The Connections Warren-Watchung Edition Apr/May 2025

COMMUNITY CALENDAR April • May 2025

Garden with plantings & outdoor musical instruments. A green house for educational purposes, hydroponic garden testing & year round growing. Perfect for gardening, bird watching, star gazing or just relaxing & enjoying nature. The 2025 annual plant sale is scheduled for 5/2, 5/3, 5/9 & 5/10, 9am-5pm each day. Annual Brite Nites Halloween event in Oct., consisting of carved & lighted pumpkins & other themed displays. For more information: visit wfafnj.org or email administrator@wfafnj.org

Concert: Hickory Tree Chorus Quartet, Sat., 4/26, 11:30am. Gates Avenue Knitters 25th Anniversary Open House- Mon., 4/28, 1pm - 3pm. NJ Owls presented by the SCPC Environmental Education Center- Tues., 4/29, 6:30pm. SCLSNJ WARREN / WATCHUNG LIBRARY BRANCHES

NOT IN THE FACE KICKBALLLEAGUE Recreational kickball league for women over 40. One day per week, 6-8pm, Martinsville, NJ. For more information email: NITFKickball@gmail.com. RETIRED REGISTERED NURSES GROUP

A social & educational monthly meeting for retired Registered Nurses. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at the Somerset County Library, Vogt Drive, Bridgewater from 10:15am-12pm. Date & location may change due to availabili ty. June & Dec., a potluck luncheon is at another location. No meetings are held in July & August. For more information email karwhit46@gmail.com. RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF SOMERSET COUNTY 310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 908-526-6295 A wide variety of in-person events, classes, & programs for all ages. From virtual youth- based clubs to live cooking classes, our offerings are com pletely FREE & open to the public. For more information, please visit somersetcounty4h@co.somerset.nj.us. SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WARREN TOWNSHIP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Special interest group of the Somerset County Business Part nership. Networking & presentations from experts in various in dustries. For more info about the Chamber, call 908-218-4300, email info@scbp.org, or visit scbp.org. SOMERSET COUNTY SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER Warrenbrook Senior Center 500 Warrenville Road, Warren, NJ 07059 Somerset County-operated senior wellness centers offer a nutritionally-balanced lunch (4 choices) for a suggested donation of $2.50 for anyone age 60 & above. Multi-purpose facilities offer a variety of activities, incl. educational programs, health & wellness info. & a stimulating social setting. Mon.-Fri., 9am-4pm for a variety of academic, health, & wellness oppor tunities. Programs are FREE for registered members unless indicated otherwise. The Somerset County Office for Aging & Disability Services operates county-operated senior wellness centers and seniors can reach out for help at 1-888-747-1122. SPEECH MEISTERS TOASTMASTERS CLUB Worldwide non-profit organization which helps develop public speaking, presentation & leadership skills. Online meetings are held every Wednesday at noon. Contact Ken Schaefer at 732-356-6148. SUMMIT OLD GUARD A group of ~300 retired men, residing in the area. We have been presenting programs every Tues. since 1930. Presented by experts & representatives in their professions, e.g. doctors & engineers. Held ea. Tues. at the New Providence Presbyterian Church, 10am-11:30am. We also have many interest groups such as chess, math, technical & more. Guests welcome. Remote access via ZOOM. For more info visit sitesummitoldguard.org. For monthly programs & ZOOM access,

or call 908-350-7383. WARREN TOWNSHIP

Warren Branch: 42 Mountain Blvd., Warren, NJ 07059 908-458-8450 Watchung Branch: 12 Stirling Road, Watchung, NJ 07069 908-458-8455

Township Committee meets monthly. Call 908-753-8000 or visit warrennj.org for information and meeting agenda. WARREN TOWNSHIP LION’S CLUB

Some programs require registration. Visit SCLSNJ.org to view times/dates and to register today. We offer a variety of

programs for all ages. The Warren Branch :

Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month, 7pm, Bruno’s Bistro, 116 Mountain Blvd, Extension. For more information, contact Mark Claxton at markclax4@gmail.com or visit warrenlionsclub.org. WARREN WOMEN IN BUSINESS NETWORKING GROUP Networking group for professional women in industries of all sizes. Looking for a diverse cross-section of fields & experiences. WWB Women in Business Inspirational Leadership Luncheon-meets 3rd Wed. each month. Please email: MarcellaGencarelli1@gmail.com. WATCHUNG HILLS ELKS LODGE #885 1 Elks Trail, Warren A benevolent organization dedicated to service in our communities & our Country with more than 1.1 million members & over 2100 lodges nation wide. The Watchung Hills Elks Lodge focuses our help on Veterans & Active Military, Special Needs Children & Youth Groups. Make a difference in your community & become an Elk! Contact Membership@elkslodge885.org or stop by the Lodge. Our Meeting Hall, Outdoor Pavilion & picnic facilities are available for rental-call 908-668-9727. Don’t miss any Lodge 885 events-visit our online calendar! Follow or like us on Facebook and help get the word out! Member of GFWC & NJSFWC Meetings-Faith Lutheran Church, 524 South St., New Providence Contact Chris at 908-771-5527 for more information. WOMEN WHO WRITE, INC. Regional women writers’ organization & nonprofit corporation with writing groups that meet throughout New Jersey. Its goal is to assist women writers in every phase of the writing process – with critique groups, workshops, & discussions. LONG HILL TOWNSHIP LIBRARY For more information on these clubs & other events or programs, visit LongHillLibrary.org. Newcomers are always welcome. Backyard Bears presented by the SCPC Environmental Education Center- Sunday, 4/6, 1:30pm. AARP FREE Smart Driver 2 Day Course- Wed., 4/9 & Wed., 4/16, 1pm to 4pm. Celebrate the LHT Library’s 20th Anniversary- Valley Rd., Gillette location-Fri., 4/25, 5pm! Birthday cake, trivia & games, performance by the WHRHS TriMs! LIBRARIES WATCHUNG-WARREN ROTARY CLUB Club meets FIRST & THIRD TUESDAYS of each month, 12 noon, Prezzo’s Restaurant, Warren. For more information contact Bob Aznar, 908-755-8724 or email: rotaryclub@gmail.com. WOMAN’S CLUB OF BERKELEY HEIGHTS

Kids can explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) through hands-on building activities, with parental supervision required. Families can enjoy a spring tree craft, an interactive storytime with a princess, and a wild life show featuring live animals and feeding demonstrations. Adults can attend a viewing party for *Hofheimer: The Family and its Legacy*, celebrate Warren Library’s 30th anniversary, and join a hybrid book discussion of *The Personal Librarian* by Marie Benedict. A Rutgers Master Gardener will answer plant-related questions at the Plant Help Desk. Additional programs include a Chinese tea and dessert pairing and a summer body scrub workshop. The Watchung Branch : Kids can enjoy interactive storytimes and music sessions provide opportunities for movement, songs, and bonding. Older kids can enjoy Bingo, LEGO® challenges, and STEAM activities like Snap Circuits and Ozobot coding. Families can participate in storytime, a wildlife show, and hands-on crafts such as button making and marble runs. Teens & Adults can earn service hours through volunteer afternoons, while adults can join writing groups, book discus sions, and craft workshops like wine glass painting and wine charm making. Additional offerings include Qigong meditation, drop-in tech help, and a Plant Help Desk with a Rutgers Mas ter Gardener. For more information, call (908) 845-8400, visit SCLSNJ.org, or connect on Facebook, Instagram, X, or YouTube. Passport services are available by appointment. For more information, visit SCLSNJ.org.

RECREATION

LONG HILL TOWNSHIP RECREATION 915 Valley Road, Gillette, NJ 07933 908.647.8000 www.longhillnj.gov/recreation/calendar.html WARREN TOWNSHIP

RECREATION (908)753-8000 recreation@warrennj.org

Warren Township offers many different programs & events for residents throughout the year. Residents can sign up & pay for various programs including tennis lessons & summer camp through Community Pass. Events are free to the public. To stay up to date on all programs & events, please visit warrennj.org/recreation or on Facebook at WarrenNJRec or Instagram at warrentownshiprecreationnj. For more information on events & programs please go to https://www.warrennj.org/175/Recreation.

email-info@summitoldguard.org. WAGNER FARM ARBORETUM 197 Mountain Ave., Warren

A 501(c)(3) organization consisting of a Community Garden, a Giving Garden that grows, harvests & delivers organic food for food banks & missions, a raised bed Senior Garden & a Children’s

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