Borough Improvement League of Metuchen, and the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society
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WWeellccoommee ttoo MMeettuucchheenn A short guide to the Brainy Borough Compliments of the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce January 2020 Welcome! Living, working, and raising a family in Metuchen has given me an appreciation for all that our town has to offer. Our central location, active downtown, wonderful schools, historic neighborhoods, and a diverse and engaged community make it an ideal place to grow up or raise a family. But it is more than that; it is also a place that our seniors choose to stay after retirement, and where creative professionals come to be near cultural hubs. We’re not just a railroad town, but one surrounded by technology companies, universities, and medical centers. There is no one thing that has kept Metuchen a vibrant village for all these years, it is the many things we offer that is the source of both our strength and our enthusiasm for the future. I welcome you to our community and know that you will come to be a part of the ‘Brainy Borough’ just as much as its many lifelong residents are. -Jonathan Busch, Mayor Contents Animal Shelter ........................... 6 Houses of Worship ................... 14 Annual Events ........................... 20 Library ....................................... 10 Borough of Metuchen ................ 1 Local Resources ......... Rear Cover Business/Service Directory ....... 24 Middlesex County ....................... 7 Chamber of Commerce ............ 18 Municipal Pool ........................... 11 Committees & Commissions ..... 6 Parking ........................................ 5 Community Organizations ....... 19 Parks & Playgrounds ................ 15 DPW (Public Works) ................... 5 Police Department ..................... 2 EMS/First Aid Squad ...................4 Post Offices ................................ 9 Fire Department ......................... 3 Public Transportation ................ 8 History ....................................... 16 Senior Citizens Center ............... 9 Hospitals .....................................4 Schools ...................................... 12 YMCA .......................................... 11 This guide was compiled with information from the Borough of Metuchen and its Committees & Commissions, the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce, the Borough Improvement League of Metuchen, and the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society. However, any omissions or errors are the responsibility of its editor, Tyreen Reuter. Please contact the Chamber office with any corrections or additions. Borough of Metuchen Metuchen is administered under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, with a governing body consisting of a Mayor and six-member Borough Council elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term of office, and the Council members are elected to serve three-year terms. Metuchen is included in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 18th State Legislative District. Metuchen is approximately 2.75 square miles in size with 5000 households and a population of just under 15,000. The borough is completely surrounded by Edison Township, a 32-square-mile township of more than 100,000 residents. From the center of Metuchen it is 17 miles to Newark, 25 miles to New York City, 30 miles to Sandy Hook, 40 miles to Trenton, and 70 miles to Philadelphia. The borough is easily accessed by a number of major roadways; the New Jersey Turnpike (I- 95), the Garden State Parkway, Route 287 (and 440), and US Route 1. State Highway 27 and several County Roads. The Borough’s website at www.metuchennj.org contains a wealth of information about things such registering to vote, licensing pets, signing up for emergency alerts & notices (NIXLE), applying for marriage licenses, obtaining reports, paying property taxes, etc. Metuchen Borough Hall 500 Main Street (at Middlesex Avenue) 732-632-8540 www.metuchennj.org Page 1 Police Department The headquarters of the Metuchen Police Department is within Borough Hall, with the main entrance located on Main Street side of the building. The department’s mission is to serve all people within their jurisdiction with respect, fairness, and compassion. They are committed to the prevention of crime and the protection of life and property; the preservation of peace, order, and safety; the safe enforcement of laws and ordinances; and, safeguarding our constitutional guarantees. To educate borough residents about department procedures, guidelines, responsibilities, and demands of personnel that guide police decision-making, the department offers a “Citizen Police Academy." The 13 week training is open to Borough Residents, business owners, and school faculty within the Borough of Metuchen who are over the age of 18 and who successfully complete a background investigation. Applications for the Citizen Police Academy, as well as to serve on the Auxiliary Police, are available on the Borough website. Please note that Home Security alarms must be registered with the police, with permit forms also available on the website. Metuchen Police Department EMERGENCY: 911 Non-Emergency Line: 732-632-8500 Traffic Safety Issues: 732-632-8546 or [email protected] To sign up for NIXLE emergency alerts, visit http://www.metuchennj.org/metnj/Alerts/Nixle/ See Page 17 for more about our borough's name & Chief "MeTochen" Page 2 Fire Department The Metuchen Volunteer Fire Department is the agency responsible for providing fire and rescue services to the residents of Metuchen. The firehouse is located on Middlesex Avenue across from Borough Hall. Annually, the department responds to between 300 and 400 calls for assistance with structure fires, car fires, alarm activations, carbon monoxide emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, utility emergencies, flooded basements, providing mutual aid assistance to other communities, and more. In addition, members also participate in special fundraising projects, parades, fairs, public education events, and an ever increasing list of community-oriented events. The department holds an annual open house during Fire Prevention Week, but also looks for opportunities year round to remind residents of important safety tips such as installing and regularly checking smoke alarms and keeping neighborhood hydrants clear of snow and debris. Note that if you keep medical oxygen tanks at home, as a courtesy please notify the department. As an all-volunteer organization, the department is always looking for new members to enhance its ranks. For information on joining the department, contact the Chief or stop by the firehouse on Wednesday evenings between 7:00pm and 7:30pm during their Weekly Drill. EMERGENCY: 911 Non-Emergency: 732-767-1147 http://metuchenfd.com [email protected] “Protecting Lives and Property Since 1882” Page 3 EMS/First Aid Squad EMERGENCY: 911 1 Safety Place (off Essex Avenue/Route 27) www.metuchenems.org The Metuchen First Aid Squad’s mission is to provide high quality emergency medical care and ambulance transport for the residents and visitors of Metuchen. Their volunteer members have been proudly offering this free service to the community since 1948. The squad also staffs community events and partners with the Police and Fire departments to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Volunteers are always welcome to join the Metuchen First Aid Squad Cadet Program (ages 16-18), the Metuchen First Aid Squad Certified EMT Program (for NJ State Certified EMTs), or the Metuchen First Aid Squad Auxiliary. In addition to donations, funding for the organization comes from rentals of its social hall, which accommodates up to 90 and includes on-site parking, tables & chairs, and kitchen use. Hospitals Hackensack Meridian Health, JFK Medical Center is located just north of the Metuchen border at 65 James Street in Edison. Founded in 1967, it is a non-profit, 498-bed community hospital, serving residents of Middlesex, Union, and Somerset counties. They offer a complete array of advanced services, including general and specialized surgery, cardiac care, maternity and pediatric care, and emergency medicine. Their Neuroscience Institute has been rated as the number one hospital in New Jersey for the treatment of stroke and complex neurological disorders, and their Johnson Rehabilitation Institute received a national designation in rehabilitation medicine & traumatic brain recovery. Main Telephone: 732-321-7000 www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org Several other hospitals are located in New Brunswick, approximately 8 miles southwest of Metuchen. Page 4 DPW The Department of Public Works is responsible for all areas of the borough including sanitation, recycling, curbside collection of yard waste, streets and roads, sewers, parks and playgrounds, shade trees, and public buildings. Collection schedules are based on the four regions of Metuchen as divided by Main Street and the Northeast Corridor line (NE, NW, SE, SW). Email: [email protected] Telephone: 732-632-8519. Parking The Parking Authority (PA) manages several surface lots in the borough as well as the parking meters. The new smart meters accept coins and credit cards, and have a 10-minute free parking option by hitting any button on the meter. Applications for commuter parking permits for available surface lots can be made through the borough website or by contacting the PA office. Metuchen Parking Authority 732-548-5553, [email protected] The downtown parking deck, operated by Nexus Parking Systems, provides over 700 spaces