Fanwood PBA, Scotch Plains-Fanwood PAL Provide Gifts for Families in Need

Families were provided with gifts this holiday season thanks to donations from the Fanwood PBA, Scotch-Plains-Fanwood PAL and Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Many families were able to provide their children with gifts this holiday season thanks to the organization Plainfield Connections with donations from the Fanwood PBA, the Scotch Plains- Fanwood Police Athletic League and the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity at Stevens Institute of Technology. Due to either monetary or gift donations, the three organizations made it possible to buy gifts for 40 families that are part of the Plainfield Connections program, an organization based out of the Muhlenberg Campus of JFK Health Systems which provides home visitations to many families living below the poverty line. According to Jenny Fischbein, Director of Plainfield Connections,  ”Certified Home Visitors meet with at-risk families in their homes, …

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Hurricane Sandy

Fanwood Newcomer's Club Holds Sandy Relief Drive

The Newcomers' Club received many items from members and friends of the club and donated them throughout New Jersey and Staten Island.

The following information was provided by the Fanwood Newcomers' Club. Fanwood Newcomers' Club held a Sandy Relief Drive to help families in New Jersey and New York who were affected by the storm.  Many items were generously donated by members and friends of the club including winter coats, clothes, cleaning supplies, food, water, baby products, and pet food.  A car full of items including coats and supplies from Newcomers' was delivered to a family of five in Brick, NJ.  Three more vans full of items were distributed to community donation sites in New Jersey and Staten Island.  The Club would like to thank their members and the community who came out to support this effort.   The SPF Newcomers' Club, a non-profit social organization, …

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Stem Cell Drive in Scotch Plains to Benefit Mother of Three Battling Cancer

On Sunday, Nov. 11, the JCC in Scotch Plains is swabbing possible donors for a blood stem transplant to help a mother of three.

Shira Klein, a wife and mother of three, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma on New Years Eve 2010 and is desperately seeking a donor for a blood stem cell transplant. On Nov. 11, the JCC of Central New Jersey located on Martine Avenue in Scotch Plains will be swabbing possible donors to see if they are a match for Shira. Smiles 4 Shira is the name of the group dedicated to finding Shira a match. More information is available on their Facebook page, Smiles 4 Shira. Her husband, Justin Klein, started this effort to give his wife a new lease on life. The couple has three children ages, 9, 6 and 2. Only a few weeks prior to their youngest child's first birthday was Shira diagnosed with the disease.  On the event flier, Klein is quoted …

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SPFHS Students Collecting Pajamas for Children in Need

The Students Concerned for the Needy group will be collecting new pajamas until Nov. 7.

The following information was provided by Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. The Students Concerned for the Needy (SCN) Service Group from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School are once again collecting New Pajamas on behalf of “The Pajama Program”, a 501 ( c) (3) charity that provides warm pajamas to children in need. Collected pajamas will be distributed to Receiving Organizations that care for homeless and vulnerable children within Union County. Community members and groups may donate new pajamas for a child, boy or girl, ages infant through age 17. Please keep all tags on PJ’s. SCN’s PJ Drive will run through November 7th, 2012. Coldwell Banker Agents from the Westfield East Office, 209 Central Avenue will, once again, collect PJ’s to …

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'Knitters for Charity' at Fanwood Presbyterian Church on Oct. 8

Community is invited to join the knitting project, mittens will be donated.

Fanwood Presbyterian Church will host a project of making mittens for the homeless and needy from old wool sweaters October 8th from 10am to 2pm in Westminister Hall on Marian Ave. Donated sweaters will be cut into mittens then sewn by machine. The Relief Bus in Elizabeth and the Salvation Army in Plainfield will receive the finished mittens. The community is invited to join in this project by selecting a sweater and watching the process that becomes two pair of mittens.    For the holidays, our quilters will be learning a new skill to use for a Christmas project. They will also work on this years’ new quilt design. The nimble fingers of the knitters and those who crochet will also work on a Christmas project and continue to make items for…

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Letter to the Editor: SP Resident Shocked that Rescue Squad only Receives 20% Response

Patricia Reardon finds the response by residents a disgrace.

Dear Editor, Several weeks ago the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad sent out their annual appeal for donations. Unbelievably, they received responses from only 20% of the community, People, this is a disgrace. The Rescue Squad is a 100% volunteer emergency medical service on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They depend totally on contributions to carry on their work. None of us can know when we might possibly need to call on these dedicated public servants. Anyone of us might have an emergency, a sudden illness or an accident, in which case, rapid medical response could mean the difference between life and death. Residents of Scotch Plains, please think about this and step up to the plate. Send your much needed donation now.   Patricia Reardon

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President of Fanwood Rescue Squad Expresses Opinion on EMS Regulation Bill

Nancy Mustachio of the Fanwood Rescue Squad comments on a bill to regulate emergency medical services.

President of the Fanwood Rescue Squad, Nancy Mustachio, expressed her opinions and concerns on a senate bill regulating emergency medical services, which was approved by the State of New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday. On Sept. 25, the Assembly Appropriations committee approved this same bill, which will now move to the Senate floor.  Patch also spoke to Scotch Plains Rescue Squad Captain, Dan Sullivan, on the bill moving forward, following the Sept. 25 approval. Mustachio said the major concern is the "devil in the details." It's what is not written in the bill that could cause concern, she said. For example, how the background checks would be funded and what does requiring the EMT's to be licensed come down …

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R Kury

7:21 am on Sunday, October 7, 2012

I do not remember instructing the county government to spend my tax dollars on a new EMS service. What other duplication of services are they cooking up?   more ›

Fanwood Rescue Squad Receives Media Center Donation from Frank's Auto Repair

Frank's Auto Repair and Auto Body donates a 55" HDTV and associated hardware to the squad training program.

The Fanwood Rescue Squad has gratefully accepted the donation of a new 55" HDTV and associated hard ware and installation from Frank's Auto Repair and Auto Body, 56 S. Martine Avenue (corner of LaGrande Avenue) in Fanwood. Owners Frank and Tracy Constandi have been long-time supporters of the Rescue Squad's community CPR and First Aid classes by always being among the first local businesses to help underwrite the courses so they can be free to the public. "The Rescue Squad volunteers do such great service for our community, we were happy to help," said Tracy, who is the newly elected president of the Fanwood Business and Professional Association. Frank, a former volunteer fireman, is the treasurer. At a time when the squad's expenses are …

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Scotch Plains Food Pantry Needs Donations

Pantry saw significant drop in summer months.

The Scotch Plains Food Pantry has expressed a need in donations due to a large drop in donations during summer months. Food donations can be made at the library and the Municipal Building.  The following items would be appreciated: Many more items will be accepted at the Food Pantry which you can find here.

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