Aging in Place

Living Legacies Returns to South Brunswick April 25

South Brunswick High School students present uniquely created monologues from interviews with township residents.

The “Living Legacies” project, recognized as a 2012 National Award Winning Program of Excellence, is scheduled for Thursday, April 25 at 12:30 at the South Brunswick Senior Center. Students from the South Brunswick High School English Department will present this year’s theme, “Living Legacies: Celebrating Our Cultural Diversity.”  Public Speaking students, under the direction of teacher Catherine LaMoreaux, interviewed local residents about their backgrounds and cultural traditions.  Students then wrote monologues which they will present, in a uniquely created theatre piece, speaking as those they interviewed.  This year’s program explored the rich diversity of cultures that make up South Brunswick and the traditions residents maintain …

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South Brunswick Kids Bridge Generations

Annual "Day With the Characters" event brings seniors and middle school students together for a day of music.

As the songs of Elvis Presley rang through the room, students from Crossroads South Middle School chatted with local seniors as part of an ongoing effort to join various generations together through the love of music. Last week's 8th annual "A Day With the Characters" event offered township senior citizens a chance to view the Crossroads musical "All Shook Up," before returning to the South Brunswick Senior Center for lunch, a raffle and a sing-along. "You can see the joy on the seniors' faces as the kids are performing," said social worker Caryl Greenberg. "This event just lifts their spirits. We try to link the kids and seniors together and maintain that link each year." The seniors aren't the only ones who benefit from the program, as …

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Senior Center Honored by National Council on Aging

South Brunswick Senior Center wins Programs of Excellence award for Living Legacies project.

The South Brunswick Senior Center in Monmouth Junction has received an award from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) for its highly successful Living Legacies program.   The award was presented as part of NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers 2012 Programs of Excellence. Living Legacies is an annual intergenerational event that is the culminating feature of several months’ of preparation between High School students and local senior citizens. Every spring an original theatre performance, “Living Legacies” created and performed by High School students, brings different themes to the seniors at the South Brunswick Senior Center. Each year it features a different theme such as: The Veterans’ Stories; Immigration, Our Common Bond; …

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Weather Stalls Senior Center Expansion Project

Township officials said expansion expected to be complete within six months.

While South Brunswick has largely been spared from winter's worst thus far, the weather has caused delays to work on the expansion of the South Brunswick Senior Center. "Because of the weather, the project has been somewhat stalled," said Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz. "But we're still expecting everything to proceed as planned, so it should still open within the next six months." In March 2012, the Township Council approved an ordinance that appropriated $2.9 million for both the expansion to the center and for lights to be installed on the softball fields at Reichler Park.  The contract for the expansion was awarded to Tekton Development, who was the second lowest bidder at $2.06 million, after the low bidder was rejected for …

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Township Breaks Ground on Senior Center Expansion

Project to add about 10,000-square feet to the South Brunswick Senior Center is expected to be completed by May 2013.

Township, county and state elected officials plunged their shovels into the wet ground on Thursday to signify the official beginning of a project to expand the South Brunswick Senior Center. "I think (the groundbreaking) certainly exemplifies the dedication that the mayor and council have for the senior community here in South Brunswick," said Township Manager Bernard Hvozdovic as he welcomed a crowd of about 100 people to the ceremony. "Now in addition to everything we do here and all the programming, we'll have the added emphasis on health and wellness in the new facility." The expansion will add about 10,000-square feet near the rear entrance of the existing auditorium at the Senior Center. Director of the Office on Aging Christine …

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Township Ready to Break Ground on Senior Center Expansion

On Oct. 4, South Brunswick will officially begin a project to add 10,000-square feet to the senior center.

After months of discussions, the township is ready to begin work to expand the South Brunswick Senior Center. An official groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Oct. 4 after the Township Council awarded the contract for the construction on the project earlier this month. The township received 21 bids for the project, with the low bid of $1.9 million from Sidd & Associates LLC, of Millstone, rejected after the company failed to meet several of the bid specifications, according to Township Attorney Don Sears. The contract for the renovations was then awarded to Tekton Development, who was the second lowest bidder at $2.06 million.  In March, the council approved an ordinance appropriating $2.9 million for both the expansion to the center …

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Low Bid for Senior Center Expansion Rejected

Township officials said the bid from Sidd & Associates contained several deficiencies including a lack of information about equipment they own or lease.

The South Brunswick Township Council voted Tuesday evening to reject the lowest bid for the expansion to the senior center after finding several deficiencies with the company's bid. In total, the township received 21 bids for the project. The low bid of $1.9 million from Sidd & Associates LLC, of Millstone, was rejected after the company failed to meet several of the bid specifications, according to Township Attorney Don Sears. The contract for the renovations was then awarded to Tekton Development, who was the second lowest bidder at $2.06 million. Amongst the deficiencies in the bid from Sidd & Associates was a failure to meet the specifications for financial disclosure, a lack of financial information forms, no information on equipment …

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Senior Center Expansion Bid to be Awarded Tuesday

A 5,000-sqaure foot addition to the South Brunswick Senior Center will provide for a health and wellness area.

The expansion project for the South Brunswick Senior Center is moving closer to reality. The Township Council announced Tuesday evening that a bid for the project will be awarded at the next meeting on Sept. 11. In March, the council approved an ordinance appropriating $2.9 million for both the expansion to the center and for lights to be installed on the softball fields at Reichler Park. Both projects are funded by the township's Open Space Trust Fund, with Middlesex County providing a 50 percent match from county open space funds. "This project doesn't raise taxes and it has no impact on the general budget," said Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz earlier this year. "The town continues to grow and we've seen a dramatic increase in …

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An Irreplaceable Loss for South Brunswick

Longtime Kendall Park resident and community volunteer Mike Ketofsky died last week at the age of 84.

When a person gives of themselves so willingly to their family and community, their loss leaves a gaping hole not only in the lives of those they loved, but also in the town they called home.  Such was the impact of Meyer "Mike" Ketofsky, 84, of Kendall Park, who died on Aug. 16 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton. Ketofsky lived in South Brunswick for over four decades, leaving an indelible mark as a well-known community volunteer and giving friend to those lucky enough to come in contact with him. "Every once in awhile you find someone that lives in a community who just makes it better by being there. Mike was one of those people," said Mayor Frank Gambatese. "Mike was not only kind and generous, but thoughtful, always…

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Arif Patel

9:15 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Mike was amazing, it was an honor, pleasure and privilege to serve with him on the Township Transportation Committee the past few years. He was always smiling, to me that was charity in a different way. Mike, I'll miss you!   more ›

Senior Center Expansion Moving Forward

Contract to be awarded by end of August for new additions to the South Brunswick Senior Center.

The highly anticipated expansion project on the South Brunswick Senior Center is proceeding, with the contract for the work anticipated to be finalized by the end of the month. The bid for the project will be awarded on Aug. 28, Township Manager Bernard Hvozdovic announced at a council meeting last month. In March, the South Brunswick Township Council approved an ordinance that appropriates $2.9 million for both the expansion to the center and for lights to be installed on the softball fields at Reichler Park. Both projects will be funded by the township's Open Space Trust Fund, with Middlesex County providing a 50 percent match from county open space funds. "This project doesn't raise taxes and it has no impact on the general budget," …

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