Light it up, 3 1 Star power, 1 0 1 Vikings seek another title, 25 jj8? THURSDAY, SEPT. 8, 2016 Sentinel gm news.com North Brunswick • South Brunswick So. Brunswick seniors celebrate a golden age By JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer n a building that is just 25 years old, there are enough memories to last 25 Ilifetimes. The South Brunswick Senior Center will highlight its 25th anniversary on Sept. 22 with a celebratory party. Betsy Sansig, 92, remembers when a celebration was held to mark the first offi­ cial day of the opening of the center in 1991. “The mayor was here. And a lot of big shots,” she said of the ribbon-cutting and luncheon to follow. Prior to the establishment of the senior center, a group of seniors would meet in the early 1980s at the municipal building to pe­ tition for a space of their own while using Crossroads Middle School, the VFW, the high school and Woodlol Park as meeting grounds. “We used to join trips. We used to go away sometimes for a week ... and book a hotel,” Sansig said. Then, with permission of the mayor and council at the time, a 10,000-square-foot structure was built for a population of 2,000 residents who were age 55 or older, with about 50 seniors coming to the center each day. A group would go door-to-door selling stickers to residents — Sansig did not re­ member what the stickers looked like — in order to buy $3,000 worth of kitchenware and dishware for the new center. Jane Clute, who has been a member STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR since 1991, said she “always [joined] the Tattoo artist Kristin Bonaflde works on a design on Danielle Vatra, of South Brunswick, at Rabbits Den Tattoo Parlor in Milltown on Aug. 31. exercise groups right from the beginning.” She recalls T-shirt painting, quilting, card groups, bridge, jewelry and pottery. The billiards club plays tournaments Beauty is more than just skin deep with other centers. Ping pong, bridge and mahjong are also popular. By JENNIFER AMATO perience to be the one to be able to be part someone who’s going to carry it around the Then, in 2013, an additional 10,500 Staff Writer of it for her and to be able to help someone.” rest of their life,” she said. square feet was built for the adjacent Well­ Beyond depicting just sailor girls or Richard Perrone, owner of Studio 9 Tat­ ness Center, operated by Princeton Health- woman who had a mastectomy had tribal arm bands, the industry is becoming toos in Howell and Freehold, said he was so Care System. such terrible scarring that she was known more for artistic expression and a moved by doing a portrait, that he never for­ Don Bergman, a volunteer since 2010 unable to have reconstructive sur­ way to emotionally cope, and tattoo artists got the story — nor did he ever do a portrait A who now serves on the Senior Advisory gery afterward. are expanding their craft and moving to­ tattoo again. Council as chairman of the Health Com­ She decided instead to get a tattoo of ward more custom-made tattoos. “She stood in the mirror and just started mittee, said that residents wait for health in­ flowers, a butterfly and a ladybug to make “It’s completely yours,” Carroll said of a crying,” Perrone said of a woman who sat formation related to arthritis and the Zika herself less self-conscious about her initial tattoo. “No one can take it from you. You’re very quietly during the tattooing of a baby virus quicker than he can provide it. surgery. not going to lose it. It’s not going to fall off. on her chest. “She didn’t tell me that her “Seniors love it. As I put it out, seniors “It gave her renewed vigor to be proud ... It’s personal. It’s a very cool expression, baby had died. ... She said. ‘Every day I are waiting there to pick it up,” he said. of herself,” said Janie Carroll, who owns artistically. have to look at this.’” Rabbits Den Tattoo Parlor in Milltown with “It’s a walking canvas. It’s an honor ... (Continued on page 19) her husband, Tom. “It was such a cool ex­ It’s such a cool thing to give that art to (Continued on page 6) 2 SENTINEL NS GREATER MEDIA NEWSPAPERS • www.gmnews.com September 8, 2016 CHELSEA SENIOR LIVING IERE WE EMBRACE YOUR INNER SUPER HERO! Visit one of the Chelsea communities below between 9 * Sept. 11th and Sept. 17th for a chance to FLY LIKE SUPERMAN IN A HELICOPTER AROUND MANHATTAN! The Chelsea at East Brunswick The Chelsea at Forsgate 606 Cranbury Road 319 Forsgate Drive East Brunswick, NJ 08816 Monroe, NJ 08831 1-877-CHELSEA chelseaseniorliving. com Community tour required to enter. Limit one entry per visitor/family. Winner will be chosen by random drawing. September 8, 2016 GREATER MEDIA NEWSPAPERS • wwtv.gimnevvs.com N S SENTINEL 3 Festival of Lights seeks to foster cultural awareness By JENNIFER AMATO To help fundraise for the festi­ Staff Writer vals, an IndieGoGo campaign has been established through Sept. 15. Donors who offer anywhere from njoy Explore India will have $25 to $10,000 will have access to its own version of Connect online workshops on cooking, EFour throughout October. crafts, dance and Indian folk art as Through the Festival of Lights a way to show appreciation. program, the North Brunswick- “What is it that you and I can based organization has planned relate to?” Moondra said of the huge celebrations designed to con­ workshops that Enjoy Explore nect all members of the commu­ India already offers. “When you nity at four New Jersey malls. identify that point, you can take a “This is bringing people person across the seas to talk around the universal symbol of about it.” light because it’s shared by all cul­ Enjoy Explore India is also tures,” said founder and CEO collaborating on the Cherished Seema Moondra. “Light is central Holiday Food Traditions Cook­ to all our celebrations and is es­ book, a culmination of recipes and sential to life.” the stories behind those recipes, The pilot program is meant to due Sept. 20. build cultural connections and ex­ An art and writing contest was change ideas in the mainstream, held ahead of the Festival of Moondra said. Lights. “What we are not doing [in so­ As was Create, Collect & ciety] is connecting people and Come Together, a program at the telling them how they are con­ Metuchen Senior Center that had nected, which to me is the missing seniors working on pieces of a 5- link,” she said. foot by 5-foot rangoli using col­ Therefore, a group of 10 in­ ored rice on Aug. 24. The North terns has spent months event plan­ Brunswick Senior Center will hold ning, securing business deals, its own rangoli making workshop writing proposals and coordinat­ on Sept. 9. ing the events that will take place On Aug. 15 at the East from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Brunswick Library, the India’s In­ Quaker Bridge Mall in dependence Day celebration in­ Lawrenceville, Oct. 8 at the Mills cluded SAADA’s (South Asian at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEEMA MOONDRA American Digital Archives) First Oct. 15 at the Menlo Park Mall in Members of the Metuchen Senior Center create a rangoli - a giant Indian floor decoration - during a Day Project, chronicling the sto­ Edison and Oct. 22 at Newport workshop on Aug. 24. The rangoli will be part of Enjoy Explore India’s Festival of Lights, which will be held at four New Jersey malls in October. ries of immigrants on their first Centre in Jersey City. days in America. Rangoli lloor decorations will A peer mentoring adom both entrances, while atten­ group for high school dees can purchase supplies to and middle school make their own rangolis with sten­ students is being pi­ cils that represent all religions, loted at the Monroe such as a tree for Christmas or a Library. star for Hanukkah. A giant tree For more informa­ will be adorned with cultural or­ tion on the Festival of naments. Lights, visit Upon walk in, there will be a www.festival- backdrop of a carnival scene with oflights.info. props so that visitors may take Enjoy Explore photos with items such as an In­ India is encouraging dian turban, a Mexican sombrero, choir, dance, music a Mardi Gras mask and Hawaaian and theater students lei - again bridging the cultural to join the festival to gap- demonstrations offered, including perform. Students will be recog­ “We are always thinking only how to use the items in the holiday nized as event ambassadors and about the way we dress or the shop, table top cooking and sari will receive volunteer hours. things we use ... but when we put draping. Music and dance presen­ School groups can call 732-977- a mix of props over there, people tations, as well as story time for 2264 or email connect@enjoyex- will mix and match ... and make children, are expected as well. ploreindia.com. something new. We can all learn A lighting ceremony should To make a donation to the Fes­ and coming together and sharing pany she is working with is help­ from each other,” Moondra said. bring together the central theme of tival of Lights campaign, visit ideas,” Moondra said. ing rural folk artists in India have A living room setting with a the festival.