. The pasta dinner will take place from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Knights of Columbus, located at 80 West Inman Ave. in Rahway. The menu includes spaghetti, lasagna, pasta with pesto, ziti, meatballs and vegetarian meatballs, along with salad and dessert. Beverages include soda, water, coffee and tea, and there will be a cash bar. There will be door prizes and raffles at the dinner. Pre-event ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Admission prices at the door are $12 for adults and $7 for children. For more information, call 908-789-4282 or email csb3cats@verizon.net. Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up …

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