Hello 08840! Hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather. I am excited for you to check out our Summer edition magazine dedicated to the lifestyle and community of Metuchen.
In this issue, readers will learn about what makes downtown Metuchen a BIG deal. With a recent 2023 Great American Main Street Award by Main Street America under its belt, Metuchen can brag a bit like Anchorman’s character Ron Burgundy. Only two other downtowns in New Jersey – Westfield and Montclair – have previously received the honor. With a population of 14,780 and growing, the borough has made a name for itself. Thousands of residents use the Metuchen local train and bus stations to travel to New York City, Philadelphia or Northern New Jersey. Learn more on page 2.
Have you ever watched a Roller Derby game? It’s not like the game seen on Saturday morning TV in the 1970s. It has evolved. Meet the ladies of the Dirty Jersey Roller Derby – Play Clean, Skate Dirty team. They play their games right in town at the Sportsplex at Metuchen. The team calls each other by their derby names – even outside the rink. As Bones No. 814 simply puts it, the fast-paced game is “fun.” The team not only plays their “fun” sport, they also do so much more from collecting food donations at games for local food pantries to rolling in area parades. Learn more about Dirty Jersey on page 8.
Get your taste palates ready for Fire & Flavor BBQ this summer. It’s the only spot in town that brings traditional Portugal flavors to the table. Owner Wilson DaSilva has been working in the food industry since he was 15 years old. Some favorite dishes to try: the chicken and ribs cooked over the wood charcoal are Fire & Flavor’s No. 1 dish. Chicken and garlic sauce and the picadinho (a mix of square meats with shrimp, peppers, onions and Portuguese sausage) follows very closely. And every week they put a few specials out for lunch and dinner. DaSilva’s wife Andrea DaCruz is a dessert specialist, so all their desserts are homemade and made fresh weekly. Follow your taste palates to Fire & Flavor on page 12.
Stories of the past round out this issue. Readers will learn about Lenni-Lenape Chief Matouchin, the blossoming of the Brainy Borough and why the borough has been referred to as the hole in the doughnut. Nancy Zerbe, chair of Metuchen’s Historic Preservation Committee, and Tyreen Reuter, who is a Metuchen resident and volunteer for the Metuchen Historical Society, share their knowledge of the borough’s storied past starting on page 16.
All of this and more awaits on the pages ahead! Happy reading!
Kathy Chang
Editor
