Bingo Players Enjoy Camaraderie Bloomberg Expands Into South
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Making it 'Count,' 3| Don't 'leaf it alone, 8| Holding court, 22 THURSDAY, DEC. 26,2013 Sentinel gmnews.com North Brunswick • South Brunswick Bloomberg expands into South Brunswick By KATHY CHANG Staff Writer he Bloomberg LP company is ex- panding into South Brunswick on the Tformer IBM site. The Planning Board voted in favor of the company's application for preliminary site plan approval with submission waivers at its Dec. 18 meeting. The plan calls for six buildings totaling 312,000 square feet on a 64.8-acre lot in the 1-3 zone, located at 431 Ridge Road in the Dayton section of the township. Michael Campana, project manager, told the board that Bloomberg will be construct- ing the six buildings in six phases over a 10- year period. The preliminary site plan approval pro- tects the project for 10 years against any changes to the zoning ordinance. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR Every time the applicant is ready to Margaret Simonovich of Edison enjoys a round of bingo at Congregation Beth-El, Edison, on Dec. 18. The temple is one of many build the next phase, it will come back to locations in central New Jersey that attract dozens of players to their bingo nights. the Planning Board for approval, officials said. Campana said that although the standard timeframe for such a project is three years, Bingo players enjoy camaraderie they have considered several different fac- tors that led them to extend it. By CLARE MARIE CELANO Round Robin, Four Corners or any other The couple enjoys the game, but it is "This is an immense capital investment. Staff Writer number of combinations that will enable the also the camaraderie and social interaction ... Internally, the [chief financial officers] dabber to yell, "Bingo!" between players that keep them coming felt it best to spread the investment over 10 ome people enjoy a cocktail to relax, years," he said. "This was a good option due others choose meditation as a source "It's a cult," said Jackson resident Bruce back to the Freehold Jewish Center in Free- Pinti, an avid bingo player for 22 years. hold Borough on Tuesday and Wednesday to the economic conditions to meet all the Sof respite. And some opt to dab num- criteria necessary in 10 years." Pinti and his wife Denise consider bingo nights. Although they frequent other bingo bers on small squares of paper in large gath- Campana explained that Bloomberg has erings in the hopes of bringing home a a night out and often win at the game. contests, the couple considers this one their "It's relaxing," he said. home game. a site in Princeton and is close to reaching boatload of cash, or at least a change purse maximum capacity, with 140 employees on- full of singles. "And it's good for hand-eye coordina- "We're like a family," Bruce said as he tion," added Denise, noting statistics that guarded their regular seats while his wife site being split among three shifts. And. they relax and enjoy the company He said the new buildings will add 280 of friends as they do it. say bingo is good for seniors. stocked up on "specials," or game sheets. Bruce said bingo players live 10 percent The couple has been camping out on the jobs in South Brunswick. The antidote to stress, day-to-day prob- Dennis Keenan, engineer for the site, ex- lems and even loneliness may well be in the longer than those who don't engage in the same seats — by the window in the corner game of chance. The couple has been play- — for more than two decades of bingo plained that two existing vacant office constant, methodical, silent dabbing of col- buildings will be taken down. orful liquid circles onto a stream of numbers ing since they married 22 years ago, but nights at the Freehold Jewish Center. that, if one is lucky, will line up to create a Denise began 20 years earlier. (Continued on page 6) (Continued on page ]&) Greater Media Broadcast News Visit www.gmnews.com 2 SENTINEL NS GREATER MEDIA NEWSPAPERS • www.gmnews.com December 26, 2013 STARLA LLROOM 570 JERNEE MILL ROAD • SAYREVILLE • (732) 238-5500 • WWW.STARLANDBALLR00M.COM t? / 'FCYNTHIA LIVE! (Jl-IWBY MOUNTAIN BAND com IWAM IMO NIFRS BAND • WOOD! 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Since the British decided to seize New Amsterdam from the Dutch and rename it in 1664, the Garden State has evolved from a sprawling fanning colony to the most densely populated state in the nation — from the crossroads of the American Revo- lution to a national standard-bearer for in- dustry, innovation and the arts. In recent decades, once-small towns like Asbury Park, New Brunswick and Holmdel have continued this legacy, forging national and international reputations for their sci- entists, writers, musicians, concert halls and theaters. It's no wonder, then, thpt the kickoff for New Jersey's yearlong birthday celebration will be held at the famed'Basie in historic Red Bank on Dec. 31, hours before South- side Johnny and the Asbury Jukes take the stage for their 15th annual New Year's Eve concert. "We realized that it would be this perfect pairing," said Adam Philipson, the theater's CEO. "Then, when we were able to work COURTESY OF DORNS CLASSIC IMAGES this all out and we were se- A crowd, at top, anxiously awaits a screening lected ... God, it is such an in- in the lobby of the Carlton Theater in Red credible honor." Bank in 1956. The Carlton would eventually Throughout 2014, the New become the Count Basie Theatre in 1984. Jersey Historical Commission, ucational items; and local products specific the state Department of Com- to the host town. munity Affairs (DCA) and a While stores will pop up throughout number of other groups will 2014 in cities like Atlantic City, Westfield, collaborate on a yearlong pro- Montclair and Trenton, Red Bank and the gram called New Jersey 3150 Count Basie Theatre have been selected to (NJ350), which will commem- cut the ribbon on the entire program. orate the Garden State's history of "innovation, diversity and "Red Bank provides the quintessential liberty" in towns across the historic downtown backdrop to hosting the state. first pop-up store of this first-of-its-kind, yearlong program," Petty said. The program will highlight "From the beginning, the Count Basie events of all sizes that relate to Theatre took the lead in wanting to host the the three themes and feature pop-up store in one of their vacant store- some of the unique foods, fronts. They, along with Red Bank River- music, people, stories and tra- Center, have been incredible partners." ditions that have made New Philipson said various Red Bank com- Jersey special for the past munity members will gather to cut the rib- three-and-a-half centuries. bon on the inaugural pop-up at noon on "The New Jersey Historical Dec. 31. The store will be located at Studio Commission is encouraging 105, located next to the theater on Mon- groups all over the state to de- mouth Street. Southside Johnny will take velop programs and activities the stage at 9 p.m. that explore these themes and P DORN'S CLASSIC IMAGES Model T vehicles rumble along Broad Street In Red Bank In 1912. While New Year's Eve is always a big highlight the rich history of the night at the Basie, Philipson said he is Garden State," said Sara Cure- thrilled to be part of the first birthday wish ton, director of the commission. by the DCA's Main Street New Jersey pro- "We also seek to show that a vacant gram, the historical commission, the New storefront can have retail success, hopefully for the Garden State. Those interested in attending an event or Jersey State Museum and a host of private inspiring small businesses to fill that space "We absolutely feel that this is a big, promoting one of their own may visit partners, including IKEA and SnapRetail. after each pop-up store moves to the next bold statement for how important our main www.officialnj350.com. will be set up in vacant storefronts to show- location around the state." streets are, and how important Red Bank is One of the most interesting aspects of case "the rich history, character and com- The stores will sell products and mer- as a town, as a community," he said. the program is the rollout of NJ350 "pop- merce in our traditional towns all over the chandise celebrating "Jerseyana," including "It was voted as one of the top three up stores" in 14 selected communities state, and to spotlight local businesses and the original Jerseyopoly board game; the small towns to live in.